The competition to lead in agentic AI heated up this week with strategic investments, new tools, and talent shifts.

Microsoft’s former mergers lead joined the growing trend of AI roll-ups, where firms acquire smaller AI startups to build advanced systems. These roll-ups aim to create AI agents that can handle tasks like data analysis or customer service without human input. Industry watchers say this strategy helps big companies stay ahead in the fast-moving AI race.

In logistics, U.S. startup Pallet secured $27 million in funding led by General Catalyst. Their CoPallet AI platform automates repetitive tasks like order entry and updates for freight carriers. One company reallocated 25 employees after using CoPallet, saving millions of dollars annually. With the global logistics industry worth $11 trillion, Pallet’s tools could modernize how goods move worldwide.

Paris-based Cathay Innovation announced a €1 billion fund for AI startups, focusing on European tech talent. This fund will support projects in areas like AI-driven healthcare and smart factories. France has become a hub for AI research, and this investment aims to compete with Silicon Valley in developing ethical AI agents.

Meanwhile, experts debated how AI agent startups should balance innovation with safety. Some worry faster automation could disrupt jobs, while others argue these tools will create new roles in tech and engineering. Startups like Pallet show the immediate benefits of agentic AI—cutting costs and reducing errors in critical industries.