In early January 2026, LMArena, a generative AI startup formerly known as Chatbot Arena, announced a $150 million funding round that tripled its valuation to $1.7 billion in just eight months. This rapid growth highlights a shift in investor focus toward AI tools that provide measurable utility beyond foundational models. LMArena’s success reflects a broader trend where platforms offering real-world AI benchmarking and comparison tools attract serious capital. Why LMArena’s G

If 2024 was the year when generative AI mastered writing text, 2026 is shaping up to be the year AI begins to perform real work. At CES 2026, the spotlight was not on flashy robots or giant screens but on a new wave of AI technology: agentic AI. These intelligent agents do more than answer questions—they take actions on behalf of users and brands. This change is reshaping how we search, interact with services, and manage workflows. From Conversational AI to Agentic AI Traditi