AI agents Archives

Winsage

June 6, 2025

Windows Weekly 935: Don’t Spritz Yourself

Leo and Paul discuss various topics on the latest episode of Windows Weekly, including Notepad, updates in Windows 11, Microsoft 365, artificial intelligence, and Xbox gaming. A new free newsletter offers time-saving tips and complimentary Field Guides for Windows 11 and Windows 10. Microsoft is reorganizing its AI initiatives and phasing out password management features in the Microsoft Authenticator app. The upcoming June 2025 update for Outlook will introduce new features, and Microsoft 365 Copilot now has general availability for Research and Analyst AI agents. The New York Times has licensed its content to Amazon, and Samsung is reconsidering its partnership with Gemini. Microsoft has delayed the launch of its first-party Xbox and Windows gaming handheld and has secured its first agreement with a game studio union. J Allard, a former Microsoft executive, is among many ex-Microsoft leaders now at Amazon. A tip suggests replacing OneDrive/Google Drive with a NAS, and Microsoft Edge 137 is highlighted as a significant update. Photoshop for Android is now available for free during its beta phase.

Tech Optimizer

June 5, 2025

Snowflake to Acquire Crunchy Data

Snowflake intends to acquire Crunchy Data, a provider of open-source PostgreSQL technology, to integrate an enterprise-grade PostgreSQL database into its AI Data Cloud. This acquisition aims to enhance the development and deployment of AI applications while ensuring governance, security, and operational standards. Snowflake Postgres will leverage Crunchy Data’s expertise in FedRAMP compliant environments, addressing the demand for secure Postgres functionalities. PostgreSQL is favored by 49 percent of developers, and Snowflake Postgres will simplify the management of AI-driven applications. Organizations like Blue Yonder and LandingAI can optimize their operations using Snowflake Postgres. The acquisition represents a significant market opportunity, with a focus on integrating Postgres into the Snowflake AI Data Cloud.

Tech Optimizer

June 4, 2025

Snowflake acquisition of Crunchy Data adds Postgres database

Snowflake has announced the acquisition of Crunchy Data, a company specializing in PostgreSQL database capabilities, valued at around [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: SAN FRANCISCO -- In a strategic move to enhance its offerings, Snowflake has announced the acquisition of Crunchy Data, a company specializing in PostgreSQL database capabilities. This acquisition, reportedly valued at around 0 million, is currently pending customary closing requirements. The timing of this purchase is notable, occurring shortly after Snowflake's competitor, Databricks, acquired Neon to bolster its own PostgreSQL capabilities. Crunchy Data, headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, empowers organizations to leverage the open-source PostgreSQL format for secure and efficient data management, which is essential for analytics and AI applications. Sanjeev Mohan, founder and principal of the analyst firm SanjMo, highlighted that while Snowflake has a robust suite of data management and AI development tools, it previously lacked comprehensive operational and transactional database capabilities. This is a fantastic acquisition for Snowflake. [The acquisition] addresses the limitations in its prior attempts with Unistore and Hybrid Tables, enabling Snowflake to now offer a true online transaction processing solution within its platform based on open standards. Sanjeev Mohan, Founder and principal, SanjMo Currently, Snowflake allows users to manage operational and transactional workloads through its Unistore feature, which utilizes Hybrid Tables. However, these capabilities have been limited compared to those offered by PostgreSQL databases. Mohan emphasized the significance of the Crunchy Data acquisition, stating it allows Snowflake to provide a genuine online transaction processing solution. Additive capabilities As enterprises ramp up their investments in AI development, data management vendors like Snowflake and Databricks have been expanding their platforms to facilitate the development, deployment, and management of AI models. While Databricks has pursued aggressive acquisition strategies, Snowflake has primarily focused on enhancing its capabilities through internal product development. Earlier this year, Snowflake acquired Neeva to kickstart its AI expansion and onboard current CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy. With the Crunchy Data acquisition, Snowflake is poised to integrate PostgreSQL capabilities into its platform, a move that analysts like Stephen Catanzano from Enterprise Strategy Group view as significant. Catanzano remarked, "It's a smart and strategic move. By acquiring Crunchy Data, Snowflake strengthens its ability to support structured, transactional data workloads critical for powering AI agents and applications that rely on a mix of operational and analytical data." This integration will enable Snowflake to cater to enterprises that prioritize governance, security, and compliance in their AI solutions. PostgreSQL has emerged as the most popular database, surpassing MySQL and other competitors, thanks to its flexibility and the support of a vibrant community. Its capabilities extend beyond traditional relational database functions, encompassing geospatial, time series, JSON, and vector database workloads. Mohan noted that PostgreSQL's vector database capabilities are particularly valuable for AI development, allowing users to structure unstructured data for enhanced searchability and similarity searches. According to Mohan, the Crunchy Data acquisition will enable Snowflake to manage real-time transactional data that feeds AI applications, addressing a previous shortcoming. Catanzano added that PostgreSQL databases also assist users in maintaining compliance with industry standards and managing metadata effectively. Ramaswamy emphasized the importance of transactional data systems, stating that the acquisition will provide users with access to a transactional store directly within Snowflake. Additionally, Christian Kleinerman, Snowflake's executive vice president of product, highlighted the importance of offering customers choices without overwhelming them. While Crunchy Data's PostgreSQL engine will not directly integrate with Snowflake's existing SQL engine, its open-source nature allows for greater interoperability with various third-party applications. Despite both Snowflake and Databricks acquiring PostgreSQL vendors, Mohan pointed out that the capabilities offered by Neon and Crunchy Data differ significantly. Neon provides a cloud-native, serverless database optimized for testing and development, while Crunchy Data focuses on production-ready capabilities suitable for large-scale deployments in Kubernetes environments. Looking ahead The integration of PostgreSQL capabilities through the Crunchy Data acquisition is anticipated to serve as a foundational element for Snowflake's future. If successfully integrated, these capabilities could empower developers to build, train, and deploy AI models directly on transactional data within the Snowflake ecosystem, as well as facilitate hybrid queries that combine transactional and analytical data. Mohan suggested that Snowflake should leverage Crunchy Data's robust security features to enhance its governance initiatives. Catanzano echoed this sentiment, recommending that Snowflake prioritize the integration of PostgreSQL capabilities into its AI development ecosystem. He also advised pursuing additional partnerships and acquisitions to further enhance its capabilities in open-source AI, unstructured data management, and hybrid workloads. As Snowflake continues to evolve, the acquisition of Crunchy Data marks a significant step towards meeting the demands of modern enterprises seeking comprehensive AI and data-driven solutions. Eric Avidon is a senior news writer for Informa TechTarget and a journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He covers analytics and data management." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million, pending customary closing requirements. This acquisition follows Databricks' purchase of Neon to enhance its PostgreSQL capabilities. Crunchy Data, based in Charleston, South Carolina, enables organizations to use PostgreSQL for secure data management essential for analytics and AI applications. The acquisition addresses Snowflake's previous limitations in operational and transactional database capabilities, allowing it to offer a true online transaction processing solution. Snowflake currently manages operational workloads through its Unistore feature, which has been limited compared to PostgreSQL databases. The integration of PostgreSQL capabilities is expected to support structured, transactional data workloads critical for AI applications. PostgreSQL has become the most popular database due to its flexibility and community support, with capabilities extending beyond traditional functions. The acquisition will enable Snowflake to manage real-time transactional data for AI applications and enhance compliance and metadata management. Crunchy Data's PostgreSQL engine will not directly integrate with Snowflake's SQL engine but will allow for greater interoperability with third-party applications. The capabilities of Crunchy Data differ from those of Neon, which focuses on cloud-native, serverless databases. The integration of these capabilities is anticipated to empower developers to build and deploy AI models directly on transactional data within Snowflake.

Tech Optimizer

June 4, 2025

Snowflake’s Latest Acquisition Targets $350B Market with Enterprise-Grade Postgres for AI Development

Snowflake intends to acquire Crunchy Data, a provider of open-source Postgres technology, to integrate its enterprise-grade PostgreSQL database into the Snowflake ecosystem. This acquisition, announced at the Snowflake Summit 2025, aims to enhance secure and compliant AI applications for enterprises. Snowflake Postgres will utilize Crunchy Data's technology to provide full Postgres compatibility and support for production applications, particularly in FedRAMP-compliant environments. The integration is expected to simplify the development and scaling of AI applications and is set to enter private preview soon. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Tech Optimizer

June 4, 2025

Snowflake to acquire database startup Crunchy Data

Snowflake announced its acquisition of Crunchy Data, valued at approximately [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: The recent trend of data company acquisitions shows no signs of slowing down, as evidenced by Snowflake's announcement regarding its acquisition of Crunchy Data. This strategic move, revealed late Monday afternoon, is estimated to be valued at approximately 0 million, although specific terms remain undisclosed as Snowflake has opted not to comment on the deal's valuation. Strengthening Database Offerings This acquisition is part of a broader pattern among major tech companies seeking to enhance their database capabilities, particularly in support of AI applications. Just last week, Salesforce completed its acquisition of Informatica, a company with decades of experience, to strengthen its data management tools for AI. Similarly, Alation acquired Numbers Station to provide its customers with AI agents capable of operating on structured data. Earlier this month, ServiceNow also made headlines with its acquisition of Data.World, further emphasizing the focus on AI-driven solutions. Crunchy Data specializes in providing tools for developers working with Postgres, an open-source object-relational database management system that is well-regarded for its compatibility with SQL. Over its 13-year history, Crunchy Data has collaborated with notable clients such as UPS, SAS, and Moneytree, as well as various public sector organizations, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The integration of Crunchy Data's technology into Snowflake's offerings will pave the way for the introduction of Snowflake Postgres, an enterprise-grade PostgreSQL database tailored for its customers and partners, such as Blue Yonder and LandingAI. This acquisition not only enhances Snowflake's database portfolio but also aligns with the growing demand for AI-driven solutions in the current technological landscape. Snowflake plans to make this new technology available in private preview shortly. Vivek Raghunathan, SVP of engineering at Snowflake, articulated the company's vision, stating, “Our vision is to deliver the world’s most trusted and comprehensive data and AI platform to our customers. Today’s announcement of our proposed acquisition of Crunchy Data represents another reason why Snowflake is the ultimate destination for all enterprise data and AI needs. We’re tackling a massive 0 billion market opportunity and a real need for our customers to bring Postgres to the Snowflake AI Data Cloud.” This acquisition follows Snowflake's launch of new connectors for PostgreSQL and MySQL in 2024, further expanding its capabilities. Additionally, Snowflake's acquisition of data management company Datavolo last year underscores its commitment to enhancing its data management offerings." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million, although specific terms are undisclosed. This acquisition aims to enhance Snowflake's database capabilities, particularly for AI applications, and will lead to the introduction of Snowflake Postgres, an enterprise-grade PostgreSQL database. Crunchy Data specializes in tools for developers working with Postgres and has collaborated with clients such as UPS, SAS, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Snowflake plans to make the new technology available in private preview soon. This acquisition follows Snowflake's recent launch of new connectors for PostgreSQL and MySQL and its acquisition of Datavolo last year.

Tech Optimizer

June 4, 2025

Snowflake Acquires Crunchy Data to Bring PostgreSQL to Its AI Cloud

Snowflake has acquired Crunchy Data, a provider of enterprise PostgreSQL solutions, to integrate its capabilities into Snowflake's AI Data Cloud. This acquisition aims to enhance AI agent and application development and deployment. It positions Snowflake to compete more effectively in the AI infrastructure market against companies like Databricks. The deal reflects the growing importance of databases in the "agentic AI" market. Snowflake welcomed around 100 employees from Crunchy Data during its Snowflake Summit conference. The acquisition highlights a trend among major platforms to control the data layer for AI agents, as evidenced by recent investments and acquisitions in PostgreSQL-related companies. PostgreSQL is favored by developers, with nearly half using it, due to its suitability for rapid, automated provisioning required by AI agents. Crunchy Data's expertise addresses Snowflake's need for enterprise-grade operational database capabilities, particularly for real-time data storage and retrieval. The acquisition signals a shift towards AI agents managing databases autonomously, with predictions that they will handle 15% of work decisions by 2028. Snowflake's PostgreSQL offering will enter private preview soon, potentially simplifying data infrastructure if it delivers on its promises.

Tech Optimizer

June 4, 2025

Snowflake Acquires Crunchy Data to Launch Enterprise Postgres Cloud

Snowflake plans to acquire Crunchy Data, a leader in open-source PostgreSQL technology, to enhance its AI Data Cloud by integrating a fully enterprise-ready Postgres experience. This acquisition addresses the growing demand for production-grade PostgreSQL environments that combine open-source strengths with security, compliance, and scalability, particularly for AI applications. Crunchy Data is known for providing enterprise-class enhancements for Postgres, especially in regulated sectors. The integration aims to help enterprises build AI-native applications while maintaining security and operational control. Snowflake sees a [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Snowflake, a prominent player in the AI Data Cloud sector, has unveiled its plans to acquire Crunchy Data, a recognized leader in trusted open-source PostgreSQL technology. This announcement, made during the Snowflake Summit 2025, signifies a strategic initiative to incorporate a fully enterprise-ready and developer-friendly Postgres experience into the Snowflake AI Data Cloud. The acquisition is timely, responding to the increasing demand from enterprises for production-grade PostgreSQL environments that combine the strengths of open-source Postgres with essential features such as security, compliance, and scalability—elements that are particularly vital for AI-driven applications. The forthcoming Snowflake Postgres, leveraging Crunchy Data’s technology, aims to fulfill this need. Postgres for AI-Era Workloads PostgreSQL has emerged as the database of choice for nearly half of developers, who utilize it across a variety of workloads. However, deploying Postgres at an enterprise scale, especially for AI-powered applications, has traditionally involved navigating trade-offs between flexibility, governance, and performance. Crunchy Data has established a reputation for overcoming these challenges by providing enterprise-class enhancements for Postgres, particularly in highly regulated sectors such as federal agencies and Fortune 500 financial institutions. By integrating this expertise into the Snowflake platform, Snowflake Postgres will enable teams to develop AI agents, transactional applications, and analytics solutions within a cohesive and governed data ecosystem. “With this acquisition, Snowflake is doubling down on its commitment to help enterprises build AI-native applications without compromising on security or operational control,” remarked Vivek Raghunathan, SVP of Engineering at Snowflake. “Our customers want the best of both worlds: Postgres flexibility combined with enterprise trust—and we’re delivering exactly that.” A Strategic Fit This acquisition extends beyond merely enhancing technical capabilities; it also opens new market opportunities. Snowflake identifies a 0 billion addressable market at the intersection of transactional data and AI. By merging Crunchy Data’s established stack with Snowflake’s scalable infrastructure and AI ecosystem, the company aspires to transform how developers deploy and scale modern applications. Paul Laurence, Co-Founder of Crunchy Data, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “We founded Crunchy Data to bring secure, enterprise-grade Postgres to mission-critical environments. Partnering with Snowflake allows us to scale that mission globally, instilling confidence in customers to run sensitive workloads on a modern AI data platform.” Organizations like Blue Yonder and LandingAI, which currently leverage PostgreSQL for their operational applications, are poised to reap immediate benefits. With Snowflake Postgres, they can expedite deployment cycles, streamline AI integration, and maintain compliance—all without the need to overhaul their core data infrastructure. Future Outlook Snowflake has committed to providing ongoing support for existing Crunchy Data customers and has reiterated its long-term dedication to the open-source Postgres community. The newly introduced Snowflake Postgres is set to enter private preview soon, with plans for deeper integration into Snowflake's Unistore offering, which seamlessly combines transactional and analytical workloads. This acquisition represents a significant milestone in Snowflake’s mission to deliver a unified, AI-first data platform, one that empowers enterprises to innovate without sacrificing trust." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] billion addressable market at the intersection of transactional data and AI, and the acquisition will allow it to transform how developers deploy and scale applications. Existing Crunchy Data customers will continue to receive support, and Snowflake Postgres will soon enter private preview, with plans for integration into Snowflake's Unistore offering.

Tech Optimizer

June 4, 2025

Snowflake to acquire Crunchy Data to enhance Postgres for AI

Snowflake plans to acquire Crunchy Data, a provider of open-source Postgres technology, to enhance its AI Data Cloud with a new database platform called Snowflake Postgres. This platform will offer PostgreSQL compatibility while ensuring governance, security, and operational standards for enterprise-grade AI applications. The demand for secure, enterprise-ready PostgreSQL solutions has increased, and the integration of Crunchy Data is expected to meet these needs, particularly in regulated environments like FedRAMP. PostgreSQL is widely adopted, with 49% of developers using it, and Snowflake's Postgres offering aims to streamline the development and scaling of AI applications. Crunchy Data will bring features such as access to performance metrics, scalable architecture, and a user-friendly interface. Organizations using PostgreSQL, including Snowflake partners like Blue Yonder and LandingAI, are expected to benefit from improved development and operational efficiency. Snowflake will support Crunchy Data's existing customers post-acquisition and engage with the PostgreSQL community. Snowflake Postgres will be available in private preview, pending regulatory approvals.

Tech Optimizer

June 4, 2025

Snowflake digs out $250M to buy Crunchy to plug Postgres gap

Snowflake has acquired Crunchy Data to enhance its Postgres strategy, addressing a gap in its offerings as Postgres remains popular among developers. The acquisition is valued at 0 million and will result in Crunchy Data's technology being rebranded as Snowflake Postgres, aimed at supporting AI and transactional systems at an enterprise scale. The new product will maintain the flexibility of open source Postgres while providing enhanced governance and security. Organizations can migrate existing Postgres applications to Snowflake without code rewrites. This move is expected to promote Postgres adoption and complement Snowflake's Unistore solution, which integrates transactional and analytical data.

Tech Optimizer

June 4, 2025

Snowflake Buying Crunchy Data To Help Enterprises Deploy Compliant AI Agents

Snowflake plans to acquire Crunchy Data, a provider of open-source Postgres technology, to integrate Snowflake Postgres into its AI Data Cloud. This acquisition aims to offer an enterprise-grade, AI-ready PostgreSQL database with strong governance and security for mission-critical AI applications. Snowflake Postgres will be fully compatible with production applications, enhancing capabilities within the AI Data Cloud by leveraging Crunchy Data’s reputation for enterprise readiness in FedRAMP-compliant environments. PostgreSQL is favored by 49% of developers, and Snowflake Postgres will simplify building, deploying, and scaling production-ready AI applications. Customers like Blue Yonder and LandingAI will benefit from accelerated operations and enhanced efficiency through this integration. Snowflake aims to support the Postgres community and existing Crunchy Data customers, unifying transactional and analytical data within a single database. Key stakeholders from both companies express confidence in the acquisition's potential to enhance security and operational capabilities for enterprise organizations.