AI & Data · Week of Oct 26, 2026
AI security launches and GPU deals: the week in AI releases
Security vendors Check Point and Norton launched AI-era protections as Forum Edge AI signed a $94.4 million GPU capacity deal with Fireworks.
Security led the week's AI releases. Check Point Software Technologies introduced a subscription bundling its AI Network Firewall, AI-powered threat prevention and agentic management with no upfront hardware purchase. Norton, a brand of Gen, launched Safe AI inside Norton 360, which it says lets users decide what AI can see and do. On the infrastructure side, Forum Markets said its joint venture Forum Edge AI agreed to reserve Nvidia B300 GPU capacity for Fireworks in Dallas under a contract valued at about $94.4 million over 36 months.
Financial services and data providers also featured. S&P Dow Jones Indices and Kalshi announced a collaboration that brings S&P DJI index contracts to prediction markets. Alkami Technology scheduled a webinar with Thomaston Savings Bank on predictive AI in banking. The remaining items were recognitions and appointments: Omnicom was named a Leader in an IDC MarketScape assessment, Jack Henry made the Forbes trusted companies list, and Avantor named a new CIO.
FORUM MARKETS Inc
Forum Edge AI Announces $94.4 Million Definitive AI Cloud Services Compute Agreement with Fireworks
Forum Markets says its joint venture Forum Edge AI signed a definitive 36-month agreement with Fireworks for Nvidia B300 GPU capacity at its Dallas data center, with a total contract value of about $94.4 million and a substantial prepayment deposit. The company says the GPUs are expected to be deployed in late December or early January at a site that already has permits, power access and physical infrastructure.
Check Point Software Technologies
Check Point Launches Firewall-as-a-Subscription to Put Advanced AI-Era Protection Within Reach of Every Organization
Check Point Software Technologies launched Firewall-as-a-Subscription, which it says gives organizations of every size its AI Network Firewall, AI-powered threat prevention and agentic management. The offer requires no upfront hardware purchase, which the company presents as a way to widen access to its protection.
Norton
Norton Launches Safe AI to Help You Use AI Without Giving Up Control
Norton, a consumer Cyber Safety brand of Gen, announced Safe AI, a new set of protections inside Norton 360. The company says the features block unwanted actions and let users decide what AI can see and do.
Omnicom Group Inc.
Omnicom Named a Leader in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide AI-Enabled Adobe Professional Services 2026 Vendor Assessment
Omnicom says it was named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide AI-Enabled Adobe Professional Services 2026 Vendor Assessment (doc #US54114626, October 2026). The placement is relevant to buyers evaluating AI-enabled Adobe services partners.
S&P Dow Jones Indices
S&P Dow Jones Indices and Kalshi Announce Collaboration to Bring the World's Most Trusted Benchmarks to Prediction Markets
S&P Dow Jones Indices and Kalshi announced a strategic collaboration that makes Kalshi a preferred prediction market platform for S&P DJI index contracts. Under the same agreement, S&P DJI becomes a preferred index provider for Kalshi event contract data, linking established benchmarks with prediction markets.
Alkami Technology, Inc.
Alkami to Host Webinar with Thomaston Savings Bank on Using Predictive AI to Deliver Data-Driven Guidance and Accelerate Growth
Alkami Technology will host a webinar with Thomaston Savings Bank on how financial institutions can use predictive AI and behavioral signals to drive growth. The session is aimed at banks looking to use data-driven guidance to strengthen account holder relationships.
Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.
Forbes Names Jack Henry One of America's Most Trusted Companies
Jack Henry says it was named to Forbes' Most Trusted Companies in America 2027 list, ranking No. 113 among U.S. public companies with more than 5,000 employees. The company says the recognition reflects trust among its employees, clients and investors.
Avantor and Financial News
Avantor appoints new Chief Information Officer
Avantor, a provider of products and services to the life sciences and advanced technology industries, named Mikey Santiago as its new Chief Information Officer. The appointment puts a new executive in charge of the company's information function.
This roundup is written with AI assistance from the press releases listed above, using only what they state. The releases are the companies' own announcements, not AI Founders Story reporting.