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- 🕶️ AI wars: why Meta and Musk are gunning for OpenAI
🕶️ AI wars: why Meta and Musk are gunning for OpenAI
SoftBank pledges $100B investment in the US
Paula Echeverria & Lucila Sarquis
December 17, 2024
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It seems that Elon isn’t the only one opposed to OpenAI’s shift to a for-profit model. In a letter reported by The Wall Street Journal, Meta warned that the move could have "seismic implications for Silicon Valley". This is just the beginning.
Meanwhile, also on AI Street, President-elect Donald Trump’s tech advisors are raising alarms about potential "AI censorship", sparking heated debates on the future of free speech in the digital age.
And in the business corner, SoftBank is doubling down with a $100B investment in the U.S., while Skims co-founder Jens Grede is cooling the IPO buzz with a dose of caution.
Keep reading for more insights—and don't miss our curated video pick: The Hacker That Broke North Korea's Internet.
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Six bullets of updates
đź’¸ SoftBank pledges $100B investment in the US, aiming to create 100,000 jobs in emerging tech industries.
🚀 Arlan Hamilton of Backstage Capital transitions to advisory role; firm aims for $200M fund with new partner.
🤖 AI's next frontier: World models simulate reality for video, gaming, and beyond, backed by $230M in funding.
🌍 The EU signs an €11B deal for 300 satellites by 2030 to challenge Musk's Starlink.
đź’Ľ Skims co-founder Jens Grede cools IPO buzz, stating their $4B company isn't going public anytime soon.
đź’µ U.S. private equity firm AE Industrial acquires Paragon for $500M.
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Nonprofit to profit? Meta and Musk say “not so fast”
Meta is backing Elon Musk's effort to block OpenAI’s shift from nonprofit to for-profit, urging California attorney general Rob Bonta to intervene. In a letter reported by The Wall Street Journal, Meta argued the change could have “seismic implications for Silicon Valley” and claimed it would unfairly let nonprofit investors benefit from for-profit returns and tax breaks. The company also supported Musk and former OpenAI board member Shivon Zilis as advocates for Californian interests.
The conflict highlights growing tensions in the AI industry. Musk, once an OpenAI co-founder, now runs rival xAI and has filed a lawsuit to stop OpenAI’s for-profit move. OpenAI responded by releasing Musk’s communications and urging competition in the marketplace, not the courtroom. Read more.
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Startup Events and Deadlines
Open Forum: Startup Mastermind Sessions | Today! | Online Event
Founders Run & Coffee! | Today! | Chicago
Startups and Business Networking Event NYC | Dec 18 | Meetup
Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator | Deadline: Jan 1 | New York
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The AI censorship debate: new battleground, old war
President-elect Donald Trump’s tech advisors, including Elon Musk, Marc Andreessen, and David Sacks, are raising alarms about "AI censorship." They argue that Big Tech could manipulate chatbot responses to align with political agendas, escalating conservative concerns about free speech and content moderation. Andreessen has warned that AI could surpass social media in controlling narratives, calling it a potential path to dystopia.
David Sacks, Trump’s AI and crypto czar, has criticized companies like Google and OpenAI for prioritizing political correctness over "truthful" outputs. While biases in AI often stem from internet-trained data, the advisors emphasize the need for neutrality and transparency to prevent ideological manipulation in emerging AI systems.
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The hacker that broke North Korea's internet
In January 2022, a shocking report emerged—nearly all of North Korea’s websites were down. Speculation ran wild, from hacker groups to government agencies. But the truth? It was just one man, working alone. Meet P4x, the hacker who breached North Korea’s digital defenses. After years of hiding and fearing for his life, he’s finally ready to tell his story 🕶️ Subscribe for more!
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