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Climate Tech Matures in 2024 with Bigger Investment Rounds

Climate Tech Matures in 2024 with Bigger Investment Rounds

Despite a 7% decline in venture investment to $12.9 billion, the climate tech sector showed signs of maturation in 2024. According to a new PitchBook report, median deal sizes rose to $7 million, and pre-money valuations jumped to $44.5 million. Investors are increasingly favoring later-stage companies that have successfully moved beyond their seed rounds. The overall deal count dropped by 27% to 568, reflecting broader market trends. The report highlights a shift in investor focus from early-stage to more established climate tech firms, amidst a challenging economic landscape.

Created at: January 16, 2025 8:00pm

Mark Cuban Eyes TikTok Rival Built on Bluesky's AT Protocol

Mark Cuban Eyes TikTok Rival Built on Bluesky's AT Protocol

Mark Cuban has announced his intention to fund a TikTok alternative utilizing Bluesky's AT Protocol in a recent TikTok video. With a potential TikTok ban looming, users are migrating to other platforms, increasing the demand for decentralized social media solutions. The AT Protocol aims to enhance user control and portability of accounts across networks. Cuban is inviting developers to create a minimum viable product to showcase their ideas. This initiative not only positions Cuban against competitors like Elon Musk's X but also promotes an open social web ecosystem. Bluesky is experiencing rapid user growth, now exceeding 27.6 million.

Created at: January 16, 2025 7:00pm

eToro Targets $5B US IPO in 2025 Amid Renewed Fintech Interest

eToro Targets $5B US IPO in 2025 Amid Renewed Fintech Interest

Trading platform eToro has confidentially filed for a US IPO that could value the company at over $5 billion, according to the Financial Times. The Israel-based fintech previously attempted to go public via a SPAC in 2021 but abandoned those plans in 2022. In March 2023, eToro secured $250 million in funding at a $3.5 billion valuation. The company allows users to trade various assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. Sources indicate that a formal listing in New York could occur as early as the second quarter of 2025, reflecting a resurgence in fintech IPOs.

Created at: January 16, 2025 6:30pm

EV Startup Harbinger Secures $100M Amid Tesla's Mixed Federal Funding Outcome

EV Startup Harbinger Secures $100M Amid Tesla's Mixed Federal Funding Outcome

Harbinger, an electric vehicle startup, has successfully raised $100 million in a Series B funding round led by Capricorn Investment Group and Leitmotif. This investment comes as Tesla faces a dual outcome with federal funding; while it was denied $97 million for a charging corridor project, it successfully secured $100 million for electric truck charging stations in Illinois. Additionally, eBay has acquired car transaction startup Caramel, and Sarla Aviation raised $10 million led by Accel. The funding landscape continues to evolve within the electric vehicle and transportation sectors.

Created at: January 16, 2025 6:30pm

Goldman Sachs CEO Advises Startups to Rethink IPOs

Goldman Sachs CEO Advises Startups to Rethink IPOs

At the Cisco AI Summit in Palo Alto, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon urged startups to reconsider going public, citing the benefits of remaining private. He emphasized that startups can achieve significant growth and secure funding in private markets without the complexities of being publicly traded. Solomon remarked, 'It’s not fun being a public company,' highlighting the challenges faced by public firms. Goldman Sachs is increasingly focusing on private companies, including its recent collaboration with Stripe on a substantial funding round. This perspective reflects a growing trend among tech startups to delay IPOs.

Created at: January 16, 2025 5:30pm

Anduril to Invest $1 Billion in New Weapons Megafactory in Ohio

Anduril to Invest $1 Billion in New Weapons Megafactory in Ohio

Anduril Industries has announced plans to construct a billion-dollar weapons megafactory, Arsenal-1, in Columbus, Ohio. The five-million-square-foot facility will create approximately 4,000 jobs and is designed to enhance the production of autonomous surveillance and weapon systems. The company's decision was influenced by the site's proximity to Rickenbacker Airport, providing access to extensive runway space and additional land for future expansion. This initiative marks a significant milestone for the defense tech startup, founded by Palmer Luckey and others.

Created at: January 16, 2025 5:00pm

Symbotic Takes Charge of Walmart's Robotics Business in $200M Deal

Symbotic Takes Charge of Walmart's Robotics Business in $200M Deal

Symbotic has secured a significant deal with Walmart, acquiring control of its automation business for $200 million in cash, alongside up to $350 million in contingent payments. This partnership enhances Symbotic's role as a key technology supplier for Walmart, which has been utilizing its automated systems since 2017. The deal, expected to close in Q2 2025, includes Walmart paying Symbotic a total of $520 million, reinforcing their long-standing relationship. The implications for Symbotic's contracts with other clients remain uncertain.

Created at: January 16, 2025 5:00pm

Netradyne Raises $90M to Enhance AI Dashcams for Safer Roads

Netradyne Raises $90M to Enhance AI Dashcams for Safer Roads

Netradyne, a California-based startup, has secured $90 million in Series D funding, elevating its valuation to $1.25 billion. The investment, led by Point72 Private Investments, will support the expansion of its AI-enabled dashcams for commercial fleets, which have already proven to reduce crashes by 50%. Following its success in North America and India, the company aims to enter markets in Ireland and Japan. Netradyne's innovative dashcams utilize real-time alerts and advanced data analytics, accumulating over 18 billion miles of driving data to enhance safety and compliance.

Created at: January 16, 2025 4:30pm

Teal Health Secures $10M Funding for At-Home Cervical Cancer Screening Solution

Teal Health Secures $10M Funding for At-Home Cervical Cancer Screening Solution

Teal Health has raised $10 million in a seed extension round led by Emerson Collective and Forerunner, boosting its total funding to $23 million. Founded in 2020 by Kara Egan and Dr. Avnesh Thakor, the company aims to revolutionize cervical cancer screenings by enabling women to conduct tests at home. The Teal Wand, pending FDA approval, will allow users to collect samples for telehealth consultations. Egan emphasized the importance of access to screenings, noting that many women are delayed in their preventive care. The funding will enhance Teal's telehealth platform and support expansion across the U.S.

Created at: January 16, 2025 4:00pm

TikTok Alternatives Emerge Amid Impending Ban: Users Seek New Social Media Homes

TikTok Alternatives Emerge Amid Impending Ban: Users Seek New Social Media Homes

As the potential TikTok ban looms, users are exploring alternatives like RedNote and Lemon8. Influencer Jasmine Chiswell expressed her emotional farewell to her followers, highlighting the uncertainty among TikTok's 18 million users. With the app's fate in the balance, competitors are gaining traction, including Flip and Clapper, which recently saw a surge in users. Despite these options, many believe nothing can truly replace TikTok's unique algorithm and community feel. The search for a new platform continues as users yearn to maintain their creative connections.

Created at: January 16, 2025 2:00pm

Google Wallet Expands Hotel Room Key Support with Club Quarters on Android

Google Wallet Expands Hotel Room Key Support with Club Quarters on Android

Google Wallet has announced the expansion of its digital hotel room key service through a partnership with Club Quarters, now available for Android users. This integration allows guests to add their hotel card keys directly into the Google Wallet app, enabling smartphone access to their rooms via NFC technology. Previously, digital room keys were only accessible through the hotel's app since 2017. Club Quarters claims to be the first hotel chain globally to implement this technology across its locations in the U.S. and U.K. This move reflects the ongoing trend towards digitalization and smartphone convenience in hospitality services.

Created at: January 16, 2025 1:30pm

Dub.co Aims to Revolutionize Link Attribution Amid Honey Controversy

Dub.co Aims to Revolutionize Link Attribution Amid Honey Controversy

Dub.co, an open-source URL shortener and link attribution service, is stepping in to address recent affiliate link controversies involving PayPal-owned Honey. Founded by Steven Tey, the platform allows creators to generate customizable links that ensure transparency in attribution. Dub.co aims to simplify affiliate marketing by removing the need for coupon codes and offering businesses a way to track conversions accurately. With $2 million in funding, the startup is also collaborating with the Malaysian government to enhance its services. The newly launched Conversions product helps track marketing metrics in real-time.

Created at: January 16, 2025 1:30pm

Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Achieves First Successful Launch

Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Achieves First Successful Launch

Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket into orbit for the first time on January 16, 2025. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, reaching space shortly after takeoff. Although the first stage exploded during an attempted landing, the primary goal of achieving orbit was accomplished. CEO Dave Limp expressed pride in the milestone, signaling a new era for the company. Blue Origin aims to conduct multiple launches this year, using New Glenn for satellite deployments and future Moon missions with NASA.

Created at: January 16, 2025 12:00pm

Mistral Partners with AFP to Enhance Le Chat's Accuracy

Mistral Partners with AFP to Enhance Le Chat's Accuracy

Mistral has announced a significant content partnership with Agence France-Presse (AFP) to improve the accuracy of its chatbot, Le Chat. This marks Mistral's first deal of this nature as it aims to transition from a foundation model maker to a provider of compelling AI products. Le Chat will have access to AFP's extensive daily news stories, allowing it to deliver multilingual responses. AFP also benefits by diversifying its revenue sources after Meta dissolved its fact-checking program. This collaboration highlights the growing trend of AI companies partnering with news organizations for enhanced product offerings.

Created at: January 16, 2025 10:00am

Google Enters Major Carbon Credit Deal with Indian Startup Varaha

Google Enters Major Carbon Credit Deal with Indian Startup Varaha

Google has signed a groundbreaking agreement to acquire 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide removal credits from Varaha, an Indian startup, marking its first carbon project deal in India. This deal is the world's largest involving biochar, a sustainable product made from biomass. The credits will be sourced from Varaha's facility in Gujarat, utilizing invasive plant species to produce biochar while restoring local ecosystems. The partnership aims for long-term carbon removal solutions, with Varaha targeting one million carbon credits annually by 2030. Financial details of the deal remain undisclosed.

Created at: January 16, 2025 9:30am

Hyperline Raises $10 Million to Revolutionize Automated Billing

Hyperline Raises $10 Million to Revolutionize Automated Billing

French startup Hyperline has secured $10 million in funding from Index Ventures to enhance its automated billing platform. The startup aims to simplify billing for recurring subscriptions and usage-based services, addressing common issues faced by growing companies. Founder Lucas Bédout emphasized the demand for automation in invoicing and payment processes. Hyperline offers features like custom pricing and integrates seamlessly with CRMs and accounting software. With plans to expand its workforce from 14 to 25, the company is poised to target larger clients generating significant revenue.

Created at: January 16, 2025 8:00am

Amazon Acquires Fintech Startup Axio to Expand Credit Access in India

Amazon Acquires Fintech Startup Axio to Expand Credit Access in India

Amazon has officially acquired Indian fintech startup Axio, enhancing its foothold in the financial services sector. This move aims to provide credit access to underserved Indian consumers. Axio, previously known as Capital Float, has a strong customer base of over 10 million and a loan book exceeding $260 million. The acquisition agreement was signed after six years of Amazon's equity stake in the startup. Financial details remain undisclosed, but this marks Amazon's second acquisition in India following its purchase of MX Player. The deal reflects Amazon's commitment to addressing credit gaps in the region.

Created at: January 16, 2025 7:00am

MiniMax Unveils AI Models to Compete with Industry Giants

MiniMax Unveils AI Models to Compete with Industry Giants

Chinese AI startup MiniMax has launched three new models: MiniMax-Text-01, MiniMax-VL-01, and T2A-01-HD, backed by Alibaba and Tencent. These models aim to rival those from OpenAI and other U.S. firms, with MiniMax-Text-01 reportedly outperforming Google's Gemini 2.0 Flash in key benchmarks. The new models include capabilities for text, image, and audio processing, with MiniMax-Text-01 featuring an impressive context window of 4 million tokens. Despite their availability, MiniMax's models are under a restrictive license, limiting their use in competing technologies amidst heightened scrutiny from the U.S. government regarding AI exports to China.

Created at: January 16, 2025 2:00am

Hindenburg Research Shuts Down After Seven Years of Targeting Major Tech Firms

Hindenburg Research Shuts Down After Seven Years of Targeting Major Tech Firms

Hindenburg Research, the prominent short-selling firm founded by Nate Anderson, has officially closed its doors after seven years of impactful reports on high-profile companies. Anderson announced the decision in a blog post, citing personal toll and health concerns as factors in his choice to disband the firm. Hindenburg gained notoriety for its thorough investigations, often leading to significant repercussions for targeted companies, including SEC investigations. The firm notably took on major tech and electric vehicle companies, highlighting issues like misrepresentation and operational challenges. Anderson expressed a desire to spend more time with family moving forward.

Created at: January 16, 2025 12:00am

Stoke Space Secures $260M for Reusable Rocket Development

Stoke Space Secures $260M for Reusable Rocket Development

Stoke Space, a Y Combinator alum founded by Blue Origin veterans, has successfully raised $260 million in a Series C funding round, bringing its total funding to $480 million. This follows a $100 million raise in October 2023 and a $75 million round in December 2021. The company aims to create the first fully reusable rocket, including both booster and second stage. Recent tests of its first-stage rocket engine were promising. The new capital will be utilized to expand facilities at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, with participation from several prominent investors.

Created at: January 15, 2025 11:00pm

Loft Orbital Secures $170 Million in Series C Funding for Space Ventures

Loft Orbital Secures $170 Million in Series C Funding for Space Ventures

Loft Orbital, a space infrastructure startup, has successfully raised $170 million in Series C funding, co-led by Tikehau Capital and Axial Partners. This round of funding surpasses the total of $160 million raised since its inception in 2017. The company has reported over $500 million in bookings, demonstrating significant capital efficiency. Loft's customers include major players like NASA and Microsoft, and it has launched over 25 missions. With this new capital, Loft aims to expand its satellite launches and enhance its AI capabilities in space operations.

Created at: January 15, 2025 8:30pm

OpenAI Fuels Axios' Local News Expansion in Four U.S. Cities

OpenAI Fuels Axios' Local News Expansion in Four U.S. Cities

OpenAI has partnered with Axios to support the expansion of its local newsletters into Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Boulder, and Huntsville. This three-year deal marks a significant shift, as it is the first instance of OpenAI directly funding a media company's newsroom. Axios previously collaborated with OpenAI on content-sharing agreements, but this partnership emphasizes enhancing publishers' operations using AI tools. OpenAI's commitment aligns with its broader strategy to assist media organizations in adapting to changing landscapes. The collaboration aims to bolster local journalism amid evolving media dynamics.

Created at: January 15, 2025 8:00pm

ByteDance's AI Assistant in E-Reader Spreads Chinese Propaganda

ByteDance's AI Assistant in E-Reader Spreads Chinese Propaganda

The recent controversy surrounding the Boox e-reader, powered by ByteDance's AI assistant, has highlighted the potential for Chinese propaganda to infiltrate U.S. products. Users reported that the assistant provided responses denying Chinese government atrocities and portraying North Korea positively. This has raised concerns about the implications of using Chinese AI models in Western markets. Following the backlash, Boox has reportedly reverted to OpenAI's GPT-3, but the current AI model remains undisclosed. Experts warn of the risks associated with deploying Chinese generative AI tools globally.

Created at: January 15, 2025 8:00pm

François Chollet Launches Ndea: A New Frontier in AGI Research

François Chollet Launches Ndea: A New Frontier in AGI Research

AI pioneer François Chollet has co-founded a startup named Ndea, which aims to push the boundaries of artificial general intelligence (AGI) through innovative program synthesis techniques. The lab will focus on creating AI that can adapt and learn like humans, potentially revolutionizing how AI systems invent and innovate. Chollet believes this approach could unlock significant advancements in AI research. Ndea is currently hiring for remote research positions, indicating potential financial backing. Chollet's departure from Google marks a growing trend of top AI researchers venturing into independent labs.

Created at: January 15, 2025 7:01pm

Bluesky Launches New Photo-Sharing App, Flashes

Bluesky Launches New Photo-Sharing App, Flashes

An independent developer is set to launch Flashes, a photo-sharing app for Bluesky, utilizing the AT Protocol technology. Flashes aims to provide an alternative to mainstream social media platforms, catering to users interested in visual content. The app will support photo posts and videos, integrating seamlessly with Bluesky's existing features. Developer Sebastian Vogelsang highlights that Flashes is not just an Instagram clone but offers unique functionalities. A TestFlight beta version is anticipated soon, with a public launch expected in the coming weeks, appealing to a broader audience.

Created at: January 15, 2025 5:30pm

Google Partners with AP to Enhance Gemini with Real-Time Information

Google Partners with AP to Enhance Gemini with Real-Time Information

Google has announced a collaboration with The Associated Press to enrich its Gemini chatbot app with a real-time information feed. Jaffer Zaidi, Google’s VP of global news partnerships, emphasized that this initiative aims to make Gemini more useful for users seeking up-to-date information. While the timeline for the feature's rollout remains unclear, the partnership reflects a broader trend of AI companies working with news organizations to improve accuracy. This move aligns with similar partnerships in the industry, highlighting the urgency for news outlets to secure beneficial agreements amidst ongoing challenges.

Created at: January 15, 2025 5:00pm

Colossal Biosciences Secures $200M to Revive Woolly Mammoths and Other Extinct Species

Colossal Biosciences Secures $200M to Revive Woolly Mammoths and Other Extinct Species

Colossal Biosciences has successfully raised $200 million in a Series C funding round, achieving a remarkable $10.2 billion valuation. This funding was led by TWG Global, with participation from notable investors like Mark Walter and Thomas Tull. The company aims to resurrect woolly mammoths, Tasmanian tigers, and dodo birds using advanced gene-editing technologies. Co-founder Ben Lamm highlighted the impressive technological advancements made since their last funding round. Colossal also plans to develop artificial wombs and collaborate with governments on conservation efforts, anticipating significant revenue from biodiversity credits.

Created at: January 15, 2025 4:00pm

OpenAI Introduces Phone Number-Only Signups for ChatGPT

OpenAI Introduces Phone Number-Only Signups for ChatGPT

OpenAI has launched a beta feature allowing new ChatGPT users in the U.S. and India to register using only a phone number, eliminating the need for an email address. However, this method comes with restrictions, including the inability to upgrade to paid plans without verifying via email. Recycled phone numbers may cause errors, with no current workaround available. OpenAI aims to lower barriers for product access, having earlier introduced phone chat functionality and WhatsApp integration. Despite a significant user base, OpenAI faces financial losses and is exploring pricing adjustments.

Created at: January 15, 2025 3:30pm

FARO Secures $6M to Transform Surplus Clothing Market in Africa

FARO Secures $6M to Transform Surplus Clothing Market in Africa

FARO, a South African startup, has raised $6 million to tackle the issues of surplus clothing from global brands and environmental waste in Africa. The venture aims to source, refurbish, and sell excess inventory, providing affordable fashion while addressing the demand for secondhand goods. With plans to expand from four to 1,000 stores in the next decade, FARO focuses on restoring consumer returns often discarded by brands. The startup's strategy includes introducing AI to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences, targeting a market poised for significant growth.

Created at: January 15, 2025 3:30pm

AI Recruiters on the Rise as Gen Z Job Applications Surge

AI Recruiters on the Rise as Gen Z Job Applications Surge

With a significant increase in job applications from Gen Z, companies are increasingly adopting AI recruiters to streamline hiring processes. Maki, an AI platform, has raised $28.6 million in Series A funding to enhance its conversational AI for candidate interviews. The platform, which claims to automate up to 80% of the recruitment process, is already experiencing rapid growth, securing contracts with major firms like H&M and BNP Paribas. Maki's AI agents provide personalized feedback to candidates, reducing bias and improving the overall recruitment experience.

Created at: January 15, 2025 3:30pm

Rockfish Secures $4M Seed Funding to Transform Enterprise Data with Synthetic Solutions

Rockfish Secures $4M Seed Funding to Transform Enterprise Data with Synthetic Solutions

Rockfish, a startup focused on leveraging synthetic data to solve the reproducibility crisis in academia and enterprise, has secured $4 million in seed funding led by Emergent Ventures. Founded by Vyas Sekar and Giulia Fanti from Carnegie Mellon, Rockfish aims to help enterprises overcome data silos by integrating with database providers like AWS and Azure. Their product is designed for continuous ingestion of operational data, making it relevant for daily enterprise use. The company has already partnered with clients such as Conviva and government agencies including the U.S. Army.

Created at: January 15, 2025 3:00pm

Hinge Unveils AI-Powered Feature to Enhance Dating Profiles

Hinge Unveils AI-Powered Feature to Enhance Dating Profiles

Hinge has launched a new AI feature called 'Prompt Feedback' aimed at improving user engagement on dating profiles. Utilizing OpenAI's GPT-4o mini, it analyzes profile responses and provides tailored advice to make them more specific and authentic. The feature offers three levels of guidance, encouraging users to share unique details rather than resorting to cliché answers. This initiative comes as online dating faces challenges like user burnout and ghosting. Match Group is investing $20-30 million into AI, enhancing its dating platforms, including Tinder.

Created at: January 15, 2025 1:00pm

SoftBank Veteran Akshay Naheta Bets Big on Payment Infrastructure Innovation

SoftBank Veteran Akshay Naheta Bets Big on Payment Infrastructure Innovation

Akshay Naheta, a SoftBank executive known for bold investments, is launching Distributed Technologies Research (DTR) to modernize global payment systems. The startup aims to bridge traditional banking and blockchain with its technology, AmalgamOS, which can reduce costs and inefficiencies in payments. DTR connects banks to blockchain networks, enabling businesses to streamline transactions while ensuring compliance. With connections to 12,000 banks across Europe, DTR targets businesses facing challenges in the fragmented payment landscape. Naheta's approach emphasizes compliance and institutional credibility as competition heats up in the fintech sector.

Created at: January 15, 2025 11:30am

Nikita Bier Launches Explode: A New App for Disappearing iMessage Photos

Nikita Bier Launches Explode: A New App for Disappearing iMessage Photos

Nikita Bier, known for creating popular apps like Gas and tbh, has launched Explode, a new app that allows users to send disappearing messages via iMessage. The app ensures that recipients can view texts or images only once before they disappear, and it prevents screenshots. While the app is free, users can opt for Explode+ for enhanced features, including alerts for screenshots and locked photo viewing. Bier's launch comes amid tensions with Snapchat, which previously removed Gas from its platform. Currently, Explode is available in select countries including the U.S., Canada, and the UK.

Created at: January 15, 2025 10:30am

Synthesia Secures $180M Funding at $2.1B Valuation for AI Video Platform

Synthesia Secures $180M Funding at $2.1B Valuation for AI Video Platform

Synthesia, a London-based startup specializing in AI avatar technology, has successfully raised $180 million in a Series D funding round, elevating its valuation to $2.1 billion. With 60,000 enterprise customers and over 1 million users, Synthesia is set to expand its footprint in the Asia Pacific region. The funds will be directed towards hiring and enhancing product capabilities, as CEO Victor Riparbelli emphasizes the importance of creating more realistic avatars. Notably, Synthesia has avoided acquisitions, opting instead for in-house development while leveraging third-party technologies.

Created at: January 15, 2025 7:30am

Nelly Secures $51 Million to Revolutionize Healthcare Fintech in Europe

Nelly Secures $51 Million to Revolutionize Healthcare Fintech in Europe

Berlin-based fintech startup Nelly has successfully raised €50 million (approximately $51 million) in a Series B funding round led by Cathay Innovation and Notion Capital. The startup aims to digitize administrative workflows for medical practices, currently working with over 1,200 across Europe. Despite advances in digitalization, more than 50% of appointments are still booked via phone or walk-ins. Nelly's software facilitates online patient onboarding and billing, integrating seamlessly with existing practice management systems. The company plans to expand its services to additional European markets following its recent growth.

Created at: January 15, 2025 5:30am

Nvidia Invests in MetAI: Pioneering AI-Powered Digital Twins

Nvidia Invests in MetAI: Pioneering AI-Powered Digital Twins

Nvidia has announced its first investment in a Taiwanese startup, MetAI, which specializes in AI-generated digital twins. The $4 million seed funding aims to enhance MetAI’s capabilities in creating 'SimReady' environments from CAD files in minutes. This aligns with Nvidia's focus on robotics and industrial AI applications through its Omniverse platform. MetAI's technology promises to significantly reduce the time for digital twin simulations, enabling faster AI training. The startup plans to expand its R&D and establish a U.S. office to meet growing demand in automation and manufacturing sectors.

Created at: January 15, 2025 1:00am

Accel Invests in Sarla Aviation's Electric Air Taxi Vision

Accel Invests in Sarla Aviation's Electric Air Taxi Vision

Sarla Aviation, an electric air taxi startup launched in India, has secured $10 million in funding led by Accel, with notable angel investors joining the round. The startup aims to address India's traffic congestion with a six-passenger air taxi prototype, reducing range to approximately 99 miles for higher payload capacity. Founded by Adrian Schmidt, Rakesh Gaonkar, and Shivam Chauhan, Sarla plans to establish an R&D center in Bengaluru and expand its team significantly. The first prototype will be showcased on January 17, with commercial operations expected to begin in 2028, focusing on airport transfers in major cities.

Created at: January 15, 2025 12:00am

ChatGPT Surpasses 300M Users Amid Major Updates and Controversies

ChatGPT Surpasses 300M Users Amid Major Updates and Controversies

OpenAI's ChatGPT, the AI-powered chatbot, has reached a remarkable milestone of 300 million weekly active users, reflecting its rapid growth since its launch in November 2022. The company rolled out significant updates throughout 2024, including partnerships with Apple and the introduction of its new text-to-video model, Sora. However, OpenAI faced challenges, including high-profile executive departures and lawsuits alleging copyright infringement. Despite these hurdles, innovations like real-time vision capabilities and customizable user interactions have kept user engagement high. The company continues to evolve amid ongoing scrutiny and competition.

Created at: January 14, 2025 10:30pm

Meta's AI Leaders Intensely Focused on Outpacing OpenAI's GPT-4

Meta's AI Leaders Intensely Focused on Outpacing OpenAI's GPT-4

Internal court filings reveal that Meta's executives and researchers were fixated on surpassing OpenAI's GPT-4 while developing their own Llama 3 model. Ahmad Al-Dahle, Meta’s VP of Generative AI, emphasized the need to outdo competitors like Anthropic and OpenAI in a series of messages. The filings suggest a dismissive attitude towards rivals, such as the French startup Mistral. Amidst the pressure to release advanced AI models, concerns have emerged regarding the legality of the data used for training. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has stated that Meta aims to close the performance gap with leading AI models by 2025.

Created at: January 14, 2025 10:00pm