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Venture Capital

Sapphire Sport Rebrands as 359 Capital, Focuses on Series A and B Startups

Sapphire Sport, a venture fund focused on sports, media, and entertainment, is spinning out from Sapphire Ventures and rebranding as 359 Capital. The firm will continue to focus primarily on Series A and Series B startups, writing checks between $2 million to $10 million. 359 Capital's portfolio includes companies like Beehiiv, Betty Labs, Overtime, Perplexity, and Tonal. The transition includes key personnel such as Michael Spirito, David Hartwig, Doug Higgins, and Rico Mallozzi.

Cybersecurity

The Pervasive Threat of Government Spyware: Abuse Beyond Criminals and Terrorists

Government spyware, intended for serious criminals and terrorists, is increasingly used against journalists, activists, and politicians. The ease of targeting and lack of transparency contribute to widespread abuse. Companies like NSO Group and Paragon provide sophisticated surveillance tools, leading to a multi-billion dollar market with governments spying on a broad range of individuals. While some efforts are underway to curb the market, the problem persists globally.

Autonomous Vehicles

Vay Secures Potential $410M Investment from Grab to Expand Remote Driving Technology

Vay, a German startup specializing in remote-controlled rental cars, is set to receive $60 million from Grab, with a potential for an additional $350 million upon achieving joint milestones. The investment will help Vay scale its operations in the U.S., where it currently operates in Las Vegas. Vay's technology uses human operators to remotely drive rental cars to customers. Grab's investment aims to tap into the growing market of consumers who prefer not to own cars. The two companies also plan to explore synergies in Southeast Asia, with Grab potentially using Vay's driving data to improve AI models for autonomous driving.

Artificial Intelligence

1Mind Secures $30 Million to Revolutionize Sales with AI Agents

1Mind, founded by Amanda Kahlow, has raised a $30 million Series A round to further develop its AI sales agent, Mindy. Unlike other sales agents that focus on outbound communication, Mindy handles inbound sales, augments self-service websites, and replaces sales engineers on calls. 1Mind's AI agents are designed to replicate the human experience, providing comprehensive knowledge and deterministic AI to limit deviations. Currently used by over 30 companies, including HubSpot and LinkedIn, 1Mind aims to replace roles such as sales engineers and potentially higher-end account executives in the future, envisioning agent-to-agent transactions.

Artificial Intelligence & Automation

Scribe's $1.3B Valuation Fuels AI-Driven Workflow Optimization

Scribe, a workflow documentation platform, has raised $75 million in a Series C round, valuing the company at $1.3 billion. The funding will be used to launch Scribe Optimize, a platform designed to identify where automation and AI can provide the most significant returns for enterprises. Scribe's existing product, Scribe Capture, automatically documents workflows, creating step-by-step guides with text and screenshots.

According to Scribe, customers using Capture have reported saving 35 to 42 hours per person per month and reducing new hire onboarding time by 40%. The company currently serves teams within 94% of Fortune 500 companies and has over 5 million users across 78,000 organizations. Scribe plans to double its headcount in the next 12 months and expand its presence in markets like the U.K., Canada, Australia, and Europe.

The company has documented over 10 million workflows across 40,000 software applications.

Streaming Services

YouTube TV Offers $20 Credit to Subscribers Amidst Disney Channel Dispute

YouTube TV is providing a $20 credit to subscribers affected by the week-long absence of Disney-owned networks like ESPN and ABC. The credit will be applied to their next billing statement.

Disney channels were removed from the service on October 31 due to a pricing dispute between YouTube and Disney. YouTube criticizes Disney's price hike, while Disney claims YouTube is unwilling to pay fair rates.

Subscribers will receive emailed instructions on how to apply the credit. YouTube aims to restore the channels quickly if a deal is reached.

Business & Entrepreneurship

Tech Founders Brush Up on Social Graces at Slow Ventures' Etiquette School

Slow Ventures hosted a three-hour "Etiquette Finishing School" covering topics from handshakes to office decorum.

The program included a fashion show and a lesson on caviar and wine.

Held at the Four Seasons in San Francisco, the free program accepted 50 founders out of a few hundred applicants, primarily male.

The idea began as a joke, with Slow Ventures gauging interest at Y Combinator's Demo Day.

Slow Ventures' Sam Lessin emphasized the need for tech leaders to be respectful due to the industry's impact and perceived threats.

Technology and Social Media

AI-Generated Musings: Elon Musk, Grok, and the Discourse on Love and Culture

Elon Musk shared AI-generated videos via Grok, depicting scenes of love and cynicism. One video featured an animated woman expressing love, while another showed Sydney Sweeney saying, "You are so cringe."

The posts sparked varied reactions, with some users humorously criticizing the love-themed video. Author Joyce Carol Oates critiqued Musk's online persona, suggesting a lack of appreciation for common joys and culture. Musk responded by calling Oates a liar.

The exchange highlights the intersection of AI, social media, and cultural commentary, reflecting on Musk's public image and the evolving landscape of AI-generated content.

Technology

Apple's Future: Expanding iPhone Capabilities with Satellite Technology

Apple is developing new satellite-powered features for iPhones, including an API for third-party apps, offline Apple Maps navigation, photo messaging, and improved satellite connectivity.

These features aim to enhance iPhone usability in areas without cell service. Apple is also exploring satellite connectivity to improve 5G network coverage.

Basic satellite features will be free, with users paying carriers for advanced support. Globalstar, Apple's satellite partner, is upgrading its infrastructure with Apple's financial assistance.

Television

Vince Gilligan's 'Pluribus' Highlights Human Creation Amidst AI Concerns

The new Apple TV show 'Pluribus,' created by Vince Gilligan, includes a disclaimer emphasizing that it was 'made by humans,' positioned below a note about animal safety.

Gilligan, known for 'Better Call Saul,' expressed strong opposition to AI, calling it 'the world’s most expensive and energy-intensive plagiarism machine' and comparing AI-generated content to 'a cow chewing its cud.'

'Pluribus' marks Gilligan's return to science fiction and reunites him with Rhea Seehorn, who plays a romantasya author dealing with an alien invasion.