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Cybersecurity

Scattered Spider Hackers Target Airlines and Transportation Sector, Warns FBI

The FBI and cybersecurity firms are warning that the hacking group Scattered Spider is now targeting airlines and the transportation sector. The hackers, known for social engineering and phishing tactics, may target large corporations and their third-party IT providers.

Hawaiian Airlines and WestJet have recently reported cyberattacks, with WestJet's incident linked to Scattered Spider. This wave of attacks follows previous targets in the U.K. retail sector and the insurance industry. Scattered Spider has also previously broken into hotel chains, casinos, and technology giants.

The FBI's statement highlights that anyone in the airline ecosystem, including trusted vendors and contractors, could be at risk.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Talent War: Meta's Hefty Pay Packages Attract Researchers, But $100M Bonuses Are a Myth

Meta is offering substantial multimillion-dollar compensation packages to attract AI researchers to its new superintelligence lab. However, reports of $100 million signing bonuses are inaccurate, according to a poached researcher and internal meeting comments.

CTO Andrew Bosworth clarified that such high figures might be part of a four-year total pay package for senior leadership roles, primarily through restricted stock units (RSUs) tied to tenure or performance.

Researcher Lucas Beyer, who joined Meta from OpenAI, refuted claims of a $100 million signing bonus. Meta's focus is on entertainment AI, leveraging its Quest VR headsets and Ray-Ban and Oakley AI glasses.

While not distributing $100 million bonuses, Meta is still investing heavily in AI talent, with examples like the hiring of OpenAI's Trapit Bansal and an investor mentioning an AI researcher turning down an $18 million offer from Meta.

Technology

YouTube Create Expands to iOS Amidst Fierce Video Editing Competition

Google is developing an iOS version of YouTube Create, its video editing app initially launched on Android nearly two years ago. Job listings indicate that Google is actively hiring engineers in India for this project.

YouTube Create offers free mobile video editing tools with features like stickers, GIFs, and effects for both YouTube Shorts and longer videos. It was developed after consulting with 3,000 creators to compete with ByteDance’s CapCut.

Despite showing a 28% year-over-year increase in monthly active users in Q2, YouTube Create lags behind competitors like CapCut and InShot in downloads, monthly active users, and retention rates.

The primary user base for YouTube Create is in India, followed by Indonesia, Germany, Brazil, and the UK. An iOS release could help YouTube Create grow its market share, though competition from other video editing platforms remains strong.

Venture Capital

Halogen Ventures Secures $30M Fund III for Family-Focused Startups

Halogen Ventures, founded in 2015 by Jesse Draper, has closed a $30 million Fund III. The fund will concentrate on early-stage startups in the 'future of family,' with an emphasis on the physical and financial health of households. This follows increased investor interest in the care economy post-pandemic. Halogen, which prioritizes companies with at least one female founder, previously raised a $21 million Fund II in 2021 and a $10.41 million Fund I in 2018.

Economics and AI

Anthropic's Initiative: Investigating and Addressing AI's Economic Impact

Anthropic has launched the Economic Futures Program to research AI's effects on the labor market and global economy. The program aims to provide grants for AI research, create forums for policy proposals, and build datasets to track AI's economic usage. It builds upon Anthropic's existing Economic Index, which analyzes AI's impact on labor markets. Anthropic is offering rapid grants up to $50,000 for research on AI's economic impacts and is seeking partnerships with research institutions, providing Claude API credits and resources. The program contrasts with OpenAI's Economic Blueprint, which focuses on AI adoption and infrastructure. Anthropic's initiative is part of a trend among tech companies to address the disruptions they are creating.

Artificial Intelligence

Meta Eyes Play AI to Enhance AI-Powered Audio Features

Meta is reportedly in discussions to acquire Play AI, a voice-cloning startup. The acquisition aims to bolster Meta's consumer-facing AI features and integrate audio capabilities into its creative suite. Play AI allows users to clone voices for AI-powered applications like customer service. Meta intends to acquire Play AI's technology and bring its staff on board.

Play AI has raised $23.5 million from investors like 500 Global, Kindred Ventures, and others. Meta currently allows creators to build chatbots and has added video-editing to Meta AI. Acquiring Play AI would enable Meta to incorporate audio features into its creative tools.

Artificial Intelligence

Meta's AI Talent Acquisition: Unveiling the Truth Behind Compensation Packages

Meta is indeed offering significant multi-million-dollar compensation packages to attract AI researchers for its Superintelligence Lab. However, claims of $100 million 'signing bonuses' are inaccurate, according to a poached researcher and internal meeting discussions.

CTO Andrew Bosworth clarified that such high figures might be part of comprehensive pay packages for senior leadership roles, involving restricted stock units contingent on tenure or performance, rather than immediate cash bonuses.

Lucas Beyer, who recently moved from OpenAI to Meta along with two others, refuted the $100 million sign-on bonus claim on social media.

Meta's focus in AI seems to be leaning towards entertainment AI, aligning with its VR headsets and AI glasses, as indicated by Bosworth.

While not handing out $100 million bonuses freely, Meta is still investing heavily in AI talent acquisition, with some researchers declining offers as high as $18 million from Meta in favor of other AI startups.

Cybersecurity

Scattered Spider Hackers Target Airlines and Transportation Sector

Cybersecurity firms are warning that the hacking group Scattered Spider is now targeting airlines and the transportation sector. Executives from Google's Mandiant and Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42 have observed cyberattacks resembling Scattered Spider targeting the aviation industry.
Scattered Spider, a group of mostly English-speaking hackers, often teenagers and young adults, is financially motivated to steal and extort sensitive data, using tactics like social engineering and phishing.
Hawaiian Airlines reported a cybersecurity event, and WestJet reported an ongoing cyberattack linked to Scattered Spider. This follows previous attacks on the U.K. retail sector, the insurance industry, hotel chains, casinos, and technology giants.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Regulation Showdown: Federal Moratorium vs. State Innovation

A federal proposal, championed by Sen. Ted Cruz, aims to prevent states and local governments from regulating AI for 10 years, sparking intense debate. Proponents, including OpenAI's Sam Altman, argue it prevents stifling innovation and losing ground to China, while critics, like Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei, warn it would leave consumers vulnerable to AI harms without oversight.
The "AI moratorium," included in a budget reconciliation bill, would preempt existing and pending state AI laws, such as California's AB 2013 and New York's RAISE Act. Cruz revised the proposal, linking compliance to states receiving broadband funding.
Opponents argue that companies regularly comply with diverse state regulations and that the moratorium is a power grab. Amodei suggests a transparency standard instead. Even some Republicans, like Senators Hawley and Blackburn, are against the moratorium due to concerns about states' rights.
A recent Pew Research survey shows most Americans favor more AI regulation, not less. The Senate is expected to debate and vote on amendments, including one to remove the AI moratorium.

Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous Driving Landscape: Tesla's Robotaxi Launch, Uber's AV Partnerships, and Industry Shifts

This week's mobility news is dominated by Tesla's robotaxi rollout in Austin, facing scrutiny over safety and traffic violations. The event has sparked debate about Tesla's autonomous driving technology and its impact on competitors like Waymo and Uber.

Key developments include:

  • Tesla: Launched robotaxi rides in Austin, raising safety concerns and regulatory attention.
  • Uber: Expanding autonomous tech partnerships, including Waymo in Atlanta and sidewalk delivery robots with Serve Robotics.
  • Deals: Travis Kalanick is reportedly trying to buy Pony.ai's U.S. arm, and Nascent Materials raised $2.3 million for LFP battery tech. Raphe mPhibr, the Indian drone startup, raised $100 million.
  • Autonomous Vehicles: Kodiak Robotics partners with Vay for remote driving tech; Waymo and Uber expand robotaxi services to Atlanta.
  • Electric Vehicles: Redwood Materials enters energy storage for AI data centers; Rivian lays off 140 employees ahead of R2 launch.
  • In-Car Tech: Intel exits automotive architecture business, laying off staff.

The autonomous vehicle sector is witnessing rapid evolution, with companies exploring partnerships, expanding services, and addressing regulatory challenges.