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AI Startups & Investment

Cluely's Controversial Marketing Attracts Andreessen Horowitz Investment

Cluely, a startup focused on AI-driven 'cheating' tools, secured a $15 million Series A funding from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). The investment sparked debate due to Cluely's controversial marketing tactics, which some have labeled as 'rage-bait.' However, a16z partner Bryan Kim believes that in the age of AI, rapid marketing and product development are crucial for success. Kim argues that traditional 'artisan' product development is too slow and vulnerable to being overtaken by larger AI models. Cluely's founder, Roy Lee, attributes the startup's buzz to understanding how to create viral content by leveraging controversy, which he says generates more views than many other startups, despite Cluely still developing its core product. A16z sees Cluely's approach as a model for AI startups, where building 'momentum' is key to long-term success.

Autonomous Vehicles

Kalanick Eyes Return to Self-Driving Tech with Pony AI Acquisition

Travis Kalanick, Uber's founder, is exploring the acquisition of Pony AI's U.S. division, signaling a potential return to the autonomous vehicle sector. Kalanick is collaborating with investors to finance the deal, with Uber possibly involved in facilitating the transaction.

Pony AI, which went public last year with a market cap around $4.5 billion, had reportedly been preparing its U.S. arm for a sale or spinoff since 2022. Acquiring Pony AI would mark Kalanick's re-entry into self-driving technology since his departure from Uber in 2017.

Following Kalanick's exit, Uber sold its self-driving division to Aurora and adopted a partnership approach, integrating autonomous vehicles from companies like Waymo. Kalanick, currently running CloudKitchens, has shown increasing interest in robotics. He expressed regret over Uber's decision to sell its self-driving division, stating that having an autonomous ride-sharing product now would be beneficial.

Artificial Intelligence

Google Photos Revamps AI Search with Classic Integration for Faster Results

Google has resumed the rollout of its AI-powered "Ask Photos" feature in Google Photos after addressing concerns about its latency and reliability.

The updated feature now integrates the speed of the classic search function for simple queries like "beach" or "dogs," providing immediate results while the AI works in the background to analyze more complex searches.

Users will see initial search results quickly, followed by AI-driven results that offer more detailed information, such as identifying pets by name and indicating when they first appeared in the photo library.

The rollout is currently available to users in the U.S. who are 18 or older, have their account language set to English, and have enabled Face Groups.

Digital Advertising

Google's Offerwall: A New Hope for Publishers Amidst AI Search Traffic Decline

Google has launched Offerwall in Google Ad Manager, a new tool designed to help publishers generate revenue beyond traditional ad models, as AI-driven search features impact website traffic. Offerwall allows publishers to offer readers various ways to access content, including micro payments, surveys, and watching ads. Publishers can also add custom options, such as newsletter sign-ups.

The feature is available for free in Google Ad Manager. Google uses AI to optimize Offerwall display, but publishers can set their own thresholds. While similar solutions like micro payments have struggled in the past, Google is partnering with Supertab to enable small payments for content access. Initial tests show positive results, with one case study reporting a 20% revenue boost and increased impressions.

Offerwall also allows customization, including logos and introductory text. One default option allows visitors to watch a short ad for content access. Publishers can track Offerwall metrics in Google Ads Manager reports, including revenue, messages, engagement, and page views.

Artificial Intelligence

Meta Boosts AI Superintelligence Team with OpenAI's Trapit Bansal

Meta has hired Trapit Bansal, a prominent OpenAI researcher, to enhance its AI reasoning models within the company's new AI superintelligence unit. Bansal, a key contributor to OpenAI's first AI reasoning model, o1, brings valuable expertise to Meta's efforts to develop competitive AI technology.

Meta's AI superintelligence lab, which includes leaders like former Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang, aims to create frontier AI reasoning models to compete with industry leaders such as OpenAI's o3 and DeepSeek's R1. Mark Zuckerberg has been actively recruiting top AI talent, with three other former OpenAI researchers recently joining Meta's AI team.

Meta's push into AI includes building AI agents for business, requiring advanced AI reasoning models. With the addition of Bansal and other AI researchers, Meta seeks to gain an edge in the AI race, despite OpenAI's plans to release an open AI reasoning model.

Business

Sudden Exit: Omead Afshar Fired by Elon Musk Amidst Tesla's Sales Challenges

Tesla's VP of Sales and Manufacturing, Omead Afshar, has been reportedly fired by Elon Musk. The reasons for his departure remain unknown, and neither Tesla nor Afshar have commented. Afshar's firing comes at a challenging time for Tesla, marked by declining sales and profits. Sales have struggled, with a 71% drop in profits in Q1 and a nearly 28% decrease in European sales in May. Afshar's tenure included involvement in an internal probe regarding the purchase of special material for a glass building desired by Musk, which led to investigations by the DOJ and SEC. He had a stint at SpaceX and was later elevated to VP in late 2024.

Cybersecurity

BreachForums Crackdown: International Operation Nets Alleged Hackers

U.S. and French authorities have apprehended five individuals linked to major cyberattacks and the notorious BreachForums.

Kai West, a British national known as IntelBroker, faces indictment in the U.S. for allegedly causing over $25 million in damages through hacking schemes targeting various organizations, including a healthcare provider where sensitive patient data was compromised.

French police have also arrested four individuals suspected of administering BreachForums and being part of the ShinyHunters group.

BreachForums, a prominent hacking forum, was previously shut down by international law enforcement in 2023 and 2024 after its original administrator's arrest.

West faces charges including conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and wire fraud.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Companionship: Reality vs. Perception in Claude Usage

Anthropic's report reveals that users rarely seek companionship from Claude, with only 2.9% using it for emotional support or personal advice. Most conversations revolve around work and productivity, specifically content creation. However, users sometimes seek advice on mental health, personal development, and communication skills. Longer conversations can evolve into companionship, but extensive interactions are uncommon. Claude rarely resists user requests unless they violate safety boundaries. Conversations tend to become more positive over time when users seek coaching or advice.

Business & Mentorship

Unlocking the Power of Mentorship: Brad Feld's 'Give First' Philosophy

Brad Feld's 'Give First' philosophy emphasizes selfless contribution, fostering meaningful connections and opportunities. His book, born from decades of experience, explores mentorship, boundaries, and vulnerability as key leadership skills. Feld advocates for giving without expecting immediate returns, highlighting the long-term success of givers over takers. He stresses the importance of honesty, admitting 'I don't know,' and guiding rather than controlling. Effective mentorship involves mutual learning, making it accessible to anyone at any career stage. In uncertain times, Feld encourages thoughtful reflection and challenges conventional thinking.

Artificial Intelligence

Meta Wins AI Talent War: Poaches OpenAI Researchers Amidst Recruiting Blitz

Meta has successfully poached three OpenAI researchers, Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai, despite Sam Altman's attempts to retain talent. These researchers, who established OpenAI’s Zurich office, have joined Meta’s superintelligence team.

Mark Zuckerberg has been employing aggressive recruiting tactics, including offering substantial compensation packages (reported to be $100+ million) and personally engaging with researchers through WhatsApp and dinners. While Meta secured Scale AI’s CEO Alexandr Wang with a $14 billion investment, efforts to attract OpenAI co-founders Ilya Sutskever and John Schulman have been unsuccessful.