AI and Tech Updates: From Extinct Species to GPT-5 Rumors

OWITH.ai - Only What's Important to Hear around AI and Tech

Good morning from OWITH.ai: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in AI and tech world.Colossal Biosciences has secured $200 million in funding to bring back extinct species using AI and genetic engineering. Google and Microsoft have released new AI features and frameworks, while OpenAI has introduced "tasks" that integrate AI into daily life. An AI tutoring program in Nigeria showed significant learning gains. The text emphasizes the need for humans to effectively use new technology for creativity, innovation, and value creation. It encourages sharing of information and offers opportunities for individuals with AI-related ventures to showcase their work to a large audience..Transitioning to the intersection of extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI), providing a 3-step framework with real-world examples. Delving into the immersive technologies of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), and how they are changing our perception of reality by integrating digital elements. The piece also touches on the future of AR and VR at the intersection of AI, mentioning Apple's development of more affordable VR products. The author highlights Gabriele Romagnoli's XR AI Spotlight newsletter, which features interviews with founders and makers in the XR and AI space, as well as product spotlights. The text emphasizes the growing importance of AI in technology and experiences, with companies like Meta investing heavily in AI-enabled products like smart glasses.Moving on to the current state of startup exits in the venture capital industry, with a focus on the potential impact of the incoming Trump administration on dealmaking. While the number and value of exits in 2024 increased from the previous year, they are still significantly lower than the peak seen in 2021 during the pandemic. The text also highlights the growing trend of late-stage private companies seeking exits and the backlog of privately held unicorns waiting for liquidity. Additionally, it mentions some recent venture deals, private equity acquisitions, and IPOs in the market. The overall outlook for dealmaking in 2025 is cautiously optimistic, with many firms prioritizing outbound sourcing strategies to stand out.Shifting gears to GM being banned from selling driver data to third parties by the U.S. FTC, China opening an investigation into the fairness of U.S. chip grants, and Nintendo revealing the Switch 2 console. GM was found to have collected and sold driver data without adequate consent, resulting in higher insurance rates for some drivers. China's investigation into the U.S. chip sector focuses on anti-dumping and unfair practices related to chip grants. Nintendo's stock dropped after revealing the Switch 2, which was criticized for not showing anything new. Additionally, other topics covered include TSMC's record profits, Mira Murati's startup hiring AI talent, Walmart handing over control of its automation business, Tesla's Cybertruck getting a price cut, and support for phone bans in U.S. schools.Next up, billionaire Brad Jacobs believes in the benefits of going public and has rung the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange nine times. He sees being listed on the NYSE as a way to build a strong brand, attract investors, and receive valuable feedback on business performance. Jacobs finds the experience of ringing the bell to be energizing and a reminder of the power of capitalism. In other news, Citigroup reported better-than-expected earnings, while UnitedHealth Group had its first earnings call since Brian Thompson's murder. Additionally, Israel and Hamas signed a deal to end the war, and there were updates on various market trends and analyst notes from firms like Goldman Sachs and

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