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 the AI and tech world.The year 2026 is anticipated to bring both opportunities and challenges to the venture capital and private equity sectors. Artificial Intelligence is expected to significantly influence these industries, acting as a force multiplier. However, its impact will differ across the board, leading to potential losses during phases of consolidation. While liquidity is returning with increased market velocity, fragility also looms large. A noticeable trend is the concentration of capital at large firms, which could pose risks to mid-sized entities unless they find ways to differentiate and scale effectively.In private equity, deal-making is expected to accelerate, with an emphasis on capital return through M&A activities, IPOs, and continuation vehicles due to previous capital deployment surpassing distributions. With transaction volumes projected to rise by around 20% compared to the previous year, declining interest rates are likely to enhance liquidity and reduce capital costs. Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, sectors with defensive demand might attract more capital. Returns are anticipated to be driven by execution and operational efficiency rather than multiple expansion.In venture capital, mutual funds launched by large firms could be a significant development amid easing 401(k) regulations. Capital continues to consolidate around mega-funds and niche specialists, posing a threat to generalist firms lacking a distinct edge. Fundraising remains challenging for emerging managers as the LP base consolidates around larger institutional backers. Family offices and sovereign wealth funds might increasingly fill gaps left by traditional venture structures.Transitioning smoothly into startups, AI startups are reaching a saturation point with many tackling similar ideas, leading to price wars and thin margins. However, overlooked categories present real potential. Founders are encouraged to focus on disciplined leadership and fundamental strengths amidst market resets. A shift towards super-intelligent AI startups is expected, with trends indicating rapid revenue growth from zero to one hundred million dollars and potentially accelerating towards a one billion dollar club as AI adoption rises.Moving on to early January 2026 developments in tech, Meta has delayed the international rollout of its Ray-Ban display smart glasses due to inventory shortages and high demand in the U.S., initially planned for release in other countries like Canada and Italy. Meanwhile, xAI raised twenty billion dollars as part of an escalating funding race among AI startups, highlighting concerns about a potential AI bubble as xAI focuses on developing AI supercomputers.Elsewhere, Chinese officials are reviewing Meta's two billion dollar acquisition of the AI startup Manus for possible export control violations amid ongoing geopolitical battles between China and the U.S. for AI dominance. This acquisition is part of broader market-shaping activities, including Nvidia's licensing deal with Groq.In another transition, Amazon faces issues with its AI-powered shopping tool, while Accenture acquired British AI startup Faculty, highlighting strategic moves in the industry. Notable acquisitions include Mobileye purchasing Israeli humanoid robot startup Mentee Robotics for nine hundred million dollars.Turning our attention to geopolitical impacts reported in Fortune's CEO Daily newsletter: Donald Trump's aggressive foreign policy actions are making waves internationally. His "Donroe Doctrine," a rebranding of the Monroe Doctrine, aims at asserting U.S. dominance over rSupport the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin

Good morning from OWITH.ai, the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in the AI and tech world.The year 2026 presents a cautiously optimistic outlook for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and mergers and acquisitions (M&A), while secondary markets are expected to experience significant growth. In 2025, notable public offerings by major companies like Circle, alongside high-profile acquisitions such as Google’s $32 billion purchase of Wiz, were observed. However, overall IPO activity remained below historical levels. As 2026 unfolds, the conditions affecting private market exits remain consistent, with private companies maintaining high valuations but possessing more liquidity options without needing to enter public markets. This benefits top-tier private companies, whereas others, including promising AI startups, find acquihires more appealing than independent operation.Continuing from the previous year's momentum, IPOs in early 2026 are expected to flourish due to strong public equities and a backlog of tech companies ready to go public. Nevertheless, this trend may slow by mid-year. Notably, the IPO market is anticipated to feature more high-end companies going public as valuations improve. However, smaller issuers will continue to face challenges until significant reforms make the process more efficient.In the realm of M&A activities, robust performance is forecasted. A significant acquisition exceeding $50 billion in the AI software sector could reshape the market, driven by a favorable regulatory environment and increased financing capacity of incumbents. Fintech is predicted to undergo consolidation with companies achieving strong product-market fit likely leading acquisitions. Moreover, big pharma is expected to make substantial acquisitions of venture-backed biotech firms focusing on oncology and metabolic diseases.Simultaneously, secondary markets are anticipated to surge as startups remain private longer and traditional IPOs become less frequent. This trend is expected to set a new transaction volume high in 2026 following record levels in 2025, fueled by increased demand for liquidity solutions through various private-market mechanisms.Despite a solidly growing economy and elevated inflation rates, significant rate cuts by the Federal Reserve appear unlikely in the near term. Interest rates may remain higher than anticipated unless inflation decreases sharply or employment weakens unexpectedly.In summary, while IPOs and M&A activities exhibit cautious optimism for 2026 with potential market shifts in fintech and biotech sectors, secondary markets are poised for substantial growth due to changing dynamics in private market liquidity and investment strategies.The latest edition of CEO Daily on January 6, 2026, highlights several significant developments across global markets and industries. Among these is the transformation of General Electric (GE) under Larry Culp’s leadership since late 2018. Culp divided GE into three Fortune 500 public companies: GE Healthcare Technologies, GE Vernova, and GE Aerospace. Since its NASDAQ debut on January 4, 2023, GE Healthcare's stock has risen nearly 50%. GE Vernova's shares have surged by 400% since April 2024 due to AI-powered electricity demand, while GE Aerospace has more than doubled its value.Peter J. Arduini, CEO of GE Healthcare, strives to revitalize some of GE's original strengths while charting a new course for the $20 billion-a-year medical technology company. Having previously worked at GE under Jack Welch and Jeff Immelt, Arduini was drawn back by Culp and seeks to restore former practices such as performance reviews and leadership development.In geopolitical newSupport the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin

Good morning from OWITH.ai, the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in AI and the tech world.As we look towards 2026, the AI landscape is undergoing significant transformations. The focus is shifting from AI as a novel concept to a tool that must demonstrate measurable returns on investment. Companies are becoming more discerning, investing only in AI technologies that enhance revenue or efficiency. This shift might deflate some of the hype surrounding AI, impacting valuations and compensation for researchers in the field. Instead of large, singular models, there is an anticipation of a diverse ecosystem of specialized models tailored for specific niches. Vertical AI platforms with substantial margins and proprietary data are predicted to be the survivors of any downturn.Transitioning from AI predictions, let's delve into some notable developments across various tech sectors as of early 2026. In prediction markets, Polymarket recently saw a surge in activity surrounding the potential ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Despite rulebooks banning insider trading, enforcement challenges persist under the oversight of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.In autonomous vehicles, the rivalry between Waymo and Baidu intensifies as they compete in London's neutral ground amidst U.S.-China trade tensions. Both companies are navigating London's unique road infrastructure and data privacy regulations alongside partnerships with Uber and Lyft.Meanwhile, in cybersecurity news, Cisco is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Israeli firm Axonius for approximately $2 billion. This acquisition would enhance Cisco’s asset management capabilities by consolidating data across corporate systems.Switching gears to geopolitical shifts, foreign investors are eyeing Venezuela's vast oil reserves following a regime change. This follows the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces—a move criticized internationally but seen by some as an opportunity for restoring democracy and fostering economic opportunities.In financial markets, Bitcoin has surged amid geopolitical turmoil, reflecting investor interest in safe havens. This resurgence comes after a challenging year for cryptocurrencies.Transitioning to societal impacts, the role of AI in jobs and content production continues to evolve. While AI offers a multitude of content topics, it also competes with traditional publishers by generating content itself. Despite these challenges, there remains optimism about forming communities around content—a space where AI struggles due to its individualized nature.Regarding economic inequality in an AI-dominated future, there is speculation about wealth concentration among those initially controlling capital. However, skepticism exists about this scenario as new opportunities may arise akin to past industrial revolutions.Concluding with reflections on human nature and societal changes, it is anticipated that despite technological advances, humans will continue to value unique human experiences and community-building efforts over AI-generated alternatives.This concludes our overview of significant trends and dynamics shaping the AI and tech landscape today. Stay tuned for more updates on how these developments unfold in our ever-evolving world.Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin

Good morning from OWITH.ai: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in the AI and tech world. Today's episode comprises various expert perspectives on the future of Artificial General Intelligence and AI in 2026.We begin with Andrew Ng's proposal for the "Turing-AGI Test," a new benchmark designed to assess AGI. This test aims to measure a computer's ability to perform work tasks comparably to humans. Ng emphasizes that AGI has become more of a hype term, and this test is necessary to recalibrate societal expectations, prevent investment bubbles, and foster sustainable progress in AI.David Cox advocates for open AI ecosystems, drawing parallels with the open software movements of the 1990s. He stresses the importance of transparency and collaboration across borders to ensure AI development remains inclusive and representative of diverse values.Adji Bousso Dieng hopes for AI to transition from a tool of efficiency to a catalyst for scientific discovery. She highlights the need for AI models to focus on discovering rare phenomena rather than just mimicking existing data. Dieng suggests a shift in objective functions towards diversity to enable true scientific breakthroughs.Juan M. Lavista Ferres discusses the impact of generative AI on education. He urges educators to integrate AI into learning rather than relying on detection tools that may become obsolete. Ferres suggests new assessment models that embrace AI as part of the educational process while maintaining academic integrity.Tanmay Gupta calls for AI research to move from prediction tasks to action-oriented systems capable of achieving goals in dynamic environments. He argues that focusing on long-horizon tasks will reveal current limitations in AI models and align research with real-world applications.Pengtao Xie emphasizes the need for multimodal models in biomedicine that are scientifically grounded and interpretable. He advocates for deep integration across various data modalities and highlights the importance of interpretability, data efficiency, and adaptability in biomedical AI.Sharon Zhou envisions AI enhancing human connections rather than isolating individuals. She foresees AI facilitating group interactions and fostering community by acting as a bridge among people, thereby enhancing collective curiosity and creativity.Overall, these experts share a vision of an AI future that balances innovation with ethical considerations, transparency, collaboration, and practical utility across various fields.Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin

Each Saturday we take the headlines of daily podcast and ask ChatGPT to create a Sci-Fi story inspired by the news. The outcome for this week is this short story.Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin