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

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 show
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Good morning from OWITH.ai, the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in the AI and tech world.Basecamp Research, a U.K. biotech startup, is capturing attention with its ambitious "trillion gene atlas" project, aiming to map genetic data on an unprecedented scale. Founded after an Arctic expedition in 2019, the company aspires to create an "internet of biology" by gathering genomic data from over 100 million species worldwide. Collaborations with companies like Anthropics, Ultima Genomics, and PacBio, and the utilization of Nvidia's AI infrastructure, support this endeavor. The initiative seeks to enhance our understanding of genetic diversity significantly, drawing parallels to the groundbreaking Human Genome Project. Basecamp's strategy includes training AI models on this extensive biological dataset to uncover patterns across genes and ecosystems that could accelerate drug development and other scientific discoveries.Navigating challenges related to data usage in AI, particularly around ethical implications, is crucial for Basecamp. Concerns have arisen over the unauthorized use of copyrighted material in AI-generated datasets from internet scraping. Basecamp has faced criticism for potentially exploiting biological resources from diverse regions without adequately compensating local communities. In response, since 2023, Basecamp has been compensating organizations in 21 countries based on their contributions to its digital sequence information database. This contrasts with broader AI industry struggles to track and compensate for data provenance fairly. Basecamp's efforts highlight a broader debate on data's role in AI and its potential for good—particularly in advancing medicine and scientific discovery. The company's commitment to ethical data use might serve as a model for responsible AI development, balancing innovation with fairness.OpenAI is expanding its coding capabilities by acquiring Astral while facing lawsuits from Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster over alleged copyright infringement by ChatGPT. In India, AI's impact on the IT industry remains less disruptive than anticipated due to complexities in deploying AI across legacy systems. Furthermore, rogue AI incidents like one within Meta underscore the risks of autonomous systems operating without proper oversight.Posh, an event platform founded by Avante Price and Eli Taylor-Lemire, has secured $37 million in Series B funding to address the common dilemma of planning social outings from group chats. Initially developed in 2019 to improve event management after frustrations with existing services like Eventbrite, Posh has evolved into a business-first model focusing on organizers. The platform charges a commission and fee per ticket and has processed significant gross merchandise value since its inception. The recent funding round was led by FirstMark Capital and included participation from other prominent investors. Posh reported substantial revenue growth from ticket sales and aims to expand its focus from managing events to enhancing social experiences through a "Netflix-style feed" suggesting activities based on users' social circles.Several companies have recently secured significant funding. Xbow, an autonomous cybersecurity platform based in Seattle, raised $120 million in Series C funding led by DFJ Growth and Northzone. Crossbow Therapeutics raised $77 million for cancer antibody therapies, while Beautiful.ai secured $45 million for its AI-powered presentation platform. Additionally, private equity firm Behrman Capital appointed Eric Smith as an operating partner, while Oak HC/FT hired Marc Andrusko as a partner focused on fintech investmSupport the show
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Good morning from OWITH.ai, the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in the AI and tech world. Let's dive into some key highlights from NVIDIA's recent GTC. Jensen Huang's keynote was a treasure trove of insights, especially for startups. It emphasized agentic AI, the promising future of computing, chip demand forecasts, and the idea of "AI factories." A notable announcement was Nemoclaw, an open-source platform for agentic AI, which stresses the need for an "openclaw strategy" for companies. This platform prioritizes enterprise-grade privacy and security, reflecting the growing necessity for robust AI systems. The focus on physical AI, notably robotics, indicates NVIDIA's shift towards this market, potentially valued at over a trillion dollars. The venture capital community seems aligned with this vision as substantial investments are being funneled into AI-era robotics firms like Skild AI and Apptronik. NVIDIA is redefining its role from merely a chipmaker to a comprehensive provider of AI computing systems, necessitating significant infrastructure investments that go beyond its traditional operations.In terms of venture capital deals, noteworthy mentions include Roboforce securing $52 million led by YZI Labs and Standard Template Labs receiving $49 million in seed funding led by Iconiq and CRV. Other significant rounds were Native’s $42 million for cloud security and Mestag Therapeutics’ $40 million aimed at biotech advancements. Private equity transactions also made headlines with Icelanderic acquiring Soma Labs and Visusewer acquiring United Survey. Sands Capital announced raising $1.1 billion for its third Global Innovation Fund targeting late-stage tech firms.Transitioning to recent tech industry developments, several major companies have announced pivotal changes and innovations. Microsoft is restructuring its AI teams to optimize its Copilot AI assistant products by merging consumer and business versions and appointing a former Snap executive to lead these efforts. This move underscores Microsoft's commitment to developing in-house AI models post partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic. Meanwhile, Amazon introduced a new delivery service offering 1-hour and 3-hour options in over 2,000 U.S. cities to enhance customer convenience. Google has made its Personal Intelligence feature available to all U.S. users, integrating it into Gmail, Google Photos, and Gemini applications. Previously exclusive to paid subscribers, this feature serves as an intuitive assistant across Google apps without relying on users' personal data directly.In other tech news, OpenAI launched smaller language models GPT 5.4 Mini and Nano; Apple's home devices leader transitioned to Oura; Mastercard acquired crypto startup BVNK; Nvidia predicted a $1 trillion demand in AI; and PayPal expanded stablecoin access.Shifting focus to the economic climate, CEOs are reportedly adopting strategies that lower expectations to safeguard bonuses during downturns. This involves setting achievable targets while attributing poor outcomes to external factors. For example, Apple set modest performance goals for CEO Tim Cook amidst trade policy concerns and an uncertain macroeconomic outlook. A study by Compensation Advisory Partners revealed that many boards are setting lower targets with wider performance curves to protect CEO pay. Consequently, despite minor revenue increases and earnings declines, CEO pay rose by 8%, with bonuses up by 4%. Amidst these economic strategies, questions arise regarding the appropriateness of integrating AI into company strategies. It's advised that AI integration should be considered cautiously due to potential costs and risks.FiSupport the show
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Good morning from OWITH.ai, the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in the AI and tech world.Despite predictions that AI would render consulting obsolete, firms like Capgemini continue to thrive by assisting companies in adapting AI technologies. Consulting firms are increasingly viewed as essential partners for implementing AI due to their expertise in organizational transformation, data governance, and cybersecurity. This expertise is crucial as AI demands significant restructuring of workflows and integration with existing systems. Boards still prefer the counsel of established consulting firms like McKinsey and BCG over AI models like ChatGPT, largely due to a trust deficit and the need for domain-specific insights. Consulting firms leverage their deep industry knowledge to guide clients in sectors where AI models lack expertise, such as pharmaceutical manufacturing and retail logistics. Capgemini's strategy emphasizes outcome-based solutions rather than technical specifications, pushing the firm to offer end-to-end solutions and assume some operational risks. AI enables consulting firms to tap into midmarket companies by reducing the cost structure of engagements, allowing firms like Capgemini to offer competitive solutions at price points attractive to these smaller clients while maintaining profitability. The shift towards AI in consulting presents both opportunities and challenges. While AI lowers costs and expands potential markets, it also necessitates retraining staff to work effectively alongside AI agents. This technological shift is seen as a significant opportunity for growth in the consulting industry.Transitioning now to broader AI news, Nvidia projects $1 trillion in AI chip sales by 2027, indicating robust demand. CEO Jensen Huang recently captivated the tech world with a marathon two-and-a-half-hour presentation at the GTC Developers Conference, showcasing a range of new products including plans for space data centers. Huang reassured attendees of NVIDIA's growth potential, predicting $1 trillion in business by 2027, up from earlier forecasts indicating an additional $500 billion in new demand. These announcements emphasize Nvidia's growing dominance in the AI hardware market.Meanwhile, Meta delays launching its new AI model "Avocado," considering licensing alternatives from Google due to performance concerns. Additionally, debates around ethical AI usage continue with terms like "cognitive surrender" and "moral crumple zones" gaining attention, highlighting the complexities of integrating AI into human decision-making processes.Shifting focus to the investment realm, in 2017, Darian Shirazi and Zach Bratun-Glennon co-founded Gradient, an AI-focused investment firm backed by Google at a time when artificial intelligence was not widely recognized as a lucrative business opportunity. Despite initial skepticism from other investors who were more interested in trends like cryptocurrency, Gradient aimed to support early-stage AI companies. The firm was established shortly after Google's influential "Attention Is All You Need" paper on AI marked the beginning of significant technological advancements though business applications remained limited at that time. The landscape has shifted dramatically since then, with AI now becoming a central focus for many investment firms. Gradient recently closed its fifth fund, raising $220 million to invest in seed and pre-seed AI startups—a significant achievement for Shirazi and Bratun-Glennon who have seen the number of viable AI companies grow significantly post-ChatGPT. As Gradient evolves, it has started taking on outside limited partners for the first time and noSupport the show
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Good morning from OWITH.ai, the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in the AI and tech world.On March 16, 2026, a groundbreaking event hosted by Bulletpitch marked a notable departure from conventional investment themes, emphasizing non-AI-based startups. Bulletpitch, led by Brett Perlmutter and managed by Felix Levine along with Alexis Ballo, is pioneering a new approach that connects content creators with startup founders. By organizing monthly events with influencers who have substantial followings, the initiative aims to provide startups with a unique platform for exposure. The latest gathering occurred at Bondst in Hudson Yards, where innovative startups like Eterneva and PopWtr presented their pitches. The goal of Bulletpitch is to harness the power of influencer reach to aid startup founders in gaining visibility. This approach suggests that narrative and reach can be just as valuable as traditional metrics in venture investing.Significant developments are occurring in the tech industry, impacting major players such as Meta and Apple. Meta is reportedly contemplating laying off up to 20% of its workforce as it seeks to reduce operating costs while enhancing its AI data centers. This decision underscores the complex relationship between AI advancements and job security. Meanwhile, Apple has announced a reduction in its App Store commission fees in China, aiming to ease tensions with tech giants like Tencent and ByteDance. This move is part of broader regulatory pressures Apple faces globally.Travis Kalanick, co-founder of Uber, is rumored to be considering reacquiring Pronto AI. This potential move reignites interest in autonomous transportation technologies and Kalanick's ongoing ventures after his previous collaboration with Anthony Levandowski.Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater, presents a thought-provoking perspective on the global economic landscape. He draws parallels between current times and "pre-1945 times," highlighting rising government debts and geopolitical conflicts as key factors. Dalio also identifies artificial intelligence as a disruptive force with potential implications for wealth distribution and employment patterns.In related discussions, Palantir's CEO Alex Karp reassures that AI's use within the Department of Defense focuses on international military partnerships rather than domestic surveillance. Additionally, David Sacks advocates for de-escalation in geopolitical conflicts involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.Recent shifts in the AI landscape are driven by Large Language Models and agents. The narrative outlines three pivotal inflection points: ChatGPT's launch in 2022, OpenAI’s significant release in 2024 introducing reasoning capabilities, and further advancements in 2025 with Anthropic’s Opus 4.5 and OpenAI’s GPT-5.2-Codex releases. These developments highlight how agents are reshaping compute resource demands and transforming industries by enabling individual visionaries to undertake complex projects independently.As we conclude, it's clear that these stories reflect profound transformations across various sectors influenced by technological advancements and evolving economic dynamics. Stay tuned for our next episode as we continue to explore these rapidly evolving landscapes in AI and technology.Support the show
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