Sequoia Capital is leading a $16 million investment in Dust, a French startup founded by former OpenAI researcher Stanislas Polu. Dust specialises in crafting bespoke AI bots for enterprises, leveraging advanced language models like OpenAI’s GPT and Google’s Gemini.
Its solutions cater to various business needs, such as customer support, sales analytics, and software code management. Instead of creating AI models from the ground up, Dust integrates its software with existing AI platforms such as Slack.
Why does it matter?
The funding round was geared towards facilitating Dust’s expansion into the US market and supporting its global ambitions. Despite facing competition from established entities and fellow startups, Dust maintains agility by using its flexibility to thrive in the competitive landscape of AI automation tools.
Small businesses in the United States increasingly turn to AI to improve their operations, although many encounter significant challenges during implementation. According to research conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of Visa, 52% of small businesses have already integrated AI, and an additional 50% plan to do so within the next two years.
Despite these advancements, 90% of businesses face obstacles in adopting AI, citing difficulties such as understanding how to use AI tools (47%), navigating various options (36%), and concerns regarding compatibility and security (31% and 26%, respectively). The study also identifies marketing as the most promising area for AI adoption among businesses not currently using AI, indicating widespread optimism about AI’s potential to increase efficiency and generate revenue.
Denise Press, Visa’s head of small business for North America, emphasised the dual challenge of acknowledging AI’s importance while grappling with the practicalities of implementation. She recommends that businesses begin with low-risk AI applications, such as automating tasks like drafting press releases, to become familiar with the technology’s advantages.
Why does it matter?
There is a collective encouragement for small businesses to cautiously and optimistically embrace AI, utilising partnerships and expertise from vendors to navigate these transformative technologies effectively. However, the challenges highlighted—such as learning curves, security concerns, and navigating options—underscore the need for tailored support and guidance.
European defence technology startup Helsing is currently in negotiations to secure nearly $500 million from investors in Silicon Valley, including Accel and Lightspeed Venture Partners, amounting to $4.5 billion. This valuation marks a significant increase, tripling the company’s value in less than a year, possibly driven by heightened global conflicts which in turn are prompting a surge in private investments within the military supply sector.
Specialising in AI-based software for defence, Helsing was established in 2021 and works with AI to analyse extensive data from sensors and weapons systems, providing real-time battlefield intelligence to assist military decision-making processes. The company’s software is also contributing to the advancement of AI capabilities for drones in Ukraine.
Sources familiar with the negotiations revealed that Accel and Lightspeed will be new investors in Helsing, potentially joined by General Catalyst, a previous investor in the company. If finalised, this deal would position Helsing as one of Europe’s most valued artificial intelligence startups in terms of worth, at par with Paris-based Mistral, an AI startup that recently secured €600 million at a valuation nearing €6 billion. The reluctance of venture investors to engage with defence tech firms has notably shifted, particularly in the US and Europe, driven by escalating tensions between major powers and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, leading to increased defence expenditure by nations.
NATO’s recent allocation of its €1 billion ‘innovation fund’ towards European tech firms points towards a notable shift, with Europe rapidly closing the investment gap in defence and dual-use technologies as compared to the US. The evolving landscape of modern warfare, as is the case in the Ukrainian conflict, emphasises the transition towards software-defined technologies over traditional hardware, enabling military forces to enhance strategic capabilities.
Why does it matter?
Helsing has forged partnerships with established defence contractors in Europe, such as Germany’s Rheinmetall and Sweden’s Saab, to integrate AI into existing platforms like fighter jets. Collaborating with Airbus, the startup is also developing AI technologies for application in both manned and unmanned systems.
YouTube is negotiating with major record labels to license their songs for AI tools that clone popular artists’ music. The negotiations aim to secure the content needed to legally train AI song generators and launch new tools this year. Google-owned YouTube has offered upfront payments to major labels like Sony, Warner, and Universal to encourage artists to participate, but many remain opposed, fearing it could devalue their work.
Previously, YouTube tested an AI tool called ‘Dream Track,’ which allowed users to create music clips mimicking well-known artists. However, only a few artists participated, including Charli XCX and John Legend. YouTube now hopes to sign up dozens more artists to expand its AI song generator tool, though it won’t carry the Dream Track brand.
Why does it matter?
These negotiations come as AI companies like OpenAI are making licensing agreements with media groups. The proposed music deals would involve one-off payments to labels rather than royalty-based arrangements. YouTube’s AI tools could become part of its Shorts platform, competing with TikTok and other similar platforms. As these discussions continue, major labels are also suing AI startups for allegedly using copyrighted recordings without permission, seeking significant damages.
Japanese tech investor SoftBank Group’s Vision Fund 2 plans to invest between $10 million and $20 million in US search startup Perplexity AI, valuing the company at $3 billion. The investment is part of a larger $250 million funding round, which remains partially disclosed as the deal details are still being negotiated, and SoftBank and Perplexity have not commented.
Perplexity AI provides search tools that deliver instant answers with sources and citations, leveraging various large language models from OpenAI to Meta’s Llama. The San Francisco-based company raised $73.6 million in January from investors, including Nvidia and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, at a valuation of $520 million.
The startup handled over 500 million queries in 2023 with minimal marketing expenditure.
Bearing AI has unveiled an enhanced Deployment Planner tailored for tramp shipping companies following the success of its liner shipping version. Unlike liners, tramp operators manage one-off contracts between ports, posing challenges for emissions optimisation and profitability.
The latest tool leverages advanced AI to analyse extensive historical and real-time data, offering actionable insights into critical operational issues. It allows chartering, operations, and environmental teams to experiment with vessel deployments, optimising environmental impact and profitability.
Built on robust machine learning models, the Deployment Planner predicts end-of-year performance for every vessel, even those without scheduled contracts. The aforementioned capability provides deep insights into emissions management, enabling tramp operators to achieve superior performance amidst dynamic scheduling.
Kristofer Maanum, Senior Product Leader at Bearing AI, highlighted the tool’s significance for tramp operators, facilitating informed decisions that balance efficiency and sustainability across varied contract scenarios. The Deployment Planner emerges as a crucial asset for managing fleet efficiency, mitigating compliance risks, and optimising operational costs in tramp shipping.
AI is revolutionising the world of advertising, particularly when it comes to humour. Traditionally, humour in advertising was heavily depended on human creativity, relying on puns, sarcasm, and funny voices to engage consumers. However, as AI advances, it is increasingly being used to create comedic content.
Neil Heymann, Global Chief Creative Officer at Accenture Song, discussed the integration of AI in humour at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. He noted that while humour in advertising carries certain risks, the potential rewards far outweigh them. Despite the challenges of maintaining a unique comedic voice in a globalised market, AI offers new opportunities for creativity and personalisation.
One notable example Heymann highlighted was a recent Uber ad in the UK featuring Robert De Niro. He emphasised that while AI might struggle to replicate the nuanced performance of an actor like De Niro, it can still be a valuable tool for generating humour. For instance, a new tool developed by Google Labs can create jokes by exploring various wordplay and puns, expanding the creative options available to writers.
Heymann believes that AI can also help navigate the complexities of global advertising. By acting as an advanced filtering system, AI can identify potential cultural pitfalls and ensure that humorous content resonates with diverse audiences without losing the thrill of creativity.
Moreover, AI’s impact on advertising extends beyond humour. Toys ‘R’ Us recently pioneered text-to-video AI-generated advertising clips, showcasing AI’s ability to revolutionise content creation across various formats. That innovation highlights the expanding role of AI in shaping the future of advertising, where technological advancements continuously redefine creative possibilities.
Reddit has announced updates to its Robots Exclusion Protocol (robots.txt file), which regulates automated web bot access to websites. Traditionally used to allow search engines to index site content, the protocol now faces challenges with AI-driven scraping for model training, often without proper attribution.
In addition to the revised robots.txt file, Reddit will enforce rate limits and blocks on unidentified bots and crawlers. According to multiple sources, these measures apply to entities not complying with Reddit’s Public Content Policy or lacking formal agreements with the platform. The changes are aimed at deterring AI companies from using Reddit content to train large language models without permission. Despite these updates, AI crawlers could potentially disregard Reddit’s directives, as highlighted by recent incidents.
Recently, Wired uncovered that AI-powered startup Perplexity continued scraping Reddit content despite being blocked in the robots.txt file. Perplexity’s CEO argued that robots.txt isn’t legally binding, raising questions about the effectiveness of such protocols in regulating AI scraping practices.
Reddit’s updates will exempt authorised partners like Google, with whom Reddit has a substantial agreement allowing AI model training on its data. This move signals Reddit’s stance on controlling access to its content for AI training purposes, emphasising compliance with its policies to safeguard user interests.
These developments align with Reddit’s recent policy updates, underscoring its efforts to manage and regulate data access and use by commercial entities and partners.
OpenAI has announced that the ChatGPT app is now available to all macOS users. This update, shared via OpenAI’s official X account, extends access beyond the initial rollout to Plus subscribers.
After downloading the app, you can simply open the service by pressing the Option + Space, similar to Apple’s current Command + Space function for Spotlight Search. Clearly, this new app is ‘designed to integrate seamlessly’ with your Mac experience.
First introduced in May, the app’s announcement was somewhat overshadowed by the release of the chatbot’s newest version, GPT-4o. At the time it was reserved exclusively to users paying for the OpenAI Plus subscription, but now, any user running macOS 14.0 Sonoma or later can use the chatbot for various tasks. Making the app more accessible and integrated is in line with Apple’s vision for its partnership with OpenAI.
The release of the app is a first test in Apple’s strategy to incorporate external AI tools into its devices. A ChatGPT app already exists for the iPhone. However, at WWDC, it was revealed that OpenAI’s technologies would also be integrated on iPhones and iPads. Soon, users will be able to use ChatGPT through Siri and other AI-powered tools with Apple’s upcoming operating systems.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) has reached a tentative three-year agreement with major Hollywood studios, including Disney and Netflix. The deal promises significant pay hikes and protections against the misuse of AI, addressing key concerns of the workforce.
Under the terms of the agreement, IATSE members, such as lighting technicians and costume designers, will receive pay raises of 7%, 4%, and 3.5% over the three-year period. These increases mark a substantial improvement in compensation for the crew members who are vital to film and television production.
A crucial element of the deal is the inclusion of language that prevents employees from being required to provide AI prompts if it could result in job displacement. The provision aims to safeguard jobs against the potential threats posed by AI technologies in the industry.
The new agreement comes on the heels of a similar labor deal reached in late 2023 between the SAG-AFTRA actors’ union and the studios. That contract, which ended a nearly six-month production halt, provided substantial pay raises, streaming bonuses, and AI protections, amounting to over $1 billion in benefits over three years.
Why does it matter?
The IATSE’s tentative agreement represents a significant step forward in securing fair wages and job protections for Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes workers, ensuring that the rapid advancements in technology do not come at the expense of human employment.
