Techmeme Ride Home Thu. 06/19 – What Would AGI Actually Look Like?
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Jun 19, 2025 Silicon Valley is bracing for a summer of layoffs, with Microsoft leading the charge. Midjourney makes waves with its new video model, amidst rising AI costs. Meta is on a hiring spree, acquiring top AI talent. The tension between Microsoft and OpenAI escalates, raising concerns over AI safety and the potential misuse of advanced models. Finally, the podcast dives into the murky waters of artificial general intelligence, probing its implications and ethical challenges in our tech-driven future.
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Microsoft's Layoff Strategy Amid AI Spend
- Microsoft plans to cut thousands of sales jobs amid heavy AI investments.
- Efficiency and cost control, not AI replacement per se, drive these layoffs.
MidJourney Enters AI Video Generation
- MidJourney launched its first AI video model allowing animated images up to 20 seconds.
- Two motion modes enable either subtle movements or dynamic animation, expanding creative capabilities.
Meta's Strategic Acqui-Hire Moves
- Meta is attempting to hire AI investors Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross, partly buying out their VC fund.
- This move embeds top AI talent and gives Meta minority stakes in their startups, costing over $1 billion potentially.