AI ‘no one wants’ and Google’s potential breakup

6 snips

Oct 11, 2024

Anthony Ha, a TechCrunch reporter, joins the discussion to unpack OpenAI's jaw-dropping $6.6 billion funding round and its unique restrictions on investor backing for competitors. The team explores the recent launch of Auger, a startup aiming to tackle global supply chain challenges with AI, and delves into the ethics surrounding AI in warfare, particularly autonomous weapons. They also address the looming antitrust case against Google and its potential impacts on the tech landscape and innovation.

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ANECDOTE

Blessed Cat

Margaux MacColl's cat received a blessing at an Episcopalian church.
They chose the prettiest church for the occasion, regardless of their own religious affiliation.

ANECDOTE

Kirsten's Climb

Kirsten Korosek is absent from the podcast because she is climbing a mountain in Africa.
This absence allows Anthony Ha to join as a guest.

INSIGHT

OpenAI's Funding

OpenAI's $6.6B funding round, being called the largest VC round ever, raises questions about its path to profitability.
There are rumors about investor restrictions on backing competitors like Anthropic and Glean.

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Did OpenAI really ask its investors to avoid backing rivals like Anthropic and xAI? That’s what hosts Devin Coldewey, Margaux MacColl and special guest Anthony Ha wanted to know on today’s episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast. The team kicked off the show with a look at OpenAI's $6.6 billion round, which is being called the ‘largest VC round of all time’. Devin broke down what the funding could mean for the company’s path to profitability, and debunked some of the rumors floating around post-announcement - especially given how unusual those investor restrictions would be in later-stage funding.

OpenAI is not all that was on the Equity crew’s minds this week. Margaux wanted to discuss Dave Clark's new venture, Auger, which just raised $100 million to make supply chains more efficient with AI. Taking Clark’s Amazon and Flexport history into consideration, Augur could be on the path to success amid current global supply chain issues and the recent longshoreman strikes. To round out our deals of the week, Anthony set his sights on Impulse Space, which recently secured $150 million to develop and launch its orbital transfer vehicles.

What about the AI that people don’t want? Margaux took us deeper into her coverage of Shield AI, AI weapons and ethics. On the subject of tech getting out of hand, Devin and Anthony closed out the show with an update on the ongoing antitrust case against Google, and what a potential breakup could mean for the tech giant and startups looking to disrupt search.

Hit play to join the conversation, and Equity will be back next week!

Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts.

Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products.

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