This Week in Startups Meta’s Dangerous Chat, Protect AI & Founder Fridays Pitch Comp | E2118
Today’s show: we break down the wild story behind Meta’s AI chatbots going completely off the rails — including a bombshell WSJ exposé about bots flirting with minors. Then they cover Palo Alto Networks’ huge $500M+ acquisition of Protect AI, and sit down with the founder of Formulate, who’s building a robotic kitchen for chemicals and cosmetics. Plus, we get into some spicy takes on the secret group chats shaping tech behind the scenes, whether AI can clean up bad code faster than humans, and a Founder Fridays Texas showdown between Osprey and Wispr.
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show.
(1:45) Jason’s recent trip to Detroit.
(7:47) The influence of group chats on tech, politics, and Trumpism
(10:54) Northwest Registered Agent. Form your entire business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Get more privacy, more options, and more done—visit northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today!
(19:48) The importance of proactive communication in media
(20:04) Fidelity Private Shares℠ - Visit https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com! Mention our podcast and receive 20% off your first-year paid subscription.
(21:44) Palo Alto Networks acquires Protect AI
(28:57) ARX Robotics and the future of autonomous military platforms
(29:31) Pilot - Visit https://www.pilot.com/twist and get $1,200 off your first year.
(35:27) Sentra's $50M Series B in data security posture management
(42:16) Lightrun's $70M Series B and venture capital trends
(51:28) Meta's AI chatbots, ethical concerns, and Founder Friday competition
(1:05:19) Formulate interview with Osmaan Shah
(1:11:52) Scaling microfactories and the benefits of Formulate's platform
(1:21:10) Business model and future of robotics in manufacturing
(1:24:38) Potential applications in food and agriculture for Formulate Robotics
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Links from episode:
Check out Formulate Robotics: https://www.linkedin.com/company/formulaterobotics/posts/?feedView=all
Check out Protect AI: https://protectai.com/
Check out Lightrun: https://lightrun.com/
Check out Sentra: https://www.sentra.io/
Check out the WSK article on Meta’s “Digital Companions”: https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/meta-ai-chatbots-sex-a25311bf?st=6jzH4S&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Check out ARX Robotics: https://www.arx-robotics.com/
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Follow Osmaan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/osmaanshah/
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Follow Alex:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
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Thank you to our partners:
(10:54) Northwest Registered Agent. Form your entire business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Get more privacy, more options, and more done—visit northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today!
(20:04) Fidelity Private Shares℠ - Visit https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com! Mention our podcast and receive 20% off your first-year paid subscription.
(29:31) Pilot - Visit https://www.pilot.com/twist and get $1,200 off your first year.
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