Morning Thrust | Weekly Highlights (72nd Edition: 28.04.2024)

Welcome to the 72nd edition of Morning Thrust,?your?weekly dose?of?highlights?in future tech,?space economy,?sustainability,?smart cities,?supply chain,?logistics and more! In this edition (28.04.2024), we bring you the?most exciting?developments shaping?our world.?Stay informed and?ahead of the curve?with our curated insights.?Let's dive in!

Elon Musk's xAI , a rival to OpenAI , is nearing $6 billion in funding with investors including Sequoia Capital and Future Ventures . Musk's social network, X, already a shareholder in xAI, aims to integrate its chatbot, Grok, for broader application, aligning with Musk's vision of connecting digital and physical realms through data from his companies like Tesla and SpaceX. This development poses questions for OpenAI as Musk's initiatives challenge its trajectory and innovation practices.

Global venture capital (VC) investment dipped to a five-year low of $75.9 billion in Q1’24, with the Americas leading at $38.2 billion, primarily driven by the U.S. Despite overall declines, cleantech and AI sectors thrived, with the U.S. accounting for $36.6 billion. Europe saw a rise in investment, while Asia-Pacific experienced a seven-year low. India saw a rise in VC investment to $3.2 billion, with fintech gaining traction. The U.S. IPO market in Q2’24 will be closely watched for potential impacts on VC funding.

Perplexity , an AI search engine startup, is raising over $250 million at a valuation between $2.5 billion and $3 billion. The company's rapid growth, with recent funding rounds and a focus on generative AI-based search, sets it apart in the market. Perplexity's innovative approach targets enterprise needs, with plans for expansion driven by both investor interest and the necessity of financing AI development.

OpenAI 's GPT-4 surpasses junior doctors in diagnosing eye conditions, nearly matching expert ophthalmologists' performance, scoring 69% compared to doctors' 43% on a test. The University of Cambridge study explores the potential of large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 to assist GPs in handling specialized cases, emphasizing patient empowerment in deciding AI involvement in healthcare.

Mercedes-Benz AG introduces the all-electric G-Class, boasting enhanced technology and off-road capabilities, while maintaining its prestigious status. Dubbed the "Birkin bag" of Mercedes' lineup, the G 580 with EQ Technology challenges traditional naming conventions, showcasing a four-motor setup and unique features like the G-Turn for off-road enthusiasts. Despite market uncertainties, Mercedes remains committed to its electrification plans, anticipating the impact of the G 580 on G-Class sales.

Sanctuary AI , a Canadian robotics firm, unveils its seventh-generation humanoid robot with a focus on rapid learning and cost-effectiveness, prioritizing upper body movements for tasks like product sorting. CEO Geordie Rose emphasizes the system's similarity to human capabilities, highlighting its potential for artificial general intelligence. The new Phoenix model promises faster task automation within 24 hours and brings enhancements such as increased uptime, improved motion range, lighter weight, and reduced costs.

Elon Musk announced that Tesla 's humanoid robot, Optimus, could hit the market by the end of next year, aiming to address labor shortages and tedious tasks in various industries. Despite Musk's track record of ambitious promises, Tesla's robot development signals a potential shift towards robot sales becoming a significant aspect of the company's business, leveraging AI capabilities for efficient production. Other companies like Boston Dynamics and Figure are also advancing in humanoid robot technology for diverse applications, suggesting a growing trend in the industry.

IBM has acquired HashiCorp for $6.4 billion, further bolstering its hybrid cloud management strategy. This move follows IBM's previous acquisitions like Red Hat and Apptio, aiming to assist IT departments in managing complex hybrid environments. HashiCorp brings cloud lifecycle management and security tools, with IBM CEO Arvind Krishna emphasizing the value of integrating these capabilities into IBM's hybrid cloud platform.

Estée Lauder and 微软 join forces to revolutionize beauty industry with AI. Their new AI Innovation Lab aims to enhance consumer connections and speed to market across 20+ prestige brands. Using generative AI, they develop tools like an internal chatbot for marketing and accelerate product development for more personalized experiences.

苹果 is deepening talks with OpenAI to integrate generative AI features into the upcoming iPhone iOS 18, possibly alongside Google's Gemini chatbot. These discussions, ahead of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, aim to enhance user experience while addressing privacy concerns. Outsourcing AI capabilities could accelerate Apple's entry into chatbots, reducing platform liabilities.

US asset managers, including Apollo Global Management, Inc. , KKR and Stonepeak , may invest billions in Intel's semiconductor facility in Ireland, aimed at aiding the company's efforts to regain dominance in chip manufacturing. Intel, facing challenges in traditional chip demand and AI semiconductor markets, seeks to raise funds for its Kildare plant, employing advanced EUV technology. The potential joint venture's details, including size and structure, are yet to be finalized, with Intel actively seeking investor interest to bolster its position in the competitive semiconductor industry.

诺基亚 and NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration are teaming up to bring 4G connectivity to the Moon's surface, with plans to deploy a network via a SpaceX rocket this year. This pioneering initiative aims to support future human presence on other planets and enhance communication capabilities for NASA's Artemis program. The project also holds potential for commercial applications on Earth in remote or harsh environments.

SpaceX launches European GPS satellites from Kennedy Space Center, retiring Falcon 9 booster B1060 after its 20th mission. The Galileo L12 mission deployed Airbus-built Galileo satellites for Europe’s navigation system, aiming for 24 operational satellites in orbit. Liftoff occurred amidst favorable launch conditions with a 75% chance of success.

In the race to enhance space capabilities, various entities are developing advanced chips to deploy AI in orbit, aiming to revolutionize satellite operations and data processing. With the space industry poised for substantial growth, the integration of AI could unlock its full potential, addressing challenges such as data management and autonomous navigation. Despite technological hurdles, innovative chip designs offer promising solutions to power efficient on-board processing, heralding a new era in space exploration and utilization.

SpaceX advances Starship in-space refueling tech, with successful propellant transfer during March test flight, aiming for a 2025 demo of two Starships docking and transferring fuel. Essential for lunar missions, SpaceX focuses on understanding propellant dynamics and aims for full reusability by next year, key to Elon Musk's vision of multiplanetary life.

Free-flying robots are revolutionizing space exploration with innovative tech like the Multi-Resolution Scanner (MRS), jointly developed by Boeing and CSIRO . Leveraging NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration 's Astrobee system, MRS aims to create high-resolution 3D maps of space environments, enhancing navigation and data collection. The project's success could extend to terrestrial applications, benefiting industries like mining and disaster relief with improved spatial data and navigation capabilities.

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration unveils its Space Sustainability Strategy, focusing on cleaning up Earth's orbital junk and ensuring equitable resource use. Astronomers praise the initiative but urge quicker action to prevent collisions and protect critical satellites, emphasizing the urgency of addressing space pollution. NASA faces pressure to accelerate efforts as other nations and agencies lead in space sustainability, highlighting the need for immediate solutions and a long-term circular space economy approach.

The World Economic Forum predicts the global space economy to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, with diverse industries benefiting. This growth, driven by technological innovation, presents opportunities for various sectors and could potentially reach $2.3 trillion if conditions align.

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