Morning Thrust | Weekly Highlights (74th Edition: 12.05.2024)

Welcome to the 74th 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 (12.05.2024), 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!

OpenAI is developing Media Manager, a tool enabling creators to control how their content is used in AI training, aiming to address concerns about scraping public data. This move responds to criticisms and legal challenges, including a lawsuit by newspapers for alleged IP infringement. While OpenAI's efforts aim to meet creators halfway, some argue for further measures, prompting third-party initiatives like Startup Spawning AI's app for tracking and blocking scraping attempts.

Stack Overflow and OpenAI join forces to enhance AI models for programming tasks, aiming to improve ChatGPT's responses on the platform. Despite initial concerns about AI-generated content, Stack Overflow embraces generative AI tools amidst a dip in traffic, forging partnerships with tech giants like 谷歌 and prioritizing AI to ensure continued user engagement and quality information.

Elon Musk's AI startup xAI is nearing the completion of its funding round, expected to value the company at around $18 billion this week. The round, potentially raising $6 billion, involves investors like Sequoia Capital . X.AI plans to leverage Musk's track record and access to data from X, aiming to compete with rivals like OpenAI in AI chatbot technology.

Wayve, a UK-based self-driving technology startup, secures a record-breaking $1.05 billion in Series C funding led by SoftBank Group Corp., marking the largest AI fundraising in the UK and among the top 20 globally. The company, known for its self-learning approach to autonomous driving, plans to expand globally and develop products for both assisted and fully automated driving. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lauds the investment as a testament to the UK's leadership in AI, highlighting its potential to revolutionize mobility and safety.

Paris-based startup Mistral AI is raising funds at a $6 billion valuation to compete with OpenAI and Anthropic in the large language model market. Notable investors like DST Global , General Catalyst and Lightspeed Venture Partners are interested, while ソフトバンク is currently not involved. The round, anticipated to be under $600 million, signifies Mistral's rapid growth since its $415 million raise at a $2 billion valuation.

The Semiconductor Industry Association 's report projects a threefold increase in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing capacity by 2032, driven by the CHIPS and Science Act. This growth, the largest globally, is expected to bolster America's share of chip production and innovation. The CHIPS Act's incentives have already spurred significant investments, with over $450 billion announced in the U.S., promising substantial job creation and economic benefits.

TikTok introduces automatic labeling for AI-generated content from platforms like DALL·E 3, using Content Credentials to ensure transparency. This change, rolling out globally, aims to inform viewers and alleviate pressure on creators, with plans to extend labeling to AI content created within TikTok itself. TikTok emphasizes responsible AI use and collaboration across platforms for accurate content labeling.

Uber Eats introduces a TikTok -style video feed to help users discover new dishes and restaurants showcase their creations, currently testing in select cities before a global rollout. This move aligns with the trend of short-form video content embraced by major platforms. It aims to offer an immersive experience, replicating in-person dining and fostering engagement while supporting over 1 million merchants on its platform with revamped software and upcoming management app.

India's OYO , once valued at $10B, seeks new funding at 70% discount, negotiating to raise funds that could slash its valuation to $3B or lower, engaging with investors including Malaysia’s Khazanah Nasional Berhad . This follows Oyo withdrawing its IPO prospectus for the second time, with founder Ritesh Agarwal stating expected revenue for the fiscal year ending March to be over $682 million.

Uber 's first-quarter results beat revenue expectations but revealed a net loss. Despite a 15% revenue growth, the company reported a widened net loss of $654 million. Uber's CEO attributed the loss to equity investments but remains optimistic about future performance, aiming for improved profitability in the coming quarters.

TikTok sues US government over law threatening ban if parent company fails to sell within a year. The lawsuit argues the law violates free speech and individual liberty, with ByteDance facing a deadline of January 19 to sell or risk a shutdown. TikTok maintains the US government lacks evidence of national security risks and contends that selling the app within the given timeline is technologically impossible, potentially leading to its closure by 2025.

苹果 's latest iPad Pro unveiled at the "Let Loose" event boasts an M4 chip for enhanced performance and introduces OLED display technology, setting it apart from previous models. With faster CPU and GPU, along with a 16-core neural engine, the device promises significant advancements in processing power. Priced from $999, preorders for both 11- and 13-inch models are available now, with shipping starting next week.

微软 announced the launch of its mobile game store in July, starting with its first-party portfolio including games like Candy Crush and Minecraft . The store will initially be web-based, providing an alternative to Apple and Google's app stores' 30% fee structure. Microsoft aims to extend the store to other publishers, positioning itself as an alternative in the US and beyond the EU, amidst regulatory changes in the digital market.

亚马逊 launches its largest fleet of heavy-duty electric trucks in Southern California, contributing to its global sustainability efforts. With nearly 50 electric trucks deployed, including those in ocean freight operations, Amazon aims to reduce emissions and reach its net-zero carbon goal by 2040. The initiative aligns with California's climate goals, creating jobs and investing in renewable energy projects across the state.

Greece plans to transform 6.2 million sq.m of land near Athens into Europe’s largest smart city, Ellinikon. The project promises economic benefits including billions in tax revenue, 80,000 new jobs, and attracting one million tourists annually. Despite years of setbacks, the development aims to blend luxury, sustainability, and cutting-edge technology, with high demand already evident for residential and commercial spaces.

"GCC Grand Tours" to unify tourist visa system across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait by end of 2024, facilitating freedom of movement and boosting regional tourism. Rollout expected to streamline travel, benefitting millions of residents and tourists, with details on requirements forthcoming. UAE prepares infrastructure enhancements to accommodate increased tourism influx.

Construction is set to begin on the $3-billion UAE-Oman railway project, now named Hafeet Rail, connecting the two nations' markets and creating job opportunities. The joint venture, involving Etihad Rail, Oman Rail, and Mubadala Investment Company, aims to boost trade and tourism, with passenger trains reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h. The project was initiated during the state visit of Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the UAE.

Generative AI is making strides in drug discovery, with Eli Lilly and Company seeing surprising results from AI-generated molecules and experts predicting AI's ability to create drugs beyond human capacity within a few years. This shift, exemplified by Google DeepMind's AlphaFold breakthrough, promises to revolutionize pharmaceuticals, potentially reducing development time and improving success rates significantly. However, the ultimate test lies in human trials, while ongoing advancements aim to refine AI models for more intelligent experimentation.

Redwire Space pioneers biopharma production in space, successfully bioprinting live human heart tissue aboard the ISS and delivering pharmaceutical crystal experiments. The breakthrough enables unique opportunities in microgravity for bioprinting and crystal growth, advancing drug development and personalized medicine. Redwire's achievements mark significant progress towards commercial biotech services in space, with further innovations planned, supported by partnerships with companies like 礼来 .

SpaceX reveals innovative EVA suits for the groundbreaking Polaris Dawn mission, marking the first commercial astronaut spacewalk. The suits boast enhanced mobility, 3-D-printed helmets with built-in cameras and displays, and added safety features. Polaris Dawn aims to achieve the highest Earth orbit flown, conducting vital research on human health effects and testing laser-based communication for Starlink satellites.

Xona Space Systems , a space tech startup, secures a $19M Series A funding led by Future Ventures and Seraphim Space for its precision navigation service via small satellites. Their PULSAR? service promises centimeter-level accuracy, crucial for autonomous systems, attracting interest from major industries and investors like Steve Jurvetson. This funding will propel Xona's satellite network deployment, aiming to revolutionize global geolocation services.

After 25 years, the 'Lost' Infra-Red Calibration Balloon (S73-7) satellite, launched in 1974, was rediscovered using U.S. Space Force tracking data. Initially intended as a calibration target for remote sensing equipment, it drifted into obscurity twice, resurfacing due to its low radar visibility. Tracking space junk poses challenges despite technological advancements, highlighting the complexity of monitoring Earth's orbit.

Thank you so much for subscribing to Morning Thrust and have a great week ahead.