Alibaba claims its AI is even better than DeepSeek, Elon Musk is living at DOGE HQ, and “weirdo” men’s fashion
Okay, here's a detailed briefing document summarizing the key themes and information from the provided email newsletter: Briefing Document: StrictlyVC - January 30, 2025 Overview: This edition of StrictlyVC covers a wide range of topics in the tech and business world, including AI advancements, funding rounds for startups, controversies surrounding tech companies, and notable activities by tech figures like Elon Musk. Key Themes and Ideas: AI Advancements and Competition: Alibaba Claims AI Superiority: Alibaba is asserting that its new Large Language Model (LLM) surpasses those of DeepSeek, OpenAI's GPT-4o, and Meta's Llama-3.1-405B "almost across the board." This signals an intensification of the AI race and challenges the established leaders in the field. DeepSeek Trademark Issues: DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, faces potential trademark issues in the US with a Delaware-based company, Delson Group Inc., that filed for the "DeepSeek" trademark just 36 hours prior to DeepSeek's application. Delson Group claims to have been selling DeepSeek-branded products since 2020. DeepSeek Controversy: The company also faces ongoing issues regarding IP theft accusations, privacy concerns in Europe, and a prior massive cyberattack. Big Tech Controversies and Regulatory Scrutiny: Meta Payment to Donald Trump: Meta has allegedly agreed to pay former President Donald Trump $25 million for suspending his social media accounts after the January 6th Capitol attack. Sen. Elizabeth Warren characterized this payment as "a bribe and a signal to every company that corruption is the name of the game.” This action raises questions about corporate influence and potential corruption. Elon Musk and Government: Elon Musk is reportedly "reprising the tactics he deployed at Twitter" in Washington. He is said to be sleeping at the offices of the Department of Government Efficiency, and former employees are running the Office of Personnel Management. These reports suggest Musk's direct influence on government operations. Teen Distrust of Big Tech: A new report from Common Sense Media reveals that American teens have lost faith in major technology companies like Google, Apple, and Meta, indicating a growing skepticism towards Big Tech's impact on well-being and safety. Funding Boom for Startups: Diverse Sectors: The newsletter highlights numerous funding rounds across various sectors, including security, military tech, energy, medical devices, robotics, AI, health, and financial technology, showcasing a strong flow of capital into the startup ecosystem. Notable Funding Rounds: Specific rounds include: Oligo Security (Security): $50M Series B Onebrief (Military Software): $50M Series C Veir (Superconducting Power Lines): $75M Series B SafelyYou (AI Fall Detection): $43M Series C UVeye (Vehicle Inspection Systems): $41M Round led by Woven Capital (Toyota) International Presence: The funding landscape includes startups from various locations such as Tel Aviv, Boston, San Jose, Paris, Toronto, and more. Focus on AI: Multiple companies that received funding are developing AI applications, suggesting a continued strong trend in AI-driven businesses. (Delfina, Palona AI, Tradeverifyd) Other Notable Developments: Tesla Self-Driving Service: Tesla plans to launch a self-driving service in Austin in June, but their Full Self-Driving technology is still considered Level 2 autonomy, requiring constant driver supervision. AI in Cyberattacks: Hackers from countries like China and Iran are reportedly utilizing AI products like Google's Gemini to strengthen their cyberattacks. Waymo Expansion: Waymo plans to test its autonomous taxi service in 10 new cities this year. NASA Discoveries: NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission found key chemical ingredients for life on asteroid Bennu.