AI, Tech, and Climate: A Morning Update from OWITH.ai

Good morning from OWITH.ai: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in AI and tech world.Sangeen Zeb, a general partner at Google Ventures, invests in AI startups like OpenEvidence, Harvey, and Thinking Machines. He believes in the high valuations of these companies because of their rapid growth and scarcity. Zeb looks for founders who can keep pace with technological change and believes that the next generation of AI companies will require more than just scaling and computing power. In terms of recent venture deals, various AI and tech companies like Capital Rx, Morse Micro, and Obot.ai have raised significant amounts of funding. Private equity deals include KKR and CPP acquiring a stake in Sempra Infrastructure Partners for $10 billion. Bregal Milestone also acquired a majority stake in Skysparc. Archetype, a venture capital fund focused on decentralized infrastructure, raised $100 million for its third fund. Zeb predicts that the future of AI models will evolve beyond large language models.OpenAI, along with partners Oracle and SoftBank, has announced plans to build five massive data centers in the U.S., with the first complex located in Abilene, Texas. The Stargate project, initially announced alongside President Trump, is far from dead, despite speculation. The companies aim to keep up with the infrastructure needed for the AI revolution. AI capital expenditure is so significant that it is preventing a recession in the U.S., according to Deutsche Bank. Additionally, Larry Ellison and his son David are emerging as a powerful media duo, with David's Skydance Media acquiring Paramount and potentially Warner, while Oracle is involved in the acquisition of TikTok. AI-generated 'workslop' is causing productivity issues, Canada could benefit from Trump's H1-B crackdown, and crypto venture firm Archetype raises $100 million for its fund. Cathie Wood suggests the AI race may soon be dominated by the "big 4" players, and Zerohash reaches a $1 billion valuation after raising $104 million.President Trump dismissed climate change as a "con job" during a speech at the UN, but many CEOs, such as Dave Regnery of Trane Technologies, are actively working towards sustainability goals. Despite the challenging U.S. policy environment, companies are investing in renewable energy and seeing sustainability as a path to profitability. President Trump also made legal threats against ABC for reinstating Jimmy Kimmel, and he took a sharp break with Russia by supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Additionally, he refused to meet with congressional Democrats to discuss government funding, and Tether is seeking a $500 billion valuation through a funding round. Jaguar Land Rover is offline due to a cyberattack, Stanford scientists warn of AI "workslop" hindering productivity, and immigration raids are affecting contractors in Alabama. Peter Thiel is warning about threats to humanity, including the possibility of an antichrist coming in the form of a one-world government. The markets were mixed, with S&P 500 futures up slightly and Bitcoin declining. Overall, the business landscape is facing challenges and opportunities related to climate change, technology, geopolitics, and economic stability.

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