The Briefing by Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

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The Briefing

By Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

Get smarter about the day’s news in tech, media and finance by following Silicon Valley’s most-read executive newsletter.

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Recent Editions

Photo via Getty

Microsoft AI Chief Suleyman Shuffles Unit Leadership, Pointing to Shift in Strategy

By Aaron Holmes · Sep 24, 2024 7:00am PDT

In case you missed it, my colleagues broke news yesterday about Anthropic’s attempt to draft off OpenAI’s pending fundraising, by looking to do its own funding round. Like OpenAI, Anthropic wants to double its valuation. Whether it can do so despite weaker financials remains to be seen! On to today’s issue… It’s been a while since... In case you missed it, my colleagues broke news yesterday about Anthropic’s attempt to draft off...

Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty.

Scale AI’s Sales Nearly Quadrupled in First Half

By Cory Weinberg · Sep 24, 2024 6:00am PDT · 1 comment

Helping artificial intelligence companies improve the accuracy of their large language models is turning into a giant business for Scale AI, which labels data for big AI developers like Meta Platforms and Google. Scale nearly quadrupled its sales to almost $400 million in the first half of the year compared with the same period last year,... Helping artificial intelligence companies improve the accuracy of their large language models is...

Partner Content

AI Summit Recap: Where to Invest in AI

By The Information Partnerships · Sep 23, 2024 6:48pm PDT · 1 comment

Over the last two years, it’s felt like investors have poured money into any startup with dot-ai in its domain name. In 2023 alone, artificial intelligence funding topped $189 billion. But with hundreds of new AI startups launching each year, it can be difficult for investors to distinguish a true unicorn from a flash in the pan. As part... Over the last two years, it’s felt like investors have poured money into any startup with...

AI Summit Recap: Dollars and Cents in AI and Health Tech

By The Information Partnerships · Sep 23, 2024 6:47pm PDT

Partner Content

AI Summit Recap: Dollars and Cents in AI and Health Tech

By The Information Partnerships · Sep 23, 2024 6:47pm PDT

There’s no doubt that artificial intelligence has already changed the business world. But there are other areas where it has been utterly transformative. One of those areas is health and medicine. As part of the Information’s recent San Francisco AI Summit, reporter Natasha Mascarenhas sat down to discuss the current state of AI in... There’s no doubt that artificial intelligence has already changed the business world. But...

Partner Content

AI Summit Recap: Moving Prototypes to Products

By The Information Partnerships · Sep 23, 2024 6:46pm PDT

In the age of artificial intelligence, new AI-based apps and platforms are proliferating by the day. What consumers don’t see are all the hurdles a project must overcome to become market ready. As part of The Information’s SF AI Summit, and in partnership with Amazon Web Services, reporter Anissa Gardizy explored the question of... In the age of artificial intelligence, new AI-based apps and platforms are proliferating by the...

Intel headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. Photo by Bloomberg via Getty.

Biden’s Intel Quandary

By Martin Peers · Sep 23, 2024 5:00pm PDT

Merger activity is alive! Well, maybe. Friday’s news that Qualcomm had made a friendly takeover overture to Intel has given a shot of adrenaline to deal junkies everywhere. This would be a big deal. Despite Intel’s travails—its revenue this year is expected to be less than in 2013, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence—the company... Merger activity is alive! Well, maybe. Friday’s news that Qualcomm had made a friendly takeover...

Art by Mike Sullivan.

Polymarket Discusses Fresh Funding Amid Election Betting Craze

By Kate Clark and Yueqi Yang · Sep 23, 2024 2:05pm PDT · 1 comment

Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction market that has taken off as a place for people to bet on the U.S. election, on Taylor Swift’s engagement prospects and on who will win the Super Bowl, is in talks to raise more than $50 million in new capital, according to people familiar with the matter. Polymarket has also discussed the... Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction market that has taken off as a place for people to bet...

Anthropic co-founder and CEO, Dario Amodei. Photo by Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty.

Anthropic Has Floated $40 Billion Valuation in Funding Talks

By Anissa Gardizy and Kate Clark · Sep 23, 2024 1:45pm PDT · 3 comments

Anthropic co-founder and CEO, Dario Amodei. Photo by Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty.

Anthropic Has Floated $40 Billion Valuation in Funding Talks

By Anissa Gardizy and Kate Clark · Sep 23, 2024 1:45pm PDT · 3 comments

Anthropic, OpenAI’s largest startup competitor, has started talking to investors about raising capital in a deal that could value the startup at $30 billion to $40 billion, roughly doubling its valuation from a funding that closed early this year, according to an existing investor who spoke to company leaders. Anthropic, which generates... Anthropic, OpenAI’s largest startup competitor, has started talking to investors about...

Doug Herrington, Amazon's CEO of Worldwide Stores, speaking at Amazon Accelerate last week. Photo via YouTube/Amazon.

Why Amazon Is Helping Merchants Sell On Rival Sites

By Theo Wayt · Sep 23, 2024 11:01am PDT · 3 comments

Last week, as Amazon’s annual gathering of online sellers was kicking off at the Seattle Convention Center, Temu staffers held an invite-only happy hour just a couple of blocks away to pitch Amazon merchants on joining the fast-growing bargain site over sliders and an open bar. That kind of wooing may seem like a serious threat for Amazon,... Last week, as Amazon’s annual gathering of online sellers was kicking off at the Seattle...

Photo via Getty

Bankers Get Creative Amid Dealmaking Lull

By Cory Weinberg and Ann Gehan · Sep 23, 2024 8:30am PDT

Startup investors have been scurrying lately to come up with new ways to turn their investments into cash, given that the conventional paths to cashing out—the startup goes public or gets acquired by a bigger tech firm—are much harder to pull off nowadays. Some investors are hoping private equity firms snap up their companies. Others are trying... Startup investors have been scurrying lately to come up with new ways to turn their investments...

Sam Altman. Photo by Getty

Altman's Master Stroke?; Why Google Should Start Worrying About ChatGPT

By Amir Efrati · Sep 23, 2024 7:00am PDT

A lot happened toward the end of last week. For starters, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman showed once again that he's a master of fundraising. Despite what seemed like a lack of investor enthusiasm just a few weeks ago, Altman appears to have gotten enough demand to raise more than $6 billion for the ChatGPT creator, at a roughly $150 billion... A lot happened toward the end of last week. For starters, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman showed once again...

Rippling's Parker Conrad. Photo via Getty Images

Why Startups like Rippling Are Choosing New Products Over IPOs

By Cory Weinberg · Sep 23, 2024 6:00am PDT · 3 comments

Rippling's Parker Conrad. Photo via Getty Images

Why Startups like Rippling Are Choosing New Products Over IPOs

By Cory Weinberg · Sep 23, 2024 6:00am PDT · 3 comments

Parker Conrad is excited. Eager to demonstrate a corporate travel booking tool his company, Rippling, is about to introduce, Conrad opens his laptop and shows off a page that has the kind of flight and hotel selection layout familiar to anyone who has used Google Flights. “Let me show you some stuff,” he said. His company, which... Parker Conrad is excited. Eager to demonstrate a corporate travel booking tool his company,...

Group14 Technologies' anode powder plant in Sangju, South Korea, a joint venture with SK On. Photo: Courtesy Group14.

The Electric: With a $3 Billion Bet, the U.S. Strikes at the Heart of China’s EV Empire

By Steve LeVine · Sep 23, 2024 4:30am PDT

Chinese companies dominate the market for electric vehicle batteries and the supply chain behind them. But U.S. companies hold their own in one segment: high-silicon electrodes, which add significant driving range and charging speed. Chinese companies dominate the market for electric vehicle batteries and the supply chain behind...

Art by Clark MIller

The Sad, Meaningful Death of Oakland Sports

By Cory Weinberg · Sep 21, 2024 7:00am PDT · 1 comment

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Bling it on! The AI startup turning shoppers into jewelry designers• Power and Influence: How Ron Conway went from playing in local San Francisco politics to helping oust Joe Biden• The Top 5: The best resources for whistleblowers • Plus: Why helicopter parents are ruining their... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Bling it on! The AI startup turning...

So You Wanna Be A Whistleblower?

By Paris Martineau · Sep 21, 2024 5:00am PDT · 1 comment

Shortly after Libby Liu joined Whistleblower Aid as CEO in spring 2021, the legal nonprofit got a new client: Frances Haugen, a former Facebook product manager who, with the organization’s help, would soon become quite famous (or infamous—depending on your point of view). Founded in 2017, Whistleblower Aid is dedicated to supporting... Shortly after Libby Liu joined Whistleblower Aid as CEO in spring 2021, the legal nonprofit got a...

Elon Musk. Photo by Marc Piasecki/Getty.

Trumpism Is Here to Stay in Tech, Even If Trump Loses

By Cory Weinberg · Sep 20, 2024 3:00pm PDT · 7 comments

Elon Musk. Photo by Marc Piasecki/Getty.

Trumpism Is Here to Stay in Tech, Even If Trump Loses

By Cory Weinberg · Sep 20, 2024 3:00pm PDT · 7 comments

Just after Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz surprised the tech world by backing Donald Trump for the presidency a few months ago, liberals took glee in the fact that the two venture capitalists made the political equivalent of an investment no-no: They bought at the top of the market. After their endorsement, Joe Biden dropped out, paving... Just after Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz surprised the tech world by backing Donald Trump for...

Art by Clark Miller.

Power and Influence

The Silicon Valley Godfather Who Helped Push Out the President

By Josh Koehn · Sep 20, 2024 9:00am PDT · 5 comments

As early morning darkness still covered the Mediterranean, Ron Conway’s phone started to blow up. The billionaire venture capitalist was asleep on a yacht off the Italian coast. But six time zones away in Atlanta, President Joe Biden was self-immolating in a live TV debate against former President Donald Trump. When Conway awoke, he wasted... As early morning darkness still covered the Mediterranean, Ron Conway’s phone started to...

Pro Weekly: Soaring Optimism About Tech Companies

Pro Weekly: Soaring Optimism About Tech Companies

By Akash Pasricha · Sep 20, 2024 8:00am PDT

What a difference a month makes. Respondents to our September survey were markedly more optimistic than in August about 13 of the 14 big tech companies we regularly ask them about. The exception was Coinbase, where reader sentiment was essentially unchanged. The results mirrored a surge in optimism among readers compared with last month... What a difference a month makes. Respondents to our September survey were markedly more...

Photo by David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty.

WhatsApp Dominates Meta AI Use

By Kalley Huang · Sep 20, 2024 7:00am PDT

A year after Meta Platforms introduced its artificial intelligence assistant, a picture is emerging of how people are using it—and how that differs from usage of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the leading conversational AI. Most people who use Meta AI daily do so through WhatsApp, according to a person who has seen recent internal data; the... A year after Meta Platforms introduced its artificial intelligence assistant, a picture is...

Art by Clark Miller

Bling It On: An AI Startup Turns Shoppers Into Jewelry Designers

By Ann Gehan · Sep 20, 2024 6:00am PDT · 7 comments

Art by Clark Miller

Bling It On: An AI Startup Turns Shoppers Into Jewelry Designers

By Ann Gehan · Sep 20, 2024 6:00am PDT · 7 comments

When I met Mariam Naficy last week, she couldn’t wait to show me her new jewelry. She had designed the earrings she was wearing herself. And her bracelet. And her ring for good measure. Technically, Naficy—whose keen eye for e-commerce trends led her to found the early online makeup retailer Eve.com and Minted, which makes custom... When I met Mariam Naficy last week, she couldn’t wait to show me her new jewelry. She had...