- The Tech Buzz
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- 9/19/23
9/19/23
Alpha
September 19, 2023
∆ Tech in the News
Nvidia Shatters AI Speed Barriers - The groundbreaking open-source TensorRT-LLM promises double the Inference Speed on H100 GPUs and up to 8x throughput boost for smaller models.
Google’s Gemini Rival to ChatGPT-4 - Early indications from select company trials suggest the cutting-edge conversational AI tool rivals or exceeds OpenAI's most advanced model.
BCG’s AI Enterprise Deal - Boston Consulting Group teams up with Anthropic to offer all clients exclusive access to the advanced AI Claude 2, with strategic guidance from BCG included.
AI vs. Global Challenges - Sec. Blinken spoke at the AI for Accelerating Progress on Sustainable Development Goals event in NYC, emphasizing both AI’s risks and its potential to improve lives globally.
AI @ Morgan Stanley - The GenAI era on Wall Street kicks off with the launch of the banking giant’s assistant for financial advisors created with OpenAI’s latest generative AI software.
Do you think Google's Gemini can compete with ChatGPT? |
˚The hottest thing in tech this week
Apple’s long-awaited iOS 17 update for iPhones just landed with a number of new and improved security features continuing Apple’s focus on protecting consumer privacy. These features cover both users at a high risk of cyberattacks and spyware like journalists and activists, and the wider population.
Features include anti-web tracking, safely storing passwords and the easy sharing of newer phishing-resistant passkey. Lockdown Mode now runs on Apple Watch, which has until now been vulnerable to compromise by spyware. ‘Check In’ is a new feature that lets owners share with friends when they plan to arrive at their destination safely. Live Transcription lets you screen suspicious calls by viewing real-time text transcription.
New In-ear Tracker Patent
While not included in iOS 17, Apple may be working on a new way to identify you according to a patent application filed for “user identification using headphones.” This tech will give Apple the capability to identify if a user wearing a pair of headphones is the owner by using their movement patterns and linking to other devices. This will lock the headphones and prevent thieves from activating Apple services.
Do you place more trust in Apple devices than Android’s?
“People trust Apple because at the core, it is a closed ecosystem, which is different from what other ecosystems offer, like Android.”
News Bytes
Intel plans to use glass-based substrates to power AI chip innovation
BOA provides digital assistance With Erica on CashPro Chat
California Bill Aims to Introduce More Stringent AI Laws
Deals We’re Watching
Founders to Watch and Opportunities to Catch
Closed Deals:
Generic Respiratory Meds - Pharmaceutical manufacturer Nephron added a $350M growth round led by BlackRock Capital, PNC Bank, and National Association.
Your Accounts On Autopilot - Fin Capital and Y Combinator co-led a $3M seed round into startup Truewind which aims to be the singular source for a company's accounts and finances.
Securing Industry - Industrial Cybersecurity Leader Dragos sealed a $74M Series D extension led by WestCap as the market is projected to be $10.2B by 2025. Dragos is eyeing a public listing.
Clearer Ultrasounds - GE HealthCare secured a $44M grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop an AI-assisted ultrasound imaging tool aimed at underserved communities.
Financial Superapp - Spanish fintech giant Payflow bags $20M+ from BBVA Spark, giving them over $32M total funding and debt with 800+ global clients. Payflow targets 10x Growth with an expansion into Latam markets.
Companies to Watch:
Actionable AI Insights - Levelpath is a NextGen AI SaaS platform for enterprise procurement insights. The founders built Scout RFP (acquired in 2019) and a new $30M Series A brings the total raised to $44.5M.
Corporate Content - Writer offers enterprises text generation and search AI with customers getting productivity gains. A $100M Series B led by ICONIQ at a $500M+ valuation brings the total to $126M and adds a 7th Board member.
Project and Issue Tracking - Linear’s dev tool is used by Cash App, Cohere, Ramp, Substack, and Supercell. A $35M Series B was successfully led by Accel, with input from Sequoia and 01Advisors.
”Solid-Surface Infotainment” - US startup UltraSense Systems signed a deal to provide its touch-sensitive chips to Korea’s Mobase Electronics for use in next-gen touch products in Korean-made cars.
Open Deals:
Courting OpenAI - With Arm’s $5B IPO giving Softbank a $65B balance, FT reports it is now keen to invest “tens of billions in AI," including a potential partnership deal with OpenAI.
Bankruptcy to Buyout - Silicon Valley Bank's regulatory takeover and bankruptcy means its VC arm, SVB Capital, is up for grabs at $250M - $500M, with SkyBridge and Atlas Merchant as leading bidders.
IPOs Are Back:
Instacart Moves Goalposts - After Arm’s recent IPO success, the delivery startup amended its SEC filing, upping the target price range of its shares from $26-$28 to $28-$30.
Hong Kong AI IPOs - Three Chinese AI firms have launched IPOs in Hong Kong, aiming to raise a total of $280M in an attempt to expand globally.
Tools
Simple Custom 3D Printing - MIT researchers released Style2Fab, an AI-driven tool to simplify personalized 3D-printable models.
MagicSchool - A popular time-saving AI tool for educators to craft lesson plans and personalized learning materials.
How did we do? |
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The Tech Buzz Team