OWITH.ai - Only What's Important to Hear around AI and Tech

Each Saturday we take the headlines of daily podcast and ask ChatGPT to create a Sci-Fi story inspired by the news. The outcome for this week is this short story.

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Good morning from OWITH.ai: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in AI and tech world. In a recent critique, Tyler Cowen's extreme praise of OpenAI's O3 model as AGI is called into question by author Gary Marcus. Marcus points out flaws in the model highlighted by experts and urges for a more honest assessment of AI's strengths and weaknesses for improvement, emphasizing the need for a broader perspective on AI's capabilities.Moving on to other news, OpenAI has established a new nonprofit commission with notable advisors to enhance its credibility during its transition into a for-profit entity. This strategic move aims to address challenges from various organizations and individuals accusing the company of diverting charitable assets for private gain. The commission serves as a means to maintain support and credibility amidst this transition, highlighting the importance of transparency in AI development and governance.Former SpaceX engineer Scott Morton has recently launched Revel, a startup focused on building software to control critical hardware and prevent potential disasters. With $30 million in funding from investors like Thrive Capital and Felicis, Revel aims to revolutionize how industrial companies manage their technological infrastructure, starting with a focus on the space industry before expanding into other sectors like manufacturing and automotive.OpenAI has also introduced new "reasoning" models and a coding agent called Codex CLI, offering users access to advanced tools for reasoning about visual information. While Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg warns of competitive threats from TikTok, Spotify faces widespread outages, highlighting the challenges in the tech industry. As AI-generated music rises in popularity, companies like NVIDIA and AMD anticipate higher costs amid trade war tensions, underscoring the competitive landscape and challenges faced by tech companies.Fed Chair Jerome Powell's warning about potential economic impacts from Trump's tariffs has global markets on edge, with U.S. stocks sliding amidst uncertainty. As trade tensions escalate, U.S. CEOs face challenges in navigating partnerships in Asia, with countries weighing their options between the U.S. and China in key sectors like EVs and AI. Amidst discussions about the dollar's reserve currency status, global markets brace for potential economic shifts driven by geopolitical uncertainties.The importance of building automated evaluations for AI applications is emphasized, with Google's Gemini 2.5 model and OpenAI's Model Context Protocol facilitating developers' access to tools and data. The development of Byte Latent Transformer (BLT) offers a robust solution for processing noisy inputs and unfamiliar languages, showcasing advancements in AI technology. As job openings in AI companies continue to grow, it is essential to stay updated on the latest developments to provide valuable feedback and insights into the evolving landscape of AI technology.In conclusion, OpenAI's recent releases of O3 and O4-mini models signify a shift towards integrated AI systems that combine perception, action, and reasoning. While these advancements are groundbreaking, further testing is necessary to fully grasp the capabilities of these new AI systems, marking a significant evolution in how we approach AI technology moving forward.

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Good morning from OWITH.ai: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in the AI and tech world. Today, we have some significant news to share with you. Let's dive in.Chinese state-sponsored hacking group, Volt Typhoon, is said to be positioning itself to disrupt US critical infrastructure in the event of a conflict with the US. Cybersecurity researchers and security agencies have been tracking the group's activities since mid-2021. They have discovered that Volt Typhoon has been gaining access to the networks of critical infrastructure providers, aiming to disrupt US-Asia communications during crisis situations. This has raised concerns among the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, consisting of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. They have warned that Volt Typhoon has been preparing for "disruptive or destructive cyberattacks against US critical infrastructure" for at least five years. Sectors such as communications, energy, transportation, water, and waste treatment systems have already been compromised. It is alarming to think that this group may cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities.Now let's move on to another interesting topic. Have you ever thought about programming in English as a new programming language? It seems like a dream for many developers as it would eliminate the need to learn specific programming languages and allow them to think in their native language. However, despite attempts to achieve this, it hasn't been successful yet. Charles Simonyi founded a startup called Intentional Software in 2002 with the goal of allowing developers to specify their requirements without writing code. Unfortunately, the company was eventually sold back to Microsoft without widespread success. While there are AI models like GPT-4 that incorporate programming in English as part of their system, there are concerns about these models not always following instructions correctly. It seems like programming in English still faces many challenges before becoming a reality.Now let's shift our focus to Robinhood. Their Q4 earnings report showed a return to profitability and promised significant growth in the coming years. This news has driven up the company's shares by around 20%. The increased crypto and equity transactions, as well as a surge in interest-related revenue, have contributed to this positive outcome. However, it's important to note that relying on interest revenue can pose a potential risk due to fluctuating interest rates. While Robinhood's narrative of becoming a full-service brokerage for the next generation looks achievable, it still has a long way to go to compete with major players like Fidelity and Charles Schwab.In other news, family offices are increasingly shifting their investment focus towards alternative investments. According to data collected by private equity firm KKR and Henry McVey, the average family office now allocates 52% of its portfolio to alternatives. This marks an increase of 200 basis points since 2020. The pursuit of alpha and the compatibility of long-term investments with alternative assets are driving this trend. Family offices are gravitating towards top brand names in the growth and buyouts sectors when it comes to fundraising. However, emerging managers can also find opportunities if they can demonstrate a track record of successful exits.Moving on, we have some insights into the demand for moral leadership in business. A survey by the How Institute for Moral Leadership has found that while the demand for moral leadership is increasing, the supply is decreasing. The survey reveals that 93% of respondents believe there is a "high demand" for moral leadership in business. However, only 10% of CEOs ranked in the top tier of

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Good morning from OWITH.ai: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in AI and tech world. Gary Marcus, a noted AI skeptic, and Miles Brundage, an independent AI policy researcher, have made a bet on the status of AI by the end of 2027. The judges for this bet will determine if the tasks are technically feasible by the end of 2027 with reasonable costs. Both parties have agreed to make their respective donation sizes regardless of who wins the bet, emphasizing that the goal is to contribute to public discussion through concrete predictions rather than financial gain.In 2025, there is optimism for the private markets with a predicted boom in venture capital, an increase in seed rounds, and a surge in the venture market. The outlook for tech startups includes a shift back towards growth and efficiency, with significant investments in various sectors.Former President Jimmy Carter passed away at the age of 100, leaving behind a legacy of humanitarian work after his one-term presidency. The tech landscape continues to evolve, with new innovations and challenges on the horizon.The S&P 500 lost more than 1% on Friday, dropping below 6,000, but has still gained nearly 26% for the year. The CEO exodus continues, with a record number of CEOs stepping down in 2024. Donald Trump is expected to implement "Trumpenomics 2.0" in his second term, complicating the Federal Reserve's efforts to control inflation. Other news includes Elon Musk's political influence, investigations into plane crashes, and issues at the Neom construction site in Saudi Arabia. Overall, the AI and tech world is filled with exciting developments and challenges as we move forward into 2025. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest news and trends shaping our future.

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Each Saturday we take the headlines of daily podcast and ask ChatGPT to create a Sci-Fi story inspired by the news. The outcome for this week is this short story.

Thanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin