Wear this friend around your neck
Australian billionaire Peter Schiffmann has launched a new AI device called ‘FRIEND’, which will be an artificial intelligence companion. Schiffmann, who is the Founder of Silicon Valley-based tech startup VoxX, plans to build more devices with artificial intelligence features like Replika and Character that can go everywhere with users. Schiffmann claims he has paid $1.8 million for Friend.
Three writers on the promise of a new president
Silicon Valley’s megadonors have pledged their support for Vice President Kamala Harris after Joe Biden dropped out of the US presidential race. “I watched as Harris spoke to the staff at his campaign headquarters and walked away inspired. We’re going to win,” a tech executive said on being asked about Biden’s exit. “It feels…hopey changey,” he added.
Big tech backing Trump is inevitability
Silicon Valley Venture Capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, in a podcast released this week, said that their decision to support Donald Trump for the US Presidential election was the result of “the final straw” presented by Joe Biden’s Budget proposal. “The only big policy platform he had were sweeping tax cuts, which was a huge giveaway to corporations,” they added.
Silicon Valley is Wavering on Biden
David Sacks, the Venture Capitalist and friend of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has said that the Silicon Valley has become a “blue wall” of Republican support for President Donald Trump. “Last time, they voted for Trump…this time, they voted for Trump again,” he added. “The voters have experienced four years of Trump and four years of Biden,” Sacks further said.
Sam Altman is a former OpenAI CEO
OpenAI has named Emmett Shear, the former CEO of streaming platform Twitch, as its interim CEO. The Silicon Valley-based startup was founded in 2011 by Drew Altman, Elon Musk and others. “The mission continues,” Altman tweeted, adding that Shear will lead the company for the next three years. This comes after Altman announced his departure from OpenAI, which he founded.