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Silicon Valley

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AI coding rivals Factory and Cognition clash over executive poaching
technology9 days ago

AI coding rivals Factory and Cognition clash over executive poaching

A public dispute has erupted between AI coding startups Factory and Cognition over the hiring of Chris Degnan, a former Factory board observer who joined Cognition as chief revenue officer. Factory CEO Matan Grinberg accused Cognition of unethical recruitment tactics, including faking interviews to gather confidential information, while Cognition CEO Scott Wu denied the claims. The conflict highlights intense competition in the AI coding market, where both companies recently secured massive funding rounds at valuations exceeding $40 billion. Industry figures have weighed in, with some condemning the breach of trust and others defending the move as standard business practice.

via Business Insider|
#ai-startups#corporate-ethics#silicon-valley
politics14 days ago

Casar Targets Vance’s Tech Ties in 2028 AI Populist Strategy

Rep. Greg Casar is positioning himself as a leading Democratic voice on artificial intelligence by framing Vice President JD Vance as a proxy for Silicon Valley elites. Ahead of the 2028 election, Casar plans to argue that tech billionaires funded Vance’s rise and now use AI to enrich themselves at the public’s expense. This strategy aims to channel voter skepticism regarding AI data centers and automation into a broader economic populist message, contrasting with the party’s current lack of a unified stance on the issue.

via Politico|
#2028-election#ai-regulation#greg-casar
Silicon Valley’s AI accelerationists push back against doom-mongering and calls for regulation
technology19 days ago

Silicon Valley’s AI accelerationists push back against doom-mongering and calls for regulation

A New York Post piece portrays a rift in Silicon Valley between AI accelerationists like Guillaume Verdon, who reject doomist narratives about AI and criticize regulation as biased and counterproductive, and industry leaders such as Anthropic and OpenAI urging pacing and third-party oversight; critics warn regulators could become a biased cartel, while public concern about AI risk remains high and some startups pursue faster, more open models and related funding.

via New York Post|
#accelerationism#artificial-intelligence#mind-virus
Trump launches AI Force and seeks a Silicon Valley–flavored AI czar
politics19 days ago

Trump launches AI Force and seeks a Silicon Valley–flavored AI czar

Trump unveiled an “AI Force” modeled on Space Force and said he would name an AI czar soon, aiming to shift AI safety debates toward an economic, infrastructure‑driven vision. The czar is expected to be a seasoned surrogate with Silicon Valley ties who can lead a rebranding of AI policy, with several high‑profile candidates from or connected to tech and venture capital under consideration. Potential conflicts of interest and required divestments could limit candidates, especially those tied to Anthropic or OpenAI, complicating who can take the role.

via Axios|
#ai-czar#ai-policy#politics
SF tech exec’s dating ‘non-negotiables’ spark online backlash
lifestyle20 days ago

SF tech exec’s dating ‘non-negotiables’ spark online backlash

A San Francisco tech executive’s post listing dating “non-negotiables”—including a “healthy masculine” partner, a “provider/protector” mindset, and a preference for someone in tech—drew swift online backlash and debates about the city’s dating scene. LeBlanc says years of dating experience inspired the list and defends asking for what she wants, while critics argue the checklist is tone-deaf and unhealthy.

via New York Post|
#backlash#california#dating
Trump’s AI whisperer pushes for light-touch regulation amid growing oversight calls
technology20 days ago

Trump’s AI whisperer pushes for light-touch regulation amid growing oversight calls

David Sacks, a key Trump adviser known as his ’AI whisperer’, champions a light-touch approach to AI regulation and has helped steer executive orders and policy moves aimed at loosening rules, a stance critics say reflects heavy industry influence as the broader AI-safety debate intensifies and calls for independent evaluations grow.

via The Guardian|
#ai-regulation#ai-safety-debate#david-sacks
Nobel laureates back California billionaire wealth tax as ballot clash looms
us-politics-and-policy21 days ago

Nobel laureates back California billionaire wealth tax as ballot clash looms

A group of Nobel Prize–winning economists, including Stiglitz, Diamond, Acemoglu, Banerjee, Duflo and Krugman, sign an open letter endorsing California’s proposed one-time 5% wealth tax on billionaires, arguing it could spark a broader movement toward wealth taxation in the US and beyond. Opponents funded by Silicon Valley donors warn the plan would cost the state and drive entrepreneurs elsewhere. The measure, designed to raise about $100 billion for public services, is on the November ballot, with California Democrats backing it but Governor Newsom advocating a national approach; polling shows a tight race, and supporters say tax revenue would support essential services and public infrastructure.

via Financial Times|
#california#nobel-laureates#silicon-valley
Altman: Fear about AI is warranted, but trust AI firms to act safely
technology24 days ago

Altman: Fear about AI is warranted, but trust AI firms to act safely

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told a Salesforce conference that while fear of AI's rapid progress is justified, people should trust the industry to act responsibly and push for safety, with some leaders arguing for self-regulation rather than government rules. The discussion mirrors broader industry debates, as figures like Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon call for governance, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg push for internal alignment, and Anthropic/OpenAI signal ongoing voluntary safety standards with other labs amid political friction.

via Yahoo News Australia|
#ai-governance#ai-safety#sam-altman
Tech Titans Hit the Big Screen in October
entertainment1 month ago

Tech Titans Hit the Big Screen in October

Hollywood is rolling out a quartet of October releases that cast tech moguls—Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Elizabeth Holmes, and Sam Altman—in leading roles, including The Social Reckoning, Artificial, Musk, You Can See Everything, and the Netflix limited series The Altruists; trailers have dropped in quick succession, with early buzz praising Musk and You Can See Everything, while Artificial faces skepticism.

via hollywoodreporter.com|
#biopics#elizabeth-holmes#elon-musk
technology1 month ago

Courts push back on Trump's tech-breakup agenda as Google ad-tech ruling stalls dismantling efforts

A federal judge rejected DOJ efforts to force Google to spin off its ad-tech business, marking a major setback for the Trump administration's push to restructure major tech firms. While some remedies were approved, the decision dampens momentum for future breakups at Google and signals renewed caution about structural remedies in intertwined digital markets for Apple and Amazon as antitrust trials proceed.

via Politico|
#ad-tech#antitrust#doj
Burning Man co-founder decries festival's shift to 'Disneyland for the well-heeled' era
entertainment1 month ago

Burning Man co-founder decries festival's shift to 'Disneyland for the well-heeled' era

Burning Man co-founder John Law writes in the San Francisco Standard that the festival has lost its anarchist soul and become a carnival-like playground for the wealthy, describing it as a “Disneyland for the well-heeled.” He notes attendees now stay in luxury camps, some fly in on business jets, and ticket prices have climbed (roughly from $550 to $3,000), arguing the event’s rise—from a tiny gathering in 1990 to tens of thousands of attendees—reflects commercialization under the influence of Silicon Valley and the internet, even as he acknowledges it remains a famous party.

via Yahoo|
#anarchist-roots#burning-man#entertainment