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Elon Musk’s AI company raises $6 billion from AMD, Nvidia, BlackRock, and other investors

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xAI has successfully concluded its Series C funding round, securing $6 billion from prominent investors, including A16Z, BlackRock, Morgan Stanley, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Lightspeed, and Sequoia Capital. This brings the company’s total funding to approximately $12 billion.

Strategic investments were also received from tech giants NVIDIA and AMD, bolstering xAI’s plans to scale its infrastructure at an unprecedented pace.

Colossus Supercomputer Expansion
The newly raised funds will support the expansion of xAI’s Colossus supercomputer, which currently operates with 100,000 Nvidia Hopper GPUs. The company plans to double its capacity to 200,000 GPUs by leveraging Nvidia’s Spectrum-X Ethernet platform.

Elon Musk, xAI’s founder, stated that the funding will be utilized to enhance infrastructure, deliver transformative products, and accelerate research into groundbreaking technologies, aligning with the company’s mission to “understand the true nature of the universe.”

Rapid Growth and Market Position
Since its launch in July 2023, xAI has rapidly grown to a reported valuation of $50 billion, emerging as a strong competitor to OpenAI, which is valued at $157 billion. xAI’s growth surpasses other AI startups such as Anthropic ($19 billion valuation) and Perplexity ($2.8 billion valuation).

Key milestones include the construction of the world’s largest AI supercomputer, Colossus, in just 122 days, and its planned expansion to double GPU capacity.

Innovations and Product Development
xAI continues to push the boundaries of AI technology:

  • API Launch: In October 2024, xAI introduced an API allowing developers to integrate its AI model, Grok, into third-party applications, extending its functionality across diverse platforms.
  • Multimodal Capabilities: Grok now features the Aurora image generation model, enhancing its ability to understand, edit, and create multimodal content.
  • Real-Time Insights: Leveraging the 𝕏 platform, Grok offers real-time information with advanced features such as web search and citations.

Grok Expands to iOS and Beyond
To make its cutting-edge AI accessible to more users, xAI is developing an iOS app, as indicated in a recent App Store listing. The app, titled Grok Beta, provides free access to Grok 2, the latest iteration of xAI’s model.

Described as an “AI-powered assistant designed to be maximally truthful, useful, and curious,” the app allows users to:

  • Get answers to complex questions.
  • Generate vivid images.
  • Upload and analyze pictures for deeper insights.

Grok is also available for free through the Musk-owned X social media platform and will soon be accessible via Grok.com.

xAI’s Competitive Vision
Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI before departing in 2018, launched xAI to rival ChatGPT and reshape the AI landscape. With significant funding, rapid infrastructure scaling, and continuous innovation, xAI is poised to become a major force in AI, setting the stage for transformative advancements that aim to unlock the mysteries of the universe.

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Microsoft Acknowledges DeepSeek AI’s Innovations, Adds It to Azure AI Foundry

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Microsoft Acknowledges DeepSeek AI’s Innovations, Adds It to Azure AI Foundry

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently acknowledged the advancements of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup that made waves earlier this week with its open-source model, R1. The model has drawn attention for its claims of matching or surpassing Western AI technology at a significantly lower cost.

“DeepSeek has introduced some real innovations,” Nadella remarked during an investor call following Microsoft’s latest earnings report. “Of course, as technology evolves, it becomes more widely accessible and commoditized.”

DeepSeek’s breakthrough has sparked discussions among investors regarding Microsoft’s AI spending. Some have questioned whether the company and its partner OpenAI could achieve similar efficiencies in AI training and inference—key processes in developing and deploying AI—at a lower cost.

According to Nadella, Microsoft has already been focused on optimizing these efficiencies. “We’ve been seeing significant gains in both training and inference for years,” he explained, emphasizing how Microsoft’s software has continually enhanced AI performance and reduced costs across different model generations and hardware.

Much of this progress, Nadella noted, has been achieved in collaboration with OpenAI. He also stressed the importance of cost-effectiveness in AI deployment: “Releasing the best model isn’t enough. If it’s too expensive to operate, it’s not useful.”

Despite ongoing efforts to optimize costs, Microsoft remains committed to AI infrastructure expansion. The company plans to invest $80 billion in data centers this fiscal year to meet growing demand, although it anticipates a slowdown in spending starting in fiscal 2026.

Meanwhile, reports have surfaced regarding Microsoft and OpenAI investigating whether a group linked to DeepSeek may have accessed OpenAI’s data outputs without authorization. However, this has not deterred Microsoft from making DeepSeek’s R1 model available to customers. On Wednesday, the company added R1 to its Azure AI Foundry, a platform featuring over 1,800 AI models designed to support businesses in developing and managing AI applications.

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Swiss International University Announces International Presence in Zurich, Dubai, Riga, and Bishkek

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State-accredited Swiss International University leads global education with innovative 100% blended learning programs.

Swiss International University is making history as the world’s first state-accredited university to deliver 100% blended education. With campuses in Zurich, Dubai, Riga, and Bishkek, SIU is reshaping higher and vocational education, making it smarter, more accessible, and highly flexible. This innovative approach is ideal for modern students seeking quality education while balancing their personal and professional lives.

This blended education offering at SIU makes it possible for the student to learn on campus and online while continuing their higher education without sacrificing other commitments. The university has opened doors to those who had previously been denied access to good quality education or needed a more personalized and adaptable solution. Using advanced technologies like AI tools, virtual labs, and interactive platforms, SIU constructs practical and engaging learning environments, making students proficient in the competitive job markets of today.

SIU’s campuses in Zurich, Dubai, Riga, and Bishkek are a model of international standards, meeting both global and local needs. The students will be exposed to different cultures and will have the opportunity to engage with peers from various backgrounds and prepare for global careers. The institution ensures that its programs reflect the latest advancements in business, technology, and health, offering students the flexibility to choose courses that align with their personal goals and professional aspirations.

State accreditation of the university enhances its reputation, which also attracts the attention of employers, international organizations, and educational institutions. It not only proves the value of SIU’s degrees and certificates but also certifies the quality of education. It establishes itself as a leader in contemporary education through the hybrid model of traditional learning and modern methodologies, paving the way for an adaptable and efficient model for the future of learning.

SIU’s vision champions innovation, inclusivity, and global connectivity through education, thus setting it apart from previous standards. Here, flexibility cuts across cutting-edge technology and powerful international presence that fosters the culture of lifelong learning for students and continues developing their skill and knowledge in the post-graduation era as well.

By focusing on accessibility, SIU creates a more diverse and inclusive academic environment. The students are challenged to follow their passions while experiencing unmatched support from the faculty and peers. In this way, it redefines modern education in terms of changing to meet the needs of the world.

SIU also stresses experiential learning, giving students real-world exposure through internships, collaborative projects, and hands-on activities. This approach not only prepares graduates for immediate employment but also ensures they possess the critical thinking and problem-solving skills required in today’s dynamic industries. The university’s commitment to quality and flexibility enables students to achieve their goals without limits.

SIU embraces cultural diversity, creating a vibrant learning community where ideas are exchanged, perspectives are broadened, and innovation flourishes. Students graduate with not just a degree but a global outlook, ready to contribute meaningfully to an interconnected world.

For more information, visit their website.

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Microsoft’s Venture Head Chris Young Resigns

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Microsoft’s Venture Head Chris Young Resigns

Chris Young, the head of business development and leader of Microsoft’s venture unit, has stepped down from his role, the company announced on Wednesday.

As the leader of Microsoft’s M12 venture fund and a named officer, Young played a pivotal role in the company. Named officers, including CFO Amy Hood, Vice Chair and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith, Sales Head Judson Althoff, and CEO Satya Nadella, have their responsibilities, compensation, and departures disclosed publicly by the company.

Microsoft revealed Young’s resignation in an SEC filing, which also noted his contributions to the company. These included advancing M12’s engagements in areas such as AI and data infrastructure, collaborating with company leaders on emerging technologies, securing a strategic partnership, and driving progress on sustainability goals. Additionally, Young was recognized for championing diversity and inclusion within the business development organization and across the broader company.

Before joining Microsoft in 2020, Young served as the CEO of McAfee. He took over the M12 leadership from Peggy Johnson, who founded the venture fund. Originally established to monitor emerging Silicon Valley technologies and startups, M12 evolved under Young’s leadership to function more as an extension of Microsoft’s business development team.

The SEC filing did not specify the reasons behind Young’s departure but stated that he would remain at Microsoft as an employee until March to support the transition. Young has not commented on the announcement.

A Microsoft spokesperson expressed gratitude for Young’s contributions, stating:
“We are deeply grateful for the significant impact Chris had at Microsoft over the past four years. During Chris’ tenure, he led hundreds of strategic partnerships, fostered a culture of innovation, and laid the groundwork for our future growth. We support Chris’ decision to pursue a new endeavor.”

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