Good morning from OWITH.ai: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in the AI and tech world.Stuut, a startup founded by Tarek Alaruri, Ben Winter, and Miraj Mohsin in 2024, has secured $29.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz. The company is revolutionizing the accounts receivable process through artificial intelligence, targeting industries where efficient payment collection is crucial. Stuut's platform automates tasks such as invoice follow-up and payment reconciliation, addressing a significant issue for companies losing up to 5% of EBITDA due to manual tracking. Major clients, including Honeywell and Wayfair, have adopted Stuut’s technology, which promises rapid scalability and effectiveness. This investment is part of a broader trend of funding in AI-powered solutions across various sectors, underlining the growing interest in leveraging AI for solving complex industry problems efficiently.In other venture deals, Profluent Bio raised $106 million for AI-powered protein design, while Amperesand secured $80 million for next-gen power infrastructure development for AI data centers.Moving on to significant developments in the tech industry on November 20, 2025: Nvidia reported impressive Q3 earnings, Yann LeCun departed from Meta to launch a new venture, and Nokia announced strategic restructuring. Nvidia continues to lead the AI boom by exceeding Wall Street expectations with $57 billion in revenue and robust Q4 guidance. CEO Jensen Huang emphasized strong demand for AI infrastructure from major tech companies like Alphabet and Amazon, suggesting sustained growth in the AI sector. Nvidia's remarkable earnings have sparked a market rally, alleviating concerns over potential overhype of the AI boom. The company's ambitious future projections aim at generating $300 billion in revenue next year with its Blackwell and Rubin chips.Yann LeCun, a pioneer in AI research, is leaving Meta to start a company focused on "advanced machine intelligence," aiming to develop systems capable of understanding the physical world. Meta plans to partner with LeCun's new venture.Nokia has decided to split its operations into two divisions: "network infrastructure," concentrating on cloud services, and "mobile infrastructure," focusing on telecommunications networks. Despite a nearly 9% drop in Nokia's stock price following this announcement, it reflects efforts to capitalize on AI's potential amid slowing 5G investments.Additional tech news highlights proposed changes to GDPR regulations by the EU and U.S. considerations of an executive order to prevent states from hindering AI industry growth. Elon Musk's XAI is collaborating with Saudi-backed startup Humain on a data center project.In recent business news, Walmart and Target are undergoing CEO transitions as Doug McMillon and Brian Cornell step down in February 2026. Walmart's transition appears smooth with John Furner set to take over, while Target's plan has faced skepticism from Wall Street.In political news, U.S. President Donald Trump is considering an executive order to prevent states from regulating AI independently. Additionally, due to a government shutdown, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics will not release October's jobs report.Trade dynamics have shifted with Mexico surpassing Canada as the top buyer of U.S. goods for the first time in three decades. U.S.-Mexico trade relations have remained stable under Trump's administration due to tariff exemptions.In market updates, S&P 500 futures rose by 1.07%, while Japan's Nikkei 225 saw a 2.65% increase. Bitcoin remained stable at $95k.Finally, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai suggested that AI could potential

Support the show

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

Good morning from OWITH.ai, the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in the AI and tech world.Doppel, a cybersecurity startup founded in 2022 by Kevin Tian and Rahul Madduluri, has successfully raised $70 million in a Series C funding round, achieving a valuation exceeding $600 million. This latest investment, led by Bessemer Venture Partners with participation from new and existing investors, comes just six months after their previous funding round. Doppel specializes in combating AI-powered social engineering attacks, using deepfake technology to simulate and expose vulnerabilities to enterprises. Their platform is particularly beneficial for training and testing companies against impersonation threats. Initially launched to help crypto firms with impersonation issues, Doppel soon expanded its focus due to the broader implications of deepfake technology. The company's tools demonstrate the potential risks posed by such technology, especially in real-time synchronous deepfake conversations, which have improved significantly in recent months. The mission is not to eradicate deepfakes entirely but to prevent their malicious use in social engineering attacks. Doppel's rapid growth is evident from a 400% increase in its enterprise customer base since 2024, serving numerous Fortune 500 companies. The Series C funding aims to fuel further engineering advancements, speed up operations, and expand the company's reach. Notable investors include CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz, NTT Docomo Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and sports-associated entities like Aurum Partners and an investor group led by WNBA stars. Despite competition from companies like Bolster, ZeroFox, KnowBe4, and Netcraft, Elliott Robinson from Bessemer highlights that Doppel stands out with its focus on the evolving social engineering attack landscape beyond traditional email and domain-based threats. Customer service sectors are particularly vulnerable due to their operational nature of always being helpful and compliant with requests. Despite the challenges posed by AI advancements in deepfakes, Doppel aims to equip both human operators and AI models with the reasoning skills necessary to discern safe practices from potentially harmful ones. This approach underscores the idea that human intuition remains a critical component of cybersecurity defenses.In addition to Doppel's developments, various other startups have secured funding across different industries. Notable ventures include Lambda's $1.5 billion Series E for superintelligence cloud services, Venn's $52 million Series B for multifamily housing operating systems, and Maxima's $41 million for accounting automation AI platforms. These investments underline the ongoing innovation and financial backing within the tech startup ecosystem.Google has unveiled its Gemini 3, an advanced AI model touted as the company's most intelligent model yet. It is designed to excel in coding and reasoning and will be integrated into Google's search engine right from its launch. The release includes a Gemini agent for multi-step task completion, a redesigned app offering comprehensive answers, and a new software development platform called Antigravity. This launch is part of Google's substantial investment in AI, amounting to $85 billion this year, with plans for more in 2026.In legal news, a U.S. judge ruled that Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp did not breach antitrust laws. The Federal Trade Commission had accused Meta of monopolizing the social networking market. However, the court found that the FTC failed to prove Meta's ongoing monopoly power, noting increased competition from platforms like TikTok.Meanwhile

Support the show

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

Good morning from OWITH.ai, the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in the AI and tech world.A $100 million pro-AI Super PAC, supported by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI president Greg Brockman, has targeted Alex Bores, a Democratic congressional candidate in New York. This highlights the increasing involvement of Silicon Valley interests in local politics as AI gains more influence. Bores is the main sponsor of New York's RAISE Act, which mandates safety regulations for large AI labs. While the bill garners support from AI safety advocates, it faces criticism for being overly stringent. Leading the Future, the Super PAC, argues that the RAISE Act could lead to fragmented national regulations. However, Bores insists that the opposition is minor and heavily financed to avoid regulation, pointing out the bill's bipartisan backing.Strategic collaborations between Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Anthropic aim to enhance Anthropic's computational capabilities through joint model and chip design efforts. Meanwhile, a Cloudflare outage affected major websites globally, including those of AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic.Jeff Bezos is making significant strides into AI by co-leading a startup named Project Prometheus with an investment of $6.2 billion. This reflects his serious commitment to AI since stepping down as Amazon CEO. The startup aims to revolutionize sectors like computers and aerospace by applying AI to engineering and manufacturing tasks through real-world learning systems. Despite fierce competition in the AI landscape with significant investments in companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, Bezos remains undeterred by concerns of an "AI bubble." He believes such scenarios can ultimately benefit society through technological advancements.Moreover, Sam Altman and Masayoshi Son are backing a new research lab in San Francisco called Episteme. This venture aims to rekindle the spirit of Bell Labs by promoting long-term scientific research with substantial impact.In international news, Japanese startup Sakana AI has raised $135 million at a $2.65 billion valuation to create generative AI models tailored for Japanese culture and language. The company plans to diversify into different sectors by 2026. Additionally, an open-source AI system recently achieved top performance at the International Physics Olympiad, showcasing advancements in AI's scientific reasoning capabilities.As documentary storytelling faces challenges due to advances in AI video technology, maintaining trust and authenticity becomes crucial. Discussions are ongoing about establishing new norms for transparency in documentaries to ensure viewer trust.In recent venture capital activities, numerous companies have secured substantial funding across various sectors. Meanwhile, private equity acquisitions continue with notable deals such as CD&R taking Sealed Air Corporation private for $10.3 billion.In legal news, the U.S. Supreme Court chose not to hear a case concerning expired patents involving Gesture Technology Partners against Apple and others. Financially, Amazon has raised $15 billion via bond sales for acquisitions and expanding its capital expenditure towards AI initiatives.Additionally, recent tech developments include Mira Murati's AI startup seeking significant funding at a high valuation while Elon Musk's XAI releases Grok 4.1 with improved features. Google DeepMind is also advancing weather forecasting technologies with Weathernext 2.Investment moves reveal Peter Thiel selling his entire stake in Nvidia amidst concerns about an AI bubble while fintech firm Ramp raised $300 million boosting its valuation substantially.In corporate movements, Satya Nadel

Support the show

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

Good morning from OWITH.ai, the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in the AI and tech world.In December, The Boring Company, Elon Musk's underground transportation venture, faced scrutiny following an incident in a Las Vegas tunnel where a fire drill resulted in two firefighters being hospitalized with chemical burns. Nevada's workplace safety regulator, OSHA, issued severe safety violations against the company. However, within 24 hours of a phone call from Steve Davis, president of The Boring Company, to Chris Reilly from Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo's office, these citations were rescinded. This unusual rescission raised questions about the influence of powerful businesses on regulatory processes. State regulators stated that the citations were reviewed and deemed invalid after intervention from the governor’s office. Critics argue this indicates undue political influence on an agency meant to operate independently. Further irregularities emerged in the handling of the case file, including missing evidence of meetings between The Boring Company and the governor's office and essential documents explaining the citation withdrawals. This reportedly led to a chilling effect within Nevada OSHA, where staffers involved in the case faced demotion or reprimand. In response to an investigation by Fortune, Nevada OSHA updated its records to ensure accuracy and revised its policies for investigating high-profile employers. This situation underscores concerns about regulatory oversight and the influence large corporations can exert on state processes.Transitioning to another significant development... On November 17, 2025, Fortune's CEO Daily highlighted several crucial developments across corporate governance, politics, and global economics. A report from the Conference Board noted a shift in corporate board composition towards older, predominantly male directors with reduced diversity. This change followed the U.S. Court of Appeals overturning Nasdaq's diversity rules and executive orders dismantling diversity programs. Consequently, there has been a significant decrease in disclosure of directors' race and ethnicity among companies in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500 indices. Key trends include a decline in women directors' appointments, an increase in older board members, and a focus on directors with expertise in technology and cybersecurity. The demand for "trophy directors" is waning as more boards limit directorships per individual.In political news, President Donald Trump reversed his stance on the Epstein files, urging Republicans to release investigation materials, causing division within the party. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration lifted flight restrictions imposed during a government shutdown with hopes of normalizing air travel before Thanksgiving.Switching gears to international economic news... Japan experienced an economic contraction of 1.8% due to U.S. tariffs affecting its automotive sector and a decline in tourism following China's advisory against travel to Japan amid diplomatic tensions.In financial news, Goldman Sachs is on track for a record year in global mergers while Phia, an AI shopping agent founded by Phoebe Gates, faced scrutiny over data collection practices. President Trump announced tariff eliminations on beef, coffee, and tropical fruits to address grocery affordability ahead of midterm elections.Transitioning now to developments within the tech industry... The Fortune Brainstorm AI Gathering scheduled for December 8-9 in San Francisco will feature prominent speakers from OpenAI, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Zoox discussing topics like agentic AI in retail and autonomy in defense. Speculation ab

Support the show

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

Good morning from OWITH.ai, the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in the AI and tech world.Erica Wenger, a three-time founder and venture capitalist, is challenging the conventional focus on "unicorn" startups by advocating for "elephants." These emphasize resilience, strong business fundamentals, and longevity. Her "elephants, not unicorns" thesis critiques the obsession with high valuations, seeking to identify companies with sustainable success. In 2023, Wenger founded Park Rangers Capital, raising $4.3 million for its first fund. The firm focuses on startups that embody her elephant philosophy, with early investments in companies like Superpower and Beehiiv. Wenger uses a national park analogy to describe the ideal VC-founder relationship: founders are the majestic national parks, while VCs are park rangers who support and protect them without overshadowing their work. Her approach resonates with industry leaders who admire her innovative branding and community engagement strategies.Recent deals in the venture capital landscape include Chaos Industries raising $510 million led by Valor Equity Partners and Gopuff securing $250 million led by Eldridge Industries. Additionally, Cognizant acquired 3Cloud and Investcorp acquired Kanawha Scales & Systems. NVP Capital raised $80 million for its second fund focused on enterprise software and AI companies, and Renee Shah joined Redpoint Ventures as a partner from Amplify Partners.In response to recent electoral losses and cost-of-living concerns, the White House is considering reducing tariffs on various food imports such as beef, bananas, coffee, and fruit. This potential policy shift is part of broader efforts to address economic challenges faced by consumers.There is a significant shift toward integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in business and technology. CEOs are increasingly viewing layoffs as strategic moves rather than setbacks. This trend reflects a changing business environment where AI is seen as a tool for efficiency and cost reduction. Corporations like Amazon, Target, and Verizon have announced large-scale layoffs attributed to AI advancements rather than economic downturns. The stock market has reacted negatively to the perceived AI bubble, with significant declines in shares of companies heavily investing in AI. Concerns over inflated profits and substantial capital expenditures related to AI have fueled investor skepticism. Globally, economist Mohamed El-Erian warns of potential negative outcomes from the AI bubble while concerns grow over credit market vulnerabilities. Additionally, new Visa-Mastercard settlements might alter credit card reward structures amid these shifting dynamics.Verizon is preparing for a major workforce reduction amidst challenging financial times. The newly appointed CEO aims to transform Verizon's culture and cost structure by exiting non-profitable businesses and converting stores into franchises.Apple and Tencent have reached an agreement regarding payments within Tencent’s WeChat service. This deal is significant for Apple as it looks to strengthen its position in China amidst local competition.In cybersecurity news, law enforcement agencies executed "Operation Endgame," dismantling numerous servers used by cybercriminals involved with various malware operations. This coordinated effort resulted in significant arrests and seizures.On the tech front, companies like Meta are revamping services such as Facebook Marketplace with new features as part of their ongoing innovation efforts.A study by Cisco reveals that only 36% of companies have formal change management plans for AI adoption. Without such plans, firms may struggle

Support the show

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

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.

Support the show

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

Good morning from OWITH.ai: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in AI and tech world.The resurgence of consumer-focused companies in the market is evident, with successful exits in 2025 showcasing the potential for well-run businesses in the sector. Despite challenges, opportunities exist for companies that can establish brand loyalty. Venture deals in AI and consumer sectors highlight ongoing interest and investment in consumer-focused companies. The success of brands like Skims demonstrates the value of strong branding and strategic marketing efforts in capturing consumer attention.Microsoft is leveraging learnings from OpenAI's custom chip effort to inform its own custom silicon development. Waymo has become the first robotaxi provider to offer highway rides, showcasing advancements in autonomous transportation. Valve's new VR headset, "Steam Frame," powered by Qualcomm silicon, demonstrates advancements in AI infrastructure and virtual reality technology.Hilton's CEO's focus on rebuilding the hotel giant's culture has resulted in reduced staff turnover and high employee satisfaction levels. Various market updates include the end of the U.S. government shutdown, mixed market movements in Asia, and unexpected contraction in the U.K. economy. Elon Musk's Boring Co. faced safety violations in Nevada, while Cloudflare CEO criticized Google for search monopoly abuse. OpenAI expects losses through 2028 before swinging towards profits by 2030.The limitations and misconceptions of current AI technology are discussed, emphasizing the specialized nature of AI models and the need for accurate information. Advancements in chatbots for safer interactions and image generation for high-quality pictures are highlighted. The HunyuanImage 3.0 model outperformed competitors in generating human-preferred images. Tencent released various vision models, showing progress in AI research and industry. The State of AI Report 2025 predicts increased AI adoption across industries with potential security risks. Researchers developed Chronos-2, a model for forecasting multiple time series simultaneously, representing a significant advancement in time series forecasting with implications for various applications requiring accurate predictions.

Support the show

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

Good morning from OWITH.ai: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in AI and tech world.Elias Torres's startup, Agency, has raised $20 million in Series A funding to focus on agentic AI for customer success. The company's product, Kai, aims to automate customer service and provide a full picture of individual customers by analyzing data from various sources. With the rise of AI agents in customer service, leveraging AI will be crucial for businesses in the future. The company has received funding from various ventures for their innovative approach to AI in customer service.China has accused the U.S. government of stealing $13 billion worth of Bitcoin in 2020, marking one of the largest crypto heists in history. Softbank sold its stake in Nvidia for $5.8 billion to fund AI investments. Yann Lecun, an AI pioneer at Meta, is reportedly considering leaving to start his own startup focusing on "world models" rather than large language models. CEOs are focusing on adapting to economic uncertainty and global complexity by investing in AI, training employees on new tech, diversifying supply chains, and seizing opportunities.CEOs are navigating the global economy's 'frog-boiling' conditions. AMD forecasts a revenue growth of 35% per year for the next three to five years, driven by AI chip demand. In other news, Ford CEO makes a 'brutal' business decision after studying Tesla and Chinese EVs, Trump suggests a 50-year mortgage idea, Winklevoss's Gemini faces losses, and Apple sells a $150 sling for iPhones designed by Steve Jobs' iconic turtleneck designer.The debate over whether China is leading in the AI race has been sparked by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's comments. Advanced reasoning AI models are found to be vulnerable to hacks, emphasizing the need for stronger safety measures. Legal challenges faced by OpenAI regarding potential harmful effects of its models raise ethical considerations. Both Chinese and American companies are making significant strides in AI development, indicating that the AI race is ongoing.

Support the show

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

Good morning from OWITH.ai: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in AI and tech world.Screendoor, established in 2021 during the zero interest rate policy (ZIRP) era, has become a key player in supporting emerging venture capital (VC) managers. The firm offers mentorship, networking opportunities, and co-investing connections to help these new managers succeed. By focusing on funding managers with the potential to become industry leaders, Screendoor is bridging the gap between talented emerging managers and large institutional LPs, leveling the playing field in the competitive VC landscape.Warren Buffett's final shareholder letter imparts valuable lessons for CEOs, emphasizing the importance of curbing envy, learning from failures, measuring success through impact, pondering one's legacy, and betting on America. In other news, several acquisitions and fund raises have occurred across industries such as aerospace, defense, insurance investigation services, natural ingredient solutions, aftermarket parts, technology development, and protein drink bottles, highlighting ongoing growth and activity in various sectors.Softbank unexpectedly sold its stake in Nvidia for $5.8 billion, while a potential government shutdown may ease with a measure to reopen the government passing in the Senate. Coreweave has nearly doubled its revenue backlog to $55.6 billion but revised down its full-year revenue guidance. The BBC is facing turmoil after President Trump threatened to sue for $1 billion over an edited speech. President Trump's proposed $2,000 tariff dividend for Americans would cost more than the revenue generated by tariffs, contributing to the federal deficit. UBS economists express concerns about the national labor market slowing down. In the markets, S&P 500 futures are down, while European and Asian markets show mixed results. Other news includes pieces on AI bias, hiring traits from billionaire Ken Griffin, interview processes at luxury companies, and a millennial couple giving away their fortune. CEO Daily is edited by Joey Abrams and Claire Zillman.

Support the show

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

Good morning from OWITH.ai: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in AI and tech world.Airops, a startup based in New York and San Francisco, has raised $40 million in Series B funding at a valuation of $225 million. The company aims to help marketers navigate the changing landscape of search engine optimization and adapt to the rise of chatbots and AI. Founded in 2022, Airops initially focused on helping non-technical employees access data before incorporating AI into their product. The core product allows marketers to analyze and track public information related to their companies, helping them create fresh and original content in the era of AI. The CEO, Alex Halliday, believes that we are entering a "golden age of quality content" where AI agents reward brands that produce unique and valuable information. This shift requires marketers to generate original ideas rather than recycling existing content. The company's goal is to assist marketers in creating unique content in a data-rich way, adding value to their roles. As the marketing industry evolves, Airops aims to help companies enhance their online presence and engage with audiences through innovative content creation strategies.The European Commission is considering relaxing some of its privacy laws, including the GDPR, to promote AI-driven economic growth. This move has raised concerns among business leaders about competitiveness on the global stage. In other news, the British government is investigating whether Chinese company Yutong can deactivate 700 electric buses in the UK remotely. Additionally, the TikTok shop has seen significant growth, almost matching eBay in sales, highlighting the potential for social commerce on the platform. Rivian has spun off Mind Robotics as a standalone industrial AI and robotics company, while there is a growing interest in cold storage crypto wallets for enhanced security. Apple Music's lack of a free tier may be hindering its global expansion, and there is increased investment in subsea cables for improved connectivity. OpenAI has petitioned the US for AI infrastructure relief, and a study has shown that AI investors are not much better than humans at making investment decisions.Humana CEO Jim Rechtin is focusing on culture change and AI to turn around the struggling health insurance giant. Despite a drop in net income and lowered earnings guidance, Rechtin is optimistic about the company's trajectory. He emphasizes the importance of culture change, customer experience, and leveraging AI to streamline processes and improve relationships with customers. Senate Democrats voted to end the government shutdown, prompting backlash from other Democrats. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of reduced air travel for Thanksgiving if the shutdown continues. President Trump suggested a $2,000 tariff 'dividend' for Americans, funded by revenue from tariffs. Diageo has named Dave Lewis as its new CEO, shares rose on the news. Pfizer announced a $10 billion deal to acquire Metsera, a company with potential weight-loss drugs. The Trump administration is developing a 50-year mortgage to make homeownership more affordable. Elon Musk's The Boring Company was fined $500,000 for dropping drilling fluids into manholes in Las Vegas. The markets are up, with S&P 500 futures up 1% and other global markets showing gains. Watercooler topics include billionaire Peter Thiel's warning about communism among young people, Gen Z's spending habits, a millennial who found leisure boring after selling his business, and Goldman Sachs' endorsement of AI investments in energy and healthcare. CEO Daily is compiled by Joey Abrams and Claire Zillman for For

Support the show

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