The Bloomberg Tech episode covers major developments in AI and technology, highlighting OpenAI’s efforts to raise $50 billion for an $830 billion valuation, Apple’s transformation of Siri into an advanced AI chatbot, and the intensifying global AI race, particularly with China’s rapid progress. The show also discusses innovations in AI hardware, the growing sophistication of AI-driven cyber threats, and the broader implications for the tech and chip industries.
The Bloomberg Tech episode covers several major developments in the technology and AI sectors. The show opens with highlights from Elon Musk’s appearance at Davos, where he discusses optimism about the future, the progress of SpaceX’s Starship, and the potential for space-based AI data centers powered by solar energy. Musk predicts that space will become the cheapest place to run AI within two to three years and emphasizes the importance of full reusability for Starship rockets. The conversation also touches on the growing cadence of commercial spaceflight, with Blue Origin’s New Shepard missions becoming increasingly routine and the company’s ambitions to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink through satellite-based connectivity.
A significant portion of the episode focuses on the AI investment landscape, particularly OpenAI’s efforts to raise $50 billion, which could push its valuation to $830 billion. CEO Sam Altman is reported to be courting sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East, reflecting the need for massive pools of capital beyond traditional Silicon Valley investors. The discussion also notes that other AI companies, such as Anthropic, are finalizing large fundraising rounds, and that the appetite for AI investment is driving optimism in both public and private markets.
Apple’s upcoming transformation of Siri into a full-fledged AI chatbot is another major topic. Mark Gurman explains that Apple, after years of resisting the chatbot approach, is now embracing it to keep pace with competitors like OpenAI and Google. The new Siri, expected to launch later in the year, will leverage Google’s Gemini model in combination with Apple’s own technology, enabling deeper integration with Apple devices and more advanced features such as web search and app control. This shift is seen as a necessary move to maintain Apple’s relevance in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
The episode also delves into the global AI race, with a particular focus on China’s progress. Arthur Mensch, CEO of Mistral AI, argues that the notion of China lagging behind the West in AI is a “fairytale,” citing China’s rapid innovation and strong domestic market for AI chips. The conversation highlights the ongoing debate over U.S. export controls on advanced chips to China, the dual-use nature of AI hardware, and the geopolitical implications of technology transfer. Experts note that while the U.S. retains an advantage in computing power and scale, China is making significant strides in AI development and open-source models.
Finally, the show features interviews with leaders in AI hardware innovation and cybersecurity. Neurophos, a startup developing optical processing units (OPUs) that use light instead of electrons for data transmission, claims its technology could deliver 50 to 100 times the performance and efficiency of current GPUs. The discussion underscores the growing industry openness to new hardware solutions as data centers face power constraints. In cybersecurity, Darktrace’s CEO discusses the increasing sophistication of AI-driven cyber threats and the company’s evolving strategy to protect against attacks regardless of their origin. The episode concludes with a preview of Intel’s upcoming earnings and the broader implications for the chip industry amid the ongoing AI boom.