Benchmark Capital invested at least $225 million in AI chipmaker Cerebras Systems' latest funding round, which raised $1 billion and valued the company at $23 billion, according to TechCrunch. The investment comes as Apple is reportedly working to integrate AI chatbots like ChatGPT into its CarPlay system, and brands are increasingly leveraging AI in Super Bowl advertisements. Meanwhile, a "March for Billionaires" is being planned in San Francisco, and HBO's "Industry" is showcasing a fictional fintech fraud.
Benchmark's investment in Cerebras, a competitor to Nvidia, was a significant part of the $1 billion raised, nearly tripling the company's valuation from $8.1 billion just six months prior, according to TechCrunch. Benchmark, a long-time investor, initially led Cerebras' Series A round in 2016. The firm raised two separate vehicles, both called Benchmark Infrastructure, to manage the investment, as it typically keeps its funds under $450 million, according to regulatory filings.
Apple's move to integrate AI chatbots into CarPlay, as reported by Bloomberg, would allow users to interact with AI assistants through their vehicle's infotainment system. The next-generation CarPlay Ultra will expand this integration to include the central touchscreen display and digital dashboard.
The Super Bowl advertisements also highlighted the growing influence of AI. Svedka Vodka aired what it touted as the first primarily AI-generated national Super Bowl spot, featuring its robot character, Fembot, according to TechCrunch.
In other tech-related news, a "March for Billionaires" is being organized in San Francisco, with the event's website stating, "Vilifying billionaires is popular. Losing them is expensive," according to TechCrunch. The organizer confirmed the march would take place this coming Saturday.
HBO's financial thriller "Industry" is currently featuring a storyline about a fraudulent fintech company called Tender, which appears to be built on fabricated numbers, according to the show. The show follows Harper Stern as she investigates the company.
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