Benchmark Capital invested at least $225 million in AI chipmaker Cerebras Systems' latest funding round, which raised a total of $1 billion and valued the company at $23 billion, according to TechCrunch. The investment marks a significant increase in Cerebras' valuation, nearly tripling from its $8.1 billion valuation just six months prior. The news comes amidst a flurry of activity in the tech world, including an upcoming "March for Billionaires" in San Francisco and Apple's exploration of integrating AI chatbots into CarPlay.
Benchmark, a prominent Silicon Valley firm, initially backed Cerebras in 2016 with a $27 million Series A round, according to TechCrunch. Due to its policy of keeping funds under $450 million, Benchmark raised two separate vehicles, both named Benchmark Infrastructure, to facilitate the investment. The funding round was led by Tiger Global, but Benchmark's contribution was substantial.
Meanwhile, the tech industry is also grappling with other developments. An AI startup founder is organizing a "March for Billionaires" in San Francisco this Saturday, according to TechCrunch, in protest of California's proposed wealth tax. The event, initially met with skepticism, aims to highlight the potential negative consequences of the tax. The website promoting the event stated, "Vilifying billionaires is popular. Losing them is expensive."
In other tech-related news, Apple is reportedly working on integrating AI chatbots like ChatGPT into CarPlay, according to Bloomberg, as reported by TechCrunch. This move would allow users to interact with AI assistants through their vehicle's infotainment system. The next-generation CarPlay Ultra is expected to further enhance this integration, offering control over vehicle settings.
Furthermore, AI continues to make its mark in advertising. The 2026 Super Bowl featured several ads leveraging AI, including Svedka Vodka's primarily AI-generated spot, "Shake Your Bots Off," according to TechCrunch. The ad showcased the brand's robot character, Fembot, and her new companion, Brobot.
Finally, HBO's financial thriller "Industry" is currently featuring a storyline about a fraudulent fintech company, Tender, according to TechCrunch. The show highlights how fake users and revenue can be used to create a false impression of a company's success. As Sweetpea, one of the characters in the show, noted, "The entire company appears to be built on fabricated numbers. The thing is nothing."
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