London-based startup Tem secured $75 million in a Series B funding round to leverage artificial intelligence in remaking electricity markets, while Waymo is expanding its driverless robotaxi service to Nashville, and OpenAI is introducing ads to its free ChatGPT service. These developments, along with other tech news, were announced this week.
Tem, which has developed an energy transaction engine using AI to cut prices, closed its oversubscribed funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, according to TechCrunch. The company, which has signed up over 2,600 business customers in the U.K., aims to save them up to 30% on their energy bills. The round values Tem at over $300 million, a source familiar with the deal told TechCrunch.
Waymo, the Alphabet-owned company, is moving closer to launching a robotaxi service in Nashville, as reported by TechCrunch. The company has removed human safety drivers from its autonomous test vehicles in the city. Waymo plans to launch the service this year in partnership with Lyft, with riders initially hailing rides through the Waymo app. Lyft will handle fleet services, including vehicle maintenance and charging infrastructure. Waymo already operates commercial services in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco.
OpenAI announced it is testing ads on its AI platform, with users of the free ChatGPT service soon seeing sponsored links, according to The Verge. These ads will appear as labeled sponsored links at the bottom of ChatGPT answers. Users can avoid the ads by subscribing to the Plus plan, which costs at least $20 per month.
In other news, social network Bluesky is rolling out drafts, a feature long requested by users, as reported by TechCrunch. The company also plans to improve its algorithmic Discover feed and offer better recommendations.
Databricks announced it reached a $5.4 billion revenue run rate, growing 65% year-over-year, with over $1.4 billion from its AI products, according to TechCrunch. Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi stated that AI is increasing usage, and he wants to distance Databricks from the SaaS label, given that private markets value it as an AI company. Databricks also closed its previously announced $5 billion raise at a $134 billion valuation and secured a $2 billion loan facility.
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