OpenAI's acquisition of OpenClaw, the open-source AI agent, signals a major shift in the AI landscape, as the company doubles down on agent-based AI. Simultaneously, the launch of SurrealDB 3.0 aims to simplify complex data management for AI agents, while a major crypto venture fund closed a significant funding round despite market challenges. These developments highlight the rapid evolution and investment in the AI and technology sectors.
Peter Steinberger, creator of OpenClaw, announced he was joining OpenAI to develop AI agents, according to VentureBeat. The OpenClaw project will transition to an independent foundation, though OpenAI will sponsor it. This move represents OpenAI's focus on agent-based AI, shifting from what models can say to what they can do, according to VentureBeat.
The need for efficient data management in AI is also being addressed. SurrealDB launched version 3.0 of its namesake database, alongside a $23 million Series A extension, bringing its total funding to $44 million, VentureBeat reported. The database aims to replace complex, multi-layered systems used in retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems with a single solution. These systems often require multiple layers and technologies for structured data, vectors, and graph information, which can lead to performance and accuracy issues.
In other tech news, Dragonfly Capital closed a $650 million fourth fund, Fortune reported. This occurred despite challenges in the crypto market. Rob Hadick, who joined Dragonfly Capital in April 2022, experienced the market downturn firsthand.
Meanwhile, the audio and communications industries are also experiencing significant changes. The pandemic accelerated innovation in communication technologies, with companies like Shure and Zoom leveraging AI and new acoustic technologies, according to MIT Technology Review. "Audio and video just working is a baseline for collaboration," said Brendan Ittelson, chief ecosystem officer at Zoom, according to MIT Technology Review.
Finally, Blackstone mogul Stephen Schwarzman is reportedly planning to build a top 10 philanthropic foundation focused on AI and education, according to Fortune. The foundation, which had $65 million in total assets as of 2024, is planning an expansion.
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