OpenAI acquired OpenClaw, the open-source AI agent, signaling a shift in focus from what AI models can say to what they can do, according to VentureBeat. The move, announced over the weekend, sees OpenClaw's creator, Peter Steinberger, joining OpenAI to develop AI agents. Simultaneously, SurrealDB launched version 3.0 of its namesake database, aiming to simplify the complex data layers needed for AI agents, and Waymo announced the beginning of fully autonomous operations with its 6th-generation Driver.
The acquisition of OpenClaw represents OpenAI's most significant investment in the future of AI agents. OpenClaw, which gained popularity in the developer community, will transition to an independent foundation, though OpenAI will sponsor it. This sponsorship may influence the project's direction, VentureBeat reported.
SurrealDB's version 3.0 launch, accompanied by a $23 million Series A extension, bringing total funding to $44 million, addresses the challenges of managing multiple data layers for AI agents. These layers are often needed for structured data, vectors, and graph information, as well as contextual memory, which can lead to performance and accuracy issues. SurrealDB aims to replace the need for multiple databases with a single solution, according to VentureBeat.
In other tech news, Waymo announced the commencement of fully autonomous operations with its 6th-generation Driver. This system, designed for long-term growth across various vehicle platforms, will allow Waymo to expand its operations into more diverse environments, including those with extreme winter weather, according to Satish Jeyachandran, Vice President of Engineering.
Meanwhile, a recent Fortune article, highlighted on Hacker News, revealed that thousands of CEOs admitted AI had no impact on employment or productivity. This observation echoes the "Solow's productivity paradox" from 1987, where new technologies initially failed to boost workplace productivity as expected.
In other news, a new type of organized crime is emerging, involving vehicle transport fraud and theft. Crooks impersonate legitimate transport companies and divert luxury vehicles, erasing their ownership and registration traces, according to MIT Technology Review.
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment