News in brief: OpenAI's new $40B deal while Gemini 2.5 debuts...
It’s been a significant few weeks in the world of AI technology. OpenAI made waves by securing a massive $40 billion in funding and introducing a cutting-edge image generation tool. Meanwhile, Google has unveiled its latest advancement, Gemini 2.5, a highly sophisticated reasoning model. Additionally, Perplexity is gearing up for a substantial fundraising effort.
OpenAI's $40B Deal with SoftBank Group
OpenAI has been at the forefront of recent developments, particularly with the announcement of a significant new funding round amounting to $40 billion. This funding places the organization at a post-money valuation of $300 billion. In a recent statement, OpenAI expressed excitement about partnering with SoftBank Group, emphasizing the latter's expertise in scaling transformative technology. The support from SoftBank Group will aid OpenAI in advancing AI systems for various applications, including scientific discovery, personalized education, and enhanced human creativity.
OpenAI also unveiled a new image generator alongside this funding news. The innovative tool allows users to analyze and create fresh images based on uploaded images and prompts. Initially available only to paid users, this feature is now accessible to all users following an announcement by Sam Altman on X (formerly Twitter).
Google's Gemini 2.5 Reasoning Model
Google has introduced Gemini 2.5, a family of advanced AI reasoning models. This new model boasts enhanced capabilities in factual accuracy, logical reasoning, and complex problem-solving. It is designed to retain memory better during extended conversations and operate efficiently with lower computational power without compromising quality, thereby improving scalability.
Perplexity's Funding Plans and Strategic Moves
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Perplexity, an AI startup backed by prominent investors such as Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, and Softbank, is reportedly in talks to raise between $500 million and $1 billion in its upcoming funding round. The company aims to achieve a valuation of $18 billion, doubling its previous valuation reported in November 2024. Additionally, there are discussions about Perplexity's interest in acquiring TikTok's US operations and potentially open-sourcing TikTok's algorithm, a move that some analysts view as a publicity stunt. The US government has set a deadline of April 5 for TikTok US to secure a buyer.
