Salt AI, the leader in contextual AI for enterprise applications in life sciences and health tech, today announced a $10 million funding round, led by Morpheus Ventures, with participation from Struck Capital, Marbruck Investments and CoreWeave. The company will use the capital to expand its customer footprint with leading biopharma and healthcare companies investing in the cutting edge of AI innovation, while also scaling their global AI engineering teams to accelerate delivery and impact. Customers are already deploying Salt Ai across drug discovery, clinical development, revenue cycle management, intelligent data navigation, and enterprise operations.

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NASCAR, America’s premier motorsport organization, has partnered with Recast, the premium fintech-for-media company to enhance access for motorsports fans worldwide.

With three National Series in the United States – the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series – as well as International Series in Mexico (NASCAR Mexico Series), Canada (NASCAR Pinty’s Series), Europe (NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), and Brasil (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race) NASCAR boasts a global footprint, with Cup Series broadcasts available in more than 190 countries and 26 languages. While NASCAR enjoys long-standing broadcast partnerships across the globe, its international fanbase is expanding, creating a growing demand for flexible, direct access to race day content across the globe. At launch, content will focus primarily on the NASCAR Xfinity Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races.

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CHICAGO – February 23, 2025 – Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) has acquired RapidDeploy, a complementary cloud-native 911 solution provider for public safety, based in Austin, Texas. 

RapidDeploy’s advanced Next Generation 911 (NG911) product suite accelerates emergency response and enhances decision-making. The suite includes Radius Mapping, precise real-time call location mapping that allows for faster and more focused dispatch of emergency resources. Its companion mobile application, Lightning, gives first responders direct access to critical 911 call data on their smartphones or tablets. Eclipse Analytics helps Public Safety Answering Points measure 911 call response times, queue times and provide the right levels of staffing based on expected call volumes.

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As artificial intelligence continues its rapid advancement, particularly around foundation models and their multimodal capabilities, the concept of Agentic AI has surged to the forefront of technological discourse. Agentic AI refers to autonomous AI systems capable of making decisions without human intervention, effectively mimicking human agents in complex tasks. The sentiment surrounding these agents and their potential impact on the workforce is as polarized as our political landscape. A quick scroll through platforms like X, LinkedIn, and Reddit reveals a stark divergence in opinions. Will Agentic AI replace human workers, serve as an optimized co-pilot enhancing productivity, or is it simply overrated hype? The answer remains unknown, but the stakes are undeniably high. 

The Giants’ Leap into Agentic AI 

Major tech players are making significant strides in this domain, signaling a collective belief in Agentic AI’s transformative potential. OpenAI’s GPT-1o, rumored to possess advanced reasoning capabilities integrated with desktop applications, promises to revolutionize our interaction with technology (OpenAI, 2024). According to OpenAI, GPT-1o aims to seamlessly blend AI into daily workflows, enhancing productivity and unlocking new creative avenues. 

Similarly, Anthropic’s latest foundation model introduces an AI capable of controlling user environments, pushing the boundaries of autonomy (Anthropic, 2024). Their research indicates these models can understand and execute complex tasks across various applications controlling a user’s computer, potentially reshaping operational dynamics in businesses. 

Not to be outdone, Apple has unveiled “Apple Intelligence,” an AI embedded within its operating systems that controls third-party apps and elevates user experience (Apple, 2024). Apple’s integration focuses on privacy-centric AI, ensuring user data remains secure while providing personalized assistance—a critical balance in today’s data-conscious society. 

These developments underscore a significant investment of resources and belief in Agentic AI’s future. Companies are not merely betting on AI’s potential; they are actively shaping it, positioning themselves at the vanguard of what many consider the next technological revolution. 

The Race for Data Ownership 

Behind the advancements lies a critical and often contentious issue: data ownership. Enterprises are proactively hiring teams to shadow human workers, collecting vast datasets to train agent models that can make human-like decisions. By capturing click data and observing human-software interactions, companies aim to personalize and optimize user experiences at an unprecedented scale. The scope of research is extensive, ranging from agents capable of conducting intricate research tasks to orchestrating multiple agents solving complex problems (IBM, 2023). 

However, a pivotal question looms: Who will own the data layer that feeds these action-oriented foundation models? Historical parallels in other industries highlight the transformative power of data accessibility and ownership. When the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in real estate digitized and shared its data, it revolutionized home buying and unlocked technologies like Automated Valuation Models (AVMs). The digitization of airline data transformed the travel industry through platforms like Expedia and Booking.com. Similarly, making stock market data live and accessible democratized trading, giving rise to platforms like E*TRADE and Robinhood. 

Bernard Marr, in his Forbes article, emphasizes that Agentic AI could fundamentally alter business and technology landscapes (Marr, 2024). He argues that democratizing data access will be pivotal in determining which companies lead in the AI era. Control over critical data has historically redefined industries and crowned new market leaders—a pattern likely to repeat with Agentic AI. 

Ethical Considerations and Workforce Implications 

The pursuit of Agentic AI raises profound ethical considerations, particularly regarding data collection and workforce displacement. The data required to train Large Action Models—capable of mimicking human interaction with software—is immense and often personal. Questions about privacy, consent, and the extent of data harvesting are more pressing than ever. How will this data be collected, and is it ethical to do so? 

Moreover, the potential for synthetic workers—AI agents replacing human roles—poses significant societal challenges. While some view Agentic AI as a tool for enhancing human capabilities and driving productivity, others fear widespread job displacement. IBM’s research suggests Agentic AI could lead to more efficient operations and unlock new innovation avenues, but they also stress the importance of responsible development, emphasizing transparency and ethical considerations (IBM, 2023). 

Will the rise of Agentic AI create a future where synthetic workers become the norm, or will it open new industries and opportunities for human workers? The dichotomy of opinions highlights the need for a nuanced approach, balancing technological advancement with ethical responsibility. 

Who Will Strike Gold? 

While uncertainties abound, dismissing the potential of Agentic AI would be naive. The critical question is not if Agentic AI will become a cornerstone of future technology but who will unlock its full potential and dominate the data layer powering it. The entity that achieves this will likely emerge as a major force in the AI industry, reshaping economic landscapes and setting new standards for technological capability. 

As we stand on the cusp of this new frontier, it’s imperative for stakeholders—business leaders, policymakers, and the public—to engage in open dialogue about the future we’re engineering. The race for data ownership in Agentic AI is not just about technological supremacy; it’s about shaping the very fabric of our society, our economy, and the ethical frameworks that underpin them. 

In the end, whoever controls the data controls the future. The next big AI company won’t just be the one with the most advanced algorithms but the one that successfully navigates the complex interplay of technology, data ownership, ethical considerations, and societal impact. 

Sources: 

• OpenAI. (2024). Introducing OpenAI GPT-10 Preview. https://openai.com/index/introducing-openai-o1-preview/ 

• Anthropic. (2024). 3.5 Models and Computer Use. https://www.anthropic.com/news/3-5-models-and-computer-use 

• Apple. (2024). Apple Intelligence is Available Today on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/10/apple-intelligence-is-available-today-on-iphone-ipad-and-mac/ 

• Marr, B. (2024). Agentic AI: The Next Big Breakthrough That’s Transforming Business and Technology. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2024/09/06/agentic-ai-the-next-big-breakthrough-thats-transforming-business-and-technology/ 

• IBM. (2023). Agentic AI: Insights into Autonomous Systems. https://www.ibm.com/think/insights/agentic-ai 

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New Capital Injection of USD $59M at Increased Valuation Signals Strength of Q-CTRL Technology in Quantum Sector and Accelerated Timelines to Quantum Advantage.

Sydney, Australia – October 8, 2024 – Q-CTRL, the global leader in quantum infrastructure software, today announced the successful expansion of its Series B Funding Round to USD $113M (AUD $166M), with USD $59M of new capital. The Series B-2 all-equity funding round was led by global late-stage venture firm GP Bullhound and saw a dramatic increase in valuation from earlier financing. This represents the largest aggregate Series B for a quantum software company to date.

“We’re very excited that GP Bullhound has led this round,” said Q-CTRL CEO and Founder Michael J. Biercuk. “Their experience and international presence will support us as we continue our expansion, and we look forward to working closely with them as a shareholder and board member.”

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OpenAI seems to take one step forward and then another step back. Are they a force for good in the AI world or a company fraught with issues? With every piece of good news, there’s often something negative that follows, casting a shadow over their progress. 

Take their recent partnership with TIME, for example. This was a significant move, as OpenAI now has access to over 100 years of digital data, including photos and articles. This partnership means they can retrain their models on data they have explicit permission to use, rather than scraping private data from the internet. This should lead to more accurate and reliable outputs, potentially reducing the risk of the AI giving dangerous or nonsensical advice, “you should eat on rock a day” *cough cough*. 

 However, this positive development was quickly overshadowed by reports of OpenAI’s questionable internal practices. According to a letter obtained by The Washington Post, OpenAI has been accused of using non-disclosure agreements to prevent employees from speaking out about the company. These agreements allegedly discouraged communication with the SEC about securities violations, forced employees to waive their rights to whistleblower incentives, and required them to notify the company if they contacted government regulators. Additionally, there are claims that OpenAI has stripped vested equity from employees who refused to sign these NDAs upon leaving the company. 

Another leaked document revealed a new project codenamed “Strawberry”, which can be a huge step forward in GenAI. This project apparently aims to train AI to plan tasks and mimic human-like reasoning skills, addressing a significant limitation of current Generative AI technology. If true, this could be a groundbreaking development, potentially revolutionizing many industries. 

But then, there’s the news of a hack last year that was kept from the public was released, raising further concerns about data privacy and the security risks associated with using these models. With OpenAI leading the GenAI research, they are also navigating uncharted territory with many eyes watching their every move and speed bumps are expected. It seems like every forward step seems to be followed by some bad PR release, which hinders their efforts to improve adoption and democratize Generative AI. 

In the end, OpenAI’s journey is a complex one, filled with both promising advancements and significant challenges. Their ability to balance these highs and lows will be crucial in determining their long-term impact on the AI landscape. 

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Data privacy and security issues continue to surround Large Language Models (LLMs) and Large Multimodal Models (LMMs). Many people remain cautious about Generative AI, especially when it comes to using copyrighted and personal data. The worries are similar to those of DuckDuckGo users, who value their privacy and don’t want their data shared or used without permission. 

Recent events highlight these concerns. For instance, Google’s Gemini AI has made headlines regarding data privacy. Kevin Bankson, Senior Advisor on AI Governance, recently took to social media to share his concerns over an automatically generated AI summary in a private tax return. He accused the Gemini AI platform of scanning Google Drive files without user consent. Bankson detailed his struggle to disable this functionality, shedding light on a significant privacy issue. 

But the problem doesn’t end with Gemini. AI companies often keep their training data sources behind lock and key. An investigation by Proof News, reported by Wired, revealed that some of the world’s largest AI companies have used material from thousands of YouTube videos to train their models. They did this despite YouTube’s rules against scraping content without user consent. 

Figma, a popular design app, faced its own controversy. Their Generative AI product, designed to help with software development workflows, was quickly disabled due to plagiarism issues. When asked to create a weather app, the AI produced designs almost identical to Apple’s weather app, highlighting the risks of unintentional copying. 

As these incidents accumulate, the public’s trust in these technologies continues to erode. We recognize the power and potential of these models, but ongoing misuse of data without consent might lead to increased regulation. Such regulations could slow down innovation, regardless of the production benefits it can bring to many industries. It’s clear that while Generative AI holds incredible promise, the industry must address these privacy and security concerns to maintain public trust and ensure sustainable progress. 

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We are pleased to announce that we have led a US$5 million funding round for Edinburgh-based fintech company Recast, with participation from Airstream Ventures.

Recast’s innovative technology addresses the need for fair and immediate value exchange for rights holders, consumers, and influencers through micro-payments. Leveraging first-party data capture, powerful network effects, and built-in referral incentives, Recast represents the next generation of digital content monetisation.

The investment will support the further development of Recast’s API-centric smart payment platform and enhance its micro-payment wallet, facilitating the sale of digital commodities beyond video to any digital assets.

Congratulations to Andy Meikle and the Recast team, and a warm welcome to our new partners at Airstream Ventures. We are confident that Recast has the potential to revolutionise the media fintech landscape and are excited to be a part of this transformative journey.

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El Segundo, CA, June 26, 2024 – Sidecar Health, a transformative health insurance company providing major medical coverage to businesses, announced today the closure of $165 million in Series D financing. The round, which represents the largest private investment in employer health benefits this year, was led by Koch Disruptive Technologies. They were joined by new and existing investors, including GreatPoint Ventures, BOND, Cathay Innovation, Drive Capital, Duke University, Menlo Ventures, and Morpheus. 

“U.S. healthcare costs are soaring towards $5 trillion annually, yet our experiences and medical outcomes are not improving. The antiquated U.S. health insurance system is one of the main culprits in creating bottlenecks and hurdles to quality care,” said David Mauney, Managing Director of Koch Disruptive Technologies. “Sidecar Health is transforming the system with a model that offers a first-of-its-kind free market approach to healthcare that puts the consumer, not the insurance company, in control of their care decisions with never-before-seen tools and transparency paired with fewer restrictions. We look forward to working with Sidecar Health to accelerate commercial expansion in 2024 and beyond.”

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Los Angeles, CA, February 27, 2024 – Q-CTRL, a pioneer of quantum infrastructure software to make quantum technologies useful, today announced strategic product integrations with Wolfram, Aqarios, qBraid, Qblox, Keysight, and QuantWare to improve every aspect of quantum research, commercialization, and adoption – from algorithm and applications development to hardware R&D and education.

The new commercial partnerships will power a broader range of end-users to solve the toughest problems in the field. They integrate Q-CTRL’s AI-driven performance-management software and quantum control capabilities with diverse hardware and software platforms, making it easier for everyone from students to enterprise developers to access Q-CTRL’s leading technology.

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