On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Navneet Govil, Executive MP and CFO of SoftBank Vision Fund. Their wide ranging conversation covers Navneet’s background, the history of SoftBank, the current state of the investment market, and the role of AI in today’s world. You don’t want to miss it!

Episode 76: Navneet Govil of Softbank

telecom superstar

SoftBank, the Japanese telecommunications giant, is set to invest $500 million in OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, valuing the company at $150 billion. This investment marks SoftBank's first foray into the generative AI market, despite CEO Masayoshi Son previously expressing interest in the technology. The investment comes amidst recent senior departures from OpenAI and plans to change its structure to a for-profit benefit corp. This investment is significant for SoftBank, as it would be one of their largest bets in generative AI, following their previous investments in other technology companies like TikTok owner ByteDance and fintech Revolut.

SoftBank AI Investment

Hello and welcome to AI Tech News Today. I'm Aurora, and along with my co-host Isabelle, we bring you the latest highlights from the ever-evolving world of Artificial Intelligence. Today is January twenty-second, twenty twenty-five, so stay tuned as we dive into some intriguing stories.

Trump expedites AI expansion? In the early hours of his presidency, Donald Trump announced a groundbreaking project dubbed Stargate, set to be the largest Artificial Intelligence infrastructure initiative in history. This ambitious venture, featuring partnerships with Electric Universe startups like OpenAI, Oracle, and Softbank, will see an investment of five hundred billion dollars to develop a vast network of data centers across the United States, starting in Texas. With plans to accelerate the project through emergency declarations, Trump aims to put the nation ahead in the race for advanced AI technologies, especially with China on the horizon.

OpenAI and Microsoft break ties? Meanwhile, it seems things are getting a bit rocky for the longstanding relationship between OpenAI and Microsoft. In a surprising move, OpenAI will no longer be exclusively reliant on Microsoft for its computing power, signaling a potential shift in their partnership. Microsoft insisted that while the collaboration will persist until twenty thirty, this change means they will not be the sole providers of computing capacity for OpenAI. Both companies have faced pressure in their partnership, raising questions about the future of this tech duo.

Anthropic’s Claude gets two-way voice. In more uplifting news, the AI startup Anthropic has announced that its chatbot, Claude, will soon feature a two-way voice mode and a memory function, allowing it to recall past interactions. Although demand has surged beyond their current capabilities, they have successfully raised thirteen point seven billion dollars—largely from Amazon—to implement these changes. However, Anthropic is still navigating the stormy seas of financial losses, as they continue to seek additional funding.

That's all for today’s AI news. Remember to stay informed about the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence—after all, in this field, you never know what groundbreaking news could be just around the corner. I'm Aurora, alongside Isabelle, wishing you a tech-savvy day!

Trump Launches $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Initiative as OpenAI and Microsoft Partnership Faces Challenges

Good morning! It’s Wednesday, January 22nd, twenty twenty-five. Let’s dive into some exciting developments in the world of Artificial Intelligence today.

first up, project Stargate promises $500 billion AI investment. OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank have joined forces to launch the Stargate Project, aimed at revamping the AI infrastructure in the United States. Led by President Donald Trump and tech leaders including Sam Altman and Larry Ellison, this initiative kicks off with a staggering $100 billion investment for the establishment of extensive data centers and enhancements in chip production. Industry experts view this as a crucial step in outpacing international rivals in the ongoing AI arms race.

next, Anthropic set to launch voice feature for Claude. Anthropic announced plans to unveil a "two-way" voice feature for its chatbot, Claude, along with an innovative memory function allowing it to recall past interactions. CEO Dario Amodei revealed at the World Economic Forum that the company secured an additional $1 billion from Google, paving the way for this launch and allowing it to meet the rising demand for AI technology.

then, DeepMind’s Hassabis eyes AI-designed drug trials. Isomorphic Labs, a spinoff of DeepMind, is on track to initiate AI-designed drug trials by the end of this year. CEO Demis Hassabis stated that this approach could dramatically compress timelines in drug discovery, claiming that processes that normally take years could be expedited to mere months with the right strategic partnerships in place. However, the pharmaceutical field remains cautious due to inconsistent early-stage trial data.

next, Elon Musk teases Grok 3 testing. Elon Musk has hinted that xAI will soon release the Grok 3 chatbot, revealing that he's currently testing its "int4 inference." This new version, powered by a formidable amount of Nvidia H100 GPUs, is designed to improve both text synthesis and multimodal reasoning capabilities compared to its predecessors.

finally, let’s check out five new AI tools making waves in the tech landscape. These tools promise to enhance functionality across various applications, from improving information retrieval to enabling complex data processing with ease.

That’s a wrap for today’s AI Tech News Today! Stay informed and keep your eyes peeled for more developments in the world of Artificial Intelligence. Have a great day!

$500 Billion Stargate Project Launches as AI Giants Collaborate to Transform U.S. Tech Landscape

Hello and greetings! This is Aurora, alongside my co-host Isabelle, bringing you the latest headlines from the ever-evolving world of Artificial Intelligence. Let’s dive into the news for January 22, 2025.

big tech joins forces in new ai deal. President Donald Trump has just announced a staggering five hundred billion dollar investment in Artificial Intelligence infrastructure in the United States. As part of this ambitious initiative, key players like OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank will collaborate to form a new venture called Stargate. Their goal? To develop the physical and virtual infrastructure needed to support the next generation of A-I technologies. If successful, this project is expected to create one hundred thousand jobs. Talk about a mega starting lineup!

cheaper and better ai? Say hello to R1, a new reasoning-focused model launched by China's DeepSeek. Claimed to outperform OpenAI's existing model, R1 boasts an impressive six hundred seventy-one billion parameters, excelling in logic and accuracy tasks such as physics and programming. What's more? It's available for developers at a fraction of the cost, estimated to be ninety to ninety-five percent cheaper than competing models. With advancements like this, the battle for A-I supremacy continues, and quickly!

a new productivity tool hits the scene. Meet Side Space, an A-I tool designed to help users manage their browser tabs more effectively. This innovative solution allows you to organize tabs into vertical spaces based on their purpose—work, shopping, or personal research. You can even save and sync these groups across devices. They offer a free version for up to five spaces with a pro plan available for a one-time payment of thirty-nine dollars. A multitasker’s dream come true!

reset your thinking with a mental health app. Reset is here to help users manage anxiety through a self-therapy journaling approach, based on cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. Over a structured eleven-week program, it helps individuals identify triggers and reframe negative thoughts. A free plan is available, with a premium option for eight dollars a month, offering advanced insights for dedicated users.

That's all for today's A-I updates! We hope you find these developments as exciting as we do. Remember to stay informed about the latest news in the world of Artificial Intelligence, as there's always something new on the horizon. Until next time, take care!

Big Tech's $500 Billion AI Investment, China's DeepSeek Launches Affordable R1 Model, and Innovative Tools to Boost Productivity and Mental Health

Hello and welcome to AI Tech News Today! I'm Aurora, your host, and I'm here with my co-host Isabelle. Today is January twenty-third, twenty twenty-five, and we have some intriguing headlines in the world of artificial intelligence to cover. So let's dive right in!

Musk slams Trumps $500B AI plan. In a recent announcement, former President Donald Trump launched a jaw-dropping initiative dubbed The Stargate Project, aiming to set up a massive five hundred billion-dollar artificial intelligence data center. Teaming up with SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle, each will contribute one hundred billion dollars to the pot. However, Elon Musk was quick to criticize this ambitious plan on social media, claiming that SoftBank isn't financially capable of making such a significant investment. Amid this spat, Sam Altman from OpenAI invited Musk to visit the project's first site, implying that Musk's priorities might be misaligned with national interests.

LinkedIn violates users' private data? Another headline that has raised eyebrows involves LinkedIn, which is being sued by US Premium customers. The lawsuit alleges that LinkedIn shared private messages and InMail data with third parties for training their artificial intelligence models—without proper consent. An added twist is that LinkedIn had introduced a privacy setting that automatically opted users in. Their updated privacy policy came under fire, as it indicated data sharing would not be affected retroactively, showcasing a worrying trend about user privacy in tech.

Meta x Databricks strategic partnership. Moving on to collaborations, Meta recently participated as a strategic partner in a ten billion dollar funding round for the data analytics platform, Databricks. This partnership is expected to blend Databricks' capabilities with Meta's advanced resources as Databricks looks to expand its reach into international markets, leveraging their own Large Language Model to provide a more robust data analytics solution.

And before we wrap up, here’s a reminder to keep an eye on the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. The developments we've discussed today are just a few examples of how AI is shaping industries and influencing our daily lives.

Thank you for joining us today! Stay tuned for more updates and insights into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence. Until next time, this is Aurora and Isabelle signing off!

Musk Challenges Trump’s $500B AI Initiative as LinkedIn Faces Privacy Lawsuit and Meta Invests in Databricks

Hello everyone and welcome to AI Tech News Today. It is February fourth, two thousand twenty-five, and we have some big headlines in the world of Artificial Intelligence. Let’s dive into it!

OpenAI is back with a three billion dollar partnership. After some serious boardroom drama, OpenAI is striking a bold deal with SoftBank. Together, they are launching "Crystal Intelligence," a platform designed to automate enterprise processes in Japan. This new tool aims to streamline workflows, integrate with company systems, and free up employees for more strategic tasks. SoftBank plans to roll out this solution across its subsidiaries, marking a significant step in Japan's AI landscape.

Next, customer feedback intelligence is on the rise. Companies are recognizing the importance of understanding what their customers want and need. Platforms like Syncly are emerging as leaders in this space, providing actionable insights that help businesses refine their products and enhance customer experiences. These tools not only identify potential churn risks but also empower businesses to engage proactively with at-risk clients.

In tech learning, we’re seeing a surge in SEO strategies. Businesses are increasingly looking at search engine optimization to boost their online presence. Utilizing advanced AI tools to analyze web traffic and improve rankings, companies can leverage data-driven insights to attract more visitors to their sites. This shift suggests that SEO is becoming a fundamental aspect of digital marketing in the AI era.

Now for a cheerful twist, here’s the prompt of the day: create a lead magnet to draw potential customers to your website. By offering valuable resources or incentives, you could increase visitor engagement and conversions.

That wraps up our update for today! Keep your eyes peeled for the latest in the world of Artificial Intelligence and remember: staying informed is key in this rapidly changing landscape. Until next time, this is Aurora signing off, encouraging you to stay curious and embrace the future of technology!

OpenAI Partners with SoftBank to Launch "Crystal Intelligence" in Japan, Elevating Enterprise Automation

Hello and welcome to AI Tech News Today! Today is February Fourth, twenty twenty-five, and we’re covering some exciting developments in the world of artificial intelligence.

Meta’s Frontier AI Framework balances innovation and security. Meta has rolled out its new Frontier AI Framework, which provides guidelines for evaluating risks associated with its cutting-edge AI models. This structured approach aims to ensure that as innovations blossom, security remains paramount. 

OpenEuroLLM wins STEP seal for advancing European multilingual AI. OpenEuroLLM has been recognized with this prestigious seal, celebrating its significant contributions to creating A-I technology that aligns with European values like transparency and accessibility. This award emphasizes the importance of robust multilingual A-I systems in an increasingly interconnected world. 

Cloudflare adopts Adobe's Content Credentials for image authenticity. In an effort to enhance trust online, Cloudflare is integrating Adobe’s Content Credentials system. This will help verify the authenticity of images shared across the web, tackling the issue of misinformation and increasing accountability in the digital space.

Anthropic’s Constitutional Classifiers block AI jailbreaks with ninety-five percent success. Anthropic has introduced a new method called Constitutional Classifiers, which effectively protects artificial intelligence models from jailbreaks, or unauthorized attempts to override their safety measures. With an impressive success rate, this innovation aims to keep A-I systems in check.

SoftBank and OpenAI form SB OpenAI Japan to expand A-I services. The two companies have launched a joint venture to boost A-I capabilities in Japan. This collaboration intends to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies in various sectors, enhancing service offerings across the region.

Microsoft forms an Advanced Planning Unit to study A-I's societal impact. This new unit will focus on the implications of artificial intelligence on society, including healthcare and workforce dynamics. By anticipating potential challenges, Microsoft aims to foster responsible A-I development.

That wraps up our segment for today. With artificial intelligence evolving at lightning speed, it's crucial to stay informed about these groundbreaking developments. Join us next time as we dive deeper into the world of A-I!

Meta Introduces Frontier AI Framework as OpenEuroLLM Receives STEP Seal for Multilingual Innovation

Hello and welcome to AI Tech News Today! It's February sixth, twenty twenty-five, and we've got some exciting developments in the world of Artificial Intelligence. Let’s jump right into our top stories!

Humanoid robots can now move like Ronaldo and LeBron James. Thanks to groundbreaking work from Carnegie Mellon University and NVIDIA, humanoid robots are now capable of performing athletic feats typically reserved for professional sports stars. From Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic spin to LeBron James’s electrifying celebration moves, these robots are stepping up their game—literally!

Workday shifts focus to A-I with strategic restructuring and global expansion. In a big move, Workday is cutting about one thousand seven hundred fifty jobs, which is around eight and a half percent of its workforce. This decision is aimed at realigning resources to enhance A-I capabilities and better navigate the evolving human capital management technology landscape.

Google launches Gemini two point zero Pro and Flash A-I models to keep pace in the A-I race. The new Gemini two point zero Pro sets a standard in reasoning and coding capabilities, while Gemini two point zero Flash is focused on advanced reasoning, now available in the Gemini app. With these launches, Google is ramping up competition in the A-I sector.

Amazon leverages automated reasoning to reduce A-I hallucinations. Amazon Web Services believes that using automated reasoning can mathematically prove that A-I models are behaving correctly in specific contexts. The goal here is to enhance the reliability and accuracy of A-I systems.

Lastly, OpenAI expands its reach in Asia with partnerships with Kakao and a joint venture with SoftBank. This expansion will bring ChatGPT and other OpenAI technologies to millions of new users and provide critical opportunities for better training of A-I on Asian languages. This is a significant step for OpenAI in maintaining its global competitiveness.

That's all for today's A-I news! Keep tuning in to AI Tech News Today, where we will keep you informed about the latest and greatest in A-I developments. Stay curious, and until next time!

Humanoid Robots Master Sports Moves, Workday Restructures for AI Future, and Google Launches Gemini 2.0 Pro

Middle East AI News Minute - an artificial intelligence news roundup - brought to you by Carrington Malin - Marketing for an AI First World. In this podcast: Saudi to export industrial robots by May 2025; UAE maps air corridors for drones; Orange Egypt runs AI hackathon.

LEAP 2025 Special Daily Briefing

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Saudi to export industrial robots by May 2025

"They will judge Masa to have been an extraordinarily consequential investor and historic figure in world investing and tech investing because he has made not just spectacular bets—but he's made so many people rich. I mean, with other people's money. All these founders, he's given them money, he's been an enormous disruptor, and he's built global businesses. He's built a huge business in Japan on the mobile operator. So for all these reasons, I know he sometimes feels dissatisfied with his legacy, and he's now trying to build his greatest legacy in the march to artificial general intelligence. Maybe the legacy will finally be judged by whether this bet pays off. What will his role be in the AI revolution? I would say to him, 'You've done pretty well so far.' " - Lionel Barber, author of "Gambling Man" 

Fresh out of the studio, Lionel Barber, former editor of the Financial Times and author of "Gambling Man" joined us in a conversation to unravel the enigmatic figure of Masayoshi Son, the CEO of SoftBank Group. We began with Lionel's career journey as the former editor of Financial Times and why inspired him to work on this book. We progressed how he put together a nuanced portrait of Masa as a resilient outsider whose Korean-Japanese heritage fueled his drive to succeed in Japan's stratified society and shared stories of Masa's evolution from software distributor to global tech investor with Vision Fund. Lionel explains how this "eternal optimist" has consistently ridden technological waves for four decades while making and losing billions. He unpacks Masa's unique investment philosophy of thinking big, his revolutionary $100 billion Vision Fund that disrupted venture capital norms, and his latest half-trillion-dollar bet on AI. Throughout the conversation, Lionel reveals the complexity behind the caricature, arguing that history will remember Masa as an extraordinarily consequential figure in global tech investing despite his mixed record of spectacular wins and losses. 

Episode Highlights: [00:46] Introduction to Lionel Barber and his book on Masayoshi Son [01:34] Lionel's journalism career origins [03:57] Key lessons from Lionel's career [05:25] What makes Masayoshi Son unique [06:33] The resilience behind Masa's character [07:49] The "Gambling Man" and core themes [10:38] Challenges in documenting Masa's story [13:07] How Masa's Korean heritage shaped him [15:49] Defining moments in Masa's business career [18:33] Evolution from software distributor to global tech conglomerate [22:21] Masa's dual roles: operator and investor [24:21] Understanding Masa's investment philosophy [31:30] How Masa changed tech investing [34:30] The hardest question about Masa [35:23] Masa's historical legacy [39:10] Closing remarks and book recommendations  

Profile: Lionel Barber, Author of "Gambling Man" 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lionel-barber-473826135/ 
X: https://x.com/lionelbarber?lang=en 
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:yv5ux5l7lcvmxexdswey5hqx 
Gambling Man Profile Page: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Gambling-Man/Lionel-Barber/9781668070741 
FT Profile: https://www.ft.com/lionel-barber 

Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. The proper credits for the intro and end music are "Energetic Sports Drive." G. Thomas Craig mixed and edited the episode in both video and audio format.

Here are the links to watch or listen to our podcast. 
Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia 
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Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia

Gambling Man: The Secret Story of the World's Greatest Disruptor, Masayoshi Son with Lionel Barber

The Middle East AI News Minute gives you a daily one-minute daily briefing on the top AI-related stories coming out of the Middle East. If you are a busy technology, business or government leader who want to get a quick update, then this is the podcast for you.

The Analyse Podcast, formerly Analyse Asia, is a weekly show that dissects the pulse of business, technology, and media across the world. Hosted by Bernard Leong, it features in-depth conversations with leading journalists, senior executives, visionary authors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders who shape industries and ideas. Each episode dives into the most important trends and stories redefining how the world builds, scales, and innovates — from Asia to the globe.

Whitehat is an Inbound Marketing Agency and an AI consultancy based in London. We work with B2B companies in the finance, technology (hardware and software), manufacturing, charity, and educational sectors. These companies tend to be located within the UK or continental Europe and have an average turnover of between £5M and £ 100 M. Their sales cycle is often 6 months or more. They typically have an active direct sales team of at least 5 people but little or no internal marketing capability.

The Puck: Venture Capital & Beyond showcases the innovative forethought that defines the venture capital world. Join us as we follow the puck and explore what this community has to offer.
Listen as we have in-depth conversations, gaining insights and lessons from well-established VCs, entrepreneurs, and other leading technology experts. We will learn about their successes, challenges, and how they got to where they are today. Along the way we will discover what investors most look for in who they invest in and what to avoid when making your pitch.

We will also follow industry leaders to understand the cutting-edge technologies and trends that continue to shape our world.

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