Welcome to Week 3 of our newsletter! Each day, we’ll be covering 3 main topics, including the hottest AI news of the day, an AI productivity tool, and how AI is affecting culture. Get ready to level up!

In today’s newsletter:

• News - 🤖 Intel Missed the AI Chip Boom… Now What?

• Productivity - 📈 Unlock Tailored Video Ideas with Spotter Studio’s AI Suite!

• Culture - 🎯 How Russia, Iran, and China Are Using AI to Target U.S. Voters

🤖 Intel Missed the AI Chip Boom… Now What?

Intel, once the king of US semiconductors, has been left in the dust by the recent AI boom. While competitors like Nvidia soared, Intel missed the wave, focusing on making its own chips rather than outsourcing like everyone else. Now, private equity firms and rival chipmakers are eyeing the struggling giant, with Qualcomm reportedly interested in a potential buyout and Apollo considering a $5 billion investment to help Intel recover.

The company's stock has tanked over 50% since 2021, as the broader chip industry has skyrocketed. Intel recently responded with major cutbacks, including laying off 15,000 employees and ditching its dividend. Despite partnerships and government funding, Intel’s shares remain stuck at a decade low. Investors still see hope though, as they circle the company, eyeing a potential comeback story.

📈 Unlock Tailored Video Ideas with Spotter Studio’s AI Suite!

Spotter just rolled out its AI-powered creative suite, Spotter Studio, designed to make life easier for YouTubers. This new tool helps creators brainstorm video ideas, generate thumbnails, plan projects, and more. A standout feature is its ability to analyze billions of YouTube videos for creative inspiration, tailored to each user’s content. Whether you need ideas for a fresh thumbnail or want to diversify your content, Spotter Studio is here to assist, personalizing suggestions based on your unique audience.

Early testers, including YouTube stars like MrBeast and Dude Perfect, saw a 49% boost in views during the beta. Spotter Studio is available now for $49 per month, with a free trial and a limited-time annual discount!

🎯 How Russia, Iran, and China Are Using AI to Target U.S. Voters

Foreign actors from Russia, Iran, and China are ramping up their use of AI to sway U.S. voters ahead of the presidential election, according to U.S. intelligence officials. While AI is making it easier to create disinformation, it hasn't fundamentally changed how these countries operate. Russia is leading the charge, using AI to generate fake texts, videos, and even deepfakes to target swing-state voters, while Iran and China take different approaches. Iran has focused on damaging Donald Trump’s campaign by stealing files, while China’s efforts aim to undermine democracy more broadly without supporting any specific candidate.

Despite the AI boost, these countries face challenges, like detection by Western tech companies, and have yet to develop cutting-edge AI models. Russia's propaganda machine is the most advanced, even using staged videos with human actors, like a fake attack on a Trump supporter, to further its agenda. While Russia backs Trump because of his stance on Ukraine, Iran is actively trying to hurt his chances, and China is busy influencing down-ballot races. With election interference efforts increasing, officials are closely watching how AI plays into these evolving tactics.

Job Opportunities

• Palantir Technologies: Corporate Affairs Strategist

• Meta: Research Scientist Intern, Machine Learning, Health Tech (PhD)

• Meta: AI Research Scientist, Language - Generative AI

• Databricks: Technical Solutions Manager

• People.ai: HR Coordinator

VC Fundraising Rounds

• Distyl AI, a startup leveraging generative AI to enhance enterprise workflows, has secured $20 million in a new Series A funding round. (9/24/24)

• Nurix AI, a startup developing custom AI agents for enterprise services, has raised $27.5 million in a new seed funding round. (9/24/24)

• Harmonic, a mathematical reasoning engine designed to tackle complex mathematical problems using AI technology, has raised $75 million in Series A funding. (9/23/24)

• Ferrum Health, a developer of an enterprise IT and AI patient safety platform for health systems, has raised $16 million in Series A funding. (9/19/24)

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