Google.org funds $20M for AI in science, Meta brings AI to Ray-Ban in Europe, Perplexity revolutionizes AI shopping

Happy Thursday everyone!

Welcome to AI Weekly Digest 📬 Your essential AI briefing, carefully curated by me, Rubén Colomer, AI Specialist and GP at Next Tier Ventures. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest AI breakthroughs, key funding news, innovative tools, thought-provoking reads, and the best AI job opportunities - it's all here!

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News 🗞️📰

• Google.org Launches $20M AI for Science Fund. Google.org announced a $20 million fund to support academic and nonprofit organizations leveraging AI for breakthroughs in areas like rare disease research, experimental biology, materials science, and sustainability. The initiative includes $2 million in Google Cloud Credits and pro bono technical expertise, aiming to replicate successes like AlphaFold, which transformed protein structure prediction and inspired global scientific progress.
• Meta Introduces AI Features to Ray-Ban Meta Glasses in Europe. Meta has begun rolling out its AI assistant, Meta AI, to Ray-Ban Meta glasses users in France, Italy, and Spain. The assistant supports French, Italian, and Spanish, allowing users to ask general questions via voice commands. However, advanced multimodal features available in the U.S. and other regions, such as camera-based landmark identification, remain unavailable in Europe due to regulatory complexities with the EU AI Act and GDPR compliance. Meta aims to expand these capabilities across more European countries in the future
• Shop like a Pro with Perplexity’s AI Shopping Assistant. Perplexity launches an AI-powered shopping experience, combining product discovery, comparisons, and seamless purchasing. U.S. users can use "Buy with Pro" for one-click checkout, secure payment, and free shipping. Features include Snap to Shop for visual searches, unbiased product recommendations, and Shopify integration for up-to-date product listings. Merchants can join a free program for enhanced visibility and analytics
• Mistral AI has enhacced its existing 'Le Chat'. Mistral AI introduces significant upgrades to "Le Chat," a generative AI assistant offering web search with citations, advanced ideation tools, image/document analysis, and image generation, all integrated into a single platform. Key features include a new Canvas interface for collaborative content creation, Pixtral Large for document/image understanding, and customizable task agents for automating workflows
• Coca-Cola Uses Generative AI to Redefine Holiday Ads. Coca-Cola has reimagined its iconic "Holidays Are Coming" ad with three AI-generated commercials featuring snowy landscapes, digital actors, and festive visuals. By using AI, the brand accelerated production, avoided costly live shoots, and maintained its creative and traditional festive spirit, blending nostalgia with cutting-edge technology
• Spotify's vision for AI in music and podcasts. Spotify plans to integrate AI tools to enhance music creation, podcasting, and personalized recommendations. CTO and CPO Gustav Söderström emphasized supporting creators who use AI to amplify creativity while maintaining compliance with copyright laws. The company avoids generating AI content itself, focusing instead on empowering creators and improving discovery through AI-driven tools.
• ChatGPT Outperforms Doctors in Diagnostic Accuracy. A study by UVA Health System found ChatGPT-4 surpassed doctors in diagnostic accuracy, scoring 90% on complex cases compared to 76% for doctors using AI and 74% for those without it. The findings highlight the potential of AI as more than just a helper tool, emphasizing the need to train physicians to collaborate with advanced AI systems effectively.
• OpenAI's early emails reveal leadership disputes and vision shifts. Leaked emails from OpenAI’s early days expose tensions between Elon Musk and Sam Altman over leadership and control. Musk’s push for "absolute control" as CEO raised concerns from Ilya Sutskever about the risks of AGI misuse. Early ambitions included acquiring Cerebras via Tesla and exploring a $60M Azure partnership with Microsoft, which Musk opposed to maintain independence. These revelations highlight OpenAI’s evolution from nonprofit ideals to a more corporate-driven direction

Funding 💼💸

• OG Labs raises $40M to advance decentralized AI operating system. OG Labs, led by CEO Michael Heinrich, has raised $40 million in a seed round to develop its Decentralized AI Operating System (dAIOS), designed for secure and transparent on-chain AI computation. Investors include Hack VC, OKX Ventures, Samsung Next, Delphi Digital, Animoca, and over 200 others. The funding supports their mission to decentralize AI and accelerate development with a total committed capital of $325 million.
• Seattle-based TestSprite raises $1.5M to automate API and web app testing. TestSprite, founded in 2024 and led by CEO Yunhao Jiao, a former Amazon engineer, has raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed round to automate software testing using AI agents. The company targets both individual users and enterprises. Backed by investors such as Techstars, Jinqiu Capital, and MiraclePlus, TestSprite graduated from Techstars Miami and plans to double its 12-person team.
• Tessl raises $125M at a $750M valuation to build AI for writing and maintaining code. Tessl, led by CEO Guy Podjarny, former founder of Snyk and CTO of Akamai, has secured $125M across seed and Series A rounds, with Index Ventures, GV, and Accel as key investors. Tessl’s AI platform aims to generate, test, and maintain code based on natural language or developer specifications, addressing challenges of complexity and system reliability caused by AI-generated code. Initially supporting Java, JavaScript, and Python, Tessl seeks to integrate with existing AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot and OpenAI’s solutions
• myBiometry raises $5M seed round to develop asthma and COPD diagnostic tool. myBiometry, led by CEO Bryan Nolan, has secured $5 million in an oversubscribed seed round led by Dexcom Ventures, with participation from CareSource Indiana and Elevate Ventures. The funding will support the development of fenoTRACK, a non-invasive breath test that detects type 2 airway inflammation through fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)
• Team-GPT raises $4.5M to provide customizable AI tools for businesses. Co-founded by Iliya Valchanov, has raised $4.5 million in a seed round led by True Ventures with participation from Pact and angel investors, including former OpenAI employees. The platform offers an integrated suite of AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT, enabling companies to deploy these tools on-premises for enhanced privacy. Used by Salesforce, Johns Hopkins, and 45,000 clients, Team-GPT supports enterprise features like platform administration and group mapping, targeting mid- to large-size companies seeking customizable AI solutions
• Juna.ai raises $7.5M to optimize factory energy efficiency with AI agents. Berlin-based Juna.ai, co-founded by Matthias Auf der Mauer and Christian Hardenberg, has secured $7.5 million in a seed round led by Kleiner Perkins and Norrsken VC. The company develops AI agents to optimize energy-intensive industrial processes in sectors like chemicals, steel, and cement, reducing emissions and costs. Juna.ai uses reinforcement learning to analyze factory data, guiding operators in real-time with adjustments for maximum efficiency
• Biorce raises €3.5M to revolutionize clinical trials with AI. Barcelona-based Biorce, founded by Pedro Coelho in 2024, has raised €3.5 million in a funding round led by YZR Capital and Mustard Seed Maze, with support from Outsized Ventures, Pathena Family Office, and Plug and Play Tech Center. The funding will support the development of Jarvis, Biorce’s proprietary AI model that centralizes real-time data from multiple sources to streamline clinical trials
• Moonvalley raises $70M to develop ethical generative video tools. Moonvalley, led by Naeem Talukdar, has secured $70 million in seed funding co-led by General Catalyst and Khosla Ventures, with participation from Bessemer Ventures. The Los Angeles-based startup develops generative video models using exclusively licensed data from creators, aiming to address copyright concerns and foster trust with media organizations
• Mithrl raises $4M to accelerate AI-driven scientific research. Mithrl, led by CEO Vivek Adarsh and CTO Shara Balakrishnan, has raised $4 million in a seed round led by Bonfire Ventures. Based in San Francisco, Mithrl offers an AI-powered platform that enables pharmaceutical and biotech companies to expedite drug discovery by simplifying RNA sequencing analysis to minutes.

M&A 💰

• Cloudera acquires Octopai to boost AI-driven data governance and analytics. Cloudera, led by CEO Charles Sansbury, has acquired Octopai, an Israeli platform founded by Yael Ben Arie, to enhance its metadata management and data lineage capabilities for AI and analytics. Octopai’s tools, leveraging data mapping and knowledge graphs, will help Cloudera improve data discoverability, governance, and migration across hybrid and multi-cloud environments
• AI Unlimited Group acquires Resolve Debt to enter the B2B market and revolutionize debt collection with AI. AI Unlimited Group, led by CEO Trent McKendrick, has acquired Resolve Debt, an AI-driven platform specializing in debt collection technology and accounts receivable automation. This marks the company’s entry into the B2B market, targeting the $21 billion U.S. debt collection industry.
• Growth Protocol acquires NWO.ai to set the standard for AI-driven enterprise growth. Growth Protocol, founded by Jeff Schumacher, has acquired NWO.ai, led by CEO Miroslav Dimitrov, to create a unified platform for precision-driven growth strategies. NWO.ai specializes in advanced consumer intelligence, leveraging AI to anticipate market shifts and identify untapped opportunities.

Interesting Reads 💡🤔

• Top 100 AI Consumer Apps: Key Trends in Gen AI Adoption. A16z's report analyzes the top 100 AI-first apps by user activity, revealing dominant categories like creative tools (content generation/editing) and rising competitors to ChatGPT. It showcases emerging trends, new entrants, and market shifts in web and mobile AI products.
• How to Create AI Agents for Free. A new platform allows users to build and deploy AI agents at no cost, democratizing access to advanced AI technology. It offers features like temperature control, system prompts, and few-shot prompting, enabling users to tailor AI behavior to specific needs. While API integration may incur costs, free interaction is available through its chat interface.
• How AI Is Transforming B2B Marketing Efficiency. How AI tools are revolutionizing B2B marketing by automating tasks, enhancing content creation, and personalizing customer interactions. It emphasizes the balance between leveraging AI for efficiency and maintaining human creativity to ensure impactful marketing strategies.
• OpenAI Email Archives Released Amid Musk v. Altman Case. As part of the Musk v. Altman legal proceedings, a significant cache of emails among Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Ilya Sutskever, and Greg Brockman has been made public. These documents shed light on the inner workings of OpenAI’s leadership and decision-making processes.
• A Student’s Guide to Writing with ChatGPT. This guide explores how students can effectively use ChatGPT to enhance their writing and critical thinking skills. While it warns against misuse, such as generating essays to bypass learning, it highlights practical applications like automating citation formatting, jumpstarting research, refining essay structure, and engaging in Socratic dialogues. ChatGPT can also assist with iterative feedback, role-playing debates, and understanding complex texts
• C2PA’s Potential to Authenticate Real vs. AI-Generated Images. C2PA, supported by tech giants like Microsoft, Adobe, and Google, offers a cryptographic standard to authenticate digital images and reveal their editing history, including AI-generated alterations. Despite its promise, adoption is slow among platforms and tools, limiting public access to this data. Challenges include interoperability, unclear labeling, and resistance from platforms like X, though Elon Musk expressed interest. While imperfect, C2PA remains a leading solution for tackling misinformation at scale.

Startups / Tools 🧰🛠️

• Side Space: An AI-powered vertical tabs manager browser extension that organizes tabs into categorized spaces (e.g., work, life, hobbies) for streamlined browsing. Features include AI-assisted tab grouping, auto-sync across devices, tab restoration, fuzzy search, dark mode, and the ability to suspend or pin tabs. Perfect for maintaining a clean and focused web experience.
• ChatPlayground: A versatile platform providing access to 25+ AI models for chat, code, and image generation. Features include customizable AI workflows, model comparisons, and tools to enhance productivity. Ideal for teams and individuals seeking tailored AI-powered solutions with privacy-friendly practices.
• Tips.io: An advanced AI-powered website builder tailored for Tailwind sites, allowing users to create entire pages without coding. Supports multiple AI models, enables smart updates to individual elements, and offers free themes and components. Perfect for customizing and launching websites effortlessly and quickly.
• Gamma: An AI-powered design platform for creating dynamic, visually stunning content without coding. Offers advanced tools for text rewriting, interactive visuals, and seamless content import/export. Ideal for presentations, data visualization, and mobile-friendly publishing, with built-in analytics and real-time collaboration.
• Rely.io: A managed Internal Developer Portal designed to enhance developer autonomy, reduce operational costs, and boost productivity. It centralizes the software ecosystem, ensuring governance, compliance, and operational excellence. Offers tools for visibility, self-service, and service ownership while streamlining engineering processes through automation and standardization.
• Visla: An AI-powered video creation platform enabling businesses to generate professional videos effortlessly. Features include video recording, editing, branding with CTAs and subtitles, and team collaboration through Workspaces. Ideal for marketing, corporate training, sales, product development, communications, customer success, and HR operations

NTV Highlights 🪩🎉

Next Tier Ventures will participate in the VIII Congreso de Científicos Emprendedores on November 28 and 29 at Fundación Botín in Madrid. We'll join a roundtable discussion titled AI for Change: Exploring New Frontiers in Scientific Entrepreneurship alongside Andreu Climent (Corify Care), Ignasi Belda (AESIA), and Mikel Artetxe (Reka AI). Looking forward to exploring the impact and potential of AI in scientific entrepreneurship.