Some Friday news: I’m covering xAI and artificial intelligence more broadly now. So if you’re working on AI, let’s chat.

And a first story on the beat w/ Berber Jin. Investors are in talks to help raise $3 billion for xAI at a $18 billion valuation. wsj.com/tech/ai/invest…

A Peter Thiel-Backed AI Startup, Cognition Labs, Seeks $2 Billion Valuation on.wsj.com/3TX2PE7

It’s been one year since our colleague Evan Gershkovich was wrongly detained in Russia for simply doing journalism.

This week, WSJ staffers around the globe, including the SF bureau, went on runs to symbolize the thousands of miles between Evan and his home.

Free Evan

sydney sweeney was the valedictorian of her high school btw

hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features…

Scoop: We have the numbers behind the ever creative Microsoft and Inflection arrangement.

Microsoft paid Inflection AI $650 million, mostly in the form of a a licensing deal, that the startup is then using to give its investors some returns. w/ Jessica Lessin & aaron holmes

Evan Gershkovich’s year in Russian jail: what it’s like and how he copes #istandevan

thetimes.co.uk/article/67b6dd…

Grateful to win a SABEW with Iain Martin for our coverage of Stability AI.

Cannot understate how much of a team effort this was across Forbes Tech.

And ever thankful for the guidance from Alex Konrad (who was also honored by SABEW for Best Range of Work!):

News! Today is my first day on the banking beat The Wall Street Journal, where I'll be covering the banking system & focus on JPMorgan and Bank of America. Ready to get started on this leviathan of a beat!

Reach out at alexander[dot]saeedy[at]wsj[dot]com with tips, ideas, & unsolicited opinions.

🎧 Listen: In today's episode of The Journal podcast, Berber Jin reports on the highs and lows of the Silicon Valley bromance between Sam Altman and Elon Musk on.wsj.com/43ouDVn on.wsj.com/43ouDVn

'It has been reported that following a meeting with Mr.
Hassabis and investors in DeepMind, one of the investors remarked that the best thing he could have
done for the human race was shoot Mr. Hassabis then and there.'

48 weeks.
11 months.

FREE EVAN NOW

#FreeEvan #IStandWithEvan

our feature on how the bromance between sam altman and elon musk turned toxic, w/ keachhagey Deepa Seetharaman

wsj.com/tech/ai/elon-m…

AI Search Startup Perplexity Set to Double Valuation to $1 Billion ⁦Berber Jin⁩ ⁦Miles Kruppa⁩ @wsj wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-sea…

they went for the king and missed theinformation.com/articles/sequo…

That venture capitalist who abandoned San Francisco in 2020 because it was 'miserable on every dimension'? He's returned. San Francisco is experiencing a tech revival as entrepreneurs and investors flock back. ⁦Berber Jin⁩ ⁦Angel Au-Yeung⁩ wsj.com/tech/san-franc…

icymi - inside the miami misfortunes of keith rabois, and why tech leaders are coming back to san francisco

w/ Angel Au-Yeung

wsj.com/tech/san-franc…

When Serena Williams enters Avatar State, she is at her most powerful.

Avatar: The Last Airbender premieres February 22. Only on Netflix.

Had a fun chat with Zane about the making of “Spring Is Coming With A Strawberry In The Mouth” and the whole Everasking Edition— 🎲🍓

tune in at
apple.co/zane

Zane Lowe
@applemusic

NEW: AI investors are amassing GPUs to help chip-hungry startups.

I spoke to Nat Friedman Daniel Gross about the 4,000 GPU supercomputer they built.

Sources say a16z is exploring an even bigger offering that'd 'make everything else pale in comparison':

forbes.com/sites/kenrickc…

Epic saga to save the soul of San Francisco in my new The Wall Street Journal weekend cover. Tech millionaires are battling politicians over crime, homelessness & drug abuse.

'Enough is enough. We're getting involved in the muck.'

Featuring Garry Tan 💥♻️ e/acc Chris Larsen Zack Rosen wsj.com/politics/elect…