World model maker Odyssey nabs .45B valuation backed by Amazon and other big names

World model maker Odyssey nabs $1.45B valuation backed by Amazon and other big names

Odyssey, a world model AI startup founded by self-driving vehicle pioneers CEO Oliver Cameron and CTO Jeff Hawke, has raised a $310 million Series B round at a $1.45B valuation led by Natural Capital, with Amazon, AMD Ventures, GV, and others participating. World models are the next big thing in AI beyond text- and chat-based large language models. They gather…

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The AI layoff wave is becoming a powder keg

The AI layoff wave is becoming a powder keg

Something strange is happening in tech right now. Companies are posting record profits and revenue while laying off tens of thousands of people, citing AI as the official explanation. So far this year, there have been an estimated 363 layoffs at tech companies this year, affecting nearly 150,000 people — a pace of about 974…

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Can tech companies learn to love cheaper AI models? 

Can tech companies learn to love cheaper AI models? 

The AI boom has been built on a basic assumption: bigger models are more powerful, and the most powerful models win. Now, the industry is about to learn what happens if that assumption starts to break.   Mounting costs have already pressured users to give smaller and cheaper models a second look. This cost-conscious model-shopping is new and it’s unclear how it will affect the industry, but the impact is…

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Startup Battlefield 200 applications officially close in 3 days

Startup Battlefield 200 applications officially close in 3 days

Founders, your window to enter Startup Battlefield 200 closes in just three short days. Applications for Startup Battlefield 200 officially close on June 8, 11:59 p.m. PT. Do not wait any longer. Secure your shot at competing on the Disrupt Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 this October at San Francisco’s Moscone West. Thousands of startups have already stepped forward. If you’re building a company…

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