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DEI? More like 'common decency' — and Silicon Valley is saying 'no thanks' | TechCrunch

Jun 28, 2024 - techcrunch.com
The author criticizes Scale AI's Alexandr Wang's decision to replace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with merit, excellence, and intelligence (MEI), arguing that it ignores systemic barriers and reduces complex social dynamics to a simplistic ideal of meritocratic purity. The author also highlights the disparity between Silicon Valley and economically depressed regions where Scale AI's annotators work. The article also includes a recap of the week's startup stories, including a chat with Vinod Khosla about AI's future, a robot with living skin developed by scientists, and Telegram's founder revealing the company operates with just about 30 engineers.

In terms of fundraising, the article reports that Volkswagen is investing up to $5 billion in Rivian’s software development, and two 18-year-olds have secured $500,000 for their AI-powered API startup. Other notable fundraises include Zepto's $665 million for its instant delivery service, and Daydream's $50 million seed funding for its AI-powered e-commerce search tools. The article also mentions OpenAI's acquisition of Multi, the launch of Anthropic's new AI model, the ongoing legal drama surrounding Fisker’s bankruptcy, the U.S. government's ban on Kaspersky, and Fearless Fund co-founder Ayana Parsons' resignation.

Key takeaways:

  • Scale AI's Alexandr Wang has replaced the concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with his new acronym MEI: merit, excellence, and intelligence, sparking controversy and criticism.
  • Volkswagen is investing up to $5 billion in Rivian’s software development, a partnership that could benefit both companies.
  • Two 18-year-olds, Christopher Fitzgerald and Nicholas Van Landschoot, have secured $500,000 in funding for their AI-powered API startup.
  • OpenAI has acquired Multi, a startup that's essentially Zoom with additional features, and Anthropic has launched Claude 3.5 Sonnet, their new and improved AI model.
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