A surprise turn for a prediction market, the long visits of _Uncle Elon,_ and Mark Zuckerberg drops a single
StrictlyVC News - A podcast by StrictlyVC News
![](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts211/v4/72/bc/22/72bc2299-70aa-46b8-d413-f18b01166ba0/mza_7159882870648978013.jpg/300x300bb-75.jpg)
Briefing Doc: November 13, 2024 Main Themes: Regulatory scrutiny intensifies in the tech sector: Polymarket faces investigation, Meta battles antitrust charges, and OpenAI's growth faces headwinds. Generative AI continues to attract investment and innovation: Odyssey raises funds for its real-world data capture system, while DeepMind open-sources AlphaFold 3 for drug discovery. Venture capital remains active despite economic concerns: Large funding rounds for AI, biotech, and defense startups signal continued investor confidence. Most Important Ideas/Facts: Polymarket under investigation: The FBI seized the phone of Polymarket's CEO amidst allegations of accepting bets from U.S. citizens, potentially violating gambling laws. This highlights growing regulatory attention towards prediction markets and decentralized platforms. (Source: StrictlyVC, citing Bloomberg and The New York Post) Meta's antitrust battle continues: A federal judge ruled that Meta must face FTC charges over its acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram, alleging anti-competitive practices. The outcome of this case could significantly impact the tech landscape and future acquisitions by large companies. (Source: StrictlyVC, citing Reuters) Odyssey's innovative approach to generative AI: By equipping humans with advanced camera systems, Odyssey aims to gather high-quality real-world data for training AI models capable of creating "cinematic worlds". This approach differs from traditional methods and could lead to more realistic and immersive digital environments. (Source: StrictlyVC) DeepMind's open-source contribution: Google DeepMind's decision to open-source AlphaFold 3, its protein structure prediction AI, could have significant implications for drug discovery and development. This move reflects a growing trend of collaboration and knowledge sharing in the AI community. (Source: StrictlyVC, citing VentureBeat) Venture capital activity remains strong: Several startups secured substantial funding rounds, including Chaos Industries ($145 million for defense tech), Metsera ($215 million for obesity treatments), and Recogni ($102 million for AI chips). This suggests continued investor appetite despite economic uncertainties. (Source: StrictlyVC) Elon Musk's influence at Mar-a-Lago: Both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal report on Musk's frequent presence at Mar-a-Lago and his efforts to place allies in positions of power. This raises questions about potential political influence and the intersection of technology and politics. (Source: StrictlyVC, citing The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal) Quotes: "The New York Post is reporting that the FBI has seized the phone of Shayne Coplan, CEO of Polymarket, the online platform where users can bet on the outcomes of real-world events, such as elections or sports. Bloomberg says the Feds are investigating whether Polymarket accepted bets from U.S. citizens, which is illegal." "Meta must face FTC charges that it acquired WhatsApp and Instagram to crush its competition, a federal judge has ruled." "Odyssey, founded by self-driving pioneers Oliver Cameron and Jeff Hawke... says it’s created an 'advanced camera capture system' that can collect data just about anywhere a person can reach." "In an unexpected move that could accelerate drug discovery and development, Google DeepMind has open-sourced AlphaFold 3, an AI system that predicts the three-dimensional structures of proteins and their interactions with other molecules, including DNA, RNA, and small compounds." "Both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal are running accounts today on 'Uncle' Elon Musk's omnipresence at Mar-a-Lago as he attempts to put his people in positions of power."