AI & tech talent: the duo we've all been waiting for | Newsletter

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'Quick hits'

Prompt engineering: In a timely move Coursera’s founder announced a free class for developers who want to learn to program chatbots to sound like real people.

Fusion power: Microsoft and Helion Energy want to build the world’s first fusion power plant in their backyard of Washington by 2028—though there are skeptics.

Founder to CEO: British telecom giant Vodafone’s first woman CEO is a former startup founder who rose through the ranks following an acquisition.

No digital tax in Md.: Big Tech sighed in relief as Maryland’s first-in-the-nation tax on digital advertising ran into a legal snare at the state’s highest court, reversing a lower court ruling that found such taxes unconstitutional.

Meta hints at future of generative AI

Meta is researching a new open-source AI model that links together multiple streams of data, including text, audio, visual data, temperature, and movement readings. It’s a hint at the future of generative AI systems: immersive, multi-sensory experiences and shows, or “embedding spaces.” Google is weaving more AI into its offerings in an effort to protect its stake in the $300B search advertising market.

Recruiters: Talent remains at wheel

Tech recruiters say top talent remains in the proverbial driver’s seat, despite the economic crosswinds facing most. Companies are competing with each other for all sorts of roles, offering competitive salaries and benefits to lure in skilled candidates. They’re also redefining “work” with flexibility at the center. Over the next 5 years, more than 1M tech roles will be needed in financial services, communication, consumer retail, healthcare, energy, and other industries.

AI can (almost) read your mind

Scientists claim they’ve developed tech that can decipher a person’s thoughts with astonishing accuracy. Though, they say it’s not quite like mind reading since the person is engaged in a conversation while the decoder reads scans of brain activity. Researchers say the new tool is up to 87% accurate and could be greatly beneficial to people with speech disabilities or to improve voice-controlled digital assistants.

Era of ‘personal intelligence’

LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman has a new venture that’s applying AI chatbot software innovation to healthcare. He co-founded InflectionAI with Mustafa Suleyman to make it easier for healthcare workers to update a patient’s electronic medical record. The company raised $80M and established partnerships with several major healthcare organizations, claiming their tech has a high level of emotional intelligence.

Ctrl-p your next vaccine

MIT is testing out a new vaccine printer that could prove to be a "game-changer" for future pandemics—especially in rural and other underserved areas. The printer creates a powder form of the vaccine that can be stored at room temperature. Just add water, and it’s ready to go. It can pop out 1k doses per day.

AI in the newsroom

AI is a gift and a curse, according to VentureBeat’s editorial director. Michael Nuñez wrote an all-staff letter laying out the pros and potential cons of AI in the newsroom. AI is good for improving speed and, yes, even accuracy, he insisted, if used correctly. The tech can also add a valuable dose of personalization to the news for readers—though there are important ethical considerations. In related news: A journalist created a digital clone that tricked their family members and a bank's voice recognition system.

Off the grid tax shelters?

Tech entrepreneurs and investors like Peter Thiel are heading to far-flung places to create new types of autonomous, self-governed zones free of traditional tax rules. There are efforts under way in Africa and also out to sea—with so-called seasteads—to build tax havens that supporters say can spur economic development and urban innovation. Others say it smacks of neocolonialism.

Tweet of the Week

Trending in Tech

Top 5: Healthcare

With the atmospheric rise of the global digital health sector from $211B to $1.5T, digital healthcare is a booming field. Hot startups in this space hiring today include Benchling, Forward, Ginger, connectRN, and Solv.

Top 5: SaaS

Software as a service has reshaped the high-tech industry, and has proven to be a far more profitable distribution model than previous forms of software distribution. Startups reshaping this industry and hiring today include AnyRoad, Pantheon, tray.io, MadKudu, and Aircall.

Top 5: Art

From NFTs (”nifties”) to online museums, tech is helping people redefine how art is produced, traded, and consumed. Startups making their mark and hiring today include Verisart, Waymark, Prinseps Auctions, The Exhibit, and Minted.

What We’re Reading

• OpenAI Reportedly Lost $540 Million Developing ChatGPT in 2022 (TheWrap)
• The rise and changing role of chief product officers (TechCrunch)
• Meet the people using Notion to plan their whole lives (MIT Technology Review)
• Remembering America's first social network: the landline telephone (NPR)
• Mojo 🔥 — a new programming language for all AI developers (Modular)
• ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers (DeepLearning.AI)

Companies in the News

• Seattle-based Genemod, a scientific collaboration platform, raised $4.5M in seed funding led by defy.vc and LDV Partners. They’re hiring UX designers, product marketing managers, and account executives.
• San Francisco-based Glass, a government e-commerce platform, raised $3M in funding led by New Age Capital. They’re hiring marketing leads, activation leads, and sales leads
• Houston-based Innovapptive, a SaaS-based connected worker platform, raised an undisclosed amount in Series B  led by Vista Equity Partners. They’re hiring AWS SaaS architects.
• San Francisco-based Airspeed, a platform focused on connecting and celebrating employees, raised $7.5M in funding led by Greylock Partners. They’re hiring sales product designers, full stack engineers, and customer success managers.

Startups hiring now

Rejigg | 2 open roles

Xcelastream | 2 open roles

Prizepicks | 5 open roles