Good morning and welcome back to another edition of The AI Rundown by Lightscape Partners.

• Google unveiled Ironwood, its seventh-generation TPU chip built for AI inference workloads. With support for massive clusters and enhanced efficiency features, Ironwood reinforces Google’s push to lead in enterprise-scale AI infrastructure.

• OpenAI is reportedly in talks to acquire io Products, a hardware startup co-founded by Sam Altman and Jony Ive. The potential $500 million deal signals OpenAI’s intent to pair cutting-edge AI with beautifully designed consumer devices—a major step into the hardware arena.

• Anthropic has launched Claude Max, a new $200/month subscription plan targeting power users of its Claude AI assistant. The move mirrors OpenAI’s own pricing strategy and suggests growing demand for premium-tier access to generative AI tools.

Stay tuned as we explore these stories and their implications for the future of AI, technology, and innovation.

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Hardware + Software

Ironwood is Google’s newest AI accelerator chip. Link.

• Google introduced Ironwood, its seventh-generation TPU chip specialized in AI inference workloads.

• The new chip will debut in massive clusters of up to 9,216 units, delivering substantial computational power.

• Ironwood emphasizes improved efficiency through features like enhanced SparseCore for recommendation tasks.

• Google plans integration into cloud AI supercomputers, targeting scalable enterprise inference workloads.

Google to embrace Anthropic’s standard for connecting AI models to data. Link.

• Google announced it will adopt Anthropic’s open-source Model Context Protocol (MCP) for its Gemini AI models.

• MCP allows AI models to securely and efficiently interface with external software applications and databases.

• Google joins OpenAI and other major companies in backing MCP as a standard API for AI integration.

• The adoption aims to streamline developer efforts and accelerate the deployment of interconnected AI tools.

Models

Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, launches an API for Grok 3. Link.

• Musk’s xAI released an API for its Grok 3 model, enabling developers to integrate the AI into external applications.

• Grok 3, priced competitively with peers, offers both full and “Mini” versions for varying needs and budgets.

• The API supports multimodal (text-and-image) understanding, though its context window is smaller than originally claimed.

• This launch positions xAI competitively against industry leaders like OpenAI and Google despite ongoing legal disputes.

Product Launches

Anthropic rolls out a $200-per-month Claude subscription. Link.

• Anthropic introduced a high-end subscription tier for its Claude AI chatbot priced at $200/month.

• The new plan, Claude Max, offers significantly increased usage limits over the previous Claude Pro plan.

• Subscribers get priority access to Anthropic’s newest models and premium features, aiming at heavy AI users.

• The launch mirrors OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pro strategy, indicating robust market demand for high-end AI chatbot subscriptions.

Enterprise AI Applications

IBM acquires Hakkoda to continue its AI consultancy investment push. Link.

• IBM announced acquiring AI consulting firm Hakkoda to boost its capabilities in data architecture and AI deployment.

• The acquisition expands IBM’s growing consultancy practice, aiming to accelerate AI solutions delivery for clients.

• This move continues IBM’s investment push in AI services following recent acquisitions like DataStax.

• IBM aims to capture surging enterprise AI demand, leveraging Hakkoda’s global expert teams and consulting expertise.

Regulation + Legal

Nvidia’s H20 AI chips may be spared from export controls — for now. Link.

• Nvidia’s latest H20 AI chip appears poised to avoid current U.S. export restrictions aimed at limiting tech sales to China.

• This chip, a lower-performance variant, complies with existing U.S. regulatory thresholds on exportable AI technology.

• However, U.S. officials may revise these rules, potentially impacting future exports and sales for Nvidia in China.

• The situation highlights ongoing tensions around tech exports and the adaptability of chipmakers to changing regulations.

Startup Funding & Valuations.

Nuro’s $106M raise backs its shift from delivery robots to licensing autonomy tech. Link.

• Nuro raised $106M Series E funding at a reduced $6B valuation amid a pivot to licensing autonomous driving tech.

• The funding, led by existing investors, supports a shift from expensive self-owned vehicles to a B2B model.

• Co-founder Dave Ferguson says the pivot demonstrates investor belief in capital-efficient autonomy solutions.

• Funds extend Nuro’s runway into 2027, helping it expand commercially despite recent valuation pressures.

AI insurtech Ominimo bags its first investment at a $220M valuation. Link.

• Ominimo secured strategic funding from Zurich Insurance Group (€10M for 5%), valuing it at approximately $220M.

• The startup uses AI for accurate and faster insurance pricing, gaining profitability quickly in Hungary.

• Ominimo now plans rapid expansion into more than ten new European markets, including Poland and Sweden.

• Its partnership with Zurich provides both capital and credibility to enter broader property insurance segments.

AI video startup Moonvalley raised a fresh $43M, SEC filing shows. Link.

• Moonvalley secured $43M in new funding shortly after launching its AI video-generation model "Marey."

• The company previously raised a substantial $70M seed round from prominent venture firms.

• The filing suggests this funding round might grow further, though Moonvalley has yet to confirm details.

• Moonvalley aims to deliver ethical generative video tools, including licensed footage and copyright opt-outs.

Turkey’s Sipay raises $78M to expand its Stripe-like services into emerging markets. Link.

• Sipay raised $78M Series B at an $875M valuation to broaden fintech services in emerging markets.

• The round led by Elephant VC positions Sipay to offer remittance services, distinct from Stripe’s model.

• With over 6 million users, Sipay’s all-in-one app provides payments, FX, and investments.

• Funding will support expansion into new countries and additional financial services tailored to local needs.

OpenAI

OpenAI countersues Elon Musk, calls for enjoinment from ‘further unlawful and unfair action’. Link.

• OpenAI filed a countersuit against Musk, alleging disruptive attempts to undermine its transition to a for-profit structure.

• The legal action stems from Musk's previous suit challenging OpenAI’s organizational changes since his departure.

• OpenAI claims Musk’s interference could jeopardize critical funding and internal governance initiatives.

• The countersuit seeks to bar Musk from additional disruptive measures, emphasizing high stakes for OpenAI’s future.

OpenAI reportedly mulls buying Jony Ive and Sam Altman’s AI hardware startup. Link.

• OpenAI is considering acquiring io Products, an AI hardware startup co-founded by designer Jony Ive and CEO Sam Altman.

• The potential $500M deal or partnership explores integrating innovative AI-driven consumer hardware into OpenAI.

• Ive’s involvement suggests high-quality design combined with OpenAI’s cutting-edge AI could result in unique consumer gadgets.

• Discussions remain preliminary, but underline OpenAI’s ambitions in creating custom hardware to complement its AI software.

Thank you for reading the AI Rundown by Lightscape Partners. Please send any questions, comments, or suggestions to contact@li