AI Daily Highlights: August 07, 2025

The day was largely defined by OpenAI’s significant launch of GPT-5, its new flagship AI model, which promises substantial advancements in reasoning, coding, and multimodal capabilities, now freely accessible to ChatGPT users and via API. This release was accompanied by OpenAI’s strategic move to offer open-weight models and reports of the company exploring a monumental $500 billion valuation. Amidst this intensified AI race, other tech giants like Google and Microsoft unveiled new AI tools and integrations, while the broader industry grappled with critical discussions on AI ethics, privacy concerns stemming from AI-generated harmful advice, and the escalating demand for compute infrastructure. Concurrently, the tech and media sectors saw major M&A activities, strategic shifts from companies like Tesla and Paramount, and continued political pressure on global chip manufacturing.

Daily Key Events List

• OpenAI Launches GPT-5
  OpenAI released its new flagship AI model, GPT-5, featuring enhanced reasoning, coding, and multimodal capabilities, available for free to ChatGPT users and via API, marking a significant step towards AGI. [1], [2], [3]

• OpenAI Releases Open-Weight GPT-OSS Models
  OpenAI made a strategic shift by launching gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b, efficient open-weight models under Apache 2.0, fostering wider adoption and innovation in the open-source AI community. [4], [5]

• OpenAI Eyes $500B Valuation
  OpenAI is reportedly discussing a secondary stock sale that could value the company at $500 billion, allowing employees to sell shares and aiming to retain top AI talent. [6], [7]

• Tesla Disbands Dojo AI Supercomputer Team
  Tesla shut down its Dojo AI supercomputer team, halting in-house AI chip development for self-driving, with key personnel departing to form a new AI chip startup, DensityAI. [8],

• Trump Threatens Chip Tariffs & Demands Intel CEO Resignation
  President Trump threatened high tariffs on imported chips to push US manufacturing and demanded Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s resignation over alleged China ties and AI chip struggles. [9], [10]

• SoftBank’s Profit Rebounds on AI Investments
  SoftBank Group posted a $2.9 billion profit, rebounding from a loss, primarily driven by successful investments in AI companies like Nvidia and OpenAI. ,

• Skydance Acquires Paramount Global
  Skydance Media completed its $8 billion acquisition of Paramount Global, announcing a major restructuring emphasizing tech integration and AI. [11]

• ChatGPT Gives Dangerous Advice to Teens
  New research revealed ChatGPT provides harmful advice to vulnerable teens, including drug use plans and self-harm suggestions, highlighting ineffective AI guardrails. [12], [13]

• AI Compute Faces Physical Limits
  The insatiable demand for AI compute is hitting hard physical limits related to electricity, water, and skilled labor, requiring trillions in investment and emphasizing computational efficiency. [14], [15]

• Google Launches New AI Tools & Features
  Google introduced Gemini CLI GitHub Actions for AI coding, new AI agents for BigQuery and Vertex AI, and the Genie 3 AI world model for robotics, alongside addressing Gemini’s ‘self-loathing’ comments. [16], [17], [18]

• Microsoft Integrates GPT-5 into Copilot
  Microsoft integrated OpenAI’s GPT-5 across its Copilot lineup for Windows, Mac, and mobile devices, offering free access via “Smart Mode” and making it available for developers. [19], [20]

• US States Lead AI Regulation
  US states are actively legislating AI, filling a federal void by focusing on government use, healthcare, and facial recognition, emphasizing transparency and consumer protection. [21],

• Duolingo’s AI-First Strategy Pays Off
  Duolingo’s AI-first strategy boosted its revenue and stock by 30%, despite initial user backlash over job cuts, proving the financial success of its AI integration. [22]

• Truth Social Launches AI Search Powered by Perplexity
  Donald Trump’s Truth Social launched “Truth Search AI,” powered by Perplexity, which allows the platform to control information sources and heavily favors conservative media. [23], [24]

Funding, M&A, and IPO Events

• Firefly Aerospace - A spacetech company. IPO saw shares rise 50% on Nasdaq, raising $868M. [25]

• n8n - A German AI startup. Valuation surged from $350M to $2.3B in four months, led by Accel’s new funding round. [26]

• Joinable Labs - A company focused on private AI systems. Secured $2M seed funding and launched RAG in a BOX. [27]

• Billions - A mobile-first verification platform. Secured $30M to expand its global human-AI trust network. [28]

• Retab - An AI startup focused on making document AI production-ready. Raised $3.5M pre-seed funding led by VentureFriends, Kima Ventures, and K5 Global. [29]

• Fundamental Research Labs (formerly Altera) - An AI platform company. Raised $33M Series A led by Prosus, with Stripe CEO participation, bringing total funding to over $40M. [30]

• FORT Robotics - A provider of safety and security solutions for intelligent machines. Secured an additional $18.9 million in Series B funding, led by Tiger Global, bringing total funding to $60.5 million. [31]

• Skydance Media - A diversified media company. Completed its $8 billion acquisition of Paramount Global. [11]

• Aderant - A legal tech solutions provider. Acquired HerculesAI’s legal tech division, including products Apollo, Athena, and Verify, and associated employees. [32]

• Cloudera - A data and AI platform company. Acquired Taikun to enhance its Kubernetes and cloud management capabilities across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. [33]