AI sci-fi is a golden opportunity

👋 Good morning/evening (wherever you are). It’s Thursday.

It seems obvious, but worth highlighting: AI sci-fi is a golden opportunity.

Two quick reasons:

1. People who love sci-fi are naturally drawn to AI. I have proof: some of my most popular LinkedIn posts explore AI, sci-fi, and fantasy concepts.

2. The sci-fi industry generates tens of billions annually. I go deeper on this in today’s LinkedIn post.

OK let’s keep going ↓

Here’s what you should know:

• Amazon launches Nova Premier

  Their most capable model yet for complex tasks and model distillation training.

• Meta forecasted it would make $1.4T in revenue from generative AI by 2035

  Should that affect fair use analysis?

• Microsoft Phi-4 AI model updates

  A new era for small language models.

• Anthropic lets users connect more apps to Claude

  Claude can now connect with remote MCP servers and desktop apps.

• Ant Group launches AI hiring drive with top researchers

  The “Plan A” program features 12 top-tier AI mentors, announced May 1, 2025.

• Ai2’s new small AI model outperforms similarly-sized models from Google, Meta

  Yes, small AI models are the trend of the week.

• Suno 4.5 is here

  I still believe music needs human performers (with a few exceptions)…but AI music is improving fast.

Also worth noting: Eric Schmidt is backing a nonprofit that aims to build an “AI scientist” within the decade.

The numbers:

• Uncork Capital, investor in Poshmark and Fitbit, raised $300M across two new funds, with $225M for seed deals and $75M for growth. The firm is doubling down on AI, reflecting a broader VC trend where 42% of U.S. venture capital in 2024 went to AI startups.

• Plenful, which builds AI-powered workflow automation tools for healthcare teams, secured a $50M Series B backed by Mitchell Rales and Arena Holdings.

• Kintsugi, a startup using AI to streamline sales tax processes, raised $18M in a round led by Vertex.

• VOC.AI, an AI platform helping e-commerce brands improve customer service, landed $15M in funding led by Shanda Grab Ventures.

• Field Materials, which uses AI to optimize procurement of construction materials and equipment, closed a $10.5M Series A led by Navitas Capital.

• Swivel, a no-code AI automation platform focused on ad operations, raised $5.8M in Series A funding from Tribeca Venture Partners and Ardent Venture Partners.

Thought starters:

• Why the A.I. Race Could Be Upended by a Judge’s Decision on Google

• Will AI Ever Understand Language Like Humans?

• AI Has Entered the Biology Chat

• The Second Half

Meme of the day:

Thanks for reading,

Eddie

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