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Good morning ☀️, leader of the next generation.
Sometimes we give technology too much credit or too much blame.
The truth is, it’s a tool. How we use it is what matters.
Used with purpose, it helps us see more clearly, build faster, and express ourselves in new ways.
It’s not about chasing trends. It’s about creating something real.
WHAT'S AT STAKE TODAY ⚡
- 🗺️🇮🇳 Google Maps upgrades navigation in India with Gemini, safety alerts
- 🎤🔊 Subtle Computing's voice isolation models help computers understand you in noisy environments
- 📱🤖 Meta brings its short-form video feed of AI slop to Europe
- 💼🚫 Sam Altman says he doesn't want the government to bail out OpenAI if it fails
- 💰📊 Sam Altman says OpenAI has $20B ARR and about $1.4 trillion in data center commitments
- 🎯💡 Laude Institute announces first batch of 'Slingshots' AI grants
Stanford startup secures massive funding for revolutionary AI approach
Inception raises $50 million to build diffusion models for code and text
The AI startup funding boom continues with Inception, a company developing groundbreaking diffusion-based AI models, securing $50 million in seed funding. Led by Menlo Ventures, the impressive funding round included participation from major players like Mayfield, Innovation Endeavors, Microsoft's M12 fund, Snowflake Ventures, Databricks Investment, and Nvidia's NVentures. Notable AI luminaries Andrew Ng and Andrej Karpathy also contributed angel funding.
At the helm of this innovative venture is Stanford professor Stefano Ermon, a researcher specializing in diffusion models that generate outputs through iterative refinement rather than sequential word-by-word processing. While these models currently power popular image-based AI systems like Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, and Sora, Ermon is pioneering their application to broader tasks through Inception.
The company has already launched Mercury, a new model specifically designed for software development that has been integrated into several development tools including ProxyAI, Buildglare, and Kilo Code. According to Ermon, the diffusion approach offers significant advantages in two critical areas: response time and computational efficiency.
"These diffusion-based LLMs are much faster and much more efficient than what everybody else is building today," Ermon explains. "It's just a completely different approach where there is a lot of innovation that can still be brought to the table."
The technical distinction between Inception's approach and current market leaders is significant. Traditional auto-regression models like GPT-5 and Gemini operate sequentially, predicting each subsequent word based on previously processed content. In contrast, diffusion models take a holistic approach, incrementally modifying the overall structure of responses until achieving the desired result.
While auto-regression models have dominated text-based AI applications with remarkable success, emerging research suggests diffusion models may excel when processing large text volumes or managing data constraints. These qualities become particularly valuable when working with extensive codebases, according to Ermon.
Perhaps most importantly, diffusion models offer superior hardware flexibility—a crucial advantage as AI infrastructure demands become increasingly apparent. Unlike auto-regression models that must execute operations sequentially, diffusion models can process multiple operations simultaneously, resulting in significantly reduced latency for complex tasks.
"We've been benchmarked at over 1,000 tokens per second, which is way higher than anything that's possible using the existing autoregressive technologies," Ermon states, "because our thing is built to be parallel. It's built to be really, really fast."
This funding success story illustrates a broader trend in the AI landscape: researchers with novel ideas are finding it advantageous to pursue their innovations as independent companies rather than within established big tech laboratories. With substantial capital flowing into AI startups, innovative approaches like Inception's diffusion-based models are attracting significant investor interest and resources needed to compete with industry giants.
The company's early traction with development tool integrations and impressive performance benchmarks suggest that diffusion models could represent a meaningful shift in how AI processes text and code, potentially challenging the dominance of current auto-regression approaches in these applications.
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OpenAI's Sora Android launch achieves 470,000 downloads on day one
Sora for Android saw nearly half a million installs on its first day
OpenAI's Sora AI video app achieved 470,000 downloads on its first day on Google Play Store, according to Appfigures. This performance exceeded the iOS launch by 327%, though Android launched in seven markets compared to iOS's U.S. and Canada-only release.
The Android version dropped the invite requirement that limited iOS access. Users can create AI-generated videos using prompts and share them in a TikTok-style feed. Sora competes with Meta AI in the expanding mobile AI video market.
🎙️ NEW EPISODE DROP:
The Future of Human + AI Collaboration | What are The Smarter Ways to Use AI
I sat down with Dimitriy Wolf — social engineer, psycholinguist, and advisor to presidents, sheikhs, and TEDx speakers — to break down why most people use AI wrong.
We covered how to think *with* AI (not just prompt it), how to build authentic brand voices, and what yachts have to do with artificial intelligence.
If you're still using ChatGPT like a search bar — you're getting left behind.
⚡ Trends for the Future
Amazon launches an AI-powered Kindle Translate service for e-book authors
Amazon introduces free AI translation service for Kindle authors.
Amazon has unveiled Kindle Translate, a new AI-powered translation service designed to help authors expand their global reach through Kindle Direct Publishing. The service, currently in beta, supports translations between English and Spanish, as well as German to English, with additional languages planned for future releases.
The launch addresses a significant market gap, as Amazon notes that less than 5% of titles on its platform are available in multiple languages. This presents a substantial opportunity for AI-driven translation solutions to help authors tap into international markets.
While AI translation technology continues to improve, Amazon acknowledges potential accuracy limitations. To mitigate this concern, the service allows authors to preview their translations before publication. However, authors unfamiliar with the target language would still need human translators to verify the AI's output for optimal accuracy.
Amazon claims its AI translations undergo automatic accuracy evaluation before publication, though the company hasn't disclosed specific details about this verification process. Authors can manage their translations through the Kindle Direct Publishing portal, where they can select languages, set pricing, and publish their translated works.
Readers will easily identify AI-translated books through clear "Kindle Translate" labeling, and they can preview translation samples before purchasing. This transparency helps readers make informed decisions about AI-translated content.
The service enters a competitive market filled with various AI translation tools and services, many offering broader language support. Industry critics argue that human translators better capture nuance, especially in fiction and literary works, though AI technology continues advancing in this area.
Currently offered free of charge, Kindle Translate particularly benefits independent authors who have struggled to find affordable, reliable translation solutions. Translated works remain eligible for other Amazon programs, including KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited subscriptions, maximizing their distribution potential.
⚡ You’re Smart. Strategic. Intentional. So Let’s Be Real:
Where Are You Holding Back— On Purpose?
Every smart operator has something they’re intentionally avoiding.
Not because they’re lazy — but because it’s risky, unknown, or just... a bit *uncomfortable*.
So what’s that thing for you?
That one decision, move, or experiment you know would push you forward — but you’ve been choosing not to do it.
Tell us — and we’ll share a tactical POV or tool to help you rethink it.
No fluff. Just momentum.
AI is humanity's pathway to unprecedented progress, helping us unlock solutions to our greatest challenges and create a world where innovation benefits everyone.
Jeff Bezos is the founder and Executive Chairman of Amazon, transforming it from an online bookstore into one of the world's most valuable companies spanning e-commerce, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. His vision for using technology to improve customer experiences and his investments in space exploration through Blue Origin demonstrate his commitment to leveraging innovation for long-term human progress, and he continues to advocate for bold technological advancement that expands human capabilities.
🎬 How to Use AI Agents to Build High-Converting Video Ads
Build once. Scale everywhere. In just minutes.
What if: Instead of spending weeks scripting, editing, and testing ads… you could build 10 variations of a high-converting video in 15 minutes — with agents handling the voiceover, visuals, call-to-action, and even the hook testing?
That’s exactly what we’ll show you this week — live.
Why This Changes Everything for Founders 🧠
- 🎥 Fast-Track Ad Creation: From idea to launch-ready video in under an hour — no team needed.
- 🔁 Test Like a Pro: Run A/B tests on 10 hooks, CTAs, or visuals — while you sleep.
- 💰 Better ROAS, Less Guessing: Let agents learn what your audience *actually* responds to.
- 📦 Works for Any Product: Digital or physical — agents adapt to your niche & brand voice.
📅 Join the Live Session w code Supercharged
We’ll walk you step-by-step through building your own ad-generating agent — no code needed.
👉 Click here to save your seat for the webinar
You’ll leave with a working prototype, free templates, and 5x more speed in your next ad campaign.
🎁 Bonus for Attendees:
- ✅ AI Agent Template for Ad Generation
- ✅ "Top 10 Hooks That Convert" Prompt Pack
- ✅ Entry to win a Free AI Strategy Audit
Episode 1: AI Education Without Limits
I sat down with Dr. José Fernández from the Miami Dade College AI Center to explore how AI is transforming education.
We discussed how students today can access world-class AI training with almost zero student loan debt — making innovation more accessible than ever.
Episode 2: What if your story were your sales strategy?
I sat down with Maury Rogow, a Hollywood producer and branding mastermind behind $2.5B in brand growth.
We talked about why the brands that feel effortless aren’t the loudest — they’re just the most aligned.
🌡️ Use the Satisfaction Thermometer to show us how much you enjoyed The Supercharged today ;)
The Supercharged is aiming to be the world's #1 AI business magazine and is on a mission to empower 1,000,000 entrepreneurs worldwide by 2025, guiding them through the transition into the AI-driven creative age. We're dedicated to breaking down complex technologies, sharing actionable insights, and fostering a community that thrives on innovation, to become the ultimate resource for businesses navigating the AI revolution.
The Supercharged is the #1 AI Newsletter for Entrepreneurs, with 25,000 + readers working at the world’s leading startups and enterprises. The Supercharged is free for the readers. Main ads are typically sold out 2 weeks in advance. You can book future ad spots here.
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