π Meta's $10B Ocean Cable, SpaceX's $350B Value, ChatGPT's Name Blocks
Good morning. Itβs Tuesday, December 03. Today we are covering:
Meta plans to build a $10B subsea cable spanning the world, sources say
SpaceX Discusses Tender Offer at Roughly $350 Billion Valuation
Certain names make ChatGPT grind to a halt, and we know why
Documents Contradict Google's Claims About Its Project Nimbus Contract With Israel
China retaliates against latest US trade restrictions
Letβs dive in
Meta plans to build a $10B subsea cable spanning the world, sources say
By Ingrid Lunden via TechCrunch
Meta plans to invest over $10 billion to build a 40,000+ km subsea cable that will connect major global regions, marking its first wholly owned infrastructure project of this scale.
The cable will span a "W" shape around the globe, connecting the U.S., South Africa, India, and Australia, and is designed to avoid areas of geopolitical tension such as the Red Sea and South China Sea.
This project aims to enhance data traffic capacity for Meta's platforms, ensure service quality globally, and potentially support AI infrastructure development in India, one of Meta's largest markets.
π: Meta plans to build a fiberoptic subsea cable extending around the world β a 40,000+ kilometer project that could total more than $10 billion. It will be the sole owner and user of this cable, and a milestone for its infrastructure efforts. - Nicholas A. Christakis (@NAChristakis)
SpaceX Discusses Tender Offer at Roughly $350 Billion Valuation
By Gillian Tan via Bloomberg
SpaceX is in discussions to sell insider shares, potentially raising its valuation to approximately $350 billion, significantly higher than its previous $255 billion estimate in November 2024.
This would establish SpaceX as the world's most valuable private startup, up from its earlier $210 billion valuation in a tender offer earlier this year.
The move underscores the rapid growth of Elon Musk's rocket and satellite company, further solidifying its leadership in the aerospace and private space sectors.
π: Sources tell us SpaceX is now likely to be valued about $350B in a new tender offer, $100B MORE than what was discussed last month and would make it the most valuable startup in the world, surpassing Bytedance - Katie Roof (@Katie_Roof)
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Certain names make ChatGPT grind to a halt, and we know why
By Benj Edwards via Ars Technica
ChatGPT has a system of content filters that cause it to terminate conversations when certain names are mentioned, including Jonathan Turley, Jonathan Zittrain, and others who have raised concerns about the AI generating false information about them, with the first such filter likely implemented after Brian Hood's defamation case in April 2023.
The name-based filters, which only affect ChatGPT's chat interface and not its API, have raised concerns about potential adversarial attacks and system limitations, such as preventing ChatGPT from processing websites containing blocked names or creating difficulties for users who share common filtered names.
While OpenAI has already resolved the block on "David Mayer", the existence of hard-coded name filters demonstrates the ongoing challenges faced by AI companies in balancing protection against defamation with system usability and vulnerability to exploitation.
π: ChatGPT refuses to say the name βDavid Mayer,β and no one knows why. If you try to get it to write the name, the chat immediately ends. People have attempted all sorts of things - ciphers, riddles, tricks - and nothing works. - Justine Moore (@venturetwins)
Documents Contradict Google's Claims About Its Project Nimbus Contract With Israel
By Sam Biddle via The Intercept
Google's Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud computing contract with Israel, operates under "Adjusted Terms of Service" drafted with the Israeli government, contrary to the companyβs claims that it adheres to general terms prohibiting harmful uses.
Documents reveal that the Israeli government can modify contract terms unilaterally, allowing unrestricted use of advanced AI tools and cloud services, raising concerns about violations of Googleβs AI Principles and international human rights.
The contract has sparked protests and scrutiny, with critics, including the United Nations and legal organizations, highlighting potential complicity in alleged violations tied to Israelβs occupation policies.
π: It turns out Google has been lying about Project Nimbus, and they just got found out - Paul Biggar (@paulbiggar)
China retaliates against latest US trade restrictions
By Ryan McMorrow via Financial Times
China has banned exports to the US of key dual-use minerals like gallium, germanium, and antimony, crucial for semiconductors and military hardware, in retaliation to new US chip restrictions targeting its tech industry.
The US measures include stricter controls on semiconductor manufacturing tools, a ban on advanced high bandwidth memory chips, and the blacklisting of 136 Chinese companies, pushing firms like Wingtech to face significant setbacks in international markets.
These escalating trade restrictions underscore China's dominance in critical mineral supply chains and the deepening rivalry over global semiconductor supremacy, with both sides tightening their economic and technological controls.
π: In response to new US chip curbs: - Beijing banned exports to US of gallium, germanium, antimony & superhard materials; will place tighter controls on graphite - Chinese internet, semiconductor & auto industry groups urged caution when buying US chips - Mackenzie Hawkins (@mackhawk)
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