Paula Stokes Blog | AI, Startup Trends & Tech Insights

Elon Musk may be suing OpenAI, accusing the ChatGPT maker of abandoning the company’s original mission as a nonprofit organization, but Josh Kushner, founder of Thrive Capital and one of the company’s key investors, has nothing but good things to say about the world’s richest man. “I have deep admiration and respect for Elon,” Kushner said last week at Fortune Global Forum. His position may not be a surprise. Thrive is an investor in SpaceX, and Kushner has family ties to Donald Trump, whom Musk helped elect. Kushner is the younger brother of the president-elect’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Indeed, when asked if he may be more worried about his investment in OpenAI now that Musk has an outsized influence with the incoming White House, Kushner didn’t miss a chance to praise Musk’s political intentions. (Earlier last week, Trump appointed Musk to co-lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.) “My interpretation of [Musk’s] excitement to participate in the government is ve...

Technology is a driving force shaping the world we live in, influencing our lives in ways that extend far beyond the use of smartphones or tablets. Often, its profound impact becomes evident only in hindsight, as we come to understand the significance of these advancements in our daily lives. Today, organizations worldwide rely heavily on data to guide their strategies and decision-making processes. It’s hard to envision a modern world without data at its core. Many electronic devices leverage IoT technology to gather information, from smart vehicles to wearable gadgets. Innovations in IoT have surged, transforming how we interact with technology—whether it's managing home temperatures or tracking daily fitness goals with smart devices. As IoT and big data continue to evolve, they promise to connect our devices seamlessly, enhancing our everyday experiences. The FinTech sector offers remarkable innovations, using big data and advanced algorithms to detect fraudulent activities in r...

Las Vegas police have received funding for tech like drones, license plate readers, and more from Andreessen Horowitz partner Ben Horowitz. Next on its wish list? Artificial intelligence to go through police footage. The city’s Sheriff Kevin McMahill said on a podcast with Horowitz and partner Marc Andreessen that he wants to use AI to blur faces or obscure sensitive information from body camera footage. McMahill also said he wants to use AI to help officers sift through the reams of information they receive when they subpoena cell phone tower data during investigations. “I really believe that some of this AI here in the new future can have tremendous impact on what has caused significant challenge for me as the sheriff,” McMahill said.  The giant Silicon Valley venture firm released the episode on Monday, just a few weeks after TechCrunch revealed that Horowitz has been financing the Vegas police department’s purchasing of a number of a16z portfolio companies’ products. Emails Tec...