Axios

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Thursday that the company has started training Llama 3, the next generation of its primary generative AI model. He also reaffirmed the company's commitment to releasing its AI models via open source — when possible — and said the company is once again shaking up its AI org chart.

Why it matters: Zuckerberg says the moves are designed to help the company build artificial general intelligence systems that will give its products more human-like capabilities in coming years.

Big tech companies are pointing to a renewed focus on AI as a justification for layoffs.

Why it matters: The new trend in tech company layoffs could be less about replacing workers with AI, and more about replacing workers with a smaller number of workers who are more skilled in AI, for now.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 will go on sale in U.S. stores Thursday morning without their blood oxygen features, the company announced.

Driving the news: The announcement came after a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that Apple couldn't import wearables with this feature into the country while the company appeals the U.S. International Trade Commission's finding that the devices infringe patents.

Former Meta chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg plans to leave Meta's board of directors, Axios has learned. She will become an informal adviser to the company in May.

Why it matters: Sandberg joined the firm when it was a small startup named Facebook and helped it become one of the most powerful companies in the world.

Joby Aviation, the Toyota-backed electric air taxi startup, is splitting from the rest of its industry over how to charge the innovative aircraft.

Why it matters: It could mark the beginning of another VHS vs. Betamax debate over charging standards, mirroring the drama that played out recently in the automotive industry — until Tesla won.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife Wendy are spinning out a new philanthropic venture called Schmidt Sciences to fund unconventional areas of exploration in science and tech.

Why it matters: The new organization evolved from the scientific mission of Schmidt Futures, a thought leader on AI and other cutting-edge tech that was founded by the couple.

Samsung on Wednesday debuted its latest smartphone family, the Galaxy S24, which relies in part on Google's AI services.

Why it matters: Samsung just fell below Apple in global smartphone sales and no doubt hopes its AI features will help it both stand out and regain lost ground.

OpenAI's next big model "will be able to do a lot, lot more" than the existing models can, CEO Sam Altman told Axios in an exclusive interview at Davos on Wednesday.

Why it matters: Altman told Axios' Ina Fried that AI is evolving much more rapidly than previous technologies that took Silicon Valley by storm. But he also conceded that the evolution and proliferation of OpenAI's technology will require "uncomfortable" decisions.

Within 10 years, around 95% of the world's top tech companies will be American thanks to the U.S. lead in AI, Palantir CEO and co-founder Alex Karp told Axios' Mike Allen at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Why it matters: Karp predicted that in time AI will deliver very large GDP growth — but that will benefit only a handful of countries and companies, leading to political and social "dislocation."