George Hammond
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georgehammond.bsky.social
George Hammond
@georgehammond.bsky.social
3.4K followers 12 following 7 posts
@financialtimes.com Venture Capital correspondent, based in SF
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Reposted by George Hammond
financialtimes.com
Elon Musk calls on California and Delaware to force auction of OpenAI stake

https://www.ft.com/content/596dddb3-0607-44b9-b565-9c0d62e49b9f
Elon Musk calls on California and Delaware to force auction of OpenAI stake
Latest salvo in legal battle over ChatGPT-maker’s restructuring as a for-profit company
www.ft.com
January 9, 2025 at 6:05 PM
georgehammond.bsky.social
Scoop: Elon Musk's attorney is pushing OpenAI to auction off a large stake in its business, opening a new front in his fight with the Sam Altman.

Free link here: on.ft.com/4j7TlRc
Elon Musk calls on California and Delaware to force auction of OpenAI stake
[FREE TO READ] Latest salvo in legal battle over ChatGPT-maker’s restructuring as a for-profit company
on.ft.com
January 9, 2025 at 7:20 PM
georgehammond.bsky.social
I profiled Trump's new AI and crypto tsar David Sacks over the weekend.

Those who know him describe a man who is controversial, theatrical - and offensive to those who take him literally but irreverent and witty to those who do not.

Free article below

on.ft.com/3ZEDPDu
David Sacks, from ‘PayPal mafia’ to Trump’s AI and crypto tsar
Silicon Valley investor and podcast host has joined Elon Musk in securing a key role in incoming US administration
on.ft.com
December 18, 2024 at 4:35 PM
Reposted by George Hammond
financialtimes.com
David Sacks, from ‘PayPal mafia’ to Trump’s AI and crypto tsar

https://www.ft.com/content/82e859c8-ab66-47ad-bea0-11277bcd7a86
David Sacks, from ‘PayPal mafia’ to Trump’s AI and crypto tsar
Silicon Valley investor and podcast host has joined Elon Musk in securing a key role in incoming US administration
www.ft.com
December 14, 2024 at 6:39 AM
georgehammond.bsky.social
SCOOP w/ Cristina Criddle

OpenAI is discussing removing its “AGI” clause - which shuts out its biggest investor Microsoft from future AGI models - from its corp structure. That would extend MSFT's access to OpenAI's post-AGI tech in return for continued investment

www.ft.com/content/2c14...
OpenAI seeks to unlock investment by ditching ‘AGI’ clause with Microsoft
Start-up discusses removing provision to protect powerful technology from being misused for commercial purposes
www.ft.com
December 6, 2024 at 5:32 PM
georgehammond.bsky.social
Scoop w/ @mshannahmurphy.bsky.social: Marc Andreessen has been helping with interviews for Elon Musk's DOGE. That should give some indication of Trump's likely tech policy, and helps explain why the president-elect is using terms like "Little Tech"

www.ft.com/content/1f14...
Marc Andreessen helps to recruit staff for Elon Musk’s US cost-cutting body
Venture capitalist has role in interviewing and identifying candidates for new Department for Government Efficiency
www.ft.com
December 5, 2024 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by George Hammond
mshannahmurphy.bsky.social
ICYMI:
- Boris Johnson recently renewed an acquaintance with Elon Musk, having been reintroduced by Sriram Krishnan, a London-based VC
- Tony Blair and Musk have been speaking on the phone recently
- The Nigel Farage-Musk bromance deepens

Scoop w/ @annasophiegross.bsky.social

on.ft.com/41jRWRb
Elon Musk is attacking Britain. Former PMs are building ties
[FREE TO READ] A London-based VC has connected Boris Johnson and the Tesla chief, who Tony Blair has praised as ‘an extraordinary innovator’
on.ft.com
December 2, 2024 at 4:43 PM
georgehammond.bsky.social
“There are few adages in tech that really hold up,” said one investor in Musk’s companies. “Never bet against Elon is one.”

New report with @tabbykinder.bsky.social looking at how xAI's soaring valuation is a big win for Twitter investors.

www.ft.com/content/5c9c...
Elon Musk’s Twitter backers gain windfall from xAI deal
Investors hit by losses following billionaire’s takeover of social media platform reap rewards from shares in his AI start-up
www.ft.com
November 27, 2024 at 3:35 PM
georgehammond.bsky.social
European AI darling Mistral its planting a flag in Silicon Valley, competing for talent with its bigger rivals OpenAI and Anthropic.

www.ft.com/content/71e8...
Europe’s Mistral expands in Silicon Valley in hunt for AI staff
Paris-based group considers moving co-founder to growing Bay Area office as it hires scientists, engineers and sales specialists
www.ft.com
November 26, 2024 at 5:24 PM
Reposted by George Hammond
mshannahmurphy.bsky.social
Trump has vowed to crack down on universities involved in misinformation research, or what he dubs the "censorship cartel" - e.g. by curbing funds to those that have "flagged content for removal”, or legal threats

“I'm pretty fucking scared," one professor tells me.

www.ft.com/content/bfb4...
Donald Trump’s return sends shivers through the anti-misinformation world
Vow to crack down on the ‘censorship cartel’ has researchers worried — and Big Tech is on notice
www.ft.com
November 24, 2024 at 5:03 PM
georgehammond.bsky.social
“Diversification is for people that don’t know what they’re doing. Investors are paid to know what they’re doing."

Josh Kushner's Thrive Capital is shaking up venture capital. Today's @FT big read asks whether it can pull off being a $5bn boutique.

www.ft.com/content/44c4...
Thrive Capital: the venture firm staking billions on a few big bets
The ‘all in or all out’ approach of Josh Kushner’s VC business inverts the traditional venture model. Will it pay off?
www.ft.com
November 21, 2024 at 6:14 PM