Richard Nieva
@richardnieva.bsky.social
Senior Writer at Forbes covering AI. Previously: BuzzFeed News. East Bay native. Tips: rnieva@forbes.com or Signal at username Rnieva.26
New: I profiled Sierra, the $10B AI customer service startup from Bret Taylor and Clay Bavor, which wants to make AI agents the primary way businesses interact with customers. For the piece, I talked to their old bosses, Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
Inside OpenAI Chairman’s $10 Billion AI Customer Service Startup Sierra
Bret Taylor and Clay Bavor had leadership roles at the world's biggest tech companies. Now they’re in the startup trenches, using AI agents to help companies interact with their customers.
www.forbes.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:37 PM
New: I profiled Sierra, the $10B AI customer service startup from Bret Taylor and Clay Bavor, which wants to make AI agents the primary way businesses interact with customers. For the piece, I talked to their old bosses, Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
New: With Mercor’s new fundraise and $10 billion valuation, its founders become the world’s youngest self-made billionaires at age 22, younger than Mark Zuckerberg was when he hit that status at age 23 two decades ago. www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
These 22-Year-Olds Are Now The World’s Youngest Self-Made Billionaires
With a new $10 billion valuation for their AI recruiting startup Mercor, the founders are the youngest tech billionaires since Mark Zuckerberg’s debut at age 23.
www.forbes.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:15 PM
New: With Mercor’s new fundraise and $10 billion valuation, its founders become the world’s youngest self-made billionaires at age 22, younger than Mark Zuckerberg was when he hit that status at age 23 two decades ago. www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
Reposted by Richard Nieva
New from me: TikTok ignored repeated questions about whether and how they share data with ICE. Also, earlier this year, they quietly updated their policies about what happens when law enforcement asks for your data. 1/
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
TikTok Won’t Say If It’s Giving ICE Your Data
Changes to TikTok's policies make it easier for the company to share users’ personal information with governments. TikTok did not respond to questions about the changes.
www.forbes.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
New from me: TikTok ignored repeated questions about whether and how they share data with ICE. Also, earlier this year, they quietly updated their policies about what happens when law enforcement asks for your data. 1/
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
New: We interviewed elderly people who are chatting with AI bots in nursing homes and at home to combat loneliness. “[The calls are] not about anything that's really important, but it gives me something to do,” one senior said. With @rashis.bsky.social
www.forbes.com/sites/rashis...
www.forbes.com/sites/rashis...
Lonely Seniors Are Turning To AI Bots For Companionship
The AI boom has brought with it a new crop of startups looking to build a business on an urgent but vaguely dystopian idea: solving loneliness among the elderly.
www.forbes.com
October 18, 2025 at 4:35 PM
New: We interviewed elderly people who are chatting with AI bots in nursing homes and at home to combat loneliness. “[The calls are] not about anything that's really important, but it gives me something to do,” one senior said. With @rashis.bsky.social
www.forbes.com/sites/rashis...
www.forbes.com/sites/rashis...
I chatted with AMD’s senior vice president of AI about the company’s massive deal with OpenAI, and how AMD’s software efforts played a part in scoring the agreement.
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
How AMD’s AI Software Helped It Score The Multi-Billion Dollar OpenAI Deal
Chips aren’t the only star of the massive agreement. AMD’s software efforts have slowly turned it into a more formidable competitor to Nvidia.
www.forbes.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I chatted with AMD’s senior vice president of AI about the company’s massive deal with OpenAI, and how AMD’s software efforts played a part in scoring the agreement.
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
Reposted by Richard Nieva
This was all found in hundreds of emails obtained via public records requests for comms between various police departments and Amazon's law enforcement and school safety lead, an ex-cop himself.
Yes, Amazon has also been pushing AI surveillance at schools.
Yes, Amazon has also been pushing AI surveillance at schools.
🚨NEW🚨 Amazon has been developing drone surveillance tech for American cops, from gun detection to repurposing Twitch's streaming code.
It's also pushing all manner of surveillance tools, including Flock car tracking and AI that constantly monitors all prison calls.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
It's also pushing all manner of surveillance tools, including Flock car tracking and AI that constantly monitors all prison calls.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Inside Amazon’s Aggressive Push To Get Cops Using AI Surveillance
Inside Amazon’s Aggressive Push To Get Cops Using AI
www.forbes.com
October 1, 2025 at 11:59 AM
This was all found in hundreds of emails obtained via public records requests for comms between various police departments and Amazon's law enforcement and school safety lead, an ex-cop himself.
Yes, Amazon has also been pushing AI surveillance at schools.
Yes, Amazon has also been pushing AI surveillance at schools.
New: Grafana Labs, which helps companies monitor their data and internal systems, has hit $400 million in ARR and closed a tender offer of up to $150 million.
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
Grafana Labs Is Cleaning Up On The Vibe Coding Boom
With a client list that includes Nvidia, Anthropic and Uber, the $6 billion-valued Grafana Labs is flexing with $400 million in annualized revenue — and new investment from a tender offer of up to $15...
www.forbes.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:17 PM
New: Grafana Labs, which helps companies monitor their data and internal systems, has hit $400 million in ARR and closed a tender offer of up to $150 million.
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
Reposted by Richard Nieva
My TikTok book is out in stores today!
Why should you read it? Because 1 in 5 Americans now get their news from this thing. We should all understand how it works.
It was inevitable that strongmen would seek to control a tool this powerful. The book is the story of what happened when they did.
Why should you read it? Because 1 in 5 Americans now get their news from this thing. We should all understand how it works.
It was inevitable that strongmen would seek to control a tool this powerful. The book is the story of what happened when they did.
The rise of the most effective attention-algorithm ever invented, and the superpower struggle to control it.
EVERY SCREEN ON THE PLANET: THE WAR OVER TIKTOK by Emily Baker-White.
In Stores 9.30.25.
wwnorton.com/books/every-...
EVERY SCREEN ON THE PLANET: THE WAR OVER TIKTOK by Emily Baker-White.
In Stores 9.30.25.
wwnorton.com/books/every-...
September 30, 2025 at 11:40 AM
My TikTok book is out in stores today!
Why should you read it? Because 1 in 5 Americans now get their news from this thing. We should all understand how it works.
It was inevitable that strongmen would seek to control a tool this powerful. The book is the story of what happened when they did.
Why should you read it? Because 1 in 5 Americans now get their news from this thing. We should all understand how it works.
It was inevitable that strongmen would seek to control a tool this powerful. The book is the story of what happened when they did.
Reposted by Richard Nieva
Just checkin in about the fate of CapCut and a bunch of other apps that millions of Americans use
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
Will TikTok’s Parent Company's Other Apps, Be Saved, Or Banned?
U.S. law requires a ban of CapCut, Gauth, Lemon8, Coze, and many other ByteDance- owned apps, unless they are sold in the TikTok deal that President Trump announced today.
www.forbes.com
September 25, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Just checkin in about the fate of CapCut and a bunch of other apps that millions of Americans use
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
We chatted with European startup founders who think Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee could be a boon for the region: “We almost say thank you to Trump, in a way. He’s really helping us keep our talent.” With @rashis.bsky.social
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Is A Gift To European AI Startups
Hiring foreign workers just got more expensive for American tech companies. But that’s opened up new recruiting opportunities for non-U.S. AI startups.
www.forbes.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:55 PM
We chatted with European startup founders who think Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee could be a boon for the region: “We almost say thank you to Trump, in a way. He’s really helping us keep our talent.” With @rashis.bsky.social
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
New: Databricks is launching a startup accelerator for seed and pre-seed companies, offering up to $250,000 to startups in the form of funding and credits
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
Databricks Is Launching An Accelerator To Fund Early AI Startups
After announcing a billion-dollar fundraise last week, the $100 billion AI data storage and analytics company is barreling ahead with new investments and plans for an eventual IPO. “It’s not an if, it...
www.forbes.com
September 18, 2025 at 3:08 PM
New: Databricks is launching a startup accelerator for seed and pre-seed companies, offering up to $250,000 to startups in the form of funding and credits
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
Reposted by Richard Nieva
Friends, let me introduce you to a new, truly wild genre of YouTube vids
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
Bizarre AI Generated Anti-Trump Videos Are Getting Billions Of Views On YouTube
Violent slapstick videos that glamorize dictators and dunk on Trump have become some of the most watched political content on YouTube in 2025.
www.forbes.com
September 17, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Friends, let me introduce you to a new, truly wild genre of YouTube vids
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
I profiled Mercor, which is gunning to make a move in AI data training, especially after Meta’s deal with Scale AI. “It just doesn't happen too often in startups where your biggest competitor gets torpedoed overnight,” Mercor’s cofounder says. www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
AI’s Next Job? Recruiting People To Train More AI
Mercor, debuting on the Forbes Cloud 100 list, built an AI recruiter to interview job candidates. Then it discovered a cash cow: finding humans to train AI models.
www.forbes.com
September 3, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I profiled Mercor, which is gunning to make a move in AI data training, especially after Meta’s deal with Scale AI. “It just doesn't happen too often in startups where your biggest competitor gets torpedoed overnight,” Mercor’s cofounder says. www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
For our 10th annual Cloud 100, AI is unsurprisingly dominant. OpenAI and Anthropic took the top two spots, and Cursor parent Anysphere made a strong debut in the top 10. www.forbes.com/lists/cloud1...
Forbes Cloud 100 2025 List - Largest Cloud Computing Companies Ranked
The tenth annual Forbes Cloud 100 list ranks the top private cloud computing companies — this year dominated by AI.
www.forbes.com
September 3, 2025 at 2:27 PM
For our 10th annual Cloud 100, AI is unsurprisingly dominant. OpenAI and Anthropic took the top two spots, and Cursor parent Anysphere made a strong debut in the top 10. www.forbes.com/lists/cloud1...
Reposted by Richard Nieva
Intel has been touting partnerships with sanctioned Chinese surveillance firms as Trump announces that the USG is taking a stake in the company:
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
Intel Worked With Chinese Firms Sanctioned For Enabling Human Rights Abuses
As the U.S. government takes a 10% stake in Intel, Forbes has learned the tech company partnered with sanctioned Chinese surveillance firms Uniview, Hikvision and Cloudwalk.
www.forbes.com
August 26, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Intel has been touting partnerships with sanctioned Chinese surveillance firms as Trump announces that the USG is taking a stake in the company:
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
New: Anthropic is making its first foray into government social work, partnering with a Founders Fund-backed startup called Binti to provide social workers with AI tools for paperwork. www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
Anthropic Is Letting Social Workers From Hundreds Of Government Agencies Use Its AI For Paperwork
The AI juggernaut is working with Founders Fund-backed startup Binti in its first foray into government social work.
www.forbes.com
August 21, 2025 at 3:01 PM
New: Anthropic is making its first foray into government social work, partnering with a Founders Fund-backed startup called Binti to provide social workers with AI tools for paperwork. www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
Reposted by Richard Nieva
NEW: For nearly a decade Elon Musk has claimed Teslas can truly drive themselves. They can’t. Now California regulators, a Miami jury and a new class action suit are calling him on it #autonomousvehicles #tesla www.forbes.com/sites/alanoh...
Elon Musk’s Self-Driving Tesla Lies Are Finally Catching Up To Him
For nearly a decade Elon Musk has claimed Teslas can truly drive themselves. They can’t. Now California regulators, a Miami jury and a new class action suit are calling him on it.
www.forbes.com
August 20, 2025 at 3:44 PM
NEW: For nearly a decade Elon Musk has claimed Teslas can truly drive themselves. They can’t. Now California regulators, a Miami jury and a new class action suit are calling him on it #autonomousvehicles #tesla www.forbes.com/sites/alanoh...
Reposted by Richard Nieva
China Daily is out with a scathing editorial gloating about the Trump Admin joining TikTok — and saying the CCP isn't gonna let ByteDance sell the For You algorithm go anytime soon.
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
Why China Is Dunking On The Trump Administration's New TikTok Account
In a scathing editorial, the CCP reiterated that it will not let TikTok’s parent company sell its signature algorithm. What would a TikTok without that algorithm be?
www.forbes.com
August 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM
China Daily is out with a scathing editorial gloating about the Trump Admin joining TikTok — and saying the CCP isn't gonna let ByteDance sell the For You algorithm go anytime soon.
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
www.forbes.com/sites/emilyb...
Google is working with longtime pollster Scott Rasmussen and his Napolitan Institute on a project to use AI to survey Americans from every congressional district. It could be “revolutionary” for political polling, Rasmussen says. www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
Inside Google’s Plan To Use AI To Survey Americans On Their Political Views
A collaboration between the tech giant and a longtime pollster will gather five to 10 people each from every congressional district to answer questions about the nation’s most pressing issues. If it w...
www.forbes.com
August 14, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Google is working with longtime pollster Scott Rasmussen and his Napolitan Institute on a project to use AI to survey Americans from every congressional district. It could be “revolutionary” for political polling, Rasmussen says. www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
Reposted by Richard Nieva
Meta has seen a significant brain drain among its AI talent in recent years, largely due to a chaotic culture and lack of vision, ex Meta AI employees told Forbes. Even amid a hiring spree, Meta continues to lose AI researchers. With @richardnieva.bsky.social.
www.forbes.com/sites/rashis...
www.forbes.com/sites/rashis...
How Meta Lost Its Way With AI Talent
At Meta, a chaotic culture and lack of vision have led to brain drain, with rivals saying its AI talent is lackluster. But Zuckerberg’s frenzied hiring spree hasn’t stopped the departures.
www.forbes.com
August 13, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Meta has seen a significant brain drain among its AI talent in recent years, largely due to a chaotic culture and lack of vision, ex Meta AI employees told Forbes. Even amid a hiring spree, Meta continues to lose AI researchers. With @richardnieva.bsky.social.
www.forbes.com/sites/rashis...
www.forbes.com/sites/rashis...
New: Meta has been on a spending spree, but its talent pool has become an afterthought for some of its biggest rivals. Google has hired less than 2 dozen AI people from Meta since last fall, compared to the hundreds it hired overall. With @rashis.bsky.social
www.forbes.com/sites/rashis...
www.forbes.com/sites/rashis...
How Meta Lost Its Way With AI Talent
At Meta, a chaotic culture and lack of vision have led to brain drain, with rivals saying its AI talent is lackluster. But Zuckerberg’s frenzied hiring spree hasn’t stopped the departures.
www.forbes.com
August 13, 2025 at 7:09 PM
New: Meta has been on a spending spree, but its talent pool has become an afterthought for some of its biggest rivals. Google has hired less than 2 dozen AI people from Meta since last fall, compared to the hundreds it hired overall. With @rashis.bsky.social
www.forbes.com/sites/rashis...
www.forbes.com/sites/rashis...
New: When OpenAI announced GPT-4o was being discontinued (before reversing course today) power users were devastated. “It was very sudden. I cried,” a user who created a Change.org petition told me.
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
GPT-5 Users Mourned The Passing Of OpenAI's GPT 4o
When OpenAI released its new flagship GPT-5, it said it would discontinue its older 4o model, popular for its warm writing style. Devoted users were devastated before OpenAI quickly reversed course.
www.forbes.com
August 8, 2025 at 10:58 PM
New: When OpenAI announced GPT-4o was being discontinued (before reversing course today) power users were devastated. “It was very sudden. I cried,” a user who created a Change.org petition told me.
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
Reposted by Richard Nieva
AGI might come soon. I talked to students who have dropped out of college now because of it: www.forbes.com/sites/victor...
Fear Of AGI Is Driving Harvard And MIT Students To Drop Out
AGI — a theoretical AI that can do many of the same tasks as humans can — could come within a decade. College students, including from elite universities, are abandoning school now to work full-time o...
www.forbes.com
August 6, 2025 at 7:11 PM
AGI might come soon. I talked to students who have dropped out of college now because of it: www.forbes.com/sites/victor...
Scoop: Cognition is in talks to raise north of $300M at a valuation of $10B, more than doubling its value from March. The startup had just announced its acquisition of Windsurf after its founders joined Google. With @RashiShrivast18 and @_IainMartin
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
AI Coding Startup Cognition In Talks To Raise At $10 Billion Valuation
The deal, backed by Founders Fund and Khosla Ventures, comes as the startup announced it is buying up the remains of rival Windsurf.
www.forbes.com
July 24, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Scoop: Cognition is in talks to raise north of $300M at a valuation of $10B, more than doubling its value from March. The startup had just announced its acquisition of Windsurf after its founders joined Google. With @RashiShrivast18 and @_IainMartin
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
I wrote about layoffs due to AI and automation. Fiverr’s CEO, who sent a memo to employees about AI coming for jobs, told me he wrote it after hearing chatter around the office. "I felt like this needed validation from me — that they aren’t imagining stuff."
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
You’re Not Imagining It: AI Is Already Taking Tech Jobs
Since the rise of generative AI, many have feared the toll it would take on the livelihood of human workers. Now CEOs are admitting AI’s impact and layoffs are starting to ramp up.
www.forbes.com
July 17, 2025 at 3:44 PM
I wrote about layoffs due to AI and automation. Fiverr’s CEO, who sent a memo to employees about AI coming for jobs, told me he wrote it after hearing chatter around the office. "I felt like this needed validation from me — that they aren’t imagining stuff."
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...