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• OpenAI launches ChatGPT Translator: The team at OpenAI debuted a rival to Google Translate, dubbed ChatGPT Translate, with support for 50 languages. On the surface, the products appear very similar; users type or paste text in their native tongues and get automatically translated results in their choice of dialects. One notable difference: while ChatGPT can translate text from images, ChatGPT Translate only supports text and voice for now (and voice is exclusive to mobile devices). There are, however, a few additional bells and whistles. ChatGPT Translate offers several translation, scenarios such as interactions specifically for business vs. casual discussions.

• Symbolic.ai for newsrooms is here: The startup — founded in 2024 by Thomson Reuters vet Devin Wenig and Ars Technica’s Jon Stokes — uses AI specifically to aid writers and newsrooms. Think of it as a virtual writing assistant: while journalists still produce the actual copy, Symbolic fills in the background details with research, transcription, and fact-checking. The company announced a major new partnership with Rupert Murdoch’s NewsCorp, which owns WSJ, Dow Jones, and other publications you’ve definitely heard of.

• OpenAI backs Merge Labs: Sam Altman’s AI company has invested in… well, in Sam Altman’s AI company. More specifically, OpenAI backed the brain-computer interface startup Merge Labs, which aims to use technology to “maximize human ability.” The firm, which exited stealth this week, nabbed $250 million from OpenAI at an $850 million valuation. It will explore technologies that interact with human neurons “non-invasively,” via ultarsound as opposed to direct brain implants.

TWiST 500

We typically try to avoid gossip and just focus on the facts here at the TWiST 500 Ticker, but… there’s really no avoiding this story today.

Two co-founders from Thinking Machines — former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s AI startup — have exited the company and rejoined OpenAI. Barret Zoph, Luke Metz (along with Sam Schoenholz) departed Thinking Machines quickly for undisclosed reasons. Which brings us to the gossip part. Online rumors suggest that Zoph was fired for “unethical conduct.” More specifically, sharing confidential information about the company with competitors. This is still unconfirmed, and there are contrary reports suggesting that Zoph merely told Murati he was thinking about exiting the firm, and was then terminated.

This is a blow to Thinking Machines, which just unveiled its first product — an LLM fine tuner and customizer named Tinker — in November. Still, the company remains one of the hottest AI startups in the world, with a valuation of $12 billion as of last summer. We’ve undoubtedly not heard the last from them.

In more upbeat news, vibecoding pioneers Replit are reportedly nearing a new $400 million funding round valuing the company at $9 billion. Just this week, they released an upgraded AI agent specifically designed for building Android and iOS mobile apps and games. There’s a ton of competition in this space, but Replit remains firmly among the top contenders, and perhaps the single brand most associated with the concept of building websites and apps with help from bots. – Lon

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This Week in Startups

E2235: Jason loves Japan’s Uniqlo brand, so the opportunity to speak with board member Kathy Matsui (also one of the country’s top VCs) was too good to pass up. Once they’re done checking out JCal’s latest style, the conversation turns to Japan’s startup revolution, why the country’s economic recovery seemed to take so long, and why her firm MPower Partners is seeking companies reflecting “Japan Dynamism” for their second fund.

E2234: In a special Tuesday ep, Jason chats with Alex Shieh of The Antifraud Company. Did you know that, under the US government’s False Claims Act, Americans who uncover fraud get to keep up to 30% of the recovered funds? It’s such a good deal, Shieh turned it into a business model for his startup. PLUS on the latest TWiST Flashback, we take a look back at a classic 2016 interview with Boom founder Blake Scholl.

E2233: In our first-ever TWiST episode from Tokyo, Jason chats with Hyre founder and ex-recruiter Sho Takei. He’s taking what he learned hiring international teams for companies like Uber and CloudKitchens, and using it to help other companies not just bring in top employees, but build out effective teams. Hear about his experiences working for “super-pumped” friend of the pod Travis Kalanick, his thoughts on establishing your company culture, and much more.

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• Every.io: For all of your incorporation, banking, payroll, benefits, accounting, taxes or other back-office administration needs, visit every.io.

• LinkedIn Jobs: Post your job for free at linkedIn.com/twist, then promote it to get access to LinkedIn Jobs’ new AI assistant.

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