×
Databricks co-founder argues US must go open source to beat China in AI | TechCrunch

Databricks co-founder argues US must go open source to beat China in AI | TechCrunch

Tech-news , , , ,

Andy Konwinski is concerned that the U.S. is losing its dominance in AI research to China, calling the shift an “existential” threat to democracy. Konwinski is a Databricks co-founder and the co-founder of the AI research and venture capital firm Laude.

“If you talk to PhD students at Berkeley and Stanford in AI right now, they’ll tell you that they’ve read twice as many interesting AI ideas in the last year that were from Chinese companies than American companies,” Konwinski said onstage at the Cerebral Valley AI Summit this week.  

In addition to investing through Laude, the venture fund he launched last year with NEA veteran Pete Sonsini and Antimatter CEO Andrew Krioukov, Konwinski also runs the Laude Institute, an accelerator that offers grants to researchers.

Major AI labs, including OpenAI, Meta, and Anthropic, continue to innovate significantly, yet their innovations remain largely proprietary rather than open source. Moreover, these companies are sucking up top academic talent by offering multimillion-dollar salaries that dwarf what these experts can earn in universities.

Konwinski argued that for ideas to truly flourish, they need to be freely exchanged and discussed with the larger academic community. He pointed out that generative AI emerged as a direct result of the Transformer architecture, a pivotal training technique introduced in a freely available research paper.

“The first nation that makes the next ‘Transformer architectural level’ breakthrough will have the advantage,” Konwinski said.

Konwinski argues that in China, the government supports and encourages AI innovation, whether from labs like DeepSeek or Alibaba’s Qwen, to be open sourced, which allows others to build upon them and which, he contends, will inevitably lead to more breakthroughs.  

Techcrunch event

San Francisco
|
October 13-15, 2026

He believes this stands in stark contrast to the U.S., where, as he puts it, “the diffusion of scientists talking to scientists that we always have had in the United States, it’s dried up.”

Konwinski argues that this trend poses not only a risk to democracy but also a business threat to major U.S. AI labs. “We’re eating our corn seeds; the fountain is drying up. Fast-forward five years, the big labs are gonna lose too,” he said. “We need to make sure the United States stays number one and open.” 

Source link
#Databricks #cofounder #argues #open #source #beat #China #TechCrunch

Tag

Related Posts


There’s many uncertainties in this world, but apparently the future of Prime Video’s Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power may not be one of them.

According to a source speaking to The Ankler’s Lesley Goldberg, the show’s considered a “magical halo” by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. As such, it’s “proteced for its run” and likely to finish out the five-season arc Amazon pitched back when it first secured the rights. Getting those rights and making the show has been pretty pricey for the company, and the first two seasons had a two-year release gap. At time of writing, the show’s third season doesn’t have a firm date beyond “sometime in 2026,” and some have generally wondered how much more life Rings of Power had left in it.

Goldberg’s report also mentions a tradeoff to this five-season plan: for Rings of Power to live on, a spinoff that’d been planned for it has gotten axed. Major Prime Video shows like The Boys and Invincible have become small franchises unto themselves, and it makes sense the streamer would want to repeat that for its remaining big fantasy series. While Amazon may not get to build on Middle-earth after the show ends, Warner Bros. is determined to keep the Lord of the Rings train going with two new films: a Gollum prequel, and an interquel that also reunites the Hobbits after the events of Return of the King.

[via IGN]

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#Amazon #Sticking #Rings #PowerJ.R.R. Tolkien,Lord of the Rings,Rings of Power">Amazon Is Sticking With ‘Rings of Power’ to the End There’s many uncertainties in this world, but apparently the future of Prime Video’s Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power may not be one of them. According to a source speaking to The Ankler’s Lesley Goldberg, the show’s considered a “magical halo” by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. As such, it’s “proteced for its run” and likely to finish out the five-season arc Amazon pitched back when it first secured the rights. Getting those rights and making the show has been pretty pricey for the company, and the first two seasons had a two-year release gap. At time of writing, the show’s third season doesn’t have a firm date beyond “sometime in 2026,” and some have generally wondered how much more life Rings of Power had left in it. Goldberg’s report also mentions a tradeoff to this five-season plan: for Rings of Power to live on, a spinoff that’d been planned for it has gotten axed. Major Prime Video shows like The Boys and Invincible have become small franchises unto themselves, and it makes sense the streamer would want to repeat that for its remaining big fantasy series. While Amazon may not get to build on Middle-earth after the show ends, Warner Bros. is determined to keep the Lord of the Rings train going with two new films: a Gollum prequel, and an interquel that also reunites the Hobbits after the events of Return of the King. [via IGN] Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Amazon #Sticking #Rings #PowerJ.R.R. Tolkien,Lord of the Rings,Rings of Power

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power may not be one of them.

According to a source speaking to The Ankler’s Lesley Goldberg, the show’s considered a “magical halo” by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. As such, it’s “proteced for its run” and likely to finish out the five-season arc Amazon pitched back when it first secured the rights. Getting those rights and making the show has been pretty pricey for the company, and the first two seasons had a two-year release gap. At time of writing, the show’s third season doesn’t have a firm date beyond “sometime in 2026,” and some have generally wondered how much more life Rings of Power had left in it.

Goldberg’s report also mentions a tradeoff to this five-season plan: for Rings of Power to live on, a spinoff that’d been planned for it has gotten axed. Major Prime Video shows like The Boys and Invincible have become small franchises unto themselves, and it makes sense the streamer would want to repeat that for its remaining big fantasy series. While Amazon may not get to build on Middle-earth after the show ends, Warner Bros. is determined to keep the Lord of the Rings train going with two new films: a Gollum prequel, and an interquel that also reunites the Hobbits after the events of Return of the King.

[via IGN]

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#Amazon #Sticking #Rings #PowerJ.R.R. Tolkien,Lord of the Rings,Rings of Power">Amazon Is Sticking With ‘Rings of Power’ to the EndAmazon Is Sticking With ‘Rings of Power’ to the End There’s many uncertainties in this world, but apparently the future of Prime Video’s Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power may not be one of them. According to a source speaking to The Ankler’s Lesley Goldberg, the show’s considered a “magical halo” by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. As such, it’s “proteced for its run” and likely to finish out the five-season arc Amazon pitched back when it first secured the rights. Getting those rights and making the show has been pretty pricey for the company, and the first two seasons had a two-year release gap. At time of writing, the show’s third season doesn’t have a firm date beyond “sometime in 2026,” and some have generally wondered how much more life Rings of Power had left in it. Goldberg’s report also mentions a tradeoff to this five-season plan: for Rings of Power to live on, a spinoff that’d been planned for it has gotten axed. Major Prime Video shows like The Boys and Invincible have become small franchises unto themselves, and it makes sense the streamer would want to repeat that for its remaining big fantasy series. While Amazon may not get to build on Middle-earth after the show ends, Warner Bros. is determined to keep the Lord of the Rings train going with two new films: a Gollum prequel, and an interquel that also reunites the Hobbits after the events of Return of the King. [via IGN] Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Amazon #Sticking #Rings #PowerJ.R.R. Tolkien,Lord of the Rings,Rings of Power

There’s many uncertainties in this world, but apparently the future of Prime Video’s Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power may not be one of them.

According to a source speaking to The Ankler’s Lesley Goldberg, the show’s considered a “magical halo” by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. As such, it’s “proteced for its run” and likely to finish out the five-season arc Amazon pitched back when it first secured the rights. Getting those rights and making the show has been pretty pricey for the company, and the first two seasons had a two-year release gap. At time of writing, the show’s third season doesn’t have a firm date beyond “sometime in 2026,” and some have generally wondered how much more life Rings of Power had left in it.

Goldberg’s report also mentions a tradeoff to this five-season plan: for Rings of Power to live on, a spinoff that’d been planned for it has gotten axed. Major Prime Video shows like The Boys and Invincible have become small franchises unto themselves, and it makes sense the streamer would want to repeat that for its remaining big fantasy series. While Amazon may not get to build on Middle-earth after the show ends, Warner Bros. is determined to keep the Lord of the Rings train going with two new films: a Gollum prequel, and an interquel that also reunites the Hobbits after the events of Return of the King.

[via IGN]

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#Amazon #Sticking #Rings #PowerJ.R.R. Tolkien,Lord of the Rings,Rings of Power

Apple Watches are smart little gadgets, but they don’t always fit the vibe. There were plenty of nights and dressier events when I left mine at home because—as much as I wanted to check my notifications discreetly—it didn’t match my outfit. I’ve also had my fair share of faux pas and just let the neon orange sport band clash with my neutral ensemble.

Fortunately, Apple Watch bands are a simple and relatively affordable way to zhuzh up the look of your wearable. Beyond aesthetics, different styles also impact performance and functionality. For example, I don’t want a heavy stainless steel or high-quality leather band weighing me down during a sweaty workout, just as I wouldn’t wear a flimsy silicone band to a dinner party.

At WIRED, we’ve been testing bands since the very first Apple Watch launched in 2015. After years of wearing and swapping, I’ve rounded up the best bands for every occasion. Be sure to check out our related product guides, including the Best Apple Watch Accessories, Best Apple Watch, and Best Smartwatches for more recommendations.

Jump to

Best Band for Everyday Wear

The Nike Sport Loop has been my everyday band since 2020. I bought another in 2023 because I wanted to swap colors, and I figured after three years, I should buy a brand-new one, but it has held up remarkably well. Made from a blend of recycled polyester, spandex, and nylon, it’s breathable and lightweight. The double-layered nylon weave is designed with dense loops that help prevent moisture from getting trapped against your skin. As long as you regularly hand-wash it to rid it of sweat buildup and dirt, it stays odor-free.

The hook-and-loop fastener and pull tab make it easy to adjust with one hand. It is Velcro, so beware, it can snag on softer fabrics. Still, for a band designed with sports in mind, it’s understated enough to wear almost anywhere. I wouldn’t wear it to a formal event, but for the office or casual social events, it’s perfect.

Best Titanium Apple Watch Band

  • Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane

  • Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane

  • Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane

Nomad originally designed the Stratos Band for the Apple Watch Ultra, but it fits just as well with the SE and Series 1 through 11. It’s easy to adjust, refined enough for the office, and backed by Grade 4 titanium hardware with a scratch-resistant DLC coating. FKM rubber links (PFA-free and antimicrobial, according to Nomad) add flexibility, durability, and water-resistance. The clasp is made with corrosion-resistant N52 magnets, which make it effortless to snap on, and it’s designed with a manual release button, so you don’t have to worry about it accidentally falling off. It’s technically suited for workouts and outdoor use, but it is a hefty band that I personally prefer for casual everyday wear.

#Favorite #Apple #Watch #Bands #Avoidwearables,apple,health,fitness,gear,buying guides,shopping,accessories">My Favorite Apple Watch Bands (and the Ones to Avoid)Apple Watches are smart little gadgets, but they don’t always fit the vibe. There were plenty of nights and dressier events when I left mine at home because—as much as I wanted to check my notifications discreetly—it didn’t match my outfit. I’ve also had my fair share of faux pas and just let the neon orange sport band clash with my neutral ensemble.Fortunately, Apple Watch bands are a simple and relatively affordable way to zhuzh up the look of your wearable. Beyond aesthetics, different styles also impact performance and functionality. For example, I don’t want a heavy stainless steel or high-quality leather band weighing me down during a sweaty workout, just as I wouldn’t wear a flimsy silicone band to a dinner party.At WIRED, we’ve been testing bands since the very first Apple Watch launched in 2015. After years of wearing and swapping, I’ve rounded up the best bands for every occasion. Be sure to check out our related product guides, including the Best Apple Watch Accessories, Best Apple Watch, and Best Smartwatches for more recommendations.Jump toAccordionItemContainerButtonBest Band for Everyday WearThe Nike Sport Loop has been my everyday band since 2020. I bought another in 2023 because I wanted to swap colors, and I figured after three years, I should buy a brand-new one, but it has held up remarkably well. Made from a blend of recycled polyester, spandex, and nylon, it’s breathable and lightweight. The double-layered nylon weave is designed with dense loops that help prevent moisture from getting trapped against your skin. As long as you regularly hand-wash it to rid it of sweat buildup and dirt, it stays odor-free.The hook-and-loop fastener and pull tab make it easy to adjust with one hand. It is Velcro, so beware, it can snag on softer fabrics. Still, for a band designed with sports in mind, it’s understated enough to wear almost anywhere. I wouldn’t wear it to a formal event, but for the office or casual social events, it’s perfect.Best Titanium Apple Watch BandPhotograph: Boutayna ChokranePhotograph: Boutayna ChokranePhotograph: Boutayna ChokraneNomad originally designed the Stratos Band for the Apple Watch Ultra, but it fits just as well with the SE and Series 1 through 11. It’s easy to adjust, refined enough for the office, and backed by Grade 4 titanium hardware with a scratch-resistant DLC coating. FKM rubber links (PFA-free and antimicrobial, according to Nomad) add flexibility, durability, and water-resistance. The clasp is made with corrosion-resistant N52 magnets, which make it effortless to snap on, and it’s designed with a manual release button, so you don’t have to worry about it accidentally falling off. It’s technically suited for workouts and outdoor use, but it is a hefty band that I personally prefer for casual everyday wear.#Favorite #Apple #Watch #Bands #Avoidwearables,apple,health,fitness,gear,buying guides,shopping,accessories

first Apple Watch launched in 2015. After years of wearing and swapping, I’ve rounded up the best bands for every occasion. Be sure to check out our related product guides, including the Best Apple Watch Accessories, Best Apple Watch, and Best Smartwatches for more recommendations.

Jump to

Best Band for Everyday Wear

The Nike Sport Loop has been my everyday band since 2020. I bought another in 2023 because I wanted to swap colors, and I figured after three years, I should buy a brand-new one, but it has held up remarkably well. Made from a blend of recycled polyester, spandex, and nylon, it’s breathable and lightweight. The double-layered nylon weave is designed with dense loops that help prevent moisture from getting trapped against your skin. As long as you regularly hand-wash it to rid it of sweat buildup and dirt, it stays odor-free.

The hook-and-loop fastener and pull tab make it easy to adjust with one hand. It is Velcro, so beware, it can snag on softer fabrics. Still, for a band designed with sports in mind, it’s understated enough to wear almost anywhere. I wouldn’t wear it to a formal event, but for the office or casual social events, it’s perfect.

Best Titanium Apple Watch Band

  • Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane

  • Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane

  • Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane

Nomad originally designed the Stratos Band for the Apple Watch Ultra, but it fits just as well with the SE and Series 1 through 11. It’s easy to adjust, refined enough for the office, and backed by Grade 4 titanium hardware with a scratch-resistant DLC coating. FKM rubber links (PFA-free and antimicrobial, according to Nomad) add flexibility, durability, and water-resistance. The clasp is made with corrosion-resistant N52 magnets, which make it effortless to snap on, and it’s designed with a manual release button, so you don’t have to worry about it accidentally falling off. It’s technically suited for workouts and outdoor use, but it is a hefty band that I personally prefer for casual everyday wear.

#Favorite #Apple #Watch #Bands #Avoidwearables,apple,health,fitness,gear,buying guides,shopping,accessories">My Favorite Apple Watch Bands (and the Ones to Avoid)

Apple Watches are smart little gadgets, but they don’t always fit the vibe. There were plenty of nights and dressier events when I left mine at home because—as much as I wanted to check my notifications discreetly—it didn’t match my outfit. I’ve also had my fair share of faux pas and just let the neon orange sport band clash with my neutral ensemble.

Fortunately, Apple Watch bands are a simple and relatively affordable way to zhuzh up the look of your wearable. Beyond aesthetics, different styles also impact performance and functionality. For example, I don’t want a heavy stainless steel or high-quality leather band weighing me down during a sweaty workout, just as I wouldn’t wear a flimsy silicone band to a dinner party.

At WIRED, we’ve been testing bands since the very first Apple Watch launched in 2015. After years of wearing and swapping, I’ve rounded up the best bands for every occasion. Be sure to check out our related product guides, including the Best Apple Watch Accessories, Best Apple Watch, and Best Smartwatches for more recommendations.

Jump to

Best Band for Everyday Wear

The Nike Sport Loop has been my everyday band since 2020. I bought another in 2023 because I wanted to swap colors, and I figured after three years, I should buy a brand-new one, but it has held up remarkably well. Made from a blend of recycled polyester, spandex, and nylon, it’s breathable and lightweight. The double-layered nylon weave is designed with dense loops that help prevent moisture from getting trapped against your skin. As long as you regularly hand-wash it to rid it of sweat buildup and dirt, it stays odor-free.

The hook-and-loop fastener and pull tab make it easy to adjust with one hand. It is Velcro, so beware, it can snag on softer fabrics. Still, for a band designed with sports in mind, it’s understated enough to wear almost anywhere. I wouldn’t wear it to a formal event, but for the office or casual social events, it’s perfect.

Best Titanium Apple Watch Band

  • Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane

  • Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane

  • Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane

Nomad originally designed the Stratos Band for the Apple Watch Ultra, but it fits just as well with the SE and Series 1 through 11. It’s easy to adjust, refined enough for the office, and backed by Grade 4 titanium hardware with a scratch-resistant DLC coating. FKM rubber links (PFA-free and antimicrobial, according to Nomad) add flexibility, durability, and water-resistance. The clasp is made with corrosion-resistant N52 magnets, which make it effortless to snap on, and it’s designed with a manual release button, so you don’t have to worry about it accidentally falling off. It’s technically suited for workouts and outdoor use, but it is a hefty band that I personally prefer for casual everyday wear.

#Favorite #Apple #Watch #Bands #Avoidwearables,apple,health,fitness,gear,buying guides,shopping,accessories

The long-awaited sequel to the cult movie Spaceballs now has a release date: April 23, 2027.

Spaceballs was released on June 24, 1987, making the Spaceballs 2 premiere nearly 40 years later.

Original writer-director Mel Brooks officially announced Spaceballs 2 last year, with Bill Pullman, Rick Moranis, and Daphne Zuniga reprising their roles. Now, Amazon MGM Studios has announced the actual release date ahead of CinemaCon 2026, exclusively for Deadline.

From there, we really only know the details that were released last year, like that Josh Greenbaum (Will and Harper) is directing, and the script is written by Josh Gad, Benji Samit, and Dan Hernandez. Gad is also expected to star, along with Keke Palmer.

#Spaceballs #sequel #release #date">The ‘Spaceballs’ sequel has a release date The long-awaited sequel to the cult movie Spaceballs now has a release date: April 23, 2027.Spaceballs was released on June 24, 1987, making the Spaceballs 2 premiere nearly 40 years later. Mashable Top Stories Original writer-director Mel Brooks officially announced Spaceballs 2 last year, with Bill Pullman, Rick Moranis, and Daphne Zuniga reprising their roles. Now, Amazon MGM Studios has announced the actual release date ahead of CinemaCon 2026, exclusively for Deadline. From there, we really only know the details that were released last year, like that Josh Greenbaum (Will and Harper) is directing, and the script is written by Josh Gad, Benji Samit, and Dan Hernandez. Gad is also expected to star, along with Keke Palmer. #Spaceballs #sequel #release #date

sequel to the cult movie Spaceballs now has a release date: April 23, 2027.

Spaceballs was released on June 24, 1987, making the Spaceballs 2 premiere nearly 40 years later.

Original writer-director Mel Brooks officially announced Spaceballs 2 last year, with Bill Pullman, Rick Moranis, and Daphne Zuniga reprising their roles. Now, Amazon MGM Studios has announced the actual release date ahead of CinemaCon 2026, exclusively for Deadline.

From there, we really only know the details that were released last year, like that Josh Greenbaum (Will and Harper) is directing, and the script is written by Josh Gad, Benji Samit, and Dan Hernandez. Gad is also expected to star, along with Keke Palmer.

#Spaceballs #sequel #release #date">The ‘Spaceballs’ sequel has a release date

The long-awaited sequel to the cult movie Spaceballs now has a release date: April 23, 2027.

Spaceballs was released on June 24, 1987, making the Spaceballs 2 premiere nearly 40 years later.

Original writer-director Mel Brooks officially announced Spaceballs 2 last year, with Bill Pullman, Rick Moranis, and Daphne Zuniga reprising their roles. Now, Amazon MGM Studios has announced the actual release date ahead of CinemaCon 2026, exclusively for Deadline.

From there, we really only know the details that were released last year, like that Josh Greenbaum (Will and Harper) is directing, and the script is written by Josh Gad, Benji Samit, and Dan Hernandez. Gad is also expected to star, along with Keke Palmer.

#Spaceballs #sequel #release #date

Post Comment