Curated 2025-2-12 | Super Bowl, Elon Musk’s OpenAI bid, AMA with OpenAI’s Sam Altman

#Super Bowl Ad

How much does a Super Bowl commercial cost in 2025? 30-second ad prices through history

In 2025, the cost of a 30-second Super Bowl commercial reached over $8 million, up from $7 million in previous years. This increase is due to the event’s massive viewership and high demand for advertising slots. Notable brands like Bud Light, Uber Eats, Pepsi, and Coors Light secured airtime, investing heavily in both slot purchases and production costs.

First-time Super Bowl advertisers look to tackle stiff competition

This year’s Super Bowl features over half a dozen first-time advertisers, including Häagen-Dazs, Instacart, and Duracell, each investing up to $8 million for a 30-second spot. These newcomers aim to boost brand awareness and break into the U.S. market, striving to stand out amidst established brands like Budweiser and Doritos.

#AI

Elon Musk-Led Group Makes $97.4 Billion Bid for Control of OpenAI

Elon Musk has made an unsolicited $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI’s nonprofit sector, intensifying his rivalry with CEO Sam Altman. Altman rejected the offer, countering with a jest to purchase Musk’s social media platform, X, for $9.74 billion. This move complicates OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit model and highlights the escalating tension between the co-founders over the company’s direction and AI development ethics.

AMA with OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Mark Chen, Kevin Weil, Srinivas Narayanan, Michelle Pokrass, and Hongyu Ren

Sam Altman, Mark Chen, Kevin Weil, Srinivas Narayanan, Michelle Pokrass, and Hongyu Ren from OpenAI recently held a Reddit Ask Me Anything session to talk about o3-mini and the future of AI. In the thread, the representatives answer questions about advanced voice mode, the upcoming 4o image generator, GPT-5, and more. OpenAI plans to cut API prices in half in August. It doesn’t have a timeline for the release of GPT-5 yet – the company is still working on the 4o series.

Macron announces $112B in AI investment over coming years

French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a €1.12 billion investment plan to boost France’s artificial intelligence (AI) sector over the next few years. The initiative aims to position France as a global leader in AI by funding research, startups, and infrastructure, while also addressing ethical concerns. Macron emphasized the importance of balancing innovation with regulation to ensure AI benefits society. This move aligns with broader European efforts to compete with the U.S. and China in the AI race.

#Science

World’s first lab-grown meat for pets goes on sale

The UK’s Meatly has introduced Chick Bites, the world’s first lab-grown meat dog treats, now available at a Pets at Home store in Brentford, England. Developed with vegan dog food company The Pack, these treats combine plant-based ingredients with cultivated chicken meat derived from a single egg cell sample. Meatly plans to expand production over the next three to five years, aiming for broader availability. While lab-grown meat isn’t yet approved for human consumption in the UK and Europe, this launch marks a significant step toward sustainable pet food options.

#Asia

Shein poised to slash valuation to $50 billion in London IPO

Shein, the online fast-fashion giant, plans to reduce its valuation to approximately $50 billion for an upcoming London IPO, down from a $66 billion valuation in 2023. This move comes as the U.S. ends the “de minimis” duty exemption, which previously allowed Shein to import goods under $800 without duties, potentially impacting its profitability in its largest market. The company is awaiting approval from both UK and Chinese regulators for the listing.

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