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I just started recording an episode of Equity where I learned about the newest wave of stupidity. The tech industry’s DEI allergy has hit a new low as Silicon Valley leaders once again fly their “meritocracy” banners high and wide. Scale AI’s Alexandr Wang has decided that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are passé — and replaced them with the shiny new acronym MEI: value, excellence and intelligence. I’m so screwed I’m going to need a chiropractor.
I would invite him – and those who support them – to fuck off all the road away. You misunderstood me. You thought I only wanted to fuck you partially. Please read my lips. I was absolutely clear: Dammit. During the whole trip. Get the head out of the clueless ass and then fuck it all the way.
Of course, the ignorance inspired rapturous applause from tech titans like Elon Musk at X, while LinkedIn’s startup crowd rolled their eyes so hard they practically did backflips.
Critics argue that Wang’s post misses the mark (no shit!) by ignoring systemic barriers and reducing complex social dynamics to a simplistic—and dangerously naive—ideal of meritocratic purity. Meanwhile, back at Scale AI headquarters, commentators in economically depressed areas toil for pay that wouldn’t cover a decent brunch in Silicon Valley. But sure, let’s talk about how “objective” hiring practices will save us all from the tyranny of fairness and inclusion.
<Σκαρφαλώνει από τη σαπουνόκουτα και συσκευάζει κουτί ταχείας διανομής.>
Sincerely yours,
Hey
(@Haje at X. Feel free to message me with your thoughts on the above. (Also: The above thoughts are my own and do not necessarily reflect the position of TechCrunch or any of the other writers, and are all the usual blah-blah when writing a raging op-ed.)
The most interesting startup stories of the week
Ever wonder what keeps a top venture capitalist up at night? Spoiler alert: It’s not his heavy investment portfolio or his busy schedules. Vinod Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems and the mastermind behind Khosla Ventures, recently revealed his biggest worry — and it’s not what you’d expect from someone with a $50 million bet on OpenAI that paid off big. I enjoyed Connie’s candid chat with Khosla about the future of AI, regulatory woes, and why Europe’s tech scene may be blinking while the rest of the world is racing ahead. Buckle; it’s an enlightening (and surprisingly fun) ride!
- She puts the lotion in the basket: In an effort to turn your pleasant dreams into living nightmares, scientists have developed a robot with real living skin that can be stretched and manipulated. Think Terminator T-1000 but with a marginally better skin care routine.
- Rirelgvat vf svar, ubarfgyl*: In a recent interview that raised more eyebrows than a bad Botox job, Telegram founder Pavel Durov revealed that the messaging giant operates with “about 30 engineers” and no dedicated product managers — unless you count himself Durov. While it boasted about its effectiveness from its Dubai-based nest, security experts were collectively flattered, calling it a major red flag for user safety.
- Hey, Butch, you He made buy round trip tickets, right?: Boeing’s Starliner capsule has finally reached space, but its homecoming is fashionably late. Originally scheduled to return on June 14, the two-person crew will now extend their space vacation until June 26 due to some persistent technical issues.
The most interesting fundraisers this week
Volkswagen is taking a leap of faith (and cash) into the electric future by investing up to $5 billion in Rivian’s software development, starting with an initial infusion of billions of dollars. This partnership seems like a win-win: Rivian gets the financial boost it needs to push its ambitious path forward, and VW finally gets a chance to improve its somewhat rusty software skills. In their new bromance, these two automotive giants will share tech secrets like school kids swapping lunch snacks — VW even gets access to Rivian’s sleek electric architecture. The partnership could inject some much-needed pizzazz into Volkswagen’s lineup while giving the Rivian a European feel — in a deal that started with the two companies building cars in Georgia (the state, not the country).
Imagine spending your summer break not behind a bike smoking weed (or whatever else you do these days), but in a VC office negotiating half a million dollars. Sounds like the plot of a teen drama, right? Well, for Christopher Fitzgerald and Nicholas Van Landschoot, that’s real life. Instead of honing their balls or watching Netflix, these two 18-year-olds have convinced savvy investors to back their AI-powered API startup with $500,000.
- It comes hot: In a world where instant gratification apparently knows no bounds, Zepto just raised a whopping $665 million to make sure you never have to wait more than 10 minutes for your groceries — or your electronic gadgets. Investors are tripping over themselves like they’ve never seen a grocery app before!
- A lot of CRM. So clever: Forget everything you know about glorified CRMs, soul-sucking spreadsheets. Christopher O’Donnell, the former HubSpot executive who helped put that company on the map, is back with a vengeance — and this time he’s armed with AI.
- The $50 million buy-now button: Ever feel like online shopping is akin to looking for a needle in a digital haystack? Well, Daydream seems to think so too, and has decided to tackle this conundrum head on. Armed with a whopping $50 million in funding and an arsenal of AI-powered tools, it aims to make e-commerce searches as effortless as finding cat videos online. Meowactually.
Other Unmissable TechCrunch Stories…
Each week, there are always a few stories I want to share with you that just don’t fit into the above categories. It would be a shame if you missed them, so here’s a random goodie bag for you:
- Stop, collaborate and listen*: OpenAI has a mission to become the Swiss Army Knife of technology. By acquiring database company Rockset, they’ve now acquired Multi, a startup that’s essentially Zoom with bells and whistles.
- Simply; The best!*: Anthropic released Claude 3.5 Sonnet, the new and improved AI model. While it’s being touted as the best yet, it’s more of a gentle nudge forward than a giant leap for the AI genre. The new model excels at analyzing text and images, but don’t expect it to crack jokes any better than its predecessors—humor AI is still an unsolved mystery. But that’s what you have me for, right? I’m hilarious. All he says so.
- Avenue of Broken Dreams*: The courtroom drama surrounding Fisker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy heats up faster than a lawyer chasing billable hours. With accusations of “suspicious activity” and heated exchanges that belong more on daytime television than in bankruptcy court, the dispute over Fisker’s assets is turning into an all-out legal battle.
- Come keep your partner warm*: Just when you thought antivirus software was the least of your worries, the US government begs to differ: Kaspersky is now off limits! Citing national security concerns and the potential use of data weapons by Russia, Uncle Sam announced a “first-of-its-kind” ban on the popular antivirus provider.
- Everything is waiting for you*: In a world where venture capital for black women is as rare as a hen’s dentist, Fearless Fund co-founder Ayana Parsons decided to trade boardrooms for beach views. Announcing her resignation on LinkedIn, Parsons will no longer serve as general partner and COO, but will instead “enjoy island life” with her family. While this legal drama plays out, it’s disappointing that big names in tech haven’t rallied behind the Fearless Fund.
