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Good morning! Today is Thursday, June 18, 2025.

We have some thrilling AI news today: Midjourney launches its first AI video generation model, V1, and Meta is recruiting star investors Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross to supercharge its AI push.

1. Midjourney Enters the AI Video Race With Launch of V1

Midjourney has released V1, its first AI video generation model that turns images into short, animated videos. Available via Discord, V1 creates four 5-second clips per prompt and includes tools for animation control. The model enters a crowded space with rivals like OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo. V1 is pricier than image generation and marks Midjourney’s move toward real-time 3D and simulation tools. Early demos look surreal and creative, staying true to the brand’s style.

2. Microsoft May Walk Away From OpenAI Deal as Tensions Rise

Microsoft is ready to abandon negotiations with OpenAI over a new partnership deal as the AI startup pushes to become a for-profit company. Disagreements over Microsoft’s future stake and access to OpenAI’s tech have stalled talks. If no deal is reached, Microsoft plans to rely on its current contract through 2030. Meanwhile, OpenAI risks losing billions in investor funding if it can't complete its corporate restructure by year-end.

3. Meta in Talks to Hire Top AI Investors Behind Perplexity and Safe Superintelligence

Meta is reportedly negotiating to bring on AI investors Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross, while partially buying out their VC fund, NFDG. The move would give Meta minority stakes in several top AI startups. Gross would leave his role at Safe Superintelligence, while Friedman already advises Meta. This is part of Meta’s aggressive AI push, which includes poaching talent, major investments, and building a top-tier AGI team.

4. OpenAI Prepares for Powerful AI in Biology With New Safeguards and Global Partnerships

OpenAI expects its next AI models to reach high capabilities in biology and is rolling out new safety measures to prevent misuse. These include red teaming, detection systems, and restricted responses to sensitive bio-related prompts. The company is also partnering with governments and experts, and will host a biodefense summit in July to ensure AI helps accelerate breakthroughs while minimizing risks.

5. SandboxAQ Releases Massive AI Dataset to Speed Up Drug Discovery

SandboxAQ has launched SAIR, a public dataset with over 5.2 million 3D molecular structures designed to train AI models in predicting protein-ligand binding affinities. Built using SandboxAQ's AI and Nvidia's DGX Cloud, the dataset enables predictions 1,000 times faster than traditional methods. This marks a major step toward transforming drug discovery from trial-and-error into a fast, data-driven process.

6. NVIDIA Launches G-Assist Hackathon With Big Prizes for AI Plug-In Creators

NVIDIA has kicked off a virtual hackathon inviting developers to build plug-ins for its on-device AI assistant, G-Assist. Running through July 16, the event offers prizes like RTX 5090 laptops and GPUs for the most innovative and useful tools. G-Assist lets users control RTX systems with natural language, and plug-ins can be built using Python, C++, or even with no-code tools powered by ChatGPT.

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Stay tuned for more updates, and have a fantastic day!

Cheers,
Zephyr