- Link & Load
- Posts
- š OpenAI Buys Statsig | š° Anthropic Hits $183B | š Google Must Share Data
š OpenAI Buys Statsig | š° Anthropic Hits $183B | š Google Must Share Data
AI heats up with big deals and valuations, while regulators clamp down on Big Tech data practices.
Your Secure Voice AI Deployment Playbook
Meet HIPAA, GDPR, and SOC 2 standards
Route calls securely across 100+ locations
Launch enterprise-grade agents in just weeks
š Todayās Angle
OpenAI just spent $1.1 billion to buy a Silicon Valley startup that helps companies test software more efficientlyāand its CEO landed a new CTO gig at OpenAI.
AI startup Anthropicās valuation more than doubled to $183 billion after a $1.3 billion fundraising round, fueling the AI arms race.
A key antitrust ruling lets Google keep its Chrome deal with Apple but forces it to share data with competitors, shaking up search.
The U.S. SEC and CFTC teamed up to clear regulatory paths for spot crypto trading on registered exchanges, setting the stage for market growth.
Ethereum whales scooped up 260,000 ETH in just 24 hours, sparking hopes of a rally toward $5,000.
āāSascha Thiele

š Tech & Business
What Happened: OpenAI announced its acquisition of Statsig, a startup that builds tools for software testing and feature flagging, in an all-stock deal valued at around $1.1 billion. As part of the deal, Statsig's CEO Vijaye Raji will become OpenAIās newly minted Chief Technology Officer of Applications, overseeing product engineering for ChatGPT and other AI tools. The deal aims to accelerate AI product development and experimentation while letting Statsig operate independently from its Seattle base.
Why It Matters: This move signals OpenAIās commitment to refining its AI products by integrating powerful experimentation platforms, positioning it strongly amid fierce AI competition. Landing a seasoned engineer like Raji also strengthens OpenAIās leadership in applications engineering.
What Happened: AI startup Anthropic completed a $1.3 billion funding round, more than doubling its valuation to $183 billion. The massive fundraiser reflects soaring investor appetite for cutting-edge AI technologies and reinforces Anthropic as a formidable competitor in the AI space.
Why It Matters: Anthropicās funding boost pumps more fuel into the AI arms race, increasing pressure on rivals like OpenAI to innovate rapidly. This infusion also highlights how investors are betting heavily on AIās transformative potential across industries.
What Happened: A federal judge ruled that Google must share portions of its search data with competitors to foster competition, but rejected calls to force Google to sell its Chrome browser or break up. The ruling allows Google to maintain lucrative payments to Apple for search placements but imposes data-sharing as a remedy for Google's search monopoly.
Why It Matters: This nuanced ruling preserves Google's dominance in browsers while aiming to level the online search playing field. Googleās promise to appeal means this landmark antitrust battle will continue to influence Big Tech's future market dynamics.

š¾ My Software Stack

The concept of ManyChat is straightforward: eliminate manual work on Instagram and utilize automations to generate income. Use the link to get one month of the pro subscription for free.
*This is an affiliate link, so I would get a small commission if you use the tool.

š° The Finance Overview

Giphy
The Big Tech Barometer sees OpenAIās aggressive moves and Anthropic's fundraising as signals of intensifying AI sector competition, driving investor interest in AI stocks. FAANG names experienced mixed movements influenced by regulatory concerns, especially around Googleās recent antitrust ruling.
The Startup Thermometer highlights continued heavy capital flow into late-stage AI companies despite broader funding tightness elsewhere.
Infrastructure Watch notes chip and cloud companies eyeing AI hardware demand as Anthropic and OpenAI scale up. A Wild Card emerges in regulatory arenas as US agencies SEC and CFTC unify crypto oversight, clearing pathways for exchange-traded spot crypto products that could spur market liquidity and innovation.
Ticker |
---|
S&P 500: $SPY ( ā¼ 0.12% ) |
DowJones: $DJI ( ā² 0.57% ) |
Nasdaq: $QQQ ( ā¼ 0.2% ) |
German DAX: $DAX ( ā¼ 0.34% ) |
Indian NIFTY: $NIFTY50.NSE ( ā² 0.36% ) |
Bitcoin: $BTC.X ( ā¼ 0.63% ) |
Ethereum: $ETH.X ( ā² 1.26% ) |

š° Crypto Carousel

Gif by darkbean on Giphy
What Happened: The SEC and CFTC issued a joint staff statement clarifying that crypto exchanges registered with either agency can facilitate spot trading of digital assets, opening pathways for regulated spot crypto markets in the U.S. This coordination helps end policy fragmentation and provides clearer compliance frameworks for market operators.
Why It Matters: By harmonizing regulation, this move could lead to more exchange listings for spot crypto products like Bitcoin and Ethereum, encouraging innovation and protecting investors. It signals growing government support to make the U.S. a hub for crypto markets.
What Happened: Large holders of Ethereum ā known as whales ā purchased 260,000 ETH within a single day, quietly accumulating as prices hovered around $4,400. This buying signals growing confidence in Ethereumās near-term recovery.
Why It Matters: Whale accumulation often precedes price rallies. With these significant purchases reducing the circulating supply, market watchers are optimistic that ETH will push toward the $5,000 milestone. This trend highlights Ethereumās enduring appeal as a leading cryptocurrency.

Missed the Marketās Big Moves?
The market moves fast - we make sure you donāt miss a thing.
Elite Trade Club delivers clear, no-fluff market intel straight to your inbox every morning.
From stocks to big-picture trends, we cover what actually matters.
Join 100,000+ readers who start their day with the edge.
š Skill Builder
Simplilearn - Published January 5, 2025
What You'll Learn:
Foundations of cloud computing and AWS basics
Key AWS services: EC2, S3, RDS, and networking
Cloud security principles and best practices
Cloud computing service models and pricing structures
How to become a cloud engineer
Interview preparation and real-world project ideas
Why It's Worth Your Time: This comprehensive course covers everything from cloud fundamentals to advanced AWS concepts, making it ideal for anyone aiming to break into or advance in cloud engineeringāa top skill in demand for 2025 and beyond.

š² Link Grab-Bag
ā
receiptor.ai ā Bookkeeping on Autopilot with AI
ā
bhava.appā Create and edit diagrams instantly with AI
ā
catdoes.comā Team of AI agents builds mobile apps for you & your business
ā
file.ai ā Classify, extract, enrich, and validate any file
ā
bugster.dev ā AI QA Engineer for Next.js Apps
Got a killer link we missed? Hit reply and share the goods. š

What do you think about Link & Load? |

š Tomorrowās Forecast
AIās battle for dominance heats up, but regulation tries to keep the playing field fair āļø

Business as usual? No thanks.
The problem with most business news? Itās too long, too boring, and way too complicated.
Morning Brew fixes all three. In five minutes or less, youāll catch up on the business, finance, and tech stories that actually matterāwritten with clarity and just enough humor to keep things interesting.
Itās quick. Itās free. And itās how over 4 million professionals start their day. Signing up takes less than 15 secondsāand if youād rather stick with dense, jargon-packed business news, you can always unsubscribe.
Start your own newsletter and get a 30-day trial + 20% off for 3 months. Sign up here.
Reply