Welcome to Thursday’s Newsletter

In today’s scoop 🍨 

• 🚨 OpenAI Hits the Reset Button

• ⚡ DeepSeek x BYD: The AI-Powered Drive to Beat Tesla

• 📢 Elon Musk’s $97B Ultimatum

• 🔧 3 Trending AI Tools

🚨 OpenAI Hits the Reset Button

OpenAI just made a bold move—scrapping its next AI model, o3, in favor of an all-in-one powerhouse, GPT-5. The goal? Simplifying its increasingly complicated lineup and making AI “just work.”

💬 What Happened?

Instead of releasing o3 as a standalone model, OpenAI is rolling it into GPT-5. CEO Sam Altman took to X to explain the shift, admitting that their product offerings had become, well... a bit of a mess. If you’ve ever struggled to pick the right ChatGPT model, you’re not alone—OpenAI hates the model picker as much as you do.

💡 What’s Changing?

• GPT-5 will unify OpenAI’s tech, incorporating o3’s reasoning abilities along with improvements in voice, canvas, search, and deep research.

• No more model chaos—GPT-5 will adjust dynamically instead of making users choose between confusing versions.

• Better accessibility—Free ChatGPT users will get unlimited chat access at a “standard intelligence” level, while Plus and Pro subscribers will get more advanced versions.

• GPT-4.5 (Orion) comes first—Before GPT-5 arrives, OpenAI will drop GPT-4.5 in the next few weeks as the last non-“chain-of-thought” model (meaning it won’t “reason” quite like o3 but should still be solid).

🌍 The Bigger Picture

OpenAI’s decision comes at a time when competition is heating up. China’s DeepSeek recently dropped its R1 model, a powerful (and much cheaper) AI that’s raising eyebrows. Altman acknowledged the pressure and hinted that OpenAI is accelerating its roadmap to stay ahead.

🔍 Why It Matters

This marks a shift in OpenAI’s strategy. Instead of charging a fortune for premium access, it looks like they’re betting big on market dominance—making AI widely available and easier to use. If it works, GPT-5 could become the new AI standard. If not? Expect more pivots.

Stay tuned—GPT-5 is coming soon.

⚡ DeepSeek x BYD: The AI-Powered Drive to Beat Tesla

China’s electric vehicle game just got a turbo boost. BYD, their biggest EV maker, has partnered with AI powerhouse DeepSeek to supercharge its self-driving ambitions. The move is part of a broader trend where Chinese automakers are rapidly integrating AI to win over tech-hungry consumers.

✅ The Big Picture

BYD has officially integrated DeepSeek’s AI model into its new DiPilot assisted driving system, enhancing real-time decision-making through its God’s Eye autonomous system. This technology is being rolled out across all BYD models to provide smarter, AI-enhanced driving experiences. Meanwhile, competitors like Geely, Great Wall, and Dongfeng are also adopting DeepSeek’s AI, intensifying the race to dominate China’s AI-powered EV market.

🚀 Why This Matters

• AI is the new horsepower. Chinese consumers want smart cars, not just electric ones. Features like automated driving, predictive maintenance, and AI-enhanced safety are becoming must-haves.

• BYD is flexing on Tesla. While Tesla is stuck waiting for Chinese regulatory approval for its Full-Self Driving (FSD) software, BYD is already shipping AI-assisted EVs.

• DeepSeek is China’s AI wildcard. The startup’s R1 model is making waves globally, competing with OpenAI but reportedly at a fraction of the cost.

📊 The Numbers:

• BYD’s stock hit a record high after announcing the DeepSeek partnership.

• The new assisted-driving system is available in cars starting at just $9,555, making BYD the first to offer advanced AI-driven features in a sub-$10K EV.

• Meanwhile, Nvidia lost $600 billion in value when DeepSeek launched its R1 model last month, proving how disruptive China’s AI ecosystem is becoming.

🚗 What’s Next?

With BYD inching closer to beating Tesla in EV sales, this AI integration could be the final push to dominate the Chinese market. While Biden’s 100% tariffs keep BYD out of the U.S., Tesla may soon feel the heat if AI-powered, budget-friendly Chinese EVs start making their way to Europe and beyond.

💡 Bottom Line

China’s EVs are evolving from “cheap alternatives” to smart, AI-driven powerhouses. If Tesla wants to stay ahead, it may need more than just Cybertrucks and price cuts.

📢 Elon Musk’s $97B Ultimatum

Elon Musk just pulled a classic "take it or leave it" move on OpenAI. The billionaire and self-appointed AI watchdog has offered to withdraw his eye-watering $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI’s nonprofit arm—if, and only if, the board agrees to halt its transformation into a for-profit entity.

Yep, this isn’t just another Elon stunt on X. This is a legal chess game, played out in a California federal court.

🔎 The TL;DR:

• Musk wants OpenAI to stay a nonprofit, the way it was originally envisioned before it pivoted to a “capped-profit” model in 2019.

• If OpenAI agrees to ditch its for-profit aspirations, Musk will withdraw his offer to buy it.

• If not, he insists that the nonprofit should be compensated at fair market value, which is why he and his investors made their $97.4 billion bid.

💥 So, what’s the beef?

OpenAI, which Musk co-founded in 2015 before parting ways, started as a nonprofit with the mission of ensuring AI benefits humanity. Then, in 2019, it introduced a for-profit arm to secure funding, bringing in powerhouse investors like Microsoft. Now, it’s reportedly restructuring yet again, this time into a public benefit corporation, a move Musk has legally challenged.

Musk’s camp calls his bid “serious,” but OpenAI’s leadership isn’t buying it. CEO Sam Altman and the board dismissed the offer outright, calling it an attempt to “undermine a competitor.” The OpenAI legal team even pointed out that Musk’s bid contradicts his own lawsuit, which argues that OpenAI’s assets shouldn’t be up for grabs in the first place.

🚨 The Big Question: Will OpenAI budge?

Probably not. Altman has made it clear that OpenAI isn’t for sale. And with Microsoft backing them to the tune of $13 billion, they’re not exactly short on cash.

🔑 Takeaway

Musk’s latest move isn’t just about money—it’s about control. If OpenAI goes fully for-profit, it might shift its focus away from the altruistic AI vision Musk once championed. But with Altman and his team standing firm, it looks like Musk’s $97B check will remain uncashed.

Stay tuned—this AI soap opera is far from over.

🔧3 Trending AI Tools

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• 🎯 Ariadna - AI talent agent that connects you with the right opportunities, collaborators, and personalized career insights to accelerate your professional growth.

📩 Thanks for reading!

We appreciate you being part of the scoop. If you know someone who’s into AI, pass this along and help us grow the community! 🚀

Until tomorrow—stay curious! 👋