
Odyssey, an AI startup specializing in world models, has raised $310 million in a Series B funding round, reaching a valuation of $1.45 billion. The round was led by Natural Capital with participation from Amazon, AMD Ventures, and GV, among others. Odyssey, founded by former self-driving vehicle experts, focuses on creating world models that simulate the physical world, offering applications in video-game creation and robotics. With Amazon's backing, Odyssey will optimize its models for AWS's Trainium chips, enhancing its cloud capabilities. This funding highlights the growing interest in world models as a new frontier in AI.
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© TechCrunch AIThe collapse of Crusoe’s $1.25 billion order for Boom Supersonic’s stationary turbines exposes the fragility of AI infrastructure financing. While Crusoe raised $3.9 billion, it pivoted away from on-site gas generation, opting instead for grid power and diverse energy mixes. This signals that even well-funded data center operators are prioritizing flexibility over massive, long-term capital commitments to specialized hardware. Boom’s pivot to sell jet engines as power plants was a bold bet on AI energy needs, but losing its anchor customer suggests the market is more cautious than anticipated.
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Odyssey AI startup hits $1.45B valuation with $310M raise
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