SoftBank is back, and the AI hype cycle is eating itself

Group 1 - SoftBank and OpenAI have formed a 50-50 joint venture named "Crystal Intelligence" to sell enterprise AI tools in Japan [1] - The partnership raises questions about the real economic value generated by major AI deals, as SoftBank is a significant investor in OpenAI [1] - There is skepticism regarding the sustainability of the current investment model in the AI sector, as discussed in the TechCrunch Equity podcast [2] Group 2 - Andreessen Horowitz is shutting down its Talent x Opportunity fund, which reflects broader trends in investment strategies [3] - The involvement of former FTC chair Lina Khan in NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's transition team may impact regulations affecting Big Tech, ride-hailing, and autonomous vehicles [3] - Box CEO Aaron Levie expressed concerns about the potential AI bubble and highlighted the shift from training to inference as a potentially reassuring development [3] - Beta Technologies successfully completed a $1 billion IPO, indicating a positive trend in the public market despite ongoing large M&A deals [3]