AI独角兽爆雷！8年惊天骗局曝光，微软CEO纳德拉竟遭老乡“杀猪盘”

Core Viewpoint - The collapse of Builder.ai, once valued at $1.5 billion and backed by major investors like Microsoft and SoftBank, reveals a significant fraud involving the misrepresentation of AI capabilities and financial data, leading to investor losses and a warning for the AI market [2][28]. Group 1: Company Background - Builder.ai was founded in 2016 by Sachin Dev Duggal, who aimed to simplify app development using AI, promoting the idea that creating apps could be as easy as ordering pizza [3][6]. - The company quickly gained traction in the investment community, becoming a prominent player in the no-code and AI space, with a peak valuation of $1.3 to $1.5 billion [9]. Group 2: Misrepresentation of Technology - Despite its claims, Builder.ai's "AI" was largely a marketing facade, with most work performed manually by low-cost Indian engineers, contradicting the company's narrative of automation [11][17]. - The AI project manager, "Natasha," was revealed to be a simple front-end interface, with actual coding done by a team of engineers, undermining the company's technological claims [14][16]. Group 3: Financial Fraud - Builder.ai's financial practices came under scrutiny when it was found to have exaggerated its 2024 revenue projections to $220 million, while actual revenues were only $55 million, leading to investigations by U.S. prosecutors [19][21]. - The company engaged in practices such as inflating sales figures through fake invoices, which ultimately contributed to its financial downfall [20]. Group 4: Leadership and Bankruptcy - In early 2025, Sachin Dev Duggal stepped down as CEO, adopting the title "Chief Wizard," which was seen as an attempt to distance himself from the impending crisis [22]. - Following the discovery of significant financial issues, Builder.ai filed for bankruptcy in multiple countries, freezing global projects and leaving employees unpaid [25][27]. Group 5: Broader Implications - The collapse of Builder.ai highlights a larger trend of "AI washing," where companies falsely claim AI capabilities to attract investment, as seen in other cases like Nate and Joonko [29][30]. - The situation serves as a cautionary tale for investors, emphasizing the need for thorough due diligence in the rapidly evolving AI sector [34].