PLUS: Tesla's $16.5B chip deal, Microsoft's new Copilot Mode, and OpenAI's troubled Stargate project

It's a new day AI Rockstars!

Lovart AI has finally opened its doors to the public, moving beyond its invite-only phase. This launch grants access to the massive 800,000-person waitlist the company cultivated over months.

This go-to-market strategy highlights the power of building a large, engaged community before a product even goes live. But does this success make the massive waitlist the new standard for launching a consumer AI tool?

In today’s Lean AI Report recap:

• Lovart AI's public launch after an 800,000-person waitlist
• Tesla's $16.5B investment in Samsung for its next-gen AI chips
• Microsoft Edge's new AI-integrated "Copilot Mode"
• Questions surrounding OpenAI and SoftBank's Stargate project

Lovart AI Drops Its 800,000-Person Waitlist

The Report: Lovart AI has officially launched publicly, ending its invite-only phase and opening access to the more than 800,000 users who signed up on its waitlist.

Broaden your horizons:

• The company amassed a waitlist of over 800,000 people, signaling massive pre-launch demand and interest in its offering.
• This public release moves the platform beyond its initial group of beta testers and now allows anyone to sign up without needing an invite code.
• The launch marks a major milestone for the highly anticipated AI tool, shifting from a period of building hype to delivering value to a broad user base.

If you remember one thing: Lovart AI's successful launch demonstrates the power of cultivating a large, engaged waitlist to generate significant momentum. This go-to-market strategy can turn pre-launch hype into immediate, widespread user adoption on day one.

Tesla's $16.5B AI Chip Bet

The Report: Tesla is supercharging its AI ambitions with a massive $16.5 billion deal for Samsung to produce its next-generation "AI6" chips in a new Texas factory. The partnership aims to secure Tesla's supply chain for its future in autonomous driving and robotics.

Broaden your horizons:

• Elon Musk is personally overseeing the project, stating he will “walk the line personally” to accelerate progress, a hands-on approach he calls “founder mode.”
• This deal is a huge win for Samsung’s foundry business, which had reportedly paused construction on the Texas plant while seeking a major customer.
• The move sharpens the competition in the chip foundry market, where Samsung challenges TSMC’s dominance and stands in stark contrast to competitors like Intel, who recently slashed costs on its own foundry business.

If you remember one thing: This partnership gives Tesla critical control over its AI hardware supply chain, essential for its self-driving and Optimus bot ambitions. The deal also establishes a powerful new car-and-chip nexus right in the heart of Texas.

Microsoft's AI Browser Gambit

The Report: Microsoft is rolling out an experimental "Copilot Mode" for its Edge browser, deeply integrating an AI assistant to help you research, summarize, and act on information across the web. The company announced the new feature on Monday as its latest move in the AI browser wars.

Broaden your horizons:

• With your permission, Copilot can view all your open tabs to synthesize information, making it easier to compare products or research topics across multiple sites at once.
• The AI can handle tasks like pulling a recipe from a cluttered webpage or creating a shopping list, with future updates aiming to manage bookings and other errands.
• The new experience centers on a single input box for search and chat on the new tab page, and it also supports voice commands for hands-free navigation.

If you remember one thing: This move escalates the race between tech giants like Microsoft and Google to redefine the browser as an intelligent agent. The fundamental user experience is shifting from manually searching the web to having a conversation with an AI that anticipates your needs.

OpenAI's Stargate Troubles

The Report: The ambitious $500 billion "Stargate" AI project between OpenAI and SoftBank is facing major hurdles. A new investigative report alleges the partnership is an "elaborate ruse," with plans severely scaled back and financial commitments in question.

Broaden your horizons:

• The core of the issue is a data center in Abilene, Texas, widely seen as the first Stargate site, which reportedly has no financial involvement from SoftBank.
• Adding to the confusion, the Stargate venture itself was reportedly never formally established, according to a statement from Oracle's CEO.
• OpenAI contributed to the narrative by linking the Texas buildout to the broader project in its own announcement, creating the impression of a unified effort with SoftBank.

If you remember one thing: This situation highlights the growing need for scrutiny behind massive AI partnership announcements. It serves as a crucial reminder to look beyond the hype and verify the substance of these grand promises.

The Shortlist

Vogue sparked backlash by featuring a Guess ad with an AI-generated model, fueling a debate on the use of AI in high fashion and its impact on human models.

Florida launched its first AI-integrated middle school, the Innovation Academy of Excellence, which will use AI tools to create lesson plans and personalize learning for students in grades 6-8.

Mistral released a first-of-its-kind environmental audit detailing the CO2 emissions and water consumption of its models, aiming to set a transparency standard for the industry's environmental impact.