Welcome back to this week’s edition of Week in Review. Here’s a rundown of the top stories from the week, including OpenAI’s plans to charge up to $20,000 a month for specialized AI agents, the surprising revival of early-internet platform Digg, a company engineering genetically altered mice to grow mammoth-like fur, and much more!
OpenAI’s $20,000 AI “Agents”
OpenAI might soon offer AI “agents” for up to $20,000 per month. According to a report from The Information, these agents will be tailored to specific tasks, with one particularly expensive agent aimed at supporting PhD-level research. The steep price tag reflects OpenAI’s need for revenue, especially after losing around $5 billion last year due to the high operational costs of running its services and other expenses.
Scale AI Faces Investigation Over Labor Practices
Scale AI is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor for potential violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The investigation, which has been ongoing since at least August 2024, focuses on issues like unpaid wages, employee misclassification as contractors, and illegal retaliation. A spokesperson for the company stated that the inquiry began under the previous presidential administration, claiming that regulators misunderstood the company’s work.
Elon Musk’s Lawsuit Against OpenAI Moves Forward
Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI continues as a federal judge rejected Musk’s request for an injunction to stop the company’s transition to a for-profit model. U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers noted that there wasn’t enough evidence to support Musk’s claim. However, she emphasized that the court would expedite a trial to examine whether the transition violates the law, with Musk accusing OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman of abandoning its original nonprofit mission.
