- 1. OpenAI launches GPT-5, follows up with changes in response to initial public feedback
- 2. Perplexity makes $34.5B bid for Google Chrome
- 3. Anthropic offers Claude to all three branches of the U.S. government for $1
- 4. xAI offers Grok 4 to users for free
- 5. OpenAI and Sam Altman prepare to back Merge Labs, Musk’s Neuralink competitor
- 6. Microsoft launches Copilot 3D
- Recommended reading:
The CFO AI Digest: August 14
The AI platform wars continue to rage in pricing, policy, and ambition.
In a week marked by back-and-forth between AI giants, OpenAI rolled out GPT-5 and then tweaked it after early backlash from users. Anthropic responded to OpenAI’s government push, Altman and Musk took their rivalry into brain-computer interfaces, and Perplexity made a massive bid for Chrome amid antitrust pressure.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. OpenAI launches GPT-5, follows up with changes in response to initial public feedback
OpenAI launched GPT-5 last week, with the company calling this model its most useful yet. The launch brought some strong reactions, however, with some users complaining about slower performance in complex queries and the loss of access to GPT-4o. OpenAI quickly introduced upgrades to GPT-5 in response, including allowing users to choose between models and restoring 4o to all paid accounts.
CFO takeaway: AI is moving so fast that even the market leader faced some unexpected issues with its much-hyped new model release. This is a reminder that teams need to test and validate major upgrades, even to trusted tools, before deploying them in live workflows. As we said a few weeks ago, AI is your new teammate. Unexpected changes can feel like swapping out a colleague mid-project.
2. Perplexity makes $34.5B bid for Google Chrome
Perplexity, valued at $18 billion, has made an unsolicited $34.5 billion bid for Google’s Chrome browser. The company says it has investor backing for the bid, which comes as the Department of Justice considers potential remedies following its antitrust victory over Google. One option being discussed is requiring Google to sell Chrome to reduce its dominance in search and AI.
CFO takeaway: This sale is unlikely to happen, but it brings attention to Google’s dominance and the willingness of AI companies to capitalize on regulatory pressure to make a statement, which some called a “viral strategy."
3. Anthropic offers Claude to all three branches of the U.S. government for $1
Anthropic is offering Claude for Government and Claude for Enterprise to all three branches of the U.S. government for $1. Claude for Government is certified for FedRAMP High, the most stringent requirement for handling unclassified sensitive government data.
CFO takeaway: As we had predicted in last week’s Digest, Anthropic has matched OpenAI’s move to offer ChatGPT to U.S. agencies. This is a continuation of deeper integration of AI into government and is another sign the ultra-competitive AI race is still gaining momentum.
4. xAI offers Grok 4 to users for free
Previously gated behind a $16/month Premium+ subscription, Grok 4 is now available to all Grok users at no cost. For a limited time, xAI is rolling out generous usage limits so users can explore Grok 4’s full potential.
CFO takeaway: This move comes mere days after OpenAI faced pushback over GPT-5’s rollout. As AI powerhouses race to win users, they can redraw the line between free and premium fast. This kind of unpredictability makes long-term tooling roadmaps harder to plan and budgets harder to forecast.
5. OpenAI and Sam Altman prepare to back Merge Labs, Musk’s Neuralink competitor
OpenAI and Sam Altman are reportedly backing Merge Labs, a new brain-computer interface startup and a direct competitor to Elon Musk’s Neuralink. The venture is raising $250 million at an $850 million valuation, with OpenAI’s venture arm expected to contribute a major portion of the round.
CFO takeaway: Altman alluded to this vision eight years ago in a blog post: humans and AI merging through tech like brain interfaces. Now he’s putting capital behind it. Ambition at this scale is not solely about improving productivity, but about redefining our relationship with AI itself.
6. Microsoft launches Copilot 3D
Copilot 3D is an AI-powered tool that can turn 2D images into usable 3D models. It's available to anyone with a Microsoft account and doesn’t require a paid subscription.
CFO takeaway: AI is lowering the barrier to 3D content creation. Expect this to impact workflows and budgets as teams bring more work in-house and use fewer external tools or vendors, especially in design, product prototyping, and immersive experiences.
See you next week.
Recommended reading:
- How finance teams can succeed with AI (Harvard Business Review)
- Companies are pouring billions into A.I. It has yet to pay off (The New York Times)
Follow Ramp Econ Lab on Substack for more writing and analysis of AI, business spend, software trends, and insights from our network of CFOs on the latest economic news!
