OpenAI is releasing its first artificial intelligence model that runs on chips from semiconductor startup Cerebras Systems Inc., part of a push by the ChatGPT maker to broaden the pool of chipmakers it works with beyond Nvidia Corp. The model, GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark, is intended to be a less powerful but speedier version of its most recent Codex software for automating coding. The Spark option, slate...
OpenAI is releasing its first artificial intelligence model that runs on chips from semiconductor startup Cerebras Systems Inc., part of a push by the ChatGPT maker to broaden the pool of chipmakers it works with beyond Nvidia Corp. The model, GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark, is intended to be a less powerful but speedier version of its most recent Codex software for automating coding. The Spark option, slated to be released Thursday, lets software engineers quickly complete tasks like editing specific chunks of code and running tests. Users can also easily interrupt it, or order the model to complete something else coding-related without having to wait for it to finish a lengthy computing process. Last month, OpenAI signed a $10 billion-plus deal to use hardware from Cerebras to get quicker responses from its AI models. For Cerebras, the partnership offers a significant boost in its bid to compete in a market long dominated by Nvidia Corp . For OpenAI, the tie-up was the latest move to work with more suppliers to meet its growing computing needs. OpenAI also struck a blockbuster agreement in October with Nvidia rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. to deploy 6 gigawatts’ worth of AMD graphics processing units over multiple years. Later that month, OpenAI agreed to buy custom chips and networking components from Broadcom Inc. More recently, OpenAI’s relationship with Nvidia has come under scrutiny amid reports of tensions between the two firms. The chief executives of both companies have since publicly said they remain committed to working together. In a statement Thursday, an OpenAI spokesperson said the company’s partnership with Nvidia is “foundational” and that OpenAI’s most powerful AI models are the result of “multi-year hardware and software engineering done side by side” between the two companies. “That’s why we are anchoring on Nvidia as the core of our training and inference stack, while deliberately expanding the ecosystem around it through partnerships with Cerebras, AM...
OpenAI on Thursday launched GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark , a stripped-down coding model engineered for near-instantaneous response times, marking the company's first significant inference partnership outside its traditional Nvidia-dominated infrastructure. The model runs on hardware from Cerebras Systems , a Sunnyvale-based chipmaker whose wafer-scale processors specialize in low-latency AI workloads. The ...
OpenAI on Thursday launched GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark , a stripped-down coding model engineered for near-instantaneous response times, marking the company's first significant inference partnership outside its traditional Nvidia-dominated infrastructure. The model runs on hardware from Cerebras Systems , a Sunnyvale-based chipmaker whose wafer-scale processors specialize in low-latency AI workloads. The partnership arrives at a pivotal moment for OpenAI. The company finds itself navigating a frayed relationship with longtime chip supplier Nvidia, mounting criticism over its decision to introduce advertisements into ChatGPT, a newly announced Pentagon contract , and internal organizational upheaval that has seen a safety-focused team disbanded and at least one researcher resign in protest . "GPUs remain foundational across our training and inference pipelines and deliver the most cost effective tokens for broad usage," an OpenAI spokesperson told VentureBeat. "Cerebras complements that foundation by excelling at workflows that demand extremely low latency, tightening the end-to-end loop so use cases such as real-time coding in Codex feel more responsive as you iterate." The careful framing — emphasizing that GPUs "remain foundational" while positioning Cerebras as a "complement" — underscores the delicate balance OpenAI must strike as it diversifies its chip suppliers without alienating Nvidia , the dominant force in AI accelerators. Speed gains come with capability tradeoffs that OpenAI says developers will accept Codex-Spark represents OpenAI's first model purpose-built for real-time coding collaboration. The company claims the model delivers generation speeds 15 times faster than its predecessor, though it declined to provide specific latency metrics such as time-to-first-token or tokens-per-second figures. "We aren't able to share specific latency numbers, however Codex-Spark is optimized to feel near-instant—delivering 15x faster generation speeds while remaining highl...
Peloton Interactive (NASDAQ: PTON) stock has been moving in the wrong direction. The innovative fitness company's shares have declined 97% in the past five years (as of Feb. 9). This has occurred at the same time that the S&P 500 index put up a 90% total return. It's not easy at all to be bullish on Peloton. Where will this consumer discretionary stock be in five years? Image source: Peloton. Cont...
Peloton Interactive (NASDAQ: PTON) stock has been moving in the wrong direction. The innovative fitness company's shares have declined 97% in the past five years (as of Feb. 9). This has occurred at the same time that the S&P 500 index put up a 90% total return. It's not easy at all to be bullish on Peloton. Where will this consumer discretionary stock be in five years? Image source: Peloton. Continue reading
Hello and welcome to the newsletter, a grab bag of daily content from the Odd Lots universe. Sometimes it’s us, Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway, bringing you our thoughts on the most recent developments in markets, finance and the economy. And sometimes it’s contributions from our network of expert guests and sources. Whatever it is, we promise it will always be interesting. If you like chatting ...
Hello and welcome to the newsletter, a grab bag of daily content from the Odd Lots universe. Sometimes it’s us, Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway, bringing you our thoughts on the most recent developments in markets, finance and the economy. And sometimes it’s contributions from our network of expert guests and sources. Whatever it is, we promise it will always be interesting. If you like chatting with us, check out the Odd Lots Discord , where you can hang out and talk with us and with other listeners 24/7. Here’s what Tracy’s thinking about... The SaaSpocalypse continues. Software stocks are sliding again today after a brief recovery earlier in the week. That invites a bigger question: what’s happening with software in the private credit market, where sector exposure remains high and transparency rather low? Many of these loans were extended in 2020 and 2021, during the pandemic’s ‘Zoom boom.’ At the time, investors were convinced software would be a structural winner, as work, life, and everything else moved online. Fast forward five years, and it turns out what looked structural may have just been cyclical. That distinction matters. Even before generative AI tools like Claude Code came along to challenge their business models, earnings growth among software companies had already started to slow . A new report from Lincoln International shows how that’s playing out in private credit. According to their analysis, median Ebitda growth for borrowers in the private credit market, slowed to 4.7% in Q4 2025, down from 5.2% in Q3 and 6.5% in Q2. So earnings are still growing, but at a decelerating pace. That has real implications for lenders. As Lincoln notes: “While EBITDA growth remains positive, this slowing growth may explain why we observed leverage increases of roughly 0.5x from deal inception across all vintages—driven by lower synergy realization and limited free cash flow due to high rates.” In other words, debt relative to earnings is quietly creeping higher. I...
Elite athletes often push through pain to achieve victory. But, everyday exercisers need to distinguish between soreness which is normal and pain which is the body's way of telling you to stop. (Image credit: SrdJanPav)
Elite athletes often push through pain to achieve victory. But, everyday exercisers need to distinguish between soreness which is normal and pain which is the body's way of telling you to stop. (Image credit: SrdJanPav)
CEO Chris Urmson called it a “superhuman” moment, adding that Aurora’s trucks can now carry freight 1,000 miles in 15 hours — faster than what a human driver can legally accomplish.
CEO Chris Urmson called it a “superhuman” moment, adding that Aurora’s trucks can now carry freight 1,000 miles in 15 hours — faster than what a human driver can legally accomplish.
fcafotodigital/E+ via Getty Images Executive Summary Thrivent Mid Cap Growth Fund underperformed the Russell Mid Cap Growth Index during the quarter due underperformance in the Industrials and Financial Services sectors. The Fund had positive performance relative to the benchmark in five of the eleven sectors. For the trailing twelve-month period, the Fund underperformed the Russell Mid Cap Growth...
fcafotodigital/E+ via Getty Images Executive Summary Thrivent Mid Cap Growth Fund underperformed the Russell Mid Cap Growth Index during the quarter due underperformance in the Industrials and Financial Services sectors. The Fund had positive performance relative to the benchmark in five of the eleven sectors. For the trailing twelve-month period, the Fund underperformed the Russell Mid Cap Growth Index due to negative stock selection. Performance factors Thrivent Mid Cap Growth Fund underperformed the Russell Mid Cap Growth Index during the quarter due to underperformance in the Industrials and Financial Services sectors, partially offset by positive security selection primarily in the Information Technology and Healthcare sectors. Within the Information Technology sector, the Fund's positive security selection came primarily from our positions in Coherent Corp ( COHR ) and JFrog Ltd ( FROG ), as well as Amphenol Corp ( APH ). All three companies had strong 3Q earnings results and we continue to hold positions in these shares. In the Healthcare Sector, performance was driven by positions in Natera ( NTRA ) and Penumbra ( PEN ). Natera continued to build on its market leading position in cancer MRD (Minimal Residual Disease) while Penumbra further advanced its innovative patented CAVT (Computer Assisted Vacuum Thrombectomy) technology into peripheral VTE (Venous Thromboembolism). Both companies are addressing large market opportunities with differentiated offerings and are taking market share. Communications Services, Consumer Staples, Energy, Healthcare and Information Technology sectors were the five positive contributors in the quarter, while among the remaining underperforming sectors, Industrials and Financials were most notable. The largest negative impact within Industrials was an un-owned cash burning aerospace company. In Financials, the largest detractor was our position in Robinhood Markets ( HOOD ) which sold off in November on lower-than-expected crypto...
Skeleton racer sacrificed his dream of winning a medal and succeeded in putting the horrors of the war in Ukraine back on the agenda To be a Olympic-class skeleton racer requires extraordinary guts and impeccable nerve, as the corners loom and then whoosh past at frightening speed. So did anybody really believe that Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych would lose his when the world’s eyes were upon him...
Skeleton racer sacrificed his dream of winning a medal and succeeded in putting the horrors of the war in Ukraine back on the agenda To be a Olympic-class skeleton racer requires extraordinary guts and impeccable nerve, as the corners loom and then whoosh past at frightening speed. So did anybody really believe that Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych would lose his when the world’s eyes were upon him? Not the International Olympic Committee, who flipped between threats of expulsion and sweet talk over the last fortnight, without coming close to changing his mind. And certainly not those of us who have spoken and messaged Heraskevych, and found a man utterly prepared to sacrifice his dream of winning a Winter Olympic medal for a higher purpose. Continue reading...
Alphabet Inc . has updated its Gemini Deep Think artificial intelligence model for better performance in math and science research, the company said. After close partnership with researchers, the specialized reasoning model is now able to help scientists move from theoretical reasoning to practical applications, according to a blog post . Read More: Google, OpenAI Use Math Contests to Prove AI Pro...
Alphabet Inc . has updated its Gemini Deep Think artificial intelligence model for better performance in math and science research, the company said. After close partnership with researchers, the specialized reasoning model is now able to help scientists move from theoretical reasoning to practical applications, according to a blog post . Read More: Google, OpenAI Use Math Contests to Prove AI Progress: Dispatch The AI model uses Google’s search to avoid inaccuracies and wrongful citations when doing research, according to a separate blog post. Gemini 3 Deep Think, as the model is called, can also help researchers in chemistry, computer science and physics. The new model is part of a push by the leading AI developers to build more advanced tools that can field everything from complex coding to scientific research. Anthropic, for example, recently released a new version of its most powerful AI model to do both financial research and legal services, leading to a market selloff for traditional software firms. Google built out a math research agent, dubbed Aletheia, that can conduct autonomous research or collaborate with humans. The new agent can also “admit failure to solve a problem,” which improved efficiency for researchers, Alphabet’s Google said. Google published some of the papers that resulted from the new technology. “Spanning diverse fields — from information and complexity theory to cryptography and mechanism design — the results demonstrate how AI is fundamentally shifting research,” the company said. Google said it is available in the Gemini app for Google AI Ultra subscribers and also for select researchers, the post said.
Vulcan Materials (NYSE: VMC) may need to crush its fourth-quarter earnings to keep investors happy. The company produces aggregates -- the building blocks of road infrastructure and construction -- such as crushed stone, sand, gravel, and other aggregate-based materials , like ready-mix concrete and asphalt. The company is scheduled to report fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 17. Let's see whether i...
Vulcan Materials (NYSE: VMC) may need to crush its fourth-quarter earnings to keep investors happy. The company produces aggregates -- the building blocks of road infrastructure and construction -- such as crushed stone, sand, gravel, and other aggregate-based materials , like ready-mix concrete and asphalt. The company is scheduled to report fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 17. Let's see whether it makes sense to buy the stock before then. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
The SPDR Gold Shares ( NYSEMKT:GLD ) and the Global X Silver Miners ETF ( NYSEMKT:SIL ) differ most notably in their risk levels, cost structures, and underlying exposures — SIL targets silver mining stocks, while GLD tracks physical gold, making each suited to different investor risk appetites and objectives. GLD and SIL both enable investors to tap into the precious metals segment, but with dist...
The SPDR Gold Shares ( NYSEMKT:GLD ) and the Global X Silver Miners ETF ( NYSEMKT:SIL ) differ most notably in their risk levels, cost structures, and underlying exposures — SIL targets silver mining stocks, while GLD tracks physical gold, making each suited to different investor risk appetites and objectives. GLD and SIL both enable investors to tap into the precious metals segment, but with distinct approaches. SIL invests in a portfolio of silver mining companies, offering equity exposure to the silver value chain. In contrast, GLD is designed to mirror the price of gold bullion, providing direct commodity exposure without the operating risks of mining firms. This comparison unpacks performance, risk, cost, and portfolio makeup to clarify which may appeal for different strategies. Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-year return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Continue reading
After three years of double-digit returns in the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) , some investors may be throwing caution to the wind, and others may be looking more defensively. While conditions don't appear to support a massive crash, pullbacks can and do occur. Investors who are defensive now may be tempted to assume history will repeat itself. History shows that during the last major financial crisi...
After three years of double-digit returns in the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) , some investors may be throwing caution to the wind, and others may be looking more defensively. While conditions don't appear to support a massive crash, pullbacks can and do occur. Investors who are defensive now may be tempted to assume history will repeat itself. History shows that during the last major financial crisis in 2008, just two out of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) were up: Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) and McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) . Continue reading
Arko Petroleum Corp. , shares opened 1.4% below their IPO price, after the fuel wholesaler raised $200 million in a US initial public offering. Shares of the Richmond, Virginia-based subsidiary of convenience store firm Arko Corp. opened at $17.75 each on Thursday, versus an IPO price of $18 apiece. The listing priced at the bottom end of the marketed range. The offering had been upsized by about ...
Arko Petroleum Corp. , shares opened 1.4% below their IPO price, after the fuel wholesaler raised $200 million in a US initial public offering. Shares of the Richmond, Virginia-based subsidiary of convenience store firm Arko Corp. opened at $17.75 each on Thursday, versus an IPO price of $18 apiece. The listing priced at the bottom end of the marketed range. The offering had been upsized by about 600,000 shares. The trading gives Arko Petroleum a market value of about $818.5 million based on the outstanding shares listed in its filings. Arko Petroleum operates in more than 30 US states and delivers fuel to over 1,100 Arko convenience-store gas stations including brands like Fas Mart and E-Z Mart. The firm also distributes fuel to over 2,000 third-party gas stations in the US and distributes wholesale fuel to unstaffed fueling locations serving commercial fleets. Arko Corp. is expected to maintain a majority of the voting power in Arko Petroleum after the listing, the filing shows. Arko Corp. shares fell as much as 2.9% on Thursday. Net income attributable to Arko Petroleum fell to $24.7 million on revenue of $4.27 billion for the nine months ended Sept. 30, from $32.7 million on revenue of $4.92 billion a year earlier, according to the filings. The firm delivered 1.5 billion gallons of fuel in the first nine months of 2025, compared to 2.1 billion gallons in the 2024 full-year period. The fuel company plans to pay a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share after the listing. The offering was led by UBS Group AG , Raymond James Financial Inc. and Stifel Financial Corp . Arko Petroleum shares trade on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol APC.