This article explores the potential impact of AI on the Venture Capital (VC) industry. The advancements in AI, particularly in Generative AI and AI Agents, could fundamentally alter the traditional role of VCs.

AI might automate aspects of due diligence, identify promising startups more efficiently, or even facilitate new funding models that bypass traditional VC firms. The provocative title suggests a significant, potentially existential threat or a profound transformation for the VC industry.

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Researchers at MIT have developed a new 3D printing system capable of producing functional electric motors in approximately three hours for about 50 cents. This innovative approach utilizes a multi-material 3D printer equipped with four distinct extruders, each optimized for specific materials such as electrical conductors, structural polymers, and magnetic compounds.

The system allows for the creation of complete devices layer by layer in a single printing session, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly processes. The only additional step required is the magnetization of the magnetic parts. The team successfully printed a linear motor, which demonstrated performance comparable to or even superior to some conventional hydraulic linear motors.

This breakthrough signifies a potential paradigm shift in electronics manufacturing, moving away from complex, centralized supply chains towards localized, on-demand production. Lead researcher Luis Fernando Velásquez-García envisions significant implications for robotics, automotive, and medical sectors, with future plans to integrate more processes, including magnetization, directly into the printer and explore the creation of rotary motors and other complex electronic devices.

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A new AI company named Simile, inspired by the video game The Sims, has secured $100 million in venture capital to revolutionize public opinion research. Simile aims to develop a foundation model that predicts human behavior by creating "digital twins" or "digital clones" of people.

These AI agents are trained through chat-style interviews with real individuals and enriched with data on consumer habits and behaviors. Market researchers can then interact with these simulated people, asking "infinite questions" without the fatigue associated with traditional polling.

Co-founder and CEO Joon Park co-authored a research paper detailing generative agents populating an interactive sandbox environment inspired by The Sims, where users can interact with 25 agents using natural language. These agents possess overarching desires and interact autonomously. CVS, for instance, is already using Simile's tool to quiz simulated people on topics like pet medicine and plans to scale its "roster" to 100,000 simulated individuals for insights on store layouts and new product designs. Simile also partners with Gallup to simulate policy question polling, aiming for transparent, replicable, and empirically validated results.

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