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Welcome to The Prompt by Kuro House, your daily AI update. Today, we’re diving into some big moves in AI startups, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Let’s get right into it.
First up, a fresh twist on AI billing is shaking up the market. TechCrunch reports Manny Medina’s startup Paid just raised a massive $21.6 million seed round, topping $33 million raised before even hitting Series A. Paid isn’t selling AI agents themselves, but a way for agent makers to charge customers based on the actual value those agents deliver — a model called results-based billing. Medina explains this replaces old SaaS fees with charges tied to real margin saved, helping agent makers avoid losses from unlimited usage fees. Early customers include viral sales startup Artisan and ERP vendor IFS, showing traction across industries. This approach could transform how AI software is monetized as agents quietly work behind the scenes.
Next, let’s talk about a bold new investment strategy in AI-powered services. According to TechCrunch, venture firm General Catalyst is dedicating $1.5 billion to incubate AI-native software companies that then acquire traditional services firms. The goal is to automate 30 to 70 percent of tasks in sectors like legal and IT services, boosting margins dramatically. For example, Titan MSP automated 38% of managed service provider tasks and plans to roll up more companies using those gains. But there’s a catch — a recent study found many AI-generated outputs create extra work, dubbed “workslop,” costing companies millions in lost productivity. Still, General Catalyst believes these challenges validate their hands-on approach of pairing AI experts with industry pros to build profitable, scalable firms.
On the infrastructure front, the AI boom is fueling trillion-dollar deals and massive data center builds. TechCrunch lays out how Nvidia’s CEO estimates $3 to $4 trillion will be spent on AI infrastructure by 2030. Microsoft’s $14 billion investment in OpenAI kicked off this wave, with Oracle now signing jaw-dropping $30 billion and $300 billion cloud compute deals with OpenAI. Meta is pouring $600 billion into U.S. infrastructure through 2028, including a $10 billion data center powered by nuclear energy in Louisiana. Meanwhile, a massive joint venture called Stargate, involving SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle, aims to build $500 billion in AI infrastructure, though it’s facing some hurdles. These deals show just how high the stakes are in powering the AI revolution.
Cybersecurity is evolving fast as AI transforms both defense and attack. Wiz’s chief technologist Ami Luttwak told TechCrunch that AI is now used by attackers via vibe coding and prompt-based exploits, expanding the attack surface dramatically. Recent breaches, like the one at AI chatbot startup Drift, exposed sensitive Salesforce data by abusing AI-generated tokens. Luttwak warns startups to bake security in from day one, including compliance and architecture that keeps customer data safe within their environments. Wiz itself has launched AI-powered tools like Wiz Code and Wiz Defend to help companies secure their cloud environments against these new threats. He calls this a new era requiring a rethink of every aspect of cybersecurity to keep pace with AI-driven attacks.
Finally, a quick look at the future of AI in services and security. While AI promises automation and efficiency, the reality includes hidden costs like workslop and new vulnerabilities. Innovators like Paid and General Catalyst are tackling monetization and scaling, while companies like Wiz focus on securing this rapidly changing landscape. It’s clear AI’s impact is profound, but success depends on smart implementation and constant vigilance.
That’s all for today’s episode of The Prompt by Kuro House. Thanks for tuning in and keeping up with the fast-moving world of AI. We’ll be back tomorrow with more insights and updates. Until then, stay curious and stay secure.
