OpenAI Unveils Codex AI Coding Agent; Moonvalley Secures $53M in Funding
Key Takeaways
- OpenAI launched Codex AI agent for ChatGPT users to streamline software development.
- Moonvalley secured $53M, bringing total funding to $124M for AI video startup.
- Cohere acquires Ottogrid, specializing in enterprise tools for automating market research.
- Julius, AI data analyst, attracts 2M users; HBS adopts it for new course.
- Cartwheel raises $10M to simplify 3D animation led by OpenAI and Google veterans.
Top Stories
OpenAI launches Codex AI agent for coders
On May 16, 2025, OpenAI launched Codex, a new AI agent for ChatGPT users designed to streamline software development. Codex, still in early stages with limited functionality, will be able to write software features, fix bugs, and run tests, and will initially be released as a 'research preview' to paid ChatGPT Pro, Enterprise, and Team users.
Moonvalley secures $53M, total funding $124M
On May 16, 2025, Los Angeles-based AI video startup Moonvalley announced approximately $53 million in new funding from 14 unnamed investors. This brings their total funding to around $124 million, including a previous $70 million seed round in November.
Cohere acquires Ottogrid for market research automation
On May 16, 2025, AI startup Cohere acquired Ottogrid, a Vancouver-based platform specializing in enterprise tools for automating market research. Ottogrid will discontinue its product as a result of the acquisition.
Julius: 2M users, HBS adoption, seed round
On May 15, 2025, Julius, an AI data analyst startup founded by Rahul Sonwalkar, announced it has attracted over 2 million registered users and raised a seed round led by Bessemer Venture Partners’ Talia Goldberg. Harvard Business School (HBS) adopted Julius for its new course, Data Science and AI for Leaders.
Cartwheel raises $10M to simplify 3D animation
On May 15, 2025, AI startup Cartwheel, led by OpenAI and Google veterans, secured $10 million in funding. The funding aims to simplify the process of 3D animation.
Regulation Watch
Moonvalley to offer content removal, indemnity policy
On May 16, 2025, Moonvalley announced its intention to allow creators to request content removal, enable data deletion, and offer an indemnity policy to protect users from copyright issues. Like OpenAI’s Sora, Moonvalley’s models will block NSFW content and prevent generating videos of specific individuals or celebrities.
Funding Flash
Hedra raises $32M from a16z for talking baby podcasts
Leadership Shuffle
Moonvalley's founding team includes DeepMind scientists
On May 16, 2025, Moonvalley's founding team was reported to include Naeem Talukdar (formerly of Zapier), Mateusz Malinowski and Mik Binkowski (former DeepMind scientists), John Thomas (COO), and Bryn Mooser (co-founder).
Market Movers
TechCrunch Sessions: AI event on June 5 in Berkeley
TechCrunch Sessions: AI will be held on June 5, 2025, in Berkeley, California. The event will feature experts from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere, with tickets priced at $292.
AI video generator market becoming saturated
On May 16, 2025, reports indicated that the AI video generator market is becoming saturated. The market includes startups like Runway, Lightricks, Genmo, Pika, Higgsfield, Kling, and Luma, as well as tech giants like OpenAI, Alibaba, and Google.
Strategic Alliances
Ottogrid to focus on Cohere’s ChatGPT-style application
On May 16, 2025, it was reported that Ottogrid will focus on Cohere’s ChatGPT-style application, North. Cohere CEO Aidan Gomez is incorporating Ottogrid’s product into North.
Moonvalley collaborates on video licensing, datasets
On May 16, 2025, it was reported that Moonvalley is collaborating with partners to manage licensing and package videos into datasets, similar to the approaches of Bria and Adobe.
Tech Breakthroughs
Moonvalley's Marey model offers customization, 'HD' clips
On May 16, 2025, Moonvalley reported that its Marey model, built with Asteria, offers customization and can generate 'HD' clips up to 30 seconds. Moonvalley claims it’s also lower risk than some other video-generation models from a legal perspective.