Sequoia Is Backing Multiple AI Competitors and That Changes Everything | Austin's AI Newsletter

Hey friends, Austin here.

Quick heads up before you dive in. This is one of those weeks where it helps to zoom out.

Longstanding rules are breaking. AI tools are past the hype phase.
And platforms are quietly reshuffling where attention and leverage actually live.

This isn’t about chasing trends.
It’s about reading signals.

Let’s get into it.

In This Week’s Issue

• Breaking News: Sequoia just broke the biggest rule in AI investing

• Syllaby: Where faceless video creation actually turns into quality content

• This Week in AI: Real-world wins, overdue product launches, and a social shift

• Top AI Tools: Build faster, create smarter, look better

• This is a meme

Breaking News: Sequoia Just Broke the Biggest Rule in AI Investing

This is one of those “pay attention” moments.

Sequoia Capital — yes, that Sequoia — is reportedly investing in Anthropic, the company behind Claude…while already backing other major AI players.

That’s a big deal.

For decades, top-tier VCs followed one unwritten rule:
👉 Never back direct competitors.
Pick a horse. Commit. Stay loyal.

Sequoia just said, “Nah.”

Here’s what’s really happening:

• The round could value Anthropic north of $25B

• Sequoia is openly betting on multiple AI winners, not one

• AI is officially too big, too fast, and too important to play favorites anymore

Why this matters:

• This signals a massive shift in how AI will be built, funded, and scaled.

• There won’t be one AI company.

• There won’t be one model.

• There won’t be one winner.

• There will be ecosystems.

And if you’re a creator, founder, or builder, this changes how you think about:

• which tools you use
• which platforms you depend on
• and how future-proof your stack really is

This isn’t just VC drama.

It’s confirmation that AI is entering its multi-giant era.

👉 Read the full story here

Sponsored by Syllaby

Editing Faceless Videos Is Where the Magic Actually Happens 🎬

Quick reminder in case you missed this part 👀
Generating a faceless video in Syllaby is just step one.
The real power is what you can do after it’s created.

1️⃣ Swap images instantly

Don’t like a scene? Click it. Replace the image. Keep the rest of the video intact.

2️⃣ Add motion (your way)

• Apply motion to all images at once

• Or select specific scenes and add motion only there

• Want more control? Just describe the motion per scene (zoom, pan, cinematic drift, etc.)

3️⃣ Regenerate any image with a new prompt

Describe what you want instead and regenerate that single scene—no need to rebuild the whole video.

4️⃣ Reuse your assets

Access your previously generated images and reuse them across videos for consistency.

5️⃣ Upload your own media

Drop in your own images or video clips whenever you want.

6️⃣ Mix in stock video clips

Select stock footage directly inside the editor to blend realism with AI visuals.

Bottom line:

This isn’t “generate and pray.”
It’s generate → refine → polish → publish.

If you’re trying to build faceless content that actually looks intentional (and not slapped together), this editor is doing a lot more work than people realize.

👉 Log into Syllaby, open any Faceless Video, and click Edit.
That’s where the real upgrade is.

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This Week in AI - Real-World Wins, Long-Requested Apps, and a Social Media Flip

1. AI Just Got FDA-Approved for Fetal Ultrasounds 🩺🤖

This one actually matters.

Biotics AI just received FDA approval for its AI-powered fetal ultrasound product — meaning AI is now officially assisting doctors with real, regulated medical imaging.

Why that’s huge:

• AI helps detect abnormalities earlier and more accurately

• Faster scans, better outcomes, less guesswork

• FDA approval = this isn’t a demo anymore — it’s real medicine

This is AI moving from “cool tech” to life-impacting infrastructure.

👉 Read more

2. Cal.com Finally Did the Thing Everyone Asked For 📅📱

After four years of requests, Cal.com just launched:

• Native iOS & Android apps

• Browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge

Translation:
Your scheduling workflow just got way smoother — no more duct-taping tabs together.

Why it matters:

• Faster booking

• Real mobile-first control

• Scheduling that actually fits how people work now

This is one of those updates that quietly saves hours every week.

👉 Try cal.com/app

3.  Threads Just Passed X in Daily Mobile Users 👀📉

Yep — it happened.
New data shows Threads has officially overtaken X in daily mobile users.

What this signals:

• Creators are shifting where they spend attention

• X’s dominance isn’t guaranteed anymore

• Threads is becoming a serious distribution channel, not a side app

This isn’t about loyalty.
It’s about where the eyeballs actually are.

👉 Read more

Top AI Tools of the Week — Build Faster, Create Smarter, Look Better

1. GoHighLevel — One Platform to Run the Whole Show

If your business runs on five tabs, three logins, and pure hope… this fixes that.

GoHighLevel replaces funnels, CRM, email, SMS, scheduling, and automation with one clean system that actually scales.

• All-in-one, no-code setup

• Built for agencies, solopreneurs, and lean teams

• Cut software costs (and mental clutter) fast

👉 Try GoHighLevel

2. Pocket Communication Coach — Say the Right Thing, When It Matters

You know that moment after a conversation when you think,
“Wow… I should’ve said that way better.”

Pocket Communication Coach fixes that in real time.

• Live feedback on tone, clarity, and confidence

• Perfect for pitches, meetings, and tough convos

• Sounds like you — just sharper

It’s basically a confidence upgrade you carry in your pocket.

👉 Become a Communication Pro

3. Tella — Screen Recording That Actually Looks Good

Loom walked so Tella could sprint.

Tella lets you record your screen + camera and instantly layer in clean layouts, motion, and polish — without editing hell.

• Screen + cam recording that looks designer-made

• Built-in layouts, transitions, and branding

• One-click sharing for demos, tutorials, or socials

Perfect for onboarding, product demos, or that “quick video” that somehow needs to look professional.

👉 Try Tella

This Is a Meme.

Turns out the cheapest hobby in adulthood is… staying home.

Here’s the throughline this week:

The old rules aren’t just bending, they’re gone.

Top VCs are backing competitors.
AI is moving from “cool demo” to regulated, real-world impact.
Creators are migrating platforms based on attention, not loyalty.
And the tools that win aren’t the flashiest, they’re the ones that actually save time, reduce friction, and compound effort.

If you’re building in 2026, the advantage isn’t picking one platform or one tool and hoping it survives.

It’s staying flexible. Stacking systems.
And choosing tools that work with you instead of creating more work.

That’s the play.

As always, appreciate you reading, building, and staying curious.

Stay awesome,
Austin Armstrong, CEO
Syllaby, Inc.