Hey AI LA Community,

This month, we’re looking at what happens when ambitious ideas move beyond conversation and into action—from autonomous robots built in a matter of hours to bold visions for the future of AI and healthcare. In this edition, you’ll find highlights from our Robot Soccer Cup Hackathon with Qualcomm, special access to Moonshots LIVE, an important Life Summit update, and new events that provide opportunities to learn, build, and connect across Los Angeles.

But first, we wanted to share a look at two recent developments that signal where the AI industry may be heading. Both reflect how AI companies are combining research, talent, product expertise, and computing power to expand what the technology can do—and how quickly it can reach users.

OpenAI Invests in Visual AI Startup Reve

OpenAI announced a new investment in Reve on July 27, giving the visual AI startup additional resources to pursue a broader range of AI products. As part of the agreement, members of Reve’s research team will join OpenAI to help lead its multimodal research efforts. Reve will continue operating independently, maintain its existing products, and remain free to work with models and partners across the AI ecosystem. Read the announcement.

SpaceX Completes Its $60 Billion Acquisition of Cursor

SpaceX completed its all-stock acquisition of AI coding company Cursor on August 14, following a model-training partnership announced in April. By joining SpaceX, Cursor gains access to significantly more computing capacity to train stronger, more economical models. The deal also signals SpaceX’s growing ambitions in frontier AI and its push to turn that intelligence into practical tools for software development. Read Cursor’s announcement.

In just a few hours, participants trained their robots to recognize the ball, navigate the field, and score before facing off in a live, single-elimination tournament.

The day was filled with creative problem-solving, constant testing, last-minute code changes, and plenty of dramatic moments on the pitch. It was exciting to watch each team turn an idea into a working autonomous robot in a matter of hours.

Congratulations to Team MKPT—Kaung Khant, Myat Khant, Phyo Thant, Thet Paing Da Na, and Phone Min Ko—on taking home first place!

Thank you to everyone who built, competed, mentored, and cheered from the sidelines. We’re also grateful to Qualcomm, Arduino, and Edge Impulse for helping us create such a memorable hands-on experience, and to AI LA ambassadors Rita Sargsyan and Grant Hosford for their leadership in bringing the event to life.

Take a look at a few highlights from the day below.

Ten finalists selected from 6,000 submissions will present their visions for the future, with one receiving a $2.5 million grant to bring that vision to life in partnership with Range Media. The evening will also award $2 million to founders who spent 90 days using AI to solve real-world problems—demonstrating their impact through revenue.

Hosted by Peter Diamandis, the event will feature judges including Neil deGrasse Tyson, Neal Stephenson, Palmer Luckey, Cathie Wood, Mark Pincus, Anousheh Ansari, and Logan Kilpatrick.

Only 1,500 seats are available, and nothing is pre-decided or pre-recorded. As a member of the AI LA community, you can skip the application process and choose your preferred admission tier. A small number of seats are also available at a scholarship level for young builders under 25 years of age. Learn more and register at the link below.

Early bird registration is now open for AI LA members. Click the link below to save your spot.

Monday, August 31, 5–7 PM | Santa Monica

Ever wondered what it's like to have a digital twin? AI LA is working with HeyGen in a hands-on workshop where attendees will create their very own avatar, and walk out a video-ready version of themselves.

Wednesday, September 2, 4:30–6:30 PM | El Segundo

Presented by Triggerware AI, ​this event is for those who are creating, deploying, managing or just simply learning about AI Agent technologies. Bring your laptops for an opportunity for hands on agent building. Three speakers from OpenClawLA, TriggerWare AI, and American Honda Motors will also share their practical experiences and insights about AI agents in different use cases.

Wednesday, September 2, 6-8 PM | Highland Park Brewery

Join us for our monthly AI Policy Meetup in Chinatown! This event brings together professionals and enthusiasts from AI, policy, and technology to exchange ideas and explore emerging trends. Whether you’re a policymaker, technologist, researcher, or simply curious about the future of AI, all are welcome to join the conversation.

Monday, September 14, 5-7 PM | Pasadena

​​Join us for a casual evening AI meetup in the heart of Pasadena! This friendly get-together is the perfect opportunity for GenAI enthusiasts, hobbyists, experts, and newcomers alike to connect, share insights, and learn from each other in an informal setting.

AI LA+ members make programs like these possible—and help us create more opportunities for the AI community in Los Angeles to learn, build, and connect. Membership includes complimentary workshops, mixers, exclusive content, and more than $400 in annual event savings. Attend six events, and your membership has already paid for itself.