Latest news with #JonathanRoss
TechCrunch
22 minutes ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Nvidia AI chip challenger Groq said to be nearing new fundraising at $6B valuation
In Brief AI chip startup Groq is in talks to raise a fresh $600 million at a near $6 billion valuation, sources tell Bloomberg, although the deal isn't yet final and terms could change. Groq raised $640 million at a $2.8 billion valuation in November 2024, making this double the valuation in about nine months. Groq previously raised about $1 billion. The new round is led by Austin-based firm Disruptive, Bloomberg reports. The November round was led by Blackrock, with participation from Neuberger Berman, Type One Ventures, Cisco, KDDI, and Samsung Catalyst Fund. Groq was founded by Jonathan Ross, who previously worked at Google developing its Tensor Processing Unit chip. The startup emerged from stealth in 2016. This new raise comes after Groq announced in May an exclusive partnership with Bell Canada to power the telco's large AI infrastructure project. In April, Groq partnered with Meta to offer AI infrastructure to speed Llama 4 inference. Neither Disruptive nor Groq immediately returned our request for comment.
Metro
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
The Celebrity Traitors 'confirmed' cast salaries make me feel incredibly uneasy
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video When the cast of the first-ever celebrity edition of Claudia Winkleman's cloak and dagger reality series, The Traitors, was announced in May, no one could quite believe what they were reading. Months later, I'll still be going about my day and remember Sir Stephen Fry, Jonathan Ross, Charlotte Church, and Clare Balding will be gallivanting around a Scottish castle together and I'm thankful I'm alive to see it. The full line-up is astonishing, an incredible feat for Studio Lambert, which is the production company behind the show, which is currently at the top of its game. They also do Race Across The World, arguably the second-biggest reality TV series in the UK right now. In theory, I always imagined there would be a stream of A-list talent queuing up to take part in the first ever Celebrity Traitors. But still, it felt like a miracle they managed to pull off what must be the best line-up in celebrity reality television history. Now that miracle seems even more unreal. We don't have a fixed release date yet, but Celebrity Traitors is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn. We'll update you when we know more! Comedian Alan Carr Singer and songwriter Cat Burns Actor Celia Imrie Singer Charlotte Church Broadcaster Clare Balding Historian David Olusoga Former England rugby player Joe Marler Comedian Joe Wilkinson Presenter Jonathan Ross Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway Comedian Lucy Beaumont Actor Mark Bonnar Actor and comedian Nick Mohammed Content creator Niko Omilana Singer and songwriter Paloma Faith Actor Ruth Codd Actor and presenter Stephen Fry Actor and comedian Tameka Empson Former professional diver Tom Daley The prize money for winning Celebrity Traitors will be £100,000, which will go the the charity of the winner's choosing. On Tuesday's episode of The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, host Marina Hyde reported that every single star taking part will be paid a flat rate of £40,000. According to Hyde's sources, Sir Stephen Fry – by far the show's biggest booking – will receive exactly the same fee as actress Ruth Codd, best known for starring in Netflix's 2022 series The Midnight Club. Want to get all the latest news and predictions for the best and most dramatic show this new year? Join our The Traitors WhatsApp channel for live episode coverage, behind-the-scenes gossip and a place to recover from all the cliffhangers. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! This is despite the former easily being the biggest draw for audiences, likely to even lure in viewers who have never seen The Traitors. Everyone is playing the same game, has made the same commitment, and will be valued in exactly the same way. My immediate reaction is that I'm uncomfortable – but let me get to the positives first. A flat-rate – if true – is a big equaliser, meaning no big egos to match. More often than not, the highest-paid 'talent' on reality TV can be a car-crash. Just this year, Mickey Rourke was said to have been paid £500,000 to be confined to a compound with the likes of Jojo Siwa and former Conservative MP Michael Fabricant in Celebrity Big Brother. He lasted less than a week and had to be removed from the house for 'unacceptable behaviour'. In 2023, Nigel Farage was reportedly paid £1.5 million for I'm A Celebrity. Sure, he ended up coming third, but his appearance in the jungle alone threatened to tarnish the show for good. So a flat rate for the Celebrity Traitors season would genuinely be a very welcome shift in direction. Still, it sits uncomfortably with me that some of The Celebrity Traitors cast are being paid at all, especially when it's being pitched as a game for charity — with a maximum of £100,000 being donated to the winner's chosen cause. In total, the cast is reportedly being paid £760,000 – that's £660,000 more than the money that can possibly be raised for the charity or charities who benefit from a winning celebrity. Should three faithful come out on top at the end, the flat £40,000 rate would mean they've individually been paid more than they've raised for their charity, which feels disingenuous and actually quite vulgar. It's been reported previously that The Traitors contestants in the regular civilian seasons are only compensated for their time at a rate of around £100 a day, unless they win the eventual prize. As evidenced by the emotional stories of why they want to win, it's clear many of them likely need it a lot more than the cast playing the celebrity version. Granted, it's a life-changing experience: Minah Shannon, the true hero of season 3, has just gone on to land a slot on BBC Radio 1, while Alexander Dragonetti hosted his own Friday night series on Classic FM. Many contestants make a quick buck through endorsements, appearances, and a substantial boost in social media followers, but they can give up their jobs and are only paid lost wages during filming. Yes, they have the chance to walk away with a huge amount of money – but when split between other Faithfuls, it's roughly the same as the celebrities who are being paid anyway. Of course, I appreciate some of the celebrity line-up will have had to move projects or even drop projects to make it work. I'm also sure playing The Traitors for two weeks isn't always the jolly it appears to be on TV. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video And I have no doubt some of the cast will donate their fee to the charity of their choice anyway. Sir Stephen Fry and Jonathan Ross are worth tens of millions and have done plenty of charity work for free – I'd be amazed and honestly very disappointed if they actually took any of their fee home with them. For other names on the bill, the rumoured £40,000 probably means a lot more. Charlotte Church recently admitted she blew her £25million fortune and says she is 'no longer a millionaire'. I mean, yes, join the club – but also £40,000 is a lot of money to anyone who isn't rolling in it. Admittedly, it's naïve of me to think the cast won't have been paid at all or that celebrities don't lend their name and the value it has to campaigns and charities without making a few bob. But it does make me uncomfortable. I'm A Celebrity doesn't donate any prize money to charity, which isn't exactly more honourable, but at least there's no pretence. The stars on that show are very open about taking part for the money and there's nothing wrong with that. I'd want six-figures too to spend a day with Nigel Farage, let alone three weeks. So what's the solution? The cast signs up without pay? I'm sure Studio Lambert could have found an all-star cast of talent that would genuinely want to take part for the love of the game and their charity without being paid a dime. More Trending But perhaps I'd feel more comfortable if the prize to the charity was guaranteed to be larger than the pay to the celebrity. The format of The Traitors is unbeatable. Combined with the star power of this line-up, I can't imagine anything else will be as popular on television this year. I can't even think of anything, at least in entertainment, that will come close. If the show's going to fork out the cash on celebs to take part, then maybe it should also be willing to double the prize pot, bringing in some real jeopardy for the celebs so you'd make a better – and fairer – show. View More » Metro approached the BBC and Studio Lambert who both declined to comment Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: I've heard enough words – I want more Government action on Israel-Palestine MORE: BBC confirms decision on MasterChef series filmed with John Torode and Gregg Wallace MORE: EastEnders fans 'obsessed' as Walford legend returns to TV screens
South Wales Guardian
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Hannah Waddingham and Tim Minchin make Celebrity Gogglebox debut
They will commentate on a range of TV shows during Friday's episode of the Channel 4 reality spin-off series. They join the likes of TV presenter Alison Hammond, comedian Jonathan Ross, TV personality Rylan Clark, and broadcasters Sara Cox and Fearne Cotton, who appeared in the most recent series. Minchin, who is best known for writing the music and lyrics for Matilda The Musical, based on Roald Dahl's novel, said: 'Things I love: cheese, rose, comfy couches, Hannah Waddingham. 'In combining them, I achieved a life-goal I didn't know existed. Thank you, Gogglebox.' Matilda debuted in London's West End in 2011 and later transferred to Broadway before touring globally and winning a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards and four Tony Awards. The musical was recently adapted into a film starring Emma Thompson, Stephen Graham and Lashana Lynch. He will join actress and singer Waddingham, 50, who rose to fame after starring as Rebecca Welton in the Apple TV series Ted Lasso, which won her the outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series Emmy award in 2021. She has since appeared in the latest Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning film, alongside Hollywood star Tom Cruise, and voiced characters in The Garfield Movie, Lilo & Stich and Smurfs. Gogglebox has been running on Channel 4 since 2013 and spawned more than 20 series, including spin-offs. Celebrity Gogglebox airs on Channel 4 on Friday at 9pm.
Leader Live
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Hannah Waddingham and Tim Minchin make Celebrity Gogglebox debut
They will commentate on a range of TV shows during Friday's episode of the Channel 4 reality spin-off series. They join the likes of TV presenter Alison Hammond, comedian Jonathan Ross, TV personality Rylan Clark, and broadcasters Sara Cox and Fearne Cotton, who appeared in the most recent series. Minchin, who is best known for writing the music and lyrics for Matilda The Musical, based on Roald Dahl's novel, said: 'Things I love: cheese, rose, comfy couches, Hannah Waddingham. 'In combining them, I achieved a life-goal I didn't know existed. Thank you, Gogglebox.' Matilda debuted in London's West End in 2011 and later transferred to Broadway before touring globally and winning a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards and four Tony Awards. The musical was recently adapted into a film starring Emma Thompson, Stephen Graham and Lashana Lynch. He will join actress and singer Waddingham, 50, who rose to fame after starring as Rebecca Welton in the Apple TV series Ted Lasso, which won her the outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series Emmy award in 2021. She has since appeared in the latest Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning film, alongside Hollywood star Tom Cruise, and voiced characters in The Garfield Movie, Lilo & Stich and Smurfs. Gogglebox has been running on Channel 4 since 2013 and spawned more than 20 series, including spin-offs. Celebrity Gogglebox airs on Channel 4 on Friday at 9pm.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Groq launches its first European data centre in Helsinki
US-based artificial intelligence (AI) chipmaker Groq has unveiled a new data centre in Helsinki, Finland. The new facility will cater to the growing demand for AI inference services in the European region. Additionally, it will offer reduced latency, quicker response times, and enhanced data governance. The new data centre, Groq's first in Europe, has been established in partnership with US-based Equinix, a global digital infrastructure company. It further solidifies the association between both companies, building on their previous site in Dallas, Texas, US. Jonathan Ross, CEO and founder of Groq, remarked that the new European data centre offers the lowest possible latency and ready infrastructure. "As demand for AI inference continues at an ever-increasing pace, we know that those building fast need more – more capacity, more efficiency, and with a cost that scales,' he further added. Regina Donato Dahlstrom, managing director for the Nordics at Equinix, reaffirmed Finland as a standout choice for hosting the new data centre. She attributed it to the country's sustainable energy policies, free cooling, and reliable power grid. "Combining Groq's cutting-edge technology with Equinix's global infrastructure and vendor-neutral connectivity solutions enables efficient AI inference at scale,' she added. Headquartered in the US state of California, Groq builds AI accelerator application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). It has around 500 employees globally. Last year, it announced an expansion in Saudi Arabia. "Groq launches its first European data centre in Helsinki" was originally created and published by Investment Monitor, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
