Grok 4.5 and GLM-5.2 kick off Token Price Wars | E22

What this episode covers

This Week In Startups is made possible by:PAYPAL OPENToday’s show:The price of tokens keeps tumbling down, and it’s changing who controls AI.Grok 4.5 and GLM-5.2 landed within two weeks of one another, offering powerful alternatives at a fraction of frontier prices. But are SpaceXAI’s latest offering and open weight models truly ready to replace Opus, GPT-5.5, and Fable? Are enterprises finally ready to stop renting and start owning their intelligence?On TWiAI Episode 22, Jason and Lon welcome three top founders — Sara Hooker (Adaption Labs), Manu Sharma (Labelbox), and Spiros Xanthos (Resolve AI) — to break down the global AI price war, and what it means for the frontier labs and customers alike. Plus Denis Hassabis’ call for an AI Standards Body, Uber and Waymo duke it out over DC robotaxis, and is SpaceXAI really going to put data centers in orbit any time soon?Guests:Sara Hooker on X: https://x.com/sarahookrAdaption Labs: https://adaptionlabs.ai/Manu Sharma on X: https://x.com/manuaeroLabelbox: https://labelbox.com/Spiros Xanthos on X: https://x.com/spirosxResolve AI: https://resolve.ai/Relevant LinksIntroducing Grok 4.5**:** https://x.ai/news/grok-4-5GLM from Z.ai: https://z.aiArtificial Analysis Intelligence Index: https://artificialanalysis.ai/Demis Hassabis: “A Framework for Frontier AI and the Dawning of a New Age”: https://x.com/demishassabis/status/2076957440109625718Cerebras: https://www.cerebras.ai/Austin Allred post cited by Jason: https://x.com/Austen/status/2076745226387902925TechCrunch coverage of DC autonomous driving bill: https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/13/ubers-robotaxi-lobbying-effort-has-put-it-on-a-collision-course-with-waymo/DoorDash: Meet Dot: https://about.doordash.com/en-us/dotTechCrunch coverage of orbital data center debate: https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/13/sam-altmans-space-data-center-trash-talk-is-what-most-experts-already-believeFalcon 9 booster’s record 36th flight: https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/07/09/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-falcon-9-rocket-on-record-breaking-36th-flight/Timestamps:0:00 A new generation of lower-cost models4:10 Enterprises want their own intelligence stack6:10 Frontier vs. open source: where does the value go?10:03 Is enterprises destined to go small?30:04 Self-improvement as the real fix31:52 Should the AI industry regulate itself?47:14 Uber vs. Waymo in DC1:03:53 Can AI data centers in space really work?1:14:47 You get a plug! Everyone gets a plug!Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.comCheck out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.comSubscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcpFollow Lon:X: https://x.com/lonsFollow Alex:X: https://x.com/alexLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelmFollow Jason:X: https://twitter.com/JasonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanisCheck out all our partner offers: https://partners.launch.co/Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarlandCheck out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanisFollow TWiST:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartupsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartupsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartupsSubstack: https://twistartups.substack.com

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