# Meta’s ‘open’ AI, and a $250M deal gone very wrong > Source: > Published: 2026-08-14 14:00:00+00:00 [Meta released Glimmer this week](https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/10/metas-new-glimmer-ai-model-offers-a-hint-at-zuckerbergs-personal-intelligence-vision/), an open-weight AI model anyone can download and run on their own hardware — a contrast to Muse Spark, the company’s more powerful model that stays locked behind its own APIs. The release landed alongside [a letter from Mark Zuckerberg](https://www.meta.com/thefutureisforeveryone/?im_ref=XUsSSBwtJxyZWKNUNs1271dQUkr0SryZI2V03U0&sharedid=techcrunch.com&irpid=10078&adid=3865253&ircid=51596&utm_source=impact&prodsku=&irgwc=1&afsrc=1) arguing AI should be “for everyone” rather than controlled by a handful of labs, but as Equity’s hosts point out, the vision comes with [some asterisks](https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/10/mark-zuckerbergs-ai-manifesto-is-exactly-why-people-dont-like-ai/). On this episode of TechCrunch’s[ Equity](https://techcrunch.com/podcasts/equity/) podcast, Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Rebecca Bellan take a look at Glimmer, Zuckerberg’s 6,500-word manifesto, and more of the week’s headlines, from the true cost of the AI industry’s energy needs to a $250M acquisition gone very wrong. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: - Who’s on the market for [a $300 cocktail robot](https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/13/bartesian-duet-cocktail-maker-review/)? - Why Anthropic is [adding watermarks](https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/11/anthropic-says-it-will-watermark-text-generated-by-its-ai-models/)to its generated text, and users are not happy. - The potential cost [Amazon’s planned data center](https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/08/planned-amazon-data-center-could-become-the-biggest-climate-polluter-in-the-u-s/)in Texas and the startups racing to fix the grid, including[Form Energy’s $750M raise](https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/12/form-energy-raises-750m-to-build-more-100-hour-batteries-for-the-grid/)for 100-hour batteries,[Reservoir’s $8M bet](https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/12/reservoir-raises-8m-to-make-water-heaters-that-people-and-the-grid-will-actually-want/)on smarter water heaters, and[Discovered Materials’](https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/10/discovered-materials-is-playing-ai-whack-a-mole-to-hunt-cooler-chips/)hunt for cooler chips. - Why [Joby Aviation’s $500M acquisition](https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/11/joby-aviation-builds-out-defense-business-with-500m-acquisition/)of a defense contractor reminds Kirsten of its Blade deal last year — and what the 2028 LA Olympics have to do with it. - How a $250M deal between video-clipping startup VideoVerse and sports publisher Minute Media [collapsed amidst allegedly forged documents](https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/12/how-a-250-million-acquisition-collapsed-into-allegations-of-fraud-and-forged-signatures/), multiple lawsuits, and a CEO nobody can reach. Subscribe to Equity on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@TechCrunch),[ Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1215439780),[ Overcast](https://overcast.fm/itunes1215439780/equity),[ Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/5IEYLip3eDppcOmy5DmphC?si=rZDFHv2sQUul_g94iCRgpQ) and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on[ X](https://twitter.com/EquityPod) and[ Threads](https://www.threads.net/@equitypod), at @EquityPod.