AI Ponzi Scheme:
"Microsoft-backed Builder.ai collapsed after an internal investigation found evidence of potentially bogus sales and the company revised down revenues to just a quarter of prior estimates.
Builder.ai, one of the UK’s best-funded technology start-ups that raised more than $500mn from prominent backers such as Qatar’s sovereign-wealth fund, informed employees earlier this week that it would commence insolvency proceedings after its lenders called a default.
Lenders stepped in after Builder.ai submitted provisional accounts to its auditor showing large reductions to prior revenue estimates, according to people familiar with the matter.
These figures showed that a prior $220mn estimate for 2024 revenues had been revised to around $55mn, while a previously reported 2023 total sales figure of $180mn would be restated to roughly $45mn, the people added."
https://www.ft.com/content/926f4969-fda7-4e78-b106-4888c8704bda