O.XYZ, a blockchain and AI firm touting crypto and synthetic intelligence providers, is dealing with allegations of falsely inflating its technological claims and fascinating in aggressive techniques to suppress dissent inside the firm.
Whereas founder Ahmad Shadid has defended each his and the corporate’s actions, a number of sources aware of the corporate’s operations who spoke with Decrypt have refuted public claims, alleging widespread misrepresentation of O.XYZ’s capabilities.
O.XYZ positions itself as a community-owned “Tremendous AI” ecosystem. The corporate claims to leverage substantial GPU computing energy, purportedly deploying tens of 1000’s of open-source fashions, enabling it to execute a big selection of duties.
Sources declare the corporate has exaggerated its capabilities, falsely stating it may connect with over 100,000 AI fashions, runs 20 instances sooner than opponents, and owns highly effective {hardware} it doesn’t really possess.
It’s additionally accused of inflating the worth of its satellite tv for pc program and misrepresenting its token launch, elevating questions on transparency and accountability.
Because of these allegations, sources declare holders of the corporate’s not too long ago launched O.XYZ token are susceptible to being harmed.
In an emailed assertion to Decrypt, Shadid issued an in depth response to issues raised in regards to the firm’s claims, insisting that O.XYZ’s promotional language is “forward-looking” and aligned with its improvement roadmap.
Nonetheless, sources who spoke with Decrypt dispute this characterization, pointing to supplies on O.XYZ’s web site and investor displays that describe capabilities as present slightly than aspirational.
In June, Shadid stepped down as CEO of Solana-based decentralized infrastructure supplier IO.internet—an organization he based—amid allegations surrounding his previous and misreported firm metrics, citing his choice as a transfer to cut back distractions and concentrate on the corporate’s progress.
A public assertion Shadid printed amid his departure from IO has since been deleted from Twitter (aka X). To keep away from conflicts and distance itself from Shadid, IO agreed to supply a “six-figure severance,” one supply aware of the matter advised Decrypt. IO earlier this yr raised $30 million in a Collection A spherical from notable crypto trade traders, together with Hack VC, Solana Labs, Aptos Labs, Multicoin Capital, and Animoca Manufacturers.
A number of sources who’ve beforehand labored with Shadid described him as a “good, succesful particular person” who manages each time to assemble a extremely skilled workforce for the job. Nonetheless, each a former worker and an investor who wished to not be named acknowledged they might “by no means work with Shadid once more.”
Disputed infrastructure and efficiency claims
In response to allegations that O.XYZ is exaggerating its capabilities, Shadid highlighted the corporate’s investments in U.S.-based Cerebras Techniques {hardware} and plans to deploy cutting-edge AI information facilities, asserting that its infrastructure helps “20x sooner” AI processing. He cited benchmarks of Cerebras WSE-3 chips as proof of O.XYZ’s efficiency leap.
Sources dismissed these claims as “patently false,” as an alternative alleging O.XYZ has but to amass the mandatory {hardware} for such operations, regardless of Shadid’s claims of “superior talks” with Cerebras.
“There’s no inner benchmarking supporting the 20x determine,” one supply stated, who famous that the corporate’s routing expertise would possibly really improve latency slightly than scale back it.
Deceptive Starlink and partnership claims
O.XYZ has additionally promoted itself as being powered by SpaceX’s Starlink, with Shadid emphasizing the expertise’s integration inside the firm’s operations.
He additional clarified that the declare refers to O.XYZ’s ongoing infrastructure roadmap, together with plans for “maritime connectivity options” and future AI capabilities in house slated for 2026.
Nonetheless, sources strongly contest that narrative. As a substitute, they assert Starlink is just used for fundamental web connectivity in distant areas and performs no function in AI processing.
“No satellite tv for pc designs exist inside the firm, and there’s no engineering workforce able to growing such capabilities,” one supply advised Decrypt. They added that there are not any ongoing discussions with SpaceX, regardless of the impression created in advertising supplies.
Shadid’s responses additionally addressed the show of logos from main organizations comparable to OpenAI and Neuralink, claiming they had been used to signify contributors’ backgrounds slightly than formal partnerships.
Nonetheless, sources allege that this apply misleads traders and prospects, noting that contributors requested their logos be eliminated after leaving the corporate—a request that allegedly has but to be resolved.
Controversy round token launch
The corporate’s O.XYZ token launch on October 15 throughout a number of “lesser-known” exchanges has been one other flashpoint. Whereas the token solely averages round $23,000 in every day buying and selling quantity throughout all exchanges—with a mere $8.1 million totally diluted token provide valuation—sources say it is solely a matter of time earlier than token holders are harmed.
“There isn’t any approach to make use of the token to pay for something like API requires the corporate AI, nor does the token legally entitle the holder to any property of the corporate,” one of many sources stated.
Shadid characterised the “preliminary liquidity pool activation” as occurring throughout a “testing section,” which was “instantly communicated to the neighborhood.”
“After an intensive market situation evaluation, we made a strategic choice to proceed with the launch slightly than withdraw the liquidity, successfully advancing our deliberate token launch timeline,” Shadid stated.
He added: “This choice was communicated transparently by means of a number of channels, together with Discord and inner communications,” he stated. “Whereas the preliminary activation was unplanned, our subsequent choice to keep up the token’s availability was deliberate and strategic. We keep complete documentation of all communications all through this course of, demonstrating our dedication to transparency with each our neighborhood and stakeholders.”
One former worker who didn’t want to be named, for worry of reprisal, shared that they had been provided monetary incentives tied to a non-disclosure settlement after questioning the moral implications of the launch.
One other supply alleged, “Shadid was testing buying and selling algorithms when the ‘accident’ occurred.”
“Was testing my O.CAPITAL market maker quant methods, and it created a pool on Uniswap, and tokens went stay by mistake,” based on a screenshot reviewed by Decrypt of a message from Shadid posted to a common Slack channel for all staff to see. “I can’t take it down.”
Secret recordings additionally reviewed by Decrypt seem to contradict Shadid’s clarification. Sources say the token launch was as an alternative deliberate, and staff had been advised differing tales—some that it was intentional, others that it was a “mistake.”
“Completely in opposition to what the public-facing firm docs would have folks imagine with traces of transparency and neighborhood possession,” one supply stated. “Ahmad owns all of the tokens successfully and might dump them at a whim.”
Allegations of retaliatory practices
Sources declare that O.XYZ has used non-disclosure agreements to suppress dissent. They described a tradition of retaliation, together with terminations following inquiries into the corporate’s operations.
“The NDAs are being weaponized to silence legit issues,” one supply alleged.
Shadid defended the corporate’s contractor-based employment mannequin and strict confidentiality agreements, stating these practices are commonplace within the trade.
Shadid has circuitously addressed the allegations of retaliation, however emphasised O.XYZ’s dedication to “clear, correct communication” and “complete documentation” of its strategic targets.
In any case, the allegations have led a number of former staff and contributors to hunt authorized counsel. Sources Decrypt spoke to say these former staff are actually exploring additional choices to make clear O.XYZ’s alleged practices.
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