Feliz inicio de semana comunidad, que sea una semana muy agradable y perfecta para todos, además todo lo que se proponga de cumplan. Éxitos y que el hive siga subiendo.
This is the #threadcast for Day 139 of the #foodtalk on Leo 11/11/2024 for 10/11/2024. It's time for some meal inspirations and food conversation. Don't forget to use #foodtalk in your comments. Discussion
Be part of the Food Talk Show On Leo. Here is Day 138 that leads you to the previous threadcasts.
Share your meals.
Do you plan your weekly meals?
Share your food experiences.
Share other food-related content and ask questions about food.
More about food with tips and tricks will be dropped in the threadcast. Upvote the comments you find interesting & connect with others. Let's have fun. #foodie
Feijoada, Brazil's national dish, has a rich and complex history that reflects the country's cultural and culinary heritage. The origins of feijoada are not well-documented, but historians and food experts have pieced together a narrative based on available records and oral traditions.
African Roots: Feijoada's precursor was likely a traditional African dish brought to Brazil by enslaved West Africans, particularly from the Yoruba and Bantu peoples. In Africa, beans were a staple food, and cooking them with meat and spices was a common practice.
Influence of Indigenous and European Cuisines: With the arrival of Portuguese colonizers and indigenous peoples, African culinary traditions merged with European and Native American influences. The Portuguese introduced pork and beef, while indigenous peoples contributed their knowledge of local ingredients and cooking techniques.
Slavery and Plantation Life: Enslaved Africans in Brazil created feijoada as a nourishing and flavorful meal using leftover and discarded ingredients from plantation kitchens. They cooked beans with scraps of meat, such as pork ears, tails, and feet, which were considered unfit for the masters' tables.
Evolution and Regional Variations: Over time, feijoada spread throughout Brazil, adapting to regional tastes and ingredients. Different versions emerged, such as:
Feijoada à baiana (Bahian-style): Includes coconut milk and spices.
Feijoada carioca (Rio-style): Features salted beef and pork.
Feijoada mineira (Minas Gerais-style): Uses pork and adds vegetables.
While it's impossible to pinpoint an exact date or person responsible for "inventing" feijoada, it's clear that this beloved dish resulted from the culinary creativity and resilience of enslaved Africans and their descendants in Brazil.
Determining the “best” foods in the world is subjective and often influenced by personal taste, cultural background and culinary traditions. However, here are 10 popular and iconic dishes from around the world that are widely considered delicious and sought after:
I agree to this. A particular food can be delicious and considered the best in a country, but it might not be the same to another person from another country.
Welcome Noah, pleased to have you in the #foodtalk show on Leo. It's okay not to know how to cook and it's good to know you have interest in learning how to cook. You will learn a lot if you visit this threadcast daily.
Welcome friends to another episode of the #foodtalk on Leo. Join in for food discussion and share the foods you eat in your location, let's learn from eachother.
Start your morning off on the right note with these healthy breakfasts. From oats to smoothies, these recipes are packed with fruit, including apples, berries and bananas. Plus, each recipe includes fiber and protein to help you feel full and energized for your day ahead.
Make-Ahead Smoothie Freezer Packs
Assemble these smoothie packs and keep them in the freezer for up to three months. When you're ready, add the smoothie pack ingredients to a blender with a liquid of your choice, blend and you've got breakfast in minutes. Check them out in the comments. 👇
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthybreakfast #breakfastideas #Smoothie
Quick-Cooking Oats
You can easily double or triple this recipe to make multiple servings for the week. Portion the oatmeal into microwave-safe Mason jars and reheat at the office or whenever you're ready to eat. Add your favorite toppings, like fresh berries or nuts, and enjoy.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthybreakfast #breakfastideas #Oats
This is INLEO. It has short form threadsand long form posts like Substack does but we earn a token based on the likes we get on our posts. We can stake that token to have more influence in the ecosystem or we can *cash out for BTC or national currencies.
It feels more like a society than it does a social media platform There are lots of awesome people and things going on here so feel free to ask me any questions you have 🔥 🐢 🌊🧙♂️
I'm new here and I read intro to Hive but this is the best introduction and description anyone could ever give about InLeo. Thanks man you're my new friend
🧵 2/ The Icelandic Phallological Museum houses an extensive collection of over 200 phallic specimens from various animals, including whales, seals, and land mammals.
🧵 3/Founded in 1997, the museum’s quirky and unusual collection attracts visitors from all over the world who come to marvel at its array of exhibits and learn about the role of these unique anatomical features in Icelandic wildlife
MEXICO CITY -- More than 1,000 mariachis gathered in Mexico City’s main plaza Sunday, strumming guitars and singing classics like “Cielito Lindo” to end a mariachi congress celebrating the musical form.
The number of musicians apparently topped the previous record of 700 mariachis at an earlier gathering in the Mexican city of Guadalajara.
The Guinness World Records organization hasn’t replied a message from The Associated Press asking whether Sunday's gathering broke the previous record.
The musicians, many of whom had arrived in Mexico's capital from other cities, expressed their joy at singing in the giant iconic plaza, saying the music is a family tradition they start learning at a young age.
Jesús Morales said his father taught him to play the violin at age 8, and at 13 he began playing with his uncles in the Mariachi Morales in the city of Hidalgo.
“The heritage that my dad mainly instilled in us is having respect for music and respect for our roots,” he said.
Diana Rocío Campos is a merchant who attended the event and loves the music.
“Anyone who listens to (the mariachi) gets very excited, whether they are Mexican or not,” she said. “People come from many countries like Colombia or Japan” to listen to the mariachis.
NEW YORK -- There are few images more indelible in the history of American dance: Judith Jamison, regal and passionate in white leotard and long ruffled skirt, punching the air in “Cry" — Alvin Ailey’s piercing solo about Black womanhood.
That searing 1971 piece made her an international star. But it was truly only the beginning of Jamison’s decades-long career atop modern dance, onstage and off. As Ailey’s hand-picked successor beginning in 1989, she led his namesake company for more than 20 years, helping it become the most successful modern dance troupe in the nation.
“It’s amazing,” Jamison, who died Saturday at 81 after a brief illness, reflected in an interview with The Associated Press in 2018, marking the company’s then-60th anniversary. “I find it remarkable that we still exist today,” she said. “And I think Mr. Ailey would be absolutely beside-himself happy, that something he started 60 years ago could blossom into everything he imagined.”
And likely much more. Jamison brought the company not only continued global exposure and crossover cultural appeal but economic stability and growth, putting it in “a stratosphere that Ailey couldn’t even imagine,” said Wendy Perron, author and former longtime editor of Dance Magazine.
Perron attributes Jamison’s success, in a world when many dance companies struggle to survive, to her unique personality and ability to forge relationships. “There was a warmth and magnetism about her — everyone wanted to be with her,” said Perron. “There was a light shining around her.”
Taking the reins as artistic director upon Ailey’s death at 58, Jamison introduced new works and choreography, but also made sure to keep front and center her predecessor's undisputed masterpiece: “Revelations,” a 1960 classic that has defined the company and powered its success like few others, if any, in the history of dance.
It was in “Revelations,” a telling of Black history through spirituals and blues, that Jamison also made a mark as a dancer, holding a white parasol with one arm as she undulated the rest of her body in a baptismal scene – “the umbrella woman,” as the part became known.
To this day, “Revelations” appears on most of the company’s programs, at home in New York and on tour, and is referred to as the most-seen work of modern dance. (It's hard to conceive of anything comparable.) “Revelations” was even performed at the White House, at a dance event hosted by Michelle Obama in 2010, in which the first lady paid tribute to Jamison, calling her “an amazing, phenomenal, ‘fly’ woman.”
Obama also told Jamison from the stage that a photo of her in “Cry” had been “the only piece of art” in the Obamas' home before the White House, and that her daughters, Malia and Sasha, had asked her: “Is that the lady in the picture?”
A year later, retiring as artistic director, Jamison exclaimed to a cheering crowd at New York City Center gathered to honor her: “I have come a long way from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!” That’s where Jamison was born in 1943 and raised, her childhood spent training in various dance forms, including ballet, modern and tap.
“I knew I had so much energy back then – just too much for everybody,” she quipped in a 2023 podcast interview. “But my parents went, ‘OK, lets direct her this way.’” She credited her mother’s dedication — she made her daughter’s costumes, and “would massage my legs when I got home from class.”
In 1964, famed choreographer Agnes de Mille had seen Jamison in a class and brought her to New York to participate in a production of American Ballet Theatre. Soon after, the young dancer went to an audition for a TV special — and flubbed it, she said. But Ailey was there, and she soon was invited to join his fledgling company.
She wasn’t sure what he saw in her, she has said, other than a look: “Small head, broad shoulders, long arms and long legs.”
With the young company, Jamison traveled to Europe and Africa. Even then, it took her a few years to appreciate that this could be a career. Partly this was because, as she noted in the 2023 podcast, “We were getting paid doodly-squat” – envelopes that sometimes contained a $20 bill, and sometimes just a thank-you note.
But she soon realized that she loved dancing, traveling and being around other dancers. The Ailey troupe was also a rare outlet at the time for Black talent. “There were no outlets,” she said. “There was no place for us to say, "Hey look, this is our artistry, this is our culture, and guess what else we can do?”
Ailey chose Jamison for “Cry” in 1971, a work he dedicated to Black women everywhere, but especially mothers. On opening night, Jamison has said, she didn’t know if she was going to make it though the demanding, 16-minute solo.
She told the Hollywood Reporter that “when the curtain went down, I was on the floor.” She got up to take a bow, “and I kept taking bows over and over until I don’t know which number it was, but they were still screaming and yelling.”
Over the next two decades, Jamison often appeared as a guest artist with companies around the world, and left the Ailey troupe in 1980 to star on Broadway in “Sophisticated Ladies." She also formed her own company, The Jamison Project.
“We were in his room as he passed, and usually you see in movies, that people have their last breath and they breathe out. But Mr. Ailey breathed IN. We expected him to breathe out, and he didn’t. So I think what we’re living on now, is his breath OUT ... that air, that vision, that dream.”
Among her many laurels, Jamison was awarded Kennedy Center Honors in 1999 and a National Medal of the Arts in 2001.
Perron, the former Dance Magazine editor, said she felt Jamison had been overlooked somewhat as a choreographer. She pointed to “A Case of You” — a duet to Diana Krall’s version of the Joni Mitchell classic and part of Jamison’s 2005 “Reminiscin.'" The duet, Perron said, was “happy and sad and passionate and inventive .. you really believe these people are passionately in love.”
Jamison passed the artistic director baton to choreographer Robert Battle in 2011. Looking back, she has said one of her proudest moments at the company was the creation of the Joan Weill Center for Dance in 2005, a midtown Manhattan home for the company.
“Majestic” and “queenly” is how Waters, now Ailey II Artistic Director Emerita, described her late colleague.
The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on a popular tourist beach in the town of Denmark in temperate southwest Australia — about 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) north of the icy waters off the Antarctic coast, according to a statement from the Western Australia state’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
The largest penguin species has never been reported in Australia before, University of Western Australia research fellow Belinda Cannell said, though some had reached New Zealand, Australia's neighbor almost entirely south of Denmark.
Cannell said she had no idea why the penguin traveled to Denmark.
Cannell is advising seabird rehabilitator Carol Biddulph who is caring for the penguin, spraying him with a chilled water mist to help him cope with his alien climate. The penguin is 1 meter (39 inches ) tall and initially weighed 23 kilograms (51 pounds).
A healthy male can weigh more than 45 kilograms (100 pounds).
The department said its efforts were focused on rehabilitating the penguin. Asked if the penguin could potentially be returned to Antarctica, the department replied that “options are still being worked through.”
You just got DOOKed! @sabrinah thinks your content is the shit. They have 31/200DOOK left to drop today.Learn all about this shit in the toilet paper! 💩
Warner Bros. Discovery's Max add-on subscriptions are now available on Amazon service Prime Video in Sweden and the Netherlands.
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and Amazon’s Prime Video have expanded their partnership to make WBD’s streaming service Max available as an add-on subscription through Prime Video, bringing that option to Sweden and the Netherlands, where it is called HBO Max, starting on Monday.
Prime Video customers will be able to subscribe to watch the likes of The Penguin, House of The Dragon, The Last of Us, and the upcoming Dune: Prophecy, and season 3 of The White Lotus, along with such movies as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Dune: Part Two, Godzilla x Kong, Wonka and Barbie.
Max’s Basic with Ads and Standard plans will be available to customers as add-on subscriptions through Prime Video. A sports-add on is also available, offering what the partners described as “a wide range of world-class sports, such as Grand Slam tennis, Grand Tour cycling, snooker, motorsports, winter sports and the Olympic Games.”
Max has previously been made available as an add-on subscription for Prime Video users in the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, France, and Spain.
“Today’s announcement strengthens the global relationship between Warner Bros. Discovery and Amazon which sees Max available as an add-on subscription …, offering millions of customers premier content from Warner Bros. Discovery’s iconic brands,” the partners said.
Director Christina Voros dives into the highly anticipated return of the hit Paramount Network series to reveal how they kept John Dutton's fate a secret (there were code words), how it propels everything forward and how the cast "shouldered the weight of [Costner's] absence in such a bold and beautiful way."
Yellowstone returned with a big swing on Sunday night by giving viewers the answer they were hoping to get right out of the gate. How would the hit Western saga handle the exit of star Kevin Costner and the fate of his revered show patriarch John Dutton?
Taylor Sheridan, the writer and mastermind of the Yellowstone-verse, did something rather unexpected when he quickly revealed during the season 5B premiere — and return of TV’s No. 1 show — that John Dutton has indeed died. That fate was likely expected, given Costner’s high-profile and abrupt exit from the Paramount Network series between the first and second half of season five. But the fact that it was revealed so quickly was a surprise.
Given “Yellowstone‘s” overt, lingering sentimentality for his waning way of life, as well as its candor in acknowledging the growing threats facing modern ranching, perhaps Dutton’s failure isn’t all that surprising. After all, the unlikely gubernatorial candidate once built his platform around bringing a halt to progress itself. “I am the opposite of progress,” Dutton said. “I am the wall it bashes against, and I will not be the one who breaks.”
Except, of course, he did. In Season 5, Episode 9 — the long-awaited return of “Yellowstone” after a two-year hiatus — creator Taylor Sheridan revealed the John Dutton is dead. Police at the Governor’s mansion inform his children, Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Kayce (Luke Grimes), that John died by suicide. Obviously, that isn’t true. John is too proud to take himself out of the saddle, and this is still “Yellowstone,” so viewers know a twist is coming.
Instead, it appears Jamie (Wes Bentley) orchestrated his father’s demise. After thinking about putting a hit on John an episode prior, it seems the ambitious attorney general followed through with a little help from his girlfriend/fixer, Sarah (Dawn Olivieri). They talked about it, she acted on it, and now John is dead, just like that. Sarah instructed her hatchet man to make the great cattle man’s death look like a suicide, and that’s exactly what the authorities believe happened.
While John being murdered is much more plausible than John taking his own life, the twist doesn’t do all that much to improve how Sheridan ultimately decided to keep “Yellowstone” running without its lead actor. (Costner, long ago, announced he would not return to the franchise, preferring to make his four-part, 12-hour “film” series, “Horizon: An American Saga.”) Sure, the fact that the eldest Dutton died before he could secure his ranch for future generations isn’t hard to believe. Progress, in the grand, sweeping sense that John used the term, cannot be stopped (let alone reversed, as the most powerful man in Montana aimed to do). But the devil’s in the details, and the details of John’s death are all wrong. How he’s suspected of dying and how he actually died both seem out of line for a character — and a series — that deserved better.
As has been heavily scrutinized in the two years since “Yellowstone” Season 5 first premiered and Costner’s exit became inevitable, the series did little to set up John Dutton’s departure. In Episode 8 (the last to air before the lengthy hiatus), Costner’s rancher was still the sitting governor of Montana, and he’d just lent his public support to his former (and current?) nemesis Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham). Together, they hoped to stop a pipeline from being built across tribal land — a pipeline that would also damage the Yellowstone ranch.
Then there was the promised impeachment. Before John could leave the podium, news that his estranged son Jamie filed impeachment proceedings against his adopted dad — accusing Governor Dutton of violating state law and, in the process, leading Montana into bankruptcy — reached the press. Reporters swarmed the stage. A formal hearing was in the offing. John, as he’s wont to do, sat silently, making plans.
Plans we’ll never see him carry out. Now, setting their father’s affairs is up to the kids, who’ve been at each other’s throats since day one and promised more attacks at the end of Episode 8. After Beth finds out what Jamie has done, she suggests to her father that they take him to the Train Station — family code for killing someone and dumping the body where it won’t ever be found. Expecting his sister’s attack, Jamie suggests the same thing to his Sarah — that they kill John before John can kill Jamie. The long-brewing battle between father and son had finally begun.
And now, after two years of anticipation, it’s over. John will never get to go boot-to-boot with the son he raised to replace him. Jamie will never get to stand up to a father he’s tried to live up to all his life. More importantly, the audience will never get to see the showdown “Yellowstone” has been building toward for five seasons. No matter what’s revealed in the coming weeks, Costner won’t be a part of it. Viewers will never get the visceral satisfaction of father and son in a literal or figurative shootout at the Yellowstone corral.
Rome teeters on the brink in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.” Its fall is said to be imminent. The dream it once symbolized is dead. The once high-minded ideals of the Roman Empire have deteriorated across a venal land now ruled by a pale-faced emperor.
On the throne is Geta (Joseph Quinn), who sits alongside his sniveling brother, Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). The heart of this Rome, of course, is the Coliseum, where throngs cheer for the gladiators who fight and die. There, the ageless Scott remains remarkably at home. The arena, with its eruptions of spectacle and violence, is a stand in for the director’s own vision of the big screen: Go big or go home.
This dichotomy — a fallen society and its insatiable need for entertainment — is the clever and not altogether flattering backdrop of the “Gladiator” films. Part two, set 20 years after the events of the first movie, brings a new combatant to the Coliseum — a mysterious outsider named Lucius Verus, played by Paul Mescal. And to answer the inevitable question, yes. Yes, I was quite entertained.
“Gladiator II” isn’t quite the prestige film the first one, a best-picture winner, was in 2001. It’s more a swaggering, sword-and-sandal epic that prizes the need to entertain above all else. No one in “Gladiator II” understands that more than Denzel Washington. His performance as the Machiavellian power broker Macrinus is a delicious blur of robes and grins – so compellingly over-the-top that he nearly reaches 1990s Al Pacino standards.
Inside this Rome are scattered interests in toppling it, including Marcus Acacius, a decorated general who has just returned from a successful campaign taking Numidia in northwest Africa. (That siege makes the movie’s blistering opening, with an armada racing at almost NASCAR speed toward the walled city, with towers on the bows of the boats to scale the parapets.)
Acacius is a loyal Roman but, when he learns that the emperors have only more bloodlust for further territory and more war, he and his wife, Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) begin plotting to overthrow the brothers.
In a movie where everyone nurtures some secret, few stay hidden long. Foremost among them is Lucius Verus, a warrior in Numidia who’s taken prisoner and forced to fight as a gladiator. He’s the son of Lucilla and Maximus (Crowe in “Gladiator”). Following the events of that film, Lucilla sent him, an heir to the empire, to Numidia to grow up outside of the empire’s power struggles.
Mescal, the terrific Irish actor of “Aftersun” and “All of Us Strangers,” smoothly steps into a blockbuster arena for the first time. “This one is interesting,” says Macrinus, eyeing him for the first time. Mescal’s Lucius is vengeful — the Roman army kills his warrior wife in the Numidia battle. “Rage pours out of you like milk,” Macrinus says, admiringly. The glint of mischief in Mescal’s eyes gives Lucius a little more character than your average revenge-seeking gladiator.
We watch as Lucius cunningly survives arena after arena. Meanwhile, Macrinus manipulates him to steer the public’s routing interest away from the emperor. It’s a rich if slightly cartoonish tapestry of palace intrigue, with Macrinus deftly pulling all the strings.
But, really, none of the power machinations are as compelling as the increasingly carnivalesque scenes of the Coliseum. In the gladiators' first trip there, they’re greeted by man-eating monkeys. Next, it’s a rider atop a giant, charging rhinoceros. Then, the piece de resistance: a flooded Coliseum festering with sharks. There are even little mock islands with palm trees spread about.
Now, “Gladiator II” may not stand up to much inquiry from historians. (Some issues were also taken with Scott’s last historical epic, “Napoleon,” which likewise was scripted by David Scarpa). But this is not a movie built for accuracy. It’s made for taking a few bits of history and inflating them into a feast and the charms of watching Washington’s Macrinus brandish a head recently relieved of its body.
Yes, heads do roll in Scott’s “Gladiator” sequel. Macrinus succeeds in whipping Rome into a frenzy. In fact, he does it so easily and guilefully that, once things begin unraveling for him, the air leaves “Gladiator II.” You don’t quite believe his recklessness after he so patiently and artfully turned the screws.
Nevertheless, two possible successors emerge – Lucius, who has a birthright to the throne, and Macrinus, who comes to within its grasp purely by his own wit. Is it any wonder that I was rooting for Macrinus, all the way? How could you not, with Washington chewing scenery like this and making zestful (and rather apt) pronouncements like: “That, my friend, is politics!”
“Gladiator II,” a Paramount Pictures release. is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for “strong bloody violence.” Running time: 148 minutes. Three stars out of four.
Amazon MGM's $250-million bid at a Marvel-level Christmas franchise is a charmless, level-four naughty-lister that will make you wish Christmas
It’s never a harbinger of good tidings when the critics’ embargo for your $250-million Christmas franchise launcher is 9 p.m. PT on Election Day. But here we are.
Amazon MGM Studios’ bid at a Marvel-level action-comedy spectacle, the ho-ho-horrible “Red One” is a blockbuster-sized cinematic lump of coal, driven as if by narcotized reindeer on a sleigh of hideous CGI and charmless stars with only dancing dollar-shaped sugar plums on the mind. Directed by “Jumanji” reboot filmmaker Jake Kasdan and written by longtime “Fast & Furious” scribe Chris Morgan, here is a level-four naughty-lister that will make you wish Christmas were canceled altogether, a cynical, depressing holiday adventure about the abduction of a swoled-up Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons, at least seemingly amused to be in a red and white-fur-trimmed two-piece) from the North Pole.
We know that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who plays St. Nick’s personal security detail, can open any movie. “Red One” should expect to earn a decent bag of cash in theaters, all a bait-and-switch to lure Prime Video subscribers looking to pass the listless Christmas hours from unboxing presents to dinnertime with passive streaming viewing. Will all that a franchise make? To all a good night who find enough enjoyment to help propel this film to a sequel or more.
Strong growth and are still moving up. One of my crypto friends said to me that he prefers for it to cool down a bit in order not to have a bull run of 2 months, but 1 year. I am good either way as long as we are pushing new ATHs. 😆
Many people were initially skeptical that the humanoid robots showcased in recent videos were real, believing them to be CGI.
This suggests that the rapid progress in humanoid robotics has outpaced public perception, with even those interested in the field struggling to believe the level of realism achieved.
Companies like XEG have been working on these humanoid robots for 5 years, demonstrating iterative progress over time, similar to the gradual advancements seen from Boston Dynamics.
The pace of development in humanoid robotics and AI has been surprisingly fast, with major breakthroughs occurring in just 3-5 years, rather than the 10-20 years many expected.
The Nadia humanoid robot, developed by the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, has gained new capabilities such as the ability to perform dynamic activities like boxing and opening doors autonomously.
This highlights the rapid progression of humanoid robots, which are becoming increasingly dexterous and mobile, raising questions about their future capabilities compared to the average human.
Gemini 2 Model from Google
Reports indicate that Google is preparing to launch a new model called Gemini 2, which is said to outperform the previous Gemini 1 model.
This suggests that major AI companies are continuously iterating on their language models, with rapid improvements being made.
The testing and fine-tuning of these models before official release highlights the industry's focus on developing increasingly capable AI systems.
The autonomous vehicle company Zoox, owned by Amazon, has been spotted testing its robo-taxis in San Francisco, marking a significant milestone in the development of self-driving technology.
This development, along with the steady growth of Waymo's self-driving services, indicates that autonomous vehicles are becoming a reality, with the potential to transform transportation and free up human time for other activities.
AI Integration with Government and Defense
The news that the AI company Anthropic will be providing its Claude model to the U.S. government for use in defense and intelligence applications has raised concerns within the AI community.
This integration of advanced AI systems with government and military applications highlights the dual-use nature of these technologies and the potential for their use in warfare or surveillance.
Samman, in a recent interview, discussed the potential implications of achieving abundant intelligence and abundant energy, suggesting that this could unlock unprecedented capabilities and transformative possibilities for humanity.
While this vision may sound ambitious, the rapid advancements in AI, robotics, and energy technologies suggest that such a future may not be as far-fetched as it once seemed.
AI Agents Assisting with Workplace Tasks
Demonstrations of the Claude computer agent showcasing its ability to analyze screenshots and identify workplace safety issues highlight the potential for AI to assist in various tasks, from monitoring to reporting.
This raises questions about the future role of AI agents in the workplace, potentially automating certain supervisory or inspection-related responsibilities.
The news that the Trump administration plans to repeal Biden-era executive orders that imposed certain restrictions on AI development has raised concerns about the potential for less regulated AI progress.
This could lead to a faster pace of AI innovation, but also raises questions about the potential risks and the need for appropriate safeguards and oversight to ensure responsible development.
Overall, the rapid advancements in humanoid robotics, AI language models, autonomous vehicles, and the integration of AI with government and defense applications suggest that the future of technology is unfolding at an accelerating pace, challenging public perception and raising important questions about the societal implications of these transformative developments.
The recent article from The Information has sparked a debate within the AI community about the future trajectory of language models. Some researchers at OpenAI reportedly believe that Orion, the company's next-generation model, may not reliably outperform its predecessor, GPT-4, in certain tasks such as coding.
This raises questions about the core assumption underlying the rapid progress of large language models (LLMs) - the scaling laws. The scaling laws posit that LLMs will continue to improve at a consistent pace as long as they have access to more data and computing power. However, the Orion situation suggests that this may not always be the case.
The article suggests that the industry is shifting its focus towards improving models after their initial training, potentially yielding a different type of scaling model. This shift towards the "test-time compute" paradigm, where the emphasis is on how the model thinks and responds, rather than just adding more data, could be a significant development.
The Importance of Marginal Improvements
While the jump from GPT-3 to GPT-4 was substantial, the article indicates that the increase in quality for Orion may be more modest. However, even marginal improvements can unlock a wider variety of use cases and applications. The example of the impact of the Clae 3.5 model on software development is a testament to this.
Despite the concerns raised about the scaling laws, some industry leaders, such as Anthropic's CEO, have stated that they have not yet hit the traditional scaling law limits. This suggests that the continued investment in AI infrastructure, such as data centers, may still be justified.
The Reasoning Model and the Cost Conundrum
The article also highlights the challenges faced by OpenAI's Reasoning model, the 01 series, which is priced six times higher than non-reasoning models. While the model has been beneficial for scientific research, its high cost may limit its broader adoption.
The article paints a complex picture of the current state of AI progress. While the traditional scaling laws may be slowing down, the industry is exploring new paradigms and approaches that could drive continued advancements. The emergence of models like Orion and the 01 series suggests that the future of AI may not be a simple linear progression, but a more nuanced and multifaceted landscape.
As the AI industry navigates these shifting sands, it will be crucial to closely monitor the developments, understand the underlying trends, and adapt strategies accordingly. The future of AI may not be as straightforward as once believed, but the potential for transformative breakthroughs remains.
Encore is a new search engine that makes thrifting online easier. Created by former engineers from Apple and Twitter, it helps you find secondhand items from all over – like eBay, Etsy, and more – in one place. This idea came from their love for thrift stores and the challenge of finding the right item. With AI, Encore lets you search specific items or outfits seen on shows. It’s like finding hidden treasures! I think it’s a smart way to simplify thrifting.
India’s facing a huge rise in cyber fraud as more people go digital. Some reports say this fraud could cost the country around $14 billion soon. Now, a startup called Equal, founded by Keshav Reddy and Rajeev Ranjan, is stepping in to help. They’ve built tools for companies to verify identities and share data securely, making digital transactions safer. It’s inspiring to see a young business tackle such a big problem, showing how startups can help protect people in this digital world.
Brazilian startup Tako is on a mission to make payroll easier, especially in Brazil, where changing laws and unions complicate things. Fernando Gadotti, Tako's founder, understands this struggle from his past work. Now, Tako uses smart tech to handle payroll and make sure it's accurate, giving companies a break from the headaches.
Backed by $13.2 million from big investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Tako wants to focus on helping mid-sized companies but could expand into employee benefits too.
Google Photos continues to get new and improved features on a regular basis, and one of the most recent Android updates has focused on video editing. Even if you don’t have the latest Pixel 9 phone (which is required if you want to try out the weird new Reimagine tool), you can now speed up, slow down, and enhance your clips with a few taps as well as trim them down more easily.
You can also expect what Google calls “AI-powered video presets” on both the Android and iOS versions of Google Photos. After the app algorithm analyzes your clips, you get a choice of effects — trims, zooms, slow-mos — you can apply with a tap. The app takes the role of director and chooses where and how these tweaks should be applied.
When the changes arrive on your phone, you’ll also notice the interface is a little cleaner, with larger icons and bigger text that make it more obvious what you’re doing. The idea is it’s more straightforward than ever to quickly apply a few edits before sharing your clips, without having to open up a separate editor on your phone or computer.
First up, we have what Google describes as “improved controls” for cutting out extraneous footage at the start and end of your clips — though, to my eyes, there’s not a huge amount that’s different here compared to the previous version of the trim tool.
The handles at each end of the clip are a little bigger and thicker, making them easier to hit with a finger press. You also get a timestamp shown onscreen as you drag those handles around, so overall, the edits are a little easier to apply.
Drag the left-hand handle to change where the video starts.
Drag the right-hand handle to change the video’s end point.
Drag the white bar between the two handles to move around the clip.
Tap the play button at any point to check your new footage.
Choose Save copy to confirm your changes and save a separate clip.
Google Photos now has a new auto-enhance feature you can access, which analyzes your clip and then applies its own choice of color enhancements, while stabilizing the video at the same time.
Tap Video then Enhance to apply the automatic enhancements.
Tap the play button to see how the updated footage looks.
Tap Enhance again to see the difference with and without the tweaks.
Choose Save copy to save the enhanced video as a separate file.
Unlike the tools above, which are exclusive to Android, the AI-powered video presets are available in Google Photos for both Android and iOS. Or at least, they will be eventually — though they were announced in September, as of this writing, I haven’t yet seen the presets in the Google Photos apps on either platform.
When they do appear, the Presets button will appear between Video and Crop in the options at the bottom of the interface. Select it, and you’ll see a choice of edits you can apply with a tap: Basic cut, Slow-mo, Zoom, and Track. These will be applied as the Google Photos AI sees fit based on the video content.
The example Google gives is a skateboard video, with the action trimmed right down to a key jump, which is also slowed down. Color enhancements are applied at the same time for good measure. As before, you can preview the changes, then tap Save copy to accept the changes and save a new video file, leaving the original untouched.
Andreessen Horowitz partner Martin Casado thinks current AI regulations miss the mark. He believes lawmakers focus too much on what AI might become instead of understanding today’s actual risks. I get where he’s coming from – sometimes it feels like the rules aim at sci-fi problems, not real ones. Casado argues for adjusting existing regulations rather than creating confusing new ones, especially since unclear policies could push AI talent out of places like California. His take is pretty eye-opening.
The estate of now-defunct crypto exchange FTX has filed a lawsuit against Binance and its former CEO Changpeng Zhao in a bid to recover $1.76 billion. FTX alleges these funds were fraudulently transferred to Binance, Zhao, and other Binance executives in July 2021 as part of a shares repurchase deal with FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
According to the filing, the transaction saw Binance sell back the 20 percent stake it held in FTX’s international unit and 18.4 percent in its US-based entity, which Bankman-Fried paid for using a mix of FTX and Binance-branded cryptocurrencies. The FTX estate alleges the share repurchase deal was conducted unlawfully because — following massive fraud by Bankman-Fried and other executives — FTX and its sister company Alameda were already insolvent at the time, and unable to fund the transaction.
Bankman-Fried, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence, was convicted of fraud last year after using customer funds to make investments, political donations, and purchase property.
Separately, the lawsuit says that Zhao sent “a series of false, misleading, and fraudulent tweets that were maliciously calculated to destroy his rival FTX.” Zhao tweeted on November 6th, 2022 that Binance was planning to liquidate $529 million worth of FTX tokens. According to the FTX estate, this “triggered a predictable avalanche of withdrawals” that contributed to the collapse of the crypto exchange.
The run on FTX ended up exposing a financial house of cards at the company, leading to criminal charges against Bankman-Fried and others. The Securities and Exchange Commission said that the downfall of FTX was caused by Bankman-Fried’s “own misappropriation of customer funds,” and that the operation was a fraud “from the start.”
An unnamed Binance spokesperson told Bloomberg that the claims against the company “are meritless,” and that the company will “vigorously defend ourselves.”
This lawsuit is one of more than 20 that the FTX estate has recently filed to reclaim billions of dollars owed to creditors. This includes Alameda suing Waves blockchain founder Aleksandr Ivanov to recoup $90 million that was previously deposited to Vires, a Waves-based liquidity platform. Last month, the FTX estate also received court approval for its plan to repay $16 billion to customers who lost money when the company collapsed.
Cogna, a company in the UK, just got $15 million to help businesses run smoothly with their AI-powered software. This “ERP” software helps with things like tracking sales and budgets, and sharing data between teams. Setting it up usually takes months, but Cogna’s AI does it in just two weeks. It even has a chat feature, so teams can ask it to create tools they need. Many big companies use it to save time and money – some even save over $10 million a year.
The Transformative Power of AI in Scientific Discovery
The idea of artificial superintelligence may seem like a distant dream, but recent research suggests we may be closer to this reality than we think. A study from MIT has shed light on how AI is revolutionizing the process of scientific discovery and product innovation.
Accelerating the Pace of Innovation
The MIT paper discusses how AI is remarkably adept at accelerating scientific discovery. This has significant implications, as Sam Altman of OpenAI has noted that when we achieve incredible levels of scientific discovery, it will lead to a complete transformation of society. If an AI system can outperform humans in AI research, it represents an important milestone - a potential discontinuity in technological progress.
This is particularly relevant for OpenAI, as the next step after their work on AI agents is the development of "AI inventors and innovators," which they have dubbed "sci-fi stuff." The MIT paper provides a glimpse into this future, showing how advanced technology will dramatically transform our society and speed up the pace of technological progress.
The Invention Process Reimagined
The paper outlines the typical invention process, which involves idea generation, candidate material selection, prioritization, testing, and commercialization. This entire process can take 10-20 years. However, the introduction of AI is set to dramatically compress this timeline, as the ability to create products and inventions in a much shorter loop, from idea to market release, will be transformative.
This aligns with the concept of the "compressed 21st century" discussed by Dario Amodei, the COO of Anthropic. The idea is that after powerful AI is developed, we will make in a few years the progress in biology and medicine that we would have made over the entire 21st century. This suggests that we may experience multiple lifetimes' worth of progress in a short span of time.
The Rise of AI in Material Science
The paper highlights the significant advances in the use of deep learning in material science over the past decade. The graph shows a rapid increase in material science publications mentioning deep learning since 2015, reflecting the growing influence of AI in research and innovation. This trend is expected to accelerate as we move towards more advanced AI systems, such as artificial general intelligence (AGI) and artificial superintelligence (ASI).
The paper delves into the use of graph neural networks (GNNs) in the invention process. These networks are designed to understand materials at a detailed level, allowing them to generate new material structures that meet specific requirements. The three-step training process (pre-training, fine-tuning, and reinforcement) enables the AI to continuously improve its predictions.
The GNN-based tool significantly improves the materials discovery process by quickly generating suggestions that are more likely to succeed, allowing scientists to focus on evaluating promising AI-generated ideas rather than generating them from scratch. This is evident in the data, which shows a clear upward trend in the number of new materials discovered and patent filings after the integration of the AI tool.
The study also reveals the impact of AI on the attitudes and perceptions of scientists. While they initially agreed that AI would make them more productive, their concerns about AI replacing scientists also increased after using the tool. This suggests that direct experience with AI led to a greater awareness of its disruptive potential.
Interestingly, the satisfaction with their choice of field decreased after using the AI tool, reflecting concerns over reduced creativity and increased automation in their roles. This has led to a substantial increase in the number of researchers planning to reskill, as they recognize the need for new abilities to collaborate effectively with AI.
These findings highlight a recurring pattern of domain experts underestimating the capabilities of AI in their respective fields until they directly experience its impact. As the MIT researchers noted, "the researchers did not anticipate the effects documented in this paper."
In conclusion, the MIT study provides a compelling glimpse into the transformative power of AI in scientific discovery and product innovation. The ability of AI to accelerate the invention process and dramatically compress the timeline from idea to market release has the potential to reshape our society and the way we approach scientific progress. As we move towards more advanced AI systems, the implications of this technology will only become more profound.
AI is helping doctors spot diseases earlier, make healthcare fairer, and give better treatments. Dr. John Halamka from the Mayo Clinic shared four ways AI is changing things. For example, AI can check heart tests to spot issues early and even help find tough diseases like tuberculosis with just a phone app. I think this could make a big difference for people who need care but can’t get it easily. AI seems like it can bring us closer to better health for all.
CryptoPunks, the iconic NFT collection, has regained market share after surpassing Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) in May 2023. Despite a slight decline since the start of 2022, CryptoPunks remains the largest NFT collection, holding over 29.5% of the market. Yuga Labs' flagship BAYC has seen a notable decline in market dominance, falling from a 29.3% peak in January 2022 to 12.8% in October 2024.
Pudgy Penguins and Milady Maker have seen a steady uptrend, with Pudgy Penguins entering the top 10 NFT collections in September 2023 with a 2.7% market share and Milady Maker joining the top 10 in August 2023 with a 2.5% share. These rises are particularly notable in the wake of 'blue chip' NFT price crashes that saw six PFP collections drop out of the top 10 rankings.
If you had the option to choose between your human intelligence and Artificial General Intelligence (but you'd still be sentient) what would you go for?
Miss Manners recently discussed if we need to say "please" to chatbots like ChatGPT. She says that while bots don’t have feelings, saying “please” and “thank you” builds polite habits. It reminds me of when we teach kids to be kind to their toys, they don’t feel anything either, but it shapes the way we treat others later. I think it’s a nice thought, even if the bot doesn’t care. Kindness, even to machines, could make us a bit more thoughtful.
Dogecoin (DOGE) has surged above the $0.220 resistance against the US Dollar, up over 50%. The price is currently trading above the $0.2800 level and the 100-hourly simple moving average. A key bullish trend line is forming with support at $0.280 on the hourly chart of the DOGE/USD pair. The price could continue to rally if it clears the $0.3050 and $0.3120 resistance levels.
If DOGE fails to climb above the $0.3050 level, it could start a downside correction. Initial support is near the $0.280 level and the trend line, with the next major support near the $0.2680 level. The main support is at $0.2550, or the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $0.2013 swing low to the $0.3036 high. Technical indicators include the Hourly MACD gaining momentum in the bullish zone and the RSI above the 50 level.
Apple will now let you share the location of a lost AirTag with other people. The Find My feature, called Share Item Location and available as part of the just-launched iOS 18.2 public beta, will allow you to share the location of lost luggage with an airline, for example.
When using the feature, you can generate a Share Item Location link within the Find My app. Once you share the link with someone, they can click on it to view an interactive map with the location of your lost item. Apple will update the website automatically when the lost item moves, and it will also display a timestamp when it moved last.
Apple will turn off the feature once you find your lost item. You can also manually stop sharing the location of an AirTag at any time, or it will “automatically expire after seven days.”
The ability to share your AirTag’s location is available in “most regions worldwide” as part of the iOS 18.2 public beta. If you don’t have the beta, Apple plans on rolling out the update to all users with an iPhone X or later “soon.” MacRumors reported on the capability in the second developer beta of iOS 18.2 last week.
As part of the rollout, Apple is partnering with over 15 airlines, including Delta, United, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and more. All of these airlines will be able to “securely” accept links to lost items, as “access to each link will be limited to a small number of people, and recipients will be required to authenticate in order to view the link through either their Apple Account or partner email address.” This feature will be available in the “coming months.”
If autonomous vehicles are to go mainstream, they need to go as far as they can to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. And no one is in more need of protection than so-called vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, thousands of whom are killed every year.
Waymo, the robotaxi company owned by Alphabet, recently published a new study examining hundreds of these types of crashes involving vulnerable road users, which it is calling “the largest dataset of its kind in the US.”
Roughly 40,000 people in the US are killed each year in vehicle crashes. But while automakers have become very good at protecting people inside of vehicles, they have essentially neglected the safety of people outside of them.
Meanwhile, the academic community has shown little interest in studying injuries of vulnerable road users (VRUs), so Waymo set out to rectify that, said John Scanlon, a safety researcher at Waymo. The goal was to shine a light on this underexamined area of traffic research in the hopes that the results could help make Waymo’s driverless technology safer — and maybe even help out some of its rivals, too.
The new research comes amid a deadly period for pedestrians and cyclists in the US, where reports of injuries and fatalities remain frustratingly high. In 2022, 7,522 pedestrians were killed in vehicle crashes and more than 67,000 pedestrians were injured nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“An accurate, in-depth understanding of the unique safety risks presented to these groups is critical in developing effective strategies to reduce injuries and fatalities,” Scanlon said.
To study these types of injuries, Scanlon and his team first needed footage from hundreds of car crashes, so it partnered with dash cam company Nexar. Sifting through Nexar’s anonymized data of 500 million miles of driving, Scanlon’s team successfully reconstructed 335 crashes involving VRUs — pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists — in six American cities. However, the data was heavily skewed toward New York City, where 80 percent of the incidents took place. The anonymous individuals in the dataset suffered moderate to severe injuries, depending on the collision, but none of the crashes Waymo studied were fatal.
The result is the “largest, documented naturalistic driving dataset in the US,” the company says. By studying this data, Waymo hopes to gain better insight into how, when, and why vulnerable road users get injured by vehicle drivers. And by zeroing in on the “frequency and severity” of collisions, Waymo was able to draw several relevant conclusions from the dataset.
On the surface, the results seem pretty obvious. Pedestrians and cyclists were more likely to be injured when they “surprise” drivers, like attempting to cross the street against the traffic light. Also, “geometric occlusions,” like trees, bushes, buildings, or other vehicles, led to a higher risk of injury. And the vehicle’s trajectory, the direction it is traveling or turning, played a significant role.
Waymo partnered with VUFO, a traffic research group based in Germany, to develop models for injury risk assessment. It also leveraged anonymized data from the German In-Depth Accident Study, which includes information on thousands of VRU crashes over more than two decades and represents “the most relevant data available in the world today” for estimating injury risk for VRUs.
Waymo’s driverless vehicles operate in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, where they conduct over 150,000 paid trips a week. The company is planning to launch its robotaxi service in Austin and Atlanta as well. And every day, a driverless Waymo vehicle must navigate an environment full of vulnerable road users. One false move could be deadly, and if past is prologue, the AV operators have to be prepared to accept full responsibility for what went wrong.
There have been a handful of collisions involving driverless vehicles and a few injuries. A cyclist was injured by a Waymo vehicle in San Francisco in February 2024 after emerging from behind a truck that was blocking the view. And last year, a Cruise vehicle struck a pedestrian and then dragged her to the side of the road. The company is still dealing with the fallout.
Scanlon said that by better understanding these types of collisions, AV operators can recreate them both in simulation and real-world testing, which could lead to safer decisions.
“This analysis can serve as a starting point for pinpointing baseline driving risk associated with VRU collisions in dense-urban areas, which will, in turn, enable AV performance testing and evaluation,” he said.
Google is introducing a new collection of modern templates to Google Slides the company says have been “professionally designed” to “cater to a wide range of use cases.” There are new templates for sales pitches, product roadmaps, lesson plans, book reports, workshop facilitation, and even “team game templates” for companies looking to bolster collaboration amongst their staff.
The new templates might make it easier for users moving over from Microsoft’s office suite and Powerpoint, similar to recent updates that brought easier table formatting to Google Sheets and tabs that make it easier to organize information in a single Google Doc.
The refreshed library of templates started rolling out to everyone this week, covering both personal Gmail accounts and the various tiers of paid Workspace customers, and the full rollout is expected to be complete before the end of November. However, the new templates will only be available to those with their language specifically set to “English (United States).” Those using “English (United Kingdom)” or “English (Australia)” won’t have access to them.
When available for your account, the refreshed templates can be accessed by opening Google Slides and using either the top toolbar or “Insert > Templates” from the drop-down menu. Once you’ve selected a template you want to use, you’ll be given the option to insert just an individual slide, allowing you to assemble your presentation from various templates or insert all of them, ensuring your presentation has a cohesive visual theme.
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has revealed his potential involvement in shaping US crypto policy during the transition period under President-elect Donald Trump. In a livestream on YouTube, Hoskinson emphasized the clear potential for his involvement in shaping US crypto policy, but urged moderation in expectations.
He clarified that it is misinformation to say that Charles Hoskinson is leading US crypto policy and set realistic boundaries around his prospective role. Hoskinson provided an update on significant initiatives such as the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT 21) and Financial Innovation (FIA) acts, emphasizing the bipartisan nature of these efforts and their importance in setting a regulatory framework.
He announced the establishment of a dedicated policy office aimed at unifying crypto legislative efforts, addressing critical issues such as asset classification, stablecoins, custody standards, taxation, and the government's ability to purchase and hold Bitcoin reserves. Hoskinson stressed the need for a bipartisan approach to regulation and remained hopeful about achieving substantial legislative progress.
Kristen Holmes, a TED talk speaker, discusses the importance of analyzing heart rate data to promote longevity and better performance. Holmes, a researcher at the University of Iowa and Princeton, suggests that vital sign data can help map stress and recovery, promoting resilience. She believes that 'floating' is about intentionally acting at a level equal to one's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual functioning.
AI can help in testing for 'demand match' events by aggregating and informing data in real-time. AI can analyze heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels, glucose levels, and other health indicators, making it a cornerstone of modern fitness equipment.
AI can also help improve sleep by analyzing deep sleep patterns and assessing environmental variables. AI can also provide guidance on improving performance and longevity, acting as a personal tutor, suggesting the best diet, exercise, and sleep schedules.
Applying this to heart rate data can help individuals achieve 'autonomic robustness', which includes ice baths, breathwork, and body support gear. This concept could be applied to personal wearables, leveraging AI's potential to enhance our lives and promote longevity.
OpenAI’s new model, called Orion, is facing challenges. Unlike past upgrades that felt like big leaps, Orion’s improvement over previous models isn’t as striking. OpenAI is trying out new ways to push it further, like using AI-generated data to fill gaps where real data is scarce. They’ve even set up a special team to help keep the progress steady. I think it’s interesting because it shows how tricky it’s becoming to make each version smarter.
Ethereum price has reached a $3K milestone, with gains over 10%. The price has surged above the $3,000 resistance and is now trading above $3,000 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. A new bullish trend line with support at $3,120 is forming on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. The pair could continue to rise if it clears the $3,250 resistance.
However, the price is facing hurdles near the $3,200 level, with the first major resistance near the $3,250 level. If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,250 resistance, it could start a downside correction, with initial support near the $3,150 level. Technical indicators include the MACD for ETH/USD gaining momentum in the bullish zone and the RSI for ETH/USD above the 50 zone.
Google is introducing its generative AI chatbot, Gemini, into its flagship navigation app, Google Maps, as part of a larger effort to compete with Apple's recent AI advances. The company plans to use Gemini's chatbot features to communicate with Maps, allowing users to ask for tips on specific spots in a neighborhood or city, receive lists of nearby attractions, and ask open-ended search queries. The updated app will show more tailored options, such as lists of speakeasies or live music venues.
The Gemini chatbot will also provide information about parking options near a designated destination and walking directions for users to check after leaving the car. Additionally, additional road signs and crosswalks will be clearly marked on Maps to help navigate unfamiliar areas. Google remains the industry leader in navigation apps, but Apple has made significant AI gains in recent months, making it difficult for Google to stand still. While Apple Maps is still behind Google, it has made significant progress and is now on par with Google in some key markets.
The PRESS Act is back in the Senate with just weeks left to pass. It would protect journalists from being forced to reveal their sources, except in cases of serious emergencies. I believe this law matters because without it, people might fear speaking out. Journalists play a big role in bringing issues to light, and this act could help them feel secure in doing so.
It is now possible to run a large language model (LLM) smarter than the original ChatGPT on a Raspberry PI. Running models locally allows for private, unlimited, and registration-free access. This article talks about how to run local text-based LLMs on your own hardware. It covers the software needed, the different models available, user interfaces, and more. While LLMs are fun, there are still many tasks they can't reliably do.
X, the social network owned by Elon Musk, is testing a free version of its AI chatbot, Grok. So far, it’s only available in certain places like New Zealand, and there are limits, 10 questions every two hours. For now, only users with linked phone numbers and accounts older than a week can access it. I think opening Grok to free users might help X grow fast and get more feedback on the chatbot, which could make it better over time.
COP29 will focus on the role of technology in addressing the climate crisis, with AI's impact on sustainability high on the agenda. AI models require significant electricity, leading to increased energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The World Economic Forum reports that computing power dedicated to AI doubles every 100 days.
To make AI a central part of the climate change agenda, policymakers and digital ministers will work together. Despite high energy consumption, AI can help mitigate the climate crisis by advancing climate monitoring, disaster response, and alternative energy solutions.
TSMC, a major chip maker, has stopped sending advanced chips to China after one was found in a Huawei device, which the U.S. doesn’t allow. This pause is meant to check if anyone else is quietly sending chips to Huawei, despite trade limits. Since advanced chips are key for AI, the U.S. wants to control where they go. TSMC said it will follow all the rules. This could shake things up in tech, especially between the U.S. and China.
Bitcoin (BTC) surged above $81,000 on Sunday, marking a record-setting rally in its sixth day. The broad-based CoinDesk 20 (CD20), a liquid index tracking the largest tokens by market capitalization, rose 4.5% in the past 24 hours. Trading volumes of nearly $100 billion were recorded over an unusually wild weekend session.
Weekend pumps are generally considered bullish in the crypto market, as trading volumes typically decrease over the weekend when institutional investors and professional traders are less active. Dogecoin (DOGE) and shiba inu (SHIB) led gains among majors, with DOGE flipping xrp (XRP) and stablecoin USDC to become the sixth-largest token. Other majors took a breather following a Friday rally.
I’ve recently learned that iOS 18.1 lets you replace Siri with ChatGPT as your main voice assistant, and I think it's a great upgrade! ChatGPT feels way more interactive and “human” in conversations. It can understand me better, which makes the experience smoother. You’ll just need to download the app and set a shortcut like “Hey ChatGPT.” Plus, you can place it anywhere on your screen for easy access. Feels like a fresh change, and I'm excited to try it out.
Ethereum's ENS Identity System, known as ENS Labs, is set to launch its own layer-2 blockchain, dubbed "Namechain," which will use zero-knowledge rollups for scaling. The new network is expected to go live around the end of 2025. ENS Labs' chief operating officer, Katherine Wu, said that the new network will leverage the infrastructure of an existing zero-knowledge chain compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine.
The new network will be backward compatible with ENSv1, the current setup on Ethereum mainnet, from day one of launch. ENS Labs' decision to go ahead with ENSv2 follows other announcements of major crypto firms launching their own layer-2 projects. Uniswap, Kraken, and Sony's Blockchain Labs have also announced plans to launch their own rollup networks using layer-2 Optimism's technology, known as the OP Stack.
ENS Labs' co-founder and lead developer, Nick Johnson, expressed excitement for the improvements it will bring in scalability, cost, and new applications it will enable.
AI is being limited by our mental models for what to use the technology for. The current available technology can already be transformative given the right application mindset. Moving to the next level will require giving models more autonomy and self-learning capabilities. We should be building applications around things that AI is uniquely suited to do. Thinking this way will result in the creation of new services and products.
Cervical cancer is caused by a virus (HPV), making it preventable. The virus is also responsible for a large share of other cancers. HPV integrates itself into cells' DNA and damages key proteins that protect the cell from uncontrolled growth, eventually leading to cancer. HPV vaccines are highly effective in preventing infections - and cervical cancer. Countries like the UK and Australia are showing that the elimination of cervical cancer is possible, but much of the world is missing out.
SpaceX is working on a concept version of Starlink for Mars. It has ideas about developing next-generation relay services capable of beaming 4 Mbps or more in data across 1.5 astronomical units. The Marslink concept involves placing multiple space satellites in Mars orbit to provide full visibility and interoperability for ground and orbital assets. Other companies have also submitted proposals - slides from the recent meeting of the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group showing each company's proposal are available in the article.
Striking New York Times tech workers have created a custom Connections puzzle so fans can get their daily fix without crossing the digital picket line.
The “Strike Edition” puzzle was made on a website that lets people create their own Connections. The workers, part of the New York Times Tech Guild, specifically asked NYT readers not to play NYT games when the strike began on Monday, so the custom puzzle offers a way to play while still respecting the Guild’s wishes.
“We have seen a groundswell of support from subscribers who have been proudly tweeting about purposely breaking their game streaks to support our strikers,” says Jen Sheehan, spokesperson for the NewsGuild of New York.
The Guild didn’t make the website themselves; the site was made by Anthony Salazar, a freelance web developer who operates a creative studio named Swellgarfo. Salazar tells The Verge that he made the app after Connections launched last summer. “My friends couldn’t get enough and began making their own grids, jankly texting group chats with 4x4 word squares,” he says. Programming the site took about two hours. He didn’t expect anyone besides his friends to use it, but the creator tool has now been used 7 million times.
There are aspects of the website that it’s easy to imagine The New York Times could take issue with, though. In addition to custom puzzles, the site also has a recreation of the NYT Connections archive that’s available to play for free — offering a way to get around NYT’s own Connections archive that it just launched as a feature for paid subscribers.
The New York Times targeted Wordle clones by filing copyright takedown notices earlier this year, including against at least one shared on GitHub that was strikingly similar to the NYT’s version of the game. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the publication would do something similar for this Connections site.
Salazar says he would “happily take down the archive” if asked. He also says that the site uses the NYT’s publicly available API to create the archive, so “there would be many easy ways to completely dismantle that part of my app without even talking to me.” However, Salazar says that he wouldn’t take down the puzzle creator because “there is no NYT intellectual property contained there.”
The Guild, whose members help build these games, ultimately sees it as a form of support. “What we posted today and will post throughout our strike are fun ways people can support us,” says Sheehan, the NewsGuild spokesperson. “Generally speaking, we hope that The Times is more focused on getting back to the bargaining table than coming for our games.”
ChatGPT has the most visits out of all generative AI platforms at 3.7 billion worldwide. Google Chrome's monthly users is estimated to be around 3.45 billion. ChatGPT saw a 17.2% month-over-month growth and a 115.9% year-over-year traffic growth. The Perplexity chatbot saw 90.8 million visits in October, Google's Gemini chatbot saw 295.8 million visits, Anthropic's Claude saw 84.1 million visits, Microsoft's Copilot saw 69.4 million visits, and NotebookLM saw 31.5 million visits.
OpenAI's new model's performance exceeds its existing models, but the improvement is less than the jump from GPT-3 to GPT-4. The rate of improvement seems to be slowing down. OpenAI created a foundations team to figure out how the company can continue to improve its models. One of the proposed strategies is to train models on synthetic data produced by AI models.
The Beatles have been nominated for two Grammys — nearly 50 years after the band officially split up. Their final song, called “Now and Then,” was restored last year with the help of AI, and is now up for record of the year alongside the likes of Beyoncé, Charlie XCX, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift. It’s also been nominated for best rock performance, where it goes up against Green Day, Pearl Jam, and The Black Keys.
Released in November 2023, “Now and Then” started as a demo recorded by John Lennon in the late 1970s. This recording, as well as “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” was given to Lennon’s three surviving bandmates in the ‘90s, with the hopes of including it in The Beatles Anthology project.
However, “Now and Then” was never released, as technology at the time couldn’t separate John’s vocals and piano to get a clear sound. But in 2021, filmmaker Peter Jackson and his sound team were able to separate the instrumentals and vocals with machine learning technology, allowing Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to finally complete the song.
Though “Now and Then” was finished using machine learning, it still falls within the bounds of The Grammy’s rules surrounding AI. The guidelines currently state that “only human creators are eligible to be submitted for consideration for, nominated for, or win a GRAMMY Award,” but work that contains “elements” of AI material is “eligible in applicable categories.”
It’s a bit strange to see “Now and Then” competing with modern-day music like Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” but it’s been a long time coming. We’ll get to see how the Beatles fare during the 2025 Grammy Awards, which takes place on Sunday, February 2nd.
Microsoft invested $13 billion in OpenAI. That could be highly profitable and give them some exclusive AI tools, partnerships and long-term revenue potential.
I guess if you can't beat them join them is what Microsoft just did
One Apple employee was allegedly threatened with unspecified reprisals if they talked about their performance bonus. Another was purportedly ordered to delete a post on social media about how to continue working remotely at the company. One was allegedly told to stop talking about pay on internal messaging systems and warned that the tech giant was “monitoring these discussions.” And another, software engineer Cher Scarlett, was purportedly railroaded out of the company after creating an online pay survey for workers at the trillion-dollar company.
Those claims form the basis of a federal government charge accusing the Cupertino iPhone giant of illegally “interfering with, restraining and coercing employees” exercising their rights under the National Labor Relations Act to help each other with workplace issues.
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the administrative complaint, filed Oct. 31 by the National Labor Relations Board.
The legal action by Scarlett – the former employee – and the agency that enforces the Labor Relations Act also claims that Apple denied an employee’s request to create an internal-messaging channel about pay equity, telling the worker the messaging platform was only for business purposes – despite letting other employees use it for non-business topics.
Additionally, the complaint alleges, Apple told an employee not to speak to the press after they were quoted in the media about workplace issues.
The worker who was ordered to remove the social-media post about remote work was also asked by a human resources representative to provide names of other Apple employees the person had talked with about working remotely, the complaint claims.
A manager in a phone call told a worker that Apple did not want employees talking about wages or pay equity, the complaint alleges.
The alleged incidents are purported to have happened in 2021.
According to the complaint, Scarlett helped found “Apple Too,” modeled after the #MeToo movement against sexual violence, and intended to encourage Apple employees “to share stories and create transparency around incidents of discrimination, inequity, racism and sexism they experienced in the course of their employment” at Apple.
In the summer of 2021, Scarlett created and posted online a pay-equity survey where Apple employees could anonymously share information about their compensation, job categories, experience and personal information “in order to identify potential pay disparities.” Scarlett posted the survey on her personal account on social media platform Twitter, now called X.
The labor board and Scarlett argue in the complaint that she was forced to leave the company by its response to her work on behalf of her fellow Apple workers. She announced on Twitter in November 2021 that she was leaving the company; technology website The Verge reported that she had reached a settlement with Apple.
Apple allegedly cracked down on other employees who took action in response to Scarlett’s advocacy. Apple demanded that one worker refrain from participating in the wage survey and was threatened with “unspecified reprisals” if they did, or if they continued to take part in wage discussions on the internal messaging platform, the complaint claims.
An Apple human resources manager refused to meet collectively with Apple workers concerned about the results of the wage survey, and insisted on individual meetings, the complaint alleges. That manager, Jeannie Wong, in a videoconference “interrogated an employee about why and how the employee got involved with Scarlett’s pay equity survey and who else was involved,” the complaint claims.
Damn, AI robots have not come yet and their ego is already up miss treating their employees 🤦🤦 imagine when AGI comes and they can just replace them they'll do without thinking twice about it.
work for tech company for so long and this is how they treat you 😳. What at all are they trying to protect that they would give their employees such regulations
Hedge funds betting against shares in Elon Musk's EV maker have lost $5.2 billion since the election
As Tesla stock continues its rally on the heels of Donald Trump’s election win, short-sellers are feeling the pain.
Hedge funds betting against Tesla stock, also known as shorting, lost at least $5.2 billion, Bloomberg calculated using data compiled by S3 Partners. That comes as the electric vehicle maker, helmed by billionaire and staunch Trump ally Elon Musk, sees a renewed surge that helped its market capitalization once again pass $1 trillion last week.
Since Election Day, Tesla stock has risen almost 28%, with shares up almost 7% in pre-market trading Monday. As of last Friday, shares of the EV company were up 44% over the prior 12 trading days, far outpacing the Nasdaq’s 4% gain during the same period, according to Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management.
Musk has become a close ally of Trump’s over the past several months, even spending election night with him at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Earlier this year, Musk founded a super PAC in support of Trump’s re-election bid, and donated at least $80 million.
As the world of AI models continues to evolve, the challenges of versioning and naming these increasingly complex systems have become increasingly apparent. The pace of progress in the field, with rapid advancements and improvements, has made it difficult to maintain a clear and consistent naming scheme.
The example of the long-delayed Duke Nukem Forever game highlights the unpredictable nature of development timelines, and the same can be said for the release of major AI models like Claude 3.5 Opus. The speaker notes that the plan is still to have a Claude 3.5 Opus, but it's unclear whether it will arrive before the highly anticipated GTA 6. The incredible pace of releases in the AI field, with companies like Anthropic constantly pushing the boundaries, makes it challenging to predict when these updates will be available.
The speaker delves into the intricacies of versioning and naming, noting that a year ago, the focus was primarily on pre-training models of different sizes and creating a family of naming schemes. However, as some models take longer to train than others, and as significant improvements are made in pre-training, the existing naming conventions start to break down.
The speaker acknowledges that no company has truly figured out the perfect naming system for AI models, as they often have different trade-offs, capabilities, and characteristics that are not always reflected in the benchmarks. Models can exhibit a range of personality traits, from polite to brusk, reactive to questioning, and warm to cold. Anthropic has even dedicated a team, led by Amanda, to focus on the "Claude character" and these nuanced aspects of the model.
The speaker suggests that the field of AI is in a different paradigm from traditional software development, where versioning and naming are more straightforward. The reality of AI model development often frustrates the attempts to create a clear and consistent naming scheme, as the models themselves can evolve in unpredictable ways.
The user experience of updated models, such as the transition from the June 2024 Sonic 35 to the newer version, also presents challenges. It's important to find a way to clearly differentiate between the previous and current versions, as the distinct improvements can make conversations about the models challenging.
In conclusion, the versioning and naming of AI models is an ongoing challenge that the industry has yet to fully solve. As the field continues to advance, companies like Anthropic will need to find innovative ways to communicate the nuances and capabilities of their models to users in a clear and meaningful way.
A dearth of funding for vital open source tech is leading to a swathe of support from startups, corporations, and even VC firms.
A dearth of funding for vital open source technologies is leading to a swath of support from startups, unicorns, corporations, and even venture capital firms.
Last year, Bloomberg launched its FOSS (free and open source software) fund, committing up to $90,000 per year to various projects. And in October, Indian financial services company Zerodha launched a similar initiative dubbed FLOSS/fund, pledging $1 million annually to open source projects. The reason? “A significant portion of our success and growth is owed to FOSS,” Zerodha CTO Kailash Nadh said at the time.
“It goes without saying that this holds true for nearly every technology company founded in the last decade, whether it is publicly acknowledged or not,” Nadh added.
While there is no shortage of companies building businesses and raising money off the back of open source software, not every community-driven project lends itself to becoming a commercial entity. Some open source tools are more akin to Lego blocks: key components of a software stack, for sure, but difficult to monetize directly — particularly in the early days.
The litigation marks the latest escalation of tensions between two of the biggest names in crypto, after the meteoric collapse of FTX rocked the market.
The estate of collapsed crypto exchange FTX has filed a suit against Binance and its former CEO Changpeng Zhao in an effort to wrest back at least $1.76 billion, citing a "fraudulent" share deal.
In a Sunday filing with a Delaware court, FTX cites a 2021 transaction in which Binance, Zhao and others exited their investment in FTX, selling a 20% stake in the platform and a 18.4% stake in its U.S.-based entity West Realm Shires back to the company.
The FTX estate alleges that the share repurchase was funded by FTX's Alameda Research division through a combination of the company's and Binance's exchange tokens, as well as Binance's dollar-pegged stablecoin.
"Alameda was insolvent at the time of the share repurchase and could not afford to fund the transaction," the suit claims, labeling the deal agreed with FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried — who's now serving a 25-year sentence over fraud linked to the downfall of his exchange — a "constructive fraudulent transfer."
Binance denies the allegations, saying in an emailed statement: "The claims are meritless, and we will vigorously defend ourselves."
The litigation marks the latest escalation of tensions between two of the biggest names in the crypto space, after the meteoric collapse of FTX rocked the industry.
Once a $32-billion empire, FTX disintegrated into bankruptcy when it was unable to keep pace with a torrent of customer withdrawals, triggering a plunge in the crypto markets.
The market fallout peaked in November last year, when Bankman-Fried was found guilty of seven criminal fraud counts relating to the bankruptcy of the exchange and theft of customer funds. That same month, Binance's Zhao pleaded guilty to charges of violating the Bank Secrecy Act for failing to put in motion an effective anti-money laundering program and for breaching U.S. economic sanctions.
Crypto markets have seen significant gains over the weekend, with Bitcoin pushing past $81,000 into new price discovery zones. The Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut by 25 basis points and Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential elections have fueled the market. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has reiterated that the central bank's future policy decisions will depend on economic reports, and this week will see key inflation data released.
Powell believes rates remain restrictive even after last week's reduction, suggesting inflation is on a path toward the Fed's 2% target. The release of October's CPI inflation report and October's Producer Price Index (PPI) report will also impact the market.
Crypto market capitalization has climbed to its highest level since mid-March, reaching $2.88 trillion. Bitcoin hit an all-time high of $81,800 and remains over $80,500, indicating momentum could continue.
Bitcoin hit an all-time high of $81,800 in early trading in Asia on November 11, resulting in a weekly gain of 18%. The asset added $14,000 since its Nov. 5 price of $67,500. Most of these gains have come in the wake of Donald Trump's landslide victory in the US presidential election last week. Bitcoin has surged by 93% since the beginning of 2024 and a whopping 400% since its bear market low of $16,000 in November 2022.
On-chain analyst James Check said markets have entered the "euphoria zone" as Bitcoin is in new price discovery. Marathon Holdings CEO Fred Thiel lamented the German government's decision to sell BTC when it was around $53,000, but his company is hodling over 27,000 BTC, which is growing every day. Bitcoin's continued surge has pushed total crypto market capitalization to $2.92 trillion, its highest level since the November 2021 bull market peak.
Bitcoin hit another high on Monday, as the rally in cryptocurrencies continued following President-elect Donald Trump's election win.
Bitcoin hit another high on Monday, as the rally in cryptocurrencies continued following Donald Trump's election win.
By 6:58 a.m. ET, bitcoin was trading 3.6% higher at $82,216, according to Coin Metrics. It comes after the flagship cryptocurrency touched $80,000 on Sunday for the first time ever.
Other coins also got a boost, with ether up 1.8%, trading around $3,204 after topping $3,000 over the weekend. The decentralized finance token tied to Cardano ticked 2.7% higher, while payments coin XRP took a breather.
Memecoins dogecoin and Shiba Inu coin also continued to rise, up almost 11% and 5%, respectively.
Bitcoin touches $80,000 on Sunday for the first time ever.
Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown, noted that crypto's march higher comes amid "euphoria" in the market unleashed by Trump's presidential win last week.
"His pledge to go all in on crypto has sent Bitcoin to fresh heady heights," she said in a research note Monday.
"He's made an about turn on supporting the industry and is now vowing to turn the U.S. into the crypto capital of the world. Bitcoin speculators are betting on a more clement regulatory environment, and have expectations that the authorities may build up a reserve crypto fund, helping lift ongoing demand."
On the campaign trail, Trump made a slew of promises to the crypto industry, including making the U.S. the "crypto capital of the planet" and insisting that all bitcoin should be mined in the country.
Bitcoin hit a new record high as futures premiums soared, in a clear sign that investors believe the record-run will continue.
Bitcoin reached a fresh all-time high near $81,000 and futures premiums soared, in a clear sign that investors believe the record-run in the world's largest cryptocurrency is poised for even more gains on the back of U.S. elections that saw a swell of pro-crypto candidates win office.
Open interest in bitcoin's price surpassing $90,000 rose to more than $2.8 billion on the popular Deribit derivatives exchange, one of a few crypto native platforms that offers futures trading. Deribit encompasses most of the offshore options market.
"The options market's bias is heavily toward continued momentum. Call options trade at a premium to puts, and open interest in out-of-the-money calls has grown," Vetle Lunde, head of research at K33 Research, told CNBC.
A call option gives the buyer the right to buy shares of an underlying asset at a certain price for a specified period of time. Buying a call option is a bet the asset price will move higher. Buying a put option is a bet the asset price will fall.
The CME derivates exchange offers bitcoin futures contracts and is a popular way for institutions in the U.S. to make bets on the future price of bitcoin. Velde told CNBC that on Friday CME premiums for ether and bitcoin averaged 14.5% and 14%, respectively. Ahead of the election, Velde says these premiums sat at 7%, and had spent a majority of the past half year hovering slightly below 10%.
The PRESS Act would protect a journalist's sources, and gained unanimous bipartisan support when passed by the House in January.
Folks in America: Your senators only have a few weeks left to pass the PRESS Act, a federal “shield” bill that the House passed with unanimous, bipartisan support in January but has been waiting in the Senate for a final vote ever since.
The PRESS Act, if passed into law, would enshrine nationwide protections for journalists across the United States from forcibly having to identify or give up their confidential sources (except in emergency cases, like to prevent an act of terrorism). The bill also grants other protections, such as limiting what records the government can secretly take from journalists or their email or phone provider that could identify their sources — again, with a narrow set of exceptions for emergency threats.
Lawmakers have been pushing to pass federal protections for journalists in the PRESS Act for the past year, citing recent U.S. government abuses, including the secret seizure of phone records from journalists who worked for CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post at the request of the Justice Department under the Trump administration. As noted last week by The Verge, protections for journalists and their sources will become increasingly relevant in a second Trump term.
Forcing journalists to turn over a source’s identity can have a real chilling effect on newsgathering. People will feel discouraged from talking to journalists, and that harms the public’s ability to be informed about things that affect them. We also increasingly consume our news from independent journalists and smaller outlets, which might not have the legal resources to fight a government subpoena for their records. The PRESS Act would provide the same blanket protections to journalists across the United States, and also covers independent journalists and outlets that publish information in the public interest.
Not surprisingly, TikTok is in second place next to Temu with 33.23 million downloads. The short-form video app is popular among users aged 18 to 24 for several reasons, the most obvious being that it serves as a go-to source for fast-paced, easily digestible content. Interestingly enough, the Gen Z-dominated app is also preferred as a search engine over Google.
Another major video platform, YouTube, remains popular among Gen Z young adults. Over a span of around 10 months, the mobile app amassed 14.03 million new installs, Appfigures noted. While this number is not as high as TikTok’s, it still indicates significant engagement among this group.
At this point, the PRESS Act already has bipartisan support in the Senate, with Sens. Ron Wyden, Lindsey Graham, Mike Lee, and Dick Durbin as co-sponsors. The bill is just waiting for a final vote on the Senate floor, with weeks to go before the bill expires at the end of the congressional session.
Since Threads was the most recent to launch, it makes sense that it has more new downloads. Additionally, there seems to be renewed interest in Facebook following the redesign aimed at engaging this social media-savvy generation. (While we cannot definitively determine whether the update directly influenced the spike in downloads, it’s worth noting the potential correlation.)
Google, another tech giant, has also amassed a decent amount of downloads so far this year. The search engine app saw 17.65 million installs, whereas other Google-owned products Chrome and Meet saw 10.19 million installs and 9.63 million, respectively. Meanwhile, Google Drive garnered 7.22 million downloads, and Google Photos had 6.79 million.
While the bill doesn’t affect the tech industry directly, as a news outlet, we’re in favor of protecting and building upon press freedoms. Some of TechCrunch’s most read and impactful reporting has come from readers like you, who have reached out and tipped us off to corporate wrongdoing, unearthing mismanagement in the startup world, detailing human rights abuses, and revealing major breaches and data spills, cyberattacks and criminality that otherwise might have gone unreported.
Another not-so-shocking discovery was that OpenAI’s ChatGPT continues to be favored among 18- to 24-year-olds, gaining 24.63 million app installs. With many Gen Z young adults either starting college or entering the early stages of their careers, ChatGPT has emerged as a favored resource for educational purposes and career guidance. A survey conducted by Best Colleges revealed that 43% of college students have admitted to using ChatGPT or similar AI tools.
Another AI-powered app getting traction was AI study companion Gauth. The app, developed by TikTok parent company ByteDance, achieved 8.37 million new installs. While it has existed since 2021, Gauth saw a surge in downloads earlier this year, becoming the second most downloaded education app for iOS devices in the U.S. in April.
Filmmaker Ole Ege's film The 1972 brothel set off a wave of bedside films that drew hundreds of thousands of Danes in cinemas. The 'Bordellet' was also present at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was sold abroad.
It suddenly becomes legal to go in and watch that type of movie because they are not so hardcore and vulgar, and that allows mom and dad to go in and watch porn movies together.
For example, the film Agent 69 Jensen in Scorpio's Sign was seen by 450,000 in the cinema.
For Gen Z, photo sharing and social media apps are integral to their daily lives. So it’s safe to say that a lot of these types of platforms would make it to the list.
In addition to Threads and Instagram ranking highly, ByteDance’s CapCut is another platform favored by Gen Z young adults. The video editing app is known for its range of effects and filters, making it easy to upload edited content to TikTok and other compatible platforms. Data indicates that the app saw 21.72 million new downloads.
Others on the list include Snapchat with 19.16 million installs, followed by Telegram with 13.12 million, Pinterest at 8.23 million, Reddit at 8.06 million, and X at 7.58 million.
So far this year, Netflix has been the top streaming service to attract the most 18- to 24-year-olds with 15.67 million installs. Prime Video and Disney+ are not far behind, with 12.86 million and 11.68 million downloads, respectively. Max, Peacock, and Tubi each have around 7 million downloads or more.
And it appears the music streaming app capturing lots of interest among Gen Z young adults is none other than the leading platform, Spotify. This app has attracted 10.45 million downloads, highlighting its significant appeal to this age group.
Encore processes over 50,000 searches per month and is seeing 26% month-on-month growth for searches and 15% growth in clicks.
The startup currently relies on affiliate shares for revenue generation. However, the company is also experimenting with a $3 per month subscription providing unlimited searches with advanced models, finding items by uploading images, and offering support via email and chat.
There are in some sense two types of LLMs - frontier models - at the cutting edge of performance (think GPT-4 vs other models until recently), and everything else. In 2021 I wrote that I thought the frontier models market would collapse over time into an oligopoly market due to the scale of capital needed. In parallel, non-frontier models would more commodity / pricing driven and have a stronger opensource presence (note this was pre-Llama and pre-Mistral launches).
Ruber noted that sentence length can vary, sometimes by a lot. Some people just key in a simple sentence like “Show me jeans” while others write a detailed description like “I am a 6’2″ person who skies and looking for skier pants under $100 with no big logos on them.”
The secondhand retail market is on an upward growth curve, with analysts projecting it to reach $73 billion in the U.S. and $350 billion globally by 2028. A report by online thrift store ThredUp notes that online secondhand resale would account for half of the secondhand market in 2025.
Frontier LLMs are likely to be an oligopoly market. Current contenders include closed source models like OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and perhaps Grok/X.ai, and Llama (Meta) and Mistral on the open source side. This list may of course change in the coming year or two. Frontier models keep getting more and more expensive to train, while commodity models drop in price each year as performance goes up (for example, it is probably ~5X cheaper to train GPT-3.5 equivalent now than 2 years ago)
Swiggy’s IPO will also show how willing investors are to bet on business models that prioritize growth over profits amid challenging global conditions.
For Dutch investor Prosus, Swiggy’s listing could deliver a three-fold return. It will also be the venture firm’s biggest hit from India, where its $1 billion-plus gains from Byju’s have all but evaporated. Accel is expected to see a more than 35-fold return, one of its largest in the past five years.
As model scale has gotten larger, funding increasingly has been primarily coming from the cloud providers / big tech. For example, Microsoft invested $10B+ in OpenAI, while Anthropic raised $7B between Amazon and Google. NVIDIA is also a big investor in foundation model companies of many types. The venture funding for these companies in contrast is a tiny drop in the ocean in comparison. As frontier model training booms in cost, the emerging funders are largely concentrated amongst big tech companies (typically with strong incentives to fund the area for their own revenue - ie cloud providers or NVIDIA), or nation states wanting to back local champions (see eg UAE and Falcon). This is impacting the market and driving selection of potential winners early.
Swiggy’s Instamart is among the top three quick-commerce businesses in the country, which promise deliveries of groceries, wellness and beauty products and much more within 10 minutes. Whether these companies will be able to revolutionize the broader retail market in India remains to be seen, but they have already captured 56% of the online grocery delivery market from e-commerce firms, according to JPMorgan.
Quick-commerce firms such as Instamart, Zomato-owned BlinkIt, Zepto, BigBasket, and Minutes are changing consumer behavior in urban Indian cities, home to about 80 million people. Together, they are on track to record sales of more than $6 billion this year, according to TechCrunch estimates.
It is important to note that the scale of investments being made by these cloud providers is dwarfed by actual cloud revenue. For example, Azure from Microsoft generates $25B in revenue a quarter. The ~$10B OpenAI investment by Microsoft is roughly 6 weeks of Azure revenue. AI is having a big impact on Azure revenue revently. Indeed Azure grew 6 percentage points in Q2 2024 from AI - which would put it at an annualized increase of $5-6B (or 50% of its investment in OpenAI! Per year!). Obviously revenue is not net income but this is striking nonetheless, and suggests the big clouds have an economic reason to fund more large scale models over time.
In parallel, Meta has done outstanding work with Llama models and recently announced $20B compute budget, in part to fund massive model training. I posited 18 months ago that an open source sponsor for AI models should emerge, but assumed it would be Amazon or NVIDIA with a lower chance of it being Meta. (Zuckerberg & Yann Lecunn have been visionary here).
There are a lot of potential areas that Tako could expand into in the future, like the vast world of employee benefits. Gadotti said the company does plan to expand as it grows into building more features like instant payments.
In addition to competing with legacy companies like ADP, there are multiple other HR tech startups in the country like Gupy and Caju, which are both more focused on other areas within HR and employee management. But if Tako expands into these areas, which it likely will, these companies could also become strong competitors.
Are cloud providers king-making a handful of players at the frontier and locking in the oligopoly market via the sheer scale of compute/capital they provide? When do cloud providers stop funding new LLM foundation companies versus continuing to fund existing? Cloud providers are easily the biggest funders of foundation models, not venture capitalists. Given they are constrained in M&A due to FTC actions, and the revenue that comes from cloud usage, it is rational for them to do so. This may lead / has led to some distortion of market dynamics. How does this impact the long term economics and market structure for LLMs? Does this mean we will see the end of new frontier LLM companies soon due to a lack of enough capital and talent for new entrants? Or do they keep funding large models hoping some will convert on their clouds to revenue?
“The strategy we took is that we are not trying to boil the ocean,” Gadotti said. “We want to start in a segment we know before venturing into industrials or more complex areas. We are starting in more simpler segments; as the company evolves, we are going to more complex segments in the future.”
Tako is emerging from stealth with a sizable $13.2 million seed round co-led by Ribbit Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. The round also included ONEVC and the founders of Ramp. Gadotti said the company plans to put the majority of capital toward research and development in addition to doubling or tripling headcount on its R&D team.
Tako is emerging from stealth with a sizable $13.2 million seed round co-led by Ribbit Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. The round also included ONEVC and the founders of Ramp. Gadotti said the company plans to put the majority of capital toward research and development in addition to doubling or tripling headcount on its R&D team.
There are a lot of potential areas that Tako could expand into in the future, like the vast world of employee benefits. Gadotti said the company does plan to expand as it grows into building more features like instant payments.
xAI launched Grok-2 in August with image generation capacities, backed by Black Forest Labs’ FLUX.1 model. Late last month, the company also gave the model the ability to understand images.
All these features were available only to Premium and Premium+ users until now. By opening up Grok to free users, xAI is possibly looking for a more significant userbase and faster feedback cycle for its products, so that it can better compete with other models on the market like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.
Does OSS models flip some of the economics in AI from foundation models to clouds? Does Meta continue to fund OS models? If so, does eg Llama-N catch up to the very frontier? A fully open source model performing at the very frontier of AI has the potential to flip a subportion the economic share of AI infra from LLMs towards cloud and inference providers and decreases revenue away from the other LLM foundation model companies. Again, this is likely an oligopoly market with no singular winner (barring AGI), but has implications on how to think about the relative importance of cloud and infrastructure companies in this market (and of course both can be very important!).
According to a researcher who goes by Swak on X, there are limits on the usage for now: 10 queries per two hours with the Grok-2 model, 20 queries per two hours with the Grok-2 mini model, and three image analysis questions per day.
To use Grok for free, your account should be at least seven days old and have a phone number linked to it.
Upstox has been using Equal for about a year and is processing around 350,000 transactions a month. Before that, Kumar said, the platform was relying on existing ID-verification providers.
“Equal has been able to aggregate across a slew of different APIs and ensures very high uptime between all those different connections,” he said.
How do we think about speed and price vs performance for models? One could imagine extremely slow incredibly performant models may be quite valuable if compared to normal human speed to do things. The latest largest Gemini models seem to be heading in this direction with large 1 million+ token context windows a la Magic, which announced a 5 million token window in June 2023. Large context windows and depth of understanding can really change how we think about AI uses and engineering. On the other side of the spectrum, Mistral has shown the value of small, fast and cheap to inference performant models. The 2x2 below suggests a potential segmentation of where models will matter most.
Equal is not alone in the space, as the market already has players such as Perfios (backed by Warburg Pincus and Teachers’ Venture Growth), IDfy (backed by TransUnion), and Bureau (backed by GMO VenturePartners). However, Reddy told TechCrunch that unlike the competition, Equal plays the role of an aggregator and partners even with some of its competitors.
Ravi Kumar, co-founder and CEO of Upstox, who has also invested in Equal’s maiden round and is one of the early customers for its identity verification and account aggregator, told TechCrunch that it’s the cost and uptime that gives the trading platform a reason not to look for building a similar tech in-house.
“Data sharing is still a major problem in this country if it’s not done digitally with consent,” Keshav Reddy, the son of GVK Group’s vice chairman GV Sanjay Reddy, told TechCrunch.
Reddy founded Equal with former Swiggy engineering director Rajeev Ranjan after moving back to India from the U.S.
For over the last two years, Reddy bootstrapped Equal, and the startup has added more than 350 customers, including State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Reliance Jio, Airtel, Uber, and Zoom.
How do architectures for foundation models evolve? Do agentic models with different architectures subsume some of the future potential of LLMs? When do other forms of memory and reasoning come into play?
Do governments back (or direct their purchasing to) regional AI champions?Will national governments differentially spend on local models a la Boeing vs Airbus in aerospace? Do governments want to support models that reflect their local values, languages, etc? Besides cloud providers and global big tech (think also e.g. Alibaba, Rakuten etc) the other big sources of potential capital are countries. There are now great model companies in Europe (e.g. Mistral), Japan, India, UAE, China and other countries. If so, there may be a few multi-billion AI foundation model regional companies created just off of government revenue.
The startup has now raised a Series A round of $10 million at a post-money valuation of $80 million to scale its operations, expand the product suite, and forge strategic partnerships. The round was led by Prosus Ventures, along with Tomales Bay Capital and Reddy himself, and saw participation from other investors, including Blume Ventures, DST Global, Gruhas VC, and Quona VC.
Equal is not alone in the space, as the market already has players such as Perfios (backed by Warburg Pincus and Teachers’ Venture Growth), IDfy (backed by TransUnion), and Bureau (backed by GMO VenturePartners). However, Reddy told TechCrunch that unlike the competition, Equal plays the role of an aggregator and partners even with some of its competitors.
What happens in China? One could anticipate Chinese LLMs to be backed by Tencent, Alibaba, Xiaomi, ByteDance and others investing in big ways into local LLMs companies. China’s government has long used regulatory and literal firewalls to prevent competition from non-Chinese companies and to build local, government supported and censored champions. One interesting thing to note is the trend of Chinese OSS models. Qwen from Alibaba for example has moved higher on the broader LMSYS leaderboards.
“There is a robust regulatory regime that exists in place today that’s been developed over 30 years,” and it’s well-equipped to construct new policies for AI and other tech. It’s true, at the federal level alone, regulatory bodies include everything from the Federal Communications Commission to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. When TechCrunch asked Casado on Wednesday after the election if he stands by this opinion — that AI regulation should follow the path already hammered out by existing regulatory bodies — he said he did.
How good does Google get? Google has the compute, scale, talent to make amazing things and is organized and moving fast. Google was always the worlds first AI-first company. Seems like a wild card.
The counterargument — and one several people in the audience brought up — was that the world didn’t really see the types of harms that the internet or social media could do before those harms were upon us. When Google and Facebook were launched, no one knew they would dominate online advertising or collect so much data on individuals. No one understood things like cyberbullying or echo chambers when social media was young.
Advocates of AI regulation now often point to these past circumstances and say those technologies should have been regulated early on.
Infra companies
There are a few types of infrastructure companies with very different uses. For example, Braintrust provides eval, prompt playgrounds, logging and proxies to help companies move from “vibe based” analysis of AI to data driven. Scale.ai and others play a key role in data labeling, fine tuning, and other areas. A number of these have open but less existential questions (for example how much of RLHF turns into RLAIF).
“You have to have a notion of marginal risk that’s different. Like, how is AI today different than someone using Google? How is AI today different than someone just using the internet? If we have a model for how it’s different, you’ve got some notion of marginal risk, and then you can apply policies that address that marginal risk,” he said.
“I think we’re a little bit early before we start to glom [onto] a bunch of regulation to really understand what we’re going to regulate,” he argues.
While this particular state law is dead, the fact it existed still bothers Casado. He is concerned that more bills, constructed in the same way, could materialize if politicians decide to pander to the general population’s fears of AI, rather than govern what the technology is actually doing.
He understands AI tech better than most. Before joining the storied VC firm, Casado founded two other companies, including a networking infrastructure company, Nicira, that he sold to VMware for $1.26 billion a bit over a decade ago. Before that, Casado was a computer security expert at Lawrence Livermore National Lab.
The biggest uncertainties and questions in AI infra have to do with the AI Cloud Stack and how it evolves. It seems like there are very different needs between startups and enterprises for AI cloud services. For startups, the new cloud providers and tooling (think Anyscale, Baseten, Modal, Replicate, Together, etc) seem to be taking a useful path resulting in fast adoption and revenue growth.
For enterprises, who tend to have specialized needs, there are some open questions. For example:
Does the current AI cloud companies need to build an on-premise/BYOC/VPN version of their offerings for larger enterprises? It seems like enterprises will optimize for (a) using their existing cloud marketplace credits which they already have budget for, to buy services (b) will be hesitant to round trip out from where their webapp / data is hosted (ie AWS, Azure, GCP) due to latency & performance and (c) will care about security, compliance (FedRAMP, HIPAA etc). The short term startup market for AI cloud may differ from long term enterprise needs.
He says that many proposed AI regulations did not come from, nor were supported by, many who understand AI tech best, including academics and the commercial sector building AI products.
“You have to have a notion of marginal risk that’s different. Like, how is AI today different than someone using Google? How is AI today different than someone just using the internet? If we have a model for how it’s different, you’ve got some notion of marginal risk, and then you can apply policies that address that marginal risk,” he said.
How much of AI cloud adoption is due to constrained GPU / GPU arb? In the absence of GPU on the main cloud providers companies are scrambling to find sufficient GPU for their needs, accelerating adoption of new startups with their own GPU clouds. One potential strategy NVIDIA could be doing is preferentially allocating GPU to these new providers to decrease bargaining power of hyperscalers and to fragment the market, as well as to accelerate the industry via startups.
And this is why we’ve seen a steady rise in funding initiatives come to the fore. This includes reactive programs, such as 2022’s Big Tech-driven $30 million pledge to bolster open source security in the wake of the Log4Shell security flaw that wreaked havoc on the software supply chain. But we’re also seeing more proactive efforts, driven from all corners of industry.
Silicon Valley VC Sequoia Capital launched an open source fellowship in 2023 to support project maintainers with equity-free capital to cover living expenses for up to 12 months. Its inaugural fellow was Colombian software developer Sebastián Ramírez Montaño, creator of FastAPI, an open source web framework for building APIs.
When does the GPU bottleneck end and how does that impact new AI cloud providers? It seems like an end to GPU shortages on the main clouds would be negative for companies whose only business is GPU cloud, while those with more tools and services should have an easier transition if this were to happen.
In February, Sequoia revealed it would start accepting applications from any developer leading an open source project, with plans to provide funding for up to three qualifying projects annually. Nine months on, and the first two fellows from Sequoia’s expanded program have now been revealed: Chatbot Arena, a popular open source AI model benchmarking tool used by many of the industry’s biggest names, including OpenAI, Meta, and Google; and vLLM, an open source library focused on memory management to power faster and cheaper LLM serving.
What else gets consolidated into AI clouds? Do they cross sell embeddings & RAG? Continuous updates? Fine tuning? Other services? How does that impact data labelers or others with overlapping offerings? What gets consolidated directly into model providers vs via the clouds?
Chatbot Arena, which spun out of a broader research organization called LMSYS, is the handiwork of doctorate students Wei-Lin Chiang and Anastasios Angelopoulos from Berkeley’s Sky Computing Lab. With north of 1 million monthly users, Chatbot Arena is all about helping LLM developers validate claims around their models’ performance, while anyone can test these models and vote for their preferences. Companies such as OpenAI often share versions of their models with the Chatbot Arena team ahead of the models’ release to help fine-tune things before their formal launch.
It is important to note there are really 2 market segments in the AI cloud world (a) startups (b) mid-market and enterprise. It seems likely that “GPU only” business model default works with the startup segment(who have fewer cloud needs), but for large enterprises adoption may be more driven by GPU cloud constraints on major platforms. Do companies providing developer tooling, API endpoints, and/or specialized hardware, or other aspects morph into two other analogous models - (a) “Snowflake/Databricks for AI” model or (b) “Cloudflare for AI”? If so, which ones adopt
While Chatbot Arena receives financing as part of the creators’ doctorate research work at the Sky Computing Lab, the Sequoia fellowship award of $100,000 will help fund further technical development, including building a better interface.
“The Sequoia grant supports the development of Chatbot Arena’s website, covering full-stack development and server maintenance costs,” Chiang told TechCrunch. “This is a gift to support the open source project, with no future obligations.”
How big do the new AI clouds become? As large as Heroku, Digital Ocean, Snowflake, or AWS? What is the size of outcome and utilization scale for this class of company?
How does the AI stack evolve with very long context window models? How do we think about the interplay of context window & prompt engineering, fine tuning, RAG, and inference costs?
Sequoia isn’t the only VC firm to lend equity-free support to Chatbot Arena; Andreessen Horowitz launched an open source AI grant program last August, and Chatbot Arena’s umbrella outfit LMSYS was among the second cohort of recipients.
Chiang said that there are no plans to evolve the project into a commercial entity, underscoring the need for alternative sources of financing — now, and perhaps long into the future.
“As part of our long-term vision, we may establish a nonprofit organization to host the leaderboard, keeping our focus on broad accessibility and community impact,” Chiang said.
How does FTC (and other regulator) prevention of M&A impact this market? There are at least a dozen credible companies building AI cloud related products and services - too many for all of them to be stand alone. How does one think about exits under an administration that is aggressively against tech M&A? Should the AI clouds themselves consolidate amongst themselves to consolidate share and services offered?
In tandem, Berkeley’s Sky Computing Lab also birthed vLLM in 2022, spearheaded by researchers Zhuohan Li, Woosuk Kwon, and Simon Mo, who started the project after developing a system to distribute complex processes across multiple GPUs more efficiently. vLLM leans on a new “attention algorithm” dubbed PagedAttention, which helps reduce memory waste and is already being used by developers at companies such as AWS, Cloudflare, and Nvidia.
AI search tools have been corrupted. Alexa, owned by Amazon, once provided a view count for various websites and services. Alexa was not originally the in-home device that we are familiar with as the company was developed independently and purchased by Amazon in 1999. Amazon coincidentally named its in-home tool “Alexa” in 2014. The company quietly removed the web ranking tool in 2022 with no explanation.
Similar to Chatbot Arena, vLLM serves as the focal point of its creators’ PhD research work, and future commercialization is not currently on the agenda.
“At the moment, we do not have a plan to transition it into a stand-alone company — we are solely focused on making the open source project useful and widely adopted,” Mo said.
ChatGPT was the starting gun for many AI founders. Prior to ChatGPT (and right before that Midjourney and Stable Diffusion) most people in tech were not paying close attention to the Transformer/Diffusion model revolution and dislocation we are now experiencing.
This means that people closest to the model and technology - ie AI researchers and infra engineers - were the first people to leave to start new companies based on this technology. The people farther away from the core model world - many product engineers, designers, and PMs, did not become aware of how important AI is until now.
In addition to Sequoia’s $100,000 contribution for the year, other public sponsors include Andreessen Horowitz, which donated as part of its inaugural open source AI grant program last year, while the likes of AWS, Nvidia, and others have collectively helped vLLM cover its compute resources — which are not insignificant.
“For vLLM, we intend to use the fund to cover our continuous integration testing and benchmark suite,” Mo said. “These suites, running on GPUs, are expensive to maintain but critical to ensure the performance and correctness of vLLM for production usage.”
Now, this is not a one-off issue. Good cache just so happened to cease service shortly after Archive.org was hacked. The service would provide users with a cached version of the website they were viewing. Google offered no explanation. It’s Google – they have the server capacity to continue this service.
The items that have not been scrubbed from the internet have been hidden by Big Tech. Joe Rogan’s viral interview with Donald Trump secured over 34 million views. Yet, Google and YouTube have altered their search engines to make the video difficult to find. Rogan was forced to post the full three-hour interview on X, one of the final frontier of free speech
ChatGPT launched ~15 months ago. If it takes 9-12 months to decide to quit your job, a few months to do it, and a few months to brainstorm an initial idea with a cofounder, we should start to see a wave of app builders showing up now / shortly.
B2B apps. What will be the important companies and markets in the emerging wave of B2B apps?Where will incumbents gain value versus startups? I have a long post on this coming shortly.
One clear message emerges from all this: AI and data infrastructure might be driving demand for open source technologies, but this demand creates significant costs for the project maintainers. Ion Stoica, professor of the computer science division at Berkeley and a Sky Computing Lab adviser, says that the funding pressure on open source project maintainers is “at least an order of magnitude higher” with the advent of LLMs.
“You have multiple kinds of GPUs, you have all of these other accelerators, and there’s also a difference in scale,” he said. “Ten years ago, most of the funding for a new startup would go to adding people; today, it’s going to infrastructure.”
Last week, along with a DDOS attack and exposure of patron email addresses and encrypted passwords, the Internet Archive’s website javascript was defaced, leading us to bring the site down to access and improve our security. The stored data of the Internet Archive is safe and we are working on resuming services safely. This new reality requires heightened attention to cyber security and we are responding. We apologize for the impact of these library services being unavailable.
Alignment
Digging a little deeper, and it’s clear that Sequoia’s involvement isn’t quite as altruistic as it might seem, owing to the fact that its two new fellows intersect with startups in its existing investment portfolio. By way of example, vLLM is used by Replicate, which Sequoia (and Andreessen Horowitz) backed across its Series A and Series B rounds.
Elsewhere, Sequoia last year co-led a $5 million seed round into an AI startup called Factory, with the startup’s founder and CTO Eno Reyes confirming that his company uses Chatbot Arena to “keep close track” of the top LLM options.
Consumer. Arguably a number of the earliest AI products are consumer or “prosumer” - ie used in both personal and business use cases. Apps like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Perplexity and Pika are examples of this. That said, why are there so few consumer builders in the AI ecosystem? Is it purely the time delay mentioned above? It seems like the 2007-2012 social product cohort has aged out. New blood is needed to build the next great wave of AI consumer.
A librarian for the organization said that they expect the service to be restored but was unable to provide details. “While the Wayback Machine has been in read-only mode, web crawling and archiving have continued. Those materials will be available via the Wayback Machine as services are secured.” This means that individual websites may scrub content from their site without any third-party having the ability to capture it.
“They’re a key input to make sure we have the best product for our users,” Reyes said.
Similarly, Sequoia’s first fellowship award last year, FastAPI, leans heavily on Pydantic, the popular data validation library created by the eponymous startup in Sequoia’s portfolio.
However, Sequoia Capital partner Lauren Reeder told TechCrunch that this cross-pollination between fellows and portfolio isn’t a strict condition of its funding decisions, merely a “nice bonus” when things do align. And in truth, when an open source project is genuinely popular, there’s every chance that it will be picked up by one of Sequoia’s portfolio companies, which is a good way for the VC firm to hear about worthwhile projects.
Agents. Lots and lots of things can happen with agents. What will be strong focused product areas versus startups looking for a use case?
This is one of the most exciting and fast-changing moments in technology in my lifetime. It will be fun to see what everyone builds. Looking forward to thoughts on the questions above.
Thanks to Amjad Masad and Vipul Prakash for comments on a draft of this post.
In terms of how the funding is dispersed, Reeder says it’s open to whatever suits the team in question. For FastAPI, this involved making a direct payment to Montaño himself, which was simpler given that it was just the one individual. But where teams are involved, it makes sense to use a third-party fundraising platform such as Open Collective, which also comes with added transparency.
“For the two most recent fellows, we were supporting small groups rather than a single individual and Open Collective made it easier to manage the funds,” Reeder said. “Similarly, we’ve done both up-front payments as multi-install payments, depending on the needs of the project. Open Collective is more transparent, but the fees are not insignificant.”
Internet censorship tactics are happening on a grand scale in secrecy. The establishment is scrubbing internet achieves across numerous platforms in an attempt to reframe public opinion and ultimately rewrite history.
Archive.org has been tracking websites since 1994, but recently, it has stopped collecting data in real-time. The website stopped archiving on October 8, 2024, with a curious explanation: Archive.org faced a Denial of Service attack (DDOS) that nearly wiped it out. Who would be targeting such a service?
There have been numerous other efforts to formalize open source project financing in the past five years alone, including dedicated FOSS funds from Indeed and Salesforce, a tacit acknowledgment that critical components of the tech stack are crying out for support.
One of the biggest efforts of late, however, hails from developer tooling unicorn Sentry, which itself has been donating to open source projects for many years. In 2021, Sentry adopted a more systematic program with firmer and more transparent commitments, and last month the company officially launched the Open Source Pledge to encourage other companies to get involved — either by donating directly through platforms such as GitHub Sponsors or Thanks.dev, or indirectly via foundations.
The rules of engagement are thus: Commitments should amount to at least $2,000 per year for each developer the member company has on staff, which for Sentry itself translated to around $500,000 last year — $3,704 for each of its 135 developer headcount. Beneficiaries through the years have included Django, Python, Rust, and Apache. This year, Sentry has upped its own budget to $750,000, and with some two dozen additional members signed up to the Pledge at the time of writing, Whitacre is hopeful that open source software developers will see a little more compensation in the future.
For the last 5 decades[1], every wave of technology-driven companies has had amongst them highly capital efficient businesses. The capital efficiency tends to reflect that (a) people really want your product and will pay you for it and (b) the founders are cost-conscious and frugal, and do not overhire.
Indeed, Paul Graham from YC has developed the metric of “default alive” to reflect capital efficiency as a core sort of startup metric.
A More Affordable Vision on the Horizon?
Tim Cook has hinted that Apple isn’t stepping away from VR altogether. Instead, the company is pivoting to develop a more affordable version of the Vision Pro. By trimming down on non-essential technologies, Apple hopes to create a product that retains the essence of its high-end headset while appealing to a broader audience.
Early rumors suggest the new model could be priced around $2,300—a significant drop but still far from the affordability of Meta’s Quest 3, which recently launched at just $329. Apple faces the challenge of balancing cost and innovation to remain competitive in a market where consumers increasingly expect premium experiences at accessible prices.
Capital efficiency has existed in roughly every technology wave. Many of the largest, more important companies in the world started off highly capital efficient. Inded, capital efficiency tends to reflect an especially strong business model (and in some cases founder). Examples include:
Microsoft was bootstrapped in the 1970s and did not raise any venture capital until a round right prior to their IPO, when Bill Gates wanted a VC for his board and that came with strings attached for the VC to invest. The investment went straight into the bank account and remained untouched.
Despite its high cost, Apple marketed the Vision Pro as more than just a VR device. Its capabilities, including the potential to function as a standalone computer, justified the comparison to a MacBook Pro. But for many, even a “virtual laptop” wasn’t enough to warrant the price.
For Apple, this may be a lesson in understanding the evolving expectations of consumers. The Vision Pro’s fate suggests that even the most innovative products can stumble when they fail to find their audience. However, with plans for a more affordable headset in the works, Apple seems determined to learn from its missteps and return to the market stronger.
As Tim Cook and his team forge ahead, one thing is clear: Apple’s journey into the VR space is far from over. While the Vision Pro may have fallen short of its lofty ambitions, it could pave the way for a future where immersive technology is truly accessible to all.
Dell was bootstrapped off cash flow in the 1980s until a similar pre-IPO round.
Yahoo and eBay famously did not touch their early venture capital funding in the 1990s - they were run so lean and profitably that they did not need to raise large sums.
Google raised a single round of traditional venture capital, before doing a pre-IPO round with Yahoo! and others.
Instagram was just a dozen or so people before being acquired by Facebook, while Zapier only ever raised a $1.3M seed round before bootstrapping from then on. These companies were founded in 2010s on.
Midjourney (founded in 2020s) is rumored to be entirely bootstrapped today.
This discovery significantly enhances our understanding of the Solar System’s history. The Moon’s solid core and the differentiation process, where denser materials move towards the center, may have been integral in shaping the Solar System. Moreover, this could shed light on some of the intense meteoritic bombardments that characterized the first billion years of lunar history.
Why are some businesses capital efficient?
In general there tend to be two drivers of capital efficiency.
Customers will pay (a lot) for the product. The “capital” side of capital efficiency is often a proxy for both product / market fit and an intense customer need. Customers are willing to pay up for a product that is important to them, and there is insufficient competition in the market to commoditize pricing or destroy the category (so the product is somehow differentiated). Pricing is often a proxy for value & differentiation of a product.
Future Prospects for Lunar Exploration
The confirmation of the Moon’s internal structure opens new avenues for space exploration. Upcoming lunar missions, such as NASA’s Artemis program and private sector initiatives, will build on these findings with more sophisticated instruments. This new era of exploration will help validate and refine current models, leading to a deeper understanding of our natural satellite and its origins.
The company is run efficiently. During COVID roughly all tech startups lost their way on spending. Capital was flowing freely and teams often rapidly and dramatically over hired, boosted expenses on things non-crucial for the business, and spent wastefully. The most capital efficient businesses tend to be frugal and have a low cost approach to the world. Salaries are lower to help make equity more valuable. The founders and employees of these businesses treat the dollar spent by the business as their own money (which it is, as they are shareholders in the business). They realize that profitability gives them infinite runway and enormous freedom on decision making and future path optionality.
While the search term for Bengal cats appears relatively niche, the company claims that makes the hacking threat even more alarming because you don’t have to be searching for anything nefarious in order to have your personal details stolen.
SOPHOS says cyber criminals are increasingly infiltrating innocuous Google searches by using a tactic known as “SEO poisoning.”
Build out or prototype something. This may be something inexpensive but for some reason can not be bootstrapped off of customers (e.g. a new SaaS product) or is something capital intensive that may have a giant market on the other side. The later includes things like building rockets for spaceX, or biotech drugs.
Scale something that is working. For example, you want to add sales or go-to-market functions to sell faster/better, or your consumer app is growing like crazy and you want to be able to add more compute to serve users. Uber needed to raise billions to both scale rapidly and beat out global competition.
You need the valuation for external uses. E.g. M&A or hiring (there are other ways to do this too).
In general, if you are not prototyping / proving something works, or scaling something that does work, you should not raise money.
One could argue that while too many SV/NY/cluster-based tech companies raise money, too few outside of major tech clusters do. In many cities and regions people bootstrap for too long, do not scale quickly enough, or do not think about time to winning in a big market. It is possible that non-cluster tech companies in the US end up scaling fast too infrequently.
Besides Tesla, which makes electric vehicles and works on self-driving cars, Musk already owns or leads several companies. That includes aerospace firm SpaceX, the social media platform X, artificial intelligence startup xAI, brain chip startup Neuralink, and tunneling firm The Boring Company.
This could give Tesla a significant advantage under the new Trump administration — including some influence on the regulation of driverless vehicles, while at the same time putting its competitors at a disadvantage.
The CEO, who leads a number of other firms including SpaceX, is poised to have some level of role or influence in the upcoming Trump administration, including perhaps leading a newly proposed Department of Government Efficiency (or DOGE, after Musk’s favorite cryptocurrency).
Occasionally, you also see an SV/NY/cluster-based company that is growing really well and has turned profitable, and then forgoes building against and winning in their category. Sometimes this is the right thing for founders to do, and sometimes it reflects a lack of know-how, ambition, or aggressiveness. Sometimes, it just shows the founders had a bad experience at a company that scaled for no good reason and ruined the company culture, ability to execute, and products. The wrong lessons may be learned from bad growth and bad execution. It is so rare to actually build something that people care about, that it feels like a shame to not go win when you can - but obviously it is up to each founder and team to chose their own path. Some companies that focus on or hit profitability early then forgo winning the market - their focus shifts too much on maintaining cash flow versus growing faster to take the market.
As part of that job, Musk has said he would advocate for a national approach to regulating driverless vehicles — a key market for Tesla — and cut regulations, which he has repeatedly criticized as holding his companies back. SpaceX, Neuralink, X, and Tesla are collectively the subject of at least 20 recent investigations or reviews.
Generically, startups are rewarded for progress per unit time, versus progress per unit dollar (all else being equal within a given burn multiple range).
Hopefully more capital efficiency returns to technology now that ZIRP and COVID policies are (roughly) a thing of the past. Many of the most important companies in the world started in a capital efficient state.
While Trump’s victory is good for Tesla, it’s expected to be less friendly to other automakers with EV plans. He’s expected to freeze provisions of President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which provided $7,500 tax credits for American-made EVs. Musk has supported ending the tax credit, believing it would help Tesla sales while hurting its rivals.
To be clear, much of that is beyond Sheridan’s control. If Costner wouldn’t return to shoot additional episodes, then there were only so many endings a creator can write for his character. But even in a soap opera as soapy as “Yellowstone” — lest we forget, Jamie was secretly adopted as a child and has a secret baby all his own — John Dutton’s chosen ending still strains plausibility.
Yeah, and let me know if there are specific details that'd be more interesting. So I was a supply chain engineer at Amazon and was not fulfilled. I was like, there's got to be more to life than this. I decided that I wanted to become an entrepreneur. I moved from Seattle to San Francisco and realized that the only real way of becoming an entrepreneur is to sort of really get your hands dirty.
So I started over the course of a couple of years, I started about 20 companies, did all kinds of things. Like at this time, Zynga was growing very fast. And so I built an ad network for social games. I built a Groupon specifically for food. This time Groupon was really big as well. And all these companies failed, unfortunately.
For one, no one who met John would ever believe he died by suicide. Episode 9 hints at that implausibility when Senator Perry (Wendy Moniz-Grillo) asks if Jamie believes the reports about his father’s cause of death. But then… everyone just buys in anyway? It doesn’t matter how the scene was staged by Sarah’s hitman. John’s entire identity was forged through toughness, and even in private, he never let on that he was depressed or otherwise wrestling with demons beyond his control. Asking people who knew John — the police, the ranchers, most of Montana — to believe he up and decided to die by his own hand is about as silly as it gets.
And I was in San Francisco in my apartment. I realized that all I had in my fridge was a bottle of hot sauce. And this was a common problem for me and it didn't make sense to me. This was 2012 and we were ordering everything online except for groceries. And here it is. There's a trillion-dollar category that's still stuck offline. And so I decided that I was going to bring this category online.
I started coding the first version of Instacart and three weeks later Instacart was born. And at the time, because I was the only one in the company, I placed my order and then went to the store, picked up my groceries, and delivered them to myself. And of course, I gave myself a nice tip.
Applying the same logic, it doesn’t add up that John’s death could come at the hands of such a minor character. Sarah has done little to establish herself as a serious threat. Jamie has never once outsmarted his father. Neither seems stronger together. (Their tryst appears superficially manipulative on her part, like she’s seducing Jamie as part of her job at Market Equities, and it only makes him look dumber for naively going along with it.) That leaves the rest of Season 5 with a lot of work to do in explaining how, exactly, these two nincompoops did what so many more capable antagonists across the previous four seasons couldn’t: kill John Dutton.
But even if it does, whatever happens next, Episode 9 (“Desire Is All You Need”) did little to reassure fans that “Yellowstone” can get by without Costner. Many of the storylines still dangling hinge on Costner’s presence. How much do we care about the pipeline being built if John’s not there to stop it? What about his longstanding rivalry with Thomas Rainwater? What about Summer (Piper Perabo), and their weird little hippie/cowboy relationship? What about his showdown with Jamie, his questionable connection with Kayce, or a proper goodbye to the daughter who devoted her life to him? Heck, what about the financial decisions he’s made to keep the ranch running amid an outbreak of brucellosis — decisions that he made, and he should address?
So when Instacart got up and running, about a decade before that, there was Webvan, which was one of the most famous craters in all of Silicon Valley history. It was backed by Sequoia. It raised a billion dollars or something. It hired the CEO of Accenture and started running it and then it was like a total wipe. And it was a very asset-heavy business.
What was the reception when you told people that this is what you were going to do were people like, that's a great idea? Were they like, how could you do this? Don't you know the history? What was the reaction?
A few of these arcs are addressed in Episode 9, but what does it say about John, as a iconic modern cowboy, father, and leader, that he died without resolving so many loose ends? Some may say, “That’s life — it’s messy.” But the series has never labored for accuracy (except when it comes to wrangling cattle and the like). It strives for emotional truths over all else, whether it’s Beth’s tough-talking business negotiations (which, if applied literally, are essentially nonsensical) or Kayce’s “shoot first, ask questions never” ways of serving as livestock commissioner. Costner could sell those because of his movie star gravitas, his lived experience, his status on the show, and the status he lent to his character.
“Red One” was conceived by story writer and producer Hiram Garcia as the start of a Marvel-sized holiday franchise for Amazon MGM Studios, and the mythological world it opens up suggests a million snowglobes’ worth of possibilities for MCU-level interconnectedness. Leading alongside Johnson is Chris Evans as Jack O’Malley, a high-functioning-alcoholic hacker and bounty hunter estranged from his son (Wesley Kimmel) and for whom the workday starts passed out in an empty bathtub, a drained bottle of whiskey just out of focus.
Yeah, I remember there was an investor meeting that I had in the early days and I walk into this meeting and I start presenting. And this is like 24-year-old Apoorva. I wanted to really stand out. The title under my logo was Webvan done right. And I started, got to the second slide, third slide, and this investor literally got up and left the room and I was like, Is the meeting over? It's very clear I didn't get the term sheet. But then he came back and he slapped this floppy disk on the desk on the table. And he was like, this has the Webvan business plan, you should go home and study it and you will never do this company. And so the reception was not great.
f you don’t have the head for following Marvel’s head-spinning but often fundamentally dumb plot matrices, odds won’t much improve for keeping track of the cracked-out, under-baked story in “Red One,” as Jack’s latest job-for-hire inadvertently causes Santa Claus’ kidnapping. At the North Pole, Claus is readying for his grand night of chimney-hopping with milk and cookies and ringside support courtesy of Mrs. Claus (poor Bonnie Hunt). But Christmas may have to wait, as he’s taken hostage by the Christmas Witch, Gryla (poor Kiernan Shipka), a flesh-hungry ogress based in Icelandic mythology. St. Nick’s disappearance sends North Pole security head Callum Drift (Johnson) on a tailspin rescue mission on the very eve Callum was about to call it quits.
And this is sort of what you see with a lot of startup advice. It is very generic and you actually have to step back and reason from first principles. A lot has changed since when Webvan got started. And one of the main changes was the fact that now everyone was carrying a supercomputer that was connected to the Internet with GPS in their pockets. And so if you wanted to order your groceries, we could connect you with someone who was close to the grocery store, who could pick up and deliver the groceries to you. And we wouldn't need any trucks, we wouldn't need to hold inventory.
Also the head of a vaguely shadowy secret ops organization that protects creatures and folks from the mythological world is Lucy Liu, collectively onscreen for less time than it takes to sing the chorus of “Jingle Bells” and in an unfortunate wig to boot. She and her army of minions (including a talking CGI polar bear on its hindlegs) bring Jack in for questioning, though not after they’ve grilled the Headless Horseman as a possible culprit.
So the mismatched Jack (a “level-four naughty-lister,” according to North Pole brass) and Callum set out to retrieve Santa Claus in time for Christmas Eve. Shameless, just-in-time-for-holiday-shopping product placement is shoved in, from Mattel (Rock ’em Sock ’em Robots, Hot Wheels) and Hasbro (Monopoly), only alluding more to the capitalist imperatives that drove the project in the first place. And that could lead to myriad other cynical tie-ins to those toy giants’ own upcoming franchise movie plans.
It's kind of interesting because during that era there were a lot of things that had blown up ten years before that everybody thought would never work again. And then there were online versions of that. I think there was Chewy on the pet food side, but also things like payments. And so as PayPal sold to eBay, the conventional wisdom in Silicon Valley started to become that payments are too hard. And so all sorts of people avoided payments for ten years.
There’s a ghastly sequence in which Jack and Callum interrogate Nick Kroll as a “death merc,” one of Gryla’s mercenaries, and are chased by a legion of monstrous snowmen whose Achilles’ heel is having their carrot nose ripped out. The witchy Gryla (a role even Shipka can’t inject life into) aims to steal a naughty list “the size of Rhode Island” and harvest the souls of all the bad-doers to galvanize her takeover of Christmas, or something like that.
And Gryla’s ex is the dark lord of Christmas and Santa Claus’s brother, Krampus (“Game of Thrones” star Kristofer Hivju in gargoylean prosthetics), another foe for Jack and Callum to face down — and for Callum to lose, and then win against, in a slapping contest in another of the film’s childish jabs at winky slapstick humor. It’s all slogging toward a sleigh-ride showdown in the winter night sky, reminiscent of the visually heinous boss levels of any Marvel movie, where CGI reaches an unintelligible pitch of PG-13-rated cacophony.
Yeah, at the end of the day, you want to start a category-defining company. And payments: enormous TAM. Grocery enormous TAM. And if there are companies that can be built that have a shot of transforming a category, that's a shot that you want to take.
There's this famous saying in investing, which is that most investing mistakes are failures of a mission rather than failures of commission. All right? And so early stages for a lot of companies, it really is like you're buying an option for this company to be successful.
Perhaps “Red One” would work a little better (i.e., at all) if Evans and Johnson had any chemistry — at least this film should make you excited for Johnson’s entrée into serious screen acting with Benny Safdie’s upcoming wrestling biopic “The Smashing Machine.” You don’t watch “Red One” so much as stare ahead at the screen. It is a movie that is playing in front of you, I can comfortably give it that much, and for one meant to summon up the Christmas spirit, there’s not a whiff of mirth from the screenplay to the production level.
“Red One” will make you not only bummed about the holidays ahead, but about cinema’s future as well. Yet if you’ve been paying attention (and wasting your money at multiplexes in the process), the latter’s a reality far less shattering than the dawning of Santa Claus’s own upon a hopeful child. Make it a Christmas miracle, and cross this “Red One” off your list.
Now, of course, as you get into a lot more details about Instacart and I'm sure with Stripe you start to understand, yes, it is challenging, but with the approaches that we've taken, it actually is tractable. And if you solve some of these problems, you can actually make it a much more successful company.
Tesla shares have surged and the companies value is over $1 trillion. I have a video where I discuss why there will be follow through. (not financial advice).
There is a strong chance of $450 in the next 90 days.
$1000 in the second half of 2025.
And a 10X to $3000 by 2027.
Elon Musk is got on a call with the President elect and Ukraine President Zelensky.
The real bottleneck: confusion & skeuomorphism
Our main bottleneck isn't insufficient intelligence or infrastructure - it's confusion about what we should be building with AI. We're trapped in skeuomorphic thinking, viewing machine intelligence through the lens of human intelligence. In McLuhan terms, the first things we’re building with the new media (machine intelligence) are things we already build in the old media (human intelligence). The television just arrived and we’re still just televising radio broadcasts… we’re putting the yellow pages on the internet.
The Shanghai megapack factory is twice as large as the California factory. The profits are already $800 million per quarter from California and there has not been a quarter where the California average runrate of 10 GWh per quarter plus 2 gigawatt hours of powerwalls from Nevada has been shown. The full California megapack profits will be about $1.2 billion per quarter. China megapacks fully ramped with factory completing next month will be $3 billion per quarter.
Researchers referenced the Turing test (human imitation at its core) as a longstanding goal post in the field for meaningful machine intelligence.
Economists and think tanks forecast AI's disruption by reasoning about the labor force and what % of jobs are automate-able at increasing capability thresholds.
Founders similarly make arguments about the value of their AI businesses with labor automation logic: “okay X many people currently have this job... they cost Y per year.. if we can automate that work then our market size is on the order of X times Y annually.”
Investors create speculative sky high valuations (the short-term scorecard for company success) for companies that fit this metaphor, and you get a feedback loop to early seed investors/accelerators/founders that these are good companies.
Silicon Valley thinkpieces abound with analogies to AI/agentic workers that can do work just like a human co-worker, take its recent favorite AGI bull (Leopold’s Situational Awareness)
Improved Tesla Shanghai Megapack Factory Size Estimate
A reader has performed more detailed measurements of the Tesla Shanghai Megapack factory. He has dimensions of 450 meters by 180 meters (1476 feet X 590 feet).
Yeah. I felt like a lot of startups are actually created and remembered by the rules that they actually break. If you look at a company like TikTok, for example, they did paid user acquisition to grow their user base. That was considered to not be a practical thing to grow. And so you always had to take advice and really assess that for your own company.
I expect us to get something that looks a lot like a drop-in remote worker. An agent that joins your company, is onboarded like a new human hire, messages you and colleagues on Slack and uses your softwares, makes pull requests, and that, given big projects, can do the model-equivalent of a human going away for weeks to independently complete the project. You’ll probably need somewhat better base models than GPT-4 to unlock this, but possibly not even that much better
A reader has performed more detailed measurements of the Tesla Shanghai Megapack factory. He has dimensions of 450 meters by 180 meters (1476 feet X 590 feet).
This would be 870,800 square feet versus the 440,000 square feet of the Lathrop California megapack factory. This means almost exactly double.
The Tesla Shanghai megapack factory will also have two other buildings which will add another 300,000 square feet.
The result is a solidification of the right way to think about AI's proliferation: AI will do what humans did. This result is not without consequence, our collective understanding of the future shapes how we build it, invest in it, what we contribute to, what founders choose to found, etc.. As capital (early stage in particular) becomes more abundant, cultural narratives and metaphors wield more force in what people decide to work on.
Labor automation is clearly a tempting mental model, and there will be some very successful companies built around it. But, consider a few downsides:
Its relative obviousness and legibility lends itself to intense competition. “We are the only AI company automating X job in Y vertical”, starts to sound a lot like “we are the only British restaurant in Palo Alto.”
If you offer a business a way to do something that they already have a way of doing (paying humans, often inexpensively, who are super flexible and high-context), it has to be significantly better on some axes and highly reliable to justify risking what companies value most: predictability of growing profits. Many will not be sufficiently high ROI in a one to one comparison to existing globalized, technology augmented human workflows.
“We believe a Trump presidency will be an overall negative for the EV industry as very likely the EV rebates/tax incentives get pulled, however for Tesla we see this as a potential positive with some caveats. Tesla has the scale and scope that is unmatched in the EV industry and this dynamic could give Musk and Tesla a clear competitive advantage in a non-EV subsidy environment starting in 2025, coupled by likely higher China tariffs that would continue to push away cheaper Chinese EV players (BYD, Nio, etc.) from flooding the US market over the coming years.”
Imagining medium-native machine intelligence applications
It is common parlance in technology to speak of “AI-native”, or before it, “cloud-native” and “mobile native” as a way to identify upstarts in relation to their “non-native” incumbents. When I evoke “medium-native: here, my meaning goes much further. It’s not enough to simply “build with AI” to be medium-native, it’s to build in a way that takes advantage of its inherent strengths compared to what came before (human intelligence).
“We are raising our price target on Tesla to $400 from $300 as we believe the Trump White House win will be a gamechanger for the autonomous and AI story for Tesla and Musk over the coming years. We estimate the AI and autonomous opportunity is worth $1 trillion alone for Tesla and we fully expect under a Trump White House these key initiatives will now get fast tracked as the federal regulatory spiderweb that Musk & Co. have encountered over the past few years around FSD/autonomous clears significantly under a new Trump era. We maintain our OUTPERFORM rating on Tesla.”
Instead of focusing on how AI is the same as human intelligence we should be asking how it is different. If we build applications around the things AI is uniquely suited to doing, we are very likely to come upon green-field territory for new services and products. While higher risk (there’s no pre-existing solution to anchor off of as evidence for demand), green-field can be a proxy for fast growth because if you’re right about the utility of a thing, no existing customers have a solution in place. This is category creation, and it’s the type of thing that can spread by word of mouth very quickly.
I think the most important advice that we got multiple times, and it took me some time to internalize, was the team that you built is the company that you build. And initially, as a founder, I was just so focused on getting things done that I wouldn't jump into any single problem myself until it was absolutely, you know, in a place where I felt comfortable with. But then you realize that you've solved that problem for that moment.
The next quarter that will break again and the next quarter will break again. And so the most scalable way to actually solve a problem is to step back and hire the team that can actually solve the problem. And that was advice that I got multiple times I ignored. But over time, that became the way as a CEO, I started to solve problems.
Others defended Strahan and balked at it being a big issue.
Strahan himself has a connection to the military having grown up in a military family with his father serving 23 years in the United States Army and was part of the 82nd Airborn Division.
Yeah, I mean, of course you have your core values that you hold dearly yourself that show up in the work that you do every day. And for me, for example, they are number one, intellectual honesty. Early stages. You can make a lot of wrong decisions by focusing on hype, for example, or vanity metrics. But really, if you're intellectually honest, you get to the right answer.
Number two for me is executing relentlessly, which is a combination of urgency and excellence.
The campaign also spent up to $20 million on swing-state concerts on the eve of the election, according to a report in the New York Post, a sum that could have been more if a planned performance by Alanis Morissette had not been scrapped.
The campaign had seven swing-state concerts on Monday, the report noted, including performances by Jon Bon Jovi in Detroit, Christina Aguilera in Las Vegas, Katy Perry in Pittsburgh and Lady Gaga in Philadelphia, and a 2 Chainz performance at a rally three days before the election in Atlanta.
James Carville on how Sunny Hostin ended Kamala Harris' campaign:
"When we go back and history unearths this, it's going to be right there on the View.
Sunny Hostin, Houston, whatever asked the question. That's the most devastating answer you can imagine."
Thank you Sunny Hostin for your contribution to the Trump campaign.
Yeah, I think that there are a lot of people who have a strong aversion to people like that. But the reality is, I think you actually need a combination of those people because a lot of people who are in the early stage may not have the deep domain experience that is required at the later stage. And that's okay. In the early days, you kind of want the Swiss Army knives, but at later stages, those people are not able to scale as fast.
And so you do need a combination at later stages. Of course, there are a lot of companies that get stuck in a place where they're still doing the same thing, the same playbook, which obviously doesn't scale. So you do need the entrepreneurial DNA. Hopefully, you can retain that from the early stages, but it really is a combination.
Justice Sotomayor was appointed by President Obama in 2009. She’s been on the court for 15 years. She is the most senior Democratic appointee on the high court, followed by Justice Elena Kagan, who was also nominated by Mr. Obama, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was nominated by Mr. Biden in 2022.
Democrats are still sour about the decision of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg not to retire during a Democratic administration. She died in 2020, enabling Mr. Trump to appoint a justice — conservative Amy Coney Barrett — to a seat Ginsburg held for nearly three decades.
Ishiba has refused to step down and showed willingness to cooperate with additional coalition partners to boost stability and help him pursue his party’s policies.
Ishiba will struggle in the coming months as he must gain consent from the opposition on policies including the budget and other legislation, experts say.
He is eyeing a rising smaller, conservative opposition, the Democratic Party for the People, whose seats quadrupled to 28 under its popular leader Yuichiro Tamaki, whose proposal for raising the basic tax-free income allowance and increasing take-home wages garnered support from low income and younger voters.
Tamaki only wants to cooperate with Ishiba’s party on policy - not as part of a coalition - since he wants to use his leverage to increase his party’s standing ahead of the next election.
Neither China’s Defense Ministry nor Foreign Affairs Ministry responded to requests for comment.
There have long been rumors that China is planning to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, but the research by the Middlebury team is the first to confirm that China is working on a nuclear-powered propulsion system for a carrier-sized surface warship.
First of all, it's great to be with you, Elad. And it is true. I've now spent over three decades in one company, and it's pretty much all my professional career, and I have better language to describe it now. But I think companies, I mean, here there are lots of folks who are founders of companies, and I think companies also go through these refounding moments. I picked this up from Reid Hoffman, which I think is a fantastic frame. It's not talked about as much, although in 2014, when I became CEO, having grown up in the company as a consummate insider, I felt that we needed to essentially refound the company, ground ourselves back in what's the core sense of purpose and mission so that then we can pursue something new and bold.
“The reactor prototype at Leshan is the first solid evidence that China is, in fact, developing a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier,” said Jeffrey Lewis, a professor at Middlebury and one of the researchers on the project. “Operating a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is an exclusive club, one that China looks set to join.”
Drawing on satellite images and public documents including project tenders, personnel files, environmental impact studies - and even a citizen’s complaint about noisy construction and excessive dust — they concluded a prototype reactor for naval propulsion was being built in the mountains of Mucheng township, some 70 miles (112 kilometers) southwest of Sichuan’s provincial capital Chengdu.
Keeping that mission in mind. In fact, when I joined in 92, we used to talk about a PC in every home and every desk as our mission. In retrospect, it was easy. You could put it on a spreadsheet and calculate it and what have you, except that by the late 90s, we have more or less achieved that, at least in the developed world. And I felt ever since then a little like, okay, what's our mission? Is it mission accomplished? Is it time to return all the money to the shareholders?
And so that's why I went back all the way, quite frankly, to the very genesis of the company. After all, we were a tools company first. Bill built the basic interpreter for the Altair. And I said, god, there's more need for tools and platforms in 2014, 2023. I'm coming from OpenAI's Dev Day. That's who we are, right at the core, we build tech so that others can build more tech. Let's ground ourselves in that mission. And that has been very, very helpful.
The reactor, which procurement documents indicate will soon be operational, is housed in a new facility built at the site known as Base 909, which houses six other reactors that are operational, decommissioned or under construction, according to the analysis. The site is under the control of the Nuclear Power Institute of China, a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation, which is tasked with reactor engineering research and testing.
Documents indicating that China’s 701 Institute, formally known as China Ship Research and Design Center, which is responsible for aircraft carrier development, procured reactor equipment “intended for installation on a large surface warship” under the Nuclear Power Development Project as well as the project’s “national defense designation” helped lead to the conclusion the
The other one, though, is culture, is the other piece you brought up. I distinctly remember at Microsoft in the late 90s, walking around campus and there were just all the folks sort of saying, God, we must be God's gifts to mankind because we are so good now that the market also recognizes it, except that it was obviously the beginning of the end in some sense, right? The day hubris takes over and you're not grounded in what made you, first of all, successful.
That customer feedback loop, that hunger to learn, to experiment, to do things, which startups do. And so I picked up this cultural frame from Carol Dweck at Stanford around growth mindset, and I said, God, we don't want to be these know-it-alls, but we want to be learn-it-alls. And that has been a godsend, right? Because, one, it is not considered new dogma from a new CEO. It is something that I think spoke to people as humans. It helps us be better parents,
Satellite mages from 2020 to 2023 have shown the demolition of homes and the construction of water intake infrastructure connected to the reactor site. Contracts for steam generators and turbine pumps indicate the project involves a pressurized water reactor with a secondary circuit - a profile that is consistent with naval propulsion reactors, the researchers say.
An environmental impact report calls the Longwei Project a “national defense-related construction project” that is classified “secret.”
And so between these two things, that renewed sense of purpose, I tell you especially, you shouldn't. I mean, founders have this innate capability because they've created something from nothing. And then there's the cult of personality that carries forward. But at some point, if your company is going to outlast you, that mission has to be a lot more than a cult of personality. And so that's why I think CEOs in particular, or mayor model CEOs like me, being much more focused on what is the mission, what is the culture, is the one thing that I would say are two critical things. And of course, that gives you the permission to then make the right calls, but you have to make the right calls on strategy, picking, and execution, but at least it gives you better shots on goal.
“Unless China is developing nuclear-powered cruisers, which were pursued only by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, then the Nuclear Power Development Project most certainly refers to a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier development effort,” researchers wrote in a detailed 19-page report on their findings shared exclusively with the AP.
Jamie Withorne, an analyst at the Oslo Nuclear Project who was not involved in the research and reviewed the findings, said Middlebury’s team made a “convincing argument.”
We talk a lot about M&A but I think all of us fundamentally bet on organic growth, whether you're a startup or you are a large company. If I look at, even at Microsoft, I think a lot of what gets written about is our inorganic.
But when I think about most of the big hits and most of the big revenue generators are quite frankly partnerships. And organic partnerships are another thing that people don't talk about. The OpenAI thing is a great partnership. I grew up, in fact, the Gates Grove model is something that I love, which is Intel and Microsoft created the PC ecosystem. It was one of the most wonderful partnerships.
“From the identifying reports, co-location with other naval reactor facilities, and correlating construction activity, I think it can be said that it is likely the Longwei Project is housed at Base 909, and it could potentially be located at the identified building,” she said.
The research does not, however, provide clues as to when a Chinese nuclear-powered carrier could be built and become operational, she said.
Sarah Laderman, a senior analyst with Open Nuclear Network, a program of the U.S.-based NGO PAX sapiens foundation, said the findings were “carefully conducted and thoroughly researched.”
It's also important in partnerships to know what happens if one of the partners becomes too greedy, then it's unstable. But if you can cultivate great partnerships, that's another fantastic source of growth for companies. And so yes, inorganic partnerships and then strategic M&A all three matter for a company today.
I think we're going through a little bit of what I'd say is regulatory adjustment around the world is the best way I can describe it to understand whether we should allow M&A to big companies, just because they're big, shouldn't be acquiring, which I think will have a chilling effect. And it's not exactly good for quite frankly, more startup creation and more vibrancy. But let's say that settles. But I think yes, I would always look at all three of them as organic.
“Given the evidence presented here, I see a compelling case made that China seems to be working towards building a nuclear propulsion system for its naval surface ships (likely aircraft carriers) at this location,” said Laderman, who is based in Vienna and was not involved in Middlebury’s research.
China’s first carrier, commissioned in 2012, was a repurposed Soviet ship, and its second was built in China but based upon the Soviet design. Both ships - named the Liaoning and the Shandong - employ a so-called “ski-jump” type launch method, with a ramp at the end of a short runway to help planes take off.
First focus on having a great organic plan because that's the one thing you can always control. Partnerships are something that I would say, don't think of it as a press release, but I think it can absolutely be. And long-term stable partnerships, where you win, I mean it's the three wins, right? The customer wins, the partner wins and you win. In fact, the best partnerships are when you start thinking, caring about the partner, really making sure that they're getting economic surplus.
Sometimes in our Silicon Valley culture, we have a little bit of excessive zero-sum stuff. There are very few zero-sum battles, actually, when you think about it. But we are very obsessed about everything as being zero-sum. And that's where I think a little bit of subtlety, and nuance would help.
The Type 003 Fujian, launched in 2022, was the country’s third carrier and its first to be indigenously designed and built. It employs an electromagnetic-type launch system like those developed and used by the U.S. Navy. All three carriers are conventionally powered.
Sea trials hadn’t even started for the Fujian in March when Yuan Huazhi, political commissar for China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy, confirmed the construction of a fourth carrier. Asked if it would be nuclear-powered, he said at the time that would “soon be announced,” but so far it has not been.
I think it's sort of as big as any one of the things that you mentioned. The way I try to come back to what exactly changed and how we should relate to it in terms of any business building, product building. I think there are two big changes.
One is I think we're going to think about application interfaces drastically differently. I mean, we've been talking about natural user interfaces forever, you could say, for 70 years of computing history, from Engelbart down, has always been about like, hey, how do we have the ultimate human-computer symbiosis? And I think we now have some new tools to rethink that. It starts with chat, it starts with text, but it goes quickly beyond that. It's multimodal and it's going to be very interesting for us to sort of apply.
There has been speculation that China may begin producing two new carriers at once — one Type 003 like the Fujian and one nuclear-powered Type 004 — something that it has not attempted before but that its shipyards have the capacity to do.
Matthew Funaiole, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ China Power Project, said he doubts China’s next carrier will be nuclear-powered. Instead, he said, he would expect the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s fourth carrier to focus on optimizing the existing design of the Fujian carrier with “incremental improvements.”
So that's why in some sense it reminds me a little bit, at least in our history, of what happened. And I mentioned this to you backstage when I joined Microsoft in 92 just released Word or Excel or PowerPoint or Publisher. Each day there was a new app. And because Windows 3 was just happening, it feels like that, which is how I can rethink even existing categories with a new interface. But we also know that new platforms are not about just taking the old and just building a new UI.
But there is also, what is it this UI can create as a business that didn't exist. That's the thing that I'm most interested in. Mobile had a lot of things we did on the desktop, but it also created companies like Airbnb and Uber. And I think that that's something that we should think about on the UI side. What's the UI for the AI first app? I don't think we've yet cracked it, but I think we're getting close.
Nick Childs, senior fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the Chinese “have taken an incremental approach to their carrier development with a number of ambitions that will evolve over time.”
“For now, their deployments have been relatively cautious, remaining largely within range of shore support, but projecting influence and to some extent coercion within their near waters.”
Eventually, however, “larger carriers more akin to their U.S. counterparts will give them more options to project power,” Childs said.
The second thing that I also think is more, in fact, the other technology that people don't talk about as much. I don't know why. When we talk about our big paradigms are relational databases. God, what a thing it was. It is like the other secular journey in digital technology was digitizing people, places, and things, right? That's another 70 years. All we do each day is we wake up and there are more places, people, and things that are digitized, and relational algebra and relational databases helped us reason over it in interesting ways.
I feel like we now have a new pattern recognizer or new reasoning engine in this, doing neural algebra on it. So I feel these two things, Elad, if you take an existing category, I have a new way to think about the user interface. I have a new way to reason about all the data I have and the knowledge in the world and do the join, so to speak. If you start thinking of applications that way and then building a new to the world business, then I think this would be as big as at least any one of the things that you mentioned.
It takes several years to build a carrier and bring it into operation, but developing nuclear propulsion for its next generation of warships would eventually give China more power to run advanced systems, such as electromagnetic launchers, radars and new technology weapons, Childs said.
“As well as obviating the need for the ship to refuel regularly and therefore giving it much greater range, nuclear power means that without the need to carry fuel oil for the ship there will be room aboard for fuel and weapons for its aircraft, extending their capabilities,” Childs said.
'm a big believer in that. In fact, at least in our world, the design pattern I love a lot, which we picked for our own product building, which we evangelize as a pattern for anybody, is this copilot.
First of all, there's a human in the loop. The human has agency and judgment of human matters. And so the first instances were things like GitHub Copilot, where the copilot is built into the app canvas, so to speak. There's a sidecar, and those things all work together to help you with your task at hand, which is to get your coding done.
And then we have now propagated that into knowledge work with the Microsoft365
“Much will depend on what overall size the next carrier is, but the addition of nuclear power will represent a significant step further in China’s carrier development with a vessel more comparable to the U.S. Navy’s carriers.”
Zhao, of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said nuclear-powered carriers would provide the Chinese military “with greater flexibility and endurance to operate around strategic hotspots, especially along the First Island Chain, where most territories disputed by China are located,” said Zhao.
The First Island Chain includes the self-governed island of Taiwan, which China claims as its own and vows to annex it by force if necessary.
And then we have now propagated that into knowledge work with the Microsoft365 copilot across all of our surfaces. But ultimately, when I think about what we did with Bing Chat, I think of Bing Chat as basically the web copilot. This M365 is the work copilot. So the web Copilot and the work Copilot could be sort of the universal agent, so to speak. That's kind of how at least I conceive of it.
But it needs one important capability, which is it needs to be able to talk to other agents, a customer service agent, a travel agent, to get work done. Some of it’d be interrupt-driven, in the sense that it'll be autonomous but it'll also bring back to you for decision-making. So I think that one of the key runtimes of our time will be that multi-agent runtime.
The U.S. is obligated by a domestic law to supply Taiwan with sufficient weapons to deter invasion, and it could provide assistance to the island from its bases in the Pacific in the event of an invasion or blockade. Tensions also have risen in the South China Sea between China and neighboring nations over territorial disputes and maritime claims.
“These carriers could also extend Chinese operations deeper into the Western Pacific, further challenging the U.S. military’s ability to ‘intervene’ in regional matters that China views as best resolved by countries from the region only,” Zhao said.
And we have a thing in open source called Autogen that is getting some good traction. So we are building some of the stuff similar to that underneath what is our copilot. You know, OpenAI launched a bunch of very interesting stuff with GPTs, which is sort of, I would say, early agents on top of chat, GPT itself. They even have an Agent API, all of that we will put into our copilot ecosystem.
So I think yes. So to your fundamental point, I think this idea that people will have agents, these agents will interoperate with each other, there will be some type of super apps that whoever cracks, there'll be a few runtimes where naturally people will gravitate to, which will be these multi-agent frameworks.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has tasked defense officials with building a “first-class” navy and becoming a maritime power as part of his blueprint for the country’s rejuvenation.
The country’s most recent white paper on national defense, dated 2019, said the Chinese navy was adjusting to strategic requirements by “speeding up the transition of its tasks from defense on the near seas to protection missions on the far seas.”
That's interesting. If I knew about it, I probably would be in it, but one of the things I am grounded on is I think the time has come for us as a tech industry to directly parlay what we celebrate as tech advances into broad economic growth.
Because I think there's this real critique, which some of it is, I think, well-founded about. Hey, you guys talk a lot about sort of all this tech, but where is the economic growth? I mean, last time we checked in the developed world, inflation-adjusted, we are probably at what, zero or negative growth. And so there is a real need for economic growth and economic growth that comes while keeping the planet healthy and more equitable in terms of the growth itself. So there are many other things as well, which I think are core responsibilities. But that said, we have to drive economic growth.
The People’s Liberation Army Navy is already the world’s largest navy with more than 370 ships and submarines. The country also boasts powerful shipbuilding capabilities: China’s shipyards are building many hundreds of vessels each year, whereas the U.S. is building five or fewer, according to a U.S. congressional report late last year.
However, the Chinese navy lags behind the U.S. Navy in many respects. Among other advantages, the U.S. currently has 11 carriers, all nuclear-powered, allowing it to keep multiple strike groups deployed around the world at all times, including in the Indo-Pacific.
And that's where I got excited with GitHub Copilot, right? When we can take something like software development and one, bring joy back to software development. Man, what we had done to it, the fact that I've just got to copy-paste from a variety of places, and get distracted. Instead of that, let's just stay in flow focus and then see how you can bring back productivity to the software developers.
But the interesting thing about the more we study GitHub Copilot's effect on an organization is if you get software development to be faster, all the other functions around change. The workflow, when a salesperson does a pull request, that's kind of my thing about like, wow, that's a different org. And so now you can imagine an entire organization that's moving at a different pace.
But the Pentagon is growingly increasingly concerned about China’s rapid modernization of its fleet, including the design and construction of new carriers.
That aligns with China’s “growing emphasis on the maritime domain and increasing demands” for its navy “to operate at greater distances from mainland China,” the Defense Department said in its most recent report to Congress on China’s military.
And China’s “growing force of aircraft carriers extend air defense coverage of deployed task groups beyond the range of land-based defenses, enabling operations farther from China’s shore,” the report said.
So I think we are at the frontier of figuring out what it means for both having these productivity boosters inside of every function and then what is the workflow if you have it like you talked about, agents, I think we will have to discover.
If you remember in the mid-90s when we first started putting things like systems of record like CRM and ERP, we used to talk about something called business process reengineering. It was as much about a new methodology or a doctrine even of how you run businesses. Like you didn't have five finance departments or you didn't have manufacturing cogs, not in financial accounting. So some of the business practices will have to change.
So that's why I think what is probably interesting would be how people think about a vertical industry or a business process probably is going to be very different.
One of the things I think most people think about is “Can there be a large business created that only focuses on one vertical or one business process?”
I think there can be. It all depends on how much economic surplus you can create using this technology.
The patented sulfide-based solid electrolyte also offers impressive features such as high energy density, fast charging and discharging, and strong performance at low temperatures. Additionally, it enhances safety by reducing the risk of thermal runaway, a frequent issue in conventional lithium-ion batteries.
While the Chinese giant has not yet announced a timeline for the launch of this technology, industry insiders are hopeful for a potential release as early as next year. This would put Huawei in a strong position to compete in the rapidly growing EV and smart-driving technology markets.
Huawei has been also been active with its EV unit, rapidly reshaping its approach in an effort to emulate Germany’s Bosch business model, which supplies essential auto parts without directly manufacturing vehicles.
Yeah, I mean for us it's not an either or. GitHub exists primarily because of the permission to support the open source ecosystem, so it's sort of not something that we take lightly, and therefore we will always be as a company. In fact, it turns out I think most people don't recognize we are one of the biggest contributors to open source. We are probably today the biggest contributor to Linux as Microsoft. So it's sort of now fundamentally ingrained.
But that doesn't mean we don't have a bunch of proprietary closed-source systems and revenue streams as well. So, to us, it's pretty much part of the business. Then the question is, what's the best way to be able to meet the developers, meet the companies, and meet the organizational needs that we serve well?
Recently, the company signed an investment cooperation memorandum with Changan Automobile, a Chongqing-based automaker. This partnership aims to establish a joint venture focused on developing, producing, and selling smart-driving systems and related components for EVs.
“We demonstrate that foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) significantly increases the grain yield and nutritional quality of rice during HWs [heat waves],” the researchers wrote in the study paper.
In a controlled greenhouse experiment, researchers exposed rice plants to a simulated heat wave. To simulate extreme heat conditions, the team subjected the fully grown rice plants to a rigorous six-day heat wave at 37°C.
To efficiently deliver zinc to plants, the team utilized nanoparticles, which are smaller than 100 nanometers. Interestingly, these can penetrate the microscopic pores on leaf surfaces.
Half of the plants were sprayed with a solution containing zinc oxide nanoparticles, while the other half received only water.
And so that's why even when it comes to foundational models, obviously OpenAI is our lead partner when it comes to frontier models, but we have a lot of open source models, including ours. We're really excited about even our own contributions. Like I love these SLMs, the small language models with PSI. And so we're going to always contribute. We'll support and make sure that developers have a choice. And in our own products, you'll see a mix of use as well.
How does this work? Zinc oxide is a natural component of plant metabolism. By applying zinc oxide nanoparticles directly to the leaves, scientists can bypass the root system and deliver the nutrients more efficiently.
This helps maintain rice crop yields while reducing fertilizer use.
The researchers also went on to explore the impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles on rice plants without any heat waves.
In a separate experiment conducted under normal conditions, the researchers observed that rice plants treated with zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited higher yields compared to untreated plants.
This development has the potential to transform rice cultivation, particularly in regions vulnerable to climate change.
According to researchers, this feature not only allows the robot to follow complex human motions but also opens up possibilities for remote operation, as the platform is theoretically capable of teleoperation from any location worldwide.
The development of such technology underscores the potential for humanoid robots to be deployed in remote scenarios, whether for research, inspection, or collaborative tasks.
According to researchers, Stellenbosch University is pioneering innovations that bring humanoid robotics closer to practical, real-world applications by advancing the robot’s real-time movement tracking and remote operational capabilities.
Yeah, I remember talking to you a few months ago and you had laid out this taxonomy, which I like. I think one of the things that we don't have is a well-grounded way to talk about these three levels. Because when we say safety, it could mean, wow, we are talking about an existential issue or election interference, deep fakes or what have you. So I think let's unpack them that way.
So my feeling is that the first thing we've got to really go and focus on is any real-world harm today, because of any AI deployment that sort of has not gone right. In fact, in democracies in particular, the thing that I worry the most about is, quite frankly, elections and our democratic process somehow being unduly influenced by some use of AI. I think that's the place where rightfully so, we'll be held to account if something goes wrong there. Because after all, that was the critique of what happened in social media. Everybody was excited about social media because of the Arab Spring, but it kind of nearly broke democracy. And so therefore, now everybody says, look, we're not going to let that happen again.
Student-led innovations
The next phase of research at Stellenbosch University’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering focuses on developing actuators for the humanoid robot’s legs, aiming for bipedal walking. Achieving this capability is a vital step toward creating a fully mobile humanoid robot with realistic movement and interaction.
Recognizing the growing potential of humanoid robotics, the department is actively engaging students in innovative projects. Several final-year undergraduate projects emphasize hands-on experience, as students work on designing custom actuators, advanced robotic hands, and humanoid arms with pincer grips.
The initiative aims to inspire a new generation of researchers to progress to master’s studies and make deeper contributions in this field.
So the question is, what do we do there? What does the government do? What does the civic society do? What do companies do? And quite frankly, I think we somehow say that this is, at the end of the day, it's a societal choice. It's not any one company can do everything here. It's sort of a societal choice.
Like, for example, in the United States. After all, you have to be able to come together and say, how do we think about free speech? And what turns out to be free speech that is now bordering on election interference or what have you, or disinformation? These are tough things, and so therefore, this is not like a decision an AI can make or a decision a company's moderators can make. They're societal norms and decisions. And so that's the most complicated process we have to engage in, quite frankly.
The team highlights that a master’s student is also advancing research through virtual robotics simulations using the Nvidia IsaacSim platform. This project focuses on sim-to-real transfer, a technique that applies simulation results to the physical robot arm prototype, with plans to expand to the entire humanoid platform.
It’s clear that Gen Z has an influence on app consumption. Known as the “mobile-first generation,” they make up about 40% of all mobile users worldwide. Curious about their preferences, we recently contacted the app intelligence firm Appfigures, which provided an overview of the 50 most downloaded apps by Gen Z this year.
Due to privacy rules, we were unable to obtain data for users aged 13 to 17. The firm only shared total download numbers for users aged 18 to 24, and the data is limited to users in the U.S., so it doesn’t provide a complete picture. Even so, this gives us an idea of the preferences among the older segment of this generation.
From popular e-commerce and social media platforms to photo editing tools, let’s take a closer look at the apps that have resonated with this demographic in 2024.
Based on data from iOS and Android users in the U.S., the most downloaded app from January to October was Temu, the popular online marketplace that offers nearly every type of product you can think of at heavily discounted rates.
Gen Z young adults have downloaded the app 41.98 million times, indicating that the vast selection of affordable items is highly appealing to this particular group despite their dedication to sustainability and the ongoing debates around fast fashion. Temu also bets on gamification strategies to motivate shoppers, such as coupons, rewards, and free gifts.
Former Apple engineer Alex Ruber and former Twitter and Asana engineer Parth Chopra first met on Y Combinator's founder match platform, then met in person
Former Apple engineer Alex Ruber and former Twitter and Asana engineer Parth Chopra first met on Y Combinator’s founder match platform, then met in person at a thrift store for shopping. They later went on a thrift store shopping trip where they talked about solving problems with finding the right product in the online space.
Many consumers struggle to find the right item without spending hours on Instagram. To address this, the duo is building the search engine Encore, which lets users search for secondhand items from different sources. The startup is currently part of Y Combinator’s first-ever fall batch.
“The entire secondhand shopping market is really fragmented. There are hundreds of resources out there, such as Depop, Mercari, ThredUp, eBay, Craigslist, and more. It’s hard for consumers to sift through them all to try and get to the product you are looking for. So we wanted to remove that friction for users,” Ruber said on a call with TechCrunch.
Both Ruber and Chopra are immigrants, he said, and they’ve been used to spending time and money at thrift stores.
But thrifting isn’t easy. When Ruber tried to find a specific jacket from a TV show (Carmy’s patchwork jacket from “The Bear”), he started thinking about building a product to help him with that. He also wanted to look for a co-founder working in the circular economy space. He noted that Chopra was a great match because he was into fashion and thrifting.
Swiggy's upcoming IPO on Wednesday will finally give many analysts a public comparable for what has been long considered to be the Indian internet stock: Swiggy's listing will test whether the Indian market is ready for $1 billion-plus IPOs.
For its IPO, Swiggy has already secured $1.4 billion from institutional investors including Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, BlackRock and eight of the top 10 Indian mutual funds. Still, it will enter a public market where large tech companies’ stocks have struggled historically — three years since its $2.5 billion offering, Paytm is still trading 47% below its IPO price.
More than a dozen Indian tech startups have gone public in the last four years, but the market has shown scant interest in large IPOs. Beauty and wellness e-commerce company Nykaa is still trading 53% below its debut price, and Star Health and Alliance Insurance Company remains 48% below its IPO price three years on. Startups that raised less than $500 million in India have performed incredibly well, in comparison.
India has emerged as a hotbed for tech IPOs this year even as the U.S. market remains muted. All eyes are on Swiggy’s IPO at the moment, particularly as many growth-stage startups — and their investors — are eyeing a similarly large listing over the next 24 months.
Furthermore, for many Indian startups that were based in the U.S. and Singapore, moving their official HQs back to India would let them better comply with local regulations to do such an IPO. It’s also an opportunity to reap the benefits of a market whose benchmark index had risen more than 10% in the past year. Up to three dozen startups could be shifting their domiciles back to India in the coming years, according to investors.
Podcast king Joe Rogan has revealed that Kamala Harris’ people demanded editorial control over an appearance on his show, and a final say on what was released to the public.
As we have already highlighted, Kamala had demanded to only appear for an hour with Rogan, and wanted to do it outside of his studio, meaning he would have had to travel to a location of her choosing.
Needless to say, Rogan refused to meet the demands, reasoning that it simply wouldn’t be an episode of his podcast if that was to happen.
Rogan unveiled more of what went on with discussions between his team and Kamala’s campaign, noting “There were a few restrictions of things they wanted to talk about…They wanted to know if I’d edit it. I’m like, there’s no editing.”
Tako's platform helps companies manage their employee data, run payroll and keep track of on and offboarding.
Running payroll is hard in any country, but perhaps especially so in Brazil thanks to consistently changing laws and extremely influential unions that make it significantly harder to get it right. Fernando Gadotti struggled with this as the co-founder and CEO of DogHero, LatAm’s version of Rover. When Gadotti left the company in 2022, after selling it in 2020, he decided this is where he wanted to focus next.
“Every time the payroll came around, there’s just a struggle, like it’s dreadful, many hours, just like double-checking data back and forth, and we couldn’t really get any insight that we needed,” Gadotti told TechCrunch. “[We were] pretty much working in the dark, and as we kept growing, it hit me that these problems really weren’t just inconvenient; they’re actually slowing the company down. We’re wasting a lot of time in busy work.”
Just a few months after leaving DogHero, Gadotti started working on São Paulo-based Tako, an employee life cycle platform that automates tasks like onboarding and payroll to save companies time and bring all their employee information into one place. Tako also provides employees with a dashboard to view information and access an interactive paystub meant to increase transparency.
Just a few months after leaving DogHero, Gadotti started working on São Paulo-based Tako, an employee life cycle platform that automates tasks like onboarding and payroll to save companies time and bring all their employee information into one place. Tako also provides employees with a dashboard to view information and access an interactive paystub meant to increase transparency.
TechCrunch was able to confirm that X is at least testing access to Grok for free users in New Zealand.
Social network X has so far limited its AI chatbot Grok (built by Elon Musk’s other company xAI) to its premium, paying users. However, the platform is seemingly preparing to open up the chatbot to free users.
Equal, an Indian startup founded by Keshav Reddy, has raised $10M in its maiden funding round led by Prosus Ventures to scale identity verification and financial data sharing.
India, the world’s most populous country and the second-largest internet market after China, is becoming increasingly digitally active. However, this rapid digitization comes with a growing risk of online fraud.
Cyber fraud is mounting in India to the point where the Indian government estimates it could amount to 0.7% of the country’s GDP — over $14 billion — within the next year. Even the government-backed systems, including Aadhaar, have been targeted by bad actors in some cases.
New Delhi keeps introducing new regulatory requirements to limit fraudulent digital transactions. Nonetheless, these updates often place a burden on businesses to regularly update their tech. Efforts to eradicate digital fraud sometimes also result in disruptions. For instance, the recent clampdown on unauthorized use of the permanent account number disrupted transactions for some fintech platforms.
Equal, a Hyderabad-based startup, aims to address all this with its suite of identity verification and financial data-sharing products.
The two-year-old startup helps businesses streamline know-your-customer (KYC) requirements, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance by integrating more than 50 identity databases and thousands of API providers. The startup also recently acquired an undisclosed stake in account aggregator OneMoney to combine its identity verification services with the latter’s consent-based financial data sharing.
XRP price is struggling to rise steadily like Bitcoin, with the price currently trading above $0.580 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. A key bullish trend line is forming with support at $0.5780 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. The pair could start a fresh increase if it stays above the $0.5720 support zone. The price formed a base and started a fresh increase above $0.5550, but gains were limited compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The price surpassed the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $0.6162 swing high to the $0.5630 low. If XRP fails to clear the $0.600 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Technical indicators include the Hourly MACD gaining pace in the bullish zone, the RSI above the 50 level, major support levels at $0.5820 and $0.5780, and major resistance levels at $0.6000 and $0.6150.
Attempts to regulate AI to date have focused on some mythical future instead of understanding what new risks AI actually introduces, argues VC Martin Casado.
The problem with most attempts at regulating AI so far is that lawmakers are focusing on some mythical future AI experience, instead of truly understanding the new risks AI actually introduces.
So argued Andreessen Horowitz general partner VC Martin Casado to a standing-room crowd at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 last week. Casado, who leads a16z’s $1.25 billion infrastructure practice, has invested in such AI startups as World Labs, Cursor, Ideogram, and Braintrust.
“Transformative technologies and regulation has been this ongoing discourse for decades, right? So the thing with all the AI discourse is it seems to have kind of come out of nowhere,” he told the crowd. “They’re kind of trying to conjure net-new regulations without drawing from those lessons.”
For instance, he said, “Have you actually seen the definitions for AI in these policies? Like, we can’t even define it.”
Casado was among a sea of Silicon Valley voices who rejoiced when California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed the state’s attempted AI governance law, SB 1047. The law wanted to put a so-called kill switch into super-large AI models — aka something that would turn them off. Those who opposed the bill said that it was so poorly worded that instead of saving us from an imaginary future AI monster, it would have simply confused and stymied
OpenAI, once focused on creating tech for everyone, is now shifting to become more of a market-driven company. This change has led some key people, like Mira Murati and Miles Brundage, to leave, possibly because they feel OpenAI is forgetting its original goals. They wanted to make safe, human-centered AI, but now, speed seems to matter more than safety. If OpenAI doesn’t find a way to balance growth with responsibility, it risks losing trust.
Do you think that tech without oversight can quickly go wrong?
When Apple launched the Vision Pro, its virtual reality (VR) headset, it was hailed as a groundbreaking innovation. With cutting-edge features and Apple’s signature design polish, it quickly became a buzzworthy product. However, less than a year after its initial release in the United States and its subsequent arrival in Europe, Apple has decided to end production.
The Vision Pro’s debut was met with impressive early sales—nearly 200,000 units sold within weeks. But momentum slowed as the initial excitement wore off, and reality set in: at a price tag starting at $3,999 in France (or $3,500 in the U.S.), the headset was far out of reach for the average consumer. In a candid statement, Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted that the Vision Pro was not designed to be a mass-market product.
A Pricing Problem Too Big to Ignore
While the Vision Pro delivered a top-tier VR experience, its cost created a significant barrier. As a friend of mine quipped, “Why would I spend more than two months of rent on a VR headset?” That sentiment seemed to resonate widely, especially in markets where disposable income is tight. The steep price also positioned it awkwardly against competitors like Meta’s Quest line, which offers robust VR features at a fraction of the cost.
Apple found itself sitting on a stockpile of unsold units—between 500,000 and 600,000, according to reports. With dwindling demand and no signs of an uptick, the decision to halt production became inevitable. This isn’t necessarily an indictment of the product itself, which many reviewers praised for its advanced capabilities, but a reflection of a mismatch between pricing and audience.
For many years, the internal structure of the Moon has been a topic shrouded in speculation and intrigue. However, recent studies have shed light on one of the biggest mysteries of our celestial neighbor. Thanks to data gathered during the Apollo missions and high-precision seismic analysis, scientists have recently uncovered the composition of the Moon’s core.
A Lunar Core Similar to Earth’s
An international team of researchers has confirmed that the Moon’s inner core is solid and is surrounded by a fluid layer. The lunar core, with a radius of about 258 km, accounts for about 15% of the Moon’s total radius. Its density, similar to that of iron, suggests a metallic composition akin to Earth’s. This revelation is a pivotal breakthrough in understanding the Moon’s internal structure and resolves years of uncertainty and competing theories.
Advanced Research Techniques
Scientists employed cutting-edge techniques to model the Moon’s internal structure. Seismic data collected during the Apollo missions played a crucial role. These were combined with laser telemetry experiments to assess how seismic waves travel through the Moon’s layers. This method enabled researchers to accurately reconstruct the internal structure, revealing a solid core surrounded by a fluid outer layer, similar to that of Earth.
Those who Google “Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?” have reportedly had their personal information stolen after clicking on fraudulent links that appear near the top of the page.
“Victims are often enticed into clicking on malicious adware or links disguised as legitimate marketing, or in this case a legitimate Google search,” SOPHOS explained.
At present, the dangerous links only appear in the search results when the word “Australia” is included, meaning those Down Under are at the largest risk of an attack.
Once users click on a search result — which looks legitimate — they have personal information, such as bank details, stolen via a program known as Gootloader.
The Internet is full of cats—and in this case, malware-delivering fake cat websites used for very targeted search engine optimization.
Once used exclusively by the cybercriminals behind REVil ransomware and the Gootkit banking trojan, GootLoader and its primary payload have evolved into an initial access as a service platform—with Gootkit providing information stealing capabilities as well as the capability to deploy post-exploitation tools and ransomware.
GootLoader is known for using search engine optimization (SEO) poisoning for its initial access. Victims are often enticed into clicking on malicious adware or links disguised as legitimate marketing, or in this case a legitimate Google search directing the user to a compromised website hosting a malicious payload masquerading as the desired file. If the malware remains undetected on the victim’s machine, it makes way for a second-stage payload known as GootKit, which is a highly evasive info stealer and remote access Trojan (RAT) used to establish a persistent foothold in the victim’s network environment. GootKit can be used to deploy ransomware or other tools, including Cobalt Strike, for follow-on exploitation.
Detection of a new GootLoader variant actively being used by adversaries earlier this year led to a broad threat hunting campaign by Sophos X-Ops MDR for GootLoader instances across customer environments. As is typical of Gootloader, the new variant was found to be using SEO poisoning—the use of search engine optimization tactics to put malicious websites controlled by GootLoader’s operators high in the results for specific search terms—to deliver the new, JavaScript-based Gootloader package. In this case, we found the GootLoader actors using search results for information about a particular cat and a particular geography being used to deliver the payload: “Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?”
During the threat hunt campaign, MDR discovered a .zip archive used to deliver GootLoader’s first-stage payload while reviewing an impacted user’s browser history. This allowed MDR to identify the compromised website that was hosting the malicious payload. This report highlights the MDR investigation process and the technical details of the uncovered GootLoader campaign.
Technical Analysis and Identification
First-stage payload
On March 27, 2024, the MDR team performed a proactive threat hunting campaign across multiple customers estates, following recently reported identification of a new GootLoader variant being actively exploited in the wild.
Our investigation revealed the threat actor was using SEO poisoning through an easily accessed online forum found via a simple Google search, initiated by the user for ‘Do you need a license to own a Bengal cat in Australia’. The first search result took us to this URL:
Immediately after the user clicks the link, a suspicious .zip file was downloaded to C:\Users<Username>\Downloads\Are_bengal_cats_legal_in_australia_33924.zip onto the victim’s machine, and the user’s browser was directed to the URL hxxps:[//]www[.]chanderbhushan[.]com/doc[.]php.
Second-stage payload
Upon review of the running processes, we were able to determine that a small JavaScript file was dropping a large JavaScript file at the location C:\Users<Username>\AppData\RoamingMicrosoft\ on the user’s machine. During our testing, the large JavaScript file generated by the malicious site and its name, downloaded to the user’s %temp% directory, were different each time the initial JavaScript was executed. The file we observed in this case was named Temp1_Are_bengal_cats_legal_in_australia_33924.zip\are_bengal_cats_legal_in_australia_80872.js.
We additionally observed the creation of a scheduled task named “Business Aviation” with the command line “wscript REHABI~1.JS” (as shown in Figure 3). This was suspected to be a persistence method in which the threat actor was utilizing WScript.exe to execute the second-stage payload of GootKit.
We also noted the utilization of the command C:\Windows\System32\cscript.exe REHABI~1.JS spawning PowerShell.exe, as shown in Figure 4. The cscript.exe command line tool is specific to Windows Server. The commands passed to PowerShell were not captured in this case.
However, examining the URL history, we observed PowerShell.exe reaching out to the following domains, as shown in Figure 5. Third-stage payload
In the case the MDR team examined, our team did not observe the third stage being successful in reaching a full deployment of GootKit, preventing the download of any additional malicious tooling. This stage typically is where the deployment of additional tools such as Cobalt Strike occurs, or when ransomware is added to the victim’s machine.
Malware Triage
Static Analysis
MDR performed a static analysis of the of the .zip sample obtained from the malicious URL hxxps[://]ledabel[.]be/en/are-bengal-cats-legal-in-australia-understanding-the-laws-and-regulations/#:~:text=In%20most%20cases%2C%20you%20do,a%20Bengal%20cat%20in%20Australia. Within the zip file was a JavaScript named “are bengal cats legal in australia 72495.js”.
As we noted above, the JavaScript’s name is modified each time the file is downloaded with a different concluding numerical sequence. This was also observed when extracting the small JavaScript from the zip file, as shown in Figure 6. For example, users may observe a filename with are bengal cats legal in australia 75876.zip instead, when attempting to obtain a sample from the malicious URL.
A string analysis of the dropped file was not useful in identifying its intent, as the JavaScript was heavily obfuscated—as is common in Gootloader samples. The script also included boilerplate licensing comments to make it appear to be a legitimate JavaScript, as shown in Figure 7.
However, Strings analysis of the secondary larger JavaScript that was downloaded into C:\Users<Username>\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\Small Unit Tactics.js revealed a heavily obfuscated script, as shown in Figure 8.
MDR used a Python script created by Mandiant for auto-decoding of GootLoader JavaScript to statically analyze the initially downloaded Are_bengal_cats_legal_in_australia_72495.js. As shown in Figure 9, the file was identified as Gootloader variant 3.0 through the obfuscation method, where the first file created was named Huthwaite SPIN selling.dat followed by Small Units Tactics.js and Scheduled Task named Destination Branding. The decoder also identified various malicious domain names within the obfuscated strings.
Various dynamic analysis tools were utilized to examine the behavior of the malicious JavaScript. Upon execution, WScript.exe was observed creating the first file located within C:\Users<Username>\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\ , as shown in Figure 10. Despite being observed via Windows Sysinternals Process Monitor with a CreateFile event, this was not written to disk and no deletion event was seen.
Shortly after Wscript.exe executed Are_bengal_cats_legal_in_australia_72495.js, Process Hacker showed CScript.exe and Powershell.exe being created with a conhost.exe spawned, as shown in Figure 11. MDR observed that Wscript.exe would terminate, followed by Cscript.exe that would also terminate shortly after, after which Powershell.exe was created.
Persistence was obtained via CScript.exe executing the file SMALLU~1.js via a scheduled task named Destination Branding (with command line wscript SMALLU ~1.js , as shown in Figure 12). During the lab analysis, the secondary JavaScript can be dropped within any folders located within C:\Users<Username>\AppData\Roaming<at any existing folder>.
MDR conducted network and C2 examinations using Wireshark and FakeNet to perform a network capture during the execution of Are_bengal_cats_legal_in_australia_72495.js. FakeNet showed various domain names being reached out to with GET /xmlrpc.php HTTP/1.1 requests via Powershell.exe. The requests contained Base64-encoded cookies which, when decoded, showed enumeration information regarding device directories and host information such as the folder path of C:\Users<Username>\AppData\Roaming\ , as shown in Figure 13. As shown below, the process would read USERNAME and USER DOMAIN information and send the data to the URIs.
Examination of the PCAP capture lists various domain names that were also identified during static analysis, as shown in Figure 14. These domain names and IOCs have been classified by Sophos Labs as malware/callhome ; the initial and secondary JavaScript files are classified as JS/Drop-DIJ and JS/Gootkit-AW respectively.
GootLoader is one of a number of continuing malware-delivery-as-a-service operations that heavily leverage search results as a means to reach victims. The use of search engine optimization, and abuse of search engine advertising to lure targets to download malware loaders and dropper, are not new—GootLoader has been doing this since at least 2020, and we’ve observed Raccoon Stealer and other malware-as-a-service operations doing the same for just as long. But we’ve seen continued growth in this approach to initial compromise, with several massive campaigns using this technique over the past year.
Sophos endpoint protection blocks GootLoader through a number of behavioral and malware-specific detections. But users should still look out for search results and search advertisements that seem too good to be true on domains that are off the beaten path—whether they’re looking to get a Bengal Cat or not.
It's just another case of AI-generated disinformation
Despite what content farms on YouTube and other platforms want you to believe, Elon Musk’s Tesla is not buying Ford Motor Co.
Although it should really go without saying that Musk is not buying Ford, the Detroit automaker has confirmed that the rumor is entirely made up. “No, that’s not true,” a spokesperson told The Houston Chronicle on Friday.
Rumors about Tesla making big acquisitions are always floating around the internet, although some of the latest are mainly generated by artificial intelligence rather than usual gossip. There’s a mini-cottage industry of fake Tesla news and gossip all over YouTube and likely other corners of the internet.
Both Elon Musk Rewind and Voyager, which appear to be either the source of or a transmitter of the idea that Musk is buying Ford, have spread a number of false claims. That includes fake products, like a “Tesla Home” and $500 laptops, or claims that Musk has found “proof” that giants are alive. For what it’s worth, Elon Musk Rewind does in its video’s description that it “contains information not to be considered the truth.”
Other channels claim that Tesla is buying Jeep-maker Stellantis to “all competition,” releasing hydrogen-powered cars, and other obvious falsehoods.
It’s plain to see why such channels would make up content about Musk — he’s kind of a big deal. With President-elect Donald Trump heading to the White House, Musk is poised to have a sizable amount of influence over him, as well as an undefined role in slashing government spending. That’s already paying dividends, sending Tesla stock surging and its market cap past $1 trillion last week.
I wish Inleo images was working would have added a screenshot. I've seen BTC above 81K. There's hope of getting to 100Km it's no utility just hype. How long till the correction and how far down do you think the value will go?
The total addressable market for humanoid robots is staggering - close to half of global GDP is physical labor. From an investor's perspective, this represents a potential to "turn the world upside down" in a way that nothing else in Chris Camillo's lifetime has come close to.
Humanoid robots present high barriers to entry, requiring massive amounts of proprietary technology, integrated hardware, years of learning and perfection, manufacturing, logistics, and onboarding. This creates a unique blend of modern tech and industrial revolution-level innovation.
The Imminent Arrival of the Jetson's Future
Camillo has become convinced that the humanoid robot future is not only real, but imminent. He has had the opportunity to see demonstrations of leading humanoid robots that have left him in awe, with capabilities far beyond what has been publicly shown.
The pathway to the "actual endgame" of this technology is now clear to Camillo. He expresses 100% conviction that this Jetson's-like future is coming, with the only open question being the exact timeline - whether it's 12, 24, 36, or 48 months.
The Transformative Potential for Humanity
Camillo sees the potential for humanoid robots to provide "infinite human labor" as the most exciting aspect, not just from an investment perspective, but for the profound impact it could have on humanity.
He highlights the massive demand for healthcare robots to care for aging populations, the astronomical costs of round-the-clock human care, and the opportunity to dramatically improve quality of life across the entire spectrum of humanity. Camillo believes this technology could enable civilization to reach new heights that were previously unimaginable.
Given his conviction in this space, Camillo has shifted his focus away from early-stage startup investments to concentrate on the leading private humanoid companies, Figure and Optronics, as well as preparing for a potentially massive public market opportunity in Tesla's Optimus division.
He cautions that the general public will be slow to believe the reality of this technology, just as they were slow to accept transformative innovations like the smartphone and social media. However, Camillo urges everyone to dedicate time each week to educating themselves on the humanoid robot space, as he believes it represents the biggest investment opportunity of a lifetime.
Imagine telling people a year ago that Elon Musk would play a pivotal role in revitalizing the United States, making major decisions, and saving taxpayers potentially trillions of dollars. You would have been laughed out of the room. Yet, that is precisely what is unfolding before our eyes.
Kathy Wood, the renowned investor, believes that President Trump's second term will be the most consequential US presidency in history. The amount of positive change and the speed at which it will occur is unfathomable. At the heart of this transformation is Elon Musk's involvement in the administration.
Regulatory Cutbacks and Government Efficiency
Kathy Wood anticipates profound regulatory cutbacks under the Trump administration. President Trump's previous directive to regulators - "you want to put in a new regulation, you have to take two away" - will likely be even stronger in his second t
Furthermore, Musk's influence on government spending and efficiency is expected to be significant. The deficit is expected to decrease, not only due to economic growth, but also because of Musk's "first principles-based, white sheet of paper" approach to identifying and eliminating waste within the government. Musk's goal of shrinking the government as a percentage of GDP through attrition and technological productivity gains could have a transformative impact.
Bipartisan Endorsement
Kevin O'Leary, a prominent entrepreneur, echoes the sentiment that Musk's involvement in the Trump administration should be welcomed. O'Leary acknowledges Musk's extraordinary execution abilities, stating that "if he says he can save $2 trillion in spending, I think he can do it." The bipartisan nature of this endorsement underscores the potential for Musk to make a lasting impact.
The positive impact of Musk's involvement in the Trump administration is expected to have a significant effect on Tesla. As Kathy Wood points out, "what's good for the United States is good for Tesla." The free publicity and positive sentiment surrounding Musk's role could be a boon for the electric vehicle company.
Overcoming Political Biases
Walter Isaacson, a renowned biographer, highlights the polarized reactions to Musk's political involvement. Some want him to be more vocal and controversial, while others are critical of his support for the Trump administration. However, Musk's unwavering commitment to his beliefs and convictions, regardless of political affiliations, is a testament to his character.
The Majority Speaks
It is worth noting that the recent US presidential election results have shown that the majority of voting adults in the United States agreed with Musk's political stance, as evidenced by the victory of the candidate he strongly endorsed.
As the Trump administration's second term unfolds, Elon Musk's involvement is poised to have a profound and lasting impact on the United States. The speed and magnitude of the positive changes that are expected to occur are truly unprecedented, and the implications for Tesla and the broader economy are equally significant.
Amazon is developing smart glasses for delivery drivers, Reuters reports. The aim is to give drivers turn-by-turn directions, thereby shaving seconds off of each delivery.
Citing anonymous Amazon sources, Reuters says the project is part of Amazon’s efforts to increase efficiency in the last 100 yards of a delivery. Codenamed “Amelia”, the smart glasses are based off the existing Echo Frames platform. Unlike the current audio-only Frames they would have an embedded display that could give a driver more precise directions — for example, turning left or right after getting off an elevator. Amazon is also exploring camera capabilities using that embedded display, enabling drivers to take photos of packages as proof of delivery. Theoretically, doing all this would allow drivers to carry more packages because the glasses are hands-free, while all those saved seconds would allow drivers to squeeze in more home deliveries in a single shift.
That said, it might be a good long while before Amazon drivers sport smart glasses — if they ever do. Adding displays to ordinary glasses or audio-based smart glasses like the current Echo Frames is also a tough engineering challenge — one that many companies have failed at. Amazon is reportedly having issues making glasses with a battery that can last a full eight-hour shift while also being light enough to wear all day. Another problem is many people already have corrective lenses, and thus far, consumer smart glasses haven’t always been capable of accommodating every prescription. It’ll also have to convince its entire fleet of drivers — many of which are third-party contractors — to adopt the technology. It could take years for Amazon to gather enough data on that last 100 yards (i.e., building layouts, sidewalks, streets, driveways, etc.) to make its vision a reality.
It’s not wholly surprising to see Amazon explore enterprise options for its smart glasses tech. Reuters’ sources also stated that the last-gen Echo Frames sold fewer than 10,000 units — disappointing when compared to how successful the Ray-Ban Meta glasses have been. (Both were released around the same time last year.) Pivoting to enterprise has also long been the playbook for underperforming smart glasses and AR headsets, including Google Glass, Magic Leap, and Microsoft HoloLens. Also unclear is whether Amazon will keep this purely for its own delivery network or pursue third-party enterprise contracts. That said, it’s possible that some of this tech will also make its way to consumers. The report notes that Amazon is working on an embedded screen for future Echo Frames glasses that could show up sometime in Q2 2026.
The rapid advancements in automation and artificial intelligence (AI) have raised significant concerns about the potential disruption to traditional jobs, particularly in manufacturing, transportation, and other industries. As we stand at the forefront of this technological revolution, it's crucial to understand the implications and explore ways to mitigate the potential loss of purpose and income that many people may face.
According to the speaker, the impact of automation and AI is likely to be felt in the coming 15-20 years. In the short-term (1-3 years) and medium-term (5-10 years), there will be immediate and pressing issues to address. However, the longer-term (20 years) implications pose deeper questions about the meaning of life and purpose if computers and robots can outperform humans in most tasks.
The speaker expresses cautious optimism, suggesting that there is an 80-90% likelihood of a positive outcome. They envision a future where everyone will have their own personal robot, akin to having a smartphone today. This could potentially provide a sense of security and protection, with robots acting as personal assistants or bodyguards. However, the speaker also acknowledges the need to avoid dystopian scenarios, such as the plot of a James Cameron movie.
The pace of technological change has been accelerating at an unprecedented rate. Comparing the past century, the speaker notes that the differences between 1900-1920 and 1920-1940 were not as significant as the changes we've witnessed from 1980 to 2000, and the even more dramatic shifts from 2000 to 2020. The speaker suggests that the next 20 years will bring about an even more profound transformation, one that is difficult to fully comprehend in the present moment.
The ubiquity of smartphones and the way people have adapted to them, taking their capabilities for granted, serves as a metaphor for the impending changes. Just as the smartphone has become an indispensable part of daily life, the speaker envisions a future where humanoid robots may outnumber humans, fundamentally altering the social and economic landscape.
As we navigate this uncharted territory, it is crucial for policymakers, businesses, and individuals to proactively address the challenges posed by automation and AI. Strategies such as universal basic income, retraining programs, and the exploration of new forms of meaningful work will be essential in ensuring a smooth transition and mitigating the potential loss of purpose and income that many may face.
Efforts to influence President-elect Donald Trump’s policies via Elon Musk are already beginning. On Friday, nonprofit AI advocacy group Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI) launched a public petition asking Trump to make Musk his special adviser on AI, saying he is well positioned to protect the US lead on the technology while ensuring it’s rolled out safely.
“No one is better equipped to help the Trump Administration make America lead on AI than Elon Musk,” reads the petition circulated by ARI, which is led by former Democratic representative Brad Carson and says it doesn’t take corporate funding.
Musk has been a leading critic of OpenAI, a company he cofounded but more recently has distanced himself from and made into an opponent. Shortly after the release of ChatGPT, he signed onto a letter calling for a moratorium on the development of more advanced generative AI models in order to implement safeguards. Critics say his stances are largely self-interested, however, since he also runs his own AI company, xAI.
The ARI petition says it’s possible to deal with Musk’s conflicts of interest, arguing that with “proper mechanisms” to do so, “Musk would be an invaluable asset for helping the Trump administration navigate the development of this transformational technology.” ARI is aiming to get 10,000 signatures on the petition.
“Musk could emerge as a champion for AI safety in the administration,” ARI policy analyst David Robusto wrote in a recent blog post. Robusto pointed to Musk’s cofounding of OpenAI, his call for a moratorium on AI development, and support of California’s vetoed AI safety bill SB 1047 as reasons to believe his commitment to safety is deep-rooted. Robusto concedes that Musk hasn’t said much about what kinds of government policies should actually be implemented — besides the creation of a dedicated AI safety agency — but says his “lack of specificity suggests his thinking on the topic is evolving and can still be shaped by public debate over the issue.”
Musk has previously claimed he’ll join the Trump administration in a role he created from whole cloth: the head of a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), whose role would be to gut the entire US regulatory system. But Robusto hopes he could promote AI safety even in that capacity — if only by hitting the departments that manage it less hard. Robusto says Musk may spare agencies key to AI safety policy like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) from cuts to federal spending. And if Musk imposes mass layoffs across the government to save costs, the government may lean more on AI tools to make up the workload.
“With proper guardrails in place, his unique combination of technical expertise and safety advocacy could be a valuable asset in developing responsible AI governance,” Robusto writes.
Tesla shares (NASDAQ: TSLA) are continuing their epic surge on Wall Street as the company is feeling the effects of various buy signals, including the Presidential Election that yielded Donald Trump as the winner and analyst perception that the company’s story is changing in a big way.
Over the past five trading days, Tesla shares are up over 37 percent, reaching levels over $350 for the first time in years and sending the company’s market capitalization to a spot that puts it in the top 10 most valuable companies globally.
Shares are up over 7 percent so far on Monday morning, likely surging due to a continuance of what occurred last week with the stock on Wall Street, as well as a new, bullish note from Wedbush’s Dan Ives, who bumped his price target up to $400 from $300.
India is reportedly initiating a plan to encourage electric vehicle makers like Tesla to invest in the country. A report about the alleged initiative was shared in a recent report from The Economic Times.
As per the Times, the Indian government is organizing a workshop for companies that are interested in importing premium electric vehicles at lower import tariffs. India is reportedly looking to gather feedback from the participants of the workshop, likely as a way to better understand what investors wish for their operations in the country.
India launched a scheme to encourage the import and local production of electric vehicles last year. To attract investors, the country offered reduced import tariffs. At the time, reports suggested that India’s scheme was likely directed at companies like Tesla, which had openly admitted that it was considering a major investment in the country. The response to the scheme has proven lukewarm, however, and Tesla is yet to finalize an investment in India.
India, however, does not seem to be giving up its aspirations to secure a deal with companies like Tesla. Back in April 2024, a first stakeholder consultation on the scheme was held with several companies. In attendance were Tesla, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra, Hyundai, BMW, Kia, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Toyota, Renault-Nissan, and even VinFast, which joined the meeting through a video call. At the time, however, few companies showed any strong interest in participating in the scheme.
With the government’s reported plans to host a workshop later this month, it appears that India is not done in its attempts to secure major investments from EV makers just yet. As noted by the Times, feedback garnered during the upcoming workshop will likely be considered while framing the rules governing the country’s EV import scheme.
China has built a land-based prototype nuclear reactor for a large surface warship, in the clearest sign yet Beijing is advancing toward producing its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
BANGKOK (AP) — China has built a land-based prototype nuclear reactor for a large surface warship, in the clearest sign yet Beijing is advancing toward producing its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, according to a new analysis of satellite imagery and Chinese government documents provided to The Associated Press.
China’s navy is already the world’s largest numerically, and it has been rapidly modernizing. Adding nuclear-powered carriers to its fleet would be a major step in realizing its ambitions for a true “blue-water” force capable of operating in seas far from China in a growing global challenge to the United States.
“Nuclear-powered carriers would place China in the exclusive ranks of first-class naval powers, a group currently limited to the United States and France,” said Tong Zhao, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C. “For China’s leadership, such a development would symbolize national prestige, fueling domestic nationalism and elevating the country’s global image as a leading power.”
Researchers at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California said they made the finding while investigating a mountain site outside the city of Leshan in the southwest Chinese province of Sichuan, where they suspected China was building a reactor to produce plutonium or tritium for weapons.
Instead, they concluded that China was building a prototype reactor for a large warship. The project at Leshan is dubbed the Longwei, or Dragon Might, Project and is also referred to as the Nuclear Power Development Project in documents.
Semiconductor chips were the main topic at an adjacent conference in the Hilton Bonnet Creek this week. An employee of mine spoke with one attendee who said shareholders were concerned that their manufacturing headquarters were located in Taiwan. Should they be concerned?
I’m told the general consensus was that even in the event of China following through with its One China policy, the company believed that China would not want to lose such a lucrative business deal with the United States.
Renaissance Fusion aims to design, build, and commercialize a fusion power-plant based on stellarator, HTS, and liquid metal technologies.
A France-based company is using stellarator technology to accelerate fusion research in Europe. Renaissance Fusion is building stellarators that it claims could be the most efficient, steady, and stable fusion reactors on Earth.
There are several approaches that are close to demonstrating net fusion electricity generation.
Laser fusion compresses a capsule to very high pressures by means of powerful lasers. In contrast, tokamaks and stellarators, which are doughnut-shaped devices, magnetically levitate hot ionized gases (plasmas) and heat them to temperatures hotter than the sun.
Simplifying the stellarator
The company maintains that with unique High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnets and liquid metal shields, it brings stellarators out of the lab and onto the grid.
“To meet net zero emissions goals, a safe, abundant, 24/7 energy source is needed to complement renewables and storage. Fusion is that source,” said Renaissance Fusion.
The company stressed that in the process of simplifying the stellarator, it also simplifies the manufacturing of high-temperature superconductors (HTS).
This is a relatively new class of materials, allowing the generation of strong magnetic fields and thus enabling more compact and affordable fusion devices. It is typically a very lengthy and expensive process, but the company has accelerated it, according to Innovation News Network.
Stellarators can stay “on” all the time
The French firm maintains that stellarator heating exhibits superior efficiency: delivering 1 kWh to the plasma consumes 2-3 kWh of electricity in a stellarator, compared to over 100 kWh in laser fusion.
Another advantage is that stellarators can stay “on” all the time, whereas high-power lasers are pulsed and have low repetition rates, claimed Renaissance Fusion.
Instead of relying on plasma currents like tokamaks, stellarators confine the plasma through specially shaped 3D magnetic fields. Historically, this has resulted in complex coils with expensive and time-consuming design, modeling, and manufacturing processes, according to the company.
Fusion power plant based on the stellarator
Renaissance Fusion aims to design, construct, and commercialize a fusion power plant based on the stellarator, HTS and liquid metal technologies, on time to contribute solving the climate crisis caused by carbon emissions.
The company claims that the heat from the fusion reactions is mostly carried by neutrons and captured by plasma-facing liquid metal wall.
Only High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) can generate the high magnetic fields needed to make fusion smaller and cheaper. The benefits are impressive: a 4x increase in magnetic field reduces the plasma volume by 256x, according to Renaissance Fusion.
Chinese tech giant Huawei has filed a new patent for a sulfide-based solid electrolyte that aims to upgrade lithium-ion batteries by replacing unsustainable liquid components.
In a move that would provide major boost to battery technology in electric vehicles (EVs), Chinese tech conglomerate Huawei has filed a new patent application for a sulfide-based solid electrolyte, a component used in lithium-ion batteries.
The patent, titled ‘Doped Sulfide Materials and Preparation Methods, Lithium-ion Batteries’, introduces an advanced solid-state battery design aimed at enhancing performance, lifespan, and safety of lithium-ion cells.
This technology tackles a persistent challenge in the battery industry: degradation of liquid electrolytes. By substituting liquid components with solid electrolytes, Huawei aims to upgrade energy storage systems, especially for EVs.
Safer, high-density batteries
Current battery technology uses liquid or gel electrolytes to transfer lithium ions between the anode and cathode. While this continues to be the industry standard, it is not sustainable long-term. These batteries are prone to overheating, thermal runaway, fires, and explosions.
The go-to solution is the use of solid-state batteries, which offer higher energy density, improved safety, slower degradation, and faster charging and discharging capabilities. Companies are also exploring various materials, such as sulfides, ceramics, polymers, and graphene.
The patent’s innovative doped sulfide material uses a cubic crystal unit cell, with nitrogen doping on one side to stabilize ion movement between the anode and cathode. This configuration enhances ionic conductivity and supports longer battery life, which is especially advantageous for electric vehicles where efficiency and safety are critical.
Huawei’s roadmap for future
The new technology is particularly beneficial for future electric vehicles and energy storage systems, as it addresses the significant issue of battery capacity fading, commonly caused by the settling of polysulfide (LiSx) in liquid sulfur battery systems.
Innovation in this field has been robust across companies. For example, Huawei’s former subsidiary Honor pioneered the use of silicon-carbon for battery anodes, greatly boosting yield. This approach has now become the industry standard, with more companies adopting similar battery technologies.
Heat waves pose a serious threat to rice production, causing significant yield losses and even complete crop failure.
Rice, a staple food for billions, faces a growing threat: climate change. Rising temperatures and increasingly frequent heat waves are taking a toll on rice yields worldwide.
Researchers have been exploring ways to make rice plants more resilient to extreme conditions.
A team of horticulturists from Nankai University in China has discovered a surprising solution: zinc oxide nanoparticles. They say that spraying a zinc oxide nanoparticle solution on rice plants enhances their ability to tolerate heat stress.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles
Heat waves pose a serious threat to rice production, causing significant yield losses and even complete crop failure.
To mitigate the devastating impact of climate change-induced heat waves, scientists are racing to develop strategies to safeguard plant life.
Recent research has indicated that foliar application of zinc nanoparticles is a more efficient method of delivering zinc to plants, as the particles can penetrate leaf pores. Zinc nanoparticles are a common sunscreen ingredient.
Driven by curiosity, the team explored the potential of zinc oxide to safeguard rice yields in the face of extreme heat.
As per Phys.org, in this new study, the researchers created a customized greenhouse.
22.1% yield increase
Upon harvest, the research team observed a 22.1% increase in yield from the rice plants treated with zinc oxide nanoparticles compared to the control group grown with just water.
Upon closer examination, it was found that the rice grains from the zinc oxide-treated plants exhibited higher nutrient content.
“This study revealed that foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs; 30 to 80 nm, 0.67 mg/d per plant, 6 d) to rice leaves under heatwave (HW) stress increased the grain yield and nutritional quality,” the study noted.
The robot’s inverse kinematics system allows it to replicate human motions, improving its responsive and adaptive interaction with the environment.
University students in South Africa have introduced a new humanoid robotics research platform, highlighting advancements in robotics technology.
Stellenbosch University’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering has developed a humanoid robot with a full-height frame, a functional torso, an operable right arm, and a nearly finished left arm.
Outfitted with a webcam and advanced software, the robot can track and replicate human movements in real time.
“Our system performs inverse kinematics, allowing it to follow human motions. This enables theoretical teleoperation from anywhere, demonstrating its potential for remote operation,” said Dr William Duckitt, a professor at SU’s Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, told an engineering news outlet.
In February, four members of Hong Kong’s Diocesan Boys’ School robotics team engineered the world’s smallest humanoid robot, measuring just 141 mm—11.3 mm shorter than a standard ballpoint pen—surpassing the 2022 record set by Pakistan’s Zain Ahmad Qureshi.
Remote-controlled robotics
The humanoid robot at Stellenbosch University’s currently stands at full height with a fully operational torso, right arm, and hand, while its left arm is nearly complete.
Designed for advanced human-like interaction, the robot incorporates a webcam for vision tracking, combined with sophisticated software that allows it to analyze and mimic human movements in real-time, according to Engineering News.
Equipped with an inverse kinematics system, the robot can accurately replicate the motions of a human operator, enhancing its capability to interact with its environment in a responsive and adaptive manner.
A humanoid robot named "Tiangong" has been in the spotlight since the just-concluded Yizhuang Half Marathon in Beijing, where it crossed the finish line together with human participants.
The race began at 8:00 am with runners embarking on the challenging 21.09-kilometer route. As the athletes surged ahead, Tiangong, dressed in black, stood on the sidelines and waved its arms to encourage the participants.
Later in the race, as a large group of runners neared the finish line on Sunday, the robot Tiangong entered the track about 100 meters from the finish, acting as a "closing pacer" to help athletes cross the finish line together.
Produced by the National and Local Co-Built Embodied Intelligence Robot Innovation Center, Tiangong is a first-generation humanoid robot. Standing 163 centimeters tall and weighing 43 kilograms, it is the world's first full-sized humanoid robot that runs on electric drive, according to the official introduction to the robot.
"At large events like marathons, robots can perform a variety of tasks," Jiang Hanya, an industry insider at a tech company based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Monday.
For example, quadruped and humanoid robots, similar to "pace bunnies," can assist pacers, especially in long-distance races like marathons. These robots can maintain steady speeds, helping runners control their pace while providing real-time data feedback on factors like heart rate, temperature, and air quality.
Additionally, robots can enhance safety at events through autonomous navigation, real-time monitoring, and big data analysis. Patrol robots can monitor safety along race routes, detect unusual crowd movement, or emergency situations, and quickly alert security personnel, he noted.
At crowded events, robots equipped with medical supplies can quickly move across the venue to provide emergency equipment such as defibrillators to those in need. They can also analyze an athlete's condition via cameras and sensors to identify those requiring immediate medical attention, Jiang added.
"The development of humanoid robot AI is still in its early stage, with robots lacking strong versatility and generalization, limiting their commercial value. The path of technological evolution is unclear, and data is still scarce," said Jiang.
Not only did the humanoid robot make an appearance at the Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon, but four-legged robots also served as official pacers at the Hangzhou Marathon in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, on November 4.
The four-legged robot maintained a steady pace of around 9 minutes and 24 seconds per kilometer, with a top running speed of up to 6 meters per second. They were equipped with "half-marathon pacer" balloons to help runners maintain a scientifically optimized running rhythm.
According to Zhejiang Television, this marks the first time in international marathon history that robotic pacers have been used.
As previously reported by the Global Times, a larger robot, B2, took on the role of "cut-off pacers" for the half-marathon event, while a smaller one, known as Go2, served as companion pacers for the fun run.
With Trump’s upcoming inauguration, many tech workers on visas are feeling nervous. Trump's strict immigration policies in his first term made it harder to stay, and some are worried the same will happen again. I can understand why they’re scrambling to sort out their visas before he takes office. Many are even changing their plans to avoid travel risks or renewing early to secure their stay. The anxiety is real, and it’s totally understandable.
It's worrying to see that just 16% of big companies are on track to cut emissions by 2050. Accenture’s report says AI could help them reach these targets faster, but only a few are actually using it. AI can predict and reduce energy waste, yet most firms aren’t embracing it enough. Europe’s doing better than other regions, but there’s still a lot of work to be done globally to make AI a true driver for change.
Africa's AI journey has so much potential but faces big obstacles. Young African minds are innovating, using AI to solve local problems, from health apps in South Africa to crop diagnostics in Kenya. But funding and technology limitations slow progress. Without better government support, from accessible data to policy frameworks, it’s tough for these projects to thrive. I admire how resourceful these researchers are, working despite limited resources. I hope they get the support they need to truly succeed globally.
TSMC, a big chip maker, just stopped sending AI chips to China. This came after a US order to limit the tech going there. I think this will shake up China’s tech plans quite a bit. With fewer options for AI chips, China might need to develop its own tech faster. The US is using its power here, and I’m curious to see how this affects the whole tech world in the coming years.
Moore Threads, one of China's top chip makers, is getting ready to go public. Founded by a former Nvidia expert, they’ve changed their business status, likely in prep for a big debut on the stock market. This is a huge move, especially since the US has tightened rules, making it harder for China to access Nvidia’s powerful chips. But Moore Threads seems determined, backed by local investors who believe in China's drive to be more tech-independent.
I just read about Claude AI's new feature, where it can now "see" visuals in PDF documents. This update from Anthropic means Claude can analyze charts and images, not just words. I think this could change how businesses and researchers handle data. Imagine how much quicker analyzing financial or legal documents could get. It’s all about making AI smarter and more useful every day.
AI's changing everything. A Bengaluru coconut seller is doing competitive research, something you'd expect from big companies! With tools like ChatGPT, anyone can analyze markets and customer feedback without needing consultants. SurveySensum, for example, now uses AI to summarize feedback instantly. It’s incredible, less human work, faster insights, and cheaper, too! While consultants may still offer unique insights, I feel AI’s making it easier for anyone to dive into data. Who knows? Maybe consultants will adapt, or we’ll all just DIY.
I came across this wild story where a guy using ChatGPT avoided a heart attack! It was 2 a.m., and he was working late when he felt chest tightness. He didn’t think it was serious but asked ChatGPT about his symptoms out of curiosity. Surprisingly, the AI urged him to get checked. Turns out, he was in the early stages of a heart attack! Thanks to ChatGPT, he got to the ER just in time. It’s crazy how tech can be this helpful.
This new AI from Mass General Brigham might be able to spot long COVID way better than before. Originally, we thought 7% of people had long COVID symptoms after getting sick. But now, this AI says it could actually be 23%! The AI scans a ton of health records to pick out these symptoms, which are hard for doctors to spot sometimes. Feels like we’re finally getting closer to understanding what’s been happening to so many people.
Geordie Rose is stepping down from Sanctuary AI, a big deal in robotics. Rose helped start the company, and he’s known for pushing robots to be more “human” in how they think and act. This is a big change – kind of like losing a coach who’s been there since the start. I wonder how this affects Sanctuary AI’s future; it’s tough when the visionary leaves. Let’s see if they can keep up the momentum without him.
“We’ve had Photoshop for 35 years” is a common response to rebut concerns about generative AI, and you’ve landed here because you’ve made that argument in a comment thread or social media.
There are countless reasons to be concerned about how AI image editing and generation tools will impact the trust we place in photographs and how that trust (or lack thereof) could be used to manipulate us. That’s bad, and we know it’s already happening. So, to save us all time and energy, and from wearing our fingers down to nubs by constantly responding to the same handful of arguments, we’re just putting them all in a list in this post.
It’s easy to make this argument if you’ve never actually gone through the process of manually editing a photo in apps like Adobe Photoshop, but it’s a frustratingly over-simplified comparison. Let’s say some dastardly miscreant wants to manipulate an image to make it look like someone has a drug problem — here are just a few things they’d need to do:
Have access to (potentially expensive) desktop software. Sure, mobile editing apps exist, but they’re not really suitable for much outside of small tweaks like skin smoothing and color adjustment. So, for this job, you’ll need a computer — a costly investment for internet fuckery. And while some desktop editing apps are free (Gimp, Photopea, etc.), most professional-level tools are not. Adobe’s Creative Cloud apps are among the most popular, and the recurring subscriptions ($263.88 per year for Photoshop alone) are notoriously hard to cancel.
Locate suitable pictures of drug paraphernalia. Even if you have some on hand, you can’t just slap any old image in and hope it’ll look right. You have to account for the appropriate lighting and positioning of the photo they’re being added to, so everything needs to match up. Any reflections on bottles should be hitting from the same angle, for example, and objects photographed at eye level will look obviously fake if dropped into an image that was snapped at more of an angle.
Understand and use a smorgasbord of complicated editing tools. Any inserts need to be cut from whatever background they were on and then blended seamlessly into their new environment. That might require adjusting color balance, tone, and exposure levels, smoothing edges, or adding in new shadows or reflections. It takes both time and experience to ensure the results look even passable, let alone natural.
There are some genuinely useful AI tools in Photoshop that do make this easier, such as automated object selection and background removal. But even if you’re using them, it’ll still take a decent chunk of time and energy to manipulate a single image. By contrast, here’s what The Verge editor Chris Welch had to do to get the same results using the “Reimagine” feature on a Google Pixel 9:
Launch the Google Photos app on their smartphone. Tap an area, and tell it to add a “medical syringe filled with red liquid,” some “thin lines of crumbled chalk,” alongside wine and rubber tubing.
That’s it. A similarly easy process exists on Samsung’s newest phones. The skill and time barrier isn’t just reduced — it’s gone. Google’s tool is also freakishly good at blending any generated materials into the images: lighting, shadows, opacity, and even focal points are all taken into consideration. Photoshop itself now has an AI image generator built-in, and the results from that often aren’t half as convincing as what this free Android app from Google can spit out.
Image manipulation techniques and other methods of fakery have existed for close to 200 years — almost as long as photography itself. (Cases in point: 19th-century spirit photography and the Cottingley Fairies.) But the skill requirements and time investment needed to make those changes are why we don’t think to inspect every photo we see. Manipulations were rare and unexpected for most of photography’s history. But the simplicity and scale of AI on smartphones will mean any bozo can churn out manipulative images at a frequency and scale we’ve never experienced before. It should be obvious why that’s alarming.
Just because you have the estimable ability to clock when an image is fake doesn’t mean everyone can. Not everyone skulks around on tech forums (we love you all, fellow skulkers), so the typical indicators of AI that seem obvious to us can be easy to miss for those who don’t know what signs to look for — if they’re even there at all. AI is rapidly getting better at producing natural-looking images that don’t have seven fingers or Cronenberg-esque distortions.
Maybe it was easy to spot when the occasional deepfake was dumped into our feeds, but the scale of production has shifted seismically in the last two years alone. It’s incredibly easy to make this stuff, so now it’s fucking everywhere. We are dangerously close to living in a world in which we have to be wary about being deceived by every single image put in front of us.
And when everything might be fake, it’s vastly harder to prove something is real. That doubt is easy to prey on, opening the door for people like former President Donald Trump to throw around false accusations about Kamala Harris manipulating the size of her rally crowds.
It’s true: even if AI is a lot easier to use than Photoshop, the latter was still a technological revolution that forced people to reckon with a whole new world of fakery. But Photoshop and other pre-AI editing tools did create social problems that persist to this day and still cause meaningful harm. The ability to digitally retouch photographs on magazines and billboards promoted impossible beauty standards for both men and women, with the latter disproportionately impacted. In 2003, for instance, a then-27-year-old Kate Winslet was unknowingly slimmed down on the cover of GQ — and the British magazine’s editor, Dylan Jones, justified it by saying her appearance had been altered “no more than any other cover star.”
Edits like this were pervasive and rarely disclosed, despite major scandals when early blogs like Jezebel published unretouched photos of celebrities on fashion magazine covers. (France even passed a law requiring airbrushing disclosures.) And as easier-to-use tools like Facetune emerged on exploding social media platforms, they became even more insidious.
One study in 2020 found that 71 percent of Instagram users would edit their selfies with Facetune before publishing them, and another found that media images caused the same drop in body image for women and girls with or without a label disclaiming they’d been digitally altered. There’s a direct pipeline from social media to real-life plastic surgery, sometimes aiming for physically impossible results. And men are not immune — social media has real and measurable impacts on boys and their self-image as well.
Impossible beauty standards aren’t the only issue, either. Staged pictures and photo editing could mislead viewers, undercut trust in photojournalism, and even emphasize racist narratives — as in a 1994 photo illustration that made OJ Simpson’s face darker in a mugshot.
Generative AI image editing not only amplifies these problems by further lowering barriers — it sometimes does so with no explicit direction. AI tools and apps have been accused of giving women larger breasts and revealing clothes without being told to do so. Forget viewers not being able to trust what they’re seeing is real — now photographers can’t trust their own tools!
First of all, crafting good speech laws — and, let’s be clear, these likely would be speech laws — is incredibly hard. Governing how people can produce and release edited images will require separating uses that are overwhelmingly harmful from ones lots of people find valuable, like art, commentary, and parody. Lawmakers and regulators will have to reckon with existing laws around free speech and access to information, including the First Amendment in the US.
O cientista mexicano José Carlos Rubio Ávalos, da Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, desenvolveu um cimento luminescente inovador que pode mudar como as cidades lidam com a iluminação urbana. Esse cimento especial consegue absorver a luz ultravioleta do sol durante o dia e emiti-la como luz à noite, criando uma nova solução para a iluminação nas cidades. A pesquisa de Ávalos foi indicada para o prêmio nacional de ciência do México, destacando o impacto do cimento luminescente para as construções e a iluminação urbana.
O cimento luminescente pode ser utilizado em várias áreas das cidades, oferecendo uma iluminação natural que complementa ou até substitui as luzes elétricas.
Projetos como a autoestrada de Roosengaarde, na Holanda, já utilizam esse cimento para garantir uma iluminação eficiente sem depender de fontes elétricas.
O uso do cimento luminescente nas cidades pode reduzir a necessidade de iluminação pública convencional, contribuindo para a sustentabilidade e eficiência energética.
Além disso, organizações como Médicos Sem Fronteiras também têm mostrado interesse no uso do cimento luminescente em áreas onde a eletricidade é escassa.
A ONG propôs utilizar o material em banheiros públicos, especialmente em locais onde a falta de iluminação elétrica é um risco para a segurança das mulheres.
Esse tipo de aplicação do cimento pode ajudar a melhorar a infraestrutura urbana em regiões de difícil acesso, além de fornecer uma solução sustentável para a iluminação.
O processo de fabricação é mais complexo e caro do que o cimento tradicional, tornando o cimento luminescente até cinco vezes mais caro para ser produzido.
A produção do cimento também requer investimentos significativos, já que uma peça de 1 metro quadrado com 3 milímetros de espessura custa entre US$ 60 e US$ 70.
Embora o custo inicial seja mais alto, os benefícios a longo prazo, como a redução de energia e a durabilidade do material, podem justificar o investimento, especialmente em áreas onde a iluminação elétrica é limitada ou insustentável.
Com sua capacidade de absorver a luz do sol e emiti-la durante a noite, esse material pode reduzir a dependência das fontes de luz elétrica nas cidades e trazer benefícios significativos para a sustentabilidade e a eficiência energética.
A adaptação do cimento nas cidades representa uma forma de reimaginar a iluminação urbana, especialmente em locais que enfrentam dificuldades no fornecimento de energia elétrica.
À medida que a produção do cimento evolui e o custo diminui, espera-se que o cimento luminescente se torne uma solução comum para iluminar as cidades de forma mais sustentável e econômica.
Extending an AI-Powered Educational Content Portal with Crew AI
In this video, the creator of an educational content portal focused on artificial intelligence teams up with Joe, the founder and CEO of Crew AI, to further develop and enhance the platform using Crew AI's powerful capabilities.
Building on a Successful Foundation
The creator had previously built a system using Crew AI to research and generate initial drafts of educational content. While the results were decent, the creator struggled to get the non-GPT-4 models to produce more comprehensive and detailed content.
Introducing Flows and Collaborative Crews
To address this, Joe suggests leveraging Crew AI's "flows" feature, which allows for the creation of collaborative workflows between multiple crews. The idea is to have one crew focused on research and planning, and another crew dedicated to the actual content writing.
The creator sets up a new "EDU flow" and creates two new crews: the "EDU Research Crew" and the "EDU Content Writer Crew." The research crew is responsible for conducting thorough research on a given topic and producing a detailed plan for the content, while the writing crew takes that plan and transforms it into the final educational content.
Enhancing the Workflow with Cursor
Throughout the process, the creator makes extensive use of Cursor, Crew AI's AI-powered coding assistant, to streamline the setup and configuration of the agents and tasks within the crews. Cursor helps the creator quickly update and refine the definitions, ensuring the crews are working efficiently.
The creator and Joe discuss the trade-offs between using more expensive GPT-4 models versus the more cost-effective GPT-4 mini models. They conclude that for most use cases, the non-GPT-4 models can produce high-quality results when combined with the robust Crew AI framework, making them a more practical choice.
Next Steps and Future Enhancements
The video concludes with a discussion of potential future enhancements, such as adding web scraping capabilities to the research crew, allowing them to dive deeper into relevant sources, and exploring the possibility of automatically generating images, graphics, and diagrams based on the content.
Overall, this video showcases the power and flexibility of Crew AI, demonstrating how it can be used to build complex, collaborative AI-powered workflows for tasks like educational content creation.
We need to improve the #engagement on #inleo. The gap between threads should be lowered from high minutes to lower ones and even seconds. We can do it together, let's #post, #comment and #engage!
LOL! That's a good one. But still, I know how much money I wasted on drinking beer in my youth. I don't even want to think about where I could be had I saved that money. That's very painful.
Sounds like my family when I say "The most I had in Bitcoin at the same time is around 0.3 BTC." They say "Where's your $20K!!" or whatever 1/3 of $BTC price at the moment is. !LOLZ
😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅 damn I'm so happy I took time to finish the whole stuff. Talk about twist ending. Yeah where's her fucking plane. I'd say it's in all the wigs and her dye she's been using for decades 😅😅
The trader I've been copy trading already made me 50% profit in less than 1 month...
This is amazing!
Imagine if he kept going like this for 1 year! Compounding growth!
Most of his trades are in sectors of the market that I don't know anything about, mainly meme coins: Doge, Floki, Pepe, sometimes he trades big caps like BTC, ETH, TIA and others, but it's normally memecoins, which makes sense since this cycle the PVP battleground that is trading is in the memecoins trenches.
Gotta go where the opportunity is. I primarily focus on BTC as my main trade just simply for the liquidity at this point. But when a good DOGE trade starts to go, I have been known to jump onboard the DOGE rocket! I unfortunately didn't catch yesterday's blast off because I had to do my stock trading for the family fund in the morning and missed the launch. But there will be another lift off... Just have to be patient.
Only difference... I am using my own analysis and trading rules... If you are just copy trading, you are not really learning to make your own rules, trading plan, and learning your own risk management skills. You are just going by what someone else is doing. That's not sustainable in the long term.
In a way your family is doing the same thing I'm doing, they deposited in a fund and you trade for them, and I basically deposited in a fund that the trader trades for me (it's all automated).
But yeah, it's not sustainable long term. I'm going to increase my portfolio in this copy trading account to $10k, after it I'll put some on the side to trade in the market and start learning a bit, probably going to use your indicator too :)
Eh, it's not the same at all really. They aren't trying to copy trade me. I am getting paid to make money for the fund, so in that manner, I am more like an employee for a business. They aren't trying to do anything on their own.
My thing is what if this dude blows his account and disappears? Are you going to find the next trader to copy? Or will you have the skillset to get out there and do it yourself?
He gets 15% of my profits, so he is also getting paid for me copying him, the exchange does all of that automatically, so I see it very similar to a fund, only difference is that I don't get the exact same price as him, normally I get in a little higher or lower than him because of liquidity and because he has a bunch of AUM following him, which changes the price before my order gets in.
If he blows his account and disappears I'll probably not copy anyone else, I'll count it as a failure, book the losses, and learn from that and move on to either me learning trading or me learning any other skill.
I'm normally good at swing trading, so I would go for that.
I don't think he will blow his account though, he has a track record, that's why I follow him. Been following on X since 2018, he has made copy trading accounts on different exchanges and they all had massive success after 1 year, he just started this one on WooX, his sharp ratio is one of the best on the platform, and his win success rate is around 60-70%.
WooX has something called Woo Shield to protects copiers against traders that blow their accounts by putting a stop loss on the automated copying, I haven't activated it though.
Guess I have just had to work too hard to get to where I am, and feel that copy trading is just a lazy way out. And I have tried too hard to teach people these skills and all people want is to be given the fish instead of learning to fish for themselves, which is why I am pretty much done worrying about everyone else. It's like hitting my head against a brick wall.
But, at least I know I have the skill set to be able to make money as long as these markets are available, so it is what it is.
Its automated so I don't have to do anything, I just look at it a few times a day to see how things are going, sometimes he loses some, but most are winers.
You just got DOOKed! @pepetoken thinks your content is the shit. They have 16/400DOOK left to drop today.Learn all about this shit in the toilet paper! 💩
@pepetoken just sent you a DIY token as a little appreciation for your comment dear @teutonium!
Feel free to multiply it by sending someone else !DIY in a comment :) You can do that x times a day depending on your balance so:
You just got DOOKed! @bradleyarrow thinks your content is the shit. They have 4/60DOOK left to drop today.Learn all about this shit in the toilet paper! 💩
What do you call a parade of rabbits hopping backward? A receding hare line. Credit: marshmellowman @selfhelp4trolls, I sent you an $LOLZ on behalf of ahmadmanga
(2/2) Delegate Hive Tokens to Farm $LOLZ and earn 110% Rewards. Learn more.
There are a lot of bugs now, usually it takes about a week for things to smooth out after a new update. This time was too smooth and things fell apart after a week lol
I am only a degen when it comes to buying LEO at less than .30 Hive = 1 LEO. I doubt many people would be investing like I am in my current situation, but this is a no brainer. Almost all the dominos are set here.
Of all tokens I'm following, $LEO is the most undervalued right now. I'd say $HIVE too, but the sell pressure doesn't make me very hopeful toward it in terms of price.
hive has a lot of built up sell pressure because there isn’t much new blood and most people who want to buy already bought all they could. More users means more potential buyers which means a lot of the sell pressure will be bought up.
Things are looking very nice, I just hope these projects can move their energy towards debugging from now, especially 3speak 😭
You just got DOOKed! @calebmarvel01 thinks your content is the shit. They have 9/200DOOK left to drop today.Learn all about this shit in the toilet paper! 💩
Meditating Mangos is a channel run by a new friend I made at Substack. She is from Vietnam and lives abroad now, living a wild nature life and creating content. She just started her YouTube and it’s already making some traction with views. She actually knew hive from her involvement in NFTs.
She’s talked about joining INLEO for weeks now so I had an idea. Why don’t I send people to say hi and let her know how friendly our community is.
I would love if some friends here could leave her a nice heartfelt comment on her shorts with three lion emojis at the end 🦁 🦁 🦁 . Hopefully she won’t see this. I will show her this post after she’s gotten a bunch of lion emojis on her shorts so she knows just how welcome she is here 🦁
🤣🤣🤣 yeah the naming can mess the whole search engine up. Unless it's MrBeast then I type Mr.. and YouTube just recommends. Hopefully you'll be Mr Beast of Inleo
@ahmadmanga@inuke I know you could leave some nice comments for her! If you have a chance please check out her shorts and don’t mention INLEO or hive, just leave her a few lion emojis after a comment on her short ❤️
No pressure if you are busy
You asked me to check her shorts. Dude I am a married man. This feels wrong. I should go and check with Priya if it is ok for me to check other women's shorts. 😆
She seems weird and cool like us.
you're very right man, I doze off sometimes in the day and put in my best work the minute I wake up. I take sleep very seriously because I feel shitty the next day whenever I don't sleep well
Good morning, joys, good morning, Mr. sun. So begins my day and my dawn of every Monday, today I want to wish you to have a happy day, without sadness and many emotions, and may the sun shine for you.
Simply, I dedicate it to you who are watching it.
Happy day
cats know the time, I usually get up at 4:30am to get ready for work, today being a holiday and I was up at something after 2. At 4:30 they where at their food dishes waiting. #cats
Good morning. Nothing special unless you want to win a splinterlands land plot with a grain farm ready to work on it. In that case check out my blog to participate :)
Been blogging but due to time constraints, thinking of stopping. I'm going to be premium user next week Monday. Will threading be enough to cater for premium bill and still keep going?
From my experience, No. But your experience might be different. I don't write a lot of threads per day, and I only get upvoted, threads-wise once a week or so.
Maybe if you thread too much that they can't ignore you, you'll have the same result, but since I haven't tried that myself, I can't tell you if it'll work or not.
I recommend you ask other people too, ones that more active than me on threads.
A teenager from British Columbia has been hospitalized with H5N1 bird flu-a human case contracted from the latest outbreak. This is Canada's second case of H5N1, after a case seen when a traveler returned from China in 2014. Authorities suspect that he became infected through "direct exposure" to wild birds, but confirmation is pending in tests. To date, 440 dairy cattle herds across 15 states have surfaced carrying the virus.
A CDC report shows that 7% of dairy workers have signs of past infection with the H5N1 avian flu. The study, conducted between June and August, found that 78% of workers had antibodies in their blood. The actual number of infected workers could be in the hundreds or even thousands, with 440 dairy herds already affected in the U.S. The virus has also been detected in wastewater in Los Angeles County, suggesting many infections may be going undetected.
Feliz inicio de semana comunidad, que sea una semana muy agradable y perfecta para todos, además todo lo que se proponga de cumplan. Éxitos y que el hive siga subiendo.
#spanish
feliz inicio de semana David
Gracias amiga, igual
I love this Beatle car, it's snow time 😂😂😂😂 so many fun for Christmas.... Lol
If the image looks very funny, it made me look
reminds me of Cars
yes the photo turned out very cool
This photo reminded me of the movie 'Cars'🤭 It's very cool.
Thank you very much I found it very funny
Muchísimas gracias la encontré muy divertida
Thank you very much I found it very funny
Muchísimas gracias la encontré muy divertida #spanish #bbh
Hello foodie Lions 🦁! Happy Monday. Welcome to today's show. 🥗🍲🫕
This is the #threadcast for Day 139 of the #foodtalk on Leo 11/11/2024 for 10/11/2024. It's time for some meal inspirations and food conversation. Don't forget to use #foodtalk in your comments.
Discussion
More about food with tips and tricks will be dropped in the threadcast. Upvote the comments you find interesting & connect with others. Let's have fun. #foodie
Feijoada, Brazil's national dish, has a rich and complex history that reflects the country's cultural and culinary heritage. The origins of feijoada are not well-documented, but historians and food experts have pieced together a narrative based on available records and oral traditions.
#food #feijoada #hivebr
African Roots: Feijoada's precursor was likely a traditional African dish brought to Brazil by enslaved West Africans, particularly from the Yoruba and Bantu peoples. In Africa, beans were a staple food, and cooking them with meat and spices was a common practice.
Influence of Indigenous and European Cuisines: With the arrival of Portuguese colonizers and indigenous peoples, African culinary traditions merged with European and Native American influences. The Portuguese introduced pork and beef, while indigenous peoples contributed their knowledge of local ingredients and cooking techniques.
Slavery and Plantation Life: Enslaved Africans in Brazil created feijoada as a nourishing and flavorful meal using leftover and discarded ingredients from plantation kitchens. They cooked beans with scraps of meat, such as pork ears, tails, and feet, which were considered unfit for the masters' tables.
Evolution and Regional Variations: Over time, feijoada spread throughout Brazil, adapting to regional tastes and ingredients. Different versions emerged, such as:
National Dish: By the mid-20th century, feijoada had become an iconic Brazilian dish, symbolizing national identity and cultural unity.
While it's impossible to pinpoint an exact date or person responsible for "inventing" feijoada, it's clear that this beloved dish resulted from the culinary creativity and resilience of enslaved Africans and their descendants in Brazil.
According to Meta.ai:
Determining the “best” foods in the world is subjective and often influenced by personal taste, cultural background and culinary traditions. However, here are 10 popular and iconic dishes from around the world that are widely considered delicious and sought after:
1 - Pizza (Italy): A classic Neapolitan-style pizza with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.
I think pizza won the fist place, lol. Or what do you think?
2 - Sushi (Japan): A traditional Japanese dish with vinegared rice and various toppings, often raw fish or seafood.
3 - Tacos al pastor (Mexico): A flavorful taco filled with marinated pork, onions, cilantro, and lime.
4 - Pad Thai (Thailand): Stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp, tofu, peanuts, and a sweet and sour sauce.
5 - Currywurst (Germany): A popular fast food dish consisting of grilled sausage sliced and topped with spicy ketchup, curry powder, and onions.
6 - Feijoada (Brazil): A hearty stew made with black beans and various meats, such as pork and beef.
7 - Jollof Rice (West Africa): A one-pot dish made with rice, tomatoes, onions, and spices, often served with meat or fish.
8 - Dim Sum (China): Steamed or fried dumplings filled with various ingredients, such as pork, shrimp, or vegetables.
9 - Gyro (Greece): A classic street food made with lamb or beef, topped with tomato, onion, cucumber, and tzatziki sauce.
10 - Burger (USA): A classic American sandwich consisting of a beef patty, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and condiments.
I agree to this. A particular food can be delicious and considered the best in a country, but it might not be the same to another person from another country.
I don't know how to cook, I think I would start learning from here. Nice to meet you I'm Noah.
Welcome Noah, pleased to have you in the #foodtalk show on Leo. It's okay not to know how to cook and it's good to know you have interest in learning how to cook. You will learn a lot if you visit this threadcast daily.
Where are you joining in from?
Welcome friends to another episode of the #foodtalk on Leo. Join in for food discussion and share the foods you eat in your location, let's learn from eachother.
Do you plan your weekly meals? #fodtalk #mealplanning #mealprep
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Breakfast.
Start your morning off on the right note with these healthy breakfasts. From oats to smoothies, these recipes are packed with fruit, including apples, berries and bananas. Plus, each recipe includes fiber and protein to help you feel full and energized for your day ahead.
Make-Ahead Smoothie Freezer Packs
Assemble these smoothie packs and keep them in the freezer for up to three months. When you're ready, add the smoothie pack ingredients to a blender with a liquid of your choice, blend and you've got breakfast in minutes.
Check them out in the comments. 👇
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthybreakfast #breakfastideas #Smoothie
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Breakfast. 👈 Begin here.
Quick-Cooking Oats
You can easily double or triple this recipe to make multiple servings for the week. Portion the oatmeal into microwave-safe Mason jars and reheat at the office or whenever you're ready to eat. Add your favorite toppings, like fresh berries or nuts, and enjoy.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthybreakfast #breakfastideas #Oats
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Breakfast. 👈 Begin here.
Vegan Freezer Breakfast Burritos
Keep a stash of these burritos in the freezer and grab one when you're in a rush. These burritos reheat easily in the microwave and are packed with protein-rich tofu, beans and plenty of veggies.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthybreakfast #breakfastideas #Burritos #vegan
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Breakfast. 👈 Begin here.
3-Ingredient Egg & Mushroom Puff Pastry Rolls
You might not believe it at first glance, but this meal-prep-friendly breakfast uses just three ingredients! After baking, you can refrigerate these rolls for up to four days before reheating in the microwave.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthybreakfast #breakfastideas #PuffPastryRolls #Egg #3Ingredient
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Breakfast. 👈 Begin here.
Ricotta-Berry Crepes
These easy, three-ingredient crepes can be assembled and stored in the freezer. The ricotta adds protein, while berries add color, flavor and nutrients.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthybreakfast #breakfastideas #RicottaBerryCrepes #Crepes
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Breakfast. 👈 Begin here.
Apple Cinnamon Chia Pudding
This quick recipe takes just 10 minutes of active time (the rest of the time is spent chilling in the refrigerator). We use apples and pecans, but you could also try our Blueberry Almond Chia Pudding for an equally delicious twist.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthybreakfast #breakfastideas #AppleCinnamonChiaPudding #ChiaPudding
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Breakfast. 👈 Begin here.
Strawberry Jam & Goat Cheese Waffle Sandwiches
Tangy goat cheese marries with strawberry jam for a sweet-and-savory breakfast sandwich. Use frozen waffles that are high in protein to help you stay full until lunch.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthybreakfast #breakfastideas #Waffle Sandwiches #StrawberryJamGoatCheeseWaffleSandwiches
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Breakfast. 👈 Begin here.
3-Ingredient Tropical Greens Smoothie Packs
Smoothies are an easy way to add in some veggies! Here, we add spinach to the smoothie pack for a boost of nutrients and color.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthybreakfast #breakfastideas #GreensSmoothie #Smoothies #TropicalGreensSmoothie
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Breakfast. 👈 Begin here.
Mini Quiches with Sweet Potato Crust
These adorable mini quiches can be stored in the fridge or freezer for a fast breakfast. Sweet potato stands in for traditional quiche crust for a boost of nutrition and fiber.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthybreakfast #breakfastideas #MiniQuiches #SweetPotatoCrust #SweetPotato
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Breakfast. 👈 Begin here.
Sheet-Pan Banana Pancakes
You can whip up a batch of pancakes with ease when you bake them on a sheet pan. These pancakes can be reheated in the microwave or oven—and don't forget the maple syrup!
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthybreakfast #breakfastideas #SheetPanBananaPancakes #Pancakes #BananaPancakes
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Lunch.
Enjoy a satisfying, healthy lunch with these easy recipes. These meals are perfect for school, the office or a busy day at home.
Protein Bistro Lunch Box
Perfect for meal prep, these bistro-style lunch boxes can be assembled in advance, so you can simply grab and go on busy mornings.
Check them out in the comments. 👇
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthylunch #lunchideas #ProteinBistro #LunchBox
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Lunch. 👈 Begin here.
Steak Burritos
This tasty recipe yields four burritos, so one batch gives you grab-and-go lunches for the week.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthylunch #lunchideas #SteakBurritos #Burritos
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Lunch. 👈 Begin here.
Tuna & White Bean Salad
Made with nutritious pantry staples like canned tuna and cannellini beans, you can prep this salad a few days ahead. Serve over salad greens or between two slices of bread for a fast and filling lunch.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthylunch #lunchideas #TunaWhiteBeanSalad #Salads
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Lunch. 👈 Begin here.
Meal-Prep Chili-Lime Chicken Bowls
Packed with plenty of colorful, nutritious produce, these hearty chicken bowls are perfect for lunch at work or school.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthylunch #lunchideas #ChiliLimeChickenBowls #ChickenBowls
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Lunch. 👈 Begin here.
Spinach & Strawberry Meal-Prep Salad
Chicken thighs bulk up this simple salad recipe for a light yet filling lunch. Pack the dressing in a separate container and dress right before serving (because no one likes soggy greens!).
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthylunch #lunchideas #SpinachStrawberrySalad #Salads
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Lunch. 👈 Begin here.
Spicy Ramen Cup of Noodles
Make sure you use microwave-safe jars when you prep this warming meal so you can enjoy it directly from the container and save yourself an extra dish to clean.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthylunch #lunchideas #SpicyRamenCupNoodles ##SpicyRamen #CupNoodles
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Lunch. 👈 Begin here.
Chopped Rainbow Salad with Peanut Sauce
Full of colorful produce, these salad bowls can be assembled up to four days in advance. We use bulgur because it cooks quickly, but you could swap in any other hearty whole grain.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthylunch #lunchideas #ChoppedRainbowSaladPeanutSauce #RainbowSalad #PeanutSauce
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Lunch. 👈 Begin here.
Southwest Black-Bean Pasta Salad Bowls
Make a healthy, high-fiber lunch with just five ingredients. Each serving has 14 grams of fiber, so you'll stay full throughout the afternoon.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthylunch #lunchideas #SouthwestBlackBeanPasta #SaladBowls #pastaSaladBowls
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Lunch. 👈 Begin here.
Meal-Prep Falafel Bowls with Tahini Sauce
We rely on healthy convenience items like frozen falafel and steam-in-bag fresh green beans to assemble these bowls in just 20 minutes. Dress with the tahini sauce right before serving.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthylunch #lunchideas #FalafelBowls #TahiniSauce
Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Lunch. 👈 Begin here.
Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps
Rather than sandwiching it between slices of bread, we use this egg salad in lettuce wraps for an easy, lower-carb swap.
#foodtalk #mealprepping #mealprep #healthymealideas #healthylunch #lunchideas #EggSaladLettuceWraps #EggSalad #LettuceWraps
And here is a 7 days hive chart
I need to see charts more often......:)
#splinterlands players check this out! Win a land plot with grain farm on it! Work it! Get taxback!
https://inleo.io/threads/view/solymi/re-leothreads-2zchzregr
Dear Substack friends,
This is INLEO. It has short form threadsand long form posts like Substack does but we earn a token based on the likes we get on our posts. We can stake that token to have more influence in the ecosystem or we can *cash out for BTC or national currencies.
It feels more like a society than it does a social media platform There are lots of awesome people and things going on here so feel free to ask me any questions you have 🔥 🐢 🌊🧙♂️
I'm new here and I read intro to Hive but this is the best introduction and description anyone could ever give about InLeo. Thanks man you're my new friend
🧵 1/
Fun fact about Reykjavík: it's home to the world’s only "penis museum"!
japan has Penis festivals!!! Beat that 🍆 ! 🤣
of course they do 😂🤣
I’ve never been. I thought there was one one far away but apparently there is another on the outskirts of Tokyo
haha hilarious. I'll have to look into this on occasion
Haha didnt know! You learn stuff every day
Lol this is wild😂😂😂
wait what, for real. What do they do during that time. You know what I'm going to check pregnancy rate during that season
This is impossible to beat, there's nothing anyone can do about it they've won period. Everybody else can go home with their pants on
🧵 2/ The Icelandic Phallological Museum houses an extensive collection of over 200 phallic specimens from various animals, including whales, seals, and land mammals.
🧵 3/Founded in 1997, the museum’s quirky and unusual collection attracts visitors from all over the world who come to marvel at its array of exhibits and learn about the role of these unique anatomical features in Icelandic wildlife
🧵 4/ TIt’s definitely one of the more unconventional museums you’ll find on your travels!
Leo Entertainment Threadcast.
#threadcast #leoentertainment #mcb 11/11/2024
More than 1,000 mariachis belt out classics like 'Cielito Lindo' in a Mexico City plaza
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/1000-mariachis-belt-classics-cielito-lindo-mexico-city-115721730
MEXICO CITY -- More than 1,000 mariachis gathered in Mexico City’s main plaza Sunday, strumming guitars and singing classics like “Cielito Lindo” to end a mariachi congress celebrating the musical form.
The number of musicians apparently topped the previous record of 700 mariachis at an earlier gathering in the Mexican city of Guadalajara.
#abcnews #leoentertainment
The Guinness World Records organization hasn’t replied a message from The Associated Press asking whether Sunday's gathering broke the previous record.
The musicians, many of whom had arrived in Mexico's capital from other cities, expressed their joy at singing in the giant iconic plaza, saying the music is a family tradition they start learning at a young age.
Jesús Morales said his father taught him to play the violin at age 8, and at 13 he began playing with his uncles in the Mariachi Morales in the city of Hidalgo.
“The heritage that my dad mainly instilled in us is having respect for music and respect for our roots,” he said.
The mariachis played guitars, trumpets, violins and other instruments.
Aida Juárez is a mariachi with 20 years of experience. She is a pioneer of women’s mariachi groups.
“We feel proud that we broke (the record) it is a pride because we are Mexicans,” she said.
Diana Rocío Campos is a merchant who attended the event and loves the music.
“Anyone who listens to (the mariachi) gets very excited, whether they are Mexican or not,” she said. “People come from many countries like Colombia or Japan” to listen to the mariachis.
news headline
Judith Jamison, a dancer both eloquent and elegant, led Ailey troupe to success over two decades
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/judith-jamison-dancer-eloquent-elegant-led-ailey-troupe-115723294
NEW YORK -- There are few images more indelible in the history of American dance: Judith Jamison, regal and passionate in white leotard and long ruffled skirt, punching the air in “Cry" — Alvin Ailey’s piercing solo about Black womanhood.
#abcnews #leoentertainment
That searing 1971 piece made her an international star. But it was truly only the beginning of Jamison’s decades-long career atop modern dance, onstage and off. As Ailey’s hand-picked successor beginning in 1989, she led his namesake company for more than 20 years, helping it become the most successful modern dance troupe in the nation.
“It’s amazing,” Jamison, who died Saturday at 81 after a brief illness, reflected in an interview with The Associated Press in 2018, marking the company’s then-60th anniversary. “I find it remarkable that we still exist today,” she said. “And I think Mr. Ailey would be absolutely beside-himself happy, that something he started 60 years ago could blossom into everything he imagined.”
And likely much more. Jamison brought the company not only continued global exposure and crossover cultural appeal but economic stability and growth, putting it in “a stratosphere that Ailey couldn’t even imagine,” said Wendy Perron, author and former longtime editor of Dance Magazine.
Perron attributes Jamison’s success, in a world when many dance companies struggle to survive, to her unique personality and ability to forge relationships. “There was a warmth and magnetism about her — everyone wanted to be with her,” said Perron. “There was a light shining around her.”
Taking the reins as artistic director upon Ailey’s death at 58, Jamison introduced new works and choreography, but also made sure to keep front and center her predecessor's undisputed masterpiece: “Revelations,” a 1960 classic that has defined the company and powered its success like few others, if any, in the history of dance.
It was in “Revelations,” a telling of Black history through spirituals and blues, that Jamison also made a mark as a dancer, holding a white parasol with one arm as she undulated the rest of her body in a baptismal scene – “the umbrella woman,” as the part became known.
To this day, “Revelations” appears on most of the company’s programs, at home in New York and on tour, and is referred to as the most-seen work of modern dance. (It's hard to conceive of anything comparable.) “Revelations” was even performed at the White House, at a dance event hosted by Michelle Obama in 2010, in which the first lady paid tribute to Jamison, calling her “an amazing, phenomenal, ‘fly’ woman.”
Obama also told Jamison from the stage that a photo of her in “Cry” had been “the only piece of art” in the Obamas' home before the White House, and that her daughters, Malia and Sasha, had asked her: “Is that the lady in the picture?”
A year later, retiring as artistic director, Jamison exclaimed to a cheering crowd at New York City Center gathered to honor her: “I have come a long way from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!” That’s where Jamison was born in 1943 and raised, her childhood spent training in various dance forms, including ballet, modern and tap.
“I knew I had so much energy back then – just too much for everybody,” she quipped in a 2023 podcast interview. “But my parents went, ‘OK, lets direct her this way.’” She credited her mother’s dedication — she made her daughter’s costumes, and “would massage my legs when I got home from class.”
In 1964, famed choreographer Agnes de Mille had seen Jamison in a class and brought her to New York to participate in a production of American Ballet Theatre. Soon after, the young dancer went to an audition for a TV special — and flubbed it, she said. But Ailey was there, and she soon was invited to join his fledgling company.
She wasn’t sure what he saw in her, she has said, other than a look: “Small head, broad shoulders, long arms and long legs.”
With the young company, Jamison traveled to Europe and Africa. Even then, it took her a few years to appreciate that this could be a career. Partly this was because, as she noted in the 2023 podcast, “We were getting paid doodly-squat” – envelopes that sometimes contained a $20 bill, and sometimes just a thank-you note.
But she soon realized that she loved dancing, traveling and being around other dancers. The Ailey troupe was also a rare outlet at the time for Black talent. “There were no outlets,” she said. “There was no place for us to say, "Hey look, this is our artistry, this is our culture, and guess what else we can do?”
Ailey chose Jamison for “Cry” in 1971, a work he dedicated to Black women everywhere, but especially mothers. On opening night, Jamison has said, she didn’t know if she was going to make it though the demanding, 16-minute solo.
She told the Hollywood Reporter that “when the curtain went down, I was on the floor.” She got up to take a bow, “and I kept taking bows over and over until I don’t know which number it was, but they were still screaming and yelling.”
Over the next two decades, Jamison often appeared as a guest artist with companies around the world, and left the Ailey troupe in 1980 to star on Broadway in “Sophisticated Ladies." She also formed her own company, The Jamison Project.
Then an ailing Ailey told her he’d like her to run the company after him.
Jamison recalled, in the AP interview in 2018, being present as Ailey died, along with fellow dancer Sylvia Waters and Ailey’s mother.
“We were in his room as he passed, and usually you see in movies, that people have their last breath and they breathe out. But Mr. Ailey breathed IN. We expected him to breathe out, and he didn’t. So I think what we’re living on now, is his breath OUT ... that air, that vision, that dream.”
Among her many laurels, Jamison was awarded Kennedy Center Honors in 1999 and a National Medal of the Arts in 2001.
Perron, the former Dance Magazine editor, said she felt Jamison had been overlooked somewhat as a choreographer. She pointed to “A Case of You” — a duet to Diana Krall’s version of the Joni Mitchell classic and part of Jamison’s 2005 “Reminiscin.'" The duet, Perron said, was “happy and sad and passionate and inventive .. you really believe these people are passionately in love.”
Jamison passed the artistic director baton to choreographer Robert Battle in 2011. Looking back, she has said one of her proudest moments at the company was the creation of the Joan Weill Center for Dance in 2005, a midtown Manhattan home for the company.
“Majestic” and “queenly” is how Waters, now Ailey II Artistic Director Emerita, described her late colleague.
“She was a unique, spectacular dancer," Waters said. “To dance with her and to be in her sphere of energy was mesmerizing."
news headline
First emperor penguin known to reach Australia found on tourist beach
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/emperor-penguin-reach-australia-found-tourist-beach-115724871
MELBOURNE, Australia -- An emperor penguin found malnourished far from its Antarctic home on the Australian south coast is being cared for by a wildlife expert, a government department said Monday.
#abcnews #leoentertainment
The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on a popular tourist beach in the town of Denmark in temperate southwest Australia — about 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) north of the icy waters off the Antarctic coast, according to a statement from the Western Australia state’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
The largest penguin species has never been reported in Australia before, University of Western Australia research fellow Belinda Cannell said, though some had reached New Zealand, Australia's neighbor almost entirely south of Denmark.
Cannell said she had no idea why the penguin traveled to Denmark.
Cannell is advising seabird rehabilitator Carol Biddulph who is caring for the penguin, spraying him with a chilled water mist to help him cope with his alien climate. The penguin is 1 meter (39 inches ) tall and initially weighed 23 kilograms (51 pounds).
A healthy male can weigh more than 45 kilograms (100 pounds).
The department said its efforts were focused on rehabilitating the penguin. Asked if the penguin could potentially be returned to Antarctica, the department replied that “options are still being worked through.”
News headline
What kind of usic are you listening to right away?
Feel free to share them with us here....
Which program are you watching on your TV?
Lately I've been watching MasterChef and I like listening to my rock music.
Happy day of rejoicing 🙂🙂🙂... Its another Monday and here is our entertainment center on Leo...
I love jamming jamming jamming 😺😎😺😺..
i hope you like Jamming too?
OH YEAH 👍👍👍, WHAT A COOL STEPS, THESE ARE @coyotelation best steps for party... Lol
Lets just get it to the top...
I was trying to fill up some data, but is not working from my end..
Its cool to roll cool...
@sabrinah loves this kind of dance... Lol
Lol 😂
And this one too
#onlysab #onmymind #freecompliments !DOOK !BBH
You just got DOOKed!
@sabrinah thinks your content is the shit.
They have 31/200 DOOK left to drop today.
Learn all about this shit in the toilet paper! 💩
This is when you are in a lovely mood 😂😂😂😂
Ah, see finish 😭😂
you know naa👀👀👀 lol
Hi, @sabrinah,
This post has been voted on by @darkcloaks because you are an active member of the Darkcloaks gaming community.
Get started with Darkcloaks today, and follow us on Inleo for the latest updates.
I hope you like Jammin too... Lol..
Music is life 👀👀👀.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max Add-on Subscriptions Launched on Prime Video in Sweden, Netherlands
Warner Bros. Discovery's Max add-on subscriptions are now available on Amazon service Prime Video in Sweden and the Netherlands.
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and Amazon’s Prime Video have expanded their partnership to make WBD’s streaming service Max available as an add-on subscription through Prime Video, bringing that option to Sweden and the Netherlands, where it is called HBO Max, starting on Monday.
#amazonprime #entertainment #max #warnerbros #sweden #hbomax
Prime Video customers will be able to subscribe to watch the likes of The Penguin, House of The Dragon, The Last of Us, and the upcoming Dune: Prophecy, and season 3 of The White Lotus, along with such movies as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Dune: Part Two, Godzilla x Kong, Wonka and Barbie.
Max’s Basic with Ads and Standard plans will be available to customers as add-on subscriptions through Prime Video. A sports-add on is also available, offering what the partners described as “a wide range of world-class sports, such as Grand Slam tennis, Grand Tour cycling, snooker, motorsports, winter sports and the Olympic Games.”
Max has previously been made available as an add-on subscription for Prime Video users in the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, France, and Spain.
“Today’s announcement strengthens the global relationship between Warner Bros. Discovery and Amazon which sees Max available as an add-on subscription …, offering millions of customers premier content from Warner Bros. Discovery’s iconic brands,” the partners said.
‘Yellowstone’ Premiere Quickly Reveals Fate of Kevin Costner’s Character: “We Let the Cat Out of the Bag”
Director Christina Voros dives into the highly anticipated return of the hit Paramount Network series to reveal how they kept John Dutton's fate a secret (there were code words), how it propels everything forward and how the cast "shouldered the weight of [Costner's] absence in such a bold and beautiful way."
Yellowstone returned with a big swing on Sunday night by giving viewers the answer they were hoping to get right out of the gate. How would the hit Western saga handle the exit of star Kevin Costner and the fate of his revered show patriarch John Dutton?
#yellowstone #series #entertainment #johndutton
Taylor Sheridan, the writer and mastermind of the Yellowstone-verse, did something rather unexpected when he quickly revealed during the season 5B premiere — and return of TV’s No. 1 show — that John Dutton has indeed died. That fate was likely expected, given Costner’s high-profile and abrupt exit from the Paramount Network series between the first and second half of season five. But the fact that it was revealed so quickly was a surprise.
Kevin Costner’s ‘Yellowstone’ Fate Doesn’t Do Right by John Dutton — or the Show
Taylor Sheridan finally revealed how his franchise tentpole could work without its exiting star and, initially, it sure seems like it can't.
In the end, John Dutton lost.
Given “Yellowstone‘s” overt, lingering sentimentality for his waning way of life, as well as its candor in acknowledging the growing threats facing modern ranching, perhaps Dutton’s failure isn’t all that surprising. After all, the unlikely gubernatorial candidate once built his platform around bringing a halt to progress itself. “I am the opposite of progress,” Dutton said. “I am the wall it bashes against, and I will not be the one who breaks.”
Except, of course, he did. In Season 5, Episode 9 — the long-awaited return of “Yellowstone” after a two-year hiatus — creator Taylor Sheridan revealed the John Dutton is dead. Police at the Governor’s mansion inform his children, Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Kayce (Luke Grimes), that John died by suicide. Obviously, that isn’t true. John is too proud to take himself out of the saddle, and this is still “Yellowstone,” so viewers know a twist is coming.
Instead, it appears Jamie (Wes Bentley) orchestrated his father’s demise. After thinking about putting a hit on John an episode prior, it seems the ambitious attorney general followed through with a little help from his girlfriend/fixer, Sarah (Dawn Olivieri). They talked about it, she acted on it, and now John is dead, just like that. Sarah instructed her hatchet man to make the great cattle man’s death look like a suicide, and that’s exactly what the authorities believe happened.
While John being murdered is much more plausible than John taking his own life, the twist doesn’t do all that much to improve how Sheridan ultimately decided to keep “Yellowstone” running without its lead actor. (Costner, long ago, announced he would not return to the franchise, preferring to make his four-part, 12-hour “film” series, “Horizon: An American Saga.”) Sure, the fact that the eldest Dutton died before he could secure his ranch for future generations isn’t hard to believe. Progress, in the grand, sweeping sense that John used the term, cannot be stopped (let alone reversed, as the most powerful man in Montana aimed to do). But the devil’s in the details, and the details of John’s death are all wrong. How he’s suspected of dying and how he actually died both seem out of line for a character — and a series — that deserved better.
As has been heavily scrutinized in the two years since “Yellowstone” Season 5 first premiered and Costner’s exit became inevitable, the series did little to set up John Dutton’s departure. In Episode 8 (the last to air before the lengthy hiatus), Costner’s rancher was still the sitting governor of Montana, and he’d just lent his public support to his former (and current?) nemesis Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham). Together, they hoped to stop a pipeline from being built across tribal land — a pipeline that would also damage the Yellowstone ranch.
Then there was the promised impeachment. Before John could leave the podium, news that his estranged son Jamie filed impeachment proceedings against his adopted dad — accusing Governor Dutton of violating state law and, in the process, leading Montana into bankruptcy — reached the press. Reporters swarmed the stage. A formal hearing was in the offing. John, as he’s wont to do, sat silently, making plans.
Plans we’ll never see him carry out. Now, setting their father’s affairs is up to the kids, who’ve been at each other’s throats since day one and promised more attacks at the end of Episode 8. After Beth finds out what Jamie has done, she suggests to her father that they take him to the Train Station — family code for killing someone and dumping the body where it won’t ever be found. Expecting his sister’s attack, Jamie suggests the same thing to his Sarah — that they kill John before John can kill Jamie. The long-brewing battle between father and son had finally begun.
And now, after two years of anticipation, it’s over. John will never get to go boot-to-boot with the son he raised to replace him. Jamie will never get to stand up to a father he’s tried to live up to all his life. More importantly, the audience will never get to see the showdown “Yellowstone” has been building toward for five seasons. No matter what’s revealed in the coming weeks, Costner won’t be a part of it. Viewers will never get the visceral satisfaction of father and son in a literal or figurative shootout at the Yellowstone corral.
Movie Review: 'Gladiator II,' with Denzel Washington, goes back into the arena?
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/movie-review-gladiator-ii-denzel-washington-back-arena-115729218
Rome teeters on the brink in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.” Its fall is said to be imminent. The dream it once symbolized is dead. The once high-minded ideals of the Roman Empire have deteriorated across a venal land now ruled by a pale-faced emperor.
#abcnews #gladiators #leoentertainment
On the throne is Geta (Joseph Quinn), who sits alongside his sniveling brother, Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). The heart of this Rome, of course, is the Coliseum, where throngs cheer for the gladiators who fight and die. There, the ageless Scott remains remarkably at home. The arena, with its eruptions of spectacle and violence, is a stand in for the director’s own vision of the big screen: Go big or go home.
This dichotomy — a fallen society and its insatiable need for entertainment — is the clever and not altogether flattering backdrop of the “Gladiator” films. Part two, set 20 years after the events of the first movie, brings a new combatant to the Coliseum — a mysterious outsider named Lucius Verus, played by Paul Mescal. And to answer the inevitable question, yes. Yes, I was quite entertained.
“Gladiator II” isn’t quite the prestige film the first one, a best-picture winner, was in 2001. It’s more a swaggering, sword-and-sandal epic that prizes the need to entertain above all else. No one in “Gladiator II” understands that more than Denzel Washington. His performance as the Machiavellian power broker Macrinus is a delicious blur of robes and grins – so compellingly over-the-top that he nearly reaches 1990s Al Pacino standards.
Inside this Rome are scattered interests in toppling it, including Marcus Acacius, a decorated general who has just returned from a successful campaign taking Numidia in northwest Africa. (That siege makes the movie’s blistering opening, with an armada racing at almost NASCAR speed toward the walled city, with towers on the bows of the boats to scale the parapets.)
Acacius is a loyal Roman but, when he learns that the emperors have only more bloodlust for further territory and more war, he and his wife, Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) begin plotting to overthrow the brothers.
In a movie where everyone nurtures some secret, few stay hidden long. Foremost among them is Lucius Verus, a warrior in Numidia who’s taken prisoner and forced to fight as a gladiator. He’s the son of Lucilla and Maximus (Crowe in “Gladiator”). Following the events of that film, Lucilla sent him, an heir to the empire, to Numidia to grow up outside of the empire’s power struggles.
Mescal, the terrific Irish actor of “Aftersun” and “All of Us Strangers,” smoothly steps into a blockbuster arena for the first time. “This one is interesting,” says Macrinus, eyeing him for the first time. Mescal’s Lucius is vengeful — the Roman army kills his warrior wife in the Numidia battle. “Rage pours out of you like milk,” Macrinus says, admiringly. The glint of mischief in Mescal’s eyes gives Lucius a little more character than your average revenge-seeking gladiator.
We watch as Lucius cunningly survives arena after arena. Meanwhile, Macrinus manipulates him to steer the public’s routing interest away from the emperor. It’s a rich if slightly cartoonish tapestry of palace intrigue, with Macrinus deftly pulling all the strings.
But, really, none of the power machinations are as compelling as the increasingly carnivalesque scenes of the Coliseum. In the gladiators' first trip there, they’re greeted by man-eating monkeys. Next, it’s a rider atop a giant, charging rhinoceros. Then, the piece de resistance: a flooded Coliseum festering with sharks. There are even little mock islands with palm trees spread about.
Now, “Gladiator II” may not stand up to much inquiry from historians. (Some issues were also taken with Scott’s last historical epic, “Napoleon,” which likewise was scripted by David Scarpa). But this is not a movie built for accuracy. It’s made for taking a few bits of history and inflating them into a feast and the charms of watching Washington’s Macrinus brandish a head recently relieved of its body.
Yes, heads do roll in Scott’s “Gladiator” sequel. Macrinus succeeds in whipping Rome into a frenzy. In fact, he does it so easily and guilefully that, once things begin unraveling for him, the air leaves “Gladiator II.” You don’t quite believe his recklessness after he so patiently and artfully turned the screws.
Nevertheless, two possible successors emerge – Lucius, who has a birthright to the throne, and Macrinus, who comes to within its grasp purely by his own wit. Is it any wonder that I was rooting for Macrinus, all the way? How could you not, with Washington chewing scenery like this and making zestful (and rather apt) pronouncements like: “That, my friend, is politics!”
“Gladiator II,” a Paramount Pictures release. is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for “strong bloody violence.” Running time: 148 minutes. Three stars out of four.
news headline
‘Red One’ Review: Dwayne Johnson’s Christmas Franchise Nonstarter Is a Blockbuster-Sized Lump of Coal
Amazon MGM's $250-million bid at a Marvel-level Christmas franchise is a charmless, level-four naughty-lister that will make you wish Christmas
It’s never a harbinger of good tidings when the critics’ embargo for your $250-million Christmas franchise launcher is 9 p.m. PT on Election Day. But here we are.
#entertainment #redone #amazon #mgm #marvel #christmas #therock
Amazon MGM Studios’ bid at a Marvel-level action-comedy spectacle, the ho-ho-horrible “Red One” is a blockbuster-sized cinematic lump of coal, driven as if by narcotized reindeer on a sleigh of hideous CGI and charmless stars with only dancing dollar-shaped sugar plums on the mind. Directed by “Jumanji” reboot filmmaker Jake Kasdan and written by longtime “Fast & Furious” scribe Chris Morgan, here is a level-four naughty-lister that will make you wish Christmas were canceled altogether, a cynical, depressing holiday adventure about the abduction of a swoled-up Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons, at least seemingly amused to be in a red and white-fur-trimmed two-piece) from the North Pole.
We know that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who plays St. Nick’s personal security detail, can open any movie. “Red One” should expect to earn a decent bag of cash in theaters, all a bait-and-switch to lure Prime Video subscribers looking to pass the listless Christmas hours from unboxing presents to dinnertime with passive streaming viewing. Will all that a franchise make? To all a good night who find enough enjoyment to help propel this film to a sequel or more.
I'm listening to this mix and it's really motivating because it's really energetic!
I would love to here it too... But unfortunately the YouTube video are not showing from my end...
https://inleo.io/threads/view/calebmarvel01/re-leothreads-2h3nya3ft?referral=calebmarvel01
Being without the possibility of bringing videos here is very sad.
ATH $81,943
It keeps on updating fresh highs.
I am eager to see the 100k level this month.
Guten Morgen Mr. bOOmbastic.
ATH for now. Onwards the bull goes 🚀🚀
Strong growth and are still moving up. One of my crypto friends said to me that he prefers for it to cool down a bit in order not to have a bull run of 2 months, but 1 year. I am good either way as long as we are pushing new ATHs. 😆
this is so awesome..
Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 11/11/24. The goal is to make this a technology "reddit".
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
AI NEWS : Googles Gemini 2 , New Incredible Humanoids, AI Gets UNLEASHED, And RoboTaxis
#ai #technology #newsonleo !summarize
In fact, there are still a large number of people who still have no idea about the advancement of robotics and especially the advancement of AI.
I can't wait for one day to have my own Optimus. LOL
Part 1/5:
The Rapid Advancement of Humanoid Robots and AI
Skepticism Surrounding Realistic Humanoid Robots
Many people were initially skeptical that the humanoid robots showcased in recent videos were real, believing them to be CGI.
This suggests that the rapid progress in humanoid robotics has outpaced public perception, with even those interested in the field struggling to believe the level of realism achieved.
Companies like XEG have been working on these humanoid robots for 5 years, demonstrating iterative progress over time, similar to the gradual advancements seen from Boston Dynamics.
The pace of development in humanoid robotics and AI has been surprisingly fast, with major breakthroughs occurring in just 3-5 years, rather than the 10-20 years many expected.
Nadia Robot Updates
[...]
Part 2/5:
The Nadia humanoid robot, developed by the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, has gained new capabilities such as the ability to perform dynamic activities like boxing and opening doors autonomously.
This highlights the rapid progression of humanoid robots, which are becoming increasingly dexterous and mobile, raising questions about their future capabilities compared to the average human.
Gemini 2 Model from Google
Reports indicate that Google is preparing to launch a new model called Gemini 2, which is said to outperform the previous Gemini 1 model.
This suggests that major AI companies are continuously iterating on their language models, with rapid improvements being made.
The testing and fine-tuning of these models before official release highlights the industry's focus on developing increasingly capable AI systems.
Autonomous Vehicle Advancements
[...]
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The autonomous vehicle company Zoox, owned by Amazon, has been spotted testing its robo-taxis in San Francisco, marking a significant milestone in the development of self-driving technology.
This development, along with the steady growth of Waymo's self-driving services, indicates that autonomous vehicles are becoming a reality, with the potential to transform transportation and free up human time for other activities.
AI Integration with Government and Defense
The news that the AI company Anthropic will be providing its Claude model to the U.S. government for use in defense and intelligence applications has raised concerns within the AI community.
This integration of advanced AI systems with government and military applications highlights the dual-use nature of these technologies and the potential for their use in warfare or surveillance.
The Future of Abundant Intelligence and Energy
[...]
Part 4/5:
Samman, in a recent interview, discussed the potential implications of achieving abundant intelligence and abundant energy, suggesting that this could unlock unprecedented capabilities and transformative possibilities for humanity.
While this vision may sound ambitious, the rapid advancements in AI, robotics, and energy technologies suggest that such a future may not be as far-fetched as it once seemed.
AI Agents Assisting with Workplace Tasks
Demonstrations of the Claude computer agent showcasing its ability to analyze screenshots and identify workplace safety issues highlight the potential for AI to assist in various tasks, from monitoring to reporting.
This raises questions about the future role of AI agents in the workplace, potentially automating certain supervisory or inspection-related responsibilities.
Implications of Deregulation in AI Development
[...]
Part 5/5:
The news that the Trump administration plans to repeal Biden-era executive orders that imposed certain restrictions on AI development has raised concerns about the potential for less regulated AI progress.
This could lead to a faster pace of AI innovation, but also raises questions about the potential risks and the need for appropriate safeguards and oversight to ensure responsible development.
Overall, the rapid advancements in humanoid robotics, AI language models, autonomous vehicles, and the integration of AI with government and defense applications suggest that the future of technology is unfolding at an accelerating pace, challenging public perception and raising important questions about the societal implications of these transformative developments.
Hi, @mightpossibly,
This post has been voted on by @darkcloaks because you are an active member of the Darkcloaks gaming community.
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GPT-5 is Slowing Down! (OpenAi Orion News)
#ai #newsonleo #openai !summarize
Part 1/4:
The Shifting Sands of AI Progress
Questioning the Scaling Laws
The recent article from The Information has sparked a debate within the AI community about the future trajectory of language models. Some researchers at OpenAI reportedly believe that Orion, the company's next-generation model, may not reliably outperform its predecessor, GPT-4, in certain tasks such as coding.
This raises questions about the core assumption underlying the rapid progress of large language models (LLMs) - the scaling laws. The scaling laws posit that LLMs will continue to improve at a consistent pace as long as they have access to more data and computing power. However, the Orion situation suggests that this may not always be the case.
Shifting Paradigms
[...]
Part 2/4:
The article suggests that the industry is shifting its focus towards improving models after their initial training, potentially yielding a different type of scaling model. This shift towards the "test-time compute" paradigm, where the emphasis is on how the model thinks and responds, rather than just adding more data, could be a significant development.
The Importance of Marginal Improvements
While the jump from GPT-3 to GPT-4 was substantial, the article indicates that the increase in quality for Orion may be more modest. However, even marginal improvements can unlock a wider variety of use cases and applications. The example of the impact of the Clae 3.5 model on software development is a testament to this.
The Continued Importance of AI Infrastructure
[...]
Part 3/4:
Despite the concerns raised about the scaling laws, some industry leaders, such as Anthropic's CEO, have stated that they have not yet hit the traditional scaling law limits. This suggests that the continued investment in AI infrastructure, such as data centers, may still be justified.
The Reasoning Model and the Cost Conundrum
The article also highlights the challenges faced by OpenAI's Reasoning model, the 01 series, which is priced six times higher than non-reasoning models. While the model has been beneficial for scientific research, its high cost may limit its broader adoption.
The Shifting Landscape and the Future of AI
[...]
Part 4/4:
The article paints a complex picture of the current state of AI progress. While the traditional scaling laws may be slowing down, the industry is exploring new paradigms and approaches that could drive continued advancements. The emergence of models like Orion and the 01 series suggests that the future of AI may not be a simple linear progression, but a more nuanced and multifaceted landscape.
As the AI industry navigates these shifting sands, it will be crucial to closely monitor the developments, understand the underlying trends, and adapt strategies accordingly. The future of AI may not be as straightforward as once believed, but the potential for transformative breakthroughs remains.
Encore is a new search engine that makes thrifting online easier. Created by former engineers from Apple and Twitter, it helps you find secondhand items from all over – like eBay, Etsy, and more – in one place. This idea came from their love for thrift stores and the challenge of finding the right item. With AI, Encore lets you search specific items or outfits seen on shows. It’s like finding hidden treasures! I think it’s a smart way to simplify thrifting.
#AI #Thrifting
Article
India’s facing a huge rise in cyber fraud as more people go digital. Some reports say this fraud could cost the country around $14 billion soon. Now, a startup called Equal, founded by Keshav Reddy and Rajeev Ranjan, is stepping in to help. They’ve built tools for companies to verify identities and share data securely, making digital transactions safer. It’s inspiring to see a young business tackle such a big problem, showing how startups can help protect people in this digital world.
#CyberSecurity #IndiaTech
Article
Brazilian startup Tako is on a mission to make payroll easier, especially in Brazil, where changing laws and unions complicate things. Fernando Gadotti, Tako's founder, understands this struggle from his past work. Now, Tako uses smart tech to handle payroll and make sure it's accurate, giving companies a break from the headaches.
Backed by $13.2 million from big investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Tako wants to focus on helping mid-sized companies but could expand into employee benefits too.
#Brazil #Startup
Article
How to use the latest AI video editing tools in Google Photos
Google Photos continues to get new and improved features on a regular basis, and one of the most recent Android updates has focused on video editing. Even if you don’t have the latest Pixel 9 phone (which is required if you want to try out the weird new Reimagine tool), you can now speed up, slow down, and enhance your clips with a few taps as well as trim them down more easily.
#technology #google #ai
Things are getting more plentiful. AI is showing up everywhere.
You're right and I even find some people's reactions funny when they look at what AI can do nowadays.
Imagine in the near future, the ability to make us even doubt whether something is real or was an AI creation.
You can also expect what Google calls “AI-powered video presets” on both the Android and iOS versions of Google Photos. After the app algorithm analyzes your clips, you get a choice of effects — trims, zooms, slow-mos — you can apply with a tap. The app takes the role of director and chooses where and how these tweaks should be applied.
When the changes arrive on your phone, you’ll also notice the interface is a little cleaner, with larger icons and bigger text that make it more obvious what you’re doing. The idea is it’s more straightforward than ever to quickly apply a few edits before sharing your clips, without having to open up a separate editor on your phone or computer.
First up, we have what Google describes as “improved controls” for cutting out extraneous footage at the start and end of your clips — though, to my eyes, there’s not a huge amount that’s different here compared to the previous version of the trim tool.
The handles at each end of the clip are a little bigger and thicker, making them easier to hit with a finger press. You also get a timestamp shown onscreen as you drag those handles around, so overall, the edits are a little easier to apply.
The trim tool shows up automatically as soon as you edit a video, and you can get back to it by tapping the Video button.
Drag the left-hand handle to change where the video starts.
Drag the right-hand handle to change the video’s end point.
Drag the white bar between the two handles to move around the clip.
Tap the play button at any point to check your new footage.
Choose Save copy to confirm your changes and save a separate clip.
Google Photos now has a new auto-enhance feature you can access, which analyzes your clip and then applies its own choice of color enhancements, while stabilizing the video at the same time.
Tap Video then Enhance to apply the automatic enhancements.
Tap the play button to see how the updated footage looks.
Tap Enhance again to see the difference with and without the tweaks.
Choose Save copy to save the enhanced video as a separate file.
Unlike the tools above, which are exclusive to Android, the AI-powered video presets are available in Google Photos for both Android and iOS. Or at least, they will be eventually — though they were announced in September, as of this writing, I haven’t yet seen the presets in the Google Photos apps on either platform.
When they do appear, the Presets button will appear between Video and Crop in the options at the bottom of the interface. Select it, and you’ll see a choice of edits you can apply with a tap: Basic cut, Slow-mo, Zoom, and Track. These will be applied as the Google Photos AI sees fit based on the video content.
The example Google gives is a skateboard video, with the action trimmed right down to a key jump, which is also slowed down. Color enhancements are applied at the same time for good measure. As before, you can preview the changes, then tap Save copy to accept the changes and save a new video file, leaving the original untouched.
Andreessen Horowitz partner Martin Casado thinks current AI regulations miss the mark. He believes lawmakers focus too much on what AI might become instead of understanding today’s actual risks. I get where he’s coming from – sometimes it feels like the rules aim at sci-fi problems, not real ones. Casado argues for adjusting existing regulations rather than creating confusing new ones, especially since unclear policies could push AI talent out of places like California. His take is pretty eye-opening.
#AIRegulation #TechPolicy #Innovation
Article
FTX is suing Binance to recover nearly $1.8 billion
The estate of now-defunct crypto exchange FTX has filed a lawsuit against Binance and its former CEO Changpeng Zhao in a bid to recover $1.76 billion. FTX alleges these funds were fraudulently transferred to Binance, Zhao, and other Binance executives in July 2021 as part of a shares repurchase deal with FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
#tecnology #crypto #binance
According to the filing, the transaction saw Binance sell back the 20 percent stake it held in FTX’s international unit and 18.4 percent in its US-based entity, which Bankman-Fried paid for using a mix of FTX and Binance-branded cryptocurrencies. The FTX estate alleges the share repurchase deal was conducted unlawfully because — following massive fraud by Bankman-Fried and other executives — FTX and its sister company Alameda were already insolvent at the time, and unable to fund the transaction.
Bankman-Fried, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence, was convicted of fraud last year after using customer funds to make investments, political donations, and purchase property.
Separately, the lawsuit says that Zhao sent “a series of false, misleading, and fraudulent tweets that were maliciously calculated to destroy his rival FTX.” Zhao tweeted on November 6th, 2022 that Binance was planning to liquidate $529 million worth of FTX tokens. According to the FTX estate, this “triggered a predictable avalanche of withdrawals” that contributed to the collapse of the crypto exchange.
The run on FTX ended up exposing a financial house of cards at the company, leading to criminal charges against Bankman-Fried and others. The Securities and Exchange Commission said that the downfall of FTX was caused by Bankman-Fried’s “own misappropriation of customer funds,” and that the operation was a fraud “from the start.”
An unnamed Binance spokesperson told Bloomberg that the claims against the company “are meritless,” and that the company will “vigorously defend ourselves.”
This lawsuit is one of more than 20 that the FTX estate has recently filed to reclaim billions of dollars owed to creditors. This includes Alameda suing Waves blockchain founder Aleksandr Ivanov to recoup $90 million that was previously deposited to Vires, a Waves-based liquidity platform. Last month, the FTX estate also received court approval for its plan to repay $16 billion to customers who lost money when the company collapsed.
Bitcoin and many altcoins are hitting lots of all time highs. I wonder when Hive will Hit its own ATH? Oh oh and Leo as well?
Those dont move based upon market. It will be based upon the activity that is tied to the network and the platform.
This is not something that is going to ride a lot higher simply because BTC does.
oh I see that means the community getting stronger is what will drive Hive
Cogna reels in $15M for its AI-powered ERP platform
Cogna, a company in the UK, just got $15 million to help businesses run smoothly with their AI-powered software. This “ERP” software helps with things like tracking sales and budgets, and sharing data between teams. Setting it up usually takes months, but Cogna’s AI does it in just two weeks. It even has a chat feature, so teams can ask it to create tools they need. Many big companies use it to save time and money – some even save over $10 million a year.
#AI #BusinessTech
Artificial Super Intelligence Might be Here Already....
#ai #technology #asi !summarize
Part 1/6:
The Transformative Power of AI in Scientific Discovery
The idea of artificial superintelligence may seem like a distant dream, but recent research suggests we may be closer to this reality than we think. A study from MIT has shed light on how AI is revolutionizing the process of scientific discovery and product innovation.
Accelerating the Pace of Innovation
The MIT paper discusses how AI is remarkably adept at accelerating scientific discovery. This has significant implications, as Sam Altman of OpenAI has noted that when we achieve incredible levels of scientific discovery, it will lead to a complete transformation of society. If an AI system can outperform humans in AI research, it represents an important milestone - a potential discontinuity in technological progress.
[...]
Part 2/6:
This is particularly relevant for OpenAI, as the next step after their work on AI agents is the development of "AI inventors and innovators," which they have dubbed "sci-fi stuff." The MIT paper provides a glimpse into this future, showing how advanced technology will dramatically transform our society and speed up the pace of technological progress.
The Invention Process Reimagined
The paper outlines the typical invention process, which involves idea generation, candidate material selection, prioritization, testing, and commercialization. This entire process can take 10-20 years. However, the introduction of AI is set to dramatically compress this timeline, as the ability to create products and inventions in a much shorter loop, from idea to market release, will be transformative.
[...]
Part 3/6:
This aligns with the concept of the "compressed 21st century" discussed by Dario Amodei, the COO of Anthropic. The idea is that after powerful AI is developed, we will make in a few years the progress in biology and medicine that we would have made over the entire 21st century. This suggests that we may experience multiple lifetimes' worth of progress in a short span of time.
The Rise of AI in Material Science
The paper highlights the significant advances in the use of deep learning in material science over the past decade. The graph shows a rapid increase in material science publications mentioning deep learning since 2015, reflecting the growing influence of AI in research and innovation. This trend is expected to accelerate as we move towards more advanced AI systems, such as artificial general intelligence (AGI) and artificial superintelligence (ASI).
Automating the Invention Process
[...]
Part 4/6:
The paper delves into the use of graph neural networks (GNNs) in the invention process. These networks are designed to understand materials at a detailed level, allowing them to generate new material structures that meet specific requirements. The three-step training process (pre-training, fine-tuning, and reinforcement) enables the AI to continuously improve its predictions.
The GNN-based tool significantly improves the materials discovery process by quickly generating suggestions that are more likely to succeed, allowing scientists to focus on evaluating promising AI-generated ideas rather than generating them from scratch. This is evident in the data, which shows a clear upward trend in the number of new materials discovered and patent filings after the integration of the AI tool.
The Human Impact of AI in Science
[...]
Part 5/6:
The study also reveals the impact of AI on the attitudes and perceptions of scientists. While they initially agreed that AI would make them more productive, their concerns about AI replacing scientists also increased after using the tool. This suggests that direct experience with AI led to a greater awareness of its disruptive potential.
Interestingly, the satisfaction with their choice of field decreased after using the AI tool, reflecting concerns over reduced creativity and increased automation in their roles. This has led to a substantial increase in the number of researchers planning to reskill, as they recognize the need for new abilities to collaborate effectively with AI.
These findings highlight a recurring pattern of domain experts underestimating the capabilities of AI in their respective fields until they directly experience its impact. As the MIT researchers noted, "the researchers did not anticipate the effects documented in this paper."
[...]
Part 6/6:
In conclusion, the MIT study provides a compelling glimpse into the transformative power of AI in scientific discovery and product innovation. The ability of AI to accelerate the invention process and dramatically compress the timeline from idea to market release has the potential to reshape our society and the way we approach scientific progress. As we move towards more advanced AI systems, the implications of this technology will only become more profound.
AI is helping doctors spot diseases earlier, make healthcare fairer, and give better treatments. Dr. John Halamka from the Mayo Clinic shared four ways AI is changing things. For example, AI can check heart tests to spot issues early and even help find tough diseases like tuberculosis with just a phone app. I think this could make a big difference for people who need care but can’t get it easily. AI seems like it can bring us closer to better health for all.
#AIinHealthcare #EarlyDetection #BetterHealth #MayoClinic #HealthTech
Article
Iconic NFT Collection CryptoPunks Reigns in Market Share Amid BAYC Decline
CryptoPunks, the iconic NFT collection, has regained market share after surpassing Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) in May 2023. Despite a slight decline since the start of 2022, CryptoPunks remains the largest NFT collection, holding over 29.5% of the market. Yuga Labs' flagship BAYC has seen a notable decline in market dominance, falling from a 29.3% peak in January 2022 to 12.8% in October 2024.
Pudgy Penguins and Milady Maker have seen a steady uptrend, with Pudgy Penguins entering the top 10 NFT collections in September 2023 with a 2.7% market share and Milady Maker joining the top 10 in August 2023 with a 2.5% share. These rises are particularly notable in the wake of 'blue chip' NFT price crashes that saw six PFP collections drop out of the top 10 rankings.
Article
If you had the option to choose between your human intelligence and Artificial General Intelligence (but you'd still be sentient) what would you go for?
Is it a no brainer question?
#Ai
AGI
Do you believe Elon will pull that off?
Will LeoAI rely on OpenAI or Nvidia Open source model to train or will it create its very own LeoAI model?
Miss Manners recently discussed if we need to say "please" to chatbots like ChatGPT. She says that while bots don’t have feelings, saying “please” and “thank you” builds polite habits. It reminds me of when we teach kids to be kind to their toys, they don’t feel anything either, but it shapes the way we treat others later. I think it’s a nice thought, even if the bot doesn’t care. Kindness, even to machines, could make us a bit more thoughtful.
#politeness #ChatGPT #manners #kindness #habits
Article
That way they remember who is friendly, and who isnt.
You mean openAi will use that or the chatbot will know who not to fuck around and find out with?
Dogecoin (DOGE) Soars 50% In a Flash: Is More Upside Ahead?
Dogecoin (DOGE) has surged above the $0.220 resistance against the US Dollar, up over 50%. The price is currently trading above the $0.2800 level and the 100-hourly simple moving average. A key bullish trend line is forming with support at $0.280 on the hourly chart of the DOGE/USD pair. The price could continue to rally if it clears the $0.3050 and $0.3120 resistance levels.
If DOGE fails to climb above the $0.3050 level, it could start a downside correction. Initial support is near the $0.280 level and the trend line, with the next major support near the $0.2680 level. The main support is at $0.2550, or the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $0.2013 swing low to the $0.3036 high. Technical indicators include the Hourly MACD gaining momentum in the bullish zone and the RSI above the 50 level.
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Apple will let you share AirTag locations with others
Apple will now let you share the location of a lost AirTag with other people. The Find My feature, called Share Item Location and available as part of the just-launched iOS 18.2 public beta, will allow you to share the location of lost luggage with an airline, for example.
#technology #apple #airtag
When using the feature, you can generate a Share Item Location link within the Find My app. Once you share the link with someone, they can click on it to view an interactive map with the location of your lost item. Apple will update the website automatically when the lost item moves, and it will also display a timestamp when it moved last.
Apple will turn off the feature once you find your lost item. You can also manually stop sharing the location of an AirTag at any time, or it will “automatically expire after seven days.”
The ability to share your AirTag’s location is available in “most regions worldwide” as part of the iOS 18.2 public beta. If you don’t have the beta, Apple plans on rolling out the update to all users with an iPhone X or later “soon.” MacRumors reported on the capability in the second developer beta of iOS 18.2 last week.
As part of the rollout, Apple is partnering with over 15 airlines, including Delta, United, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and more. All of these airlines will be able to “securely” accept links to lost items, as “access to each link will be limited to a small number of people, and recipients will be required to authenticate in order to view the link through either their Apple Account or partner email address.” This feature will be available in the “coming months.”
Additionally, SITA, a baggage tracing solution, will also implement Share Item Location into its luggage tracker.
Waymo compiles ‘largest ever’ dataset of pedestrian and cyclist injuries
If autonomous vehicles are to go mainstream, they need to go as far as they can to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. And no one is in more need of protection than so-called vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, thousands of whom are killed every year.
#technology #robotaxi #ai #waymo
Waymo, the robotaxi company owned by Alphabet, recently published a new study examining hundreds of these types of crashes involving vulnerable road users, which it is calling “the largest dataset of its kind in the US.”
Roughly 40,000 people in the US are killed each year in vehicle crashes. But while automakers have become very good at protecting people inside of vehicles, they have essentially neglected the safety of people outside of them.
Meanwhile, the academic community has shown little interest in studying injuries of vulnerable road users (VRUs), so Waymo set out to rectify that, said John Scanlon, a safety researcher at Waymo. The goal was to shine a light on this underexamined area of traffic research in the hopes that the results could help make Waymo’s driverless technology safer — and maybe even help out some of its rivals, too.
The new research comes amid a deadly period for pedestrians and cyclists in the US, where reports of injuries and fatalities remain frustratingly high. In 2022, 7,522 pedestrians were killed in vehicle crashes and more than 67,000 pedestrians were injured nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“An accurate, in-depth understanding of the unique safety risks presented to these groups is critical in developing effective strategies to reduce injuries and fatalities,” Scanlon said.
To study these types of injuries, Scanlon and his team first needed footage from hundreds of car crashes, so it partnered with dash cam company Nexar. Sifting through Nexar’s anonymized data of 500 million miles of driving, Scanlon’s team successfully reconstructed 335 crashes involving VRUs — pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists — in six American cities. However, the data was heavily skewed toward New York City, where 80 percent of the incidents took place. The anonymous individuals in the dataset suffered moderate to severe injuries, depending on the collision, but none of the crashes Waymo studied were fatal.
The result is the “largest, documented naturalistic driving dataset in the US,” the company says. By studying this data, Waymo hopes to gain better insight into how, when, and why vulnerable road users get injured by vehicle drivers. And by zeroing in on the “frequency and severity” of collisions, Waymo was able to draw several relevant conclusions from the dataset.
On the surface, the results seem pretty obvious. Pedestrians and cyclists were more likely to be injured when they “surprise” drivers, like attempting to cross the street against the traffic light. Also, “geometric occlusions,” like trees, bushes, buildings, or other vehicles, led to a higher risk of injury. And the vehicle’s trajectory, the direction it is traveling or turning, played a significant role.
Waymo partnered with VUFO, a traffic research group based in Germany, to develop models for injury risk assessment. It also leveraged anonymized data from the German In-Depth Accident Study, which includes information on thousands of VRU crashes over more than two decades and represents “the most relevant data available in the world today” for estimating injury risk for VRUs.
Waymo’s driverless vehicles operate in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, where they conduct over 150,000 paid trips a week. The company is planning to launch its robotaxi service in Austin and Atlanta as well. And every day, a driverless Waymo vehicle must navigate an environment full of vulnerable road users. One false move could be deadly, and if past is prologue, the AV operators have to be prepared to accept full responsibility for what went wrong.
There have been a handful of collisions involving driverless vehicles and a few injuries. A cyclist was injured by a Waymo vehicle in San Francisco in February 2024 after emerging from behind a truck that was blocking the view. And last year, a Cruise vehicle struck a pedestrian and then dragged her to the side of the road. The company is still dealing with the fallout.
Scanlon said that by better understanding these types of collisions, AV operators can recreate them both in simulation and real-world testing, which could lead to safer decisions.
“This analysis can serve as a starting point for pinpointing baseline driving risk associated with VRU collisions in dense-urban areas, which will, in turn, enable AV performance testing and evaluation,” he said.
Google Slides is getting a new collection of professionally designed templates
Google is introducing a new collection of modern templates to Google Slides the company says have been “professionally designed” to “cater to a wide range of use cases.” There are new templates for sales pitches, product roadmaps, lesson plans, book reports, workshop facilitation, and even “team game templates” for companies looking to bolster collaboration amongst their staff.
#technology #google #apps
The new templates might make it easier for users moving over from Microsoft’s office suite and Powerpoint, similar to recent updates that brought easier table formatting to Google Sheets and tabs that make it easier to organize information in a single Google Doc.
The refreshed library of templates started rolling out to everyone this week, covering both personal Gmail accounts and the various tiers of paid Workspace customers, and the full rollout is expected to be complete before the end of November. However, the new templates will only be available to those with their language specifically set to “English (United States).” Those using “English (United Kingdom)” or “English (Australia)” won’t have access to them.
When available for your account, the refreshed templates can be accessed by opening Google Slides and using either the top toolbar or “Insert > Templates” from the drop-down menu. Once you’ve selected a template you want to use, you’ll be given the option to insert just an individual slide, allowing you to assemble your presentation from various templates or insert all of them, ensuring your presentation has a cohesive visual theme.
Cardano Founder Reveals New Details About His Potential Role Under Trump
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has revealed his potential involvement in shaping US crypto policy during the transition period under President-elect Donald Trump. In a livestream on YouTube, Hoskinson emphasized the clear potential for his involvement in shaping US crypto policy, but urged moderation in expectations.
He clarified that it is misinformation to say that Charles Hoskinson is leading US crypto policy and set realistic boundaries around his prospective role. Hoskinson provided an update on significant initiatives such as the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT 21) and Financial Innovation (FIA) acts, emphasizing the bipartisan nature of these efforts and their importance in setting a regulatory framework.
He announced the establishment of a dedicated policy office aimed at unifying crypto legislative efforts, addressing critical issues such as asset classification, stablecoins, custody standards, taxation, and the government's ability to purchase and hold Bitcoin reserves. Hoskinson stressed the need for a bipartisan approach to regulation and remained hopeful about achieving substantial legislative progress.
Article
Can AI And Your Heart Rate Data Help You To Flourish?
Kristen Holmes, a TED talk speaker, discusses the importance of analyzing heart rate data to promote longevity and better performance. Holmes, a researcher at the University of Iowa and Princeton, suggests that vital sign data can help map stress and recovery, promoting resilience. She believes that 'floating' is about intentionally acting at a level equal to one's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual functioning.
AI can help in testing for 'demand match' events by aggregating and informing data in real-time. AI can analyze heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels, glucose levels, and other health indicators, making it a cornerstone of modern fitness equipment.
AI can also help improve sleep by analyzing deep sleep patterns and assessing environmental variables. AI can also provide guidance on improving performance and longevity, acting as a personal tutor, suggesting the best diet, exercise, and sleep schedules.
Applying this to heart rate data can help individuals achieve 'autonomic robustness', which includes ice baths, breathwork, and body support gear. This concept could be applied to personal wearables, leveraging AI's potential to enhance our lives and promote longevity.
Article
OpenAI’s new model, called Orion, is facing challenges. Unlike past upgrades that felt like big leaps, Orion’s improvement over previous models isn’t as striking. OpenAI is trying out new ways to push it further, like using AI-generated data to fill gaps where real data is scarce. They’ve even set up a special team to help keep the progress steady. I think it’s interesting because it shows how tricky it’s becoming to make each version smarter.
#OpenAI #AIInnovation #OrionModel #TechUpdates
Article
Ethereum Price Hits $3K Milestone Again: Will The Gains Keep Coming?
Ethereum price has reached a $3K milestone, with gains over 10%. The price has surged above the $3,000 resistance and is now trading above $3,000 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. A new bullish trend line with support at $3,120 is forming on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. The pair could continue to rise if it clears the $3,250 resistance.
However, the price is facing hurdles near the $3,200 level, with the first major resistance near the $3,250 level. If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,250 resistance, it could start a downside correction, with initial support near the $3,150 level. Technical indicators include the MACD for ETH/USD gaining momentum in the bullish zone and the RSI for ETH/USD above the 50 zone.
Article
Google Maps gets an AI upgrade to compete with Apple
Google is introducing its generative AI chatbot, Gemini, into its flagship navigation app, Google Maps, as part of a larger effort to compete with Apple's recent AI advances. The company plans to use Gemini's chatbot features to communicate with Maps, allowing users to ask for tips on specific spots in a neighborhood or city, receive lists of nearby attractions, and ask open-ended search queries. The updated app will show more tailored options, such as lists of speakeasies or live music venues.
The Gemini chatbot will also provide information about parking options near a designated destination and walking directions for users to check after leaving the car. Additionally, additional road signs and crosswalks will be clearly marked on Maps to help navigate unfamiliar areas. Google remains the industry leader in navigation apps, but Apple has made significant AI gains in recent months, making it difficult for Google to stand still. While Apple Maps is still behind Google, it has made significant progress and is now on par with Google in some key markets.
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The PRESS Act is back in the Senate with just weeks left to pass. It would protect journalists from being forced to reveal their sources, except in cases of serious emergencies. I believe this law matters because without it, people might fear speaking out. Journalists play a big role in bringing issues to light, and this act could help them feel secure in doing so.
#PRESSAct #Journalism #PressFreedom #Senate #SupportJournalists
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Everything I've learned so far about running local LLMs
It is now possible to run a large language model (LLM) smarter than the original ChatGPT on a Raspberry PI. Running models locally allows for private, unlimited, and registration-free access. This article talks about how to run local text-based LLMs on your own hardware. It covers the software needed, the different models available, user interfaces, and more. While LLMs are fun, there are still many tasks they can't reliably do.
#technology #ai #artificialintelligence #llm #chatgpt
X, the social network owned by Elon Musk, is testing a free version of its AI chatbot, Grok. So far, it’s only available in certain places like New Zealand, and there are limits, 10 questions every two hours. For now, only users with linked phone numbers and accounts older than a week can access it. I think opening Grok to free users might help X grow fast and get more feedback on the chatbot, which could make it better over time.
#AI #ElonMusk #Grok #X #Chatbot #TechNews
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What is the best data to feed LeoAI with? Any data or more financial and crypto information?
COP29: AI’s double-edged climate sword will be high on the agenda
COP29 will focus on the role of technology in addressing the climate crisis, with AI's impact on sustainability high on the agenda. AI models require significant electricity, leading to increased energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The World Economic Forum reports that computing power dedicated to AI doubles every 100 days.
To make AI a central part of the climate change agenda, policymakers and digital ministers will work together. Despite high energy consumption, AI can help mitigate the climate crisis by advancing climate monitoring, disaster response, and alternative energy solutions.
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TSMC, a major chip maker, has stopped sending advanced chips to China after one was found in a Huawei device, which the U.S. doesn’t allow. This pause is meant to check if anyone else is quietly sending chips to Huawei, despite trade limits. Since advanced chips are key for AI, the U.S. wants to control where they go. TSMC said it will follow all the rules. This could shake things up in tech, especially between the U.S. and China.
#ChipBan #TechTrade #USChina #TSMC #Huawei
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Bitcoin Nears $82K in Bullish Start to Week; Dogecoin Flips USDC
Bitcoin (BTC) surged above $81,000 on Sunday, marking a record-setting rally in its sixth day. The broad-based CoinDesk 20 (CD20), a liquid index tracking the largest tokens by market capitalization, rose 4.5% in the past 24 hours. Trading volumes of nearly $100 billion were recorded over an unusually wild weekend session.
Weekend pumps are generally considered bullish in the crypto market, as trading volumes typically decrease over the weekend when institutional investors and professional traders are less active. Dogecoin (DOGE) and shiba inu (SHIB) led gains among majors, with DOGE flipping xrp (XRP) and stablecoin USDC to become the sixth-largest token. Other majors took a breather following a Friday rally.
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I’ve recently learned that iOS 18.1 lets you replace Siri with ChatGPT as your main voice assistant, and I think it's a great upgrade! ChatGPT feels way more interactive and “human” in conversations. It can understand me better, which makes the experience smoother. You’ll just need to download the app and set a shortcut like “Hey ChatGPT.” Plus, you can place it anywhere on your screen for easy access. Feels like a fresh change, and I'm excited to try it out.
#iOS18 #ChatGPT #VoiceAssistant #TechUpgrade #AppleTips
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Change Just 5 ChatGPT settings to improve gpt results:
Ethereum's ENS Identity System Set to Launch Own Layer-2 Blockchain
Ethereum's ENS Identity System, known as ENS Labs, is set to launch its own layer-2 blockchain, dubbed "Namechain," which will use zero-knowledge rollups for scaling. The new network is expected to go live around the end of 2025. ENS Labs' chief operating officer, Katherine Wu, said that the new network will leverage the infrastructure of an existing zero-knowledge chain compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine.
#ethereum #eth #crypto
The new network will be backward compatible with ENSv1, the current setup on Ethereum mainnet, from day one of launch. ENS Labs' decision to go ahead with ENSv2 follows other announcements of major crypto firms launching their own layer-2 projects. Uniswap, Kraken, and Sony's Blockchain Labs have also announced plans to launch their own rollup networks using layer-2 Optimism's technology, known as the OP Stack.
ENS Labs' co-founder and lead developer, Nick Johnson, expressed excitement for the improvements it will bring in scalability, cost, and new applications it will enable.
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Moving Past Skeuomorphic AI
AI is being limited by our mental models for what to use the technology for. The current available technology can already be transformative given the right application mindset. Moving to the next level will require giving models more autonomy and self-learning capabilities. We should be building applications around things that AI is uniquely suited to do. Thinking this way will result in the creation of new services and products.
#technology #ai #artificialintelligence #skeuomorphic
HPV vaccination: How the world can eliminate cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is caused by a virus (HPV), making it preventable. The virus is also responsible for a large share of other cancers. HPV integrates itself into cells' DNA and damages key proteins that protect the cell from uncontrolled growth, eventually leading to cancer. HPV vaccines are highly effective in preventing infections - and cervical cancer. Countries like the UK and Australia are showing that the elimination of cervical cancer is possible, but much of the world is missing out.
#technology #health #cancer #hpv
SpaceX Pitches NASA on 'Marslink,' a Version of Starlink for the Red Planet
SpaceX is working on a concept version of Starlink for Mars. It has ideas about developing next-generation relay services capable of beaming 4 Mbps or more in data across 1.5 astronomical units. The Marslink concept involves placing multiple space satellites in Mars orbit to provide full visibility and interoperability for ground and orbital assets. Other companies have also submitted proposals - slides from the recent meeting of the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group showing each company's proposal are available in the article.
#technology #space #spacex #nasa #starlink #marslink
Striking NYT tech workers made a custom Connections so you don’t cross the picket line
Striking New York Times tech workers have created a custom Connections puzzle so fans can get their daily fix without crossing the digital picket line.
#technology #nyt #gaming
The “Strike Edition” puzzle was made on a website that lets people create their own Connections. The workers, part of the New York Times Tech Guild, specifically asked NYT readers not to play NYT games when the strike began on Monday, so the custom puzzle offers a way to play while still respecting the Guild’s wishes.
“We have seen a groundswell of support from subscribers who have been proudly tweeting about purposely breaking their game streaks to support our strikers,” says Jen Sheehan, spokesperson for the NewsGuild of New York.
The Guild didn’t make the website themselves; the site was made by Anthony Salazar, a freelance web developer who operates a creative studio named Swellgarfo. Salazar tells The Verge that he made the app after Connections launched last summer. “My friends couldn’t get enough and began making their own grids, jankly texting group chats with 4x4 word squares,” he says. Programming the site took about two hours. He didn’t expect anyone besides his friends to use it, but the creator tool has now been used 7 million times.
There are aspects of the website that it’s easy to imagine The New York Times could take issue with, though. In addition to custom puzzles, the site also has a recreation of the NYT Connections archive that’s available to play for free — offering a way to get around NYT’s own Connections archive that it just launched as a feature for paid subscribers.
The New York Times targeted Wordle clones by filing copyright takedown notices earlier this year, including against at least one shared on GitHub that was strikingly similar to the NYT’s version of the game. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the publication would do something similar for this Connections site.
Salazar says he would “happily take down the archive” if asked. He also says that the site uses the NYT’s publicly available API to create the archive, so “there would be many easy ways to completely dismantle that part of my app without even talking to me.” However, Salazar says that he wouldn’t take down the puzzle creator because “there is no NYT intellectual property contained there.”
The Guild, whose members help build these games, ultimately sees it as a form of support. “What we posted today and will post throughout our strike are fun ways people can support us,” says Sheehan, the NewsGuild spokesperson. “Generally speaking, we hope that The Times is more focused on getting back to the bargaining table than coming for our games.”
ChatGPT monthly usage may now rival Google Chrome
ChatGPT has the most visits out of all generative AI platforms at 3.7 billion worldwide. Google Chrome's monthly users is estimated to be around 3.45 billion. ChatGPT saw a 17.2% month-over-month growth and a 115.9% year-over-year traffic growth. The Perplexity chatbot saw 90.8 million visits in October, Google's Gemini chatbot saw 295.8 million visits, Anthropic's Claude saw 84.1 million visits, Microsoft's Copilot saw 69.4 million visits, and NotebookLM saw 31.5 million visits.
#technology #chatgpt #google #ai #artificialintelligence
OpenAI reportedly developing new strategies to deal with AI improvement slowdown
OpenAI's new model's performance exceeds its existing models, but the improvement is less than the jump from GPT-3 to GPT-4. The rate of improvement seems to be slowing down. OpenAI created a foundations team to figure out how the company can continue to improve its models. One of the proposed strategies is to train models on synthetic data produced by AI models.
#technology #ai #artificialintelligence #openai
The Beatles’ final song, restored using AI, is up for a Grammy
The Beatles have been nominated for two Grammys — nearly 50 years after the band officially split up. Their final song, called “Now and Then,” was restored last year with the help of AI, and is now up for record of the year alongside the likes of Beyoncé, Charlie XCX, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift. It’s also been nominated for best rock performance, where it goes up against Green Day, Pearl Jam, and The Black Keys.
#technology #ai #song #music
Released in November 2023, “Now and Then” started as a demo recorded by John Lennon in the late 1970s. This recording, as well as “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” was given to Lennon’s three surviving bandmates in the ‘90s, with the hopes of including it in The Beatles Anthology project.
However, “Now and Then” was never released, as technology at the time couldn’t separate John’s vocals and piano to get a clear sound. But in 2021, filmmaker Peter Jackson and his sound team were able to separate the instrumentals and vocals with machine learning technology, allowing Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to finally complete the song.
Though “Now and Then” was finished using machine learning, it still falls within the bounds of The Grammy’s rules surrounding AI. The guidelines currently state that “only human creators are eligible to be submitted for consideration for, nominated for, or win a GRAMMY Award,” but work that contains “elements” of AI material is “eligible in applicable categories.”
It’s a bit strange to see “Now and Then” competing with modern-day music like Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” but it’s been a long time coming. We’ll get to see how the Beatles fare during the 2025 Grammy Awards, which takes place on Sunday, February 2nd.
Microsoft invested $13 billion in OpenAI. That could be highly profitable and give them some exclusive AI tools, partnerships and long-term revenue potential.
I guess if you can't beat them join them is what Microsoft just did
Apple illegally threatened workers over their talk about pay and remote work, feds charge
One Apple employee was allegedly threatened with unspecified reprisals if they talked about their performance bonus. Another was purportedly ordered to delete a post on social media about how to continue working remotely at the company. One was allegedly told to stop talking about pay on internal messaging systems and warned that the tech giant was “monitoring these discussions.” And another, software engineer Cher Scarlett, was purportedly railroaded out of the company after creating an online pay survey for workers at the trillion-dollar company.
#apple #socialmedia #workers #remotework #pay
Those claims form the basis of a federal government charge accusing the Cupertino iPhone giant of illegally “interfering with, restraining and coercing employees” exercising their rights under the National Labor Relations Act to help each other with workplace issues.
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the administrative complaint, filed Oct. 31 by the National Labor Relations Board.
The legal action by Scarlett – the former employee – and the agency that enforces the Labor Relations Act also claims that Apple denied an employee’s request to create an internal-messaging channel about pay equity, telling the worker the messaging platform was only for business purposes – despite letting other employees use it for non-business topics.
Additionally, the complaint alleges, Apple told an employee not to speak to the press after they were quoted in the media about workplace issues.
The worker who was ordered to remove the social-media post about remote work was also asked by a human resources representative to provide names of other Apple employees the person had talked with about working remotely, the complaint claims.
A manager in a phone call told a worker that Apple did not want employees talking about wages or pay equity, the complaint alleges.
The alleged incidents are purported to have happened in 2021.
According to the complaint, Scarlett helped found “Apple Too,” modeled after the #MeToo movement against sexual violence, and intended to encourage Apple employees “to share stories and create transparency around incidents of discrimination, inequity, racism and sexism they experienced in the course of their employment” at Apple.
In the summer of 2021, Scarlett created and posted online a pay-equity survey where Apple employees could anonymously share information about their compensation, job categories, experience and personal information “in order to identify potential pay disparities.” Scarlett posted the survey on her personal account on social media platform Twitter, now called X.
The labor board and Scarlett argue in the complaint that she was forced to leave the company by its response to her work on behalf of her fellow Apple workers. She announced on Twitter in November 2021 that she was leaving the company; technology website The Verge reported that she had reached a settlement with Apple.
Apple allegedly cracked down on other employees who took action in response to Scarlett’s advocacy. Apple demanded that one worker refrain from participating in the wage survey and was threatened with “unspecified reprisals” if they did, or if they continued to take part in wage discussions on the internal messaging platform, the complaint claims.
An Apple human resources manager refused to meet collectively with Apple workers concerned about the results of the wage survey, and insisted on individual meetings, the complaint alleges. That manager, Jeannie Wong, in a videoconference “interrogated an employee about why and how the employee got involved with Scarlett’s pay equity survey and who else was involved,” the complaint claims.
Damn, AI robots have not come yet and their ego is already up miss treating their employees 🤦🤦 imagine when AGI comes and they can just replace them they'll do without thinking twice about it.
work for tech company for so long and this is how they treat you 😳. What at all are they trying to protect that they would give their employees such regulations
Tesla short-sellers are getting hammered by Donald Trump's election win
Hedge funds betting against shares in Elon Musk's EV maker have lost $5.2 billion since the election
As Tesla stock continues its rally on the heels of Donald Trump’s election win, short-sellers are feeling the pain.
Hedge funds betting against Tesla stock, also known as shorting, lost at least $5.2 billion, Bloomberg calculated using data compiled by S3 Partners. That comes as the electric vehicle maker, helmed by billionaire and staunch Trump ally Elon Musk, sees a renewed surge that helped its market capitalization once again pass $1 trillion last week.
#tsla #tesla #shorts #trump #election #technology
Since Election Day, Tesla stock has risen almost 28%, with shares up almost 7% in pre-market trading Monday. As of last Friday, shares of the EV company were up 44% over the prior 12 trading days, far outpacing the Nasdaq’s 4% gain during the same period, according to Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management.
Musk has become a close ally of Trump’s over the past several months, even spending election night with him at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Earlier this year, Musk founded a super PAC in support of Trump’s re-election bid, and donated at least $80 million.
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nobody gave them the memo never to bet against Elon 😅
When will Claude Opus 3.5 Come Out?
#ai #newsonleo #anthropic !summarize
I was on OpenAI the whole time now that you mentioned I'm going to check this out
if you intend to code, claude 3.5 sonnet is currently the leading model for that. It's what I'm using for anything coding related.
wait so that's even more helpful for programming than chatgpt 4o? Wow I'm going to have to really try this one
Hi, @mightpossibly,
This post has been voted on by @darkcloaks because you are an active member of the Darkcloaks gaming community.
Get started with Darkcloaks today, and follow us on Inleo for the latest updates.
Part 1/3:
The Challenges of Model Versioning and Naming
As the world of AI models continues to evolve, the challenges of versioning and naming these increasingly complex systems have become increasingly apparent. The pace of progress in the field, with rapid advancements and improvements, has made it difficult to maintain a clear and consistent naming scheme.
The example of the long-delayed Duke Nukem Forever game highlights the unpredictable nature of development timelines, and the same can be said for the release of major AI models like Claude 3.5 Opus. The speaker notes that the plan is still to have a Claude 3.5 Opus, but it's unclear whether it will arrive before the highly anticipated GTA 6. The incredible pace of releases in the AI field, with companies like Anthropic constantly pushing the boundaries, makes it challenging to predict when these updates will be available.
[...]
Part 2/3:
The speaker delves into the intricacies of versioning and naming, noting that a year ago, the focus was primarily on pre-training models of different sizes and creating a family of naming schemes. However, as some models take longer to train than others, and as significant improvements are made in pre-training, the existing naming conventions start to break down.
The speaker acknowledges that no company has truly figured out the perfect naming system for AI models, as they often have different trade-offs, capabilities, and characteristics that are not always reflected in the benchmarks. Models can exhibit a range of personality traits, from polite to brusk, reactive to questioning, and warm to cold. Anthropic has even dedicated a team, led by Amanda, to focus on the "Claude character" and these nuanced aspects of the model.
[...]
Part 3/3:
The speaker suggests that the field of AI is in a different paradigm from traditional software development, where versioning and naming are more straightforward. The reality of AI model development often frustrates the attempts to create a clear and consistent naming scheme, as the models themselves can evolve in unpredictable ways.
The user experience of updated models, such as the transition from the June 2024 Sonic 35 to the newer version, also presents challenges. It's important to find a way to clearly differentiate between the previous and current versions, as the distinct improvements can make conversations about the models challenging.
In conclusion, the versioning and naming of AI models is an ongoing challenge that the industry has yet to fully solve. As the field continues to advance, companies like Anthropic will need to find innovative ways to communicate the nuances and capabilities of their models to users in a clear and meaningful way.
Open source projects draw equity-free funding from corporates, startups, and even VCs
A dearth of funding for vital open source tech is leading to a swathe of support from startups, corporations, and even VC firms.
A dearth of funding for vital open source technologies is leading to a swath of support from startups, unicorns, corporations, and even venture capital firms.
#vc #technology #funding #opensource
Last year, Bloomberg launched its FOSS (free and open source software) fund, committing up to $90,000 per year to various projects. And in October, Indian financial services company Zerodha launched a similar initiative dubbed FLOSS/fund, pledging $1 million annually to open source projects. The reason? “A significant portion of our success and growth is owed to FOSS,” Zerodha CTO Kailash Nadh said at the time.
“It goes without saying that this holds true for nearly every technology company founded in the last decade, whether it is publicly acknowledged or not,” Nadh added.
While there is no shortage of companies building businesses and raising money off the back of open source software, not every community-driven project lends itself to becoming a commercial entity. Some open source tools are more akin to Lego blocks: key components of a software stack, for sure, but difficult to monetize directly — particularly in the early days.
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FTX sues crypto exchange Binance and its former CEO Zhao for $1.8 billion
The litigation marks the latest escalation of tensions between two of the biggest names in crypto, after the meteoric collapse of FTX rocked the market.
The estate of collapsed crypto exchange FTX has filed a suit against Binance and its former CEO Changpeng Zhao in an effort to wrest back at least $1.76 billion, citing a "fraudulent" share deal.
In a Sunday filing with a Delaware court, FTX cites a 2021 transaction in which Binance, Zhao and others exited their investment in FTX, selling a 20% stake in the platform and a 18.4% stake in its U.S.-based entity West Realm Shires back to the company.
#crypto #ftx #binance #cz #lawsuit
The FTX estate alleges that the share repurchase was funded by FTX's Alameda Research division through a combination of the company's and Binance's exchange tokens, as well as Binance's dollar-pegged stablecoin.
"Alameda was insolvent at the time of the share repurchase and could not afford to fund the transaction," the suit claims, labeling the deal agreed with FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried — who's now serving a 25-year sentence over fraud linked to the downfall of his exchange — a "constructive fraudulent transfer."
Binance denies the allegations, saying in an emailed statement: "The claims are meritless, and we will vigorously defend ourselves."
The litigation marks the latest escalation of tensions between two of the biggest names in the crypto space, after the meteoric collapse of FTX rocked the industry.
Once a $32-billion empire, FTX disintegrated into bankruptcy when it was unable to keep pace with a torrent of customer withdrawals, triggering a plunge in the crypto markets.
The market fallout peaked in November last year, when Bankman-Fried was found guilty of seven criminal fraud counts relating to the bankruptcy of the exchange and theft of customer funds. That same month, Binance's Zhao pleaded guilty to charges of violating the Bank Secrecy Act for failing to put in motion an effective anti-money laundering program and for breaching U.S. economic sanctions.
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3 Things That Could Move Markets With Big Inflation Reports Due This Week
Crypto markets have seen significant gains over the weekend, with Bitcoin pushing past $81,000 into new price discovery zones. The Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut by 25 basis points and Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential elections have fueled the market. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has reiterated that the central bank's future policy decisions will depend on economic reports, and this week will see key inflation data released.
#crypto #bullrun
Powell believes rates remain restrictive even after last week's reduction, suggesting inflation is on a path toward the Fed's 2% target. The release of October's CPI inflation report and October's Producer Price Index (PPI) report will also impact the market.
Crypto market capitalization has climbed to its highest level since mid-March, reaching $2.88 trillion. Bitcoin hit an all-time high of $81,800 and remains over $80,500, indicating momentum could continue.
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Bitcoin in ‘Euphoria Zone’ Hits ATH of $81,800 After $14,000 Weekly Gain
Bitcoin hit an all-time high of $81,800 in early trading in Asia on November 11, resulting in a weekly gain of 18%. The asset added $14,000 since its Nov. 5 price of $67,500. Most of these gains have come in the wake of Donald Trump's landslide victory in the US presidential election last week. Bitcoin has surged by 93% since the beginning of 2024 and a whopping 400% since its bear market low of $16,000 in November 2022.
$BTC
#BTC #bullrun #bitcoin #trump2024 #crypto #pump
On-chain analyst James Check said markets have entered the "euphoria zone" as Bitcoin is in new price discovery. Marathon Holdings CEO Fred Thiel lamented the German government's decision to sell BTC when it was around $53,000, but his company is hodling over 27,000 BTC, which is growing every day. Bitcoin's continued surge has pushed total crypto market capitalization to $2.92 trillion, its highest level since the November 2021 bull market peak.
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The Top 5 Cable TV Networks Most Likely to Shutdown - A New #1
#entertainment #brooadcast #media !summarize
Bitcoin tops $82,000 as crypto euphoria over Trump win shows no sign of waning
Bitcoin hit another high on Monday, as the rally in cryptocurrencies continued following President-elect Donald Trump's election win.
Bitcoin hit another high on Monday, as the rally in cryptocurrencies continued following Donald Trump's election win.
By 6:58 a.m. ET, bitcoin was trading 3.6% higher at $82,216, according to Coin Metrics. It comes after the flagship cryptocurrency touched $80,000 on Sunday for the first time ever.
#bitcoin #trump #crypto #markets
Other coins also got a boost, with ether up 1.8%, trading around $3,204 after topping $3,000 over the weekend. The decentralized finance token tied to Cardano ticked 2.7% higher, while payments coin XRP took a breather.
Memecoins dogecoin and Shiba Inu coin also continued to rise, up almost 11% and 5%, respectively.
Bitcoin touches $80,000 on Sunday for the first time ever.
Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown, noted that crypto's march higher comes amid "euphoria" in the market unleashed by Trump's presidential win last week.
"His pledge to go all in on crypto has sent Bitcoin to fresh heady heights," she said in a research note Monday.
"He's made an about turn on supporting the industry and is now vowing to turn the U.S. into the crypto capital of the world. Bitcoin speculators are betting on a more clement regulatory environment, and have expectations that the authorities may build up a reserve crypto fund, helping lift ongoing demand."
On the campaign trail, Trump made a slew of promises to the crypto industry, including making the U.S. the "crypto capital of the planet" and insisting that all bitcoin should be mined in the country.
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Over $2.8 billion bet on bitcoin topping $90,000 as it hits all-time high
Bitcoin hit a new record high as futures premiums soared, in a clear sign that investors believe the record-run will continue.
Bitcoin reached a fresh all-time high near $81,000 and futures premiums soared, in a clear sign that investors believe the record-run in the world's largest cryptocurrency is poised for even more gains on the back of U.S. elections that saw a swell of pro-crypto candidates win office.
#bitcoin #crypto #alltimehigh
Open interest in bitcoin's price surpassing $90,000 rose to more than $2.8 billion on the popular Deribit derivatives exchange, one of a few crypto native platforms that offers futures trading. Deribit encompasses most of the offshore options market.
"The options market's bias is heavily toward continued momentum. Call options trade at a premium to puts, and open interest in out-of-the-money calls has grown," Vetle Lunde, head of research at K33 Research, told CNBC.
A call option gives the buyer the right to buy shares of an underlying asset at a certain price for a specified period of time. Buying a call option is a bet the asset price will move higher. Buying a put option is a bet the asset price will fall.
The CME derivates exchange offers bitcoin futures contracts and is a popular way for institutions in the U.S. to make bets on the future price of bitcoin. Velde told CNBC that on Friday CME premiums for ether and bitcoin averaged 14.5% and 14%, respectively. Ahead of the election, Velde says these premiums sat at 7%, and had spent a majority of the past half year hovering slightly below 10%.
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It's the Senate's last chance to pass the PRESS Act
The PRESS Act would protect a journalist's sources, and gained unanimous bipartisan support when passed by the House in January.
Folks in America: Your senators only have a few weeks left to pass the PRESS Act, a federal “shield” bill that the House passed with unanimous, bipartisan support in January but has been waiting in the Senate for a final vote ever since.
#senate #journalists #pressact
The PRESS Act, if passed into law, would enshrine nationwide protections for journalists across the United States from forcibly having to identify or give up their confidential sources (except in emergency cases, like to prevent an act of terrorism). The bill also grants other protections, such as limiting what records the government can secretly take from journalists or their email or phone provider that could identify their sources — again, with a narrow set of exceptions for emergency threats.
Lawmakers have been pushing to pass federal protections for journalists in the PRESS Act for the past year, citing recent U.S. government abuses, including the secret seizure of phone records from journalists who worked for CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post at the request of the Justice Department under the Trump administration. As noted last week by The Verge, protections for journalists and their sources will become increasingly relevant in a second Trump term.
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random paragraphs
Forcing journalists to turn over a source’s identity can have a real chilling effect on newsgathering. People will feel discouraged from talking to journalists, and that harms the public’s ability to be informed about things that affect them. We also increasingly consume our news from independent journalists and smaller outlets, which might not have the legal resources to fight a government subpoena for their records. The PRESS Act would provide the same blanket protections to journalists across the United States, and also covers independent journalists and outlets that publish information in the public interest.
Not surprisingly, TikTok is in second place next to Temu with 33.23 million downloads. The short-form video app is popular among users aged 18 to 24 for several reasons, the most obvious being that it serves as a go-to source for fast-paced, easily digestible content. Interestingly enough, the Gen Z-dominated app is also preferred as a search engine over Google.
Another major video platform, YouTube, remains popular among Gen Z young adults. Over a span of around 10 months, the mobile app amassed 14.03 million new installs, Appfigures noted. While this number is not as high as TikTok’s, it still indicates significant engagement among this group.
At this point, the PRESS Act already has bipartisan support in the Senate, with Sens. Ron Wyden, Lindsey Graham, Mike Lee, and Dick Durbin as co-sponsors. The bill is just waiting for a final vote on the Senate floor, with weeks to go before the bill expires at the end of the congressional session.
Since Threads was the most recent to launch, it makes sense that it has more new downloads. Additionally, there seems to be renewed interest in Facebook following the redesign aimed at engaging this social media-savvy generation. (While we cannot definitively determine whether the update directly influenced the spike in downloads, it’s worth noting the potential correlation.)
Google, another tech giant, has also amassed a decent amount of downloads so far this year. The search engine app saw 17.65 million installs, whereas other Google-owned products Chrome and Meet saw 10.19 million installs and 9.63 million, respectively. Meanwhile, Google Drive garnered 7.22 million downloads, and Google Photos had 6.79 million.
While the bill doesn’t affect the tech industry directly, as a news outlet, we’re in favor of protecting and building upon press freedoms. Some of TechCrunch’s most read and impactful reporting has come from readers like you, who have reached out and tipped us off to corporate wrongdoing, unearthing mismanagement in the startup world, detailing human rights abuses, and revealing major breaches and data spills, cyberattacks and criminality that otherwise might have gone unreported.
Another not-so-shocking discovery was that OpenAI’s ChatGPT continues to be favored among 18- to 24-year-olds, gaining 24.63 million app installs. With many Gen Z young adults either starting college or entering the early stages of their careers, ChatGPT has emerged as a favored resource for educational purposes and career guidance. A survey conducted by Best Colleges revealed that 43% of college students have admitted to using ChatGPT or similar AI tools.
Another AI-powered app getting traction was AI study companion Gauth. The app, developed by TikTok parent company ByteDance, achieved 8.37 million new installs. While it has existed since 2021, Gauth saw a surge in downloads earlier this year, becoming the second most downloaded education app for iOS devices in the U.S. in April.
Filmmaker Ole Ege's film The 1972 brothel set off a wave of bedside films that drew hundreds of thousands of Danes in cinemas. The 'Bordellet' was also present at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was sold abroad.
It suddenly becomes legal to go in and watch that type of movie because they are not so hardcore and vulgar, and that allows mom and dad to go in and watch porn movies together.
For example, the film Agent 69 Jensen in Scorpio's Sign was seen by 450,000 in the cinema.
For Gen Z, photo sharing and social media apps are integral to their daily lives. So it’s safe to say that a lot of these types of platforms would make it to the list.
In addition to Threads and Instagram ranking highly, ByteDance’s CapCut is another platform favored by Gen Z young adults. The video editing app is known for its range of effects and filters, making it easy to upload edited content to TikTok and other compatible platforms. Data indicates that the app saw 21.72 million new downloads.
Others on the list include Snapchat with 19.16 million installs, followed by Telegram with 13.12 million, Pinterest at 8.23 million, Reddit at 8.06 million, and X at 7.58 million.
So far this year, Netflix has been the top streaming service to attract the most 18- to 24-year-olds with 15.67 million installs. Prime Video and Disney+ are not far behind, with 12.86 million and 11.68 million downloads, respectively. Max, Peacock, and Tubi each have around 7 million downloads or more.
And it appears the music streaming app capturing lots of interest among Gen Z young adults is none other than the leading platform, Spotify. This app has attracted 10.45 million downloads, highlighting its significant appeal to this age group.
Encore processes over 50,000 searches per month and is seeing 26% month-on-month growth for searches and 15% growth in clicks.
The startup currently relies on affiliate shares for revenue generation. However, the company is also experimenting with a $3 per month subscription providing unlimited searches with advanced models, finding items by uploading images, and offering support via email and chat.
There are in some sense two types of LLMs - frontier models - at the cutting edge of performance (think GPT-4 vs other models until recently), and everything else. In 2021 I wrote that I thought the frontier models market would collapse over time into an oligopoly market due to the scale of capital needed. In parallel, non-frontier models would more commodity / pricing driven and have a stronger opensource presence (note this was pre-Llama and pre-Mistral launches).
Ruber noted that sentence length can vary, sometimes by a lot. Some people just key in a simple sentence like “Show me jeans” while others write a detailed description like “I am a 6’2″ person who skies and looking for skier pants under $100 with no big logos on them.”
The secondhand retail market is on an upward growth curve, with analysts projecting it to reach $73 billion in the U.S. and $350 billion globally by 2028. A report by online thrift store ThredUp notes that online secondhand resale would account for half of the secondhand market in 2025.
Frontier LLMs are likely to be an oligopoly market. Current contenders include closed source models like OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and perhaps Grok/X.ai, and Llama (Meta) and Mistral on the open source side. This list may of course change in the coming year or two. Frontier models keep getting more and more expensive to train, while commodity models drop in price each year as performance goes up (for example, it is probably ~5X cheaper to train GPT-3.5 equivalent now than 2 years ago)
Swiggy’s IPO will also show how willing investors are to bet on business models that prioritize growth over profits amid challenging global conditions.
For Dutch investor Prosus, Swiggy’s listing could deliver a three-fold return. It will also be the venture firm’s biggest hit from India, where its $1 billion-plus gains from Byju’s have all but evaporated. Accel is expected to see a more than 35-fold return, one of its largest in the past five years.
As model scale has gotten larger, funding increasingly has been primarily coming from the cloud providers / big tech. For example, Microsoft invested $10B+ in OpenAI, while Anthropic raised $7B between Amazon and Google. NVIDIA is also a big investor in foundation model companies of many types. The venture funding for these companies in contrast is a tiny drop in the ocean in comparison. As frontier model training booms in cost, the emerging funders are largely concentrated amongst big tech companies (typically with strong incentives to fund the area for their own revenue - ie cloud providers or NVIDIA), or nation states wanting to back local champions (see eg UAE and Falcon). This is impacting the market and driving selection of potential winners early.
Swiggy’s Instamart is among the top three quick-commerce businesses in the country, which promise deliveries of groceries, wellness and beauty products and much more within 10 minutes. Whether these companies will be able to revolutionize the broader retail market in India remains to be seen, but they have already captured 56% of the online grocery delivery market from e-commerce firms, according to JPMorgan.
Quick-commerce firms such as Instamart, Zomato-owned BlinkIt, Zepto, BigBasket, and Minutes are changing consumer behavior in urban Indian cities, home to about 80 million people. Together, they are on track to record sales of more than $6 billion this year, according to TechCrunch estimates.
It is important to note that the scale of investments being made by these cloud providers is dwarfed by actual cloud revenue. For example, Azure from Microsoft generates $25B in revenue a quarter. The ~$10B OpenAI investment by Microsoft is roughly 6 weeks of Azure revenue. AI is having a big impact on Azure revenue revently. Indeed Azure grew 6 percentage points in Q2 2024 from AI - which would put it at an annualized increase of $5-6B (or 50% of its investment in OpenAI! Per year!). Obviously revenue is not net income but this is striking nonetheless, and suggests the big clouds have an economic reason to fund more large scale models over time.
In parallel, Meta has done outstanding work with Llama models and recently announced $20B compute budget, in part to fund massive model training. I posited 18 months ago that an open source sponsor for AI models should emerge, but assumed it would be Amazon or NVIDIA with a lower chance of it being Meta. (Zuckerberg & Yann Lecunn have been visionary here).
There are a lot of potential areas that Tako could expand into in the future, like the vast world of employee benefits. Gadotti said the company does plan to expand as it grows into building more features like instant payments.
In addition to competing with legacy companies like ADP, there are multiple other HR tech startups in the country like Gupy and Caju, which are both more focused on other areas within HR and employee management. But if Tako expands into these areas, which it likely will, these companies could also become strong competitors.
Are cloud providers king-making a handful of players at the frontier and locking in the oligopoly market via the sheer scale of compute/capital they provide? When do cloud providers stop funding new LLM foundation companies versus continuing to fund existing? Cloud providers are easily the biggest funders of foundation models, not venture capitalists. Given they are constrained in M&A due to FTC actions, and the revenue that comes from cloud usage, it is rational for them to do so. This may lead / has led to some distortion of market dynamics. How does this impact the long term economics and market structure for LLMs? Does this mean we will see the end of new frontier LLM companies soon due to a lack of enough capital and talent for new entrants? Or do they keep funding large models hoping some will convert on their clouds to revenue?
“The strategy we took is that we are not trying to boil the ocean,” Gadotti said. “We want to start in a segment we know before venturing into industrials or more complex areas. We are starting in more simpler segments; as the company evolves, we are going to more complex segments in the future.”
Tako is emerging from stealth with a sizable $13.2 million seed round co-led by Ribbit Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. The round also included ONEVC and the founders of Ramp. Gadotti said the company plans to put the majority of capital toward research and development in addition to doubling or tripling headcount on its R&D team.
Tako is emerging from stealth with a sizable $13.2 million seed round co-led by Ribbit Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. The round also included ONEVC and the founders of Ramp. Gadotti said the company plans to put the majority of capital toward research and development in addition to doubling or tripling headcount on its R&D team.
There are a lot of potential areas that Tako could expand into in the future, like the vast world of employee benefits. Gadotti said the company does plan to expand as it grows into building more features like instant payments.
xAI launched Grok-2 in August with image generation capacities, backed by Black Forest Labs’ FLUX.1 model. Late last month, the company also gave the model the ability to understand images.
All these features were available only to Premium and Premium+ users until now. By opening up Grok to free users, xAI is possibly looking for a more significant userbase and faster feedback cycle for its products, so that it can better compete with other models on the market like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.
Does OSS models flip some of the economics in AI from foundation models to clouds? Does Meta continue to fund OS models? If so, does eg Llama-N catch up to the very frontier? A fully open source model performing at the very frontier of AI has the potential to flip a subportion the economic share of AI infra from LLMs towards cloud and inference providers and decreases revenue away from the other LLM foundation model companies. Again, this is likely an oligopoly market with no singular winner (barring AGI), but has implications on how to think about the relative importance of cloud and infrastructure companies in this market (and of course both can be very important!).
According to a researcher who goes by Swak on X, there are limits on the usage for now: 10 queries per two hours with the Grok-2 model, 20 queries per two hours with the Grok-2 mini model, and three image analysis questions per day.
To use Grok for free, your account should be at least seven days old and have a phone number linked to it.
Upstox has been using Equal for about a year and is processing around 350,000 transactions a month. Before that, Kumar said, the platform was relying on existing ID-verification providers.
“Equal has been able to aggregate across a slew of different APIs and ensures very high uptime between all those different connections,” he said.
How do we think about speed and price vs performance for models? One could imagine extremely slow incredibly performant models may be quite valuable if compared to normal human speed to do things. The latest largest Gemini models seem to be heading in this direction with large 1 million+ token context windows a la Magic, which announced a 5 million token window in June 2023. Large context windows and depth of understanding can really change how we think about AI uses and engineering. On the other side of the spectrum, Mistral has shown the value of small, fast and cheap to inference performant models. The 2x2 below suggests a potential segmentation of where models will matter most.
Equal is not alone in the space, as the market already has players such as Perfios (backed by Warburg Pincus and Teachers’ Venture Growth), IDfy (backed by TransUnion), and Bureau (backed by GMO VenturePartners). However, Reddy told TechCrunch that unlike the competition, Equal plays the role of an aggregator and partners even with some of its competitors.
Ravi Kumar, co-founder and CEO of Upstox, who has also invested in Equal’s maiden round and is one of the early customers for its identity verification and account aggregator, told TechCrunch that it’s the cost and uptime that gives the trading platform a reason not to look for building a similar tech in-house.
“Data sharing is still a major problem in this country if it’s not done digitally with consent,” Keshav Reddy, the son of GVK Group’s vice chairman GV Sanjay Reddy, told TechCrunch.
Reddy founded Equal with former Swiggy engineering director Rajeev Ranjan after moving back to India from the U.S.
For over the last two years, Reddy bootstrapped Equal, and the startup has added more than 350 customers, including State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Reliance Jio, Airtel, Uber, and Zoom.
How do architectures for foundation models evolve? Do agentic models with different architectures subsume some of the future potential of LLMs? When do other forms of memory and reasoning come into play?
Do governments back (or direct their purchasing to) regional AI champions?Will national governments differentially spend on local models a la Boeing vs Airbus in aerospace? Do governments want to support models that reflect their local values, languages, etc? Besides cloud providers and global big tech (think also e.g. Alibaba, Rakuten etc) the other big sources of potential capital are countries. There are now great model companies in Europe (e.g. Mistral), Japan, India, UAE, China and other countries. If so, there may be a few multi-billion AI foundation model regional companies created just off of government revenue.
The startup has now raised a Series A round of $10 million at a post-money valuation of $80 million to scale its operations, expand the product suite, and forge strategic partnerships. The round was led by Prosus Ventures, along with Tomales Bay Capital and Reddy himself, and saw participation from other investors, including Blume Ventures, DST Global, Gruhas VC, and Quona VC.
Equal is not alone in the space, as the market already has players such as Perfios (backed by Warburg Pincus and Teachers’ Venture Growth), IDfy (backed by TransUnion), and Bureau (backed by GMO VenturePartners). However, Reddy told TechCrunch that unlike the competition, Equal plays the role of an aggregator and partners even with some of its competitors.
What happens in China? One could anticipate Chinese LLMs to be backed by Tencent, Alibaba, Xiaomi, ByteDance and others investing in big ways into local LLMs companies. China’s government has long used regulatory and literal firewalls to prevent competition from non-Chinese companies and to build local, government supported and censored champions. One interesting thing to note is the trend of Chinese OSS models. Qwen from Alibaba for example has moved higher on the broader LMSYS leaderboards.
“There is a robust regulatory regime that exists in place today that’s been developed over 30 years,” and it’s well-equipped to construct new policies for AI and other tech. It’s true, at the federal level alone, regulatory bodies include everything from the Federal Communications Commission to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. When TechCrunch asked Casado on Wednesday after the election if he stands by this opinion — that AI regulation should follow the path already hammered out by existing regulatory bodies — he said he did.
What happens with X.ai? Seems like a wild card.
How good does Google get? Google has the compute, scale, talent to make amazing things and is organized and moving fast. Google was always the worlds first AI-first company. Seems like a wild card.
The counterargument — and one several people in the audience brought up — was that the world didn’t really see the types of harms that the internet or social media could do before those harms were upon us. When Google and Facebook were launched, no one knew they would dominate online advertising or collect so much data on individuals. No one understood things like cyberbullying or echo chambers when social media was young.
Advocates of AI regulation now often point to these past circumstances and say those technologies should have been regulated early on.
Infra companies
There are a few types of infrastructure companies with very different uses. For example, Braintrust provides eval, prompt playgrounds, logging and proxies to help companies move from “vibe based” analysis of AI to data driven. Scale.ai and others play a key role in data labeling, fine tuning, and other areas. A number of these have open but less existential questions (for example how much of RLHF turns into RLAIF).
“You have to have a notion of marginal risk that’s different. Like, how is AI today different than someone using Google? How is AI today different than someone just using the internet? If we have a model for how it’s different, you’ve got some notion of marginal risk, and then you can apply policies that address that marginal risk,” he said.
“I think we’re a little bit early before we start to glom [onto] a bunch of regulation to really understand what we’re going to regulate,” he argues.
While this particular state law is dead, the fact it existed still bothers Casado. He is concerned that more bills, constructed in the same way, could materialize if politicians decide to pander to the general population’s fears of AI, rather than govern what the technology is actually doing.
He understands AI tech better than most. Before joining the storied VC firm, Casado founded two other companies, including a networking infrastructure company, Nicira, that he sold to VMware for $1.26 billion a bit over a decade ago. Before that, Casado was a computer security expert at Lawrence Livermore National Lab.
The biggest uncertainties and questions in AI infra have to do with the AI Cloud Stack and how it evolves. It seems like there are very different needs between startups and enterprises for AI cloud services. For startups, the new cloud providers and tooling (think Anyscale, Baseten, Modal, Replicate, Together, etc) seem to be taking a useful path resulting in fast adoption and revenue growth.
For enterprises, who tend to have specialized needs, there are some open questions. For example:
Does the current AI cloud companies need to build an on-premise/BYOC/VPN version of their offerings for larger enterprises? It seems like enterprises will optimize for (a) using their existing cloud marketplace credits which they already have budget for, to buy services (b) will be hesitant to round trip out from where their webapp / data is hosted (ie AWS, Azure, GCP) due to latency & performance and (c) will care about security, compliance (FedRAMP, HIPAA etc). The short term startup market for AI cloud may differ from long term enterprise needs.
He says that many proposed AI regulations did not come from, nor were supported by, many who understand AI tech best, including academics and the commercial sector building AI products.
“You have to have a notion of marginal risk that’s different. Like, how is AI today different than someone using Google? How is AI today different than someone just using the internet? If we have a model for how it’s different, you’ve got some notion of marginal risk, and then you can apply policies that address that marginal risk,” he said.
How much of AI cloud adoption is due to constrained GPU / GPU arb? In the absence of GPU on the main cloud providers companies are scrambling to find sufficient GPU for their needs, accelerating adoption of new startups with their own GPU clouds. One potential strategy NVIDIA could be doing is preferentially allocating GPU to these new providers to decrease bargaining power of hyperscalers and to fragment the market, as well as to accelerate the industry via startups.
And this is why we’ve seen a steady rise in funding initiatives come to the fore. This includes reactive programs, such as 2022’s Big Tech-driven $30 million pledge to bolster open source security in the wake of the Log4Shell security flaw that wreaked havoc on the software supply chain. But we’re also seeing more proactive efforts, driven from all corners of industry.
Silicon Valley VC Sequoia Capital launched an open source fellowship in 2023 to support project maintainers with equity-free capital to cover living expenses for up to 12 months. Its inaugural fellow was Colombian software developer Sebastián Ramírez Montaño, creator of FastAPI, an open source web framework for building APIs.
When does the GPU bottleneck end and how does that impact new AI cloud providers? It seems like an end to GPU shortages on the main clouds would be negative for companies whose only business is GPU cloud, while those with more tools and services should have an easier transition if this were to happen.
In February, Sequoia revealed it would start accepting applications from any developer leading an open source project, with plans to provide funding for up to three qualifying projects annually. Nine months on, and the first two fellows from Sequoia’s expanded program have now been revealed: Chatbot Arena, a popular open source AI model benchmarking tool used by many of the industry’s biggest names, including OpenAI, Meta, and Google; and vLLM, an open source library focused on memory management to power faster and cheaper LLM serving.
How do new AI ASICS like
Groq
impact AI clouds?
What else gets consolidated into AI clouds? Do they cross sell embeddings & RAG? Continuous updates? Fine tuning? Other services? How does that impact data labelers or others with overlapping offerings? What gets consolidated directly into model providers vs via the clouds?
Chatbot Arena, which spun out of a broader research organization called LMSYS, is the handiwork of doctorate students Wei-Lin Chiang and Anastasios Angelopoulos from Berkeley’s Sky Computing Lab. With north of 1 million monthly users, Chatbot Arena is all about helping LLM developers validate claims around their models’ performance, while anyone can test these models and vote for their preferences. Companies such as OpenAI often share versions of their models with the Chatbot Arena team ahead of the models’ release to help fine-tune things before their formal launch.
It is important to note there are really 2 market segments in the AI cloud world (a) startups (b) mid-market and enterprise. It seems likely that “GPU only” business model default works with the startup segment(who have fewer cloud needs), but for large enterprises adoption may be more driven by GPU cloud constraints on major platforms. Do companies providing developer tooling, API endpoints, and/or specialized hardware, or other aspects morph into two other analogous models - (a) “Snowflake/Databricks for AI” model or (b) “Cloudflare for AI”? If so, which ones adopt
While Chatbot Arena receives financing as part of the creators’ doctorate research work at the Sky Computing Lab, the Sequoia fellowship award of $100,000 will help fund further technical development, including building a better interface.
“The Sequoia grant supports the development of Chatbot Arena’s website, covering full-stack development and server maintenance costs,” Chiang told TechCrunch. “This is a gift to support the open source project, with no future obligations.”
How big do the new AI clouds become? As large as Heroku, Digital Ocean, Snowflake, or AWS? What is the size of outcome and utilization scale for this class of company?
How does the AI stack evolve with very long context window models? How do we think about the interplay of context window & prompt engineering, fine tuning, RAG, and inference costs?
Sequoia isn’t the only VC firm to lend equity-free support to Chatbot Arena; Andreessen Horowitz launched an open source AI grant program last August, and Chatbot Arena’s umbrella outfit LMSYS was among the second cohort of recipients.
Chiang said that there are no plans to evolve the project into a commercial entity, underscoring the need for alternative sources of financing — now, and perhaps long into the future.
“As part of our long-term vision, we may establish a nonprofit organization to host the leaderboard, keeping our focus on broad accessibility and community impact,” Chiang said.
How does FTC (and other regulator) prevention of M&A impact this market? There are at least a dozen credible companies building AI cloud related products and services - too many for all of them to be stand alone. How does one think about exits under an administration that is aggressively against tech M&A? Should the AI clouds themselves consolidate amongst themselves to consolidate share and services offered?
In tandem, Berkeley’s Sky Computing Lab also birthed vLLM in 2022, spearheaded by researchers Zhuohan Li, Woosuk Kwon, and Simon Mo, who started the project after developing a system to distribute complex processes across multiple GPUs more efficiently. vLLM leans on a new “attention algorithm” dubbed PagedAttention, which helps reduce memory waste and is already being used by developers at companies such as AWS, Cloudflare, and Nvidia.
AI search tools have been corrupted. Alexa, owned by Amazon, once provided a view count for various websites and services. Alexa was not originally the in-home device that we are familiar with as the company was developed independently and purchased by Amazon in 1999. Amazon coincidentally named its in-home tool “Alexa” in 2014. The company quietly removed the web ranking tool in 2022 with no explanation.
Similar to Chatbot Arena, vLLM serves as the focal point of its creators’ PhD research work, and future commercialization is not currently on the agenda.
“At the moment, we do not have a plan to transition it into a stand-alone company — we are solely focused on making the open source project useful and widely adopted,” Mo said.
ChatGPT was the starting gun for many AI founders. Prior to ChatGPT (and right before that Midjourney and Stable Diffusion) most people in tech were not paying close attention to the Transformer/Diffusion model revolution and dislocation we are now experiencing.
This means that people closest to the model and technology - ie AI researchers and infra engineers - were the first people to leave to start new companies based on this technology. The people farther away from the core model world - many product engineers, designers, and PMs, did not become aware of how important AI is until now.
In addition to Sequoia’s $100,000 contribution for the year, other public sponsors include Andreessen Horowitz, which donated as part of its inaugural open source AI grant program last year, while the likes of AWS, Nvidia, and others have collectively helped vLLM cover its compute resources — which are not insignificant.
“For vLLM, we intend to use the fund to cover our continuous integration testing and benchmark suite,” Mo said. “These suites, running on GPUs, are expensive to maintain but critical to ensure the performance and correctness of vLLM for production usage.”
Now, this is not a one-off issue. Good cache just so happened to cease service shortly after Archive.org was hacked. The service would provide users with a cached version of the website they were viewing. Google offered no explanation. It’s Google – they have the server capacity to continue this service.
The items that have not been scrubbed from the internet have been hidden by Big Tech. Joe Rogan’s viral interview with Donald Trump secured over 34 million views. Yet, Google and YouTube have altered their search engines to make the video difficult to find. Rogan was forced to post the full three-hour interview on X, one of the final frontier of free speech
ChatGPT launched ~15 months ago. If it takes 9-12 months to decide to quit your job, a few months to do it, and a few months to brainstorm an initial idea with a cofounder, we should start to see a wave of app builders showing up now / shortly.
B2B apps. What will be the important companies and markets in the emerging wave of B2B apps?Where will incumbents gain value versus startups? I have a long post on this coming shortly.
One clear message emerges from all this: AI and data infrastructure might be driving demand for open source technologies, but this demand creates significant costs for the project maintainers. Ion Stoica, professor of the computer science division at Berkeley and a Sky Computing Lab adviser, says that the funding pressure on open source project maintainers is “at least an order of magnitude higher” with the advent of LLMs.
“You have multiple kinds of GPUs, you have all of these other accelerators, and there’s also a difference in scale,” he said. “Ten years ago, most of the funding for a new startup would go to adding people; today, it’s going to infrastructure.”
Last week, along with a DDOS attack and exposure of patron email addresses and encrypted passwords, the Internet Archive’s website javascript was defaced, leading us to bring the site down to access and improve our security. The stored data of the Internet Archive is safe and we are working on resuming services safely. This new reality requires heightened attention to cyber security and we are responding. We apologize for the impact of these library services being unavailable.
Alignment
Digging a little deeper, and it’s clear that Sequoia’s involvement isn’t quite as altruistic as it might seem, owing to the fact that its two new fellows intersect with startups in its existing investment portfolio. By way of example, vLLM is used by Replicate, which Sequoia (and Andreessen Horowitz) backed across its Series A and Series B rounds.
Elsewhere, Sequoia last year co-led a $5 million seed round into an AI startup called Factory, with the startup’s founder and CTO Eno Reyes confirming that his company uses Chatbot Arena to “keep close track” of the top LLM options.
Consumer. Arguably a number of the earliest AI products are consumer or “prosumer” - ie used in both personal and business use cases. Apps like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Perplexity and Pika are examples of this. That said, why are there so few consumer builders in the AI ecosystem? Is it purely the time delay mentioned above? It seems like the 2007-2012 social product cohort has aged out. New blood is needed to build the next great wave of AI consumer.
A librarian for the organization said that they expect the service to be restored but was unable to provide details. “While the Wayback Machine has been in read-only mode, web crawling and archiving have continued. Those materials will be available via the Wayback Machine as services are secured.” This means that individual websites may scrub content from their site without any third-party having the ability to capture it.
“They’re a key input to make sure we have the best product for our users,” Reyes said.
Similarly, Sequoia’s first fellowship award last year, FastAPI, leans heavily on Pydantic, the popular data validation library created by the eponymous startup in Sequoia’s portfolio.
However, Sequoia Capital partner Lauren Reeder told TechCrunch that this cross-pollination between fellows and portfolio isn’t a strict condition of its funding decisions, merely a “nice bonus” when things do align. And in truth, when an open source project is genuinely popular, there’s every chance that it will be picked up by one of Sequoia’s portfolio companies, which is a good way for the VC firm to hear about worthwhile projects.
Agents. Lots and lots of things can happen with agents. What will be strong focused product areas versus startups looking for a use case?
This is one of the most exciting and fast-changing moments in technology in my lifetime. It will be fun to see what everyone builds. Looking forward to thoughts on the questions above.
Thanks to Amjad Masad and Vipul Prakash for comments on a draft of this post.
In terms of how the funding is dispersed, Reeder says it’s open to whatever suits the team in question. For FastAPI, this involved making a direct payment to Montaño himself, which was simpler given that it was just the one individual. But where teams are involved, it makes sense to use a third-party fundraising platform such as Open Collective, which also comes with added transparency.
“For the two most recent fellows, we were supporting small groups rather than a single individual and Open Collective made it easier to manage the funds,” Reeder said. “Similarly, we’ve done both up-front payments as multi-install payments, depending on the needs of the project. Open Collective is more transparent, but the fees are not insignificant.”
Internet censorship tactics are happening on a grand scale in secrecy. The establishment is scrubbing internet achieves across numerous platforms in an attempt to reframe public opinion and ultimately rewrite history.
Archive.org has been tracking websites since 1994, but recently, it has stopped collecting data in real-time. The website stopped archiving on October 8, 2024, with a curious explanation: Archive.org faced a Denial of Service attack (DDOS) that nearly wiped it out. Who would be targeting such a service?
There have been numerous other efforts to formalize open source project financing in the past five years alone, including dedicated FOSS funds from Indeed and Salesforce, a tacit acknowledgment that critical components of the tech stack are crying out for support.
One of the biggest efforts of late, however, hails from developer tooling unicorn Sentry, which itself has been donating to open source projects for many years. In 2021, Sentry adopted a more systematic program with firmer and more transparent commitments, and last month the company officially launched the Open Source Pledge to encourage other companies to get involved — either by donating directly through platforms such as GitHub Sponsors or Thanks.dev, or indirectly via foundations.
The rules of engagement are thus: Commitments should amount to at least $2,000 per year for each developer the member company has on staff, which for Sentry itself translated to around $500,000 last year — $3,704 for each of its 135 developer headcount. Beneficiaries through the years have included Django, Python, Rust, and Apache. This year, Sentry has upped its own budget to $750,000, and with some two dozen additional members signed up to the Pledge at the time of writing, Whitacre is hopeful that open source software developers will see a little more compensation in the future.
For the last 5 decades[1], every wave of technology-driven companies has had amongst them highly capital efficient businesses. The capital efficiency tends to reflect that (a) people really want your product and will pay you for it and (b) the founders are cost-conscious and frugal, and do not overhire.
Indeed, Paul Graham from YC has developed the metric of “default alive” to reflect capital efficiency as a core sort of startup metric.
A More Affordable Vision on the Horizon?
Tim Cook has hinted that Apple isn’t stepping away from VR altogether. Instead, the company is pivoting to develop a more affordable version of the Vision Pro. By trimming down on non-essential technologies, Apple hopes to create a product that retains the essence of its high-end headset while appealing to a broader audience.
Early rumors suggest the new model could be priced around $2,300—a significant drop but still far from the affordability of Meta’s Quest 3, which recently launched at just $329. Apple faces the challenge of balancing cost and innovation to remain competitive in a market where consumers increasingly expect premium experiences at accessible prices.
Capital efficiency has existed in roughly every technology wave. Many of the largest, more important companies in the world started off highly capital efficient. Inded, capital efficiency tends to reflect an especially strong business model (and in some cases founder). Examples include:
Microsoft was bootstrapped in the 1970s and did not raise any venture capital until a round right prior to their IPO, when Bill Gates wanted a VC for his board and that came with strings attached for the VC to invest. The investment went straight into the bank account and remained untouched.
Despite its high cost, Apple marketed the Vision Pro as more than just a VR device. Its capabilities, including the potential to function as a standalone computer, justified the comparison to a MacBook Pro. But for many, even a “virtual laptop” wasn’t enough to warrant the price.
For Apple, this may be a lesson in understanding the evolving expectations of consumers. The Vision Pro’s fate suggests that even the most innovative products can stumble when they fail to find their audience. However, with plans for a more affordable headset in the works, Apple seems determined to learn from its missteps and return to the market stronger.
As Tim Cook and his team forge ahead, one thing is clear: Apple’s journey into the VR space is far from over. While the Vision Pro may have fallen short of its lofty ambitions, it could pave the way for a future where immersive technology is truly accessible to all.
Dell was bootstrapped off cash flow in the 1980s until a similar pre-IPO round.
Yahoo and eBay famously did not touch their early venture capital funding in the 1990s - they were run so lean and profitably that they did not need to raise large sums.
Google raised a single round of traditional venture capital, before doing a pre-IPO round with Yahoo! and others.
Instagram was just a dozen or so people before being acquired by Facebook, while Zapier only ever raised a $1.3M seed round before bootstrapping from then on. These companies were founded in 2010s on.
Midjourney (founded in 2020s) is rumored to be entirely bootstrapped today.
This discovery significantly enhances our understanding of the Solar System’s history. The Moon’s solid core and the differentiation process, where denser materials move towards the center, may have been integral in shaping the Solar System. Moreover, this could shed light on some of the intense meteoritic bombardments that characterized the first billion years of lunar history.
Why are some businesses capital efficient?
In general there tend to be two drivers of capital efficiency.
Customers will pay (a lot) for the product. The “capital” side of capital efficiency is often a proxy for both product / market fit and an intense customer need. Customers are willing to pay up for a product that is important to them, and there is insufficient competition in the market to commoditize pricing or destroy the category (so the product is somehow differentiated). Pricing is often a proxy for value & differentiation of a product.
Future Prospects for Lunar Exploration
The confirmation of the Moon’s internal structure opens new avenues for space exploration. Upcoming lunar missions, such as NASA’s Artemis program and private sector initiatives, will build on these findings with more sophisticated instruments. This new era of exploration will help validate and refine current models, leading to a deeper understanding of our natural satellite and its origins.
The company is run efficiently. During COVID roughly all tech startups lost their way on spending. Capital was flowing freely and teams often rapidly and dramatically over hired, boosted expenses on things non-crucial for the business, and spent wastefully. The most capital efficient businesses tend to be frugal and have a low cost approach to the world. Salaries are lower to help make equity more valuable. The founders and employees of these businesses treat the dollar spent by the business as their own money (which it is, as they are shareholders in the business). They realize that profitability gives them infinite runway and enormous freedom on decision making and future path optionality.
When to bootstrap?
Too few silicon valley (or NY or other cluster) based technology companies bootstrap.
If you can grow organically and optimally without hiring a massive team and increasing expenses it is great to do so!
If your company is a cash versus equity business, you should bootstrap.
If your company is growing slowly and will never hit venture scale, you should bootstrap.
While the search term for Bengal cats appears relatively niche, the company claims that makes the hacking threat even more alarming because you don’t have to be searching for anything nefarious in order to have your personal details stolen.
SOPHOS says cyber criminals are increasingly infiltrating innocuous Google searches by using a tactic known as “SEO poisoning.”
Venture capital is typically used to either:
Build out or prototype something. This may be something inexpensive but for some reason can not be bootstrapped off of customers (e.g. a new SaaS product) or is something capital intensive that may have a giant market on the other side. The later includes things like building rockets for spaceX, or biotech drugs.
Scale something that is working. For example, you want to add sales or go-to-market functions to sell faster/better, or your consumer app is growing like crazy and you want to be able to add more compute to serve users. Uber needed to raise billions to both scale rapidly and beat out global competition.
You need the valuation for external uses. E.g. M&A or hiring (there are other ways to do this too).
In general, if you are not prototyping / proving something works, or scaling something that does work, you should not raise money.
One could argue that while too many SV/NY/cluster-based tech companies raise money, too few outside of major tech clusters do. In many cities and regions people bootstrap for too long, do not scale quickly enough, or do not think about time to winning in a big market. It is possible that non-cluster tech companies in the US end up scaling fast too infrequently.
Besides Tesla, which makes electric vehicles and works on self-driving cars, Musk already owns or leads several companies. That includes aerospace firm SpaceX, the social media platform X, artificial intelligence startup xAI, brain chip startup Neuralink, and tunneling firm The Boring Company.
This could give Tesla a significant advantage under the new Trump administration — including some influence on the regulation of driverless vehicles, while at the same time putting its competitors at a disadvantage.
The CEO, who leads a number of other firms including SpaceX, is poised to have some level of role or influence in the upcoming Trump administration, including perhaps leading a newly proposed Department of Government Efficiency (or DOGE, after Musk’s favorite cryptocurrency).
Occasionally, you also see an SV/NY/cluster-based company that is growing really well and has turned profitable, and then forgoes building against and winning in their category. Sometimes this is the right thing for founders to do, and sometimes it reflects a lack of know-how, ambition, or aggressiveness. Sometimes, it just shows the founders had a bad experience at a company that scaled for no good reason and ruined the company culture, ability to execute, and products. The wrong lessons may be learned from bad growth and bad execution. It is so rare to actually build something that people care about, that it feels like a shame to not go win when you can - but obviously it is up to each founder and team to chose their own path. Some companies that focus on or hit profitability early then forgo winning the market - their focus shifts too much on maintaining cash flow versus growing faster to take the market.
As part of that job, Musk has said he would advocate for a national approach to regulating driverless vehicles — a key market for Tesla — and cut regulations, which he has repeatedly criticized as holding his companies back. SpaceX, Neuralink, X, and Tesla are collectively the subject of at least 20 recent investigations or reviews.
Generically, startups are rewarded for progress per unit time, versus progress per unit dollar (all else being equal within a given burn multiple range).
Hopefully more capital efficiency returns to technology now that ZIRP and COVID policies are (roughly) a thing of the past. Many of the most important companies in the world started in a capital efficient state.
While Trump’s victory is good for Tesla, it’s expected to be less friendly to other automakers with EV plans. He’s expected to freeze provisions of President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which provided $7,500 tax credits for American-made EVs. Musk has supported ending the tax credit, believing it would help Tesla sales while hurting its rivals.
To be clear, much of that is beyond Sheridan’s control. If Costner wouldn’t return to shoot additional episodes, then there were only so many endings a creator can write for his character. But even in a soap opera as soapy as “Yellowstone” — lest we forget, Jamie was secretly adopted as a child and has a secret baby all his own — John Dutton’s chosen ending still strains plausibility.
Yeah, and let me know if there are specific details that'd be more interesting. So I was a supply chain engineer at Amazon and was not fulfilled. I was like, there's got to be more to life than this. I decided that I wanted to become an entrepreneur. I moved from Seattle to San Francisco and realized that the only real way of becoming an entrepreneur is to sort of really get your hands dirty.
So I started over the course of a couple of years, I started about 20 companies, did all kinds of things. Like at this time, Zynga was growing very fast. And so I built an ad network for social games. I built a Groupon specifically for food. This time Groupon was really big as well. And all these companies failed, unfortunately.
For one, no one who met John would ever believe he died by suicide. Episode 9 hints at that implausibility when Senator Perry (Wendy Moniz-Grillo) asks if Jamie believes the reports about his father’s cause of death. But then… everyone just buys in anyway? It doesn’t matter how the scene was staged by Sarah’s hitman. John’s entire identity was forged through toughness, and even in private, he never let on that he was depressed or otherwise wrestling with demons beyond his control. Asking people who knew John — the police, the ranchers, most of Montana — to believe he up and decided to die by his own hand is about as silly as it gets.
And I was in San Francisco in my apartment. I realized that all I had in my fridge was a bottle of hot sauce. And this was a common problem for me and it didn't make sense to me. This was 2012 and we were ordering everything online except for groceries. And here it is. There's a trillion-dollar category that's still stuck offline. And so I decided that I was going to bring this category online.
I started coding the first version of Instacart and three weeks later Instacart was born. And at the time, because I was the only one in the company, I placed my order and then went to the store, picked up my groceries, and delivered them to myself. And of course, I gave myself a nice tip.
Applying the same logic, it doesn’t add up that John’s death could come at the hands of such a minor character. Sarah has done little to establish herself as a serious threat. Jamie has never once outsmarted his father. Neither seems stronger together. (Their tryst appears superficially manipulative on her part, like she’s seducing Jamie as part of her job at Market Equities, and it only makes him look dumber for naively going along with it.) That leaves the rest of Season 5 with a lot of work to do in explaining how, exactly, these two nincompoops did what so many more capable antagonists across the previous four seasons couldn’t: kill John Dutton.
But even if it does, whatever happens next, Episode 9 (“Desire Is All You Need”) did little to reassure fans that “Yellowstone” can get by without Costner. Many of the storylines still dangling hinge on Costner’s presence. How much do we care about the pipeline being built if John’s not there to stop it? What about his longstanding rivalry with Thomas Rainwater? What about Summer (Piper Perabo), and their weird little hippie/cowboy relationship? What about his showdown with Jamie, his questionable connection with Kayce, or a proper goodbye to the daughter who devoted her life to him? Heck, what about the financial decisions he’s made to keep the ranch running amid an outbreak of brucellosis — decisions that he made, and he should address?
So when Instacart got up and running, about a decade before that, there was Webvan, which was one of the most famous craters in all of Silicon Valley history. It was backed by Sequoia. It raised a billion dollars or something. It hired the CEO of Accenture and started running it and then it was like a total wipe. And it was a very asset-heavy business.
What was the reception when you told people that this is what you were going to do were people like, that's a great idea? Were they like, how could you do this? Don't you know the history? What was the reaction?
A few of these arcs are addressed in Episode 9, but what does it say about John, as a iconic modern cowboy, father, and leader, that he died without resolving so many loose ends? Some may say, “That’s life — it’s messy.” But the series has never labored for accuracy (except when it comes to wrangling cattle and the like). It strives for emotional truths over all else, whether it’s Beth’s tough-talking business negotiations (which, if applied literally, are essentially nonsensical) or Kayce’s “shoot first, ask questions never” ways of serving as livestock commissioner. Costner could sell those because of his movie star gravitas, his lived experience, his status on the show, and the status he lent to his character.
“Red One” was conceived by story writer and producer Hiram Garcia as the start of a Marvel-sized holiday franchise for Amazon MGM Studios, and the mythological world it opens up suggests a million snowglobes’ worth of possibilities for MCU-level interconnectedness. Leading alongside Johnson is Chris Evans as Jack O’Malley, a high-functioning-alcoholic hacker and bounty hunter estranged from his son (Wesley Kimmel) and for whom the workday starts passed out in an empty bathtub, a drained bottle of whiskey just out of focus.
Yeah, I remember there was an investor meeting that I had in the early days and I walk into this meeting and I start presenting. And this is like 24-year-old Apoorva. I wanted to really stand out. The title under my logo was Webvan done right. And I started, got to the second slide, third slide, and this investor literally got up and left the room and I was like, Is the meeting over? It's very clear I didn't get the term sheet. But then he came back and he slapped this floppy disk on the desk on the table. And he was like, this has the Webvan business plan, you should go home and study it and you will never do this company. And so the reception was not great.
f you don’t have the head for following Marvel’s head-spinning but often fundamentally dumb plot matrices, odds won’t much improve for keeping track of the cracked-out, under-baked story in “Red One,” as Jack’s latest job-for-hire inadvertently causes Santa Claus’ kidnapping. At the North Pole, Claus is readying for his grand night of chimney-hopping with milk and cookies and ringside support courtesy of Mrs. Claus (poor Bonnie Hunt). But Christmas may have to wait, as he’s taken hostage by the Christmas Witch, Gryla (poor Kiernan Shipka), a flesh-hungry ogress based in Icelandic mythology. St. Nick’s disappearance sends North Pole security head Callum Drift (Johnson) on a tailspin rescue mission on the very eve Callum was about to call it quits.
And this is sort of what you see with a lot of startup advice. It is very generic and you actually have to step back and reason from first principles. A lot has changed since when Webvan got started. And one of the main changes was the fact that now everyone was carrying a supercomputer that was connected to the Internet with GPS in their pockets. And so if you wanted to order your groceries, we could connect you with someone who was close to the grocery store, who could pick up and deliver the groceries to you. And we wouldn't need any trucks, we wouldn't need to hold inventory.
Also the head of a vaguely shadowy secret ops organization that protects creatures and folks from the mythological world is Lucy Liu, collectively onscreen for less time than it takes to sing the chorus of “Jingle Bells” and in an unfortunate wig to boot. She and her army of minions (including a talking CGI polar bear on its hindlegs) bring Jack in for questioning, though not after they’ve grilled the Headless Horseman as a possible culprit.
So the mismatched Jack (a “level-four naughty-lister,” according to North Pole brass) and Callum set out to retrieve Santa Claus in time for Christmas Eve. Shameless, just-in-time-for-holiday-shopping product placement is shoved in, from Mattel (Rock ’em Sock ’em Robots, Hot Wheels) and Hasbro (Monopoly), only alluding more to the capitalist imperatives that drove the project in the first place. And that could lead to myriad other cynical tie-ins to those toy giants’ own upcoming franchise movie plans.
It's kind of interesting because during that era there were a lot of things that had blown up ten years before that everybody thought would never work again. And then there were online versions of that. I think there was Chewy on the pet food side, but also things like payments. And so as PayPal sold to eBay, the conventional wisdom in Silicon Valley started to become that payments are too hard. And so all sorts of people avoided payments for ten years.
There’s a ghastly sequence in which Jack and Callum interrogate Nick Kroll as a “death merc,” one of Gryla’s mercenaries, and are chased by a legion of monstrous snowmen whose Achilles’ heel is having their carrot nose ripped out. The witchy Gryla (a role even Shipka can’t inject life into) aims to steal a naughty list “the size of Rhode Island” and harvest the souls of all the bad-doers to galvanize her takeover of Christmas, or something like that.
And Gryla’s ex is the dark lord of Christmas and Santa Claus’s brother, Krampus (“Game of Thrones” star Kristofer Hivju in gargoylean prosthetics), another foe for Jack and Callum to face down — and for Callum to lose, and then win against, in a slapping contest in another of the film’s childish jabs at winky slapstick humor. It’s all slogging toward a sleigh-ride showdown in the winter night sky, reminiscent of the visually heinous boss levels of any Marvel movie, where CGI reaches an unintelligible pitch of PG-13-rated cacophony.
Yeah, at the end of the day, you want to start a category-defining company. And payments: enormous TAM. Grocery enormous TAM. And if there are companies that can be built that have a shot of transforming a category, that's a shot that you want to take.
There's this famous saying in investing, which is that most investing mistakes are failures of a mission rather than failures of commission. All right? And so early stages for a lot of companies, it really is like you're buying an option for this company to be successful.
Perhaps “Red One” would work a little better (i.e., at all) if Evans and Johnson had any chemistry — at least this film should make you excited for Johnson’s entrée into serious screen acting with Benny Safdie’s upcoming wrestling biopic “The Smashing Machine.” You don’t watch “Red One” so much as stare ahead at the screen. It is a movie that is playing in front of you, I can comfortably give it that much, and for one meant to summon up the Christmas spirit, there’s not a whiff of mirth from the screenplay to the production level.
“Red One” will make you not only bummed about the holidays ahead, but about cinema’s future as well. Yet if you’ve been paying attention (and wasting your money at multiplexes in the process), the latter’s a reality far less shattering than the dawning of Santa Claus’s own upon a hopeful child. Make it a Christmas miracle, and cross this “Red One” off your list.
Now, of course, as you get into a lot more details about Instacart and I'm sure with Stripe you start to understand, yes, it is challenging, but with the approaches that we've taken, it actually is tractable. And if you solve some of these problems, you can actually make it a much more successful company.
Tesla shares have surged and the companies value is over $1 trillion. I have a video where I discuss why there will be follow through. (not financial advice).
There is a strong chance of $450 in the next 90 days.
$1000 in the second half of 2025.
And a 10X to $3000 by 2027.
Elon Musk is got on a call with the President elect and Ukraine President Zelensky.
The real bottleneck: confusion & skeuomorphism
Our main bottleneck isn't insufficient intelligence or infrastructure - it's confusion about what we should be building with AI. We're trapped in skeuomorphic thinking, viewing machine intelligence through the lens of human intelligence. In McLuhan terms, the first things we’re building with the new media (machine intelligence) are things we already build in the old media (human intelligence). The television just arrived and we’re still just televising radio broadcasts… we’re putting the yellow pages on the internet.
The Shanghai megapack factory is twice as large as the California factory. The profits are already $800 million per quarter from California and there has not been a quarter where the California average runrate of 10 GWh per quarter plus 2 gigawatt hours of powerwalls from Nevada has been shown. The full California megapack profits will be about $1.2 billion per quarter. China megapacks fully ramped with factory completing next month will be $3 billion per quarter.
Researchers referenced the Turing test (human imitation at its core) as a longstanding goal post in the field for meaningful machine intelligence.
Economists and think tanks forecast AI's disruption by reasoning about the labor force and what % of jobs are automate-able at increasing capability thresholds.
Founders similarly make arguments about the value of their AI businesses with labor automation logic: “okay X many people currently have this job... they cost Y per year.. if we can automate that work then our market size is on the order of X times Y annually.”
Investors create speculative sky high valuations (the short-term scorecard for company success) for companies that fit this metaphor, and you get a feedback loop to early seed investors/accelerators/founders that these are good companies.
Silicon Valley thinkpieces abound with analogies to AI/agentic workers that can do work just like a human co-worker, take its recent favorite AGI bull (Leopold’s Situational Awareness)
Tesla Energy business alone can double and triple each year into 2030. The Shanghai scale megapack factory only costs Tesla $1 billion in capex.
Improved Tesla Shanghai Megapack Factory Size Estimate
A reader has performed more detailed measurements of the Tesla Shanghai Megapack factory. He has dimensions of 450 meters by 180 meters (1476 feet X 590 feet).
Yeah. I felt like a lot of startups are actually created and remembered by the rules that they actually break. If you look at a company like TikTok, for example, they did paid user acquisition to grow their user base. That was considered to not be a practical thing to grow. And so you always had to take advice and really assess that for your own company.
I expect us to get something that looks a lot like a drop-in remote worker. An agent that joins your company, is onboarded like a new human hire, messages you and colleagues on Slack and uses your softwares, makes pull requests, and that, given big projects, can do the model-equivalent of a human going away for weeks to independently complete the project. You’ll probably need somewhat better base models than GPT-4 to unlock this, but possibly not even that much better
A reader has performed more detailed measurements of the Tesla Shanghai Megapack factory. He has dimensions of 450 meters by 180 meters (1476 feet X 590 feet).
This would be 870,800 square feet versus the 440,000 square feet of the Lathrop California megapack factory. This means almost exactly double.
The Tesla Shanghai megapack factory will also have two other buildings which will add another 300,000 square feet.
The result is a solidification of the right way to think about AI's proliferation: AI will do what humans did. This result is not without consequence, our collective understanding of the future shapes how we build it, invest in it, what we contribute to, what founders choose to found, etc.. As capital (early stage in particular) becomes more abundant, cultural narratives and metaphors wield more force in what people decide to work on.
Labor automation is clearly a tempting mental model, and there will be some very successful companies built around it. But, consider a few downsides:
Its relative obviousness and legibility lends itself to intense competition. “We are the only AI company automating X job in Y vertical”, starts to sound a lot like “we are the only British restaurant in Palo Alto.”
If you offer a business a way to do something that they already have a way of doing (paying humans, often inexpensively, who are super flexible and high-context), it has to be significantly better on some axes and highly reliable to justify risking what companies value most: predictability of growing profits. Many will not be sufficiently high ROI in a one to one comparison to existing globalized, technology augmented human workflows.
“We believe a Trump presidency will be an overall negative for the EV industry as very likely the EV rebates/tax incentives get pulled, however for Tesla we see this as a potential positive with some caveats. Tesla has the scale and scope that is unmatched in the EV industry and this dynamic could give Musk and Tesla a clear competitive advantage in a non-EV subsidy environment starting in 2025, coupled by likely higher China tariffs that would continue to push away cheaper Chinese EV players (BYD, Nio, etc.) from flooding the US market over the coming years.”
Imagining medium-native machine intelligence applications
It is common parlance in technology to speak of “AI-native”, or before it, “cloud-native” and “mobile native” as a way to identify upstarts in relation to their “non-native” incumbents. When I evoke “medium-native: here, my meaning goes much further. It’s not enough to simply “build with AI” to be medium-native, it’s to build in a way that takes advantage of its inherent strengths compared to what came before (human intelligence).
“We are raising our price target on Tesla to $400 from $300 as we believe the Trump White House win will be a gamechanger for the autonomous and AI story for Tesla and Musk over the coming years. We estimate the AI and autonomous opportunity is worth $1 trillion alone for Tesla and we fully expect under a Trump White House these key initiatives will now get fast tracked as the federal regulatory spiderweb that Musk & Co. have encountered over the past few years around FSD/autonomous clears significantly under a new Trump era. We maintain our OUTPERFORM rating on Tesla.”
Instead of focusing on how AI is the same as human intelligence we should be asking how it is different. If we build applications around the things AI is uniquely suited to doing, we are very likely to come upon green-field territory for new services and products. While higher risk (there’s no pre-existing solution to anchor off of as evidence for demand), green-field can be a proxy for fast growth because if you’re right about the utility of a thing, no existing customers have a solution in place. This is category creation, and it’s the type of thing that can spread by word of mouth very quickly.
I think the most important advice that we got multiple times, and it took me some time to internalize, was the team that you built is the company that you build. And initially, as a founder, I was just so focused on getting things done that I wouldn't jump into any single problem myself until it was absolutely, you know, in a place where I felt comfortable with. But then you realize that you've solved that problem for that moment.
The next quarter that will break again and the next quarter will break again. And so the most scalable way to actually solve a problem is to step back and hire the team that can actually solve the problem. And that was advice that I got multiple times I ignored. But over time, that became the way as a CEO, I started to solve problems.
Others defended Strahan and balked at it being a big issue.
Strahan himself has a connection to the military having grown up in a military family with his father serving 23 years in the United States Army and was part of the 82nd Airborn Division.
Yeah, I mean, of course you have your core values that you hold dearly yourself that show up in the work that you do every day. And for me, for example, they are number one, intellectual honesty. Early stages. You can make a lot of wrong decisions by focusing on hype, for example, or vanity metrics. But really, if you're intellectually honest, you get to the right answer.
Number two for me is executing relentlessly, which is a combination of urgency and excellence.
The campaign also spent up to $20 million on swing-state concerts on the eve of the election, according to a report in the New York Post, a sum that could have been more if a planned performance by Alanis Morissette had not been scrapped.
The campaign had seven swing-state concerts on Monday, the report noted, including performances by Jon Bon Jovi in Detroit, Christina Aguilera in Las Vegas, Katy Perry in Pittsburgh and Lady Gaga in Philadelphia, and a 2 Chainz performance at a rally three days before the election in Atlanta.
James Carville on how Sunny Hostin ended Kamala Harris' campaign:
"When we go back and history unearths this, it's going to be right there on the View.
Sunny Hostin, Houston, whatever asked the question. That's the most devastating answer you can imagine."
Thank you Sunny Hostin for your contribution to the Trump campaign.
Sunny Hostin thought she was giving Harris the easiest question ever but Harris was such a bad candidate she failed it.
But I think this incident will lead to lefties being even more scripted and devious in providing ?s ahead of time and working together on answers
Yeah, I think that there are a lot of people who have a strong aversion to people like that. But the reality is, I think you actually need a combination of those people because a lot of people who are in the early stage may not have the deep domain experience that is required at the later stage. And that's okay. In the early days, you kind of want the Swiss Army knives, but at later stages, those people are not able to scale as fast.
And so you do need a combination at later stages. Of course, there are a lot of companies that get stuck in a place where they're still doing the same thing, the same playbook, which obviously doesn't scale. So you do need the entrepreneurial DNA. Hopefully, you can retain that from the early stages, but it really is a combination.
Justice Sotomayor was appointed by President Obama in 2009. She’s been on the court for 15 years. She is the most senior Democratic appointee on the high court, followed by Justice Elena Kagan, who was also nominated by Mr. Obama, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was nominated by Mr. Biden in 2022.
Democrats are still sour about the decision of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg not to retire during a Democratic administration. She died in 2020, enabling Mr. Trump to appoint a justice — conservative Amy Coney Barrett — to a seat Ginsburg held for nearly three decades.
Ishiba has refused to step down and showed willingness to cooperate with additional coalition partners to boost stability and help him pursue his party’s policies.
Ishiba will struggle in the coming months as he must gain consent from the opposition on policies including the budget and other legislation, experts say.
He is eyeing a rising smaller, conservative opposition, the Democratic Party for the People, whose seats quadrupled to 28 under its popular leader Yuichiro Tamaki, whose proposal for raising the basic tax-free income allowance and increasing take-home wages garnered support from low income and younger voters.
Tamaki only wants to cooperate with Ishiba’s party on policy - not as part of a coalition - since he wants to use his leverage to increase his party’s standing ahead of the next election.
Neither China’s Defense Ministry nor Foreign Affairs Ministry responded to requests for comment.
There have long been rumors that China is planning to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, but the research by the Middlebury team is the first to confirm that China is working on a nuclear-powered propulsion system for a carrier-sized surface warship.
First of all, it's great to be with you, Elad. And it is true. I've now spent over three decades in one company, and it's pretty much all my professional career, and I have better language to describe it now. But I think companies, I mean, here there are lots of folks who are founders of companies, and I think companies also go through these refounding moments. I picked this up from Reid Hoffman, which I think is a fantastic frame. It's not talked about as much, although in 2014, when I became CEO, having grown up in the company as a consummate insider, I felt that we needed to essentially refound the company, ground ourselves back in what's the core sense of purpose and mission so that then we can pursue something new and bold.
“The reactor prototype at Leshan is the first solid evidence that China is, in fact, developing a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier,” said Jeffrey Lewis, a professor at Middlebury and one of the researchers on the project. “Operating a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is an exclusive club, one that China looks set to join.”
Drawing on satellite images and public documents including project tenders, personnel files, environmental impact studies - and even a citizen’s complaint about noisy construction and excessive dust — they concluded a prototype reactor for naval propulsion was being built in the mountains of Mucheng township, some 70 miles (112 kilometers) southwest of Sichuan’s provincial capital Chengdu.
Keeping that mission in mind. In fact, when I joined in 92, we used to talk about a PC in every home and every desk as our mission. In retrospect, it was easy. You could put it on a spreadsheet and calculate it and what have you, except that by the late 90s, we have more or less achieved that, at least in the developed world. And I felt ever since then a little like, okay, what's our mission? Is it mission accomplished? Is it time to return all the money to the shareholders?
And so that's why I went back all the way, quite frankly, to the very genesis of the company. After all, we were a tools company first. Bill built the basic interpreter for the Altair. And I said, god, there's more need for tools and platforms in 2014, 2023. I'm coming from OpenAI's Dev Day. That's who we are, right at the core, we build tech so that others can build more tech. Let's ground ourselves in that mission. And that has been very, very helpful.
The reactor, which procurement documents indicate will soon be operational, is housed in a new facility built at the site known as Base 909, which houses six other reactors that are operational, decommissioned or under construction, according to the analysis. The site is under the control of the Nuclear Power Institute of China, a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation, which is tasked with reactor engineering research and testing.
Documents indicating that China’s 701 Institute, formally known as China Ship Research and Design Center, which is responsible for aircraft carrier development, procured reactor equipment “intended for installation on a large surface warship” under the Nuclear Power Development Project as well as the project’s “national defense designation” helped lead to the conclusion the
The other one, though, is culture, is the other piece you brought up. I distinctly remember at Microsoft in the late 90s, walking around campus and there were just all the folks sort of saying, God, we must be God's gifts to mankind because we are so good now that the market also recognizes it, except that it was obviously the beginning of the end in some sense, right? The day hubris takes over and you're not grounded in what made you, first of all, successful.
That customer feedback loop, that hunger to learn, to experiment, to do things, which startups do. And so I picked up this cultural frame from Carol Dweck at Stanford around growth mindset, and I said, God, we don't want to be these know-it-alls, but we want to be learn-it-alls. And that has been a godsend, right? Because, one, it is not considered new dogma from a new CEO. It is something that I think spoke to people as humans. It helps us be better parents,
Satellite mages from 2020 to 2023 have shown the demolition of homes and the construction of water intake infrastructure connected to the reactor site. Contracts for steam generators and turbine pumps indicate the project involves a pressurized water reactor with a secondary circuit - a profile that is consistent with naval propulsion reactors, the researchers say.
An environmental impact report calls the Longwei Project a “national defense-related construction project” that is classified “secret.”
And so between these two things, that renewed sense of purpose, I tell you especially, you shouldn't. I mean, founders have this innate capability because they've created something from nothing. And then there's the cult of personality that carries forward. But at some point, if your company is going to outlast you, that mission has to be a lot more than a cult of personality. And so that's why I think CEOs in particular, or mayor model CEOs like me, being much more focused on what is the mission, what is the culture, is the one thing that I would say are two critical things. And of course, that gives you the permission to then make the right calls, but you have to make the right calls on strategy, picking, and execution, but at least it gives you better shots on goal.
“Unless China is developing nuclear-powered cruisers, which were pursued only by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, then the Nuclear Power Development Project most certainly refers to a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier development effort,” researchers wrote in a detailed 19-page report on their findings shared exclusively with the AP.
Jamie Withorne, an analyst at the Oslo Nuclear Project who was not involved in the research and reviewed the findings, said Middlebury’s team made a “convincing argument.”
We talk a lot about M&A but I think all of us fundamentally bet on organic growth, whether you're a startup or you are a large company. If I look at, even at Microsoft, I think a lot of what gets written about is our inorganic.
But when I think about most of the big hits and most of the big revenue generators are quite frankly partnerships. And organic partnerships are another thing that people don't talk about. The OpenAI thing is a great partnership. I grew up, in fact, the Gates Grove model is something that I love, which is Intel and Microsoft created the PC ecosystem. It was one of the most wonderful partnerships.
“From the identifying reports, co-location with other naval reactor facilities, and correlating construction activity, I think it can be said that it is likely the Longwei Project is housed at Base 909, and it could potentially be located at the identified building,” she said.
The research does not, however, provide clues as to when a Chinese nuclear-powered carrier could be built and become operational, she said.
Sarah Laderman, a senior analyst with Open Nuclear Network, a program of the U.S.-based NGO PAX sapiens foundation, said the findings were “carefully conducted and thoroughly researched.”
It's also important in partnerships to know what happens if one of the partners becomes too greedy, then it's unstable. But if you can cultivate great partnerships, that's another fantastic source of growth for companies. And so yes, inorganic partnerships and then strategic M&A all three matter for a company today.
I think we're going through a little bit of what I'd say is regulatory adjustment around the world is the best way I can describe it to understand whether we should allow M&A to big companies, just because they're big, shouldn't be acquiring, which I think will have a chilling effect. And it's not exactly good for quite frankly, more startup creation and more vibrancy. But let's say that settles. But I think yes, I would always look at all three of them as organic.
“Given the evidence presented here, I see a compelling case made that China seems to be working towards building a nuclear propulsion system for its naval surface ships (likely aircraft carriers) at this location,” said Laderman, who is based in Vienna and was not involved in Middlebury’s research.
China’s first carrier, commissioned in 2012, was a repurposed Soviet ship, and its second was built in China but based upon the Soviet design. Both ships - named the Liaoning and the Shandong - employ a so-called “ski-jump” type launch method, with a ramp at the end of a short runway to help planes take off.
First focus on having a great organic plan because that's the one thing you can always control. Partnerships are something that I would say, don't think of it as a press release, but I think it can absolutely be. And long-term stable partnerships, where you win, I mean it's the three wins, right? The customer wins, the partner wins and you win. In fact, the best partnerships are when you start thinking, caring about the partner, really making sure that they're getting economic surplus.
Sometimes in our Silicon Valley culture, we have a little bit of excessive zero-sum stuff. There are very few zero-sum battles, actually, when you think about it. But we are very obsessed about everything as being zero-sum. And that's where I think a little bit of subtlety, and nuance would help.
The Type 003 Fujian, launched in 2022, was the country’s third carrier and its first to be indigenously designed and built. It employs an electromagnetic-type launch system like those developed and used by the U.S. Navy. All three carriers are conventionally powered.
Sea trials hadn’t even started for the Fujian in March when Yuan Huazhi, political commissar for China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy, confirmed the construction of a fourth carrier. Asked if it would be nuclear-powered, he said at the time that would “soon be announced,” but so far it has not been.
I think it's sort of as big as any one of the things that you mentioned. The way I try to come back to what exactly changed and how we should relate to it in terms of any business building, product building. I think there are two big changes.
One is I think we're going to think about application interfaces drastically differently. I mean, we've been talking about natural user interfaces forever, you could say, for 70 years of computing history, from Engelbart down, has always been about like, hey, how do we have the ultimate human-computer symbiosis? And I think we now have some new tools to rethink that. It starts with chat, it starts with text, but it goes quickly beyond that. It's multimodal and it's going to be very interesting for us to sort of apply.
There has been speculation that China may begin producing two new carriers at once — one Type 003 like the Fujian and one nuclear-powered Type 004 — something that it has not attempted before but that its shipyards have the capacity to do.
Matthew Funaiole, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ China Power Project, said he doubts China’s next carrier will be nuclear-powered. Instead, he said, he would expect the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s fourth carrier to focus on optimizing the existing design of the Fujian carrier with “incremental improvements.”
So that's why in some sense it reminds me a little bit, at least in our history, of what happened. And I mentioned this to you backstage when I joined Microsoft in 92 just released Word or Excel or PowerPoint or Publisher. Each day there was a new app. And because Windows 3 was just happening, it feels like that, which is how I can rethink even existing categories with a new interface. But we also know that new platforms are not about just taking the old and just building a new UI.
But there is also, what is it this UI can create as a business that didn't exist. That's the thing that I'm most interested in. Mobile had a lot of things we did on the desktop, but it also created companies like Airbnb and Uber. And I think that that's something that we should think about on the UI side. What's the UI for the AI first app? I don't think we've yet cracked it, but I think we're getting close.
Nick Childs, senior fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the Chinese “have taken an incremental approach to their carrier development with a number of ambitions that will evolve over time.”
“For now, their deployments have been relatively cautious, remaining largely within range of shore support, but projecting influence and to some extent coercion within their near waters.”
Eventually, however, “larger carriers more akin to their U.S. counterparts will give them more options to project power,” Childs said.
The second thing that I also think is more, in fact, the other technology that people don't talk about as much. I don't know why. When we talk about our big paradigms are relational databases. God, what a thing it was. It is like the other secular journey in digital technology was digitizing people, places, and things, right? That's another 70 years. All we do each day is we wake up and there are more places, people, and things that are digitized, and relational algebra and relational databases helped us reason over it in interesting ways.
I feel like we now have a new pattern recognizer or new reasoning engine in this, doing neural algebra on it. So I feel these two things, Elad, if you take an existing category, I have a new way to think about the user interface. I have a new way to reason about all the data I have and the knowledge in the world and do the join, so to speak. If you start thinking of applications that way and then building a new to the world business, then I think this would be as big as at least any one of the things that you mentioned.
It takes several years to build a carrier and bring it into operation, but developing nuclear propulsion for its next generation of warships would eventually give China more power to run advanced systems, such as electromagnetic launchers, radars and new technology weapons, Childs said.
“As well as obviating the need for the ship to refuel regularly and therefore giving it much greater range, nuclear power means that without the need to carry fuel oil for the ship there will be room aboard for fuel and weapons for its aircraft, extending their capabilities,” Childs said.
'm a big believer in that. In fact, at least in our world, the design pattern I love a lot, which we picked for our own product building, which we evangelize as a pattern for anybody, is this copilot.
First of all, there's a human in the loop. The human has agency and judgment of human matters. And so the first instances were things like GitHub Copilot, where the copilot is built into the app canvas, so to speak. There's a sidecar, and those things all work together to help you with your task at hand, which is to get your coding done.
And then we have now propagated that into knowledge work with the Microsoft365
“Much will depend on what overall size the next carrier is, but the addition of nuclear power will represent a significant step further in China’s carrier development with a vessel more comparable to the U.S. Navy’s carriers.”
Zhao, of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said nuclear-powered carriers would provide the Chinese military “with greater flexibility and endurance to operate around strategic hotspots, especially along the First Island Chain, where most territories disputed by China are located,” said Zhao.
The First Island Chain includes the self-governed island of Taiwan, which China claims as its own and vows to annex it by force if necessary.
And then we have now propagated that into knowledge work with the Microsoft365 copilot across all of our surfaces. But ultimately, when I think about what we did with Bing Chat, I think of Bing Chat as basically the web copilot. This M365 is the work copilot. So the web Copilot and the work Copilot could be sort of the universal agent, so to speak. That's kind of how at least I conceive of it.
But it needs one important capability, which is it needs to be able to talk to other agents, a customer service agent, a travel agent, to get work done. Some of it’d be interrupt-driven, in the sense that it'll be autonomous but it'll also bring back to you for decision-making. So I think that one of the key runtimes of our time will be that multi-agent runtime.
The U.S. is obligated by a domestic law to supply Taiwan with sufficient weapons to deter invasion, and it could provide assistance to the island from its bases in the Pacific in the event of an invasion or blockade. Tensions also have risen in the South China Sea between China and neighboring nations over territorial disputes and maritime claims.
“These carriers could also extend Chinese operations deeper into the Western Pacific, further challenging the U.S. military’s ability to ‘intervene’ in regional matters that China views as best resolved by countries from the region only,” Zhao said.
And we have a thing in open source called Autogen that is getting some good traction. So we are building some of the stuff similar to that underneath what is our copilot. You know, OpenAI launched a bunch of very interesting stuff with GPTs, which is sort of, I would say, early agents on top of chat, GPT itself. They even have an Agent API, all of that we will put into our copilot ecosystem.
So I think yes. So to your fundamental point, I think this idea that people will have agents, these agents will interoperate with each other, there will be some type of super apps that whoever cracks, there'll be a few runtimes where naturally people will gravitate to, which will be these multi-agent frameworks.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has tasked defense officials with building a “first-class” navy and becoming a maritime power as part of his blueprint for the country’s rejuvenation.
The country’s most recent white paper on national defense, dated 2019, said the Chinese navy was adjusting to strategic requirements by “speeding up the transition of its tasks from defense on the near seas to protection missions on the far seas.”
That's interesting. If I knew about it, I probably would be in it, but one of the things I am grounded on is I think the time has come for us as a tech industry to directly parlay what we celebrate as tech advances into broad economic growth.
Because I think there's this real critique, which some of it is, I think, well-founded about. Hey, you guys talk a lot about sort of all this tech, but where is the economic growth? I mean, last time we checked in the developed world, inflation-adjusted, we are probably at what, zero or negative growth. And so there is a real need for economic growth and economic growth that comes while keeping the planet healthy and more equitable in terms of the growth itself. So there are many other things as well, which I think are core responsibilities. But that said, we have to drive economic growth.
The People’s Liberation Army Navy is already the world’s largest navy with more than 370 ships and submarines. The country also boasts powerful shipbuilding capabilities: China’s shipyards are building many hundreds of vessels each year, whereas the U.S. is building five or fewer, according to a U.S. congressional report late last year.
However, the Chinese navy lags behind the U.S. Navy in many respects. Among other advantages, the U.S. currently has 11 carriers, all nuclear-powered, allowing it to keep multiple strike groups deployed around the world at all times, including in the Indo-Pacific.
And that's where I got excited with GitHub Copilot, right? When we can take something like software development and one, bring joy back to software development. Man, what we had done to it, the fact that I've just got to copy-paste from a variety of places, and get distracted. Instead of that, let's just stay in flow focus and then see how you can bring back productivity to the software developers.
But the interesting thing about the more we study GitHub Copilot's effect on an organization is if you get software development to be faster, all the other functions around change. The workflow, when a salesperson does a pull request, that's kind of my thing about like, wow, that's a different org. And so now you can imagine an entire organization that's moving at a different pace.
But the Pentagon is growingly increasingly concerned about China’s rapid modernization of its fleet, including the design and construction of new carriers.
That aligns with China’s “growing emphasis on the maritime domain and increasing demands” for its navy “to operate at greater distances from mainland China,” the Defense Department said in its most recent report to Congress on China’s military.
And China’s “growing force of aircraft carriers extend air defense coverage of deployed task groups beyond the range of land-based defenses, enabling operations farther from China’s shore,” the report said.
So I think we are at the frontier of figuring out what it means for both having these productivity boosters inside of every function and then what is the workflow if you have it like you talked about, agents, I think we will have to discover.
If you remember in the mid-90s when we first started putting things like systems of record like CRM and ERP, we used to talk about something called business process reengineering. It was as much about a new methodology or a doctrine even of how you run businesses. Like you didn't have five finance departments or you didn't have manufacturing cogs, not in financial accounting. So some of the business practices will have to change.
So that's why I think what is probably interesting would be how people think about a vertical industry or a business process probably is going to be very different.
One of the things I think most people think about is “Can there be a large business created that only focuses on one vertical or one business process?”
I think there can be. It all depends on how much economic surplus you can create using this technology.
The patented sulfide-based solid electrolyte also offers impressive features such as high energy density, fast charging and discharging, and strong performance at low temperatures. Additionally, it enhances safety by reducing the risk of thermal runaway, a frequent issue in conventional lithium-ion batteries.
While the Chinese giant has not yet announced a timeline for the launch of this technology, industry insiders are hopeful for a potential release as early as next year. This would put Huawei in a strong position to compete in the rapidly growing EV and smart-driving technology markets.
Huawei has been also been active with its EV unit, rapidly reshaping its approach in an effort to emulate Germany’s Bosch business model, which supplies essential auto parts without directly manufacturing vehicles.
Yeah, I mean for us it's not an either or. GitHub exists primarily because of the permission to support the open source ecosystem, so it's sort of not something that we take lightly, and therefore we will always be as a company. In fact, it turns out I think most people don't recognize we are one of the biggest contributors to open source. We are probably today the biggest contributor to Linux as Microsoft. So it's sort of now fundamentally ingrained.
But that doesn't mean we don't have a bunch of proprietary closed-source systems and revenue streams as well. So, to us, it's pretty much part of the business. Then the question is, what's the best way to be able to meet the developers, meet the companies, and meet the organizational needs that we serve well?
Recently, the company signed an investment cooperation memorandum with Changan Automobile, a Chongqing-based automaker. This partnership aims to establish a joint venture focused on developing, producing, and selling smart-driving systems and related components for EVs.
“We demonstrate that foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) significantly increases the grain yield and nutritional quality of rice during HWs [heat waves],” the researchers wrote in the study paper.
In a controlled greenhouse experiment, researchers exposed rice plants to a simulated heat wave. To simulate extreme heat conditions, the team subjected the fully grown rice plants to a rigorous six-day heat wave at 37°C.
To efficiently deliver zinc to plants, the team utilized nanoparticles, which are smaller than 100 nanometers. Interestingly, these can penetrate the microscopic pores on leaf surfaces.
Half of the plants were sprayed with a solution containing zinc oxide nanoparticles, while the other half received only water.
And so that's why even when it comes to foundational models, obviously OpenAI is our lead partner when it comes to frontier models, but we have a lot of open source models, including ours. We're really excited about even our own contributions. Like I love these SLMs, the small language models with PSI. And so we're going to always contribute. We'll support and make sure that developers have a choice. And in our own products, you'll see a mix of use as well.
How does this work? Zinc oxide is a natural component of plant metabolism. By applying zinc oxide nanoparticles directly to the leaves, scientists can bypass the root system and deliver the nutrients more efficiently.
This helps maintain rice crop yields while reducing fertilizer use.
The researchers also went on to explore the impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles on rice plants without any heat waves.
In a separate experiment conducted under normal conditions, the researchers observed that rice plants treated with zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited higher yields compared to untreated plants.
This development has the potential to transform rice cultivation, particularly in regions vulnerable to climate change.
According to researchers, this feature not only allows the robot to follow complex human motions but also opens up possibilities for remote operation, as the platform is theoretically capable of teleoperation from any location worldwide.
The development of such technology underscores the potential for humanoid robots to be deployed in remote scenarios, whether for research, inspection, or collaborative tasks.
According to researchers, Stellenbosch University is pioneering innovations that bring humanoid robotics closer to practical, real-world applications by advancing the robot’s real-time movement tracking and remote operational capabilities.
Yeah, I remember talking to you a few months ago and you had laid out this taxonomy, which I like. I think one of the things that we don't have is a well-grounded way to talk about these three levels. Because when we say safety, it could mean, wow, we are talking about an existential issue or election interference, deep fakes or what have you. So I think let's unpack them that way.
So my feeling is that the first thing we've got to really go and focus on is any real-world harm today, because of any AI deployment that sort of has not gone right. In fact, in democracies in particular, the thing that I worry the most about is, quite frankly, elections and our democratic process somehow being unduly influenced by some use of AI. I think that's the place where rightfully so, we'll be held to account if something goes wrong there. Because after all, that was the critique of what happened in social media. Everybody was excited about social media because of the Arab Spring, but it kind of nearly broke democracy. And so therefore, now everybody says, look, we're not going to let that happen again.
Student-led innovations
The next phase of research at Stellenbosch University’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering focuses on developing actuators for the humanoid robot’s legs, aiming for bipedal walking. Achieving this capability is a vital step toward creating a fully mobile humanoid robot with realistic movement and interaction.
Recognizing the growing potential of humanoid robotics, the department is actively engaging students in innovative projects. Several final-year undergraduate projects emphasize hands-on experience, as students work on designing custom actuators, advanced robotic hands, and humanoid arms with pincer grips.
The initiative aims to inspire a new generation of researchers to progress to master’s studies and make deeper contributions in this field.
So the question is, what do we do there? What does the government do? What does the civic society do? What do companies do? And quite frankly, I think we somehow say that this is, at the end of the day, it's a societal choice. It's not any one company can do everything here. It's sort of a societal choice.
Like, for example, in the United States. After all, you have to be able to come together and say, how do we think about free speech? And what turns out to be free speech that is now bordering on election interference or what have you, or disinformation? These are tough things, and so therefore, this is not like a decision an AI can make or a decision a company's moderators can make. They're societal norms and decisions. And so that's the most complicated process we have to engage in, quite frankly.
The team highlights that a master’s student is also advancing research through virtual robotics simulations using the Nvidia IsaacSim platform. This project focuses on sim-to-real transfer, a technique that applies simulation results to the physical robot arm prototype, with plans to expand to the entire humanoid platform.
These are the top apps Gen Z young adults downloaded this year
It’s clear that Gen Z has an influence on app consumption. Known as the “mobile-first generation,” they make up about 40% of all mobile users worldwide. Curious about their preferences, we recently contacted the app intelligence firm Appfigures, which provided an overview of the 50 most downloaded apps by Gen Z this year.
#genz #applications #technology
Due to privacy rules, we were unable to obtain data for users aged 13 to 17. The firm only shared total download numbers for users aged 18 to 24, and the data is limited to users in the U.S., so it doesn’t provide a complete picture. Even so, this gives us an idea of the preferences among the older segment of this generation.
From popular e-commerce and social media platforms to photo editing tools, let’s take a closer look at the apps that have resonated with this demographic in 2024.
Based on data from iOS and Android users in the U.S., the most downloaded app from January to October was Temu, the popular online marketplace that offers nearly every type of product you can think of at heavily discounted rates.
Gen Z young adults have downloaded the app 41.98 million times, indicating that the vast selection of affordable items is highly appealing to this particular group despite their dedication to sustainability and the ongoing debates around fast fashion. Temu also bets on gamification strategies to motivate shoppers, such as coupons, rewards, and free gifts.
Article
Encore is an AI-powered search engine for your thrifting needs
Former Apple engineer Alex Ruber and former Twitter and Asana engineer Parth Chopra first met on Y Combinator's founder match platform, then met in person
Former Apple engineer Alex Ruber and former Twitter and Asana engineer Parth Chopra first met on Y Combinator’s founder match platform, then met in person at a thrift store for shopping. They later went on a thrift store shopping trip where they talked about solving problems with finding the right product in the online space.
#ai #searchengine #encore #alexruber #asana #parhchopra #ycombinator #technology
Many consumers struggle to find the right item without spending hours on Instagram. To address this, the duo is building the search engine Encore, which lets users search for secondhand items from different sources. The startup is currently part of Y Combinator’s first-ever fall batch.
“The entire secondhand shopping market is really fragmented. There are hundreds of resources out there, such as Depop, Mercari, ThredUp, eBay, Craigslist, and more. It’s hard for consumers to sift through them all to try and get to the product you are looking for. So we wanted to remove that friction for users,” Ruber said on a call with TechCrunch.
Both Ruber and Chopra are immigrants, he said, and they’ve been used to spending time and money at thrift stores.
But thrifting isn’t easy. When Ruber tried to find a specific jacket from a TV show (Carmy’s patchwork jacket from “The Bear”), he started thinking about building a product to help him with that. He also wanted to look for a co-founder working in the circular economy space. He noted that Chopra was a great match because he was into fashion and thrifting.
Article
Swiggy's public debut will test India's appetite for $1B+ IPOs
Swiggy's upcoming IPO on Wednesday will finally give many analysts a public comparable for what has been long considered to be the Indian internet stock: Swiggy's listing will test whether the Indian market is ready for $1 billion-plus IPOs.
#swiggy #india #ipo #technology
For its IPO, Swiggy has already secured $1.4 billion from institutional investors including Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, BlackRock and eight of the top 10 Indian mutual funds. Still, it will enter a public market where large tech companies’ stocks have struggled historically — three years since its $2.5 billion offering, Paytm is still trading 47% below its IPO price.
More than a dozen Indian tech startups have gone public in the last four years, but the market has shown scant interest in large IPOs. Beauty and wellness e-commerce company Nykaa is still trading 53% below its debut price, and Star Health and Alliance Insurance Company remains 48% below its IPO price three years on. Startups that raised less than $500 million in India have performed incredibly well, in comparison.
India has emerged as a hotbed for tech IPOs this year even as the U.S. market remains muted. All eyes are on Swiggy’s IPO at the moment, particularly as many growth-stage startups — and their investors — are eyeing a similarly large listing over the next 24 months.
Furthermore, for many Indian startups that were based in the U.S. and Singapore, moving their official HQs back to India would let them better comply with local regulations to do such an IPO. It’s also an opportunity to reap the benefits of a market whose benchmark index had risen more than 10% in the past year. Up to three dozen startups could be shifting their domiciles back to India in the coming years, according to investors.
Article
Rogan Reveals Kamala Campaign Wanted Editorial Control Over His Podcast
Podcast king Joe Rogan has revealed that Kamala Harris’ people demanded editorial control over an appearance on his show, and a final say on what was released to the public.
As we have already highlighted, Kamala had demanded to only appear for an hour with Rogan, and wanted to do it outside of his studio, meaning he would have had to travel to a location of her choosing.
#rogan #podcast #election #technology #alternativemedia
Needless to say, Rogan refused to meet the demands, reasoning that it simply wouldn’t be an episode of his podcast if that was to happen.
Rogan unveiled more of what went on with discussions between his team and Kamala’s campaign, noting “There were a few restrictions of things they wanted to talk about…They wanted to know if I’d edit it. I’m like, there’s no editing.”
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Brazilian fintech Tako emerges from stealth with sizable seed round led by a16z and Ribbit Capital
Tako's platform helps companies manage their employee data, run payroll and keep track of on and offboarding.
Running payroll is hard in any country, but perhaps especially so in Brazil thanks to consistently changing laws and extremely influential unions that make it significantly harder to get it right. Fernando Gadotti struggled with this as the co-founder and CEO of DogHero, LatAm’s version of Rover. When Gadotti left the company in 2022, after selling it in 2020, he decided this is where he wanted to focus next.
#tako #brazil #technology #funding #a16z
“Every time the payroll came around, there’s just a struggle, like it’s dreadful, many hours, just like double-checking data back and forth, and we couldn’t really get any insight that we needed,” Gadotti told TechCrunch. “[We were] pretty much working in the dark, and as we kept growing, it hit me that these problems really weren’t just inconvenient; they’re actually slowing the company down. We’re wasting a lot of time in busy work.”
Just a few months after leaving DogHero, Gadotti started working on São Paulo-based Tako, an employee life cycle platform that automates tasks like onboarding and payroll to save companies time and bring all their employee information into one place. Tako also provides employees with a dashboard to view information and access an interactive paystub meant to increase transparency.
Just a few months after leaving DogHero, Gadotti started working on São Paulo-based Tako, an employee life cycle platform that automates tasks like onboarding and payroll to save companies time and bring all their employee information into one place. Tako also provides employees with a dashboard to view information and access an interactive paystub meant to increase transparency.
Article
X is testing a free version of AI chatbot Grok
TechCrunch was able to confirm that X is at least testing access to Grok for free users in New Zealand.
Social network X has so far limited its AI chatbot Grok (built by Elon Musk’s other company xAI) to its premium, paying users. However, the platform is seemingly preparing to open up the chatbot to free users.
#grok #x #chatbot #newzealand #technology
Over the weekend, several app researchers and users posted about a free version of Grok being made available to people in certain regions.
TechCrunch was able to confirm that X is at least testing access to Grok for free users in New Zealand.
Article
Equal has a plan to fight India's growing cyber fraud problem
Equal, an Indian startup founded by Keshav Reddy, has raised $10M in its maiden funding round led by Prosus Ventures to scale identity verification and financial data sharing.
India, the world’s most populous country and the second-largest internet market after China, is becoming increasingly digitally active. However, this rapid digitization comes with a growing risk of online fraud.
#india #equal #fraud #cyber #technology
Cyber fraud is mounting in India to the point where the Indian government estimates it could amount to 0.7% of the country’s GDP — over $14 billion — within the next year. Even the government-backed systems, including Aadhaar, have been targeted by bad actors in some cases.
New Delhi keeps introducing new regulatory requirements to limit fraudulent digital transactions. Nonetheless, these updates often place a burden on businesses to regularly update their tech. Efforts to eradicate digital fraud sometimes also result in disruptions. For instance, the recent clampdown on unauthorized use of the permanent account number disrupted transactions for some fintech platforms.
Equal, a Hyderabad-based startup, aims to address all this with its suite of identity verification and financial data-sharing products.
The two-year-old startup helps businesses streamline know-your-customer (KYC) requirements, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance by integrating more than 50 identity databases and thousands of API providers. The startup also recently acquired an undisclosed stake in account aggregator OneMoney to combine its identity verification services with the latter’s consent-based financial data sharing.
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XRP Price Fights for a Steady Climb: Will Bulls Prevail?
XRP price is struggling to rise steadily like Bitcoin, with the price currently trading above $0.580 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. A key bullish trend line is forming with support at $0.5780 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. The pair could start a fresh increase if it stays above the $0.5720 support zone. The price formed a base and started a fresh increase above $0.5550, but gains were limited compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The price surpassed the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $0.6162 swing high to the $0.5630 low. If XRP fails to clear the $0.600 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Technical indicators include the Hourly MACD gaining pace in the bullish zone, the RSI above the 50 level, major support levels at $0.5820 and $0.5780, and major resistance levels at $0.6000 and $0.6150.
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a16z VC Martin Casado explains why so many AI regulations are so wrong
Attempts to regulate AI to date have focused on some mythical future instead of understanding what new risks AI actually introduces, argues VC Martin Casado.
The problem with most attempts at regulating AI so far is that lawmakers are focusing on some mythical future AI experience, instead of truly understanding the new risks AI actually introduces.
#a16z #martincasado #technology #regulation
So argued Andreessen Horowitz general partner VC Martin Casado to a standing-room crowd at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 last week. Casado, who leads a16z’s $1.25 billion infrastructure practice, has invested in such AI startups as World Labs, Cursor, Ideogram, and Braintrust.
“Transformative technologies and regulation has been this ongoing discourse for decades, right? So the thing with all the AI discourse is it seems to have kind of come out of nowhere,” he told the crowd. “They’re kind of trying to conjure net-new regulations without drawing from those lessons.”
For instance, he said, “Have you actually seen the definitions for AI in these policies? Like, we can’t even define it.”
Casado was among a sea of Silicon Valley voices who rejoiced when California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed the state’s attempted AI governance law, SB 1047. The law wanted to put a so-called kill switch into super-large AI models — aka something that would turn them off. Those who opposed the bill said that it was so poorly worded that instead of saving us from an imaginary future AI monster, it would have simply confused and stymied
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i always had that thought with regards to the policies.
Its some what similar with what's going on with crypto (XRP and SEC case) luckily Trump would change that.
OpenAI, once focused on creating tech for everyone, is now shifting to become more of a market-driven company. This change has led some key people, like Mira Murati and Miles Brundage, to leave, possibly because they feel OpenAI is forgetting its original goals. They wanted to make safe, human-centered AI, but now, speed seems to matter more than safety. If OpenAI doesn’t find a way to balance growth with responsibility, it risks losing trust.
Do you think that tech without oversight can quickly go wrong?
#OpenAI #Leadership #Innovation #Trust #AIEthics #TechIndustry #askleo
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Tim Cook acknowledges: Apple’s latest flagship product isn’t for you. Production has ended.
When Apple launched the Vision Pro, its virtual reality (VR) headset, it was hailed as a groundbreaking innovation. With cutting-edge features and Apple’s signature design polish, it quickly became a buzzworthy product. However, less than a year after its initial release in the United States and its subsequent arrival in Europe, Apple has decided to end production.
#apple #technology #visionpro #headset #mixedreality
The Vision Pro’s debut was met with impressive early sales—nearly 200,000 units sold within weeks. But momentum slowed as the initial excitement wore off, and reality set in: at a price tag starting at $3,999 in France (or $3,500 in the U.S.), the headset was far out of reach for the average consumer. In a candid statement, Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted that the Vision Pro was not designed to be a mass-market product.
A Pricing Problem Too Big to Ignore
While the Vision Pro delivered a top-tier VR experience, its cost created a significant barrier. As a friend of mine quipped, “Why would I spend more than two months of rent on a VR headset?” That sentiment seemed to resonate widely, especially in markets where disposable income is tight. The steep price also positioned it awkwardly against competitors like Meta’s Quest line, which offers robust VR features at a fraction of the cost.
Apple found itself sitting on a stockpile of unsold units—between 500,000 and 600,000, according to reports. With dwindling demand and no signs of an uptick, the decision to halt production became inevitable. This isn’t necessarily an indictment of the product itself, which many reviewers praised for its advanced capabilities, but a reflection of a mismatch between pricing and audience.
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Scientists Uncover Astonishing Secrets Inside the Moon!
For many years, the internal structure of the Moon has been a topic shrouded in speculation and intrigue. However, recent studies have shed light on one of the biggest mysteries of our celestial neighbor. Thanks to data gathered during the Apollo missions and high-precision seismic analysis, scientists have recently uncovered the composition of the Moon’s core.
#moon #space #universe #data
A Lunar Core Similar to Earth’s
An international team of researchers has confirmed that the Moon’s inner core is solid and is surrounded by a fluid layer. The lunar core, with a radius of about 258 km, accounts for about 15% of the Moon’s total radius. Its density, similar to that of iron, suggests a metallic composition akin to Earth’s. This revelation is a pivotal breakthrough in understanding the Moon’s internal structure and resolves years of uncertainty and competing theories.
Advanced Research Techniques
Scientists employed cutting-edge techniques to model the Moon’s internal structure. Seismic data collected during the Apollo missions played a crucial role. These were combined with laser telemetry experiments to assess how seismic waves travel through the Moon’s layers. This method enabled researchers to accurately reconstruct the internal structure, revealing a solid core surrounded by a fluid outer layer, similar to that of Earth.
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So if we find a way to breathe there effortlessly we would be able to live there?
Hackers are targeting people who type these six words into their computer
It’s catnip for cyber criminals.
It’s catnip for hackers.
Computer users Googling whether Bengal cats are legal to own after finding themselves victims of a bizarre cyber attack.
Cybersecurity company SOPHOS issued an urgent warning on its website, urging people not to type six words into their search engines.
#hackers #cybersecurity #technology
Those who Google “Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?” have reportedly had their personal information stolen after clicking on fraudulent links that appear near the top of the page.
“Victims are often enticed into clicking on malicious adware or links disguised as legitimate marketing, or in this case a legitimate Google search,” SOPHOS explained.
At present, the dangerous links only appear in the search results when the word “Australia” is included, meaning those Down Under are at the largest risk of an attack.
Once users click on a search result — which looks legitimate — they have personal information, such as bank details, stolen via a program known as Gootloader.
Do you think this is a vulnerability of the banking sites?
Because whiles reading your threads, I was wondering to myself, how does a cat search links to my bank details
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Bengal cat lovers in Australia get psspsspss’d in Google-driven Gootloader campaign
The Internet is full of cats—and in this case, malware-delivering fake cat websites used for very targeted search engine optimization.
Once used exclusively by the cybercriminals behind REVil ransomware and the Gootkit banking trojan, GootLoader and its primary payload have evolved into an initial access as a service platform—with Gootkit providing information stealing capabilities as well as the capability to deploy post-exploitation tools and ransomware.
GootLoader is known for using search engine optimization (SEO) poisoning for its initial access. Victims are often enticed into clicking on malicious adware or links disguised as legitimate marketing, or in this case a legitimate Google search directing the user to a compromised website hosting a malicious payload masquerading as the desired file. If the malware remains undetected on the victim’s machine, it makes way for a second-stage payload known as GootKit, which is a highly evasive info stealer and remote access Trojan (RAT) used to establish a persistent foothold in the victim’s network environment. GootKit can be used to deploy ransomware or other tools, including Cobalt Strike, for follow-on exploitation.
Detection of a new GootLoader variant actively being used by adversaries earlier this year led to a broad threat hunting campaign by Sophos X-Ops MDR for GootLoader instances across customer environments. As is typical of Gootloader, the new variant was found to be using SEO poisoning—the use of search engine optimization tactics to put malicious websites controlled by GootLoader’s operators high in the results for specific search terms—to deliver the new, JavaScript-based Gootloader package. In this case, we found the GootLoader actors using search results for information about a particular cat and a particular geography being used to deliver the payload: “Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?”
During the threat hunt campaign, MDR discovered a .zip archive used to deliver GootLoader’s first-stage payload while reviewing an impacted user’s browser history. This allowed MDR to identify the compromised website that was hosting the malicious payload. This report highlights the MDR investigation process and the technical details of the uncovered GootLoader campaign.
Technical Analysis and Identification
First-stage payload
On March 27, 2024, the MDR team performed a proactive threat hunting campaign across multiple customers estates, following recently reported identification of a new GootLoader variant being actively exploited in the wild.
Our investigation revealed the threat actor was using SEO poisoning through an easily accessed online forum found via a simple Google search, initiated by the user for ‘Do you need a license to own a Bengal cat in Australia’. The first search result took us to this URL:
Immediately after the user clicks the link, a suspicious .zip file was downloaded to C:\Users<Username>\Downloads\Are_bengal_cats_legal_in_australia_33924.zip onto the victim’s machine, and the user’s browser was directed to the URL hxxps:[//]www[.]chanderbhushan[.]com/doc[.]php.
Second-stage payload
Upon review of the running processes, we were able to determine that a small JavaScript file was dropping a large JavaScript file at the location C:\Users<Username>\AppData\RoamingMicrosoft\ on the user’s machine. During our testing, the large JavaScript file generated by the malicious site and its name, downloaded to the user’s %temp% directory, were different each time the initial JavaScript was executed. The file we observed in this case was named Temp1_Are_bengal_cats_legal_in_australia_33924.zip\are_bengal_cats_legal_in_australia_80872.js.
We additionally observed the creation of a scheduled task named “Business Aviation” with the command line “wscript REHABI~1.JS” (as shown in Figure 3). This was suspected to be a persistence method in which the threat actor was utilizing WScript.exe to execute the second-stage payload of GootKit.
We also noted the utilization of the command C:\Windows\System32\cscript.exe REHABI~1.JS spawning PowerShell.exe, as shown in Figure 4. The cscript.exe command line tool is specific to Windows Server. The commands passed to PowerShell were not captured in this case.
However, examining the URL history, we observed PowerShell.exe reaching out to the following domains, as shown in Figure 5. Third-stage payload
In the case the MDR team examined, our team did not observe the third stage being successful in reaching a full deployment of GootKit, preventing the download of any additional malicious tooling. This stage typically is where the deployment of additional tools such as Cobalt Strike occurs, or when ransomware is added to the victim’s machine.
Malware Triage
Static Analysis
MDR performed a static analysis of the of the .zip sample obtained from the malicious URL hxxps[://]ledabel[.]be/en/are-bengal-cats-legal-in-australia-understanding-the-laws-and-regulations/#:~:text=In%20most%20cases%2C%20you%20do,a%20Bengal%20cat%20in%20Australia. Within the zip file was a JavaScript named “are bengal cats legal in australia 72495.js”.
As we noted above, the JavaScript’s name is modified each time the file is downloaded with a different concluding numerical sequence. This was also observed when extracting the small JavaScript from the zip file, as shown in Figure 6. For example, users may observe a filename with are bengal cats legal in australia 75876.zip instead, when attempting to obtain a sample from the malicious URL.
A string analysis of the dropped file was not useful in identifying its intent, as the JavaScript was heavily obfuscated—as is common in Gootloader samples. The script also included boilerplate licensing comments to make it appear to be a legitimate JavaScript, as shown in Figure 7.
However, Strings analysis of the secondary larger JavaScript that was downloaded into C:\Users<Username>\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\Small Unit Tactics.js revealed a heavily obfuscated script, as shown in Figure 8.
MDR used a Python script created by Mandiant for auto-decoding of GootLoader JavaScript to statically analyze the initially downloaded Are_bengal_cats_legal_in_australia_72495.js. As shown in Figure 9, the file was identified as Gootloader variant 3.0 through the obfuscation method, where the first file created was named Huthwaite SPIN selling.dat followed by Small Units Tactics.js and Scheduled Task named Destination Branding. The decoder also identified various malicious domain names within the obfuscated strings.
Various dynamic analysis tools were utilized to examine the behavior of the malicious JavaScript. Upon execution, WScript.exe was observed creating the first file located within C:\Users<Username>\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\ , as shown in Figure 10. Despite being observed via Windows Sysinternals Process Monitor with a CreateFile event, this was not written to disk and no deletion event was seen.
Shortly after Wscript.exe executed Are_bengal_cats_legal_in_australia_72495.js, Process Hacker showed CScript.exe and Powershell.exe being created with a conhost.exe spawned, as shown in Figure 11. MDR observed that Wscript.exe would terminate, followed by Cscript.exe that would also terminate shortly after, after which Powershell.exe was created.
Persistence was obtained via CScript.exe executing the file SMALLU~1.js via a scheduled task named Destination Branding (with command line wscript SMALLU ~1.js , as shown in Figure 12). During the lab analysis, the secondary JavaScript can be dropped within any folders located within C:\Users<Username>\AppData\Roaming<at any existing folder>.
MDR conducted network and C2 examinations using Wireshark and FakeNet to perform a network capture during the execution of Are_bengal_cats_legal_in_australia_72495.js. FakeNet showed various domain names being reached out to with GET /xmlrpc.php HTTP/1.1 requests via Powershell.exe. The requests contained Base64-encoded cookies which, when decoded, showed enumeration information regarding device directories and host information such as the folder path of C:\Users<Username>\AppData\Roaming\ , as shown in Figure 13. As shown below, the process would read USERNAME and USER DOMAIN information and send the data to the URIs.
Examination of the PCAP capture lists various domain names that were also identified during static analysis, as shown in Figure 14. These domain names and IOCs have been classified by Sophos Labs as malware/callhome ; the initial and secondary JavaScript files are classified as JS/Drop-DIJ and JS/Gootkit-AW respectively.
GootLoader is one of a number of continuing malware-delivery-as-a-service operations that heavily leverage search results as a means to reach victims. The use of search engine optimization, and abuse of search engine advertising to lure targets to download malware loaders and dropper, are not new—GootLoader has been doing this since at least 2020, and we’ve observed Raccoon Stealer and other malware-as-a-service operations doing the same for just as long. But we’ve seen continued growth in this approach to initial compromise, with several massive campaigns using this technique over the past year.
Sophos endpoint protection blocks GootLoader through a number of behavioral and malware-specific detections. But users should still look out for search results and search advertisements that seem too good to be true on domains that are off the beaten path—whether they’re looking to get a Bengal Cat or not.
No, Elon Musk's Tesla didn't buy Ford
It's just another case of AI-generated disinformation
Despite what content farms on YouTube and other platforms want you to believe, Elon Musk’s Tesla is not buying Ford Motor Co.
Although it should really go without saying that Musk is not buying Ford, the Detroit automaker has confirmed that the rumor is entirely made up. “No, that’s not true,” a spokesperson told The Houston Chronicle on Friday.
#elonmusk #tesla #ford #aifake #automotive
Rumors about Tesla making big acquisitions are always floating around the internet, although some of the latest are mainly generated by artificial intelligence rather than usual gossip. There’s a mini-cottage industry of fake Tesla news and gossip all over YouTube and likely other corners of the internet.
Both Elon Musk Rewind and Voyager, which appear to be either the source of or a transmitter of the idea that Musk is buying Ford, have spread a number of false claims. That includes fake products, like a “Tesla Home” and $500 laptops, or claims that Musk has found “proof” that giants are alive. For what it’s worth, Elon Musk Rewind does in its video’s description that it “contains information not to be considered the truth.”
Other channels claim that Tesla is buying Jeep-maker Stellantis to “all competition,” releasing hydrogen-powered cars, and other obvious falsehoods.
It’s plain to see why such channels would make up content about Musk — he’s kind of a big deal. With President-elect Donald Trump heading to the White House, Musk is poised to have a sizable amount of influence over him, as well as an undefined role in slashing government spending. That’s already paying dividends, sending Tesla stock surging and its market cap past $1 trillion last week.
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I wish Inleo images was working would have added a screenshot. I've seen BTC above 81K. There's hope of getting to 100Km it's no utility just hype. How long till the correction and how far down do you think the value will go?
It was working earlier
Yes it was I can't tell for now but I'll keep Shari images just in case it works it'll show. Have you seen the price of BTC now 🤯🤯🤯🤯 almost 90K
He Turned $20k Into $60M+. Now ALL IN on Tesla
#tesla #humanoid !summarize
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The Transformative Potential of Humanoid Robots
The Massive Addressable Market
The total addressable market for humanoid robots is staggering - close to half of global GDP is physical labor. From an investor's perspective, this represents a potential to "turn the world upside down" in a way that nothing else in Chris Camillo's lifetime has come close to.
Humanoid robots present high barriers to entry, requiring massive amounts of proprietary technology, integrated hardware, years of learning and perfection, manufacturing, logistics, and onboarding. This creates a unique blend of modern tech and industrial revolution-level innovation.
The Imminent Arrival of the Jetson's Future
Camillo has become convinced that the humanoid robot future is not only real, but imminent. He has had the opportunity to see demonstrations of leading humanoid robots that have left him in awe, with capabilities far beyond what has been publicly shown.
[...]
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The pathway to the "actual endgame" of this technology is now clear to Camillo. He expresses 100% conviction that this Jetson's-like future is coming, with the only open question being the exact timeline - whether it's 12, 24, 36, or 48 months.
The Transformative Potential for Humanity
Camillo sees the potential for humanoid robots to provide "infinite human labor" as the most exciting aspect, not just from an investment perspective, but for the profound impact it could have on humanity.
He highlights the massive demand for healthcare robots to care for aging populations, the astronomical costs of round-the-clock human care, and the opportunity to dramatically improve quality of life across the entire spectrum of humanity. Camillo believes this technology could enable civilization to reach new heights that were previously unimaginable.
Laser-Focused Investment Approach
[...]
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Given his conviction in this space, Camillo has shifted his focus away from early-stage startup investments to concentrate on the leading private humanoid companies, Figure and Optronics, as well as preparing for a potentially massive public market opportunity in Tesla's Optimus division.
He cautions that the general public will be slow to believe the reality of this technology, just as they were slow to accept transformative innovations like the smartphone and social media. However, Camillo urges everyone to dedicate time each week to educating themselves on the humanoid robot space, as he believes it represents the biggest investment opportunity of a lifetime.
Cathie Wood Makes HUGE Call
#cathiewood #elonmusk #tesla !summarize
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Elon Musk's Pivotal Role in Trump's Second Term
Transforming the US Presidency
Imagine telling people a year ago that Elon Musk would play a pivotal role in revitalizing the United States, making major decisions, and saving taxpayers potentially trillions of dollars. You would have been laughed out of the room. Yet, that is precisely what is unfolding before our eyes.
Kathy Wood, the renowned investor, believes that President Trump's second term will be the most consequential US presidency in history. The amount of positive change and the speed at which it will occur is unfathomable. At the heart of this transformation is Elon Musk's involvement in the administration.
Regulatory Cutbacks and Government Efficiency
Kathy Wood anticipates profound regulatory cutbacks under the Trump administration. President Trump's previous directive to regulators - "you want to put in a new regulation, you have to take two away" - will likely be even stronger in his second t
[...]
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Furthermore, Musk's influence on government spending and efficiency is expected to be significant. The deficit is expected to decrease, not only due to economic growth, but also because of Musk's "first principles-based, white sheet of paper" approach to identifying and eliminating waste within the government. Musk's goal of shrinking the government as a percentage of GDP through attrition and technological productivity gains could have a transformative impact.
Bipartisan Endorsement
Kevin O'Leary, a prominent entrepreneur, echoes the sentiment that Musk's involvement in the Trump administration should be welcomed. O'Leary acknowledges Musk's extraordinary execution abilities, stating that "if he says he can save $2 trillion in spending, I think he can do it." The bipartisan nature of this endorsement underscores the potential for Musk to make a lasting impact.
The Tesla Effect
[...]
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The positive impact of Musk's involvement in the Trump administration is expected to have a significant effect on Tesla. As Kathy Wood points out, "what's good for the United States is good for Tesla." The free publicity and positive sentiment surrounding Musk's role could be a boon for the electric vehicle company.
Overcoming Political Biases
Walter Isaacson, a renowned biographer, highlights the polarized reactions to Musk's political involvement. Some want him to be more vocal and controversial, while others are critical of his support for the Trump administration. However, Musk's unwavering commitment to his beliefs and convictions, regardless of political affiliations, is a testament to his character.
The Majority Speaks
It is worth noting that the recent US presidential election results have shown that the majority of voting adults in the United States agreed with Musk's political stance, as evidenced by the victory of the candidate he strongly endorsed.
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A Transformative Era Ahead
As the Trump administration's second term unfolds, Elon Musk's involvement is poised to have a profound and lasting impact on the United States. The speed and magnitude of the positive changes that are expected to occur are truly unprecedented, and the implications for Tesla and the broader economy are equally significant.
Amazon reportedly working on Echo Frames for delivery drivers
Amazon is developing smart glasses for delivery drivers, Reuters reports. The aim is to give drivers turn-by-turn directions, thereby shaving seconds off of each delivery.
#technology #amazon #drivers
Citing anonymous Amazon sources, Reuters says the project is part of Amazon’s efforts to increase efficiency in the last 100 yards of a delivery. Codenamed “Amelia”, the smart glasses are based off the existing Echo Frames platform. Unlike the current audio-only Frames they would have an embedded display that could give a driver more precise directions — for example, turning left or right after getting off an elevator. Amazon is also exploring camera capabilities using that embedded display, enabling drivers to take photos of packages as proof of delivery. Theoretically, doing all this would allow drivers to carry more packages because the glasses are hands-free, while all those saved seconds would allow drivers to squeeze in more home deliveries in a single shift.
That said, it might be a good long while before Amazon drivers sport smart glasses — if they ever do. Adding displays to ordinary glasses or audio-based smart glasses like the current Echo Frames is also a tough engineering challenge — one that many companies have failed at. Amazon is reportedly having issues making glasses with a battery that can last a full eight-hour shift while also being light enough to wear all day. Another problem is many people already have corrective lenses, and thus far, consumer smart glasses haven’t always been capable of accommodating every prescription. It’ll also have to convince its entire fleet of drivers — many of which are third-party contractors — to adopt the technology. It could take years for Amazon to gather enough data on that last 100 yards (i.e., building layouts, sidewalks, streets, driveways, etc.) to make its vision a reality.
It’s not wholly surprising to see Amazon explore enterprise options for its smart glasses tech. Reuters’ sources also stated that the last-gen Echo Frames sold fewer than 10,000 units — disappointing when compared to how successful the Ray-Ban Meta glasses have been. (Both were released around the same time last year.) Pivoting to enterprise has also long been the playbook for underperforming smart glasses and AR headsets, including Google Glass, Magic Leap, and Microsoft HoloLens. Also unclear is whether Amazon will keep this purely for its own delivery network or pursue third-party enterprise contracts. That said, it’s possible that some of this tech will also make its way to consumers. The report notes that Amazon is working on an embedded screen for future Echo Frames glasses that could show up sometime in Q2 2026.
Elon Gives A Timeline For A Robot Future | Joe Rogan & Elon Musk
#elonmusk #joerogan #technology #robots !summarize
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The Looming Automation and AI Disruption
The rapid advancements in automation and artificial intelligence (AI) have raised significant concerns about the potential disruption to traditional jobs, particularly in manufacturing, transportation, and other industries. As we stand at the forefront of this technological revolution, it's crucial to understand the implications and explore ways to mitigate the potential loss of purpose and income that many people may face.
According to the speaker, the impact of automation and AI is likely to be felt in the coming 15-20 years. In the short-term (1-3 years) and medium-term (5-10 years), there will be immediate and pressing issues to address. However, the longer-term (20 years) implications pose deeper questions about the meaning of life and purpose if computers and robots can outperform humans in most tasks.
[...]
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The speaker expresses cautious optimism, suggesting that there is an 80-90% likelihood of a positive outcome. They envision a future where everyone will have their own personal robot, akin to having a smartphone today. This could potentially provide a sense of security and protection, with robots acting as personal assistants or bodyguards. However, the speaker also acknowledges the need to avoid dystopian scenarios, such as the plot of a James Cameron movie.
The pace of technological change has been accelerating at an unprecedented rate. Comparing the past century, the speaker notes that the differences between 1900-1920 and 1920-1940 were not as significant as the changes we've witnessed from 1980 to 2000, and the even more dramatic shifts from 2000 to 2020. The speaker suggests that the next 20 years will bring about an even more profound transformation, one that is difficult to fully comprehend in the present moment.
[...]
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The ubiquity of smartphones and the way people have adapted to them, taking their capabilities for granted, serves as a metaphor for the impending changes. Just as the smartphone has become an indispensable part of daily life, the speaker envisions a future where humanoid robots may outnumber humans, fundamentally altering the social and economic landscape.
As we navigate this uncharted territory, it is crucial for policymakers, businesses, and individuals to proactively address the challenges posed by automation and AI. Strategies such as universal basic income, retraining programs, and the exploration of new forms of meaningful work will be essential in ensuring a smooth transition and mitigating the potential loss of purpose and income that many may face.
The push for Elon Musk to lead American AI policy is already starting
Efforts to influence President-elect Donald Trump’s policies via Elon Musk are already beginning. On Friday, nonprofit AI advocacy group Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI) launched a public petition asking Trump to make Musk his special adviser on AI, saying he is well positioned to protect the US lead on the technology while ensuring it’s rolled out safely.
#technology #musk #ai #policy
“No one is better equipped to help the Trump Administration make America lead on AI than Elon Musk,” reads the petition circulated by ARI, which is led by former Democratic representative Brad Carson and says it doesn’t take corporate funding.
Musk has been a leading critic of OpenAI, a company he cofounded but more recently has distanced himself from and made into an opponent. Shortly after the release of ChatGPT, he signed onto a letter calling for a moratorium on the development of more advanced generative AI models in order to implement safeguards. Critics say his stances are largely self-interested, however, since he also runs his own AI company, xAI.
The ARI petition says it’s possible to deal with Musk’s conflicts of interest, arguing that with “proper mechanisms” to do so, “Musk would be an invaluable asset for helping the Trump administration navigate the development of this transformational technology.” ARI is aiming to get 10,000 signatures on the petition.
“Musk could emerge as a champion for AI safety in the administration,” ARI policy analyst David Robusto wrote in a recent blog post. Robusto pointed to Musk’s cofounding of OpenAI, his call for a moratorium on AI development, and support of California’s vetoed AI safety bill SB 1047 as reasons to believe his commitment to safety is deep-rooted. Robusto concedes that Musk hasn’t said much about what kinds of government policies should actually be implemented — besides the creation of a dedicated AI safety agency — but says his “lack of specificity suggests his thinking on the topic is evolving and can still be shaped by public debate over the issue.”
Musk has previously claimed he’ll join the Trump administration in a role he created from whole cloth: the head of a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), whose role would be to gut the entire US regulatory system. But Robusto hopes he could promote AI safety even in that capacity — if only by hitting the departments that manage it less hard. Robusto says Musk may spare agencies key to AI safety policy like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) from cuts to federal spending. And if Musk imposes mass layoffs across the government to save costs, the government may lean more on AI tools to make up the workload.
“With proper guardrails in place, his unique combination of technical expertise and safety advocacy could be a valuable asset in developing responsible AI governance,” Robusto writes.
Tesla shares continue epic surge as market cap leaves $1T in its rearview
Tesla shares (NASDAQ: TSLA) are continuing their epic surge on Wall Street as the company is feeling the effects of various buy signals, including the Presidential Election that yielded Donald Trump as the winner and analyst perception that the company’s story is changing in a big way.
Over the past five trading days, Tesla shares are up over 37 percent, reaching levels over $350 for the first time in years and sending the company’s market capitalization to a spot that puts it in the top 10 most valuable companies globally.
#tesla #election #marketshare #trump #elonmusk
Shares are up over 7 percent so far on Monday morning, likely surging due to a continuance of what occurred last week with the stock on Wall Street, as well as a new, bullish note from Wedbush’s Dan Ives, who bumped his price target up to $400 from $300.
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India to hold EV import policy workshop in bid to attract Tesla, other EV makers: report
India is reportedly initiating a plan to encourage electric vehicle makers like Tesla to invest in the country. A report about the alleged initiative was shared in a recent report from The Economic Times.
As per the Times, the Indian government is organizing a workshop for companies that are interested in importing premium electric vehicles at lower import tariffs. India is reportedly looking to gather feedback from the participants of the workshop, likely as a way to better understand what investors wish for their operations in the country.
#india #imports #policy #evs #technology
India launched a scheme to encourage the import and local production of electric vehicles last year. To attract investors, the country offered reduced import tariffs. At the time, reports suggested that India’s scheme was likely directed at companies like Tesla, which had openly admitted that it was considering a major investment in the country. The response to the scheme has proven lukewarm, however, and Tesla is yet to finalize an investment in India.
India, however, does not seem to be giving up its aspirations to secure a deal with companies like Tesla. Back in April 2024, a first stakeholder consultation on the scheme was held with several companies. In attendance were Tesla, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra, Hyundai, BMW, Kia, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Toyota, Renault-Nissan, and even VinFast, which joined the meeting through a video call. At the time, however, few companies showed any strong interest in participating in the scheme.
With the government’s reported plans to host a workshop later this month, it appears that India is not done in its attempts to secure major investments from EV makers just yet. As noted by the Times, feedback garnered during the upcoming workshop will likely be considered while framing the rules governing the country’s EV import scheme.
New satellite images reveal China's naval nuclear reactor project
China has built a land-based prototype nuclear reactor for a large surface warship, in the clearest sign yet Beijing is advancing toward producing its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
BANGKOK (AP) — China has built a land-based prototype nuclear reactor for a large surface warship, in the clearest sign yet Beijing is advancing toward producing its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, according to a new analysis of satellite imagery and Chinese government documents provided to The Associated Press.
#china #aerospace #nuclear #propulsion #technology
China’s navy is already the world’s largest numerically, and it has been rapidly modernizing. Adding nuclear-powered carriers to its fleet would be a major step in realizing its ambitions for a true “blue-water” force capable of operating in seas far from China in a growing global challenge to the United States.
“Nuclear-powered carriers would place China in the exclusive ranks of first-class naval powers, a group currently limited to the United States and France,” said Tong Zhao, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C. “For China’s leadership, such a development would symbolize national prestige, fueling domestic nationalism and elevating the country’s global image as a leading power.”
Researchers at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California said they made the finding while investigating a mountain site outside the city of Leshan in the southwest Chinese province of Sichuan, where they suspected China was building a reactor to produce plutonium or tritium for weapons.
Instead, they concluded that China was building a prototype reactor for a large warship. The project at Leshan is dubbed the Longwei, or Dragon Might, Project and is also referred to as the Nuclear Power Development Project in documents.
Made in Taiwan Concerns
Semiconductor chips were the main topic at an adjacent conference in the Hilton Bonnet Creek this week. An employee of mine spoke with one attendee who said shareholders were concerned that their manufacturing headquarters were located in Taiwan. Should they be concerned?
I’m told the general consensus was that even in the event of China following through with its One China policy, the company believed that China would not want to lose such a lucrative business deal with the United States.
#taiwan #semiconductors #unitedstates #china #tradewar #onechina
New stellarator design could accelerate fusion research by staying ‘on’ all the time
Renaissance Fusion aims to design, build, and commercialize a fusion power-plant based on stellarator, HTS, and liquid metal technologies.
A France-based company is using stellarator technology to accelerate fusion research in Europe. Renaissance Fusion is building stellarators that it claims could be the most efficient, steady, and stable fusion reactors on Earth.
There are several approaches that are close to demonstrating net fusion electricity generation.
#fusion #energy #technology #france
Laser fusion compresses a capsule to very high pressures by means of powerful lasers. In contrast, tokamaks and stellarators, which are doughnut-shaped devices, magnetically levitate hot ionized gases (plasmas) and heat them to temperatures hotter than the sun.
Simplifying the stellarator
The company maintains that with unique High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnets and liquid metal shields, it brings stellarators out of the lab and onto the grid.
“To meet net zero emissions goals, a safe, abundant, 24/7 energy source is needed to complement renewables and storage. Fusion is that source,” said Renaissance Fusion.
The company stressed that in the process of simplifying the stellarator, it also simplifies the manufacturing of high-temperature superconductors (HTS).
This is a relatively new class of materials, allowing the generation of strong magnetic fields and thus enabling more compact and affordable fusion devices. It is typically a very lengthy and expensive process, but the company has accelerated it, according to Innovation News Network.
Stellarators can stay “on” all the time
The French firm maintains that stellarator heating exhibits superior efficiency: delivering 1 kWh to the plasma consumes 2-3 kWh of electricity in a stellarator, compared to over 100 kWh in laser fusion.
Another advantage is that stellarators can stay “on” all the time, whereas high-power lasers are pulsed and have low repetition rates, claimed Renaissance Fusion.
Instead of relying on plasma currents like tokamaks, stellarators confine the plasma through specially shaped 3D magnetic fields. Historically, this has resulted in complex coils with expensive and time-consuming design, modeling, and manufacturing processes, according to the company.
Fusion power plant based on the stellarator
Renaissance Fusion aims to design, construct, and commercialize a fusion power plant based on the stellarator, HTS and liquid metal technologies, on time to contribute solving the climate crisis caused by carbon emissions.
The company claims that the heat from the fusion reactions is mostly carried by neutrons and captured by plasma-facing liquid metal wall.
Only High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) can generate the high magnetic fields needed to make fusion smaller and cheaper. The benefits are impressive: a 4x increase in magnetic field reduces the plasma volume by 256x, according to Renaissance Fusion.
Article
Huawei to boost EV range, safety with sulfide-based solid-state battery
Chinese tech giant Huawei has filed a new patent for a sulfide-based solid electrolyte that aims to upgrade lithium-ion batteries by replacing unsustainable liquid components.
In a move that would provide major boost to battery technology in electric vehicles (EVs), Chinese tech conglomerate Huawei has filed a new patent application for a sulfide-based solid electrolyte, a component used in lithium-ion batteries.
The patent, titled ‘Doped Sulfide Materials and Preparation Methods, Lithium-ion Batteries’, introduces an advanced solid-state battery design aimed at enhancing performance, lifespan, and safety of lithium-ion cells.
#huawei #ev #technology #battery
This technology tackles a persistent challenge in the battery industry: degradation of liquid electrolytes. By substituting liquid components with solid electrolytes, Huawei aims to upgrade energy storage systems, especially for EVs.
Safer, high-density batteries
Current battery technology uses liquid or gel electrolytes to transfer lithium ions between the anode and cathode. While this continues to be the industry standard, it is not sustainable long-term. These batteries are prone to overheating, thermal runaway, fires, and explosions.
The go-to solution is the use of solid-state batteries, which offer higher energy density, improved safety, slower degradation, and faster charging and discharging capabilities. Companies are also exploring various materials, such as sulfides, ceramics, polymers, and graphene.
The patent’s innovative doped sulfide material uses a cubic crystal unit cell, with nitrogen doping on one side to stabilize ion movement between the anode and cathode. This configuration enhances ionic conductivity and supports longer battery life, which is especially advantageous for electric vehicles where efficiency and safety are critical.
Huawei’s roadmap for future
The new technology is particularly beneficial for future electric vehicles and energy storage systems, as it addresses the significant issue of battery capacity fading, commonly caused by the settling of polysulfide (LiSx) in liquid sulfur battery systems.
Innovation in this field has been robust across companies. For example, Huawei’s former subsidiary Honor pioneered the use of silicon-carbon for battery anodes, greatly boosting yield. This approach has now become the industry standard, with more companies adopting similar battery technologies.
Nanoparticles in sunscreen shown to shield rice from scorching heat; increase yield
Heat waves pose a serious threat to rice production, causing significant yield losses and even complete crop failure.
Rice, a staple food for billions, faces a growing threat: climate change. Rising temperatures and increasingly frequent heat waves are taking a toll on rice yields worldwide.
Researchers have been exploring ways to make rice plants more resilient to extreme conditions.
A team of horticulturists from Nankai University in China has discovered a surprising solution: zinc oxide nanoparticles. They say that spraying a zinc oxide nanoparticle solution on rice plants enhances their ability to tolerate heat stress.
#nanotechnology #technology #rice #agriculture #yield
Zinc oxide nanoparticles
Heat waves pose a serious threat to rice production, causing significant yield losses and even complete crop failure.
To mitigate the devastating impact of climate change-induced heat waves, scientists are racing to develop strategies to safeguard plant life.
Recent research has indicated that foliar application of zinc nanoparticles is a more efficient method of delivering zinc to plants, as the particles can penetrate leaf pores. Zinc nanoparticles are a common sunscreen ingredient.
Driven by curiosity, the team explored the potential of zinc oxide to safeguard rice yields in the face of extreme heat.
As per Phys.org, in this new study, the researchers created a customized greenhouse.
22.1% yield increase
Upon harvest, the research team observed a 22.1% increase in yield from the rice plants treated with zinc oxide nanoparticles compared to the control group grown with just water.
Upon closer examination, it was found that the rice grains from the zinc oxide-treated plants exhibited higher nutrient content.
“This study revealed that foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs; 30 to 80 nm, 0.67 mg/d per plant, 6 d) to rice leaves under heatwave (HW) stress increased the grain yield and nutritional quality,” the study noted.
Students’ unique humanoid robot achieves real-time human mimicry, teleoperation
The robot’s inverse kinematics system allows it to replicate human motions, improving its responsive and adaptive interaction with the environment.
University students in South Africa have introduced a new humanoid robotics research platform, highlighting advancements in robotics technology.
Stellenbosch University’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering has developed a humanoid robot with a full-height frame, a functional torso, an operable right arm, and a nearly finished left arm.
Outfitted with a webcam and advanced software, the robot can track and replicate human movements in real time.
#southafrica #humanoid #robot #technology #robotics
“Our system performs inverse kinematics, allowing it to follow human motions. This enables theoretical teleoperation from anywhere, demonstrating its potential for remote operation,” said Dr William Duckitt, a professor at SU’s Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, told an engineering news outlet.
In February, four members of Hong Kong’s Diocesan Boys’ School robotics team engineered the world’s smallest humanoid robot, measuring just 141 mm—11.3 mm shorter than a standard ballpoint pen—surpassing the 2022 record set by Pakistan’s Zain Ahmad Qureshi.
Remote-controlled robotics
The humanoid robot at Stellenbosch University’s currently stands at full height with a fully operational torso, right arm, and hand, while its left arm is nearly complete.
Designed for advanced human-like interaction, the robot incorporates a webcam for vision tracking, combined with sophisticated software that allows it to analyze and mimic human movements in real-time, according to Engineering News.
Equipped with an inverse kinematics system, the robot can accurately replicate the motions of a human operator, enhancing its capability to interact with its environment in a responsive and adaptive manner.
Humanoid robot highlighted in Beijing’s half marathon
Technology a helping hand at sport events
A humanoid robot named "Tiangong" has been in the spotlight since the just-concluded Yizhuang Half Marathon in Beijing, where it crossed the finish line together with human participants.
The race began at 8:00 am with runners embarking on the challenging 21.09-kilometer route. As the athletes surged ahead, Tiangong, dressed in black, stood on the sidelines and waved its arms to encourage the participants.
#humanoid #technology #sports #tiangong #marathon
Later in the race, as a large group of runners neared the finish line on Sunday, the robot Tiangong entered the track about 100 meters from the finish, acting as a "closing pacer" to help athletes cross the finish line together.
Produced by the National and Local Co-Built Embodied Intelligence Robot Innovation Center, Tiangong is a first-generation humanoid robot. Standing 163 centimeters tall and weighing 43 kilograms, it is the world's first full-sized humanoid robot that runs on electric drive, according to the official introduction to the robot.
"At large events like marathons, robots can perform a variety of tasks," Jiang Hanya, an industry insider at a tech company based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Monday.
For example, quadruped and humanoid robots, similar to "pace bunnies," can assist pacers, especially in long-distance races like marathons. These robots can maintain steady speeds, helping runners control their pace while providing real-time data feedback on factors like heart rate, temperature, and air quality.
Additionally, robots can enhance safety at events through autonomous navigation, real-time monitoring, and big data analysis. Patrol robots can monitor safety along race routes, detect unusual crowd movement, or emergency situations, and quickly alert security personnel, he noted.
At crowded events, robots equipped with medical supplies can quickly move across the venue to provide emergency equipment such as defibrillators to those in need. They can also analyze an athlete's condition via cameras and sensors to identify those requiring immediate medical attention, Jiang added.
"The development of humanoid robot AI is still in its early stage, with robots lacking strong versatility and generalization, limiting their commercial value. The path of technological evolution is unclear, and data is still scarce," said Jiang.
Not only did the humanoid robot make an appearance at the Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon, but four-legged robots also served as official pacers at the Hangzhou Marathon in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, on November 4.
The four-legged robot maintained a steady pace of around 9 minutes and 24 seconds per kilometer, with a top running speed of up to 6 meters per second. They were equipped with "half-marathon pacer" balloons to help runners maintain a scientifically optimized running rhythm.
According to Zhejiang Television, this marks the first time in international marathon history that robotic pacers have been used.
As previously reported by the Global Times, a larger robot, B2, took on the role of "cut-off pacers" for the half-marathon event, while a smaller one, known as Go2, served as companion pacers for the fun run.
Immigrant Tech Workers Scrambling To Secure Visas Ahead Of Trump’s Inauguration
With Trump’s upcoming inauguration, many tech workers on visas are feeling nervous. Trump's strict immigration policies in his first term made it harder to stay, and some are worried the same will happen again. I can understand why they’re scrambling to sort out their visas before he takes office. Many are even changing their plans to avoid travel risks or renewing early to secure their stay. The anxiety is real, and it’s totally understandable.
#Immigration #TechWorkers #politics #deportation
Only 16% of major companies on track for net zero as AI emerges as critical tool, Accenture report finds
It's worrying to see that just 16% of big companies are on track to cut emissions by 2050. Accenture’s report says AI could help them reach these targets faster, but only a few are actually using it. AI can predict and reduce energy waste, yet most firms aren’t embracing it enough. Europe’s doing better than other regions, but there’s still a lot of work to be done globally to make AI a true driver for change.
#AI #NetZero #Artificialintelligence
A bold AI movement is underway in Africa, but it is being held up
Africa's AI journey has so much potential but faces big obstacles. Young African minds are innovating, using AI to solve local problems, from health apps in South Africa to crop diagnostics in Kenya. But funding and technology limitations slow progress. Without better government support, from accessible data to policy frameworks, it’s tough for these projects to thrive. I admire how resourceful these researchers are, working despite limited resources. I hope they get the support they need to truly succeed globally.
#AI #Africa
TSMC stops AI chip exports to China following US directive
TSMC, a big chip maker, just stopped sending AI chips to China. This came after a US order to limit the tech going there. I think this will shake up China’s tech plans quite a bit. With fewer options for AI chips, China might need to develop its own tech faster. The US is using its power here, and I’m curious to see how this affects the whole tech world in the coming years.
#ArtificialIntelligence #USChinaTech #techwar
US-sanctioned Moore Threads, China’s AI chip unicorn, moves closer to possible IPO
Moore Threads, one of China's top chip makers, is getting ready to go public. Founded by a former Nvidia expert, they’ve changed their business status, likely in prep for a big debut on the stock market. This is a huge move, especially since the US has tightened rules, making it harder for China to access Nvidia’s powerful chips. But Moore Threads seems determined, backed by local investors who believe in China's drive to be more tech-independent.
#Semiconductors #TechWar
Claude AI’s Visual Interpretation is Transforming Document Analysis
I just read about Claude AI's new feature, where it can now "see" visuals in PDF documents. This update from Anthropic means Claude can analyze charts and images, not just words. I think this could change how businesses and researchers handle data. Imagine how much quicker analyzing financial or legal documents could get. It’s all about making AI smarter and more useful every day.
#AI #DocumentAnalysis
Goodbye, Consultants
AI's changing everything. A Bengaluru coconut seller is doing competitive research, something you'd expect from big companies! With tools like ChatGPT, anyone can analyze markets and customer feedback without needing consultants. SurveySensum, for example, now uses AI to summarize feedback instantly. It’s incredible, less human work, faster insights, and cheaper, too! While consultants may still offer unique insights, I feel AI’s making it easier for anyone to dive into data. Who knows? Maybe consultants will adapt, or we’ll all just DIY.
#AI #Consultants
ChatGPT proves to be a lifesaver for a man—helping him avoid a cardiac arrest
I came across this wild story where a guy using ChatGPT avoided a heart attack! It was 2 a.m., and he was working late when he felt chest tightness. He didn’t think it was serious but asked ChatGPT about his symptoms out of curiosity. Surprisingly, the AI urged him to get checked. Turns out, he was in the early stages of a heart attack! Thanks to ChatGPT, he got to the ER just in time. It’s crazy how tech can be this helpful.
#Health #AI
Revolutionary AI Tool by Mass General Brigham Promises to Unmask the True Scope of Long COVID
This new AI from Mass General Brigham might be able to spot long COVID way better than before. Originally, we thought 7% of people had long COVID symptoms after getting sick. But now, this AI says it could actually be 23%! The AI scans a ton of health records to pick out these symptoms, which are hard for doctors to spot sometimes. Feels like we’re finally getting closer to understanding what’s been happening to so many people.
#LongCOVID #AIHealth
Sanctuary AI chief Geordie Rose exiting post at robotics company
Geordie Rose is stepping down from Sanctuary AI, a big deal in robotics. Rose helped start the company, and he’s known for pushing robots to be more “human” in how they think and act. This is a big change – kind of like losing a coach who’s been there since the start. I wonder how this affects Sanctuary AI’s future; it’s tough when the visionary leaves. Let’s see if they can keep up the momentum without him.
#SanctuaryAI #GeordieRose
Hello, you’re here because you said AI image editing was just like Photoshop
“We’ve had Photoshop for 35 years” is a common response to rebut concerns about generative AI, and you’ve landed here because you’ve made that argument in a comment thread or social media.
#technlology #ai #image #Photoshop
There are countless reasons to be concerned about how AI image editing and generation tools will impact the trust we place in photographs and how that trust (or lack thereof) could be used to manipulate us. That’s bad, and we know it’s already happening. So, to save us all time and energy, and from wearing our fingers down to nubs by constantly responding to the same handful of arguments, we’re just putting them all in a list in this post.
Sharing this will be far more efficient after all — just like AI! Isn’t that delightful!
It’s easy to make this argument if you’ve never actually gone through the process of manually editing a photo in apps like Adobe Photoshop, but it’s a frustratingly over-simplified comparison. Let’s say some dastardly miscreant wants to manipulate an image to make it look like someone has a drug problem — here are just a few things they’d need to do:
Have access to (potentially expensive) desktop software. Sure, mobile editing apps exist, but they’re not really suitable for much outside of small tweaks like skin smoothing and color adjustment. So, for this job, you’ll need a computer — a costly investment for internet fuckery. And while some desktop editing apps are free (Gimp, Photopea, etc.), most professional-level tools are not. Adobe’s Creative Cloud apps are among the most popular, and the recurring subscriptions ($263.88 per year for Photoshop alone) are notoriously hard to cancel.
Locate suitable pictures of drug paraphernalia. Even if you have some on hand, you can’t just slap any old image in and hope it’ll look right. You have to account for the appropriate lighting and positioning of the photo they’re being added to, so everything needs to match up. Any reflections on bottles should be hitting from the same angle, for example, and objects photographed at eye level will look obviously fake if dropped into an image that was snapped at more of an angle.
Understand and use a smorgasbord of complicated editing tools. Any inserts need to be cut from whatever background they were on and then blended seamlessly into their new environment. That might require adjusting color balance, tone, and exposure levels, smoothing edges, or adding in new shadows or reflections. It takes both time and experience to ensure the results look even passable, let alone natural.
There are some genuinely useful AI tools in Photoshop that do make this easier, such as automated object selection and background removal. But even if you’re using them, it’ll still take a decent chunk of time and energy to manipulate a single image. By contrast, here’s what The Verge editor Chris Welch had to do to get the same results using the “Reimagine” feature on a Google Pixel 9:
Launch the Google Photos app on their smartphone. Tap an area, and tell it to add a “medical syringe filled with red liquid,” some “thin lines of crumbled chalk,” alongside wine and rubber tubing.
That’s it. A similarly easy process exists on Samsung’s newest phones. The skill and time barrier isn’t just reduced — it’s gone. Google’s tool is also freakishly good at blending any generated materials into the images: lighting, shadows, opacity, and even focal points are all taken into consideration. Photoshop itself now has an AI image generator built-in, and the results from that often aren’t half as convincing as what this free Android app from Google can spit out.
Image manipulation techniques and other methods of fakery have existed for close to 200 years — almost as long as photography itself. (Cases in point: 19th-century spirit photography and the Cottingley Fairies.) But the skill requirements and time investment needed to make those changes are why we don’t think to inspect every photo we see. Manipulations were rare and unexpected for most of photography’s history. But the simplicity and scale of AI on smartphones will mean any bozo can churn out manipulative images at a frequency and scale we’ve never experienced before. It should be obvious why that’s alarming.
Just because you have the estimable ability to clock when an image is fake doesn’t mean everyone can. Not everyone skulks around on tech forums (we love you all, fellow skulkers), so the typical indicators of AI that seem obvious to us can be easy to miss for those who don’t know what signs to look for — if they’re even there at all. AI is rapidly getting better at producing natural-looking images that don’t have seven fingers or Cronenberg-esque distortions.
Maybe it was easy to spot when the occasional deepfake was dumped into our feeds, but the scale of production has shifted seismically in the last two years alone. It’s incredibly easy to make this stuff, so now it’s fucking everywhere. We are dangerously close to living in a world in which we have to be wary about being deceived by every single image put in front of us.
And when everything might be fake, it’s vastly harder to prove something is real. That doubt is easy to prey on, opening the door for people like former President Donald Trump to throw around false accusations about Kamala Harris manipulating the size of her rally crowds.
It’s true: even if AI is a lot easier to use than Photoshop, the latter was still a technological revolution that forced people to reckon with a whole new world of fakery. But Photoshop and other pre-AI editing tools did create social problems that persist to this day and still cause meaningful harm. The ability to digitally retouch photographs on magazines and billboards promoted impossible beauty standards for both men and women, with the latter disproportionately impacted. In 2003, for instance, a then-27-year-old Kate Winslet was unknowingly slimmed down on the cover of GQ — and the British magazine’s editor, Dylan Jones, justified it by saying her appearance had been altered “no more than any other cover star.”
Edits like this were pervasive and rarely disclosed, despite major scandals when early blogs like Jezebel published unretouched photos of celebrities on fashion magazine covers. (France even passed a law requiring airbrushing disclosures.) And as easier-to-use tools like Facetune emerged on exploding social media platforms, they became even more insidious.
One study in 2020 found that 71 percent of Instagram users would edit their selfies with Facetune before publishing them, and another found that media images caused the same drop in body image for women and girls with or without a label disclaiming they’d been digitally altered. There’s a direct pipeline from social media to real-life plastic surgery, sometimes aiming for physically impossible results. And men are not immune — social media has real and measurable impacts on boys and their self-image as well.
Impossible beauty standards aren’t the only issue, either. Staged pictures and photo editing could mislead viewers, undercut trust in photojournalism, and even emphasize racist narratives — as in a 1994 photo illustration that made OJ Simpson’s face darker in a mugshot.
Generative AI image editing not only amplifies these problems by further lowering barriers — it sometimes does so with no explicit direction. AI tools and apps have been accused of giving women larger breasts and revealing clothes without being told to do so. Forget viewers not being able to trust what they’re seeing is real — now photographers can’t trust their own tools!
First of all, crafting good speech laws — and, let’s be clear, these likely would be speech laws — is incredibly hard. Governing how people can produce and release edited images will require separating uses that are overwhelmingly harmful from ones lots of people find valuable, like art, commentary, and parody. Lawmakers and regulators will have to reckon with existing laws around free speech and access to information, including the First Amendment in the US.
Cientista desenvolve cimento nunca visto antes! Ele consegue iluminar as ruas durante a noite, trazendo mais segurança aos motoristas
O cientista mexicano José Carlos Rubio Ávalos, da Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, desenvolveu um cimento luminescente inovador que pode mudar como as cidades lidam com a iluminação urbana. Esse cimento especial consegue absorver a luz ultravioleta do sol durante o dia e emiti-la como luz à noite, criando uma nova solução para a iluminação nas cidades. A pesquisa de Ávalos foi indicada para o prêmio nacional de ciência do México, destacando o impacto do cimento luminescente para as construções e a iluminação urbana.
#technology #science #hivebr
Como o cimento luminescente funciona na iluminação urbana?
O cimento luminescente é resultado de um processo único de fabricação, onde o cientista altera a estrutura do cimento tradicional.
Ao remover certos cristais formados durante a fabricação, o cimento consegue absorver a luz solar sem refletir.
Isso permite que a luz seja armazenada e emitida à noite, proporcionando uma iluminação natural e sustentável nas cidades.
O cimento pode brilhar em diferentes cores, como azul, verde, branco, vermelho e roxo, dependendo da formulação.
A durabilidade da luminescência é de pelo menos 100 anos, tornando o cimento luminescente uma opção vantajosa para a iluminação urbana a longo prazo.
Aplicações da invenção nas cidades
O cimento luminescente pode ser utilizado em várias áreas das cidades, oferecendo uma iluminação natural que complementa ou até substitui as luzes elétricas.
Entre as possíveis aplicações estão ciclovias e estradas, que podem se beneficiar do cimento para melhorar a visibilidade e segurança.
Projetos como a autoestrada de Roosengaarde, na Holanda, já utilizam esse cimento para garantir uma iluminação eficiente sem depender de fontes elétricas.
O uso do cimento luminescente nas cidades pode reduzir a necessidade de iluminação pública convencional, contribuindo para a sustentabilidade e eficiência energética.
Além disso, organizações como Médicos Sem Fronteiras também têm mostrado interesse no uso do cimento luminescente em áreas onde a eletricidade é escassa.
A ONG propôs utilizar o material em banheiros públicos, especialmente em locais onde a falta de iluminação elétrica é um risco para a segurança das mulheres.
Esse tipo de aplicação do cimento pode ajudar a melhorar a infraestrutura urbana em regiões de difícil acesso, além de fornecer uma solução sustentável para a iluminação.
Desafios e custos do material
Apesar das grandes vantagens do cimento luminescente, sua produção ainda enfrenta desafios
O processo de fabricação é mais complexo e caro do que o cimento tradicional, tornando o cimento luminescente até cinco vezes mais caro para ser produzido.
Para atender à demanda crescente, Ávalos está construindo uma fábrica-piloto, mas ainda precisa de mais recursos para concluir o projeto.
A produção do cimento também requer investimentos significativos, já que uma peça de 1 metro quadrado com 3 milímetros de espessura custa entre US$ 60 e US$ 70.
Apesar dos custos, o cimento oferece grande potencial para uso em diversas partes das cidades.
Não é necessário cobrir toda a estrutura de um edifício ou rua com cimento luminescente para que ela emita luz.
Mesmo uma camada fina pode ser suficiente para gerar uma iluminação eficaz.
Embora o custo inicial seja mais alto, os benefícios a longo prazo, como a redução de energia e a durabilidade do material, podem justificar o investimento, especialmente em áreas onde a iluminação elétrica é limitada ou insustentável.
O futuro da iluminação urbana com cimento luminescente
O cimento luminescente está se mostrando uma alternativa inovadora para a iluminação urbana.
Com sua capacidade de absorver a luz do sol e emiti-la durante a noite, esse material pode reduzir a dependência das fontes de luz elétrica nas cidades e trazer benefícios significativos para a sustentabilidade e a eficiência energética.
A adaptação do cimento nas cidades representa uma forma de reimaginar a iluminação urbana, especialmente em locais que enfrentam dificuldades no fornecimento de energia elétrica.
À medida que a produção do cimento evolui e o custo diminui, espera-se que o cimento luminescente se torne uma solução comum para iluminar as cidades de forma mais sustentável e econômica.
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AI Agents Advanced Setup (with CrewAI Founder) 🤖
#ai #technology #newsonleo #crewai !summarize
Part 1/3:
Extending an AI-Powered Educational Content Portal with Crew AI
In this video, the creator of an educational content portal focused on artificial intelligence teams up with Joe, the founder and CEO of Crew AI, to further develop and enhance the platform using Crew AI's powerful capabilities.
Building on a Successful Foundation
The creator had previously built a system using Crew AI to research and generate initial drafts of educational content. While the results were decent, the creator struggled to get the non-GPT-4 models to produce more comprehensive and detailed content.
Introducing Flows and Collaborative Crews
To address this, Joe suggests leveraging Crew AI's "flows" feature, which allows for the creation of collaborative workflows between multiple crews. The idea is to have one crew focused on research and planning, and another crew dedicated to the actual content writing.
[...]
Part 2/3:
The creator sets up a new "EDU flow" and creates two new crews: the "EDU Research Crew" and the "EDU Content Writer Crew." The research crew is responsible for conducting thorough research on a given topic and producing a detailed plan for the content, while the writing crew takes that plan and transforms it into the final educational content.
Enhancing the Workflow with Cursor
Throughout the process, the creator makes extensive use of Cursor, Crew AI's AI-powered coding assistant, to streamline the setup and configuration of the agents and tasks within the crews. Cursor helps the creator quickly update and refine the definitions, ensuring the crews are working efficiently.
Optimizing for Cost and Performance
[...]
Part 3/3:
The creator and Joe discuss the trade-offs between using more expensive GPT-4 models versus the more cost-effective GPT-4 mini models. They conclude that for most use cases, the non-GPT-4 models can produce high-quality results when combined with the robust Crew AI framework, making them a more practical choice.
Next Steps and Future Enhancements
The video concludes with a discussion of potential future enhancements, such as adding web scraping capabilities to the research crew, allowing them to dive deeper into relevant sources, and exploring the possibility of automatically generating images, graphics, and diagrams based on the content.
Overall, this video showcases the power and flexibility of Crew AI, demonstrating how it can be used to build complex, collaborative AI-powered workflows for tasks like educational content creation.
My 11 o'clock appointment just got cancelled. I gues I have more time to thread then. #threadon
We need to improve the #engagement on #inleo. The gap between threads should be lowered from high minutes to lower ones and even seconds. We can do it together, let's #post, #comment and #engage!
we just need to onboard more Europeans. I was away gaming a bit hence no threads.
Indeed, very quite in the European morning.
I think most of the people are either asleep or at work
Truer words have never been spoken about InLeo you're right man we need to thread more
I'll join the thread gang to work hard and make this happen
Ha ha ha...
Lady: do you drink beer?
Man: yes.
Lady: how many per day?
Man: 3.
Lady: how much do you pay per beer?
Man: $5 each including tip.
Lady: how long have you been drinking
Man: about 20 years
Lady: 3 beers a day equates to $450 per month or $5,400 per year. In 20 years, that's $108,000
Man: sounds correct
Lady: did you know that if you put that money in a savings account, that after interest, you would have had enough money to buy a plane?
Man: do you drink beer?
Lady: no
Man: where's your fucking plane?
hahaha where is your fucking plane 😂
LOL! That's a good one. But still, I know how much money I wasted on drinking beer in my youth. I don't even want to think about where I could be had I saved that money. That's very painful.
Well, women have other things to spend on...
funny 😂
Sounds like my family when I say "The most I had in Bitcoin at the same time is around 0.3 BTC." They say "Where's your $20K!!" or whatever 1/3 of $BTC price at the moment is. !LOLZ
LOL
Hahaha! Love this
Haha ha ha ha......the best joke of the day.
#freecompliments
😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅 damn I'm so happy I took time to finish the whole stuff. Talk about twist ending. Yeah where's her fucking plane. I'd say it's in all the wigs and her dye she's been using for decades 😅😅
The trader I've been copy trading already made me 50% profit in less than 1 month...
This is amazing!
Imagine if he kept going like this for 1 year! Compounding growth!
Most of his trades are in sectors of the market that I don't know anything about, mainly meme coins: Doge, Floki, Pepe, sometimes he trades big caps like BTC, ETH, TIA and others, but it's normally memecoins, which makes sense since this cycle the PVP battleground that is trading is in the memecoins trenches.
#leofinance #trading #crypto #cryptocurrency
Gotta go where the opportunity is. I primarily focus on BTC as my main trade just simply for the liquidity at this point. But when a good DOGE trade starts to go, I have been known to jump onboard the DOGE rocket! I unfortunately didn't catch yesterday's blast off because I had to do my stock trading for the family fund in the morning and missed the launch. But there will be another lift off... Just have to be patient.
Only difference... I am using my own analysis and trading rules... If you are just copy trading, you are not really learning to make your own rules, trading plan, and learning your own risk management skills. You are just going by what someone else is doing. That's not sustainable in the long term.
In a way your family is doing the same thing I'm doing, they deposited in a fund and you trade for them, and I basically deposited in a fund that the trader trades for me (it's all automated).
But yeah, it's not sustainable long term. I'm going to increase my portfolio in this copy trading account to $10k, after it I'll put some on the side to trade in the market and start learning a bit, probably going to use your indicator too :)
Eh, it's not the same at all really. They aren't trying to copy trade me. I am getting paid to make money for the fund, so in that manner, I am more like an employee for a business. They aren't trying to do anything on their own.
My thing is what if this dude blows his account and disappears? Are you going to find the next trader to copy? Or will you have the skillset to get out there and do it yourself?
He gets 15% of my profits, so he is also getting paid for me copying him, the exchange does all of that automatically, so I see it very similar to a fund, only difference is that I don't get the exact same price as him, normally I get in a little higher or lower than him because of liquidity and because he has a bunch of AUM following him, which changes the price before my order gets in.
If he blows his account and disappears I'll probably not copy anyone else, I'll count it as a failure, book the losses, and learn from that and move on to either me learning trading or me learning any other skill.
I'm normally good at swing trading, so I would go for that.
I don't think he will blow his account though, he has a track record, that's why I follow him. Been following on X since 2018, he has made copy trading accounts on different exchanges and they all had massive success after 1 year, he just started this one on WooX, his sharp ratio is one of the best on the platform, and his win success rate is around 60-70%.
WooX has something called Woo Shield to protects copiers against traders that blow their accounts by putting a stop loss on the automated copying, I haven't activated it though.
Good luck with it man. Hope it all works out.
Guess I have just had to work too hard to get to where I am, and feel that copy trading is just a lazy way out. And I have tried too hard to teach people these skills and all people want is to be given the fish instead of learning to fish for themselves, which is why I am pretty much done worrying about everyone else. It's like hitting my head against a brick wall.
But, at least I know I have the skill set to be able to make money as long as these markets are available, so it is what it is.
Awesome! I don't know if I have the stomach for copy-trading. I have trouble following.
Its automated so I don't have to do anything, I just look at it a few times a day to see how things are going, sometimes he loses some, but most are winers.
!BBH !DIY !DOOK
You just got DOOKed!
@pepetoken thinks your content is the shit.
They have 16/400 DOOK left to drop today.
Learn all about this shit in the toilet paper! 💩
@teutonium! @pepetoken likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH to your account on behalf of @pepetoken. (20/100)
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Thought about pursuing copy trading. Maybe someday.
I'm up 50% and the month is still just starting 😅
This is honestly insane. It's just leave and forget.
You can query your personal balance by
!DIYSTATShonestly first time I've heard the time copy trading
GM! I want to see how many people are beautiful enough to share their #selfie, in this #threadcast.
Charming cat daddy. Missed you...
Olivia and I, we are #selfie
Pretty girls!
❤️❤️
Happy Monday!
Hello there!
🙏🏼 Have an amazing day
Hey Jimmy! Nice Picture! Happy Wednesday.
Who is this handsome man?
lol. Me, many many years ago :) !BBH !DOOK
You just got DOOKed!
@bradleyarrow thinks your content is the shit.
They have 4/60 DOOK left to drop today.
Learn all about this shit in the toilet paper! 💩
@mamaemigrante! @bradleyarrow likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH to your account on behalf of @bradleyarrow. (4/100)
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I don't know if I'm beautiful but here I am #selfis #memories
What happened to your hair? hahaha
embarrassed to be seen here in hive 🤭
Anyone else noticing a lot of new users? It feels really lively again. It's nice.
Yup!!! Too bad it seems non of my referrals are sticking around. !LOLZ
lolztoken.com
A receding hare line.
Credit: marshmellowman
@selfhelp4trolls, I sent you an $LOLZ on behalf of ahmadmanga
(2/2)
Delegate Hive Tokens to Farm $LOLZ and earn 110% Rewards. Learn more.
Since I'm fairly new here, I dont know. But looks like we have some activity
Yeah a couple, we hope to hit the 10 k before the bullrun peaks.
Image $LEO
But I think there is a bug that makes premium features disappear here and there
There are a lot of bugs now, usually it takes about a week for things to smooth out after a new update. This time was too smooth and things fell apart after a week lol
Yeah yeah yeah, I noticed.
It kinda feels like what may happen to $BTC
Hahaha 😂
Breaking way too many ATH
i saw image on and off issues, people's premium badges disappearing, shit got real but hopefully the team will hand it 🙏
you and I are premium users but I can't see your badge and mine
i don't need a badge, i just hope they fix things quickly. V2 was a huge update so it's understandable
Yeah it's understandable. Its not about the badge, it's the other features that also doesn't seem to work.
Like editing, making long threads and all.
v2 of threads works waaaay much better, maybe it helps on retention and participation
I'm a new user her bro, any tips on how to be like you
Okay got FOMO and throw some more money into $LEO.
Please @khaleelkazi pump our bags ;) 🚀 🚀 🚀
#leo #cent #fomo
You're FOMO is sparking my FOMO! Stop it!! 😜
Haha I think its big time to have FOMO! We have a lot of stuff coming in the coming months :D
BUY BUY BUY!
I am only a degen when it comes to buying LEO at less than .30 Hive = 1 LEO. I doubt many people would be investing like I am in my current situation, but this is a no brainer. Almost all the dominos are set here.
Of all tokens I'm following, $LEO is the most undervalued right now. I'd say $HIVE too, but the sell pressure doesn't make me very hopeful toward it in terms of price.
hive has a lot of built up sell pressure because there isn’t much new blood and most people who want to buy already bought all they could. More users means more potential buyers which means a lot of the sell pressure will be bought up.
Things are looking very nice, I just hope these projects can move their energy towards debugging from now, especially 3speak 😭
SO nice to see....
Its a nice #feedback, telling us to hold on a little before we can read the reply that is haven't indexed.. lol
Yeah, although there are some that still shows that even when the reply is not new.
i just noticed it 😂😂😂.. lol
Glad you did😁
smile 😊😊😊😊..
!DOOK
You just got DOOKed!
@calebmarvel01 thinks your content is the shit.
They have 9/200 DOOK left to drop today.
Learn all about this shit in the toilet paper! 💩
I just powered up 44 hives to be able to engage since I noticed you can't do anything on the platform without Hive Power.
A wise choice :)
Just wanted to drop by and say welcome!
Oh thanks for the welcome, I appreciate you responding to my thread.
Welcome!! Yeah. Hive power is the go juice.
I learned it takes care of the gas fees to transactions are free here. It's a pretty neat system
That is brilliant to see and welcome
#new2hive
Thank you kind sir
if you have any problems feel free to tag me. I will help if I can
wow, thanks for that. I will be sure to kind friend 😊
you sent two messages, I can't seem to respond to the other one. When I click send it doesn't go
Closing in my first 100 $LEO staked 😍
Fantastic! Keep it growing😉
#everyleocounts
Awesome!! Keep stacking them!
Congrats men, step by step
Meditating Mangos is a channel run by a new friend I made at Substack. She is from Vietnam and lives abroad now, living a wild nature life and creating content. She just started her YouTube and it’s already making some traction with views. She actually knew hive from her involvement in NFTs.
She’s talked about joining INLEO for weeks now so I had an idea. Why don’t I send people to say hi and let her know how friendly our community is.
I would love if some friends here could leave her a nice heartfelt comment on her shorts with three lion emojis at the end 🦁 🦁 🦁 . Hopefully she won’t see this. I will show her this post after she’s gotten a bunch of lion emojis on her shorts so she knows just how welcome she is here 🦁
Good idea. Will head over right away :)
thanks! Just act like a normal viewer on YouTube 😹
I'm searching for her channel it ain't easy to find man, can you drop the direct link though?
https://youtube.com/@meditatingmangos?si=kjARvpUbxgf5LqMh
links still not working hahaha I sent a link and it’s not showing up for me at least.
I could t find it at first but then I realized I typed “mango” instead of “mangos”
I rewrote the link and I've found her channel now.. I have subscribed and on her latest short I commented hello from Inleo 💪
Yeah man the link didn't show but at least I was able to search and find it. I hope she joins InLeo you're doing great with your channel too man
🤣🤣🤣 yeah the naming can mess the whole search engine up. Unless it's MrBeast then I type Mr.. and YouTube just recommends. Hopefully you'll be Mr Beast of Inleo
That's very thoughtful. I will check it out now with my new YouTube account.
thanks!!!
You're welcome.
Will Check it out ! Thanks for sharing
nice! Thanks!
that's a brilliant idea man I'll tell her high from Inleo 🏃🏃🏃 she's going to love it here
this is a good work you're doing man, after seeing this she's certainly going to join and if she's got friends she'll call em. You're the best bruv
@ahmadmanga @inuke I know you could leave some nice comments for her! If you have a chance please check out her shorts and don’t mention INLEO or hive, just leave her a few lion emojis after a comment on her short ❤️
No pressure if you are busy
You asked me to check her shorts. Dude I am a married man. This feels wrong. I should go and check with Priya if it is ok for me to check other women's shorts. 😆
She seems weird and cool like us.
Done! But only read half of the text, so I eneded up leaving a single lion emoji. Maybe it will be interpreted as a mystic call
Watching a few of Her(?) shorts... Are they two people, a man and a woman?
Anyway, I sent a couple of comments her way. I hope it made her happy.~
🦁 🦁 🦁
Coffee number 2 and this morning working from home!
What plans do you have today?
#coffee #tengocrypto
I am 2 coffees in. It is a holiday here in Canada, so do my usual. Hive, hunt for witness support ;)
Oh enjoy the holiday and happy hunting!
Thanks and thanks :)
Good morning Tengo.
I already had a bottle of water, my morning ritual.
Plans? Work from home today, Eat, Rest and Blog 😅
Have an amazing day!
#thread2earn #freecompliments
Good morning luchyl
Oh you are working from home today too! Cool and have an amazing day too :)
Staying inside because of the rainy weather outside
Ah rain is okay at nighttime, but I prefer the days to be dry! Stay safe
Same here, we're just made of sugar !LOLZ
lolztoken.com
They’re calling it a BO-VINE.
Credit: reddit
@tengolotodo.leo, I sent you an $LOLZ on behalf of ben.haase
(3/10)
haha yes
I am working from home as well... but I think I will stop by my brother office to have a coffee and change the environment.
Changing up the environment is always a good thing, i shall be going out this afternoon.
Enjoy that coffee with your brother
Working on InLeo before work. Then work. Then home for homework. Lotta work in there. 🙄
And... I am only on my first cup. Gotta get a second in me. 🤣
Very good to keep us up and working #coffee #bbh
So, the bottom line is we don’t know exactly when AGI will arrive but one thing’s clear, we should start preparing now.
That's true, a lot of jobs will be affected by it. In true the entire humanity will be affected nevertheless, good and bad.
yes absolutely brother it'll probably be both good and bad for all of us
Thanks you very much @selfhelp4trolls for dropping by and leaving some encouragement!
People like you makes a small account like me very happy :)
my goal is to make the whole world dance like that, starting with you
I'm going to practice full time to dance like this. I got Christmas party coming up and would love to give the people a show😎
Gonna walk the dog to clear my head from the ☕ #lmao
That's good, going out helps us regain focus and let the mind take a breath.
I wonder if I could/should try and have a nap. Get back in step with my rest cycle
Taking a nap is always good as it gets us back with more energy.
back from my nap :)
you're very right man, I doze off sometimes in the day and put in my best work the minute I wake up. I take sleep very seriously because I feel shitty the next day whenever I don't sleep well
Just added another 20k #LEO to my leopower.
Delegated to #CENT @centtoken for weekly HBD rewards!
Another batch incoming this week
Pump those bags of$LEO !
Awesome! Bravo 👏
!BBH
!DOOK
You just got DOOKed!
@luchyl thinks your content is the shit.
They have 2/10 DOOK left to drop today.
Learn all about this shit in the toilet paper! 💩
@rainbowdash4l! @luchyl likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH to your account on behalf of @luchyl. (2/20)
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👀 🚀 🦁
Way to go!!
15k $LEO is a new level right?
Will be my new goal before end of the year
Yes. You will be a Lion when you have 15k LP
Hurry up! They are getting more and more expensive. 😆
Yeah I felt big FOMO
The price will fall after you use all of your dry powder. 😆
Of course, that’s my aim too by the end of this year!
wishing you the best with this new goal. I follow behind
India is not on top... but thanks for sharing such information..
Welp, my ex-girlfriend was Dutch and 5'9" so this make sense
Tall women......naturally.
#freecompliments
Will this be the time we pass $6 $RUNE?
Did not load enough into the $RUNE bag. Regrets.
Haha have the same feeling .... How do you feel @khaleelkazi?
He feels fine since he bought a bunch last week or so if I remember correctly. 🙄 🤣
The dynamic price feature on inleo is really nice to understand old threads
83K, you are next !
83k is a thing of past now.
#freecompliments
#newsonleo #unitedstates #russia #trump #putin #ukraine Washington Post reports that president-elect Trump on Thursday had phone call with Russian president Putin.
With the Good morning!
A new dawn
Good morning, joys, good morning, Mr. sun. So begins my day and my dawn of every Monday, today I want to wish you to have a happy day, without sadness and many emotions, and may the sun shine for you.
Simply, I dedicate it to you who are watching it.
Happy day
#motivational-mondays #freecompliments
#gmfrens #cent #bbh #photography #dailydook #motivational
Happy start to the week, arriving for lunch, happy afternoon my dear teacher @lanzjoseg #bbh #spanish feliz inicio de semana.
Just one move...
Crazy, cant even imagine how it would have ended if they successfully assasinated Trump
Deep state communism EVERYWHERE
That's true. It was quite close, and Trump survived.
250k and beyond in this offing.
#freecompliments
probably nothing... #create keep building!
Are you using voice messages on Whatsapp and a like? #cent
Sometimes, I rather read than listen...
Me, too. Never had voice message conversation on messaging apps.
yes me too 😅
Refreshing walking with 🐕 ✅
The higher the investment the higher the rewards and well the higher the possible loss
$BTC
Should I be greedy or afraid?
🤔
IDK I am just trying to accumulate a little. Don"t care about the price 1 BTC is 1 BTC :)
If you thinking of it that way that it's cool.
Eventually BTC would rise above that level regardless
Hi, @solymi,
This post has been voted on by @darkcloaks because you are an active member of the Darkcloaks gaming community.
Get started with Darkcloaks today, and follow us on Inleo for the latest updates.
$BTC is about to write a new History!!
Do you think it'll cross 100k within the next week?
1 week? Hard, but still possible
Christmas time? Almost for sure.
awesome! WHat do you think about hive btw?
Possible, but not likely.
Anything is possible because there is not resistance but pullback is expected and in that case it may take more than 1 week.
Pixel #art #animation
cats know the time, I usually get up at 4:30am to get ready for work, today being a holiday and I was up at something after 2. At 4:30 they where at their food dishes waiting. #cats
yes man these cats can easily be programmed with food. I mistakenly helped a cat mother but now the kittens think I'm their food and water supply 😅
Good morning neighbors, what's going on in the Den today?
Good morning. Nothing special unless you want to win a splinterlands land plot with a grain farm ready to work on it. In that case check out my blog to participate :)
ooooo wow I haven't even tried splinterlands yet let me try it
This is exactly how I felt... what about you? 😆 😂
#funny #work #life #balance
thankfully that horror movie is over it's Tuesday man but still trying to clean the piss off of my pants for that Monday Horror 😅
Which will come first?
My Inleo Premium resub or $BTC to 100k?
🦁
#premium #cent #crypto
I will go out on a limb and say 100K
haha! I hope it gets true Arrow ;)
as they say, time will tell ;)
Maximalist goes like $BTC
I am no Maxi but I believe in BTC, BTC is the Prime.
Resub.
On the other hand, the #Llama model I downloaded gives me the result I wanted 1 in 3 times... #ai #freecompliments #bbh
https://inleo.io/threads/view/ahmadmanga/re-leothreads-2pacfr19v?referral=ahmadmanga
Chatgpt is really advancing man.
Been blogging but due to time constraints, thinking of stopping. I'm going to be premium user next week Monday. Will threading be enough to cater for premium bill and still keep going?
From my experience, No. But your experience might be different. I don't write a lot of threads per day, and I only get upvoted, threads-wise once a week or so.
🤔🤔🤔🤔 do you blog always?
does it mean I have to keep blogging to earn from being a premium user?😳
Yeah...
Maybe if you thread too much that they can't ignore you, you'll have the same result, but since I haven't tried that myself, I can't tell you if it'll work or not.
I recommend you ask other people too, ones that more active than me on threads.
thank my good friend you've been really helpful let me try asking the others thanks brother 🙏💪❤️
Glad I helped!
A teenager from British Columbia has been hospitalized with H5N1 bird flu-a human case contracted from the latest outbreak. This is Canada's second case of H5N1, after a case seen when a traveler returned from China in 2014. Authorities suspect that he became infected through "direct exposure" to wild birds, but confirmation is pending in tests. To date, 440 dairy cattle herds across 15 states have surfaced carrying the virus.
#newsonleo #healthnews
Oh, poor her. I hope she gets cured pretty soon.
Yeah, I really hope so too
Article
This virus thing doesn't seem to have an end, we have to take care of ourselves to avoid being victims of a virus like this.
yep!
A CDC report shows that 7% of dairy workers have signs of past infection with the H5N1 avian flu. The study, conducted between June and August, found that 78% of workers had antibodies in their blood. The actual number of infected workers could be in the hundreds or even thousands, with 440 dairy herds already affected in the U.S. The virus has also been detected in wastewater in Los Angeles County, suggesting many infections may be going undetected.
#newsonleo #healthnews
Article
Many are going undetected and always have. I don't see that as a bad thing. It's just the way the world works.
That 78% are now more resistant to this infection.
WHich year is this?
according to the article 2024