Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 10/16/24. We aim to educate people about this crucial area along with providing information of what is taking place.
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
The Rise of Software-Delivered Services
The software industry is undergoing a significant transformation with the emergence of Software-Delivered Services (SDS), which leverage AI to deliver outcomes rather than tools, differentiating themselves from traditional SaaS companies. These SDS companies focus on accountability and quality, adopting usage-based billing models similar to professional services, and offering compelling cost advantages. As they navigate this new frontier, SDS firms have the potential to reshape industries by combining software scalability with the outcome-focused approach of professional services.
#technology #software #sds
Reuters: Apple launches new iPad mini with AI features
https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/apple-launches-new-ipad-mini-with-ai-features-2024-10-15/
Reuters: NYT sends AI startup Perplexity 'cease and desist' notice over content use
https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/nyt-sends-ai-startup-perplexity-cease-desist-notice-over-content-use-wsj-reports-2024-10-15/
Reuters: Prada and Axiom Space shoot for the moon with new spacesuit
https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/prada-axiom-space-shoot-moon-with-new-spacesuit-2024-10-16/
Reuters: Fujitsu showcases technology for practising Japanese classical theatre
https://www.reuters.com/technology/fujitsu-showcases-technology-practising-japanese-classical-theatre-2024-10-16/
I applaud your tenacity & loyalty to the INLEO project! Like we of the nosleepgang used to say:
#freecompliments #dailydook
Reuters: Horizon Robotics seeks $696 mln in Hong Kong IPO, would be city's largest in 2024
https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/chinas-horizon-robotics-seeks-696-mln-hong-kong-ipo-2024-10-16/
Reuters: Meta must face US state lawsuits over teen social media addiction
https://www.reuters.com/legal/meta-must-face-us-state-lawsuits-over-teen-social-media-addiction-2024-10-15/
Reuters: Chinese cyber association calls for review of Intel products sold in China
https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/chinese-cyber-agency-recommends-review-intel-products-sold-china-2024-10-16/
Reuters: Australia's planned social media ban raises teen isolation fears
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/australias-planned-social-media-ban-raises-teen-isolation-fears-2024-10-15/
Reuters: AI, cloud funding in US, Europe and Israel to hit $79 bln in 2024, Accel says
https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/ai-cloud-funding-us-europe-israel-hit-79-bln-2024-accel-says-2024-10-16/
Reuters: Exclusive: EU AI Act checker reveals Big Tech's compliance pitfalls
https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/eu-ai-act-checker-reveals-big-techs-compliance-pitfalls-2024-10-16/
Google's Chrome Browser Starts Disabling uBlock Origin
The browser is doing so as part of Google's plan to phase out older Manifest V2 extensions to bolster Chrome's security. Still, some uBlock Origin users aren't happy about the change.
#technology #chrome #ublock #ublockorigin
Sustainable building effort reaches new heights with wooden skyscrapers
Mass timber replaces steel beams and concrete with manufactured wood elements that can extend more than half the length of a football field. The process of creating the elements involves gluing smaller pieces of wood together in layers under pressure in large specialized presses. Beams created with this process can be stronger than steel by weight. Mass timber buildings tend to be manufactured like automobiles, with all the separate pieces shipped to a final location for assembly, making the building process more simple.
#technology #sustainablebuilding #wood #woodenskyscrapers
The exciting research that may cure Parkinson’s
GeneCode, a pharmaceutical company, received a €16 million funding option from the European Innovation Council Accelerator last year to support the development of a novel drug designed to combat neurodegeneration in Parkinson's patients. Preliminary evidence suggests that the drug may alleviate symptoms, protect neurons from further damage, and help restore neurons for a healthier, longer life. The drug binds to receptors in the brain and sends chemical signals that stimulate dopamine production, which helps neurons with axons stay active and maintain synaptic connections with other neurons. GeneCode has almost completed animal experiments, but it still needs to certify that the drug can be consistently and safely produced to ensure future quality assurance and perform toxicology studies before the drug can begin clinical trials in humans.
#technology
Bitcoin hits highest level since July, boosting other coins and crypto-related stocks
The price of bitcoin neared $68,400 on Wednesday, its highest since July, sparking a rally in other cryptocurrencies and related equities.
The price of bitcoin neared $68,400 on Wednesday, reaching its highest level since July and sparking a rally across the crypto sector.
#bitcoin #crypto
Bitcoin is up more than 9% over the past week and ether is up about 7%. Other popular coins have also rallied, with solana up close to 10% in the past seven days and dogecoin up 15%.
The gains have made their way to crypto-pegged stocks. Digital asset exchange Coinbase climbed almost 7% on Wednesday, bringing its three-day rally to 19%. The stock is at its highest since August.
Article
Microrobot
Ring-shaped microrobot swims autonomously in viscous liquids
A small robotic ring, driven by light, can move autonomously in viscous liquids, such as honey, gels or even mucus.
#newsonleo #robot #technology
This innovation marks a major step forward in the development of microrobots capable of navigating complex environments, with promising applications in fields such as medicine and environmental monitoring.
Nature has devised ingenious methods for microorganisms to navigate their typically viscous environments. For example, E. coli bacteria employ corkscrew movements, cilia move in coordinated waves, and flagella propel their holders through a whip-like beat. However, swimming at this scale is similar to a human trying to swim through honey, due to the overwhelming viscous forces.
Zixuan Deng and his colleagues at Tampere (Finland) and Anhui Jianzhu (China) universities have figured out how to meet this challenge.
To create their robotic ring — the team calls it a toroidal microrobot — the researchers used a synthetic material known as liquid crystalline elastomer. This elastomer reacts to light and heat stimuli, for example triggered by a laser beam. When heated, the material rotates on its own due to a special mode of zero elastic energy, caused by the interaction of static and dynamic forces.
"The implications of this research go beyond robotics, potentially impacting fields such as medicine and environmental monitoring. For example, this innovation could be used to transport medicines through physiological mucus and unclog blood vessels after miniaturization of the device," said Deng.
Physicist Edward Purcell was the first, in 1977, to imagine a toroidal topology - a donut shape - to improve the navigation of microscopic organisms in environments where viscous forces are dominant and inertial forces are negligible. These conditions are known as the Stokes regime, occurring at very low Reynolds numbers, typically less than 1, making the fluid flow smooth and laminar, without turbulence.
Although it looked promising, it took almost 50 years for the first toroidal swimming robot to be demonstrated in practice.
The team's achievement was precisely to simplify things, eliminating the need for complex architectures: Using a single beam of light to trigger non-reciprocal movement, toroidal microrobots take advantage of zero elastic energy mode to determine their movements autonomously - It sounds like a complicated name, but zero elastic energy mode is a configuration in which no component of the system is storing elastic potential energy, like a compressed spring.
"Our innovation enables three-dimensional free swimming in the Stokes regime and opens up new possibilities for exploring confined spaces such as microfluidic environments. Furthermore, these toroidal robots can switch between rolling and self-propulsion modes to adapt to their environment," said Deng.
The team now aims to study the interactions and collective dynamics of multiple toroidal microrobots operating in the same environment, eventually developing communication methods between these microrobots to perform more complex tasks.
NVidia
With a record on the stock market, Nvidia is closer to overtaking Apple as the most valuable in the world
Nvidia shares reached their highest ever value on Monday (14), putting the large artificial intelligence chip maker on the brink of dethroning Apple as the most valuable company in the world.
#newsonleo #nvidia #technology
With investors betting on strong demand for its current and next-generation AI processors, shares of the Santa Clara, Calif., company rose 2.4% to end the day at $138.07.
In June, Nvidia briefly became the most valuable company in the world. But the company has been overtaken by Microsoft and the technology trio's market values have been side by side for several months.
The latest gains have pushed Nvidia's market cap to $3.4 trillion, just below Apple's $3.5 trillion and above Microsoft's $3.1 trillion.
“We believe that leading AI companies face an investment environment characterized by the Prisoner's Dilemma – each is individually incentivized to continue spending as the costs of not doing so are [potentially] devastating,” TD Cowen analysts wrote in the Sunday. TD Cowen reiterated a $165 price target for Nvidia.
As investors geared up for quarterly earnings season, Apple rose 1.2%, Microsoft 0.9% and the S&P 500 index rose 0.7% to its own record.
Analysts expect investments in building AI data centers to help Nvidia's annual revenue more than double to nearly $126 billion, according to data from Lseg.
Nordic entrepreneur-led VC firm Node.vc closes €71 million first fund
From Switzerland's Founderful to Italians Founders Fund and the Dutch Operator Fund, a new crop of European VC firms claim to operate as "entrepreneurs
From Switzerland’s Founderful to Italians Founders Fund and the Dutch Operator Fund, a new crop of European VC firms claim to operate as “entrepreneurs backing entrepreneurs.”
#technology #newsonleo
Node.vc's €71 Million Fund: A New Trend in European Venture Capital?
In a significant development, Swedish fund node.vc has secured €71 million in funding to invest in startups across the Nordics and Baltics. This move marks a potential trend in European venture capital, as Node.vc joins a growing group of funds prioritizing operational experience and founder-led investment strategies.
A Deeper Connection to Entrepreneurship
Node.vc's managing partner, John Elvesjö, co-founded Swedish eye-tracking startup Tobii, which went public in 2015. This entrepreneurial background is reflected in the fund's investment team and limited partners, comprising 70 founders who can offer more than just financial support. While they have no obligation to add more than money, they can also invest their time and expertise, making Node.vc a unique player in the VC landscape.
This founder-led approach allows the fund to provide startups with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities they face, as well as valuable connections and guidance.
Institutional Investors and Unconventional Approach
Node.vc's success in securing a fund of this size is attributed to its ability to attract institutional investors, including Saminvest, Sweden's fund-of-funds, and the life and pension aRM of Nordic bank Nordea. The fund's approach to VC math is also unconventional, with a deliberately oversized team of eight full-time and eight part-time staffers, several of whom previously worked at Nordic VC firm Brightly Ventures. This larger team allows Node.vc to dedicate more resources to each startup, providing a more hands-on approach to investing.
Investment Strategy and Themes
The fund plans to back seven startups each year, with an average entry ticket of €1.3 million and the potential to invest up to €10 million in a single company. Node.vc is sector-agnostic, but focuses on three themes: the future of entertainment, the future of work, and platform technologies. These themes align with the strengths and sectors the Nordics are known for, such as gaming, FinTech, and AI, but were only realized after extensive research and analysis.
The fund's sector-agnostic approach allows it to identify opportunities across a wide range of industries, rather than being limited to a specific sector or niche.
Nordic Ecosystem and Talent Availability
The fund is particularly bullish about the Nordic ecosystem, citing the availability of talent as a major advantage. According to Elvesjö, the region's talent pool is more available than it has been in the last five years, thanks in part to the recent layoffs at several Scandinavian unicorns. This talent availability, combined with the region's strengths in AI and other emerging technologies, makes Node.vc confident in its ability to identify and support successful startups. The fund believes that the Nordic ecosystem offers a unique combination of entrepreneurial spirit, innovative thinking, and access to tOP talent, making it an attractive location for startups and investors alike.
Conclusion
Node.vc's €71 million fund marks a significant development in European venture capital, as the fund prioritizes operational experience and founder-led investment strategies. With its unique approach to VC math, sector-agnostic focus, and emphasis on the Nordic ecosystem, Node.vc is well-positioned to support startups across the Nordics and Baltics. As the fund continues to invest and grow, it will be interesting to see if this trend gains momentum, potentially changing the face of European venture capital. Node.vc's success could inspire other funds to adopt similar approaches, leading to a more diverse and dynamic VC landscape in Europe.
Article
Former Palantir CISO Dane Stuckey joins OpenAI to lead security
Dane Stuckey, the former CISO at Palantir, has joined OpenAI to head up security.
Dane Stuckey, the former CISO of analytics firm Palantir, has joined OpenAI as its newest CISO, serving alongside OpenAI head of security Matt Knight.
#openai #technology #newsonleo
Stuckey announced the move in a post on X Tuesday evening.
“Security is germane to OpenAI’s mission,” he said. “It is critical we meet the highest standards for compliance, trust, and security to protect hundreds of millions of users of our products, enable democratic institutions to maximally benefit from these technologies, and drive the development of safe AGI for the world. I am so excited for this next chapter, and can’t wait to help secure a future where AI benefits us all.”
Article
Internal blog post reveals Automattic's plan to enforce the WordPress trademark using 'nice and not nice lawyers'
Matt Mullenweg, the WordPress co-founder and Automattic CEO, has been embroiled in a very public and legal fight with WP Engine these last few weeks
#technology #newsonleo #wordpress
Automattic's Aggressive Trademark Enforcement Strategy Unveiled
In recent weeks, a public and legal dispute has erupted between Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, and WP Engine over the use of the WordPress trademark. This conflict, however, is not an isolated incident but part of a broader, premeditated strategy by Automattic to tighten control over its intellectual property.
The Internal Memo
An internal blog post from January 2024, authored by Automattic's then-chief legal officer Paul Sieminski, reveals that the company had been planning a more stringent approach to trademark enforcement for both WordPress and WooCommerce since the beginning of the year.
The strategy outlined in this memo included:
Recent Actions
True to the plan laid out in the internal memo, Automattic has taken several steps to enforce its trademarks:
The WordPress Ecosystem
This aggressive stance marks a significant shift in Automattic's relationship with the WordPress ecosystem. Previously, the company had fostered a more collaborative environment, even investing in companies like WP Engine to encourage ecosystem growth. The recent actions have raised concerns among contributors and developers about the potential negative impact on the WordPress community.
Trademark Ownership and Licensing
It's important to note that the WordPress Foundation, a non-profit organization, has owned the WordPress trademark since 2010. Automattic holds the exclusive commercial license for WordPress. This arrangement was initially set up to protect the open-source project's future, regardless of changes at Automattic.
WooCommerce Trademarks
The enforcement strategy extends to WooCommerce, Automattic's e-commerce platform acquired in 2015. Automattic owns WooCommerce entirely and plans to enforce its trademarks similarly, albeit potentially with less complexity due to its status as a company asset rather than a community project.
Murky Areas and Leadership Questions
The dispute has highlighted some unclear aspects of the WordPress Foundation's operations:
Moving Forward
While Mullenweg has stated that trademark enforcement is routine, the scale and public nature of the dispute with WP Engine suggest a more aggressive approach. Automattic is reportedly "upgrading" its legal team, indicating that this may be the beginning of a new era in how the company manages its intellectual property rights within the WordPress ecosystem.
As this situation unfolds, it will be crucial to monitor how Automattic balances its commercial interests with the collaborative spirit that has long defined the WordPress community.
This summary covers the key points of the original piece, including:
Article
X rival Mastodon has started selling toys
If you like open-source, decentralized social networks that put the power in the hands of the people instead of billionaires,
#technology #socialmedia #mastodon
Mastodon's Plushie Revolution: A Heartwarming Movement to Support Open-source Social Networks
In a bold and innovative move, Mastodon, a decentralized alternative to traditional social media platforms, has launched its own merchandise line, starting with a line of adorable plushie mastodons. These cuddly toys are designed to be soft, washable, and even serve as a travel pillow, making them a must-have for any Mastodon fan. The initial launch is exclusive to the European Union, due to unforeseen delays caused by recent storms in the United States.
The idea to sell merchandise was born out of a poll conducted by Mastodon last year, which revealed that over 6,700 users would be willing to purchase merchandise if it was available. The company's initial test run of products, including mugs, tees, and PINs, sold out quickly, and the plushie is the latest addition to the merchandise line. The response has been overwhelming, with fans taking to social media to share their plushie purchases, using the hashtag #plushtodon.
Within hours of its launch, Mastodon had sold an impressive 176 plushies, generating nearly $8,000 in revenue (minus manufacturing and shipping costs). By the end of the day, the figure had topped 200. While this may not be enough to fund a single developer's salary, it's a significant step forward for the company, which primarily funds its development efforts through Patreon.
The plushie revolution is not just about generating revenue; it's also a testament to the community's enthusiasm for the platform and its commitment to supporting decentralized social networks. Mastodon fans are using their plushies as a symbol of their support for the platform, and the campaign is a heartwarming reminder of the power of community.
While it may seem unlikely that Mastodon will ever be able to topple tech giants like X and Meta's Threads, the plushie revolution is a fun and creative way to support the open social community. As Mastodon's founder and CEO, Eugen Rochko, has said, the company will continue to fund its development efforts through a combination of merchandise sales and Patreon support.
In the end, the plushie revolution is a reminder that even small actions can make a big difference in the world of open-source social networks. By supporting Mastodon and its mission, fans are helping to create a more decentralized and community-driven Internet. The plushie revolution is a symbol of the power of community and a testament to the dedication of Mastodon fans.
ARTICLE
The Guardian: ‘I’m empowering my song to go and make love with different people’: Imogen Heap on how her AI twin will rewrite pop
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/oct/16/im-empowering-my-song-to-go-and-make-love-with-different-people-imogen-heap-on-how-her-ai-twin-will-rewrite-pop
The Guardian: Ofcom urged to act after US firm claims Roblox is ‘paedophile hellscape’
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/15/roblox-allegations-ofcom-online-safety-act
The Guardian: New UK bill could force social media firms to make content less addictive for under 16s
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/14/new-bill-could-force-social-media-firms-to-make-content-less-addictive-for-children
BBC: Pre-eclampsia: The deadly mystery scientists can't solve
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20241015-pre-eclampsia-the-deadly-mystery-scientists-cant-solve
BBC: Ozempic could delay ageing, researchers suggest
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce81j919gdjo
BBC: The deep-sea 'emergency service' that keeps the internet running
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20241014-the-deep-sea-emergency-service-that-keeps-the-internet-running
Reuters: ASML draws investor scrutiny after warning shocks global chip markets
https://www.reuters.com/technology/asml-warning-shocks-global-chip-investors-2024-10-16/
New “Liquid” Model - Benchmarks Are Useless
Summary below ⏬
New Liquid AI Model Puts Non-Transformer Architecture to the Test
In this episode, the host discusses a brand new model from Liquid AI that departs from the traditional Transformer architecture. This family of generative AI models, called the Liquid Foundation Models, comes in three sizes - 1 billion, 3 billion, and 40 billion parameters.
Impressive Benchmark Performance
The host shares benchmark results showing the strong performance of these Liquid Foundation Models compared to other prominent language models like LLaMA and Chinchilla. The 1.3 billion parameter model outperforms LLaMA 3.2 on the MMLU Pro benchmark, while the 40 billion parameter "Mixture of Experts" model beats out even the larger 57 billion parameter Chinchilla model.
Memory Efficiency Advantage
One of the key differentiators of the Liquid Foundation Models is their exceptional memory efficiency. The host demonstrates how the memory footprint of these models scales much more gradually as the output length increases, compared to other models like Apple's 3 billion parameter offering. This memory efficiency could make the Liquid models well-suited for edge deployments.
Testing the Models
The host then proceeds to put the Liquid Foundation Models to the test, running them through a series of tasks ranging from coding a Tetris game to solving logic problems. The results are mixed, with the models performing well on some tasks like envelope size calculations, but struggling on others like generating Tetris code or answering basic comprehension questions.
Challenges for Non-Transformer Architectures
The host expresses some disappointment in the model's performance, noting that non-Transformer architectures often seem to underperform compared to Transformer-based models when it comes to these types of benchmark tests. The host remains hopeful that a truly innovative non-Transformer architecture will eventually emerge to challenge the Transformer dominance, but for now, this Liquid AI model does not appear to be that breakthrough.
Overall, this episode provides an in-depth look at a novel AI architecture and the ongoing efforts to develop high-performing models outside of the Transformer paradigm. While the Liquid Foundation Models show promise in certain areas, the host's testing highlights the challenges still faced by alternative approaches in matching the capabilities of leading Transformer-based language models.
Apple A17 Pro chip is the star of the first iPad mini update in three years
Apple quietly announced a new version of the iPad mini via a press release yesterday. The seventh-generation device looks mostly identical to its predecessor, but it features an Apple A17 Pro chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 15 Pro. The new iPad mini is available for preorder now starting at $499 for the base 128GB model. It will be the only iPad mini capable of supporting Apple Intelligence, which will be rolling out within the next few weeks. The device will only work with either the Apple Pencil Pro or the cheaper USB-C Apple Pencil and not the first- or second-generation Apple Pencils.
#technology #chip #a17pro #apple
SpaceX tells FCC it has a plan to make Starlink about 10 times faster
SpaceX has submitted an application to the US Federal Communications Commission seeking approval for changes to Starlink that will enable gigabit-per-second broadband service. The changes include lowering the altitude of satellites to increase the potential maximum number of orbital planes and satellites per plane. SpaceX plans to send 29,988 or less second-generation satellites into orbit - the FCC has so far approved 7,500 Gen2 satellites. To obtain approval for the changes, SpaceX will have to demonstrate that the changes won't negatively affect other spectrum users and satellite operators.
#technology #space #spacex #starlink
Sorry a have to say that @godfish but don't you hate it? Such self-preservation... for money. You can do better than that. @taskmaster4450le
Like having two accounts and commenting on each other?
Who do you mean? Just @shebe almost every my thread likes, why not? I am not that often on inleo.io.
Mistral releases new AI models optimized for laptops and phones
French AI startup Mistral has released a new model family, Les Ministraux, optimized for edge devices like laptops and phones.
French AI startup Mistral has released its first generative AI models designed to be run on edge devices, like laptops and phones.
#newsonleo #ai #mistrial #technology
Mistral, a Paris-based AI startup, has unveiled its latest family of AI models, dubbed "Les Ministraux," designed for local, privacy-first inference in various applications. The models, Ministral 3B and Ministral 8B, are capable of processing large amounts of data and can be used for tasks such as text generation, translation, and analytics.
The key features and benefits of Les Ministraux models include:
The models are available for download as of today, but only for research purposes. developers and companies interested in self-deploying Ministral 8B or Ministral 3B must contact Mistral for a commercial license. Alternatively, developers can use the models through Mistral's cloud platform, La Platforme, and other clouds that have partnered with the startup. The pricing for Ministral 8B is 10 cents per million output/input tokens (~750,000 words), while Ministral 3B costs 4 cents per million output/input tokens.
Les Ministraux models outperform comparable models from Google's Gemma family and Microsoft's Phi collection, as well as Mistral's own Mistral 7B, on several AI benchmarks designed to evaluate instruction-following and problem-solving capabilities.
Mistral has recently raised $640 million in venture capital and is gradually expanding its AI product portfolio. The company has launched a free service for developers to test its models, an SDK to fine-tune those models, and new models, including a generative model for code called Codestral.
Article
Amazon jumps on nuclear power bandwagon by investing in X-Energy and promising small reactors
The company revealed three deals, including an investment in a fission startup and two development agreements to add nuclear power to the grid.
Amazon today became the latest big tech company to throw its weight behind nuclear power, joining Microsoft and Google, which both previously announced long-term promises to buy nuclear power from startups to power their data centers.
#amazon #nuclear #xenergy #newsonleo #electricity
Amazon's Recent Investment in Nuclear Power: A Significant Step Towards a Cleaner Energy Future
In a groundbreaking move, Amazon has announced three deals aimed at adding approximately 300 megawatts of nuclear power capacity in the Pacific Northwest and Virginia, two regions that are critical to the company's data center operations. The company has invested in X-Energy, a startup specializing in small modular reactors (SMRs), and has signed two development agreements to construct SMRs in these regions.
SMRs: A New Era in Nuclear Power
SMRs are a type of nuclear reactor that generates a fraction of the power produced by contemporary nuclear power plants. Proponents of SMRs claim that they will be faster and cheaper to build, with the potential to start generating electricity in the early 2030s. The two development deals announced by Amazon will support the construction of four SMRs in the Pacific Northwest, producing around 320 megawatts combined, and 300 megawatts worth of SMRs in Virginia.
X-Energy: A High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor
X-Energy, the startup that has received a $500 million investment from Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund, specializes in high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. This approach, which fell out of favor in the U.S. and Europe, has been revived in Japan and China. X-Energy's Xe-100 reactor will generate 80 megawatts of electricity, using a unique fuel system known as TRISO. This system, which contains uranium particles coated with three layers of carbon, is touted as being safer than existing nuclear fuel designs.
The Future of Nuclear Power
The new deals announced by Amazon and X-Energy give nuclear fission a boost in the face of growing progress on nuclear fusion and the steady march of power from renewable sources like solar and wind. While nuclear power is widespread, new reactor designs have yet to be commercially proven, and their timeline puts them in direct competition with other sources of carbon-free power that promise to decarbonize the electrical grid in the coming decade.
The Impact on the Energy Landscape
The deals announced by Amazon and X-Energy have significant implications for the energy landscape. The construction of SMRs in the Pacific Northwest and Virginia will add around 300 megawatts of nuclear power capacity, enough to power about 1 million homes. The investment in X-Energy will support the development of up to 5,000 megawatts of new nuclear power throughout the U.S. by 2039.
Conclusion
Amazon's investment in X-Energy and the two development agreements announced by the company mark a significant shift towards a cleaner energy future. The use of SMRs and high-temperature gas-cooled reactors offers a promising alternative to traditional nuclear power plants, with the potential to be faster and cheaper to build. As the world continues to transition towards a low-carbon economy, the deals announced by Amazon and X-Energy demonstrate the importance of nuclear power in the fight against climate change.
Key Takeaways:
Article
Google will now help you find the cheapest flights available for your trip
Google is introducing a new feature that will help you find the cheapest flights for your next trip.
Google is introducing a new feature that will help you find the cheapest flights for your next trip. The company announced on Wednesday that it’s adding a new “cheapest” tab on Google Flights.
#google #flights #technology #newsonleo
Up until now, Google has displayed what it considers the “best” options at the top of the results based on both price and convenience. However, some people may be willing to give up some convenience if it means spending less money.
Now, if you click the “cheapest” tab, you will see the lowest prices available. For instance, you might see a link to a third-party booking site offering a lower price than the airline itself. Or, you may see the option to save money by flying back to a different airport in the same city you flew out of, such as departing from New York’s LaGuardia and flying back to JFK.
Google notes that some of the options under the new tab are more “creative,” as they include things like longer layovers, self-transfers where you book two connecting flights yourself, or the option to buy different legs of your trip through multiple airlines or booking sites.
The company says the feature is meant for those times when costs matter more than convenience, as the tab can help see the lowest prices available and then allow you to decide which tradeoffs you want to make.
The new tab is rolling out globally over the next two weeks.
Article
Apple debuts new business tools for managing presence across email, calls, and Tap to Pay
Apple on Wednesday announced an expanded series of tools that will allow businesses to increase their visibility on Apple's platforms
#apple #technology
Apple has announced a significant expansion of its Business Connect service, allowing businesses to increase their visibility across Apple's vast ecosystem of devices and platforms. The free service, launched last year, enables businesses to manage their presence across Apple's 1.5 billion devices in areas such as Maps, Siri, Spotlight search, Safari, and Wallet. With the latest update, businesses will be able to integrate their branding into other Apple products, including Mail, Tap to Pay on iPhone, and the Apple Phone app, further enhancing their online presence and customer engagement.
The updated Business Connect service will now offer a range of new features, including:
In addition to these new features, the expanded Business Connect service will also allow businesses to:
The expanded features will be available to "most" businesses worldwide by signing up for Business Connect with an Apple account. Businesses can also manage their location presence at scale through listing management agencies like DAC Group, Rio SEO, SOCi, Uberall, and Yext.
"We're excited to offer all businesses — including those without a physical location — the ability to create a brand that appears across the Apple apps that over a billion people use every day," said David Dorn, Apple's senior director of Internet Software and Services Product. "We designed Business Connect to empower businesses to present the best, most accurate information to Apple users. With today's updates, we're helping even more businesses reach customers, build trust, and grow."
The expansion of Business Connect is a significant step forward in Apple's efforts to empower businesses to present their brand across its platforms. The new features will enable businesses to increase their visibility, build trust, and grow their customer base. With the ability to customize their brand's presence across more Apple apps and features, businesses will be able to reach a wider audience and establish a stronger online presence.
ASML just gave us a first glimpse into how U.S. chip export curbs will dent its China sales
ASML on Tuesday offered the first glimpse into how U.S. restrictions on exports of its advanced chip manufacturing tools to China will impact its sales in the Asian country.
ASML finally offered a first glimpse into how U.S. restrictions on exports of its advanced chip manufacturing tools to China will impact its sales in the Asian country.
#asml #china #chip #technology #newsonleo
ASML's Earnings Report Reveals the Devastating Impact of Geopolitical Tensions on Chip Equipment Sales
ASML, a Netherlands-based chip equipment maker, has released its latest earnings report, which reveals the significant impact of geopolitical tensions on its sales. The company's net sales for 2025 are expected to range between 30 billion euros and 35 billion euros, which is at the lower half of the range ASML had previously guided. The company's third-quarter net sales reached 7.5 billion euros, beating expectations, but net bookings came in at 2.6 billion euros, well below the 5.6 billion EURO consensus estimate.
ASML's shares plummeted as much as 16% on Tuesday, resulting in a loss of over $50 billion in market capitalization in a single day.
The disappointing bookings were attributed to weakness in a select number of customers, including Intel and Samsung. Additionally, ASML's chief financial officer, Roger Dassen, indicated that the company expects China sales to drop significantly next year due to U.S. export restrictions. This decline is expected to be severe, with China's contribution to ASML's revenue expected to drop from 29% in 2024 to around 20% in 2025.
The Impact of U.S. Export Restrictions on ASML's Sales
ASML's China-based customers have been stockpiling the company's less advanced machines, such as deep ultra violet lithography (DUV) machines, to get ahead of U.S. export restrictions on the Dutch firm and to continue accessing its critical technology. ASML has never sold its most advanced extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) machines to Chinese customers due to previous restrictions. Instead, Chinese chip firms have opted to order ASML's DUV machines, which are critical to making the circuitry of chips.
Last year, ASML sourced 29% of its sales from China, but it nOW expects that contribution to drop to around 20% of its total revenue in 2025. This decline is expected to be driven by a sharp decline in China revenues, according to analysts at Bank of America, who noted that ASML's forecast implies a 48% revenue decline year-over-year, more severe than the 3% they had anticipated.
The Rise and Fall of ASML's China Sales
ASML's sales to China grew dramatically in the first three quarters of 2024 as customers scrambled to buy ASML's DUV machines in bulk ahead of U.S. and Dutch export restrictions. In the company's second-quarter 2024 earnings presentation, ASML said that it sourced as much as 49% of its sales from China. However, in September, the Netherlands expanded export restrictions on advanced chip manufacturing equipment by bringing licensing requirements of ASML's machines under its purview, taking over from the U.S. on controlling what machines ASML is able to export to other countries.
The Impact on ASML's Business
The restrictions on exports of DUV machines to China "have probably helped ASML on net, because China has accelerated purchases of older generation DUV tools as a result," said Chris Miller, assistant professor of international history at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and author of the book "Chip War." However, ASML is now expecting a drop-off in sales to China as a result of U.S. trade restrictions.
Analyst Insights
Abishur Prakash, founder of Toronto-based advisory firm The Geopolitical business, said that demand from China for ASML's machines is likely to drop significantly as the Firm is "severely restricted by export controls." He added that ASML could see demand for its equipment drop — from China and elsewhere — as the chip world is cut from China.
Conclusion
ASML's earnings report reveals the devastating impact of geopolitical tensions on its sales, with the company expecting a significant drop-off in sales to China due to U.S. export restrictions. The firm's reliance on China for a significant portion of its revenue makes it vulnerable to changes in the global chip market. As the chip world is cut from China, ASML could see demand for its equipment drop — from China and elsewhere.
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Trump-backed crypto coin misses $300 million sales target, raises less than $12 million
Trump-backed token sale misses project targets one day into launch.
It's been just over 24 hours since the launch of the Donald Trump-endorsed digital coin "WLFI," and the token is failing to deliver on the ambitious fundraising goals set by its founding team.
#newsonleo #trump #crypto #wlfi
World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency bank aiming to revolutionize the way people borrow, lend, and invest in digital coins, launched its highly anticipated token sale on Tuesday morning. The project, which has been generating significant buzz in the cryptocurrency market, has already attracted over 100,000 people to its whitelist, eager to invest.
However, the actual results of the token sale have been less impressive, with only about 9,050 unique wallet addresses holding the token as of Wednesday morning, representing roughly 9% of the total number of people who registered.
The token sale, seeking to raise $300 million at a $1.5 billion valuation, has so far sold over 788 million tokens at 1.5 cents per token, amounting to around $11.8 million. This is less than 4% of the 20 billion tokens made available for public sale and still far off from the fundraising target. The project's decision to use a Regulation D token offering, which limits the size of the sale and restricts it to accredited investors, may have contributed to the lackluster results. This means that retail investors have largely been cut out of the process, reducing the potential investor pool.
Another concern is the lack of transparency surrounding the project. World Liberty Financial has not released an official white paper or formal business plan to the public, and the only information available is a 400-word proposal posted to Aave's governance forum. This lack of transparency has led to questions about the utility of the coin and the potential returns on investment. Potential investors are left wondering what the coin is designed to do, how it will be used, and what kind of returns they can expect.
Furthermore, the project's website has suffered regular outages, making it difficult for potential investors to access information and participate in the token sale. This lack of reliability and accessibility has raised concerns about the project's ability to execute its plans and provide a smooth experience for investors.
Additionally, the fine print on the website reveals that Trump and his family members may receive tokens from World Liberty Financial and that they are "entitled to receive significant fees for services provided to World Liberty Financial, which amount cannot yet be determined." This has raised eyebrows among investors, who may be concerned about potential conflicts of interest and the potential impact on the project's success.
Despite these challenges, the project has received a boost from none other than Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, who promoted the coin in a video post on Tuesday evening. Trump told his followers that the token sale was live and that "crypto is the future." While Trump's endorsement may have generated some buzz and attention, it is unclear whether it will be enough to overcome the project's other challenges and concerns.
In conclusion, while World Liberty Financial's token sale has generated significant interest and attention, the actual results have been less impressive. The project's decision to use a regulation D token offering and lack of transparency have raised concerns about the utility of the coin and the potential returns on investment. As the project moves forward, it will be important to address these concerns and provide more information to potential investors.
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How Meta Is Helping AI Models 'Think' Clearly Before Answering
Meta researchers introduced TPO, a technique that teaches an AI model to essentially "think" about an answer before responding.
Here's an in-depth summary of the article in article form:
Meta Unveils Groundbreaking AI Training Method: Thought Preference Optimization
In a significant leap forward for artificial intelligence, Meta has introduced a novel AI training technique called Thought Preference Optimization (TPO). This innovative approach aims to enhance how AI models process information and respond to queries by teaching them to engage in internal deliberation before providing answers.
The Essence of TPO
TPO functions as a mental pause button for AI, allowing models to contemplate their responses rather than immediately outputting the first answer that comes to "mind." The result is more nuanced and thoughtful replies that more closely resemble human cognitive processes.
Key Features of TPO:
Comparison to Traditional Methods
TPO differs from conventional techniques like "chain-of-thought" prompting, which forces AI to show its work through various iterations. Instead, TPO allows the AI to develop unique thought patterns, potentially leading to more creative and adaptable problem-solving.
Inspiration from Cognitive Science
Meta's innovation draws inspiration from human cognition, mimicking our tendency to pause and reflect before tackling complex questions. This approach could lead to AI models that dedicate more "compute time" to more challenging tasks, significantly outperforming current models.
Efficiency and Scalability
One of TPO's key advantages is its efficiency. The technique doesn't require vast amounts of new data to function effectively. It builds upon existing AI architectures, fine-tuning them to simulate a thought process without human intervention. This could accelerate the development of smarter AI assistants, chatbots, and other language-based tools.
Performance and Benchmarks
Meta's researchers have put TPO-trained models to the test against industry-standard benchmarks. The results are promising, with these models demonstrating superior performance on complex tasks compared to their non-TPO counterparts.
Broader Context: Meta's AI Advancements
TPO is part of a larger trend in Meta's AI research. Just three months prior, the company introduced "System 2 distillation," a technique that teaches large language models to solve complex tasks without outputting unnecessary steps. This approach, inspired by human cognitive processes, allows AI to internalize sophisticated reasoning skills.
System 1 vs. System 2 Thinking in AI
Meta's research into TPO and System 2 distillation represents attempts to bridge these two modes of thinking in AI, aiming to imbue models with deep reasoning capabilities without sacrificing processing speed and efficiency.
Potential Impact on Open-source AI
The timing of Meta's TPO research is particularly significant given recent developments in the open-source AI community. Following the disappointing release of the Reflection 70B model, which failed to deliver on its promises of advanced reasoning capabilities, there's a growing need for reliable, open-source alternatives to proprietary AI models like OpenAI's o1.
If Meta's approach proves successful, it could pave the way for an open-source rival to more advanced proprietary models. This has the potential to democratize access to sophisticated AI thinking, making it available to a broader range of developers and researchers.
Conclusion
Meta's Thought Preference Optimization represents a significant step forward in AI development. By teaching AI models to "think before they speak," Meta is pushing the boundaries of what's possible in machine learning and natural language processing. As this technology continues to evolve, we may see AI assistants and tools that can engage in more nuanced, context-aware, and human-like interactions, opening up new possibilities across various industries and applications.
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