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Chipmaker AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) has unveiled a range of innovative AI solutions spanning from data centers to personal computers. The AMD Instinct MI300 Series features data center AI accelerators, while the ROCm 6 open software stack introduces new features supporting Large Language Models (LLMs). Additionally, the Ryzen 8040 Series processors come equipped with Ryzen AI capabilities.
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Alternative Investments/ESG: The Solar Energy UCITS ETF Focuses On The Global Solar Industry
The Solar Energy UCITS ETF (LON: TANN) will be launched on the HANetf platform and list on the LSE in June. Solar is now the cheapest source of energy in many large economies and is, therefore, the fastest-growing source of new energy capacity. Investments in capacity could aggregate $4.2 trillion by 2050. This ETF will provide “pure-play” exposure to this huge opportunity.
Artificial Intelligence: AI Will Police Offensive Messages On Dating App Tinder
Tinder, the global dating app, will deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) to curb online harassment and offensive messaging on its platform. The new AI-backed feature, dubbed “Are You Sure?” or AYS, will sense if a message is inappropriate or offensive, and display that question as a prompt before the user can hit Send.
FinTech: Blockchain Fintech Figure Tech Scores $200M Round
Figure Technologies, a blockchain-based fintech startup, closed a $200 million Series D round at a valuation of $3.2 billion. The round was co-led by 10T Holdings and Morgan Creek Digital. New and existing investors including DCM, Digital Currency Group, HCM Capital, Ribbit Capital, RPM Ventures, the partners at DST Global, and others also participated.
Digital Assets: Insurance Major CNA Coughed Up $40M Cyber Ransom In March
A Bloomberg report revealed today that CAN Financial Corp (NYSE: CAN), one of the largest insurers in the U.S., was forced to pay up $40 million in cyber ransom after criminals mounted a ransomware attack. The company initially rejected the $60 million ransom demand but caved in a couple of weeks later, settling for $40 million.
Digital Assets: Bitcoin Flash Crash – Post Mortem II
The generally assigned causes for yesterday’s market mayhem in bitcoin (and other cryptos) were Musk’s volte-face on bitcoin; the fresh warnings issued against cryptos by Chinese authorities; and a generally risk-off mentality on Wall Street. However, bitcoin’s kamikaze dive and then its spectacular recovery yesterday laid bare the fragility of the underlying systems, according to FT.
Venture Capital: Workrise Scores $300M Series E Round
Workrise, formerly known as RigUp, announced today its $300 million Series E round led by Baillie Gifford. Existing investors including Founders Fund, Bedrock Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Moore Strategic Ventures, 137 Ventures, and Brookfield Growth Partners participated, with Franklin Templeton joining as a new investor.
FinTech: Now, Transfer Funds Through Western Union At The Nearby Walmart Store
Western Union (NYSE: WU) has brought its remittance services to your neighborhood’s Walmart (NYSE: WMT) store. Customers can send money anywhere in the U.S. and globally to more than 200 countries and territories. The two companies had announced in January that they would work together to make financial services more accessible for Walmart customers.
Artificial Intelligence: Bristol-Myers-Squibb And Exscientia Ink $1.2B AI Deal For Drug Discovery
Exscientia, the UK-based pharmatech company specializing in AI-driven discovery of drug molecules, has agreed to collaborate with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) for the discovery of small molecule therapeutic drug candidates in multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology & immunology using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Digital Assets: Bitcoin Collapses To $30K; Recovers To $40K In Wild Volatility
A perfect storm engulfed bitcoin today as a sell-off in bitcoin that was gathering pace since last week intensified and perhaps climaxed at the day’s low of $30,000.51. A confluence of factors appear to be behind the crash in bitcoin, including Elon Musk, Chinese saber-rattling against cryptos, and a risk-off environment taking hold on Wall Street.
Artificial Intelligence: Google Plans To Use AI And Smartphone Cameras For Dermatology
At the Google I/O 2021 keynote on May 18, Google Health announced new tools that will help users identify different skin-related issues through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a smartphone’s camera. The technology will identify dermatological problems related to skin, hair and nails, as well as screen for Tuberculosis.
FinTech: Chicago Welcomes Its Newest Unicorn In Amount, Which Raised $100M
Chicago-based Amount, a fintech that spun out of digital consumer lending company Avant in 2020, announced Tuesday its Series D round raise of $100 million at a valuation of $1 billion. Amount thus earned its horn as Chicago’s latest unicorn.
Venture Capital: Back Market, Which Refurbishes Devices, Nabs $335M
Back Market, a French startup that exhorts customers to “Screw New,” sells used but fully functional consumer electronic devices on its platform. Buyers get lower prices and help save the environment from electronic waste. The startup raised $335 million in a Series D round that valued it at $3.2 billion.
Alternative Investments/ESG: An ETF That Aligns With LGBTQ Diversity And Inclusion, Along With ESG
Loyalty Preference Index, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of LGBTQ Loyalty Holdings, Inc., announced Tuesday the launch of the LGBTQ + ESG100 ETF (NASDAQ: LGBT). The ETF provides investors with exposure to equity securities of companies that have demonstrated a commitment to LGBTQ diversity and inclusion, along with ESG compliance, as part of their corporate social responsibility fundamental mandate.
Digital Assets: Bitcoin A “Bubble” – Bank Of America Fund Manager Survey
Bank of America’s survey of fund managers in May covered 216 panelists holding $625 billion in assets under management between May 7 and 13.
Alternative Investments/ESG: New ETF From Credit Suisse For ESG Exposure To German Stocks
Credit Suisse Asset Management has launched the which tracks the DAX 50 ESG Index. The ETF offers exposure to the 50 largest German equities that are high on ESG performance. Trading on the Deutsche Boerse and SIX Swiss Exchange, the new ETF charges a total expense ratio of 0.12%.
FinTech: Global Payments Platform Nium Launches Maritime Solution
Global payments platform Nium has launched its new maritime solution that enables automatic payroll disbursements and remittance for shipping companies, their management, and sailors. The solution has been implemented by Integrated maritime services leader, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM).
Venture Capital: Amazon And Fidelity Among Investors Backing BETA’s Electric Vertical Aircraft With $368M
BETA Technologies, which has secured multiple partnerships and order commitments for its EVAs, announced today its close of a Series A round of $368 million led by Fidelity. Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund also participated, as did other new and existing investors. The round valued BETA at $1.4 billion, classifying it in the rarefied class of “unicorn” startups that boast of a valuation of $1 billion or more. Our brother
Artificial Intelligence: India’s L&T Technology Develops AI-Enabled Parking Solution
Indian engineering and software company L&T Technology Services Limited (NSE: LTTS) and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) have collaborated on the development of an AI-enabled outdoor parking solution suitable for airports, stadiums, shopping malls, and office campuses.
Venture Capital: A Consortium Led By Rolls-Royce Is Building Mini Nuclear Plants
A consortium led by Rolls-Royce (LON: RR) has plans to develop mini nuclear power plants that can each power a million homes and cost £2billion. The UK Small Modular Reactor project got off the ground in 2015 and is targeting to place the first of the 470 MW mini nuke plants in service by 2030.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Wealthsimple Launches An ETF For Shariah-Compliant Stocks
The first ETF from Wealthsimple has launched on the Neo Exchange, Canada. The Wealthsimple Shariah World Equity Index ETF (NEO: WSHR) commenced trading on the exchange on May 12, 2021. The ETF provides investors exposure to a diversified index of Shariah-compliant stocks. Shariah-compliant funds are a type of socially responsible investment which conforms to the requirements of Shariah law and the principles of the Islamic religion.
FinTech: U.K.-Based Recognise Ropes In Mambu For A Bespoke SME Cloud Banking Platform
Fresh from winning its banking license in December 2020, Recognise Bank is rolling out an innovative banking service for SME’s that would be highly cloud-based, customer-centric, and technologically sophisticated. The bank has gone live on Mambu’s SaaS financial services platform.
Artificial Intelligence: Australia’s ASIO Gets $1.3B AI Budget To Thwart Bad Actors
The Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) got a $1.3 billion funding boost for cutting-edge AI technology aimed at beefing up the country’s security and intelligence capabilities. The AI-on-a-war-footing move comes as Australia identified several countries behind infiltration attempts targeting government, commercial and industrial organizations.
Digital Assets: Musk Clears The Air – Tesla “Has Not Sold Any Bitcoin”
Bitcoin enthusiasts and investors will be relieved to learn that Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has not sold its stash of bitcoins. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet early this morning: “To clarify speculation, Tesla has not sold any Bitcoin.” Musk had played a not insignificant role in bitcoin’s rally in recent months when he announced Tesla’s $1.5 billion investment in the leading cryptocurrency. He later also said that the carmaker would accept bitcoin for its cars.
Alternative Investments/Digital: A New ETF From Bitwise For “Crypto-Adjacent” Assets
The new Crypto Industry Innovators ETF (NYSE: BITQ) from Bitwise Asset Management offers investors exposure to shares of “public companies that are participants in the growing bitcoin and cryptocurrency sector.” The fund may address investors’ zeal for crypto given the SEC’s continued reluctance to green-light a bitcoin ETF.