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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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FinTech: Cross-Border Remittances Alleviate Poverty; But They Must Be Easier, Cheaper
Worldwide remittances to low and middle income countries (LMICs) of a cumulative $4.7 trillion helped lower the global rate of extreme poverty (defined as people living on less than $1.90 per day) from nearly 36% to 10% during the years 1990-2015. Ruben Salazar Genovez, Global Head of Visa Direct, writes in a blog – The human impact of cross-border remittances – that global, cross-border remittances must be simplified and made cheaper to drive financial inclusion and build wealth where there is poverty.
Alternative Investments/Digital: Russia’s Sberbank Launches Blockchain ETF
Sberbank, a leading Russian bank has launched an ETF titled “Sber-Blockchain Economy,” that offers exposure to the top crypto companies across the globe including Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN) and Galaxy Digital (TSE: GLXY). The ETF tracks the Sber Blockchain Economy Index developed by inhouse company SberCIB, and is the first product of its kind in Russia.
Artificial Intelligence: Alexa “Challenges” 10-Year-Old To Touch A Penny To Electrical Outlet
Kristin Livdahl’s 10-year-old daughter happened to ask Amazon’s (NASDAQ: AMZN) Alexa on the family’s Echo for a challenge. Guess what Alexa suggested to the girl: Touch a penny to the exposed leads of an electrical outlet! A tragedy was averted because the mother was right there, and the challenge was never attempted. The shocked mother posted the AI-powered Alexa’s verbatim response on Twitter.
Digital Assets: After Latest Buy, MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin Exposure Is Nearly $6B
CEO Michael Saylor tweeted today that MicroStrategy had bought another 1,914 bitcoins. MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR), the business intelligence firm founded and led by bitcoin evangelist Michael Saylor (pictured above) has added to its already substantial pile of bitcoins. According to a tweet by Saylor, and a Thursday filing with the SEC, MicroStrategy has pulled in…
Alternative Investments/Digital: Despite Its “Wild West” Label, Do Not Ignore Crypto, Says Advisor
Jacob Walthour, CEO and co-founder of Blueprint Capital Advisors, discussed cryptos in an interview with CNBC on Wednesday. “I think it’d be a mistake to ignore this asset class which has looked like the wild west for the last 5 or so years,” said Walthour, who has a 25-year track record in the financial markets.
Digital Assets: DGC And Jamestown Partner To Recreate One Times Square And New Year’s Eve In The Metaverse
Digital Currency Group and Jamestown have partnered to recreate One Times Square virtually in the Decentraland metaverse. The iconic location, known the world over for its New Year’s Eve celebrations and ball drop, will launch in Decentraland on New Year’s Eve with the MetaFest 2022 global party featuring music and entertainment acts, rooftop VIP lounges, cryptoart galleries, and immersive games.
Venture Capital: Vertical Farming Startup Jungle Starts Cultivating Perfume Plants
French vertical farming startup Jungle has partnered with Firmenich for growing plants that are vital as ingredients for the European perfume industry. Firmenich is a Swiss fragrance house that has produced scents for over 125 years, including the renowned Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal and Calvin Klein’s CK Everyone.
Artificial Intelligence: Japanese Corporates Play Cupid With An AI Dating App For WFH Employees
Faced with declining birth rates, and employees working from home with no time for searching out love, Japanese companies have hit on a new method to get romance back into their lives. About 800 Japanese organizations have signed up for Aill goen, an AI-powered app that promises to play matchmaker. Result: Happier, more productive employees.
Alternative Investments/Digital: ProShares Files For A Metaverse ETF
ProShares has filed an application to launch the ProShares Metaverse Theme ETF. The fund will invest in businesses involved with metaverse technology producers, platforms, data processing, and other metaverse device firms.
FinTech: Indian Fintech SaveIN Brings “Pay Later” To Healthcare
Indian fintech SaveIN has launched a “care now pay later” offering in healthcare across the dental, veterinary, optical, dermatology, diagnostics, and physical therapy practices. The service is available offline at over 100 healthcare centers and covers over 300 products and treatments. Users can unlock a credit limit in 60 seconds when at a SaveIN partner physical outlet, and pay for the services availed over time.
Venture Capital: Swedish Battery Maker Northvolt Rolls Out Its Inaugural Li-Ion Cell
On December 28, the first lithium-ion cell to have been fully designed, developed and assembled at a gigafactory by a homegrown European battery company marked Northvolt Ett’s commencement of production at its Skellefteå facility in northern Sweden. The company is a rival to Tesla’s (NASDAQ: TSLA) battery division.
Artificial Intelligence: AI Helps NotCo’s Vegan Chicken Taste Like Real
The Not Company, or NotCo, a Chilean startup, recently launched new pea protein-based vegan chicken dubbed NotChicken in the booming Latin American market for vegan chicken. What’s interesting is that NotCo is using Giuseppe, an AI platform that helps create plant-based meat substitutes that taste as good as the real thing.
Reputation And Trust Platform MetaMap Raises $70M Series B
MetaMap, a company that allows entrepreneurs to engage with customers and talent on the basis of “merits,” announced the close of $70 million Series B funding round led by Tribe Capital, with participation from Craft Ventures, Alameda Research and Titan Capital, as well as angel investors including Jerry Murdock of Insight Partners.
Digital Assets: Bahrain, Canada Approve Binance As Crypto Asset Service Provider
Binance has secured regulatory nods for providing crypto services in the Canada and the Kingdom of Bahrain. The approvals, an in-principle one from Bahrain’s central bank and the other from Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, have been granted to Binance affiliates.
Alternative Investments/Digital: Bitcoin Unlikely To Reach Stratospheric Heights, Says Dalio
Ray Dalio, chairman and co-chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund with over $220 billion of assets under management, does not think that bitcoin could reach some of the more lofty price targets being put about, for example, $1 million. Could bitcoin at all touch those heights, Dalio was asked on an interview with Lex Fridman published Saturday.
Venture Capital: Chinese Venture Capital Firm Eastern Bell Capital Hauls In US$2B For Two New Funds
Eastern Bell Capital, a Chinese VC firm, announced the raise of more than 13 billion yuan (US$2.04 billion) in its latest funding round through its yuan-denominated RMB Fund VI and dollar denominated USD Fund II. The company said the round represented one of the largest raises among Chinese VCs this year. Post this latest raise, Eastern Bell has 27 billion yuan (US$ 4.2 billion) of assets under management.
Artificial Intelligence: Scientists At Chandigarh University Develop AI Mobile App To Detect Crop Disease
The Department of Research & Development of Chandigarh University, India, has developed an Artificial Intelligence based Mobile Application which detects crop diseases at an early stage of the farming cycle. This enables the farmers to take protective actions before the disease spreads to healthy crops.
Venture Capital: iCapital Network Raises $50M At More Than $6B Valuation
iCapital Network, an alternative investment platform having platform assets of over $104 billion, announced its close of a $50 million funding round led by PE firm WestCap. Venture capital firms Apollo Global Management and Temasek also participated in the funding.
Digital Assets: Colombian Real Estate Project Accepting Bitcoin
Natura City, a new housing project located in an exclusive locality of Santa Marta, is available to buyers looking to make payments for real estate in bitcoin. The project is being marketed by Colombian real estate platform La Haus, and one of the selling points is the facility of making payment using bitcoin.
Alternative Investments/Digital: New Year Message From Mexican Billionaire Salinas – “Buy Bitcoin”
Ricardo Salinas Pliego: Billionaire and Mexico’s third richest person. In a Christmas video, Mexican billionaire Salinas exhorted people to avoid fiat money and to invest in bitcoin. The long-time bitcoin aficionado ranks the crypto as one of his “best investments ever,” having first bought it at $500 in 2013 through Grayscale. Like El Salvador president…
Artificial Intelligence: Now, An AI-Powered Prosecutor Can File Charges In China
China has developed an “AI Prosecutor,” according to reports. Amidst growing use of AI in unconventional and human-centric fields, China has reportedly developed a prosecutor that can “throw the book” at an accused using artificial intelligence. Developed by Shanghai Pudong People’s Procuratorate, it is capable of pressing charges for offences such as dangerous driving, credit…
FinTech: CFPB Shuts Down Payday Lender LendUp For Unfair Practices
The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took fintech and payday lender LendUp to task for repeated deceptive marketing and other fair-lending violations. It imposed a $100,000 penalty, and directed the lender to stop issuing new loans and halt collecting on some outstanding ones.
Digital Assets: Bitcoin Surges Past $50K, Promise Of Weekend Histrionics?
Bitcoin made two lows over the past week, both around $45,700. It now appears to be on an uptrend after touching that double-bottom, and in a sudden move over the past couple of hours, penetrated the psychological resistance of $50,000, and is positioned at $50,580.19 at writing. But will it sustain above the $50K level?
Alternative Investments/(non)-ESG: The BAD Investment Company Launches ETF for Betting, Alcohol, Drugs
The BAD Investment Company has launched a new ETF as “an intriguing alternative for a new wave of retail investors who may be frustrated with aspects of the ESG movement.” The BAD ETF tracks the EQM BAD Index (BADIDX).