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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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Digital Assets: IMF To El Salvador – “Bitcoin Should Not Be Used As Legal Tender”
IMF staff that visited El Salvador on an official ‘mission’ have issued a report dated November 22, 2021 describing their preliminary findings. The report said the Salvadorean economy faced certain key risks to its economic outlook including a resurgence of the pandemic worldwide, further increases in borrowing costs due to the tightening of financial conditions, and unaddressed regulatory and supervisory gaps related to the use of Bitcoin.
Artificial Intelligence: How Sama Tea Used AI To Laser Focus Its Branding
According to Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen, there are over 30,000 new products introduced every year, and 95% fail. These include launches by seasoned, experienced entrepreneurs. Radhi Devlukia-Shetty and Jay Shetty therefore were not taking any chances with the launch of their pet project – Sama Tea. To make sure they made it into the ranks of the successful 5%, they roped in 100.co for AI-powered brand creation.
FinTech: Take Heart From Tesla – PayTM CEO After Damp Squib IPO
So said PayTM founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma at a company town hall after the Indian fintech’s $2.5 billion IPO made a disastrous debut on Thursday. That’s some erosion of wealth. Shares issued at Rs 2,150 in Indian fintech PayTM’s (NSE: PAYTM) record-breaking $2.5 billion IPO, listed at Rs 1,955 on November 18, and…
Alternative Investments/ESG: Amundi Launches China And Emerging Markets (Ex-China) Equities ETFS With ESG
Amundi’s ESG ETF range is bolstered with the addition of the Amundi MSCI Emerging ex-China ESG Leaders Select UCITS ETF DR and the Amundi MSCI China ESG Leaders Select UCITS ETF DR, both listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Venture Capital: MoonPay’s $555M Series ‘A’ Is The Largest For A Bootstrapped Crypto Company Globally
MoonPay, which refers to itself as the PayPal for crypto, announced its massive Series A of $555 million led by Tiger Global Management and Coatue with participation from Blossom Capital, Thrive Capital, Paradigm, and NEA. The hitherto bootstrapped startup, which is already profitable, secured a valuation of $3.4 billion in the round. The company sets up the interfaces between fiat channels of finance and crypto entities – a so-called “fiat to crypto on-ramp.”
Alternative Investments/ESG: HSBC Launches Two ESG Corporate Bond ETFs
HSBC Asset Management debuts its first fixed income ETFs with an ESG skew. The HSBC Bloomberg EUR Corporate Sustainability Bond UCITS ETF (HEUC) and the HSBC Bloomberg USD Corporate Sustainability UCITS ETF (HUSC) carry a total expense ratio of 0.18%.
Digital Assets: Jack Dorsey’s Square Proposes Decentralized Bitcoin Exchange tbDEX (Whitepaper)
Bitcoin’s creator’s vision was for an economy that allowed all participants to freely transact their business without the need for trusted intermediaries. TBD announced today a whitepaper setting out their vision for taking bitcoin to the next level in the global economy facilitating decentralized finance.
Artificial Intelligence: AI Surveillance On ‘Legal Eagles’ Working From Home
The pandemic forced lawyers used to working in secure offices to instead function from remote locations such as their homes. Their employer firms had to contend with a new problem: How to ensure the security and confidentiality of clients’ sensitive data and documents? Their solution: AI-enabled surveillance of contract attorneys using facial recognition software. The lawyers now had a choice: Accept the intrusive systems inside their homes or risk losing the job.
Venture Capital: Sierra Space Raises $1.4B For Spaceplane And Habitat Station
Sierra Space, the startup with visions for humanity’s new civilizations beyond Earth, announced Friday its $1.4 billion Series A round led by General Atlantic, Coatue and Moore Strategic Ventures, with participation from funds and accounts managed by BlackRock Private Equity Partners and AE Industrial Partners. The round valued the startup, which is a subsidiary of private aerospace contractor Sierra Nevada Corporation, at $4.5 billion.
Digital Assets: Bitcoin Mauled, Fear Slays Greed, Mt. Gox Dump Looms
Even seasoned bitcoin bulls appear to be unnerved by the crypto’s dramatic plunge from its all-time-high above $69,000 to a low of $55,666 today. Though bitcoin is known for its roller-coaster like moves and intense volatiliy, its near-20% plunge in a matter of days had crypto-naysayers calling a bear market, and forecasting a bitcoin ‘winter.’
Venture Capital: No-Code Productivity Platform Formstack Raises $425M
Formstack, a platform that allows customers to digitize their workflows including forms, documents, and e-signatures without having to code, announced its raise of a $425 million growth investment led by Silversmith Capital Partners and returning investor PSG.
Venture Capital: Generate Biomedicines, Which Uses Machine Learning To Invent New Drugs, Raises $370M
Generate Biomedicines, which uses its machine learning powered Generative Biology platform to make novel proteins with specific therapeutic functions, and thereby invent new drugs at never-before speeds, has raised a $370 million Series B. Investors in the round, which marked Generate’s first outside financing, included founder, Flagship Pioneering, along with several institutional co-investors.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Faith Brings “Christian Values” To Stock Picking With New ETF
Faith Investor Services has filed for the launch of the FIS Biblically Responsible Risk Managed ETF which brings “Christian values” to stock investing. The ETF will trade on the NYSEARCA exchange and will invest in equities both at home and internationally.
FinTech: German Fintech And NeoBank N26 Calls It Quits In The US
A month after successfully closing a monster $900 million round that valued it at more than $9 billion, German fintech and challenger bank N26 has announced it is shuttering the US business that it launched in July 2019. It is the latest setback for the company, which has had long-standing issues with German regulator BaFin, and exited its UK operations last year after that country pulled out from the EU.
Artificial Intelligence: AI-Based Detection Of Trafficked Wildlife Under Trial At Heathrow
A multispecies, AI-based model jointly developed by Heathrow, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Smiths Detection has shown, in initial trials, a success rate of over 70% in its detection of illegally trafficked wildlife concealed in baggage and air cargo.
Digital Assets: Collector Car Auctioneer RM Sotheby’s To Accept Cryptos
RM Sotheby’s announced Wednesday it will accept cryptocurrency payments via BitPay, the world’s largest provider of bitcoin and crypto payment services. The auction house said the move would allow it to access new business by tapping into the crypto marketplace. The BitPay payment system at RM Sotheby’s will commence for the first time at the Guikas Collection sale on November 19, said to be one of the most significant offerings of sports and competition cars to be ever offered at auction.
Alternative Investments/AI: Global X Launches Seven New “Paradigm Shift” ETFs In Europe
ETF provider Global X ETFs announced today its launch of seven new UCITS ETFs in Europe that would trade on the London Stock Exchange and Xetra. The seven new ETFs complement Global X’s existing five thematic UCITS ETFs launched after Global X entered Europe in December 2020. The new ETFs center around disruptive, digital transformation around the world.
Venture Capital: Lacework Raises $1.3B To Expand Its Cloud Security Offerings
Lacework, the cloud security platform, announced today the largest funding round in the history of the security industry. The six-year-old startup’s $1.3 billion Series D round was led by existing investors Sutter Hill Ventures, Altimeter Capital, D1 Capital Partners, and Tiger Global Management with participation from new investors including Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley), Durable Capital, Franklin Templeton, General Catalyst, and XN. Coatue, Dragoneer, Liberty Global Ventures, and Snowflake Ventures, all existing investors, also participated.
FinTech: There’s A Bubble In Fintech, Says Billionaire J C Flowers
Is there a bubble forming in fintech? Billionaire investor and CEO of investment firm J C Flowers & Co seems to think so, pointing to soaring valuations of financial technology companies. “I think there are a lot of indicators that there is a bubble” in fintech, Flowers told CNBC’s Annette Weisbach in an interview.
Artificial Intelligence: Global Pharma Company Sanofi Invests $180M In French American AI Startup Owkin
Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY) announced today an investment of $180 million in Owkin, a Paris-based startup that utilizes AI and federated learning for medical research. Owkin’s platform connects life science companies with academic researchers and hospitals to share deep medical insights for drug discovery and development. Additionally, as a part of its AI-empowered precision medicine activities, Owkin builds predictive biomedical AI models and robust data sets.
Alternative Investments/Digital: ETC and HANetf Launch ETF For Digital Assets And Blockchain
The proposed ETC Group Digital Assets & Blockchain Equity UCITS ETF (KOIN) from long-time collaborators ETC Group and HANetf will offer thematic exposure to companies active in the digital assets and blockchain system.
Venture Capital: Monarch Raises $61M For Its Electric, ‘Driver-Optional’ Tractors
Monarch Tractor, which made the first fully electric tractor announced today the close of its $61 million Series B round that will help accelerate production and deployment of the smart, driver-optional, electric tractor known as the MK-V.
FinTech: BNPL News From Japan, UK, Mexico And The US
Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) is fast spreading its wings across the world. Here are some new developments.
Digital Assets: Magnum Offers New York City Condos For $29M (Bitcoin Only Accepted)
In a sign of the times, Magnum Real Estate Group is offering a set of retail condos worth $29 million for payment against bitcoin only, a first for commercial property in the Big Apple. The condos, covering 9,000 square feet, are in a newly constructed luxury residential building with the bottom floor already leased fully to ProHealth, Mighty Pita and M&T Bank. The proposed sale shows the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies, fanning out from coffee and cars and into condos.