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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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Venture Capital: Population-Scale Healthcare Platform Color Raises $100M
Public health technology platform Color announced Tuesday its Series E funding round of $100 million led by Kindred Ventures and funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Existing investors General Catalyst, Viking Global Investors, and Emerson Collective also participated.
Artificial Intelligence: AI Helps Spotify Users’ Preferences, Gauge Their Moods
It’s been well known that Spotify (NYSE: SPOT) uses AI algorithms to create its “Discover Weekly” playlists that are curated especially for the individual user’s enjoyment. These 30 songs are actually handpicked by a complicated set of algorithms that use big data, AI, and machine learning to figure out the user’s taste in music. The system curates the playlist by going through their streaming history, created playlists, “liked” songs, and “followed” artists. So much for preferences. But Spotify can now also gauge your mood, and suggest music accordingly. How?
Venture Capital: Identity Verifying Platform Socure Reels In $450M Series E
Just months after raising a $100 million Series D, Socure, a provider of digital identity verification and fraud solutions announced today its close of a $450 million Series E round led by Accel alongside funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. The latest funding also includes two new investors, Bain Capital Ventures and Tiger Global, as well as participation from existing investors Commerce Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, and Sorenson Ventures.
Alternative Investments/FinTech: Grayscale Files To Launch “Future Of Finance” Equity ETF
Grayscale Investments LLC filed Friday with the SEC for the Future of Finance ETF (GFOF), an ETF product focused on companies involved in the advancement of the digital economy. The new ETF would be sub-advised by Vident Investment Advisory, and US Bank would function as custodian.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Canada’s Purpose Investments To Launch Carbon Neutral Crypto ETFs
Purpose Investments, a Canadian fund manager with AUM in excess of $1 billion as of March 2021, is launching today the Purpose Bitcoin ETF and the Purpose Ether ETF. Both funds offer ‘green’ exposure to the respective spot cryptocurrencies through an inbuilt carbon offsetting feature in the funds.
Digital Assets: Bitcoin, Other Cryptos Hit All Time Highs
Both bitcoin and ether cryptos hit new record highs on Tuesday amid rising appetite for risk assets following a dovish Fed. Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency, reached a fresh high of $68,521 on Tuesday, while ether scaled a new peak of $4840. (CNBC) As this is being written, bitcoin is trading at $67,485, up over 2.5%…
Artificial Intelligence: Philips Snaps Up Cardiologs For Its AI-Empowered Cardiac Diagnostics
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG) is making another advance into high technology cardiac diagnostics with its acquisition of Cardiologs, A France-based medical technology company that uses AI and cloud technology for cardiac diagnostics. Philips said the acquisition, the terms of which were not disclosed, was an excellent fit with its existing cardiac care portfolio.
Digital Assets: More Than 50 Investors Own Sygnum’s Art Security Tokens For Picasso’s Fillette au béret Painting
In July it was reported that fans of Pablo Picasso could pay up to $6,000 (CHF5,500) to own a part of Fillette au béret (Young girl with a beret), the famous work by the painter valued at approximately CHF4 million ($4.35 million). In a landmark effort, Swiss Bank Sygnum partnered with art investment company Artemundi to “sell” the painting by tokenizing it on the blockchain. That subscription has now closed and Sygnum revealed last month that more than 50 investors are co-owners of the painting by virture of holding the tokens representing its fractional ownership. (SYGNUM)
Alternative Investments/ESG: iShares Launches ESG ETF For Low Volatility Large And Mid-cap Stocks
The iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (NASDAQ: ESMV) is a newly launched fund from Blackrock that offers investors the opportunity to invest in U.S. large and mid cap stocks that have low volatility and yet offer reduced carbon exposure and better ESG characteristics.
Venture Capital: H2O.ai Raises $100M; Commonwealth Bank Of Australia Buys Stake
H2O, which enables businesses to build AI systems using its cloud-based platform, has raised $100 million in a series E round led by Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) with participation from Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Pivot Investment Partners, Crane Venture Partners, Celesta Capital, and others. CBA acquires an undisclosed stake in H2O and is also its customer.
Artificial Intelligence: Japanese Store Chain Tests AI-Powered Robot For Restocking Drinks
It had to happen sometime. The sheer volumes in store products, and the growing number of stores have made manning a nightmare for supermarket chains. The scarcity of trained labor, the high cost of wages and the unpopular working hours have together given impetus to the development of robotic solutions. On November 2, Family Mart and Telexistence installed a new robotic worker at a FamilyMart on the premises of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Tokyo.
Digital Assets: Kroger Thwarts Likely Pump-and-Dump Fraud Notice On Bitcoin Cash
Store chain Kroger (NYSE: KR) has denied that it issued a press release announcing the acceptance of bitcoin cash at its stores. The fake release apparently originated at PR Newswire, and was automatically updated into Kroger’s investor relations page. This is the second such case involving a retail chain and a crypto-related pump-and-dump case.
Venture Capital: [COP26] Scottish Vertical Farms Startup IGS Nabs $57M
Intelligent Growth Solutions, a Scottish agritech startup focused on indoor vertical farming announced its closure of a £42.2 million (US$57 million) Series B round that was supported by new investors including COFRA, Cleveland Avenue and DC Thomson. Existing institutional investors Ospraie Ag Science, S2G Ventures, AgFunder and Scottish Enterprise, with private shareholders and IGS staff also participated in the round, which was hugely oversubscribed.
Venture Capital: Fusion Energy Startup Helion Raises $500M Including $375M From Sam Altman
Helion Energy, which is building the world’s first fusion power plant that would enable a future with unlimited clean electricity, announced a $500 million Series E round led by Sam Altman. Existing investors, including Dustin Moskovitz, Mithril Capital and Capricorn Investment Group, also participated in the round. Altman, who has been an early supporter of Helion and chairman since 2015, invested $375 million in the latest round and will now play an expanded role as executive chairman.
FinTech: Starling Bank Adds Multi-Currency Accounts To Its Xero Integration
By connecting their Starling multi-currency account to Xero, transactions made from that account in euros or dollars will automatically feed through to Xero in real time says a Starling Bank announcement addressed to UK businesses that regularly send, receive or hold euros or dollars.
Alternative Investments/ESG: NTZO, A New Climate ETF From Impact Shares, Will Donate Fees To A UN Fund
Rockefeller Foundation backed, non-profit ETF sponsor Impact Shares has launched the Impact Shares MSCI Global Climate Select ETF (NYSEArca: NTZO) in collaboration with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). The launch of NTZO was announced November 3 in Glasgow at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange the same day.
Artificial Intelligence: Alphabet To Commercialize AlphaFold2 AI For Drug Discovery
Alphabet has launched a new company called Isomorphic Labs for drug discovery using AI. Alphabet’s (NASDAQ: GOOGL) DeepMind unit made headlines with its path-breaking AI system AlphaFold2, which solved the 50-year-old challenge of protein folding. Alphabet is building on that breakthrough with the creation of Isomorphic Labs, a commercial venture that will bring an AI-centric…
FinTech: Eco-Friendly Debit Card From London-based ekko
London-based, sustainability focused fintech ekko has launched a debit card, an app, and ecosystem that enable users to make a contribution every time they use the products. While using everyday services such as shopping and banking, they can get comfort from the fact that the company will take climate-friendly actions on their behalf.
Venture Capital: Brazilian Meat Substitute Startup Future Farm Raises $58M
Future Farm, a Brazilian startup that makes plant-based protein having the taste and texture of real meat, has raised $58 million in a Series C funding round co-led by BTG and Rage Capital. Existing investors also participated, including Monashees, Go4It Capital, Turim MFO and Enfini Ventures, along with new investor XP Inc.
Digital Assets: Coinbase Users Can Borrow Upto $1M Against Bitcoin Holdings
The move by Coinbase will add to the liquidity allure of investing in bitcoin. Global cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN) announced in a tweet today that it would allow users to borrow against their bitcoin. (Bitcoin.com) “Big news for the #BTC set … We’re excited to announce that eligible customers can now borrow up to…
Alternative Investments/ESG: Schwab Launches Small And Midcap ESG ETF
A new ETF from Schwab Asset Management will start trading from November 16, 2021. The Schwab Ariel ESG ETF offers investors exposure to small and mid cap stocks that have been screened for ESG factors. The actively managed, semi-transparent ETF has an operating expense ratio of 0.59%.
Artificial Intelligence: IBM’s AI Helps Spot, The Robotic Dog, Keep A Watch On Grid Sites
IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Boston Dynamics have partnered in a drive to deliver data analysis “at the edge” by integrating the latter’s Spot mobile robot with AI and hybrid cloud innovation from IBM. Spot, transformed into an intelligent, roaming edge device, has begun conducting autonomous inspections at National Grid (NYSE: NGG) sites.
Venture Capital: ClearFlame, Which Enables Low Carbon Fuels In Diesel Engines, Raises $17M
Geneva, Ill.,-based ClearFlame Engine Technologies announced last week its $17 million Series A funding led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures with participation from Mercuria, John Deere and Clean Energy Ventures. ClearFlame has developed engine technology to enable low-carbon and carbon-negative fuels to be integrated into existing diesel engine platforms, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective solution than diesel fuel.
Digital Assets: CME Announces Trading In Micro Ether Futures Effective December 6
The CME Group will launch Micro Ether futures on December 6, the exchange announced Tuesday. The Micro Ether future, except for its smaller size, will retain all the features and benefits of the larger Ether futures that currently trade on the CME.