In this section, I share what I am up to, pictures of the week, what is new in AI and crypto, and more.
A Norwegian startup I have invested in is energi.ai. The company operates in the U.S. in Columbus, Ohio. I have a number of friends in Columbus and they have told me about Pelotonia. aTo date, the Pelotonia community has raised more than $283 million. With support from generous funding partners, Pelotonia directs 100 percent of every dollar raised by participants to cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. It is a great cause. Money is raised through bike races and there is one coming up. Energi.ai has set a modest goal of $1,250 for their participation. Take a look at how the fundraising is going here.
No more talks for the summer. I will be traveling a lot in July, August, and September. Will do my best to keep the weeklies coming.
Epi One has now raised $782,221 from 144 investors. Minimum investment is $500. Seems to be a lot of interest in early detection of cancer. The company has just acquired some new PCR (polymerase chain reaction) based testing equipment.
Here’s a summary of some key happenings in the crypto world this week (as of July 19, 2024):
Bitcoin Price Fluctuations: Bitcoin’s price has been on a rollercoaster ride. It surged above $60,000 after speculation about a potential Biden withdrawal from the presidential race, then dipped on news suggesting the opposite [Coindesk].$66,700 as of 3pm Friday.
Impact of US Politics: The US political climate seems to be influencing crypto prices. Donald Trump’s rising chances in the polls, according to the crypto prediction platform Polymarket, sent Bitcoin prices soaring [Forbes].
XRP on the Rise: XRP, the token associated with Ripple, experienced a 12% surge this week, possibly due to a technical indicator and rising bullish sentiment [Coindesk].
Security Breach at WazirX: The Indian crypto exchange WazirX was hacked for a reported $230 million. Bitcoin and Shiba Inu prices on the exchange dropped significantly [Coindesk].
Stablecoin Regulations on the Horizon: Hong Kong is reportedly planning to introduce regulations for stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency pegged to a fiat currency [Coindesk].
Big Tech and Crypto: Mark Cuban, a billionaire investor, sparked discussions by suggesting Silicon Valley’s support for Trump might be driven by crypto interests [Coindesk].
These are just some of the top stories. You can find more details and breaking news by visiting websites like CoinDesk or Forbes.
Here’s a glimpse into some interesting developments in AI this week (as of July 19, 2024):
AI Security Concerns: Microsoft researchers exposed a new type of AI attack named “Skeleton Key” that can bypass safety measures in various AI models. This highlights the need for robust security protocols in AI development [AI News].
Debates on Big Tech and AI: There’s ongoing discussion around the involvement of big tech companies like Microsoft and Apple in AI development. Both companies recently withdrew from OpenAI’s board due to growing regulatory scrutiny [AI Weekly].
AI for Social Good: Researchers are developing techniques to make AI systems less susceptible to social bias. This is crucial for ensuring fair and ethical AI applications [ScienceDaily].
AI-powered Robots: Engineers are creating robots with capabilities inspired by nature. For instance, soft,expandable “muscles” are being designed to make robots move more safely and interact better with humans [ScienceDaily].
The Future of AI Hardware: TSMC, a major chipmaker, forecasts significant growth due to the rising demand for AI hardware. This indicates the increasing need for powerful computing resources to handle complex AI tasks [Artificial Intelligence News].
Ethical Considerations in AI: The discussion around regulating AI models continues. Meta and Apple have joined forces to withhold certain AI models from EU users, citing concerns over data privacy and ethical implications [AI Weekly].
These are just a few highlights. You can explore these topics further by checking resources like AI Weekly, ScienceDaily,and AI News.
My YouTube channel is at http://www.youtube.com/jrpatric The oldest one on the channel was from a speech I gave in Paris in 1996. It is here.
