New sections may appear every week or just when I have something new to share.
I have been meeting with local charitable organizations to discuss AI and what to do about it. The interest level is high. Next talk on AI coming in November. Will provide details when available. I am considering a new book which I may call AI Attitude.
The startup I am sharing about this week is Voatz. Voatz is the only company that has delivered a successful smartphone app-first election solution (backed by a blockchain-based infrastructure) that is in use by multiple governments and political parties today. I invested in Voatz in 2021.
Last month, the Government Blockchain Association (GBA) announced that Voatz, a leader in blockchain-based voting technology, has earned the prestigious designation of a Trusted Blockchain Solution after undergoing a rigorous independent assessment using the Blockchain Maturity Model (BMM).
Voatz may revolutionize the way we vote. If you would like to see a demo of how the mobile voting works, click here. Like all startups, it is not risk free. As always, remember most startups fail. Never invest in a startup unless you are prepared to lose every penny you invest.
Here are some of the top news stories this week according to Bard AI:
- Google AI researchers develop a new AI model that can generate realistic images from text descriptions. The model, called Imagen, is able to generate images that are more realistic and detailed than previous AI models. Imagen can also generate images that are consistent with the context of the text description, which is a challenging task for AI models.
- OpenAI releases a new version of its GPT-3 language model, called GPT-3.5. GPT-3.5 is a more powerful and versatile language model than GPT-3, and it is able to perform a wider range of tasks, including generating different creative text formats, translating languages, writing different kinds of creative content, and answering your questions in an informative way.
- Microsoft announces a new AI-powered service that can help businesses to improve their customer service. The service, called Azure Customer Insights, uses AI to analyze customer data and identify patterns and trends. Azure Customer Insights can then provide businesses with recommendations on how to improve their customer service.
- IBM unveils a new AI chip that is designed to be more efficient than traditional AI chips. The chip, called the Telum processor, is able to perform AI computations at a lower power consumption than traditional AI chips. This could make it possible to deploy AI in more applications, such as mobile devices and IoT devices.
- Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley develop a new AI algorithm that can help to improve the accuracy of medical diagnoses.The algorithm, called DeepDx, uses AI to analyze medical images and identify patterns that are associated with different diseases. DeepDx was shown to be more accurate than human doctors at diagnosing certain diseases, such as pneumonia.
- AI is a rapidly changing and evolving field. It is very difficult to stay informed about the latest developments in AI in order to make informed decisions about how to use AI to your advantage. I hope these weekly snippets provides some highlights of what is going on.
- Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) prices continue to consolidate after last week’s sell-off. BTC is currently trading around $27,000, while ETH is trading around $1,600.
- Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of FTX, pleads not guilty to fraud charges. Bankman-Fried is accused of using FTX to commit fraud and launder money. His former colleagues are testifying against him. Not looking good for SBF.
- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charges Ripple Labs and its executives with selling unregistered securities. The SEC is alleging that Ripple raised over $1.3 billion through the sale of its XRP token. SEC will also announce decision on whether to appeal ETF case. I won’t know until after I publish this. More next week.
- The US Department of Justice (DOJ) seizes over $3.36 billion in cryptocurrency linked to the Silk Road darknet marketplace. The DOJ is alleging that the cryptocurrency was used to purchase drugs and other illegal goods on the Silk Road. IRS getting good at tracking down illicit crypto.
- The cryptocurrency exchange Binance announces that it will delist the TerraUSD (UST) stablecoin. The UST stablecoin depegged from the US dollar in May, causing billions of dollars in losses for investors.
I don’t think I add much with my Wall Street comments. I suggest a click on MarketWatch will do a much better job.
I am out of pocket Friday afternoon so was not able to create the GAMMNAT spreadsheet. Will resume next Friday.
Following are videos of talks I gave this year. I have been fortunate to be able to share my thoughts on technology with a number of groups.
On September 14, I gave a talk on AI at the Ridgefield Library in Ridgefield, CT.
On July 21, I gave a lecture on AI @FoundersHallCT. I wan’t sure how many would turn out. It was a lot. Great interest in the topic. In addition to current events and outlooks, I told the audience about Robot Attitude: How Robots and Artificial Intelligence Will Make Our Lives Better.
On March 8th I was the guest speaker at the first meeting of Probus in Palm Coast, Florida on March 8. Probus is a worldwide organization of retired and semi-retired men and women who come together to make new friends, learn new things, and have fun. There are over 4,000 Probus clubs in more than 100 countries, with over 400,000 members. Probus clubs are non-political, non-sectarian, and non-profit. They are self-governing and autonomous, and each club sets its own policies and activities.
On March 30, I gave my 12th annual lecture called Tech Talk at Hammock Dunes Club in Palm Coast, Florida where I live in the winter.
On March 23, gave a town hall-like speech and Q&A with the IT special interest group (SIG) of the New York Executive Forum. The event was via Zoom.
On April 19, I gave a talk and Q&A with a group of Union Carbide retirees. Some years ago, Union Carbide had its headquarters about a mile from where I live in Connecticut. The event was via Zoom.
There are many more videos of my lectures, interviews, etc. on my YouTube channel which you can find here.
