A look at a16z's Crypto Startup Accelerator, a Y Combinator-style program that provides $500K in funding and 10 weeks of coaching, most recently in London — Andreessen Horowitz is betting the house on crypto. (Yes, really.) This spring, the VC firm schooled a new batch of founders …
WIPO: between 2014 and 2023, 54K generative AI patents were filed, 25% of which were filed in 2023; China leads with 38K+ patents, followed by the US with 6,276 — China is far ahead of other countries in generative AI inventions like chatbots, filing six times more patents than its closest rival …
Reddit users: Netflix is following through on its plan to phase out its cheapest $11.99/month ad-free tier, instead pushing its $6.99, $15.49, and $22.99 tiers — Netflix is following through on its plan to phase out its cheapest ad-free tier for existing subscribers.
Proton launches Docs in Proton Drive, a privacy-focused alternate to Google Docs, after acquiring secure note-taking app Standard Notes in April 2024 — Proton, the Swiss-based pro-privacy productivity app maker, has a new feather in its cap after bringing document creation …
A look at why Japan, due to its culture and employment laws, is not undergoing mass layoffs in the gaming industry as Microsoft owned Tango Gameworks closes — After Microsoft shut down Tango Gameworks, we look at the reasons why Japan has otherwise been sheltered (but not immune) to many of the layoffs and trends seen further afield
A look at the national security fears around Microsoft's deal with Abu Dhabi's G42, including US DOD's skepticism that G42 will entirely uncouple from China — US officials see the Microsoft-G42 partnership as way to help Washington combat Beijing's influence in the Global South. — LEARN MORE
VFX company DNEG raised $200M from Abu Dhabi's UASG at a $2B valuation, to expand its division Brahma, which is developing an AI-powered, photo-real CGI creator — London-based The DNEG Group has secured a $200M capital injection from Abu Dhabi investment firm United Al Saqer Group (UASG).
The Biden administration awards $504M in funding for 12 regional tech hubs, including in New York and Florida, to expand research in AI, chip making, and more — - Effort aims to draw private investment around more of the US — Awards cover twelve centers, including in New York and Florida
Singapore is emerging as a destination for Chinese AI startups due to less stringent AI regulations and access to Nvidia's latest chips amid US chips ban — - AI founders lured by access to foreign capital, technologies — Young AI companies finding it hard to go global from China
Japan-based SmartHR, which offers a cloud human resources and labor management software, raised a $140M Series E led by KKR and Teachers' Ventures Growth — SmartHR, a cloud-based human resources and labor management software startup, said on Monday that it has raised $140 million …
Government data: the value of South Korea's chip shipments reached $13.4B in June, up 51% YoY; exports of display products up 26% YoY and computers up 59% YoY — - Chip export tally reaches highest ever value in June — South Korea's export growth accelerated last month …
A look at the history of and challenges facing Meta's Oversight Board as it works on its second act: a body to help social media platforms comply with EU's DSA — Once hailed as a model for internet governance, Meta's Oversight Board has been criticized as slow-moving and increasingly irrelevant.
Kuo: Apple plans to mass produce new AirPods with camera modules by 2026, which will include an IR camera similar to the iPhone Face ID receiver — According to a new report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is targeting to begin mass production of new “AirPods with camera modules” by 2026.
Sources: Apple is actively working to bring the AI features to Vision Pro, rejiggers Vision Pro's retail demos, and starts developing 2025's operating systems — Apple's strategy to make its devices last longer will mean AI and software are even more important to its business.
Kaiko: the proportion of Bitcoin traded over weekends has fallen to 16% in 2024 so far, down from 28% in 2019, a trend likely accelerated by Bitcoin ETFs launch — - Weekend trading drops to 16% of total volume, Kaiko says — ETFs, dwindling volatility lessen appeal, researcher says
Financial Times : Russian cryptocurrency payment network A7 expands to Africa, as Moscow builds an alternative payments system amid weste...
