DeFiance Daily

Geoffrey A. Fowler, a tech columnist, has harnessed the power of Generative AI to redefine the classic Christmas card. Using OpenAI’s DALL-E 3, Lensa, and Adobe Photoshop with Generative Fill, Fowler embarked on a creative journey, overcoming challenges and biases to craft a whimsical and nostalgic holiday card. 

Iconic singer Cher has taken the metaverse by storm with a four-week event on Roblox that started on December 8th, launching her into the virtual world for the first time. This collaboration between Warner Music Group and Gamefam brings Cher to life in WMG’s music-themed Roblox world, Harmony Hills.

Microsoft’s AI chatbot Copilot has integrated with AI music startup Suno to allow users to generate AI-generated songs on demand. Copilot users can access Suno through the chatbot by enabling the Suno plug-in or clicking on the “Make music with Suno” logo.

A new phenomenon known as “data poisoning” is causing disruptions in the world of artificial intelligence, particularly in text-to-image generators.

U.S. cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase’s request for the Securities and Exchange Commission to establish customized regulations for digital assets was denied on Friday. SEC Chair Gary Gensler stated that the existing securities framework adequately governs crypto asset securities and emphasized the commission’s ongoing efforts to propose rules for crypto businesses.

Sotheby’s, the renowned historic auction house, recently conducted its inaugural sale of Ordinals inscriptions, a type of “NFTs on Bitcoin.” The auction featured a set of three pixelated images from the BitcoinShrooms collection, collectively fetching an astounding $450,000—five times higher than the initial highest estimates.

Researchers from the University of Warwick, King’s College London, and the NHS have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of analyzing X-rays and diagnosing medical conditions with remarkable accuracy. The software, named X-Raydar, was trained using chest X-rays from over 1.5 million patients, covering 37 possible conditions. 

Chinese hackers are reportedly infiltrating critical US infrastructure by targeting unsuspecting office workers, aiming to create “societal chaos” from within if a conflict arises. Analysts reveal that Beijing’s military has penetrated over 20 major suppliers in the past year, including a water utility in Hawaii, a West Coast port, and an oil and gas pipeline. The project, codenamed Volt Typhoon, has coincided with heightened tensions over Taiwan and poses a significant threat to US efforts in the South China Sea.

Google has unveiled Gemini 1.0, a next-generation multimodal model that revolutionizes the standard approach to such models. In contrast to previous methods involving separate modality components stitched together, Gemini is natively multimodal, pre-trained on various modalities and fine-tuned with additional multimodal data.

Jack Dorsey’s fintech company, Block (SQ), has opened pre-orders for its self-custody bitcoin wallet, Bitkey, in over 95 countries. Bitkey includes a mobile app and hardware device for bitcoin transactions and secure offline storage, employing a three-key system with one key stored on Bitkey’s servers for transaction verification and wallet recovery. 

Reliable Robotics achieved a historic milestone with the first-ever uncrewed flight of a Cessna 208B Caravan on 11/21/23, supervised by a remote pilot from Reliable’s control center 50 miles away. The autonomous flight system enhances safety, preventing controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) and loss of control in flight (LOC-I), applicable to various aircraft models. 

IBM has unveiled the IBM Hyper Protect Offline Signing Orchestrator, a new addition to its confidential computing portfolio, designed to enhance cold storage solutions for digital assets. OSO addresses limitations in current cold storage methods by automating and streamlining the transaction process, eliminating the need for manual procedures. 

In a bid to reshape the venture capital landscape, VC Lab, a leading accelerator, is on a mission to launch 1,000 new venture capital firms globally by 2025. Specializing in providing virtual programs, the accelerator equips new managers with a supportive community, tactical advice, and essential resources to successfully establish accelerators, pre-seed, seed, or Series A venture capital firms.

Soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo is facing a $1 billion class-action lawsuit filed in the District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleging his involvement in promoting unregistered securities in collaboration with cryptocurrency exchange Binance.

CHARLES & KEITH is ringing in the festive season with the launch of CHARLES & KEITH IN THE ALPS, an immersive virtual experience within the Sandbox Metaverse.

Cryptocurrency exchange FTX has received court approval to sell trust assets, including shares of Grayscale and Bitwise investment funds, valued at approximately $873 million.

Italian economist Ignazio Angeloni has expressed skepticism regarding the issuance of a central bank digital currency (CBDC), stating that current circumstances do not warrant such a move. In a paper titled “Digital Euro: When in doubt, abstain (but be prepared),” presented to the Parliament, Angeloni argued that invasive public intervention like a CBDC should only be considered if there is clear evidence of malfunctioning in the existing system, which is not apparent at the moment.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has unveiled a largely unredacted version of the federal complaint filed by a bipartisan coalition of 33 attorneys general against Meta Platforms, Inc.

Art Basel has introduced a new initiative called Access by Art Basel, developed in partnership with Arcual, to create a bespoke digital sales experience connecting galleries, artists, collectors, and non-profit organizations.

In a notable development for Bitcoin (BTC), data from blockchain analytics firm Glassnode reveals that a record-high 70.35% of the cryptocurrency’s circulating supply has remained inactive on-chain for at least a year.

Paris-based creative hub TRAME has acquired the Club CPG community, marking a milestone in its evolution. This step unites a diverse community of contemporary voices, aiming to craft limited-edition design pieces and artworks with digital provenance.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, alleging violations of federal securities laws. The SEC claims Kraken commingled customer and corporate funds, posing a “significant risk” by mixing up to $33 billion in customer crypto with its own assets.

On Saturday, a transformative and visually stunning event unfolded at a luxurious venue in Beverly Hills, marking the global release of Samuel J’s new album in conjunction with a DJ set featuring renowned artists Thomas Jack, Autograf, and Ruby Chase. The event, named Ocean Bloom, was a collaborative masterpiece by Samuel J and Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Shawn Heinrichs.

The United States Marine Corps is embracing the metaverse to enhance preparedness for future challenges. In a successful pilot by the Marine Corps Platform Integration Center, a simulated metaverse integrated with logistics and asset management systems was created.

Global superstar Steve Aoki is set to launch his highly anticipated record, HiROQUEST 2: Double Helix, accompanied by the limited-edition HiROQUEST Collectors Edition.

Mayberry, a unique community in Colorado Springs, is transforming the home-buying experience through a pioneering partnership with OpenHouse.ai, a leading AI real estate solutions company.

Dollar Donation Club (DDC) is pioneering a groundbreaking approach to philanthropy by aiming to create the world’s first collective billionaire and super-philanthropist. The organization encourages individuals to commit to donating a small amount each month, starting at just one dollar.

AI is making significant strides in the waste management sector, alleviating labor shortages and tackling the dirty job of sorting recyclables from trash.

Australian-based robotics and AI startup, Andromeda Robotics, is making waves in the aged care industry with its cutting-edge AI-powered companion robot, Abi. The company has initiated trials in collaboration with Bolton Clarke’s Allity residential aged care, introducing Abi as a prototype humanoid companion robot designed to engage with elderly residents in a relaxed and conversational manner.

U.S. lawmakers have introduced the Creating Legal Accountability for Rogue Innovators and Technology (CLARITY) Act, which prohibits federal government officials from conducting business with China-based blockchain firms. This move reflects growing suspicion in Washington regarding Chinese involvement in the cryptocurrency industry.

The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has introduced a proposal to extend its oversight to large nonbank payment providers, ensuring their compliance with financial regulations akin to traditional institutions.

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, is set to be integrated into his social media platform X and will also be available as a standalone app, according to a post by Musk on Sunday. xAI recently released its first AI model, named Grok, which is now accessible to all X Premium+ subscribers.

FTX founder and former chief executive, Sam Bankman-Fried, has been found guilty of committing a major financial fraud, as a New York jury delivered a unanimous verdict on all seven charges following a five-week trial. The verdict, handed down after jurors deliberated for several hours, marks one of the most significant financial fraud cases in American history. 

BP’s EV charging business, bp pulse, is set to acquire ultra-fast charging hardware units from Tesla in a groundbreaking $100 million deal. The investment will allow bp pulse to expand its public charging network across the United States and deploy chargers at private depots for EV fleet customers.

XRP Healthcare, a pioneer in utilizing the XRP Ledger for healthcare and pharma solutions, is embarking on an ambitious expansion into the thriving healthcare markets of Dubai and the Middle East. This significant move follows Ripple Labs Inc.’s steps, a leading US-based technology company, and aligns with the surging blockchain and cryptocurrency adoption in the region.

EHang Holdings brings news that there’s no need to be spooked about the future of passenger-carrying drones. The company is making remarkable strides towards obtaining production and airworthiness certificates for its EH216-S UAV system, backed by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Amazon’s “Sequoia” robotic system offers a promising leap in modern logistics. Sequoia is currently being tested at an Amazon warehouse in Houston and represents the company’s vision for the future of storage in fulfillment centers. The system employs containerized storage and presents totes to employees within their ergonomic power zones, significantly improving efficiency and reducing the need for workers to reach above their heads or stoop down. 

In a surprising turn of events, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have selected a less prominent and relatively less controversial lawmaker, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), as the new Speaker of the House.

Airheads, the popular candy brand, has ventured into Hollywood this Halloween season with its first-ever film festival, A.I.RHEADS SCAREFEST. The festival featured filmmakers challenged to create Halloween-themed films generated by artificial intelligence, incorporating the iconic Airheads balloon and blending the perfect mix of horror and humor in films under 3 minutes.

NVIDIA Research has developed a cutting-edge AI agent named Eureka that has successfully taught a robotic hand to perform intricate pen-spinning tricks, rivaling human skill levels. This achievement is one among nearly 30 tasks that Eureka has enabled robots to master.

BE OPEN, a humanitarian educational initiative, has announced an international competition called “Design Your Climate Action” in collaboration with its partners. This competition is open to students, graduates, and young professionals specializing in design, architecture, engineering, and media on a global scale.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission  has dropped claims that Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, and Executive Chairman, Chris Larsen, aided and abetted the company in violating federal securities laws in its XRP transactions. This decision has led to the cancellation of a trial scheduled for next year, marking another victory for Ripple in the SEC’s ongoing legal battle against the cryptocurrency company.

The National Association of Broadcasters is gearing up for the NAB Show New York, set to run from October 24 to 26, 2023, at the Javits Center. This event, co-located with the AES New York 2023 Convention, is set to be a significant gathering for content economy professionals on the East Coast. NAB Show New York offers a diverse and efficient experience for attendees, focusing on creativity and technology. 

California-based Space Campers is gearing up for the arrival of the Tesla Cybertruck with a sneak peek at their prototype camper. In a recent video tour, the Space Campers team showcased their camper’s features, including air-powered opening, a Murphy-style bed, and a mobile workstation.

Stablecoin issuer Tether has taken a decisive step by freezing funds held in 32 cryptocurrency addresses associated with terrorism and warfare activities in Israel and Ukraine, as revealed in a Monday press release.

Advertising Week New York is set to make a grand return for its 19th edition, slated to run from today, October 16th to the 19th. This year, the event will be hosted at THE PENN DISTRICT, situated at 100 W. 33rd St., and promises to bring together the brightest minds in marketing, advertising, media, and technology.

Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States, is voicing strong opposition to a recent proposal by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS had put forth a rule to define cryptocurrency brokers and establish guidelines for tax payments.

A group of researchers in Central Florida, part of the Loss Prevention Research Council at the University of Florida, is developing cutting-edge technology to combat retail theft. In collaboration with major retailers like Home Depot and Walmart, the LPRC is working on innovative solutions to outsmart shoplifters who aim to steal tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of products daily.

Biotech company 23andMe Inc. is under fire as it faces a federal class action lawsuit alleging the failure to protect the genetic information of thousands of individuals that was exposed in a data breach, which was announced on October 6.

GPU manufacturer Nvidia has announced the cancellation of its highly-anticipated AI Summit, originally slated to take place in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 15th and 16th. The decision comes in response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.