Good day valued readers,

We hope this week's carefully curated selection of news finds you well. In this edition, we cover the latest developments across investing, finance, crypto, AI, and other topics to help you stay informed.

As always, our goal is to provide you with a professional, unbiased roundup of noteworthy news to augment your understanding of what's happening in the world. We take pride in hand-selecting articles from trustworthy sources across a diverse range of industries.

Please enjoy this week's newsletter. We're grateful for the opportunity to share these insights with you and look forward to continuing to be a valuable resource.

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Investing and Finance

Major developments occurred this week in the automotive, tech, and financial sectors. Tesla recalled over 2 million vehicles in the US due to an Autopilot defect, even as Elon Musk continues making headlines. In tech, Meta announced its first ever stock dividend and huge buyback program, as data centers improved energy efficiency from massive growth. AI leader OpenAI hit a major revenue milestone, while Super Micro Computer has dominated the AI chip market.

In finance, UniCredit vowed to match its stellar 2023 profit and pay it out in full. Meanwhile, TSMC overtook Intel and Samsung as the world’s top semiconductor firm by revenue. On the socioeconomic front, financial guru Dave Ramsey highlighted differences between classes, noting financial behaviors that keep people poor. Finally, silver prices could outshine gold this year to hit a 10-year high, presenting a bright spot for commodities.

1. Elon Musk's Tesla recalls two million cars in US over Autopilot defect - Read more

2. China is facing a brutal reality as it desperately tries to fix its population decline problem - Read more

3. Meta is paying first-ever dividend, authorizes $50 billion buyback - Read more

4. Data centers improved greatly in energy efficiency as they grew massively larger - Read more

5. Super Micro Computer Has Completely Dominated the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market - Read more

6. UniCredit to pay out stellar 2023 profit in full, vows to match it - Read more

7. OpenAI hits $2 billion revenue milestone - Read more

8. This Is Why You're Still A Poor Person' – Dave Ramsey Points Out Major Differences Between Financial Classes - Read more

9. TSMC is now the world's largest semiconductor maker by revenue, beating Intel and Samsung: Analyst - Read more

10. Silver set for a ‘terrific year’ and could outperform gold to hit a 10-year high - Read more

Crypto News

This week saw major developments in the cryptocurrency industry. Bitcoin prices could explode over 2,200% according to BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes. In positive news, Celsius emerged from bankruptcy and will distribute over $3 billion to creditors. However, crypto exchange Binance moved to delist privacy coin Monero. Meanwhile, Solana suffered a major network outage halting block production.

On the institutional side, a JPMorgan survey found over half of traders don't want crypto exposure, even as Bitcoin ETF inflows pushed prices near one-month highs. Additionally, 100 million Dogecoins were moved to Robinhood during a sell-off. Finally, SEC Chair Gary Gensler faced backlash from lawmakers regarding his handling of a crypto case, highlighting continued regulatory uncertainty. Overall, much volatility but also optimism persists around crypto adoption and prices.

1. Bitcoin To Explode by Over 2,200%, Predicts BitMEX Founder Arthur Hayes - Read more

2. Celsius Emerges from Chapter 11 and Commences Distributions of Over $3 Billion to Creditors - Read more

3. Tether posted record $2.85B profit in Q4, driven by T-bills - Read more

4. Monero plummets to 5-month lows as Binance announces delisting - Read more

5. When Giants Collide: Exploring the Convergence of Crypto x AI - Read more

6. Solana block production halts, validators confirm major outage - Read more

7. 100 Million Dogecoin (DOGE) Moved to Robinhood in Major Sell-off - Read more

8. JPMorgan Survey Shows Over Half of Institutional Traders Don't Want Crypto Exposure - Read more

9. Bitcoin Hovers Near One-Month High on ETF Inflows, Looming Halving - Read more

10. SEC Chair Gary Gensler Slammed By Lawmakers For Handling Of Crypto Case - Read more

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence developments took center stage this week across industries. A new AI model nearing GPT-4 performance was leaked, while over half of companies use unapproved AI tools. Automaker Volkswagen opened an AI lab to keep pace with rivals embracing the technology. AI is also quietly changing everyday life and productivity, with Apple aggressively acquiring AI startups. Scientists used AI to read ancient Roman scrolls buried in Mount Vesuvius' eruption.

However, replacing human workers with AI remains expensive for now says an MIT study. Other AI advances included Roblox rolling out real-time translation and tools that could bias hiring decisions. So while AI innovation marches ahead, ethical concerns persist around its application in business and society. Regulating and monitoring AI will be key in balancing its benefits and risks going forward.

1. Mistral CEO confirms ‘leak’ of new open source AI model nearing GPT-4 performance - Read more

2. More than Half of Generative AI Adopters Use Unapproved Tools at Work - Read more

3. Volkswagen Opens AI Lab as Carmakers Embrace Artificial Intelligence - Read more

4. How AI is quietly changing everyday life - Read more

5. Mastering Productivity: 5 ChatGPT Prompts To Crush Your To-Do List - Read more

6. Apple on AI war path! Acquires 21 AI startups, staff hirings on fire, $1 bn spend on cards - Read more

7. AI breakthrough enables scientists to read Roman scrolls once buried by Mount Vesuvius - Read more

8. Roblox rolls out real-time AI translation for all users - Works in 16 languages - Read more

9. It’s too expensive to replace human workers with AI - for now, says MIT study - Read more

10. The AI tools that might stop you getting hired - Read more

Top Article Picks this week

This week we look at how technology is shaping language and communication, both in subtle ways like Microsoft Word autocorrect and more dramatically through virtual worlds like Fortnite. We also examine positive psychology concepts like gratitude, loneliness research, and the neuroscience behind meaningful conversations. For the future, we explore how quantum computing could threaten data privacy and provide tips on removing your child's image from the internet. Overall, a thoughtful mix of articles on language, psychology, technology, privacy, and the impacts of the digital world on our lives.

Quantum computers that can break current cryptographic codes will likely be built within decades. To prepare, researchers are developing "post-quantum cryptography" that even quantum computers can't crack. The US government has initiated a process to standardize new cryptographic algorithms before quantum computers emerge. Most of the algorithms selected so far rely on lattice mathematics, but relying too much on one approach is risky. It will take years to fully transition systems to the new cryptography, so any data encrypted now could later be exposed. Researchers urge haste in adopting quantum-proof cryptography before secrets become readable. You can read more in article 9 below.

1. The surprisingly subtle ways Microsoft Word has changed how we use language / 9 min - Read more

2. A fortnight in Fortnite court - 20 things we learned from the Epic vs. Google trial / 17 min - Read more

3. A simple checklist to plan for your old age, today / 9 min - Read more

4. 7 Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude in Your Everyday Life / 6 min - Read more

5. 10 Philosophical Concepts You Should Know / 11 min - Read more

6. Interview: What We Can Learn From Loneliness Research / 7 min - Read more

7. We’ve Forgotten How to Use Computers / 5 min - Read more

8. The Neurochemistry of Positive Conversations / 3 min - Read more

9. Tomorrow’s Quantum Computers Threaten Today’s Secrets. Here’s How to Protect Them / 16 min - Read more

10. All the Ways to Remove Your Kid’s Image From the Internet / 5 min - Read more

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Book of the week

In Scary Smart, former Google X executive Mo Gawdat provides a thoughtful examination of how artificial intelligence will transform our world. He argues that while AI does have risks, humanity can steer it to make the world better if we approach AI development responsibly. Gawdat explains key AI concepts like machine learning and neural networks in plain language accessible to general readers.

He advocates guiding AI growth in a way that respects human values and doesn't lead to harm. Gawdat makes the case that AI could help solve some of humanity's biggest challenges if developed ethically, from curing diseases to reversing climate change. Ultimately, he argues that the potential benefits of AI outweigh the risks, if we establish appropriate safeguards. Scary Smart provides an insightful perspective on both the perils and promise of our AI future.

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