Morning Thrust | Weekly Highlights (68th Edition: 31.03.2024)

Welcome to the 68th edition of Morning Thrust ,?your?weekly dose?of?highlights?in future tech,?space economy,?sustainability,?smart cities,?supply chain,?logistics and more! In this edition (31.03.2024), we bring you the?most exciting?developments shaping?our world.?Stay informed and?ahead of the curve?with our curated insights.?Let's dive in!

OpenAI unveils Voice Engine, a voice cloning tool currently in preview, emphasizing responsible use amid concerns about deepfakes. The tool allows synthesis of voices from 15-second samples but awaits public release for further refinement and safeguards against misuse. Early adopters include companies in healthcare and accessibility, while ethical considerations regarding the future of voice actors and potential misuse remain central.

OpenAI 's Sora video tool grants early access to artists, resulting in surreal creations like 'Air Head,' where a character with a balloon for a head navigates everyday challenges. Artists express excitement over Sora's ability to generate both realistic and fantastical content, showcasing its potential at the intersection of art and AI.

亚马逊 introduces a new app for palm scanning at checkout, allowing users to register from home and use their palm for purchases, entry, and more across various locations. The app, available for iOS and Android, encrypts palm images for security, expanding its usage to over 500 Whole Foods Market stores and 150+ third-party locations. This move follows Amazon's efforts to integrate palm recognition technology for enterprise identity verification.

亚马逊 makes its largest venture investment of $2.75 billion in AI startup Anthropic , continuing its spending blitz to stay ahead in the AI race. Anthropic, known for its generative AI models, competes with OpenAI 's ChatGPT, with Amazon's investment marking its largest outside investment in three decades. The move is part of a broader trend among cloud providers, with Microsoft and Google also making significant investments in AI startups.

亚马逊 plans to invest $150 billion in data centers over the next 15 years to meet the rising demand for AI and digital services, aiming to maintain its lead in cloud computing over rivals like 微软 and 谷歌 . This spending spree reflects Amazon's determination to secure resources for its expanding infrastructure amidst a rebound in cloud services spending.

LinkedIn is trialing a TikTok style video feed on its app, following the trend set by other platforms. This new feature aims to enhance engagement and discovery by offering bite-sized professional content, though it's still in early testing stages. While it provides opportunities for creators, some users may be wary of added video feeds cluttering the platform.

Canva 's acquisition of Affinity for hundreds of millions aims to expand its user base to professional designers, potentially challenging Adobe 's dominance. The move promises to enhance Canva's capabilities with Affinity's advanced tools, appealing to a wider audience while maintaining separate platforms. Despite fluctuations in valuation, Canva's strategic investment underscores its commitment to innovation and growth in the design market.

Lucid Motors secures an additional $1 billion from Saudi Arabia to alleviate costs in its luxury electric sedan production. Despite facing challenges in finding buyers for its high-priced vehicles, the company plans to increase output and introduce its electric SUV later this year. CEO Peter Rawlinson emphasizes caution regarding over-reliance on Saudi investment.

Spotify is experimenting with video courses covering various topics like music production and Excel, partnering with organizations like the BBC and Skillshare . The courses, initially launched in the UK, offer both free and paid content, with prices ranging from ￡20 to ￡80. The move aims to increase user engagement and revenue diversification, leveraging Spotify's vast user base and podcast data correlations while expanding into the education sector.

Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis receives knighthood for his contributions to artificial intelligence in the UK, following his 2017 'Commander of the British Empire' (CBE). Hassabis, a prodigy in various fields, co-founded DeepMind in 2010, now a significant player in AI research. This recognition reflects the UK's commitment to AI advancement, positioning figures like Hassabis at the forefront of technological innovation.

The UAE seeks investment in European nuclear power, approaching countries like Britain, with the possibility of its state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Company becoming a minority investor. This move aligns with efforts to diversify economies away from fossil fuels. However, potential political opposition and sensitivity surround Emirati state investments in the UK, following concerns over national security in recent deals.

谷歌 launches a $20M program, Google.org Accelerator: Generative AI, to support nonprofits developing tech using generative AI. The initiative includes grants, technical training, and mentoring for 21 nonprofits, such as Quill.org and World Bank. Nonprofit AI startups are on the rise, with a growing focus on ethical AI approaches globally.

FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried receives a 25-year prison sentence and must pay $11 billion for fraud and money laundering. His trial shed light on the collapse of FTX and Alameda Research , once leading entities in the crypto world. Bankman-Fried's downfall marks a significant moment for the crypto industry, signaling repercussions for future cases of fraud.

Blackstone plans to inject an additional $25 billion into India's private equity assets over five years, citing the country's appealing investment landscape. With a focus on digital infrastructure, energy transition, transportation, exports, and electronic manufacturing, the firm aims to capitalize on India's regulatory stability and economic growth. This expansion reflects a broader trend of global investors turning towards India amid uncertainties elsewhere.

Elon Musk targets humanoid robot "Optimus" to cost less than half the price of a car, aiming to revolutionize repetitive tasks. Tesla's advancements in AI and robotics suggest a feasible timeline, with potential widespread adoption predicted to impact manufacturing and service industries. Despite previous delays, Tesla intensifies recruitment efforts for its robot program, indicating ongoing commitment to this transformative project.

Discover How Gamification Enhances Employee Engagement: Learn how incorporating elements of games into workplace strategies can motivate staff, combatting high disengagement rates. Highlighting successful implementations and research findings, the article underscores the importance of thoughtfully designed programs to boost motivation and performance, avoiding pitfalls like United Airlines' failed attempt.

三星电子 aims to elevate its Monimo financial services app to super app status through a potential partnership with top South Korean banks like Kookmin and Hana Bank, leveraging their expertise and customer base. With Samsung's vast mobile device user base and the banks' desire to enhance their reputation and expand internationally, the collaboration promises mutual benefits in tapping into the burgeoning digital banking market.

AVITERRA , a Dubai aviation company, secures a deal with Dutch firm PAL-V for over 100 Liberty flying cars, marking the Middle East and Africa's first flying car initiative. These vehicles, combining road and air capabilities, offer door-to-door transport, unlike eVTOLs, with plans for certification and production underway, targeting high-end clients.

Major tech companies, including 谷歌 , 英特尔 and Arm , form a coalition to challenge 英伟达 's AI chip dominance. The UXL Foundation project aims to create an open-source software suite, breaking Nvidia's proprietary lock-in and allowing code to run on any machine. The initiative seeks support from other chipmakers and cloud-computing giants like Microsoft, potentially altering the landscape of the AI market.

Aethero , a startup aiming to revolutionize space data processing, develops radiation-hardened edge computers for on-orbit data processing and autonomous decision-making. Co-founded by Edward Ge and Amit Pinnamaneni, the company's innovative technology, backed by a $1.7 million pre-seed round, promises 20x more processing power than existing options. With plans to collaborate with Intel and deploy their MVP on SpaceX 's Transporter-11, Aethero aspires to become the 英特尔 or 英伟达 of the space industry.

The future of space exploration hinges on sustainable emerging technologies, as outlined in a recent white paper by Forecast International. Key advancements such as reusable rockets, space debris management, and satellite refueling are vital for ensuring long-term space operations and safety. The report underscores the importance of technological innovation to address challenges such as debris mitigation and extending satellite lifespan, while highlighting potential future impacts of AI on space travel.

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration has developed a revolutionary 'solar sail' for space exploration, propelled solely by sunlight, offering sustainable and efficient travel across the cosmos. This futuristic technology, inspired by science fiction, marks a paradigm shift in space travel, overcoming design challenges to enable endless voyages without fuel.

The UK's space economy is on the rise, buoyed by government support for emerging technologies like quantum computing, with companies such as Space Forge pioneering microgravity manufacturing. Eutelsat Group , now the world's first GEO-LEO satellite operator, exemplifies the UK's leading role in space, while ￡2.5 billion investment in quantum technologies underscores the government's commitment to innovation, aiming to propel the UK to the forefront of the global space sector.

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration 's Artemis IV mission aims to establish the first lunar space station, Gateway, enabling scientific research and preparing for Mars missions. Crews will rendezvous at Gateway, conduct surface expeditions, and return via Starship and Orion spacecraft, advancing humanity's deep space exploration goals. This milestone signifies NASA's commitment to diverse representation and long-term lunar exploration.

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