November 20, 2024 | Listen Online | Read Online

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Bay Area Times Daily - Nov. 20, 2024

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1. Microsoft CEO calls test-time compute "emergence of new scaling law"

Satya Nadella's keynote at Microsoft Ignite: YouTube.

Test-time compute gives AI models more time to "think" before answering.
AI training compute (FLOP) is 4.2x/year, "doubling every six months or so", Satya Nadella stated.
Scaling laws are yielding diminishing returns, some industry stakeholders argue.

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Microsoft unveiled the $349 Windows 365 Link mini PC to stream Windows 11 from the cloud

Microsoft.

The fanless, compact device can connect with 3rd-party monitors and peripherals.
Specifications include 8GB RAM, 64GB storage, and an undisclosed Intel processor.
April 2025 availability.

Microsoft also unveiled Azure AI Foundry to help developers build AI apps and switch between multiple LLMs

Microsoft.

In line with the company's strategy of moving away from relying on OpenAI's ChatGPT.

An AI interpreter in Teams will allow you to simulate voices in 9 different languages

Washington Post, Microsoft.

Near-real-time voice interpretation.
Available in early 2025 in a limited preview.

2. SpaceX tests Starship rocket for 6th time, in presence of Trump, but aborts booster catch

X: Elon Musk.

Launched from SpaceX's Texas site at 5 PM ET on Tue.
The rocket's Super Heavy booster splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico instead of completing its planned landing.
Oct. 14: Starship's booster demoed a novel catch-landing method.
A "faster/harder" catch-landing was supposed to be seen during Tue. launch.

3. Google releases Android 16 developer preview 2 months early

Google: Android 16 release timeline.

Typically, Feb. is when Google unveils its first Android developer previews.
Android fragment could be helped by the early release.
Android 16 DP1 brings a new embedded photo picker and privacy sandbox.
Jun. 2025: when the final release of Android 16 is expected.

4. Bitcoin hits $94K amid hopes for crypto-friendly Trump regime

Coinbase.

$94,105.84 was the new high hit on Tue.

Cryptocurrencies have soared since the Nov. 5 election

5. Meta forms product group to develop AI tools for 200M businesses

X: Clara Shih.

Former Salesforce AI CEO Clara Shih will lead the initiative.
Businesses on Meta apps, including WhatsApp and Instagram, will gain AI development support.

6. Elon Musk's X rival Bluesky now boasts 20M+ users

Bluesky: Samuel.

Bluesky has 2x'ed its user base since Sep., when it had 9M+ users.
The recent U.S. election drove users from X to Bluesky.

7. Defense tech startup VC funding reaches a record $3B in 2024 YTD

Crunchbase.

85 deals have closed so far this year, vs. 96 in all of 2023.
2023: $2.2B was invested in defense tech startups.
$2.6B raised in 113 rounds in 2022 was the previous high.
Anduril Industries and Costa Mesa secured the largest rounds of 2024, each raising $1.5B in Aug.

8. U.K. drops out of top 50 most powerful computers worldwide

And the U.S. remains leading the way:

FT.

9. Interesting videos, posts, and memes

Javier Milei: President of Argentina - Freedom, Economics, and Corruption | Lex Fridman Podcast #453

TWiST News: Netflix Goes Live, The FCC Revamp, Free Speech, and Regulatory Shifts | E2046

10. Other headlines

AI

Databricks looking to raise $7B-$9B at ~$61B valuation: sources.
Google rolls out "memory" feature for Gemini Advanced subscribers.
OpenAI's Advanced Voice now available to all paid ChatGPT users on web.

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Tech

Apple starts selling ad inventory for Apple News directly.
Microsoft, Atom Computing to launch commercial quantum computer in 2025.
Intuit, H&R stocks fall as Trump reportedly plans free tax-filing app.

Tech & law

Google's Anthropic AI deal cleared by UK's CMA.

Biotech

Oura, smart ring maker, raises $75M Series D at $5B+ valuation.
Canvas introduces EMR system for longevity medicine.

Business

$1 homes offered to Americans by Italian village.
Mexico warns of Trump tariff's impact on U.S. companies.

Crypto

Asia crypto hotspots benefit from $800B U.S. rally.
Coinbase to delist wBTC as Justin Sun's influence grows.

Downing Tech: consulting on decentralised technologies.*

*Sponsored.

U.S. politics

Howard Lutnick, CEO of Tether's banker, tapped as Commerce Secretary.
Linda McMahon picked for Education Secretary.
Dr. Oz named to head Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Kevin Warsh favorite (43%) to lead Treasury; Rowan (30%), Bessent (21%).
Alex Jones sues Sandy Hook parents to stop Infowars sale to The Onion.

World

Putin open to discussing peace deal, with Ukraine banned from NATO.
Iran faces censure from West amid offer to cap 60% uranium stockpile.
Venezuela's opposition head Gonzalez now called "president-elect" by U.S.

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🗞️ SpaceX test aborted