Lag0s

Week Summary

Technology

Earth has captured a temporary 'second moon,' a small asteroid named 2024 PT5, which will orbit until November 2024.

Research indicates that larger AI chatbots are increasingly prone to generating incorrect answers, raising concerns about their reliability.

Meta's Chief Technical Officer discussed advancements in AR and VR technologies, particularly focusing on the Orion AR glasses.

The author reflects on their experience with Rust, proposing several changes to improve the language's usability and safety features.

The Tor Project and Tails OS have merged to enhance their efforts in promoting online anonymity and privacy.

OpenAI is undergoing leadership changes, with key executives departing amid discussions about restructuring and the company's future direction.

Git-absorb

The concept of critical mass explains how significant changes occur when a threshold of acceptance is reached, impacting technology and society.

WordPress.org has banned WP Engine from accessing its resources due to ongoing legal disputes, raising concerns about security for WP Engine customers.

PostgreSQL 17

Hotwire Native is a web-first framework that simplifies mobile app development, allowing developers to reuse HTML and CSS across platforms.

Radian Aerospace is progressing on a reusable space plane, completing ground tests and aiming for full-scale flights by 2028.

A groundbreaking diabetes treatment using reprogrammed stem cells has enabled a patient to produce insulin independently for over a year.

Apple is developing a new home accessory that combines features of the iPad, Apple TV, and HomePod, expected to launch in 2025.

SpaceX's Starlink service is set to surpass 4 million subscribers, reflecting rapid growth and significant revenue projections.

TinyJS is a lightweight JavaScript library that simplifies dynamic HTML element creation and DOM manipulation for developers.

Franklin Templeton Launches OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund on Aptos Blockchain
Franklin Templeton has made a significant move in the blockchain space by launching its OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund (FOBXX) on the Aptos blockchain, marking its fifth blockchain network. This initiative is in collaboration with the Aptos Foundation and aims to enhance the interoperability of real-world and treasury-backed assets across various blockchain environments. The FOBXX fund, which is represented by the BENJI token, previously operated on Stellar, Polygon, Arbitrum, and Avalanche. The fund is designed for institutional investors, allowing them to access the underlying assets through digital wallets on Franklin Templeton's Benji Investments platform. The Aptos network was chosen for its unique characteristics that align with the firm's rigorous standards for asset management capabilities. The Aptos Foundation's leadership emphasized the importance of connecting traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi), as well as bridging EVM and non-EVM networks. FOBXX primarily invests in low-risk U.S. government securities, including various types of fixed and floating rate securities, as well as repurchase agreements fully collateralized by U.S. government securities or cash. Since its launch, the fund has reportedly attracted over $20 million in subscriptions. Franklin Templeton's Head of Digital Assets highlighted this launch as a crucial milestone in leveraging blockchain technology for asset management. Aptos, a relatively new Layer 1 blockchain, is built on the Move programming language, which was originally developed by a team from Meta. It aims to provide a faster and more scalable alternative to existing networks. The number of monthly active addresses on Aptos has been steadily increasing, indicating growing interest and activity on the platform. The market for tokenized government securities has expanded significantly, with total assets under management in this sector reaching approximately $2 billion. Franklin Templeton was a pioneer in this space, launching the first U.S.-registered fund to utilize a public blockchain for processing transactions and recording share ownership in 2021. However, it faces competition from BlackRock's BUIDL fund, which has gained a substantial market share. Franklin Templeton has a long history with blockchain technology, having engaged in various crypto-related initiatives since 2018. The firm has also launched spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, further solidifying its presence in the digital asset space. The ongoing developments in tokenized government securities and the increasing adoption of blockchain technology by traditional financial firms highlight a transformative shift in the investment landscape.
Hi Impact
Franklin Templeton
OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund (FOBXX)
United States
Blockchain and Finance

Month Summary

Technology

OpenAI is considering a new subscription model for its upcoming AI product, Strawberry, while also restructuring for better financial backing.

Telegram founder

The startup landscape is shifting towards more tech-intensive ventures, with a focus on specialized research and higher capital requirements.

Boom Supersonic's XB-1 demonstrator aircraft successfully completed its second flight, testing new systems for future supersonic travel.

announced the uncrewed return of Boeing's Starliner, with future crewed missions planned for 2025.

OpenAI's SearchGPT aims to compete with Google Search by providing AI-driven information retrieval, though it currently faces accuracy issues.

Tesla is preparing to unveil its autonomous robotaxi technology at an event in Los Angeles, indicating ongoing challenges in achieving full autonomy.

The US Department of Justice is investigating Nvidia for potential antitrust violations related to its AI chip market dominance.

Apple plans to use OLED screens in all iPhone 16 models, moving away from Japanese suppliers and introducing new AI features.

Amazon S3 has introduced conditional writes to prevent overwriting existing objects, simplifying data updates for developers.

Chinese scientists have developed a hydrogel that shows promise in treating osteoarthritis by restoring cartilage lubrication.

Nvidia's CEO is working to position the Nvidia as a comprehensive provider for data center needs, amidst growing competition from AMD and Intel.

OpenAI

Nvidia Blackwell

Amazon is set to release a revamped Alexa voice assistant in October, powered by AI models from Anthropic's Claude, and will be offered as a paid subscription service.