Search the archive

here...

Sounds crazy? Call it to see for yourself.

TLDR readers get exclusive access to an even more advanced version

WAVEFORMS $40M SEED ROUND

WaveForms is an audio LLM company working to solve the Turing test for audio AI. It raised $40M in seed funding at a $200M valuation. The company was founded by Alexis Conneau, who led the development of ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode.

SORA IS HERE

OpenAI's video generation model has launched and is available to Pro subscribers.

COHERE RELEASES STATE-OF-THE-ART RERANK AI SEARCH MODEL

Cohere released Rerank 3.5, its latest SOTA AI search model, with improved reasoning and multilingual capabilities to help enterprises precisely search complex data. With just a few lines of code, Rerank 3.5 can enable businesses to significantly enhance the relevance of information surfaced within search and RAG systems.

LG'S NEW ON DEVICE LANGUAGE MODELS

LG has trained a suite of small models that perform well on standard benchmarks. Importantly they compare against the Qwen series of models.

REINFORCEMENT LEARNING: AN OVERVIEW

Kevin Murphy has written a modern introduction and overview to Reinforcement Learning in the modern era.

RECONSTRUCT LARGE 3D SCENES

Momentum-GS is a method that enhances 3D Gaussian Splatting for large-scale scene reconstruction.

Abstraction

→ Check out pgai on GitHub [13]: a framework for developing RAG, semantic search, and other AI applications directly in PostgreSQL

OPEN ALIGNMENT

Open Alignment for Transformers (OAT) is a toolkit for aligning language models.

TURNING A SINGLE IMAGE INTO A 360° 3D SCENE

The PanoDreamer method transforms a single image into a complete 360° 3D scene by combining panorama and depth estimation.

STEREO MATCHING WITH MONOCULAR DEPTH INSIGHTS

Stereo Anywhere is a new framework that fuses stereo-matching techniques with priors from monocular depth models, addressing challenges like textureless regions and occlusions.

SALESFORCE AGENTFORCE: LLMS MAY HAVE A KILLER ENTERPRISE APP: ‘DIGITAL LABOR'

Salesforce's new platform, Agentforce, has rapidly gained traction with over 200 deals closed in one quarter, signaling strong enterprise interest in AI agents for sales and customer service. CEO Marc Benioff envisions AI agents leading to a vast, unlimited digital workforce, with plans to deploy a billion AI agents next year. The company foresees increased revenue, largely driven by its AI offerings, and is expanding its sales team to meet the growing demand.

DEEPMIND'S GENCAST AI IS REALLY GOOD AT FORECASTING THE WEATHER

DeepMind's GenCast AI outperforms existing weather forecasting systems, like ECMWF's, with significant improvements in accuracy and efficiency. The diffusion model, trained on 40 years of data, uses probabilistic predictions and requires less computing power than traditional methods. It has some limitations in predicting hurricane intensity. GenCast is open-source and will integrate with Google Earth.

AI HELPS RESEARCHERS DIG THROUGH OLD MAPS TO FIND LOST OIL AND GAS WELLS

Researchers at Berkeley Lab use AI to identify undocumented oil and gas wells by analyzing historical USGS maps. Their AI tool has identified over 1,300 potential undocumented wells across California and Oklahoma. This AI-driven mapping is part of a broader initiative to mitigate methane emissions and hazards from orphaned wells.

MAGEBENCH LEADERBOARD

MageBench has introduced a new benchmark to evaluate multimodal agents' reasoning and planning abilities in scenarios where visual signals are continuously updated.

PLAYSTATION BOSS: AI WILL NEVER REPLACE 'HUMAN TOUCH'

PlayStation's CEO, Hermen Hulst, says that while AI can revolutionize gaming by automating mundane tasks, it will not replace the human touch in game creation.

AI PIN MAKER HUMANE DEMOS AI SOFTWARE FOR CARS, PHONES, AND SMART SPEAKERS

Humane revealed CosmOS, an AI operating system that enhances tech devices with agent-like capabilities.

BROOKLYN DA SHUTTERS 40 NFT SCAM SITES AFTER ARTIST LOSES $135K

The Brooklyn District Attorney's office dismantled 40 fake NFT marketplace websites after an 85-year-old artist was scammed out of $135,000 by fraudsters posing as art dealers using a fake OpenSea-style platform. The investigation revealed a broader network of scams targeting artists, with funds traced to Nigerian accounts, and highlighted the importance of vigilance and using reputable platforms.

CRYPTO ETPS HIT RECORD $3.85B INFLOWS AS BITCOIN SMASHES $100K

Crypto investment products hit a record $3.85B in weekly inflows as Bitcoin passed $100K for the first time, with Bitcoin and Ethereum leading the surge at $2.5B and $1.2B in inflows, respectively. The milestone highlights growing institutional interest, driven by the historic launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs and renewed confidence in the crypto market.

EL SALVADOR PLANS TO EASE BITCOIN ACCEPTANCE REQUIREMENT TO UNLOCK $3 BILLION IN LOANS

El Salvador plans to make Bitcoin acceptance voluntary for businesses to secure ~$3.3B in loans from the IMF, World Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank. This policy shift aims to address IMF concerns over financial stability while enabling the country to close a $1.3 billion IMF loan, which will unlock more funding.

INTRODUCING MOONWELL CARD: PAY WITH CRYPTO

The Moonwell Card is a debit card that integrates on-chain assets with real-world spending, allowing users to spend crypto like cash through features such as automated top-ups, borrowing against collateral, and Apple/Google Pay compatibility. With no annual fees, customizable security controls, and options like Auto Load, the card empowers users to maintain on-chain investments while enjoying a convenient, flexible, and secure payment experience in everyday life.

MOVEMENT LABS LAUNCHES $MOVE TOKEN

The Movement Network has launched its $MOVE token, marking a pivotal moment in its ecosystem. Participants can now claim $MOVE via Ethereum or wait for the Movement Network Mainnet to potentially receive a 1.25x multiplier. Trading is available on centralized and decentralized exchanges.

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF AI AGENT FRAMEWORKS: AIXBT, ELIZA, AND VIRTUALS

This article compares three leading AI agent frameworks - AIXBT, ai16z's Eliza, and Virtuals Protocol - and analyzes their unique strengths and limitations in terms of design, flexibility, and cost efficiency. AIXBT's custom system excels in trading, ai16z's open-source Eliza attracts developers, and Virtuals Protocol leads commercially with its profitable token model and cost-sharing approach. Virtuals Protocol's new G.A.M.E. Sandbox enhances flexibility, positioning it for broader adoption, while Eliza remains poised to become the go-to open-source solution for agent development.

MOST UNIQUE AND UNDERVALUED YIELD PROTOCOLS

Though many DeFi protocols have dozens of competitors, a few stand out as the clear market leaders or unchallenged as incumbents. Pendle Finance, which allows fixed rate yields or points-based yields on tokens, has been growing at an incredible rate, driven by the point farming meta. Fluid is an innovative DEX with high capital efficiency and LP APRs. Lombard is liquid-staked Bitcoin from Babylon, the EigenLayer of Bitcoin, and has an ongoing points program. EtherFi stands out as the leader in the LRT space with numerous indices and yield generation products.

STABLECOIN PAYMENTS: WHO ACTUALLY WINS?

The stablecoin payments ecosystem is segmented into seven distinct categories, with settlement rails and stablecoin issuers best poised to capture value through network effects and infrastructure development. While established issuers benefit from high interest rates, they must evolve to focus on infrastructure, compliance, and liquidity to maintain their competitive advantage. Value transfer/money service providers with proprietary infrastructure and direct banking relationships will likely form regional oligopolies, while API aggregators and consumer-focused stablecoin apps face increasing pressure from established fintech players and the commoditization of their services.

69+ PROJECTS TO BUILD FOR THE RISE OF AI AGENTS

RIOT PLATFORMS RAISING $500M TO BUY BITCOIN AMID PRICE SURGE

Riot Platforms plans to raise $500M through a private bond offering to purchase additional Bitcoin, joining other major players in acquiring BTC at near all-time high prices.

MICROSTRATEGY ACQUIRES ANOTHER 21,550 BITCOIN FOR ROUGHLY $2.1 BILLION

MicroStrategy purchased 21.55K bitcoin for $2.1B between December 2 and December 8 at an average price of $98,783 per coin, bringing its total holdings to 423.65K BTC acquired for ~$25.6 billion.

THE TIME WILL COME WHEN EVERY BUSINESS USES CRYPTO

Just as internet businesses have become mainstream, crypto will evolve to be a crucial part of every business, marking the start of a new era where not using crypto will be a competitive disadvantage.

WHY VCS INVEST IN WEB3 PROJECTS

VCs often invest in Web3 token projects not for profitability or product-market fit, but to capitalize on hype and marketability, knowing retail investors will buy tokens at higher valuations during token generation events (TGE).

QUICKLY GENERATE OR MODIFY ANY TEXT CONTENT WITH WEBFLOW'S AI ASSISTANT

Webflow's AI Assistant allows designers to generate and modify text directly on the canvas. Users can populate CMS fields, enhance the static text, and choose from AI-generated variations tailored to the site context. For paid plans, these tools streamline first-pass content creation for blogs and CMS pages.

INCREDIBLE WEATHER VISUALISATION IN UNREAL ENGINE 5 CAN SHOW REAL-TIME CONDITIONS IN ANY CITY

A technical artist created a real-time weather visualization system in Unreal Engine 5 using OpenWeather, World Time API, and Cesium. Users input a city, and the system displays dynamic 3D visuals reflecting real weather and time conditions. This post shares tools and techniques for recreating this innovative application of Unreal Engine technology.

WHY OPENAI IS ONLY LETTING SOME SORA USERS CREATE VIDEOS OF REAL PEOPLE

OpenAI released its video-generating tool, Sora, with a cautious approach. It limited access to a feature that uses real images or footage to create videos pending safety-focused evaluations. The company is balancing innovation with the risk of misuse due to concerns surrounding deepfakes and the potential for misinformation. OpenAI's safety measures include moderation filters, metadata compliance with the C2PA standard, and prompt rewriting to prevent infringement on living artists' styles.

AGILE IS NOT THE ENEMY

Agile software development emphasizes collaboration, adaptability, and customer feedback, making it a powerful tool for fostering teamwork between design, product, and engineering. However, poor practices like overemphasizing processes or rigid plans can undermine its benefits, highlighting the need for thoughtful implementation.

PENTAGRAM LEADS THE NEW ERA OF CRAFT

Pentagram's integration of generative AI into web design demonstrates how AI can complement human creativity to interpret and refine ideas rather than replace designers. While concerns about ethics and job security persist, embracing AI with curiosity can expand the boundaries of design and innovation.

THE SORRY STATE OF STATES

This article highlights inconsistencies between design and code, particularly in how Figma handles component states like hover, active, and disabled. Aligning Figma assets with code APIs and properly modeling prop interactions can improve efficiency and collaboration between designers and developers.

SCREEN STUDIO

Create engaging product demos, courses, tutorials, and social media videos.

DESIGN SYSTEM DIARIES

A weekly exploration of interesting challenges (and solutions) from designers of the biggest design systems in the world.

TAILWIND COLORS

All the Tailwind CSS colors in a handy cheatsheet with HEX, HSL, and RGB values.

DESIGN LITERACY

Design is more than creating outputs - it's a mindset of curiosity, resourcefulness, and inventiveness that adapts across mediums. As AI reshapes creation, designers must craft intuitive tools and cultivate expertise through experimentation, conviction, and a deep understanding of connections and principles.

YOU'RE NOT CREATING ENOUGH PROTOTYPES

Design systems streamline prototype creation, saving time, ensuring consistency, and enhancing collaboration. Examples include BaseKit's UI library, Simpleweb's component breakdown, and Nord's repository. These systems reduce decision-making, simplify iterations, and provide educational value through reusable components, documentation, and examples.

MY YEAR-END GUIDE TO AI, CREATIVITY, AND SOCIETY

TAME IMPALA'S KEVIN PARKER HELPED CREATE AN ‘IDEAS SYNTH' THAT WORKS LIKE PINTEREST FOR MUSICIANS

Kevin Parker's Orchid is a portable, tactile, and MIDI-compatible retro-futuristic chord machine that blends design and functionality, enabling musicians to experiment with real-time chord manipulation and effects creatively.

GAME ON! A LOOK INTO THE RISE OF DESIGN-LED BOARD GAMES

Tabletop gaming merges design and playability, as seen in games like Wavelength and Tokyo Highway, which balance aesthetics with functionality.

THREE DESIGN PROCESSES FOR HIGH USABILITY: ITERATIVE DESIGN, PARALLEL DESIGN, AND COMPETITIVE TESTING

Exploring multiple approaches, such as iterative refinement, parallel prototyping, and competitive testing, enhances usability by fostering diverse solutions and continuous improvement for robust user interfaces.