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MOBILENET-V4

MobileNet is a computer vision model with extreme performance and speed. It can run on edge devices. This blog post outlines the new model and some modern changes that went into its creation.

MULTI-DIMENSIONAL FEATURES IN LANGUAGE MODELS

This project investigates whether language models use multi-dimensional features for computation, challenging the linear representation hypothesis.

AI'S COMMUNICATION REVOLUTION: WE'RE ALL TALKING TO COMPUTERS NOW

GPT-4o, OpenAI's latest AI model, bridges real-time communication between humans and machines, extending capabilities beyond text to include vision and audio. The AI revolution introduces a new wave of human-to-AI and eventual AI-to-AI interactions, likely impacting the dynamics of our social behaviors and business models. As this technology progresses, its effect on human communication will unfold, potentially catalyzing the creation of innovative companies and software solutions.

MIXTRAL 8X22B ON A $400 CPU FASTER THAN READING SPEED (GITHUB DISCUSSION)

Thanks to recent advances from Mozilla's Llamafile project, it is now possible to run inference for the flagship model from Mistral at 20 tokens per second on a commodity CPU.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEND MY ONE WILD AND PRECIOUS LIFE DEALING WITH GOOGLE'S AI SEARCH

Google's AI search feature is causing frustration by adding an uninvited three-second delay to search results, disrupting the user experience with unwanted information.

LLMS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR (ADVANCED) BRAINSTORMING

Large language models struggle with truly innovative brainstorming, often converging to consensus-based ideas rather than generating novel concepts.

THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF FIT21'S CRYPTO MARKET STRUCTURE BILL

Though FIT21 is a momentous step forward for legitimizing the crypto industry, issues with its current form must be addressed in Senate negotiations. The bill's bifurcation of cryptocurrencies into “restricted digital assets” and “digital commodities” ignores tokens' global and fungible nature, leading to fragmentation and regulatory arbitrage. Lawmakers should refine the bill to unify spot markets for tokens that are not otherwise securities.

TRUMP - "I WILL SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO SELF CUSTODY TO THE NATION'S 50 MILLION CRYPTO HOLDERS"

Donald Trump has declared his commitment to the future of cryptocurrency in the USA, emphasizing support for the rights of the nation's 50 million crypto holders to self-custody their assets and opposing the creation of a central bank digital currency.

FANTOM FOUNDATION CREATES SONIC FOUNDATION LABS

Fantom has announced it will create the Sonic Foundation and Sonic Labs to support "Sonic", a new blockchain that will connect to the Ethereum ecosystem via a layer-2 bridge. The Fantom Foundation has successfully raised $10 million to bolster Sonic's ecosystem growth. It expects Fantom users to completely migrate from the Fantom chain to the Sonic chain (due to higher security and speed).

ETHERFI UNVEILS PLANS FOR CREDIT CARD TIED TO RESTAKING HOLDINGS

Leading restaking protocol EtherFi has announced EtherFi Cash, a new credit card associated with an onchain account. Users can pay using USDC holdings or borrowing USDC against their EtherFi portfolio. Any interest accrued can be paid off using eETH staking rewards. Card pre-orders will be available in July and shipped in September.

ETHEREUM'S NEXT UPGRADE: PECTRA

Ethereum's next hard fork, Pectra, consists of updates to the Prague execution layer and Electra consensus layer. It will be released in Q1 2025 and feature PeerDAS data availability sampling to improve rollup scaling and upgrades to the EVM Object Format (EOF) to support a better UX. It should help to alleviate pressure on the networking layer and support increased blob demand.

USE CASES FOR ZK

Thus far, ZK is used for efficient signature verification, storage proofs, proving transactions, and bridging – all parts of the modern modular stack. Going forward, ZK could solve open problems around avoiding redundant compute and preserving privacy.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST FIT21

The Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21) fails to adequately protect DeFi developers and DAOs from the CFTC's expansive authority, despite appearing to offer exemptions for "decentralized governance systems." The act contains numerous contradictions and ambiguities, particularly around its definitions and the registration requirements for commodity pool operators and decentralized systems, leading to concerns that it will not resolve the ongoing regulatory uncertainty in the crypto sector.

USING TORI FOR HIGH APYS

Aave's high APY of over 17% for lending USDC is driven by strong demand to borrow USDC. Using Aave requires depositing collateral (like ETH), borrowing against it, and paying interest, which is distributed to lenders. Aave is managed by blockchain smart contracts for transparency and reduced risk.

DEVELOP A TOKEN WITH LONG-TERM HOLDING VALUE

Traction is crucial for startups to succeed and retain investor interest. Founders who strictly focus on initial liquidity without building longer-term value will see their token's price plummet because market dynamics will favor established leaders. Efficient markets quickly reprice assets based on real value, and crypto regulatory pressures will require exchanges to push for more rigorous metrics before listing tokens. This paradigm shift emphasizes the importance of genuine user engagement and practical utility in the crypto sector.

MEMECOIN NORMIE GETS EXPLOITED, MARKET CAP FALLS BY $40M INSTANTLY

NORMIE went from $41m to $35k market cap in minutes last night.

CRYPTO PLAYING LARGER FACTOR IN U.S. POLITICS

Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin described recent SEC approvals of spot Ethereum ETFs and bipartisan support for a crypto regulation bill as big shifts in U.S. crypto policy, largely influenced by political dynamics.

INDIAN MAN STOLE $37 MILLION IN CRYPTO USING FAKE COINBASE PRO SITE

An Indian man, Chirag Tomar, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for stealing over $37 million in cryptocurrency through a phishing scam using a fake Coinbase website.

ETH ETF APPROVAL SUMMARY

With the 19B-4 forms approved for 8 issuers, it could be weeks to months until the S-1s are approved and the ETFs start trading.

VITALIK PROPOSES FIRST TAIKO MAINNET BLOCK

Vitalik Buterin proposed the first block in preparation of Taiko's mainnet and expressed his excitement around Ethereum L2s taking different rollup approaches.

TRUMP PLEDGES TO FREE SILK ROAD CREATOR ROSS ULBRICHT IF RE-ELECTED

At the Libertarian National Convention, presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would commute the sentence of Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht if elected.

ADOBE COMPETITOR CANVA GETS MAJOR MAKEOVER, TARGETS ENTERPRISE USERS

Canva, a popular online editing application, has launched an Enterprise tier for large corporations that features scalable cloud storage, advanced brand controls, and enterprise-level security. It also introduced a redesigned user interface, new Work Kits for different organizational departments, upgraded AI tools in Magic Studio, and new features like variable font support and a stroke width tool.

CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF MATERIAL DESIGN

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, Material Design is marking a decade of transforming user interfaces with its bold, minimalist aesthetic and real-world physics. This retrospective explores Material's impact and evolution and the principles that have made it a cornerstone of modern digital design.

SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH 7 ‘ULTRA' LEAKS SHOW A SUPERSIZED SQUIRCLE FOR YOUR WRIST

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra, which resembles the Apple Watch Ultra with its new square-shaped case and additional button, has leaked through renders by OnLeaks and Smartprix. Rumored features include a third button similar to Apple's Action Button, a new health sensor array, larger speaker grilles, and potentially more microphones for improved speakerphone clarity.

DECISION TREES FOR UI COMPONENTS

Decision trees are becoming invaluable for UI design. They offer a clear, structured approach to selecting the right components. This post dives into how companies like Doctolib, Workday, and Lyft use decision trees to streamline design decisions, enhance consistency, and improve collaboration.

BEST PRACTICES FOR NAMING DESIGN TOKENS, COMPONENTS, AND VARIABLES

Naming in design and development should be logical, short, meaningful, and not tied to visual properties. Resources like the Design Tokens Naming Playbook and tools like Intuit's flexible design token taxonomy, Adobe's Spectrum Design System for color naming, Component Gallery, and the Design Token Names Inventory help improve and standardize naming practices across different products.

DID WE FAIL TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF DESIGNERS?

UX design welcomed diverse backgrounds from 2000 to 2010. The 2010-2020 period saw high demand and the rise of boot camps, while 2020-2023 emphasized specialization and portfolios. Since 2023, many designers have left the field, but UX design potential remains vast. There's a need to support designers, emphasize seniority, and integrate essential skills into university curricula.

VECTOR PATTERN GENERATOR

Visiwig Pattern Generator is a web-based tool for customizing vector patterns. The outputs can be downloaded as SVG files or copied as code.

TAILWIND 2024 PRIMITIVES V1.2 (FIGMA RESOURCE)

This Figma file offers Tailwind CSS primitives for colors, dimensions, and typography and tailored JSON files and resources for effective collaboration with engineers.

A TYPEFACE WITHOUT LETTERS

Teranoptia, a whimsical typeface without letters inspired by medieval art, allows users to create imaginative chimeric creatures and decorative borders by simply typing. It's free to use, distribute, and modify.

DESIGN SYSTEMS VS. STYLE GUIDES

Design systems and style guides differ - design systems offer a comprehensive set of standards for scalable design, while style guides provide specific design principles and visual references. Design systems, which include reusable components and patterns, require ongoing maintenance and serve as a "parent" to style guides and pattern libraries, ensuring consistency and reducing redundancy in large organizations.

GOOGLE'S MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW VISION TO FIND OBJECTS USING THEIR PHONE

Google unveiled exciting upgrades to its accessibility tools in celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, including AI-powered enhancements to Android's Lookout for better object identification and a new text-free mode for the Look to Speak app. Project Gameface now lets users control a cursor with facial gestures on Android, while Google Maps and sound notifications received notable improvements for greater inclusivity.

FIVE THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUILDING A PROMPT LIBRARY

Building an effective prompt library involves selecting the right AI tools, defining what "good" means to you, aligning language with your brand's principles, and testing prompt components to ensure consistency. Defining specific keywords, testing for biases, and keeping libraries updated are essential. This approach helps create high-quality, reusable prompts that support cohesive and accurate AI-generated content.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CARD DESIGN FOR UI

Using card design, you can present diverse forms of content in an organized, digestible format, providing a great user experience and making your interface intuitive, responsive, and easy to use.

HOW CANVA ACTIVATES USERS

This exploration of Canva's user activation process showcases the company's intuitive onboarding procedure, demonstrating how it quickly engages users and teaches them what matters most when getting started with the app.

AI GLASSES + MULTIMODAL AI = A MASSIVE NEW INDUSTRY

OpenAI and Google recently showcased the future of multimodal AI and AI-powered chatbots with smart glasses that combine video, audio, and text inputs for real-time interactions, signaling a new paradigm shift in AI wearables.

SEED IS BROKEN AND HERE'S HOW TO FIX IT

The term "Seed" in startup funding has become ambiguous, encompassing a wide range of funding amounts and company stages, making it harder for young startups to meet higher expectations and advance to Series A. To provide clarity, categorize Seed funding into two distinct stages: "Seed Inception" for initial funding and early product development, and "Seed Expansion" for startups with traction focusing on iteration and go-to-market testing.

HEALTH AND BIOTECH STARTUPS RECEIVED MAJORITY SERIES A FUNDING

Biotech and healthcare startups are dominating U.S. Series A funding in 2024, accounting for 53% of total commitments despite representing less than a third of deals. These sectors are attracting the largest Series A rounds, with six out of the top ten financings going to biotechs, including supergiant rounds for Xaira Therapeutics and Mirador Therapeutics. As biotech and healthcare capture a growing share of Series A investment, there are concerns about the availability of funding for startups in other sectors, particularly those that raised seed funding during the recent record-breaking period.

QUICK CHECK ON THE CAUTIOUS CONSUMER

Consumer spending has been relatively flat or slightly declining in recent months, with lower-income consumers particularly slowing their spending. E-commerce continues to drive growth, while discretionary spending on travel, entertainment, and dining out is sliding. The current consumer behavior could be a return to normal, but it remains uncertain how long this cautious spending trend will persist.

HOW TO FIND MORE CUSTOMERS ON LINKEDIN

Setting up Google Alerts for relevant industry news and milestones can help identify potential customers who are in a growth phase. Crafting a simple, non-aggressive, and intriguing cold DM template that focuses on the prospect's achievements and your relevant experience can be an effective way to start a conversation. Scheduling a weekly outreach session to send these DMs can lead to a significant pipeline of potential clients with minimal effort.

PLAYING TO WIN VERSUS PLAYING TO MAKE PLAN

This article discusses two different strategic approaches in the Silicon Valley software industry: "playing to win" and "playing to make plan". The former focuses on dominating a market and delivering significant returns to investors, while the latter aims to achieve steady growth and profitability targets. Companies should identify which approach they are taking and align their strategies, hiring practices, and operations accordingly to maximize their chances of success.

TERMS TO WATCH IN AN LOI

An acquirer interested in purchasing your business should provide a detailed offer that covers key aspects such as the purchase price, financing sources, management retention, and due diligence requirements. The offer should also address indemnification, transaction timing, and necessary approvals to ensure a smooth and efficient acquisition process. Failing to clearly understand and agree upon these core components upfront can lead to costly legal battles and jeopardize the successful completion of the deal.

2D TO 3D IMAGE

Quickly convert 2D images into 3D for a whole new visual experience and endless possibilities.

FOUNDER DOCS (GUIDE)

Curated collections focused on some of the most critical inflection points in a start-up's trajectory.

CHATGPT PROMPTS FOR SDRS (TEMPLATE)

3 ChatGPT prompts to gain a general understanding of your ideal customer profile and how to reach out to them.

WHY ARE MOMMY AND DADDY FIGHTING ABOUT AI?

People often seek individuality and non-conformity, but their beliefs and behaviors are heavily influenced by social norms and incentives. In the world of venture capital, investors' philosophical stances and worldviews are often shaped by their financial interests in the companies they invest in. The ongoing debate about open-source versus closed-source AI development highlights how VCs' arguments are influenced by their investments and the potential outcomes that would benefit them most.

SUMMONING CREATIVITY

Creativity is a skill that can be nurtured and developed by anyone regardless of natural talent. One can create an environment conducive to summoning creativity by cleansing the mind, seeking inspiring company, and establishing a sacred space. Engaging in activities such as keeping a notebook, watching creative media, free-writing, traveling, and reading can help spark creativity and generate new ideas.

HOW AI WILL CREATE MORE SUCCESSFUL FOUNDERS (8 MINUTE VIDEO)

Emerging technologies present significant opportunities for early adopters and entrepreneurs to capitalize on new markets and solve previously unsolvable problems. Those who stay informed, actively engage with the latest advancements, and collaborate with others in the field are best positioned to identify and seize these opportunities. Artificial intelligence is currently at a pivotal point, offering immense potential for those willing to explore its applications and push the boundaries of what's possible.

THE DANGERS OF RELYING ON ACQUISITION FOR GROWTH