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AI SYSTEM THAT CREATES DETAILED, CITED REPORTS WITH RETRIEVAL

Stanford has released a neat research system called Storm that uses retrieval guided language models to create reports for specific topics.

ROAD LINE SEGMENTATION FOR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING

Accurately segmenting road lines and markings is crucial for autonomous driving but challenging due to occlusions caused by vehicles, shadows, and glare. The Homography Guided Fusion (HomoFusion) module uses video frames to identify and classify obscured road lines by leveraging a novel surface normal estimator and a pixel-to-pixel attention mechanism.

ENHANCED VISION-LANGUAGE MODEL

Vision Language Models (vLLMs) often struggle with processing multiple queries per image and identifying when objects are absent. This study introduces a new query format to tackle these issues, and incorporates semantic segmentation into the training process.

ACCELERATING AI: HARNESSING INTEL(R) GAUDI(R) 3 WITH RAY 2.10

Anyscale's latest release of Ray, Ray 2.10, adds support for Intel Gaudi 3. Developers can now spin up and manage their own Ray Clusters, provisioning Ray Core Task and Actors on a Gaudi fleet directly through Ray Core APIs, tap into Ray Serve on Gaudi through Ray Serve APIs for a higher level experience, and configure Intel Gaudi accelerator infrastructure for use at the Ray Train layer.

QWEN CODER

Code Qwen 1.5 is a new set of 7B models trained on 3T tokens of code related data. It performs well on HumanEval, with a non-zero score on SWE-bench. The chat variant specifically shows promise for long context retrieval tasks up to 64k tokens.

1-BIT QUANTIZATION

Extreme low-bit quantization for small pre-trained models, like Llama2-7B, is challenging, but fine-tuning just 0.65% of parameters significantly improves performance. Newly fine-tuned 1-bit models outperform 2-bit Quip# models, while 2-bit models with specialized data can exceed full-precision counterparts. This research suggests that proper fine-tuning and quantization may enhance efficiency without compromising model quality, potentially shifting focus from training smaller models to optimizing larger, quantized ones.

INTRODUCING ALOHA UNLEASHED (2 MINUTE VIDEO)

Google DeepMind's ALOHA Unleashed is a program that pushes the boundaries of dexterity with low-cost robots and AI.

FOUR STEPS FOR FOUNDERS INTEGRATING AI

The pressure is immense right now to have a plan to factor AI into existing products. This short step-by-step guide will help you take the first step.

LIMITLESS (PRODUCT)

Personalized AI app and wearable powered by what you've seen, said, and heard.

BITCOIN PRICE SLIPS BELOW 62K

Bitcoin's price has dropped below $62,000. Analysts attribute the decrease to geopolitical tensions, a strengthening dollar, and volatility ahead of the upcoming halving. The wider crypto market has similarly fallen, with large cap cryptocurrencies experiencing double-digit losses and liquidations occurring across the market.

13F FILINGS REVEAL INSTITUTIONAL BITCOIN ETF HOLDERS

A list of Bitcoin ETF holders has been released thanks to quarterly reporting requirements. The largest holder of IBIT, BlackRock's ETF, and Fidelity's FBTC is Brookstone Capital Management. There were no surprising or well-known holders. More filings are expected to be released over the coming month.

A QUICK OVERVIEW OF OMNI - ETHEREUM'S INTEGRATED ROLLUP LAYER

This thread provides a concise analysis of Omni Network, a cross-rollup bridge launching on Binance Launchpool. Omni aims to become the dominant bridge by leveraging restaked ETH for security, offering fast finality, and providing developers with cross-chain tooling. Omni's success hinges on convincing users that Ethereum alignment matters for bridges and supporting developers in making Omni their primary deployment and liquidity focus.

RETH ALPHANET GETS OPEN SOURCED

Reth AlphaNet, an OP Stack-compatible testnet rollup, has been open-sourced to maximize Reth performance and enable experimentation with cutting-edge Ethereum research. AlphaNet aims to break the gigagas barrier and tackle the state growth problem while implementing three new Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) not yet available on other networks. Built using the modular Reth SDK, AlphaNet allows for extreme customization without forking the node, enabling developers to experiment with custom RPCs, EVMs, and block builders.

2024 PLAYBOOK FOR MEMES

This post discusses the evolution of memecoins, from early beginnings on Bitcointalk to their growing presence on Twitter in 2024, highlighting their role in each cycle of the crypto ecosystem. It also touches on the psychology behind memecoin trading (a blend of minimal research and luck, among other items). Many memecoin collections are highly concentrated within the top 10 holders.

ZKSUMMIT 2024 FIELD NOTES

a16z research partner Joseph Bonneau documented his experience at the 11th zkSummit in Athens. ZK hardware has been accelerating support for faster proof generation, which, when paired with a zkVM, could achieve a 1000x overhead over primitive computation and potentially become part of Ethereum's final version. Decentralized prover networks promise to create more competitive and distributed markets for generating proofs for L2s and other applications. Instead of re-creating identification systems, protocols like ZK Email and zkPassport are building upon existing systems for greater anonymity and applicability.

TETHER AND CIRCLE FOLLOW DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO REGULATION

Circle and Tether are adopting different approaches toward driving global stablecoin adoption. While Circle seeks clearer regulations and coordination among nations, particularly urging U.S. lawmakers to take action, Tether is focusing on developing countries and regions with less stringent regulations.

TON-BASED ECONOMY STARTING TO TAKE ROOT IN TELEGRAM, TON FOUNDATION SAYS

TON, one of the best-performing tokens of the past month, is being used to share 50% of advertiser revenue with Telegram channel owners. The TON Foundation's Open League program will distribute nearly $200 million to community members to incentivize the network's growth. TON aims to become the home of blockchain-based consumer products, bringing millions of Telegram users onchain.

BITGO CEO DISCUSSES THE HALVING AND ETFS

In an interview with Blockworks, BitGo CEO Mike Belshe discusses the impact of the recently launched spot bitcoin ETFs on institutional and retail demand, as well as the potential differences in this halving compared to previous ones due to the evolving market landscape.

SCROLL L2 ADDING EIP-4844 SUPPORT

Scroll's upcoming Bernoulli upgrade, scheduled for April 29th, will reduce transaction costs 10x by introducing support for EIP-4844 and blobs.

EIGENLAYER UNPAUSED LIQUID STAKING TOKEN CAPS

EigenLayer has unpaused LST deposit caps, meaning users can once again deposit tokens like Lido's stETH.

BITCOIN'S 4TH HALVING

Bitcoin's fourth halving will reduce block rewards from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC, putting pressure on miner profitability.

GOOGLE DRIVE WEBSITE GETTING A DARK THEME

Google Drive has introduced a dark theme, a highly requested feature that aims to provide a more comfortable viewing experience. The dark theme is now officially rolling out to all Google Workspace customers and personal account users. The rollout is progressive and yet to be widespread, with the dark theme only affecting the file view, while Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and other app content remain unchanged.

JONY IVE AI DEVICE COULD GET $1B FUNDING FROM LAURENE POWELL JOBS

Former Apple chief designer Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are collaborating on an AI hardware project. They are now seeking $1 billion in funding and discussing investments with Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective. Ive's iconic designs for Apple and Altman's generative AI expertise make them a powerful duo. Still, it's being determined what their AI device will entail and whether it will directly compete with Apple's products.

THE RIGHT CODE FOR YOUR DESIGN SYSTEM

Code Connect is a new Figma tool introduced to enhance the use of design systems by making code snippets more accessible to developers, facilitating better collaboration and consistent use across organizations. The beta release for Figma Organization and Enterprise plans promises a more unified workflow. Figma aims for general availability later in the year, further reducing silos and improving design-code integration.

YOUR APP IS NOT A PRODUCT

Describing software as a "product" can set unrealistic expectations due to its ongoing development and lead to irresponsible coding practices. Using terms like "service" or "improvement" may better represent the iterative nature of software development and foster improved understanding among stakeholders.

DON'T LET A LINEAR DESIGN PROCESS SNUFF OUT YOUR SPARKS OF INSPIRATION

Early in their careers, many designers follow a linear process like the double diamond model. However, experience teaches that such structures don't bind creativity - ideas can originate from any stage. Embracing flexibility and prioritizing critical criteria regardless of process stage fosters creativity and prevents the stifling effects of rigid methodologies.

100 FIGMA DESIGN TIPS (FIGMA FILE)

These small and big Figma design tips will help to make your Figma design workflow smart, fast, and super productive.

COLLECT 1000+ USER INTERVIEWS WITHIN 10 MINUTES

Heardeer helps you handle user interviews by letting you set objectives and conducting voice-AI user interviews.

GETS YOUR DESIGN 80% OF THE WAY WITH A SIMPLE PROMPT

Musho is an AI creative assistant in Figma that turns prompts into gorgeous and developer-friendly designs that can be edited.

PEOPLE LOVE THEIR PHONES TOO MUCH TO USE HUMANE'S FLAWED AI PIN

The Humane AI Pin, designed to replace smartphones with AI-powered features, has faced criticism for its poor hardware performance, limited functionality, and impracticality in public settings. Priced at $699 with additional monthly fees, critics question its value proposition compared to smartphones, especially considering advancements in competitors' voice assistants.

GOOGLE DESIGNERS DETAIL THE ONGOING EFFORT TO REVAMP FITBIT APP

Since Google acquired Fitbit in 2021, the app has been updated to comply with Material You design guidelines. Fitbit's UX team talks about how it adapted its app for Google platforms and the thought process behind the two-year transition, which is still ongoing.

"I'M NOT TALENTED..."

Like any skill, drawing requires study, practice, and time to master. However, most people ignore that, claiming they don't have the talent. Whether you're new to drawing or have always wanted to do it, this post provides practical advice on how to get started and improve.

THIS IS A TEENAGER

This is a beautiful visual story about hundreds of teenagers and how their lives will develop in the next 24 years, based on the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth.

NIKE DESIGNED THESE WILD AIR SNEAKERS WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM AI

Nike used generative AI tools and 3D rendering software to create wild concepts for Air models inspired by the tastes of its Olympic athletes.

DARK AND MYSTERIOUS PAINTINGS DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE MELTING MASTERPIECES

Italian artist Dolaana Davaá creates Old Master-inspired paintings that appear to be melting, handcrafting the frames with the same impressive melting effect.

ANDREESSEN HOROWITZ CLOSES $7.2 BILLION FOR NEW FUNDS

Andreessen Horowitz, a prominent venture capital firm, has successfully raised $7.2 billion for its latest set of funds, surpassing its initial target of $6.9 billion. The firm has created dedicated venture funds, each with its own team of experts and capabilities, specifically focused on certain segments such as American Dynamism, Apps, Games, Infrastructure, and Growth.

WHY STARTUPS FAIL AND WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM IT

Startups fail due to various reasons, but the top three factors are a weak business model, inadequate business development, and running out of cash. To overcome these challenges, startups should remain agile and adapt promptly to market feedback. This requires strategic pivoting when necessary, prioritizing market validation to ensure product-market fit, adopting a customer-focused development approach, and managing finances effectively to sustain growth.

DISTRIBUTION IS KING

Long-term enterprise value for companies is primarily driven by having a differentiated way of distributing great products to customers, rather than just creating innovative content. This article illustrates this point using examples from the video game industry, showing how companies that innovated in distribution, such as Activision, Electronic Arts, and Valve's Steam platform, were able to capture significant market share and profits despite competition.

CALCULATING CAC PAYBACK PERIOD, THE RIGHT WAY

This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to calculate Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) payback period, which is the number of months it takes for a company to break even on the cost of acquiring a new customer. It covers the key components needed for the calculation, provides a template and benchmarks for what a "good" payback period looks like based on company size and industry, and discusses potential red flags to watch out for when analyzing this metric.

HOW TO LAND A PRICING CHANGE

Price changes can be a daunting task for any business, but with the right approach, you can soften the blow for existing customers and even win their support. This article presents two case studies from Patreon, one showcasing a poorly executed pricing change and another demonstrating a successful one. The key lessons learned include creating more value than you capture, over-communicating with customers, providing legacy pricing options, and offering downgrade alternatives.

WHY YOUR VALUE PROP SUCKS

Traditional approaches to creating value propositions often lead to offers that sound interesting but fail to compel action from prospects. Instead of focusing on the product's features and benefits, businesses should base their value proposition on what the customer is ultimately trying to achieve, even if the product didn't exist, resulting in smoother sales conversations, intuitive product direction, and differentiation from competitors.

↗️ Read the full article on the Orca Blog

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ARR (BOOK)

A comprehensive book on how to set up industry-best ARR reporting, co-written by the founders of Equals, Bobby Pinero and Chris Burgner.

DRAFTBOARD

Refer your network to jobs and get paid - it's that simple.

DECO.CX

Build web apps 10x faster with Deno, JSX, TS, and Tailwind.

THE END OF THE BACK OFFICE

These authors discuss the evolution of administrative work from paper-based to digital processes, highlighting the role of PDFs in digitizing documents and the subsequent shift toward managing complex digital information systems. They emphasize the transformative impact of large language models in automating workflows involving unstructured data, thereby promising to alleviate the "bit-pushing" drudgery by extracting, classifying, and automating processes in industries heavily reliant on such data.

THE ILLUSION OF PRODUCTIVITY: OUR ADDICTION TO BUSYNESS

Humans have a unique need to keep busy, often falling prey to the illusion of productivity, but is this constant busyness actually good for us? Research shows that humans tend to choose busyness over idleness, even if the task is meaningless. This addiction to busyness can be a numbing strategy to avoid facing the truth of our lives.

LIVE OR DIE BY PRODUCT-MARKET FIT

This article discusses the importance of product-market fit (PMF) for software companies, emphasizing that weak or lost PMF can lead to financial troubles and ultimately cause a company to go out of business. It highlights several financial indicators of weak PMF, such as high churn, difficulty in expansion, inefficient sales and marketing, and slowing revenue growth, while also cautioning that false confidence in PMF, often stemming from large fundraising rounds, can lead to unrealistic expectations and a lack of focus on maintaining PMF.