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EXPLORING VIDEO UNDERSTANDING WITH LLMA

This repository contains a collection of useful resources focused on video understanding using large language models.

MIST TEXT TO SPEECH

Rime has launched a new text-to-speech model with powerful conversational abilities. Unlike previous models, this one can include “ums” and realistic pauses.

THE PARADOX OF DIFFUSION DISTILLATION

Diffusion models break down hard problems, like image generation, into many smaller problems, like removing a tiny amount of noise from an image. A lot of effort has been put into single step diffusion generation, which seems to defeat the point. This post explores the paradox of diffusion distillation and outlines the many research directions available.

ADD YOUR OWN OLLAMA MODELS

Instructions on how to add your own models to the Ollama repository for use.

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2X SPEED UP HF INFERENCE WITH STATIC KV CACHE (GITHUB GIST)

Speeding up inference can open up use cases. This code suggests a way to speed up inference with Llama models on Hugging Face.

SAFER AUTONOMOUS DRIVING

Drive-WM can generate high-quality multiview videos to predict future scenarios, enabling autonomous vehicles to make safer and more efficient driving decisions.

SUMMARIZE.ING (PRODUCT)

Get YouTube video summaries in a minute using AI.

TRADING PLATFORM ROBINHOOD, LAYER-2 ARBITRUM TEAM UP TO OFFER SWAPS TO USERS

Robinhood has revealed plans to enable swaps on Arbitrum, a layer-2 blockchain on Ethereum, for its wallet users in the upcoming months. The collaboration aims to support access to cross-chain swaps and make it easier for non-crypto native users to onboard to on-chain activities from the Robinhood Wallet. The announcement resulted in an over 11% surge in ARB's token price.

WELLS FARGO AND BANK OF AMERICA’S MERRILL LYNCH ARE NOW OFFERING SPOT BITCOIN ETFS TO CLIENTS

Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo's brokerage unit have started offering select wealthy clients access to Bitcoin ETFs. This action shows banks are acknowledging the increased interest and demand for Bitcoin from affluent clientele seeking to diversify their portfolios and tap into Bitcoin's non-correlated growth potential. It is another example of further legitimization and integration of Bitcoin into traditional finance.

ARK: A SECOND-LAYER SOLUTION DESIGNED TO SCALE BITCOIN TRANSACTIONS

Ark is an L2 solution for Bitcoin that aims to address Bitcoin’s speed and cost issues. It facilitates off-chain payments using a shared UTXO model to ensure user data confidentiality. Transactions in the ecosystem are made with 'digital checks', which can be obtained by depositing Bitcoin into the L2. Digital checks have an expiry date. In case of inactivity or server failure, users can reclaim their Bitcoin through automated procedures.

WORMHOLE GOES MULTICHAIN WITH NATIVE TOKEN TRANSFERS

Wormhole, a cross-chain messaging platform, has launched Native Token Transfers (NTTs) in order to help preserve token properties and solve liquidity fragmentation issues across different blockchains. NTTs enable direct token transfers across chains without the use of synthetic wrapped assets. This allows projects to maintain the ownership, upgradeability, and uniqueness of their tokens across different chains.

AN OVERVIEW OF THRUSTER, WHAT COULD BE THE BIGGEST PROJECT ON THE NEW BLAST L2

Thruster Finance is a yield-first DEX aiming to be the go-to platform for all of DeFi and on-chain liquidity on Blast. It has been the winner so far in terms of DEXs on Blast, with over half of Big Bang contest winners and 15 of Blast's backers supporting it. This thread covers Thruster’s upcoming airdrop and activities that could potentially allow users to qualify for it.

A STRATEGY FOR THE BULL RUN

This thread provides a guide on how to navigate the Bull Run in crypto. You can significantly increase your chances of success by maintaining discipline, managing risk, and applying a top-down analysis. Backtest systems, remain patient, journal your progress, and protect your capital. Don't be greedy. Rely on personal judgment and research instead of outside influences.

EXPECTED VALUE IN CRYPTO & BUILDING INFINITE BLOCKSPACE

The fat protocol thesis, that most value will accrue to the underlying chains, is something that has gained popularity - it has been true so far in the space. Builders are focusing more on developing new L1 and L2 solutions instead of decentralized applications or application-focused protocols. This fragmentation could lead to surplus useless blockspace. Despite blockspace being one of the valuable aspects of crypto, the continuous creation of new blockspace could be a waste of resources. This article discusses three potential outcomes for the future of crypto, underscoring the importance of changing current dynamics to incentivize more diversity in the space.

BITCOIN ETF BUYING LED BY RETAIL, HEDGE FUNDS, FAS; LARGER PLAYERS STILL TO COME: BITWISE CIO

In a recent interview, Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan highlighted the success of the spot bitcoin ETFs, explaining the demand and claiming the real demand is yet to come. Demand for these new products has so far been driven mainly by retail investors, hedge funds, and independent financial advisors. Hougan is forecasting an increase in demand for spot bitcoin ETFs once major US wirehouses start participating.

QUICK FARMING GUIDE FOR NFT PERP

You can currently earn a yield while maintaining a delta-neutral position on NFT Perp and Floor protocol - this potentially qualifies you for an airdrop from NFT Perp.

THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN DEFI

This post gives a quick overview of some of the latest developments in DeFi over the past week including Uniswap’s revenue sharing proposal, EigenLayer’s $100m funding, Parcl’s airdrop, and more.

HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MEASURE TO OVERTURN SEC'S CUSTODY BULLETIN

The US House Financial Services Committee has advanced a resolution aimed at challenging the SEC's Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121 (SAB 121), which mandates that banks record customer crypto holdings as liabilities in their balance sheets.

BITCOIN IS HITTING ALL-TIME HIGHS AROUND THE WORLD

Bitcoin came close to hitting its USD all-time high earlier this week. It has already surpassed all-time highs in many countries around the world - USD has appreciated versus most other currencies.

TUBI GETS A MAKEOVER: BRAND NEW LOGO, CATCHPHRASE, AND COLOR SCHEME

Tubi's new logo keeps its purple aesthetic but swaps out the orange and red hues for neon yellow. The new color palette aims to give viewers a "bold and mischievous" experience. Gone is the black background on the app's home screen display, replaced by the bright signature purple that's part of the original design accented with white and yellow.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE WEAR OS HYBRID INTERFACE

Google introduced a new hybrid OS interface for Wear OS at MWC that enhances battery life. Notably, the OnePlus Watch 2 now boasts up to 100 hours of use. Compatibility with other smartwatches depends on each OEM’s architecture and power strategy. However, there's anticipation that other smartwatches will adopt at least some aspects of this battery-optimizing feature.

YES, YOUTUBE HAS A NEW UI. YES, IT'S TERRIBLE

YouTube's recent desktop UI update has received significant backlash from users. The new layout features a grid of thumbnails underneath videos, leading to complaints about sensory overload. It is hard to find positive feedback about the change, and it's unclear if the design will revert.

BEHIND THE DESIGN: A DEEP DIVE INTO APTOS

Like its default font predecessors, Aptos is optimized for the technology of its time. The font helps people comfortably read text on screens for extended periods and it also looks immaculate in print. Microsoft commissioned five leading typeface designers to develop five candidate font families and chose the winning one with the help of customer feedback.

HOW TO CREATE A MEMORABLE LOGO IN 2024

Good design begins in your mind. To arrive at the best solution, start by collecting and analyzing all the available info on the brand, product, competitors, and target audience. Similar companies often copy one another’s designs, so studying the logos from related business sectors makes sense.

EXPERIENCE, NOT TECHNOLOGY

The power of combining proactive and reactive AI lies in their complementary abilities to anticipate and respond to needs. This framing shifts away from AI technology mechanisms, instead emphasizing user experience. Intelligence is valuable when it offers better or different ways to do things within established and new categories.

JITTER

Create professional animated content with Jitter. Use it to design on-brand animated UIs, videos, social media posts, websites, apps, logos, and more.

GRAPHIC EMPTY STATE ILLUSTRATIONS (FIGMA RESOURCE)

This free and simple set of illustrations will help you design better empty-state use cases.

COLORMIND

Colormind is a color scheme generator that uses deep learning. It can learn color styles from photographs, movies, and popular art.

EVOLVING WITH INTENT

Metalab, founded by Andrew Wilkinson, has evolved from a local venture to a globally dispersed team of over 160 people, collaborating with iconic brands and expanding its services. The brand has recently undergone a refresh to reflect its growth and values involving a new logo, an adaptable star icon, a timeless typographic pairing, and a nuanced color palette that retains its signature purple. The refresh is aimed at invoking a sense of wonder both internally and in the client experience.

RETHINKING THE STARTUP MVP: BUILDING A COMPETITIVE PRODUCT

The concept of the Minimum Viable Product has evolved. Today, it's about refining and differentiating a product within a saturated market by iterating based on user feedback rather than simply validating new ideas quickly. Linear's journey in establishing its MVP illuminates the importance of focusing on a specific user base, leveraging waitlists to engage early adopters, and using customer feedback to know when a product is ready for a public launch.

SHOW, NOT TELL: HOW TO MAKE USE OF RESTRICTED OR SCRAPPED DESIGN WORK

Most working relationships involve NDAs. Remote jobs cut off access to all documents as soon as you're laid off. You don't want to have to beg your former colleagues for screenshots of your work. Ensure you constantly grab copies of ongoing projects, anonymize them if necessary, and even consider transforming them. Practicing in Public also offers an exciting alternative where you write articles or create YouTube videos showcasing your knowledge and experience.

WRITING IS DESIGN

Communicating ideas has always been and continues to be a primary goal of design. Designers spend considerable effort to convey complex emotions, processes, and concepts through visual abstractions. However, a simple well-written sentence is often more effective.

THIS COMPANY HAS BIG PLANS TO CHANGE SMARTPHONE DESIGN FOREVER

HMD Global, who made a Barbie phone with Mattel, wants to do more than just manufacture phones with the Nokia name on them. The company is about to release its first original smartphone, which will feature extreme repair capabilities and HMD Fusion, a development toolkit for producing smart outfits with physical design details, hardware interfaces, and APIs.

A LAPTOP DESIGNED FOR PRISONS

Justice Tech Solutions has designed a new laptop specifically for inmates. Securebook's transparent design allows security staff to easily inspect the device. It lacks USB ports, cameras, ethernet, and WiFi, blocking communication with the outside world.

THRASIO FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY AFTER RAISING $3.4B FROM INVESTORS

Thrasio, a leading Amazon aggregator, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy despite once being valued at $10 billion and raising $3.4 billion from investors like Silver Lake and Goldman Sachs. The company, known for consolidating third-party Amazon sellers, plans to undergo a restructuring process to reduce debt and secure fresh capital. This shift reflects the challenges faced by similar companies, including Perch and Elevate Brands, as consumer shopping habits return to normal post-COVID-19.

GOAT’S PRODUCT-MARKET FIT JOURNEY

A counterfeit sneaker purchase led Eddy Lu and Daishin Sugano to create an authenticated sneaker marketplace called GOAT that would grow to 50 million members — though not without painful lessons on pivoting a business, reducing friction, and nurturing co-founder relationships.

SNOWFLAKE CEO FRANK SLOOTMAN IS RETIRING AS CEO

Frank Slootman, the CEO of Snowflake and a mentor/advisor to many successful founders and executives, recently announced his retirement. Sridhar Ramaswamy will be taking his place. Ramaswamy was the ex-CEO of Neeva, a search engine start-up acquired by Snowflake last year for $185 million, and also served as the chief of Google Ads. Snowflake reported weaker-than-expected financial results and revenue projections, which along with Slootman’s departure caused shares to plummet by 20%.

RETHINKING THE MINIMUM VIABLE PRODUCT IN 2024

The traditional Minimum Viable Product (MVP) concept, where novel ideas are validated as quickly as possible, is outdated, especially in today's competitive market. It is now more about developing a product that is appealing enough to attract early users to obtain feedback that can be used to improve the product and create the best possible version.

FOR PRODUCT-LED SALES, DON’T HIRE SALES TEAM TOO SOON

Product-Led Sales (PLS) focuses on allowing end-users to discover a product's value through self-serve usage. Sales support is still required for large enterprise deals. Hiring sales teams prematurely in PLS can lead to low Average Contract Values and competition with self-serve. Don’t add sales until you observe organic demand from your self-serve user base that requires additional assistance to purchase. Typically, these requests will come from sales form submissions, social media channels, or most frequently, customer support requests.

FOUNDER’S GUIDE TO READING BALANCE SHEETS

Many founders and investors tend to focus on income statements (or P&L) because they are the primary driver of a company's valuations. A well-managed balance sheet helps a company grow, while a poorly managed one can silently destroy it. Here’s a comprehensive guide on understanding balance sheets for software companies.

PITCHLEAGUE (PRODUCT)

Your personal AI pitch deck coach.

NVIDIA INCEPTION (PROGRAM)

Connecting startups with the best technical tools, latest resources, and opportunities to connect with investors.

VENDR BIDS

Get the best SaaS prices within 24 hrs. 100% free and anonymous.

5 MUST-HAVE VIEWS FOR A SOFTWARE COMPANY

The 5 key views that startups must have to succeed are ARR Builds, Cohort Analysis, Top of Funnel, Product Engagement, and Operating Model metrics. Together, these provide a continuous overview of customer acquisition and retention, product engagement, and growth opportunities that can be leveraged for resource planning.

SHOW THE PRODUCT, YOU COWARDS

80% of software companies never show you their product. Fine, that statistic was made up, but why are fewer and fewer B2B companies letting you try before you buy? Founders should showcase their offerings through bite-sized video demos. This is an overlooked opportunity for differentiation that builds social proof and trust for potential buyers.

THE EVOLUTION OF USER ONBOARDING AT DATABOX

To elevate growth, the PLG team at Databox prioritized activations before investing in paid acquisition channels. Since August 2023, they have implemented over 20 product improvements, increased activation from 30% to over 40%, and reduced the average time-to-value from 18 hours to less than an hour. This article shares Databox's approach to activation and end-user success and offers insights and inspiration for improving product experiences.

START-UPS TAKING LONGER TO REACH FUNDING MILESTONES

New data reveals that, due to a combination of factors, startups now take much longer to raise their next funding rounds. Early-stage companies are taking in a lot more funding than they used to in SAFEs, which extends the time to start priced round raises. Later-stage companies who have seen significant cuts to their valuations aren’t rushing to fundraise and are instead focusing on profitability.

VALUE BY ASSOCIATION

It’s natural to want to hire an ex-Google engineer versus an engineer from an obscure company you’ve never heard of. Sometimes this is the right strategy, and sometimes it’s not. You need to overcome your innate bias towards perceiving value by association.