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THE CASE FOR CYBORGS

An expert in human cognition and AI discusses the evolution from artificial narrow intelligence to general intelligence, proposing cyborg integration as a potential path to superintelligence.

PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF AI WITH VIJAY PANDE (40 MINUTE PODCAST)

A 40-minute reflection on AI with a peek at what’s to come.

PROMPT ALIGNED IMAGE PERSONALIZATION

Dreambooth is the current best method for personalizing an image model. Prompt alignment dramatically improves adherence to the prompt and is composable.

and LLM framework. Make your data LLM-ready

SEAMLESS EXPRESSIVE TRANSLATION

Meta has a new demo for seamless voice cloning and translation between languages.

VANNA

Use AI to interact with your database.

MICROSOFT WANTS TO AUTOMATICALLY LAUNCH ITS COPILOT AI ON SOME WINDOWS 11 DEVICES

Microsoft is currently testing an update in Windows 11's Dev Channel preview that automatically launches the AI-powered Copilot feature on widescreen devices with a screen size of at least 27 inches and a pixel width of 1920 pixels. This experiment, aimed at enhancing AI integration in Windows, is part of Microsoft's broader initiative to incorporate AI technology more seamlessly into its operating system.

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SCARAMUCCI SAYS GRAYSCALE ETF SALES HELPED FUEL BITCOIN DECLINE

According to SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci, Bitcoin’s sell-off after the much-anticipated Spot Bitcoin ETFs started trading is partially due to sales of Grayscale Bitcoin Trust shares. Investors are reportedly selling to book losses and shift to lower-fee alternatives. Cryptocurrency exchange FTX's bankruptcy estate is apparently also unloading, contributing further downward pressure on Bitcoin.

BLACKROCK CEO LARRY FINK BACKS ETHER ETF

A day after the successful launch of BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, its CEO Larry Fink went on CNBC to tout the value of both Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Fink foresees a world in which assets are increasingly tokenized and views Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs as steps toward that vision. He also classified cryptocurrencies not as currencies, but as asset classes that can provide protection against geopolitical risk and can help fight against corruption and money laundering.

ASTARIA V1 LENDING & INTENTS

This whitepaper gives an overview of Astaria v1, a new lending protocol built on the Starport lending kernel. Astaria provides fixed-rate, open-term lending that optimizes rate and loan-to-value for borrowers and reduces liveness requirements for lenders. The protocol, which accepts a variety of collateral assets, introduces recall intents by any party. Loans have no end date and continue until recalled by replacing the original lender or impairing the loan and seizing collateral.

INJECTIVE ROLLS OUT VOLAN UPGRADE FOCUSED ON REAL-WORLD ASSETS AND CONNECTIVITY WITH COSMOS CHAINS

Injective, a Cosmos-based blockchain, has launched a mainnet upgrade, Volan, adding support for software regarding real-world assets. This upgrade aims to enable users to access products like tokenized fiat currency pairs, treasury bills, and exclusive credit-based products. Volan improves inter-blockchain communication within the Cosmos ecosystem, making complex cross-chain transactions smoother. Another key component of the upgrade includes INJ, Injective's native token, becoming increasingly deflationary over time.

THE BERACHAIN THESIS

This thread lays out the thesis on Berachain, focusing on its combination of technology, culture, and product-market fit. The EVM-compatible L1 blockchain platform utilizes the Polaris for attack protection and fluent execution. It also features an accessible development kit and IBC bridging. Berachain has already built an early culture of creativity and has its roots in NFTs, while also appealing to dapp developers for its liquidity capabilities and user base.

QUICK SUI AIRDROP FARMING GUIDE

Sui has been outperforming lately, drawing attention to the ecosystem. This thread provides a quick guide to interacting throughout the Sui ecosystem to potentially qualify for various airdrops. Several audited protocols such as Navi Protocol, Scallop, Aftermath Finance, KriyaDEX, and Turbos Finance are suggested for lending or providing liquidity. Other opportunities include purchasing a .sui domain or exploring ABEx Finance and Typus Finance.

FROM CRYPTO-NATIVE TO CRYPTO-ENABLED

This article calls for 2024 to be a year of mainstream "crypto-enabled" apps that utilize blockchain tech in the background, rather than focusing on it. The writer differentiates these from current "crypto-native" apps, which mainly focus on experimenting with crypto features. Enabled by recent advancements in scaling, security, and user experience, these new apps could revolutionize traditional digital experiences by integrating benefits of crypto into them.

WE ANALYZED 5000 TOKEN UNLOCKS – THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND

This article was resurfaced recently and provides a summary of a report that analyzed over 5,000 token unlock events to determine what effects they might have on token prices. The report looked at factors such as where tokens were in their vesting periods, how big the token unlocks were relative to supply, and more.

HOW CASH-CREATE SPOT ETFS WORK

With the recent launch of the much-anticipated Spot Bitcoin ETFs, many were left wondering what exactly cash-create means as it relates to ETFs. This post explains the concept in a straightforward manner.

NARRATIVES MEGA THREAD

This thread goes over some of the most popular current narratives in the market like AI, RWA, memecoins, Bitcoin dapps, GameFi, DePIN, and NFT finance.

VANGUARD TO PULL BITCOIN FUTURES FROM ITS PLATFORM

Vanguard reinforced its no-crypto stance on Friday, withdrawing options from its platform for Bitcoin ETFs and futures, emphasizing long-term traditional investing over speculative digital assets.

SEC COMMENTS ON HACK OF ITS X ACCOUNT AND RESULTING FAKE BITCOIN ETF APPROVAL ANNOUNCEMENT

After the fake Bitcoin ETF approval announcement from the SEC’s X account caused extreme volatility across the entire crypto landscape, many TradFi and crypto investors alike demanded answers. The SEC went on to make some preliminary comments about the situation.

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PENTAGRAM'S IDENTITY FOR DUBLIN TOURISM EXPERIENCE IS DELIGHTFULLY CLICHE-FREE

Inspired by Celtic history but avoiding the cliches of Celtic heritage design, Pentagram's new identity includes a logo, typeface, color palette, tone of voice, staff clothing, merchandise, marketing material, signage, and wayfinding. The striking symbol represents the Book of Kells itself, inspired by the details of illuminated pages in the book and ancient Celtic artifacts that showcase the craftsmanship of flowing line details.

THE HYPER-PERSONALISED USER EXPERIENCE: MERCEDES-BENZ SHOWCASES CLASS-DEFINING DIGITAL TECH AT CES 2024

Mercedes-Benz unveiled a new MBUX Virtual Assistant at CES 2024 powered by generative AI and advanced 3D graphics, making interactions more natural and personalized. This innovative interface runs on the new Mercedes-Benz Operating System, offering an extraordinary digital experience.

SOURCES: PHOTOROOM, THE AI PHOTO EDITING APP, IS RAISING $50M-$60M AT A $500M-$600M VALUATION

PhotoRoom has developed a popular AI-based image editing app and API primarily targeting e-commerce vendors and media specialists. The company's success is notable in the competitive AI-driven market. It has gained traction with small businesses and larger customers, including Warner Bros and Netflix, for various image editing needs.

HOW TO BUILD A STRATEGY, NOT A ROADMAP

Design teams creating and maintaining design systems should use a hybrid of centralized and federated models to move quickly and collaborate closely with product teams. To achieve the ultimate success of a design system, they need a strategy - a roadmap alone isn’t enough.

GRIDS AND KEY SHAPES

Grids and key shapes play a fundamental role in building an icon system. They ensure that all the signs align cohesively and use a structured approach that simplifies the design process and supports scalability.

HOW A GRASP OF BUSINESS CONCEPTS GIVES DESIGNERS A BOOST

Designers are increasingly losing their influence within some organizations as user-centric design becomes an afterthought. This doesn't come as a complete shock since designers are frequently clueless when asked what their designs will do for the business. Bridging the gap between creative prowess and business results begins with stepping out of your comfort zone into numbers and business.

3D AVATAR-MAKER

Customize a 3D avatar by selecting different faces, headgear, eyewear, and more, with millions of possibilities.

DESIGN SYSTEMS DATABASE

This collection features Design Systems with components and foundation references from top-tier tech companies and leading UI teams.

TO GET PROMOTED, GET BETTER AT COMPLEXITY, AUTONOMY, AND THROUGHPUT

To get promoted, designers must distinguish themselves by handling three challenges: complexity, autonomy, and throughput. Complexity refers to how complex problems they can solve autonomously or whether they can take them with minimal guidance, and throughput refers to how many issues they can crack simultaneously.

APPLIED TO 5,000 JOBS. AND NOBODY REPLIED...?

If nobody responds after 50 job applications, the next step is to determine why people won't reply. Ensure you approach the problem space from the user's perspective and develop solutions to increase your chances of landing a job.

GENERATIVE AI AND TESLER’S LAW

The law of conservation of complexity, or Tesler's Law, says any inherent complexity that cannot be removed or hidden should be addressed in product development or user experience. When designing AI-powered products, we should focus on getting users to provide the correct input with the least effort so that the AI can deliver the right results.

PSYCHOLOGY FOR UX: STUDY GUIDE

This collection of articles and videos will help you learn about the principles of human psychology and how they relate to UX design.

TOP 10 AI DESIGN STARTUPS

UX design is changing thanks to the fusion of AI and design. A glimpse of a promising future is offered by these 10 AI design startups, where AI serves as a catalyst for innovation and enhanced user experiences instead of replacing designers.

FROM 2D TO 3D: HOW BRANDS CAN HARNESS THE LATEST UX/UI REVOLUTION

In the future, users wearing Apple Vision Pro or similar devices will seek immersive interfaces that replicate in-store interactions instead of flat shopping interfaces. For designers to adapt to this evolving design landscape, spatial thinking is essential, especially for arranging three-dimensional elements in UIs.

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building free, then go pro from $25/month

WHY DO INVESTORS SAY YOU NEED A BUSINESS CO-FOUNDER? (10 MINUTE VIDEO)

Non-technical founders are often advised to seek out a technical co-founder. What if it was the other way around and you’re a technical founder? Do you need a co-pilot who understands “business”? YC partners answer the question in this video.

DON’T BE A “WOE IS ME” FOUNDER. THAT IS ALWAYS A RECIPE FOR FAILURE.

Three pretty tangible things you can do to NOT be the Woe-Is-Me founder. This post breaks down why you don’t want to do that and how to avoid it.

SWIMMING THE CENTER OR THE EDGE

This article likens swimming across a big pool and likens to running a business. It’s an interesting take on this post-AI, no-more-free-money world.

YOUR GUIDE TO BETTER EMAIL

Email nurturing prospects is still one of the most influential tools in your sales and marketing arsenal. However, as your company grows, everyone wants access to sending emails - sales, marketing, product, and growth - all compete for bandwidth. Things get hectic quickly. This article explores how you can simplify things to increase conversion and retention.

HOW TO WRITE A PRODUCT STRATEGY IN 1 DAY / 1 WEEK / 1 MONTH

A product strategy explains what you will work on and why. Sometimes we over engineer this process or underinvest in planning. Finding the sweet spot between rigor and simplicity is critical. Here’s a comprehensive overview on how to outline your product strategy, simply.

THE ROADMAP TO PRODUCT/MARKET FIT…MAYBE

This article presents the eight-step process that brought WP Engine from an idea to a Unicorn. It describes a formula for going from initial product to Product/Market Fit. The progression goes from personal fit to market fit, customer fit, building and shipping the SLC quickly, marketing and sales, retention-driven product development, prioritizing systematically, ruthlessly, and strategically, and managing your psychology. The roadmap isn't failsafe, but it is supported by many years of experience.

LINKEDLEADS (PRODUCT)

Get infinite leads from your LinkedIn connections.

SKIMAI (PRODUCT)

Transform your inbox into a hub of efficiency.

REWINDR (PRODUCT)

Collect and share customer feedback.

IS LTV TO CAC THE NICKELBACK OF SAAS METRICS?

Investors ask for it and founders talk about them as lighthouse metrics. This article argues that both LTV and CAC are too complex of a metric to be useful in decision making and often the processes used to determine them are flawed. It explores some alternatives you can use instead.

THE END OF CUSTOMER SUCCESS AS WE KNEW IT

Customer Success (CS) teams have taken a big hit during the tech layoffs throughout 2023. Combined with new tooling, and a hard year for CSAT scores, CS is changing. Increasingly, we’re seeing tech companies push CS closer to sales and attach specific revenue targets to their operations.