#AI In Banking Market Share

[industryforecastnews]

Artificial Intelligence In Banking Market Size To Reach $143.56Bn By 2030

Artificial Intelligence In Banking Market Growth & Trends

The global artificial intelligence in banking market size is expected to reach USD 143.56 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 31.8% from 2024 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. AI's integration in banking offers personalized financial guidance, customized product suggestions, and customized services based on individual behaviors and preferences. By analyzing extensive data sets, AI enables banks to understand customers on a deeper level, enhancing the overall experience. This technology optimizes risk assessment, drives operational efficiency, strengthens security measures against fraud, and empowers data-driven decision-making, ultimately propelling the banking market forward through improved customer satisfaction, cost savings, and innovative service offerings.

Technological advancements serve as the engine propelling the banking market into new frontiers. Innovations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, and advanced analytics redefine traditional banking paradigms. Machine learning refines algorithms, enhancing accuracy in decision-making and customer service. Blockchain ensures secure, transparent, and efficient transactions. Moreover, mobile banking, contactless payments, and biometric authentication optimize convenience and accessibility. These advancements streamline operations, reduce costs, and also strengthen a more inclusive banking environment, satisfying diverse customer needs. As technology evolves, it continually transforms the banking landscape, driving efficiency, security, and customer-centricity.

Digital transformation in banking transcends mere technology adoption; it's a holistic transformation of the banking ecosystem towards agility, customer-centricity, and technological prowess. Its core objective is aligning with evolving customer needs enhancing operational efficiency and fortifying security standards. For instance, in June 2023, Infosys Limited signed a deal with Danske Bank, a Danish multinational banking and financial services corporation, to expedite its digital transformation endeavors and generate increased value for its customers through artificial intelligence (AI). The company has entered a five-year agreement valued at $454 million, with the option for renewal for an additional year, up to three times.

Request a free sample copy or view report summary: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/artificial-intelligence-banking-market-report

Artificial Intelligence In Banking Market Report Highlights

The Risk Management segment is dominated the market with a significant market share in 2023. Effective risk management systems help prevent financial losses due to market fluctuations, credit defaults, operational failures, or cyber threats. This motivates financial institutions to invest significantly in robust risk management infrastructure

The Natural Language Processing (NLP) segment has seized a substantial market share, asserting dominance in the industry as of 2023. NLP algorithms process vast amounts of financial news, reports, and social media data to predict market trends and sentiment analysis for investment decisions

Banks in North America have access to vast amounts of consumer data, providing a rich source for AI algorithms to analyze and derive insights. This data abundance fuels the development of robust AI models for various banking applications

The large Enterprise segment is dominated the market with a significant market share in 2023. Having extensive and diverse datasets enables large enterprises to train more accurate and sophisticated AI models. These models can better understand customer behaviors, predict trends, identify potential risks, and offer personalized services.

Customers increasingly prefer digital and self-service options. AI-powered assistants fulfill this need, encouraging the adoption of technological advancements and positioning banks as innovative and customer-centric institutions

The integration of AI-driven personalized recommendations and services in banking fundamentally transforms customer relationships, propelling market growth. Using individual spending behaviors, investment tendencies, and financial objectives, banks create customized solutions that perfectly match each customer's preferences and requirements

Artificial Intelligence In Banking Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global artificial intelligence in banking market based on component, application, technology, enterprise size, and region:  

Artificial Intelligence In Banking Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

Service

Solution

Artificial Intelligence In Banking Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

Risk Management

Customer Service

Virtual Assistant

Financial Advisory 

Others

Artificial Intelligence In Banking Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Machine Learning & Deep Learning

Computer vision

Others

Artificial Intelligence In Banking Enterprise Size Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

Large Enterprise

SMEs

Artificial Intelligence In Banking Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

North America

U.S.

Canada

Europe

Germany

U.K.

France

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Latin America

Mexico

Brazil

Middle East and Africa

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

UAE

South Africa

List of Key Players in the Artificial Intelligence In Banking Market

Amazon Web Services, Inc.

Capital One

Cisco Systems, Inc.

FAIR ISAAC CORPORATION (FICO)

Goldman Sachs

International Business Machines Corporation

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

NVIDIA Corporation

RapidMiner

SAP SE

Browse Full Report: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/artificial-intelligence-banking-market-report

[axeeglitter]

Back from the Vault: LifeX

Nathan Brown sat hunched over his desk, the glow of his laptop screen illuminating his tired eyes. His San Francisco apartment was a mess: clothes strewn across the floor, empty takeout containers stacked on the kitchen counter, and a half-empty coffee mug perched precariously on the edge of his desk. Nathan's bed was unmade, a tangled heap of blankets and pillows. The room smelled faintly of stale air and sweat, the result of a broken air conditioning unit and a lack of motivation to clean.

Nathan was staring at his laptop screen, scrolling through yet another round of job listings. His bank account was dangerously low, and the anxiety of unpaid bills was gnawing at him. He was 26 years old, recently graduated with a degree in communications, and he was struggling to find any kind of work. His YouTube channel, where he reviewed video games and shared walkthroughs, was his only source of income, but the revenue it brought in was barely enough to buy groceries, let alone pay rent or bills.

Nathan was average in build, with a light tan from his Latino heritage, and short, dark hair that he usually kept neat. His face was lightly stubbled, a sign of his growing indifference to grooming as stress took over. He sighed and rubbed his eyes, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle into his bones. He was on the brink of giving up when a notification popped up on his screen, breaking his focus.

"Subject: Exciting Opportunity for Collaboration!"

Nathan hesitated, then clicked on the email. It was from a company called LifeX. He didn’t recognize the name, but curiosity got the better of him.

“Dear Nathan,

We’ve come across your YouTube channel and believe we could work well together. LifeX is launching a groundbreaking new game, and we are looking for individuals to help us with beta testing and promotion. Your content aligns perfectly with our vision, and we think this could be a great collaboration. If you accept, you’ll also be able to help us optimize the AI of our games by creating your own NPC character, it’ll be later implemented in the game when it’ll be released. Of course, we offer financial compensation for your work.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best regards, The LifeX Team”

Nathan’s first instinct was skepticism. It sounded too good to be true, and he’d heard horror stories of scams and phishing attempts. But the desperation for money overrode his better judgment. He quickly searched for LifeX online, finding only a sparse website filled with vague marketing speak about “immersive experiences” and “cutting-edge technology.” There were no reviews, no user testimonials, nothing solid. This should have been a red flag, but Nathan was too desperate to care. He needed this. He needed a break.

Nathan decided to respond. He typed out a quick reply expressing his interest. Almost immediately, another email arrived, containing a download link, setup instructions, and a NDA requesting his personal information: name, age, location, and other details. Nathan filled out the form, barely thinking about the potential consequences. He selected the longest trial period possible: one month, hoping it would give him enough content for his channel and enough time to determine if the collaboration was worthwhile.

As soon as he submitted the form, a melodic chime sounded from his laptop, followed by a smooth, professional voice:

“Thank you for signing up, Nathan. To begin your experience, you will first create the NPC character, and then you’ll be ready to start your experience in the environment you’ll choose. For the trial to run successfully, please ensure that your computer remains on for the entire duration of the test period: one month. Any interruption may result in data loss or corruption. Welcome to LifeX.”

Nathan frowned at the last part but shrugged it off. He figured it was just standard legalese, probably meant for immersion. The screen changed to a character creation window, displaying a basic human figure in a T-pose. Nathan leaned forward, curiosity piqued, and started customizing the avatar.

He named the avatar “Cody,” envisioning him as the polar opposite of himself. Cody would be everything Nathan wasn’t: confident, athletic, and effortlessly cool. He adjusted the height to 6'4", pushed the muscle sliders to the maximum, giving Cody bulging biceps, a broad chest, and thick, powerful legs holding a perfectly muscled ass. From the corner of his eyes, Nathan spotted a slider on the groin area. He laughed as he understood he could also determine how big he could adjust Cody’s penis and balls. Smiling, he selected the largest option possible for his dick and added a huge heavy pair of balls to go with it, watching it grow in proportion to the rest of his body. He added bright hazel eyes, bushy eyebrows, and messy dark brown hairs that would contrast perfectly to the pale sun kissed skin.

After the body customization, Nathan saw a new window open: Clothes and accessories. After thinking about it, he chose a pair of denim shorts that ended mid-thigh, showing off Cody’s muscular legs. Nathan opted for no T-shirt, exposing Cody’s ripped torso and added a ripped sleeve shirt opened on his muscled hair pecs. He then moved on to accessories and decided to put a loop earring on his right ear and a silver chain around his neck.

After the customization was done, it was asked for Nathan to enter some information about the NPC he just created to create a base behavior for him. After a while, Nathan decided to go for the stereotypical fratbro behavior to go with the appearance he just did. He started typing, adding details about Cody’s lifestyle. He entered notes in the behavior interface: “Cody is dumb as a brick. He loves gym, training and being barefoot, feeling the ground under his calloused feet.” He laughed as he added another line: “Cody never takes showers, loves the smell of his own musk, enjoys sniffing his hairy armpits after a workout and scratching his big dick every couple of minutes after what he smells them and always smile enjoying his own musk.” Nathan chuckled, amused at the thought of creating such a ridiculous character. It was so far removed from his real life that it seemed like a fun NPC to talk and interact with. Just a dumb easy-going character that is always down for a fuck and a drink after a gym session barefoot in the woods.

Satisfied with his creation, he confirmed the settings. The game prompted him to select a location, and he chose the Secluded Forest Realm, envisioning Cody as a carefree physical trainer just out of college living in a cabin in the wilderness.

The screen went black for a moment, and the professional voice returned: “Now that your character is complete, it’s time to play! Please keep your computer running at all times to maintain synchronization. Any interruption may lead to data corruption. Enjoy your month-long experience, Nathan, and welcome to LifeX.” Nathan was really getting excited now. He conder what kind of character he would create for himself when he saw a flash of light on the screen. It looked like some kind of swirling mesh, almost like a blackhole. For a moment Nathan thought it was kind of a cool effect, but everything changed when he went to grab his half drink cup of coffee sitting next to him only to realize his right hand was tingling and tiny particles were escaping his nails, flying straight to his screen.

A sudden wave of fatigue hit Nathan, and the lights in his apartment flickered briefly. A sense of unease washed over him, making the hairs on his arms stand up. Before he could react, the tingling sensation spread from his fingertips up through his arms. He stared in disbelief as his fingers began to dissolve into streams of glowing white code, spreading quickly across his body. He tried to scream, but his voice caught in his throat. His vision blurred as the Life X logo was pulsing in bright light in the center of the screen with a loading bar under it going up further and further. The last thing he saw was the 100% before everything went black.

Nathan found himself suspended in a void. He was floating, naked, surrounded by darkness. Panic set in, his heart racing as he tried to move, but his body was frozen in a T-pose. The sensation was bizarre, as if he were trapped in a dream. He wanted to call out, but his voice was muffled, like shouting underwater. The smooth, professional voice returned, echoing through the void:

“Welcome to your new life, Nathan. Don’t panic; this process is normal and painless. In a few moments, you will begin your ideal life in the Secluded Forest Realm. Relax and feel calm. Avatar synchronization will begin in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…”

“What the fuck, where am I? What is going on? Why can’t I move?! HELP!!” thought Nathan as he tried to scream even though his face remained frozen.

Nathan’s body suddenly stiffened. A pressure built inside him, starting at his core and spreading outward. His bones stretched and cracked, lengthening to match Cody’s new height. His arms and legs grew longer, muscles bulging and expanding to fill out his new form. Nathan could feel his muscles tearing and healing at an accelerated rate, becoming stronger and more defined with each passing second.

His skin began to tighten, smoothing out imperfections and leaving with a perfectly smooth skin all around his muscled body. Nathan would be screaming if his voice mas not muted. Everything was burning and it was like feeling his DNA being rewritten while still being conscious. As he felt tears rising up his eyes, a new sensation invaded his newly modified skin. In his pits, legs and between his pecs, he felt like thousands of needles were piercing holes. The sensation was only multiplied as he started to feel hair sprouting from the holes. They were dark brown and thick but worst, the sensation of piercing needles started to appear around his groin too. Still wondering what was happening to him, Nathan tried to connect the elements he could find and that when he realized. The secluded forest, the muscles, the hair; that was Cody’s information, which means… Just enough time to understand what was happening to him when the hair started to sprout in abondance around his dick and nuts and climbing up his sculpted abs in a thin happy trail. After the hair, the modifications started to appear on his face. His jawline becoming sharper and more angular, his cheekbones more pronounced. His lips filled out, becoming more defined, while his eyebrows grew thicker, framing his eyes. His vision sharpened, colors becoming brighter and more vivid. His brown eyes shifted to a bright hazel as he lost vision for a moment. Everything was happening all at once and still, Nathan felt like it was an eternity of pain.

Nathan’s hair thickened, turning into soft, dark strands that fell casually over his forehead. His ears reshaped slightly to match his new head structure. A sensation of warmth spread through his throat as his vocal cords tightened, his voice box reshaping. When he tried to speak, his voice was deeper, richer, and carried a slight accent, a relaxed, Western drawl.

Nathan felt a growing warmth in his groin and realized what was about to happen now. All of a sudden, he regrated giving Cody such a big dick and heavy nuts. His cock thickened and lengthened, becoming larger than Nathan had ever been. He could feel the veins snaking down his growing dick as his cock head started to grow thicker and bigger. He could feel the cold air surrounding him as the head sneaked out of his foreskin. Wait, his foreskin? He didn’t remember going this far in details. His nuts fall down and grew thicker and full of potent cum as he could feel them going overload working on creating new manly sperm nonstop. Nathan could feel the horniness starting to rise as his body was assaulted by huge amount of testosterone. A drop of precum appeared at the tip of his cock as he could feel the weight of it between his legs, an odd sensation that both embarrassed and intrigued him. His buttocks tightened, becoming firm and lifted, while his thighs and calves thickened with muscle.

The transformation was almost complete when Nathan felt a sharp pain on his left pec. He wanted to scream, but his body was still frozen. The pain was like a branding iron pressing into his skin. “What is this?!” screamed Nathan in his new deep voice. A voice appeared from all around him “Dear user: NATHAN BROWN, as talked with you earlier on, you agreed to review and help us create the new generation of AI used for our NPCs. For that, your character, CODY, will have to be monitored. This assignation, XXIV, is the link to your identity and allow us to track your character. Please relax as your actions will be tracked and then saved. The program will make sure to copy all your movements, thoughts and everything that your character, CODY, might do to make sure to copy human mechanism that will be implemented in our NPCs later on. Thank you for your service.” When it subsided, a Roman numeral tattoo “XXIV” was there, bold and black, as if it had always been part of him. Nathan could feel the tattoo pulsing with energy, as if it was more than just ink on skin.

As his body finished transforming, clothes materialized around him. He now wore a sleeveless, open checkered flannel shirt and a short pair of denim shorts. Then he felt his ear being stabbed as the earing appeared in it and the coldness of the silver metal appeared around his neck. His feet then started to tingle as Nathan could feel the skin of his sole getting thicker and denser to better serve his barefoot lifestyle in the forest.

Nathan was terrified about what he just heard; his humanity was going to be used to program AI that will be implemented in NPCs. How is that even possible? Does that mean he was Cody now? And for a whole month? He didn’t agree to this. He had a life outside, friends, job to find, maybe some interviews if he was lucky. And about the bills? What was he going to do?

As all the questions were swirling in his head, Nathan fell the restriction holding his body in place as it was being modified lift. He could move on his own again, and the first thing he tried to do was take of his shirt or necklace. But every tug on the clothes or metal fell like he was trying to rip a part of him away. The clothes were part of him now. Nathan started to feel tears rise once again in his ears as all he could see around him were the infinite void of this artificial world. “Modification process terminated, Assimilation to the realm starting in 3,2,1…” Out of nowhere, the ground started to shake under Nathan’s barefoot. Then he saw light pierce through the ceiling. As a reflex, he put his hands to cover his bright hazel eyes but the light was way too bright. Nathan could see entire walls of darkness vanish and being obliterated by this bright light coming from above and fear started to raise in him. Nathan closed his eyes as all he could see was the infinite light engulfing the void and him with it. When he opened his eyes, Nathan was alone in a cabin in the woods, standing in front of a mirror. For the first time, he could see from the first person point of view what the body he created really looked like. Everything was looking so life like, even scent of pine and dirt were coming from the opened window next to him. He could smell the woods, feel the sun on his skin, the wood under his foots. Everything was lifelike. As Nathan sight started to look what his transformed body looked like, his head started to spin. Nathan grabbed it with his two manly hands but the pain was growing stronger. And in the blink of an eye, Nathan was no more. Cody stared at his reflection before smiling and flexing his biceps while smiling. His right hand lowered to get inside his shorts and scratch his hairy dick before putting his fingers under his nose to smell his musk. Cody laughed as he walked away, grabbing a snack on his way out to go exercise a bit in the nature.

“New NPC starting test phase. Remaining time 30 days, 23 hours 59 minutes 23 seconds. Behavior analysis… Acting following user NATHAN BROWN encoding. Tester assimilation… Assimilation stable, user will turn back when tests are over.”

______________________________________________________________ Hey guys! Here's another story back from the Vault, and it's my first ever published story: LifeX Hope you guys enjoy this new version of my story. Let me know what you think of it. As always, my asks are open and i'm always looking for new ideas and prompts from you. I try to answer them all and I love to read your ideas so please, don't be afraid to send anything you'd like me to write and I'll do my best to do it :) Take care of yourself! P.S. A follow up to this story should arrive soon ;)

[probablyasocialecologist]

This is it. Generative AI, as a commercial tech phenomenon, has reached its apex. The hype is evaporating. The tech is too unreliable, too often. The vibes are terrible. The air is escaping from the bubble. To me, the question is more about whether the air will rush out all at once, sending the tech sector careening downward like a balloon that someone blew up, failed to tie off properly, and let go—or more slowly, shrinking down to size in gradual sputters, while emitting embarrassing fart sounds, like a balloon being deliberately pinched around the opening by a smirking teenager. But come on. The jig is up. The technology that was at this time last year being somberly touted as so powerful that it posed an existential threat to humanity is now worrying investors because it is apparently incapable of generating passable marketing emails reliably enough. We’ve had at least a year of companies shelling out for business-grade generative AI, and the results—painted as shinily as possible from a banking and investment sector that would love nothing more than a new technology that can automate office work and creative labor—are one big “meh.” As a Bloomberg story put it last week, “Big Tech Fails to Convince Wall Street That AI Is Paying Off.” From the piece: Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Alphabet Inc. had one job heading into this earnings season: show that the billions of dollars they’ve each sunk into the infrastructure propelling the artificial intelligence boom is translating into real sales. In the eyes of Wall Street, they disappointed. Shares in Google owner Alphabet have fallen 7.4% since it reported last week. Microsoft’s stock price has declined in the three days since the company’s own results. Shares of Amazon — the latest to drop its earnings on Thursday — plunged by the most since October 2022 on Friday. Silicon Valley hailed 2024 as the year that companies would begin to deploy generative AI, the type of technology that can create text, images and videos from simple prompts. This mass adoption is meant to finally bring about meaningful profits from the likes of Google’s Gemini and Microsoft’s Copilot. The fact that those returns have yet to meaningfully materialize is stoking broader concerns about how worthwhile AI will really prove to be. Meanwhile, Nvidia, the AI chipmaker that soared to an absurd $3 trillion valuation, is losing that value with every passing day—26% over the last month or so, and some analysts believe that’s just the beginning. These declines are the result of less-than-stellar early results from corporations who’ve embraced enterprise-tier generative AI, the distinct lack of killer commercial products 18 months into the AI boom, and scathing financial analyses from Goldman Sachs, Sequoia Capital, and Elliot Management, each of whom concluded that there was “too much spend, too little benefit” from generative AI, in the words of Goldman, and that it was “overhyped” and a “bubble” per Elliot. As CNN put it in its report on growing fears of an AI bubble, Some investors had even anticipated that this would be the quarter that tech giants would start to signal that they were backing off their AI infrastructure investments since “AI is not delivering the returns that they were expecting,” D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria told CNN. The opposite happened — Google, Microsoft and Meta all signaled that they plan to spend even more as they lay the groundwork for what they hope is an AI future. This can, perhaps, explain some of the investor revolt. The tech giants have responded to mounting concerns by doubling, even tripling down, and planning on spending tens of billions of dollars on researching, developing, and deploying generative AI for the foreseeable future. All this as high profile clients are canceling their contracts. As surveys show that overwhelming majorities of workers say generative AI makes them less productive. As MIT economist and automation scholar Daron Acemoglu warns, “Don’t believe the AI hype.”

6 August 2024

[southernsolarpunk]

Hey what the fuck is this news story?

“ But the world’s largest economies are already there: The total fertility rate among the OECD’s 38 member countries dropped to just 1.5 children per woman in 2022 from 3.3 children in 1960. That’s well below the “replacement level” of 2.1 children per woman needed to keep populations constant.

That means the supply of workers in many countries is quickly diminishing.

In the 1960s, there were six people of working age for every retired person, according to the World Economic Forum. Today, the ratio is closer to three-to-one. By 2035, it’s expected to be two-to-one.

Top executives at publicly traded US companies mentioned labor shortages nearly 7,000 times in earnings calls over the last decade, according to an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis last week.

“A reduction in the share of workers can lead to labor shortages, which may raise the bargaining power of employees and lift wages — all of which is ultimately inflationary,” Simona Paravani-Mellinghoff, managing director at BlackRock, wrote in an analysis last year. “

Is this seriously how normal people think? Improving the bargaining power of workers and increased wages are bad?

“ And while net immigration has helped offset demographic problems facing rich countries in the past, the shrinking population is now a global phenomenon. “This is critical because it implies advanced economies may start to struggle to ‘import’ labour from such places either via migration or sourcing goods,” wrote Paravani-Mellinghoff.

By 2100, only six countries are expected to be having enough children to keep their populations stable: Africa’s Chad, Niger and Somalia, the Pacific islands of Samoa and Tonga, and Tajikistan, according to research published by the Lancet, a medical journal.

BlackRock’s expert advises her clients to invest in inflation-linked bonds, as well as inflation-hedging commodities like energy, industrial metals and agriculture and livestock.

Import labor via migration or sourcing goods? My brother in Christ they are modern day slaves!! I feel like I’m in backwards town reading this what the fuck?!

“ Elon Musk, father of 12 children, has remarked that falling birthrates will lead to “a civilization that ends not with a bang but a whimper, in adult diapers.”

While his words are incendiary, they’re not entirely wrong

P&G and Kimberly-Clark, which together make up more than half of the US diaper market, have seen baby diaper sales decline over the past few years. But adult diapers sales, they say, are a bright spot in their portfolios. “

Oh now the guy with a breeding kink is going to lecture us. Great. /s

“ The AI solution: Some business leaders and technologists see the boom in productivity through artificial intelligence as a potential solution.

“Here are the facts. We are not having enough children, and we have not been having enough children for long enough that there is a demographic crisis, former Google CEO and executive chairman Eric Schmidt said at the Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council Summit in London last year.

“In aggregate, all the demographics say there’s going to be shortage of humans for jobs. Literally too many jobs and not enough people for at least the next 30 years,” Schmidt said.

Oh god not the AI tech bros coming into this shit too. Wasn’t the purpose of improving tech to give people more free time? So they can relax and spend time with family more and actually enjoy life? Isn’t our economy already bloated with useless pencil-pushing number-crunching desk jobs that ultimately don’t serve a purpose?

I’m not going to post the entire article but give it a read. It’s… certainly something. Anyway degrowth is the way of the future.

[anarchywoofwoof]

in response to the drastically changing climate and AI creeping further and further into every day life, i keep seeing people bringing up UBI - universal basic income. and i get the inclination to believe that UBI is a solution to the problem, but it's really like plastering over a gaping wound.

UBI seems like a good idea, offering a financial cushion for everyone, but it's missing the point. capitalism is structured so that it'll just absorb that money right back into itself. you give people more money without changing anything else, and the landlords, the banks, they'll just increase prices. this is not simplified thinking, it is a fact in practice today.

look at the military housing allowance in the US as an example of how this works today. you can ask anyone enlisted who is stationed abroad. more money is provided, but the rent goes up to match. you think UBI will be any different? if there's a way for a capitalist to profit from a social program, they will stop at no cost to find it and exploit it. the whole system is rigged that way on purpose.

and then what about the way we go about funding ubi? it's a nice thought to tie it to taxes from the rich and corporations, but let's be real here. we can't even get a living wage set as the minimum wage. the idea that the government would just 'give away' money to people not working? it's laughable. we're a reactive society, not proactive. it's not going to happen.

from Adam Smith in Wealth of Nations:

"RENT, considered as the price paid for the use of land, is naturally the highest which the tenant can afford to pay in the actual circumstances. In adjusting the lease, the landlord endeavours to leave him no greater share of the produce than what is sufficient to keep up the stock."

it's all about what we can afford to pay. you increase wages or implement UBI, the rent will just go up. that's how the system works, that's how landlords operate. that is how it has always worked and always will work.

what we need to realize is that if we have the power to build support for UBI, we might as well go for full blown socialism. it's going to be just as hard, but it'll actually change things. you could look at something like universal basic services, where actual needs like healthcare, education, housing, and food are met. not just giving people money and hoping the market will magically solve the problems. but the fact of the matter is that this is not profitable and that is the crux of the capitalist dilemma.

UBI is just allowing people to play the game of capitalism. it doesn't change the rules, doesn't challenge the underlying causes or the issues or the problems or inequities. people will find themselves back in the same hole that they crawled out of because the boot on their neck is keeping them there. the boot is capitalism.

[songbird-at-the-fireside-chat]

Browsing the World Wide Web

Browsing the World Wide Web

One of my favorite passions is creating/finding ways to navigate the web that are healthy, authentic, and fun! Here are some resources I use to guide my internet usage. Some language has been slightly adapted for tone and accessibility. For more in-depth reading, follow the links! (taken with permission from https://yair.garden/browsing). Shared Ideals

MelonKing has an excellent list of shared ideals which I try to keep in mind as I browse the web. It's a great starting point!

Creativity is First: We see the ability to design, decorate, and graffiti digital spaces as essential and powerful.

The Internet is Fun: We want the Web to be a playground that's free to explore and enjoy.

Corporations are Boring: We are tired of the monetization, data abuse, and endless breaches of trust in corporate culture.

The Web is Friendly: We believe the Web should be friendly and supportive; caring is a radical act.

Right to Repair: We value the freedom to make, break, and repair our stuff - tinkering is a form of debate and protest.

One World Wide Web: We want free open knowledge and global connectivity, without paywalls, bubbles, or borders.

Chaotic Effort: We believe that value comes from the time and effort put into projects they love for no reason other than love.

No to Web3: In many (but not all) situations, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, unfairly trained AIs, and buzzword tech are unwelcome and uncool.

Manifesto for a New Web

The YesterWeb is an organization seeking to progressively transform internet culture and beyond. After two years, they created three core commitments and three social behavior guidelines to benefit everyone.

A commitment to social responsibility and partisanship.

A commitment to collective well-being and personal growth.

A commitment to rehumanizing social relations and reversing social alienation.

50 additional manifestos can be found here Social Etiquette

Engage in good faith.

Engage in constructive conflict.

Be mindful of participating in a shared, public space.

Why say no to Web 3.0?

One of the shared ideas of our community of web surfers is to push back against "Web 3.0". Here's why:

It's driven by predatory marketing tactics.

It requires complex technological and financial knowledge to fully understand.

It is actively harming the environment.

It caters to early adopters and whales.

It profits off artificial scarcity.

Investors are banking on Web3, and they really don't want to be wrong.

Personalized Web Surfing Guide

Make your web surfing personal and adventurous, away from corporate influences. Here's a simple guide for a unique browsing experience.

Configure your browser

Remove Ads and Clean up Privacy:

Ublock Origin for removing ads

ClearURLs for removing tracking elements from URLs

SponsorBlock for skipping sponsorships on YouTube

Make it a Safer Space:

ShinigamiEyes for highlighting transphobic/anti-LGBTQ sites

TriggerRemover for removing trigger-inducing content from pages

Clean up UI for Beauty and Minimalism:

CleanerReads for a muted Goodreads experience

Minimal; for a minimal and less attention-grabbing internet

Bonuses for a Cool Experience:

Library Extension: Check book availability at local libraries

Translate Web Pages: Translate pages in real-time

Return YouTube Dislike: Bring back the YouTube dislike feature

How to Browse and Surf the Web

Explore Beyond Corporate Sites: While the internet is vast, the majority of users only see a small fraction dominated by large corporate sites. These sites often prioritize shock value and extreme content, overshadowing the richness of the wider web. Explore alternative avenues to discover the internet's diversity.

Search Engines: Avoid corporate search engines like Google. Instead, consider using alternatives like Kagi, which focuses on privacy and doesn't sell your data. While it costs around $10/month, Kagi offers a diverse mix of web content, making it a worthwhile investment for varied search results. Other niche or non-commercial search engines can also provide unique content. While they may not be sustainable for daily use, they're great for discovering new sites. Find them here.

Webrings: Webrings are collections of websites united by a common theme or topic. They offer a unique way to explore sites created by real people, spanning a wide range of interests. Here are some of my favorite webrings:

Hotline Webring

Retro Webring

Low Tech Webring

Geek Webring

Soft Heart Clinic Mental Health Circle ...and here are some list of webring databases to explore!

Curated List of 64 Webrings

Neocities Webrings

Curated List of Active Webrings

Comprehensive List of 210 Webrings

Cliques/Fanlistings Web Cliques/Cliques are groups which you can join usually if you fulfill a certain task such as choosing an animal or listing your astrological sign. Fanlistings do the same for fans of various topics! You can then be linked on the clique's/fan group's site for further website discovery! Here are some web clique directories:

Project Clique

Cliqued

Fanlistings Network

5. Link Directories

Many sites have smaller link directories of buttons where you can find sites that they are "mutuals" (both creators follow each other) and "friends/neighbors" — sites they follow. It's a great way to build community. There are also larger link directories of sites which someone finds cool, and it's a great way to intentionally explore the web. Here are some of my favorites:

SadGrl Links

Melonland Surf Club

Neocities Sites

Onio.Cafe

Though there are many more! 6. Random Site Generators

Finally, there are random site generators which allow you to randomly stumble upon websites. While not very practical, they are a lot of fun and offer a unique way to discover new corners of the web.

A list can be found here

What now?

The next question you have is probably how can you become an active member/contribute in this world of the underground web? I unfortunately don't have the energy to write a guide right now but it will come soon! In broad strokes, consider making a site on Neocities. If you do make a site, remember to include a robots.txt file to get AI and bots out of there and don't forget to rate your site so we can know who it's for. If you'd like to transition off social media I recommend an RSS Reader such as the one at 32bit.cafe or on Fraidycat (guide on this to come soon as well!). For your twitter-fix you can always post a status at Status Cafe and your mood at imood. There is a whole world out there full of passionate and friendly people who are ready to reclaim the web. Excited to see you there!

[mariacallous]

As AI tools become increasingly sophisticated and accessible, so too has one of its worst applications: non-consensual deepfake pornography. While much of this content is hosted on dedicated sites, more and more it’s finding its way onto social platforms. Today, the Meta Oversight Board announced that it was taking on cases that could force the company to reckon with how it deals with deepfake porn.

The board, which is an independent body that can issue both binding decisions and recommendations to Meta, will focus on two deepfake porn cases, both regarding celebrities who had their images altered to create explicit content. In one case about an unnamed American celebrity, deepfake porn depicting the celebrity was removed from Facebook after it had already been flagged elsewhere on the platform. The post was also added to Meta’s Media Matching Service Bank, an automated system that finds and removes images that have already been flagged as violating Meta’s policies, to keep it off the platform.

In the other case, a deepfake image of an unnamed Indian celebrity remained up on Instagram, even after users reported it for violating Meta’s policies on pornography. The deepfake of the Indian celebrity was removed once the board took up the case, according to the announcement.

In both cases, the images were removed for violating Meta’s policies on bullying and harassment, and did not fall under Meta’s policies on porn. Meta, however, prohibits “content that depicts, threatens or promotes sexual violence, sexual assault or sexual exploitation” and does not allow porn or sexually explicit ads on its platforms. In a blog post released in tandem with the announcement of the cases, Meta said it removed the posts for violating the “derogatory sexualized photoshops or drawings” portion of its bullying and harassment policy, and that it also “determined that it violated [Meta's] adult nudity and sexual activity policy.”

The board hopes to use these cases to examine Meta’s policies and systems to detect and remove nonconsensual deepfake pornography, according to Julie Owono, an Oversight Board member. “I can tentatively already say that the main problem is probably detection,” she says. “Detection is not as perfect or at least is not as efficient as we would wish.”

Meta has also long faced criticism for its approach to moderating content outside the US and Western Europe. For this case, the board already voiced concerns that the American celebrity and Indian celebrity received different treatment in response to their deepfakes appearing on the platform.

“We know that Meta is quicker and more effective at moderating content in some markets and languages than others. By taking one case from the United States and one from India, we want to see if Meta is protecting all women globally in a fair way,” says Oversight Board cochair Helle Thorning-Schmidt. “It’s critical that this matter is addressed, and the board looks forward to exploring whether Meta’s policies and enforcement practices are effective at addressing this problem.”

The board declined to name the Indian and American celebrities whose images spurred the complaints, but pornographic deepfakes of celebrities have become rampant. A recent Channel 4 investigation found deepfakes of more than 4,000 celebrities. In January, a nonconsensual deepfake of Taylor Swift went viral on Facebook, Instagram, and especially X, where one post garnered more than 45 million views. X resorted to restricting the singer’s name from its search function, but posts continued to circulate. And while platforms struggled to remove that content, it was Swift’s fans who reportedly took to reporting and blocking the accounts that shared the image. In March, NBC News reported that ads for a deepfake app that ran on Facebook and Instagram featured the images of an undressed, underaged Jenna Ortega. In India, deepfakes have targeted major Bollywood actresses including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt, and Rashmika Mandann.

Ever since deepfakes emerged half a decade ago, research has found that nonconsensual deepfake pornography overwhelmingly targets women—and it has continued to explode. Last year, reporting from WIRED found that 244,625 videos had been uploaded to the top 35 deepfake porn hosting sites—more than any previous year. And it doesn’t take much to make a deepfake. In 2019, VICE found that just 15 seconds of an Instagram story is enough to create a reliable deepfake, and the technology has only gotten more accessible. Last month, a school in Beverly Hills expelled five students who had made nonconsensual deepfakes of 16 of their classmates.

“Deepfake pornography is a growing cause of gender-based harassment online and is increasingly used to target, silence, and intimidate women on- and offline,” says Thorning-Schmidt. “Multiple studies show that deepfake pornography overwhelmingly targets women. This content can be extremely harmful for victims, and the tools used for creating it are becoming more sophisticated and accessible.”

In January, legislators introduced the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits, or DEFIANCE Act, that would allow people whose images were used in deepfake porn to sue if they could show that it was made without their consent. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who sponsored the bill, was herself the target of deepfake pornography earlier this year.

“Victims of nonconsensual pornographic deepfakes have waited too long for federal legislation to hold perpetrators accountable,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement at the time. “As deepfakes become easier to access and create—96 percent of deepfake videos circulating online are nonconsensual pornography—Congress needs to act to show victims that they won’t be left behind.”

[eaglesnick]

“We are intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich” - Peter Mandelson

The other day I made the assertion that when the people of Britain voted for Keir Starmer, what they were really getting was Tony Blaire. To be fair this was partly tongue-in-cheek but having read the Kings Speech setting out the Labour Party's plans to change Britain it is closer to the truth than is comfortable.

The Tony Blaire Institute for Global Change has a paper entitled: The Economic Case for Reimagining the State that was published July 9th, 2024, just five days after the UK elections. Some of the wording in this report is almost identical to some of the wording in the Kings Speech.

Tony Blaire Institute:  “reforming the UK’s antiquated planning system is a high priority that could unlock much needed infrastructure investment and help un-gum the UK’s housing market.”

Kings Speech: “My Ministers will get Britain building, including through planning reform, as they seek to accelerate the delivery of high quality infrastructure and housing."

Tony Blaire: "Normalization of relations with the EU: A full reversal of these losses may be politically unattainable during this Parliament, but there is a path to a better post-Brexit relationship in the coming years"

Kings Speech: My Government will seek to reset the relationship with European partners and work to improve the United Kingdom's trade and investment relationship with the European Union

Tony Blaire: "The new government will need to lean in to support the diffusion of AI-era tech across the economy by adopting a pro-innovation, pro-technology stance, as advocated by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.”

Kings Speech: "It will seek to establish the appropriate legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful artificial intelligence models.”

The Kings Speech is, by necessity, very brief and gives virtually no detail how the government’s aims are to be achieved. We will have to wait and see how much more of Keir Starmer’s vision for the future of Britain mirrors that of Tony Blaire. If Starmer is as closely aligned to Blaire as these comparisons suggest then public sector workers beware.

Blaire places great reliance on the introduction of artificial intelligence to ALL sectors of the economy, but  especially within the public sector. Once introduced Blaire predicts a productivity gain of “one-fifth workforce time”

 Public sector workers, having adopted the new AI and having increased productivity by 20% can then expect the sack.

“If the government chooses to bank these time savings and reduce the size of the workforce, this could result in annual net savings of £10 billion per year by the end of this Parliament and £34 billion per year by the end of the next – enough to pay for the entire defence budget.”

This is the true Blairite mindset. Nothing about sharing the productivity gains made by workers in the form of higher wages, nothing about the redistribution of wealth or tackling income inequality. In Blaire’s Case for Reimagining the State poverty is not mentioned once. Inequality gets one mention but only as a statistic relating to workers forced to use food banks. 

What Blaire and Starmer – like the Conservative Party - appear to have forgotten is that  public services are exactly that –  services.  Yes they need to be efficient and cost effective but NOT to the extent that the service element is lost. The rich can afford to buy service, ordinary working people have to rely upon government for basic services and over the last few years they have been badly let down.  Poor pay, increasing workloads, job insecurity and private sector creep have all contributed to bringing Britain’s public services to the verge of collapse. Let us all hope Starmer and Blaire don’t push them completely over the edge.

[tryslat]

Free AI to Human Text Converters: Are They Worth It?

In the fast-evolving world of content creation, artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized how we write, communicate, and share information. With AI tools generating vast amounts of content in a matter of seconds, the demand for high-quality human-like text has skyrocketed. But are free AI to human text converters really worth it? Let’s explore their potential, limitations, and why AI to Human Text Converter is the perfect solution for your needs.

What Are AI to Human Text Converters?

AI to human text converters are tools designed to transform robotic, machine-generated content into readable, fluent text that mimics human writing. These tools are especially useful for content creators, businesses, and marketers who rely on AI-generated content but need it to sound more natural and engaging.

Why Use AI to Human Text Converters?

There are several reasons why content creators may choose to use these converters:

Readability: AI-generated content can often be too technical or robotic. Converters enhance readability by making the text sound more fluid.

SEO Optimization: Human-like content is more likely to engage readers, improve time spent on the page, and lead to better SEO results.

Improving Engagement: Natural-sounding text attracts more readers and helps build better audience engagement.

Editing and Polishing: Even the best AI content requires tweaking. These converters offer a fast way to polish the text.

Free vs. Paid Converters: What’s the Difference?

While many AI to human text converters are available for free, they may not always deliver the same quality as their paid counterparts. Free tools often come with limitations, such as word limits, fewer advanced features, and lower-quality output.

However, if you're looking for a reliable, efficient, and free AI to human text converter, AI to Human Text Converter is the perfect choice. Our tool provides a seamless experience, ensuring that your content sounds natural and professional without breaking the bank.

Key Features of AI to Human Text Converters

When choosing an AI to human text converter, it's essential to look for certain key features:

Accuracy: The tool should accurately interpret and convert AI-generated text into natural human language.

Ease of Use: A user-friendly interface is critical for efficiency, especially for beginners.

Customization Options: The ability to tweak tone, style, and structure can make a big difference in the final output.

Speed: Time is money, and fast text conversions help content creators stay on top of deadlines.

SEO Integration: High-quality content that ranks well on search engines is vital for success. Tools with SEO features or plugins are a bonus.

Why Choose AI to Human Text Converter?

At AI to Human Text Converter, we provide a free, easy-to-use tool with advanced features designed to help you convert AI-generated text into high-quality human-like content. Here’s why we stand out:

Free Forever: No need to worry about premium subscriptions. Our tool offers quality text conversions without hidden fees.

Simple Interface: Our platform is built with simplicity in mind, ensuring that anyone can use it to convert text in a few easy steps.

Advanced Algorithms: We utilize cutting-edge AI technology to refine your text, making it sound more human, professional, and engaging.

SEO-Friendly: Our tool enhances your content’s SEO potential by making it more readable and appealing to both readers and search engines.

No Word Limits: Unlike other free tools that cap the number of words, AI to Human Text Converter allows you to convert as much text as you need.

How to Get the Best Results from an AI to Human Text Converter

If you're using an AI to human text converter, there are several best practices to follow to ensure top-notch results:

Edit the Input: Before converting, make sure the AI-generated text is clear and coherent. The better the input, the better the output.

Check for Context: Ensure the converted text fits your topic or audience. Customizing it to fit your unique needs can significantly enhance the quality.

Use SEO-Optimized Keywords: When converting text, make sure you integrate important keywords to improve your content’s visibility on search engines.

Review and Edit: Even after converting, always review the text to ensure it's up to your standard. Small tweaks can make a big difference.

[rthidden]

The Golden Era of AI: Small Business Owners, It's Your Time!

Now is the moment for small business owners to embrace the world of AI, turning data overload into dazzling opportunities for growth!

1. Data is Your Secret Sauce

Data is the fuel that powers AI, and today, we're swimming in an ocean of it! With billions of messages shared on platforms like WhatsApp and countless videos on YouTube, this data is ripe for the picking. Here’s how you can leverage it:

Understand Customer Behavior: Use data analytics tools to extract insights about your customers’ preferences and behaviors.

Tailor Marketing Strategies: Customize your marketing campaigns based on data-driven insights, leading to higher engagement rates.

Make Informed Decisions: Data helps you make decisions backed by facts rather than guessing. The more informed you are, the stronger your business decisions will be.

2. Power in Your Pocket

Believe it or not, the computing power you can access today dwarfs that of a government supercomputer from 20 years ago! With powerful GPUs available for just $2,000, you can get your hands on technology that was once only available to the elite. Here’s how to use that power:

Affordable AI Development: Harness this technology to kickstart your AI projects without breaking the bank.

Experiment with Neural Networks: With the processing power at your disposal, you can launch simple AI projects that enhance customer service or automate tasks.

Stay Agile: Rapid access to computing power allows you to pivot quickly and respond to market changes effectively.

3. Democratizing AI: You Can Do It!

The beauty of today's AI landscape is that building AI isn't just for tech giants. It’s democratic! You can dive into AI without needing a huge budget:

Start Small: Begin with straightforward AI tools and platforms that don’t require coding knowledge.

Explore Online Resources: Use free resources and online courses to get a grounding in AI concepts—platforms like Coursera or Udacity have various options.

Community Engagement: Join local or online tech communities focusing on AI. Networking can provide invaluable insights and support as you embark on your AI journey.

4. Invest in the Future

AI isn’t a passing trend; it’s the future of business. Investing in AI can transform your operation from the ground up:

Boost Efficiency: Automate mundane tasks, allowing your team to focus on higher-value work.

Enhance Customer Experience: Implement chatbots or recommendation systems that cater specifically to your customers, making their interactions seamless.

Future-Proof Your Business: Being an early adopter of AI can set you apart in the marketplace, giving your business a competitive edge.

In this golden era of AI, small business owners have an unprecedented opportunity to harness the power of data and computing. Dive in, explore, and include AI in your business strategy now!

Are you excited to jump on the AI bandwagon? Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below—we’d love to hear how you intend to implement AI in your business!

[yinyangp]

Vocaloid 6 Voicebank Thoughts

Less formal than a "review" but I wanted to share my thoughts on the V6 banks I have and have used. Ngl it's primarily positive, and y'all may have noticed I tend to use V6 more than I use SynthV just because I have more fun with Vocaloid. These are more or less gonna be in order by when I used them. I also might add to this post if/when I acquire new banks. Anyways here goes:

Allen

I really enjoy the tone of his bank, it's a sort of RnB/trap/rap-esque voice and that's not common in vocal synths so I appreciate it

English is really clear and the Japanese accent is also passable - mandarin isn't so good but I also barely use mandarin so

Goes falsetto when he goes high which in the right song goes hard

Probably my favorite of the four "default" banks

Sarah

A nice, solid, more mature sounding voice with is always welcome imo

Dunno if I've ever finished a whole song with her in english but I like her in Japanese just as much tbh

Once again, the mandarin needs work. I'm wondering if that's not just all of the V6 banks that were recorded for english

Unfortunately her voice tends to lose power in the higher range which makes her hard to use sometimes (but, most AI banks, not even just vocaloid ones, also have this issue.)

Tied with Haruka for second favorite default bank

Haruka

She kinda leans into the "cute little girl" voicetype but, it's still unique and has a rich quality to it

Once again I've never used her in full for english but I can't complain about her english really, I just have other banks I'd rather use for english??

Her mandarin is pretty good actually! I've noticed banks recorded for japanese handle mandarin better.

She also loses power when she goes high but it's less noticeable than with Sarah, since Haruka's less powerful to begin with

As stated previously, she's tied with Sarah for second place in the "default bank" category

Akito

So mid it hurts

Seriously he's not bad but he is the most Generic Male Voice on the market

Literally just "the Kaito we have at home"

I almost forgot he even existed and went straight to the next vocal on my list before realizing my mistake

I pretty much only ever use him for backing vocals, like octave down harmonies that are out of the main singer's range

Gumi AI

Gumi is love, Gumi is life,

Far higher quality than any of the default banks, like not even in the same league. Literally she's better in every conceivable way

The english accent is a little worse than the V3 english bank but by far more natural sounding, so it makes up the difference

Her mandarin is decent. Not much else to say, and I think Haruka's might be a little bit better???

Pretty much the only bad thing is that once again, the bank loses power in the higher register and that's hard to compensate for.

Regardless, easily my favorite voice for the engine. Period. Every time I tune her I have a blast.

Fuiro

I bought her while she was on sale and she was worth every penny

Seriously she sounds like a youtaite and I love love love her mature warm tone

Her english is also very clear and natural sounding. I've used her more in english than in japanese (which is funny since she was recorded for JPN lol)

In general, she feels more expressive than the others because her tone varies a lot depending on pitch

With that said, her range feels a lot more limited - she switches into falsetto almost immediately upon hitting C4 (C5 in UTAU) but she also can't go too far below C3 (C4 in UTAU) without starting to sound robotic

Even so, she's probably my second favorite V6 bank after Gumi

Una (Spicy)

Finally finally finally a voicebank that doesn't lose the powerful tone in the upper register

Her english is good but it's the only one where I've had to use extensive phoneme editing like you would in a V3/V4 non-native bank

Sometimes the english phonemes sound a little weird, especially [e], [I], and [V]

Still, it's the Una Spicy tone we all know and love

The styles Una comes with kinda suck actually, Gumi and Fuiro both had style presets that make them sound great but idk what's up with Una's

I still love her tho, especially having a powerful vocal that can also go high and stay powerful

Una (Sugar)

Soft, but still has Una's solid, cutesy tone

English is a bit better than Spicy's but still not great (what happened here? the others cross language synth just fine)

The Sugar styles are also better than Spicy's styles but still not great (again not sure what happened there)

Still, the tone is great and it's very fun to tune

DISCLAIMER: I literally got Una's banks yesterday so my opinions on them are not fully formed.

[exitrowiron]

Investing 101

Part 4 of ?

What to Buy

I've been procrastinating this post because I have a broker who provides buying/selling recommendations to me as I'm not an expert. Having said that, I can provide some information.

The first decision to make is whether to buy stocks or bonds. I explained the difference between the two in previous posts but I should add a caveat. Normally bonds are considered a safe but lower return investment to balance your portfolio and reduce risk. The moves by the Fed to control inflation however have raised interest rates on bonds to levels not seen in >40 years. For the first time in a long time, very safe bonds (ex. US Treasuries) are yielding more than equities and you can lock in those rates for a long time. Normally I'd advise a young person to avoid any bonds, but this is a strange time and some bonds would be a good investment for almost anyone. As with stocks, you can buy individual bonds or a bond fund.

What is a fund? Let's imagine that you want to own a basket of tech stocks (or bank stocks or consumer goods stocks, etc.). You could research various companies and make your purchases or you could buy a mutual fund. Mutual funds are actively managed investment pools with specific investment philosophies (ex. focused on tech stocks) - you purchase shares in the fund and the fund manager uses your money (and the $$ of other fund investors) to buy/sell shares in accordance with the philosophy/purpose of the fund. Actively managed means that there is a management team doing investment research and then buying and selling shares. Of course the management team costs money and they deduct their fee from the earnings pool prior to distributing the fund's earnings back to the owner/investors of the fund. Fund managers argue that their active management improves your earnings while lowering your risk. Detractors argue that management fees are too expensive and over the long run, investors can do better on their own (more on that later). Management fees aren't regulated (that I'm aware of) so investors have to be cautious - some funds have very expensive management fees while others are more frugal. Morningstar is a great resource for researching investments of all types, including funds.

An alternative to a Mutual Fund is an Index or Exchange Traded Fund. These funds are designed to mirror the composition and performance of an entire stock exchange (ex. NASDAQ). So if the NASDAQ goes up 10pts today, the related Index or Exchange traded fund will also go up 10pts. This is a low cost way to invest in the performance of the overall market. Many advisors recommend these investments for superior long term growth. These funds aren't actively managed by a human, but their low cost makes them a winner.

Speaking of humans, AI managed funds are increasingly a hot topic. I may own some of these funds and not even know it, but I'm not seeking AI management. In fact, automated trading can be problematic and cause 'flash crashes' for the market when every AI algorithm tries to sell at the time.

Target Date funds are another kind of mutual fund which is increasingly popular in 401Ks and 529 college savings plans. A target date fund is designed to manage risk and volatility with a specific life goal in mind. For example, you might establish a goal retirement date of 2040 and buy a Target Date fund for that year. The 2040 fund will automatically invest in higher risk/higher return equities in the first 20 years and gradually shift more of the portfolio to lower risk investments (like bonds) as your target date approaches.

Money market funds are a very low risk way to earn better returns on your emergency fund cash than allowing it to wallow in a bank savings account. A money market is a kind of mutual fund, but it owns very safe investments - the odds are very small that you'd lose money and instead you'll have a very liquid, safe investment that you can use in case of emergency.

What about individual stocks? Some investors follow the simple strategy of buying the stocks of companies whose products they know and admire. Ex, "I like my iPhone so I'm going to buy Apple stock." In >30 years of investing I have never purchased an individual stock. My rationale is that there is an entire industry of very smart people who do nothing but research and invest. The odds that I can outsmart them and pick a company which everyone else has undervalued are small. If I've read about it in the Wall Street Journal, so has everyone else and the opportunity to buy something cheap is long gone. In my opinion, buying individual stocks is like going to Vegas - of course you will hear stories of big winners, but in general the house (full time investment professionals) always wins. For a non-professional like me, the odds of selecting individual stocks and assembling a winning portfolio over the long term aren't in my favor.

[newstfionline]

Sunday, September 3, 2023

No power and nowhere to stay as rural Florida starts recovering from Hurricane Idalia (AP) The worst of Hurricane Idalia left residents of a region of tight-knit communities trying to find places to live as they rebuild—if they decide it’s even worth it—and waiting potentially weeks for electricity to be restored after winds and water took out entire power grids. A power cooperative warned its 28,000 customers it might take two weeks to restore electricity. More than 100,000 homes and businesses in Florida and Georgia remained without power Friday, according to PowerOutage.us. And even with high temperatures below normal, the high humidity meant sweltering late-summer days and nights, with no power to run air conditioners. Emergency officials promised trailers would arrive over the weekend to provide housing in an area that didn’t have much to begin with.

Americans’ Ideal Family Size Is Larger Than the Birthrate Suggests (WSJ) What do you think is the ideal number of children for a family to have? Most Americans say the answer is two to three children, according to various surveys over nearly 90 years, even as actual birthrates drop lower than that. In fact, the share of people saying they want three or more children has risen as the actual number of children being born has dropped. Why aren’t people having the families they idealize or intend to have? All sorts of life happens, and you don’t necessarily end up with the family you expected theoretically in a survey.

.ai (Bloomberg) The Caribbean island Anguilla, a British territory, has made bank this year because their country-level domain address is .ai, and amid the AI trend they’re making a fortune off of new registrations. This year, registrations at the top level domain doubled to 287,432 on the year, which would mean that Anguilla will reap in the ballpark of $30 million for the year from selling the domains, up from $7.4 million brought in in 2021.

The Bolivian Job (Rest of World) An estimated 20 percent of the total vehicle fleet in Bolivia has been smuggled, mostly stolen in neighboring Chile and then driven across the desert to one of the 73 illegal markets that are remarkably easy to find. The Bolivian government is aware of the issue, and the car thieves have become a lifestyle of their own, called chuteros with their own TikTok scene and whatnot. Naturally, this has the Chileans furious, and local police are overwhelmed with reports. Chile’s even got a new AI-fueled startup, SafeByWolf, designed to identify boosted cars faster for the insurance industry.

More than 100 British schools may face danger of collapse (BBC) More than 100 schools in England are scrambling to make arrangements after being told to shut buildings with a type of concrete prone to collapse. The government gave the order just days before the start of the autumn term. Some pupils have already been told they will be learning remotely, in temporary classrooms or at different schools. Schools found with buildings containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) have been told they must introduce safety measures, which could include propping up ceilings. This came after the government was made aware of a number of incidents where RAAC failed without warning, not just in school buildings, but elsewhere too.

Russian students are returning to school, where they face new lessons to boost their patriotism (AP) Clad in white shirts and carrying bouquets, children across Russia flocked back to school Friday, where the Kremlin’s narratives about the war in Ukraine and its confrontation with the West were taking an even more prominent spot than before. Students are expected each week to listen to Russia’s national anthem and watch the country’s tricolor flag being raised. There’s a weekly subject loosely translated as “Conversations about Important Things,” which was introduced last year with the goal of boosting patriotism. A new high school history textbook has a chapter on the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the “special military operation”—the Kremlin’s euphemism for the war, and some basic military training is included in a course on self-defense and first aid. “School ... is a powerful mechanism for raising a person subordinate to the state,” said Nikolay Petrov, visiting researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. “For a while the school was outside the active attention of the state. Today, it’s all coming back.”

As Ukraine’s Fight Grinds On, Talk of Negotiations Becomes Nearly Taboo (NYT) Stian Jenssen, the chief of staff to the secretary general of NATO, recently had his knuckles rapped when he commented on possible options for an end to the war in Ukraine that did not envision a complete Russian defeat. His remarks provoked an angry condemnation from the Ukrainians; a clarification from his boss, Jens Stoltenberg; and ultimately an apology from Mr. Jenssen. The contretemps, say some analysts who have been similarly chastised, reflects a closing down of public discussion on options for Ukraine just at a moment when imaginative diplomacy is most needed, they say. Given that even President Biden says the war is likely to end in negotiations, Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, believes there should be a serious debate in any democracy about how to get there. Yet he, too, has also been criticized for suggesting that it is important to talk to Russia about a negotiated outcome. “There is a broad and increasingly widespread sense that what we’re doing now isn’t working, but not much of an idea of what to do next, and not a big openness to discuss it, which is how you come up with one,” he said. “The lack of success hasn’t opened up the political space for an open discussion of alternatives.”

Pope, in Mongolia, laments earth devastated by countless conflicts (Reuters) Pope Francis, in words that appeared to be aimed at China rather than the neighbouring country he was visiting, said on Saturday that governments have nothing to fear from the Catholic Church because it has no political agenda. In an address to bishops, priests, missionaries and pastoral workers, he said Jesus gave no political mandate to his apostles but told them to alleviate the sufferings of a “wounded humanity” through faith. “For this reason, governments and secular institutions have nothing to fear from the Church’s work of evangelization, for she has no political agenda to advance, but is sustained by the quiet power of God’s grace and a message of mercy and truth, which is meant to promote the good of all,” he said. On Saturday morning, Francis called on leaders to dispel the “dark clouds of war.”

Typhoon Saola makes landfall in southern China but appears to cause only light damage (AP) Typhoon Saola made landfall in southern China before dawn Saturday after nearly 900,000 people were moved to safety and most of Hong Kong and parts of the coastal mainland suspended business, transport and classes. Damage appeared to be minimal, however, and some services were returning to normal by afternoon. Meanwhile, Taiwan issued a warning Saturday for a second typhoon, Haikui, which was expected to pass over the island Sunday, before traveling onward to the central Chinese coast.

Biden approves military aid to Taiwan under program normally used for sovereign states (NBC) On Wednesday, Washington approved a transfer of arms to Taiwan under the Foreign Military Financing program, which is normally reserved for use with sovereign states. Currently, neither the U.S. nor U.N. acknowledges the island nation as its own country in order to maintain diplomatic ties to China. Beijing voiced its “strong dissatisfaction” and “firm opposition” to the weapons sale, claiming that it hurt “China’s sovereignty and security interests” while damaging “peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.” Even as China-U.S. dialogue has picked up in recent months with multiple American officials visiting Beijing, the White House has continued funneling arms to Taiwan. Last month, Washington approved a $345 million arms package to the country, and is working to send $500 million worth of F-16 fighter jets to Taipei as well.

With wary eye on China, U.S. moves closer to former foe Vietnam (Washington Post) The United States and Vietnam are poised to significantly enhance their economic and technological ties, bringing the former foes closer at a time of increased Chinese assertiveness in the region. The deal, expected to be announced when President Biden makes a state visit to Vietnam next weekend, is the latest step by the Biden administration to deepen relations in Asia. For Hanoi, the closer relationship with Washington serves as a counterweight to Beijing’s influence. The establishment of a “comprehensive strategic partnership” will give the United States a diplomatic status that Vietnam has so far reserved for only a handful of other countries: China, Russia, India and South Korea.

The low, low cost of shipping (London Review of Books) The truth is that shipping is responsible, as Rose George put it in the subtitle of her classic 2013 book on the subject, for ‘90 Per Cent of Everything’. It is the physical equivalent of the internet, the other industry which makes globalisation possible. The internet abolishes national boundaries for information, news, data; shipping abolishes these boundaries for physical goods. The main way it does this is by being almost incomprehensibly efficient and cheap. As George points out, if you’re having a sweater shipped from the other side of the planet, the cost of shipping adds just a cent to the price. Another way of putting it would be to say that shipping is, in practice, free. This has had the effect of abolishing geography and location as an economic factor: moving stuff from A to B is so cheap that, for most goods, there is no advantage in siting manufacturing anywhere near your customers. Instead, you make whatever it is where it’s cheapest, and ship it to them instead.

[kylebbrown]

Social media ethic

The current state of social media ethics:

What trends are happening in the industry?

In the industry, I see a lot of discourse around AI-generated posts. I tend to see news sites talk about how worrisome AI-generated images and voice manipulation is getting. The public is concerned with how far AI can go before the government steps in to start monitoring posts.

What are two current cases related to social media ethics?

Currently, in Tennessee, former state legal ethics attorney Dean Morgan could seek back pay after being fired from his job in 2020, from tweets he had made in 2015/16 regarding Islam before he had worked for the board. About five days ago Google’s parent company Alphabet was hiring former DOJ lawyers for its team after receiving its second antitrust lawsuit from the DOJ for possibly creating a monopoly in marketing and advertising. This is a problem because these new lawyers used to work for the DOJ and that could mess up the legitimacy of the case. Causing people to accidentally or purposely share private information that would benefit either side.

Outline the current code of ethics for social media by a professional organization you would be interested in joining as part of their social media staff.

            Treat others with dignity and respect. Refrain from demeaning or discriminatory behavior and speech. Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. Alert Twitter staff if you notice a dangerous situation or someone in distress. If the last point didn’t give it away, I would love to work for twitter's social media staff or possibly bumble.

Brands/professionals with strong social media ethical codes:

What brands are utilizing proper social media ethical practices?

The first company that comes to mind is Ben and Jerry's Ice cream. This company is always one of the first to post how they view social issues and donate and spread useful information to the company on how to incite change. It’s lovely seeing what they’ll post because you can tell they really care about the community and the world we leave behind for the future generation.

Are there any professionals that you feel practice strong ethical behavior on social media? Support your choice with evidence.

  The first person that comes to mind is Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez (AOC). She’s a political figure and a representative of New York and as you can assume she keeps a pretty squeaky-clean online personality. She’ll still post about problems that America is having, insight into change, and drive a message to the people, but she does this in a way where it complies with community guidelines and ethics without completely vilifying people. “Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday met with organizers of Stand Up to Violence, a first-of-its-kind program in New York that has shown a nearly 60% reduction in gunshot injuries.”(Mar 21 & 2023Share, 2023). AOC states her view on the Silicon Valley bank nightmare, she reposted this tweet “ 2. Where were regulators ? They are supposed to watch and warn. 3. Can't wait to see how many people yanked their money, told others to,  and shorted the stock. 4. Will the  number of emps  that aren't paid this week lead to a multiple of that number not being paid in 2 weeks? And then replied saying: “The regulators were there until SVB lobbied Congress to remove the guardrails that prevent this kind of crisis in the first place. Warnings were everywhere. SVB, like many gamblers before them, knew what they were doing. Let the FDIC open the books & see what it’s working with. -  How many of the Silicon Valley folks who lobbied Congress + Trump to cause this crisis are willing to admit they were wrong? I haven’t seen a single one of these guys crying for a bailout take a single ounce of accountability for their actions. It’s honestly shameless.” (https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1634643268326629376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1634643268326629376%7Ctwgr%5E208a205948783d6ab105b43297e356ec5a796638%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FAOC2Fstatus2F1634643268326629376widget%3DTweet)

What are some takeaways you can bring forth in your practices?

            Well, thankfully I grew up during the rise of social media. I learned from a young age that the internet is forever and what you post will remain online forever, this fact has always shaken me to my core. So, I was very diligent with what I posted online. I also had to have my parents follow my accounts when I opened them. They had to be private, and they were watching what was going on. The biggest advice I could give new social media users is that what you post matters. Even if you have only five followers because if you start posting wild things it will come back to bite you.

Key concepts and issues:

What main concepts do you are necessary to adhere to for your conduct online?

            I try to be as neutral as possible when I post. I like to share what I’ve learned, provide the resources for others to learn as well, and have fun in a clean way (no cussing, no crude jokes). This is for my protection; I would hate to have said something offensive and been known as the “rude or messy guy” for all my life. So, online I proceed with caution.

What to do and what not to do: what main concepts do you feel strongly against and want to make sure you avoid on social media?

            It is quite easy (or should be) to be a person with any type of social media account. A good rule of thumb is to not post anything you wouldn’t say in real life. Just because you are behind a screen this doesn’t mean what you post is anonymous; it can always get tracked back to you. Do post anything hurtful or hateful, if you think that just because you are on your alt acct. you can start posting wildly untrue and cruel things about a person or group of people, you are sadly mistaken. It will come back to get you especially if word gets out that, that is your acct. You are screwed for a long time. Cancel culture is huge nowadays, people have been kicked out of school, lost their jobs, been harmed, and have had their lives ruined just because of a post they made.

Bullet point 5-10 core concepts that you will follow as a practicing social media professional. Include citations that you used for sources/supports for this.

Fact-checking any information/news I would like to post before I post it.

I will be citing my sources for those informative post

I will private my account, so I am not denied jobs because of what I post. (don’t worry I don’t post bad things)

I will try to do some research on the people I am following, understanding whom you follow is important because people will view whom you follow as an extension of your character.

I will make sure my Twitter likes are private ;)

[mark-matos]

🎬💥 "Hollywood Apocalypse: Justine Bateman Rings the AI Alarm Bell!" 💥🎬

👩‍💻 Justine Bateman, Hollywood's powerhouse and a Computer Science grad, is making waves with her recent tweet thread! She's warning Tinseltown about the impending AI invasion, a tech monster that could replace writers, actors, and more! 🚨👩‍🎤👨‍🎤

🎭 Think AI is just an algorithm? Bateman says, think again! She compares AI to a sophisticated navigation tool, like Waze. Feed it with all the data you can, give it a task, and voila! It delivers based on its knowledge bank. Now, imagine this in scriptwriting and acting! 🚦🗺️📝

🔐 But, she warns, this AI wave could come crashing down on the shores of copyright. She's advising all her fellow SAG actors to demand iron-clad protection against AI usage of their "image and voice". And she's not stopping there! She's pushing for the unions to tackle this issue head-on or risk losing control over their creative souls forever. 📣🛡️

😱 The industry's silence is deafening. Bateman reveals the AMPTP's refusal to engage with the WGA on AI, which she finds deeply unsettling. As negotiations continue to rage, Bateman asserts that a strike might be the only way to bring the AI issue into the spotlight. 💔⏳

🎥 Bateman's foresight isn't new. She served on the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee during the last strike and ensured the union had a stake in the then-nascent online video market. Now, she's back in the ring, fighting for fair play in a world where streaming is the new gold rush. 💸📈

💔 Despite the enormous profits being made by streaming platforms, Bateman finds it obscene that they're not restricting AI use or sharing the wealth with the creative personnel who make their success possible. But will they listen? 🤔💰

🚫 Actors and voice artists are now being asked to sign away future rights to their image and voice. Bateman is sounding the alarm! She believes AI is just another tool for "human greed" and a threat to human expression. Her take? This is a problem that doesn't need solving. 🤖🔚

⏰ The clock is ticking for Hollywood. With the writers' strike dragging on, Bateman's revelations could change the game. But will Hollywood heed the warning? Stay tuned! 📺⏰

[trading-strategies-news]

The Conversation Indonesia: ChatGPT: how to use AI as a virtual financial adviser

read completely.

we'll form habit.

For example, Morgan Stanley’s AI models analyse a wide range of data – including news articles, social media posts and financial statements – to identify patterns and predict stock prices.

Researchers have started to explore the potential of AI tools like ChatGPT, but given how new this technology is, much of the academic research remains in the early stages. A recent preprint study, the results of which have not been reviewed by other academics, tested ChatGPT’s predictions about stock market performance based on sentiment analysis of news headlines.

ChatGPT determines if a headline is good, bad or irrelevant for a firm’s stock prices and computes a score. This research found a high correlation between *ChatGPT’s responses and stock market movements, showing some ability to predict the direction of returns*

AI tools may also be able to help investors decipher monetary policy announcements, providing insights into their potential effects on financial markets. Another recent preprint *evaluated ChatGPTs ability to understand what announcements from the US central bank the Federal Reserve might mean for financial markets*

https://theconversation.com/chatgpt-how-to-use-ai-as-a-virtual-financial-adviser-204207