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🛠️ New Tech
1. Neuralink's Brain Implant Plays Video Games
Imagine your brain playing video games while your hands are busy doing other "important" things like scrolling through Twitter. Neuralink's second patient is doing just that, with 40% of electrodes in use and no issues reported. With $600M invested in research, eight more patients are expected to join the brain-game club soon.
mbyte.co/pti - Wall Street Journal
2. Softseed's 10K VR Stream Stuns World
Softseed just dropped a 10K VR stream that processes 1TB of data per minute with under 35 seconds latency. Apple Vision Pro is already flexing its muscles, supporting this insane resolution. Who needs the real world when you’ve got this level of virtual reality?
mbyte.co/f7c - SVG Europe
3. ChatGPT Can Do Your PowerPoints!
Forget spending hours on PowerPoint slides. ChatGPT, via MagicSlides.app, now does it for you. Just type your prompt, and voila—instant slides ready for your next meeting where you pretend to care.
mbyte.co/nsg - Techloy
Morning Byte Insight: Neuralink’s brain implant and Softseed’s VR stream are like peanut butter and jelly—both are deliciously futuristic and potentially life-altering. While your brain is busy playing video games, your eyes could be immersed in a 10K VR world. The future is here, and it’s a mix of Black Mirror and Ready Player One.
Mr. Byte’s Tips & Outlook
→ Keep an eye on Neuralink’s progress—human augmentation is no longer science fiction.
→ VR tech is evolving fast; consider exploring opportunities in this space.
→ Automate mundane tasks like PowerPoint creation to focus on more strategic work.
Hire Ava, the Industry-Leading AI BDR
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🧰 Tech Tips
1. ChatGPT Plus: Worth $20 a Month?
For $20 a month, you get ChatGPT Plus with GPT-4o, which offers multimodal processing. Free users also get GPT-4o access, but with fewer bells and whistles. Is it worth the subscription? Well, that depends on how much you value your time and sanity.
mbyte.co/0bb - ZDNet
2. Tesla Pays $48/hr for Robot Training
Tesla is hiring workers to train its robots, paying between $25.25 to $48 per hour. The job involves using motion-capture suits and VR to collect data. So, if you’ve ever wanted to get paid for pretending to be a robot, here’s your chance.
mbyte.co/xkj - Business Insider
Morning Byte Insight: Paying $20 a month for ChatGPT Plus is like subscribing to a gym membership you’ll only use once a week—it's there when you need it, but do you really need it? Meanwhile, Tesla is paying people to train robots, which is either a sign that Skynet is coming or that Elon just really likes playing with toys.
Mr. Byte’s Tips & Outlook
→ Evaluate if ChatGPT Plus is worth the investment based on your usage.
→ If you’re into tech and robotics, Tesla’s robot training gig could be a fun side hustle.
→ Stay updated on AI developments—they’re shaping the future of work.
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📈 Market Insights
1. Reddit's $281M Revenue Surge
Reddit’s revenue jumped 54% to $281.2M, with ad revenue growing 41% and data licensing revenue skyrocketing 690% year-over-year. International users are up 44%, proving that memes and cat videos are a universal language.
mbyte.co/9ts - Decode Investing AI Assistant
2. Robinhood's $682M Revenue Boom
Robinhood’s revenue hit $682M, with net income surging 7x to $188M. They also saw $13B in net deposits, growing 41%. AI investments are in the works to boost efficiency—because who doesn’t want their financial decisions made by a robot?
mbyte.co/43i - Decode Investing AI Assistant
Morning Byte Insight: Reddit and Robinhood are like those underdog athletes who suddenly start winning all their games. Reddit’s global reach and Robinhood’s financial boom are proof that catering to the masses—whether it’s through memes or easy access to trading—can be insanely profitable.
Mr. Byte’s Tips & Outlook
→ Keep an eye on Reddit’s growth; its global expansion could offer new investment opportunities.
→ Robinhood’s focus on AI could make it a more efficient platform—worth watching if you’re into fintech.
→ Diversify your portfolio to include companies that are leveraging AI for growth.
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💥 Industry Disruptions
1. BMW Beats Tesla in Europe EV Sales
BMW outsold Tesla by 308 vehicles in Europe, with Tesla’s market share dropping 16%. BMW’s EV sales surged 35% last month, but Tesla still leads YTD with 178,700 sales. It’s like watching a heavyweight boxing match where both fighters are gassed but still throwing punches.
mbyte.co/u7i - Electrek
2. Halliburton Systems Hacked, SEC Involved
Halliburton reports a major cyber breach, revealing unauthorized system access in an SEC filing. Global cyberattacks surged 30% in Q2 2024, with UnitedHealth’s breach costs hitting $2 billion. It’s like the Wild West out there, but instead of gunslingers, we’ve got hackers.
mbyte.co/e5x - Wall Street Journal
Morning Byte Insight: The battle between BMW and Tesla in Europe is like watching a chess game where both players are trying to outmaneuver each other. Meanwhile, the Halliburton hack reminds us that in the digital age, your data is only as safe as the weakest link in your cybersecurity chain.
Mr. Byte’s Tips & Outlook
→ Keep an eye on the EV market; competition is heating up, especially in Europe.
→ Invest in cybersecurity—both for your personal data and your portfolio.
→ Consider the long-term implications of market leaders like Tesla and BMW battling it out.
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🏛️ Regulatory Updates
1. FTC Cracks Down on Fake Followers
The FTC is coming for your fake followers, enforcing monetary penalties on brands and influencers alike. Both bots and hijacked profiles are in the crosshairs. So, if you’ve been padding your follower count, it might be time to rethink that strategy.
mbyte.co/zbi - Business Insider
2. DOJ Targets Ticketmaster's Monopoly Moves
The DOJ is accusing Ticketmaster of antitrust violations, with 10 states joining the lawsuit. SafeTix allegedly limits competition, and 80% of NBA/NHL arenas use Ticketmaster. It’s like watching Goliath get hit with a slingshot—except this time, David is the Department of Justice.
mbyte.co/j9a - The Verge
Morning Byte Insight: The FTC’s crackdown on fake followers is like popping a balloon—satisfying but potentially messy for those involved. Meanwhile, the DOJ’s case against Ticketmaster is a reminder that even giants can fall when they get too greedy.
Mr. Byte’s Tips & Outlook
→ If you’re in the influencer game, focus on organic growth—fake followers are a ticking time bomb.
→ Watch the Ticketmaster case; it could have ripple effects across the entertainment industry.
→ Stay informed on regulatory changes—they can have massive impacts on industries and investments.
Hire Ava, the Industry-Leading AI BDR
Ava automates your entire outbound demand generation so you can get leads delivered to your inbox on autopilot. She operates within the Artisan platform, which consolidates every tool you need for outbound:
300M+ High-Quality B2B Prospects
Automated Lead Enrichment With 10+ Data Sources Included
Full Email Deliverability Management
Personalization Waterfall using LinkedIn, Twitter, Web Scraping & More
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💰 VC and Investment
1. Amazon’s $4B AI Bet Faces Lawsuit
Amazon’s $4B investment in Anthropic is under scrutiny as authors sue for copyright infringement, claiming AI was trained on pirated books. This legal battle could reshape AI industry regulations. So, is AI the future, or just a really expensive lawsuit waiting to happen?
mbyte.co/sne - The Drum
2. California's AI Bill Sparks Big Debate
California’s AI bill targets big tech, with AI models costing $100M+ facing new rules. Companies must test AI before release, but Meta and OpenAI fear this could stifle innovation. It’s like putting a speed limit on the Autobahn—necessary for safety, but a buzzkill for speed demons.
mbyte.co/won - Business Insider
Morning Byte Insight: Amazon’s AI investment and California’s AI bill are like two sides of the same coin—one is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, while the other is trying to keep those boundaries in check. The outcome of these battles will shape the future of AI, for better or worse.
Mr. Byte’s Tips & Outlook
→ Keep an eye on legal developments in the AI space; they could impact future investments.
→ If you’re investing in AI, consider the regulatory risks involved.
→ Stay informed on how AI laws are evolving—they could change the game entirely.
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✨ Noteworthy
1. Elon’s AI Can Make Fake Pics
Grok-2, Elon’s latest AI toy, can generate images on X, and premium users get early access. But with great power comes great potential for misuse—concerns over false info spreading are already making waves.
mbyte.co/zwa - The Verge
2. Iran's Fake News Campaign Exposed
OpenAI has stopped Iran’s disinformation campaign that targeted U.S. elections. While few posts gained traction, the use of AI for fake articles is a reminder that the truth is often stranger—and scarier—than fiction.
mbyte.co/unf - Fast Company
Morning Byte Insight: Elon’s Grok-2 and Iran’s fake news campaign are like two sides of a dystopian coin. One is a toy that could be used for fun or chaos, and the other is a weapon in the information war. Both remind us that in the age of AI, reality is increasingly up for grabs.
Mr. Byte’s Tips & Outlook
→ Be cautious of the content you consume online—deepfakes and AI-generated images are becoming more prevalent.
→ Stay informed about the ethical implications of AI technologies.
→ Consider the long-term societal impacts of AI on information and truth.
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💭 Mr. Byte’s Final Thought
Innovation is the heartbeat of progress. Stay curious, stay informed, and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible! Upgrade your subscription to Morning Byte News Text with Morning Byte AI, where you can get daily bytes to stay ahead in the tech industry and make better decisions daily. Sign up at mbyte.co/upgrade.
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That’s it for this week, folks! Remember, the future waits for no one—except maybe Elon Musk, but even he’s running out of time. Catch you next week!
Chief Consultant & Correspondant
The Morning Byte LLC
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