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Happy Friday!

X just got the green light for crypto, and it's like Elon Musk found the cheat code for Twitter's next level.

In today’s Morning Mashup:

Read time: 5 minutes

💾 AI Chips: The New U.S. Export Battlefront

The U.S. government is doubling down, expanding export restrictions on high-end artificial intelligence chips from Nvidia and AMD—not just to China, but also to certain countries in the Middle East.

Nvidia assures us this isn't an "end-of-world" scenario; they don't foresee an "immediate material impact" on earnings. Similarly, AMD got the memo too, and shrugged it off as nothing major in terms of revenue.

Why?

Because Uncle Sam usually pulls the export-control card for national security reasons. Last year we saw the same move aimed at curtailing China's tech capabilities, but what's the "danger zone" with the Middle East? The jury's still out on that one.

Now let's zoom out for a sec—what does this mean for the tech industry and global politics? For starters, this adds another layer to the already complex U.S.-China relations, especially since Nvidia and AMD have been working on creating less potent AI chips for the Chinese market.

But the shockwaves go beyond East and West, even Japan and the Netherlands have drafted similar rules on AI chips. Bottom line: these chips aren't just powering your next-level gaming rig or helping you tag your grandma's face on Facebook.

They're instrumental in advanced computing tasks, including military applications like image recognition and intelligence gathering.

So, in the grand chessboard of geopolitics and tech supremacy, these moves are far from just pawns in the game. Keep your eyes peeled; the board is getting more complex by the day.

🚗 Qualcomm: Fueling the Car AI Revolution

You may know Qualcomm as the company behind the chips and modems in your Android phone, but they've been making waves in the automotive industry too.

They've been selling a package of hardware chips, sensors, and software called Snapdragon Digital Chassis to automakers like GM, Hyundai, and Volvo. Now, they are leveraging generative artificial intelligence to encourage automakers to buy more of these chips and build new scenarios around them, such as smart assistants that help drivers navigate cities, make reservations, and handle other daily computing tasks.

Although automotive revenue is currently a small portion of Qualcomm's overall sales, the company projects more than $9 billion in sales by 2031. This could revolutionize our in-car experience.

Qualcomm is also exploring the potential of large language models and generative AI to create smart user guides, monitor driver attention, and even offer over-the-air software upgrades for new self-driving capabilities. Imagine your car understanding what's going on and offering to upgrade your automated parking feature or giving you a free trial for a period of time. The possibilities are endless once your car has context!

Nakul Duggal, automotive senior vice president at Qualcomm, believes this could be a new revenue stream for automakers. Despite facing stiff competition from other chipmakers, Qualcomm's innovative approach and desire to be seen as an AI company could give them the edge they need to succeed in this competitive market.

🌐 SynthID: The Watermark War on Deepfakes

Google's new SynthID technology aims to tag AI-generated images with an "invisible, permanent watermark" so we know it's computer-generated art, not a real photograph.

Think of it like a stamp of authenticity or, better yet, a tech-driven fact-checker just for visuals. You remember that viral photo of Pope Francis sporting a puffer jacket? SynthID's the tool to tell you whether you should be outraged or just admire the artistry. Sure, it's not perfect, but it stands its ground against those sneaky image alterations like filters and color changes.

We're all for AI-generated images here—heck, we kinda love 'em.

This watermark?

It’s like an artist signing their masterpiece. And Google's not lone-wolfing this. They're joining ranks with other big names like Adobe, all aiming to be the hall monitors of our increasingly unreal digital landscape.

So yes, we've got everyone from startups with names like Truepic to Adobe-backed coalitions in this arena. They're all hustling to protect, wait for it, our very sense of reality.

But before we crown these tech solutions as our saviors, let's pump the brakes a little. AI's evolving so fast, it's like trying to nail jelly to a wall. Even OpenAI, the brainiacs behind yours truly, admit their tech for detecting AI-generated writing is still "imperfect."

Translation?

This is a race. The tech's good, but it's got to be better and faster to keep up with the Jumanji-level craziness that is AI development. So while we applaud Google for joining the battle for "visual truth," let's remember, the race is far from over.

🌐 Elon's Crypto Coaster

The regulators of Rhode Island have officially granted X (Twitter) a currency transmitter license. This is a crucial legal requirement for companies engaging in financial activities on behalf of users, encompassing both fiat and crypto assets. With this approval, X will be able to custody, transfer, and exchange digital currencies. It's a giant leap forward for X’s plans to introduce crypto payments, a feature that has been in the rumor mill for a while now. While the timeline for the launch of crypto payments is still unclear, this development hints that it might be right around the corner.

Moreover, this move underscores Elon Musk's dedication to transforming X into a "crypto-friendly" platform. Musk, a well-known advocate for cryptocurrencies, has expressed his desire for X to be a platform where buying, selling, and using crypto is a breeze. The approval of this license is a significant stride towards realizing that vision. It not only paves the way for the company to initiate crypto payments but also reaffirms Musk's commitment to making X a haven for crypto enthusiasts.

All in all, the approval of this license is a monumental milestone for X's crypto ambitions. It's not just a prerequisite for launching crypto payments but also a testament to Elon Musk's dedication to making X a crypto-friendly hub. I, for one, am eagerly anticipating how X will leverage this license and incorporate crypto into its platform.

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That’s all for now!

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As always, thank you for your time, and see you soon.