🎙️OpenAI Unveils Advanced Voice Mode

Good morning. It's Wednesday, Sept. 25, and we're covering, Intel Faces Uphill Battle For Survival In AI Era, OpenAI Unveils Advanced Voice Mode With New Voices And Design, Man Charged With Attempted Assassination Of Donald Trump , and much more. First time reading? Sign up to get this newsletter: Sign up here.

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MARKETS

Cryptocurrency Prices by Market Cap

• The global cryptocurrency market cap today is $2.24 Trillion, a 0.32% increase in the last 24 hours.

• The total crypto market volume over the last 24 hours is $75.58B, which makes a 10.10% increase.

• The total volume in Defi is currently $4.9B, 6.48% of the total crypto market 24-hours.

• The volume of all stable coins is now $69.2B, which is 91.56% of the total market 24-hour volume.

• Bitcoin’s dominance is currently 56.34%, an increase of 0.10% over the day.

China’s Crypto Brokers See $75 Billion Surge Amid Economic Struggles

China’s over-the-counter (OTC) cryptocurrency brokers have attracted significant inflows of $75.4 billion over nine months, reflecting strong demand for alternative investments as the country’s equity and property markets struggle. Data from Chainalysis shows that inflows topped $20 billion in each of the first three quarters of 2023, despite China’s three-year-old ban on cryptocurrency trading due to concerns about currency outflows and money laundering. (Read Deeper)

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Intel Faces Uphill Battle For Survival In AI Era

Intel is facing a critical challenge as it attempts to regain its position in the semiconductor industry, now dominated by Nvidia due to the rise of AI. Under CEO Pat Gelsinger, Intel has committed nearly $30 billion to build two new chipmaking plants in Chandler, Arizona, using its new 18A manufacturing process. The company aims to rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and re-enter the AI chip market, where Nvidia has become the dominant player. Intel’s struggles stem from missing major industry shifts, including the rise of smartphones and the increasing importance of AI-specific chips like Nvidia's GPUs.

Takeaway: To address these issues, Gelsinger has announced cost-cutting measures, layoffs, and plans to spin off Intel’s foundry business to raise external capital. However, Intel continues to burn cash, and its Arizona fab projects are facing construction delays. The company is also relying on U.S. CHIPS Act funding to support its plans. Gelsinger’s strategy faces skepticism, and Intel may need to take more drastic steps to survive in the AI-driven chip market. (Read Deeper)

Coca-Cola Pulls Its Newest 'Permanent' Flavor From Shelves After Six Months

Coca-Cola is discontinuing its Spiced flavor, just six months after launching it as a "permanent" addition. The flavor, introduced in February 2024, was aimed at attracting Gen Z consumers with its blend of traditional Coke and raspberry notes. Despite a high-profile ad campaign, the drink struggled to gain traction, possibly due to confusion about its flavor, which wasn't spicy. Consumers are increasingly shifting away from sugary sodas toward sparkling waters and hydration beverages, prompting Coca-Cola to expand its offerings like Topo Chico and BodyArmor.

Why It Matters: The decision is part of Coca-Cola’s ongoing strategy of adapting to consumer preferences. The company plans to replace Spiced with a new flavor in 2025. The short-lived Spiced flavor follows the discontinuation of other products, including Cherry Vanilla and Diet Coke with Splenda, as part of Coca-Cola’s broader portfolio overhaul. (Read Deeper)

TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

OpenAI Unveils Advanced Voice Mode With New Voices And Design

OpenAI announces its Advanced Voice Mode (AVM) feature for ChatGPT, which is now available to paying customers in the Plus and Teams tiers, with Enterprise and Edu users to gain access next week. The update introduces a revamped interface featuring a blue animated sphere, replacing the previous black dots. Additionally, AVM now offers five new voices, Arbor, Maple, Sol, Spruce, and Vale bringing the total number of voices to nine.

Takeaway: The rollout also enhances ChatGPT's ability to recognize accents and speed up conversations, introducing personalization options like Custom Instructions and Memory. However, this release does not include the video and screen-sharing features showcased earlier this year. a voice named "Sky," previously part of the beta, was removed following a legal dispute with actress Scarlett Johansson, who claimed it resembled her voice. AVM is still unavailable in several regions, including the EU, U.K., and Norway. (Read Deeper)

US Nuclear Plants Face Challenges In Powering Big Tech's AI Ambitions

Microsoft's plan to restart a reactor at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power its data centers highlights the tech industry's interest in using nuclear energy to meet the growing electricity demands of AI. While nuclear power is seen as a reliable, climate-friendly alternative to wind and solar, challenges include regulatory hurdles, technical obstacles, and local opposition. Tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon are increasingly partnering with nuclear power providers to reduce their carbon footprints,

Takeaway: The reactor, which closed five years ago, is set to restart by 2028. However, securing permits, addressing equipment issues, and overcoming public concerns linked to the 1979 partial meltdown at the plant could slow the process. The broader nuclear industry also faces obstacles like uranium supply restrictions and a backlog of license applications at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. (Read Deeper)

AROUND DE WORLD & POLITICS

Man Charged With Attempted Assassination Of Donald Trump 

A man has been indicted on charges of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump following a tense standoff at a Florida golf course. Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, allegedly staked out Trump for 12 hours while he played golf, aiming a rifle at him from behind shrubbery before being spotted by a Secret Service agent. The indictment reveals that Routh had written of his plans in a note left with a witness months before his September 15 arrest.

Takeaway: The case, which has been assigned to Judge Aileen Cannon, includes charges of assaulting a federal officer and firearms violations. If convicted, Routh faces a potential life sentence. Prosecutors said Routh had a list of venues Trump was scheduled to attend and offered $150,000 for anyone to "finish the job." Routh, who had written extensively criticizing Trump's foreign policy, had also searched for ways to flee to Mexico and carried multiple cell phones when arrested. (Read Deeper)

Biden’s Final Address At The UN, Calls For Diplomacy Amid Global Crises

In his final address to the United Nations General Assembly, President Joe Biden called for diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East amid ongoing conflicts, particularly between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. He stated that "full-scale war is not in anyone's interest" and urged for a ceasefire and hostage release deal. Biden also reaffirmed U.S. support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russia, asserting that Putin's aims had failed, and vowed to continue backing Ukraine until a "just, durable peace" is achieved.

Takeaway: The president highlighted the need to counter Iran’s influence in the region and underscored U.S. cooperation with China on urgent issues like the deadly synthetic narcotic. Biden's speech addressed geopolitical challenges that his successor will inherit, including ongoing conflicts and the management of U.S. relationships with Russia, China, and Iran. (Read Deeper)

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

ByteDance To Shut Down TikTok Music Globally By November

ByteDance has announced it will shut down its music streaming service, TikTok Music, globally on November 28, 2024. The service, available in Indonesia, Brazil, Australia, Singapore, and Mexico, will no longer accept renewals, and users are encouraged to transfer their playlists by October 28. ByteDance explained that the decision allows the company to focus on enhancing TikTok’s role in music discovery and supporting artists through partnerships with streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. (Read Deeper)

Raphaël Varane Announces Retirement from Professional Football At Age 31

Raphaël Varane, the renowned French defender, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 31. His decision follows a series of injuries that affected his playing time, leading him to retire from international duty at 29. After leaving Manchester United upon the expiration of his contract, Varane joined Serie A side Como but made only one appearance due to a significant knee injury. In an emotional Instagram post, he reflected on his career, expressing pride in his achievements and a desire to retire on his terms. Varane hinted at plans while confirming he would remain with Como for now. (Read Deeper)

PODCAST(WHAT WE ARE LISTENING TO)

• How I quit the hustle to enjoy life: Getting off the treadmill with a $15M net worth. (Listen)

EXTRA BREVITI

• Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research and a key figure in the FTX scandal, was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to forfeit $11 billion by a federal court in Manhattan. (Read More)

• Bernard Arnault, the CEO of luxury goods giant LVMH, has dropped from the world's richest person to fifth place after losing $54 billion due to a 20% drop in LVMH's stock price. (Read More)

• China conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test in international waters since 1980, launching a missile carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean.( Read More )