🤖OpenAI Unveils Operator: AI Agent

Good morning. It's Friday, Jan. 24, and we're covering, Bank Of Japan(BOJ) Raises Interest Rates To Highest Level In 17 Years, OpenAI Unveils Operator: An AI Agent For Automating Tasks, Saudi Crown Prince Announces $600 Billion Investment In The U.S., 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 $3.61 Trillion, a 2.33% increase in the last 24 hours.

• The total crypto market volume over the last 24 hours is $207.04B, which makes a 39.66% increase.

• The total volume in Defi is currently $10.94B, 5.28% of the total crypto market 24-hours.

• The volume of all stablecoins is now $189.88B, which is 91.71% of the total market 24-hour volume.

• Bitcoin’s dominance is currently 57.46%, an increase of 0.00% over the day.

Trump Signs Executive Order Supporting Crypto Industry, Establishes New Digital Asset Group

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that supports the growth and regulation of digital assets. The order creates the President's Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, led by David Sacks, to develop a regulatory framework for the crypto industry, marking a shift away from the Biden administration's stricter regulations. The order also directs the group to explore creating a national digital asset stockpile and prohibits government agencies from establishing a central bank digital currency (CBDC). (Read Deeper)

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Bank Of Japan(BOJ) Raises Interest Rates To Highest Level In 17 Years

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised its short-term policy interest rate to 0.5%, the highest level since 2008, signaling confidence in stable inflation around its 2% target. This marks the first rate hike since July 2023 and reflects optimism about rising wages and economic growth. The rate hike had immediate market effects, with the yen strengthening against the dollar and bond yields rising.

Why It Matters: The decision, approved by an 8-1 vote, is part of the BOJ's strategy to gradually raise rates toward 1% without disrupting the economy. Core inflation is expected to reach 2.4% by fiscal 2025 before stabilizing at 2.0% in 2026. This move follows BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda’s policy shift away from radical stimulus measures, emphasizing sustainable inflation driven by wage growth and higher consumption. (Read Deeper)

Tesla’s Redesigned Model Y To Launch In North America For $60,000

Tesla has announced that its redesigned Model Y SUV will arrive in North America in March, with a starting price of $59,990. The new Model Y will also be available in Canada and Mexico, marking a simultaneous global launch across the U.S., China, and other Asian markets. The revamped Model Y is expected to be a key vehicle for Tesla as it faces a slowdown in deliveries, with fewer vehicles sold in 2024 than in 2023.

Takeaway: The redesign comes at a crucial time when Tesla is navigating a period between major growth phases and working on launching new, lower-cost models. The new Model Y comes with a starting price higher than the older version, which currently starts at $44,990 for a rear-wheel drive variant. The redesigned version features a 320-mile range battery and includes Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software, typically an $8,000 upgrade. (Read Deeper)

TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

OpenAI Unveils Operator: An AI Agent For Automating Tasks

OpenAI has launched Operator, an AI agent designed to autonomously perform tasks such as booking travel, shopping, and making reservations. Initially available in the U.S. on ChatGPT's $200 Pro plan, Operator features a dedicated browser that interacts with websites like a human, using buttons and forms instead of APIs. OpenAI has partnered with companies like DoorDash and eBay to ensure compliance with terms of service and has implemented safety measures to prevent misuse.

Takeaway: Operator is Powered by a Computer-Using Agent (CUA) model, Operator requires user confirmation for sensitive tasks and limits some functions, such as banking or sending emails, for security. While it can streamline automation, it has limitations, including struggles with complex interfaces and daily rate limits. (Read Deeper)

Perplexity Launches AI Assistant, An AI Agent For Multi-Step Tasks On Android

Perplexity has introduced the Perplexity Assistant, an AI agent designed to perform multi-step tasks autonomously on Android devices. Available through the Perplexity mobile app, the Assistant transitions the platform from a simple “answer engine” to a fully integrated AI assistant capable of interacting with apps and performing basic tasks. The feature supports 15 languages, including English, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Hindi, and is free to use.

Takeaway: The Assistant, which runs on Perplexity’s existing answer engine model, can access the internet and the device’s camera. It allows users to set reminders, schedule events, hail rides, search for songs, or even make restaurant reservations based on real-time visual data. This launch places Perplexity in the growing market of “agentic” AI models, designed not just to provide information but also to autonomously take actions. (Read Deeper)

AROUND DE WORLD & POLITICS

Saudi Crown Prince Announces $600 Billion Investment In The U.S.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced that Saudi Arabia intends to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years. This plan was shared during a phone call with President Donald Trump, marking a continuation of the strong economic and defense ties between the two countries. The investment is expected to focus on various sectors, including defense, business, and potentially sports.

Takeaway: The White House confirmed the discussion, emphasizing regional stability and economic cooperation. Trump also suggested that the investment might increase to $1 trillion, highlighting the close relationship between the two nations. This announcement comes as Saudi Arabia faces budgetary pressures, with global oil prices remaining low, but the kingdom continues to pursue ambitious projects like the NEOM city and infrastructure for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. (Read Deeper)

Trump Orders Declassification Of Assassination Documents On JFK, RFK, And MLK

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to declassify and release the remaining government documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy (JFK), Senator Robert F. Kennedy (RFK), and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. This action aims to address longstanding public interest and speculation surrounding these pivotal events of the 1960s.

Takeaway: The executive order directs the Department of Justice and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to prepare these documents for public release. The timeline for declassification is set at 15 days for JFK's records and 45 days for those concerning RFK and MLK Jr. (Read Deeper)

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

Kim Kardashian Faces Backlash, Loses 150,000 Instagram Followers After Posting Photo Of Melania Trump

Reality TV star and global influencer Kim Kardashian, known for her massive social media presence, has lost approximately 150,000 Instagram followers after sharing a photo of former First Lady Melania Trump on her Instagram story. The post, shared on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, sparked criticism from fans, with some accusing Kardashian of supporting "MAGA propaganda" and overlooking the civil rights leader's legacy. Though Kardashian has previously supported Democratic causes, she worked with the Trump administration on criminal justice reform, including advocating for clemency for Alice Marie Johnson. (Read Deeper)

Manchester United Could Complicate Chelsea's Pursuit Of Alejandro Garnacho

Manchester United could complicate Chelsea’s pursuit of Alejandro Garnacho as speculation grows about the winger’s future at Old Trafford. Garnacho, who was notably left out of the Manchester derby last month, has seen his status at United questioned, with reports suggesting he is no longer considered “untouchable.” European heavyweights such as Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Real Madrid, and Barcelona are reportedly keeping an eye on the 21-year-old’s situation. (Read Deeper)

PODCAST(WHAT WE ARE LISTENING TO)

• David Park's entrepreneurial journey is a testament to resilience and innovation. Starting from his parents' basement, he founded a company that has grown to a valuation of over $25 million. (Listen)

EXTRA BREVITI

• Poland's foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is repeating a Soviet-era economic mistake. (Read More)

• Google has launched the first public beta of Android 16, bringing several new features aimed at improving the user experience. (Read More)

• Bitcoin (BTC) remained stable at around $104,000 following the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) decision to raise interest rates to their highest level in 17 years.(Read More)

• JetBrains has launched Junie, a new AI-powered coding agent designed to assist developers with routine tasks. (Read More)