Money is pouring into the US stock market at the fastest pace since 2015.
This can’t and won’t last forever.
With valuations sitting close to all-time highs, and investors starting to predict higher inflation will push the US Federal Reserve to tighten monetary policy, let’s prepare for what happens next.
A combination of timing and changing consumer needs could see one sector offer huge potential:
“Our prediction is that over the next few years food tech, that is the convergence of food and tech to create new products, will become the most important growth sector. Not just for investors but for humanity.”
Steven Maarbani, VentureCrowd CEO
What role are consumers playing?
“Last year global food tech startups raised 26 billion US dollars. That was a 35% increase on the year before. The global food tech sector is currently forecast to grow to up to 346 billion US by 2027. Now that’s a massive rate of growth” according to Maarbani.
So why does the food and agriculture industry need fixing anyway?
Maarbani says it has a little something to do with our lives.
“The industrialisation of food has been driven far more by prioritising low cost food and economic development than the health and weakness of consumers on the planet.”
“75% of the western diet is composed of wheat. Sugar represents 20% of our daily energy intake. Now those ingredients might make good economic sense at a production level. But they’re literally killing us.”
There’s also a growing trend for conscious investing. We want great returns no doubt, but we want business to matter and take the world forward.
We know there’s a link between what we eat and obesity, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
If we combine these innovations in food tech, and our growing awareness around food education, it could reduce the overall burden of these health related issues. And that saves big money.
According to a report by Google and Boston Consulting Group there are a number of factors contributing to the growth of the industry.
The Indian food-tech industry is set for compound annual growth of 25-30 per cent to USD 8 billion by the end of 2022. Why? The rise of internet penetration, increasing number of orders and consumer disposition are all playing their part.
“Riding on the wave of higher consumption in a growing market and maturing dynamics on the supply side, we expect the industry to grow from USD 4 billion to USD 8 billion in the next three years, a massive 25 per cent growth rate,” the report titled ‘Demystifying the Online Food Consumer’ said.
And according to Maarbani, Covid-19 has played a role “I really think the last 18 months around Covid, the importance of health and wellness and lockdown has fuelled a lot of that.”
OpenAI has taken another giant leap forward with the launch of ChatGPT Atlas — an AI-powered web browser that could redefine how people search, explore, and interact online. Investors and competitors are watching closely as this new technology challenges the dominance of traditional browsers like Google Chrome.
With ChatGPT Atlas, users may soon experience a web that feels less like typing into a search box and more like conversing with an intelligent assistant. The integration of AI could make browsing faster, more intuitive, and more personalised than ever before — but it also raises serious questions about privacy and data use.
As AI becomes more deeply embedded in the digital world, ChatGPT Atlas could represent the next major step toward a fully AI-driven online experience. What does this mean for users — and for the tech giants trying to keep up?
In Short:
– OpenAI partners with Bryan Cranston and unions to combat deepfakes on its Sora app.
– The app now includes options for people to control their likenesses and voices.
OpenAI announced it will work with Bryan Cranston, SAG-AFTRA, and actor unions to combat deepfakes on its AI video app, Sora.Cranston voiced concerns after unauthorized AI-generated clips featuring his likeness emerged after Sora 2’s launch in late September. He showed gratitude to OpenAI for taking steps to safeguard actors’ rights to control their likenesses.
The partnership aims to enhance protections against unauthorized AI content. The Creative Artists Agency and United Talent Agency had previously criticized OpenAI, citing risks to their clients’ intellectual property.
Last week, OpenAI blocked disrespectful videos of Martin Luther King Jr. at the request of his estate, following similar pressures. Zelda Williams also requested the public refrain from sending her AI-generated clips of her late father, Robin Williams.
Policy Changes
Following tensions post-launch, CEO Sam Altman revised Sora’s policy to give rights holders greater control of their likenesses.
The app now allows individuals to opt-out, reflecting OpenAI’s commitment to respond quickly to concerns from performers.
OpenAI backs the NO FAKES Act, supporting legislation that aims to protect individuals from unauthorized AI-generated representations.
OpenAI is focused on ensuring performers’ rights are respected regarding the misuse of their voices and likenesses. Altman reiterated the company’s dedication to these protections.
In Short:
– AWS outage on Monday disrupted major apps like Fortnite, Snapchat, and affected several global companies.
– UK companies including Lloyds Bank and Vodafone reported issues due to the AWS outage.
Amazon’s AWS experienced a significant outage on Monday, impacting major apps including Fortnite and Snapchat. The disruption affected connectivity for numerous companies globally.AWS reported increased error rates and latencies across multiple services and is attempting to recover quickly.
The outage marks the first significant internet disruption since a previous incident last year that impacted essential technology systems globally. AWS offers on-demand computing and storage services and is vital for many websites and platforms.
Multiple companies reported disruptions, including AI startup Perplexity, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, and trading app Robinhood. Perplexity’s CEO confirmed on X that the outages were linked to AWS issues.
Amazon’s shopping site, Prime Video, and Alexa services also faced difficulties, according to Downdetector. Other affected platforms included popular gaming applications like Clash Royale and financial services such as Venmo and Chime.
Uber competitor Lyft’s app was reported down for numerous users in the U.S. Messaging platform Signal also acknowledged connection problems stemming from the AWS outage.
British Companies
In the UK, Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland, and telecom services provider Vodafone were notably affected. The HMRC’s website also encountered issues during this outage.
Elon Musk stated that his platform, X, remained operational despite the widespread disruptions.