📔 Weekly Journal: Ray-Ban x Meta Smart Glasses 🕶️🔗Ⓜ️
[7 min read] Your guide to getting ahead on the digital frontier (& the weekend!). Today, the usual market news as well the Meta x RayBan smart glasses that have the internet buzzing
Welcome to this week’s Weekly Journal 📔, your guide to the latest news & innovation in emerging technology, digital assets, and our exciting path to the Metaverse. This is week 46 of the 520 weeks of newsletters I have committed to, a decade of documenting our physical and digital lives converge.
New subscribers are encouraged to check out the history & purpose of this newsletter as well as the archive.
Enjoy your weekend! 😎
Ryan
Here’s what you’re getting today:
📈 Market update: Upcoming test for Bitcoin as an inflation hedge, and a green week in the crypto market.
🗞️ Interesting news: Meta x Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, Georgia makes CBDC moves, and a Quantum computer breakthrough.
👓 Read of the week: The whitepaper of PAX Gold which combines the value of the precious metal with the flexibility of digital assets
🎥 Video of the week: Lex Fridman interviews Mark Zuckerberg virtually using photorealistic codec avatars.
🤖 AI: "The Creator", a film in cinemas now that explores the intricate relationship between AI and humanity's future.
✅ Weekly poll: Help choose the emerging tech topic for Wednesday’s showcase.
🤑 DCA with me: Follow my regular $50 weekly investing in an emerging asset class.
Market Update
Rising interest rates have caused turbulence in financial markets, with US Treasuries losing over $1.5 trillion in value. Investors are now questioning whether Bitcoin and other so-called “risk-on” assets can withstand the heightened interest rates and monetary policies. As the US Treasury increases its debt, fears of further rate climbs and financial instability loom in many people’s minds. Banks, particularly vulnerable, may face solvency issues as Treasuries lose value.
When the Federal Reserve intervenes, Bitcoin, as a scarce asset with decreasing inflation, could benefit, even though timing such events is challenging. Watch this space!
🔥🗺️ 7-day heatmap below shows a mostly green week off the back of the last few flat weeks:
🎭 Crypto Fear and Greed Index is based on volatility, social media sentiments, surveys, market momentum, and a few other bits and pieces. Currently sentiment levels are still stable at the top of the Fear zone.
Interesting news 🗞️
XR & Virtual worlds 🥽💻🌏
On Wednesday, Meta announced (in partnership with EssilorLuxottica) the launch of the next-generation Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. These glasses feature improved audio, cameras, and over 150 custom frame and lens combinations. Users can livestream from the glasses to Facebook or Instagram and engage with Meta AI using voice commands. They start at $299 USD, with pre-orders open and availability from October 17. Improvements include better audio, an ultra-wide 12 MP camera, a slimmer charging case, and water resistance. The glasses are light, comfortable, and support hands-free livestreaming and interaction with Meta AI. Bonus, they still actually look cool!
Digital Assets News 🌐💱
Georgia's National Bank plans a limited-access live pilot for a digital lari central bank digital currency (CBDC), involving nine companies, including Ripple Labs. The CBDC could support asset tokenization and provide agricultural insurance and real estate transaction automation. The country aims to ensure interoperability with the digital euro while preserving monetary freedom as it considers EU membership.
Quantum Computing ⚛️💻
Researchers have made a big step in improving quantum computers, which can solve complex problems. Quantum computers are fragile and make mistakes, so making them more reliable is crucial. Scientists have used a special quantum processor to perform a basic calculation with very few errors, a significant achievement. Imagine having multiple workers do a task, so if some make mistakes, the overall result is still correct. This is similar to what they did with quantum bits. The implications are huge, as it could lead to better solutions in areas like biology research, AI, and cybersecurity. There's also exciting potential in a new material called uranium ditelluride (UTe2) that could make quantum computers even better.
👓Read of the Week
In the realm of finance, few assets have captivated humanity's fascination like gold. Its enduring allure as a symbol of wealth and a reliable store of value spans centuries. Despite this, gold's physical nature has hindered its seamless integration into the modern global economy - it’s heavy and needs to be well-secured.
PAX Gold is one of the many “tokenised gold” options, and arguably the most reputable. This tokenized representation of real gold marries the value of the precious metal with the flexibility of digital assets. This week’s read is their Whitepaper which explores the historical context, the technical underpinnings, and the practical solutions that make PAX Gold such an interesting case study of an attempt to democratise global access to an age-old treasure.
🎥 Watch of the week
Lex Fridman, an MIT researcher and podcast host, recently interviewed Mark Zuckerberg using photorealistic codec avatars. These lifelike avatars allowed for a remote conversation with perfect facial expressions, breaking down geographical barriers. While the technology is promising, Zuckerberg noted the need to make the scanning process more accessible. Despite this, the podcast showcased Meta's advancements in long-distance communication, impressing both the host and the audience with its potential.
A “Ryan ruins everything” note: In my view is not really “The Metaverse”, but it’s a great tool that will eventually shape the full potential of the realised Metaverse.
AI 🎨🤖🎵✍🏼
"The Creator" is a visually striking film (in cinemas now) that explores the intricate relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and humanity's future. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the movie's semi-dystopian setting revolves around a tragic AI-related event. It delves into the symbiotic connection between humans and AI, avoiding clichés and offering a fresh perspective on coexistence. The film's groundbreaking technical execution combines cutting-edge technology with impressive performances. It also delves deep into philosophical questions about AI sentience and the ethical implications of technological advancement. Despite occasional pacing issues, critics say "The Creator" is a visually stunning and intellectually engaging cinematic experience that invites reflection on the boundaries of creation and existence. I’m looking forward to watching it myself!
Weekly Poll ✅
Help choose what you would like to learn about on Wednesday for my weekly emerging tech showcase:
That’s all for the free version this week! If you have any organisations in mind that could benefit from learning about emerging technology, be sure to reach out. Educational workshops are one of many consulting services I offer.
DCA With Me 🤑
Dollar Cost Averaging is an investment strategy in which an investor regularly invests a fixed amount of money into a particular asset/asset class at regular intervals, regardless of its current market price. By doing so, the investor can reduce the impact of market volatility and potentially earn a better return over time. Motto = time IN the market beats trying to time the market
To experiment with this, I invest $50 NZD into a Digital Asset every week. Each week I will choose an asset that seems underpriced in the short term and has positive long-term potential. My timeframe is 3-5 years. I don’t give financial advice but if you want to follow along with me you can use my easycrypto.co.nz referral link to support this newsletter. Let’s dive into this week’s pick:
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