📔 Weekly Journal: Saudi Vision 2030-Shaping a New Technological Frontier
[6 min read] Your weekend guide to getting ahead on the digital frontier. Learn how Saudi Vision 2030 is transforming the kingdom into a leading tech and startup ecosystem, driving a digital economy.
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 122 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.
- Ryan
🌐 Digital Assets Market Update
To me, the Metaverse is the convergence of physical & virtual lives. As we work, play and socialise in virtual worlds, we need virtual currencies & assets. These have now reached mainstream finance as a defined asset class:
Recent tariffs implemented by President Trump have significantly impacted the digital assets market, causing major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum to experience substantial price drops. These new tariffs, which target a wide range of goods from various countries, have introduced additional uncertainty into global markets, influencing investors to move away from riskier assets such as cryptocurrencies. This shift has resulted in a notable decline in Bitcoin's price and the overall crypto market, reflecting broader economic concerns about trade tensions and their potential impacts on global financial stability.
🔥🗺️Heat map shows the 7 day change in price (red down, green up) and block size is market cap.
🎭 Crypto Fear and Greed Index is based on volatility, social media sentiments, surveys, market momentum, and a few other bits and pieces.
🗞️ Metaverse news from this week
🌐 Vitalik Buterin is focusing on enhancing Ethereum's capabilities with an updated roadmap aimed at boosting its transaction finality and scalability, crucial for supporting an open Metaverse. The proposed changes include a hybrid-proof architecture and more efficient transaction processing through roll-ups. This development could significantly bolster Ethereum’s utility in decentralized finance and the Metaverse, where fast and final transactions are vital for user confidence and system integrity. For a detailed look at these developments, check out the full article on Crypto News here.
🕶 The recent experience with Snap's new multiplayer augmented reality (AR) features showcases a transformative leap in how AR technology could be integrated into our daily lives. By blending physical and virtual realities, these AR glasses allow for a socially rich and immersive interaction environment that goes beyond current smartphone-based AR applications. The technology fosters a connected experience, enhancing social interactions and making digital content more engaging and accessible in real-time, within one's immediate surroundings. This advancement hints at a future where AR glasses could become as ubiquitous and fundamental as smartphones, reshaping communication, entertainment, and how we interact with our environments. For an in-depth exploration, you can read the full article on TechRadar here.
🤖 Researchers at the Sentient Foundation have developed Open Deep Search (ODS), a new open-source AI search tool aimed at rivalling proprietary systems like Perplexity and ChatGPT Search. ODS combines web search capabilities with advanced reasoning to enhance AI's search accuracy and speed, offering a customizable and flexible alternative for enterprise applications. This innovation stands to democratize AI search technology, providing a robust foundation for further development in AI-driven search solutions. For a detailed exploration of Open Deep Search, you can read the full article on VentureBeat here.
👓 Read of the Week: Key Challenges and Progress in Global Sustainable Development
For this week's "Read of the Week," I recommend a compelling article from the United Nations News titled "Key Challenges and Progress in Global Sustainable Development." This piece provides an in-depth look at the current status of sustainable development efforts worldwide, highlighting both significant achievements and ongoing challenges in areas such as climate change, poverty reduction, and health.
The article discusses the outcomes of recent global initiatives and how different regions are tackling complex sustainability issues. It also emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and the roles various stakeholders play in striving towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
For an insightful overview of global efforts in sustainable development and the impact on future policies, you can read the full article on the United Nations News site here. This will give you a deeper understanding of how interconnected and critical these global issues are to our shared future.
🎥 Watch of the week: Saudi Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia's technology ecosystem has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade, evolving into a dynamic hub of innovation and investment. The kingdom is becoming a global hub for technology, creating an environment where startups thrive. Saudi Vision 2030 was launched in 2016 and aims to diversify the economy beyond oil dependence.
AI 🎨🤖🎵✍🏼: Why AI Can't Take Over Creative Writing
In the Metaverse, AI will be critical for creating intelligent virtual environments and avatars that can understand and respond to users with human-like cognition and natural interactions.
For this week's AI thinkpiece, take a look at an insightful article from the Deccan Herald titled "Why AI Can't Take Over Creative Writing." This piece delves into the limitations of artificial intelligence in the realm of creative writing, arguing that while AI can assist with generating text based on patterns and data, it lacks the intrinsic human qualities necessary for true creativity.
The article explores several key areas where AI falls short in creative writing, including the inability to experience emotions, the lack of real-world experiences, and the absence of genuine personal insight and empathy that often drive profound creative expression. It discusses how these limitations prevent AI from replicating the depth and emotional resonance found in works created by human authors.
Additionally, the article touches on the ongoing debate about the role of AI in creative fields and the potential implications for writers and the broader literary community.
For a comprehensive understanding of the nuanced interplay between artificial intelligence and creative writing, you can read the full article on Deccan Herald here. This exploration provides valuable insights into what makes human creativity unique and irreplaceable, even in the age of advanced technology.
That’s all for this week! If you have any organisations in mind that could benefit from keynotes about emerging technology, be sure to reach out. Public speaking is one of many services I offer.