Tech Tidbits: AI Doctors, Billion-Dollar Brains, and Cash for Crap
Dive into the week's most intriguing tech stories: AI revolutionizing healthcare, Neuralink's soaring valuation, the surprising value of your poop, Apple's VR future, and the SEC's crypto crackdown!
Hello, Tech Enthusiasts! First off, my apologies for the radio silence last week and the tardiness of this edition - life sometimes has a funny way of throwing wrenches into our gears. But fear not, we're back on track and ready to dive back into the tech world, where AI is doing our homework, bathroom breaks could break the bank, and Apple's latest gadget might have you seeing things. So, without further ado, let's get back to it!
AI Takes Over Doctor's Homework, Doc Says, "I'm Never Going Back!"
How many of us remember the days when doctors scribbled incomprehensible notes onto paper charts? Well, a healthcare company named Carbon Health just said, "Enough of that." They've decided to boot out the ancient art of handwriting for something a little more 21st century: AI-assisted charting.
Now, this isn't the kind of AI that's going to conquer humanity (we hope). It's a clever piece of tech that's been built right into Carbon Health's electronic health records (EHR). The system starts by asking the patient, "Do you mind if AI takes some notes?" With consent, the doctor hits the record button, and voila! The system captures and transcribes the conversation, combines it with other patient info, and pops out a comprehensive visit summary faster than you can say "stethoscope."
Early results are in, and they're looking pretty darn good. The system cranks out a complete medical chart in under 4 minutes. That's like a quarter of the time it usually takes! Plus, the AI's homework is so good that doctors accept 88% of the text without any edits. And guess what? These AI notes are 2.5 times more detailed than the doctor's hand-scribbled ones.
you can get the full story Here.
Neuralink: A $5 Billion Brainchild with a Side of Controversy"
In the brain-boggling world of Neuralink, Elon Musk's startup, secondary trades have recently shot the company's valuation to a staggering $5 billion - more than doubling its worth from two years ago​. Although the FDA has greenlit Neuralink for a human trial, this happened after the $5 billion valuation, and the company's shares were later offered to investors at $55 each, implying a $7 billion valuation​​.
Neuralink's grand vision? Neural-interface technology that might stimulate brain activity, even in paralyzed patients, with the promise of telepathy, web-browsing via thought, and mental illness treatment on the horizon​​. But it's not all smooth sailing - the company has faced a slew of investigations, ranging from potential insider bias in its animal-research oversight committee to animal-welfare violations​​.
As we keep an eye on Neuralink's journey, we're left with one question: will it revolutionize our future or become a cautionary tale in tech history? You can read the full story here.
💩 Cash for Your Crap? You Bet!
Ever thought your toilet time could turn into cash? Well, brace yourself for this wild ride! Medical companies like HumanMicrobes and GoodNature are actually paying for poop. Yes, your daily deposits could earn you some serious dough!
HumanMicrobes offers a staggering $500 per donation, potentially netting you up to $180,000 per year if you're a daily donor. GoodNature, on the other hand, pays $25-$75 per visit, with up to $1,500 per month up for grabs.
But hold your horses, it's not for everyone. Strict health requirements and screenings apply. So, if you're in tip-top shape and comfortable with your, ahem, 'product', why not consider this unusual side hustle? Talk about turning waste into wealth!
Apple's Vision Pro: A Glimpse into the Future
Dumpsters, the future is here! Apple has finally unveiled its long-rumored VR headset, the Vision Pro, at the WWDC. But this isn't just another VR headset; it's a mixed reality device that's set to bring augmented reality technology into the mainstream.
The Vision Pro is more than just a headset; it's an extension of Apple's product ecosystem, bringing new flexibility to the tech you know and opening up access to new experiences. You can interact with your favorite Apple apps in a whole new way, using either hand and arm gestures or the digital crown from the Apple Watch.
The headset is sleek, with a thick knitted headband and a black, seemingly translucent screen. Unlike other VR headsets, the Vision Pro functions as a second screen that sits between your eyes and the real world, allowing you to adjust the level of immersion.
Apple is pitching the Vision Pro as your dream movie-watching experience, creating a private theater within your headset. To sell the movie experience, the company has partnered with Disney to make its Disney Plus streaming service available from Day 1 when the headset goes on sale.
However, don't rush to get your wallets out just yet. The Vision Pro, priced at $3,499, is set to go on sale in early 2024. This early announcement is aimed at developers, giving them time to create software for the headset and build hype for the product. Over 100 Apple Arcade games will be playable on the Vision Pro at launch.
The future of augmented reality is coming, and it's set in stone. Read More Here
SEC Cracks Down on Crypto: Binance in the Crosshairs
Dumpsters, it seems like the Wild West days of cryptocurrency might be coming to an end. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is cracking down on crypto exchanges, and Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange by market cap, is in the crosshairs.
This crackdown comes in the wake of allegations that crypto exchanges like Coinbase and Binance are offering unregistered securities to their users. Specifically, the SEC is scrutinizing the "staking" programs these exchanges offer, which allow users to earn rewards on their crypto holdings.
The SEC's actions are part of a broader effort to bring regulation to the decentralized finance space. A task force of ten state securities regulators in the U.S., including Alabama, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, is also involved in this effort.
These regulatory actions don't necessarily mean the end of staking as a service. However, they do indicate that crypto exchanges will need to comply with existing securities laws if they want to continue offering these programs.
The goal of these actions, according to ASC Director Amanda Senn, is to ensure that "investors in crypto asset products are offered the same protections under our laws and are fully aware of the risks involved in these investments."
As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, it's clear that regulatory oversight will play a significant role in shaping its future. Read More Here
Quote Of The Week📜
As we wrap up this week's edition, I want to address something you might have noticed: our usual tool recommendations are missing. We're currently in the process of searching for tools that are more suitable and beneficial for you, our valued readers.
This newsletter is a journey, and like all journeys, it's constantly evolving. We're still figuring out exactly what we want this to be, and your feedback and patience during this process are greatly appreciated.
Thank you for sticking with us through the changes and the late delivery this week. We're excited about the future of this newsletter and we're grateful to have you along for the ride.
Until next time, stay curious and keep exploring!