Author: Oliver Dale

TLDR Meta has released Llama 3.1, a new open-source AI model with versions up to 405 billion parameters. The company claims Llama 3.1 is competitive with closed-source models from rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic. Meta is partnering with cloud providers to offer access to Llama 3.1, but has no plans to sell it as a service itself. Mark Zuckerberg argues that open-source AI is crucial for wider access and safer development of the technology. The model was trained using 16,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs, highlighting Meta’s partnership with Nvidia. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has unveiled its latest artificial intelligence…

TLDR DraftKings has sold VSiN back to Musburger Media for an undisclosed price. DraftKings originally purchased VSiN in 2021 for about $70 million. Brian Musburger and Bill Adee, VSiN’s original founders, will lead the company again. VSiN says viewers should not expect any changes to programming or coverage. DraftKings will continue to advertise on VSiN despite the sale. DraftKings has sold the Vegas Stats & Information Network (VSiN) back to Musburger Media. This move comes just three and a half years after DraftKings bought the sports betting media company. VSiN, which provides 24/7 sports gambling coverage, was first launched in…

TLDR Grayscale transferred $1 billion worth of Ethereum to Coinbase Prime ahead of Ethereum ETF trading debut. The first spot Ethereum ETFs in the US are set to begin trading on July 23, 2024. Multiple firms including BlackRock, Fidelity, and Grayscale are launching Ethereum ETFs. Grayscale is offering a competitive 0.15% management fee for its Ethereum mini-Trust. Analysts predict increased institutional interest could potentially double Ethereum’s price in the next 6-18 months. Grayscale, a major crypto asset manager, transferred $1 billion worth of Ethereum to Coinbase Prime in preparation for Ethereum ETFs launching later today. The U.S. Securities and Exchange…

TLDR Telegram has reached 950 million monthly active users, up from 900 million in spring 2024. The surge in users is largely attributed to the popularity of crypto games on the platform. Games like Notcoin and Hamster Kombat have attracted millions of players, with Hamster Kombat reaching over 250 million users. The Open Network (TON), originally created by Telegram, is now being used for these games’ tokens. While popular, Telegram faces security concerns, including a recent zero-day vulnerability and its reputation as a marketplace for cybercriminals. Telegram, the multi-faceted messaging app, has reached a new milestone of 950 million monthly…

TLDR The SEC has approved spot Ethereum ETFs, allowing trading to begin on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. This approval follows the successful launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024. Several major financial firms have received approval for their Ethereum ETFs, including BlackRock, Fidelity, and VanEck. Analysts predict lower demand for Ethereum ETFs compared to Bitcoin ETFs, with estimated inflows of $15-20 billion in the first year. Questions remain about the potential inclusion of staking in Ethereum ETFs, as the SEC has raised concerns about staking services in the past. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has given final…

TLDR Meta will not launch its upcoming multimodal AI model in the European Union due to regulatory concerns This decision follows Apple’s similar move to exclude the EU from its Apple Intelligence rollout Meta cites the “unpredictable nature of the European regulatory environment” as the reason The company will still release a text-only version of Llama 3 in the EU This trend could potentially put European companies at a disadvantage in the global AI race Meta has announced it will not launch its upcoming multimodal AI model in the European Union. This decision, citing concerns over the region’s regulatory environment,…

TLDR Elon Musk’s xAI has activated a supercomputer cluster with 100,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs in Memphis, Tennessee The cluster is described as “the most powerful AI training cluster in the world” The estimated cost of the GPUs alone is between $3 billion to $4 billion xAI aims to use this cluster to train “the world’s most powerful AI by every metric” by December 2024 The project represents a significant investment for xAI, which recently raised $6 billion in funding Elon Musk’s AI company xAI has activated what it claims to be “the most powerful AI training cluster in the world”…

TLDR A Chinese cybercrime syndicate called Vigorish Viper is operating a vast network of illegal online gambling sites The group uses sophisticated technology and DNS manipulation to evade detection Vigorish Viper is linked to human trafficking and money laundering operations in Southeast Asia The syndicate exploits European football club sponsorships to advertise illegal gambling sites The operation is estimated to be part of a $1.7 trillion annual illegal global gambling economy A sophisticated Chinese cybercrime syndicate, dubbed Vigorish Viper by researchers, has been uncovered as the driving force behind a vast network of illegal online gambling operations. The group, which…

TLDR Google has abandoned its plan to phase out third-party cookies in Chrome Instead, Google will introduce a new prompt allowing users to choose their tracking preferences The decision comes after pressure from regulators and concerns from the advertising industry Google’s Privacy Sandbox alternatives failed to gain full industry support This change may significantly impact the digital advertising landscape Google has announced it will no longer proceed with its plan to eliminate third-party cookies from its Chrome web browser. Instead, the tech giant will introduce a new prompt allowing users to choose how they want to be tracked across Google’s…

TLDR Apple has launched a new ad campaign warning iPhone users about privacy risks when using browsers other than Safari. The campaign includes a video ad comparing non-Safari browsing to being watched by security cameras and robot bats. Apple claims Safari offers better privacy protection than competitors, particularly Google Chrome. Google is trying to increase Chrome’s market share on iPhones from 30% to 50%. Apple has also released a “Private Browsing 2.0” update to enhance Safari’s security and privacy features. Apple has launched an aggressive new campaign urging iPhone users to prioritize their online privacy by choosing Safari over other…

TLDR A 17-year-old suspect linked to the cybercriminal group behind the MGM Resorts cyberattack was arrested in Walsall, UK. The arrest is part of a global investigation into a hacking group known as Scattered Spider or Octo Tempest. The MGM Resorts attack in September 2023 cost the company over $100 million. This arrest follows the recent capture of other suspects, including a 22-year-old British man in Spain. The cybercriminal group has targeted over 100 organizations since 2022. British police have arrested a 17-year-old suspect believed to be linked to the notorious hacking group responsible for last year’s devastating cyberattack on…

TLDR Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the shutdown of offshore gaming operators (POGOs) POGOs have been linked to various criminal activities including scams, human trafficking, and money laundering The ban will affect over 400 licensed and unlicensed outfits employing around 40,000 people This move marks a shift from the previous administration’s more lenient approach to POGOs The ban is seen as potentially distancing the Philippines from China amid ongoing territorial disputes Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced an immediate ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). This decision comes as a response to growing concerns over the…

TLDR Spanish police arrested three suspected members of the pro-Russian hacker group NoName057(16). The suspects are accused of carrying out DDoS attacks against public institutions and strategic sectors in Spain and other NATO countries supporting Ukraine. NoName057(16) emerged after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and uses a custom DDoS attack toolkit called DDoSia. The arrests took place in Manacor, Huelva, and Seville, with police seizing computer equipment and other evidence. NoName057(16) has threatened retaliation with “a massive cyberattack against the Spanish internet infrastructure.” Spanish law enforcement has arrested three individuals suspected of being members of the pro-Russian hacker group NoName057(16). The…

TLDR CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz has been called to testify before Congress about the company’s role in a major global tech outage. The outage, caused by a faulty CrowdStrike software update, affected about 8.5 million Windows machines and disrupted airlines, banks, and hospitals. House Homeland Security Committee leaders want detailed explanations of how the incident happened and what steps CrowdStrike is taking to mitigate it. The incident has drawn attention from government regulators, including the Federal Trade Commission. CrowdStrike’s stock has dropped more than 20% since the outage. CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz has been summoned to testify before the U.S.…

TLDR Google’s planned $23 billion acquisition of cybersecurity startup Wiz has fallen through. Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport said the company will focus on an IPO and aim for $1 billion in annual recurring revenue. The deal would have been Google’s largest-ever acquisition. Antitrust concerns may have played a role in the deal’s collapse. Wiz provides cloud-based cybersecurity solutions and was valued at $12 billion in May. The proposed $23 billion acquisition of Israeli cybersecurity startup Wiz by Google’s parent company Alphabet has fallen apart. This development, reported by multiple sources, marks the end of what would have been Google’s largest-ever…