May Week 3 - 2024

AI RESET
AI Showdown: Did Google Just Outshines OpenAI with their Barrage of Updates?

This past week has been a whirlwind of announcements in the AI landscape, with OpenAI and Google both unveiling significant updates. The events highlighted the contrasting approaches and strategies of the two tech giants, with Google seemingly overshadowing OpenAI with a barrage of updates and integrations.

OpenAI kicked off the week on Monday with its first-ever live session, introducing GPT-4o, a new model that promises enhanced speed and improved capabilities across text, vision, and audio. This model is available in both free and paid versions, with the latter offering five times the capacity limits. One of the standout features is a voice assistant capable of generating content, understanding commands in multiple formats, and responding in real-time. Additionally, OpenAI announced a partnership with Reddit to incorporate AI-powered features into the social media platform, expanding its AI's reach and functionality.

However, Google quickly followed suit, seemingly outshining OpenAI's announcements. At the I/O developer conference, Google introduced significant updates to its chatbot Gemini. Gemini's capabilities now include using personal and public information to create personalized itineraries, a feature demonstrated with an impressive integration of voice commands. Google’s event showcased a more extensive range of updates, including a major overhaul of its search engine. The new Search Generative Experience (SGE) will provide AI-generated summaries of search results, streamlining the information retrieval process for users.

The competition between OpenAI and Google was palpable, with Google's strategic timing and comprehensive updates appearing to eclipse OpenAI's advancements. The sheer volume of updates from Google, coupled with its deeper integration into daily applications, highlighted a more aggressive and expansive approach compared to OpenAI's focused, yet significant, updates.

Notably, other players in the AI field also made headlines. Anthropic, an AI safety research company founded by former OpenAI executives, launched its AI assistant Claude in Europe. This move underscores the competitive and rapidly evolving nature of the AI industry, with various entities vying for a foothold in the market.

In summary, while OpenAI made significant strides this week, Google’s extensive updates and strategic integrations suggest it may currently be leading the AI race, offering users a more immediate and practical application of AI technology.

MUSIC RESET
The MLC Sues Spotify Over Alleged Royalty Underpayments

Spotify Faces Legal Action Over Alleged Royalty Underpayments

The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) has filed a lawsuit against Spotify in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, accusing the streaming giant of underpaying royalties to songwriters and music publishers. This legal move comes in response to Spotify's recent reclassification of its Premium Individual, Duo, and Family subscription plans as "Bundled Subscription Offerings" following the addition of audiobooks.

The crux of the dispute lies in Spotify's assertion that this bundling allows it to pay a reduced mechanical royalty rate. The MLC argues that this reclassification, which started in March 2024, has led to a significant reduction in reported Service Provider Revenue, effectively slashing royalty payments by approximately 20%. This maneuver is seen by many in the music industry as an attempt by Spotify to exploit a loophole and avoid paying songwriters and publishers their fair share.

Jon Platt, Chairman & CEO of Sony Music Publishing, highlighted these concerns in a letter to songwriters and composers. He emphasized that while the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) rate structure does allow for discounted bundle rates under certain conditions, Spotify's current bundling does not meet these criteria. "Spotify unilaterally reclassified their subscription product as a bundle without subscribers choosing the bundle option, which we believe is outside the parameters agreed upon in the last CRB proceeding," Platt stated.

Kris Ahrend, CEO of The MLC, reiterated the organization's commitment to enforcing royalty payment obligations, stating, "We take our legal responsibility seriously and will act on behalf of our members when we believe usage reporting and royalty payments are materially incorrect."

Support for The MLC's lawsuit has been strong within the music industry. David Israelite, President & CEO of the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA), commended The MLC for its swift action, emphasizing that Spotify's strategy undermines fair compensation for music creators. Bart Herbison, Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), warned that this scheme could significantly roll back the progress made in securing better compensation for songwriters.

In its defense, Spotify argued that the lawsuit pertains to terms agreed upon under the Phono IV agreement, which included provisions for bundled offerings. The company maintained that it paid a record amount to publishers and societies in 2023 and anticipates exceeding that figure in 2024, expressing confidence in a swift resolution.

As this legal battle unfolds, it underscores the ongoing tension between streaming platforms and music rights organizations over fair compensation, with Spotify's tactics being viewed by many as operating in bad faith to sidestep paying deserved royalties to songwriters and publishers.

CRYPTO RESET
Bitcoin's Rising Tide: From Skepticism to Adoption by Major Entities

The financial world was abuzz this week following disclosures by several public entities that revealed substantial investments in Bitcoin ETFs. This marks a significant shift in sentiment, considering that just a year ago, many of these institutions were quick to dismiss Bitcoin as worthless or even a scam. The dramatic change in stance underscores the evolving perception of Bitcoin and highlights its growing legitimacy as an investment asset.

In the past 12 months, Bitcoin has transitioned from a largely speculative asset to a recognized part of mainstream investment portfolios. The turning point came as major financial entities, once vocal critics, began quietly accumulating Bitcoin through ETFs. This pivot reflects a broader acceptance and acknowledgment of Bitcoin's potential to revolutionize the financial landscape.

Entities such as JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and even some conservative pension funds have disclosed significant positions in Bitcoin ETFs. This shift is particularly noteworthy given their previous skepticism. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan, famously called Bitcoin a "fraud" in 2017. Fast forward to today, and JP Morgan's own analysts are forecasting a bright future for the cryptocurrency, citing its role as "digital gold."

The implications of this widespread adoption are profound. Bitcoin's newfound acceptance by traditional financial institutions signals a maturation of the asset class. It suggests that Bitcoin is here to stay and may play a crucial role in the future of finance. This wave of institutional investment could drive further price stability and increase liquidity, making Bitcoin more attractive to other potential investors.

Moreover, the public endorsements by these entities lend credibility to Bitcoin, potentially accelerating regulatory clarity and fostering an environment conducive to further innovation and adoption. The narrative has shifted from skepticism to strategic inclusion, showcasing the resilience and growing influence of Bitcoin.

As we look ahead, the momentum behind Bitcoin appears unstoppable. The next few years could see even greater institutional involvement, higher adoption rates, and further integration into the global financial system. This evolution may surprise those who once doubted Bitcoin's viability, proving that the cryptocurrency revolution is just getting started.

DISCLAIMER:
This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions or investments. Please be careful and do your own research.