Knowledge Capital, August 15, 2024
The one where Harris stays zipped about crypto, the new decentralized AI platform seems too good to be true, Gamergate haunts us making everyone seem sus, the tech layoffs approach 150k, and Crowdstrike turns the $20bn economic loss into a big joke.
What's the Harris-Walz platform for crypto?
Crypto4Harris is moving in to force a reset on the Democratic party policy. Names like Cuban and Scaramucci are asking her to set the policy prior to the election. Our team here sees this as a move to untether crypto from the Republicans. Harris' innovation policies are something we are looking at but this has been a mysteriously quiet area.
Could Sahara be the decentralized AI platform we've all been waiting for?
Singular XQ's three non-partisan, disinterested commitments are: data sovereignty, human-rights in the tech supply chain, and human-centeredness in technology. Sahara is coming in with these promises to deliver, using blockchain. Their promises include: provenance, collaborative economy, equity, transparency, and accessibility. The proof of concept remains to be seen, but they've just raised $43m in the Samsung NEXT round. These are pretty words we like to hear but we need to see it in action. Could this be the Spotify to OAI's Pandora?
How much are aggrieved gamers controlling our culture?
There are a lot of people noting how the political strategies of this election appear to be repackaged in this election cycle, angling toward disillusioned and disenfranchised men. These behaviors replicate across traditional partisan lines are often fueled by a desire for influence and clout and to secure what is perceived to be a diminished cultural position. Wired's Vittoria Elliott explores the way its pervading and influencing popular culture and fandoms.
Want to track the tech layoffs? Check this out.
398 tech companies w/ layoffs totalling 130,482 total
Do you laugh or cry?
Michael Sentonas accepted the "Most Epic Fail" award at the Pwnies. Sentonas took the award in stride, stating that the company got it "horribly wrong" and plans to display the trophy at their HQ as a reminder to learn from their mistakes and improve their goal of protecting people. While it is good to keep a sense of humility and humor, there is also a class action suit brewing. Who knows what harm and hurt thousands of little people with no recourse suffered? Flights canceled, small business revenue lost, health care impacts.
