Microsoft announces custom AI chips, Copilot Studio, other new features
Bay Area Times
November 16, 2023
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Top stories today:
- Microsoft announces custom AI chips, Copilot Studio
- Shein's revenue +40%+ to $24B in 2023 YTD
- Xi: China will not fight cold or hot war with anyone
- Amazon launches Astro for Business, security robot for SMBs
0. Data and calendar
All values as of 6 AM ET / 3 AM PT, other than S&P500 close (4 PM ET / 1 PM PT).
All times are ET.
1. Microsoft announces custom AI chips, Copilot Studio, other new features
Microsoft.
2024 launch for the custom AI chips, with deployment starting internally at Microsoft.
Speeds have not been disclosed.
Manufactured on a 5-nanometer TSMC process.
Copilot Studio is a no-code solution to build copilots, similar to OpenAI’s Custom GPTs
Other Microsoft news
Teams, other Microsoft apps get improved experience.
Windows AI Studio gives developers access to AI models.
Microsoft Loop now generally available with new features.
Blind users can now use GPT-4-powered Be My Eyes AI.
Bing adds AI-generation captions to search snippets.
Watch the 2-minute summary of Microsoft’s announcements
Our view: Microsoft (and Google) benefit from AI as it strengthens their bundled software
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3. Shein's revenue +40%+ to $24B in 2023 YTD
$32B annualized revenue.
$66B was its last valuation. Investors include Sequoia and General Atlantic.
4. Xi: China will not fight cold or hot war with anyone; agrees with Biden to cooperate on AI, fentanyl, military
“China does not seek spheres of influence and will not fight a cold war or a hot war with anyone. Whatever stage of development it may reach, China will never pursue hegemony or expansion, and will never impose its will on others,” Xi said after meeting Biden in San Francisco.
Xi had dinner with Tim Cook, Elon Musk, Marc Benioff, Ray Dalio, Larry Fink, Stephen Schwarzman, Albert Bourla, and many others.
Top 3 agreements between Xi and Biden:
Working group to open dialogue on AI will be kicked off.
China agreed to crack down on shipments of fentanyl precursors.
Both countries to resume military exchanges, reducing the chance of miscommunication.
5. Amazon launches Astro for Business, security robot for SMBs
This video was for the consumer Astro, but it actually matches the Business use case better:
Up to 5K sq. ft. in mapping.
42” periscope camera with night vision.
$2,350 + $60/mo for Astro Secure + $20/mo for Ring Protect Pro.
6. 49% often or sometimes consume news on social media: Facebook, Youtube lean older, Instagram, TikTok younger
7. Top crypto corporate VCs remain investing less after record 2021-2022
8. Israeli video shows weapons but no compound at Al Shifa hospital, as Iran 2 weeks away from nuclear bombs
Iran 2 weeks away from nuclear bomb, has enough uranium for 3: IAEA.
Iran says it did not know of Oct. 7 attack, won’t join war directly.
Hamas reportedly agrees to 50-hostage deal, Israel TBD.
Biden defends Israel’s hospital operation, calling Hamas’s actions “war crime.”
Bodycam video shows early moments of Oct. 7 attack.
UN Security Council votes 12 × 3 for pauses, U.S., UK, Russia abstain.
Yahya Sinwar, Hamas chief: a profile.
32% believe U.S. should support Israel, from 14% in Oct., vs. 4% for Palestinians.
9. Interesting videos, posts, and memes
10. Other headlines
AI
Google Deepmind's Mirasol3B introduced: AI for long videos.
Unity 6 to launch in 2024 with AI updates.
Adobe’s Project Sound Lift separates background noise from voice.
Tencent to seek Chinese AI chips after U.S. curbs.
Google Bard now available for teens.
Hypertype is the best AI that answers emails using your company data.*
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Tech
SpaceX gets FAA approval for 2nd Starship launch on Friday.
Elon denies report of 2024/2025 IPO for Starlink.
guidde: magically create video documentation with AI.*
WhatsApp Channels crosses 500M MAUs.
Amazon tried to convince TikTok of partnering, before it launched Shop.
Coatue raises $1.4B companion fund.
Google testing search annotations.
China’s Transsion reaches 8.6% global market share in smartphones, top 5.
San Francisco: Sequoia’s Michael Moritz bets $336M in improving city.
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Tech & law
Meta asks lawmakers to require app stores to enforce parental controls.
Meta, TikTok appeal EU's gatekeeper status.
SoftBank sued by failed IRL (social media startup).
Biotech
Novo to test its new weight loss drug, CagriSema, against Lilly's Zepbound.
VectorY raises $138M Series A for neurodegenerative diseases.
FDA asks Amazon to remove 7 eyedrops products.
PBM restrictions pass panels in House, Senate.
Business
China's home prices fall for 4th straight month.
Siemens’s revenue +10% YoY to $23.2B in Q3.
Cisco's revenue +8% to $14.7B; stock -11% pre market.
Lenovo’s revenue -16% to $14.4B.
Abu Dhabi, NYSE sign pact for dual listings.
Crypto
FTX bankruptcy judge denies delay of proceedings.
SEC delays decision on Hashdex Bitcoin spot ETF.
Paxos to issue new USD stablecoin based in Singapore.
Magic: unleash the future of customer loyalty.*
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U.S. politics
Senate votes 87-11 to avert shutdown, leaving out Israel-Ukraine aid.
House GOP fails to unify on appropriations bill, leaves D.C. for early recess.
Sen. Manchin: “absolutely” would consider presidential run, scared of Trump.
72% of independents, 58% Dems, 29% Reps want more candidates.
NH to be 2nd primary on Jan. 23, defying DNC.
Trump files motion for mistrial in NY fraud case.
George Santos: Ethics Committee won’t recommend punishment.
World
Kremlin weighs super pre-emptive rights to take over foreign companies.
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