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TECH TODAY

Bitcoin rises above $94,000. Bitcoin rose on the news by Financial Times that Trump Media is in talks to buy in an all-cash acquisition Bakkt a Crypto exchange broker.

Sagence AI goes analog. In a digital AI world Sagence AI is building analog chips to combat the large electric demand GPU’s, the power hungry chips that most AI runs on, will place on the nations power grid. Sagence’s “mission is to break the performance and economics limitations, and in an environmentally responsible way.”

Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy on Monday. The discount airline has struggled financially the last year. The company had agreed to merge with Jet Blue last year but the merger was blocked by the Justice Department.

HEADLINE NEWS 👀

Howard Lutnick Trump Pick For Commerce Secretary

Howard Lutnick Cantor Fitzgerald, CEO was picked to serve as Commerce Secretary by President elect Trump. The Wall Street financier was selected to oversee Trump’s aggressive trade agenda.

In a statement President elect Trump commented Lutnick would have “direct responsibility” over the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The office is currently separate from the Department of Commerce.

Trump Picks Linda McMahon Education Secretary

Linda McMahon left a career at World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as an executive alongside her husband Vince McMahon for politics running for a Senate seat in Connecticut in 2010 losing to her Democrat opponent. After Trump’s Presidential win in 2016 she was appointed to lead the Small Business Administration (SBA).

McMahon supported Trump in his bid for reelection and has been a presence in his Campaign since his first term.

Hiring Remote Overseas Workers

There are many benefits for any employer to hire lower cost employees, but for small businesses hiring remote employees it offers an additional way to compete more effectively with larger better capitalized competitors. Here are some direct benefits to hiring remote overseas workers:

1. Labor Cost Savings: Hiring workers from countries that have a significantly lower cost of living can substantially reduce labor costs.

2. Diverse Skilled Labor Pool: Access a larger labor pool that has the specialized skills and expertise that might otherwise be scarce (and more expensive) in the local area of the business.

3. Operate 24/7: Having employees in different time zones allows for round the clock work to care for customers and or keep the wheels of production moving forward.

4. Flexible Work Force: The work agreement for a remote worker can offer greater flexibility for the employer and the worker. This flexibility leads to greater productivity for the business and better job satisfaction for the worker.

Securing top talent with our guide is a click away

• Finding and attracting global talent

• Processing international payroll on time

• Staying compliant with employment & tax laws abroad

Get the Guide

Promise Studio Hollywood’s AI Newcomer

Silicon Valley and Hollywood elites are joining force to finance a new movie studio. Peter Chernin, a veteran media executive, and Adreessen Horowitz, a Silicon Valley VC, are backing the new studio that goes against the grain of traditional Hollywood players.

The move appears to be in contrast to actor, writer, director, and movie studio owner Ben Affleck’s comments during a recent CNBC interview reported (link) on by The Grind. The new Studio will use generative AI to make shows and movies.

Named Promise Studios, it will use technology its calls “Muse” to create an entire studio using AI tools previously used to storyboard productions. The studio intends to use the technology to create interactive content. The timeline to make shows and movies is within three years.

Gray Mater Vs AI

The concept of a human like AI brain 🧠 running parts of our society, making life saving diagnosis, and autonomously cutting the lawn is hard to fathom yet it has likely already arrived.

The literal definition of AI, artificial intelligence, should be enough to convince us a byte based intelligence without intellectual limitation and without the need for rest or sleep could duplicate, at a minimum, the actions of the human brain.

The advancement from AI chat bots to unparalleled artificial intelligence mimicking the human brain, and beyond, comes from transformers. The same technology that underlies chat bots like ChatGPT but supercharged.

For all the discussion surrounding AI taking jobs away from those with Grey Matter the highly capable transformer algorithms are unreliable without human intervention. While efficiencies in the work of AI is expected as AI continues its advances the replacement and elimination of workforce labor is still questionable.

How Does Hollywood Feel About AI

In a CNBC interview actor, writer, director Ben Affleck said writers and actors should not be worried about AI. This, even though actors and writers unions went on strike last year to secure jobs from AI.

According to Affleck “Movies will be one of the last things - if everything gets replaced - to be replaced by AI. Affleck further commented “AI can write you an excellent verse that sounds Elizabethan; it cannot write you Shakespeare.

Affleck who owns a movie studio with long time friend, and occasional Co-star Matt Damon appears to have a functional understanding of AI transformer architecture which is the underlying algorithmic function that transforms transformers into super performers. Interestingly Affleck continues saying “AI is a craftsmen, a craftsman at best”, continuing that the AI can learn the craft and then just imitate “cross-pollinating things that exist, nothing new is created”.

Affleck went on to say the visual effects business will get impacted by AI “because what cost a lot of money is now going to cost a lot less, and it’s going to get hammered”.

Perplexity AI Ramping Up Shopping Competition

Perplexity AI a startup backed by AI chipmaker NVIDIA and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is gunning to sway search engine traffic away from Google as it attempts to strengthen its Perplexity platform.

Perplexity will provide users visual product cards based on responses to related shopping questions. The perplexity platform will be powered by Shopify which will provide rich e-commerce data to the Perplexity platform.

YouTube Tops In Podcast

The perennial winner in video also comes in on top for the consumption of podcasts in a recent report by Edison Research. According to the Edison Podcast Metrics Report YouTube is the podcast platform of choice for 31% of listeners 13 years and up. Spotify captures 27% market share with Apple Podcast pulling in just 15%.

The attraction for Podcast consumers choosing YouTube is its video component. Consuming Podcasts on YouTube brings an experiential element that is lost in the audio only experience. Viewers report the experience allows them to see the Podcasters facial expression and body language. YouTube Podcasts deliver a rich interpersonal communication experience for the listener. This creates a deeper connection to the Podcast host and ultimately the Podcast.

When segmented 84% of the Gen Z Podcast audience consumes Podcasts by video only as reported in the Edison Research Gen Z Podcast Report. Now you know where and how to consume Podcasts for an enlightened consumption experience.

Paris Based Danone Wants To Eat Lifeway Foods 🌱

Morton Grove, Ill based Lifeway Foods, Inc., a maker of Kefir and microbiome friendly products received an unsolicited acquisition proposal from France’s Danone. Danone had previously made a non-binding unsolicited proposal of $25 per-share that was rejected by Lifeway Foods, Inc board of directors.

The revised proposal from Danone of $27 per-share for the remaining 77% of the outstanding common they don’t presently own was disclosed in a U.S. Securities Exchange Schedule 13D amendment. Lifeway’s board of directors, consulting outside advisors, will carefully consider the proposal and determine what is in the best interest of the company and its shareholders.

Super Micro Computer In Death Spiral?

Super Micro Computer (Nasdaq: SMCI) has some accounting issues. Keeping the books straight is a challenge for entrepreneurs. DIY or third-party managing the process can be a pain with all the checks and balances but good entrepreneurs know it is something that must be done.

When it comes to corporate accounting of a publicly listed company there is no excuse for inaccuracies because they presumably hire the best professionals to manage the process from its CFO’s on down to the company’s auditors.

Seems Super Micro Computer never got the memo.

In the last year Deloitte & Touche was replaced by Ernst & Young who resigned as the company’s auditor less than a month ago. In its resignation letter E&Y commented they had reason to question the representations by Super Micro Computer management.

Making matter worse the company did not release the full resignation letter. Should Deloitte retract its prior audits that could set off a default under the company’s credit facilities. Super Micro Computer is down 85% from its all time high of $122.90 in early March this year at closed Friday at $18.58

Inventory Management

Inventory Front-Loading Trump Tariff Threat

In the last month China exports surge which economists think could have been driven at least in part by front-loading amid uncertainty around President elect Trump’s reelection. Wall Street economists expect Chinese export growth to remain strong over the next several months.

The extra cost of the tariffs are not paid by the Chinese exporter rather are paid by the company placing the order. The company will pass the tariff on to the consumer.

Controlling Inventory Overhang

Small businesses are using technology to get better controls on inventory overhang. In an inflationary economic environment optimizing inventories to free up cash flows has grown in importance. Working cash flow becomes a priority during inflationary times.

According to management consulting company the Hackett Group 70% of small business supply chain leaders have been stocking up on inventories.

In response to impetus’s from suppliers well managed small businesses are keeping a tight grip on inventory levels through the use of technology that combines multiple sources of data from historical sales analytics to promote inventory control strategies.

Having an inventory control strategy is important for small businesses to control costs but likewise easily as important to control cash flow in order to survive. Follow these steps to review internal inventory controls and free up important cash.

1. Control inventory by using inventory control technology.

2. Avoid ordering safety stock.

3. Reduce inventory regularly to better align with customer demand.

4. Try to turn product quarterly or every six months.

5. Avoid overbuying product to gain a discount.

ECONOMY

Producer Price Index

The Bureau Of Labor Statistics reported today the Producer Price Index (PPI) came in up 0.20% for the month of October. The PPI measures the selling prices domestic producers receive for their output; products and services.

Economists and analysts closely watch the PPI for signs of inflation. A rising PPI can be an early sign of inflation pressures in the economy. While quizzically PPI on the rise can also indicate economic growth. The measurement of rising producer prices can result from higher demand for products and services.

Economists use the PPI to forecast producer price changes that precede consumer price changes.

Federal Reserve Lowers Interest Rates

The Fed slashed interest rates by 0.25% for the second time this year on November 8, 2024. The cut is the latest sign the Fed believes inflation is nearing its key target rate of 2%.

A new Trump financial policy muddies the waters if any of the policy items discussed on the campaign trail get implement into policy. This brings to light the “economy stands on the brink of change” comments.

Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, on Thursday commented while addressing the press Fed officials would watch the economic data closely before the final decision is made on a final rate cut at its December 2024 meeting.

Consumer Price Index

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the October Consumer Price Index (CPI) November 13, 2024 up 2.6% verses the previous months 2.4%. The CPI number bested investors expectations CPI would come in at a higher number.

The Grind reported earlier this month consumer spending remains strong. With the recent strength of the jobs report, strong consumer spending, and today’s better than expected CPI the market is setting expectations the FED will lower interest rates at their December meeting by 0.25%.

Tennis Great Retires From Professional Tennis

The body breaks down and a step is lost as athletes age. This realization comes to Rafael Nadal tonight as he retired from professional tennis after losing in the Davis Cup.

With tears in his eyes and crying, crying, Nadal heard a recorded send off by many of his former competitors and court mates, Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Conchita Martinez, Serena Williams and other sports greats David Beckham and Sergio Garcia. Starting from humble beginnings on the tiny Balearic island of Mallorca Nadal worked his way into the stratosphere of tennis greats. Congratulations and farewell.

UNIQUELY INTERESTING

💡 Epiphany Moments

Starting a small business with one product: Richard W. Sears was a railroad agent in 1886 who started selling watches that was a shipment refused by a local jeweler. The venter led to the R.W. Sears Watch Company. After moving the company to Chicago Sears partnered with watch maker Alvah C. Roebuck a year later. A year later the company was officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Starting as a small business with one product Sears, Roebuck & Co grew through mail order and by the 1920’s began opening retail stores ultimately becoming one of the largest retailers in the United States.

 🍎 One Smart Apple

Fred Smith, Founder of FedEx unable to make payroll in the early days of FedEx reportedly saved the company by taking the company’s total remaining cash of $5,000 late on a late Friday afternoon and boarded a plane bound for Las Vegas. As the story goes he returned Monday morning with enough cash to make payroll.

Despite early financial struggles Smith had a pivotal moment when he realized the company would be a success. The moment came when he saw the potential of his hub and spoke system the empowered efficient overnight delivery.

Smith’s vision for FedEx was gained as a charter pilot and during his time at Yale. He could foresee the need for fast reliable delivery services in a computer driven world.

 HEALTH & LONGEVITY

Taking The Stairs

Simple everyday steps to longevity.

• Climbing the stairs reduces the risk of dying from heart disease.

• Taking the stairs can reduce the rick of heart disease by 39%

• Climbing the stairs Al’s reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.

The health benefits of simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator can help you achieve better health and longevity.

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