【TIMELINE】2023/08#3
◉Financing in the Metaverse sector
Global Illumination was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in New York, USA. It is a digital product design company specializing in using artificial intelligence to create creative tools, digital infrastructure, and digital experiences. Some analysts suggest that based on Global Illumination's past focus on visual products and services, OpenAI might enhance ChatGPT with additional multimedia capabilities, possibly launching a video generation service to compete with Runway.
The private placement is expected to be completed around September 5, 2023. The specific details about the investing parties are currently undisclosed. Glory Star currently operates a business ecosystem that includes the Digital Innovation Research Institute and a 5G+VR+AR+AI metaverse platform built on blockchain, cloud computing, extended reality, and digital twinning technologies.
The funding includes investments from Horizon Europe EIC Fund, the Italian venture capital company LIFTT, and an undisclosed strategic partner of Comptek. This funding will be utilized to accelerate the implementation of Comptek's technology and expand its growth.
Frequency Exploration Intelligent Technology Jiangsu Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Frequency Exploration"), recently completed a multimillion-dollar Series A financing round. The round was led by Yonghua Investment, with participation from Changzhou High-tech Investment.
Shanmu, founded in London, UK, in 2020, develops miniature medical robots based on self-developed digital microfluidic chipsets and artificial intelligence algorithms. These robots continuously monitor metabolic components in urine to establish correlations between users' health statuses and diseases. They also intelligently set different disease management cycles.
◉NFT & Blockchain
During the event, HashKey Exchange will unveil details about its new platform and products, as well as discuss the specifics of its fiat deposit and withdrawal services in partnership with banks. Representatives from banks, insurance companies, and the "big four" audit firms will deliver speeches.
In a cross-industry collaboration, Jay Chou's fashion brand PHANTACi and the retail-focused metaverse platform Highstreet have joined forces to launch an exclusive virtual world within the larger Highstreet World called "PHANTACi Peninsula." This project combines fashion, magic, and art to provide immersive interactive experiences from anywhere in the world.
◉VR & XR & AR
Recently, a study by Towards Healthcare revealed that the global AR/VR healthcare market is projected to reach approximately $22.2 billion by 2030. AR has redefined the healthcare industry by expanding the use of connected devices and artificial intelligence. AR, a technology that integrates digital information into the real-world environment, offers a new approach to medical treatment and education. AR aids in patient treatment and surgical planning, as well as explaining complex medical conditions to patients and their families.
Apple recently filed a patent application for an "electronic device with liquid lenses," outlining a potential future headset design. According to the patent, the headset's lenses use adjustable liquid lenses, each with a lens cavity filled with liquid. The lens cavities can have rigid and/or flexible walls to form optical lens surfaces. Actuators, pumps, and fluid reservoir systems can adjust the lens surface to change the refractive index.
◉Top
According to recent reports, the Singaporean police conducted simultaneous raids nationwide, arresting 10 foreigners suspected of money laundering and document forgery. An additional 12 individuals are assisting in the investigation, and 8 individuals are currently wanted. The police action resulted in the seizure of assets totaling around $1 billion Singapore dollars, including over $115 million in cash, as well as properties, cars, watches, jewelry, and 11 documents containing information about virtual assets. Relevant bank account funds have been frozen. These 10 non-Singaporean citizens or permanent residents are suspected of laundering money for overseas criminal organizations using forged documents. They could face multiple charges, including money laundering and document forgery. If convicted, the maximum penalty for individual money laundering is 10 years of imprisonment or a fine of up to $500,000 USD. The Singaporean police stated that the investigation will continue, and more assets and accounts could be involved.
According to The Hollywood Reporter citing IT Home, Judge Berill A. Howell of the US Federal District Court ruled that AI-generated artworks cannot be protected by copyright. She presided over a lawsuit against the US Copyright Office, where plaintiff Stephen Thaler created an AI-generated image using his Creativity Machine algorithm, but the Copyright Office denied his copyright application. Stephen Thaler plans to appeal the case.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) might approve multiple applications for Ethereum futures ETFs simultaneously. Since July, the SEC has received several applications for crypto ETFs, and these companies have not been instructed to withdraw their applications, which is different from similar requests in 2021. Insiders suggest that this indicates the regulatory body's willingness to allow ETFs in the near term. Currently, there are at least 16 ETF applications related to Ethereum awaiting regulatory approval.
According to The Telegraph cited by the Sci-Tech Innovation Board Daily, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak plans to invest £100 million (approximately $130 million) to purchase thousands of high-performance artificial intelligence chips. It is reported that UK government officials have been in discussions with IT giants such as NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel to procure chips for the so-called "National AI Research Resources."
In an interview with Finance730, Cyberport CEO Lee George Lam stated that the Hong Kong government has made an exception to promote Web3 and virtual assets. The government acknowledges the revolutionary impact of the third-generation internet on long-term technology and is proactively supporting it. Cyberport has become a base for Web3 in Hong Kong, with over 200 companies engaged in Web3 business, most of which are from overseas.
The "Yangtze River Delta Cultural Digital Asset Trading Platform," a listed trading market, is set to officially open on August 17 for trading starting from August 18. The platform adopts an on-chain real-time trading model supported by the Shuwen Chain. As the Shuwen Chain becomes interconnected with the Wanhua Chain, ChinaChain, and AntChain, the platform will provide cultural digital asset trading services to a wider user base.