Five Minute Blockchain • TruBlo Newsletter Nr. 43: Microsoft to use ChatGPT for Bing • Apple unveils AI-narrated books • Web3 Music ecosystem
Five Minute Blockchain - No. 43
05.01.2023
Estimated reading time: 4 min 38 secs
Welcome. All the best for you for 2023 from the TruBlo consortium and the funded projects.
TruBlo aims to find new and innovative applications for "trustable content on future blockchains". Given last year's turmoil, "future blockchains" (a term we used from the beginning) seems to be the correct perspective now. There are many aspects which need to be sorted out so that the expectations and hopes towards blockchain technology can help all of us towards the next level of high quali, and now, and now, and now, and nowformation technology.
2023 will be the third and final year of TruBlo. We have concluded the three open calls. Now the goal is to analyse, connect and learn from the experience and findings of our 45 funded projects. Step by step we will publish findings, from individual projects as well as the entire ecosystem of teams and ideas.
What do you expect of 2023 about trustable content and wider use of blockchain technology? What are the key trends? Will blockchain technology make a jump forward, or will development slow down?
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"The administration believes that the digital asset space is unregulated and thinks they can get away with anything. They are eager to plant a flag and send a message."
– Renato Mariott, a former federal prosecutor for the Department of Justice Securities and Commodities Fraud Unit Renato Mariott, on CoinDesk TV's "First Mover"
TRUST
Debate over TikTok ban in the US
There is considerable debate about whether TikTok, the social media app with short videos, should be banned in the US. There are two main reasons: Young users seem to be glued to their smartphones consuming entertaining, never-ending content - this observation leads to concern among parents and officials. Another factor a deep distrust whether TikTok, which has been developed by a Chinese company, uses the platform to collect data about their global, often western, audience. Because US and Chinese relations have deteriorated last year the debate about banning TikTok entirely is simmering along.
Currently Brendan Carr, commissioner for the powerful FCC (Federal Communications Commission) in the US, points to India as an example. In India TikTok was banned almost two years ago. Carr is quoted saying that India set an “incredibly important precedent".
A recent step in the US was that TikTok is banned from smart phones of people working for the House of Representatives. A reason for this step was a concern over potential surveillance and data collection.
TechCrunch: "India set an incredibly important precedent by banning TikTok, FCC commissioner says"
CONTENT
Microsoft plans to use ChatGPT for better answers on Bing, resulting in a challenge to Google
Chat GPT from OpenAI, released by the end of November 2022, has created a lot of excitement regarding the capabilities of artificial intelligence. Have you already tried to let ChatGPT write a text for you? The software, currently free to use, performs various writing tasks based on user prompts. The results are impressive.
Now ChatGPT will be used as a tool to compete with Google. According to "The Information", Microsoft plans to release a version of its search engine Bing, which uses ChatGPT to answer user searches. The goal is to have better answers, because the intent of the user might be better understood and answererd this way.
Microsoft has invested one billion US-Dollars in OpenAI. Another small, but interesting fact: Bing might only be second choice in the search engine market. But it is a serious business, Microsoft generates a yearly revenue of $9 billion US Dollars in advertising. Furthermore the market share of desktop searches for Bing has risen from around 4% to now almost 9% since 2019.
Reuters: Microsoft aims for AI-powered version of Bing
Background: ZD Net: What is ChatGPT and why does it matter?
Apple unveils books narrated by artificial voices
The Guardian:
"Apple has quietly launched a catalogue of books narrated by artificial intelligence in a move that may mark the beginning of the end for human narrators. The strategy marks an attempt to upend the lucrative and fast-growing audiobook market – but it also promises to intensify scrutiny over allegations of Apple’s anti-competitive behaviour."
How generative AI might turn the open web into a Dark Forrest
How do you prove you are a human in a system where robots are generating more and more interactions? Here is a link to thought-provoking essay discussing the perpective of a future internet turned into a so-called "dark forest". The "dark forest theory" describes an increasingly life-like, but life-less state of being online. Don't miss the great graphic included, which stacks the different layers of the web (open web, "cozy web" with secured spaces, dark web).
Web3 music ecosystem in 2023 - 140 companies and platforms
One big hope for creators is that blockchain technology could enable a direct channel to fans, without a middleman. Right now this does not seem very realistic. But the technology, in theory, would allow for direct sales of NFTs - be it photos, videos or music.
How does the web 3 music landscape look right now? Click on the link to see a comprehensive overview created Musciben & published on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/musicben_eth/status/1610319130380451841?s=20&t=MuyGkKqqcDi38-q4yn21Dw
BLOCKCHAIN
TON Network launches decentralised file sharing platform
The Telegram Open Network (TON) was started by Telegram in 2019. Now a new offering called TON storage wants to overcome limitations in long-term storage. The core idea of TON storages is to offer financial incentives to node operators.
Quote:
“Anyone can become a node operator on the TON network and receive payments from other users for hosting files — even if operating just one node".
Additional links: TON.org
The state of blockchain consortiums in 2022
"Consortia in the blockchain domain comprise enterprises collaborating to expand their work on shared ideas and objectives. Blockchain consortia bring competitors under a common roof to solve shared problems using decentralized network solutions."
Question: How did these collaborations evolve in the face of the recent market troubles?
SHORT LINKS
A bitcoin core developer lost his BTC, from hot and cold wallets
Crypto losses in 2022 dropped 51% year on year to $4B. "Crypto losses are defined as a combination of hacks and alleged fraud incidents" (TechCrunch)
Apple launches AI-powered book narrations (TechCrunch)
Fanatics is divesting its 60% stake in NFT company Candy Digital (CNBC)
Thank you for reading. If you have questions or suggestions, please get in touch with us via info@trublo.eu.