Life Sciences Venture Funding Rebounds In 2024

The New Zealand Government has announced proposals to regulate online casinos, with the new system to be “in place from early 2026.” In a statement on the government’s website, Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden said the government had “agreed to a high-level approach to regulating online casinos designed to minimise harm, support tax collection and provide consumer protections to New Zealanders. “This is not intended to increase the amount of gambling New Zealanders do but to ensure operators meet requirements for consumer protection and harm minimisation, as well as paying tax,” van Velden continued. She clarified that only a limited number of licenses will be allocated via auction, each lasting three years and being conditional on meeting regulatory requirements. The minister explained that licensed gambling operators will be allowed to advertise, which is currently prohibited, but with strict limits.

A former Rockstar Games developer has said that recent leaks about Grand Theft Auto 6 were not a big deal, despite it being one of the biggest data breaches in the history of the games industry. In a recent interview with San In Play, San Andreas developer Obbe Vermeij blamed the reaction on the company’s policy of remaining secretive about the game. Vermeij stated that the September 2022 leaks “are usually not as important as people think.” Notorious hacking group Lapsus$ caused nearly $10 million in damages to the affected companies.

AI-powered scanners in New York have received a mixed response from New Yorkers as a potential lawsuit looms. Launched on Friday, July 26, a pilot program in New York involved using AI-powered scanners to prevent people from taking weapons into the subway system. However, some New Yorkers are critical of the idea, including civil rights advocates who claim that the searches are unconstitutional. The Evolv scanner uses AI to search for guns and knives and was on display at a subway station in lower Manhattan.

Instagram is rolling out AI Studio, a feature that allows users to create AI versions of themselves to share online. Starting with a gradual rollout in the US, Instagram Creators will soon be able to create and share AI characters, including digital versions of themselves, parent company, Meta announced on Sunday. There is a range of prompt templates or you can start from scratch to create an AI character based on various interests and hobbies. Some early examples that Instagram has shared in action include a foodie character that offers tips for embracing local dining habits while traveling; a pro photographer with lens tips, and a dog that tells people positive affirmations. Creators could also use these AI versions of themselves to answer common questions, reply to DMs, or promote certain types of content, like linking to favored brands and past posts.

Some Xbox One consoles are reportedly not fully functioning after a recent failed system update. Not every unit from the original launch in 2013 is thought to be impacted but the error has been found on both new and used Xboxes with firmware from 2017 and 2018. Users are advised not to reset their consoles as this would require another update on startup and render it unusable until there is a fix. Consoles that have not been reset can run the dashboard and disc games but not anything that requires an internet connection, including Xbox Live. Members of the gaming forum NeoGAF began posting about the issue earlier this month.

As the cryptocurrency market gears up for an anticipated bull run, Bitcoin will likely lead with significant gains, followed by major altcoins like Ethereum and Solana. Following that, popular meme coins like Shiba Inu, Pepe, and Dogecoin could increase in value by 2x, 3x, or even 4x. However, smaller, lesser-known meme coins might offer the most substantial gains, sparking excitement and FOMO rallies. This exploration highlights four promising meme coins that could soar in the upcoming bull market. Daddy Tate (DADDY) Daddy Tate leads the list, catching attention as many in the cryptocurrency space are skeptical of celebrity tokens or coins.