Chrome for ARM64 is available for Windows devices using Snapdragon processors. According to Google, users planning to invest in the upcoming Snapdragon X Elite processor PCs will enjoy even higher performance.

A Google blog post explains that the idea is to have Chrome fully optimized for ARM systems so that it runs faster and smoother.

Word around tech circles is that Qualcomm’s new ARM-based processor is a serious threat to Apple’s M3 chip and that it offers serious AI acceleration capabilities to outperform Intel’s Meteor Lake processors.

Although users can use Chrome on computers with ARM processors through emulation, native apps offer significantly better performance. The first version of Chrome Canary for ARM64 was released a few months ago, and now the browser is about to make its public debut.

Qualcomm says it will help establish Snapdragon X Elite’s role as the leading platform for Windows PCs. The first Snapdragon X Elite devices are expected to arrive later this summer.

At issue in the talks is Gemini’s licensing of some new features that will be added to iPhone software this year. No word yet on what the parties will decide on terms, branding, or how Gemini will be introduced into iPhone software.

A deal between the companies is unlikely to be concluded before June. Then Apple will hold its annual developer conference. Additionally, the tech giant has recently been in conversation with OpenAI about using their AI model.

The deal will help Google, with its AI services being able to reach more than 2 billion active Apple devices.

Apple and Google are longtime partners. Therefore, Google is the default search engine in Apple’s web browser – Safari. A potential tie-in to genAI would help Alphabet overcome its concerns that AI services like ChatGPT could threaten its dominance in search.

On the other hand, a new agreement between the two companies could lead to tighter scrutiny from US regulators. They sued Google, citing that the organization illegally dominated the competition, paying billions of dollars to Apple in order to be able to maintain its leading role in search.

At the beginning of the year, Google collaborated with Samsung to build genAI into the Galaxy S24 smartphone model. Thus, Google increased the use of Gemini.

Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company is investing heavily in generative AI. He also adds that more of the plans to use this technology will be revealed later in the year.

Apple is working on its plan to use its AI models for innovations in iOS 18. The company is looking for a partner to develop genAI features, add those to create images, and create an essay on a relatively simple and easy description.

La inversión de @Microsoft en España se va a cuadruplicar y llegará hasta los 1.950 M€.

Quiero agradecer a su presidente, @BradSmi, su confianza en la economía española y en nuestra hoja de ruta para una transformación digital inclusiva y segura.

Además, hemos analizado las… pic.twitter.com/0PG1tZL08e

— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) February 19, 2024

Smith said it was not just about building data centres, but a commitment to help develop the “security, development and digital transformation of the country’s government, businesses and people”.

He added that the tech giant has been investing in Spain for 37 years. In September 2021, the company announced that a new artificial intelligence technology research and development centre would be established in Barcelona. It was then that Alberto Granados, president of Microsoft Spain, said that Microsoft’s investment is proof that Spain has the necessary potential to develop the digital sector.

This is the second major investment Microsoft has made in Europe within a month. Recall that last week the company invested 3 billion euros in the development of the artificial intelligence ecosystem in Germany.

Similar to its plans in Spain, over the next two years Microsoft has pledged to invest the funds in strengthening the AI infrastructure in Germany, building new data centres and training people to develop AI skills.

Major technology companies are increasing their presence in Europe by investing in the development of artificial intelligence, which in turn coincides with the implementation of EU legislation on artificial intelligence.

Read more:
1. European Commission Investigates TikTok
2. Equinix Announces Fully Managed Service for NVIDIA DGX AI Supercomputing
3. Android Releases First Preview of Android 15 for Developers

In tough times like today, which mark the beginning of an era of economic upheaval, inflation and hundreds of layoffs in the tech industry, being able to properly invest the money we earn is more than a good solution for a more peaceful future.

If you’re still having a hard time allocating your finances as well as investing in the right things, you shouldn’t despair. You have already taken the first step when you expressed your desire to learn how to handle your money wisely.

Every one of us, whether we are just entering the investment world or not, wants to put some of our hard earned money to increase our financial situation over time. Did you know that there is no better time than the present? Yes, CNN prove that with these top advice for beginners investitors.

Legendary investor Warren Buffett said, “Someone is standing in the shade today because someone else planted a tree a long time ago.” With those words, he wanted to give one of the most valuable pieces of advice to anyone, which is that the earlier you start investing, the better things will work out for you in the long run.

And while there are no clear and definitive rules about how someone should invest their money, the good news is that you have more than plenty of choices today. All that’s required of you is to research everything about investing thoroughly, and a dose of courage, of course. Because success belongs to the brave!

In today’s article, we’ll look at eight great ways to start investing right now

Stock market investments

Historically, investing in stocks has been one of the fastest, most efficient and most effective ways to improve your financial situation, and over the long term.

From the start of the Great Depression in 1930 to 2023, the average annual return on stocks is 5.9%, according to officialdata.org. Stocks are securities that represent an individual’s ownership stake in a company.

“If you’re a beginner investor, you’re probably in the wealth accumulation phase, not the wealth preservation phase,” says James Beckett, a financial coach and investment analyst at MoneyStocker.com. “If that’s true, you should be 100% in stocks.”

Although stocks are sometimes volatile, they offer greater financial benefits than other investments. “As a new investor, volatility isn’t as important because you probably have time to ride out any bumps in the market,” Beckett notes.

Novice investors shouldn’t invest in just one asset class, however. Once a new investor has established a workable investment portfolio, it’s a good idea to make sure it doesn’t harbor investment risks.

Portfolio diversification*

Portfolio diversification* can do this job for you. New investors may consider investing in an index fund that provides diversification among many different companies.

Diversification* is an investment strategy that seeks to reduce risk while maximizing return by using an allocation of capital across different assets in a way that does not allow too much exposure to a single asset.

Also, an appropriate idea is the “core & exploration” approach, which uses an index fund as a core holding and a set amount for “exploration” by purchasing individual stocks.

“A reasonable start is to have 80-90% of the portfolio in a core index fund and 10-20% in individual stocks,” says Aaron Ritsema, senior portfolio manager at private asset management firm LaFleur & Godfrey in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“Keep in mind that it’s important to do your own research and know what you’re buying, whether it’s an index fund or an individual stock”, he added. 

Investments in real estate

Investing in real estate is expensive, but the potential returns justify the risk.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the median home sale in the U.S. reached $400,000 for the first time in 2022. That represents an annual increase of 14.2%.

One caveat to investing in real estate is that it requires you to educate yourself very well in the field, which takes more time. These days, however, this would not be such a difficult task.

There are enough mentors and investors in the market who conduct courses and from whom you would learn a lot.

Bonds and fixed income investments

Government and corporate bonds, also known as fixed income investments, are usually investments that can help limit risk in an investment portfolio.

Reducing risk sooner or later is important for all investors, but this is especially true for new investors who could benefit from the money-preserving qualities that bonds bring.

To balance risk and keep purchase costs low, novice investors can purchase a bond fund to reduce volatility levels and save on initial purchase costs.

Mutual funds and ETFs

When investing in stocks, the last thing a new investor should do is put all of their eggs in one basket. That’s where mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can help.

Mutual funds are investment companies that pool money from investors to purchase securities, such as stocks or bonds, and are overseen by professional fund managers. ETFs are also pooled investments, but they are priced and traded on stock exchanges and typically track index funds or other asset classes.

Such funds enable new investors to spread their money across hundreds of different securities so they don’t have to rely on the performance of a single stock to make money. Both types of funds are professionally managed by experienced fund managers who charge a regular fee for the service.

And yes, choosing between mutual funds and ETFs is not always so easy, but the former can be more profitable for novice investors.

If you found this article useful, stay tuned for part 2 of the best ways to invest for beginners next week. 

In an email sent to employees, CEO Daniel Eck said Spotify is taking “significant action to optimize its costs,” adding that the company hired too many employees in 2020 and 2021, when capital was cheap and tech companies had the ability to invest significant sums in team expansion.

“Over the last two years, we’ve put significant emphasis on building Spotify into a truly great and sustainable business – one designed to achieve our goal of being the world’s leading audio company and one that will consistently drive profitability and growth into the future,” Ek said in an internal memo that was shared on Spotify’s website.

“While we’ve made worthy strides, as I’ve shared many times, we still have work to do. Economic growth has slowed dramatically and capital has become more expensive. Spotify is not an exception to these realities”, he continued.

After reporting a third-quarter profit of 65 million euros ($70.7 million), Spotify attributed its financial success to reduced spending on marketing and personnel. Earlier this year, the company increased subscription plan prices and diversified its offerings by venturing into podcasts and audiobooks.

The recent wave of job cuts marks another step in Spotify’s ongoing efforts to streamline its operations. Like many other tech firms focused on growth, Spotify has been compelled to trim costs over the past year due to higher interest rates and a challenging macroeconomic environment.

The company initially reduced its workforce by 6%, affecting approximately 600 employees at the beginning of the year. Subsequently, in June, Spotify implemented a further round of layoffs, affecting 2% of its staff, or around 200 roles.

“AI is slated to unlock nearly $16 trillion in productivity by 2030. With the launch of the IBM Enterprise AI Venture Fund, we’re opening another channel to harness the enormous potential of the AI revolution into tangible, positive outcomes for IBM and the companies we invest in. This fund is yet another way we’re doubling down on our commitment to responsible AI innovation through watsonx and helping organizations put this transformational technology to work”, said Rob Thomas, Senior Vice President, Software and Chief Commercial Officer, IBM.

IBM says its Enterprise AI Venture Fund approach is unique because it combines IBM’s domain expertise and a dedicated portfolio development team to invest in AI companies that are making a significant impact in the business world.

The fund will offer startups the chance to form partnerships with IBM, receive operational guidance, and enhance their product and engineering strategies. IBM, with its established history in enterprise AI, is leveraging its expertise and the latest generative AI innovations to expand its AI partnerships and create value for AI leaders and clients, both new and existing.

CNBC tells us the story of Yanolja founder and chairman Lee Su-jin, who got his start in the travel industry as a motel cleaner.

The experience inspired him to launch hotel booking site Yanolja, which means “Hey, let’s play” in Korean, in 2007. Now that it’s also a popular travel app, the brand has become a global phenomenon with more than 57 million downloads, according to its website.

This unexpected success helped Lee amass a fortune of his own. According to Forbes, his net worth today stands at $1.2 billion, due to the fact that he, along with his wife and two daughters, owns nearly a third of Yanolja. This spring, he debuted on the publication’s “Korea’s 50 Richest” list.

Despite being among the richest people in the world today, Lee’s childhood was very difficult. He was orphaned at a young age and lived with relatives for most of his childhood, according to Bloomberg. When Lee was 23, he began cleaning rooms at a “love hotel” – a type of motel known for offering short-term lodging on an hourly basis – in exchange for a steady paycheck and a place to stay.

Despite the difficulties, Lee doesn’t give up and is constantly thinking of ways to make his life better. He saves his money and invests in stocks. He even started a salad business, according to Bloomberg, but it wasn’t long before he suffered a setback and went back to the hotel business – but this time fate was smiling on him.

When South Korea passed an anti-prostitution law in 2004, Lee worried that the motels that gave him security would go bankrupt.

So he decided to rebrand the love hotels. In 2005, he set up a hotel review platform, which two years later became Yanolja. His goal was to modernize the hotels and convince young couples and travelers that they were safe, comfortable and cost-effective.
Kim says that Lee’s job as a cleaner, where he was able to observe guests’ experiences in love hotels, was actually an advantage: it gave him the opportunity to adapt the platform to users.

In June 2019, Yanolja became South Korea’s eighth “unicorn” startup, achieving a valuation of more than $1 billion during a funding round.

Two years later, investment firm SoftBank Vision Fund 2 bought a minority stake in Yanolja for $1.7 billion at a valuation of $6.7 billion, according to Forbes.

The SoftBank deal has sparked much speculation about a potential IPO of Yanolja. However, the company has yet to go public, and Kim even stated in a July 2022 press release that Yanolja is in no rush to announce an IPO as the hospitality industry is still recovering from the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2021, the company is launching Yanolja Cloud, a proprietary artificial intelligence software for other hospitality and entertainment platforms. Today, 19 million combined users use Yanolja’s software platforms for reservations, travel and property management operations, according to the company’s website.

Lee is not only proud to have achieved the unachievable, but he has also changed people’s attitude towards this type of motel.

Top Ways to Save Your Career

Expand your horizons
In a rapidly changing industry like technology, adaptability is key to ensuring your relevance. Continuously upgrade your knowledge and skills and keep up with the latest trends, technologies and certifications in your field. By investing in training, you are not only increasing your competency, but also positioning yourself as a valuable asset to your organization. Expand your knowledge and explore adjacent fields in your industry. This will make you more flexible and allow you to navigate and explore new opportunities when needed.

Build a strong professional network
As you know, building and maintaining professional relationships is critical to your long-term career success. Attend relevant events and conferences where you can network with professionals, industry experts and why not potential mentors. These networking opportunities provide valuable connections and insights. Don’t underestimate the role of LinkedIn, which allows you to connect with colleagues, join industry-specific groups and participate in discussions. Active participation in online communities can expand your network and open up new opportunities.

Be confident in your abilities and skills
Demonstrating your value to the organisation is important to secure your position. Align your work with the company’s goals and communicate your progress regularly. Emphasize your accomplishments and the positive impact they have on the organization’s success. Invest in improving your soft skills, such as effective communication, teamwork and leadership abilities. These skills are highly valued in any organization and can set you apart from your colleagues.

The platform enables the qualification and deciphering of deal pipelines in “seconds.”

Founded in 2021 by serial entrepreneur Federico Samueli, Superlayer’s platform provides sales teams and their managers with a comprehensive digital companion to boost performance.

The software includes a centralized dashboard with key performance indicators and an overview of future customer interactions. Sales accounts can be quickly annotated using conversational intelligence, and the platform also offers AI-based scenario predictions. Superlayer plugs directly into a customer’s existing CRM software package, tech.eu writes further on the topic.

“In the current economic climate, there is a lot of pressure on CROs and sales teams to ensure that revenue is predictable. When it comes to CRM systems, sales reps can often feel overwhelmed and struggle to prioritize tasks, while team leaders become increasingly anxious due to a lack of visibility.”

Samueli said.

Superlayer said that after the fundraising, it will invest to refine its product and hire more staff, looking to reach sales teams in new industry verticals.

Tensions in sales teams are rising due to the macroeconomic recession, Samueli says. Strict sales targets, which are often linked to remuneration, could cause significant anxiety.

Triple Point Ventures’ investment director, Seb Wallace, added sales teams had few B2B software products to choose from to gather actionable data on performance.

AnalytEx is an analytics platform in and beyond the evolving DeFi sector that provides clients with data-driven news and insights via directly-sourced blockchain network data, aggregated in real-time. The platform collects terabytes of information, runs it through its analytical engine, and stores it in a secure and easy-to-access manner, as noted in a press release.

The platform offers two core functionalities: blockchain analytics presented in Dashboards, and a catalog of DeFi farms and liquidity pools with the ability to invest in them directly through the Farm.Aggregator service.

Dashboards update data in real-time, so users can receive information about new transactions, tokens, and farms without any delay.