FYI - For Your Innovation

On this episode of FYI, Associate Portfolio Manager Nick Grous and Analyst Andrew Kim sit down with Matthew Warneford, the mind behind Dubit. Over the past two decades, Dubit has transformed from its humble beginnings into a pioneer of virtual fashion within gaming platforms like Roblox. Warneford shares the journey of Dubit, shedding light on the early days of online multiplayer gaming and the evolution into crafting digital identities through fashion. Warneford discusses how brands are leveraging platforms like Roblox to engage with a younger audience through immersive retail experiences rather than traditional marketing strategies. Join us at the intersection of technology, fashion, and commerce to learn how these elements are forging a new path for both virtual and real-world business models.

Key Points From This Episode

• The origin of Dubit from multiplayer gaming roots to pioneering virtual fashion
• Evolution of digital identity and its growing focus on the identity aspect rather than functionality
• How brands like Adidas are using platforms like Roblox for immersive retail
• Roblox’s dual retail model: web/app-based catalogs and 3D in-game stores
• The strategy behind embedding stores within popular games to drive sales
• Enhancing customer engagement and sales within virtual platforms
• The emergence of virtual commerce
• User-generated 3D content as the next significant trend powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI)
• Challenges and opportunities of brand differentiation in digital spaces

Will ChatGPT replace Siri on your iPhone? This week, Autonomous Technology and Robotics Director of Research Sam Korus and Associate Portfolio Manager Nick Grous are joined by ARK Chief Futurist Brett Winton to discuss the latest AI breakthroughs and potential partnerships in the industry.

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opinions on breaking news. In fact, we discuss and debate this every day. So now we’re sharing some of these internal discussions with you in our new video series, “The Brainstorm”, a co-production from ARK and Public.com. Tune in every week as we react to the latest in innovation. Here and there we’ll be joined by special guests, but ultimately this is our chance to join the conversation and share ARK’s quick takes on what’s going on in tech today.

Key Points From This Episode:

• OpenAI released a new model
• A discussion of further AI breakthroughs
• Apple could partner with OpenAI

For more updates on Public.com:

Website: https://public.com/

YouTube: @publicinvest

Twitter: https://twitter.com/public

Since inception, ARK has researched and published thoughts on the cryptocurrency ecosystem within Big Ideas and through articles, whitepapers, monthly Bitcoin reports and podcasts. Now, in coordination with Bitcoin Park, ARK is pleased to introduce a monthly conversation with leaders in the Bitcoin space, to discuss everything happening in the rapidly-changing and still nascent Bitcoin ecosystem. Published through the For Your innovation podcast channels, this monthly series aims to be informative and enlightening, including experts with diverse viewpoints.

Guests on this month’s Bitcoin Brainstorm include:

Will Reeves: CEO, Fold

Mark (Murch) Erhardt: Research Engineer, Chaincode Labs

Harry Sudock: Chief Strategy Officer, GRIID

Mike Colyer: CEO, Foundry

Yassine Elmandjra: Director of Digital Assets, ARK Invest

Cathie Wood: Founder, CEO and CIO, ARK Invest

Rod Roudi: Co-Founder, Bitcoin Park

Key Points From This Episode:

00:01:00 Rod introduces the Bitcoin Brainstorm and hands over the floor to each of our fantastic guests

00:05:29 What does this bitcoin halving represent as symbolic of bitcoin as a monetary system

00:11:28 Bitcoin’s monetary policy is really just five lines of code

00:27:27 Why, to understand bitcoin, you have to move out of the realm of human invention and into the world of physics and math to find things that have this level of predictability

00:32:10 How bitcoin mining pools shifted from a Chinese dominated space to a more decentralized business and what can be done to continue decentralization

00:39:34 How do companies like Foundry, a mining pool, and GRIID, a bitcoin miner, work together and what is Stratum V2?

00:49:10 Could generative artificial intelligence (AI) be helpful in bitcoin development and bitcoin mining?

00:53:49 Why one of bitcoin’s biggest benefits is its probabilistic protocol and that the asset class cannot be “gamed”

00:56:35 Why the Gamestop short squeeze during the pandemic reminds Harry of bitcoin

01:01:28 With a Bitcoin epoch people usually mean a period of roughly 4 years with a specific mining reward. With a bitcoin halving just behind us, what do our guests expect to happen in this next epoch?

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Learn more about Bitcoin Park: bitcoinpark.com

Are you worried about robots taking over? This week, Autonomous Technology and Robotics Director of Research Sam Korus and Associate Portfolio Manager Nick Grous are joined by ARK Multiomics Research Associate Rong Guo to discuss CRISPR gene editing and the new Tesla Optimus robots.

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opinions on breaking news. In fact, we discuss and debate this every day. So now we’re sharing some of these internal discussions with you in our new video series, “The Brainstorm”, a co-production from ARK and Public.com. Tune in every week as we react to the latest in innovation. Here and there we’ll be joined by special guests, but ultimately this is our chance to join the conversation and share ARK’s quick takes on what’s going on in tech today.

Key Points From This Episode:

• AI is revolutionizing CRISPR gene editing
• Tesla presented impressive innovations in their Optimus robot platform

For more updates on Public.com:

Website: https://public.com/

YouTube: @publicinvest

Twitter: https://twitter.com/public

On this episode of FYI, Director of Next Generation Internet Research Frank Downing and Analyst Ali Urman interview Dr. Issam El Naqa, the founding chair of the Department of Machine Learning at the Moffitt Cancer Center. Dr. El Naqa shares his journey from electrical engineering to spearheading innovative uses of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical physics and oncology. This episode explores how AI technologies not only support but significantly enhance diagnostic and treatment processes in healthcare, particularly in the complex field of oncology. Tune in as we examine the practical and potential applications of AI in transforming patient care and treatment efficiency.

"What the algorithm is going to do is going to look at the history of similar patients that went through that process. We recognize every patient is unique. Every patient needs may be different. And this is where there is a lot of uncertainty with the prediction that their algorithm is going to do it." - Dr. El Naqa

Key Points From This Episode:

• Dr. El Naqa's transition from electrical engineering to medical physics
• The integration of AI in enhancing diagnostic imaging and treatment planning
• AI's role in medical physics, historically and presently
• Discussion on the evolution of AI tools in medical applications
• Examining AI's effectiveness in non-invasive cancer treatments
• How AI supports personalized patient care in oncology
• AI in the optimization of medical processes and patient management
• Future perspectives on AI's role in healthcare from Dr. El Naqa
• The balance between AI capabilities and human expertise in medicine

This week is all about Tesla. Autonomous Technology and Robotics Director of Research Sam Korus and Associate Portfolio Manager Nick Grous are joined by ARK Director of Investment Analysis and Institutional Strategy Tasha Keeney to debrief on Tesla's latest earnings call and discuss their financial future.

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opinions on breaking news. In fact, we discuss and debate this every day. So now we’re sharing some of these internal discussions with you in our new video series, “The Brainstorm”, a co-production from ARK and Public.com. Tune in every week as we react to the latest in innovation. Here and there we’ll be joined by special guests, but ultimately this is our chance to join the conversation and share ARK’s quick takes on what’s going on in tech today.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Tesla is pushing forward on autonomous technology
• Robotaxi may face some roadblocks

For more updates on Public.com:

Website: https://public.com/

YouTube: @publicinvest

Twitter: https://twitter.com/public

Is open source really better for everyone? This week, Autonomous Technology and Robotics Director of Research Sam Korus and Associate Portfolio Manager Nick Grous are joined by ARK Research Associate Jozef Soja to discuss Meta's Llama 3 and the current state of open source AI models.

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opinions on breaking news. In fact, we discuss and debate this every day. So now we’re sharing some of these internal discussions with you in our new video series, “The Brainstorm”, a co-production from ARK and Public.com. Tune in every week as we react to the latest in innovation. Here and there we’ll be joined by special guests, but ultimately this is our chance to join the conversation and share ARK’s quick takes on what’s going on in tech today.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Meta announces Llama 3 open source AI model
• Thoughts on the state of AI models and whether they should be open source

For more updates on Public.com:

Website: https://public.com/

YouTube: @publicinvest

Twitter: https://twitter.com/public

On this episode of FYI, Associate Portfolio Manager Nicholas Grous, ARK Advisor Angie Dalton and Analyst Andrew Kim, speak with Joe Ferencz, CEO and founder of Gamefam. They explore the potentially transformative role of Gamefam in the metaverse, discussing its development from humble beginnings to becoming a premier entity in virtual environments for Gen Z and Alpha generations. Joe shares his extensive experience in graphic design and leadership roles at major companies before venturing into the metaverse through Gamefam. The conversation highlights strategic partnerships, the critical role of live operations, and the growing importance of brands in virtual spaces. Insights into Gamefam's innovative approaches and future ambitions in the evolving gaming landscape are discussed, showcasing how they are shaping new entertainment paradigms.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Joe’s extensive background in gaming and pop culture
• The origin and rapid growth of Gamefam as a leader in the metaverse media space
• Insights into Gamefam's strategies for brand partnerships and intellectual property (IP) integrations within Roblox
• The role of live operations in maintaining dynamic and engaging gaming environments
• Joe's perspective on future trends in the metaverse and user-generated content (UGC) platforms
• Gamefam's approach to monetization and advertising within gaming platforms
• Discussion on the potential of UGC platforms to revolutionize entertainment
• The challenges and strategies of integrating traditional gaming elements into the metaverse
• Joe's vision for Gamefam's role in the future of digital and interactive media
• The technical and creative aspects of developing games in the metaverse

AI, AI, AI, oh my! This week, Autonomous Technology and Robotics Director of Research Sam Korus and Associate Portfolio Manager Nick Grous discuss all things Artificial Intelligence, from generative AI music creation to AI wearables.

If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opinions on breaking news. In fact, we discuss and debate this every day. So now we’re sharing some of these internal discussions with you in our new video series, “The Brainstorm”, a co-production from ARK and Public.com. Tune in every week as we react to the latest in innovation. Here and there we’ll be joined by special guests, but ultimately this is our chance to join the conversation and share ARK’s quick takes on what’s going on in tech today.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Is generative AI changing music creation?
• Thoughts on the Humane AI Pin

For more updates on Public.com:

Website: https://public.com/

YouTube: @publicinvest

Twitter: https://twitter.com/public

On this episode of FYI, ARK Multiomics analyst Nemo Marjanovic sits down with Professor George Church, a renowned geneticist and entrepreneur from Harvard. They discuss the evolution of genomic sequencing technologies, the intersection of genomics and blockchain for privacy, and the fascinating potential of DNA for data storage. They delve into multiomic approaches for enhanced biological understanding, the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical advancements, and George's groundbreaking research on aging.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Evolution of genomic sequencing: from short to long reads
• Balancing privacy with blockchain in genomics
• The potential of DNA as a universal data storage medium
• Advancements and challenges in writing DNA for data encoding
• The growing importance and integration of multiomic approaches
• How AI and high-throughput screening revolutionize drug discovery
• Insights into startups from George's lab leveraging machine learning and multiomics
• Revolutionary research on aging: targeting multiple pathways simultaneously
• The concept of protective gene therapies against all viruses
• Emerging technologies in genome synthesis and developmental biology