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☆ Today's GenAI models are cost and energy pigs. Quantum tech could fix that.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Julie Bort | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Zapata, a startup spun out of Harvard, uses quantum physics math to train GenAI models with less data. AI models must be regularly fed. AI models also require hefty, energy-consuming GPU chips. Since founding that year, Zapata has 18 patents and patents pending on its AI tech, it says. And quantum tech could be among the alternatives.

Persons: Zapata, Andretti, —, Guido Appenzeller, Christopher Savoie, Mario, Michael Andretti's SPAC, it's, GenAI Zapata, OpenAI, hasn't Organizations: Andretti Racing, Service, America, Intel's Data, CNBC, Nvidia, Andretti Global, Andretti, Corp, Zapata, BMW, Computer, Fujitsu, Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, Comcast Ventures, Ventures, Bloomberg Locations: Harvard, Zapata, Savoie

July 12 (Reuters) - Resemble AI, a San Francisco-based voice artificial intelligence startup, said on Wednesday it had raised $8 million in a funding round led by venture capital firm Javelin Ventures. Comcast Ventures (CMCSA.O) and existing investors Craft Ventures and Ubiquity Ventures also participated in the Series A round, it added. Resemble AI, which applies generative AI to clone voices, says that it has 1 million users, who use the company's product to clone their own voice. More than 200 business clients, ranging from music producers, game studios and voice actors use Resemble AI as well, CEO Zohaib Ahmed told Reuters. As voice cloning has been used for scams and other crimes, the company says it is focused on promoting safe and ethical use cases for voice cloning technology.

Persons: Zohaib Ahmed, Ahmed, Anna Tong, Jamie Freed Organizations: Javelin Ventures, Comcast Ventures, Craft Ventures, Ventures, Reuters, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: San Francisco

☆ We got an exclusive look at the pitch deck that edtech startup Ignite! Reading used to raise $10 million from Rethink and Citadel founder Ken Griffin
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Madeline Renbarger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

So far, Ignite says students have learned to read 2.4 times faster than before with its lesson plan. Reading, a virtual tutoring startup that helps children from grades K-8 learn how to read through targeted, one-on-one sessions with an online tutor. While other tutoring companies like Varsity Tutors and GoStudent offer online tutoring and reading assistance, Ignite! Reading focuses specifically on teaching children the processes of reading and comprehension, with a main goal of reaching 1st grade students. Reading, tutors meet with students every day one on one virtually for 15 minutes a day, with a total teaching time of 75 minutes a week.

☆ Candace Cameron Bure faces backlash after announcing ‘traditional marriage’ project
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

The actor Candace Cameron Bure is facing backlash following her recent comments about her new TV project that she said will prioritize portraying "traditional marriage." “I think that Great American Family will keep traditional marriage at the core,” she reportedly told the magazine. A representative for Cameron Bure did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News. On its social media pages, the Great American Family describes its programming as "celebrating faith, family and country." In a September interview with Variety, Cameron Bure said she would have an "executive role" at the network and act in its films.

According to RenoFi, the average price of a single-family home in the U.S. could reach $382,000 by 2030. For example, the average price of a home in New York City this year is $795,000, but the average price around Albany in Upstate New York is $227,500, according to Redfin trends. It projects that San Francisco will have the highest average home value in the country at a staggering $2,612,484. For example, Betterment doesn't require clients to maintain a minimum investment account balance, but there is a ACH deposit minimum of $10. So if you want to buy a $400,000 home in 2030, you've got 9 years to start saving.

Switching careers is hard, but it can be particularly daunting for soldiers transitioning into civilian life. However, when it comes to transitioning into the civilian workforce, they need to ask for help, Sweet said. And it’s a matter of finding them.”There are a number of organizations that want to help and hire veterans of the military. Sweet credits his mentors, Ritholtz CEO Josh Brown and Ritholtz chairman and CIO Barry Ritholtz, for helping him succeed. Sweet landed at the firm several years after leaving the Army, with just one financial job under his belt.

☆ How military members can avoid predatory lenders
▼ + stars: | 2019-07-04 | by ( Michelle Fox | Michelle Fox Is A Digital Producer For Cnbc. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

After serving overseas, military service members return home to face a new economic reality that often includes, unfortunately, lenders looking to take advantage of their vulnerability. Unscrupulous auto lenders and credit card companies have also been known to target members of the military. The government has moved to crack down on predatory lending, enacting the Military Lending Act in 2006. Not only does predatory lending cause undue financial stress, it can also negatively impact a soldier’s military readiness, said Falcone. Predatory lenders like to prey on young military members because they’re often inexperienced with money, have little to no credit and are usually very excited to spend that first paycheck.-Tara Falcone FOUNDER OF REISUP4.

☆ Military spouse turned financial planner on creating wealth
▼ + stars: | 2019-06-17 | by ( Aj Horch | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Transitioning from a civilian life to military life can be difficult, especially as a spouse. But former hedge fund analyst and wife to an officer in the U.S. Navy, Tara Falcone says spouses of service members do have options when it comes to creating wealth. Control your investment planYou don’t have to have a career to generate wealth for your family. While the Spousal IRA is not reserved solely for military spouses, the high unemployment rate among military spouses — as high as 24% in recent years — makes it popular. While the amount of money in the fund can vary, most financial experts recommend at least six months of living expenses.

“That was a massive expense.”In fact,service members and their spouses ranked financial stress as their greatest concern, even over deployment, according to Blue Star Families’ annual military family lifestyle survey. As a result, about half of service members and their spouses of service members say they rely on the gig economy to stay afloat, the NFCC found. You can keep on top of the many benefits the military offers, as well as whatever financial education it makes available, through Military OneSourceor other channels. For its part, the NFCC offers financial education and credit counseling through its member agencies. Institutions such as USAA also regularly work with current and former service members and offer a range of banking and insurance products.

☆ Combat Vet shares financial advice for military families
▼ + stars: | 2019-05-28 | by ( Bill Simonet | Managing Partner At Simonet Financial Group | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

The following programs are positioned to give a vet some financial guidance:Blended Retirement System (for active duty and reservists): In January 2018, the traditional military pension system was converted to the Blended Retirement System. The BRS combines elements of the legacy retirement system with benefits similar to those offered in many civilian 401(k) plans. Fewer than 20% of service members who enlist actually choose to make the military their career and retire out. Here are some pros:Provides a benefit to service members even if they choose not to spend 20 years in the military. Thrift Savings Plan (for service members not on the BRS): The Thrift Savings Plan is the federal government's version of the civilian 401(k) plan.

☆ Military families find money matters complex
▼ + stars: | 2019-05-23 | by ( Dick Powers | Power Plans | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Almost half of service members are under the age of 25, and a high percentage are married with children. So, what do they need to do to stay financially ready, for both the military life and after they leave? SGLI is a group life insurance policy purchased by the Department of Veterans Affairs from a commercial life insurance company. Perhaps the most important thing service members and their families, or any young couple, can do is to have a budget. Of course, service members need to be willing to ask for some assistance with their money matters.

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