Happy New Year!
Happy 2017, wonderful readers! We hope you enjoyed the holidays and returned to work reinvigorated, ready to greet your coworkers and your new “buddy bots.” The future is here, and it’s … adorable.
Always Wanted a WALL-E? Meet Kuri!
Mayfield Robotics debuted a new “buddy bot” at this week’s Consumer Technology Association CES expo in Las Vegas, and we’re just…smitten. Like Google Home or Amazon Echo, “Kuri” responds to vocal cues, but also incorporates third-party programs (including IFTTT), cameras, motion sensors, self-driving mobility, sounds, lights, and “expressive eyes” to keep you company, assist with household tasks, and melt your cold, cold heart. Start your Christmas shopping early: Pre-orders for $700 are available in the U.S. with a target ship date over the holiday season.
Safe from the Inside, Out
The Verge breaks down last week’s FDA recommendations aimed at helping medical device manufacturers maintain internet-connected device security – even after they’ve entered hospitals, patient homes and patient bodies. It’s terrifying how easily hackers can manipulate lifesaving electronics – i.e. control of pacemakers…people have died, you guys. So while it’s heartening that the subject has been broached, following up with hard regulations and enforcement framework will be critical.
Alternative Finance is Off the Chain!
While some pundits question the true impact of Fintech, the mass migration of money to the Web continues unabated. Last year’s geopolitical tectonic shifts could bring the biggest changes yet. Crowdfund Insider has made some bold predictions for 2017:
Global online lending platforms will consolidate
Crowdfunding portals will shutter or pivot
A prominent real estate crowdfunding platform will cease operations
The FCA Review of Crowdfunding will bring on more regulations
Brexit isn’t really so bad, after all
What’s the Opposite of Accumulation? Financial Planning: RIA Leaders 2017: Is this decumulation?
Via Financial Planning: More than a third of the nation’s largest RIAs lost assets under management (AUM) in the past year. The shift surprised many in the field who have long forecast near-unlimited growth for independent adviser – especially the big guys. The RIA business model continues to be in the vanguard of the fiduciary evolution, which prioritizes advice over sales, and continues to draw advisers and assets from the sales-driven brokerage world. However, that business model is heavily dependent on the boomer population, which grew along with the sector.
In the News:
5 Tips for Protecting Your Data, The San Diego Business Journal
San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence President Ken Slaght offers insights to help you stay data-safe in the new year.
The CCOE is a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the region’s cybersecurity economy and positioning it as a global hub for cyber innovation.
Event of the Week:
Developer Week
DeveloperWeek is the world’s largest developer expo and conference series with over 50 events including the DeveloperWeek 2017 Conference and Expo, the DeveloperWeek Hackathon, Official Hiring Mixer (a perfect blend for hireable developers and hiring companies) and more. Among the conferences, there will be one dedicated to artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Dev Conference).
Where: San Francisco, USA
When: February 11-16, 2017
From the Bottom Line:
HAPPY NEW YEAR
A History of the Best Definitive Rankings of Absolutely Everything, in No Particular Order
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