<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Welcome back! "The Bear," everyone's favorite kitchen dramedy, is back for its third season. We figured out <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bear-season-three-salaries-restaurant-workers-chicago-carmy-syndey-richie-2024-6">how much the characters would actually get paid</a> working at a restaurant in Chicago.In today's big story, we're looking at how <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shadow-stand-ins-workers-secretly-outsourcing-their-jobs-2024-6">people are secretly outsourcing parts of their jobs</a>, but <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/promotions-salaries-cut-career-advancement-stagnation-2024-7">job promotions are harder to get than ever</a>.What's on deck:<ul><li>Markets: The boring, under-the-radar stocks <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/ai-stocks-to-invest-artificial-intelligence-data-center-energy-companies-2024-6">set to benefit from the AI boom</a>.</li><li>Tech: An expert explains how a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-taiwan-china-chip-war-2024-6">impact the world's chip supply</a>.</li><li>Business: Coach bags have made a comeback. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-coach-purses-became-popular-again-2024-6">But can it last</a>?</li></ul>But first, strange times.If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today">sign up here.</a><h3 id="7fa5f018-5b05-4a37-a8dc-d3f89138bcb3">The big story</h3><h2 id="5fd547b9-ec52-41fc-8e08-4f4b27dd8097">Bizarro workplace</h2><div type="image" title="Shadow workers are immersed in darkness behind a screen" height="1000" width="2000" msid="111408471" hostid="261" sizebytes="212450"></div>Let's be honest: Work has gotten really weird.The workplace has been in a constant state of change since the onset of the pandemic. There was the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/great-resignation-forever-turnover-job-quitting-remote-work-2022-5">great resignation</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/overachievers-leaning-back-hustle-culture-coasting-employees-work">quiet quitting</a>. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/super-commuters-hybrid-work-wfh-business-travel-office-2023-10">Super commuters</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/overemployed-workers-secret-two-multiple-jobs-salaries-tech-tips-2023-11">the overemployed</a>.But now the workplace has reached its most (or least) evolved form: People paying others to do their job for them.The use of "shadow stand-ins" — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shadow-stand-ins-workers-secretly-outsourcing-their-jobs-2024-6">someone you outsource parts or all of your job to, unbeknownst to your employer</a> — is on the rise, writes Business Insider's Rob Price.Remote work, global social networks, and ubiquitous software tools mean workers can easily find low-paid helpers, often in India and Pakistan, to do their grunt work. Facebook and Telegram are home to thriving marketplaces for hiring this hidden labor.Workers hiring shadow stand-ins can be unqualified for their jobs, overwhelmed, greedy, or just lazy. And they often have, shall we say, less-than-ideal views of their employers."For-profit corporations are government-sanctioned psychopaths, existing only to predatorily and parasitically earn profit," one disciple told Rob. "Corporations are owed no moral obligation whatsoever."The irony is the shadow stand-in ecosystem operates similarly to the companies these outsourcers so despise. Shadow stand-ins are typically paid a fraction of the salary earned by the actual employee. One employee also described to Rob struggling to deal with a shadow stand-in's sub-par work and eventually "firing" them.<div type="image" title="Man in suit looking up at a red ladder leaning against a bar chart that is too short to be practical" height="900" width="1200" msid="111408474" hostid="261" sizebytes="30706"></div>Meanwhile, the people who are doing all the work themselves are having a tough time getting any recognition.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/promotions-salaries-cut-career-advancement-stagnation-2024-7">percentage of promotions being handed out continues to shrink</a> as companies keep their belts tight amid high interest rates and uncertain economic conditions, writes BI's Aki Ito.And don't bank on this just being part of a broader workplace cycle. Hard lessons were learned in 2023 when companies issued wave after wave of layoffs. They now seem desperate to avoid ballooning back up in size and salaries.If promotions are out of the question, changing jobs has always been the best way to get a big salary bump.But that's proving difficult too, as the hiring of high-salaried employees <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hiring-slump-professional-white-collar-jobs-recession-high-salary-2024-4">has slowed considerably</a>. And even if you do find a job posting, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fake-job-listings-rampant-labor-market-employment-hiring-process-difficult-2024-5">there's a good chance it could be fake</a>.Ultimately, you're left working with colleagues who might not be working at all or are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quiet-vacationing-rise-work-trends-among-millennials-2024-6">secretly on vacation</a>. You and your boss <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/loyalty-employee-employer-job-security-broken-work-companies-bosses-2024-1">probably don't trust each other</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/work-friends-are-over-remote-jobs-gen-z-relationships-pandemic-2024-6">you don't have work friends to commiserate with</a>.Oh, and don't forget the overarching fear of your job being replaced by AI at a moment's notice.Like I said, work has gotten really weird.<h3 id="77f31a4c-8462-4e3d-a71f-838cb79493fb">News brief</h3><h2 id="1fcd294b-3f53-425f-9f20-4093e8623b59">Your Monday headline catchup</h2>A quick recap of the top news from over the weekend:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-meets-family-at-camp-david-campaign-drop-out-2024-6">Biden's family is telling him to stay in the race even as calls to exit grow</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/france-elections-far-right-macron-le-pen-bardella-2024-6">The far-right has taken another step toward power in France's elections</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/robert-kraft-donates-1-million-yeshiva-university-ditching-columbia-university-2024-6">Robert Kraft donates $1 million to Yeshiva University to help Jewish transfer students after axing support for Columbia University</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-aide-top-donors-cash-kamala-harris-if-he-quits-2024-7">Biden aide told top donors their cash would go to Harris if he quits: report</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-acquires-spirit-aerosystems-multi-billion-stock-deal-report-2024-6">Boeing is buying Spirit Aero — which makes the door plug that flew off the Alaska Airlines flight — in a $4.7 billion deal</a>.</li></ul><h2 id="8120060b-ae66-48dc-b149-f0489a30ffa2">3 things in markets</h2><div type="image" title="elderly couple staring into the sun with wife carrying golden piggy bank under her arm" height="552" width="1124" msid="111408468" hostid="261" sizebytes="42428"></div><ol><li>These boomers are all smiles in retirement. Plenty of Americans are worried about stretching their savings at the end of their life, but these boomers are sitting pretty. As the owners of rare pensions and with real estate and stock portfolios that have greatly appreciated over the years, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-savings-401k-pension-real-estate-investments-baby-boomers-2024-6">it's the golden age of retirement</a>.</li><li>No flash, but worth your cash. Construction, utility, and electrical companies in the data-center landscape <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/ai-stocks-to-invest-artificial-intelligence-data-center-energy-companies-2024-6">are poised to be big winners from the AI boom</a>. Traditionally viewed as a defensive and boring sector, data centers will play a key role in powering the AI models set to transform the world over the next decade.</li><li>Some retail traders won't stop betting on GameStop. After Roaring Kitty broke his silence last month, interest in GameStop stock has been revived. With its latest rally, <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/gamestop-roaring-kitty-gme-stock-price-rally-meme-traders-wallstreetbets-2024-6">many traders can't ignore the allure of striking it rich on the meme stock</a>, they told BI, even after losing it big the first time around.</li></ol><h2 id="f4b54806-7f81-450c-ba32-92560d4fae9b">3 things in tech</h2><div type="image" title="machine and robot arms" height="628" width="1118" msid="111408463" hostid="261" sizebytes="71386"></div><ol><li>Looking to integrate AI in your business? These consultants might be able to help. The generative AI boom has made businesses eager to implement the tech, but unsure where to begin. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-questions-consulting-firms-are-answering-for-clients-2024-6">Here's what Bain, McKinsey, and others are telling clients</a>.</li><li>What will happen to AI progress if China invades Taiwan? Major AI chip designers depend on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to make crucial components. But TSMC's location puts AI — and its future — in a tricky geopolitical position. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-taiwan-china-chip-war-2024-6">BI spoke with "Chip War" author Chris Miller</a>, who warns about what might happen to the world's chip supply in the event of an invasion.</li><li>Inside Netflix's two-CEO strategy. Netflix is the rare company with two CEOs, Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos. It's a risky setup — but so far it seems to be working. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-netflix-co-ceos-make-decisions-ted-sarandos-greg-peters-2024-6">Peters explained how the big decisions get made</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="9260fa45-d397-4b3c-b4f8-4bb193976216">3 things in business</h2><div type="image" title="a vintage Coach bag morphs into a modern Coach bag." height="1000" width="1334" msid="111408462" hostid="261" sizebytes="39344"></div><ol><li>How Coach turned its flop era into a slay. Though the designer's once-coveted handbags fell out of fashion in the 2010s, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-coach-purses-became-popular-again-2024-6">Coach's post-pandemic renaissance has been swift and fruitful</a>. It's largely thanks to the brand's resonance with Gen Z.</li><li>Why your local pharmacy may be closing. Corner drugstores across the country are shuttering, with major retailers Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid shutting down hundreds of stores. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-your-pharmacy-may-be-closing-walgreens-cvs-rite-aid-2024-6">A string of short- and long-term challenges are contributing</a> to their contraction.</li><li>The weird, wild world of the US housing market. Real estate is defying an Econ-101 principle: the law of supply and demand. Demand is at a four-month low, supply is at a four-year high, and prices are at unprecedented heights. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-housing-market-outlook-record-prices-rising-supply-falling-demand-2024-6">"It's a real head-scratcher," economist David Rosenberg said</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="1ad7b482-3f4b-44b4-81b6-a864aa386478">In other news</h2><ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/psychic-price-cost-spending-habits-economy-psychology-tarot-astrology-2024-6">The tricks psychics use to part us from our money tell us a lot about America's spending habits</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-vc-firms-funding-creator-economy-startups-next-phase-2024-6">11 VC firms funding the next phase of the creator economy, from AI-powered tools to e-commerce startups</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-ultra-high-net-worth-investors-are-buying-family-office-2024-6">Ultra-high-net-worth investors are betting on 2 key sectors right now, and both can be purchased as ETFs, according to a global family office</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-espn-bet-struggles-say-about-future-sports-betting-penn-2024-6">Why ESPN's sports-betting app is falling behind — and how it could make a comeback</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/glossier-you-perfume-viral-tiktok-genz-millennial-saved-brand-2024-6">How Glossier's viral perfume saved the brand from the millennial dustbin</a>.</li></ul><h2 id="9f5d80ac-3466-429f-a50a-2ffbb70c65ff">What's happening today</h2><ul><li>Supreme Court is expected to rule on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-cases-supreme-court-hasnt-decided-trump-immunity-2024-6">Donald Trump's immunity from criminal prosecution</a> for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021.</li><li>Wimbledon begins.</li></ul>The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Grace Lett, associate editor, in Chicago. Annie Smith, associate producer, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.

Work is getting really weird

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The adult industry is increasingly embracing AI for tasks like chatting and image generation.</li><li>Some startups even create chatbots and "digital twins" based on existing influencers.</li></ul>The adult industry has long been an early adopter of new technologies, from as early as the printing press in the 1400s to DVDs and the internet.In 2024, the adult industry is experimenting with and sometimes embracing AI. Superstars in the space like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/adult-content-onlyfans-star-riley-reid-ai-chatbot-fans-2023-11">Riley Reid</a> have already created AI versions of themselves; subscription platforms like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-models-creators-see-success-on-onlyfans-challenger-fanvue-2023-11">Fanvue</a> have made AI-generated characters a centerpiece of their missions; and a crop of new startups promises to help adult-content creators generate their "digital twins.""We sincerely believe that the adult industry always drives all the technology," said Ana Levy, CMO of My.Club, one of the platforms that recently began offering users the possibility of creating an "AI twin." "This is the most responsive industry, the one that drives all the changes."With experimentation have come excitement and fear. AI could ease the burden on creators that comes with the constant need for fresh content and fan interaction, and many have been curious about the possibility of turning themselves into digital characters. But as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-onlyfans-became-outlet-source-help-loneliness-sadness-connection-sex-2024-1">fan relationships</a> have become central in adult content in the era of OnlyFans, some worry that relying on AI too much may alienate their audiences."I'm seeing so many of my fans get riled up and upset if they have the slightest little thought of 'Am I not talking to you for real?'" OnlyFans creator <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-neuroscientist-turned-onlyfans-creator-made-millions-in-year-2024-1">Isla Moon</a> said. "I'm slightly nervous about that."And for others, the idea that AI may eventually replace creators entirely is not too far-fetched."I think the people who spend the most on fan pages are the most lonely people and seek validation," OnlyFans creator Jada Sparks said. "And if they can get it from an AI, it's validation nonetheless."Business Insider spoke with industry insiders about the state of AI in the adult-content world and what the future may hold.<div type="image" title="Two side-by-side screenshots of emails sent by subscription company Fanvue to some users, offering free subscriptions to profiles." height="1600" width="2000" msid="109954043" hostid="261" sizebytes="107816"></div><h2 id="99a8dfb7-494e-4074-b166-f14c25a87002">AI for chatting and voice</h2>Exchanging messages and chatting with fans has become one of the fundamentals of the new style of adult content that's gained ground on OnlyFans and similar platforms.Some credit it with helping <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-onlyfans-became-outlet-source-help-loneliness-sadness-connection-sex-2024-1">lonely fans build relationships</a> that go beyond the sexual, while others warn that it may turn into a dangerous game, and further isolate people from the real world and real relationships.For the creators, it's certainly one of the most lucrative ways to monetize their online presence. But the volume of messages they receive can quickly get overwhelming, and many have long outsourced chatting to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/onlyfans-creator-made-6-million-strategies-for-success-2023-1">their own employees</a> or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/unruly-agency-managing-onlyfans-accounts-influencers-tana-mongeau-daisy-keech-2021-1">external agencies</a>. Now, AI can become an addition to this arsenal of chatting tools.Companies like ChatPersona and FlirtFlow have developed chatbots that can be used on OnlyFans to chat on behalf of creators. OnlyFans has taken a staunch anti-AI stance, though, so a human still has to press "send" on the messages (even if they don't write them).Creators could use these AI tools to replace existing "chatters," who have often been low-wage workers in countries like the Philippines, India, and Pakistan, <a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/2024/04/05/ai-is-coming-for-the-onlyfans-chat-industry/">Fortune</a> reported.Other companies, like MySentient.ai or Riley Reid's Clona, have developed the capabilities to create chatbots that can exchange messages with fans on behalf of the creators, using their style of conversation. Unlike ChatPersona or FlirtFlow, these chatbots live on separate platforms from their human counterparts and are clearly labeled as being generated with artificial intelligence.Riley Reid told BI that she hoped her AI version would be a way to "immortalize herself" and continue to monetize the fan base she'd created with her adult content even as she moves away from it. To chat with AI Riley, fans need to pay a subscription that costs $30 a month.MySentient has been investing in creating "sentient" AI chatbots based on people that range from adult creators like Amouranth to Jesus.Reese Leysen, the company's CEO, said MySentient approaches AI with a clear goal of trying to make the interactions positive and putting guardrails in place for its use from the get-go. He said users had been able to form positive connections with chatbots like Amouranth's."I know there's many concerns around this, but we have so far not seen one person say in our community, 'This is bad for me,'" Leysen said. "We've actually only seen the opposite, where people say, 'This has made me so much more secure. It has made me feel like I am perfectly capable of forging these kinds of relationships.'"While chatting with a creator — whether real or AI — can have a positive impact, some experts <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-onlyfans-became-outlet-source-help-loneliness-sadness-connection-sex-2024-1">previously told BI</a> that the type of relief chatting offers can be a temporary Band-Aid to real-life problems, and can become a kind of addiction."They don't know how to be intimate. They don't know how to grow. They literally didn't learn that," Robert Weiss, a certified sex-addiction specialist who focuses on digital intimacy, said of some of his clients.Fanvue, an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/onlyfans-rival-fanvue-bets-on-ai-content-creators-have-concerns-2024-2">OnlyFans competitor</a> that has taken an AI-first approach, has developed a variety of AI tools to help its creators. These range from AI message drafting and voice notes to a "creator coach," an AI chatbot that helps users understand their performance on the platform better and gives advice and support.Creators have also been experimenting with AI tools that can replicate their voices. One of the most well-known and utilized tools is ElevenLabs, an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elevenlabs-ai-voice-cloning-startup-confirms-unicorn-valuation-2024-1">AI darling</a> that's recently achieved unicorn status for its text-to-speech and dubbing capabilities.Isla Moon said she'd seen some fellow creators clone their voices and then task their employees with sending voice notes to subscribers, pretending they're genuine. She and a number of other creators BI spoke with said they worried about how the use of AI could impact their credibility and undermine audiences' trust in them."That's the part that stresses me out a lot," she said. "At what point are [the fans] going to not trust what I'm saying?"<div type="image" title="An AI-generated image of OnlyFans model and adult content creator Elaina St James in a yellow bikini in a field of sunflowers." height="549" width="731" msid="109954045" hostid="261" sizebytes="52826"></div><h2 id="3e9fc336-71d7-491b-b6a3-7958b3b75f68">Level up: AI 'digital twins'</h2>Some startups are going a step further from just offering chatbots or voice clones, and promise to create full-on "digital twins" — also referred to as "duplicates" or "döppelgangers" — for existing influencers, which also generate pictures.Some companies — like Eva AI, Foxy.ai, and My.Club — are fully leaning into the adult world. Eva and My.Club even had booths at AVN, the world's biggest adult entertainment expo, where they were inviting adult stars to duplicate themselves.Jessica Moore, a creator who generated her digital twin using My.Club, said the idea of making a digital twin excited her not only for money-making potential but also for the creative possibilities and the interactions her AI version could have with other AI-generated characters."You're able to interact with your friends, digital versions of them," she said. "I think that's probably where we will see the twin going. For me, I live in a small town in Canada. I don't have access to every creator. Having the ability to do that, I think, is going to be really cool."Some creators are also experimenting individually with different AI image generators like MidJourney or Stable Diffusion to create depictions of themselves in different settings.Elaina St James, for example, has started Twitter and Instagram <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/elaina_world?igsh=MXhwZnNuNXZ5YWNuag%3D%3D">accounts</a> dedicated to AI art of herself — primarily simple portraits of her in revealing outfits in a variety of settings."I can be really creative," St James said in a recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chat-with-elaina/episode-12-ai-the-end-of-LBsaPCu5ibg/?t=2404">podcast</a> episode she hosted. "I can make myself, or I can make a younger, blonde, super curvy version of me. Or I can make somebody older than me … This can all be part of the Elaina-verse."<div type="image" title="AI-generated image of two girls wearing jean bottoms and white tops, standing in the middle of a mall." height="1920" width="2560" msid="109954046" hostid="261" sizebytes="382272"></div><h2 id="1b0b7e11-b48b-4b87-bb92-f2c45171434d">The next frontier: AI-generated influencers</h2>There's been quite some buzz in the news about AI-generated characters, like Spanish <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-influencer-aitana-clueless-agency-tech-spain-2023-11">Aitana</a>, who besides being popular on Instagram makes money from adult content.In recent months, crops of AI-generated influencers in racy outfits and curves that defy the laws of physics have emerged, and some of them have amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Some of the creators behind these characters previously told BI they chose to lean into adult content because of its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-influencers-social-media-make-money-get-instagram-followers-2024-2">higher monetization potential</a>.To create these characters, they use a variety of AI tools, including Unstable Diffusion, an AI <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-porn-generator-unstable-making-500k-images-day-ceo-says-2023-7">image generator</a> that focuses on NSFW content. Many of them publish this content behind a paywall on Fanvue.Some creators have gone as far as using deepfake technology to superimpose AI-generated faces to the bodies of real influencers or celebrities like Dua Lipa and Margot Robbie, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.404media.co/email/d72b3844-9d62-4961-b52f-86ba9f237480/?ref=daily-stories-newsletter">404 Media</a> investigation recently found.A popular app that enables this kind of deepfakes is HelloFace. Three AI creators BI previously spoke to mentioned they had seen the app being used in their community, both in legitimate and unauthorized ways.A spokesperson for HelloFace told BI the company is working actively to limit these unauthorized uses of third-party videos, but the practice still appears to be running rampant.<div type="image" title="Influencer and OnlyFans creator Sophie Annaston sitting on a wooden bench among trees." height="1206" width="1608" msid="109954047" hostid="261" sizebytes="185422"></div><h2 id="dc73d61e-dc0c-4788-8515-5a02db0eb8cb">Some creators are still skeptical — and worry about deceiving their audiences</h2>Like with many technological advancements, the excitement and interest are balanced with a healthy level of skepticism.Sophie Annaston, who's built a presence on social media primarily with "try-on" videos, said she'd been avoiding AI entirely out of respect for her audience and concern for the potential outcomes."If this AI model is directly associated with me, I can't do that," she said. "My account is very much me. It's been managed by me, it sounds like me. I could never have anything being said on my behalf that I don't see and send myself."Others see the power of AI but also the issues it could create for the adult industry as a whole. Similarly to those in other media sectors, many are embracing AI to speed up processes and for efficiency, but not to replace the creative and human sides. But the pressure to constantly produce new work has led many to at least contemplate how AI could fit into their output."In order to ride the algorithm wave, anybody needs a certain amount of content," said Charles Lyle, who co-owns adult production company Blush Erotica with his wife. "We would use AI to replace what we have not shot ourselves. Just to fill the space of how much content we need to feed the beast. That's how we would use AI."

How AI is shaking up OnlyFans and adult content creation

New Delhi [India], December 21: While making significant strides in various sectors, there are leaders in India who are standing out for their work worldwide. The "Global <keyword id="397956" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-leaders" source="Orion">Indian Leaders</keyword> 2023" list curated by World Brand Affairs has featured leaders from across the country who are known for their innovative, resilient, and persistent approach to functioning in their respective industries. These people are heading towards new heights and establishing standards for excellence. The list honors their outstanding efforts and accomplishments which have propelled their companies to unbound success. Their inclusion in the list highlights their exceptional abilities to navigate challenges, adapt to changing market trends, and consistently deliver groundbreaking results. Gaurav Munjal, CEO of Unacademy Gaurav Munjal is the co-founder and CEO of Unacademy, India's largest online learning platform. With a vision to democratize education, Munjal pioneered Unacademy's growth, transforming it into a leading ed-tech powerhouse. His innovative leadership has revolutionized accessible and quality education, empowering millions of learners across the globe. Kunal Shah, Founder of CRED Kunal Shah is the founder and CEO of CRED, a fintech startup revolutionizing credit card payments in India. As a serial entrepreneur, Shah previously founded FreeCharge, later acquired by Snapdeal. His innovative approach to creating rewarding credit experiences has helped CRED to redefine credit card usage while fostering financial literacy. Ashish Hemrajani, Co-founder and CEO of BookMyShow Ashish Hemrajis the co-founder and CEO of BookMyShow, India's leading online entertainment ticketing platform. Hemrajani's unique idea revolutionized the way people book tickets for movies, events, and live performances. His ingenious leadership transformed BookMyShow into a cultural phenomenon, reshaping the access to entertainment industry across the country. Fardin Sheikh, Managing Director at Wizence Group Fardin Sheikh is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of exemplary leadership experience, earning him recognition as a Distinguished Digital Transformation Leader. His dynamic career spans across various roles, showcasing a remarkable blend of strategic vision, project management acumen, and a strong commitment to driving digital innovation. Pariksha Rao, Founder of NuWe Starting as a Clinical Nutritionist, Pariksha Rao has morphed into various roles with the intent to help demystify and democratize healthcare. From maternal well-being to fetal health and tailored nutrition for weaning kids to teens, her work has helped impact over 200,000 lives over nearly two decades of her career. She continues to amplify her impact with NuWe. Poojaa Choprah, CEO and MD of Felix Impex Poojaa Choprah, a visionary CEO &amp; MD of Felix Impex Pvt Ltd., and founder of PNA ORIGINE, is renowned for strategic business acumen and market expansions. A trailblazer in entrepreneurship, her global fashion insights, artistic fervor as a Kathak dancer, and bespoke training expertise redefine success, weaving innovation and cultural fluency into her vibrant career. Amandeep Kaur Khangura, Director of Tru Prime Amandeep is a Canadian born entrepreneur who moved to India in 2011, and acquired Indian Citizenship to follow her passion to bring social empowerment in rural Punjab. During her time in Canada, Amandeep chaired HR &amp; Finance for a $500M project. Currently, in India, she operates Majara Dairy Farm which has 2,600 livestock and is the largest dairy farm operator in Punjab and one of the largest in India. Pt. Dr Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava, Nadi and Vedic Celebrity Astrologer Renowned globally as a luminary in Nadi and Vedic astrology, Pt. Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava is celebrated across 70+ nations for his remarkable precision in predictions &amp; teaching Nadi Astrology. With an illustrious career spanning 27 years, his astonishing success rate of 95-97% and expertise in Nadi Nakshatra Sutras exemplify his command in the celestial arts. Dr Prachiti Punde, Director of Proluxe Dr Prachiti Punde is a powerhouse in Integrated Medicine, Director of Proluxe Pvt Ltd, and Mrs. Universe Tolerance 2021. She transforms health and lifestyle with an exclusive GLAMOWELL multi-experience centre and revolutionizes wellness with patented tools and a unique mobile app. Along with being a spiritually blessed child, she is also an Anesthetist and mindskills Trainer with 15+ books published. Sanju Pudyandil, Founder of Whitespace Brand Consulting Sanju Pudyandil, a luminary in brand management and marketing, launched Whitespace Brand Consulting after honing his expertise at Ray+Keshavan, presently Super Union. Renowned for orchestrating transformative corporate revamps, he spearheaded impactful makeovers for illustrious brands like Canara Bank, Trident Hotels, J&amp;K Bank, Punj Lloyd, CEAT Tyres, and Fair &amp; Lovely, among others. Stuti Galiya, Partner at Khaitan &amp; Co. Stuti, an esteemed Advocate and solicitor, serves as a Partner at Khaitan &amp; Co., excelling in mergers &amp; acquisitions, private equity, corporate laws, commercial contracts, and foreign investments. Recognized as the "Luxury Retail Lawyer of the Year 2023" by APAC Insider, her expertise in the luxury retail sector marks her as an ingenious leader in the Asia-Pacific legal domain. Srividhya, Founder of HITECH Engineering Solutions (India) Srividhya, founder of HITECH Engineering Solutions (India) holds a deeply rooted legacy in Construction since 1998. Her indomitable optimism defied industry challenges, establishing a prominent platform despite male-dominated norms. Under her guidance, the company thrives as a certified SSI unit with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 &amp; OHSAS 4500: 2018 qualifications, renowned for cost-effective solutions nationwide and across Asia. Debabrata Sarkar, CMD at MicroAlgae Solutions Debabrata Sarkar is an agricultural innovator with 26+ years of global experience. Armed with a BCKVV agriculture degree and IIM Kolkata alumni status, he led strategic units for esteemed firms in Asia Pacific. He is currently serving as the CMD at MicroAlgae Solutions India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of AlgaEnergy Spain. Mogilipuri Krishna Chaitanya, Director at Wonder View Media As a Director at Wonder View Media Pvt Ltd, a CMPTL franchise specializing in IT services and Business Consulting, Mogilipuri Krishna Chaitanya facilitated substantial growth for his brother's business. With over 9 years of experience, he continues to excel as a Software Engineer at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and has made significant contributions to tech giants like Apple, Google, and more. Subhajit Banik, Founder of Birdlens Creation Subhajit ventured into photography in 2007 as a model, cultivating expertise in lighting and creative framing. Winner of the Glamhunt competition by ABP group in 2010, he founded Birdlens Creation in 2015. Specializing in wedding photography, Subhajit crafts timeless, emotive images reflecting couples' love and joy. Dr Rahul Mirchandani, Chairman &amp; Managing Director of Aries Agro Limited Dr Rahul Mirchandani, ranked among the 30 Most Innovative CEOs in India, has pioneered unique strategies to build 130+ Aries specialty crop nutrition brands. With a PhD in Management Studies, he teaches Marketing, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship across 50+ B-Schools. He plays key roles in CII's agriculture council, and key governmental panels and was the National Chairman of CII's Young Indians. Vinay Kumar Singh, Executive Director and CEO of Thomson Digital and Q&amp;I (India) Vinay Kumar Singh is the Executive Director and CEO of Thomson Digital and Q&amp;I, with over 30 years of industry expertise. He pioneered Thomson Digital in India and globally, founding associated companies and an education technology startup. Specializing in scientific and educational content, Vinay completed his Executive Training Programs at ISB Hyderabad. Saurabh Gupta, Founder &amp; CEO of Verismart.ai A 3-time entrepreneur and angel investor in 9 deep tech firms, Saurabh Gupta is now leading Verismart.ai which pioneer in blockchain-based Ad-tech/Data Interoperability platform with over 520M+ users data pipeline while ensuring privacy compliance. He also acquired dolphinchat.ai., and has been a speaker at 50+ global conferences talking about Blockchain and data privacy. Vikkas K Jha, Founder of Brand Kettle Vikkas K Jha, an ace marketing professional turned visionary entrepreneur, founded Brand Kettle amidst the pandemic. With expertise in Commercial Fitouts, Retail Roll-Outs &amp; experiential marketing, he expanded Brand Kettle's services, integrating 30+ brands, within 3 years. He is also driving impactful social change via the Brand Kettle Foundation's NGO initiatives. Atharva Bahadur, CEO of Drishti Pures Atharva Bahadur is the CEO of Drishti Pures in Lucknow. Under Atharva's leadership, Drishti Pures, a pioneering endeavor, engages abandoned, differently-abled children in producing Cold Pressed Oil and processing pure spices, aiming to foster self-reliance among them. Currently housing 260 abandoned children, Drishti remains the largest institution of its kind globally. Harsh Niwas, Manager Legal and Team Lead at Unitech Limited Harsh Niwas is an international consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the Real Estate and Mining industries. His expertise lies in project management, legal strategy, and stakeholder communication, delivering successful outcomes and operational efficiency. Known for strong leadership, negotiation, and collaboration skills, he ensures compliance and value creation within teams and organizations. Hussain Kalsekar, Founder and CEO of 366 DigitX Renowned for fostering enduring relationships with corporate decision-makers, Hussain Kalsekar has steered 366 DigitX to unparalleled heights. His client-centric approach has garnered him accolades globally. Recognized as one of the top 100 smartest digital marketing leaders by the World Marketing Congress, he was also recently honored among the Top 50 Global High Flyers and awarded as the Leader in Digital Marketing for 2023. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

Global Indian Leaders of The Year 2023 as per World Brand Affairs

North Korea-based notorious <keyword id="279456" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="lazarus" source="Orion">Lazarus</keyword> hacking group is back in action, targeting <keyword id="6354427" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="apple" source="Orion">Apple</keyword> <keyword id="62949" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mac" source="Orion">Mac</keyword> users with fake job emails that contain malicious files. Researchers at cyber-security firm ESET posted a screenshot on Twitter that showed fake job listings from leading crypto exchange <keyword id="1972612" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="coinbase" source="Orion">Coinbase</keyword> by Lazarus, famous for spreading the WannaCry ransomware globally in 2017. The fake job listing was for an engineering manager, product security, at Coinbase. "A signed Mac executable disguised as a job description for Coinbase was uploaded to VirusTotal from Brazil. This is an instance of Operation by Lazarus for Mac," the ESET researchers posted in a tweet. The fake job emails have an attachment containing malicious files that can compromise both Intel and Apple chip-powered Mac computers. "Malware is compiled for both Intel and Apple Silicon. It drops three files: a decoy PDF document, a bundle and a downloader," warned researchers. The Mac malware campaign is new and not part of previous Lazarus campaigns. This time, "the bundle is signed July 21 (according to the timestamp) using a certificate issued in February 2022 to a developer named <keyword id="14778863" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="shankey-nohria" source="Orion">Shankey Nohria</keyword>. The application is not notarised and Apple has revoked the certificate on August 12," the researchers noted. Last month, cyber-security researchers linked Lazarus with stealing $100 million worth digital tokens from Harmony, the crypto startup behind Horizon Blockchain Bridge. The Lazarus Group has perpetrated several large cryptocurrency thefts totalling over $2 billion, and has recently turned its attention to Decentralised Finance (DeFi) services such as cross-chain bridges, according to London-based blockchain analysis provider Elliptic. The same group is believed to be behind the $540 million hack of <keyword id="14283106" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ronin-bridge" source="Orion">Ronin Bridge</keyword>. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/meet-indias-real-gully-boy-vidit-aatrey-of-meesho-is-taking-the-entrepreneurial-dream-deep-inside-bharat/articleshow/93702491.cms">Meet India’s Real Gully Boy: Vidit Aatrey of Meesho is taking the entrepreneurial dream deep inside Bharat</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indians-spend-half-an-hour-every-day-on-memes-and-thats-gone-up-80-in-the-last-year/articleshow/93702734.cms">Indians spend half an hour every day on memes and that's gone up 80% in the last year</a>

Lazarus hackers targeting Apple Mac users with fake job posts

<ul><li><keyword id="2462624" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="polygon">Polygon</keyword> runs an Ethereum-based <keyword id="6355684" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Blockchain">blockchain</keyword> platform, which is designed to help make decentralised finance (DeFi) apps.</li><li>The company did not reveal how much the investment is worth, or what it will do with the money.</li><li>It is also unclear whether Cuban’s investment is part of a bigger funding round.</li></ul>Billionaire <keyword id="219358" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mark-Cuban">Mark Cuban</keyword> has made an investment in Indian <a href="https://wazirx.com/signup?invite=2kpah6gr&amp;utm_source=business-insider&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsite">crypto</a> and blockchain firm, Polygon. <div type="twitter" handle="0xPolygon" handlename="Polygon (previously Matic)" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1359201682333204480/0VLj4wmd_normal.jpg" favoritecount="6478" retweetcount="1657" status="🔥 @mcuban is one of the most prolific and insightful investors with investments in top startups and he is also one… https://t.co/UN2AoScaJ6" createdat="1621962002000" id="1397236024498180107"></div> The company is also included in Cuban’s portfolio website, now. Cuban, who is known to be an avid Silicon Valley investor, has a net worth of $4.4 billion, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-cuban/?sh=28eaaf766a04">Forbes</a>. He also owns National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise, the Dallas Mavericks, and has been one of the biggest celebrity supporters of cryptocurrencies alongside Tesla’s chief executive Elon Musk. Cuban has also invested in nine other blockchain startups. The company did not reveal how much the investment is worth, or what it will do with the money. However, co-founder Sandeep Nailwal <a href="https://www.livemint.com/companies/start-ups/tech-billionaire-mark-cuban-invests-in-indian-blockchain-startup-polygon-11621996119977.html">told</a> Mint that it has been in talks with “many investors”. It is unclear whether Cuban’s investment is part of a bigger funding round. Polygon runs an Ethereum-based blockchain platform, which is designed to help make decentralised finance (DeFi) apps that are secure and easy to use. The company <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/cryptocurrency-polygon-founded-by-3-indians-has-touched-13-billion-in-market-cap/articleshow/82770196.cms">was founded in 2017</a> by Nailwal, Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun. It added Serbian Mihailo Bjelic as a co-founder later. The company was originally known as <keyword id="3565545" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="matic">Matic</keyword>, but changed its name to Polygon in 2019. “While we were grinding it out day by day and putting in the work to build Matic, we realised that our branding should mirror our beliefs and represent the idea and the vision Matic is working on,” the company <a href="https://blog.matic.network/re-branding-matic-network/">said</a> at the time. Nailwal is also the man behind a crypto-based Covid-19 relief effort in India, called India Covid Relief Fund. The fund received a billion dollar donation from <keyword id="2810876" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ethereum">Ethereum</keyword> founder Vitalik Buterin earlier this month, and may have helped raise Polygon’s value as well. The company has seen success recently, which may mean that it needs a fresh fund infusion. Polygon’s <keyword id="2721952" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="crypto">crypto</keyword> token (by the same name) entered the top 20 <a href="https://wazirx.com/signup?invite=2kpah6gr&amp;utm_source=business-insider&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsite">cryptocurrencies</a> in the world earlier this month. Its value was pegged at around $13 billion on May 18, and had risen to over $14 billion on May 26 (at 11.40 a.m. India time). SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-moves-the-delhi-high-court-against-indias-new-it-laws-says-report/articleshow/82965251.cms">WhatsApp moves the Delhi High Court against India’s new IT laws, says report</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/cyclone-yaas-will-unleash-its-fury-for-another-12-to-18-hours-after-making-landfall/articleshow/82964922.cms">Cyclone Yaas will unleash its fury for another 12 to 18 hours after making landfall</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-is-giving-away-9000-worth-google-stadia-bundle-for-free-but-its-not-available-in-india/articleshow/82965884.cms">OnePlus is giving away ₹9,000 worth Google Stadia bundle for free – but it’s not available in India</a>

Billionaire Mark Cuban invests in Indian Ethereum platform Polygon

<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/master-your-crypto"></a><div type="image" title="Jocelyn Cheng, the CEO of Luno Expeditions." height="1011" width="2023" msid="93909158" hostid="261"></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Many of the most practical uses for crypto are in emerging markets, according to Jocelyn Cheng.</li><li>Cheng says crypto can reduce the costs of remittances and open up access to loans in those markets.</li></ul>The crypto crash has significantly chopped down the value of assets such as bitcoin and ethereum, but some investors say it's also presented opportunities to back companies at the forefront of emerging trends in the Web3 space.Jocelyn Cheng, the London-based CEO of Luno Expeditions, believes many of those opportunities lie beyond the US. Her firm, the venture arm of Luno, a crypto-investing company, has invested in 30 Web3 and fintech companies in 15 countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Pakistan.Several of Luno's portfolio companies, including Kotani Pay, a crypto-payments startup, focus on customers in emerging markets such as Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. Insider spoke with Cheng about where she thinks crypto applications are poised to grow globally.This interview has been condensed and slightly edited for length and clarity.What areas within crypto are most exciting to you right now?We continue to see a lot of interest in stablecoins. There was a <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/terra-terrausd-luna-ust-stablecoin-plunge-do-kwon-death-spiral-2022-5?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">very public stablecoin blow-up</a>, but the core utility for emerging markets is still there. They've become popular because not only are they good on-ramps from fiat currency to crypto, but also because by definition, they are linked to a stable asset such as the US dollar.They're able to help weather price volatility, especially for emerging-market investors. Historically, to have access to US dollars, they'd have to incur significant fees. With stablecoins, the benefit is that it really makes access to the US dollar much more affordable.What's the use case for stablecoins for the average person in an emerging market?I'll give you a personal example, if it's OK. Many years ago, I was living in Tanzania and I was renting an apartment. I had a US-dollar account in the US, and they demanded my rent in US dollars in cash. But because I was in Tanzania, I had to go to the ATM and — out of my US-dollars account — withdraw Tanzanian shillings.That was the only option. I had to pay ATM fees, foreign-transaction fees, out-of-network fees, and I had to take those Tanzanian shillings and take them to a local FX dealer just to exchange them back into US dollars to hand to my landlord. My landlord then took that US-dollar cash and had to do basically the same in reverse to deposit it in their local account.We think that the benefit of having stablecoins is being able to make that process more streamlined. We've invested in companies like Caliza, which is a B2B company that offers fintech companies the infrastructure to offer synthetic-US-dollar accounts using stablecoins. A customer can deposit local currency, where it's converted to a stablecoin like USDC, held by a custodian that provides direct access to US banking.Are there any other opportunities you see for crypto in emerging markets?There is a huge opportunity for crypto to provide better international-payment rails. Remittances are the source of income for 800 million people globally. I think crypto has a really important ability to make remittances faster and cheaper.In the traditional method, it can take up to five days, and on average, it can cost 7% for a $200 transfer. On the other hand, crypto allows the transfer of money within minutes from one wallet to another. User-to-user fees would depend only on the blockchain's transaction fees.In some of the pilots that we've seen for using crypto as a remittance rail, we've seen that transaction fees are really reduced. There's a company in our portfolio called Kotani Pay, which has been testing cross-border payments of gig workers in Kenya. Using crypto, they've cut down transaction fees by 93%.We've also seen other companies a little bit more advanced than our early-stage focus. Other companies like Coins.ph and Aza Finance work in emerging markets and use crypto rails for remittances. They offer a much lower cost: 1% to 4%, rather than the 7% global average, and it also takes minutes to settle rather than five days.What are the specific benefits that crypto offers over other technologies?It streamlines the whole flow. If you're looking for instant settlement or very quick settlement, it avoids the need for the provider to have enormous cash reserves in destination countries.Ultimately, there is a need for a last-mile payout for the recipient. There is a need to, for example, integrate with mobile money or, in some cases, 7-Eleven — wherever that last-mile pickup point is for the recipients. So it is critical to integrate with non-crypto systems as well, but crypto provides a faster and cheaper rail for the cross-country part.This is one of the things that we're really excited about, working with Kotani Pay, the company I mentioned earlier. They don't need internet access in order to connect to blockchain. That's important because in Africa, something like 50% of people still use feature phones. So a user doesn't actually need to see crypto in order for them to get the benefits of crypto.Kotani Pay connects blockchain protocols to local-payment channels by using USSD services, which are the dominant channels for mobile-money payments. So clients with access to those local-payment channels can transfer money using feature phones.Do you think most people will end up interacting directly with crypto, or will it just be in the background even as more people start to use these services?I think, for sure, we will see more and more people interacting directly with crypto globally. But I think we can also design for a world in which people have the benefits of crypto but don't need to know what an NFT is or what the private keys to their wallet are.One thing that we think is quite interesting, but still very nascent, is to have crypto — more specifically <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/what-is-defi" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">DeFi</a> — provide a more efficient capital source for funding in emerging markets.We are seeing some early stories come out: For example, Goldfinch, which is not a portfolio company but is one that we're very interested in. It has enabled borrowing by more than a million people in businesses across India, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and Nigeria, and has more than $100 million in active loans.Goldfinch works with existing lending businesses who handle the loan origination and services, so there's no real behavior change needed from the borrower's end. But then those lending businesses are able to tap into global credit pools using DeFi, draw down stablecoins from the pool, and deploy them on the ground in their local markets.This article is intended to provide generalized information designed to educate a broad segment of the public; it does not give personalized investment, legal, or other business and professional advice. Before taking any action, you should always consult with your own financial, legal, tax, investment, or other professional for advice on matters that affect you and/or your business.

Why VC Jocelyn Cheng, the CEO of Luno Expeditions, believes the next big opportunities for crypto are in Kenya, Nigeria, and other emerging markets

<ul><li><keyword id="6354427" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="apple" source="Orion">Apple</keyword>’s price saw an 8% jump after the company’s CEO revealed that the tech giant is “investing accordingly” in the space.</li><li>During the company’s first quarter earnings call, <keyword id="191843" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tim-cook" source="Orion">Tim Cook</keyword> mentioned that Apple’s <keyword id="4699859" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="arkit" source="Orion">ARKit</keyword> can help design applications that would help users access the ‘metaverse’.</li><li>Apple reportedly also has an <keyword id="6369782" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="augmented-reality" source="Orion">augmented reality</keyword> (AR) headset in the works, scheduled to launch this year.</li></ul>Facebook renamed itself to <keyword id="399907" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="meta" source="Orion">Meta</keyword>, Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard for $69 billion and has already launched its augmented reality glasses called HoloLens, while Google has Project Iris. Apple, the world’s largest company according to market value, has only now announced its plans for the metaverse — and it doesn’t sound especially groundbreaking. <div type="ExtQuote" text="We see a lot of potential in this space [the metaverse] and are investing accordingly" auname="Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, during the first quarter earnings call on January 27."></div> Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, <a href="https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2022/01/28/apple-aapl-q1-2022-earnings-call-transcript/">said</a> that the company sees potential in “the space” and is “investing accordingly”. When pressed on the topic, the Apple head referred to the company’s work in augmented reality (AR), according to <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/01/27/tim-cook-says-apple-sees-metaverse-potential-is-investing-accordingly">AppleInsider</a>. Cook believes that Apple’s AR developer platform, ARKit, could help design applications that would, in turn, help users gain access to the metaverse. <div type="ExtQuote" text="Right now, we have over 14,000 AR kit apps in the App Store, which provide incredible AR experiences for millions of people today." auname="Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, during the first quarter earnings call on January 27."></div> Apple’s AR headset is rumoured to launch in 2022 but fans may have to wait a little longer for its release. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-14/apple-s-hotly-anticipated-headset-risks-being-delayed-until-2023?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_term=220114&amp;utm_campaign=author_19842959&amp;sref=9hGJlFio">Bloomberg</a> reported that the headset is facing some hardware and software hiccups which may delay its debut. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Why is the ‘metaverse’ such a big deal?" comment="subhead" text="Why is the ‘metaverse’ such a big deal?">Why is the ‘metaverse’ such a big deal?</cmsannotation> Morgan Staney noted that the term ‘metaverse’ was mentioned 73 times, a multi-fold increase over the previous year, during earnings calls for the months of April to June. Despite the increase in usage of the buzzword, the precise definition of the ‘metaverse’ remains elusive. Global investment bank <a href="https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/pages/gs-research/framing-the-future-of-web-3.0-metaverse-edition/report.pdf">Goldman Sachs</a> pegs the ‘metaverse’ to be an opportunity worth $8 trillion. <keyword id="6354630" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mark-zuckerberg" source="Orion">Mark Zuckerberg</keyword> owned Meta, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/facebook-is-changing-its-name-to-meta/articleshow/87346459.cms">formerly known as Meta</a>, has plans to hire around 10,000 more employees to build Meta and its related products. In India, Kavin Bharti Mittal-owned Hike plans to turn its Rush Gaming Universe into a play-to-earn platform. The startup recently announced its partnership with Polygon to build for web3. Polygon will also be investing an undisclosed amount in Hike. Decentraland, The Sandbox, Axie Infinity, Theta Networks and Enjib Coin have seen massive growth over the past one year ever since the spotlight has been on the ‘metaverse’ — especially after Facebook’s change of name. Decentraland, for instance, hit an all-time-high of $5.90 in November during the crypto bull run. While not at those highs, the MANA token is currently trading at over $2 — an over 300% jump in value as compared to January 2021. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/investment/news/singing-in-the-rain-wizard-of-oz-and-other-musicals-may-be-making-their-way-to-the-metaverse-with-the-sandbox/articleshow/89183739.cms">Warner Music Group plans to build a ‘musical’ theme park and concert venue within The Sandbox metaverse</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/investment/news/experts-guide-to-understanding-the-role-of-defi-in-digital-finance/articleshow/89136201.cms">OPINION: Experts’ guide to understanding the role of DeFi in digital finance</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/tvs-motor-pnb-kotak-mahindra-bank-lampt-dr-reddys-and-other-hot-stocks-on-january-28/slidelist/89169873.cms">TVS Motor, PNB, Kotak Mahindra Bank, L&amp;T, Dr. Reddy’s and other hot stocks on January 28</a>

The largest company in the world is finally jumping on the ‘metaverse’ bandwagon

<ul><li>Polygon's current (on May 19) <keyword id="118864" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Market-capitalisation">market capitalisation</keyword> is just under $13 billion.</li><li>The token touched $2.14 around midnight on May 18.</li><li>It was founded by <keyword id="11257748" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sandeep-nailwal">Sandeep Nailwal</keyword>, <keyword id="11285401" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anurag-Arjun">Anurag Arjun</keyword> and <keyword id="11285402" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="jaynti-kanani">Jaynti Kanani</keyword>.</li></ul> India may have a burgeoning industry that’s trading in <keyword id="2420795" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="cryptocurrencies">cryptocurrencies</keyword>, but the country’s importance in the worldwide <a href="https://wazirx.com/signup?invite=2kpah6gr&amp;utm_source=business-insider&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsite">crypto market</a> is not really huge. That’s why the rise of a coin called Polygon was mostly overshadowed last week, as big changes happened in more popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and <keyword id="2810876" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ethereum">Ethereum</keyword>. According to crypto price-tracker Coinmarketcap, a token called Polygon's current (on May 19) market capitalisation is just under $13 billion. But the company actually was not founded to simply put a coin up for trading on exchanges. Polygon is far removed from cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ether right now, but it does rank in the top 20 cryptocurrencies worldwide. But where did it come from? Matic Network Originally launched under the name Matic Network, back in 2017, Polygon is actually a platform built around the Ethereum blockchain, which can be used for developing other decentralised apps. It was founded by Sandeep Nailwal, Anurag Arjun and Jaynti Kanani. “Matic Network is a Layer 2 scaling solution that achieves scale by utilising side chains for off-chain computation while ensuring asset security using the Plasma framework and a decentralised network of Proof-of-Stake (PoS) validators,” the company said in a blog <a href="https://medium.com/matic-network/what-is-matic-network-466a2c493ae1">post</a>. Technical jargon aside, Polygon is basically a system that is designed to solve scalability and usability issues that exist in the Ethereum blockchain, without compromising an app’s core decentralised aspect. “Matic strives to achieve a high degree of decentralisation with trust-less and decentralised execution while ensuring near instant transfers, low fees and conducive economics for micro-transactions,” the company said in the same post. Essentially, this means Matic allows companies building decentralised apps, a growing market, to scale their solutions and accommodate more users. It also takes advantage of the Ethereum blockchain, which has a very broad scope and can be used for many different kinds of apps. For instance, Polygon’s solution is <a href="https://www.medianama.com/2021/05/223-polygon-matic-blockchain-maharashtra/">being used</a> by the government of Maharashtra in India to track COVID-19 cases in the state. The company rebranded to Polygon in 2019 to take its business to the next level. “While we were grinding it out day by day and putting in the work to build Matic, we realised that our branding should mirror our beliefs and represent the idea and the vision Matic is working on,” the company <a href="https://blog.matic.network/re-branding-matic-network/">said</a> at the time. One of Polygon’s founders, Nailwal, is also responsible for the India Covid Relief Fund, a <a href="https://wazirx.com/signup?invite=2kpah6gr&amp;utm_source=business-insider&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsite">cryptocurrency</a> based fund meant to aid pandemic relief efforts in India. The fund has accumulated over $1 billion, thanks in large part to a donation by Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin, last week. Kanani used to be a data scientist at online realty startup Housing.com before founding Matic, while Arjun was with information technology services firm Iris Business Services, according to their LinkedIn profiles. Why is Polygon gaining steam? While Buterin’s donation to the India Covid Relief Fund must have helped Polygon gain some visibility, the token’s growth can’t be credited to that one event. Instead, the growth is more because of a wider surge in Decentralised Finance (DeFi) apps worldwide, like UniSwap and Maker. Polygon’s solution is designed to be helpful for decentralised apps, and hence gains users fast. It is used by such apps, including games, marketplaces, and more. The other reason is speculation, as Nailwal told The Economic Times recently. “Growth has been significant. Some part of it is speculation — as with any cryptocurrency — but we have also expanded our vision and scope of work,” he <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/made-in-india-blockchain-crosses-10-billion-market-cap/articleshow/82736935.cms">said</a>. “A combination of real-world application and user adoption has had a snowball effect,” he added. According to <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/polygon-active-users-grow-by-75-000-as-defi-boom-continues">Cointelegraph</a>, the company added 75000 new users in the seven days till May 17. That shows investors that Polygon’s solution is gaining more users, and will grow in the long run. The token touched $2.14 around midnight on May 18, though it was back down to under $1 at around 5.30 p.m., India time, on May 19. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/xiaomi-oppo-vivo-and-poco-extend-warranties-by-up-to-two-months-due-to-covid-19-lockdowns-and-restrictions/articleshow/82763113.cms">Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and Poco extend warranties by up to two months due to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/android-12-beta-how-to-download-and-install-it-on-pixel-oneplus-xiaomi-realme-phones-among-others/articleshow/82760990.cms">Android 12 beta – how to download and install it on Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Realme phones among others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/adani-green-energy-to-acquire-sb-energy-india/articleshow/82759578.cms">Adani Green Energy to acquire SB Energy India, boosting its renewable energy capacity by 4.9GW</a>

Cryptocurrency Polygon, founded by 3 Indians, has touched $13 billion in market cap

Good morning! This is the tech news you need to know this Wednesday. <ol><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-invests-in-jio-india-mobile-internet-service-2020-4">Facebook is set to invest $5.7 billion in Jio Platforms, India's popular mobile internet service</a>. The multi-billion-dollar stake makes Facebook the largest minority shareholder in Jio, which is a part of Reliance Industries Limited.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sba-website-leaks-thousands-business-owners-personal-information-disaster-loans-2020-4">The Small Business Administration has told thousands of businesses applying for disaster loans that their personal information was mistakenly leaked.</a> A bug in the SBA's site was mistakenly showing applicants' personal information to other applicants who subsequently used the portal.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-google-contact-tracing-coronavirus-privacy-concerns-senator-hawley-letter-2020-4">Apple and Google's new smartphone alert system for tracking the coronavirus could be 'alarming' for privacy, a US senator has warned</a>. Josh Hawley is pressing Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook to raise privacy questions about the companies' joint contact-tracing technology.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/snap-beats-expectations-for-revenue-despite-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-4">Snap's ad business defied coronavirus fears in Q1 and its stock popped as a result</a>. Snapchat's parent company grew its revenue 44% in the first three months of the year.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-slashing-international-interns-salary-2020-4">Some of Google's summer international interns are being told their pay will be slashed by almost half – and they have just 24 hours to accept the new offer</a>. Google's summer international interns will all be logging on remotely in 2020, but they will also be getting paid less than they were originally told.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aiwallex-fintech-unicorn-raises-big-round-during-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-4?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">The CEO of $1.8 billion payment startup Airwallex has described what it was like to raise $160 million during the pandemic</a>. Airwallex CEO Jack Zhang told Business Insider that due diligence questions became tougher, and some smaller investors were forced to drop out after the US stock market crash.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ticketmaster-refunds-postponed-concerts-events-after-backlash-customers-lawmakers-2020-4">Ticketmaster has announced it will offer refunds on postponed events after a backlash from angry customers and lawmakers</a>. More than 30,000 events have been canceled or postponed, the company said, noting that two of its largest organizers are beginning to offer refunds.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epic-puts-fortnite-on-google-official-play-store-2020-4">Fortnite creator Epic Games has put its game on the Google Play Store for the first time ever</a>. Epic Games has finally put Fortnite on the Google Play Store, but it says it only did so because Google puts outsider apps at a disadvantage.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-technology-forgerock-93-million-funding-round-2020-4?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">Security and ID verification startup ForgeRock raised $93 million in a Series E funding round – just as the global pandemic took hold</a>. CEO Fran Rosch said raising during the outbreak made the fundraise even more stressful than usual.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pandemic-outbreak-design-medical-equipment-ppe-technical-innovative-crisis-solution-2020-4">1,900 strangers in Spain teamed up to create 3D-printed ventilators to send to hospitals on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis</a>. Using an old model, the team worked 12 hours a day to be able to donate record numbers of 3D-printed ventilators to help fight the COVID-19 crisis.</li></ol>Have an Amazon Alexa device? Now you can hear <keyword id="9070519" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="10-things-in-tech">10 Things in Tech</keyword> each morning. Just search for "Business Insider" in your Alexa's flash briefing settings.You can also <a href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/free">subscribe to this newsletter</a> here — just tick "10 Things in Tech You Need to Know."Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/10-things-in-tech-you-need-to-know-today-april-22-2020-4">Business Insider</a>

10 things in tech you need to know today

Getty/Business InsiderDonald Trump says he's not scared of Mark Zuckerberg running for president.Good morning! This is the tech news you need to know this Friday.<ol><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lauren-sanchez-jeff-bezos-affair-brother-signed-contract-national-enquirer-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">A New York Times report shed new light on how The National Enquirer tabloid came to possess intimate photos of Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez</a>. The report suggests that she sent them to her brother, Michael, who sold them to The National Enquirer. Bezos later said they were used to extort him.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wuhan-coronavirus-douyin-tiktok-launches-feature-to-help-fight-virus-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">China's version of TikTok launched a feature to spread awareness and fight Wuhan coronavirus</a>. The coronavirus outbreak that originated in Wuhan, China, has killed at least 18 people and infected more than 630.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/president-donald-trump-facebook-mark-zuckerberg-running-for-president-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">President Trump said Mark Zuckerberg running for president "wouldn't be too frightening."</a> Trump also praised Zuckerberg's handling of political ads, which Facebook has taken a hard stand on not fact-checking.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktoks-la-office-for-battling-youtube-instagram-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">TikTok revealed its new five-story LA office, showing its commitment to battling US social media giants like Instagram and Youtube</a>. TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, which is currently seeking a new head for US operations.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/huawei-victory-trump-uk-government-defies-5g-warnings-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">UK officials are to propose allowing Huawei to build parts of the country's 5G infrastructure, sources told Reuters</a>. The proposal defies intense pressure from US officials to ban Huawei completely from the UK's 5G networks.</li><li><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/23/match-group-invests-in-noonlight-to-power-new-safety-features-in-tinder-and-other-dating-apps/">Tinder's parent company partnered with safety platform Noonlight to add a range of new safety features to its dating apps, TechCrunch reports</a>. The new features include a panic button and user photo verification.</li><li><a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/clearview-ai-nypd-facial-recognition">Police disputed the claims from facial recognition startup Clearview AI that it had helped solve a terrorism case, BuzzFeed reports</a>. The firm amassed billions of photos of people's faces by scraping social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-ads-search-results-design-nearly-identical-people-furious-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">Google made a big change to search results that makes it harder to distinguish ads from regular results</a>. Some observers questioned whether Google was trying to intentionally steer users to click on ads through a practice known as "dark-pattern" design.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/george-soros-facebook-trump-election-conspiracy-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">Hungarian-American investor George Soros said President Trump is conspiring with Facebook to get reelected</a>. Speaking at Davos on Thursday, Soros said he thinks there's an "informal mutual assistance operation developing between Trump and Facebook."</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-female-robot-vyommitra-space-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">India wants to send a legless, female humanoid robot called "Vyommitra" into space</a>. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is looking to establish the country as a major player in the space industry. </li></ol>Have an Amazon Alexa device? Now you can hear 10 Things in Tech each morning. Just search for "Business Insider" in your Alexa's flash briefing settings.You can also <a href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/free">subscribe to this newsletter</a> here - just tick "10 Things in Tech You Need to Know. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-spacex-blew-up-rocket-on-purpose-2020-1">SpaceX and NASA just blew up a Falcon 9 rocket on purpose, and it has something to do with Apollo 1</a></h3>

Owing to a tough market scenario in e-commerce coupled with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/IITs-blacklist-31-companies-from-campus-recruitments-most-of-them-are-startups/articleshow/53868909.cms">last year's bitter experience with IITs and IIMs</a>, fewer startups are visiting the premier IITs during campus placement this year. 
 
Some of the larger recruiters from the previous year from e-commerce like <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Flipkart-wont-be-among-the-first-ones-to-hire-at-IITs-may-lose-privilege-after-fallout-with-IIM-A/articleshow/52445158.cms">Flipkart</a>, <keyword id="541988" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="SnapDeal">Snapdeal</keyword> and Hopscotch did not come for summer placements. They are expected to stay away from the upcoming placements as well. "FMCG and other standard recruiters hired in larger numbers and students got their choice of internships. The trend might continue into the finals,” said Sapna Agarwal, head of career development services at IIM Bangalore. 
 <keyword id="6354742" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Flipkart">Flipkart</keyword> particularly is likely to stay off campuses and instead focus on absorbing the students it has previously hired, as per company sources. 
 
175 students from IITs have been interning with Flipkart who will be graduating in 2017 and the company claims it is focusing on making them Pre Placement Offers. The remaining 250 odd students from IITs and IIMs whose<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Flipkart-IIM-fallout-IITs-plan-safety-net-for-students-as-startups-go-back-on-their-promised-job-offers/articleshow/52478430.cms"> joining dates were deferred by the e-commerce giant</a> will join the company mid-December. This will make up for Flipkart's campus needs for 2017. 
 At IIT-M, <keyword id="6355629" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Google">Google</keyword> is also unlikely to participate — the search engine giant will be recruiting from select IITs, apart from its internal process. 
 
At such a time, the institutes have been banking on public sector undertakings for jobs. PSUs were in great demand in IITs before a public interest litigation was filed in 2011 against the campus recruitment process. The petition cited that the PSUs recruiting directly from campuses defies the public employment policy and that they cannot disregard job notifications. After a long hiatus from campuses, the PSUs were expected to be back on the premier institutions after the Madras High Court dismissed a plea against direct recruitment in September last year. 
 
This year, IITs reached out to 80-odd PSUs in the country for placements. About five have confirmed their presence in each of these institutes. ISRO, Indian Navy and Coal India are already recruiting from IIT Madras campus. Meanwhile, some of the PSUs registered at IITs have opted for slots in the second phase of recruiting in January. 
 
(Image credits: Indiatimes)

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