mtf.tv's mtf NOW: Apple goes to war against Alexa... Bitcoin heists soar... Americans want better gifts!
Plus, the Moon's been lying about its age!
DEAL OR NO DEAL? TIKTOK'S NEXT MOVE: REAL ESTATE TYCOON MAKES A PLAY. As China’s ByteDance resists selling TikTok amid a potential US ban, former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is stepping up. The real estate mogul has pitched his bid for the app to over 60 policymakers and even Trump’s transition team, aiming to strike a deal before the Jan. 19 deadline. Source: Bloomberg.
hello, future. it’s me, kev.
…and this is a dispatch from the digital frontier. Your one-stop shop for markets, tech, and the future. The day is 354. The year is 2024. The planet is Earth. My name is Kevin Cirilli —> LinkedIn.
HOLIDAY WASTE: $10 BILLION IN UNWANTED GIFTS. A new survey finds over half of Americans will receive presents they don’t want this year, totaling $10.1 billion in wasted spending. Source: Study Finds.
You know they’re going to get a deal…
Back to the future...
CRYPTO HEISTS HIT $2.2B IN 2024: Hacking surges 21% amid Bitcoin boom. Blockchain firm Chainalysis reports 303 crypto hacking incidents this year, up from 282 in 2023, with $2.2 billion stolen.
WHAT’S DRIVING IT: Bitcoin’s 140% surge past $100K has drawn institutional interest—and opportunistic hackers.
Source: Reuters.
APPLE COMES FOR YOUR HOME: SMART HOME TAKEOVER BEGINS IN 2025. Apple is preparing to launch its first AI-powered smart home device early next year, a wall-mounted display designed to challenge Alexa and Google in the smart home market.
—> WHAT IT IS: Codenamed J490, the 6-inch display will function as a “command center for the home,” managing appliances, videoconferencing, and apps through Apple Intelligence, according to Bloomberg.
WHY YOU CARE: This is Apple’s long-awaited move to compete in the smart home space, bringing AI-powered integration with HomeKit to challenge Amazon and Google head-on.
WHY WALL STREET CARES. Apple's push into smart home tech isn't just about gadgets—it's about expanding its ecosystem, locking in users, and creating new revenue streams.
—> MARKET EXPANSION: The smart home market is expected to exceed $300 billion by 2030. Apple’s move positions it to capture a significant slice of that pie. Sources: 9to5mac… Apple Insider.
MUSK TAPS TECH INSIDERS TO REINVENT GOVERNMENT. Billionaire Elon Musk is enlisting Steve Davis, president of Boring Co., and Michael Kratsios, former U.S. chief technology officer, to spearhead hiring for the incoming administration’s bold push to downsize and streamline government.
INSIDE THE TEAM: The effort includes tech executives and AI specialists interviewing candidates for a leaner federal workforce.
WHO THEY’RE HIRING: So far, around 10 hires have been made, with a focus on software engineers and AI experts.
WHY IT MATTERS: This signals a tech-forward strategy to reshape government’s role and efficiency under Musk’s influence.
Source: Bloomberg.
HOUSE AI TASK FORCE REPORT: WHAT IT MEANS FOR DC POLICY. The House Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence released its long awaited report on artificial intelligence. Here’s what you need to know:
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Sector-Specific Regulation: The report emphasizes tailored regulations for different industries (e.g., healthcare, financial services, education) rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Incremental Approach: Instead of sweeping legislation, the task force recommends addressing AI governance in manageable steps to keep pace with evolving technology.
Innovation-Friendly Policies: Balancing safeguards against AI risks while ensuring the U.S. remains the global leader in AI development is a central theme.
WHY IT MATTERS:
This bipartisan blueprint provides clarity on navigating AI’s challenges while fostering innovation. As Congress shapes AI policy, the emphasis on targeted regulation and private sector collaboration signals an effort to maintain U.S. competitiveness in the rapidly advancing AI landscape. For Washington policymakers, this report is a roadmap for aligning regulatory efforts with innovation-driven growth.
Source: House Select Committee AI Task Force.
BACK TO WORK: Trump says federal workers who don't want to return to the office are "going to be dismissed," via CBS News:
"If people don't come back to work, come back into the office, they're going to be dismissed," Trump said.
Meanwhile…
BACK TO THE OFFICE: REAL ESTATE STOCKS FACE MIXED 2025 OUTLOOK. After a tough few years of soaring borrowing costs and a collapsing property market, real estate stocks are bracing for a mixed year ahead. While the sector saw a rebound in mid-2024, the outlook for 2025 suggests a more nuanced landscape.
A STOCK-PICKER’S MARKET: Expect individual performance to vary widely, with no sweeping trends across the sector, says Adam White of Truist Advisory Services.
BORROWING COSTS STILL WEIGH: The Federal Reserve’s rate hikes since 2022 continue to challenge the market.
OPPORTUNITIES EXIST: For savvy investors, this could mean a chance to focus on standout performers in a shifting environment.
The return to the office—and the reshaping of real estate—will be a key theme to watch in the year ahead. Source: Bloomberg.
SEE THROUGH TV? FOR $60K, WHY NOT. Want a TV you can see through—and turn into a fish tank? For a cool $60K, LG’s Signature OLED T is here to blow your mind. This 77-inch marvel switches between transparent and opaque modes, making it the ultimate flex for your living room. Available by special order only, because obviously. Source: The Verge.
MOON MYSTERY: IT'S OLDER THAN WE THOUGHT. New research reveals the moon might be 100 million years older than previously believed.
—> THE BIG FIND: A volcanic "remelting" event 4.35 billion years ago may have reset the clock on lunar rocks, hiding its true age.
—> WHY IT MATTERS: This shifts our understanding of the moon's origins and the early days of the solar system. Turns out, the moon's been around longer than we gave it credit for. 🌕
Source: Space.com.
With gratitude,
Kev
ABOUT mtf.tv’s meet the future: mtf.tv’s meet the future is a cutting-edge platform focused on addressing key challenges at the intersection of national security, technology, and business. With a mission to embrace freedom to meet the future’s challenges and opportunities, mtf.tv offers forward-thinking media offerings and forums.