Binance’s saga launch, Ripple’s stablecoin venture and South Africa’s Microsoft probe showcase innovation in the tech world. Also, AI advances with Nvidia, Meta, but Instagram faces controversy. What else? scroll down to browse more!

Fintech

1. Binance launches Saga (SAGA) on its Launchpool

Binance introduces Saga (SAGA) on Launchpool, enabling users to stake BNB and FDUSD tokens for rewards during a four-day farming period starting April 5, 2024. Trading begins on April 9, offering enhanced liquidity for Saga. KYC verification is required, and certain jurisdictions are excluded, while users are advised to exercise caution. (Blockchain News)

2. Ripple to launch U.S. dollar stablecoin, taking on a $150 billion market dominated by Tether, Circle

Ripple, a blockchain firm, launches a digital currency pegged to U.S. dollar in an effort to rival Tether’s USDT token and Circle’s USDC. Also, Ripple introduces the stablecoin to complement its On-Demand Liquidity product, which facilitates rapid transactions using XPR as a bridge currency. (CNBC)

IT infrastructure

3. South Africa to investigate Microsoft over cloud computing licensing practices, source says

A South African antitrust agency plans to investigate Microsoft regarding its cloud computing licensing practices, mirroring a similar EU case. Microsoft denies awareness of any complaint from South Africa. The EU complaint by rivals alleges that Microsoft’s licensing terms harm the cloud computing ecosystem. Microsoft adjusted its terms in response to earlier complaints from European countries. (Channel News Asia)

4. nLighten acquires 7 data centres from Exa Infrastructure

nLighten, a digital infrastructure company, has acquired data centres from Exa Infrastructure, expanding its presence in Europe. The acquisition strengthens nLighten’s position in the European data center market, offering enhanced services and connectivity options to customers. With this deal, nLighten gains access to new markets in Belgium, Switzerland, and Spain, while also bolstering its presence in existing markets like Germany, France, the UK, and the Netherlands. (Capacity)

5. RETN launches DDoS mitigation platform, boosting scrubbing capacity 5,000%

The independent international network services provider RETN has launched a new DDoS Mitigation Platform that combines cybersecurity measures and network-level protection. The platform operates across RETN’s vast network spanning Europe to Asia, enabling immediate mitigation measures at the network level. The platform utilizes AI and machine learning for automated threat detection and mitigation, intercepting attacks before they infiltrate networks. RETN’s DDoS Platform also includes a Customer Security Portal for real-time alerts and reports. (IT Brief)

Tech trends

6. Nvidia, Alphabet lead market cap surge in March

Nvidia announced a ready-to-release flagship AI processor last month, bringing a 14% increase in its market cap from February, while Alphabet’s shares rose 9% due to Apple’s interest in Google’s Gemini AI engine. (Reuters)

7. Apple services restored after brief outages globally

Apple reported problems with several of its services, such as the Apple Store, Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Fitness+, Arcade, audiobooks, books, and podcasts, impacting users across regions, including the United States, Britain, India, China, and Australia. (Turkiye)

8. Garmin’s new heart rate tracker pairs nearly perfectly with sports bras

Garmin introduces innovation fitness solutions at CES 2024. HRM-Fit, a chest strap, addresses comfort issues, especially for users wearing sports bras. Garmin introduces the Lily 2, a refreshed version of its petite Lily hybrid analog smartwatch, priced at $249.99. (The Verge)

9. DALL-E now lets you edit images in ChatGPT

OpenAI has introduced a new feature for ChatGPT Plus subscribers that allows them to edit images generated by DALL-E, a text-to-image generation tool. Users can now make edits to DALL-E generated images using a selection tool, which enables them to select areas for editing and describe the changes via text prompts. (Business Standard)

10. Spotify Is Changing How It Charges Customers, With New Plans and Prices

Spotify plans to raise prices for its audio service in several key markets, including the UK, Australia, Pakistan, and eventually the US. The price increase, expected to be between US$1 to US$2 per month, is aimed at improving long-term profitability. This move comes as Spotify introduces audiobooks as part of its paid plans, with users receiving up to 15 hours of listening per month. (The Business Times)

AI

11. Nvidia, Indosat plan $200 mln AI centre investment in Indonesia, govt says

Nvidia (NVDA.o) and Indonesia’s telecommunications company, PT Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, have announced plans to establish an artificial intelligence center in Central Java in 2024. The project is valued at $200 million, according to a statement released by the country’s communication minister earlier this week. (Reuters)

12. Meta is adding AI to its Ray-Ban smart glasses next month

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is set to integrate AI capabilities into its Ray-Ban smart glasses starting next month. These multimodal AI features include translation and identification of objects, animals, and landmarks. Users can activate the smart assistant by saying “Hey Meta,” followed by a prompt or question, with responses delivered through built-in speakers. (The Verge)

13. AI-generated Asians were briefly unavailable on Instagram

Meta’s AI generator depicted individuals as Asian, regardless of the specified race in the text prompt. Despite using prompts like “Asian man and Caucasian friend” or “Asian man and white wife,” the generated images predominantly featured Asian individuals. The day after that, however, the opposite problem occurred. Despite using the same prompts as the day before, the generator failed to generate any Asian individuals. Even after numerous attempts, the system was unable to produce accurate images according to the specified prompts. (The Verge)