Parminder Singh

At long last, it’s takeoff time for urban aviation. The Federal Aviation Administration's approval this week of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles in the U.S. marks a significant milestone for the burgeoning air taxi industry. eVTOLs promise to revolutionize transportation by offering a faster, cleaner, and more convenient mode of travel, particularly in congested cities. These next-generation aircraft could drastically reduce commuting times and alleviate traffic congestion. What’s really cool is that these new regulations are the first for a completely new aircraft category since the 1940s. They cover many aspects, including design standards, pilot certification requirements, and operational procedures. The FAA has been working on developing these regulations for several years, resulting from extensive input from key industry players, aviation experts, and the general public. This approval is also a major win for the eVTOL industry including companies like Joby Aviation, Archer, LILLIUM GmbH, and GE Aerospace. It's expected to attract a huge amount of investment and speed up the development of commercial air taxi services. Traditional airlines are also embracing the future of flight. Southwest Airlines and Archer are moving forward with ambitious plans to establish eVTOL routes connecting South San Francisco, Napa, San Jose, Oakland, and Livermore, California within a few years. However, there are still some hurdles to overcome. Building the necessary infrastructure, gaining public trust, and ensuring safety are crucial challenges that must be addressed before air taxis begin zipping over major American cities. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e-NqhPb4 #aviation #eVTOLs #mobility

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🚀 💰 Seraphim Space Index: Top 10 deals 💰 🚀 Most of the top deals in this quarter were concentrated in hardware-intensive sectors including satellite and rocket launcher technologies. However, the largest transaction was World Labs, a geospatial intelligence company that has recently emerged from stealth mode with a top-tier founding team, and syndicate of investors. Chinese companies maintained a strong presence in the top 10 deals. This quarter included companies such as Deep Blue, MinoSpace, and ispace, inc. These rounds focused on satellite manufacturing and launch, are likely driven by China’s ambition to develop capabilities comparable to SpaceX, ensuring they remain competitive in the global space race. D-Orbit, the sole European company in this quarter’s top list, extended its Series C round with an additional $56 million, increasing the total raise to $168 million. Although European companies often face greater challenges in accessing growth capital at the same scale, leading companies like D-Orbit haven't. Read more here - https://lnkd.in/eSqh-9VW

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New Tesla Patent Reveals Clues to an Exciting Future of Humanoid Robots and AI Integration In a interesting discussion, Herbert Ong and Scott Walter dive deep into Tesla's recently published patent application WO2024072984A1 (link in comments). Entitled "Actuator and actuator design methodology," the patent primarily focuses on controlling robot movement through strategic actuator placement. However, the document also unveils important clues about the potential for end-to-end neural net training of humanoid robots, reminiscent of Tesla's approach to training its vehicles with FSD. Ong and Walter explore the concept of personalized humanoid skills. Imagine purchasing a bot with built-in capabilities, then having the option to augment and customize those skills through a "Skills Store" akin to Apple's App Store. This opens up a world of possibilities for tailoring robots to specific tasks and preferences. The discussion also touches on the potential for various robot form factors, each designed to excel at particular skills. Picture a tennis-playing robot that comes pre-trained with basic volleying instructions, but requires a "Skills Upgrade" to perform at a master level. This raises questions about the need to manufacture and train a diverse range of robot body types and sizes, mirroring how humans possess ideal physiological characteristics for different activities. Later, Ong and Walter discuss a scenario in which Tesla builds the hardware – including automobiles, humanoids, and other bot form factors – while xAI develops the brains. This arrangement opens up opportunities for licensing agreements between the two companies, that may help the companies navigate future antitrust concerns as these technologies are deployed at scale. The convergence of advanced robotics and artificial intelligence holds the potential to catalyze a profound societal transformation. As Tesla and xAI continue to push the boundaries of what's possible, I can envision a future where intelligent, adaptable robots become integral to various aspects of our lives – from manufacturing and transportation to healthcare, recreation, and beyond. The seamless integration of cutting-edge hardware and software will revolutionize the way we live and work, ushering in an era of unprecedented efficiency, productivity, and innovation. While there are still challenges to overcome and ethical considerations to address, the prospect of these combined technologies driving positive change on a global scale is awe-inspiring. #FrontierFrontier #Humanoids #AI #Robots

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🚨 Breaking: In a bold move that underscores today's rapid nuclear renaissance, Oklo Inc sets Its sights on acquiring 8090 Industries portfolio company Atomic Alchemy Inc. led by nuclear industrialist Thomas Eiden! Read more below: https://lnkd.in/gFf3nT3S ☢️ This acquisition is more than just a business deal; it’s a significant leap in accelerating nuclear technology -- marrying Oklo’s expertise in fast reactor designs and Atomic Alchemy's pioneering work in radioisotope production, this strategic alignment promises to unlock unparalleled advancements in medical, industrial, and energy applications. 🔬⚛️ Together, Oklo and Atomic Alchemy are not only reimagining nuclear energy's potential but also making strides in reshaping the very foundation of modern industry. This news would place 8090 Industries as the ONLY VC firm on the planet with two exits in the nuclear industry in this century. cc Kerem Ozmen Wes Mendenhall Charles Baker Filip Vurdelja Haluk Sabanci Dincer Grant Brown Ishan Meswani Garuth A. Andrew Irwin Shilpa Patel Here’s to humanity's nuclear-powered future. #NuclearRenaissance #Innovation #Oklo #AtomicAlchemy #EnergyFuture #IndustrialTransformation #CleanEnergy

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MSR has showcased BitNet, a novel 1-bit Transformer architecture, designed to address the challenges associated with scaling LLMs. A key innovation in BitNet is the introduction of BitLinear, which replaces traditional linear layers and facilitates the training of 1-bit weights from the ground up. This architecture not only achieves competitive performance in language modeling but also significantly reduces memory usage and energy consumption when compared to advanced 8-bit quantization methods and FP16 Transformer baselines.   The architecture employs quantization-aware training, optimizing the model for low-precision representation from the outset, which enhances both accuracy and stability during the training process. BitNet features stacked blocks of self-attention and feed-forward networks with binarized weights, while retaining higher precision for other components, thereby minimizing computational costs. This design allows for efficient matrix multiplication with 1-bit weights, resulting in notable energy savings, especially as model sizes increase.   The training methodology incorporates techniques such as the straight-through estimator for gradient approximation and mixed precision training. These approaches enable BitNet to converge effectively with larger learning rates compared to traditional FP16 Transformers, leading to improved training efficiency and stability, which is particularly beneficial in resource-constrained environments.   Comparative evaluations indicate that BitNet consistently outperforms existing quantization methods across a range of benchmarks, including zero-shot and few-shot tasks, while also maintaining lower inference costs. These findings highlight the advantages of quantization-aware training over post-training quantization, positioning BitNet as a prominent approach for developing efficient LLMs.    Arxiv: https://lnkd.in/e-D959-U

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Just finished reading "The Next Giant Leap" by Space Capital - a pioneering VC investing in the emerging Space Economy. The report speaks to how SpaceX’s Starship is more than just the most powerful rocket ever built—it is poised to reshape the global space economy in profound ways. With its immense payload capacity, reusable design, and lower cost per launch, Starship will unlock entirely new industries and transform existing business models. But how should industries and businesses evolve to align with this paradigm shift? 📈 Rethinking Business Strategies & Supply Chains - For businesses, Starship represents an era of mass-production over precision engineering. This means moving away from the focus on mass efficiency toward cost-effective, redundant, and scalable production. - In terms of supply chains, this opens opportunities for new players in manufacturing, materials, and space components. The demand for off-the-shelf parts and non-aerospace suppliers will rise dramatically. 💡 New Use Cases & Opportunities   The opportunities Starship unlocks go beyond launching satellites. - In-space manufacturing of high-value products like pharmaceuticals and advanced materials that cannot be created on Earth. - Mega-constellations of satellites for global broadband, expanding on what Starlink has already begun. - In-orbit assembly and servicing, allowing for larger space structures like telescopes or even habitats to be built in orbit, radically reducing costs. - Lunar infrastructure and resource extraction will become more viable, paving the way for sustainable human presence on the Moon and, eventually, Mars. 📊 What Should Businesses Do Now?   1. Embrace Redundancy & Scale – Instead of focusing on one-off, high-cost solutions, businesses should embrace redundancy and mass production.    2. Simplify Design – With Starship’s payload capacity, there is less pressure to optimize for mass efficiency. Simplified, scalable designs will allow for faster production and iteration cycles, akin to how SpaceX rapidly tests and evolves Starship itself. 3. Develop Strategic Partnerships – Collaborating with forward-thinking space startups, suppliers, and even non-aerospace sectors will be essential to capitalize on the opportunities Starship provides. 🌌 A New Era of Innovation   Starship will democratize access to space, lowering the barriers for businesses to create and scale. The next decade will witness breakthroughs in scientific exploration, energy production, and in-space transportation that we can only begin to imagine today. #SpaceEconomy #Starship #Innovation #SupplyChain #Manufacturing #SpaceTech #Entrepreneurship #FutureOfSpace https://lnkd.in/gNdbwXdq

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Beyond Carbon Dioxide: The rumble of jet engines and the contrails etched across the sky have become synonymous with a connected world.However, the #aviation industry faces a critical challenge on its path to #carbon #neutrality – its impact extends beyond just carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. While CO2 reduction remains a top priority, achieving true sustainability requires addressing a wider range of environmental concerns. Undoubtedly, CO2 emissions from burning #jet #fuel are a major contributor to #climate change.However, the story doesn't end there. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted by jet engines pose a significant threat to air quality,particularly at high altitudes, where they contribute to smog formation. Imagine airplanes not just releasing heat-trapping CO2, but also spewing NOx that harms air quality in the very skies they navigate. Furthermore, the water vapor released by jet engines isn't simply harmless condensation. These emissions can form persistent #contrails, and contribute to the formation of high-altitude #cirrus clouds. These clouds, unlike their natural counterparts, trap heat more effectively, amplifying the overall warming effect. Picture contrails morphing into heat-trapping blankets in the sky, further exacerbating the problem they were born from. The path to carbon neutrality for aviation demands a holistic approach. By addressing all aspects of the industry's environmental #impact, from CO2 to NOx emissions and contrail formation, a truly sustainable future is achievable. Imagine a #world where the #freedom of #flight is not accompanied by the burden of #environmental #guilt. This is the future that awaits – a future where innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to a cleaner planet guide aviation towards a new era of sustainable skies. Both #India and #Norway have significant potential in the hydrogen economy. Norway is a global leader in hydrogen technology and has successfully integrated hydrogen into its energy mix. India aims to produce green #hydrogen below $2/kg by 2030. By 2030, the cumulative value of India’s green hydrogen market could reach $8 billion, representing almost 10% of global demand. India’s potential for naturally occurring hydrogen (cheaper than green hydrogen) remains untapped. SiriNor is one of the strategic and potential glue between two countries for global betterment (with profitability)

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3D printing is having a breakout moment, turning its long held promise into a reality that is arriving at pace and at scale. Over the next 5 years: - Consumers will expect customized products at scale - Computers will surpass human creativity and skill in product design - New infrastructure is needed to protect IP if anything can be printed anywhere  - Global supply chains will be meaningfully dismantled as products get printed at their point of sale I sat down with Philip DeSimone, Co-founder of Carbon, the most advanced 3D printing company already operating at scale serving customers in 17 countries ranging from Adidas to Ford. With over 300 patents filed, Carbon has raised $680M from the likes of Sequoia, Temasek, and Google. Check out 5YF Episode #14: 3D printing breakthroughs, AI designed products, mass customization, spare body parts, dismantling global trade, IP piracy, and the future of production w/ Carbon Co-founder Philip DeSimone https://pod.fo/e/234185 #3Dprinting

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Check out my appearance on The Digital Transformation Podcast with Kevin Craine, where I share insights from the book I co-authored with John Sukup, AI in a Weekend. Also, check out our eBook available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, and more. #ai #digitaltransformation

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Find errors with SUMPRODUCT 👇 Here's the formula: =SUMPRODUCT(--iserror([range])) Note: In the video I incorrectly say "double negative 🙃," but Matthew Herbert of BizTrix pointed out that "the double minus is an operator, not negation. The double minus is the unary operator and it explicitly converts logical values into numbers (true converts to 1 and false converts to 0). ISERROR returns a logical value. This is why SUM(ISERROR(range)) or SUMPRODUCT(ISERROR(range)) returns 0 but placing the unary operator in front of ISERROR returns >0 when there is an error." Even as an experienced user and instructor there's always something new to learn! ~~~ 👋 Hey, I'm Chris Reilly, and I teach Financial Modeling based on real Private Equity and FP&A experience. 𝘱.𝘴. please ♻️ share this with your network if you found it helpful, thanks!

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AST SpaceMobile Stock Surges, Hits $5.6B Market Cap 🛰 Huge news from AST SpaceMobile as share price jumped another 18% yesterday, bringing its year-to-date market gains to a staggering 326%. The company’s market cap now sits at $5.6B, ranking it among the highest-valued space businesses in the world after SpaceX. AST SpaceMobile Stock Surges, Hits $5.6B Market Cap - Payload (payloadspace.com)

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Nice article on AI chips in space "We have launch vehicles, launch towers, spacecraft, onboard propulsion and antennas, and in the end, it comes down to the damn semiconductor" Thanks to Jason Cerundolo for sending this article

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Sanctuary AI ranks 4th globally for patent holdings on general-purpose #robotics technology and dexterous manipulation technology, only behind NVIDIA, Alphabet and Hyundai. In this Bloomberg Tech Disruptors podcast, co-founder and CTPO, Olivia Norton, discusses how her company is leading the charge, despite being an emerging #startup in a field of tech giants. A great listen for anyone interested in learning how the future of #humanoid robotics is taking shape today! #ThriveVentureFund #FutureIsNow BDC BDC Capital (Canada)

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"Rebellion looks beyond conventional AI systems." This is a well-written article by Venture Capital Journal (by David Bogoslaw) about our Rebellion Ventures announcement last week. It reviews artificial super capability (ASC) and our debut fund focused on autonomous operations and AI agents, leveraging a community of 70+ unicorn founders, operators, and industry experts in AI and automation. Check out VCJ's article below - worth taking a look. https://lnkd.in/g6HDmZ8P

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