Economics, Economy, Growth

Federal Reserve Consensus Review – August 2025

Colin Henderson

Source: perplexity.ai Key Outcomes of the 2025 Policy Framework Review The framework removed language about the effective lower bound (ELB), focusing instead on promoting maximum employment and stable prices under flexible economic conditions. The “makeup” inflation strategy introduced in 2020 (aiming for intentional moderate inflation overshoot) was abandoned. The Committee reaffirmed its commitment to flexible inflation targeting. Powell emphasized that anchored inflation expectations were essential in bringing inflation down without sharply increasing unemployment, and the revised statement stresses maintaining well-anchored long-term inflation expectations. No specific numerical employment target will be set, reaffirming that maximum employment levels fluctuate for reasons unrelated … Continue reading Federal Reserve Consensus Review – August 2025

AI, Geopolitics

Here is a formal, evidence-based summary of how credible news sources are interpreting the proposed Europe–US–UK security guarantee for Ukraine, and its likely consequences for military escalation if Russian attacks continue.

Colin Henderson

Source Perplexity Nature of the Security Guarantee The proposed security guarantee for Ukraine is described as “NATO-style” or “inspired by NATO’s Article 5,” meaning it suggests collective defense but is separate from actual NATO membership and Article 5 obligations[1][2][3]. European leaders and the US under President Trump have signaled willingness to back such a guarantee as part of an eventual settlement to end the war, with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin apparently agreeing—“for the first time”—that such guarantees could be part of a peace arrangement[1][4][3]. European officials stress that credible long-term guarantees for Ukraine are essential and would necessarily require sustained … Continue reading Here is a formal, evidence-based summary of how credible news sources are interpreting the proposed Europe–US–UK security guarantee for Ukraine, and its likely consequences for military escalation if Russian attacks continue.

AI

Behind Wall Street’s Abrupt Flip on Crypto

Colin Henderson

The reversal risks declawing a century of consumer financial protections and replacing the backbone of bank accounts. By Rob Copeland Rob Copeland has been covering Wall Street’s posture on cryptocurrency for more than a decade. Aug. 13, 2025Updated 6:12 p.m. ET Sign up for the Audio newsletter, for Times subscribers only.  Our editors share their favorite listens from the New York Times Audio app. Get it sent to your inbox. Listen to this article with reporter commentary 13:45 Not long ago, bank executives would compete with one another to be the loudest critic of cryptocurrencies. Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, once … Continue reading Behind Wall Street’s Abrupt Flip on Crypto

AI

What is behind the staggering ascent of Palantir?

Colin Henderson

The unorthodox firm is profiting from the AI and Trumpian revolutions Source The Economist May 8th 2025|PALO ALTO|5 min readListen to this story ALEX KARP acts like everyone hates him. As the boss of Palantir strutted the stage at a recent gathering of clients, he got a kick out of sounding perverse, in his tousle-haired, punk-professor way. He used words like “masturbation” and “self-pleasuring”. He berated Silicon Valley, though he was speaking in Palo Alto, its heartland. At the last minute, he cancelled an interview with The Economist, though he used to sit on its parent company’s board; he did not like … Continue reading What is behind the staggering ascent of Palantir?

AI

Technology Trends, Product Launches, and Innovations from the Past Week (August 5-11, 2025)

Colin Henderson

Source perplexity.ai with presentation from Sonnet 4 Based on the latest technology developments from the past week, here are the most significant trends, product launches, and innovations: Major Big Tech Developments OpenAI and AI Advancements OpenAI launched GPT-5, its latest and most advanced AI model, making it available to all ChatGPT users. The company also announced that Apple Intelligence’s ChatGPT integration will use GPT-5 starting with iOS 26, though users will need to wait for this integration.theverge+1 Microsoft’s AI Integration Expansion Microsoft quietly launched Copilot 3D as an experimental feature that converts 2D images into 3D models. The company is … Continue reading Technology Trends, Product Launches, and Innovations from the Past Week (August 5-11, 2025)

AGI

How will AGI deal with Objective and Subjective morality | coding, training, self-examination?

Colin Henderson

This is a thought experiment following a weekend read of CS Lewis ‘The Abolition of Man’. To frame the context here Lewis book written in 1945, is a philosophical work that discusses the concept of truth and the distinction between reality and opinion, objective and subjective morality. I make no pretense as a philosopher but I do understanding this framework will have influence on AGI and how decisions are made by AGI. While this sounds esoteric, consider 1. Donald Trump and Peter Hegseth as compared to 2. Ursula von Leyen, and Ulf Kristersson. Group 1. have strong hard core beliefs … Continue reading How will AGI deal with Objective and Subjective morality | coding, training, self-examination?

Geopolitics, Military

Inside China’s dangerous nuclear game

Colin Henderson

This article is part of Engelsberg Ideas’ latest series, ‘The Nuclear World Transformed’, in which our writers explore the history and current state of the global nuclear landscape, and how it is being reshaped by a new age of great-power competition.  Between 1990 and 2001 something happened in China that is unthinkable in today’s tense world. In short, an American wandered through the Chinese nuclear archipelago and came out to tell the tale. It sounds like a novel but it is a lesson in game theory and it is pure fact. The American was the director of the Technical Intelligence Division … Continue reading Inside China’s dangerous nuclear game

AI

Comet browser review

Colin Henderson

Here is a user who persevered with comet browser and the tight integration with perplexity is evident. I tried it but went back to Safari due to the obvious connection comet shares with Chrome. But worth another shot based on this user. Google search is not even in my lexicon and this is an obvious next step. https://www.reddit.com/r/perplexity_ai/s/DekmRvIueB I wasn’t planning to switch browsers but after I got the invite I wanted to see what Comet could do, so I messed around with it on netflix, had it make a spotify playlist, made it play chess for me.etcIt was fun … Continue reading Comet browser review

AI

How Generative AI Can Redefine Manufacturing

Colin Henderson

The technology can transform knowledge management from static systems into dynamic, intelligent ecosystems and provide context-aware conversational assistance As global manufacturers navigate the complexities of modern production, generative AI can offer powerful tools to enhance efficiency, increase transparency, reduce costs, and drive innovation. In Deloitte’s Future of Manufacturing study—which gathered sentiment from 600 respondents across U.S. manufacturers—38% report that they are piloting generative AI. While 24% of respondents indicate that they had adopted generative AI use case(s) in at least one of their facilities, 10% say they have implemented it across their broader networks. A majority (63%) of respondents also indicate … Continue reading How Generative AI Can Redefine Manufacturing

AI

Bain Financial Services Modernization 2.0

Colin Henderson

Bain & Co Financial Services Modernization 2.0 The technology decisions of financial services firms have always shaped their success, but the acceleration of AI and advent of new competitors from big tech and fintech have upped the ante. Now, the pace, complexity, and scale of modernization are only increasing. Instead of tackling one initiative at a time, companies are running multiple modernization efforts in parallel and moving faster than ever amid mounting pressure from boards and competitors alike. Explore five decisions that matter mostwhen modernizing, and hear from top industry leaders about eight success themes rising to the top. 1. Modernization … Continue reading Bain Financial Services Modernization 2.0