Tag: finance

AI_factoriesLeave a comment

Google and Blackstone to Create New AI Cloud Company

Colin Henderson

Investment firm to put $5 billion toward venture using Google’s chips WSJ: By Lauren ThomasFollow  and Cara LombardoFollow Updated May 18, 2026 at 9:37 pm ET A Google Cloud pavilion at a conference in Barcelona in March. Angel Garcia/Bloomberg News Alphabet’s GOOGL -2.57% Google and Blackstone BX -1.32% plan to create an artificial-intelligence cloud company to rival the likes of CoreWeave CRWV-5.72% using Google’s specialized chips. The duo said Monday they plan to launch the unnamed U.S. company with $5 billion in equity capital from Blackstone, confirming an earlier report by The Wall Street Journal. The venture, the biggest attempt yet by Google to sell and monetize its own chips to external parties, will sharpen a rivalry … Continue reading Google and Blackstone to Create New AI Cloud Company

AI, aml, Cybersecurity, Development, Innovation, Regulations

New tensions for Banks from regulators on both sides of Atlantic with deadlines

Colin Henderson

US Treasury released AI Based plan to regulate financial services core funtions Artificial intelligence is increasingly embedded in core financial services functions – from fraud detection and cybersecurity to credit underwriting and operational risk management. As adoption accelerates, regulators and institutions must ensure that governance, supervisory approaches, and market practices evolve alongside technological capability. This will undoubtedly create tension within Banks to meet the requirements. I must add my own view the Treasury deployment is moving at such speed I doubt it can meet its own deadline as well as incorporate all their own objectives. There is a parallel and … Continue reading New tensions for Banks from regulators on both sides of Atlantic with deadlines

AI, AI_factories, Business Models

Nvidia backs AI cloud startup Nebius with $2B as data center race intensifies

Colin Henderson

Nvidia is investing $2 billion in Amsterdam-based Nebius, taking an 8.3% stake and deepening its push into the fast-growing “neocloud” layer of the AI stack. Nebius said it plans to deploy more than 5 gigawatts of data center capacity by 2030, a huge build-out that shows demand for AI compute is no longer driven solely by hyperscalers like Microsoft, Google, and Meta. The deal also underscores Nvidia’s increasingly unusual position in the market: it is not just selling chips, but financing parts of the ecosystem that buy and deploy them. Why that matters goes beyond one funding deal. AI infrastructure … Continue reading Nvidia backs AI cloud startup Nebius with $2B as data center race intensifies

banking, Canada

Plumery expands digital banking experience platform into Canada

Colin Henderson

With the changes occurring for Canadian Credit Unions using Central1 here is a press release from a new to Canada player from Amsterdam in the core and digital banking space – Plumery. _________________________________________ Press Release: Plumery expands digital banking experience platform into CanadaPlumery’s expansion, collaborating with Vancouver-based Aequilibrium, brings specific Canadian market capabilities to support credit unions delivery of personalized, compliant, and elevated member experiences. October 2nd 2025, Amsterdam. Plumery, the digital banking experience platform, today unveiled Canada-specific features and integrations giving Canadian credit unions a clear path to deliver personalized, compliant, and modern digital banking experiences. Canadian financial institutions … Continue reading Plumery expands digital banking experience platform into Canada

AI

Follow up to “Transformative AI, existential risk, and real interest rates” (Chow, Halperin, Mazlish, 2025) – Test and Conclusion

Colin Henderson

introduces a novel approach for forecasting the timelines for transformative AI by analyzing macro-financial markets—specifically, the behavior of long-term real interest rates. TEST: apply this framework to current situation and explain what the output tells us about transformative AI timelines. Analysis Follows: (Perplexity.ai) 1. Theoretical Mechanism 2. Empirical Analysis Empirical evidence provided in the paper (across 59 countries, 35 years): Table: Key Relationships Macro Variable Empirical Finding Long-term GDP growth expectations Positively correlated with real interest rates Long-term growth volatility Slightly negative effect on real rates Short-term (0–5 yr) GDP growth forecasts Negative/ambiguous effect Country risk (CDS spreads) Positively correlated … Continue reading Follow up to “Transformative AI, existential risk, and real interest rates” (Chow, Halperin, Mazlish, 2025) – Test and Conclusion

AI, AI_research, Economics

The paper “Transformative AI, existential risk, and real interest rates” by Trevor Chow, Basil Halperin, and J. Zachary Mazlish (August 2025)

Colin Henderson

Summary of Key Argument The core thesis of the paper is that macro-financial indicators—specifically, long-term real interest rates—can serve as a market-based “outside view” for forecasting the likelihood and timing of transformative AI (TAI, roughly equivalent to AGI or “superintelligence”) development. The mechanism underpinning this association is straightforward economic theory: Empirically, the authors find—contrary to some prior literature—a robust positive relationship between long-term growth expectations and real interest rates, using: Key Findings and Contributions Topic Paper’s Position & Evidence Interest rates as a forecasting tool Theoretically, both AI-driven rapid growth and existential risk should increase long-term real rates. Empirical evidence … Continue reading The paper “Transformative AI, existential risk, and real interest rates” by Trevor Chow, Basil Halperin, and J. Zachary Mazlish (August 2025)

Economy, Growth, US

Monetary Policy 5 Yr Fed Framework Review

Colin Henderson

August 22, 2025 Chair Jerome H. Powell At “Labor Markets in Transition: Demographics, Productivity, and Macroeconomic Policy,” an economic symposium sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Jackson Hole, WyomingWatch Live Over the course of this year, the U.S. economy has shown resilience in a context of sweeping changes in economic policy. In terms of the Fed’s dual-mandate goals, the labor market remains near maximum employment, and inflation, though still somewhat elevated, has come down a great deal from its post-pandemic highs. At the same time, the balance of risks appears to be shifting. In my remarks today, … Continue reading Monetary Policy 5 Yr Fed Framework Review

Economics, Economy, Growth

Federal Reserve Consensus Review – August 2025

Colin Henderson

Source: perplexity.ai Key Outcomes of the 2025 Policy Framework Review Interest Rate Policy and Immediate Outlook Economic Context Strategic Shifts Consensus Summary Table Aspect 2025 Review Outcomefederalreserve+2 Rate Policy Expectationsforbes+3 Framework Philosophy Flexible inflation targeting, balanced dual mandate, anchored expectations Early signals for 1-2 cuts (25bp each) in H2 2025 Inflation Target Remains at 2%, no change June: 2.7% headline, 2.9% core Employment Target No numeric goal; balanced approach Rate cuts contingent on labor weakness Current Rate Not addressed in review 4.50% (August 2025) Consensus Forecast Strong chance of September cut, possible December follow-up Rates trend to 3.75% in 2026, … Continue reading Federal Reserve Consensus Review – August 2025

AI, Business Models, Innovation, productivity

Blackrock Investment themes 2025

Colin Henderson

In listening to Blackrock Jay Jacobs Head of ETF he mentioned the investment themes Blackrock has identified in the context of re-industrialisation of the economy. See below for detail, but the core three are: Mega Force Description & Investment Implications Demographic Divergence Aging populations in developed economies are expected to constrain growth and productivity, while emerging markets with younger populations and expanding middle classes may benefit from higher growth potential[3][5]. Digital Disruption & AI The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and digital technologies is transforming productivity, business models, and entire industries. BlackRock sees AI as a foundational driver of future … Continue reading Blackrock Investment themes 2025

crypto, Stablecoin

Current Government and Reports on Stablecoin systemic problems

Colin Henderson

Here is an overview and summary of current views on Stablecoins based on research attributed to Perplexity.ai.. There are good reasons for USDC to be a legitimate Stable Stablecoin, but so many opinions and views often with proprietary positions to maintain, that the effect of the Genius act is being lost in that morass. This blog is about direction not particular stocks, but the freewheeling nature of crypto is winning the battle for clarity. And the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) report (attached below) is thrown into the mix taking the approach everyone is wrong except the author. It is … Continue reading Current Government and Reports on Stablecoin systemic problems