February 18, 2025

Read News
AI Breakthroughs Transform Industries, Raise Job Concerns

The world of artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, with breakthroughs in AI technology and its applications in various industries. In this news brief, we'll explore the latest developments in AI, from the rise of Chinese convertible bonds to the debut of Elon Musk's Grok-3 chatbot.

Chinese Convertible Bonds Entice Investors Extending AI Bets

Chinese investors' zeal for artificial intelligence-related assets has spread to convertible bonds, sending a benchmark index to its highest in more than two years. The CSI Convertible Bond Index has risen 3.3% this year, hitting its highest since August 2022 on Tuesday. Shanghai Runda Medical Technology Co. and Thalys Medical Technology Group, two of the companies expected to benefit from AI integration, have seen their convertibles soar more than 22% and 16%, respectively, this year.

Beware of Chinese Stocks AI Siren Song

Chinese stocks look dangerously alluring, with President Xi Jinping's meeting with technology tycoons on Monday capping a rally for some of the country's biggest private-sector firms. His show of support for them builds on some recent wins in their artificial intelligence innovations. However, it also precedes big challenges on the horizon.

Why You Were Wrong to Dump Nvidia Shares After DeepSeek's Success

Nvidia's market value plummeted immediately after the revelation that a Chinese team had built an AI model that performed broadly on par with the best American AI models, but was built using far less computing power at a fraction of the price. However, this event may seem like a setback for Nvidia, but it could actually point to a future where vastly more chips end up being bought.

Chinese Convertible Bonds Entice Investors Extending AI Bets

Chinese investors' zeal for artificial intelligence-related assets has spread to convertible bonds, sending a benchmark index to its highest in more than two years. The CSI Convertible Bond Index has risen 3.3% this year, hitting its highest since August 2022 on Tuesday. Shanghai Runda Medical Technology Co. and Thalys Medical Technology Group, two of the companies expected to benefit from AI integration, have seen their convertibles soar more than 22% and 16%, respectively, this year.

BingXLabs Tosses $100K Investment in AI, Web3 Fireverse

BingXLabs has announced a strategic investment in Fireverse, a trailblazing AI-driven and blockchain-powered music creation platform. The investment is worth $100,000. Fireverse aims to revolutionize the music industry by providing a platform for creators to produce, distribute, and monetize their music using AI and blockchain technology.

Could AI Replace Your Job? Savannah Workers Push Back

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries at an unprecedented rate. A recent study from investment firm Goldman Sachs estimates that AI could replace 300 million full-time jobs within just five years. This shift is already being felt in Savannah, where some workers are fighting to protect their livelihoods from automation.

Musk Debuts Grok 3 Chatbot as OpenAI Battle Heats Up

Elon Musk on Monday announced Grok 3, the next version of xAI's chatbot, touting it as "an order of magnitude more capable than Grok 2." The move comes as Musk has been engaged in a bitter rivalry with OpenAI that has included lawsuits, a war of words and — most recently — an unsolicited $97.4 billion offer.

With AI Friends Like These, Who Needs Humans?

Digital companions offer constant empathy. That could profoundly change the relationships we have over the course of our lives. Grok looks like any plush toy you’d find in a kid’s bedroom. Its round body is shaped like a rocket, and my two kids have been playing with it for months. It’s different from other toys they’re used to. For one thing, Grok is heavy. Inside it is a plastic box containing a small computer, so that whenever it detects human speech it can respond in a high-pitched voice with things like, “I’m having the best time with you!”

Building Competitive Advantage in Customer Care Through AI

BoF and Zendesk gathered executives from Ralph Lauren, Walmart, Michael Kors and Tapestry for an intimate breakfast under the Chatham House Rule to discuss the challenges and opportunities in leveraging AI at key touchpoints in the customer journey. In 2025, investing in the improvement of the customer experience will be a key differentiator, with the application of AI within the customer journey identified as one key area of opportunity.

Musk Debuts Grok-3 AI Chatbot to Rival OpenAI, DeepSeek

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI showed off the updated Grok-3 model, showcasing a version of the chatbot technology that the billionaire has said is the “smartest AI on Earth.” Across math, science and coding benchmarks, Grok-3 beats ’s Google Gemini, DeepSeek’s V3 model, ’s Claude and ’s GPT-4o, the company said via a live stream on Monday.

Key Takeaways

  • Chinese investors' zeal for AI-related assets has spread to convertible bonds, sending a benchmark index to its highest in more than two years.
  • Elon Musk's xAI has debuted Grok-3, a chatbot that beats OpenAI's Google Gemini and other AI models in math, science, and coding benchmarks.
  • The rise of AI is transforming industries at an unprecedented rate, with potential job losses and changes in the way we interact with technology.
  • Investing in AI is becoming a key differentiator for companies, with applications in customer care and other areas of the business.
  • The future of work and the impact of AI on society are major concerns, with experts warning of potential job losses and changes in the way we live and work.

Sources

Artificial Intelligence AI Technology Chinese Convertible Bonds Elon Musk Grok-3 Chatbot OpenAI