Welcome to NFTSYD Pills Edition #26! Your fortnightly snapshot of the finest in Web3 for you. Quality insights are now more accessible.
Whether you're an expert or a newcomer, there's something for you.Your guide to the best of the Web3 universe just got even better, let's dive in!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this newsletter is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or other professional advice.
SXSW SYDNEY 2023
The SXSW Sydney 2023 event was a spectacle of innovative discussions, celebrity appearances, music, film, and gaming showcases, and a platform for technology demonstrations.
A Glimpse into Web3 and Blockchain Discussions at SXSW Sydney 2023
At SXSW 2023 in Sydney, Web3 and blockchain took center stage, offering a peek into the digital future. This report focuses on key conversations about these disruptive technologies, though it doesn't capture the full scope of the event. Here's a rundown of notable panels and discussions.
Exploring the Web3 Landscape:
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AI, Maths and Intuition: A session that explores the intersection of AI and pure mathematics, discussing how AI can contribute to solving complex mathematical problems.
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Retail Revolution: How AI is Changing the Game: This session delves into the role of AI in transforming retail, from chatbots to predictive analytics.
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Keynote: Amy Webb in Conversation: A keynote that offers a glimpse into the future of technology, discussing emerging tech trends and their impact on business and everyday life.
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Meditation on Country: Indigenous Protocols for AI: A unique session that discusses the integration of Indigenous Protocols into AI and machine learning.
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Generative AI and Web3 Workshop: Hosted by Simone Leonelli and Dr. Jessica Priebe, this workshop provided a hands-on exploration of Web3 technologies, including NFTs, blockchain, and generative AI platforms, tailored for artists and creators.
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Web3 Gaming and Koala NFTs: A panel shedding light on how blockchain technology unlocks new possibilities for businesses, notably in the gaming sector.
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Web3 in 2023: Composability, Interoperability & Why It All Matters: A focus on the integration and interoperability of Web3 systems with existing Web2 infrastructures.
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Believers Say Web3 Is Still "Met With Resistance": M. Monfort, co-founder of AusDeFi Association, stressed the importance of blockchain as a technology that lowers the barrier for entry to previously high-cost business model
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The session "Web3 Built for Women, by Women" explores real-world NFT and crypto use cases beneficial to women across business, lifestyle, and philanthropy. Led by pioneering founders, this discussion aims to bridge the divide between Web2 and Web3 technologies.
Scroll down to the end of the newsletter to see the full list👇
The discussions at SXSW Sydney 2023 contributed to the growing discourse on Web3 and blockchain, emphasizing their role in a decentralized, user-centric digital framework. Although the Sydney event touched on these themes, the Austin version of SXSW had a more extensive focus on Web3 topics. The overarching goal is a web environment that is more transparent, secure, and inclusive.
EXTRA
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Session Select:
- SXSW Sydney's public proposal platform, Session Select, allowed the community to submit and vote on ideas for panels, discussions, and other programming. This initiative resulted in expert panels featuring individuals like Dr Sandra Peter and Prof Kai Riemer, discussing a plethora of topics from achieving net-zero emissions by 2030 to AI in songwriting.
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Discussion on Youth and Information Consumption:
- A panel explored how Gen Z and young individuals are consuming news and information in online spaces, bringing together industry-leading communicators to discuss the evolving trends.
Celebrity Appearances:
Over 600 speakers will appear, with expertise ranging across the key industries of Tech & Innovation, Games, Music, Screen and Culture.
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Amy Webb, US futurist, “One of the five women changing the world” in 2022, Forbes
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Chris Lee a.k.a. Sung-Su Lee, Chief A&R Officer, former CEO of SM Entertainment
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Guy Kawasaky, Chief Evangelist of Canva, former Apple Chief Evangelist
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Que Minh Luu, Director of Content, Netflix ANZ
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Manal Al-Sharif Saudi women’s rights activist, author cyber security specialist
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Kyas Hepworth, proud Bundjalung woman, Head of Screen NSW
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Chance the Rapper, discussed 50 years of hip-hop
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Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror creator
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Nicole Kidman, Actor and producer
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Baz Luhrmann, Faraway Down
and more..
Gaming Highlights:
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Esports Showcase: The Intel Extreme Masters featured the world's top Counter-Strike teams, attracting thousands of esports fans.
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Games Festival Opening Night Party: Featured American voice actors Troy Baker and Anjali Bhimani performing songs from Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical alongside pop talent Montaigne.
Music and Film Showcases:
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Over 300 live music gigs: Featured a mix of local and international talents.
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Screen Festival: Included the Australian premiere of Kitty Green’s mystery The Royal Hotel and the world premiere of documentaries Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles and OneFour: Against All Odds.
Expo and Demonstrations:
- SXSW Sydney Expo: Attendees had a hands-on experience with exhibitors showcasing their products and services, including a start-up village for entrepreneurs and a discovery stage.
Special Events:
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Young Henrys Rock & Roll Circus: Featured musical acts tackling their favorite rock covers in what was described as “karaoke on steroids”.
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Touchdown Under: A two-day concert curated in collaboration with Chinese music fest Concrete & Grass and Asian label YEG Music, showcasing emerging artists from Asia and the Middle East.
While this short report doesn’t encompass the entire breadth of topics discussed at the SXSW SYDNEY event, it aims to highlight the pivotal conversations steering the future of digital interaction and innovation.
Now, let's talk about what's happened in the world of NFTs and Web3…
💎👇💎👇💎👇💎👇💎👇💎👇💎👇💎👇💎👇💎👇💎👇💎👇💎👇💎👇💎👇💎👇
⚽ Free NFTs: The Cristiano Ronaldo and Binance Collaboration
In a surprising move, Cristiano Ronaldo has teamed up with Binance to release free NFTs. Could this be the reason the NFT market is experiencing a downturn? While some may argue that free NFTs devalue the market, others see it as a way to bring in new collectors who may eventually transition to paid assets. Either way, this collaboration is making waves and challenging traditional NFT economics.
🎮 Immutable and Amazon: A New Era in Blockchain Gaming
Immutable and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have announced a partnership aimed at revolutionizing blockchain gaming. This collaboration promises to bring scalability, security, and efficiency to the gaming world, potentially making blockchain-based games more mainstream. The partnership could be a game-changer, literally, as it aims to solve some of the most pressing issues in blockchain gaming today.
🎨 MoMA Postcard: Collaboration and Creativity on Blockchain
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is taking a unique approach to art exhibitions by focusing on postcards. This exhibition explores the history, artistry, and cultural significance of postcards, elevating them from mere souvenirs to works of art. It's a fascinating look at how something so simple can carry so much weight.
🍽️ Blackbird: Revolutionizing Restaurant Loyalty Programs
Blackbird is not just another loyalty program; it's a membership platform designed specifically for the world's most exciting restaurants. By leveraging blockchain technology, Blackbird aims to create a more transparent, secure, and user-friendly experience for both restaurants and customers. This could be the future of how we engage with our favorite dining establishments.
💰 Facebook's Million-Dollar Chatbots: Celebrities Turned Virtual
Facebook is investing millions to turn celebrities into chatbots. This intriguing move aims to leverage the star power of celebrities to engage users in a new, interactive way. While the ethical implications are still being debated, there's no denying that this could be a game-changer in how we interact with public figures online. It also raises questions about the future of celebrity endorsements and virtual interactions.
🕹️ Sega Enters the NFT Arena with Trading Card Game
Sega is exploring the potential of blockchain gaming with an NFT-based trading card game. This marks a significant step for the gaming giant, as it ventures into the rapidly evolving world of NFTs and blockchain. The move could potentially open up new revenue streams for Sega and offer gamers a unique, ownership-based experience.
🏦 JP Morgan Chase Explores Digital IDs in Web3
JP Morgan Chase has released a document assessing the building blocks of Web3, with a focus on digital identity. The paper provides a comprehensive look at how digital IDs could be a cornerstone in the evolving Web3 landscape, offering both opportunities and challenges.
🛠️ Reddit's Mixed Signals: NFT Avatars vs. Community Points
Reddit seems to be sending mixed signals about its blockchain strategy. On one hand, the platform is doubling down on its investment in NFT avatars, aiming to create a unique digital identity for its users. On the other hand, Reddit is phasing out its blockchain-based Community Points program, citing scaling issues. This pivot suggests that while Reddit sees value in NFTs, it's still figuring out the best way to integrate blockchain into its broader ecosystem.
Read more on The Verge and TechCrunch.
👗 Macy's Enters the Metaverse with Digital Fashion Platform
Macy's is making a bold move into the metaverse with its new digital fashion platform, mstylelab. The platform aims to offer a unique metaversal experience, allowing users to explore digital fashion collections and even make purchases. This marks another significant step in the blending of retail and virtual worlds.
🗂️ Web3 File Management App Raises $15M: A Google Alternative?
A Web3-powered file management app has successfully raised $15 million in funding to offer an alternative to traditional cloud storage solutions like Google Drive. This marks a significant milestone in the Web3 space, as it shows investor confidence in decentralized technologies that prioritize user ownership and data privacy. The funding will likely accelerate the app's development and could make it a serious contender in the cloud storage market.
💸 Uniswap Introduces Transaction Fees
Uniswap's founder, Hayden Adams, recently announced the introduction of transaction fees on the platform. This is a significant shift for the decentralized exchange, which had previously operated without such fees. The new policy could impact trading volumes and user behavior, but it also represents a maturation of the platform as it seeks to sustain its operations.
💵 Binance.US Halts Direct Dollar Withdrawals
In a surprising move, Binance.US has temporarily halted direct dollar withdrawals. The decision has raised eyebrows in the crypto community and led to speculations about the reasons behind this sudden action. It's a reminder of the regulatory and operational challenges that crypto exchanges face.
Wishing you enjoyed this issue. See you in the next edition!
QOD
“Every battle is won or lost before it’s ever fought” — Sun Tzu
SXSW SYDNEY Selected panels (web3 /blockchain) :
AI, MATHS AND INTUITION. ADAM SPENCER & GEORDIE WILLIAMSON
RETAIL REVOLUTION: HOW AI IS CHANGING THE GAME
KEYNOTE: AMY WEBB IN CONVERSATION
HOW GENERATIVE AI IS IMPROVING THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY AND REDUCING ITS CLIMATE IMPACT
HOW TO DEVELOP A METAVERSE PLAYBOOK – LEARN FROM MICROSOFT’S GLOBAL METAVERSE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
HOW AI IS CHANGING THE ANIMATION INDUSTRY
WHAT THE FUNGIBLE IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD OF WEB 3.0?
THE ROBOTS OF TECH CENTRAL
HOW GENERATIVE AI IS IMPROVING THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY AND REDUCING ITS CLIMATE IMPACT
INNOVATORS IN AUGMENTED & VIRTUAL REALITY MEET-UP
SXSW SYDNEY PITCH: GENERATIVE AI AND ROBOTICS INNOVATION
BASE MEETUP PRESENTED BY COINBASE
INNOVATION MASTERCLASS: ENABLING IDEAS WITH DATA & TECHNOLOGY
BRING ARTIST BRAND SUMMIT: MOVING AT THE SPEED OF CULTURE
ACTIVATING MUSIC IN WEB3: NAILING YOUR PLATFORM, CONTENT, AND LICENSE
FUTURE OF SEARCH: BETWEEN GENERATIVE AI AND THE RISE OF SOCIAL SEARCH
WEB 3: THE ALCHEMY OF MUSIC, FASHION, DESIGN, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
CRYPTO - IS IT DEAD OR JUST THE BEGINNING
WEB3 BUILT FOR WOMEN, BY WOMEN
WEB3 FOR ARTISTS AND CREATORS
NFTSYDPills By Simone Leonelli
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