Got $5? Congratulations, You're Now a Landowner (Kind of)

Startups are entering the property market, making it possible for people to invest in a portion of a property for as little as $5. Arrived Homes is just one company offering the service, allowing investors to purchase shares of properties listed on the website. In return, the investor gets a cut of the profits when the property is rented out.

However, it could impact renters as it increases the competition for available properties and could drive up prices. Fractional investment companies offer an easy way to invest in real estate, but it doesn't make the investor a homeowner. It just provides them with a stake in the property. The fractional model has drawn concerns that the profit-making potential of the property is being prioritised over housing stability for low-income residents. Nonetheless, the concept is taking off and is "growing faster than it’s ever grown".

Virgin Orbit to Cease Operations and Lay Off Most Employees After Failing to Secure Funding

Virgin Orbit to lay off nearly all of its staff after failing to secure funding. CEO Dan Hart broke the news to employees during an all-hands meeting, causing shareholders to unload the stock in extended trading.

The company's 747 jet "Cosmic Girl" releases a LauncherOne rocket in mid-air, but the last mission suffered a mid-flight failure, causing the rocket to crash into the ocean. Despite launching six missions since 2020, with four successes and two failures, Virgin Orbit will cease operations for the foreseeable future, eliminating all but 100 positions.

Hart choked up during the call, stating that the layoffs will affect every team and department. In the event of termination, the company's board of directors approved a "golden parachute" severance plan for top executives.

Midjourney's free trial was discontinued due to "Trump Arrested" deepfake

Midjourney, a popular AI text-to-image generator, has stopped access to its free trial version due to the rise of viral deepfakes using its technology. Some of the most notable deepfakes created with Midjourney's AI include Pope Francis sporting a white puffer jacket, fake photos of historical events, and former US President Donald Trump being arrested by police.

While companies like Midjourney and Playground AI can try to prevent deepfakes by removing free tiers, it may be too late. The acceptable use of deepfakes remains a topic of debate, and it's important to educate ourselves and others that we can no longer trust images as purely authentic on the internet. So let's start spreading the word and educating our friends and family about the new reality.

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