Breaking
Safe Future Tomorrow
Author

admin

Browsing
World

‘I don’t think the world is getting the best talent’: Meet the woman recruiting the next generation of ‘risk-takers’

In the US, just 19% of all venture capital (VC) investment partners — the people who write the cheques investing in entrepreneurs — are women; in Europe, a 2023 report found that number to be 16%. That has a knock-on effect: women are more likely than men to invest in women-led enterprises, and US companies with only female founders saw just 2% of all VC investment in 2022.

According to the European Investment Bank, female-founded companies deliver twice as much revenue per dollar invested, despite receiving less than half the investment capital of their male peers. Research has also consistently found that female investors are more interested in social impact businesses, which can benefit society more widely.

In a bid to address the gender gap, Amanda Pullinger founded Global Female Investors Management in 2024 with fellow finance industry veteran Vanessa Yuan. One of its core services is the Global Female Investors Network, a 2,000-strong community of women who manage money, whether it’s hedge funds, traditional funds or VC funds.

After spending 25 years in finance, including over a decade as the CEO of 100 Women ​in Finance, a global non-profit professional association with over 30,000 registered ​members, Pullinger was ready for something different. Her mission has always been to address the under-representation of women in finance, but in the investment sector it was lacking more than any other.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

Amanda Pullinger (AP): I’d say the biggest challenge remains the fact that there are so few women in leadership roles. I’m a big believer in visibility. I grew up in the UK, and I was the first in my family to go to university. I went to Oxford because of a woman who was visible to me in a leadership role: Margaret Thatcher (the first British female prime minister). Like me, she was the first in her family to go to university, she went to Oxford. So I said to myself, “Well, she’s like me. If she can do it, I can do it.”

While that sounds trite, most women want to be able to see a pathway into leadership. What’s the perception that you have of an investor? It’s very often a White man, because that’s who we see on television or on panels at conferences. The reality is there are women in those roles, but we need them to be more visible.

AP: By introducing women to their peers. That’s why networks are so important. That network is important in sharing experiences because we can’t possibly know everything.

The second step is to really get men on side. In my career, men have been massive advocates for me. Women don’t rush to do those panel discussions and be visible, but men can be helpful in saying, “I think it would be great for you to represent the organization,” and really push women into those roles and say, “Look, if you’re not comfortable, I’ll get you a communications coach. We’ll get you through some of the challenges that you may feel.” Men are such a critical part of getting to the solution. That’s why for me, sometimes when there’s discussion about DEI (Diversity, equity, and inclusion), I worry that men are excluded from that conversation.

AP: I’m a believer in meritocracy. I didn’t come from privilege: I made my own way, very much with the help of men in my career, but I made my own way. But here’s my big question to those who say, “Well, the world’s equal, and there are equal opportunities, so surely it should just be giving a job to the best person” — my challenge would be, how sure are you that you are giving access to the best person?

I hear in the finance industry all the time from companies saying, “We don’t get any women applying for investment roles.” And I’m sitting here thinking, ‘I’ve got 2,000 members in our database who are female risk-takers.’ You are saying they’re not applying; there’s something missing here. I’m all about getting the best: but without some kind of action where you gain access to a broader range of people, you are potentially missing out on the best talent.

It’s the same with female fund owners. I’m not saying they’re always the best, but if they’re excluded for all sorts of systemic reasons from the process, again, I’d ask allocators: how do you know you’re picking the best fund? It’s very much around creating access and opportunity, and then things can fall where they fall. But without that access and opportunity, I don’t think the world is getting the best talent.

AP: What’s really fascinating is we are now in a place in the world where I believe, globally, there are more women going through universities, proportional to men. But actually, the big issue I find with most professional women who are well-educated is that we’ve all been told that if we work hard and we perform, we’ll be noticed, we’ll be promoted, we’ll be acknowledged. That works while you are in full-time education because full-time education is about working hard, doing a test and getting a result. The reality is when you come into the business world, it’s about relationships.

So the advice I give to women is to spend a little bit less time focused on hunkering down doing the work, and do what the guys do: build relationships, take the time for yourself, get yourself on conference panels, put your hand up, be vocal. All those things, to some extent, take away from this notion that it’s all about hard work — of course it’s about hard work, but women have got to learn that it’s also about relationships. We’ve never been taught that, and it’s something that I say all the time to women.

AP: I wish when I was younger, someone had said to me, “Do not give up maths at 16.” I should have done maths at A-level (a pre-university school qualification in England, Wales and Northern Ireland), I was perfectly capable of doing it. So I think first of all, it’s about giving women the fundamental skill set and confidence in numbers. The second is, I wish that more young women knew the impact you can have in the world by becoming a capital allocator or an investment professional.

If you want to create change in the world, managing money is one of the best ways to do it, because you can guide where that money goes, and that money can have an impact. This is not just a greedy industry, it’s a place where you truly can make a difference in the world. That’s something I wish more young women knew.

This post appeared first on cnn.com
Keep Reading
Politics

Tulsi Gabbard confirmation fate to be tested with key committee vote

Tulsi Gabbard is set to test her odds of Senate confirmation on Tuesday as the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence considers her nomination by President Donald Trump. 

Gabbard, a former Democrat congresswoman who has been tapped as the nominee for director of national intelligence (DNI), went before the committee last week. During her confirmation hearing, she was pressed about her past meeting with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, her previous FISA Section 702 stance and her past support for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. 

She notably refused to agree that Snowden was a traitor during the hearing. 

The committee will vote on Gabbard’s nomination on Tuesday, two sources familiar confirmed to Fox News Digital. 

While Intel Committee Chair Tom Cotton, R-Ark., has continued to promote Gabbard for the role, at least one key Republican senator on the top committee is considered a potential defector on the nomination vote. 

Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., hasn’t said how he plans to vote in committee. 

In a since-deleted post on X, Trump-aligned billionaire Elon Musk said Young was a ‘deep state puppet’ in regard to his uncertainty about Gabbard. 

A spokesperson for Young told Fox News Digital in a statement, ‘Senator Young and Mr. Musk had a great conversation on a number of subjects and policy areas where they have a shared interest, like DOGE.’

Musk also shared on X over the weekend, ‘Just had an excellent conversation with [Young]. I stand corrected. Senator Young will be a great ally in restoring power to the people from the vast, unelected bureaucracy.’ 

At the same time, Gabbard has earned a number of key endorsements from Republicans on the committee. 

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., endorsed the nominee last month after she announced a reversal of her position against FISA Section 702.

She also received the backing of Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, after her hearing.

‘Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 provides that the President shall appoint officers with the advice and consent of the Senate. Having won the election decisively, I believe President Trump has earned the right to appoint his own cabinet, absent extraordinary circumstances. Therefore, it is my intention to consent to the appointment of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence,’ Cornyn said in a statement.

Moderate GOP Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced her support for Gabbard on Monday evening, saying in a statement, ‘After extensive consideration of her nomination, I will support Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence.’

‘As one of the principal authors of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 that established this coordinating position, I understand the critical role the DNI plays in the Intelligence Community. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, however, has become far larger than it was designed to be, and Ms. Gabbard shares my vision of returning the agency to its intended size. In response to my questions during our discussion in my office and at the open hearing, as well as through her explanation at the closed hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Ms. Gabbard addressed my concerns regarding her views on Edward Snowden. I look forward to working with Ms. Gabbard to strengthen our national security.’

Collins’ crucial committee vote was not a certainty, especially given her habit of bucking her party. She most recently did this on the confirmation vote for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, joining Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, in voting against him. 

Gabbard will likely need the support of every single Republican on the committee, assuming no Democrats vote in her favor. None of the Democrat senators have said they will vote to advance her nomination.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
Politics

RFK Jr. to face key committee vote that could determine confirmation fate

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will face a pivotal test on Tuesday morning as the Senate Finance Committee votes on his nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

At 10 a.m., the committee will meet to consider President Donald Trump’s HHS pick, following his hearing last week. 

The 27-member committee is composed of 14 Republican members and 13 Democrats. Kennedy will need a majority of the votes in order to advance out of the committee. 

He will likely need the support of every committee Republican, assuming no Democratic senators get behind him. No Democrats on the committee have said they plan to vote to advance Kennedy. 

The HHS nominee has managed to get the support of two sometimes hesitant Republicans in Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., already. 

However, he will still need the vote of Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a doctor who has expressed concerns over Kennedy’s claims about vaccines. 

Kennedy spoke with Cassidy over the weekend, as the senator had foreshadowed during one of his hearings. Representatives for each did not divulge details of the last-minute conversations. 

If Trump’s nominee isn’t advanced out of the committee, it’s unlikely that it will make it to the Senate floor for a vote. 

Kennedy would become the first Trump nominee this term to hit such an obstacle, as the president’s other choices have been moving through the upper chamber and several have been confirmed and sworn in. Even Trump’s controversial Defense secretary pick, Pete Hegseth, made it past committee and ultimately was confirmed with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. 

However, if he does fail to clear the committee, he may not be the only Trump pick to hit such a roadblock. 

In fact, on the same day, Trump’s choice to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard, also faces the possibility of failing to get past her respective committee. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
Politics

‘Peace through strength’: Trump and Netanyahu expected to discuss Iran, Hamas at White House meeting

TEL AVIV – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday is geared toward bolstering ties with and securing guarantees from the Trump administration primarily over Iran and the war against Hamas, according to current and former Israeli officials.

‘Prime Minister Netanyahu’s historic visit to Washington will mark a significant moment in Israel-U.S. relations, setting a tone of close cooperation and friendship between the Israeli government and the Trump administration,’ Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter told Fox News Digital.

‘The prime minister will be the first foreign leader to visit the White House in President Trump’s second term, and his visit will spur bilateral efforts to promote security and prosperity in the U.S., Israel and the Middle East,’ he added.

Leiter, appearing on ‘America’s Newsroom’ last week, told Dana Perino that Iran would be front and center during the Trump-Netanyahu meeting. ‘We will make the point that to allow Tehran to maintain its nuclear capabilities, which they can raise very quickly toward nuclear weapons, is simply unacceptable,’ he stated.

Netanyahu was last at the White House on July 25, 2024, with then-President Biden having only invited the Israeli leader some 20 months after his re-election. This was widely viewed as a snub by Biden, whose party has increasingly distanced itself from traditional bipartisan support for the Jewish state.

Netanyahu told reporters ahead of his departure that it was ‘telling’ Trump chose to meet him first, describing it as ‘a testimony to the strength of the American-Israeli alliance.’

‘This meeting will deal with important issues, critical issues facing Israel and our region, victory over Hamas, achieving the release of all our hostages and dealing with the Iranian terror axis and all its components – an axis that threatens the peace of Israel, the Middle East and the entire world,’ he said. 

There are currently 79 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, including six dual US-Israeli citizens. ‘Regarding agenda terms, Trump will want Netanyahu to proceed to the second phase of the truce agreement with Hamas. This is very difficult for Israel, since this basically leaves the terror group in power in Gaza,’ former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren told Fox News Digital.

While Trump has said he was ‘not confident’ the ceasefire deal would hold, his Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff visited Israel last week and reportedly pushed for the implementation of all three phases. According to Netanyahu, Trump has committed to supporting the resumption of the war if negotiations with Hamas prove ‘futile.’

‘There may also be discussion about the future of the Palestinian issue and ways in which the Trump peace plan unveiled during his first term can be revived, as well as how a normalization push between Israel and Saudi Arabia can be concluded,’ Oren said. ‘I think the major pressure point would be the ‘P’ word, which refers to the Saudis insisting on a pathway to Palestinian statehood. Parts of Netanyahu’s coalition and even some within his own party will not discuss the ‘P’ word.’

On this point, the two leaders may be aligned, with Trump insisting that Gaza be rebuilt ‘in a different way.’ He also indicated his desire to relocate Gazans to Arab countries. ‘You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out [Gaza] and say, ‘You know, it’s over,’’ he said.

During his first term, Trump pulled Washington out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, which was orchestrated by the Obama administration. However, the Biden administration undid most of Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ campaign on Tehran – consisting primarily of crippling sanctions – by rehashing many Obama-era policies.

‘I believe that Trump is prepared to immediately snap back paralyzing sanctions and issue a credible military threat to bring Iran back to the negotiating table for an agreement on its nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile testing and terror financing,’ Danny Ayalon, former Israeli deputy foreign minister and ambassador to the U.S., told Fox News Digital.

‘If not, the Iranians will be subject to a major operation that may be through an American-led coalition or different structures with or without Israel,’ he added, while referencing an Axios report last month that the U.S. president might ‘either support an Israeli military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities… or even order a U.S. strike.’ However, Ayalon said Trump will express a preference for a diplomatic solution, possibly placing him at odds with Netanyahu.

Ayalon also noted Netanyahu’s appreciation for Trump’s initiative to punish the International Criminal Court, which in November issued arrest warrants for the Israeli premier and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over the prosecution of the war against Hamas, while suggesting that normalization between Jerusalem and Riyadh would be raised as part of a broader effort to reshape the Middle East.

‘A potential economic corridor from Asia to Europe through Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, maybe even the Palestinian Authority, works very well with Trump’s agenda of countering aggressive Chinese expansionism through the Belt and Road Initiative,’ Ayalon said.

Other agenda items might include a possible U.S.-backed push to apply Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank, also known by Israel as Judea and Samaria – a prospect Netanyahu shelved during Trump’s first term in favor of forging the Abraham Accords – and expanding overall defense ties, including by advancing the American president’s goal of developing an Iron Dome-like missile shield for the United States.

‘It is very different from the Biden administration. Of course, it is more aggressive but that’s only part of it. Trump sees the problem of Gaza in a wider perspective’ that includes the Saudis, Qataris, Egyptians and other regional players, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Hannan Gefen, the former commander of IDF’s elite Unit 8200, told Fox News Digital.

‘Trump, in his second term, is repeating his willingness to withdraw from the Kurdish-controlled northeastern part of Syria, which may contrast with Israel’s interest,’ he explained. ‘In Lebanon, there might be a disagreement if Israel sees Hezbollah [violating the ceasefire and] regaining power, and wants to strike terror bases. Regarding the Houthis in Yemen, Israel and the Saudis will try to direct Trump’s policy to be more assertive than Biden was toward the Iranian proxy.’

While any gaps between the sides will be overshadowed by the pomp and circumstance accompanying a visit by Netanyahu to D.C., Likud lawmaker Boaz Bismuth told Fox News Digital that the prime minister ‘won’t make any concessions on issues that relate to Israel’s national security.

‘Our national interests come above all else – the state has an obligation toward its civilians and the right to defend itself,’ Bismuth said. ‘Fortunately, Trump has a thriving relationship with Israel and is a great friend of ours.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
World

Rebels call for ceasefire in DR Congo after hundreds are killed in a week of fighting

A rebel group that claimed to have captured the city of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo last week has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, after fighting with the Congolese military has left hundreds of people dead.

In a statement on Monday, the rebel coalition, Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) – which includes the M23 armed group – said it had declared the truce, starting Tuesday, “in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Kinshasa regime,” referring to DR Congo’s government.

The DRC and much of the international community have accused neighboring Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels.

It is unclear if the Congolese army will agree to the ceasefire. Previous interventions, including truce agreements, failed to cease hostilities.

“Have you seen the Rwandans do what they say? It (the ceasefire announcement by the rebels) is a communication for international consumption and to put the international community to sleep on its feet,” he said.

United Nations experts also estimate that up to 3,000-4,000 Rwandan soldiers are supervising and supporting M23 fighters in the east of the DRC, outnumbering the rebel group’s forces in the country.

Last week, DRC leader Felix Tshisekedi vowed “a vigorous and coordinated response” against M23, describing the group as Rwanda’s “puppet.”

Fighting erupted last week as the rebels advanced into Goma, the capital of DRC’s North Kivu province.

More than a dozen foreign peacekeepers, as well as the military governor of North Kivu, were killed trying to fend off the rebels, and thousands of locals were displaced.

According to the UN’s latest figures, at least 900 bodies have been recovered from the streets of Goma, and around 2,880 injuries have been recorded since the end of January. A report by the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said many healthcare facilities are overcrowded and in urgent need of medicine and equipment.

The rebel alliance emphasized it has “no intention of capturing Bukavu or other areas,” referring to the capital city of the neighboring South Kivu province, where many displaced people from Goma had fled.

“However, we reiterate our commitment to protecting and defending the civilian population and our positions,” it said.

Rebel leader Corneille Nangaa also told Rwandan media last week that his group’s objective was “to go to Kinshasa.”

“We are going to fight until we get to Kinshasa. We have come to Goma to stay; we are not going to withdraw. We are going to move forward from Goma to Bukavu … up to Kinshasa,” he said.

This post appeared first on cnn.com
Keep Reading
Investing

What is De-Dollarization and is it Good or Bad?

There’s been a de-dollarization storm brewing lately in the international finance arena. What is it?

De-dollarization is the process of reducing the dominance of the US dollar in global trade and financing activities. Recent data shows that other currencies are gaining ground, and the US dollar is no longer the alpha currency it once was.

You might be wondering, ‘What’s causing this?’ Well, the rise of non-US economic blocs and increasing political tensions have caused countries to rethink their dependency on the US dollar. For some nations, this has led to strategies to promote regional integration and bilateral relations in an effort to protect against geopolitical risks.

Take Russia, for example. In June 2021, the country announced it was eliminating the US dollar from its National Wealth Fund — in doing so, it has reduced its vulnerability to western sanctions. More recently, the BRICS nations, a group made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, have made headlines for their efforts to set up their own currency.

What does this all mean? Well, stick with us as we delve into the details of de-dollarization.

In this article

    How did the dollar become the world’s reserve currency?

    The US dollar has a storied history, originating in the early days of the United States. The US Mint was founded by the Coinage Act of 1792, establishing the dollar as the primary currency unit.

    The dollar’s value was initially set relative to gold and silver, and it has since undergone several changes, including adopting the gold standard in 1900. The gold standard was a monetary system in which currencies were tied to an established quantity of gold, facilitating price stability and reducing transaction costs in commerce across borders.

    The US adopted the system with the Coinage Act of 1873, which continued until the Great Depression in the 1930s. The Bretton Woods Agreement of 1944 was a pivotal moment in the US dollar’s history, as delegates from 44 countries agreed to peg their currencies to the dollar, which was, in turn, linked to gold. This solidified the US dollar’s position as the primary trading currency.

    The US dollar’s rise to prominence as the world’s reserve currency can be attributed to other factors as well. The Federal Reserve Bank was established by the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, which helped maintain price stability in the US dollar.

    Additionally, during World War I, the US became the primary lender for many countries looking to buy dollar-denominated US bonds. By the end of World War II, the US had amassed most of the world’s gold reserves, and the Bretton Woods Agreement had solidified the dollar’s position as the international monetary standard.

    Despite the eventual end of the Bretton Woods system in the early 1970s, the US dollar has retained its status as the world’s reserve currency. Factors contributing to its dominance include:

    • the stability of its value
    • the size of the US economy
    • the US’ geopolitical influence
    • the unparalleled market for US debt

    Today, the US dollar remains the currency of choice for international trade and reserves, with major commodities like oil primarily bought and sold in US dollars, called petrodollars. However, with the recent de-dollarization trend and the emergence of digital currencies, the dollar’s long-term future as the global reserve currency is uncertain.

    What is de facto dollarization?

    There are some countries that don’t officially use the US dollar, but still experience unofficial de facto dollarization, a phenomenon in which residents of a country use a foreign currency, often the US dollar, for day-to-day transactions and for saving in hard currency. According to the International Monetary Fund, most developing countries have a limited form of dollarization. Countries with high levels of de facto dollarization are Argentina, Bolivia, Cambodia, Lebanon, Peru, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.

    De facto dollarization is a concern in many developing economies, because it can limit the effectiveness of monetary policy, expose the financial sector to currency risk and increase the country’s vulnerability to external shocks.

    Nations with both official and unofficial dollarization are seeing the risks associated with it, and some are looking for alternatives, or at least ways to cushion that risk.

    What does de-dollarization mean?

    De-dollarization involves reducing the US dollar’s dominance in global markets by substituting it as the primary currency for financial transactions, such as trading oil or other commodities, foreign exchange reserves and bilateral trade.

    The US dollar’s leading role in the global economy grants the US significant influence over other nations, and the country often uses sanctions as a foreign policy tool. As a result, some countries want to reduce their dependence on the dollar and challenge its dominance to insulate their central banks from geopolitical risks:

    As mentioned, one of the groups leading this movement is the BRICS. The five emerging economies in the bloc have been working together on various issues, such as trade, finance and development. The BRICS countries have also been looking for ways to create a new reserve currency that could compete with the dollar.

    One example of de-dollarization is the emergence of the petroyuan in response to the longstanding petrodollar system. China, now the world’s top oil importer, has introduced a yuan-denominated oil futures benchmark to stimulate demand for its goods, services and securities, signaling a potential decline for the petrodollar.

    Another indication of de-dollarization is the rise in central bank gold buying. Countries like China, Russia and India have been purchasing gold as a means to reduce their dollar holdings. Central banks have purchased more gold in recent years than they have since records began being kept in 1950. This trend highlights a shift in trust from the US dollar to gold as a safer haven, driven in part by the US and its allies’ increasing use of financial sanctions.

    ‘The rallying cry that’s pulling all of this together is the weaponization of the dollar, and I would also argue the fact that we signed an executive order to go green … we have in essence told the Saudi kingdom and OPEC, who gives us the dollar hegemony by pricing oil in dollars, that we’re going to go green pretty soon, and if you’re on the wrong side of us we’re going to sanction your funds,’ he said.

    Watch the full interview with Schectman here.

    Schectman also had lots of insight to share on de-dollarization during a panel entitled ‘Will the BRICS survive a Trump Presidency’ at the 2025 Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC) in January. Whether US President Donald Trump uses a carrot or a stick approach with BRICS members, the path toward de-dollarization will be hard to block. Schectman told VRIC attendees that he views Trump’s tariffs as sanctions in another form, and the tariffs are likely to continue to give countries such as China a good reason to make further moves to dethrone the dollar.

    He pointed to China and Saudi Arabia beefing up their gold reserves on the sly and China selling US bonds in Saudi Arabia as evidence of the aggressive posture toward de-dollarization.

    ‘A lot of the things they’re doing are going to be under the radar. For example, we’ve seen China say that they stopped buying gold for six months, yet the import/export numbers out of London and Switzerland betrayed that rhetoric,’ he said. ‘And in fact, there’s a feeling that they’ve been buying 10 times as much gold as they said. Saudi Arabia, same thing. Oh, sorry, we forgot to report it to the IMF, but the import/export numbers caught it. So, I think this de-dollarization trend is going to continue.’

    China is also striking at the heart of the petrodollar system with the sale of US$2 billion in dollar-denominated bonds in Saudi Arabia in direct competition with US treasuries.

    “That money then doesn’t go back to the US,” Schectman said. ‘And I think what (China is) doing with this is saying, look, we can do this with all of our Belt Road Initiative countries. We can help them with their dollar denominated debt. It’s a way for them to say, we can challenge you right now in the treasury market, don’t mess with us.”

    If US President Donald Trump continues to use tariffs as a proxy for economic sanctions on China, Schectman believes the Asian nation will continue to issue bonds in US dollars in order to compete on a parallel system with the United States.

    It’s worth noting that de-dollarization efforts, while offering advantages such as risk diversification, stronger national currencies and reduced vulnerability to US sanctions, also present challenges like transition difficulties, short-term instability and limited global acceptance of alternative currencies.

    So while de-dollarization presents both opportunities and challenges for the global economy, businesses, investors and policymakers must understand these implications and adapt to the evolving nature of international trade and finance.

    Will the dollar lose its reserve currency status?

    Frank Giustra, a well-known Canadian businessman who is co-chair of the International Crisis Group, believes some form of de-dollarization appears inevitable, as in the wake of sanctions against Russia, countries are increasingly considering non-dollar trade agreements and central banks are reducing their dollar reserves.

    If the US dollar was to lose its reserve currency status, what could take its place? There are 180 currencies recognized as legal tender in different countries and territories worldwide, and there are other reserve currencies like the euro, Japan’s yen, Britain’s pound and China’s yuan. There are also growing digital currency options.

    However, for now the US dollar’s dominance remains clear — International Monetary Fund data shows that it makes up 57 percent of foreign exchange reserves worldwide. And even those who are of the opinion that a shift away from the US dollar is inevitable don’t see it happening without major turmoil at a global scale.

    ‘Generally in history such transitions between global reserve currencies have been with big geopolitical tensions — or in other words, with wars. So nobody wants that, but it is historically speaking the prerequisite to move from one currency-based system — the dollar — to another currency-based system.’

    Watch the full interview with Peccatiello above.

    Giustra has expressed a similar opinion, saying that moves away from the US dollar could provoke inflation in the US, potentially leading to social and economic instability. For that reason, he believes the de-dollarization trend should be viewed by the administration as a matter of national security. He thinks the US should consider being open to dialogue regarding forming a new monetary system, which could potentially be backed by gold or other commodities.

    Investor takeaway

    De-dollarization is an ongoing trend that marks a shift away from the previously unrivaled US dollar in global trade and finance. Political tensions, the rise of non-US economic blocs and a desire for decreased reliance on the dollar are the driving forces behind this trend. De-dollarization is also playing a key role in prompting countries to pursue regional integration and bilateral relations while protecting against geopolitical risks.

    Investors can prepare for a future in which the US dollar’s dominance is less certain by diversifying their portfolios across various currencies and assets, such as gold or cryptocurrencies.

    Additionally, learning about alternative payment systems or platforms that bypass the US dollar can open up new markets and services. Remaining open minded about different perspectives and scenarios emerging from de-dollarization will allow greater flexibility and adaptability in a changing financial landscape. By staying informed and flexible, investors can navigate the evolving financial landscape and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com
    Keep Reading
    Investing

    Rule, Kiyosaki, Spina and Clark Share Mining Stock Picks and Investing Wisdom

    During three separate discussions at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference, Robert Kiyosaki, Rick Rule, Jeff Clark and Peter Spina shared key insights on navigating an increasingly unstable economic landscape.

    Robert Kiyosaki, author of “Rich Dad, Poor Dad,” warned of America’s mounting US$36 trillion debt, highlighting the inflationary risks of excessive money printing and adding that the US is printing a trillion dollars every hundred days.

    The author and public speaker went on to underscore the opportunity in mining equities.

    “When they print that much money, what happens is this — the rich get richer,’ said Kiyosaki.

    ‘Let me say it again — the after effect of people (printing) money is the rich get richer, because there’s asset inflation. So when they print money, gold and silver, real estate and oil go up.’

    Of sister metals gold and silver, Kiyosaki said he prefers the versatility of silver. To underscore this idea, he shared an anecdote about Andy Schectman, his friend and the president of Miles Franklin.

    “He says every time they fire those Tomahawk rockets, there’s 1.4 pounds of silver, and they never get it back,” said Kiyosaki. “We all know silver is an industrial metal, so it’s also a strategic metal in war.”

    Kiyosaki believes more war is in the cards, explaining that he likes US President Donald Trump because he is anti-war.

    Although fond of silver, Kiyosaki offered up price predictions for gold and Bitcoin in 2025, forecasting that the yellow metal will hit US$15,000 per ounce. For the original cryptocurrency, he expects a fresh high of US$250,000.

    More broadly, Kiyosaki sees hard assets as a hedge against the devaluation of the US dollar.

    Rule’s stock picks

    Later in the day, well-known resource speculator and investor and Rick Rule headlined a presentation titled “Exhibitors at This Conference, That I Own; Why, and What Could Go Wrong.”

    During his 20-minute discussion, Rule, who is also proprietor at Rule Investment Media and host of the Rule Symposium, stressed the importance of practical investment strategies over broad market predictions.

    He shared insights into his own holdings, offering investors a ‘focus list’ for further research.

    Some of the companies that Rule listed include:

      While reading out his alphabetical list, Rule provided insight into how he selects equity investments. He prioritizes large, high-quality deposits over smaller ones, seeing them as better bets for strong returns.

      He also noted that he prefers political risk to technical risk, and made the case for the prospect generator model, where companies fund exploration using external capital.

      “Using other people’s money is simply the easiest way to leverage exploration growth without diluting yourself out of existence. People describe prospect generators as boring,’ said Rule.

      ‘At age 71, almost 72, I’ve decided that boredom is preferable to terror.’

      With investments spanning copper, gold, silver, uranium and royalties, he emphasized the importance of backing experienced, transparent management teams. Rule’s approach underscores selective, well-researched resource investing— where size, strategy and leadership matter most.

      Spina and Clark’s stock picks

      In a similar vein, Peter Spina, president and CEO of GoldSeek.com and SilverSeek.com, and Jeff Clark, editor of Paydirt Prospector, sat down for a conversation titled, “Stocks I Love Right Now,” moderated by David Lin.

      Starting the conversation, Clark reminded investors to not get emotionally attached to stocks, especially resource stocks, noting that a more appropriate title for the conversation would be ‘Stocks I Want to Buy.’

      “You’re dating, you’re not marrying them,” said Clark.

      Lin then asked if there is any investment a person should marry.

      “I don’t know about marrying an investment in this sector other than gold itself,” quipped Clark.

      Adding his thoughts, Spina offered a little more nuance in his response.

      “You might really love a company, but you always have to be thinking about it as an investor — always question the premise, and always try to have an independence to it, because you can get so emotionally attached to something that you lose perspective, and you don’t see the risks. You’re only focusing on the rewards,” he said.

      Even though gold continues to hit record highs and silver is gaining momentum, mining stocks have yet to follow suit, creating what one expert has called a prime risk/reward entry point, Spina explained.

      Although gold and silver miners have strong cashflow, improving balance sheets and rising metal prices working in their favor, they remain undervalued and present an opportunity for investors.

      “Sometime this year, there’s going to be a move that really starts to ignite all these miners and stocks higher,” said Spina. “I think this is an easy opportunity to take advantage of right now.”

      Offering tips on selecting small-cap mining stocks, Spina, like many of the conference speakers, pointed to management as the top priority, noting that strong leadership with significant equity ensures alignment with investors.

      He went on to explain that given the resource sector’s cyclical nature, experienced managers are crucial for navigating downturns without excessive dilution. Share structure, project quality and operating margins also play a role, particularly in mining companies, where break-even costs vary widely.

      Clark also put management at the top of his list of criteria. He urged investors to ask management if they own shares in their company. He also advised attendees to look at management’s work history.

      “What did the stock do with the prior company they ran?” Clark posited, adding that he considers himself a “conservative speculator” when it comes to jurisdictional risk. “I’m looking at companies that have the potential to make a big find, run by a high-quality management team that is in a pro-mining jurisdiction,” he said.

      From there, Clark and Spina provided stock picks to the audience.

      Spina mentioned Idaho Strategic Resources (NYSEAMERICAN:IDR), a US-based gold producer that also has a large rare earths resource. His next selection was Fortuna Mining (TSX:FVI,NYSE:FSM) a precious metals company with mines in Argentina, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mexico and Peru.

      His third pick was Silvercorp Metals (TSX:SVM,NYSEAMERICAN:SVM) a producer of silver, gold, lead and zinc.

      Clark’s picks included Luca Mining (TSXV:LUCA,OTCQX:LUCMF) a polymetallic miner with two assets in Mexico. Next was Radisson Mining Resources (TSXV:RDS,OTCQB:RMRDF) a Québec-focused gold explorer. Lastly, Clark chose Independence Gold (TSXV:IGO,OTCQB:IEGCF), a precious metals explorer with assets in BC and the Yukon.

      Highlighting the value each company offers, Spina and Clark also noted that the juniors could become M&A targets as larger producers look to replenish their pipelines.

      “I think the conditions are right, because the producers are generating a lot of free cashflow,’ said Clark, noting that he has questioned why more juniors weren’t acquired two or three years ago when they were “stupid cheap.’

      ‘Well, maybe they were waiting until their cashflow was higher (and) the gold price was higher. We have those conditions now,’ he added. ‘So we are ripe for an M&A cycle to start. All it’s going to take is one big one to get it rolling, and then we’ll be off to the races.”

      Stay tuned for more event coverage, including video interviews with many of the experts who attended.

      Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

      This post appeared first on investingnews.com
      Keep Reading
      Investing

      Approval of Inland Rail Facility by Government of Cameroon

      Canyon Resources Limited (ASX: CAY) (‘Canyon’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that the location of its Inland Rail Facility (‘IRF’) has been approved by the Government of Cameroon. In addition, Canyon’s in- country subsidiary Camalco Cameroon SA (‘Camalco’) has been allocated 105 hectares of land by the Lamido of Ngaoundere to be used for future additions to the IRF and associated infrastructure.

      The signing of this land approval marks another major milestone achieved by the Company in the rapid development of the Minim Martap Bauxite Project (‘Minim Martap’ or ‘the Project’).

      The approved IRF location is strategically situated near the existing Makor Railway Station, enabling seamless integration with existing local infrastructure and enhancing construction efficiency. The timing of the approval for the IRF location and allocation of additional land, comes shortly after the underwriting agreement with Eagle Eye Asset Holdings Pte Ltd (‘EEA’) to finance the purchase rolling stock for the development of Minim Martap.

      The rapid succession of these milestones underscores the strong commitment of Canyon’s major shareholder, EEA, and dedication of relevant authorities in Cameroon, to advance Minim Martap towards production status.

      Canyon is focused on progressing key logistical and infrastructure solutions to further de-risk the Project and support the ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study (‘DFS’). Upon completion and at the commencement of production, the IRF will be used as a loading station for wagons of Bauxite ore brought by road from Minim Martap before transport via the main rail line to port, using the Company’s own rolling stock.

      Mr Jean Sebastien Boutet, Canyon Chief Executive Officer commented:“The approval for the location of the Inland Rail Facility is a timely achievement for the Company following the recently announced underwriting agreement with EEA to finance the purchase of rolling stock. Key details from these agreements are being factored into the ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study and the increased oversight of logistics provides Canyon stability in progressing our Project.

      “I would like to extend my gratitude to his Excellency, Lamido of Ngaoundere, for his generous provision of land in the Makor region. Access to an additional 105 hectares surrounding the IRF site provides the Company with assurance to construct and develop the IRF and other critical infrastructure for Minim Martap, reinforcing the Project’s long-term viability.

      “The past six months have been transformative for Canyon, with initial infrastructure solutions in place and strong support from strategic partners and government, we have rapidly derisked the Project’s development.

      “The support we’ve received from EEA, the Government of Cameroon, and key stakeholders reflects the enormous opportunity that Minim Martap presents to Cameroon and local communities. The broader bauxite market remains in a highly resilient environment, and we look forward to becoming a key supplier of this critical mineral to future offtake partners.”

      Click here for the full ASX Release

      This post appeared first on investingnews.com
      Keep Reading
      World

      El Salvador offers to house violent US criminals and deportees of any nationality in unprecedented deal

      El Salvador has agreed to house violent US criminals and receive deportees of any nationality, in an unprecedented deal that has alarmed critics and rights groups.

      US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the agreement on Monday after meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, as he visits several Central American countries to drive forward the Trump administration’s agenda on migration.

      “In an act of extraordinary friendship to our country … (El Salvador) has agreed to the most unprecedented and extraordinary migratory agreement anywhere in the world,” Rubio told reporters.

      The country will continue accepting Salvadoran deportees who illegally entered the US, he said. It will also “accept for deportation any illegal alien in the United States who is a criminal from any nationality, be they MS-13 or Tren de Aragua and house them in his jails,” he said – referring to two notorious transnational gangs with members from El Salvador and Venezuela.

      In addition, Bukele “has offered to house in his jails dangerous American criminals in custody in our country, including those of US citizenship and legal residents,” Rubio said,

      Bukele confirmed the agreement on X, saying in a post, “We are willing to take in only convicted criminals (including convicted U.S. citizens) into our mega-prison (CECOT) in exchange for a fee.”

      “The fee would be relatively low for the U.S. but significant for us, making our entire prison system sustainable,” he added.

      Ahead of the announcement, critics had warned that such a plan could be part of democratic backsliding.

      “The US is essentially proposing to send people to a country that is not the country of origin nor is it necessarily the country that they passed through,” said Mneesha Gellman, an international politics scholar and professor at Emerson College.

      One of the most striking aspects of the deal is that Salvadorean law doesn’t differentiate between alleged gang members and people found guilty of a crime. Under the draconian state of emergency that has ruled the Central American country since 2022, authorities can detain anyone simply on the suspicion of being members of a gang.

      Bukele has boasted a high incarceration rate as a recipe for security – El Salvador now boasts the highest such rate in the world – but human rights organizations such as Amnesty International believe many of the over 80,000 people jailed under the state of emergency are innocent.

      This is a developing story.

      This post appeared first on cnn.com
      Keep Reading
      Investing

      How to Invest in OpenAI’s ChatGPT

      OpenAI’s ChatGPT is one of the latest technological breakthroughs in the artificial intelligence space. But what is ChatGPT, and can you invest in OpenAI?

      This emerging technology is representative of a niche subsector of the AI industry known as generative AI — systems that can generate text, images or sounds in response to prompts given by users.

      Precedence Research expects the global AI market to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.1 percent to reach US$3.68 trillion by 2034. Just how much of an impact OpenAI’s ChatGPT will have on this space is hard to predict, but Fortune Business Insights estimates that the total market revenue of generative AI will see a CAGR of 39.6 percent through 2032, increasing from US$67.18 billion last year to US$967.65 billion in 2032.

      In September 2024, Reuters reported that OpenAI is planning a restructuring that would see the non-profit become a for-profit company in order to make it ‘more attractive to investors.’ The non-profit OpenAI will still exist on its own and have a minority stake in the for-profit company. CEO Sam Altman will also receive an equity position in the new for-profit OpenAI. The company is planning to make this transition in 2025.

      OpenAI completed a new round of funding totaling US$6.6 billion in early October projected to bring its valuation to more than US$157 billion. Tech giants NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) took part in the funding round.

      In this article

        What is OpenAI’s ChatGPT?

        Created by San Francisco-based tech lab OpenAI, ChatGPT is a generative AI software application that uses a machine learning technique called reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) to emulate human-written conversations based on a large range of user prompts. This kind of software is better known as an AI chatbot.

        ChatGPT learns language by training on texts gleaned from across the internet, including online encyclopedias, books, academic journals, news sites and blogs. Based on this training, the AI chatbot generates text by making predictions about which words (or tokens) can be strung together to produce the most suitable response.

        More than a million people engaged with ChatGPT within the first week of its launch for free public testing on November 30, 2022. The introduction of ChatGPT quickly ushered in a new era in the tech industry.

        Based on this success, OpenAI created a more powerful version of the ChatGPT system called GPT-4, which was released in March 2023. This iteration of ChatGPT can accept visual inputs, is much more precise and can display a higher level of expertise in various subjects. Because of this, GPT-4 can describe images in vivid detail and ace standardized tests.

        Unlike its predecessor, GPT-4 doesn’t have any time limits on what information it can access; however, AI researcher and professor Dr. Oren Etzioni has said that the chatbot is still terrible at discussing the future and generating new ideas. It also hasn’t lost its tendency to deliver incorrect information with too high a degree of confidence.

        Further improving on its product, in May 2024 OpenAI launched Chat GPT-4o, with the o standing for omni. OpenAI describes GPT-4o as ‘a step towards much more natural human-computer interaction—it accepts as input any combination of text, audio, image, and video and generates any combination of text, audio, and image outputs.’

        This version has done away with the lagging response time afflicting GPT-4. This proves especially helpful for producing immediate translations during conversations between speakers of different languages. It also allows users to interrupt the chatbot to pose a new query to modify responses.

        More recently, in December 2024, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Pro subscriptions targeting engineers and academics. For US$200 monthly, users have nearly unlimited access to all ChatGPT models and tools.

        The ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT-4 platforms are free to use, and can be accessed via the web. Those with an iPhone or iPad can also use ChatGPT through an app, and an Android version launched in July 2023. OpenAI also launched a paid subscription, ChatGPT Plus for business use, in August 2023. ChatGPT Plus gives users access to GPT-4 and the newest iteration GPT-4o.

        What is the Stargate Project?

        The Stargate Project is an AI joint venture focused on building new AI infrastructure in the US through US$500 billion in investments. It was announced on January 21, 2025.

        Stargate’s initial funding is coming from OpenAI, Japanese multinational investment firm SoftBank, Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) and UAE-based technology fund MGX. In addition to OpenAI and Oracle, Stargate’s technology partners include Microsoft, NVIDIA, and British semiconductor and software design company Arm Holdings (NASDAQ:ARM).​

        Newly re-elected US President Trump unveiled Stargate during a press conference at the White House highlighting the importance of investment in US AI infrastructure. During the announcement, OpenAI’s Altman, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son credited President Trump’s return to office as a major catalyst in making Stargate a reality. The construction of data centers for the Stargate Project are already underway in Texas, according to Ellison.​

        How much has Microsoft invested in OpenAI?

        Hand holding phone with OpenAI technology on it in front of Microsoft logo.

        Ascannio / Shutterstock

        Over the years, Microsoft has reportedly invested nearly US$14 billion in OpenAI to help the small tech firm create its ultra-powerful AI chatbot.

        As for how Microsoft could benefit from its investment in OpenAI, OpenAI officially licensed its technologies to Microsoft in 2020 in a then-exclusive partnership. Indeed, Pitchbook has described the deal as an “unprecedented milestone” for generative AI technology. Since then, Microsoft has made good use of OpenAI’s technology in developing new advancement in its Azure cloud computing business.

        However, the relationship between the two has changed in recent months.

        Notably, Microsoft is not a financier of the Stargate Project joint venture, and is instead just described as a technology partner. According to OpenAI’s press release, the new joint venture builds on its existing partnership with Microsoft.

        Microsoft’s lack of a funding role in Stargate led some to wonder if the trillion-dollar tech firm had soured on its relationship with OpenAI. This conclusion was understandable given reports that Microsoft refused to make a bigger contribution than the US$750 million it invested during the OpenAI US$6.6 billion funding round in October.

        Additionally, Microsoft changed the contract between the two companies and is no longer the exclusive cloud provider for OpenAI, but has the right of first refusal for deals the AI firm may make with other cloud companies.

        As Bloomberg technology reporter Dina Bass explained, Microsoft stands to benefit from its role as a technology partner without having to invest a dime into the project.

        “Microsoft views the revised contract with OpenAI as advantageous, according to people familiar with the company’s thinking. The software giant retains its share of OpenAI’s revenue and is the largest investor in a company that may now become even more valuable — though the size of that stake could change as the startup works to restructure as a for-profit,” wrote Bass. “And Microsoft also still has access to OpenAI models, even if they’re trained in a data center funded by Softbank or Oracle.”

        Elon Musk’s position on OpenAI

        Elon Musk behind the word "ChatGPT" as well as an image of AI technology.

        DIA TV / Shutterstock

        OpenAI was founded in 2015 by Altman, its current CEO, as well as Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk and other big-name investors, such as venture capitalist Peter Thiel and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Musk left his position on OpenAI’s board of directors in 2018 to focus on Tesla and its pursuit of autonomous vehicle technology.

        A few days after ChatGPT became available for public testing, Musk took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to say, “ChatGPT is scary good. We are not far from dangerously strong AI.” That same day, he announced that X had shut the door on OpenAI’s access to its database so it could no longer use it for RLHF training.

        His reason: “OpenAI was started as open-source & non-profit. Neither are still true.”

        Furthering his feud with OpenAI, Musk filed a lawsuit against the company in March 2024 for an alleged breach of contract. The crux of his complaint was that OpenAI has broken the ‘founding agreement’ made between the founders (Altman, Greg Brockman and himself) that the company would remain a non-profit. Altman and OpenAI have denied there was such an agreement and that Musk was keen on an eventual for-profit structure.

        Musk dropped the lawsuit three months later without giving a reason, reported Reuters. The day before he dropped the lawsuit, he reacted to the news that Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is partnering with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT with Apple devices. On X, Musk declared, ‘If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS (operating system)level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies. That is an unacceptable security violation.” It should be noted that OpenAI has said queries completed on Apple devices will not be stored by OpenAI. By August 2024, Musk had resumed his litigation in federal court.

        It seems that the US government also has questions about the restructuring of the private company and the involvement of tech giant Microsoft, as reported by Bloomberg. In early January 2025, the Financial Press also reported the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has raised questions about the potential anti-trust violations in the newly emerging AI technology space arising from Microsoft’s partnership with and investments in OpenAI.

        Of course, Musk took to X to weigh in on the Stargate Project, suggesting OpenAI and its partners don’t actually have the US$500 million they’ve pledged to invest. Sam Altman was quick to reply, telling Musk he’s mistaken and inviting him to visit their data center under construction in Texas.

        However, Musk is not alone in his skepticism. For example, Atreides Management Chief Investment Office Gavin Baker also questioned the deal on X. “Stargate is a great name but the $500b is a ridiculous number and no one should take it seriously,” said Baker, backing up his statement by explaining the financial positions of each of the partners. “Nowhere close to $500b. Everyone should just start issuing press releases for $1 trillion AI projects,” he added.

        OpenAI criticisms and lawsuits

        While ChatGPT has served as a major step forward in generative AI technology, there are many technical and ethical concerns with the program that have emerged since it launched, including fears over job destruction and targeted disinformation campaigns.

        Accuracy of information in ChatGPT’s answers is not guaranteed. Its selection of which words to string together are actually predictions — not as fallible as mere guesses, but still fallible. Even the 4.0 version is “still is not fully reliable (it “hallucinates” facts and makes reasoning errors),” says the company, which emphasizes that users should exercise caution when employing the technology.

        Indeed, ChatGPT’s failings can have dangerous real-life consequences. Among other negative applications, the tech can be used to spread misinformation, carry out phishing email scams or write malicious code.

        There’s also the fear among teachers that the technology is leading to an unwelcome rise in academic dishonesty, with students using ChatGPT to write essays or complete their homework.

        “Teachers and school administrators have been scrambling to catch students using the tool to cheat, and they are fretting about the havoc ChatGPT could wreak on their lesson plans,” writes New York Times tech columnist Kevin Roose.

        Many lawsuits against OpenAI have emerged as well. Multiple news outlets, including the the New York Times, have launched copyright lawsuits against OpenAI, and some of the plaintiffs are also seeking damages from the private tech firm’s very public partner Microsoft.

        Additionally, the Authors Guild, which represents a group of prominent authors, launched a class-action lawsuit against OpenAI that is calling for a licensing system that would allow authors to opt out of having their books used to train AI, and would require AI companies to pay for the material they do use.

        In October, OpenAI researcher Suchir Balaji blew the whistle on the company, reporting that the firm was violating US copyright laws. He died one month later in what was ruled a suicide, but the investigation is still open.

        Cybersecurity risks are also a concern for ChatGPT users, and recent events along these lines add validity to Musk’s warning. For one, in 2024 ChatGPT for macOS was discovered to be breaching Apple’s security rules by storing data as plain text rather than encryption, making it possible for other apps to access.

        What’s the future of OpenAI and ChatGPT?

        What about the long-term goals for OpenAI and ChatGPT? For most of the tech leaders in this space, the end game is artificial general intelligence (AGI) — a system that can perform any function the human brain can, including self-teaching, abstract thinking and understanding cause and effect.

        As uptake increases, AI technology is taking over the role of humans and will likely continue doing so in a number of fields, from content creation and customer service to transcription and translation services, and even in graphic design, software engineering and paralegal fields.

        In addition to Microsoft’s use of the ChatGPT technology as part of Copilot, other companies are working with OpenAI to incorporate the technology into their platforms, including Canva, Duolingo (NASDAQ:DUOL), Expedia (NASDAQ:EXPE), Intercom, Salesforce (NYSE:CRM), Scale, Stripe and Upwork (NASDAQ:UPWK).

        For 2025, OpenAI is focusing on developing agentic AI capabilities into its ChatGPT platform. Agentic AI, a part of the evolution towards AGI, involves AI systems and models that can act autonomously and complete tasks without much human guidance. Early in January, OpenAI announced the rollout of new task features for ChatGPT Pro, Plus and Teams users. While still in the beta stage, these features allow users to schedule future tasks to be completed by ChatGPT, such as a weekly news brief or reminders about important meetings.

        OpenAI first debuted its foray into agentic AI in September 2024 with the introduction of ChatGPT o1, stating ‘We’ve developed a new series of AI models designed to spend more time thinking before they respond.’ The release of the next iteration of this model, ChatGPT o3 mini, is anticipated for 2025.

        OpenAI is planning to transition to a for-profit company in 2025. “As we enter 2025, we will have to become more than a lab and a startup — we have to become an enduring company,” stated the press release. “The world is moving to build out a new infrastructure of energy, land use, chips, data centers, data, AI models, and AI systems for the 21st century economy. We seek to evolve in order to take the next step in our mission.”

        However, the company can expect to face obstacles to its transition from not only Elon Musk but its other competitors including Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), and the complexity of its partnership with Microsoft.

        The recent release of Chinese startup DeepSeek’s AI assistant may pose an even bigger problem for OpenAI and the US tech industry as a whole. In what tech gurus like Marc Andreesen call AI’s Sputnik moment, DeepSeek unseated ChatGPT as the most downloaded free app in the Apple App Store, at reportedly a fraction of the cost. For reference, in 1957 the Soviets launched Sputnik, the earth’s first artificial satellite, beating out the United States and sparking a Cold War space exploration race between the two nations.

        The DeepSeek launch set off a significant sell off in technology stocks on January 27, 2025, especially among the Magnificent Seven members, including NVIDIA, Microsoft and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL).

        When will OpenAI go public?

        OpenAI stock is not currently publicly traded, but following the recent move to restructure the company from a non-profit to a for-profit entity, an initial public offering (IPO) may be in the works for 2025. For now, investors can gain exposure through related tech companies discussed here.

        Which stocks will benefit the most from AI chatbot technology?

        Other than companies directly tied to generative AI technology, which stocks are likely to get a boost from generative AI advancements?

        There are several verticals in the tech industry with indirect exposure to AI chatbot technology, such as semiconductors, network equipment providers, cloud providers, central processing unit manufacturers and internet of things.

        Some of the publicly traded companies in these verticals include:

          FAQs for investing in OpenAI and ChatGPT

          How is OpenAI funded?

          OpenAI raised US$17.9 billion over 10 funding rounds from 2016 to November 2024.

          Top investors include technology investment firm Thrive Capital, venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and revolutionary technology investment firm Founders Fund.

          What is the market value of ChatGPT/OpenAI?

          OpenAI has a market valuation of US$157 billion as of October 2024. The company’s 2023 revenue had reached US$2 billion mark in December 2023 to join the ranks of Google and Meta. OpenAI’s annualized revenue reached US$3.4 billion in May 2024.

          Does ChatGPT use Nvidia chips?

          ChatGPT’s distributed computing infrastructure depends upon powerful servers with multiple graphics processing units (GPUs). High-performance Nvidia GPU chips are preferred for this application as they also provide excellent Compute Unified Device Architecture support.

          What is DeepSeek?

          DeepSeek is a Chinese AI company that launched new AI-driven, open-source language models known as DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1 into the market in January 2025. Reuters reports that ‘the training of DeepSeek-V3 required less than $6 million worth of computing power from Nvidia H800 chips.’

          DeepSeek-R1 is designed to compete with the performance of OpenAI-o1 across math, code, and reasoning tasks.

          Can ChatGPT make stock predictions?

          A University of Florida study from 2023 highlighted the potential for advanced language models such as ChatGPT to accurately predict movements in the stock market using sentiment analysis.

          During the course of the study, ChatGPT outperformed traditional sentiment analysis methods, and the finance professors conducting the research concluded that “incorporating advanced language models into the investment decision-making process can yield more accurate predictions and enhance the performance of quantitative trading strategies.”

          When to expect ChatGPT 5?

          In November 2024, Altman confirmed that ChatGPT-5 wouldn’t likely hit the market until later in 2025 as the company switched its focus to ChatGPT o1 and its successors.

          Previously, OpenAI filed a trademark application for ChatGPT-5 in mid-July 2023, which hinted that the next iteration of the generative AI technology is currently under development. There were rumors the company planned to complete training for ChatGPT-5 by the end of 2023, but this did not materialize.

          PC Guide noted in April 2024 that Sam Altman had teased an “amazing new model this year’ in an interview on the Lex Fridman podcast. The following month, tech writer Suswati Basu shared in a blog that OpenAI confirmed that a new model is in the works, and she predicted an expected release in late 2024 or early 2025.

          Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

          This post appeared first on investingnews.com
          Keep Reading