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AI tech boom: Is the artificial intelligence market already saturated?

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From voice assistants to algorithms predicting global market trends, artificial intelligence (AI) is seeing explosive growth. But as with any emerging technology, there comes a point where innovation risks giving way to oversaturation.

The rapid proliferation of AI tools and solutions in recent months has ignited discussions among industry experts and investors alike. Are we witnessing the zenith of AI’s golden age, or are we on the precipice of a market saturated beyond capacity?

The tech landscape has always been dynamic, with innovations often outpacing the market’s ability to adapt.

Historical tech boom-and-busts

The late 1990s saw the dot-com bubble, a period marked by exuberant optimism around internet-based companies. Startups with little more than a web presence achieved staggering valuations, only for many to crash spectacularly when the bubble burst.

In 2017, the world witnessed a surge in initial coin offerings (ICOs), a fundraising method where new cryptocurrency projects sold their underlying tokens to investors.

This period was marked by immense enthusiasm for the potential of blockchain and decentralized technologies. However, excitement often overshadowed the practicality and viability of many projects.

As a result, investments were made in ventures that either had limited real-world applications or, in some cases, no genuine ties to cryptocurrency whatsoever.

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A notable example was during 2017’s “blockchain naming” trend with the company previously known as “Long Island Iced Tea Corp.” The company made soft drinks and had little to do with blockchain. In a bid to capitalize on the blockchain hype, the company rebranded itself as “Long Blockchain Corp.”

Following this rebranding, the company’s stock price soared, with shares rising by an astonishing 275% in just one day. This increase, despite no substantial shift in its business model or operations, highlighted the speculative nature of the market at the time and the lengths to which companies would go to ride the blockchain wave.

The enthusiasm was short-lived, however. According to Bitcoin.com, almost half of the projects offering ICOs in 2017 had failed by February 2018.

AI’s impact goes beyond speculation

While the dot-com and blockchain bubbles were characterized by speculation and, at times, a lack of authentic value, the AI wave is fundamentally different.

Companies like Microsoft and Google are not just dabbling in AI — they’re integrating it into products and services that millions use daily, showcasing real-world applications that are actively improving industries.

Michael Koch, co-founder and CEO of HubKonnect — an AI platform for local store marketing campaigns — told Cointelegraph:

“The AI market feels saturated because people who thought they were technologists and failed at crypto are now moving onto the next hot technology, which is AI — but there are actually real builders and leaders in AI. There needs to be advanced eyes out there for people to really continue to build and take advantage of the evolution of AI.”

Google’s generative AI, Google Bard, attracted over 140 million visitors in May alone, sports teams are receiving real-time analytics, and AI chatbots are becoming more time and cost-efficient.

The modern AI gold rush

The allure of artificial intelligence has led to a surge in AI-driven tools, solutions and startups. According to Precedence Research, the global artificial intelligence market was valued at $454 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $538 billion in 2023. 

Venture capital (VC) has been a significant funding source for the AI sector in 2023. Data from PitchBook indicates that generative AI startups raised over $1.7 billion in Q1 of 2023, with an additional $10.7 billion worth of deals announced that were not yet completed. 

Some of the most notable raises included Google-backed Anthropic, which secured $450 million at a reported $5 billion valuation. Builder.AI raised $250 million. Mistral AI managed to raise $113 million without a product or even a proof-of-concept. With the injection of VC thrown at these AI startups like wildfire, one can draw some similarities to the ICO bust. In that situation, there was also a lot of hype without any actual use cases or proof of viability. However, what distinguishes AI is its multitude of use cases and real-life examples of success. Take, for instance, ChatGPT, which rapidly reached 100 million users in just two months, demonstrating AI’s tangible impact.

Yet, with this rapid growth and high valuations, some feel the AI market is overheating. JPMorgan’s chief markets strategist, Marko Kolanovic, believes the AI market is near its saturation point. As reported by Forbes, Kolanovic said the recent market uptick is a result of an “AI-driven bubble” and that the hype around the technology was due to the “popularization of chatbots that often fail in basic questions” rather than “AI-powered earnings growth.”

Leif-Nissen Lundbæk, founder and CEO of generative AI company Xayn, has a contrasting view and believes we are only at the tip of the iceberg. He told Cointelegraph:

“The AI market is not close to becoming saturated. Currently, companies have tried their hand here and there, with some proofs-of-concept materializing. The real large-scale production cases are only getting started, or are yet to come.”

Between saturation and innovation

The sheer volume of companies entering the AI space has raised concerns about a potentially saturated market. Companies worldwide are now utilizing AI as part of their core functionalities. From 10Web’s no-code website builder to RainbowAI’s weather app, and from ICarbonX’s AI providing personalized health analyses to SherpaAI’s virtual personal assistant, the stage has been set for countless others to follow suit.

Lundbæk recognizes that the influx of new companies could lead to the market becoming saturated in some areas but does not see it as a pertinent issue, stating, “The business-to-customer market is perhaps a bit more saturated but has not yet reached full capacity, while the business-to-business market is only in its infancy, even though AI has been around for a while. The vast majority of corporations are only using AI or machine learning for a few visible projects, if at all, that are easier to implement with lower risk, but aren’t applying it yet on a large scale.”

Koch says that the influx of newcomers might give the illusion of an oversaturated AI market, but he views initial saturation as a necessary phase to foster future advancements.

He stated: “AI will never be saturated because we are only on the first off-ramp of the AI super highway. It seems saturated because people from other industries are trying to step into the space, but when it comes down to innovation, there’s already a select group of companies that are so far ahead and that have been in the AI space for decades. To be able to drive innovation forward, saturation will arise at a basic level, but there are elite players and companies that are leading the future of AI.”

Reflecting on AI’s market dynamics

The rapid growth, high valuations and influx of new entrants into the AI realm have sparked debates about market saturation. Historical tech bubbles, such as the dot-com era and the blockchain hype, serve as reminders of the potential repercussions of unchecked growth and speculation.

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However, the depth of AI’s potential is far from fully realized. The technology’s tangible impact speaks to its practical and transformative nature.

It’s evident that the AI market is multifaceted. As with any burgeoning technology, the challenge is to strike a balance between rapid growth and sustainable development.

Cryptocurrency

BTC price holds 6% gains as Bitcoin battles for ‘crucial’ $28K support

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Bitcoin (BTC) passing $28,000 hints at bullish sentiment, but reclaiming it for good is essential, analysis says.

In an X (formerly Twitter) post on Oct. 17, Yann Allemann and Jan Happel, co-founders of on-chain analytics firm Glassnode, described the $28,000 mark as a “critical milestone” for the BTC price.

Glassnode: “Keep an eye out” for $28,000

After snap volatility, which caused Bitcoin to hit $30,000 for the first time since August, the largest cryptocurrency has managed to preserve some of its gains.

At the time of writing, BTC/USD is circling $28,500, per data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView — still up around 6% since the weekly open.

For Allemann and Happel, the pair is now at a defining crossroads.

“The crypto market is hinged on BTC’s ability to breach and consistently maintain a value north of $28k,” part of their commentary stated.

$28,000 has formed a battleground ever since Bitcoin first crossed it in early 2021, and liquidity has traditionally surrounded it as bulls and bears fight to secure control over long-term trajectory.

Data from the trading suite DecenTrader, among others, confirms that the status quo remains despite recent BTC price moves, with $28,000 lying in a zone between major longs and shorts of varying leverage.

Bitcoin liquidity data. Source: DecenTrader

“While this pivotal milestone was momentarily attained on futures, the spot market price peaked at $27.98k earlier today. It’s evident just how crucial this price point is in the larger scheme,” Allemann and Happel added.

“The rapid movements and these price thresholds aren’t just numbers. They signify investor sentiment, market dynamics. Keep an eye out for the 28k level.”

BTC/USD 1-day chart. Source: TradingView

Road to Bitcoin halving contested

As Cointelegraph reported, predictions over what the future will bring for Bitcoin both before and after its next block subsidy halving in April 2024 differ considerably.

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In an interview last month, DecenTrader co-founder Filbfilb eyed BTC price galvanizing itself for upside during Q4, possibly reaching $46,000 by the halving.

Some well-known market participants, however, remain risk-averse. Among them, popular trader Crypto Tony and others are betting on a pre-halving return to $20,000 for a final local bottom.

“Many can scream they are long right now and caught that move, but if your not taking profit here at resistance your doing something wrong,” he told X subscribers about the recent surge.

“I personally will not be long unless we flip that $28,500 level into support.”

BTC/USD annotated chart. Source: Crypto Tony/X

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

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Cryptocurrency

Ripple job posting hints at possible IPO, XRP community says

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Fintech payments company Ripple released a new job posting on Oct. 16 for a shareholder communications senior manager across multiple locations in and outside the United States. The job posting prompted many crypto enthusiasts to label it as an official hint about the company’s plans to go public.

The job posting outlines that the role will require direct communication with shareholders — a concept generally associated with publicly traded companies. The chosen candidate would be responsible for developing and implementing communication and relationship management strategies for “existing and prospective investors, current shareholders, and financial analysts.”

The job description emphasizes the candidate’s need to create strategic plans specifically suited for situations like “M&A [mergers and acquisitions], investments, liquidity events, and other high-impact moments.“

The role includes creating investor-focused materials like “presentations, fact sheets, case studies, and analyses“ to inform and educate potential investors about the company’s prospects and performance — a necessary component of the initial public offering (IPO) preparation process. The responsibilities of the post also include maintaining a shareholder database and managing routine communications like quarterly updates.

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Many XRP (XRP) proponents and the pro-Ripple community on X (formerly Twitter) are referring to the job posting as a hint that there may be an IPO. Some key executives from the company have also alluded to the possibility that Ripple might go public but haven’t given any indication of timing.

The crypto-focused payments company has recently been in the limelight due to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) lawsuit alleging XRP is a security. Ripple scored a major win in the lawsuit in July when a judge ruled that XRP is not a security in terms of sale on digital asset exchanges.

Key Ripple executives have claimed that even though the SEC lawsuit has cost them many business opportunities in the U.S., most of its remittance business lies outside America.

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Cryptocurrency

Banks’ crypto exposure must be disclosed — BIS’ Basel Committee

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The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) released a consultation paper on Oct. 17, proposing to make it compulsory for banks to disclose their crypto exposure.

The Basel Committee comprises central banks and financial authorities from 28 jurisdictions and is a forum for regulatory cooperation on banking supervisory matters. The latest consultation paper is based on the disclosure guidelines in the final prudential standard on how banks should handle their exposure to crypto assets released in December 2022.

The consultation paper aims to set a standardized “disclosure table and set of templates for banks’ crypto-asset exposures,” with a proposed implementation date of Jan. 1, 2025. The Basel Committee has opened the proposal for public comment until Jan. 31, 2024, after which the results will be published on its website.

Under the new proposed regulations, banks would be required to provide quantitative data on exposures to crypto assets and the corresponding capital and liquidity requirements. Banks would also be required to offer qualitative data on their activities linked to cryptocurrencies.

Additionally, banks would be required to offer information on the accounting classifications of their exposure to crypto assets and liabilities. In its proposal, the committee claimed that using a uniform disclosure format will encourage the application of market discipline and lessen information asymmetry between banks and market participants.

Related: Ripple joins BIS cross-border payments task force

The committee also reviewed crypto assets and bank exposure in June. At the time, the committee didn’t delve deeply into the topic, mentioning only that it was focusing on permissionless blockchains and the eligibility criteria for “Group 1” stablecoins.

The BIS has been actively involved in crypto consultations and examining the regulatory aspect of decentralized technology. Recently, the BIS and a handful of European central banks published details of a concept to develop a system to track international flows of cryptocurrencies.

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