Are you still going strong with your New Year’s resolutions?

If so, you’ve beaten the odds. About 50% of people typically drop their resolutions by now.

Keep it up!

Key links from today:

Stargate Project - The biggest project in American history
DALL·E - AI image generator
AIVA - AI music generator

Markets

*Source: CoinGecko.com As of 5:21PM January 26, 2025

World news

Top news stories of the past week

1) $500 billion for AI: Trump announced the Stargate Project - a $500 billion private AI project led by SoftBank and powered by OpenAI, building massive data centers and energy infrastructure to make the US the world leader in AI. This would be the most expensive project in American history, but rest easy because (at least for now) it’s entirely funded by the private sector; the US government isn’t spending a dollar.

2) Three-decade housing slump: US home sales just recorded their worst year in three decades, largely due to rising mortgage rates and persistent affordability challenges. Economists warn that, without a significant increase in housing supply or relief from high interest rates, the market’s slowdown may continue well into this year.

3) Japanese rates on the rise: Japan’s central bank raised interest rates to their highest level in 17 years, saying it needs to act because prices are rising quickly. It also hinted that rates will keep going up from very low levels, so it can lower them again later if the economy needs support. Why is this significant? Japan has had NEGATIVE interest rates for EIGHT YEARS to try and drive economic growth.

Top WEIRD stories of the past week

1) During the hours long TikTok ban in the US, some people listed their iPhones with the app installed for up to $25,000. True entrepreneurs.

2) A hyena not seen in Egypt for 5,000 years was spotted. And you expect me to believe Santa Claus isn’t real?

3) A flower that smells like feet, cheese, and rotten meat is blooming for the first time in years at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. On top of that it’s ugly. So it stinks, is ugly, and reclusive? I’m out.

Technology

On the edge

Generative AI

It’s hard to keep up with AI these days, but if there’s one type of AI you should know about, it’s generative AI. 

Generative AI is a special kind of computer program that creates brand-new things like pictures, music, or stories without just copying what it has seen. It works by learning patterns from lots of examples and then using that knowledge to come up with something fresh. 

For example, some programs can create realistic-looking images of animals that don’t actually exist, or write a short fantasy story about unicorns and dragons. 

Generative AI is important because it can help people save time, spark creativity, and discover new ideas that might be hard for humans to think of on their own.

Right now, people use Generative AI to make art, write songs, or build chatbots that answer questions in a friendly way. Artists can use it to create digital paintings that look like they were done by famous painters, and companies can use it to design product ideas faster. 

As Generative AI keeps improving, it may solve bigger problems, create even more amazing art, and help humans do things we never imagined before.

Try it yourself! 

DALL·E: A tool from OpenAI that creates unique images based on descriptions you type in, like “a robot painting a mural on Mars.”

AIVA: AIVA stands for Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist, and it specializes in composing unique music. You can customize the length, genre, and instruments to create their your original compositions. Rage on.

Your money on easy-mode

Imagine if managing your finances was super easy? That’s a dream we’re here to make a reality.

Check out this list of 5-minute financial fixes!

Have a read and pass it along to your pals so they can level-up alongside you!

Chart

You like charts? Graphs? Ya you do

The price of eggs in the U.S. has been skyrocketing due to limited supply from an ongoing avian flue outbreak. Good excuse to not pick this month to start doing eight raw eggs in the morning.

Investment idea

What are we investing in?

The Stargate Project

With the announcement of The Stargate Project (check out the first section of the newsletter), we’ve been given an investment cheat-code. We know exactly where 100s of billions of dollar of investment is going over the next four years:

1) Data centers

2) Energy infrastructure

So how can you invest in this?

Four investable companies are directly involved in the project:

1. Oracle (ORCL) - to build and manage the data centers

2. Microsoft (MSFT) - to build and manage the data centers

3. Nvidia (NVDA) - manufacturing computer chips for AI programs

4. Arm (ARM) - manufacturing computer chips for AI programs

It’s safe to assume that each of these companies will be receiving billions in investment.

But more broadly, think about the sectors benefitting from this project - there are plenty of ETFs to get diversified exposure! This is key because not just those companies above will be the winners.

Data Center ETFs:

iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estate ETF (IDGT)
Targeted exposure to U.S.-listed companies that build and operate data centers.

Global X Data Center & Digital Infrastructure ETF (DTCR)
Invests in companies that operate data centers. 

Green energy and nuclear ETFs (to power the data centers):

iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN)
Clean energy production, like solar and wind, can be constructed quickly, for relatively low cost, and close to the data centers themselves. More importantly, the Stargate Project has directly called for sustainable energy companies as needed partners.

Global X Uranium ETF (URA)
A nuclear power ETF. This is important because Oracle has shown interest in using small modular nuclear reactors (remember last week’s newsletter?) to power data centers.

History

On this day…

…in 1880, Edison received the historic patent for the electric lamp that paved, which is lucky because I’m scared of the dark.

Music

Banger of the week

Most important thing

Meme? Nah. Art.