To invest in startups, one has to know what theyre dealing with.

When data is accurate, AI has the power to transform industries with smarter decisions and optimized workflows.

Forward-looking: Despite facing a setback in the rollout of its Blackwell GPUs for data centers last year due to a design flaw, Nvidia has swiftly rebounded and is poised to deliver its next series of products over the next few years. CEO Jensen Huang confirmed during the company's earnings call that the next major release, dubbed Blackwell Ultra (B300-series), is on track for the second half of this year. This mid-cycle refresh of the Blackwell architecture promises significant improvements over its predecessors. The B300-series is expected to offer higher compute performance and eight stacks of 12-Hi HBM3E memory, providing up to 288GB of onboard memory. Although unofficial, there are estimates of a 50 percent performance uplift compared to the B200-series.To complement these powerful GPUs, Nvidia will introduce the Mellanox Spectrum Ultra X800 Ethernet switch, boasting a radix of 512 and support for up to 512 ports. This networking upgrade will further enhance the capabilities of AI and HPC systems built around the B300-series.Image credit: Constellation ResearchLooking beyond Blackwell, Nvidia is already working on its next-generation architecture, codenamed Vera Rubin. Set to debut in 2026, the Rubin GPUs represent a significant step toward achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI).The Rubin platform will feature eight stacks of HBM4E memory, offering up to 288GB of memory, along with a Vera CPU, NVLink 6 switches operating at 3600 GB/s, CX9 network cards supporting 1,600 Gb/s, and X1600 switches. Huang has hinted at the transformative potential of the Rubin architecture, describing it as a major leap forward in terms of performance and capabilities. // Related StoriesNvidia has also indicated its readiness to discuss post-Rubin products at the upcoming GPU Technology Conference (GTC) in March. One potential breakthrough on the horizon is the rumored Rubin Ultra, projected for release in 2027. This product could push the boundaries of GPU design even further, potentially incorporating 12 stacks of HBM4E memory. This is a substantial increase from the 8 stacks used in previous generations, potentially offering up to 576GB of total memory. The use of HBM4E technology would provide unprecedented memory bandwidth and capacity, crucial for handling increasingly complex AI models and computations.To achieve this, Nvidia would need to master the use of 5.5-reticle-size CoWoS interposers and 100mm 100mm substrates manufactured by TSMC. This represents a significant increase from the current 3.3-reticle-size interposers used in today's most advanced GPUs. The larger interposer size would allow for more components to be integrated onto a single package, enabling the inclusion of additional memory stacks and potentially more GPU tiles.

Why it matters: When EA released the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection five years ago, it published DLL files for the legendary real-time strategy franchise's first two entries to provide extensive modding support. With the series approaching its 30th anniversary this year, EA recently released new source code files and expanded the modding potential for several C&C titles. Furthermore, the franchise is currently 70 percent off. EA has published the full source code for five Command & Conquer games and their expansions, implementing Steam Workshop support and enabling modders to build new maps, units, and other content. The company also updated the source code repositories for the original Command & Conquer and the first Red Alert game.Interested users can now download the source code for Command & Conquer Renegade, Generals, Zero Hour, Tiberium Wars, Kane's Wrath, Red Alert 3, Uprising, and Tiberian Twilight from GitHub. A new mod support pack on GitHub also contains the source XML, Schema, Script, Shader, and Map files for SAGE engine games like Generals and Tiberium Wars.Some source code files for the first Command & Conquer entry, later called Tiberian Dawn, and the original Red Alert have been available since EA released remastered versions of the two games in 2020. However, with help from veteran modder Luke "CCHyper" Feenan, EA has recovered and published their full code. Furthermore, a new update allows modders to publish maps directly to Steam Workshop for automatic updates and easier file management.Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun and Red Alert 2 are conspicuously absent from EA's announcement. Fans have demanded remasters for the titles since the first refreshed duology launched, but the company has remained silent on the matter.Fortunately, the original versions of both games are available in the Command & Conquer Ultimate Collection bundle that EA released on Steam last year. As of this writing, the Ultimate Collection and the Remastered Collection are on sale for just $6 at a 70 percent discount. // Related StoriesAdditionally, fans interested in the franchise's development history can download newly released early development footage of Command & Conquer Renegade and Generals.Westwood Studios released the original Command & Conquer in September 1995. Building on the foundations from 1992's Dune II, it sold millions of copies and popularized the real-time strategy genre.The franchise has since received multiple sequels and spinoffs, with sales eventually reaching the tens of millions. Although the series' last mainline entry, Command & Conquer 4, was released almost 15 years ago, EA has cooperated with modders to keep the classic titles readily available.

Skype, once a trailblazer for internet-enabled video calling, might finally ride into the sunset after years of a shoddy competitive streak. The latest preview build of Skype ships with a few lines of code that mention a planned digital demise later this year.Starting in May, Skype will no longer be available. Continue your calls and chats in Teams, says the string, which was first spotted by the folks over at XDA-Developers. The strings, which are located within the JSON files of the software package, also mentions that Microsoft wants the Skype user base migrating to its Teams platform.Recommended VideosThe code suggests that users will either be shown a dialog box, or a text ribbon, that will inform them about the impending service shutdown. It will also nudge users to install Teams, and through a button, they will be directly taken to a page where they can download the app. It seems Microsoft will make the whole process as seamless as possible. Moreover, since Skype has access to contact data associated with a Microsoft account, it will also inform users about the number of acquaintances that are already using Teams.SkypeMicrosoft acquired Skype for a cool $8.5 billion back in 2011. The road ahead was riddled with some serious security hiccups and laggardness at innovation. In 2013, The Guardian reported on a top-secret eavesdropping program called PRISM, which allowed the NSA to collect an unprecedented amount of data from Skype video calls.In 2018, Skypes name again popped up in cybersex trafficking as part of a multinational network. The real demise, however, came at Microsofts own hands.Despite being a pioneer, Skype quickly lost ground to competitors. The tech giant started focusing on Teams as its standout collaboration software, and soon, it became the companys flagship communication product for enterprises as well as education clients.Skype couldnt even capitalize on the video conferencing boom that came courtesy of a worldwide shift to remote work and team collaboration. A global pandemic, which turned Zoom into a tech giant, proved to be another death knell for Skype, as Microsoft continued with its relentless Teams push while sidelining Skype.As rival products continued to get refinements and added new features, Skype looked more like a relic in terms of its tech stack and function parity, which resulted in a sustained bleeding of its once-sprawling user base. What now remains is an official announcement from Microsoft, one that puts Skype to rest, for good.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsI, Tonya (2017)The Hurt Locker (2009)The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)Its Oscars weekend for Hollywood. After a long awards season, it culminates at the 97th Academy Awards on March 2. Will Anoracomplete its Cinderella story with a win for Best Picture? Will Adrien Brody join the rare two-time Best Actor club, or can Timothe Chalamet become the youngest winner in the categorys history? Tune in Sunday night to see who wins.This weeks article about free movies to stream is about the Academy Awards. The three movies below all received Oscar nominations. Our picks include a sports biopic, a harrowing war film, and a David Fincher thriller. Note: All three movies will be available on Tubi on March 1.Recommended VideosWe also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max,andthe best movies on Disney+.RelatedNeonFor those around in the early 1990s, the rivalry between Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan was must-see TV. The conflict reached a boiling point after the infamous attack on Kerrigan and the subsequent investigation that tarnished Hardings reputation. This notorious scenario is played out in I, Tonya, Craig Gillespies underrated biopic.Harding (Margot Robbie) grows up as the daughter of an abusive mother, LaVona Golden (Allison Janney). As she reaches her teen years, Tonya becomes one of the best skaters in the world and trains for the Winter Olympics. Then, Tonya meets her future husband, Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian), changing the rest of her life.I, Tonyadepicts Harding as a tragic figure in this surprisingly effective biopic, backed by tremendous performances from Robbie and Janney, the latter winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.Stream I, Tonya for free on Tubi.Visceral, heartbreaking, and explosive. Those three words are at the heart of The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelows Iraq War drama. After the death of a sergeant, William James (Jeremy Renner) becomes the new leader of an bombs disposal team, which includes Sergeant JT Stanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty).James is the best at dismantling bombs, but his reckless nature immediately causes a schism between the team. The action-packed movie pulled off the improbable upset at the 2010 Oscars, defeatingAvatarfor Best Picture. The Hurt Lockers Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win Best Director, defeating her ex-husband James Cameron.Stream The Hurt Lockerfor free on Tubi.SonyWith the tagline, The Feel Bad Movie of Christmas, The Girl with the Dragon TattooThe wealthy businessman Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) gives Blomkvist a lifeline. If Blomkvist investigates the 40-year-old disappearance of his grandniece, Vanger will supply evidence to help clear his name. Blomkvist accepts and hires expert hacker Lisbeth Salander (Mara) as his assistant. The unlikely duo eventually uncovers family secrets that put their livelihoods in danger.Stream The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for free on Tubi.Editors Recommendations

The work has become a classic thanks to its touching story about the transience of love and life lived at the margins of society.

On ice Did the snowball Earth give complex life a boost? Planet-wide glaciers may have filled the oceans with mineral nutrients. Hannah Richter Feb 28, 2025 7:30 am | 1 Artist's impression of what a snowball Earth would look like with our continents in their current configuration. Credit: MARK GARLICK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Artist's impression of what a snowball Earth would look like with our continents in their current configuration. Credit: MARK GARLICK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreSeven-hundred million years ago, Earth was a frozen, white sphere, its rocky surface buried kilometers under ice. Despite the barren landscape, the evolution of complex life in the oceans was about to pick up steam. New research published this week in Geology suggests that the two realms were more connected than previously thought.As massive glaciers scratched and scarred Earths rocky surface, they freed less-common minerals, which were later flushed into the seas as the ice melted into giant glacial rivers. These minerals in turn may have spurred nutrient cycling in the oceans, boosting the metabolism of microbial life.In retrospect, Im surprised it took [researchers] so long to go and do a study like this, says Galen Halverson, a stratigrapher at McGill University who was not involved in the work. It fits with what we understand about the glaciated Earth.Reading the rocksEarth didnt just go through one deep freeze; it experienced two, separated by about 15 million years of thawing in the Neoproterozoic. Chris Kirkland, a geochronologist at Curtin University in Australia, and his collaborators wanted to study the rock record from this freeze-thaw period, called the Cryogenic, to better understand the widespread environmental changes that occurred over this time.The researchers turned to a vast swath of rock called the Dalradian Supergroup located in present-day Scotland and Ireland. Formed about 800 million years ago on the eastern shore of a past continent called Laurentia, its rocks would have been covered in ice during the so-called snowball Earths.The team collected samples of sandstones, which are rocks comprised of many different individual grains that provide a fingerprint of where that rock has come from, says Kirkland. Many of those grains contain zircon, a mineral resistant to erosion, making it stable through time. Zircons also incorporate tiny amounts of the element uranium into their crystal structure, which decays into lead at a known rate and can therefore be used to precisely date the age of the minerals. While zircons from this time period have not yet been studied, Halverson notes that previous studies of snowball Earth have tracked the presence of iron, neodymium, and osmium in the geologic record.After bringing tens of kilograms of sandstones back to the lab, the team crushed them to separate out hundreds of individual grains. Then, they used tweezers to image grains in an electron microscope. Finally, they fired lasers into the crystal structures of the grains to release their constituent elements, which were then sent into a mass spectrometer to determine the ratio of uranium to lead. Using this ratio to calculate the ages of crystals within different layers of ancient rock, the researchers determined how the rock grew or eroded over time.During the years of the snowball Earths, the researchers found signs that older, uranium-containing rocks were being broken down. They hypothesized that, as giant glaciers inched across Earth, they etched deep into the ground like a bulldozer, grinding down into deeper rocks and minerals that were not as prevalent on the surface. Then, when temperatures rose, the glaciers melted into powerful streams that dissolved some of the material in the loose rocks and minerals and flushed it into the ocean, causing a spike in oceanic nutrients.While scientists had already known that the Neoproterozoic ocean became enriched in minerals, the prevailing hypothesis was that this was the product of an oxygenating planet. As early cyanobacteria produced increasingly massive amounts of oxygen, the make-up of the atmosphere changed, along with the gasses present in the ocean. After reacting with this oxygen, some dissolved elements precipitated out of the seawater, becoming available for life.Now, says Kirkland, the research shows that youre changing atmospheric conditions and oxidation states, but youre also delivering more material to the oceans. In other words, both the air and land were changing the ocean.Life is complexBut when new minerals made their way to the water, what did they actually do? Cycle throughout the bottom of the ocean, delivering new elements to previously barren locations and providing energy for microbial life. At the end of the Cryogenic, these early lifeforms appear to have gotten gradually more complex, paving the way for the first known multicellular life in the ensuing Ediacaran.Any time theres a really radical environmental shift, we know thats an interesting time for evolution, says Chris Kempes, a theoretical biophysicist at the Sante Fe Institute who was not involved in the research. For example, when temperatures drop or less sunlight is available, organisms speed and metabolic rates generally slow down, creating new pressures on life, Kempes research has found. Halverson thinks the extreme habitats that life had to endure during the snowballs played more of a role in shaping evolution than the nutrient flushes from glaciers.Even so, studies like Kirklands that try to understand how nutrients and energy availability changed throughout history are the key to understanding when and why there are major evolutionary transitions, Kempes says.To determine what other minerals may have been key players in the ancient oceans, Kirkland hopes to look at rocks called apatites, which contain oxygen and other elements like strontium and phosphorus. However, these break down much easier than zircon-rich rocks, meaning they are less stable through long stretches of time.Though the global changes of the Cryogenic happened eons ago, Kirkland sees parallels with the wide-scale climate changes of today. The atmosphere, the land, and the oceans are all interconnected, he says. Understanding these [ancient] cycles gives us information about how more modern cycles on the planet may work.Geology, 2025. DOI: 10.1130/G52887.1Hannah Richter is a freelance science journalist and graduate of MIT's Graduate Program in Science Writing. She primarily covers environmental science and astronomy. 1 Comments

The joke is over? Elon Musk fans truly believe he can make Dogecoin the currency of Earth Dogecoin Foundation strikes deals to mainstream the popular memecoin. Ashley Belanger Feb 28, 2025 7:00 am | 32 What's the most you ever lost on a coin toss? Credit: Aurich Lawson | No Country For Old Men What's the most you ever lost on a coin toss? Credit: Aurich Lawson | No Country For Old Men Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreAt a time when many analysts are declaring memecoins dead, the most popular memecoin of all time, Dogecoin, not only perseveres but appears likely to become more mainstream than ever in 2025.Most memecoinscryptocurrencies inspired by Internet memesremain controversial. Their prices can suddenly skyrocket before abruptly crashing, causing extreme gains and losses at a moment's notice, often triggered by a celebrity mention that tenuously amplifies short-term interest.Donald Trump's memecoin is a recent example. Within two days of its launch, it peaked at above $70 before falling to $17 shortly after, Reuters reported. Seeing that politically backed token take off apparently inspired Argentine President Javier Milei to endorse another memecoin called Libra, which seemed to set off a brief price surge before a devastating crash that caused most traders to endure losses. Only about 34 investors in total reportedly profited $124.6 million from Milei's endorsement, which a federal judge is now investigating as an alleged "rug pull" scheme, Reuters reported.Overall, memecoins are viewed as highly volatile cryptocurrency assets vulnerable to fraud, insider trading, pump-and-dump schemes, and other market manipulation. And Dogecoin, like all memecoins, has also experienced wild swings in its value, which seems especially volatile before and after Elon Musk promotes the token on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter).Although Dogecoin started out as a joke cryptocurrency, investors started taking it more seriously after its value jumped by 36,000 percent after Musk tweets promised to send it "to the moon" in 2021, sociologist Dominik Zelinsky wrote in a 2024 article exploring Musk's influence on the Dogecoin market. And more recently, Dogecoin's price spiked after Donald Trump formally announced the creation of Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE, a reference to the token).Musk's X posts about Dogecoin are viewed as so dependable to move the market that thousands have used a bot to instantly buy and sell the token on Binance based on what they say, Tradoge creator Guillaume Schurck told Ars (while also noting that he never offers any financial advice).In the past, Musk has said that "the most entertaining outcome"and "the most ironic outcome"of his efforts to popularize Dogecoin "would be that Dogecoin becomes the currency of Earth of the future." His seeming influence on Dogecoin's price has prompted at least one attempted class-action lawsuit raised by angry Dogecoin investors who accused Musk of running a "crypto pyramid scheme" that collectively caused $258 billion in losses by seemingly pumping up Dogecoin's price at his whim, Zelinsky noted.Musk successfully defeated those claims, partly by insisting that his forward-looking statements about Dogecoin were purely "aspirational." But while the judge in that case said Musk's Dogecoin praise was obviously "puffery" that "no reasonable investor could rely upon," Zelinsky analyzed two years of Musk's social media posts trying to understand "why did people follow Musk" and spend "their money on an object that was never intended to be a sound investment?"He found that years of Musk tweets branding Dogecoin as "the people's crypto" and envisioning the token as someday becoming "the standard for the global financial system" actually created a segment of true believers among his followers who, to this day, fully expect Musk to be a cryptocurrency kingmaker who will crown Dogecoin as the default "currency of Earth." (It possibly helps that Musk has repeatedly referred to his supporters as the "people of Earth.")Those true believers recently got a big boost of confidence that "someday" may be coming soon. Last week, Dogecoin Foundation Director Timothy Stebbing announced on X that deals have been struck with big brands to "rapidly" accelerate Dogecoin's adoption and utility."We believe 2025 will see the largest growth in utility and adoption to date," Stebbing predicted in a 2024 Dogecoin ecosystem report.But Dogecoin's plan hinges on stabilizing the memecoin's value, which is what Zelinsky found the segment of Musk believers also want. And that has seemingly introduced some tension in their belief system, should Musk's ongoing endorsements maintain the memecoin's price volatility and potentially obstruct Dogecoin's steady growth.In his report, Stebbing wrote that Dogecoin could see between 200300 percent growth in value over the next three years by partnering on "projects that see Dogecoin used as a means of payment for goods and services.""The true value of Dogecoin will settle as we move from speculative asset to utility-based means of exchange," Stebbing forecasted, suggesting that by steering the token away from pump-and-dump cycles, "the future looks bright."For Musk fans who expect him to make or break the memecoin, it may be hard to swallow that the best thing for Dogecoin could be for Musk to stop talking about it.Stebbing told Ars that Musk "definitely got Dogecoin noticed," but "long before any celebrity endorsements, Dogecoin had a very active community" who used the coin to complete small transactions between individuals. It was initially useful for tipping or paying artists and musicians, he said. And if Musk stepped back from his 2019 fan-appointed role as Dogecoin's fake CEO, that might end up being the move that allows the memecoin to shine."As far as celebrity endorsements having an effect on the price, I know a lot of us would rather it stay a bit more stable, but since Dogecoin isn't supposed to be speculative, a celebrity 'pump' isn't that vital," Stebbing told Ars. "Acceptance and adoption, however, is."Dogecoin deals may rapidly mainstream the memecoinApparently, the ball got rolling on a series of deals after a mysterious "close friend of Dogecoin" introduced the foundation to "a group of people with decades of experience at the very top of the American private investment and enterprise world," Stebbing said on X. (As you might expect, some commenters made jokes implying Musk may be the "close friend.")Unlike prior investors who only saw Dogecoin as a flashy brand with social media traction to cash in on, Stebbing claimed that this investor groupmembers of which will be made public by mid-Marchsimply "wanted to be involved in helping Dogecoin achieve [its] goals of becoming a real daily-use currency, through adoption for payments across the United States."Springing from that partnership is a new commercial entity called the House of Doge (HOD), Stebbing confirmed. Over the next five years, the HOD will be "tasked with bringing Dogecoin adoption to the world stage," putting Dogecoin in the pockets of "large corporations, globally recognized brands, and millions of new individuals not yet familiar with Dogecoin and our mission," Stebbing wrote.In his post, Stebbing paints a future in which Dogecoin is widely accepted at major sporting eventspossibly catching on with millions of baseball, football, hockey, and sports-car racing fans who may never have traded in cryptocurrency before. The token will also be an acceptable form of payment at restaurant chains, Stebbing teased, and even potentially soon in kids' school cafeteria lines. And perhaps representing the strongest endorsement of Dogecoin's legitimacy as a currency, Stebbing said US government officials are also "excited" about adopting Dogecoin to pay for "everything from city parking" to utilities.Previously, the Dogecoin Foundation operated on donations fueling a small development team, limiting the currency's growth, as Stebbing claimed the foundation turned away millions in potential investments deemed unserious about Dogecoin's mission. But now, with money soon coming from the HOD, the foundation is already moving to double its development team. That will allow the foundation to focus on building new technologies, making it even easier to adopt the memecoin in even more settings, Stebbing said.The HOD will also "create a large Dogecoin Reserve & Treasury which will be utilized to provide liquidity to the various organizations and integrations across the US, to help onboard a whole new wave of users to Dogecoin," Stebbing wrote on X.Dogecoin vs. stablecoinsNot everyone believes Dogecoin is about to take over the world.At the time of this writing, the token is worth approximately 20 cents after about a week of incremental price drops thataccording to live reporting on blockchain transactions by "Whale_Alert" on Xare seemingly spookingsome traders.That's not true of certain Dogecoin believers who endure slump after slump, firmly believing in the token's long-term vision and not seeking short-term gains or simply committing to the bit. And at the start of 2025, there was some evidence that their belief was well-founded. In December, Galaxy Research, which focuses on forecasting cryptocurrency trends, predicted that Dogecoin could hit the $1 mark in 2025. Back in 2021 when Musk was helping pump up Dogecoin's price to its furthest extreme, Mark Cuban predicted that when the memecoin reached a $1 valuation, Dogecoin would likely stay above that price and function like a stablecoin.Unlike memecoins, stablecoins' values are pegged to various currencies. In the US, for example, Trump has abandoned the idea of developing a central bank digital currency in favor of legislation promoting the mass adoption of US dollar-backed stablecoins. According to Blockchain Association CEO Kristin Smithwhose group is currently advising Congress on stablecoin legislation while forming small working groups to build industry consensus on policy shiftsthe "whole point" of Trump pushing stablecoins is to strengthen the US dollar by speeding up and increasing access to it worldwide.Smith told Ars that Trump's crypto czar, David Sacks (a longtime Musk ally), appears motivated to advance stablecoin legislation "as soon as possible this year."Currently, there are two billsthe "STABLE" Act in the House and the "GENIUS" Act in the Senate (which, yes, if combined, could be billed as the "STABLE GENIUS" Act, Smith joked)that provide both bank and non-bank paths to issue dollar-backed stablecoins.The Blockchain Association advocated for non-bank paths for years, making it clear to lawmakers that demand is there."Globally, there's actually a huge demand for US dollar-denominated stablecoins because many countries are looking for a safe place to store their money, and they want to get access to US dollars, and they can't get it through their banks," Smith said. "And so they're getting it through stablecoins."In the future, Smith wants to see state and federal pathways developed, as well as a market regulator appointed to officially classify tokens.If done "correctly," clearer regulatory guidelines would encourage a wide range of companies to issue tokens from the US, Smith said, while potentially paving the way for the entire industry of blockchain technologies to thrive domestically. Mass adoption of stablecoins could also, she suggested, normalize and spur the adoption of other cryptocurrencies as average US citizens suddenly become used to having crypto wallets."I think stablecoins have the potential to be the gateway to the crypto world for a lot of Americans," Smith told Ars.Marquette University finance expert David Krause told Ars that he agrees with Smith that "wider stablecoin adoption could pave the way for broader cryptocurrency acceptance, potentially including Dogecoin.""Almost all memecoins are nothing more than a joke or a scam," Krause said. "However, Dogecoin's low fees and fast transaction times actually make it somewhat attractive for payments, like tipping or donating to charities. As Dogecoin's ecosystem expands with real-world applications (small retailer integration is possible), it could move beyond its meme status and become a more practical tool."But Krause does not see a future in which Dogecoin could become a common medium of exchange."I certainly don't imagine using Dogecoin at the grocery store checkout," Krause told Ars.This month, Krause published an article suggesting that it was unlikely that the Securities and Exchange Commission would approve Dogecoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs)a verdict expected this October that could also help mainstream the memecoin or move it closer to the $1 mark.Krause told Ars he believes that even with the Trump administration's rushed attempts to quickly relax crypto regulations, ETF approval would probably be a "long shot" because "Dogecoin's volatility and speculative nature present major hurdles" without "substantial safeguards and structural changes.""Celebrity endorsements and social media hype might give Dogecoin a short-term boost, but this could actually harm its long-term viability," Krause told Ars. "Dogecoin's price volatility, driven by social media trends rather than underlying value, makes it susceptible to market manipulation and raises regulatory concerns. To thrive long-term, Dogecoin needs to shift its focus from hype to fundamental development, real-world applications, and regulatory compliance."For his part, Stebbing told Ars that he doesn't see ETFs playing a long-term role in the Dogecoin landscape, and he isn't fixated on Dogecoin reaching $1. In fact, he's eager to move past the milestone, whether Dogecoin sticks at that vaunted price point or not."Price stability is more important than price when it comes to using Dogecoin for everyday retail purchases," Stebbing told Ars. "If I had to guess, there are a lot of people who will sell their Dogecoin the moment we hit $1, [and] I look forward to getting that over with so we can find the true, stable value of the currency."Time will tell if X enables Dogecoin paymentsSmith pointed out that stablecoin legislation could motivate companies to become stablecoin issuers, and it seems likely that Musk would entertain such an idea on X, where his attempts to launch X Money have stalled so far.After claiming that X users could manage their entire financial life on the platform by the end of 2024, Musk's platform kicked off 2025 heavily promoting X Money's delayed launch this year. Those announcements came despite the fact that X withdrew a key money transmitter license application in New York that analysts suggested risked delaying its launch indefinitely.It seems possible that stablecoins could provide X with another path to issue dollar-backed currency without needing money transmitter licenses in every state. Musk may have given up on fighting for the licenses, instead teaming up with Trump to potentially eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which monitors the traditional sort of money transmitter activities that currently seem just out of Musk's reach. (Trump killing off the CFPB is viewed as a conflict of interest for Musk, whose DOGE department is overseeing cuts, CBS News reported.)There has long been speculation that X Money will enable cryptocurrency payments, including Dogecoin. After Musk took over Twitter, he briefly changed the logo to a shiba inu, the symbol of Dogecoin. And while X has never officially confirmed the rumors, it's not a stretch to think that Musk may be interested in promoting Dogecoin through X, perhaps even striving to make it easier to convert Dogecoin into stablecoins on the same platform where Musk's posts, many followers believe, move markets.If X embraces Dogecoin, it could make bots like Tradoge less attractive. Schurck told Ars that changes Musk made removing free access to X's API had already briefly disrupted the bot, but he "managed to find a workaround."Stebbing told Ars that he has no "special insight" into Musk's plans for X Money, but he thinks "it would be unusual, considering their predilections as an organization that once had the Dogecoin mascot as their logo for a week, not to adopt the currency.""Time will tell," Stebbing said.X did not respond to Ars' request to comment.Loyal Musk fans have faith in Dogecoins futureSchurck told Ars he's not really involved in trading any cryptocurrencies other than Dogecoin, confirming that, like many others Zelinsky tracked online, he primarily became attracted to the memecoin because of Musk's endorsements."Musk's X posting is the main reason I buy and sell Doge," Schurck said.Of course, Schurck isnt alone in only trading Dogecoin due to Musk's influence.Zelinsky started studying Musk's seeming power over Dogecoin markets while filling a gap in research exploring economic impacts of charismatic leaders like Musk and Trump, whose authority is "made, maintained, and unmade through symbolically charged acts of social exchange." He's currently writing a book focused on expanding research into how charismatic leaders in the tech world and other areas are changing over time and considers Musk "a pretty good example" of a charismatic leader whose political influence is currently peaking."It's hard to go higher than being this kind of a second-in-charge or second-in-popularity to Trump," Zelinsky said.On Reddit and X, Zelinsky analyzed messages from Musk followers who truly believed that Dogecoin price hikes are Musk's "gift" propelling Dogecoin to become not just the "currency of Earth" but the currency of Mars. That's the real fantasy that makes Musk such a charismatic figure, Zelinsky suggested."If we keep believing in the coin and everything we should make it stand for, we will be chilling on Mars," one Musk follower said."Forget about the effing moon, Elon Musk is taking Doge to Mars!!!" another posted.Others, whom Zelinsky satirically refers to as pirates, are more pragmatic. In a "non-devotional way," Zelinsky told Ars, they trust that Musk "could create a momentous demand that would drive the price of Dogecoin upward and let them profit from credulous investors who are late to the party.""I used Doge the right way," one Musk follower said. "Im not gonna hold that shit," it "has no utility. Just have notifications turned on for [Elon's] twits and [make] some easy money."Zelinsky told Ars that historically, followers of charismatic leaders generally hold onto their beliefs until the charisma wanes and figures become viewed as mundane. Since Musk's political influence is arguably greater than ever, it's likely that his followers have only strengthened their belief in his power to fulfill his promises to popularize Dogecoin and take them to Mars.But charismatic authority is "a very volatile kind of phenomenon," Zelinsky said, forecasting that even Musk "cannot stay charismatic forever." He pointed to a field of study into technofeudalism, which theorizes that tech leaders in particular are becoming more traditional and less disruptive over time.One could argue that Dogecoin, too, has charismatic authority over traders, many of whom love that Doge is disruptive and buy Doge just for a laugh. But if Dogecoin becomes more stable, as Stebbing wants, Dogecoin risks becoming "less interesting as an object of belief," Zelinsky suggested.And although there are plenty of believers in Dogecoin today, there also persists a stubborn segment of Dogecoin fans who don't want the joke to end or see the memecoin become as normal as a crumpled-up dollar. Dogecoin could risk losing this joker segment if it becomes too stable and serious.Schurck told Ars that while he could easily see more people using Dogecoin if companies started adopting it as a payment method, for him, "Dogecoin remains a joke first. A funny, expensive joke and a cool meme, sure! But still a joke."Ashley BelangerSenior Policy ReporterAshley BelangerSenior Policy Reporter Ashley is a senior policy reporter for Ars Technica, dedicated to tracking social impacts of emerging policies and new technologies. She is a Chicago-based journalist with 20 years of experience. 32 Comments

Nathan Eddy, Freelance WriterFebruary 28, 20254 Min ReadAleksandr Davydov via Alamy StockAs organizations navigate the challenges of technology adoption across generational lines, organizations are increasingly focusing on strategies to bridge the gap between tech-savvy younger employees and older workers with varied levels of proficiency.Contrary to stereotypes, older employees often possess a wealth of tech experience from earlier computing eras, such as troubleshooting first-generation PCs or early networking systems.Graham Glass, founder and CEO of Cypher Learning, says assessing the technology history of all employees can provide valuable insights into their skills and comfort levels.By treating training needs as individual as a medical history, organizations can design programs that respect experience while addressing gaps, avoiding one-size-fits-all approaches that may alienate staff, he says.He adds that equally as important as generational differences are cultural and ethnic differences.When youre driving more tech proficiency in the workplace, consider every users point of view, Glass says.Ryan Downing, vice president and CIO of enterprise business solutions at Principal Financial Group, points to cloud transformation as a prime example of generational collaboration, with engineers across age groups elevating their skills together.Related:What I find most impressive is how newer employees bring fresh perspectives and energy, while more experienced team members contribute wisdom and expertise, he says. This dynamic levels the playing field, strengthens team cohesion, and ensures every voice is heard.Cross-Generational AI AdoptionTo foster inclusive AI adoption, Downing says organizations should shift the conversation from merely adopting new tools to transforming ways of working.At Principal, we are beginning to pilot coaching programs that focus on setting clear outcomes that can help teams improve efficiency and quality, Downing explains.The programs guide teams to explore how AI tools can drive value creation in ways that differ from traditional approaches.This outcome-driven mindset encourages exploration and reduces apprehension around AI tools, he says.Tailored training is also playing in bridging the generational tech gap.Downing says at Principal, training is balanced with a mix of formal learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring, and meaningful assignments.This approach allows team members to apply new skills in real-world scenarios, Downing says.By offering varied learning methods, we can accommodate different working styles and readiness levels, ensuring all team members can effectively engage with new technologies.Related:Downing explains the primary challenge typically isnt a lack of tools or willingness to learn, but rather the tendency to treat AI tools as mere add-ons rather than enablers of transformation.Its so important not to underestimate the human element of implementing these new tools to help team members reimagine their workflows, Downing says. Emphasizing transformation over tools helps to ensure meaningful adoption across these generational lines.Glass explains that while younger workers may adapt quickly to AI tools, older employees often need reassurance about their role in the workplace and the utility of AI as a tool to enhance, not replace, their contributions.Personalized learning platforms powered by AI allow employees to learn at their own pace, ensuring proficiency without wasting time or risking embarrassment, he says.Peer-to-peer mentoring and collaboration further bridge the gap, allowing younger workers to share their digital fluency while benefiting from the problem-solving resilience of older colleagues.The less exposed to AI people are, the more qualms they have, Glass says. Our recent research shows younger men are less worried about AI than, say, older workers or women.Related:That comfort gap is a function of time spent experimenting with the technology, or lack thereof, so its a good idea for businesses to encourage it.Two more big issues that recur are privacy and fear of AI taking over peoples jobs, Glass adds.Managers can address the first by framing house rules governing AI use -- defining tasks it shouldnt be exposed to, for example. As for the second -- reassure employees, especially older ones, that AI is a tool meant to take rote chores off their plates and elevate their roles.The more you underline how essential your people are, the less theyre apt to fret about job security, Glass says.Measuring SuccessOrganizations implementing multigenerational technology training programs often measure success through a combination of immediate feedback and long-term metrics, Gartner analyst Autumn Stanish explains.Retention and attraction rates are key indicators, such as tracking whether employees are staying longer or if the company is drawing new talent due to its reputation for inclusivity, she says.Stanish points to Broadridges reverse mentoring program, where younger employees mentored older colleagues on work-related topics.After the program, both mentors and mentees completed surveys using a 10-point scale to evaluate outcomes like increased belonging, broadened perspectives, and willingness to recommend the experience.Stanish says short-term insights from surveys help guide improvements, while broader goals, such as enhanced employee satisfaction and retention, require time to fully materialize.Combining these methods allows organizations to fine-tune their programs and foster inclusivity effectively.The little surveys and moments where we gather feedback help us connect with employees directly, and over time, those qualitative insights drive the bigger quantitative outcomes, she says.About the AuthorNathan EddyFreelance WriterNathan Eddy is a freelance writer for InformationWeek. He has written for Popular Mechanics, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine, FierceMarkets, and CRN, among others. In 2012 he made his first documentary film, The Absent Column. He currently lives in Berlin.See more from Nathan EddyWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like