<div>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        Wing, the drone delivery division operated by Google, has partnered with KFC Australia to pilot drone-based food deliveries in Queensland, Australia.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        Initially, the service will be available for KFC customers in South East Queensland suburbs of Kingston, Logan Central, Slacks Creek, Underwood, and Woodridge, with plans to expand coverage to other locations.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
    &lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    <b>Analyst QuickTake:</b>
     Google Wing has been conducting drone-based deliveries in Queensland since 2014, which later expanded to include the US and Finland. The company reported completing 100,000 drone-based deliveries in August last year&mdash;mostly in Queensland, where it claims to have the largest residential drone delivery operation in the world. In addition, Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, also acquired the Australian restaurant tech company Dragontail Systems 
    <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/158">
      in May 2021,
    </a>
     which also has its own drone network for restaurants. Nevertheless, today&rsquo;s partnership marks the first drone-based delivery operation for KFC Australia.&lt;/ul&gt;
  </p>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    <a href="https://www.verdictfoodservice.com/news/kfc-begins-drone-delivery-pilot-with-wing-in-australia/">
      Verdict Food Service
    </a>
  </p>
  <p>
    <a href="https://www.cmo.com.au/article/695011/kfc-australia-makes-its-drone-delivery-debut/">
      CMO Australia
    </a>
    &nbsp;
  </p>
  <p>
    <a href="https://dronedj.com/2022/02/04/kfc-drone-delivery-australia/">
      DroneDJ
    </a>
  </p>
</div>


Last-mile Delivery Automation

Google Wing partners with KFC for drone-based food deliveries in Queensland

Technology providers that enhance satellite operations

Next-gen Satellites

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 <p>Geospatial intelligence provider, BlackSky Technology, has collaborated with non-Earth imaging company, HEO, to introduce automated low-latency non-Earth imaging services. The partnership includes a multi-million dollar contract, and involves integrating BlackSky's constellation into HEO's sensor network for automating the tasking-to-delivery process. The goal is to use BlackSky's mid-inclination orbit and high-resolution imagery to enhance data collection above Earth's middle latitudes and consequently improve space situational awareness through real-time tracking and intelligence about spacecraft and on-orbit objects.</p>
 <p>With the use of HEO's automated “HEO Inspect” platform, customers can request non-Earth imaging products. The system is designed to automatically identify imaging possibilities, assign tasks to BlackSky's satellites, and produce comprehensive analytics reports including data on satellite attitude, location, and pattern-of-life analyses.</p> 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> BlackSky is expanding its offering of satellite imaging data for Earth and non-Earth applications. The company received a USD 476 million NASA contract in <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/33448"> September 2024 </a> to provide satellite imagery for Earth observation research under NASA's Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition Program (CSDAP).</p>

BlackSky partners with HEO to provide non-Earth imaging services for space domain awareness

Technology to explore opportunities beyond Earth

Space Travel and Exploration Tech

<div>
 <p>Florida-based luxury space experience company, Space Perspective, has completed a successful comprehensive test flight of its unmanned Spaceship Neptune-Excelsior. The crucial flight embarked from Marine Spaceport (MS) Voyager in Florida and is a noteworthy step towards crewed missions. Tickets for forthcoming flights are being priced at USD 125,000.</p>
 <p>The test flight spanned over six hours, displaying the spacecraft's capability to rise to an altitude of roughly 100,000 ft, effortlessly traversing through 99% of Earth's atmosphere. Several key features underwent assessment, including the patented four-roller balloon lift system, the pressurized cabin outfitted with large windows, an advanced thermal control system, and the innovative hydrogen-powered SpaceBalloon.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> Space Perspective's MS Voyager spaceport was unveiled in February 2024 and completed construction in <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/32516"> August 2024 </a> . The 294-foot-long MS Voyager is the first-ever spaceport for human spaceflight on open water and is equipped to launch and retrieve the company's SpaceBalloons for tourists. The company plans to begin passenger flights in 2025 and commercial operations in 2026.</p>

Space Perspective completes uncrewed test flight of Neptune spacecraft

Helping employers provide personalized, high-touch, and holistic financial wellness tools to their entire workforce.

Financial Wellness Tools

<div>
 
<p>DailyPay, a platform for accessing employee earned wages, has launched a new savings feature for its<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33471"> DailyPay Visa Prepaid Card</a>. This general-purpose reloadable card allows users to access their earned wages instantly at no cost if they use it for direct deposit. </p>
<p>The Savings feature enables users to set up savings goals and put away money as it's earned. With a single button, users can transfer money from their DailyPay Card into virtual savings containers, helping them develop emergency funds for unforeseen costs. </p>
<p>DailyPay believes this feature will encourage users to form a habit of saving, which is crucial for transitioning from financial crisis to stability.</p>
 
</div>

DailyPay adds savings feature to Visa prepaid card

Technologies bringing about a new reality

Extended Reality

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

<div>
 <p>Anduril Industries, established by Palmer Luckey, has allied with Microsoft to enhance the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) mixed-reality headsets used by the US Army.</p>
 <p>The company's Lattice software is set to be merged into the IVAS headsets, giving the soldiers access to actual-time data from various sources including drones, vehicles, and defense systems. The goal is to amplify the visual and auditory faculties of the soldiers, potentially boosting their operational efficiency in the field.</p>
 <p>With this venture, Luckey is making a comeback to the VR headset sphere following the sale of Oculus to Meta back in 2014. The US Army is poised to pour in up to USD 21.9 billion over the course of the 10-year IVAS project contract. Further advancements and evaluations have been outlined for early 2025.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> The partnership will provide a much-needed stimulus for Microsoft’s IVAS program, which has been rocky lately. In <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/32777"> August 2024 </a> , the US Army reportedly planned to replace Microsoft with a different headset supplier. Before this, the US Army’s request for USD 400 million to buy IVAS headsets was <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/15732"> rejected </a> by Congress, citing mission-affecting physical impairments such as nausea, headaches, and eyestrain stemming from the headset.</p>

Anduril partners with Microsoft to enhance US Army's IVAS mixed reality headsets

<div>
 <p>In-car Virtual Reality (VR) entertainment startup holoride is planning to realign and expand its business post a successful restructuring. The company intends to start a holding company in Singapore, while its main team will stay in Munich. As part of its growth strategy, holoride aims to license its technology to industrial clients to create their software applications.</p>
 <p>In its reorganization process, holoride plans to carry forward its existing collaborations and plans to unveil an upgraded software suite in early 2025. The proposed software will support compatibility with more devices, thereby enhancing the company's technological prowess.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> Chloride filed for insolvency in <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/29340"> May 2024 </a> , unable to secure further funding. Licensing its technology will broaden the company’s revenue streams, which initially focused on the niche in-car VR entertainment market.</p>

holoride returns from insolvency; plans expansion into Asia and technology licensing

<div>
 <p>Benjamin Capital Partners, a company aiming to disrupt the consumer cash rewards sector, has purchased AR content creator New Thing Co. for an undisclosed amount.</p>
 <p>The firm intends to incorporate New Thing Co.'s AR technology into its app to improve "Benjamin Money Moments," which are cash rewards for common activities like shopping, playing mobile games, and watching advertisements.&nbsp;</p>
 <p>New Thing Co. designs user experiences for brand promoters using its unique AR rewards software and technology. This AR technology allows users to visually find and collect rewards at certain places, a concept similar to Pokémon Go but involving actual money.</p>
 
</div>

Benjamin Capital Partners acquires New Thing Co. to integrate technology for cash rewards

New data privacy regulations have opened up space for a new wave of compliance-focused startups.

Digital Privacy Tools

<div>
 
 <p>23andMe, the genetics and ancestry company, has accepted a settlement amounting to USD 30 million following a data breach in 2023. This breach exposed the data of approximately 6.9 million customers, affecting half of the user base.</p>
 <p>The proposed settlement, which awaits court approval, obligates 23andMe to offer up to USD 10,000 to customers who experienced hardships due to the breach. According to state genetic privacy laws, those living in Alaska, California, Illinois, and Oregon may qualify for extra payments.</p>
 <p>In addition to monetary compensation, the settlement includes three years of a security monitoring service, Privacy Shield, for impacted users. For a particular group of users whose personal health information was compromised by the breach, the company will offer USD 100 payments.</p>
 <p>A lawsuit was filed against 23andMe in January 2024, alleging failure to secure user data. The company also faced accusations of not alerting customers belonging to Chinese or Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry that their data was intentionally targeted and disseminated on the dark web.</p>
 
</div>

23andMe agrees to USD 30 million data breach settlement

Exploring the limitless possibilities of AI

Generative AI Applications

<div>
 <p>T-Mobile, a wireless provider, is working with OpenAI to develop IntentCX, an AI-based customer service platform. They aim to combine T-Mobile's customer relationship experience with OpenAI's AI technology to deliver personalized service, genuine engagement, and proactive actions. With the customer's permission, the platform will strive to understand client requirements, present solutions, and take actions on their behalf.</p>
 <p>T-Mobile aims to integrate IntentCX into its operations by 2025 and plans further collaborations with OpenAI to create additional AI-enabled tools and services. The platform is already being tested by T-Mobile. It has access to T-Mobile's data and is receiving training from the company's customer service team.</p>
</div>

T-Mobile partners with OpenAI to develop AI-powered customer service platform

Ensuring the right people access the right resources at the right time

Identity & Access Management

<div>

 <p>PlainID, a firm with expertise in authorization management, recently announced the launch of the PlainID Authorizer for Zscaler. This innovative product is accessible through PlainID SaaS Authorization Management and serves the purpose of centralizing policy management for Zscaler along with several other SaaS applications and tools.</p>
 <p>This new platform by PlainID provides policy orchestration for Zscaler by enabling the users to explore native Zscaler access control policies. It also allows the visibility, manageability, and editability of these policies. The platform seamlessly integrates with Zscaler Private Access (ZPA), a cloud-based solution that offers secure remote access to internal applications, adhering to a zero-trust network access model.</p>

</div>

PlainID introduces identity security for Zscaler

<div>
 <p>AI video generation startup, Runway, has forged a partnership with major Hollywood studio, Lionsgate, to train a personalised video model based on Lionsgate's extensive film catalog.</p>
 <p>This alliance will provide Lionsgate's filmmakers, directors, and creative professionals access to the video model in order to improve their work. Simultaneously, Runway has plans to look into licensing models as templates, enabling individual creators to construct and train their own custom models.</p>
 <p>This collaboration represents the first known publicly announced partnership between a Generation AI company and a distinguished Hollywood studio.</p>
</div>

All Updates

Google Wing partners with KFC for drone-based food deliveries in Queensland

BlackSky partners with HEO to provide non-Earth imaging services for space domain awareness

Space Perspective completes uncrewed test flight of Neptune spacecraft

DailyPay adds savings feature to Visa prepaid card

Anduril partners with Microsoft to enhance US Army's IVAS mixed reality headsets

holoride returns from insolvency; plans expansion into Asia and technology licensing

Benjamin Capital Partners acquires New Thing Co. to integrate technology for cash rewards

23andMe agrees to USD 30 million data breach settlement

T-Mobile partners with OpenAI to develop AI-powered customer service platform

PlainID introduces identity security for Zscaler

Runway partners with Lionsgate to develop AI video tools using studio's movie catalog

Last-mile Delivery Automation

Google Wing partners with KFC for drone-based food deliveries in Queensland

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