AI News | The Market Online The Market Online – First with the news that moves markets. Breaking Australian stock market news, ASX 200 announcements and the latest ASX news today. Tue, 15 Apr 2025 04:17:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 Pro Medicus inks R&D agreement with UCSF for Visage AI Accelerator https://themarketonline.com.au/pro-medicus-inks-rd-agreement-with-ucsf-for-visage-ai-accelerator-2025-04-15/ Tue, 15 Apr 2025 04:17:18 +0000 https://themarketonline.com.au/?p=749913 Pro Medicus (ASX:PME) is strengthening its investment in research and development for imaging product, the Visage AI Accelerator platform in the U.S., signing a multi-year agreement with the University of California San Francisco.

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The agreement – signed between the university and Pro Medicus’ U.S. subsidiary Visage Imaging, Inc. – will provide a framework through which the two parties will collaborate on the development and commercialisation of the platform, looking specifically into its artificial intelligence capabilities.

It will also build on a relationship already established with UCSF through an existing agreement related to Pro Medicus’ Visage 7 Viewer product.

Visage Imaging Global CTO Malte Westerhoff said the partnership around Visage AI Accelerator was a very important milestone.

“Our AI Accelerator program was designed to closely align Visage’s engineering and product development capability with clinical research partners such as UCSF who have a depth of clinical knowledge and extensive research expertise,” he said.

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Mr Westerhoff continued: “It provides a unique set of tools for data de-identification, collection, curation, analysis and ‘path-to-production’ in research projects bringing the efficiency and speed of Visage technology to research, resulting in a unified link between the two domains.”

PME shares last traded at $210.32 – a fall of 1.22% since the market opened.

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Deal done: Instos take control, locking in Bigtincan’s takeover https://themarketonline.com.au/deal-done-instos-take-control-locking-in-bigtincans-takeover-2025-04-03/ Thu, 03 Apr 2025 04:36:41 +0000 https://themarketonline.com.au/?p=748074 It’s official: Bigtincan Holdings (ASX:BTH) will be owned by San Francisco-based private equity firm Vector Capital in the wake of today’s shareholder vote on Thursday, April 3. Shareholders will receive 22 cents a share.

This deal was never really in doubt for the AI-driven sales enablement platform provider, as it was backed by 30% stake-holding institutions – Regal Funds Management and SQN Investors.

Those institutions wanted the Vector cash-out deal, despite there being a higher-priced option on the table from Investcorp AI Acquisition Corp (IAAC SID), that could have seen the company on a path to the Nasdaq. That offer valued shares at more than double Vector’s price – at about 48c.

What disappointed smaller shareholders may not realise (and there are many) is there’s a clear link between SQN and Vector – and I’ll get to that in a moment.

Instos wanted cash for holdings

You’d think the 48-cent offer would be a no-brainer over a 22c deal right?

But despite already carrying a huge loss – having bought into BTH at around 80c a share – Regal Funds Management and SQN wanted cash for their holdings, rather than Investcorp’s higher value share-based takeover option.

That option – and the chance of Nasdaq success – is what many smaller shareholders preferred, even though BTH’s management understood that the Investcorp offer provided ‘less certainty.’

The bottom line is institutional investors did not want to accept Investcorp’s offer.

So why did instos want to lock in a loss?

SQN Investors bought at 80c and now they’ll be selling to Vector Capital at 22c. 

Overall, the deal values the company at A$183 million and will see BTH leave the ASX.

BTH is believed to have been one of the biggest AI players on the ASX, achieving as much as 25% of its revenue directly from AI products.

David Keane says the Vector purchase is proof that big U.S. investors will invest into a successful Australian company.

And maybe not all BTH’s knockers might really think poorly of the company and its potential.

Those knockers include the founder of SQN Investors, Amish Mehta. SQN is one of the institutions with the voting power that confirmed the Vector Capital deal.

Case in point: SQN’s Mehta was quoted slagging off BTH in the AFR on December 6, when he said: “Of the 110 investments SQN has made, this is the single worst.”

It could be true, but why is that so interesting? 

Well, that was two months after he signed up to work for Vector Capital in the role of MD, and as a member of its Investment Committee.

A committee that already liked BTH enough to want to buy it and had been discussing a takeover since last June.

A committee that must have believed it could make a good buck here and pretty quickly (watch closely because some insiders are thinking this company might realise a far higher value in the number of years you can count on one hand!).

A committee that could get the vote from big institutions with skin in the game – SQN alone was already holding more than 9%.

Mehta is – in a way – both the seller of BTH and buyer. Through Vector he’s now seizing the opportunity that was SQN’s failed investment!

The buyer and supporter

Vector Capital – which Mehta now leads – has invested in and sold out of significant businesses, including Rocket Lab USA, which is an aerospace manufacturer and now trades on the Nasdaq making Vector one of the leading tech-focussed private equity (PE) investors.  

As for Regal, which had been a strong supporter of Bigtincan since before its IPO, Keane says: “The common view is that due to the change in market conditions away from growth-oriented tech, together with the need for Bigtincan to continue to invest in AI, meant that ASX institutional investors felt that a strong global investor was needed to drive the company to the next level.”

Moving forward…

David Keane and his management team have been promised their roles will continue and they’ll get to guide the strategic direction of the company and serve their customers. 

Keane understands Vector Capital plans to expand the Hobart-based AI team, and he hopes this investment in Australia will continue.

“This deal is important because it shows that Aussie technology can be world-leading,” he said.

“We can build great companies by focusing on the core product offering and can find a way to move internationally from a public company base.

“The deal allows Bigtincan to accelerate innovation and product development without the constraints of public market pressures, ensuring continued investment in AI, automation, and platform enhancements.

“The market is at a pivotal moment, with AI reshaping the future of sales enablement. This deal ensures Bigtincan has the resources and strategic flexibility to lead this transformation while competitors face financial constraints.

“While in some ways it’s bitter-sweet to leave the ASX – I have to acknowledge that Vector Capital’s investment validates Bigtincan’s long-term potential, ensuring it remains well-funded for future growth. It provides certainty.”

Successes

Bigtincan has celebrated its share of success in the marketplace. 

Its customers include global enterprises, including 100 of the Fortune 500, from Nike, Seek (ASX:SEK), and GUESS to AT&T, Prudential, Merck, Red Bull, and Starwood Hotels.

Bigtincan has been named in the Top 25 Companies in Sales Enablement for 2024 by The Software Report. And, CEO David Keane was listed as one of the Top 25 Executives in Artificial Intelligence.

Bigtincan is the first enablement provider in the Microsoft 365 “Works With Copilot” app store. 

It has a suite of AI capabilities under the GenieAI umbrella, which spans the entire platform and includes Genie Assistant, SearchAI, AuthoringAI with translation, MeetingsAI, CoachingAI, and RolePlayAI.

Challenges

Building and growing Bigtincan has seen David Keane and his Board face many challenges.

“Many things would have produced different outcomes,” he said.

“Certainly, the challenge of needing to invest ahead of the market in new technologies, and the results of the required capital raising in 2024, will only be judged in future years.

“It could prove to have been a mistake, however, it could also prove to be the beginning of what creates a significantly more valuable business under the Vector umbrella.”

Out of the company’s control…

While investors love to see the value of their shares skyrocket and gain the windfall that can come from selling into a spike or on an upward trend, it may become overvalued in that process and that’s likely outside the direct control of company management.

In the case of BTH, if you got caught in the hype, and you bought at a peak that never returned, it could be a very painful experience. In August 2021, BTH traded at $1.36, with many who purchased during the run making significant returns.

There are also some not-so-happy traders who bought BTH at the wrong time.

For full disclosure. I was one of those shareholders.

So, I guess I’ve been well qualified to write this.

BTH last traded at 22cps.

Join the discussion: See what HotCopper users are saying about Bigtincan Holdings and be part of the conversations that move the markets.

Disclaimer: Bigtincan Holdings was a client of HotCopper at the time this piece was written.

The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. For full disclaimer information, please click here.

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Vection scores $4M defence contract for AI software https://themarketonline.com.au/vection-scores-4m-defence-contract-for-ai-software-2025-02-05/ Tue, 04 Feb 2025 23:46:39 +0000 https://themarketonline.com.au/?p=738463 Vection Technologies Ltd (ASX:VR1) continues to build its strong relationship with the defence sector, most recently being awarded a $4 million contract extension from a client with whom it gained previous contracts throughout 2024.

This extension focuses on AI software that uses Dell Technologies to power high-end infrastructure design and dedicated AI appliances for real-time processing – with this underscoring both the company’s partnership with Dell and its achievements with AI technology.

Crucially, Vection argues the product central to this new contract has a proven record of boosting national security through the involvement of AI in increased data enrichment, retention, and correlation.

Managing director Gianmarco Biagi said this development highlighted Vection’s reputation within the defence sector.

“This $4 million extension highlights the confidence our partners have in Vection’s capacity to deliver advanced, AI-driven solutions for national security requirements,” he said.

“As we build upon the original scope with AI and additional XR elements, our team remains dedicated to providing robust, scalable, and compliant technologies that address the evolving challenges of the defence sector.”

At 12:42 AEDT Vection shares were trading at 3.4 cents – a rise of 6.25% since the market opened.

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DeepSeek is living in the market’s head rent-free. But it’s not China’s only breakthrough of 2025 https://themarketonline.com.au/deepseek-is-living-in-the-markets-head-rent-free-but-its-not-chinas-only-breakthrough-of-2025-2025-01-28/ Tue, 28 Jan 2025 04:20:07 +0000 https://themarketonline.com.au/?p=736315 It’s hard not to feel sorry for Australia’s tech sector on Tuesday.

Ever sucked up in the riptide of Wall Street whether we like it or not – compared to which the ASX is, unfortunately, small fry – we’re vulnerable to volatility on U.S. markets.

Bad news, then, NVIDIA staged the biggest overnight loss ever recorded in share market history. That peak AI stock listed on the NASDAQ has been seen as proof manifest of American exceptionalism through the post-lockdown years.

NVIDIA’s 1mth line chart as at 2.30pm Sydney time (TradingView)

But now an (apparent) technological AI breakthrough from China, the world’s still-struggling second-largest economy, has reminded us just how influential the Red Dragon economy can be.

(Perhaps poetically, it’s Year Of The Snake over there.)

But it isn’t just DeepSeek, and by extension the AI industry, where China has come hot out the gate of in 2025.

Not the first potential disruptor

What I think is most interesting is over Christmas, the world seemed to mostly miss another big piece of market-rattling news from the Red Dragon.

That was China’s (ultimately self-reported) success in making vortex lance steelmaking work – a technological breakthrough that would allow it to use its own low-grade ores.

If China can now make the steel it needs to build from its own lower-grade iron ores, that means it doesn’t need to rely on the Pilbara anymore, for which Australian economic implications should be obvious. And thereafter, our share market.

(Consider also Rio Tinto’s ongoing construction of a Chinese-backed mega iron ore mine in West Africa which, despite reassurances, is guaranteed to hurt the Pilbara in the long run.)

Of course, AI is hot right now and steelmaking isn’t, so it isn’t hard to see (coupled with holidays) why DeepSeek is getting more attention than vortex lance steelmaking technology.

But put the two together, and you get a different image of China compared to its fairly poor run the last few years. On two major economic fronts, Chinese innovation appears to be giving the West a run for its money.

But first, let’s look at DeepSeek. Here’s a quick rundown if you’ve not caught up:

Why does DeepSeek matter?

Its DeepSeek AI model released last week and properly soaked in by Western audiences on the weekend has absolutely left AI sentiment with a bone-deep bruise.

Here’s a speedrun:

NVIDIA’s value proposition has long been based on a perception only it can produce the chips needed to make AI work (known as GPUs). Biden-era microchip export bans to China helped prop up the belief that America was the dominant leader in AI. But now China’s DeepSeek AI model appears to be as good as what OpenAI is using DeepSeek claims – and it’s still early days – that it can run AI models for cheaper than the US due to breakthroughs. It appears export curbs on microchips could have forced China to innovate into disrupting the AI market by finding new ways to optimise computing power. But this would mean that NVIDIA isn’t the only company capable of ‘doing’ AI – smashing its valuation, and that of all of its peers. Fallout for Australia profound

The fallout Down Under has been predictable. While the ASX was perfectly flat on Tuesday, our tech sector has been rattled. Take a look at the following lunchtime metrics on some of our biggest (or best-known) tech stocks:

NextDC (ASX:NXT) down -6.2% ($14.91.sh) Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) down -8% ($35.04/sh) Digico Infrastructure REIT (ASX:DGT) down -10.8% ($4.25/sh) HMC Capital (ASX:HMC) down -5% ($8.97/sh) Brainchip (ASX:BRN) down -16% (32.5cps)

(Spare a thought for recently-listed Digico, which only just last week meaningfully got back above its launch price.)

Look familiar? NEXTDC’s 1mth returns as a line chart (TradingView)

This follows Wall Street darling NVIDIA falling more than 15% overnight, wiping off close to a trillion in market value.

It wasn’t just NVIDIA either. The NASDAQ-listed Super Micro Computer has tanked -12.5% overnight; American Superconductor Corp fell -10%.

The Magnificent 7 largely took hits as all those companies, currently AI-mad, now feel the pain of shareholder doubt.

(Interestingly, Taiwan-based TSMC, where NVIDIA gets many of its chips from, is actually green in Tuesday trades over in Taipei.)

DeepSeek cyberattack underscores global interest

Perhaps most telling that DeepSeek is rattling markets is evidence of a cyberattack already hitting the platform.

While it’s still a bit vague if it’s a directed cyberattack or just the hug of death (a term for when too many people access a website at once), at any rate, its ascension to the top of popular app markets is further proof DeepSeek is currently living in everybody’s head rent-free.

And that could, in turn, steal attention away from Wall Street stocks – which would almost definitely mean contagion downside for Australian stocks exposed to AI.

And/or data centres, which have now become synonymous with the emerging chatbot tech it isn’t even clear people actually want.

Competition was inevitable

SAXO Markets’ Charu Chanana told HotCopper there’s a real risk here China could have seriously just taken the wind from Wall Street’s sails when it comes to AI.

“NVIDIA may not be in the pole position forever,” Chanana said.

“By developing cutting-edge AI models with less advanced and more cost-efficient hardware, DeepSeek challenges the heavy investments US tech companies are pouring into high-cost AI infrastructure.”

“Reports suggest DeepSeek-R1’s API costs just USD 0.55 per million input tokens and USD 2.19 per million output tokens, compared to OpenAI’s API, which costs USD 15 and USD 60 respectively.”

I won’t bore you with an explainer of what tokens are, but obviously, DeepSeek’s claims it can operate an AI model far cheaper than its US competitors are the thing to take note of.

OpenAI’s Sam Altman took to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon Australian time to run damage control.

“deepseek’s r1 [sic] is an impressive model, particularly around what they’re able to deliver for the price,” Altman twote. “we will obviously deliver much better models and also it’s legit invigorating to have a new competitor! we will pull up some releases.”

Legit, spoken like a true Millennial. His erstwhile claims that “the world is going to want to use a LOT of ai [sic]” remains to be seen.

So has China got its groove back?

That’s neither here nor there, really.

As for what happens next, the world will be constantly refreshing Wall Street futures and scanning Twitter and other platforms for the latest opinions from the AI czars currently in charge of market sentiment.

But the biggest story, in my view, is that China is back.

After years of headlines on China’s post-COVID-19 deflation issues, suspension of the once-many press conferences around economic issues, constant and underwhelming stimulus promises, and construction sector malaise (many written by yours truly), it’s clear the Red Dragon is back.

Can it continue to roar?

With vortex lance technology still in its early days, as well as DeepSeek, it’s entirely possible that 2025 could be the year that we start taking China a bit more seriously. Again.

Join the discussion: See what’s trending right now on Australia’s largest stock forum and be part of the conversations that move the markets.

The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. For full disclaimer information, please click here.

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Nanoveu proves lower power consumption possible with EMASS ECS-Dot Chipset https://themarketonline.com.au/nanoveu-proves-lower-power-consumption-possible-with-emass-ecs-dot-chipset-2025-01-15/ Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:21:00 +0000 https://themarketonline.com.au/?p=734341 Nanoveu Ltd (ASX:NVU) has achieved an important milestone in for assessment of the Embedded AI Systems (EMASS) ECS-Dot Chipset, with a comprehensive fall detection evaluation showing that ECS-Dot achieves up to 90 times lower power consumption compared to traditional ‘always-on’ systems.

Fall detection systems are built around the need for sudden movements or impacts indicative of a fall, through the placement of sensors on the chest, wrist and other body parts.

Continuous monitoring is often required, meaning the systems need to perform energy-expensive computations to distinguish falls from other events.

The energy efficiency evaluation compared traditional ‘always on’ systems, optimised power management systems, and EMASS’s ECS-Dot Chipset, with the results showing power readings of around 10 milliwatts (mW), 0.5mW, and 0.112mW respectively.

Additionally, ECS-Dot executed its accurate fall detection AI model in just one millisecond.

These results are just one in a series being done to validate the ECS-Dot Chipset’s computational performance and energy efficiency in real-world use cases; these results indicate the advantageous nature of EMASS ECS-Dot in meeting the increasing demand for energy-efficient, AI-capable chip solutions.

Being able to meet the needs of the fall detection market is a particularly important achievement, given the strength of this sector – which is projected to reach approximately US$748.40 million by 2030 – driven by the growing elderly population, rising adoption of mobile-based solutions for personal safety, and advancements in wearable technology.

Founder of EMASS Professor Mohamed M. Sabry Aly said the assessment had demonstrated the superior qualities of this technology.

“These breakthrough results showcase how the ECS-Dot Chip, when used with advanced AI data processing and modern memory technologies can deliver practical, energy-efficient solutions for various real-world challenges,” he said.

“These results move us closer to our goal to develop and commercialize highly efficient semiconductor solutions that allow for seamless integration of AI into everyday life, improving both functionality and sustainability and opening multiple large unmet market opportunities for our proprietary technology.”

Nanoveu shares have spiked on the news and at 10:44AM they were trading at 3.6 cents – a rise of 9.09% since market open.

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Norwood leverages Microsoft technology to launch AI voice platform OpenSpan https://themarketonline.com.au/norwood-leverages-microsoft-technology-to-launch-ai-voice-platform-openspan-2024-12-17/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 23:10:50 +0000 https://themarketonline.com.au/?p=730905 Norwood Systems Ltd (ASX:NOR) has launched CogVoice OpenSpan – known simply as “OpenSpan” – an AI voice platform built on Microsoft Azure that lets Communication Service Providers (CSPs) modernise and monetise their voice services with AI-powered features.

The product builds on a strong relationship with Microsoft, which saw Norwood launch a Strategic Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service Integration Initiative early in the year. That launch used Azure OpenAI Service and Azure AI Speech to develop next-generation agentic voice applications for CSPs.

The OpenSpan platform has been developed from this integration, ensuring seamless interoperability and scalability for advanced voice services on Azure.

Much of the value of OpenSpan comes from its meeting of a core need within CSP networks, whose infrastructures often lack the flexibility to support emerging AI-powered applications.

Alongside this, emerging AI-powered voice services do not often have the native integration required to function seamlessly at scale within any CSP core environments.

Here, Azure’s global scale, high-performance AI services and secure cloud infrastructure provide a launching pad – in addition to Norwood’s expertise in real-time, scalable, cloud-based media handling, and manipulation – to join CSPs’ existing networks to advanced, in-line AI-powered voice applications.

CEO and founder of Norwood Paul Ostergaard said today’s launch represented an important development for this technology.

“OpenSpan is a gamechanger for CSPs striving to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving AIlandscape,” he said.

“Built on Microsoft Azure, OpenSpan offers a robust and scalable platform that notonly bridges the gap between traditional telecom infrastructure and next-generation AIservices but also empowers CSPs to unlock new revenue streams and deliver exceptionalcustomer experiences.”

Investors seemed happy with the news, and at 14:32 AEDT, Norwood shares were trading at 3.2 cents – a rise of 10.34% since the market opened.

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The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. For full disclaimer information, please click here.

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Control Bionics inks new technology partnerships in US, Japan for sports and rehab https://themarketonline.com.au/control-bionics-inks-new-technology-partnerships-in-us-japan-for-sports-and-rehab-2024-12-16/ Sun, 15 Dec 2024 23:11:10 +0000 https://themarketonline.com.au/?p=730654 Control Bionics Ltd (ASX:CBL) has formalised two strategic partnerships representing its move into the U.S. sports performance market and the Japanese neurological rehabilitation market respectively, cutting deals with market leaders for both.

In the first case, CBL has acquired a 20% stake in Neuro Elite Athletics, the company responsible for NeuroBounce – a unique computerised electromyography (EMG)training solution which enables an increase in vertical leap by five to 15 centimetres and enhances explosiveness in only eight sessions, with suitability for basketball, volleyball, and football athletes.

NeuroBounce uses CBL’s technology exclusively, and the latter’s investment – which represents $250,0000 – is intended to speed up the rollout of this program across U.S. markets. The projected revenues for NeuroBounce are also promising, coming in at US$25,000 annually for each program.

CBL has also entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Stroke Lab, a Tokyo-based rehabilitation facility, to facilitate the localisation of its NeuroStrip technology for the Japanese market.

The MoU includes a framework for a joint operating agreement to be reached in the first quarter of 2025, which would boost CBL’s footprint in the Japanese rehab market, building on Stroke Lab’s extensive industry network.

NeuroStrip – launched in 2023 – is a wearable device that detects and amplifies muscle signals, and turns them into commands that allow users to control computers, smartphones, and other assistive technology.

The goal in both is to leverage this technology to boost improved sports performance, patient outcomes, and provide the platforms for expansion into other markets.

CBL has been trading at 6.5 cents through Monday morning.

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China steps up critical mineral bans in ‘tech war’ with the US https://themarketonline.com.au/china-steps-up-critical-mineral-bans-in-tech-war-with-the-us-2024-12-05/ Wed, 04 Dec 2024 22:01:00 +0000 https://themarketonline.com.au/?p=728897 A Chinese ban on the export to the United States of critical minerals used to build semiconductors has the potential to disrupt the supply chain, affecting several ASX-listed companies.

On Tuesday, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced it would be banning the export of a suite of critical minerals – including gallium, germanium and antimony – to the US. These three are minerals key to the manufacture of multiple products, from military equipment to semiconductors, as well as having a general industrial purpose.

The announcement was both a ramp-up of Beijing’s previous restrictions on commodities central to the tech industry, but also a response to Washington’s decision the previous day to add to its restrictions on the export of advanced chips to China.

In terms of the former, one can track back to October 2023, when China placed tight regulations on the sale of graphite products, which play a central role in the manufacture of car batteries. This followed an announcement in July of that year, that exporters from the country would have to apply for special licences to export gallium and germanium to the United States.

Regarding the latter, we have the US government’s announcement on Monday that they would add to restrictions on chip-making equipment going to China, including the export of high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips – which play a key role in high-end applications such as AI training – plus 24 other chipmaking tools and three software tools.

Shipments of chipmaking equipment from Singapore and Malaysia to the US were also restricted, and Washington added140 Chinese companies to a list of those banned from trading with US firms.

US officials said their goal was to hinder China’s development of advanced AI, and weaken its production capabilities in relation to semiconductors used for high-tech products.

The latest series of explosions in the ‘tech war’ between the two countries has the potential to seriously disrupt the supply chain for critical minerals, impacting Australian-listed companies which are building their businesses around critical minerals products.

This includes Golden Deeps Ltd (ASX:GED), which since 2023 has been exploring the potential for high-grade gallium and germanium at its Nosib discovery in Namibia, and Battery Age Minerals Ltd (ASX:BM8), which is seeking germanium (as well as lead and zinc) at its Bleiberg project in Austria.

It remains to be seen where the tech war may go.

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RocketDNA exports first ‘xBot’ maintenance inspection drone to Congo’s Kamoa Copper https://themarketonline.com.au/rocketdna-exports-first-xbot-maintenance-inspection-drone-to-congos-kamoa-copper-2024-12-03/ Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:27:23 +0000 https://themarketonline.com.au/?p=728428 RocketDNA (ASX:RKT) has sent off its first ‘xBot’ autonomous mine asset inspection autonomous drone package to the Congo’s Kamoa Copper.

The first of its xBot products to be sent off for mines across the seas, RocketDNA’s tech will help the company specifically perform critical inspections on chimney stacks, rooftops, and conveyer belts and smelters.

However, shares in the microcap dipped -7% on Tuesday morning to 1.3cps – perhaps because the value of the contract is only US$62,000.

This comes in well below the drone company’s recent $300,000 contract to provide a ‘patrolbot‘ to another similar client, with that product of the company’s being an earthbound equivalent to the xBot drone.

This was backed up by comments in the relevant HotCopper announcement thread on Tuesday.

“I would’ve hoped that we’d be charging a smidge more for such a great product and service,” user Nickynoonah wrote.

“$62k isn’t even worth announcing. Barely covers one directors fee for 12 months,” another user – Burge13 – wrote in kind.

At least one user was more optimistic on the sale shoring up the path to higher-valued future contracts – and to be fair, the nature of the deal will probably have some eyes on Kamoa, especially if RocketDNA can do what its truly trying to do – cut down on labour costs for inspections.

While the company goes on a lot about AI on its website, that’s the ultimate value proposition, here.

“Our xBot technology is purpose-built for challenging environments like mining … this first deployment in the DRC underscores our commitment to supporting enterprise customers with cutting-edge technology,” RocketDNA CEO Christopher Clark said.

RKT last traded at 1.3cps.

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Droneshield shares move up on $13.5M US govt contract https://themarketonline.com.au/droneshield-shares-move-up-on-13-5m-us-govt-contract-2024-10-08/ Mon, 07 Oct 2024 23:58:29 +0000 https://themarketonline.com.au/?p=717842 Artificial intelligence-based defense technology designer Droneshield Ltd (ASX:DRO) has seen its share price spike up more than 4% on news of a $13.5 million contract from a US government customer for its dismounted Counter-UxS (or C-UxS) systems.

The contract was for a repeat order of the C-UxS systems – which target multi-domain aerial, ground and maritime surface drones – with the product delivery and cash receipt both factored into for completion by the end of 2024.

Droneshield director of Business Development Tom Branstetter said the contract was evidence of client confidence in the company’s suite of drone defense products.

“DroneShield’s ability to rapidly deliver high-performance, lifesaving technology at this scale sets us apart in the counter-UAS industry, empowering our clients with cutting-edge solutions precisely when they need it,” he said.

At 10:49 AEDT, shares in Droneshield were trading at $1.40 – a rise of 4.89% since the market opened.

Join the discussion: See what HotCopper users are saying about Droneshield and be part of the conversations that move the markets.

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LBT inks $4.1M deal with AstraZeneca for AI platform technology https://themarketonline.com.au/lbt-inks-4-1m-deal-with-astrzeneca-for-ai-platform-technology-2024-08-07/ Wed, 07 Aug 2024 02:16:13 +0000 https://themarketonline.com.au/?p=709114 Medical tech company LBT Innovations Ltd (ASX:LBT) has seen its share price rise more than 33% on news of a deal worth up to $4.1 million which it has inked with multinational Astrazeneca for the supply and maintenance of its platform technology, namely the APAS® Independence instruments.

This product – also known as the Automated Plate Assessment System (APAS) – integrates artificial intelligence and machine learning software to automate the imaging, analysis and interpretation of microbiology culture plates.

According to the agreement signed between the two companies, LBT will sell five APAS® Independence instruments to AstraZeneca AB, as well as providing annualmaintenance and support services over seven years, with the contract valued between USD 2.2 million to 2.7 million, or AU$3.4 million to AU$4.1 million.

LBT CEO & Managing Director Brent Barnes said that securing such a deal indicated the value of the APAS technology, with five instruments to be rolled out across a number of AstraZeneca’s manufacturing operations.

“This decision was made based on demonstrated performance of the technology within the AstraZeneca manufacturing processes and provides credibility for the technology more broadly,” he said.

“This milestone provides evidence and confidence that the APAS® Independence is a fully validated technology that meets the stringent requirements for environmental monitoring during drug manufacturing, applicable to all customers globally for this application.

“Pleasingly, evaluations with additional multinational pharmaceutical customers are expected to commence in the current quarter.”

At 11:46 AEST, LBT shares were trading at 2 cents, a rise of 33.33% since the market opened.

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Capital raisings wrap: Brainchip, Ovanti, Lake and VHM https://themarketonline.com.au/capital-raisings-wrap-brainchip-ovanti-lake-and-vhm-2024-07-25/ Thu, 25 Jul 2024 03:00:54 +0000 https://themarketonline.com.au/?p=706380 The Australian bourse has seen several companies across varied sectors announce capital raising efforts today.

AI on-chip processing and learning company Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX:BRN) told the market it was hoping to secure A$25 million in total to enable commercialisation of its AkidaTM 2.0 technology and development of the TENNs algorithm.

Brainchip said it had completed a fully underwritten institutional placement worth A$20 million, plus the A$2 million sale of existing securities from LDA Capital.

Alongside this, the company said it would also seek up to A$3 million through a non-underwritten share purchase plan.

The price of shares for the placement, existing share sale and SPP will be set at A$0.193, Brainchip added.

Also within the tech sector, Ovanti Ltd (ASX:OVT) announced confirmation that sophisticated investors were on-board with its plan to raise $1,200,000 before costs through the placement of 300,000,000 ordinary shares, priced at $0.004 per share.

This, it said, would go towards working capital and further provisions for costs associated with litigations and investigations.

Over in the materials sector, Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE) says it planned to raise $2,500,000 (cost inclusive) through the issue of 65,000,000 Lake fully paid ordinary shares to Acuity Capital at 3.85c per share, subject to shareholder approval.

The funds would support Lake’s progression of strategic priorities for the Kachi lithium project in Argentina’s Catamarca province, and the potential sale of non-core assets and lithium tenements located in other parts of the country.

In December last year, Lake announced completion of definitive feasibility on Kachi, suggesting a 25-year mine life together with a globally significant resource of 10.6 million tonnes of LCE4 (lithium carbonate equivalent).

Another resources player VHM Ltd (ASX:VHM) said it was on-track to raise $1.8 million via the issue of approximately 4.3 million new fully paid ordinary shares (at 42 cents each), through a completed placement targeting institutional, sophisticated and professional investors.

The company was also hoping to bank an additional $3 million through an SPP set at the same price as the placement, with both adding to the current kitty of $6.3 million in cash to progress development of the Goschen rare earths and mineral sands project in Victoria.

VHM is anticipating that it will gain ministerial approval of the Environmental Effects Statement for Goschen ahead of an FID for the project, with the latter to be achieved in the first quarter of 2025.

At 12:40, Lake Resources was trading 1.43% up, at 3.5 cents, VHM was flat at 58 cents, Brainchip was down 7.5% at 18.5 cents, and Ovanti was flat at 0.4 cents.

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Hexima shares rise 66% on proposed acquisition of AI player Real Thing Entertainment https://themarketonline.com.au/hexima-shares-rise-66-on-proposed-acquisition-of-ai-player-real-thing-entertainment-2024-07-24/ Wed, 24 Jul 2024 03:55:46 +0000 https://themarketonline.com.au/?p=706149 Melbourne-based company Hexima Ltd (ASX:HXL) has seen its shares rise more than 66% on news of its proposed acquisition of Real Thing Entertainment Pty Ltd – creator of an AI platform which enables users to use simple voice commands and even complex dialogue to achieve goals – which has offices in Australia, the United Kingdom and United States.

Hexima is seeking to take on 100% of Real Thing’s issued capital, and will issue shareholders in the latter an aggregate of 78,974,300 fully paid ordinary HXL shares and 8,721,504 options to acquire fully paid ordinary HXL shares (with a 20-cent exercise price and expiring on 5 March 2026).

The proposal also suggested a name change – to RealThing AI Ltd – and the appointment of directors Mr Silvio Salom (a current director of Real Thing) and intelligent agents pioneer Dr Michael Georgeff, with this decision being subject to the acquisition.

Hexima is also planning a capital raising of between $4 million and $7.5 million (before costs) via a public offer, and if the acquisition goes ahead – subject to shareholder approval – will issue two Real Thing shareholders an aggregate of up to 2.5 million shares (on a post-Consolidation basis) at a deemed price equal to the capital raising price to redeemconvertible notes previously issued by Real Thing with an aggregate face value of $500,000.

The market’s warm response to this news meant that at 13:44 AEDT, Hexima shares were trading at 2 cents, a rise of 66.66% since open.

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Appen shares plunge as Google ends services contract https://themarketonline.com.au/appen-shares-plunge-as-google-ends-services-contract-2024-01-22/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 03:17:13 +0000 https://themarketherald.com.au/?p=678033 Tech stock Appen (ASX:APX) has plummeted 40 per cent today following the termination of its global inbound services contract with Google.

Appen made the announcement, expressing disappointment and highlighting the unexpected nature of the decision.

All ongoing projects are set to conclude by March 19, 2024.

Financial performance

Financially, Appen revenue from Google was $82.8 million at a gross margin of 26 per cent in FY23.

The company saw growth in the third and fourth quarters across its global and new markets services, but year-on-year, global services dropped. Revenue made from its new China market achieved a record revenue of $11.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Appen recorded a revenue of $24.1 million and $ 25.9 million in November and December 2023. Alongside market activities, the company executed cost management initiatives to in the end break even on its EBITDA of $3.2 million.

Appen must now alter its strategic priorities following the Google contract termination, with further financial results to be delivered on February 27, 2024.

APX shares were down 40.2 per cent, trading at 27.5 cents at 1:20 pm AEDT.

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The rise of AI: Transforming business and what it means for investors https://themarketonline.com.au/the-rise-of-ai-transforming-business-and-what-it-means-for-investors-2023-07-11/ Tue, 11 Jul 2023 04:03:55 +0000 https://themarketherald.com.au/?p=640974 OpenAI’s ChatGPT has taken the modern world by storm – and it’s only getting started. Everybody’s talking about this chatbot. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the most trending topics on the internet’s top search engine – Google.

AI has been integrated into the day-to-day operations of many sectors. Legal, healthcare, education, banking, and journalism are already finding it useful.

The main question that unites everyone at the moment is whether some sectors will start replacing human knowledge and traditional resources with AI.

The Market Herald’s Fouad Haidar spoke with business growth expert Jeff Pedowitz, who has just released a book titled ‘AI Revenue Architect’, and international tech expert and Unith (UNT) CEO, Idan Schmorak.

They delve into this fascinating human invention: What it means for companies and future operations, both locally and globally, and most importantly, what it means for investors.

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