Latest news with #Kava
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Tonga kava growers look for solutions
Pacific business 6 minutes ago The Chairman of Tonga's Kava National Committee Fe'ilokitau Tevi says that Kava growers need more facilities and resources to enhance Kava production in Tonga, as factors like weather and climate change have hindered this process.
Associated Press
30-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Kava AI Tops 100k Users, Sets Stage for AI Agent to Automate Complex DeFi Strategies
Upgraded blockchain-native AI enables DeFi execution impossible for centralized models, with autonomous agents rolling out and privacy-preserving features baked in. A new alliance with DeXe promotes transparent, community-governed decentralized AI. SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / April 30, 2025 / Kava, a global pioneer in decentralized blockchain solutions, today announced the release of a major update to its artificial intelligence platform, Kava AI, featuring an independently optimized, blockchain-native AI model. Marking a significant milestone, the updated Kava AI has already surpassed 100,000 users, becoming the most widely adopted decentralized blockchain-native AI. Unlike traditional centralized AI services, Kava AI leverages a fully decentralized, blockchain-native architecture built upon an independently optimized open-source model. Through targeted enhancements, Kava AI achieves exceptional performance in blockchain-centric operations-ranging from crypto tasks and smart contract interactions to complex decentralized finance applications. 'This is a groundbreaking moment for blockchain, artificial intelligence, and the potential unlocked with stacking these technologies,' said Scott Stuart, Co-Founder of Kava. 'We've created an AI model that is truly decentralized, open-source, and transparent - built from the ground up for the blockchain ecosystem. Surpassing 100,000 users is a powerful validation that this approach resonates deeply and delivers real value. Decentralized AI isn't just a concept; it's here now, and it's thriving.' To complement this powerful foundational intelligence, Kava also announced a major update to Kava AI today at Token2049 Dubai. Building upon Kava AI's advanced general reasoning capabilities akin to a decentralized ChatGPT optimized for blockchain, the significant upgrade delivers an AI-powered execution layer for DeFi built to unlock the next wave of alpha opportunities. It acts as a frontend interfacing with various protocols across the Web3 ecosystem. Kava AI's enhanced execution capabilities are designed around several key functionalities planned for phased rollout. Future iterations will leverage its AI-powered intelligence to aggregate insights from multiple protocols across leading blockchains, providing a strategic edge with relevant, real-time data to help traders spot alpha opportunities first. Once an opportunity is identified, Kava AI is designed to act as an execution layer for simple and secure DeFi access, enabling seamless interactions like swaps, lending, and staking across various chains. Furthermore, the roadmap includes utilizing autonomous AI agents for always-on optimization, automating execution, refining strategies, and streamlining complex DeFi actions efficiently, 24/7. These advanced autonomous features are slated for release later in 2025, demonstrating how one protocol, covering multiple chains, can ultimately work with full automation. 'With Kava AI providing blockchain-native intelligence and delivering the seamless execution layer, we are creating a powerful synergy,' continued Scott. 'Users need both sophisticated understanding and the ability to act decisively in DeFi. This major update unlocks the practical power of Kava AI for advanced crypto tasks, making DeFi interactions smarter, faster, and automated. This ecosystem approach-transparent intelligence paired with effective execution-is the future. It is fundamentally about trust, respecting privacy, ensuring data sovereignty, and operating transparently - this is what it looks like to build AI technology responsibly.' To further strengthen the decentralized AI ecosystem, Kava also announced a strategic partner in DeXe, a leading DAO infrastructure provider specializing in decentralized governance. The two organizations share a vision for building open, community-governed AI systems and are aligned on a path toward future collaboration, including future technical integrations and co-developed solutions. 'We're at a pivotal moment where AI governance will shape its societal impact for generations. At DeXe, we believe the future lies in open, decentralized systems that align technology with the public good,' said Serhii Kravchenko, Core Contributor at DeXe DAO. 'Our partnership with Kava unlocks AI's full potential through DAO infrastructure, creating systems that are transparent, fair, and community-driven.' This growing ecosystem, further strengthened by collaborating with DeXe, is built upon the tangible success and unique features of Kava AI itself. Key factors propelling this success include unique, culturally resonant user experiences-particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, coupled with its user-friendly interfaces and uncompromising commitment to privacy. With distinct control settings built directly onto the blockchain, people will choose between a fully anonymous experience, a streamlined free option, or premium enhanced features accessible via crypto payments, all without sacrificing security or decentralization. Unlike other open-source models that route user data through centralized jurisdictions-such as DeepSeek, which directs user information through servers in China with minimal protections-or centralized U.S.-based providers that offer limited transparency and control, Kava AI uniquely combines data sovereignty, transparency, and user-driven privacy. Users maintain control over their data, selecting between fully anonymous interactions or synchronized experiences with clear consent, protecting privacy. Additionally, because Kava AI is open-source and blockchain-native, every model update is developed with direct community involvement. This ensures trust and empowers people around the world to influence and shape the direction of their artificial intelligence experience. Today's dual announcements at Token 2049-highlighting Kava AI's significant user adoption and the launch of the Kava AI DeFi execution layer-represent more than an achievement for Kava alone. They signify a meaningful shift in how AI can be developed and delivered, showcasing that powerful, scalable artificial intelligence does not need to rely exclusively on centralized infrastructure. By showing how a decentralized AI ecosystem can provide both superior intelligence and effective execution, Kava has opened a new chapter in the evolution of both blockchain technology and artificial intelligence. To learn more about Kava AI's breakthrough decentralized model and the Kava ecosystem, visit About Kava Kava is a decentralized blockchain platform merging the speed and interoperability of Cosmos with the powerful developer ecosystem of Ethereum, dedicated to leading the global transition to Web3. Supported by over 100 active validators and home to more than 125 decentralized applications (dApps), Kava enables secure asset management, processing billions of dollars in on-chain transactions. With programs like Kava Rise, an incentive-driven developer initiative, Kava fosters a dynamic multi-chain environment where creators and developers of all sizes can launch, scale, and grow innovative crypto projects. Kava remains committed to open innovation through initiatives including Kava AI, its foundational blockchain-native, decentralized artificial intelligence platform emphasizing transparency and privacy, and now its AI-powered execution layer for DeFi. By integrating advanced artificial intelligence capabilities across general reasoning and Web3 execution within its proven blockchain infrastructure, Kava AI stands at the intersection of DeFi, AI, and multi-chain interoperability. Kava empowers developers, creators, and everyday users to harness the transformative potential of decentralized technology. For more information, visit Media Contact: Justin Mauldin Salient PR [email protected] 737.234.0936 SOURCE: Kava press release
Newsweek
28-04-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Millennial Laid Off From Corporate Job—6 Months Later the Unexpected Happens
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When Jessica Kava lost her corporate job in November 2024, she never imagined that six months later, she would be embarking on a new career journey—at a local taco shop. The 32-year-old California resident, who captured her emotional experience in a TikTok video shared on April 7, spoke to Newsweek about her long and frustrating path back to employment and how many people resonated with it online. "After I filmed the video, I went to meet the owner of a taco shop for a potential minimum wage job," Kava, who had applied to over 200 jobs with no luck, told Newsweek. "I had been laid off from my corporate job in November 2024, right after passing my five-year mark there. "Since then, I had been applying nonstop and getting either ignored or rejected across the board—corporate jobs, service industry roles, even positions in the medical field." Her video has since gone viral, amassing more than 969,000 views and 92,000 likes. In it, Kava detailed her months of unemployment struggles and her unexpected discovery of a new opportunity at a taco shop during her birthday night out. From left: Jessica Kava speaks to viewers on TikTok; and poses for a photo outdoors. From left: Jessica Kava speaks to viewers on TikTok; and poses for a photo outdoors. @jessicakava "I have tried hospitality gigs, overnight hotel clerks, I tried going back into assisted living, I tried staying in corporate, sales, support, account management, no luck, nothing is working out," she told viewers online. The night before filming her post, Kava and her boyfriend had wandered into the taco shop during a "birthday bar crawl." The venue was closing at an unusual time due to staffing issues, and after chatting with the barman and learning about the staffing shortage, Kava expressed interest in the open position. The worker quickly grabbed a notepad, took down her information, and the next morning, the owner called her to set up an interview. "That moment felt like the tiniest spark of hope, and I wanted to capture it," Kava said. By the time she filmed her TikTok video, she was due to meet the owner for the role in just "38 minutes." Kava's experience mirrors a broader trend facing many younger millennial and Gen Z workers navigating an increasingly competitive job market. Despite applying to over 200 positions, she said, she struggled to even receive callbacks. "Honestly, it has been a mix of sadness and comfort," she said. "Sadness because so many people relate—whether personally or on behalf of someone close to them. "Being laid off is incredibly difficult, and this job market can feel relentless, but there is also comfort in the shared experience...I have spent the last five months wondering what I am doing wrong to be rejected by every job I apply to and it helps, in a strange way, to know I am not alone." Kava ultimately got the taco shop job and began working the very next day, quickly securing five shifts a week. "I never imagined that at 32 I would be working a minimum wage job at a taco shop, but I am genuinely enjoying my time there and grateful they gave me a chance," she said. 'What Happened Is Not Rare' Eric Cheng, co-founder and CEO of Jobright, an AI-driven career platform, told Newsweek that Kava's story is far from unique. "What happened to Jessica is not rare—it is becoming the norm," Cheng told Newsweek. "The problem is not just the economy, it is that the entire job search system is fundamentally broken." According to Cheng, outdated job listings, keyword-based screening traps, and "ghost jobs" that were filled months earlier clog up the search process. Meanwhile, automated filters at many companies eliminate qualified candidates before a human recruiter ever sees their applications. "Good people are not failing to land jobs because they are unqualified—they are stuck in a process that buries them under bad information and broken tools," Cheng said. Kava, who has been posting on TikTok more regularly since late 2023, said this connection to others through social media has been a lifeline. "I have had TikTok since 2019 and loved watching it take off during the pandemic," she said. "Toward the end of 2023, I realized how much I enjoyed creating and sharing content, especially the connections I was starting to make through the platform." While her first viral moment initially came from a breakup video that reached 2.7 million views, her story of perseverance after losing her corporate job has resonated deeply with a diverse range of viewers on TikTok. Her candid account and the unexpected turn her career has recently taken has sparked conversations about the challenges many people, especially younger millennials and Gen Zers, face in today's job market. "Why is everywhere understaffed but nobody is hiring," one viewer commented, while another added: "My mom had 12 years experience in HR and a masters degree and it took her a year to find a job! Good luck!" "I am genuinely happy to be working again," Kava said. "Even if it is not where I thought I would be, it feels good to be part of a team again and to have something to look forward to every day." Have you had a workplace dilemma? Let us know via life@ We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
RNZ News
24-04-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Savea brothers reunite under Moana Pasifika banner
Julian and Ardie Savea after their win over Argentina in 2016. Photo: Pablo Gasparini Live blog updates on RNZ It's a daunting problem for any opposition to solve - Savea squared. Brothers Ardie and Julian will run out together for the first time in a Moana jersey this Saturday. The 45th set of siblings to play for the All Blacks, the Savea's have each at one time been regarded as the most feared player on the planet. After forging a legacy together at the Hurricanes, the brothers are set to write a new chapter in their storied family history. The pair first played alongside one another back in 2004, with Ardie still very much in his bigger brother's shadow. "I think I was nine, he was 13 playing for Ories (Oriental-Rongotai), so it's the first time we played together, but it's amazing how everything works out. "I'm 31, he's 34, and we're still playing together, it's a huge blessing. But for me and Jules, we just want to go out there, play well and try and get the win." It was through trying to keep pace with Julian that Ardie developed his incomparable on-field ferocity. "At 13, he was the size he is now. I was a half back back then. So I was small. It taught me to play against guys bigger than me, which is what I'm doing now. Obviously being a small loose forward but teaches you to have a big heart." Though he will wear the captain's armband, Ardie said Julian's aura sees players naturally follow him. Julian Savea (R with brother Ardie during a Hurricanes media and training session at Rugby Park Monday, 03 August 2020. Photo: Photosport "I think people underestimate the leadership and the experience that he brings when he comes onto the field, which as a leader, is something you need around the park. So him coming off the bench will be important for us and all the other bench guys too." Fittingly, the Savea brothers' first game together at Moana comes against fellow Pasifika side the Fijian Drua. While both sides have been brilliant in patches throughout 2025, a lack of consistency has kept them anchored to the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific points table. "Obviously we have both teams that represent the Pacific and both teams play for our people. I understand how important it is for our communities to come together and celebrate the game of footy and how we play it together. "But then on the flip side, my mindset is it's another game to nail our stuff, my stuff and try and be ruthless in certain areas on the game day." Ardie said it will be a very proud moment for their family, and their legacy. "Me and Jules have done it enough times. We've played Canes, All Blacks, now is just another huge milestone for us so that we can look back when we're old, drinking Kava, watching the kids run around and just reminisce on these memories. The Savea brothers Photo: Photosport "So hopefully it's a good memory this week." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kava Labs' Scott Stuart: Decentralized AI Delivers Real Value, Not NFT Style-Hype
Artificial Intelligence tokens have long-term staying power and won't be another crypto fad like non-fungible tokens (NFTs), even though the industry has already seen its share of flops, Kava Labs co-founder Scott Stuart said in an interview with CoinDesk. "We had this first AI wave, but that wave was projects like Fetch saying, 'We're going to do a merger,' but producing nothing from it, or projects like Virtuals or AI16z, initially doing well, then dropping off by 80% or 90%. It was an unhappy outcome," Stuart told CoinDesk in an interview. Market data shows that since January, Virtuals, the native token of the AI-related Virtuals Protocol, is down nearly 85%. FET, the token of the artificial intelligence alliance, is down 60%. KAVA, for its part, is fairing reasonably well, down 5%, beating the CoinDesk 20, a market index, which is down 29%. Kava didn't start as an AI project. Initially known for Cosmos-based decentralized finance (DeFi), began as just another DeFi project, but pivoted to decentralized AI as a differentiator amidst ongoing crypto market consolidation. Since its pivot, Kava has shipped its Kava AI platform and marketplace, a blockchain-native chatbot resembling ChatGPT powered by DeepSeek's R1 large language model, the autonomous AI agent Oros, and decentralized GPU infrastructure. Stuart said this pivot was necessary because altcoins face increased challenges without a compelling narrative, making decentralized AI's clarity and value proposition critical. "Unlike speculative bubbles such as NFTs, decentralized AI's fundamental utility ensures its resilience. NFTs or similar trends are essentially memes built on top of memes. Anything that's beta to meme coins will inevitably rise and fall with hype cycles," he said. The company is building a decentralized artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure designed to be auditable, transparent, and open-source. Given its performance compared to the rest of the market, clearly, they are onto something. 'When you look at AI as a technology, it's just another way for corporations to present you information," Stuart said. "With OpenAI, there's a secret sauce component, and at any point in the future, they can tweak that model to serve you what they want.' Stuart argues that the stakes are substantial in separating AI from this black box as technology becomes increasingly integral to daily life. 'Closed-source AI can tweak models in ways you can't see. You don't know if it's optimized for your benefit or a company's or even a nation-state's interest,' he said. And he's not the only one that has these concerns. In an earlier interview with CoinDesk, Simon Kim, CEO of South Korea's Hashed, the country's leading web3 fund, said closed-source AI has made a 'God' from a machine. Its inner workings remain unknown and incomprehensible, but it has established itself as a pillar of society. In contrast, Kava Labs promotes an "open-weight" approach, allowing anyone to verify AI model parameters, much like Ethereum's transparent smart contracts. Recognizing how regulators increasingly view AI transparency as a strategic U.S. interest, Stuart sees an opportunity to build decentralized AI infrastructure that's certifiably 'made-in-the-U.S.A.' and backed by open-source funding initiatives. "During the last administration, the trend was toward offshoring everything," he said. "Now it seems they're serious about reversing that, and we're using this shift as an opportunity to strengthen U.S.-based infrastructure." And underneath this infrastructure will be open source technology. "The future of AI isn't corporate-controlled," he concluded. "It's open, transparent, and decentralized. Kava aims to lead this transformation." Sign in to access your portfolio
