Latest news with #Venmo
Economic Times
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Biohacker Bryan Johnson envisions a post-biological future, says 'We all will be immortal, to some degree'
Agencies Bryan Johnson believes that the fusion of biology and computation could redefine human existence, potentially allowing consciousness to exist beyond bodily death. In a striking interview with WIRED, American tech entrepreneur and biohacker Bryan Johnson made a provocative claim: he doesn't believe he will die—not in the way we traditionally understand death. 'False,' he said, when asked if he, Bryan Johnson, would die someday. Not out of arrogance, he insists, but out of a calculated belief in the fusion of biology and computation that could redefine human existence. The 46-year-old multimillionaire, best known for founding Braintree (which acquired Venmo before both were sold to PayPal), is now making headlines for a very different kind of venture—his obsessive, expensive, and highly public pursuit of biological immortality. 'We all will be immortal to some degree,' Johnson claims, 'as we move into a blend of biological and computational existence.' 'We're not stuck in biological software,' Johnson explained. 'We also have the ability to begin moving ourselves to computational systems. So currently, in a very crude form, I have a Bryan AI that has digested everything I've ever said.' According to Johnson, this AI twin is a digital backup of his identity—part of a larger bet that the fusion of human consciousness with machines could offer a form of indefinite continuity, if not immortality. The core of Johnson's philosophy hinges on a paradigm shift. As artificial intelligence progresses and the boundary between biology and computation blurs, he predicts that society's highest aspiration won't be wealth, family, or even legacy—but simply existing. 'The most prized asset is going to be existence,' Johnson said. 'Immortality, for example, will be devalued relative to existing. And that's my fundamental bet on the future.' Johnson's 'Project Blueprint,' launched in 2021, is his personal roadmap for radical life extension. The regimen includes everything from strict caloric intake and early bedtimes to intense biometric monitoring and even experimental plasma transfusions—one of which controversially involved his teenage son. The idea? To reverse his biological age, or at least slow its progression. While experts have largely dismissed plasma transfusions for anti-aging as unproven and potentially unsafe (the U.S. FDA warns against such procedures), Johnson remains undeterred. For him, the real breakthrough isn't in the blood—it's in the brain. As founder of Kernel, Johnson has poured resources into developing high-tech helmets capable of recording brain activity with unprecedented precision. He imagines a near future where minds can be interfaced, analyzed, and eventually liberated from their biological cages. In his worldview, biology is just version one of the human experience. Version two? A computational self—one that may exist beyond bodily death, backed up in digital everyone shares Johnson's optimism. Longevity scientist Andrew Steele argues that genetics still dominate life expectancy, rendering most lifestyle-based interventions marginal in effect. McGill University's Moshe Szyf calls Johnson's goals 'not grounded in current science.'
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Biohacker Bryan Johnson envisions a post-biological future, says 'We all will be immortal, to some degree'
In a striking interview with WIRED, American tech entrepreneur and biohacker Bryan Johnson made a provocative claim: he doesn't believe he will die—not in the way we traditionally understand death. 'False,' he said, when asked if he, Bryan Johnson, would die someday. Not out of arrogance, he insists, but out of a calculated belief in the fusion of biology and computation that could redefine human existence. The 46-year-old multimillionaire, best known for founding Braintree (which acquired Venmo before both were sold to PayPal), is now making headlines for a very different kind of venture—his obsessive, expensive, and highly public pursuit of biological immortality . 'We all will be immortal to some degree,' Johnson claims, 'as we move into a blend of biological and computational existence.' Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Data Science Leadership Management MBA Healthcare Data Analytics Degree Artificial Intelligence Finance Operations Management healthcare PGDM Digital Marketing Technology MCA Design Thinking Data Science Product Management Public Policy Project Management Others others Cybersecurity CXO Skills you'll gain: Data Analysis & Interpretation Programming Proficiency Problem-Solving Skills Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT MSc in Data Science Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Strategic Data-Analysis, including Data Mining & Preparation Predictive Modeling & Advanced Clustering Techniques Machine Learning Concepts & Regression Analysis Cutting-edge applications of AI, like NLP & Generative AI Duration: 8 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details 'We're not stuck in biological software,' Johnson explained. 'We also have the ability to begin moving ourselves to computational systems. So currently, in a very crude form, I have a Bryan AI that has digested everything I've ever said.' According to Johnson, this AI twin is a digital backup of his identity—part of a larger bet that the fusion of human consciousness with machines could offer a form of indefinite continuity, if not immortality. 'Existence Will Be the Most Prized Asset' The core of Johnson's philosophy hinges on a paradigm shift. As artificial intelligence progresses and the boundary between biology and computation blurs, he predicts that society's highest aspiration won't be wealth, family, or even legacy—but simply existing. You Might Also Like: Has Bryan Johnson's anti-aging experiment backfired? Biohacker spending $2 million-a-year admits to a costly misstep 'The most prized asset is going to be existence,' Johnson said. 'Immortality, for example, will be devalued relative to existing. And that's my fundamental bet on the future.' The Blueprint for a New Kind of Being Johnson's 'Project Blueprint,' launched in 2021, is his personal roadmap for radical life extension. The regimen includes everything from strict caloric intake and early bedtimes to intense biometric monitoring and even experimental plasma transfusions—one of which controversially involved his teenage son. The idea? To reverse his biological age, or at least slow its progression. While experts have largely dismissed plasma transfusions for anti-aging as unproven and potentially unsafe (the U.S. FDA warns against such procedures), Johnson remains undeterred. For him, the real breakthrough isn't in the blood—it's in the brain. Beyond Brains: Into the Machine As founder of Kernel , Johnson has poured resources into developing high-tech helmets capable of recording brain activity with unprecedented precision. He imagines a near future where minds can be interfaced, analyzed, and eventually liberated from their biological cages. You Might Also Like: Longevity expert Bryan Johnson has a health warning for MrBeast: 'Be sure to...' In his worldview, biology is just version one of the human experience. Version two? A computational self—one that may exist beyond bodily death, backed up in digital consciousness . Not everyone shares Johnson's optimism. Longevity scientist Andrew Steele argues that genetics still dominate life expectancy, rendering most lifestyle-based interventions marginal in effect. McGill University's Moshe Szyf calls Johnson's goals 'not grounded in current science.'
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Can PayPal's Crypto Strategy Give It a Competitive Edge?
PayPal Holdings PYPL has steadily deepened its crypto involvement since 2020, now offering major tokens and stablecoin services. In April 2025, it added Chainlink (LINK) and Solana (SOL) to its PayPal and Venmo platforms, broadening user access to diverse blockchain ecosystems. This expansion reinforces its strategy to become a go-to gateway for tokenized to PayPal's crypto ambition is PayPal USD ('PYUSD'), launched in August 2023. Recently, PayPal announced that it is expanding PYUSD to Layer-2 blockchains, beginning with Arbitrum. This deployment offers developers a low-cost, high-speed option for PYUSD integration, pairing the stablecoin's trusted backing with Arbitrum's efficient transaction June, PayPal announced plans to expand its stablecoin, PYUSD, to the Stellar blockchain, pending approval from the New York State Department of Financial Services. Stellar is recognized for enabling fast transactions, minimal fees and practical applications in everyday financial use. This move would enhance PYUSD's payment capabilities by offering a cost-efficient, fast alternative to Ethereum and Solana, enabling broader use in commerce, micro-financing, and global transactions through improved integration and scalability.A strategic tie up with Coinbase in April 2025 allows fee-free PYUSD purchases, 1:1 redemption, and co exploration of new use cases for PYUSD in DeFi and onchain platforms. This alliance brings PYUSD directly into the exchange ecosystem, enhancing consumer, merchant and institutional adoption, especially as Coinbase waives fees. Earlier, PayPal also rolled out crypto for business accounts, enabling merchants to buy, hold, sell and transfer crypto assets directly via the platform. How Are Block and Coinbase Global Expanding in This Space? Block, Inc. XYZ is set to join the S&P 500, marking another milestone in crypto's push into the financial mainstream. Block has integrated Bitcoin through its Cash App, enabling peer to peer transactions and investing. It invested heavily in BTC treasury holdings and rolled out Bitcoin lending pilot programs. Its Square Crypto initiative focuses on Bitcoin developer grants and Lightning Network adoption to boost Bitcoin's payment Global COIN, the largest U.S. crypto exchange, offers trading, staking, custodial services and launched its Payments platform, including stablecoin support. It waived fees for PYUSD, expanded institutional services and invests in Layer 2 scaling (like Base) to bolster real world crypto use. PYPL's Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates Shares of PayPal have declined 13.1% year to date, underperforming both the broader industry as well as the S&P 500 Index. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, PayPal shares are trading cheap, as suggested by the Value Score of A. In terms of forward 12-month P/E, PYPL stock is trading at 13.70X compared with the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry's 21.96X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research PayPal's estimate revisions reflect a positive trend. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter and full-year 2025 and full-year 2026 EPS has been revised upward over the past week. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 EPS suggests 9.46% growth year over year, while the same for 2026 calls for 11.46% growth year over year. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research At present, PayPal carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Coinbase Global, Inc. (COIN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Block, Inc. (XYZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
Finextra
a day ago
- Business
- Finextra
PayPal introduces AI-powered scam alerts
PayPal has launched AI-powered, dynamic scam detection for PayPal and Venmo Friends and Family payments, enhancing protection for our customers around the world. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. Designed to proactively alert customers to potential scams and prevent losses in real-time, the alerts intervene when it matters most – before any funds are sent. As scammers attempt to coerce people into sending payments that may not be eligible for refunds, including scams that originate on social media, we believe putting more information directly into customers' hands will empower them to help stop scams in their tracks. As trusted leaders in efforts to prevent fraud, PayPal is proud of our initiative to combat the ever-changing tactics of scammers. We do not tolerate scams and work hard to protect our customers, including shutting down fraudulent accounts and blocking suspicious activity. Our approach to addressing fraud is multi-pronged, comprised of building innovative technologies, leveraging investigative research led by our team of experts, and refining our risk controls to help prevent bad actors from accessing our platforms. Given fraudsters frequently change their methods to try to evade detection, staying ahead of the latest trends and continually enhancing our tools are critical aspects of our efforts. When building PayPal's dynamic alert system, we focused on both effective fraud mitigation strategies as well as enhancing the user experience. The alerts pop up when the system detects a potential scam, sharing critical and relevant information about the likelihood of fraud right at the point of payment. To help stay ahead of the curve, the alerts learn and adapt to evolving scam tactics. PayPal's system leverages continually learning AI models that quickly analyze billions of data points and update when patterns change. This means our system can help more quickly detect a potential new scam, even if we have never seen that specific scam before. Unlike traditional, one-size-fits-all static warnings, PayPal's alerts are dynamic and tailored to be shown based on the likelihood of fraud for each transaction. The system shares messages that appropriately reflect the risk level of the payment customers are trying to make. It also sends progressively stricter alerts as its confidence that a scam exists grows and adds more friction into completing payments for higher-risk scenarios. We continue to automatically decline payments that we detect as highly risky. The alerts are live in all global markets in which PayPal operates, and across the U.S. on Venmo. For any questions, our PayPal and Venmo Customer Support teams are always available to help. Learn more about PayPal's fraud prevention efforts and our educational tips to spot and avoid scams on the PayPal Security Center.
Axios
2 days ago
- Business
- Axios
How two new government policies could help make housing more affordable in Nashville
Housing stakeholders in Nashville hope two new policies — one at the federal level and another at the local level — play at least small parts in making homeownership more affordable and accessible. Why it matters: No single policy will magically solve the city's affordability crisis, but every drop in the bucket helps. Experts say the new policies could especially benefit new homeowners. Driving the news: The Federal Housing and Finance Administration announced a new policy allowing lenders to factor in a prospective homebuyer's rent payment history when approving a mortgage application. Up to this point, lenders used the FICO system, which considers a borrower's credit card and loan history when calculating their creditworthiness. Experts say the old system gave FICO a monopoly, and that adding in the new VantageScore credit score option creates competition that should lower fees for borrowers. The big picture: National Realtors Association chief advocacy officer Shannon McGahn applauded the policy shift, saying it "better reflects how today's consumers manage their finances." FHFA director Bill Pulte took a victory lap after the announcement and credited President Trump for the policy change. He says the competition will help homeowners. The policy will take some time to be implemented as FHFA works out administrative details. What she's saying: Christi Wedig, a loan originator with CMG Home Loans, tells Axios the FHFA policy switch should help borrowers like young people and immigrants who haven't taken out a loan or a credit card. "I think it's going to be really helpful across the country, and particularly here in Nashville," she says. "Rent is not cheap here. If you're paying $2,500 to $3,000 a month, you deserve some impact on your credit score." Yes, but: There are also risks since a single missed payment for a utility bill or rent didn't impact a person's credit score in the past. There's also the question of whether a landlord reports successful rent payments to VantageScore, something a local mom and pop landlord may not do. Wedig says it's important renters make sure their payments are verifiable through transaction history such as checks, electronic transfers or Venmo. Renters can register their own payment history through third-party companies to boost their VantageScore rating, although that service typically costs money. Metro approves new multi-family construction rule Zoom in: At the local level, Metro Council passed legislation last week that updates codes regulations to allow a multi-family building to be constructed with a single staircase. The policy applies to buildings up to six stories. Homebuilders say the policy will significantly lower their costs, which should benefit both renters and condo buyers. Between the lines: Advocates, such as Metro Councilmember Rollin Horton, say the single-stair design is cost effective and "just as, or even more safe" for residents. The state passed enabling legislation allowing local governments to implement the new code. Council members collaborated with the Fire Marshal's office, Codes Department and Planning Department to create the policy.
