How Blockchain Could Contribute to Ending Poverty in All Its Forms by/via @VanRijmenam

Technological advancements have reduced global poverty significantly in the past 100 years. Many people have been able to leave poverty due to this.

I can see that this is much cheaper and that it can (via cost savings) open up banking and that can then be available to businesses as well as people to spread prosperity across the world. We just need to think about the best way to implement it to ensure it is secure and trustworthy.

Blockchain Use Cases, Advantages, Issues, and Implementation Tips by Terry Wilson via @Datafloq

Blockchain use cases expand to different industries, and businesses can leverage this technology to replicate Jones’ success. And many are already doing this by turning to blockchain consultancy firms to build a suitable solution. MarketsandMarkets project the global blockchain market size to amount to $67.4 billion by 2026, jumping from $4.9 billion in 2021 at a CAGR of 68.4%. 

This was really clear and very useful if you want to understand more about blockchain as well as how you could use one. I particularly like the examples of organisations that use one and what it is used for.

Blockchain in 5 industries by Alison McCauley via @oreillymedia

Blockchains go beyond finance. Here are five examples.

This is part of a series about Blockchain which can be found here. I recommend you read all three articles as it will give you a great understanding of Blockchain.

PayPal-backed blockchain aims to help banks verify digital IDs by Penny Crosman via @infomgmt

A new project backed by the government of Luxembourg could ultimately be influential in the U.S., where banks have been slow to develop a shared platform for digital identities.

This sounds like n interesting project which can definitely have a far-reaching impact on the way we are identified in the future for banking and any other financial transaction. However, there are alternatives in development so it's a bit of a race. You can refer to this CCN article to read a little more about them.

Can crowdsourcing mitigate a dearth of data scientists for banks? by Penny Crosman via @infomgmt

Data scientists from NASA, Google and hundreds of other places are working for financial firms in their spare time. Is this a good idea?

I would add to this that Data Scientists and those studying to become one also enter competitions on the Kaggle platform which a) might win them a prize but b) also fixes a need set by the organisation who has submitted it.

Strong data quality key to success with machine learning, AI or blockchain by Tendü Yoğurtçu via @infomgmt

Enterprises must be skeptical of data as it essentially determines how the AI will work and bias in the data may be inherent because of past customers, business practices and sales.

The past bias could be inherent in the data due to the design of legacy systems, the team typing it in, the customers, the way it was governed by the business or a combination of them.  Historic data should therefore always be treated with great suspicion until you have completed an exercise to check the systems, the data meanings, standards and governance. Please don't make huge business decisions based on data you can't prove it clean and unbiased.

How blockchain technology could aid key data challenges by Kevin Peek via @infomgmt

A variety of healthcare provider organisations and health insurers are just beginning to deploy distributed information to solve vexing data issues.

Yes blockchain gives definite benefits and I think that organisations should be looking at it seriously to see if it solves some of the problems they are experiencing.

Moving Goods – Is Blockchain the Answer? by @margaretreid987 via @Datafloq

We have all heard of Bitcoin. And we have various levels of understanding of it and the myriad of other cryptocurrencies that have popped up since. We may have even less understanding of the technology behind the cryptocurrency craze – blockchain.

Interesting thoughts about some ways in which blockchain can be useful and not just for currency or financial services.

How Blockchain Trains AI by @rnehrboss via @Datafloq

A rundown of the different ways emerging blockchain technology is impacting the Artificial Intelligence industry.

I found this really interesting and if you think about it and the possibilities there is definitely something to be excited about.

Embracing Blockchain Could Completely Change The Way Artists Sell Music And Interact With Fans by @SHERM8N via @forbes

Smart contracts can include which percentage of the revenue goes to which member of the band, the label, and manager.

This is fascinating and an amazing use for blockchain. I can see that this could potentially be used for all sorts of things and not just for the music business.

The rise of blockchain and blockchain-as-a-service by Antonis Papatsaras via @InfoMgmt

The technology creates the perfect conditions for organisations to provide vendors, customers and employees with visibility into their operations.

The potential of this technology is huge but we also need to be really careful not to get blinded by the hype surrounding this technology. You need to both understand it and test it properly so you have clear benefits before implementing.

SLIDESHOW: 5 technologies that will reshape business and society by David Weldon via @InfoMgmt

Within the next five years, blockchain, AI, lattice cryptography and quantum computing will revolutionise software development and its impact, says IBM Research’s global labs.

There are some really exciting developments in this slideshow - I'm particularly looking forward to lattice cryptography.

How Blockchain is Making Data Predictions More Accessible by @abrahamnorah via @datafloq

Due to developments in big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML), predictive analytics is starting to become highly reliable.

This is a very positive article that gives hope that all organisations can take advantage of the latest developments in data. As always you need to have good quality data if you want to have reliable results.

More organizations putting AI, blockchain and virtual reality to use by Bob Violino via @infomgmt

One in four firms now make regular use of artificial intelligence and many are interested in the potential of other emerging technologies, says Seth Robinson.

I never realised that so many companies are into some of these technologies.  Great things could be coming (maybe).

Blockchain Is Changing the Way We Protect and Track Our Identities by @BrianDEvans via @Inc

Although we are very much still in the early stages, blockchain technology is already beginning to show signs of its truly massive potential.

Interesting thoughts from Brian. I'd certainly never thought about how blockchain might affect where my identity data is and how it is protected. Definitely something to watch.

How blockchain will underpin the new trust economy by @lucasmearian via @computerworld

Over the next two years, businesses will increasingly turn to blockchain to establish trust among parties looking to transfer everything from money and movable goods to property.

I love the diagram, the way he has explained what blockchain actually is, and some of the potential uses which are great - so will companies actually implement blockchain - I hope so.

Predictions 2018: Organisations turn their attention from big data to smart data by Sandy Steier via @infomgmt

The new focus will be on the information that business users and business-focused analysts can utilise in their everyday decision-making.

I like these predictions and it looks like an interesting year we have to look forward to.

The Ascent of Blockchain-Based Trading Platforms by Vincent Stokes via @datafloq

Why is Blockchain gaining so much traction and how is blockchain-based trading platforms changing the finance world?

A real implementation of blockchain which has recently been written off as hype and a fad.

Predictions 2018: The blockchain revolution will have to wait a little longer by Martha Bennett via @infomgmt

In the coming year, we expect to see a number of projects stopped that should never have been started in the first place.

It's a sad reality that if it is new and people or organisations don't fully understand it, that many projects will fail. A shame as I still think this technology has benefits, but maybe the wider business/IT world are not in the right place for it yet.

What the world's central banks are saying about cryptocurrencies by listed authors via @infomgmt

Eight years since the birth of bitcoin, finance execs around the world are increasingly recognising the potential upsides and downsides of digital currencies.

I like this overview of how banks are handling the currencies which might help you to understand how to understand it yourself.