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Indore: Communication Gap Leaves 1,500 DAVV Students Unable To Appear For Exams; Systemic Failures HighlightedFacing SC State, Georgia aims for best start in nearly a centuryWhile Christmas Day is the most wonderful time of the year for many, Scottie Scheffler will remember his 2024 festivities for different reasons. To cap off a roller coaster year for the men’s golf World No. 1, Scheffler suffered an injury while preparing his Christmas dinner and will now miss the start of the PGA Tour’s 2025 season . “On Christmas Day while preparing dinner, Scottie sustained a puncture wound to the palm of his right hand from a broken glass,” Scheffler’s manager Blake Smith said via the PGA Tour on Friday. “Small glass fragments remained in the palm which required surgery.” Smith added that Scheffler has been told he “should be back to 100% in three to four weeks”. But following surgery, the 28-year-old will miss The Sentry tournament, the PGA Tour season-opener in Hawaii. This news is just the latest in a hectic calendar year for Scheffler – on and off the golf course. On the links, Scheffler has been on a streak that most golfers can only dream of. In April, he won the Masters before going on to win gold at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris. In total, Scheffler won seven events on the PGA Tour in 2024, including the TOUR Championship. Scheffler also won the Hero World Challenge and helped lead Team USA to its tenth straight win at the Presidents Cup. It was an equally memorable year off the course for the Olympic Gold medalist. Scheffler and his wife Meredith welcomed their first child on May 8 this year, just over a week before Scheffler played in the PGA Championship. It was during that tournament that Scheffler was arrested , charged with felony assault and released from jail before shooting a stellar 5-under par on day two of the event. All charges against the golfer were later dismissed . There certainly won’t be many more eventful years in the golfer’s life and his 2025 season will now be getting off to a much quieter start after his injury. Scheffler expects to return to competition in mid-January at The American Express tournament at La Quinta, California, according to Smith.
Even in this banner season for military academy football — complete with winning streaks, national rankings and a conference championship — the biggest goal remains the same. For Army: Beat Navy. For Navy: Beat Army. With the college football landscape changing at a furious rate, the significance of this matchup adds a dose of tradition to mid-December, amid all that talk about the transfer portal and the new expanded playoff. "We've had a good year. You make it a great year by winning this game coming up on Saturday. Frankly, that's just the way it goes around here," Army coach Jeff Monken said. "It's a game and a season really all of its own. We don't apologize for talking about it all the time. We talk about it all the time, and it's 365 days a year." Saturday in Landover, Maryland, is the 125th matchup between Army and Navy, and although these two programs are long removed from their days winning national titles and Heisman Trophies, this is a historic moment in the rivalry. The Black Knights and Midshipmen have combined for 19 wins this season, their highest total ever entering this game. Army (11-1) is ranked 19th in the AP poll after beating Tulane last week to win the American Athletic Conference — the first league title of any kind in the team's 134-year history. Navy (8-3) was ranked as well earlier this season after starting with six straight victories. "I knew we were going to be an improved football team," Navy coach Brian Newberry said. "Didn't know exactly what that was going to look like. I think certainly we've improved in a lot of different areas. I'm excited about the season we've had." This was Army's first season in the AAC, putting the Black Knights and Midshipmen in the same league, although their annual matchup is considered a nonconference game. For a while, there was a chance the teams could meet twice, with a conference championship clash coming before the regularly scheduled Army-Navy game, but that didn't happen. Their most prominent common opponent came from outside the league. Notre Dame handed both Navy and Army its first loss, beating the Midshipmen 51-14 and the Black Knights 49-14. Within the AAC, both teams beat Temple, UAB and East Carolina. Army beat Tulane and Rice and Navy lost to those two teams. Army and Navy also each won its nonconference game against Air Force. Those victories over Air Force mean this season's Commander-In-Chief's Trophy comes down to the Army-Navy game. It's the first time since 2017 that both teams enter this game with a shot at the trophy. It's also the first time since 2017 that both teams enter the game with bowl bids secured. Navy faces Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl and Army takes on Marshall in the Independence Bowl. This year's Army-Navy game is at the Washington Commanders' home stadium in Landover. It was also held there in 2011. This is the first time the game has been in Maryland since Baltimore hosted it in 2016. Baltimore is also up next in 2025. Army quarterback Bryson Daily has 29 rushing touchdowns this season, which is tied for the FBS lead with running back Ashton Jeanty, Boise State's Heisman finalist. Only one QB in FBS history has run for more TDs in a season than Daily. That was Navy's Keenan Reynolds, with 31 in 2013. "You come here to play in this game. The biggest stage possible, millions of people watching and a sold-out NFL stadium. It's awesome," Daily said. "None of the games that happened before this matter. We're going into this game like we're 0-0, they're 0-0 because that's just how you have to come into this game." Navy's closest game this season — win or lose — was a 56-44 win over Memphis. The Midshipmen are the only FBS team that hasn't had a game this season decided by eight points or fewer. AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Trump World turns on Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy over their use of special visas for foreign workers
Kwame Opoku marked his first start since rejoining Asante Kotoko with a brilliant goal, helping the Porcupine Warriors secure a 2-0 victory over Bibiani Goldstars in the Ghana Premier League on Friday night at the Baba Yara Stadium. The match saw Kotoko take an early lead in the 18th minute, when Justice Blay converted a penalty after a Goldstars defender handled Ndongani Samba Gilbani’s header, which was heading towards goal. Kotoko continued to dominate, keeping Goldstars under pressure throughout the game. The visitors’ hopes of a comeback were dashed in the 36th minute when Bright Boakye Kyereh was shown a red card for a dangerous challenge on Kotoko’s Amidu, reducing Goldstars to 10 men. Opoku, who had come close with a flying header just before the break, sealed the victory for Kotoko in the 74th minute with a calm and composed strike, showcasing his quality and skill. The win boosts Kotoko’s momentum, pushing them to second place in the league, just three points behind the leaders. They dominated possession, holding 51% of the ball, and created 14 goal attempts, with seven on target. Goldstars, in contrast, only managed two shots on target. With this fourth straight win, Kotoko is building serious momentum in their title challenge.
Share Tweet Share Share Email Speed and efficiency are critical. Financial institutions face increasing pressure to process loans quickly while maintaining accuracy. Traditional methods of loan processing often involve extensive manual labor, leading to delays and higher costs. Automation in loan processing and underwriting is a game-changer, offering faster credit decisions without compromising on quality . The Need for Automation in Loan Processing Loan processing involves multiple steps, including application review, document verification, and credit assessment. Historically, this has been a time-consuming process. For example, manual verification of documents can take days or even weeks. With increasing customer expectations for quick approvals, financial institutions need to adapt. Automation helps streamline these steps, ensuring faster turnarounds and improved customer satisfaction. Challenges in Traditional Loan Processing Traditional loan processing methods come with several challenges: Time-Consuming Processes: Manual tasks such as data entry and document validation slow down the approval process. Human Error: Errors in data entry or calculations can lead to incorrect decisions. High Operational Costs: Staffing for manual processing requires significant resources. Regulatory Compliance: Keeping up with changing regulations manually is labor-intensive and prone to oversight. Automation addresses these challenges by minimizing manual intervention and enhancing accuracy. How Automation Speeds Up Loan Processing Streamlined Data Collection Automated systems can collect and analyze data from various sources in real time. For instance, an automated platform can pull credit scores, income details, and employment history from integrated databases. This eliminates the need for borrowers to submit extensive paperwork, reducing the overall processing time . Optical Character Recognition (OCR) OCR technology is a critical component of loan processing automation. It allows systems to read and extract information from physical or digital documents. This reduces the time spent on manual data entry and ensures greater accuracy. Automated Credit Scoring Automation uses algorithms to assess creditworthiness based on predefined criteria. These algorithms analyze multiple factors, such as credit history, income, and debt-to-income ratio, within seconds. This results in faster and more consistent credit decisions. Real-Time Fraud Detection Fraud detection is crucial in loan processing. Automated systems use machine learning models to detect anomalies and flag potential fraud. For example, these systems can identify discrepancies in income statements or mismatched personal details, reducing the risk of fraudulent applications. The Role of Automation in Underwriting Underwriting is a critical step in loan approval, involving risk assessment and decision-making. Traditional underwriting methods rely heavily on human judgment, which can be subjective and inconsistent. Automation brings objectivity and efficiency to this process. Automated Underwriting Systems (AUS) AUS evaluates applications using predefined rules and criteria. These systems can process large volumes of applications simultaneously, ensuring quick decisions. Additionally, they provide clear justifications for approvals or rejections, enhancing transparency. Machine Learning in Underwriting Machine learning models improve the accuracy of underwriting decisions by analyzing historical data. These models identify patterns and trends that may not be evident to human underwriters. For example, a machine learning algorithm can predict default risks based on subtle indicators, such as irregular income patterns or recent job changes. Improved Compliance Automation ensures adherence to regulatory requirements by embedding compliance rules into the system. This reduces the likelihood of errors and penalties. For example, automated systems can check whether a loan meets Fair Lending Act requirements, ensuring unbiased decisions. Benefits of Automation in Loan Processing and Underwriting Faster Turnaround Times Automated systems significantly reduce the time required for loan approvals. Borrowers can receive decisions within minutes, improving their experience and increasing customer loyalty. Cost Efficiency Automation reduces the need for extensive manual labor, lowering operational costs. Financial institutions can reallocate resources to focus on customer service and strategic initiatives. Enhanced Accuracy Automated systems minimize errors in data entry and calculations. This ensures more accurate decisions, reducing the risk of defaults or regulatory violations. Scalability Automation allows financial institutions to handle higher volumes of applications without compromising on quality. This is particularly beneficial during peak periods, such as holiday seasons or economic stimulus programs. Better Risk Management Machine learning models used in automation improve risk assessment. By analyzing a wide range of data points, these models provide a comprehensive view of borrower risk. Key Considerations for Implementing Automation Integration with Existing Systems For successful implementation, automated systems must integrate seamlessly with existing platforms. This ensures a smooth transition and minimal disruption to operations. Data Security With increased reliance on digital systems, data security is paramount. Financial institutions must invest in robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive customer information. Employee Training Automation does not eliminate the need for human involvement. Employees must be trained to work alongside automated systems, focusing on tasks that require judgment and expertise. Regulatory Compliance Automated systems must be designed to comply with local and international regulations. Regular audits and updates are essential to maintain compliance. Future Trends in Loan Processing and Underwriting Automation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration AI is set to play a larger role in automation, enabling more sophisticated decision-making processes. For instance, AI can analyze unstructured data, such as social media activity, to assess creditworthiness. Blockchain Technology Blockchain offers a secure and transparent way to manage loan data. By providing a tamper-proof ledger, blockchain can streamline verification processes and reduce fraud. Customer-Centric Solutions Future automation efforts will focus on enhancing the borrower experience. Personalized loan offers and intuitive application processes will become standard. Conclusion Loan processing and underwriting automation are revolutionizing the financial industry. By leveraging technologies like OCR, machine learning, and AI, financial institutions can speed up credit decisions, reduce costs, and improve accuracy. However, successful implementation requires careful planning, integration, and adherence to regulatory standards. As automation continues to evolve, it promises a future of faster, smarter, and more customer-centric lending processes . Related Items: Automation in Loan Processing , Automation in Underwriting , Speeding Up Credit Decisions Share Tweet Share Share Email CommentsSkeena Resources Limited ( TSE:SKE – Get Free Report )’s share price was up 2.1% on Friday . The stock traded as high as C$13.44 and last traded at C$13.41. Approximately 296,787 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 9% from the average daily volume of 324,396 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$13.13. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have issued reports on SKE. Desjardins upgraded Skeena Resources to a “moderate buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. CIBC dropped their price objective on Skeena Resources from C$17.00 to C$16.00 in a research report on Monday, December 2nd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Skeena Resources from C$17.00 to C$18.00 in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Skeena Resources presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of C$16.96. View Our Latest Research Report on SKE Skeena Resources Price Performance Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Craig Andrew Parry sold 70,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$10.58, for a total value of C$740,509.00. Company insiders own 1.51% of the company’s stock. About Skeena Resources ( Get Free Report ) Skeena Resources Limited explores for and develops mineral properties in Canada. The company explores for gold, silver, copper, and other precious metal deposits. It holds 100% interests in the Snip gold mine comprising one mining lease and nine mineral tenures that covers an area of approximately 4,724 hectares; and the Eskay Creek gold mine that consists of eight mineral leases, two surface leases, and various unpatented mining claims comprising 7,666 hectares located in British Columbia, Canada. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Skeena Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Skeena Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Greg Gumbel , a sports broadcaster for CBS for more than 20 years who covered the NFL and college basketball, died Friday of cancer. He was 78. CBS Sports shared a statement from his wife Marcy and daughter Michelle Gumbel, who said, “It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel. He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer. Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace, and positivity. He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten. Greg’s memory will forever be treasured by his family, dearest friends, colleagues and all who loved him.” The older brother of TV newsman Bryant Gumbel, Greg Gumbel started out at a local Chicago station before joining ESPN in 1979, the year it launched. He anchored “SportsCenter” and did play-by-play for NBA games. He earned a local Emmy Award for hosting programming for the Madison Square Garden Network. In 1989, he moved to CBS Sports, where he announced NFL and college basketball games and hosted “The NFL Today.” Gumbel moved briefly to NBC, then returned to CBS and became part of the net’s March Madness coverage and announced NFL games. Earlier this year, he stepped away from his March Madness coverage at CBS. Born in New Orleans, he grew up in Chicago and graduated from Loras College. David Berson, president of CBS Sports, said in a statement, “The CBS Sports family is devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel. There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television. He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague. A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time. He was a familiar and welcoming voice for fans across many sports, including the NFL and March Madness, highlighted by the Super Bowl and Final Four. Greg broke barriers and set the standard for others to follow. It is an extremely sad day for all of us at CBS Sports and the entire sports community. We will miss Greg dearly, and send our deepest condolences to his wife Marcy, daughter Michelle, and his entire family.” His friend and former co-worker, producer Dan Forer, wrote on X, “The holidays are supposed to be filled with joy, but they are often mixed with sorrow. I just learned that my dear friend Greg Gumbel has passed. Greg was the best announcer a young producer/director could have... In addition to being a true professional he was a kind, magnificent man. May his memory be a treasured blessing for his family and friends.”Semester 2 Registration Open at Sask DLC
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Calm before the storm: Alex Massie’s predictions for 2025
Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. If ever a year deserved to be summed up in a cheap meme, it was 2024. It was the year that felt like being awake during surgery . Sometimes the social media chuckle gallery hits the nail right on the head, but for all the spot-on accuracy of that assessment, it’s also a year that warranted a search for its better angels; a sifting through the flotsam and jetsam for the fairy dust and joy. And there were halos to be found if you looked hard enough. “This is the biggest show we’ve done on this tour or any tour,” Taylor Swift told the crowd of 96,000 at the MCG. Credit: Jason South There was, for instance, a moment back in February when the MCG – traditionally a place that brings the feels during footy in September or the cricket on Boxing Day – seemed to swallow the entire city in a joyous embrace as host to the largest crowd of Taylor Swift’s entire 149-show Eras Tour . It was a tour, and a show, unlike anything Australia or Swift herself had ever seen. “You’re making me feel like I get to play a show for 96,000 beautiful people in Melbourne tonight,” a visibly stunned Swift told the heaving crowd, which was boosted by several thousand more fans “Taylor-gating” outside the stadium. “This is the biggest show that we have done on this tour, or any tour, ever.” The Swiftian joyfest then moved north to Sydney, where the total turnout was even bigger (320,000 across four shows). “Sydney, you are making me feel absolutely phenomenal,” she declared. The feeling was clearly mutual and spread far beyond the venues. As she had done on other stops on the Eras tour, Swift proved a human tonic to everything that ails us — from economic worries (Swiftonomics became a subject worthy of study) to general social malaise. We spend much of our time worrying about the yoof; especially young women. Well, in 2024 Taylor Swift turned up to show us that the kids are alright. And she wasn’t alone. Swiftmania was the herald of what would become the year that “girl power” – a worn and slightly tatty ’90s concept – received a fresh, ferocious update for the 21st century as something deeper, stronger and powered by a kind of worldly-wise joy. Year of the brat Forget sense and sensibility; 2024 was all sass and sensibility. Sabrina Carpenter parlayed her supporting status on the Eras Tour into a blockbuster year that elevated her to near the very top of the tree with no need for Swift’s booster seat. In Carpenter, pop music added another voice that was savvy, sassy, sexy and smart — from the unavoidable bop of Espresso to the come-to-bed brashness of her smash album Short n’ Sweet . Charli XCX took things a step further. The British singer staked her claim to the year by giving 2024 a word, a colour and an attitude all wrapped up in one album – Brat . She summed it up like this: “You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. Who feels herself but maybe also has a breakdown. But kind of like, parties through it, is very honest, very blunt. A little bit volatile. Like, does dumb things. But it’s brat. You’re brat. That’s brat.” Was 2024 the year of the brat? Charli XCX fans certainly thought so. If it doesn’t make sense to you, that’s probably because it isn’t meant to. But as a sensibility, it rode a cultural wave – the joy wave – so adroitly Kamala Harris even hitched her (ill-fated) Joy Wagon to the phenomenon. On a similar train was American Chappell Roan – dubbed the Joy Rebel of the Year – whose success confirmed young women were increasingly sailing different seas from the rest of the culture, and landing in happier places. Gold medal to Celine Dion’s Paris Olympics performance. Credit: Screengrab by IOC via Getty Images In July, it was a diva of a different era who elevated the Paris Olympics, as a wet and occasionally weird opening ceremony gave way to the thing we mostly remember about it – the moment we heard the voice and then spotted the figure of a glistening Celine Dion perched within the Eiffel Tower . It was a moment of extraordinary power – of personal resilience and vocal artistry – that lifted the event out of the damp Paris streets and elevated it to a moment of genuine collective emotion. Paris in summer was where we went looking for hope during the Australian winter, and our team delivered. Well, the women did anyway, bringing home 13 of the 18 gold and 27 of the 45 medals overall for our greatest Games ever. Alongside the usual heroics in the pool ( Kaylee McKeown became the first Australian to win four individual gold was one stand-out among a team of them) there were more eccentric goings-on elsewhere in the Olympic city. You could, if you so chose, react to Rachael “Raygun” Gunn’s zero-point car crash with a scowl and a sneer, and many did, but the open-hearted were able to see the funny side. As were comedians around the world, who found in the Australian breakdancer one of the year’s true unifying comedic moments . In a year of much misery, this achievement should not be underappreciated. There were happy cultural warriors elsewhere, too. In Hollywood, Nicole Kidman seemed to star in every other movie and series – as Steve Martin quipped at the Emmys , “when I see an actor I don’t know, I just say, ‘I loved your scene with Nicole Kidman’, and nine times out of 10, I’m right”. Our Nic took time out from starring in everything to win everything. This included inhaling the very rare air of an American Film Institute Life Achievement Award . Flying the flag for the younger generation, Adelaide’s Sarah Snook carted home an Emmy and a Golden Globe and warmed up for her 2025 Broadway run in The Picture Of Dorian Gray with a Laurence Olivier Award for the same tour de force in London. Ms Everywhere: It was a big year for Nicole Kidman. Credit: Dave Benett/WireImage Loyalty to royalty Acting royalty elevated us to higher planes. Garden variety royalty also played its part. Mary Donaldson, erstwhile of Hobart and Sydney, became Queen of Denmark in January, giving hope to everyone who met someone in a bar during the Sydney Olympics almost 25 years ago. You don’t have to love royalty to breathe the occasional sigh of relief at the distraction they provide from the daily grind, and you don’t have to be a monarchist to be pleased that the Princess of Wales faced and emerged from a cancer diagnosis in strong and dignified spirit. In the natural world, bad news abounds when it comes to climate change – but there were bright spots. Did you know Britain closed its last coal power station in September ? Or that renewables surged even in the US, where wind generation outpaced coal for the first time? Or that in the Amazon, deforestation reached record lows this year? It did. All is not lost yet. For some old-fashioned cheer from Mother Nature, you could wallow in dog and cat videos on social media (and millions of us did) – or you could turn your gaze to another heroine we didn’t know we needed, the Tay Tay of the Choeropsis liberiensis world. In September, the world fell in love with Moo Deng , a pygmy hippo, a girl whose social media fame drew attention to the plight and past of her species. Who knew the pygmy hippo came with a history this rich, star of a Liberian legend in which Moo Deng’s kind find their way through the forest at night by carrying diamonds in their mouths to light the way? This pigmy hippo has become a viral sensation. Credit: Khao Kheow Open Zoo Now we know, and we are the better for it. Closer to home, Pesto the king penguin gained global fame as a social media superstar , famous on TikTok as the largest chick Melbourne’s Sea Life aquarium has ever seen. Big, beautiful and comfortable in his own skin, Pesto was the kind of hero – “calm, curious and friendly” – we needed in a year when male humans to admire were thin on the ground. For other bright lights in the darkness, we needed look no further than our own southern skies, with the return on several occasions of the Aurora Australis , which made rare and spectacular appearances as far north as Queensland in May, September and October. Scientists and citizens alike were dazzled by a liquid light show of pinks and whites and purples and greens. Was there a better symbol of hope than this – a phenomenon named for Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn, announcing the arrival of a new day? It was as if we had been given a celestial preview of what would become the year’s biggest cultural event, one that also asked us to look skyward – or in the words of the song of the year, Defying Gravity , “look to the western sky”. Bright lights, all right. Aurora Australis seen in Victoria. Credit: Facebook/Travis Carroll The screen adaptation of Wicked landed in cinemas in mid-November, amid one of the strangest promotional tours in memory and hot on the heels of an American political earthquake two weeks earlier. The weird on-camera adventures of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were at times almost as entertaining as the film they starred in. And the movie’s storyline, adapted from the 2003 stage musical, could have been taken as a contemporary riff on the state of the world , very specifically, at the end of 2024. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo star in Wicked. Credit: Out.com Wicked is a tale of defiance and friendship forged in the most difficult of circumstances; of surmounting challenges and differences; of flying, literally, in the face of a world that seeks to define you. It was, as so many of the hopeful things were in 2024, a message delivered by and to young women startling in their confidence and talent, happy to defy the doom with which the times seek to burden them. The song that ends the film became the year’s musical battle cry – a moment when art and heart met irresistible force, and art and heart won. If ever a year needed an anthem , it was this one – and in Defying Gravity it found it. In a year that insisted we be sad and scared – or summed up in a cheap meme – it was proof there was still space for hearts and minds to soar. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .New AI Update! Transforming The Sims Like Never Before
CoBank Releases 2025 Year Ahead Report – Forces That Will Shape the U.S. Rural EconomyGoogle is ramping up its push into smart glasses and augmented reality headgear, taking on rivals Apple and Meta with help from its sophisticated Gemini artificial intelligence. The internet titan on Thursday unveiled an Android XR operating system created in a collaboration with Samsung, which will use it in a device being built in what is called internally "Project Moohan," according to Google. The software is designed to power augmented and virtual reality experiences enhanced with artificial intelligence, XR vice president Shahram Izadi said in a blog post. "With headsets, you can effortlessly switch between being fully immersed in a virtual environment and staying present in the real world," Izadi said. "You can fill the space around you with apps and content, and with Gemini, our AI assistant, you can even have conversations about what you're seeing or control your device." Google this week announced the launch of Gemini 2.0, its most advanced artificial intelligence model to date, as the world's tech giants race to take the lead in the fast-developing technology. CEO Sundar Pichai said the new model would mark what the company calls "a new agentic era" in AI development, with AI models designed to understand and make decisions about the world around you. Android XR infused with Gemini promises to put digital assistants into eyewear, tapping into what users are seeing and hearing. An AI "agent," the latest Silicon Valley trend, is a digital helper that is supposed to sense surroundings, make decisions, and take actions to achieve specific goals. "Gemini can understand your intent, helping you plan, research topics and guide you through tasks," Izadi said. "Android XR will first launch on headsets that transform how you watch, work and explore." The Android XR release was a preview for developers so they can start building games and other apps for headgear, ideally fun or useful enough to get people to buy the hardware. This is not Google's first foray into smart eyewear. Its first offering, Google Glass, debuted in 2013 only to be treated as an unflattering tech status symbol and met with privacy concerns due to camera capabilities. The market has evolved since then, with Meta investing heavily in a Quest virtual reality headgear line priced for mainstream adoption and Apple hitting the market with pricey Vision Pro "spacial reality" gear. Google plans to soon begin testing prototype Android XR-powered glasses with a small group of users. Google will also adapt popular apps such as YouTube, Photos, Maps, and Google TV for immersive experiences using Android XR, according to Izadi. Gemini AI in glasses will enable tasks like directions and language translations, he added. "It's all within your line of sight, or directly in your ear," Izadi said. gc/dwIt's been a roller-coaster ride for Super Micro Computer's (NASDAQ: SMCI) stock this year, with a lot of big moves in both directions. After a hot start to the year, the company's shares began to slide following a short report from Hindenburg Research that accused the company of accounting manipulation. That was soon followed by the company delaying the filing of its 10-K annual report. The Wall Street Journal later reported that Supermicro was being investigated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) over potential accounting issues, addIing fuel to the fire, although the report was never confirmed by the company nor the DOJ. Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » The stock later shot higher after the company announced that it has been shipping more than 100,000 graphic processing units (GPUs) per quarter. That rally, however, faded on news that its auditor, Ernst and Young, was resigning and that it would need to find a new auditor to file its annual report. This delay put the company at risk of its stock getting delisted from the Nasdaq Stock Market . Supermicro shares took a further hit after the company announced preliminary numbers for Q4 that came up well short of expectations. However, the stock was back to rally mode after the company announced it has found a new auditor. For the year, the stock is currently down modestly, about 7% as of this writing, although it has a tendency to make some pretty big moves in a short period of time. Against that backdrop, let's take a closer look at the company's latest news and see if investors should consider buying the stock at current levels. A new auditor arrives Supermicro shares soared over 30% after it named BDO its new auditor. Ernst and Young had earlier resigned, issuing a pretty harsh statement, saying it was "unwilling to be associated with the financial statements prepared by management" and that it has concerns about Supermicro's governance, transparency, and internal controls. The firm had only been Supermicro's auditor since March 2023 after taking over from Deloitte & Touche. Thus, getting BDO, which is one of the world's five-largest accounting firms, to take over is a big potential win for the company. In a statement, Supermicro said, "This is an important next step to bring our financial statements current, an effort we are pursuing with both diligence and urgency." In addition to announcing a new auditor, Supermicro also said that it has submitted a compliance plan with the Nasdaq in hopes to get a filing extension and remain listed of the exchange. If the company were delisted, its shares would still trade, but it would now be on the over-the-counter (OTC) market. That could lead to its removal for the S&P 500 index, which is just joined earlier this year. Is now a good time to buy Supermicro stock? Supermicro is a company that has been greatly benefiting from the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure build out, as it helps design and assemble servers and rack systems for customers. It has found a nice niche as being one of the first companies to embrace direct liquid cooling (DLC) solutions to help keep these systems cool, which can run hot and overheat. That said, it is also in a more commoditized business, with low gross margins . The company has been having margin issues, and its latest revenue numbers were also well short of estimates. That said, its revenue still surged over 18% year over year last quarter, despite coming up short of its prior forecast. Meanwhile, from a valuation perspective, it trades a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 9.5 times current fiscal year analyst estimates. If those numbers hold up, that is a very inexpensive valuation for a company growing as quickly as Supermicro. The caveat is that Supermicro currently has a lot of scrutiny around its numbers. The SEC has fined the company in the past by the SEC over its accounting, while the combination of the short report, potential DOJ investigation, and resignation of its auditor don't look good. However, this is a real business that is seeing a lot of demand, so if the company was just "smoothing over" numbers to meet forecasts, the fallout moving forward might not be that bad. I think investors can consider taking a small position in Supermicro based on its valuation and its role in the AI infrastructure build out, but this would be a speculative position only for risk-tolerant investors. Should you invest $1,000 in Super Micro Computer right now? 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Supermicro Shares Soar as It Looks to Avoid Being Delisted. Is Now a Good Time to Buy the Beaten-Down Stock? was originally published by The Motley FoolCracks emerge in Trump's MAGA coalition