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The future of finance: Why vertical AI must start with customers, not banks

The future of finance: Why vertical AI must start with customers, not banks For most who believe, it is the bank who have the data — true. But, believe me — it’ll never be the whole picture. We love “customer first” for a reason! In today’s fintech landscape, AI is the backbone that holds the promise of truly personal finance — money that works for the customer, not just the institution. It’s a shift that mirrors what we’ve seen in food-delivery platforms like DoorDash, Talabat, and Zomato. Initially, these services were designed around a singular focus: the customer. By creating a frictionless, responsive, and deeply personalized experience, they didn’t just serve a demand — they created one. The result? Restaurants lined up to join the ecosystem, seeing the undeniable value of being where the customers already were. In financial services, however, the approach has largely been inverted. While advances in cloud migration, open banking, and digital-first products are monumental, many of these efforts still center on the bank’s needs — reducing operational costs, streamlining internal processes, or automating routine tasks. But, can we say that financial services truly work for the everyday person yet? My answer is: Not quite. We still have miles to go to make the experience as intuitive and beneficial as the technology allows. This is where Sav is shifting the paradigm with a vertical AI approach that understands and prioritizes customer needs in a way that’s both intuitive and actionable. From physical to digital to robo-advisors The evolution of fintech started with a noble goal: “How can technology make financial services work for the average person?” Traditional banking once provided a named relationship manager, but as that era faded, fintech emerged to fill the gap. Neo-banks, budgeting apps, and robo-advisors made finance more accessible, but often in isolated, fragmented ways. Consumers now juggle multiple apps for different needs — banking, budgeting, saving, investing — creating an exhausting puzzle for them to piece together. Sav’s MyMoney suite addresses this fragmentation by consolidating and centralizing financial insights and actions. Built on AI and open banking, Sav enables consumers to manage their money from a single view, where everything from budgeting to saving and spending is tailored specifically to their unique financial behaviors. Much like food-delivery platforms that brought convenience to the forefront, Sav’s vertical AI-powered approach brings an all-encompassing experience to consumers, making financial actions simpler and less time-consuming. AI as the vertical solution for hyper-personalized finance While banks currently use AI to streamline business operations—such as processing documents faster—this is just scratching the surface. True vertical AI, as pioneered by Sav, integrates into the consumer’s life, understanding their financial landscape holistically. Picture an AI that doesn’t merely analyze past spending but proactively suggests the best financial actions based on current and predictive insights. Sav’s MyMoney suite, for example, not only provides real-time spending insights but is also being built to help users optimize their savings, debt, and investment decisions within the context of their broader financial goals. In practice, Sav’s vertical AI approach works because it processes enriched, high-quality data specific to each consumer. Unlike generic large language models (LLMs) used across industries, Sav’s AI agents leverage detailed transaction history, financial behaviors, and personalized insights to generate solutions that are accurate, transparent, and meaningful. This approach ensures that consumers get actionable intelligence without the risk of errors or so-called “hallucinations.” The challenge of data integrity and security For AI to be truly transformative, data integrity is paramount. It must be secure, reliable, and consent-driven. In a world where customer data powers hyper-personalized solutions, every piece of data must be treated as sensitive, ensuring that insights are generated with precision and accuracy. The cornerstone of any platform will be to ensure all insights are delivered within a secure, compliant, and consumer-consented framework. AI regulation—maybe. But, without a doubt, financial services must prioritize stringent data-security standards. Only then can we achieve a future where customers trust AI-driven insights. We are only scratching the surface with the use cases It will be no time before AI becomes mainstream for money. Imagine opening your banking/fintech app one morning to find it’s done some thinking on your behalf. You’ve got AED 5,000 “snoozing” in a low-interest savings account, and the AI agent has spotted a higher-yield option that would have netted you an extra 2% return last quarter. Rather than leaving this money dormant, it proposes an instant transfer into a better-performing account. And if you prefer liquidity over long-term commitment, it suggests a low-risk investment option that keeps your cash accessible but working—all with a single tap. But it doesn’t stop there. Sav’s MyMoney suite will one day recognize that you’re also paying 5% interest on a small outstanding credit line. With a single tap, it offers to refinance this debt at a lower rate or even proposes a “debt shuffle” that minimizes your interest payments based on available balances across your accounts. In just a few moments, you’ve optimized your cash flow and maximized returns without crunching a single number. This is the kind of effortless financial management that can empower consumers—not by throwing tools at them, but by giving them actionable, pre-packaged insights that they can implement instantly. What vertical AI can achieve Vertical AI for financial services, when executed with a customer-first mentality, will transform the industry as we know it. Customers will no longer need to piece together solutions from different providers, and banks and financial institutions will naturally flock to a system that places them where consumers are most engaged. The AI-powered platform is a powerful intermediary that can effectively bridge these two worlds. Sav’s MyMoney suite, built on open banking and AI, exemplifies this customer-centric, vertical-AI approach. Rather than competing with banks, Sav partners with them, offering a bank-agnostic platform that helps financial institutions reach highly engaged consumers. Banks can now connect with users who are actively managing their finances, increasing assets under management and offering personalized financial products directly to consumers. Ultimately, a customer-first approach driven by vertical AI has the power to usher …

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“I need to feel gratified this second or I’m doomed.” — said no customer ever.

“I need to feel gratified this second or I’m doomed.” — said no customer ever. Let’s cut through the noise for a second — no one really wants instant gratification. It’s become this buzzword that gets thrown around as if everyone’s dying for the next quick hit of satisfaction, but here’s the thing: what people really want is to buy in a way that fits their lifestyle. Whether that’s through loans, savings, or offers, what matters is the control and choice. People aren’t walking around saying, “I need to feel gratified this second or I’m doomed.” That’s not the way anyone thinks. What they’re saying is, “I want to live my life. I want to spend on what matters to me. I want options that make sense with how I manage my money.” For most of the post COVID time, ‘instant gratification’ is a convenient narrative that’s been pushed by those who profit from it. Sure, some people want to swipe and pay later, but it’s not about getting everything right now because they can’t wait. It’s about convenience, sure, but it’s also about flexibility. What people are really after is control over how they pay, spend, and manage their finances — whether it’s through savings, credit, or a smart offer that stretches their money a little further. I want to spend the way it fits into my lifestyle, not the way the financial system has decided I should. If that means using a loan to spread out the cost of something important to me, so be it. If that means dipping into my savings for something that aligns with my values, great. If it means hunting down the best deal or offer, you can bet I’m doing that too. But it’s not because I want things instantly. It’s because I want things intelligently. We’ve been conditioned to think it’s all about speed. The truth is, we’ve been sold this idea that speed is the ultimate goal. That getting what we want right now is the be-all, end-all of consumer happiness. The reality is, that’s just not true. Speed for the sake of speed is meaningless. Look at the way people actually spend. Take a second to think about the last big purchase you made. Did you just throw caution to the wind and swipe your card, thinking “Well, I need this NOW”? Probably not. You probably thought about it, weighed your options, checked your bank balance, maybe even looked at financing options to figure out the smartest way to buy. That’s what people are doing. They’re thinking about how to make their purchases work for them — not how to get things the fastest. The financial industry has this weird obsession with assuming that consumers are all about the rush, about swiping now and worrying later. But most people? Most of us are way smarter than that. We’re not blindly running after instant gratification. We’re thinking about how our purchases fit into our bigger picture. It’s about flexibility, not urgency. I want the flexibility to choose how I buy — whether that’s through cash, savings, or a loan. I want the option to pick what makes sense for me in that moment. And that’s not because I need it now. It’s because I want options that fit my lifestyle, not a one-size-fits-all solution that’s designed to keep me in the debt cycle. Sometimes, I’ll want to spread out payments with a loan because it works better with my cash flow. Other times, I’ll use the savings I’ve carefully built up because it’s important to me that I stay debt-free on certain purchases. And there are times when I’ll wait for an offer or discount because, well, who doesn’t love a good deal? It’s not about needing gratification in an instant — it’s about tailoring the financial experience to my life, my values, and my goals. Consumers want control, not just convenience. And that’s the real truth. Consumers aren’t looking for things to be faster — they’re looking for things to be smarter. We want the ability to control our finances in a way that makes sense for how we live, how we plan, and how we spend. We want the ability to mix and match — maybe use a loan here, pay cash there, or take advantage of a great deal when it pops up. It’s not about “now.” It’s about how. I want to live my life — on my terms. At the end of the day, it’s not about the gratification; it’s about making purchases that align with how I want to live my life. Sometimes that means paying now, sometimes it means paying later. What matters is that I get to choose the best path for me. I’m not chasing the dopamine hit of buying something on a whim — I’m thinking about how my financial decisions impact my life as a whole. And honestly, that’s the conversation we need to start having. It’s not about speed. It’s about options. It’s about control. It’s about creating financial tools that give people the ability to make the right decision for them, in whatever situation they’re in. So no, I don’t want instant gratification. I want to buy in a way that fits my life, my money, and my goals — on my terms. FAQs 1. What is Sav? Sav is a money-management app, allowing you to stick to your money goals, plan for the future, and spend confidently in the present.Your Sav card helps you meet your goals – just connect your bank account, top up your Sav card, choose goals you would like to set aside money for, and apply rules that automatically allocate funds toward your goals. The money set aside for your goals is safe. It is always available on your prepaid card and held with our partner financial institutions licensed by the CB UAE.You can use your Sav card to get additional rewards and cashbacks while spending. Check out our offer page to find the latest deals and promotions. 2. Is Sav a bank? No, ‘Sav Technologies Limited’ is a technology company registered in the Dubai International Financial …

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From “This is my bank” to “These are my options”: The new reality of finance

From “This is my bank” to “These are my options”: The new reality of finance Reality of Finance in a Multi-Bank, Multi-Product World: Where Do Loyalties Really Lie? My parents have been founders. They built their businesses from absolute scratch- and in the course of it, I got exposure an important aspect of Business – Money! Well, it was a dual income household too. Best part, as kids we were given a glimpse of the financial decision making process. It’s quite interesting to see how the financial world has shifted – both globally and locally. There was a time when one’s bank was practically their family’s bank. Our parents opened our first savings account when we were kids, and we stuck with that institution out of loyalty, trust, and a sense of stability. The bank was more than just a service – it was a relationship. Those days? They’re gone. (For another time, but now we are teaching our parents the product selection, the digital Apps and so much more). Coming back – today, in a world filled with open banking, fintech apps, BNPL services, and a slew of financial products that can all be accessed with a few taps, bank loyalty is dead. And if it’s not dead, it’s on life support. We live in a multi-bank, multi-product world. Think about your own financial life for a second. Chances are, you have accounts with multiple banks, you’re juggling more than one credit card, and you probably have an app or two that helps you track your spending, invest, or pay bills. That’s the norm now. We’ve moved from one-bank-for-life to whatever-works-for-my-life-right-now. It’s not just the tech-savvy millennials or Gen Z that are embracing this shift, either. This is happening globally, across age groups, across regions. People are realizing they no longer have to commit to a single institution for all their financial needs. Why should they? Banks used to have the monopoly on convenience. Now, the fintech ecosystem is all about flexibility. I’ve been lucky enough to observe this trend across different markets – from the GCC to APAC to (very recently) the West – and the same story plays out. People are taking charge of their financial choices in ways we’ve never seen before. They’re moving away from “This is my bank” to “These are my options.” In a multi-product world, loyalty isn’t to a brand – it’s to the experience. And that’s the game-changer. Loyalty isn’t built on history anymore; it’s built on who gets it right. The bank or app that gives me the best experience is the one I’ll use – for now. But the moment someone else does it better, offers me a more seamless interaction, or saves me time, I’m gone. This is where it gets interesting. It’s no longer just about rates or perks or even product variety. It’s about how these products fit into the broader ecosystem of your life. If one bank makes it easier to connect to all my accounts in one place, that’s the one I’m using. If another offers better data insights on my spending, I’m switching. It’s not personal; it’s just practical. But what about trust? I guess, this is where the human part comes in, and it’s something I’ve seen firsthand, especially in more traditional markets including UAE and KSA. Trust still matters. But it doesn’t come from brand recognition anymore – it comes from functionality. It comes from the feel of the product. When you connect multiple accounts, across different products, and give consumers real insights into their financial lives, that’s where trust is rebuilt. It’s no longer about walking into a bank branch and shaking someone’s hand; it’s about how well a product integrates into the flow of your life. People want control – real control – not just over their money but over the way they interact with their finances. They want the ability to switch between products effortlessly, to take advantage of whatever is best for them at the moment. And the platforms, apps, and banks that can facilitate that are the ones that will win. Financial selection is no longer about who has the best product. It’s about who fits into my world. I’ve seen this play out repeatedly in markets like the UAE and Saudi Arabia. There’s an entire generation coming up that isn’t married to one financial institution. They’re looking for flexibility. They want autonomy. They’re not interested in who has been around the longest or who their parents used – they’re interested in who can save them time, make them smarter with their money, and give them tools that actually work. And here’s the kicker: it’s not just about making things easier. It’s about anticipating what consumers want. We live in a world where people don’t even know what financial products they need half the time until the app in their pocket tells them. In a multi-bank ecosystem, the winners are the ones who can guide consumers effortlessly from one product to another without making them feel like they’ve even switched lanes. So, where does that leave banks? Banks need to rethink their position in this ecosystem. It’s no longer enough to be the all-in-one financial provider. People don’t want to be locked into one relationship – they want options. They want to mix and match, to take out a mortgage with one bank but hold their savings somewhere else, and maybe even invest through an entirely different app. Banks that try to hold on to their customers by forcing loyalty or locking them into products are going to lose. The successful ones are going to be the ones that partner, integrate, and enable choice. The future of finance is collaborative, not competitive. If I’ve learned anything from watching this shift play out, it’s that consumers will follow the path of least resistance. If one bank doesn’t let me connect my financial life in an easy, meaningful way, I’ll just move to the next one that does. This isn’t about the product anymore – …

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We started to build Google Maps for Money. But do consumers really know their destination?

We started to build Google Maps for Money. But do consumers really know their destination? While building Sav, I’ve been always fascinated by the idea to build the Google Maps for money. A tool that doesn’t just help you track where you are financially, but guides you, step by step, to where you want to be. Easy, right? You set your goals, and we give you the most optimized route to get there. But here’s the twist no one talks about: Do we really know the destination? Someone asked me today. We all have these broad, shiny financial goals: Buy a house, retire early, pay off debt, build wealth. But as soon as you get close to one, the goalpost moves. It’s human nature. You saved $10,000? Now it’s $50,000. Got the job promotion? Well, now you want a bigger house to go with it. The finish line keeps shifting, and so does the route. It’s like constantly recalculating your journey on Google Maps. You think you’re headed somewhere, and then life throws a curveball — or you just want more — and now you’re rerouting. The path you were on suddenly doesn’t make sense anymore because the destination has changed. So, what are we really building? When I think about our initial ambition — Google Maps for money — it was rooted in simplicity. A path, a goal, and the fastest route to get there. But I’ve realized along the way that money doesn’t work like that. It’s not a straight line, it’s more like an endless loop of recalibration. The problem is, most people are just punching in random destinations because they’re told that’s where they should go. Save X. Buy Y. Invest in Z. It’s all formulaic until it isn’t. The moving goalpost problem. Let’s be real. How often have you had a financial goal that stayed the same? That didn’t evolve with your circumstances, your life, or your ambitions? Exactly. The truth is, your goals aren’t fixed. They change with every new job, every big purchase, every new responsibility, and, yes, every new shiny thing you want to add to your life. We’re sold this idea that once you set a financial goal, it’s like locking in coordinates. Just follow the route, and boom — you’ve “arrived.” But money doesn’t work like that. It never has. And that’s where a lot of financial products get it wrong. They assume that once you set a goal, you’re just going to plow through and get there. But in reality, the goalpost is constantly moving, and we have to recalibrate with every new turn. The real question: Do we even know the goal? That’s the kicker. We spend so much time focusing on the how that we forget to ask if we’ve even figured out the why. Why do you want to buy that house? Why are you so obsessed with a certain amount in your savings account? Why is retirement the golden goal when some people would rather build a life they never want to retire from? It’s not about the goal itself — it’s about the fact that goals are fluid, just like life. And that’s okay. But the challenge is being able to pivot when the goal changes, without feeling like you’re lost or falling behind. Money maps aren’t linear…. That’s why we’re not just building a simple roadmap for money. We’re building something dynamic. A system that doesn’t just plot a course but understands that you’ll change directions a dozen times before you get where you want to go. And maybe where you want to go isn’t even clear yet. Your path to financial freedom, security, or fulfillment won’t be a straight line — and it shouldn’t be. Sometimes you’ll take detours because life happens. Sometimes you’ll change the destination entirely because your priorities shift. But the key is to stay in control of the journey, no matter where it leads. The real question we should be asking: How do you want to live? We need to rethink what financial goals even mean. It’s not about getting from Point A to Point B. It’s about understanding the why behind the journey. Do you want to live a life that’s secure and steady, or one where you can take risks and enjoy the ride? Do you want to save for the future or live fully in the present? Or do you want a balance of both? The answer to those questions is different for everyone. That’s why we’re building something that’s not just a financial roadmap but an adaptable, personalized system that understands your journey will change as you do. Because ultimately, it’s not just about reaching the goal — it’s about enjoying the ride, recalibrating when necessary, and having the flexibility to change your destination whenever you feel like it. So, are we really building Google Maps for money? Not exactly. We’re building something better. A system that doesn’t just take you from Point A to Point B, but understands that your goals are fluid, your priorities shift, and your financial journey is personal. We’re not just helping you reach a destination — we’re helping you navigate the ever-changing landscape of your life, one recalibration at a time. FAQs 1. What is Sav? Sav is a money-management app, allowing you to stick to your money goals, plan for the future, and spend confidently in the present.Your Sav card helps you meet your goals – just connect your bank account, top up your Sav card, choose goals you would like to set aside money for, and apply rules that automatically allocate funds toward your goals. The money set aside for your goals is safe. It is always available on your prepaid card and held with our partner financial institutions licensed by the CB UAE.You can use your Sav card to get additional rewards and cashbacks while spending. Check out our offer page to find the latest deals and promotions. 2. Is Sav a bank? No, ‘Sav Technologies Limited’ is a technology company registered in the Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai, …

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The honest truth about money (That no one talks about)

The honest truth about money (That no one talks about) Let’s talk about money. Honestly. There’s a certain discomfort in admitting how we really feel about it, right? On one hand, money is this shiny thing that can get us everything — security, freedom, status. On the other hand, it’s also this constant pressure, this weight that hangs over our heads, dictating so many of our decisions. People love to glamorize money. Just scroll through Instagram, and you’ll see it: the success stories, the “hustle harder” mindset, the influencers telling you how easy it is to level up. And look, I’m all for building wealth and creating freedom for yourself. But let’s get real for a second — money doesn’t always feel empowering. Sometimes, it feels like a constant chase, an exhausting game where the finish line keeps moving. Here’s the honest truth: Money isn’t just a tool, it’s emotional. And that’s what nobody talks about. We live in a world where everyone is so focused on what money can buy that we forget what it costs — mentally, emotionally, even physically. We tell ourselves things like, “I’ll be happier when I hit X amount.” Or, “I’ll finally feel free when I have enough to never worry again.” But when you’re constantly chasing money, there’s always going to be something more, something else. The goalpost keeps shifting. And let’s not even start on the anxiety. The fear of running out. The guilt of not saving enough. The comparison trap when you see someone living a life you wish you had. I’ve felt it all, and I know I’m not alone. Money doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s tied to how we see ourselves, how we compare ourselves to others, and the weight of expectations society places on us. People love to throw around the idea that money buys happiness — and sure, it buys comfort. It buys options. It buys freedom in certain ways. But what it can’t buy is peace. That comes from how we manage it, how we feel about it, and most importantly, how we control it instead of letting it control us. I’ve worked with people who make a lot of money but are constantly stressed, and others who live on less but have complete control over their finances and a deep sense of calm. It’s not about the amount — it’s about the mindset. And, ironically, the biggest thing money buys isn’t something you can see or touch. It’s control. Control over your choices. Control over your future. Control over your time. It’s not about earning for the sake of earning. It’s about knowing that you can walk away from a bad deal, take a break when you need to, or invest in things that align with your values, because you’re in control of your financial life. But here’s where we get stuck — gratification. Instant gratification is the killer. I get it, though. It’s hard to say no to something you can get right now with just a swipe. We’re constantly sold this idea that we need to have it all, and we need to have it now. So we spend. We indulge. And then we feel the weight of those choices later. That’s the emotional rollercoaster of money. It’s tempting, it’s empowering, but it can also feel suffocating when it’s not handled right. So, what’s the real conversation we need to have about money? We need to talk about the importance of getting comfortable with it — getting real about what it means to you, not what society tells you it should mean. We need to build a relationship with money that’s based on control and clarity instead of impulse and anxiety. And that doesn’t mean being rigid or never spending — it means understanding the why behind your spending, knowing when to indulge and when to hold back. Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t to just have money. The goal is to have a life where money works for you, not the other way around. Where you don’t have to keep up with anyone else’s version of success, because you’ve defined your own. Money feels complicated because it is complicated. But the more we get real about it — about what it makes us feel, and what we want it to do for us — the more power we take back. FAQs 1. What is Sav? Sav is a money-management app, allowing you to stick to your money goals, plan for the future, and spend confidently in the present.Your Sav card helps you meet your goals – just connect your bank account, top up your Sav card, choose goals you would like to set aside money for, and apply rules that automatically allocate funds toward your goals. The money set aside for your goals is safe. It is always available on your prepaid card and held with our partner financial institutions licensed by the CB UAE.You can use your Sav card to get additional rewards and cashbacks while spending. Check out our offer page to find the latest deals and promotions. 2. Is Sav a bank? No, ‘Sav Technologies Limited’ is a technology company registered in the Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai, UAE, with registration number # 5474. Through our banking partnership with Mashreq Bank, VISA and NymCard, we provide VISA prepaid cards. 3. Does Sav issue bank accounts? No, Sav does not issue any bank accounts. Instead, Sav offers prepaid Visa cards issued by our partner bank, Mashreq Bank PSC, pursuant to their license from Visa. The money in your savings goals is always held with our partner bank in your individual Sav Card.  4. How is my Mashreq account different to the Sav account? At Sav, we do not issue any bank account. It’s a prepaid Visa card. Share article Instagram Linkedin Facebook-square Twitter-square

Meta’s New Fact-Checking Approach: Community Notes vs.Censorship

Meta’s Fact Checking Policies Meta has announced that they are changing their method of flagging false content from using third-party fact checkers to using a Community Notes approach based on X’s model (Kucharski). Zuckerberg has cited the 2024 US presidential election as an underlying reason for this change as he sees it as a reprioritization of speech (Gibson). This suggests that Meta’s remodelling of how they fact check information on their platform is based on a desire to reduce censorship. Criticism Towards Meta The Republic Party has criticized Meta for their fact checking policy and believes it is censorship which disproportionately affects right-wing voices (NEWS WIRES). It is interesting to note that Meta’s fact checking program was originally set up when they received criticism due to Facebook’s role in spreading misinformation during the 2016 US presidential election (Kucharski). It would appear that Meta is quite receptive to the feedback it receives and ongoing discussions around its fact checking policies. Benefits of Community Notes Community Notes has its positives in that statistically it is likely to lead to correct conclusions, and that it reduces the potential for systemic bias as there needs to be agreement from diverse users. Moreover, it is beneficial for posts which may be technically accurate but misleading in the way it presents facts (Kucharski). In these situations, Community Notes would be helpful as it could provide context so that users are not misinformed. Global Implications However, by using Community Notes, the responsibility for fact checking moves from the organization to the public. While this may be embraced in some regions, Meta’s users are globally located and in Europe, tech firms are being asked to take more responsibility for their content (McMahon et al.) This brings up the question on who should have the responsibility for deciding what is true. However, there is no right answer as different countries respond differently to the question. We can see this reflected in court procedures as English and American courts often use juries to decide a case while European courts rely on their judges- this is the difference between relying on public opinion versus looking at professionals when determining the truth (Kucharski). As a result, Meta may not be able to adopt Community Notes on a global scale as moving responsibility for fact checking to the public may not be accepted in every region. Who Should Be Responsible? It is also important to note that Meta is not placing all the responsibility on the public. They still plan on moderating content related to drugs, terrorism, child exploitation, fraud, etc (Gibson). This could be the middle ground that is more accepted where the responsibility for moderating/fact checking important topics remains with Meta, while the public weighs in on matters that are less important. This still may not be accepted by some who want the responsibility to be moved entirely to the public. This is because they see it as a form of paternalistic infantilization for companies to moderate their content in such a way (Singer). Instead, they want it to be left to the public to moderate these spaces. While I may understand why this type of moderation could be considered paternalistic, I believe there is a need for a certain level of moderation from companies for the content on their platforms. Therefore, while Meta’s decision may be based on a desire to reduce censorship, it is unclear if Meta will be able to extend this policy on a global level. Nevertheless, by moving to Community Notes, Meta has the potential to reduce censorship on its platform at least in the USA. FAQs 1. What is Sav? Sav is a money-management app, allowing you to stick to your money goals, plan for the future, and spend confidently in the present.Your Sav card helps you meet your goals – just connect your bank account, top up your Sav card, choose goals you would like to set aside money for, and apply rules that automatically allocate funds toward your goals. The money set aside for your goals is safe. It is always available on your prepaid card and held with our partner financial institutions licensed by the CB UAE.You can use your Sav card to get additional rewards and cashbacks while spending. Check out our offer page to find the latest deals and promotions. 2. Is Sav a bank? No, ‘Sav Technologies Limited’ is a technology company registered in the Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai, UAE, with registration number # 5474. Through our banking partnership with Mashreq Bank, VISA and NymCard, we provide VISA prepaid cards. 3. Does Sav issue bank accounts? No, Sav does not issue any bank accounts. Instead, Sav offers prepaid Visa cards issued by our partner bank, Mashreq Bank PSC, pursuant to their license from Visa. The money in your savings goals is always held with our partner bank in your individual Sav Card.  4. How is my Mashreq account different to the Sav account? At Sav, we do not issue any bank account. It’s a prepaid Visa card. Share article Instagram Linkedin Facebook-square Twitter-square

Turning the Tide: How Invasive Seaweed Is Becoming a Biofuel Solution

Turning the Tide: How Invasive Seaweed Is Becoming a Biofuel Solution Calls for climate reparations have come from leaders including those in the Caribbean. Climate reparations are essentially payments from countries that have significantly contributed to the climate crisis and economically benefited from doing so. Caribbean leaders have called for reparations because their countries are vulnerable and have suffered from the effects of climate change through rising sea levels and worsening storms, but they have done little to contribute to the problem (Handy). It is understandable that they would like compensation for the harm they have suffered from the countries who contributed towards worsening climate change and benefited from those contributions. I think what is interesting to note though is that it is human advancement which has majorly contributed towards climate change. Usage of fossil fuels has led to the climate crisis, but it also had positive impacts: we now have energy for electricity, transportation, and industrial processes and this led to technological and economic progress. The problem is that this came at a cost and now we are facing the effects of climate change through rising temperatures, rising sea levels, drought etc.   Invasive Seaweed One of the effects of climate change is an invasive seaweed that is washing up on Caribbean beaches- the seaweed is called Sargassum. Tourism is a huge part of the economy in the Caribbean, but Sargassum has a horrible smell as it rots and that repels tourists. Plus, it’s not just affecting the economy, it’s also damaging to human health due to the gases it releases and it harms the environment (Handy). While it is damaging to the Caribbean in this current context, it is interesting to note that the seaweed is not inherently harmful. In the ocean, Sargassum is a floating habitat that feeds and houses many animals (Ocean Exploration). It plays an important role in the ocean ecosystem, but it is not meant to be washing up on the shores of these countries. In these different circumstances, this naturally occurring seaweed becomes harmful towards coastal ecosystems, the economy and public health (National Ocean Service). It is important to keep in mind that Sargassum is not inherently harmful and it does serve an important purpose in the ocean. It is simply that the Sargassum’s environment has changed and so its impact has changed.   Repurposing Sargassum There are few things that are one-dimensional. Most issues are multifaceted and its different aspects should be considered. For instance, Sargassum does not just have a positive or negative impact; it depends on the environment it is placed in. Similarly, human advancement may have contributed to climate change but it also led to technological and economic progress. In this specific context, while human advancement may have caused the problem of Sargassum on Caribbean shores, it also led to a solution where scientists used Sargassum to create biofuel. Dr Henry took advantage of an issue that was facing Barbados to create a fuel source that reduced reliance on expensive imported fossil fuels and helped the Caribbean towards its goal of zero emissions (Handy). She was able to find a solution when faced with this environmental issue that will work towards minimizing the impact of the problem and contribute positively towards the environment and the economy.   Reframing Issues While it is true that there would have been no need for Dr Henry’s team to create Sargassum biofuel if there had been no Sargassum causing what Barbados’ Prime Minister called a national emergency, we cannot fix or change what has already happened (Handy). We need to look forward and work towards how we can better the situation. While it is important to learn from history, we cannot change it and so we should be actively working towards improvement. For instance, colonial countries are the ones who have largely contributed to the climate crisis, and also tend to be better developed and have more resources compared to colonized countries. As a result, many people from developing countries may move to more developed countries due to the professional opportunities available or for a better standard of life- this is referred to as brain drain. This is a reinforcing cycle where skilled people move to developed countries which benefits the developed countries’ economy. While this is negatively impacting developing countries like those in the Caribbean, we cannot go back and change the fact that these countries were colonized. What can be done is to use the resources of colonial countries to help developing countries- this is what climate reparations could potentially do. Reverse brain drain is another example where people from developing countries learn or gain experience in developed countries due to the opportunities available there and then bring their skills back home. Dr Henry and her husband are both from the Caribbean and studied in the US, but they wanted to come back to the Caribbean to help build up the region (Handy). We cannot go back and change what has already happened, but we can move forward and use the tools that may have disadvantaged us to have a positive impact. FAQs 1. What is Sav? Sav is a money-management app, allowing you to stick to your money goals, plan for the future, and spend confidently in the present.Your Sav card helps you meet your goals – just connect your bank account, top up your Sav card, choose goals you would like to set aside money for, and apply rules that automatically allocate funds toward your goals. The money set aside for your goals is safe. It is always available on your prepaid card and held with our partner financial institutions licensed by the CB UAE.You can use your Sav card to get additional rewards and cashbacks while spending. Check out our offer page to find the latest deals and promotions. 2. Is Sav a bank? No, ‘Sav Technologies Limited’ is a technology company registered in the Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai, UAE, with registration number # 5474. Through …

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Can Pretrial Publicity Impact Jury Fairness? A Look at the Mangione Case

Can Pretrial Publicity Impact Jury Fairness? A Look at the Mangione Case Jury trials allow the public to decide the outcome of a case. Justice is taken from the hands of the state and given to ordinary people. This acts as a form of protection for defendants against the power of the state (Iorns & Co). The jurors are meant to be fair and impartial and they can be questioned in order to determine whether they will act accordingly. However, considering the publicity around Luigi Mangione, it raises the question on whether the jurors can still be fair and impartial. There have been studies which looked at the impact of pretrial publicity on a jury and research suggests that publicity can influence the likelihood of a verdict. This publicity tends to rely on police and prosecution accounts, and so the bias is normally against the defendant (Abrams and Calkins). However, for Mangione, the publicity has been quite positive and a lot of the media attention surrounding the case is on why he is innocent or why his actions are justifiable.   Social Media Sympathy The positive publicity surrounding the case has been recognized and US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has commented on how alarming he finds the idolization of a murderer (Evans). People online either believe Mangione is innocent because the “eyebrows don’t match” or because there is simply too much evidence, or they defend him because they think he was justified in his actions. There are a lot of negative emotions attached to the American health insurance industry and those emotions have fueled support for Mangione. This has led to actions like people funding his defense through various platforms. Hence, it is quite clear that he has garnered a lot of public support. While it is true that people have always had access to the news and other people’s opinions, the Mangione case has received a lot of attention and I think that will have a more significant impact on influencing jurors’ perspectives (Suciu). This is especially because social media acts as an echo chamber and it would be easier to be influenced when all the discourse seems to indicate that a viewpoint is held by the majority of people.   Other Similar Cases This isn’t the first time people have reacted way to an alleged killer. O.J. Simpson had fans cheering for him during his car chase and people even sold merch outside the courthouse (Arntfield). With Mangione, people are frustrated with the health insurance system and so they support him. Similarly with O.J. Simpson, there was a lot of support for him due to concerns with systemic racism. These individuals become symbols and so people flock to support them because of what they represent. In these cases, the jury may be inclined to not pass a guilty verdict even if they “believe beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant has broken the law” (Suciu). This can either be seen as the jury exercising their function in a case that they think is unjust or it may be a failing on the part of the legal system to not have an impartial and fair jury. Nevertheless, the jury will be acting in a way that they think is fair, even if objectively their actions may be considered otherwise. In a situation where a jury is expected to be fair and impartial, it then raises the question of how we define fairness. Obviously, there is a certain understood definition which is what lawyers use when selecting a jury. However, fairness is an intangible concept which has many definitions and so the question of whether pretrial publicity would affect a jury’s fairness would be dependent on how we understand fairness. FAQs 1. What is Sav? Sav is a money-management app, allowing you to stick to your money goals, plan for the future, and spend confidently in the present.Your Sav card helps you meet your goals – just connect your bank account, top up your Sav card, choose goals you would like to set aside money for, and apply rules that automatically allocate funds toward your goals. The money set aside for your goals is safe. It is always available on your prepaid card and held with our partner financial institutions licensed by the CB UAE.You can use your Sav card to get additional rewards and cashbacks while spending. Check out our offer page to find the latest deals and promotions. 2. Is Sav a bank? No, ‘Sav Technologies Limited’ is a technology company registered in the Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai, UAE, with registration number # 5474. Through our banking partnership with Mashreq Bank, VISA and NymCard, we provide VISA prepaid cards. 3. Does Sav issue bank accounts? No, Sav does not issue any bank accounts. Instead, Sav offers prepaid Visa cards issued by our partner bank, Mashreq Bank PSC, pursuant to their license from Visa. The money in your savings goals is always held with our partner bank in your individual Sav Card.  4. How is my Mashreq account different to the Sav account? At Sav, we do not issue any bank account. It’s a prepaid Visa card. Share article Instagram Linkedin Facebook-square Twitter-square

Is Pardon Power Excessive? Examining Presidential Pardons

Is Pardon Power Excessive? Examining Presidential Pardons While presidential pardons are not unique to the US, these pardons tend to happen at the end of a presidential term due to potential ramifications (Roosevelt). Hence, as President Biden is leaving office, we have the opportunity to see how this power is being exercised. Controversially, Biden decided to pardon his son despite initially saying he would not do so. While Biden has the ability to issue presidential pardons, when this ability is used to pardon family members then it raises questions on if this power extends beyond what Presidents should be able to do. Should Presidents have the ability to pardon their family members for their crimes?   Royal Prerogative This power is reminiscent of the British royal prerogative and does in fact come from the UK (Roosevelt). Considering the US is not a monarchy, it feels odd that the President has this power. Nevertheless, as they are both Heads of State, it makes sense for the power to be with the President more than anyone else. However, the royal prerogative exists because the Crown had arbitrary authority through their supreme power and this is not true for the US. Hence, it seems odd for the President to be exercising the same power that the Crown in the UK does. Law travels and the US was a British colony which is likely why the British royal prerogative was used to form the American presidential pardon. Nevertheless, as this is a power that resides solely within the President, it seems open to exploitation.   Constraints on Pardon Power It appears to be a barrier to justice if the President has the capacity to pardon whomever he would like. However, the power is apparently not limitless. For instance, the Supreme Court has said that the pardon power is to be exercised in the public interest (Tudor and Florence). That justification seems weak when looking at pardoning family members, but if Biden’s son was unfairly targeted then there could be public interest reasons to pardon him. Moreover, there are constitutional constraints on pardon power. This means that Presidents cannot be above the law- which is important when considering the source of the law and its implication in a democratic context- and that it cannot be used to obstruct justice as that would be criminal and unlawful (Tudor and Florence). Understanding that this power has its constraints is reassuring because it means that the President does not have unlimited power.   Benefits of Pardon Power There are benefits to having a President with pardon power. The idea behind it was to prevent miscarriages of justice, to allow acts of mercy, and to help society move forward in politically charged cases (Roosevelt). In cases like military personnel and veterans being convicted for offences based on their sexual orientation, it makes sense for Biden to be able to pardon them (FitzGerald). Biden was not going against the laws of the land, he was merely pardoning those convicted under a now repealed law.   Preemptive Pardons An interesting aspect of pardon power is the ability to grant preemptive pardons. This is what President Ford issued to President Nixon for Watergate. Nixon was never charged with anything, but Ford still pardoned him (Arnold). Similarly, Biden considered preemptively pardoning critics of Trump as Trump has suggested that he will prosecute them. However, there are worries that this would be contrary to what pardon power was intended for: acts of mercy and defusing societal tensions (Hutchinson). Moreover, in Burdick v. United States, the Court ruled that accepting a pardon is an admission of guilt (NCC Staff). If these critics have done nothing wrong, they may not want to accept the pardons if it may mean that they have to accept that they were also guilty of the offence. In conclusion, while pardon power may be quite broad, it still has its limits and it is quite reassuring that there are checks on how this power is exercised as it prevents exploitation of it in theory. I think that there are benefits to a president having this power and this is evidenced in history. I also feel it is quite natural to be skeptical when this type of power is used to benefit immediate family members, but I would like to believe that if President Biden did overstep his bounds then there would be measures taken to react to the abuse of power. FAQs 1. What is Sav? Sav is a money-management app, allowing you to stick to your money goals, plan for the future, and spend confidently in the present.Your Sav card helps you meet your goals – just connect your bank account, top up your Sav card, choose goals you would like to set aside money for, and apply rules that automatically allocate funds toward your goals. The money set aside for your goals is safe. It is always available on your prepaid card and held with our partner financial institutions licensed by the CB UAE.You can use your Sav card to get additional rewards and cashbacks while spending. Check out our offer page to find the latest deals and promotions. 2. Is Sav a bank? No, ‘Sav Technologies Limited’ is a technology company registered in the Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai, UAE, with registration number # 5474. Through our banking partnership with Mashreq Bank, VISA and NymCard, we provide VISA prepaid cards. 3. Does Sav issue bank accounts? No, Sav does not issue any bank accounts. Instead, Sav offers prepaid Visa cards issued by our partner bank, Mashreq Bank PSC, pursuant to their license from Visa. The money in your savings goals is always held with our partner bank in your individual Sav Card.  4. How is my Mashreq account different to the Sav account? At Sav, we do not issue any bank account. It’s a prepaid Visa card. Share article Instagram Linkedin Facebook-square Twitter-square

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