Large deep learning models have achieved remarkable success but are resource-intensive, posing challenges such as memory usage. We introduce CURing, a novel model compression method based on CUR matrix decomposition, which approximates weight matrices as the product of selected columns (C) and rows (R), and a small linking matrix (U). We apply this decomposition to weights chosen based on the combined influence of their magnitudes and activations. By identifying and retaining informative rows and columns, CURing significantly reduces model size with minimal performance loss. For example, it reduces Llama3.1-8B's parameters to 7.32B (-9%) in just 129 seconds, over 20 times faster than prior compression methods.

Jokingly dubbed "deal prevention units" by some front-office staff, compliance teams now have the third most-stressful City jobs after that of an investment banker and a trader. Pre-crisis, pre-Brexit and pre-cybercrime, compliance used to be (almost!) a stress-free job with regular hours. As regulatory pressure intensifies and personal liability mounts, compliance officers are under increased pressure do the right thing every time, personally and professionally. Our latest research, The Cost of Compliance and How to Reduce It, shows that a typical European bank, serving 10 million customers, could save up to €10 million annually and avoid growing fines by the regulator by implementing technology to improve the "Know Your Customer" (KYC) processes. Following new EU Anti-Money Laundering (AML4/5) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) rules extending the scope of KYC requirements, the cost each year of punitive non-compliance fines is now €3.5 million.

"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LIKE THINGS?" one of my Twitter followers yelled at me yesterday as I tweeted about how the Switch seemed a bit too big to be as portable as many would like. It's true that I am on the glass half empty side of analysis more often than not, and as such, I was expecting that I may not be quite as over the moon about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as most reviewers, handing the game so many perfect 10s it's now one of the best-reviewed games ever made. But even cynicism has its limits, and so far, after a manageable learning curve, Zelda has broken me. I don't want to give a full review right now of how all the mechanics work and this and that, I want to explain how and why it made me a convert, after I felt a bit weird about the game initially. In short, playing Breath of the Wild feels like I'm being cured of an addiction I didn't know I had.