OpenAI's ChatGPT

OpenAI projects that ChatGPT will generate a revenue of around $1 billion annually starting in 2024. Surprisingly, many skeptics doubted the profitability of text-based AI, making it challenging to secure funding for startups in natural language understanding (NLU). However, as advocates for NLU have argued for years, this technology is crucial for achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), making human-like intelligence widely accessible by 2025. GPT-3 is on the brink of this milestone.

If you're curious about how intelligence continues to evolve within ChatGPT, make sure to catch up on the latest findings.

National Treasure: Edge of History (TV)

As a fan of the original series, I rate Episode 2 a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars. This new installment, available for streaming on Disney from December 14, 2022, immerses viewers in the whimsical universe featuring Ben Gates, Riley Poole, and Abigail Chase—characters entwined with the nation's history and the Declaration of Independence. While only Director Sudusky and Riley make brief appearances, the series retains its charm.

Without revealing too much, this spin-off, produced by Jon Turtletaub and Jerry Bruckheimer, combines a youthful, slightly goofy vibe with familiar National Treasure themes, making it enjoyable for fans. The setting in Louisiana further deepens the adventure, as our protagonist Jess, an aspiring FBI cryptographer, inadvertently finds herself on a treasure hunt. The supporting cast is quirky, and the main antagonist, portrayed by Catherine Zeta-Jones, shares a passion for antiquities.

Are traditional masculine roles present in this narrative? That remains to be seen.

Looking forward to Episode 3! For a more detailed analysis, check out my full review.

P.S. Enjoy your festive jams and jellies this holiday season!

Lex Fridman and Twitter's Future

Lex Fridman, a prominent MIT AI researcher and humanitarian, has expressed interest in stepping up as CEO of Twitter, following Elon Musk's suggestion that he might soon transfer leadership. This comes after Musk reversed a controversial decision regarding public trackers, apologized for the sudden changes, and faced backlash from critics who pursued him in a vehicle. Following this, he consulted Twitter users on whether he should pass the reins to someone else, and the feedback was largely favorable.

In my opinion, while I admire Musk, his polarizing approach could benefit from a more balanced strategy. Transitioning leadership may be advantageous for both Twitter and Tesla, allowing Musk to focus on his broader vision of free and transparent discourse within the global community.

Tesla's Current Status

Tesla's shares recently dipped to around $150, but I firmly believe that the company's fundamentals remain strong. The decline is largely attributed to the ongoing narrative surrounding potential demand issues, which I find unfounded. Tesla's ability to produce high-quality vehicles hasn't diminished during Musk's time at Twitter. Despite some brand damage incurred from the company's Twitter-related controversies, Tesla's growth trajectory remains promising.

Tesla's true valuation should be significantly higher, potentially reaching $2.5 to $5 trillion, driven by upcoming innovations like the CyberTruck, full self-driving capabilities, and affordable stationary batteries.

Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough

In a significant breakthrough, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in California reported the first successful instance of achieving a net energy gain from nuclear fusion via laser ignition. This experiment produced 3 mega joules of energy from just 2 mega joules of laser input. While this is a thrilling development, it's essential to recognize that the overall energy input was still much higher, and optimization remains a goal for future experiments.

The feasibility of using laser ignition for energy production is still in question, and ongoing research will determine its practicality.

Advancements in Cellular Development Algorithms

Throughout my career, I've been captivated by the C. elegans worm, a model organism extensively studied by the late Nobel Laureate Sydney Brenner. This minute worm, measuring only about 1 mm, contains exactly 959 cells, making it an excellent case study for biological development. Brenner meticulously documented its consistent developmental stages, revealing how specific cells undergo programmed cell death to shape the organism.

This week, researchers from Johns Hopkins unveiled a groundbreaking computer model capable of tracing the lineage of cells in fully developed organisms back to their original tissue types. This advancement is crucial for understanding complex diseases such as cancer and dementia.

Dr. Reza Kalhor remarked on the potential of this method, stating that it could help analyze the development of various organisms, including those not typically studied, like humpback whales. This is an exciting leap forward in biological research.

Wishing everyone a joyful Christmas season ahead!

Innovation WEEK IN REVIEW