On October 22, 2024, Microsoft launched Copilot Studio, introducing AI agents as virtual employees to tackle tasks like client queries and sales lead identification. With 10 pre-made bots and customization options, early adopters include McKinsey and Clifford Chance. Integrated with Dynamics 365, these agents promise productivity boosts—Honeywell reportedly gains productivity equivalent to 187 full-time employees! While Microsoft is optimistic, experts like Rogoyski caution that AI agents still trail human capabilities. The AI workplace saga continues!

News Corp, parent of Dow Jones and the NY Post, has launched a lawsuit against AI startup Perplexity for allegedly ripping off content from The Wall Street Journal and NY Post without permission. After a July licensing plea went unanswered, News Corp seeks hefty damages and a court ban on Perplexity’s practices.

Meanwhile, Perplexity is eyeing a $500M funding boost to hit a $9B valuation, proving that even in legal drama, venture capital isn't taking a coffee break. CEO Robert Thomson stresses protecting journalism integrity amidst the AI frenzy.

Scientists unveil a dazzling plan to inject 5 million tons of diamond dust into the stratosphere annually, aiming to cool Earth by 1.6°C over 45 years. While this $200 trillion strategy outshines sulfur-based methods with its inert, rain-free nature, the astronomical costs and deployment hurdles sparkle more like fantasy than reality. As researchers debate its viability, the diamond solution highlights the glittering promise and hefty price of geoengineering's newest gem.

23andMe, once a $6B giant in genetic testing, teeters on bankruptcy as of 2024. A 2023 data breach compromised nearly 7M users, sparking fears over 15M genetic profiles up for grabs. CEO Anne Wojcicki, now sole board member, aims to go private amidst dwindling trust. Customers are urged to delete accounts, but beware: genetic data is forever. With stricter state laws like Illinois stepping in, it's a genetic melodrama balancing privacy and profits.

On October 1, 2024, Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon 8 Elite, featuring a laptop-grade Oryon CPU and a 45% faster NPU for offline AI wizardry. Major brands like Samsung and Xiaomi are set to integrate the chip in their Galaxy S25 and OnePlus 13 devices next month. With a 40% GPU speed boost and 2.5 extra battery hours, gamers and power users are in for a treat. Experts say innovative AI apps will be key—here's hoping Qualcomm's chip sparks the upgrade frenzy!

NASA pauses Boeing’s Starliner for 2025, favoring SpaceX’s proven Crew Dragon after Starliner’s thruster glitches and helium leaks. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will ride Dragon back in February 2025, ensuring safety over Starliner’s uncertified flights. Despite Boeing’s $1.5B Starliner saga, NASA remains hopeful for late 2025 missions once issues are resolved. Meanwhile, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon celebrates a dozen successful flights, proving reliability pays in the Commercial Crew Program.

Hemlock Semiconductor in Michigan just secured a hefty $325M federal grant through the CHIPS and Science Act, aiming to ramp up hyper-pure polysilicon production—the backbone of modern electronics. This expansion will create over 1,000 construction and 180 manufacturing jobs in Saginaw County, boosting the local economy and cutting dependency on foreign suppliers. Michigan is also investing $40M locally, while Hemlock leads the US as the sole domestic polysilicon powerhouse. Silicon dreams are alive!

Celebrate 45 years of xenomorphs! 'Alien: Romulus' launches on December 3 in 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD, and a nostalgic limited-edition VHS—the first major studio release on tape since 2006. Director Fede Álvarez teams with artist Matt Ferguson to deliver retro artwork that’s sure to tickle collectors. Already raking in $350M worldwide, the film combines classic practical effects with modern thrills. Grab your VHS before it’s extinct again!

The US is set to roll out new AI investment restrictions in China, driven by Biden's executive order to block tech from boosting China's military. Investors must notify the Treasury about stakes in sensitive sectors like AI, semiconductors, and quantum computing by November 5, 2024. With public comments closed on August 4, the final rules aim to curb China’s tech ambitions. Exemptions for national interest cases exist, signaling a tech tug-of-war intensifying before the election.

At TechXchange 2024, IBM launched Granite 3.0, its new open-source AI models under the Apache 2.0 license. Featuring Instruct and Guardian variants, Granite 3.0 was trained on a whopping 12 trillion tokens across 12 languages and 116 programming languages using Nvidia H100 GPUs. Promising up to 60x cost efficiency, IBM integrates these models into its Consulting Advantage platform for 160,000 consultants. With sustainability in mind, training ran on 100% renewable energy. Eyes are on end-of-year updates including multimodal capabilities!

Microsoft debuts Copilot Studio in London, calling it the LEGO set for crafting custom AI agents. Ten new autonomous agents for Dynamics 365 will streamline sales, finance, and customer service tasks, with public preview launching on November 19, 2024. Early adopters like McKinsey report up to 90% faster onboarding, while Salesforce’s Mark Benioff skeptically labels Copilot as overrated. Priced at $30/month, Microsoft aims to have 60% of Fortune 500 companies building their AI masterpieces—one agent at a time.