On Christmas Eve 2024, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe zoomed a blistering 430,000 mph to fly within 3.8 million miles of the Sun, marking the closest any human-made object has ventured. Launched in 2018 and surviving temperatures over 1,800°F, the probe remains healthy and is set to deliver juicy data on January 1. Using gravity assists from Venus, Parker continues unraveling solar mysteries, helping us dodge solar storms and keep our tech intact. Talk about a hot mission!

Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old ex-OpenAI whiz, was found dead in his SF apartment on Nov 26, 2024, sparking rumors and family demands for an FBI probe. Balaji left OpenAI in August, frowning upon ChatGPT's copyright snafus. His parents, baffled by the suicide ruling, cite no mental distress or notes. OpenAI extends condolences, pledges ethical AI efforts, while the tech world ponders the heavy weight of AI debates—with a touch of tragic irony.

In a move set for 2025, OpenAI is pivoting to a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) to turbocharge its quest for artificial general intelligence (AGI). This strategic shift aims to attract crucial investments in the booming $1 trillion AI market while balancing shareholder interests with societal good. Notably, Elon Musk isn’t thrilled and has filed a lawsuit to halt the transition, arguing it strays from OpenAI’s altruistic roots. As competition heats up with giants like Google and Meta, OpenAI’s gamble could redefine the AI landscape.

NASA's Hubble and Chandra telescopes have spotted a "sideways" black hole in galaxy NGC 5084, 80 million light-years away. This tilted 45.7-million-solar-mass giant flaunts two sets of X-ray plumes, likely due to a cosmic tango with another galaxy. Published in The Astrophysical Journal, the discovery underscores the magic of archival data and innovative analysis. Who knew old telescope snoozes could reveal such edgy celestial shenanigans?

On December 28, 2024, SpaceX launched its 46th Falcon 9 mission of the year from Vandenberg Space Force Base, deploying 22 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. The mission marked booster B1075’s 16th successful landing on the Pacific droneship—clearly a booster with no plans to retire! Aiming for a total of 134 launches in 2024, SpaceX continues its quest to blanket the globe with Starlink, one reusable rocket at a time.

TSMC has launched mass production at its new Kumamoto fab, Japan’s latest chip stronghold run by JASM. Specializing in 16nm chips for cars and gadgets, the plant benefits from ¥1 trillion in government love. With a monthly capacity of 100,000 wafers, TSMC isn't stopping—construction on a second fab starts early 2025 to fuel their global ambitions. Partnering with Sony, DENSO, and Toyota, this high-tech hub is set to create 3,400 jobs, all powered by 100% renewable energy. Silicon dreams, Japanese style!

In a surprising twist ahead of his potential 2025 inauguration, Donald Trump is urging the Supreme Court to postpone the TikTok ban set for January 19. Once a fierce critic labeling TikTok a national security menace, Trump now champions it as a free expression platform after recent talks with TikTok’s CEO. The Supreme Court will hear the case on January 10, amidst Biden’s April 2024 law mandating ByteDance to sell or face prohibition. Will Trump’s pivot dance sway the digital stage?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is rolling out new cybersecurity mandates by 2025 to safeguard patient data after a 93% surge in breaches and ransomware skyrocketing 278% from 2018-2022. Healthcare giants like UnitedHealth saw over 100 million records compromised, prompting rules for multifactor authentication, data encryption, and annual audits. With a hefty $9 billion first-year investment, even small clinics might need to brace for compliance—while hoping cyber villains find another hobby.

In a pioneering move, New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul signed the LOADinG Act in 2024, mandating state agencies to audit and publicly report their AI usage. The law forbids AI from making key automated decisions, such as unemployment benefits, without human oversight, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Additionally, it protects state workers from AI-driven job changes. As the first state to impose such strict AI regulations, New York sets the gold standard for responsible AI governance—proving that even in the age of machines, the human touch still matters.

Professor Geoffrey Hinton, the 'Godfather of AI,' raises alarms that advanced artificial intelligence could double humanity’s extinction risk to 20% within the next 30 years. Highlighting the need for stringent regulations, Hinton warns AI might outsmart us, leading to job losses and greater societal inequality. While AI advancements promise healthcare breakthroughs, Hinton's blend of humor and caution urges the tech community to prioritize safety alongside innovation.

Meta is bringing AI-generated personas to Facebook and Instagram, aiming to ramp up user engagement with chatty, content-creating bots. Following the AI Studio launch—which birthed hundreds of thousands of AI characters using the Llama 3.1 model—Meta plans global expansion by mid-2025. While these digital doppelgängers will clearly disclose their AI nature to curb misinformation, Meta balances fun, compassionate interactions with the challenge of supporting real creators in an AI-infused social landscape.