AnewZ Morning Brief - January 18th, 2025
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Briefing: here are the top news stories for January 18th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
ChatGPT celebrates its second anniversary, revolutionising industries and reshaping how AI integrates into daily life. With 180M+ active users, it's a global phenomenon driving innovation across sectors.
ChatGPT, OpenAI's pioneering AI chatbot, celebrates its second anniversary on 30th November, having become a global phenomenon. Launched in 2022, it quickly gained traction, reaching 1 million users within five days and 100 million in just two months—outpacing the growth of other major tech platforms.
As of October 2024, ChatGPT boasts over 180 million active users and more than 4 billion monthly visits, ranking among the top 10 most-visited websites globally. Its user base is global, with significant representation from the US, India, Kenya, and Brazil. A survey by Boston Consulting Group found that 45% of Indians use ChatGPT, with high adoption also seen in Morocco and the UAE.
In education and professional sectors, ChatGPT has seen widespread adoption. Microsoft’s 2024 Work Trend Index revealed that 75% of global knowledge workers now use generative AI, while 58% of students relied on such tools in the 2022-23 academic year. LinkedIn also reported a 142-fold increase in AI-related skills in 2024. Notably, ChatGPT was recognised as the most widely used AI tool among developers.
ChatGPT operates on OpenAI's Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) framework, which processes vast datasets to generate human-like responses. However, the technology has faced ethical scrutiny, with concerns over outsourced labour and copyright issues, such as a lawsuit from The New York Times alleging unauthorised use of its content.
Since its launch, ChatGPT has undergone rapid development. Initially powered by GPT-3.5, it introduced a premium subscription model in February 2023, followed by GPT-4 in March 2023, which offered advanced features. The launch of GPT-4o with multimodal capabilities in May 2024 further expanded its functionality, with the introduction of the GPT-4o Mini in July offering a more affordable version.
OpenAI, founded in 2015, operates under a dual-entity structure, with Microsoft as a significant partner, holding 49% equity and providing critical infrastructure. OpenAI’s valuation has soared to $157 billion, solidifying its dominance in the AI field.
ChatGPT’s second anniversary highlights its profound impact on sectors such as education, business, and personal use, continuing to shape the future of AI despite ongoing ethical and legal challenges.
Reports of a two-month halt in Azerbaijani gas supplies to Serbia are false. Despite a technical issue at Shah Deniz Alpha, Shah Deniz Bravo ensures steady exports, with supplies set to resume soon. BP confirms no damage or environmental impact.
Coast Guard divers Chuck Fox and Corey Smith from the US Cutter *Polar Star* successfully repaired a leaking shaft in the freezing waters of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.
Azerbaijan has temporarily halted its contracted natural gas supply to Bulgaria following a technical issue at BP's Alpha platform in the Shah Deniz gas field.
As we welcome the new year, it’s time to focus on species needing urgent conservation in 2025. From delicate lizards to mighty hornbills and massive sharks, all face the threat of extinction.
Over 100 Paris 2024 Olympic medals were returned due to quality issues linked to EU regulations and an untested varnish formula. The IOC has pledged to replace all defective medals.
Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket early Thursday, marking a key milestone in the satellite launch industry. The rocket, featuring a reusable first stage, lifted off from Cape Canaveral, positioning Blue Origin as a competitor to SpaceX in commercial space exploration.
Apple lost its position as China’s top smartphone seller in 2024, with Vivo and Huawei surpassing it after a 17% drop in shipments, marking its largest-ever annual decline. Rising competition, Huawei’s comeback, and shifting consumer trends challenge Apple’s market position.
Meta to cut 5% of staff, focusing on "low performers," while boosting AI investments. Restructuring continues as 2023's "Year of Efficiency" impacts thousands of roles.
RedNote, a Chinese lifestyle app known as Xiaohongshu, has seen a surge of over 500,000 TikTok users amid U.S. ban concerns. The platform, often called China’s Instagram, is exploring global expansion as it gains unexpected international attention.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has affirmed that Britain will establish its own approach to artificial intelligence regulation, emphasising the importance of testing and understanding AI before implementing a proportionate and grounded regulatory framework.
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