Power Bites - December 27, 2024 Weekly Roundup

This is PowerBites by Julio Zelaya. Today is Friday, December 27th, 2024.

You know what's fascinating about 2024? It's not just the headlines that made history - it's how they're all interconnected in ways we never expected. Let me show you what I mean.

Remember Encyclopedia Britannica? Those heavy books that were probably collecting dust in your parents' house? Well, they're now a billion-dollar AI company. But here's the really interesting part - they're not just surviving in the AI age; they're thriving by doing exactly what they've always done: being the guardians of verified information. In a world of hallucinations and fake news, that's worth its weight in gold.

Speaking of AI in education, Arizona just approved something that sounds like science fiction: a charter school where AI will be the primary teacher. Unbound Academy will provide two hours of AI-powered instruction daily to students in grades 4-8. Controversial? You bet. But what's fascinating is how they're redefining the role of teachers as "guides" focused on social-emotional support. It's not replacing humans; it's freeing them to do what they do best.

And while we're talking about AI and robots, OpenAI just can't seem to make up its mind about robotics. After closing their robotics division in 2021, they're now exploring humanoid robots again. They've partnered with Figure AI, which recently raised $675 million at a $2.6 billion valuation. Think about that - we're not just talking about chatbots anymore; we're talking about physical AI that can walk, talk, and work alongside us.

But 2024 wasn't just about AI. Remember Simone Biles? She made an incredible comeback at the Paris Olympics, winning three golds and a silver. At 27, she became the oldest woman to win individual gold in gymnastics since 1952. And because she's Simone Biles, she also opened a restaurant called "Taste of Gold" at Houston's Intercontinental Airport. Talk about sticking the landing!

Now, let's talk about some mind-blowing innovation. Mercedes-Benz has developed something called "solar paint" for electric vehicles. Imagine a coating just 5 microns thick that turns your entire car into a solar panel. In Los Angeles, this could generate up to 12,427 miles of range annually. That's not just innovation; that's rethinking the very concept of what a car can be.

And here's a success story that proves patience pays off: Telegram finally turned profitable in 2024, generating over $1 billion in revenue. They tripled their premium subscribers to 12 million users, all while maintaining their commitment to privacy. Not bad for a company that many thought wouldn't survive in the Meta-dominated messaging world.

But it hasn't all been success stories. Boeing's Starliner spacecraft issues left astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded on the International Space Station. The embarrassing part? Boeing received almost twice SpaceX's budget to develop their "space taxi" but hasn't completed a single successful crewed mission, while SpaceX has completed eight.

Here's something cultural that caught my attention: Oxford Dictionary chose "brain rot" as the Word of the Year 2024. It's defined as "intellectual deterioration from consuming trivial content," and its usage increased by 230% between 2023 and 2024. When you consider that a TikTok trend caused a global cucumber shortage this year (yes, really), maybe we all need to think about our content diet.

And speaking of influence, Elon Musk had quite a year. He became the first person to reach a net worth of $400 billion, donated $277 million to political campaigns, and saw Tesla's stock nearly double. Oh, and Neuralink successfully implanted brain chips in their first two test patients. Love him or hate him, you can't ignore him.

So what's the thread connecting all these stories? It's not just about technology or innovation - it's about transformation. Encyclopedia Britannica transformed from a book publisher to an AI company. Simone Biles transformed from a champion to a legend. Telegram transformed from a messaging app to a profitable platform.

But here's the really important lesson: transformation isn't about abandoning who you are - it's about leveraging your core strengths in new ways. Encyclopedia Britannica didn't stop being a source of verified information; they just changed how they deliver it. Simone Biles didn't stop being a gymnast; she just redefined what a gymnast could be.

This is PowerBites by Julio Zelaya. Remember: in a world where "brain rot" is the Word of the Year, the most valuable skill isn't knowing everything - it's knowing how to transform what you know into what you need tomorrow. Stay curious, stay adaptable, and I'll see you next time.