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During Intel’s long stretch of breakthroughs in the 1990s and early 2000s, it released new, faster chips every 1 to 2 years. It was an incredible feat, and rapidly swept us into the internet age. OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, was moving at a similar speed early on. A new, wildly improved model every 1-2 years. But recently the company has been releasing a new model every 3 to 4 months Additionally, its latest models, o1 and o3, are new animals. They don’t instantly output an answer based on training data. These ponder, consider, review, calculate, and then give an answer. You could say this type of AI is the first truly “thinking” one. Thinking AIs are new and rough around the edges. But they’re already making incredible progress. OpenAI’s o1 recently scored 133 on Mensa Norway’s IQ test. Source: TrackingAI Now, it’s important to realize that this IQ test is probably in o1’s training data, meaning it should technically know the answers. But you can see just how large of an improvement the new o1 models (in yellow) are over previous ones. In an offline IQ test, created specifically to test AI, OpenAI’s o1 Pro scored a 110. And those answers were not in the training data (you can see all the IQ results here ). Recently, the brand new o3 model scored 2,727 on Codeforces, a competitive coding test. That places it as the 175th-best competitive coder on the planet. Incredible. These breakthroughs are a big deal. We are about to enter a stage of major disruption. Soon these models will be smart enough to handle complex tasks, and they will begin to compete for coding and some other white-collar jobs. It’s a disturbing idea, but seems inevitable based on current trends. For now, these thinking models are expensive, slow, and limited in availability. But as they come down in price, speed up, and the market begins to understand how to utilize them, things are going to get weird for a while. The Snowball Each new model helps train and build the next model. As the models become smarter, this creates a compounding effect. And of course, new breakthrough techniques are being discovered by hundreds of worldwide teams researching AI. Some are kept secret, but many are being shared in research papers and through open-source code. The NVIDIA GPUs used to build these models are also rapidly advancing. As the latest hardware is deployed in massive data centers, the pace of acceleration will only increase. In other words, we’re about to enter a very disruptive period. Investment and Economic Implications Companies that wisely employ these new AI technologies will see a productivity boost unlike anything we’ve ever seen in centuries. Likewise, individuals who learn to harness these tools will become super-productive. Companies and people who refuse to adopt this new tech, however, may find themselves falling behind. Ultimately AI will lead to far higher productivity, and eventually, growth. But the adoption period will be challenging. Some white-collar teams will require less employees, and the disruption this causes will be no small matter. In many ways, it reminds me of the Industrial Revolution, when new manufacturing tech changed the entire world’s economy. The old way of crafting items by hand with skill and artistry became a rare curiosity. As investors, we must be keenly aware of what’s coming. Picking stocks which make excellent use of AI will be crucial. In 2025, we’ll be devoting plenty of attention to AI, so stay tuned. And if you haven’t yet, do check out Jim Rickards’ new book, MoneyGPT: AI and the Threat to the Global Economy. I hope you all are having an excellent Christmas and Holiday season.World News | Global Media Congress 2024 to Discuss Enhancing Media Performance

has unveiled a teaser for her upcoming Netflix special, , set to air during the Christmas Day game between the and . The promo video comes amid allegations against her husband, , who has been accused in a civil lawsuit of sexually assaulting a minor alongside in 2000. Beyoncé teases Holiday magic Unfazed by the legal controversy, , 43, showcased her festive spirit in the teaser for her Christmas special. Dressed in a feathered white ensemble and a cowboy hat, the music icon struck playful poses beside a cactus. A dramatic moment in the clip featured her mimicking a finger-gun shot to light up the cactus, setting the stage for a whimsical holiday performance. The special will be part of halftime performance during the December 25 game in Houston, her hometown. Meanwhile, the allegations against have reportedly prompted the NFL to reassess its partnership with his company, . The two entities have collaborated since 2019 to revamp the Super Bowl halftime show and address social justice issues. While no formal action has been taken, insiders suggest the may distance itself from Jay-Z if the legal proceedings result in further fallout. The lawsuit against the music mogul, refiled on Sunday in New York's Southern District, alleges the assault occurred after the MTV Video Music Awards. , 55, has categorically denied the claims, calling them an attempt at "blackmail" and expressing concern about their impact on his family, particularly his eldest daughter, . Despite the public scrutiny, has not been implicated in the lawsuit. The couple, married since 2008, share three children-Blue Ivy and twins Rumi and Sir-and have long been considered an R&B power couple, though their relationship has faced challenges in the past, including admission of infidelity. As legal proceedings unfold, continues to focus on her career, using her platform to deliver entertainment while maintaining a neutral stance on her husband's legal troubles.​Can a Muscle Car be electric?

Ever wanted to bring your dog with you aboard a cruise ship? Do you have a business focused on dogs and their families? If you answered yes to either question, you’ll be excited to learn that what’s being called the first-ever dog-friendly cruise is being planned aboard Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander out of the Port of Tampa in November 2025. And business opportunities await. Cruise ships famously don’t allow dogs other than service animals. Organizers of this cruise anticipate selecting from a long line of hopefuls. A “waitlist for all dog parents who have dreamt of bringing their furry friends along for their vacations will open soon,” a news release says. Organizers are calling for 250 dogs, “their owners and their closest humans” to become “inaugural ambassadors” for the cruise, which they promise will offer “unique experiences and activities including gifts and samples from top vendors, dog shows and trainings, guest speakers, costume contests, parades, and more.” The event is being staged by two organizations — Cruise Tails and Expedia Cruises of West Orlando. The website seeks sponsors and investors in hopes of turning the cruise into a recurring event. Sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available for companies seeking brand visibility “across a passionate pet-loving audience,” the site says. And participants must sign photo waivers, the website says, adding, “We anticipate the fun will be all over social media and even in the press. In fact, the 250 chosen will undoubtedly be asked by sponsors to try products and post about them.” Cruise Tails was formed by Steve Matzke, a Bradenton-based entrepreneur listed on LinkedIn as beginning his career this month as an “independent consultant.” Matzke spent four years prior to that as senior director of external relations for the American Accounting Association, and 12 years before that as director of faculty and university initiatives for the American Institute of CPAs, his LinkedIn profile shows. Expedia Cruises of West Orlando was founded in 2019 by Dawn von Graff, an avid traveler who has taken more than 75 cruises and visited more than 80 countries, and her husband. She owned a computer networking firm, worked as an international tour manager, and was a top salesperson for Marriott before forming Expedia Cruises of West Orlando as a full-service travel agency. Details including dates, prices and itineraries have not yet been released. According to the website, organizers hope to select the inaugural 250 dogs based partly on how the dogs perform in a “video talent singing contest” as well as “a variety of criteria” to be announced “over the next few weeks.” The bigger the dog’s entourage, the better chance it will have to be chosen, the website says. “Preference will be given to dogs in a group which includes one dog cabin traveling with two or more associated cabins of friends or family without dogs,” it says. A spokeswoman for Margaritaville at Sea says the organizers are chartering the Islander, and the cruise will not be available for booking to the general public. Each dog will have “private relief stations” on their cabin balconies, and when dogs don’t make it to the relief station, each will have its own “pet butler” to ensure “their cabin and the boat remain in top condition,” a Cruise Tails spokeswoman said. Participants must agree to follow protocols on board, including keeping their dogs in permitted areas and making sure they are up to date with appropriate vaccinations. Dogs will not be allowed in dining areas, the ship’s casino, pool decks, lounges or music venues, according to the news release. Organizers will also be looking for workers and vendors. “We’re going to need dog walkers, pet butlers, and so much more,” the website says. And “if you have a proven skill like pet massage, grooming and pet walking or if you make custom dog costumes, have a unique dog product you would like to promote or are a well-known dog expert, we would love to chat with you.” Calls for pet handlers and vendors will be posted “in the next few months,” the site says. Whether the event turns into the profitable industry that its organizers hope for will undoubtedly depend on how the first one unfolds. A spokeswoman did not immediately have answers to such questions of what will happen to dogs that get aggressive with humans or other dogs? Will owners be required to purchase additional insurance to cover any possibilities? Will food be provided and how will feedings be handled? Contributors on Reddit.com posted mixed reactions to the announcement on Monday. “Cruises are already floating petri dishes. This doesn’t seem like a very good idea,” said one. “Now all decks are poop decks,” said another. A couple of posters worried about dogs going overboard. One said, “sounds awesome if you like dogs,” while another chimed in, “Better than a gorilla-friendly cruise, I suppose.”The National Pension Commission, PenCom, on Thursday said it had issued over 38,000 Pension Clearance Certificates, PCC, so far to organisations, in 2024. The Director-General of PenCom, Omolola Oloworaran, said this at a workshop organised by PenCom for journalists covering the pension industry in Lagos. The theme of the workshop was, “Tech-Driven Transformation: Shaping the Pension Landscape”. In 2023, PenCom issued 30,293 PCCs to firms. PCC is an evidence of compliance with the Pension Act. it serves as a prerequisite for all suppliers, contractors, or consultants soliciting contract or business from Ministries, Departmentss, and Agencies, MDAs, of the Federal Government. PenCom commenced the issuance of PCC to organisations in 2012 in line with the Pension Reform Act, PRA, which mandates all organisations with at least three employees to participate in the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS. However, the certificate is valid up to Dec. 31 of the year it was obtained, irrespective of the date it was issued within the year. Organisations are, thus, required to apply for new PCC’s each year. Ms Oloworaran said that the commission also achieved a major milestone with the launch of the e-Application Portal for the PPC in October. She said that the initiative replaced the previous manual process, enabling companies to seamlessly apply for and receive PCCs online, significantly enhancing ease of doing business and ensuring compliance. The director-general said that the Pension Industry Shared Service Initiative is in an advanced stage of implementation. She said that the initiative would digitise pension contributions and remittances, ensuring seamless processing of contributions and resolving discrepancies caused by incomplete remittance details. “To further enhance contributors’ experiences, we have introduced a revised programme withdrawal template, simplifying access to voluntary contributions and revising the threshold for en-bloc payments in line with the new minimum wage. “These measures are designed to make retirement processes more efficient and user-centric. “But beyond policies and systems, what really excites me is the potential to transform lives,” she said. According to her, technology has become the backbone of transformation across all sectors, and the pension industry is no exception, hence PenCom has embraced the transformation wholeheartedly. Ms Oloworaran said that there are over 10.5 million contributors, while pension assets are in excess of N21.9 trillion as at October. She said that this progress demonstrated the strength of the CPS, though not without challenges. “Inflation, for instance, continues to erode the purchasing power of pensioners, and we are actively seeking innovative solutions to address this issue. “We also continue to face the persistent issue of delays in the payment of accrued rights. “Recently, N44 billion was approved under the 2024 budget appropriation to settle accrued pension rights for retirees from March to September 2023. “Moving forward, we are working with the Federal Government to put in place a sustainable solution that ensures that retirees receive their benefits promptly and without undue stress,” she said. She said that since assuming office, she and her team had been focused on strengthening compliance, enhancing service delivery, diversifying pension assets to optimising returns. She said that they had also been improving benefits and expanding coverage to include more Nigerians, especially those in the informal sector. Ms Oloworaran expressed passion over the micro-pension initiative, in particular, noting that it is the commission’s way of fostering financial inclusion, no matter how small an earning might be. She said that the commission intended to use technology to scale the micro-pension plan. “Technology plays a vital role in driving this inclusion from mobile enrollment to real-time account management,” she said. She said that PenCom planned to rebrand the micro-pension scheme, and also target onboarding not less than 20 million Nigerians in the informal sector. Ms Oloworaran acknowledged the role of the media as stakeholders in the success of the pension system. “As we integrate technology across every aspect of the pension industry, we are paving the way for a future where the CPS becomes more accessible, reliable, and sustainable. “However, this transformation cannot succeed without your unwavering support as media practitioners. “Your role in amplifying our initiatives and educating stakeholders across Nigeria is essential to achieving this vision,” she said. She described the ability of the media to inform, educate, and hold institutions accountable as invaluable. “Together, we can ensure that every Nigerian, including the most vulnerable, has access to a secure and dignified retirement,” she said. NANThe Yomiuri Shimbun 8:00 JST, December 25, 2024 Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said on Tuesday that he will visit China on Wednesday and hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who also serves as a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party. The two ministers are expected to confirm the promotion of a “mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests” through which the interests of both Japan and China are pursued. It is also expected that they will exchange opinions on issues such as the early resumption of imports of Japanese seafood, which China has suspended. At a press conference held on Tuesday, Iwaya said, “I want to have a frank and in-depth exchange of opinions.” On Wednesday, a “Japan-China High-Level People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Dialogue” will also be held, and it is expected that an agreement will be reached on measures to revitalize tourism between the two countries.

MADRID (AP) — Spanish King Felipe VI used his traditional Christmas Eve speech to remember the victims of the catastrophic Valencia flash floods , and urged the country to remain calm while addressing hot-button issues such as immigration and housing affordability. In a pre-recorded speech that usually reviews the year's most relevant issues, Felipe said Spain “must never forget the pain and sadness" the floods caused. The Oct. 29 floods killed more than 225 people in eastern Spain, damaging countless homes and leaving graveyards of cars piled on top of each other. In some towns, the heavy downpours that caused the floods dropped as much as a year's worth of rain in just eight hours. In early November, as Spaniards' shock at the wreckage turned into frustration, a political blame game began, directed especially at regional authorities who failed to send timely emergency alerts to cell phones on the day of the floods. The frustration of residents in hard-hit Paiporta near Valencia was on display when people tossed mud and shouted insults at the king and government officials in early November when they made their first visit to the town. “We have seen — and understood — the frustration, the pain, the impatience, the demands for greater and more effective coordination," Felipe said about how the disaster was managed. He also addressed the country's housing crunch and high rents, which have become a leading concern in the southern European country that is the eurozone's fourth-largest economy. Fast-rising rents are especially acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid, where incomes have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Felipe urged that “all the actors involved reflect” and "listen to each other” so that they facilitate bringing access to housing under “affordable conditions.” Spain's immigration debate should keep in mind the country's European partners and immigrants' countries of origin, Felipe said, warning that “the way in which we are able to address immigration ... will say a lot in the future about our principles and the quality of our democracy.” Felipe said Spain needed to remain calm in the public sphere, even in the face of a “sometimes thunderous” contest in its politics.

TGIA sees stronger growth next year

Holiday hotel bookings in Mexico have risen by 15% in the days leading up to Christmas compared to last year, according to a study conducted by hotelier technology company SiteMinder. The company’s Changing Traveller Report 2025 said such growth is driven by a 7% increase in international bookings compared to December 2023. The countries fueling this demand include the United States, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. In addition to a rise in international bookings and arrivals, the study showed a year-on-year increase in both the length of stay and lead time for bookings during the Christmas week in Mexico. The average length of stays booked from Dec. 21 to 25 is expected to increase by 4%, from 3.07 days to 3.20 days, while the average lead time for booking would increase by 7%, from 84.80 days to 90.44 days. “The Christmas holidays have always attracted people to Mexico,” Alfredo Rodríguez, SiteMinder’s Mexico manager, said in a statement. “It is encouraging to see that this year will be no exception.” The increase in hotel reservations is occurring despite a 2% rise in the hotel’s average daily rate (ADR) during Christmas week, going from US $374.04 in 2023 to US $380.89 in 2024. According to Rodríguez, these figures will generate “significant revenue” for hotels by the end of 2024 and suggested that hotels in Mexico should take full advantage of Mexico’s popularity amongst travelers by focusing on providing memorable experiences this Christmas season. Mexico’s popularity amongst international travelers has positioned the country amongst the 14th most visited destinations in the world, along with Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States, according to SiteMinder. In the first six months of the year, Mexico recorded a 6.24% increase in international tourist numbers compared to last year. Data by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) showed that Mexico received 21.8 million international tourists between January and June, compared to the 20.4 million during the first six months of 2023. Still, Mexico does not appear on the list of the most popular travel destinations for 2025. According to SiteMinder, the countries at the top 10 of the traveler’s wish-list include Japan, the United States, France, Australia, Italy, China, Canada, South Korea, Spain and the United Kingdom. The report concludes that the growing trend in international tourism shows that people’s trust in the tourism industry is strengthening as they become more familiar with international travel. With reports from El Sol de MéxicoPresident-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to pause the in mid-January until after his inauguration. Trump filed a brief on Friday urging the top court to give him time to "pursue a political resolution" before agreeing to ban the social media app. In April, Congress passed a that established a nine-month deadline for TikTok's Chinese parent company to divest from the app or be barred from US app stores. Neither TikTok nor Trump's lawyers immediately responded to Business Insider's request for comment. BI also reached out to the Supreme Court. In the Friday filing, Trump's lawyers highlighted the president-elect's "consummate deal-making expertise," suggesting Trump has the "political will" to negotiate a resolution that would simultaneously "save the platform" and address the national security concerns highlighted in the Congressional bill. The nine-month deadline is officially up on January 19, which is one day before Trump assumes office for a second time. Trump previously but appeared to change his mind in recent months. He met with the app's earlier this month and said he had a "warm spot" in his heart for TikTok. Legal experts previously told BI that to try to keep the app running in the US, including asking his Department of Justice to ignore the divest law or trying to rework strategic interpretations of the law. Trump and his lawyers also argue that the president-elect has a mandate from American voters to protect their free-speech rights, including those who use TikTok. "Moreover, President Trump is one of the most powerful, prolific, and influential users of social media in history," the file said. "Consistent with his commanding presence in this area, President Trump currently has 14.7 million followers on TikTok with whom he actively communicates, allowing him to evaluate TikTok's importance as a unique medium for freedom of expression, including core political speech," lawyers added. Read the original article on