Welcome back to your daily dossier talking AI, robotics, crypto and the future of tech. 👾

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🚀 Elon Musk’s xAI lands $6B in new cash to fuel AI ambitions.
🎅🏻 Boston Dynamics robot Santa’s backflip lights up Christmas.
📉 Bitcoin's Christmas rally sharply reversed on Thursday.
🧠 World first dual-robot surgery performed in Texas.
✈️ JAL's systems back to normal after cyberattack delayed flights.

AI

• Elon Musk’s xAI Lands $6B In New Cash To Fuel AI Ambitions

  • Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, has secured billions in new funding to advance its AI initiatives.

  • The new cash brings xAI’s total raised to $12 billion, adding to the $6 billion tranche xAI raised in May.

  • xAI has reportedly told investors it plans to raise more money next year.

• Microsoft Is Forcing Its AI Assistant on People—and Making Them Pay

  • Microsoft is incorporating its AI assistant, Copilot, into its Microsoft 365 software suite, raising subscription prices simultaneously.

  • Users in regions like Australia and Southeast Asia are experiencing both forced integration of Copilot and increased costs.

  • Although the tool aims to assist with document creation and email summarization, it has been met with user frustration.

• Bluesky Is Testing A Trending Topics Feature

  • The decentralized social network, has begun testing a trending topics feature to enhance user engagement.

  • Bluesky said trending topics are currently available but only in English.

  • While Bluesky has just introduced the feature, third-party Bluesky clients like Greysky already implemented it last year.

ROBOTICS

• Humanoid Robot Santa’s Epic Backflip Lights Up Christmas

  • A humanoid robot Santa, the Atlas, has been filmed doing a backflip, spreading Christmas cheer online.

  • The Atlas robot by Boston Dynamics uses a mixture of titanium and aluminum 3D printed parts to demonstrate advanced movement.

  • The fully electric Atlas robot, designed for real-world applications, has impressed many showcasing advanced mobility, strength, and agility.

• U.S. Space and Rocket Center Unveils New Exhibit On Robotic Explorers

  • The U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, has unveiled a new exhibit titled ‘Discovering Mars: Robot Explorers.’

  • The exhibit aims to educate visitors on the technological advancements and scientific discoveries made possible through these missions.

  • Curator Ed Stewart expressed hope that the exhibit will inspire a sense of wonder and curiosity among visitors.

• Dual-Robot Surgery Performed in Texas; World’s First

  • A surgeon at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center performed the first-ever surgery using two separate surgery robots.

  • According to Levita, dual-platform surgery provides a glimpse into the future of robotic-assisted surgery.

  • “This procedure marks the beginning of multiple-robot cooperation and integration into the operating room,” added Vipul Patel.

CRYPTO

• Bitcoin Returns to $95K as Christmas Rally Snuffed Out

  • As of December 26, 2024, Bitcoin's price has declined to $95k erasing gains from a recent Christmas rally.

  • This downturn is attributed to increased profit-taking by investors and a broader market correction.

  • Analysts suggest that while short-term volatility is expected, Bitcoin's long-term prospects remain positive.

• New Congress, New Crack At Crypto Legislation

  • Washington expects most pro-crypto Congress yet and support from the top with President-elect Donald Trump’s many promises to crypto.

  • With the expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act at the end of 2024, Congress faces decisions on tax policies.

  • Anticipated changes include the appointment of a crypto-friendly SEC Chair and the establishment of a national strategic bitcoin reserve.

• What's Next At The SEC In A Post-Gary Gensler Era

  • At the end of November, SEC Chair Gensler and Democratic Commissioner Lizárraga both said they were stepping away.

  • Trump’s pick for SEC Chair “truly understands crypto,” said Alison Mangiero, executive director at the Proof of Stake Alliance.

  • While at the agency, Gensler maintained that most cryptocurrencies qualify as securities and urged crypto firms to register with the SEC.

CONTENT

• How Future Civilizations Could Change the Laws of Physics

  • Adam Brown is a founder of BlueShift which is cracking maths and reasoning at Google DeepMind and a theoretical physicist at Stanford.

  • Discussed; destroying the light cone with vacuum decay, holographic principle, mining black holes.

  • Also, what it would take to train LLMs that can make Einstein level conceptual breakthroughs.

• Codeium’s Vision For AI-Driven Development With Varun Mohan

  • The podcast emphasizes that VCs seek resilient, inspiring teams capable of assembling skilled co-founders and executing bold missions.

  • It also touches on evolving technology, highlighting Codium, an AI coding tool that simplifies development through agentic workflows.

  • Also, future implications for AI-driven industries, including potential shifts in developer roles, salaries, and the move towards remote.

• Private, Bootstrapped, & Profitable: How Rajesh Jain Scaled To Over $100M As A Solo Founder

  • Rajesh Jain, shares launching IndiaWorld in 1995 and selling it for $115M, to scaling Netcore to a $100M without external funding.

  • Jain shares the evolution details of Netcore’s email and SMS marketing, their strategic acquisitions, and the company’s push into new markets.

  • Netcore estimates they handle around 2-3% of the total email traffic in India.

AND MORE…

• JAL's Systems Back To Normal After Cyberattack Delayed Flights

  • Japan Airlines cyberattack on December 26, disrupted internal and external systems and caused delays in 20+ domestic flights.

  • The attack led to a temporary suspension of same-day ticket sales and the shutdown of a router to address system malfunctions.

  • JAL confirmed that no customer information was leaked and there was no damage from computer viruses.

• Russian Firm Starts Shipments Of AI Systems Based On Homegrown CPUs

  • Russian company Graviton launched the S2124B server for AI and HPC applications, powered by locally developed 48-core CPUs.

  • While the CPUs are homegrown, the server relies on foreign GPUs like Nvidia's H100 for computational tasks.

  • Graviton has begun taking orders and is offering testing opportunities, though pricing is undisclosed.

• BC.GAME Launches Wukong Slot

  • BC.GAME has introduced a new slot game titled ‘Wukong,’ drawing inspiration from the popular video game ‘Black Myth: Wukong.’

  • This slot game features themes and characters from the original game, aiming to provide an engaging experience for players

  • The launch reflects BC.GAME's strategy to blend popular culture with online gaming, enhancing user engagement