India solidified its global leadership in 2024, making remarkable strides in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, defence, nuclear energy, and space exploration. Initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and breakthroughs such as the indigenous antibiotic Nafithromycin propelled the pharmaceutical sector’s exports to USD 28 billion. Biotechnology expanded 13-fold over the past decade, achieving a valuation of USD 130 billion, with ambitions to hit USD 300 billion by 2030.
The nation’s defence sector reached unprecedented levels of self-reliance, recording indigenous production worth 15.24 billion USD and a 30-fold rise in exports. Achievements like the Agni-5 missile test and the deployment of advanced ballistic missile defence systems highlighted India’s strategic capabilities. In nuclear energy, capacity nearly doubled to 8,180 MW, with a roadmap to triple this by 2032 through projects like Bharat Small Reactors.
India’s space programme achieved significant milestones, including the approval of the Venus Orbiter Mission and Chandrayaan-4, as well as advancements in private sector contributions. The foundation of a second spaceport and the celebration of National Space Day underscored the sector’s growing prominence. Additionally, the solar mission Aditya-L1 made groundbreaking contributions to space weather predictions.
Infrastructure and emerging technologies further reinforced India’s position on the global stage. Developments such as the completion of a Hyperloop test track and the GNSS-enabled tolling system showcased futuristic planning. Quantum communication, AI, and blockchain innovations, including the Vishvasya platform, demonstrated India’s commitment to leading the next technological revolution.
Prominent figures in technology are heavily investing in nuclear energy, viewing it as crucial for future innovation. OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates are spearheading initiatives in advanced nuclear technology, with Altman chairing Oklo, a company developing sustainable nuclear reactors.
Data centres, essential for AI and cloud technologies, have seen electricity demands surge by 50% since 2020, now accounting for 4% of US energy use. Projections indicate this figure could rise to 9% by 2030, emphasising the need for scalable, carbon-free energy solutions. Nuclear power offers a consistent energy supply, unlike solar or wind, making it an attractive choice.
Microsoft has committed to reviving the Three Mile Island reactor by 2028, aiming to meet the energy needs of its growing AI operations. Experts, however, caution that tech-driven nuclear investments may prioritise corporate demands over broader public benefits.
Oklo and similar ventures highlight the increasing convergence of technology and energy, as industry leaders strive to support AI advancements sustainably. The debate continues on whether these moves truly serve societal needs or primarily benefit the tech sector.
AT&T and Verizon have confirmed cyberattacks linked to a Chinese hacking group known as “Salt Typhoon,” but assured the public on Saturday that their US networks are now secure. Both companies acknowledged the breaches for the first time, stating they are cooperating with law enforcement and government agencies to address the threat. AT&T disclosed that the attackers targeted a small group of individuals tied to foreign intelligence, while Verizon emphasised that the activities have been contained following extensive remediation efforts.
The attacks, described by US officials as the most extensive telecommunications hack in the nation’s history, reportedly allowed Salt Typhoon operatives to access sensitive network systems, including the ability to geolocate individuals and record phone calls. Authorities have linked the breaches to several telecom firms, with a total of nine entities now confirmed as compromised. In response, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has urged government officials to transition to encrypted communication methods.
US Senators, including Democrat Ben Ray Luján and Republican Ted Cruz, have expressed alarm over the breach’s scale, calling for stronger safeguards against future intrusions. Meanwhile, Chinese officials have denied the accusations, dismissing them as disinformation and reaffirming their opposition to cyberattacks. Despite assurances from the companies and independent cybersecurity experts, questions remain about how long it will take to fully restore public confidence in the nation’s telecommunications security.
Goodman Group has emerged as a standout performer in Australia’s real estate sector this year, with its stock soaring 45.8%, marking its strongest run since 2006. The surge is driven by a boom in AI, which has sparked frenzied demand for data centres. Global tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta have poured billions into expanding their data centre capacity, fueling growth for developers like Goodman.
At the end of September, 42% of Goodman’s A$12.8 billion ($7.96 billion) development portfolio was dedicated to data centres, a jump from 37% last year. Analysts like John Lockton of Sandstone Insights see this focus as a key strength, noting the company’s access to land with power supply, a critical factor for future data-centre projects.
Despite the optimism, some caution remains. Analysts warn that soaring valuations in the data-centre sector could cool investor enthusiasm. Goodman’s high stock prices and concerns over risks like obsolescence and increased competition raise questions about long-term returns. Nonetheless, with robust demand for AI infrastructure, Goodman’s pipeline and strategic positioning keep it well-poised for continued growth.
Ukraine’s largest mobile operator, Kyivstar, has partnered with Elon Musk’s Starlink to introduce direct-to-cell satellite connectivity, marking a major technological advancement for the war-torn nation. Kyivstar’s parent company, VEON, announced that messaging services will be available by late 2025, with voice and data services to follow in later stages.
Direct-to-cell technology connects satellites to smartphones, functioning like space-based cell towers. Starlink, a SpaceX subsidiary, launched its first satellites equipped with this capability earlier this year and has struck similar deals in the US, Japan, and New Zealand. Ukraine will be one of the first countries to adopt this innovation and the first active conflict zone to benefit from it.
The deal highlights Starlink’s continued support for Ukraine, despite ongoing Russian attempts to jam signals between the satellites and ground terminals. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the move solidifies Starlink’s role in providing essential connectivity to Ukraine amid geopolitical tensions.
President-elect Donald Trump has called on the US Supreme Court to postpone implementing a law that would ban TikTok or force its sale, arguing for time to seek a political resolution after taking office. The court will hear arguments on the case on 10 January, ahead of a 19 January deadline for TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the app or face a US ban.
The move marks a stark shift for Trump, who previously sought to block TikTok in 2020 over national security concerns tied to its Chinese ownership. Trump’s legal team emphasised that his request does not take a stance on the law’s merits but seeks to allow his incoming administration to explore alternatives. Trump has expressed a newfound appreciation for TikTok, citing its role in boosting his campaign visibility.
TikTok, with over 170 million US users, continues to challenge the legislation, asserting that its data and operations affecting US users are fully managed within the country. However, national security concerns persist, with the Justice Department and a coalition of attorneys general urging the Supreme Court to uphold the divest-or-ban mandate. The case highlights the growing debate between free speech advocates and national security interests in regulating digital platforms.
Chinese AI firm DeepSeek has unveiled DeepSeek V3, a groundbreaking open-source model designed for a range of text-based tasks. Released under a permissive licence, the model supports coding, translations, essay writing, and email drafting, offering developers the freedom to modify and deploy it commercially.
In internal benchmarks, DeepSeek V3 outperformed major competitors, including Meta’s Llama 3.1 and OpenAI’s GPT-4o, especially in coding contests and integration tests. The model boasts an impressive 671 billion parameters, significantly exceeding the size of many rivals, which often correlates with higher performance.
DeepSeek-V3!
60 tokens/second (3x faster than V2!) API compatibility intact Fully open-source models & papers 671B MoE parameters 37B activated parameters Trained on 14.8T high-quality tokens
DeepSeek V3 was trained on a dataset of 14.8 trillion tokens and built using a data centre powered by Nvidia H800 GPUs. Remarkably, the model was developed in just two months for a reported $5.5 million—far less than comparable systems. However, its size and resource demands make it less practical without high-end hardware.
Regulatory limitations influence the model’s responses, particularly on politically sensitive topics. DeepSeek, backed by High-Flyer Capital Management, continues to push for advancements in AI, striving to compete with leading global firms despite restrictions on access to cutting-edge GPUs.
New research by The Guardian reveals that ChatGPT Search, OpenAI’s recently launched AI-powered search tool, can be misled into generating false or overly positive summaries. By embedding hidden text in web pages, researchers demonstrated that the AI could ignore negative reviews or even produce malicious code.
The feature, designed to streamline browsing by summarising content such as product reviews, is susceptible to hidden text attacks—a well-known vulnerability in large language models. While this issue has been studied before, this marks the first time such manipulation has been proven on a live AI search tool.
OpenAI did not comment on this specific case but stated it employs measures to block malicious websites and is working to improve its defences. Experts note that competitors like Google, with more experience in search technology, have developed stronger safeguards against similar threats.
AI startups specialising in sales development representatives (SDRs) are experiencing rapid growth as businesses embrace new technologies to streamline outreach. These startups, leveraging large language models (LLMs) and voice technology, automate tasks like crafting personalised emails and placing calls to potential customers. This sector has seen an unprecedented surge, with multiple companies achieving notable success in a short span, according to Shardul Shah of Index Ventures. However, investors remain cautious about whether this trend will yield lasting results or fade once the novelty wears off.
The appeal of AI SDRs is particularly strong among small and medium-sized businesses, which find it easier to experiment with these tools. Arjun Pillai, founder of Docket, attributes the popularity to declining reply rates for traditional cold emails, prompting businesses to explore AI-driven solutions. Startups like Regie.ai, AiSDR, and 11x.ai, as well as incumbents like ZoomInfo, are vying for market share, boasting impressive revenue growth. Yet, as Tomasz Tunguz of Theory Ventures noted, some businesses report that while AI SDRs generate substantial leads, they don’t necessarily translate into higher sales, highlighting a gap in effectively integrating AI into sales strategies.
Despite the enthusiasm, the rise of AI SDRs faces significant challenges. Industry leaders such as Salesforce and HubSpot, which control vast customer data, could introduce similar AI features, potentially outpacing smaller startups. Investors also point to cautionary tales like Jasper, a copywriting AI startup that stumbled after the launch of ChatGPT, emphasising the uncertainty surrounding the longevity of AI adoption in sales. For now, the potential of AI SDRs to revolutionise sales processes is undeniable, but their ability to sustain growth and deliver tangible results remains to be seen.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Sora, and developer API experienced a significant outage on Thursday, disrupting services for over four hours. The issue began around 11 a.m. PT, with partial recovery reported by 2:05 p.m. PT. By 3:16 p.m. PT, OpenAI stated that Sora was operational, though ChatGPT users might still encounter issues accessing their chat history.
According to OpenAI’s status page, the outage was caused by one of their upstream providers, but the company did not provide further details. This marks the second major outage for OpenAI’s services in December. Two weeks ago, a similar incident attributed to a telemetry service malfunction resulted in a six-hour disruption, a notably longer downtime than usual.
Interestingly, popular platforms utilising OpenAI’s API, such as Perplexity and Siri’s Apple Intelligence integration, appeared unaffected during the outage, as confirmed by their status pages and independent testing. OpenAI is actively working to ensure full restoration of its services while addressing the root causes behind these recurring disruptions.
