America First is Coming to the World of Artificial Intelligence.

SMALL TALK

The first day of the newly sworn-in President Trump started with him revoking a 2023 executive order by Joe Biden that aimed to mitigate AI risks to consumers, workers, and national security. Biden's order mandated AI developers to share safety test results with the U.S. government and set standards for testing, addressing various risks. The 2024 Republican Party platform criticized the order for hindering AI innovation, advocating for AI development rooted in free speech and human flourishing.

This was followed up by a major private-sector announcement the very next day. With a potential private-sector investment of $500 billion, the "Stargate" initiative will build data centers and create over 100,000 US jobs, establishing a powerful artificial intelligence infrastructure designed to secure American leadership in this key technological sector. ChatGPT creator OpenAI, Softbank, and Oracle, along with other equity backers of Stargate, have committed $100 billion for immediate deployment, with the remaining investment expected over the next four years.

At its core, the initiative aims to tackle urgent national and economic priorities. These priorities include protecting critical supply chains, enhancing national security, and promoting AI-driven applications in healthcare, education, and climate resilience. Proponents argue that by accelerating AI adoption, the U.S. can future-proof its economy while also establishing ethical and regulatory standards for the rest of the world to follow.

However, the implications of such rapid proliferation are multifaceted. On one hand, the scale of investment will likely create millions of high-skilled jobs and invigorate research and development. On the other hand, concerns loom about how such advancements will be governed, particularly in areas like data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the potential misuse of AI tools.

Furthermore, this "AI nationalism" approach might provoke competitive responses from other nations, intensifying the global AI arms race. Countries like China are already pursuing similar large-scale initiatives, and a tit-for-tat dynamic could lead to a fragmented AI landscape rather than a cooperative global framework.

While America’s private sector steps up to the plate, it remains to be seen how policymakers will navigate the delicate balance of fostering innovation while ensuring equitable and responsible development. The coming decade could well determine whether this $500 billion bet pays off—not just for America but for the global AI ecosystem at large.

Tech Bytes

El Capitan, the world's fastest supercomputer, has been launched at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Achieving performance of 2.746 exaFLOPS, it surpasses previous supercomputers and is only the third to reach exascale speeds. Built at a cost of $600 million, El Capitan will handle sensitive tasks, including securing the U.S. nuclear stockpile and conducting classified research in areas such as material discovery and high-energy-density physics.

Worth a Look:

• U.S 3D-Prints First-Ever Nuclear Reactor Component on a Historic Breakthrough.
• OpenAI Launches Operator, An AI Agent That Performs Tasks Autonomously.
• U.S Achieves First Uninterrupted Quantum Internet Signal in a Major Security Milestone.
• Chinese DeepSeek Claims Its ‘Reasoning’ Model Beats OpenAI’s o1 on Certain Benchmarks.
• Google Releases Free Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Model, Pressuring Openai’s Premium Strategy.

Health Haven

A comprehensive study analyzing health data from over 200,000 people in the U.S has revealed that GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Ozempic, initially developed for type 2 diabetes management, offer a range of health benefits beyond weight loss. The research indicates that these medications are associated with a reduced risk of conditions including Alzheimer's disease, substance use disorders, and certain cardiometabolic and respiratory issues. However, the study also highlights potential risks, such as gastrointestinal problems, low blood pressure, and kidney-related disorders.

Worth a Look:

• The Difference Between Acetaminophen And Ibuprofen.
• FDA Approves Johnson & Johnson’s Nasal Spray For Depression As Stand-Alone Treatment.
• 11 Signs Your Immune System Isn't Working Properly.
• An International Team of Researchers Has Pinpointed 36 Genes Linked to Bipolar Disorder in The Largest Study Conducted to Date.

Economic Horizons

On January 24, 2025, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 0.5%, marking its third increase within a year and reaching the highest level since 2008. Despite these hikes, the BOJ's rates remain among the lowest globally. This decision reflects the BOJ's cautious approach amid global economic uncertainties, particularly concerning U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies, which pose potential risks to Japan's export-driven economy.

Worth a Look:

• Canadian Inflation Ticks Lowerto 1.8% In December, Thanks in Part to GST Tax Break.
• Chinese Jet Maker Ramps Up Efforts to Push Airbus And Boeing Out.
• Billionaires Growing Richer Faster Than Ever, Says Oxfam.
• U.S Store Closures Hit Highest Level Since Pandemic.

The Space Log

Finland became the 53rd nation to sign the Artemis Accords, reinforcing its commitment to the peaceful and responsible exploration of space. The signing ceremony took place during the Aalto University's Winter Satellite Workshop 2025 in Espoo, Finland. The Artemis Accords, established by NASA, outline a framework for international cooperation in lunar and Martian exploration, emphasizing principles such as transparency, interoperability, and the sustainable use of space resources.

Worth a Look:

• UK Approves 1st Vertical Rocket Launch From Saxavord Spaceport.
• NASA Wants a 'Super-Hubble' Space Telescope to Search For Life on Alien Worlds.
• Astronomers Thought They Understood Fast Radio Bursts. A Recent One Calls That Into Question.

Crypto Chronicles

President Donald Trump has also signed a highly-anticipated executive order establishing a working group on digital assets, aimed at providing regulatory clarity and promoting U.S. leadership in the crypto industry. The order includes evaluating a national cryptocurrency stockpile and rolling back a Biden-era executive order on central bank digital currencies. This move is expected to mainstream cryptocurrency within the U.S. and attract fresh investment to the sector.

Worth a Look:

• US Asset Managers File For DOGE And TRUMP Crypto ETF Amid Buzz.
• Solana TVL Skyrockets 600% Amid Trump Launch as Memecoins Continue to Fuel Growth.
• Binance Labs Rebrands to YZi Labs as Changpeng Zhao is Set to Rejoin.
• Reliance Jio, India's Largest Digital Services Company, Has Launched JioCoin.

Sustainable Future

And yet another executive order by President Trump directed the United States to withdraw from the Paris Agreement once again, distancing the U.S. from global efforts to combat climate change. The Paris Agreement, established in 2015, is a global accord aimed at mitigating climate change by limiting global temperature rise. This decision, made on the first day of his second term, echoes Trump's 2017 withdrawal and highlights his administration's focus on prioritizing domestic economic interests over international environmental commitments. The move has significant implications for global climate policy and the U.S.'s role in addressing climate change.

Worth a Look:

• ‘Rising Star’: EU Made More Electricity From Solar Than Coal in 2024.
• Sweden is Building the World’s Largest City Made Entirely From Timber.
• Big Banks Quit Climate Change Groups Ahead of Trump’s Term.
• A Little-Known Clean Energy Solution Could Soon Reach ‘Liftoff’.

Security Matters

Researchers have identified "GhostGPT," an illicit chatbot promoted on cybercrime forums, designed to assist in creating malware, phishing emails, and other fraudulent content. Believed to operate through a modified version of OpenAI's ChatGPT or a similar large language model, GhostGPT bypasses standard safety protocols to facilitate criminal activities. Accessible via the encrypted messaging app Telegram, it offers rapid processing speeds and anonymity, making it an appealing tool for cybercriminals. Tests have demonstrated its capability to generate convincing phishing emails, underscoring the evolving threat posed by AI-driven tools in cybercrime.

Worth a Look:

• Oracle Releases January 2025 Patch to Address 318 Flaws Across Major Products.
• Unsecured Tunneling Protocols Expose 4.2 Million Hosts, Including VPNs and Routers.
• New 'Sneaky 2FA' Phishing Kit Targets Microsoft 365 Accounts with 2FA Code Bypass.
• Google OAuth Vulnerability Exposes Millions via Failed Startup Domains.

Mash-Up:

• What's The Secret to Denmark's Happy Work-Life Balance?
• 60 Powerful Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes That Stand the Test of Time.
• Why Are Some Streetlights Purple?
• 161 Years Ago, a New Zealand Sheep Farmer Predicted AI Doom.
• Here Are Five Ways The Universe Could End.

Video Showcase

I would love to hear your thoughts, feedback, and insights. If you’re enjoying the content, don’t miss out—subscribe to my in-depth newsletter and blog on Substack for even more great content!📬