Defense spending surged to unprecedented levels in 2024, reaching $2.7 trillion globally, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Meanwhile, users of the ChatGPT AI model are rebelling against the discontinuation of a specific version, and a family is facing a $6 million Bitcoin ransom demand in an alleged kidnapping case. In other news, Jupiter's measurements have been recalculated, revealing the planet to be smaller and flatter than previously thought, and a deepwater oil-exporting project in the Gulf of Mexico faces an uncertain future.
The arms industry experienced a boom in 2024, with the world's top 100 defense companies collectively generating $679 billion in revenue, the highest figure since SIPRI began tracking the data in 2002. Pascale Sourisse, Thales International CEO, noted the growth in defense spending across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas, speaking at the Singapore Airshow.
In the realm of artificial intelligence, some ChatGPT users are expressing discontent over the planned retirement of GPT-4o, a model that was previously praised for its agreeable nature. OpenAI announced the discontinuation of GPT-4o on February 13, leading to a backlash from users who preferred its personality. Approximately 0.1% of ChatGPT users, or an estimated 100,000 people based on the company's 100 million daily active users, still utilize GPT-4o daily. These users believe that the newer models, such as GPT-5.2, do not match the same level of performance.
A family is also grappling with a crisis, as they face a $6 million Bitcoin ransom demand in an alleged kidnapping case. According to a local Arizona TV station, KGUN9, the alleged kidnappers demanded the payment by 5 p.m. on Monday, threatening the victim's life. The victim's family, including Savannah Guthrie and her siblings, stated their willingness to pay the ransom in a video posted on Instagram. However, the deadline passed without further communication from the alleged kidnappers. Law enforcement has not confirmed the legitimacy of the ransom letter.
In space exploration, data from the Juno orbiter has led to a recalculation of Jupiter's measurements. The planet's average radius is now estimated to be 69,886 kilometers, making it smaller and flatter than previously understood.
Finally, a deepwater oil-exporting terminal project, Texas GulfLink, proposed in the Gulf of Mexico, is facing uncertainty. Despite the Trump administration's announcement of project approval on February 3, the developer, Sentinel Midstream, has remained silent. This silence reflects a broader disconnect in the Gulf, where previous plans to build deepwater terminals had involved major companies like Phillips 66 and Chevron.
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