Catamist News

Starliner Returns, Eyes NASA Certification

Boeing's Starliner successfully completed its inaugural crewed test flight, safely returning to Earth on June 26, 2024, with two astronauts aboard, marking a crucial step towards certifying it for regular transport to the International Space Station. Despite encountering several in-flight technical challenges, this landmark mission paves the way for Starliner to become only the second private vehicle capable of ferrying astronauts, pending final certification after a comprehensive review.

4 min read

Apple Unveils 'Apple Intelligence'

Apple officially unveiled "Apple Intelligence" at its annual WWDC, marking a significant entry into generative AI seamlessly integrated across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. This comprehensive suite promises advanced writing tools, sophisticated image generation, and a more powerful Siri, all while prioritizing user privacy through on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute.

OpenAI Boosts Safety with New Committee

OpenAI has established a new Safety and Security Committee, featuring CEO Sam Altman, to develop critical recommendations for its advanced AI models and address growing concerns about responsible development. This significant restructuring, following the disbandment of its "superalignment" team, is further enhanced by the appointment of former NSA Director Gen. Paul M. Nakasone to the board, bringing vital cybersecurity expertise to strengthen AI defenses.

Starliner Docks ISS Despite Issues

Boeing's Starliner successfully docked with the International Space Station on June 6, 2024, carrying two NASA astronauts despite navigating multiple helium leaks and thruster failures during its approach. This critical achievement marks a significant step for the long-delayed program, aiming to certify Starliner as a vital second crew transport system for NASA.

Apple Brings ChatGPT to iOS via OpenAI Deal

Apple has announced a groundbreaking partnership with OpenAI, integrating ChatGPT's powerful generative AI directly into iOS 18 and other operating systems to significantly enhance user experience. This strategic move, part of "Apple Intelligence," will bring advanced AI tools to millions of users later this year, while emphasizing robust privacy safeguards like opt-in access and no data storage by OpenAI.

NVIDIA Acquires SchedMD to Boost AI, HPC Open-Source Support

NVIDIA acquired SchedMD, the developer of the widely used Slurm workload manager, on December 15, 2025, aiming to significantly enhance open-source support for high-performance computing and AI infrastructure. This strategic move includes NVIDIA's commitment to maintaining Slurm as an open-source, vendor-neutral solution, ensuring its continued broad accessibility and development within the HPC and AI communities.

Meta's AI Policy Shifts: Privacy Concerns Mount

Meta's updated privacy policy, effective today, December 16, 2025, allows the company to utilize user interactions with its AI systems for targeted advertising and content personalization across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This significant change has drawn strong criticism from digital-rights advocates and consumer groups, who express concerns about the commercial exploitation of private AI conversations and are urging regulatory intervention.

Tech Giants Boost AI, Tesla Accelerates Robotaxis

Tech giants like Microsoft and Apple are significantly ramping up their investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure and development, with Microsoft committing billions globally and Apple boosting its R&D spending to over $34 billion for strategic AI initiatives. Concurrently, Tesla is aggressively pursuing fully unsupervised robotaxi services by year-end, despite market analysts expressing caution regarding electric vehicle demand and current valuations amidst a decelerating global EV sales growth.

Newsom Slams Trump's AI Order

California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized President Donald Trump's recent executive order on artificial intelligence, arguing it promotes "grift and corruption" by preventing states from enacting their own regulations. Signed on December 11, 2025, Trump's directive aims to establish a unified national AI policy, a move seen as a win for major tech companies and setting the stage for a significant federal-state confrontation over AI governance.

Strong 6.8 Quake Jolts North Pacific Near Japan

A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the North Pacific Ocean near Japan on Friday morning, with its relatively shallow epicenter at 40 kilometers prompting immediate assessment from authorities. Despite the strong tremor, Japan's robust infrastructure and advanced early warning systems are expected to mitigate widespread damage, similar to recent comparable seismic events in the tectonically active region.

OpenAI Unveils GPT-5.2, Eyes 2026 Adult Mode

OpenAI has launched GPT-5.2, its most advanced ChatGPT model to date, significantly enhancing its capabilities as a work partner by improving speed, complex task handling, and even surpassing human performance in professional simulations. This strategic release underscores OpenAI's focus on workplace automation amid fierce AI competition, with the model offering superior general intelligence and agentic tool-calling, alongside plans for an "Adult Mode" in early 2026.

Australia Bans Social Media for Under-16s

Australia has enacted a world-first ban, effective December 10, 2025, preventing individuals under 16 from accessing major social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, driven by escalating concerns over youth mental health and online safety. This groundbreaking legislation mandates that platforms block underage accounts and new sign-ups, with companies facing substantial fines for non-compliance, aiming to foster a childhood lived more offline.

5 min read

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