OpenAI unveils 'o3' reasoning AI models in test phase

OpenAI said on Friday it was testing new reasoning AI models, o3 and o3 mini, in a sign of growing competition with rivals such as Google to create smarter models capable of tackling complex problems.

CEO Sam Altman said the AI startup plans to launch o3 mini by the end of January, and full o3 after that, as more robust large language models could outperform existing models and attract new investments and users.

Microsoft-backed (MSFT.O) OpenAI released o1 AI models in September designed to spend more time processing queries to solve hard problems.

The o1 models are capable of reasoning through complex tasks and can solve more challenging problems than previous models in science, coding and math, the AI firm had said in a blog post.

OpenAI's new o3 and o3 mini models, which are in internal safety testing currently, will be more powerful than its previously launched o1 models, the company said.

The GenAI pioneer said it was opening up an application process for external researchers to test o3 models ahead of the public release, which will close on Jan. 10.

OpenAI had triggered an AI arms race after it launched ChatGPT in November 2022. The growing popularity of the company and new product launches helped OpenAI in closing a $6.6 billion funding round in October.

Rival Alphabet's (GOOGL.O), Google released the second generation of its AI model Gemini earlier in December, as the search giant aims to reclaim the lead in the AI technology race.

Israel kills 7 children from one family in air strike on Gaza

An Israeli air strike has killed 12 members of a family, including seven children, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Civil Defence rescue agency has reported.

A video posted by the agency on its Telegram channel on Friday evening showed its staff retrieving victims from under the rubble of the Khallah family home in Jabalia.

“All of the martyrs are from the same family, including seven children, the oldest aged six,” civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal told the AFP news agency.

Basal added that the air raid injured 15 other people.

Pope Francis on Saturday condemned the bombing of children in Gaza as “cruelty”. “Yesterday children were bombed. This is cruelty, this is not war,” he said. “I want to say it because it touches my heart.”

Israel continued its attacks across the Gaza Strip on Friday, more than 14 months into its assault on Gaza.

At least eight people were killed by a drone missile that hit a residential building in the market street of Nuseirat refugee camp, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

WhatsApp rolling out 'exciting' new feature for videos

Meta-owned WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature known as playback speed for videos which will let users view content efficiently as well as tailour the viewing experience to their needs.

Users will be allowed to watch videos at different speeds with the assistance of this new feature. It is worth noting that some beta testers can already explore this new feature, reported WABetaInfo.

In order to ensure easy access for users while watching videos, the new playback speed control is conveniently located next to the video progress bar.

Without interrupting their viewing experience, this button allows users to switch speeds quickly.

Moreover, users have the flexibility to choose the speed that best suits their preferences with three playback speed levels available. These include normal, 1.5x and 2.0x.

This feature is expected to significantly enhance user convenience, particularly for longer videos that might otherwise feel time-consuming to watch at normal speed, according to WABetaInfo.

Users can make better use of their time while still enjoying the content by adjusting the playback speed.

Additionally, it is also ideal for users with busy schedules who want to watch content more quickly without missing any important details.

US Supreme Court agrees to hear TikTok’s challenge to looming ban

The US Supreme Court agreed on Wednesday to hear TikTok’s appeal of a law that would force its Chinese owner to sell the online video-sharing platform or shut it down.

The top court scheduled oral arguments in the case for January 10, nine days before TikTok faces a ban unless ByteDance divests from the popular app.

The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, would block TikTok from US app stores and web hosting services unless ByteDance sells its stake by January 19.

TikTok is arguing that the law, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, violates its First Amendment free speech rights.

“Congress has enacted a massive and unprecedented speech restriction,” TikTok, which claims to have more than 170 million monthly US users, said in a filing with the Supreme Court.

Should the law take effect it would “shutter one of America’s most popular speech platforms the day before a presidential inauguration,” TikTok said.

“This, in turn, will silence the speech of Applicants and the many Americans who use the platform to communicate about politics, commerce, arts, and other matters of public concern,” it added. AFP

Gold prices sharply decline in Pakistan

Gold prices in Pakistan experienced a significant drop on Thursday, following trends in the global market.

According to the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the price of 24-karat gold decreased by Rs2,600 per tola, bringing the total to Rs273,300.

Meanwhile, the price for 10 grams of 24-karat gold fell by Rs2,229, now priced at Rs234,311.

In the international market, gold also saw a decline, dropping by $26 to $2,621 per ounce, with an additional premium of $20.

 

Silver prices in the local market remained stable, with a slight decrease of Rs50, now standing at Rs3,350 per tola.

This fluctuation in gold prices marks a notable shift after a recent period of slight increases.

At least 52 killed in two passenger bus crashes in Afghanistan

Two bus accidents involving a fuel tanker and a truck on a highway through central Afghanistan killed 52 people and injured 65, the Taliban government spokesmen said Thursday.

The accidents happened in Ghazni province on the same highway between the capital Kabul and southern Kandahar city late Wednesday, provincial head of information and culture Hamidullah Nisar said, without specifying how many people were killed and injured in each accident.

"We learned with great regret that two fatal traffic accidents occurred on the Kabul-Kandahar Highway, in which 52 of our compatriots were killed and 65 others were injured," said chief government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

One bus collided with a fuel tanker near Shahbaz village in central Ghazni while the other hit a truck in the eastern district of Andar, Nisar said.

Rescue teams rushed to the site and transported the injured to hospital, with some in "serious condition", he added.

Traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan, due in part to poor roads after decades of conflict, dangerous driving on highways, and a lack of regulation.

In March, more than 20 people were killed and 38 injured when a bus collided with a fuel tanker and burst into flames in southern Helmand province.

Another serious accident involving a fuel tanker took place in December 2022, when the vehicle overturned and caught fire in Afghanistan's high-altitude Salang Pass, killing 31 people and leaving dozens more with burns.

AI-powered replies arrive in latest WhatsApp Business

WhatsApp Business is enhancing its features with the latest beta update for Android, version 2.24.26.16. The update, available via the Google Play Beta Programme, introduces AI-powered replies and a business platform connection, along with refreshed theme colours for a more user-friendly experience.

The new update brings updated light and dark theme colours to the app, replacing the old light blue accents with black for the light theme and white for the dark theme. These changes align the Android app with recent updates to the iOS version, making it easier to differentiate between WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business.

The most significant addition is the integration of AI-powered replies. Businesses can now use AI to respond to customer messages, particularly during times when human staff are unavailable. The AI can handle common questions, guide users through the purchasing process, and even manage complex queries using machine learning models customised to the business’s needs.

 

To maintain transparency, customers will receive a notification when interacting with the AI system. This feature enhances user engagement while maintaining trust by informing customers about the AI's involvement in real-time. Businesses can also customise the AI to align with their brand voice, ensuring a consistent customer experience.

Another major feature introduced in this update is the business platform connection. This option addresses a key limitation faced by users managing accounts on the WhatsApp Business Platform. Now, businesses can scan a QR code to link their accounts directly to the WhatsApp Business app, providing seamless access to previously unavailable features.

One notable functionality is the ability to share up to six months of one-on-one chat history with the app. This ensures continuity when transitioning to the new system. However, group chat histories remain excluded. All interactions under this service are securely managed by Meta, with notifications provided to customers for transparency.

Currently, these features are accessible to select beta testers. WhatsApp plans to expand availability to a broader audience in the coming weeks. Users are encouraged to update to the latest beta version to explore these innovative tools.