Broke On: Thursday, 16 May 2024
Two major incidents occurred in Baltimore's harbor on March 26, 2024: the container ship Dali experienced power outages, and the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed. The causes of both events remain under investigation by various authorities. Preliminary reports suggest no involvement of alcohol or drugs. The NTSB and FBI are investigating potential cybersecurity risks related to the Dali's power outages, while 21 crew members remain trapped on board due to ongoing investigations and visa restrictions.
Broke On: Friday, 17 May 2024
Two top executives, Jan Leike and Ilya Sutskever, have departed from OpenAI, the leading AI research laboratory. Leike expressed concerns about under-resourcing and prioritization of safety culture in the company. Sutskever will work on a personal project after disagreements over priorities. Their departures follow those of several other researchers and come amidst changes at OpenAI, including the controversial firing and reinstatement of CEO Sam Altman.
Broke On: Tuesday, 07 May 2024
An unprecedented solar storm in May 2024, marked by eight X-class solar flares and coronal mass ejections, caused a week-long barrage of space weather events. The strongest flare, an X8.7 on May 14, resulted in a G5 geomagnetic storm with auroras visible at low latitudes worldwide. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured images and provided valuable data for scientists to study the sun's behavior. While these solar events led to stunning auroras, they also posed risks for spacecraft and satellite operations.
Broke On: Friday, 17 May 2024
Yorgos Lanthimos' anthology film, Kinds of Kindness, premiered at Cannes 2024 with three distinct stories. A rebellious office worker, a suspicious husband, and cult members search for a young woman. Praise poured in with standing ovations and acclaimed cast including Jesse Plemons, Emma Stone & Willem Dafoe. Food imagery, doubles, and Lanthimos' signature themes recur.
Broke On: Saturday, 18 May 2024
Next week, Nvidia is projected to report Q1 earnings with a 400% increase in EPS to $5.52 and sales up 237% to $24.27 billion, surpassing estimates for the fifth consecutive quarter. Investors anticipate updates on upcoming high-performance AI chips, the Blackwell series, and potential competition from tech giants.
Broke On: Friday, 17 May 2024
Workers at Mercedes-Benz factories in Alabama rejected UAW unionization efforts in a May 2024 vote, with 2,642 votes against and only 2,045 in favor. The UAW faces opposition from politicians and accusations of unfair labor practices. New president Shawn Fain remains optimistic about organizing in the South but may need to reconsider tactics after this loss.
Broke On: Friday, 17 May 2024
Rookie Paul Skenes struck out 11 batters in six no-hit innings for the Pirates against the Cubs, becoming the first pitcher to do so at Wrigley Field in their historic 21-25 season. Skenes impressed with his fastball command during his second MLB start, leading to a Pirates victory with a score of 9-3. Notable performances included three RBI each from Catcher Yasmani Grandal and infielder Jared Triolo, as well as outfielder Andrew McCutchen's home run.
Broke On: Tuesday, 14 May 2024
Google and OpenAI engage in a competitive race to dominate the AI market at Google I/O 2024. Google showcases generative AI tools like MusicFX and Gemini search, while OpenAI launches ChatGPT with advanced language model capabilities. Google's extensive user base and distribution network give it an edge, but OpenAI's language model prowess makes it a formidable opponent. Both companies continue to innovate with new announcements like Project Astra and multimodal models.
Broke On: Tuesday, 14 May 2024
SpaceX sets a new record with the Falcon 9's 21st reused launch on May 17, 2024, sending 23 Starlink satellites to orbit from Cape Canaveral. Despite solar activity challenges, all satellites reached their orbits successfully. This marks SpaceX's record-breaking mission number 52 for the year.
Broke On: Thursday, 16 May 2024
Francis Ford Coppola's long-awaited sci-fi epic, Megalopolis, premiered at Cannes in 2024. The $120 million film, which stars Adam Driver and Nathalie Emmanuel, explores themes of power and individual freedom through an ambitious narrative. While some praise its grandeur and visual spectacle, others find its pacing and narrative convoluted. Regardless, Megalopolis is a thought-provoking cinematic event showcasing Coppola's unparalleled vision.