Good Morning! 🌞

As I was reflecting on my childhood memories of snowy Christmases yesterday (it was 50 degrees in my city), I researched the heaviest snowfall ever recorded in the US. Remarkably, in Silver Lake, Colorado, on April 14-15, 1921, a staggering 6.3 feet of snow fell in just 24 hours. At an elevation of 10,220 feet in the Colorado Rockies, this snowfall was so substantial that it would have completely buried someone 6 feet tall standing outside for a day.

The heaviest snowfall ever recorded in a 24-hour period worldwide occurred in Capracotta, Italy, on March 5, 2015. During this time, an astonishing 8.4 feet of snow fell!

World News

AI Filing Patents?

In a landmark decision, the UK Supreme Court has ruled that AI systems cannot be named as inventors in patent applications. The ruling, which was made on the 20th of December 2023, has significant implications for the future of AI and intellectual property law.

The case was brought before the court by Stephen Thaler, a US computer scientist who sought to have his AI system, DABUS, recognized as an inventor on two patent applications. The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) had previously rejected these applications on the grounds that an inventor must be a natural person, not a machine.

The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the IPO's decision has put an end to the debate over whether AI systems can be considered inventors for the purposes of patent law. The court's ruling was unanimous, with the justices agreeing that the current law does not allow for AI systems to be named as inventors.

The decision has been met with mixed reactions from experts in the field. Some argue that it is a missed opportunity to adapt patent law to the realities of AI technology, while others believe that the ruling is necessary to protect the rights of human inventors.

The UK Supreme Court's decision follows similar rulings in other countries, including the United States and Australia. However, the issue of AI and intellectual property is far from settled, and it is likely that further legal challenges will arise as AI technology continues to advance.

Innovation

AI to Create More Jobs

Tech Mahindra's outgoing CEO, CP Gurnani, believes that generative AI technology has the potential to create more jobs than it eliminates.

In an interview with Reuters, Gurnani stated, "The possibilities are just opening, and there is more to come." He dismissed the notion that skilled individuals would be replaced, asserting that new jobs would be created, and the market would expand. Gurnani, a veteran CEO in the Indian IT sector, is set to retire on Dec. 19.

While some industry executives have raised concerns about potential job losses due to AI technologies like ChatGPT and Google's Bard, Gurnani remains optimistic. He aligns with Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy, who believes that coders losing jobs to AI tools will "never happen."

"The use cases of Generative AI are still being defined, which means that it has the potential to create more job opportunities in the future. Undoubtedly, the possibilities are just opening, and there is more to come," CP Gurnani told Reuters in an interview.

Gurnani also urged young engineers to adapt to the changing landscape by investing more time in independently learning new skills. He saw a shift in the operational model of Indian IT companies, with traditional learning campuses becoming outdated.

Culture

The Year's Top Trending Memes

"2023: A Year of Meme-ories and Language Evolution. Memes, from 'rizz' to 'babygirl,' dominated online culture, shaping how we react to news. Looking ahead, expect the rise of video- and AI-based memes (check out our Instagram for loads of AI generated memes!) , but the traditional meme will endure. (of course!)
Check out NBC News' top memes of the year!

• Barbenheimer

• Roman Empire

• Baby Gronk rizzed up Livvy Dunne

•  Kevin James shrug

• Babygirl

• Grimace shakes

• ‘Angela Bassett did the thing’

• Girl Dinner

• Canon event

• Orca Wars

What’s your favorite meme? Personally I like the Kevin James shrug the best because.. it basically just describes my reaction to everything for the past year! LOL 🤣 

Environment

2000 White Rhinos Sold

In a groundbreaking development for wildlife conservation, the world's largest rhino farm has been sold, with plans to reintegrate the captive animals back into their natural habitats across Africa. The farm, previously owned by South African conservationist John Hume, was home to 2,000 southern white rhinos, representing 15% of the world's remaining wild population of this species.

The sale of the farm to African Parks, a conservation NGO, marks a significant step towards ensuring the survival of the southern white rhino, which was once on the brink of extinction. The species was hunted to near extinction in the late 19th century but gradually recovered thanks to decades of protection and breeding efforts.

African Parks plans to phase out the captive breeding program and return the 2,000 southern white rhino to the wild over the next 10 years. This ambitious project aims to not only increase the population of this endangered species but also to restore the ecological balance in the areas where they will be reintroduced.

The reintegration process will be a complex and challenging task, requiring careful planning and collaboration between conservation organizations, local communities, and governments. The success of this project will not only benefit the southern white rhino but also contribute to the overall health of the ecosystems they inhabit.

Mind Stretchers

❓️ 

In evergreen attire, I stand tall, With baubles and tinsel, I deck the hall. Beneath my boughs, gifts abound, A festive spirit all around.

Answer to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
A Snowflake ❄️ 

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected]

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.