OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Sora Services Resume After Hours-Long Outage

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OpenAI announced Thursday that its popular ChatGPT assistant, Sora video generator, and developer interface were fully operational again following an hours-long outage. The disruption lasted just over four hours, briefly halting access to some of the company’s widely used services.

This outage comes at a time when ChatGPT continues to expand rapidly. Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, reported earlier in December that the service now reaches 300 million active users weekly. Moreover, Apple recently integrated ChatGPT into its software updates for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, bringing further mainstream exposure to the tool.

The company’s status page confirmed the issue had been resolved after the brief downtime. In June, OpenAI also experienced a similar issue, which lasted over five hours.

OpenAI, which reached a $157 billion valuation following an October funding round involving major investors such as Microsoft and Nvidia, has seen a meteoric rise since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. This growth has cemented its position as one of the most talked-about companies in the tech world.

Additionally, OpenAI had announced the release of Sora on Monday to users in the U.S. and other countries. However, Altman admitted on X the following day that the demand for Sora had exceeded expectations, and it would take time before everyone gains access.

 

SwagBot: The AI-Powered Robot Revolutionizing Cattle Herding and Sustainable Farming

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SwagBot, an autonomous robot with four wheels and a striking red color, is transforming the future of cattle farming by addressing both productivity and environmental concerns. Developed by researchers at the University of Sydney, this innovative robot is being hailed as the world’s first ‘smart cow,’ equipped with sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning to enhance cattle farming efficiency while promoting sustainability.

Launched in 2016, SwagBot was originally designed as a basic herding robot capable of navigating rugged terrain. However, recent updates have significantly advanced its capabilities. Powered by a battery, SwagBot can now assess pasture health, determine grazing quality, and monitor livestock conditions. Using this data, it autonomously moves cattle to more nutritious pastures, helping prevent overgrazing and soil degradation.

Professor Salah Sukkarieh, a robotics and intelligent systems expert at the University of Sydney, explains that once cattle become accustomed to SwagBot, they will naturally follow it, much like they would a herder. “The goal is to guide the animals to areas with high-quality protein and carbohydrates without the need for fences,” he said.

Australia, one of the world’s largest beef exporters, is home to about 30 million cattle spread across vast, often arid lands with fragile pastures. Managing grazing efficiently is crucial to avoid soil degradation and ensure healthy land for future generations. SwagBot offers farmers a solution by providing real-time insights into pasture conditions, allowing them to make informed decisions on grazing practices.

Erin O’Neill, a part-time farmer, recently observed SwagBot in action and highlighted its potential. “It allows us to assess our paddocks in real-time in much more detail, especially for cattle that require high-quality pasture for pregnancy,” she noted.

As SwagBot continues to evolve, it represents part of a broader trend toward robotic solutions in agriculture, aiming to increase efficiency while reducing the need for labor in remote regions like Australia.

 

U.S. Bankers Maintain Caution on Crypto Amid Trump’s Regulatory Promises

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At the Reuters NEXT conference in New York, leading U.S. bankers expressed measured skepticism about the cryptocurrency market, despite the anticipation of regulatory relief under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. While Trump has pledged to be a “crypto president” and roll back restrictions on digital assets imposed by the Biden administration, the financial sector remains cautious about diving into the volatile crypto space.

David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs, emphasized the need for regulatory clarity before his firm would consider engaging significantly in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum. “The regulatory framework has to evolve,” Solomon said, adding that, for now, the firm’s activity in crypto markets is “extremely limited” due to their speculative nature.

BNY Mellon, which recently began offering custody services for cryptocurrencies tied to exchange-traded products, is cautiously exploring the digital asset landscape. Its CEO, Robin Vince, underscored the importance of robust testing through multiple economic cycles before scaling crypto services. “We’ve seen a couple of cycles already in crypto. We’ll have to see how some of these assets evolve,” Vince noted.

The Biden administration had tightened the reins on crypto, making it challenging for banks to hold crypto assets or offer custody services due to stringent accounting rules. Trump’s pro-crypto stance is expected to bring a dramatic shift. He recently announced David Sacks, a former PayPal executive and prominent crypto advocate, as the White House “Crypto Czar.” In addition, Paul Atkins, a crypto-friendly attorney, has been nominated to lead the SEC. These announcements have already bolstered market sentiment, pushing Bitcoin to surpass the $100,000 milestone for the first time.

However, the path to regulatory reform remains uncertain. Key figures like Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr, a skeptic of crypto, plan to serve their terms until 2026, potentially slowing the pace of change. The fallout from the collapse of crypto-related banks like Silvergate and Signature Bank, as well as the high-profile implosion of FTX, continues to loom over the sector. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Commissioner Kristin Johnson cautioned that policymakers risk overlooking the hard lessons learned from these crises.

Even with the prospect of a more favorable regulatory environment, banks are signaling that any expansion into crypto will depend heavily on client demand. Bank of America offers limited exposure to cryptocurrencies through exchange-traded funds but reports only modest interest. Similarly, U.S. Bank noted that affluent young professionals showed some curiosity about digital assets, but the overall demand remains subdued.

While Trump’s administration is poised to champion the widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies, the cautious stance of major U.S. banks reflects ongoing uncertainties about regulation, market stability, and consumer interest.