Dear Generative AI Community Members, I hope this email finds you well. I'm writing to inform you that we will be closing our Skool channel in the second week of January 2025. Connecting with all of you through this platform has been an incredible experience. However, we've realized that we couldn't dedicate the time needed to provide the value you deserve through this channel. Moving forward, we'll be focusing our efforts on creating comprehensive courses, workshops, and educational content on Applied AI through various other channels. We believe this shift will allow us to better serve the AI learning community. As we begin 2025, we wish you a fantastic new year filled with growth and success in your AI learning journey. If you'd like to stay connected or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at altafr@weekendai.com. Best regards, Altaf Rehmani.

2024 has been a defining year for Artificial Intelligence (AI), with major advancements and widespread adoption across numerous sectors. From groundbreaking models to innovative applications, AI is rapidly reshaping the technological landscape and our daily lives. Let's recap some of the key events that marked this pivotal year: The Rise of Open-Source AI: Meta made waves by releasing Llama 3.x, the largest open-source AI model to date, challenging the dominance of proprietary models like OpenAI's GPT-4. This move towards open-source AI is poised to accelerate innovation and democratize access to powerful AI technology. Intensifying Model Race: OpenAI, not to be outdone, is set to release its highly anticipated Orion model in December, promising a significant leap in capabilities. This ongoing race between tech giants is pushing the boundaries of AI, leading to rapid advancements in model complexity and performance. The Promise of AI Agents: AI agents, autonomous programs capable of performing tasks with minimal human input, emerged as a key area of focus. Companies like Microsoft are integrating "Copilots" into their products, aiming to automate tasks and enhance productivity. However, concerns around reliability and ethical implications remain. AI Integration in Everyday Life: AI is permeating various aspects of our lives, from smartphones and wearables to smart homes. Apple launched Apple Intelligence, integrating AI features into its devices, focusing on enhancing user experience and productivity. Similarly, AI is being explored to optimize EV charging and make the power grid more reliable. Generative AI's Growing Influence: Generative AI, capable of creating new content like text, images, and even videos, saw significant advancements. Google's Veo, a generative AI video model, became available for businesses, showcasing the potential of AI in content creation. However, issues like "hallucinations" and biases in AI-generated content require careful consideration.