One must wonder, with a resume that includes Lovecraft Country, Creepshow, Fear the Walking Dead, Werewolf by Night, Interview with the Vampire and Love & Death, what keeps Emmy Award-winning EFX Supervisor Carey Jones awake at night. Or whether he has developed a strong constitution for the macabre. This is a job, art and a passion so it doesnt keep me up, shares Jones, who recently applied his craft to the Peacock horror thriller series Teacup. However, deadlines keep me up! Created by Ian McCulloch and based on the novel Stinger by Robert McCammon, the eight-episode show follows a group of people living in rural Georgia who may or may not be threatened by an alien lifeform that inhabits the bodies of other beings. James Wan executive produces for Atomic Rooster.Evidence that something is horribly wrong rears its head when local resident Claire Kelly (Holly Morris) crosses a mysterious blue line that has been sprayed painted across a roadway and turns into a rotted corpse frozen in time. When we started, I got a bible from Ian that had a detailed description of what he felt this transformation would be and how violent it would be, explains Jones. In fact, what he sent me was extreme and we dialed it back! We had an artist, Mike Broom, who could whip out hundreds of sketches quicky; pencil drawings that showed silhouettes and interpretations to get the three-dimensional discussions started. From there, wed do more concerted and direct pieces of artwork like Photoshop or ZBrush that we then submitted to get final approval. The one word that they would always use is grounded. We used a lot of anatomy books to show the different layers of the body, skin, and whats inside; thats what we used as a main source of reference.To get the correction proportions, a head cast and body scan of Morris were created. Its called photogrammetry, notes Jones. Essentially, she stands in a pod of cameras, which take upwards of 300 plus photos and the computer stitches that together into a 3D replica of the actress in the desired position. Once we get that digital information, we have it printed. But really, the process is where a block of foam is put into a machine that carves it out. Thats how we got her body. Now the head was from a life cast where we put a silicone material over her face. That comes off, we put molded clay inside, which we pull like its a direct representation of her. We have artists and sculptors here [at KNB EFX Group] that then add the details per the design that we got approved. Different sculpts did not have to be made to show a progression of deterioration as the event happens over a period of days rather than months or years. The person is more like a statue frozen in time, but the blood and guts would age, and maybe shell get dustier. Claire established the visual aesthetic for other victims such as Carmen Navarro (Adelina Anthony) and Valeria Shanley (Diany Rodriguez). Once we got the first one done, which was the Claire statue, as well as the animals, the rabbit, snake, and dog, we had the language that we could then match to, states Jones. For each individual thing, we made sure that we did the research on its anatomy so when it did get turned inside out or pulled apart, that anatomy was still intact but reconstituted into a directional thing where you get the feeling that it was being pulled back towards the blue line. The idea is that the blue painted line provides gravitational resistance, which pulls the body apart and reconstitutes it into a different shape. It basically splays you open so anything inside that will be in its way would get ripped through, Jones adds.Years of experience comes in handy when things must be kept grounded in some recognizable reality. We have been doing this for a long time so were able to reproduce it in a realistic way, remarks Jones. Body Worlds is a travelling exposition, where they take a body and deconstruct it through every layer down to the nervous system, Jones notes. So, we used that a lot for reference. Its more using medical references to make sure that we stayed true to whatever anatomy was needed. Then we used different materials to create that. There would be hard materials such as the bones and soft materials like silicone which we layered over top of that to make it feel more flesh-like. Also, you get that detail with color. Fat has yellowy tones and some white depending on where it is in the body. Your innards and flesh have different colors depending upon the depth it is from the surface. All that stuff came into play when we were doing coloring and textures. Over the past 10 years new EFX technologies have enabled new ways of positioning and moving bodies. With photogrammetry or digital scanning, you can get into some crazy positions and not worry about the comfort of the performer, Jones shares. We did a lot of digital scanning and used a lot of 3D designs, especially with the animals. The rabbit and snake were basically designed in a 3D space, and we used stereolithography printers, which are resin printers. The lasers spray this resin, which is hardened to create the finish piece. We did a lot of 3D printing, foam carving, traditional hand sculpting in clay and mold-making. Basically, we ran the whole gamut of the techniques that are available.A solid statue was produced for the rattlesnake. Because we didnt have to animate the snake and was in its mid-strike position, it was essentially manufacturing a finished statue, states Jones. We built inside of the snake this posable armature so if they did want to lower it down or uncoil it or position it differently, they were able to do that. I would say that the snake, rabbit and even the dog was a wider load in terms of building things. The human statues and make-ups were certainly the more difficult things. A tight partnership with the visual effects team was crucial. Everything with regards to the final statue was scanned, states Jones. When we did make-up for the interim stages of a transformation so that VFX could morph between the actors normal look and our make-up on the statue, we turned over all our assets, which made their job a lot easier. Theyre literally using the same language and products that were using so it all matches. Not only did we handover our digital scans and digital free sculpts, we also had them scan all the actresses in the make-up. Literally after the make-ups were done, they would do a photogrammetry scan of the actress so they had a 3D model of her that could be augmented forward and backwards. They could take it back to her normal state but also take it from our make-up state to the final product and augment that. Numerous components involving several departments were required for the statues. [The hardest part was] making sure that from our artists to sculptors, mold makers and finishers, we were all communicating so that the final product was what it was supposed to be, remarks Jones. When you are onset, the set is such a moving puzzle piece. Sometimes the statue was in place, and we had to move it but then get it right back in its place and make sure it looked untouched for continuity. Time was always of the essence. Throughout the process I made sure that I sent along photos and updates so nothing was a surprise, and we were able to get everything out there early enough where they could do camera tests. The earlier you have a conversation with the DP and director, the faster they can also understand the limitations of how to shoot it. If youre not given enough time to build something and youre bringing it to the set at the last minute, they already have in their head how to shoot something and youre suddenly dropping this thing in place. It doesnt work out. Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer best known for composing in-depth filmmaker and movie profiles for VFX Voice, Animation Magazine, and British Cinematographer.

To download, simply join our newsletter and you will get an e-mail back with download instructions. If youre already part of the newsletter you can find previous e-mails from me which will all have download instructions. You will receive this free 3D model but youll also get our 500+ other 3D freebies as well!

The TCL QM8 delivers excellent picture quality, great sound, and a dedicated picture mode at an affordable price. Right now, three of the models have received huge discounts.

ZDNET's key takeaways Xgimi's Horizon S Max offers sharp and vibrant picture quality that's well above its price tag. The new gimbal design is convenient and easy to set up. Minimal port selection might be a problem for some more buying choices The Xgimi Horizon S Max is one of the brightest projectors I've tested. It includes my favorite design element from the JMGO N-series of projectors, which makes it easy to plug in, set up, and play. I'm also fond of the form factor and functionality. It builds upon the physical limitations of the predecessor, although one software hindrance will annoy you -- or maybe a few, depending on your use case.That said, I still like the Horizon S Max, and here's why you should consider it. details View at Amazon I love the new designUnlike the Horizon Ultra, the new Xgimi projector comes with a built-in rotating stand, so you don't need to spend extra on a stand to hold the projector. It's very similar to the one you can find on the JMGO N1 Ultra and the newly-launched N1S Ultimate. Personally, I love it because it's extremely simple to adjust the screen placement -- both vertically (135 degrees) and horizontally (360 degrees). Also, the mounting system is solid and stays at the angle you set it unless you connect a heavy HDMI cable that pulls it down.The new Xgimi projector retains the sliding cover on the front. Apart from looking classy, it protects the lens from attracting dust. On the back, you'll find two USB 2.0 ports and an HDMI (eARC) port. The port situation sees a downgrade from the Horizon Ultra, which had another HDMI port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an ethernet port, in addition to the ones present on the Horizon S Max.The lack of a 3.5mm audio jack means I couldn't connect my Marshall Stanmore 2 for sound, while one HDMI port means you can either connect a soundbar or a gaming console. Most rival projectors have a 3.5mm audio port and two HDMI ports. It's a minimal port selection alongside the power button and heat vents on the back.Oh, so bright! Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETThe Xgimi Horizon S Max features a dual light source that brings the brightness up from 2,300 lumens on the Horizon Ultra to 3,100 lumens. The screen size can expand up to 200 inches with a throw ratio of 1.2:1. In my experience, I've found it brighter and more detailed than the JMGO N1 Ultra and on par with the more expensive N1S Ultimate.I've enjoyed my time with the Horizon S Max. The keystone correction is quicker and more reliable than its predecessor. It's also quicker at adjusting the picture on any surface and autofocus.Also:The next big HDMI leap is coming next week - what the 2.2 standard means for youHowever, I still pull the curtains if I power it on during the day, but it is bright enough to be visible in light. The screen is vibrant, colorful, and immersive. You'll definitely enjoy watching movies on it. When I had it projected on a pink wall, it didn't affect the picture quality -- thanks to a new feature that adjusts the color balance of the picture based on wall color.Like the Horizon Ultra, the Horizon S Max comes with support for MEMC, Dolby Vision, and a game mode for reduced latency. Watching Dolby Vision content with varying lighting is an immersive experience, and It's also elevated by the great speaker setup, which sounds louder than expected. Xgimi Horizon S Max ports Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETI have my Stanmore 2 connected to the JMGO N1S Ultimate because it doesn't get loud enough, but the dual 12W drivers on the Horizon S Max are enough for a small room. So, you wouldn't require an external speaker. I'm disappointed that there's no audio port for my speaker, and I have to connect a soundbar through HDMI if I want to elevate the sound experience.In my experience, navigating on the Android TV 11-based Horizon S Max software was smooth. But, there were times when I noticed a lag between remote input and the UI. As for the remote, it's well-built, yet it lacks quick action buttons that allow one press to go to your favorite streaming apps.Also:The best projectors you can buy: Expert testedIt took me just a few minutes to pair the remote, set up my Google accounts, and download my desired apps. Horizon S Max houses 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage onboard, which is powered by quad Cortex A55 cores. You also get built-in Chromecast support, Bluetooth 5.1, and WiFi 5 for wireless connectivity.One annoyance from last year that remains is the absence of Netflix support. You can't run the native Netflix app on the Horizon S Max. This is surprising because rivals like JMGO fixed this issue with the latest N1S lineup. You can still run Netflix with a streaming stick, but the lack of Netflix support could be a deal breaker for many.ZDNET's buying adviceAt $1,900, the Xgimi Horizon S Max features better image quality than its competitors. It rivals the $2,500+ JMGO N1S Ultimate and it's better than the similarly-priced JMGO N1 Ultra. I love the new design with an integrated gimbal-like stand. It makes the projector very convenient to set up and play. However, the lack of port selection and Netflix support may counter that convenience.Additionally, the Xgimi Horizon S Max offers excellent image quality and sound. The user interface is manageable, and I've enjoyed watching movies on it. So, if you have a budget of $2,000 and want a projector purely for its image quality, the Xgimi Horizon S Max is an easy recommendation.Xgimi is offering a dongle and stand with the purchase of the Horizon S Max on Amazon. The free dongle solves the no-Netflix issue since it gives you access to the streaming service by plugging it into the projector.Featured reviews

TOPSHOT - SpaceX's Starship rocket launches from Starbase during its second test flight in Boca ... [+] Chica, Texas, on November 18, 2023. SpaceX on November 18, 2023, carried out the second test launch of Starship, the largest rocket ever built that Elon Musk hopes will one day colonize Mars, while NASA awaits a modified version to land humans on the Moon. It comes after a first attempt to fly the spaceship in its fully-stacked configuration back in April ended in a spectacular explosion over the Gulf of Mexico. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesHeres the first thing to explain Im getting this term, wait calculation, from an essay by notable MIT grad and author Ethan Mollick early this year, as I look at a brand-new X post by the same expert on what AI can now do as we prepare to enter 2025.But Im going to start with the X post itself, verbatim:Claude, change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Do them in order, do not skip any.Let me back up a little bit.The Essential Math: Wait for ChangeIn his January 2024 blog post, Mollick pointed out his idea through introducing a simple choice:MORE FOR YOUIf youre going to travel to a destination in deep space, and its going to take you 12,000 years with the current technology do you set off on that trip, or wait a few hundred years on earth until the technology advances?This in turn reminds me of the super-popular Three Body Problem series by Cixin Liu that brought a Chinese authors take on science fiction to a broad American audience.In the books, when humans undertake to travel to far-away parts of the universe where alien life exists, they dehydrate their bodies, and put themselves into temporary, if lengthy, sleep, to be reconstituted at their destination.A character quoted in those books makes the following statement (not verbatim):When a fish came on land, it ceased to be a fish. When a human travels into the reaches of space , they cease to be human.This concise screed to evolution speaks of going beyond the bounds of what has been possible in the past. Thats where we now are with AI, in a way.For instance, if the next generations are equipped with high-tech cyborg equipment, enhancing their senses and capabilities, are they still fully human?Anyway, Mollick brings up the fundamental premise that many things we were doing over the 20th century have now become functionally obsolete.The Collapse of WorkThis argument isnt just about job displacement. Its not about what robots will do instead of humans in the future. Its about all of the work that people were doing in the 1980s, in the 1990s, in the oughts and the teens, right up to today.Say you were building a novel physical therapy program, or researching cancer cures, or brainstorming media campaigns, or doing any kind of cognitive work that makes progress in an industry. Mollick is essentially arguing that you couldve just waited, and used todays technology to do it a lot faster, and youd end up further ahead than we currently are.I have spent much of the last decade or so trying to build games to help people learn and innovate, he writes. And all of that work suddenly became compressed, warped, and accelerated as a result of the release of ChatGPT and its successors last year. The teams I worked with did valuable research, and the effort produced teaching experiences with real impact, but, at some point, if we could have anticipated the evolution of AI, we could have waited.He does, however, point out that to get to this point, we really had to do the cognitive work that we did to discover the technologies themselves.So in the end, it might be sort of a Catch-22 thing. But heres another very important component of this idea that I want to emphasize AI: Progress on Physical and Cognitive TasksHeres the thing so many times, when you talk to someone about AI, they seem to have a moment of uncertainty or fear, but they console themselves with the idea that although AI is a superbly capable thinker, its not good at physical tasks yet.On the other hand, those of us with the front row seat to the industry recognize that AI robots can already do things like (just like Mollick said) pitch manure, or change a diaper.Robot dexterity is advancing rapidly, just like AI cognition. Were just not seeing the robots on the street in the same way that we see ChatGPT in a browser. I submit that all of that is going to change not in years, but in months.So well see. Well batten down and enjoy the new year holiday, but as the month of January unfolds, well be seeing so much more, as companies and innovators race to take advantage of everything that the technology has to offer.And in the end, what the technology has to offer is practically everything.

The U.S. Geological Survey is investing $1 million in a new plan to mitigate landslides tied to $1 billion in yearly economic costs as climate change increases frequency.

Were a few weeks away from Samsungs Galaxy S25 series reveal, which appears to be happening on January 22, 2025. But the latest report from Android Authority seems to shift focus from hardware specs to more AI goodies, as an APK teardown has revealed the possibility of the S25 including free Gemini Advanced.These trials for Gemini Advanced subscriptions would be unlocked when purchasing a Galaxy S25 device, which we expect to be the S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra. The length of the trial depends on the device, similar to what Google did with its own Pixel 9 series.Joe Maring / Digital TrendsIn the latest update for the Google app, which is v.15.52.37 beta, a teardown of the code reveals the possible lengths of the Gemini Advanced trial subscriptions. The code has revealed lengths of three, six, nine, and 12 months. With those numbers, its likely that the base S25 gets three months, S25 Plus gets six, and S25 Ultra gets a whole year for free. Its unknown about the nine months though, but perhaps that could be for the rumored S25 Slim that will be launching later in 2025 after the first three models.Recommended VideosSo whats the benefit of Gemini Advanced compared to what comes standard with Samsung Galaxy phones? With Gemini Advanced, its Googles most capable AI models on mobile, and it is much better at complex tasks, including coding, logical reasoning, nuanced multi-modal instructions, and even creative collaboration. Its also able to generate images a bit faster than the free version, and youll have Gemini in Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and more. A typical subscription for Gemini Advanced costs $20 a month.Please enable Javascript to view this contentAgain, this trial offer appears only through code in the latest Google app update, and is not officially mentioned by either Google or Samsung. But with just a few more weeks until the Galaxy S25 launch, we dont have to wait much longer.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsHow Lossless Scaling scaled upFrame doubling everywhereThe not-so-obvious usesEssential for any PC gamerOne of the great benefits of PC gaming is the ability to take matters in to your own hands. Not enough games support your favorite feature? Unhappy with the frame rate your PC is producing? Theres all sorts of applications that can let you tinker and optimize your PC gaming experience.Many of these are rather niche, but theres one that I would recommend just about every PC gamer install. Its called Lossless Scaling, and if you havent already heard of it, Im about to make your day.Recommended VideosJacob Roach / Digital TrendsSix years ago, a simple upscaling app called Lossless Scaling showed up in Steam. For the majority of its existence, itd only drawn a daily userbase of less than 100 people. You could run a game at a lower resolution, and Lossless Scaling would apply an upscaling algorithm to boost your performance. Think AMDs Radeon Super Resolution (RSR) or Nvidia Image Scaling (NIS). The upscaling didnt look great, but it provided a small boost for older hardware.Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming Now, as we close out 2024, youll find 3,000 to 4,000 people with Lossless Scaling loaded up at any given time. Thats an increase of 560%. What happened? Well, on January 10 of this year, Lossless Scaling introduced a feature called LSFG 1.0. Its a frame generation algorithm built through machine learning that can add frame generationto any game. Now thats enticing.RelatedNvidia has DLSS 3 and AMD has FSR 3, both of which offer superior frame generation, but Lossless Scaling was now bringing the feature to any game and with any graphics card.This is about the time I jumped on the bandwagon, picking up Lossless Scaling to help along my second playthrough of Elden Ringin preparation for theShadow of the ErdtreeAnd really, LSFG 1.0 was just the beginning for Lossless Scaling this year. The app has been on a tear since the first model was introduced. In June, it added 3X frame generation, offering a performance boost even beyond what DLSS 3 and FSR 3 can offer. In August, it went to 4X frame generation. And just last month, Lossless Scaling received resolution scaling for generated frames, adding a feature that FSR and DLSS completely lack.Lossless Scaling has morphed from a niche Steam app into a utility that every PC gamer should have installed on their PC. Its been so influential that AMD basically ripped the apps functions wholesale for its impressive AFMF 2 update, which offers frame generation to any game, but only with AMD GPUs. Even if Lossless Scaling never receives another update and I seriously doubt that its already had a huge impact.All of this growth for Lossless Scaling throughout 2024 wasnt an accident. The app is sincerely useful, and useful to just about any PC gamer. Ive had it open on a second monitor for nearly every minute Ive spent playing games on my PC this year, and there are a couple of key reasons why.For me, Lossless Scaling helps fill in the gaps. I play on a PC packing an RTX 4090, and fortunately, Im usually not struggling in the performance department. And even still, Ive found a ton of uses for Lossless Scaling throughout the year. One of the biggest boosts its offered has been in games like Elden Ringthat are normally capped to 60 frames per second (fps). Lossless Scaling can give me 120 fps, 180 fps, or even 240 fps just by clicking a button.Jacob Roach / Digital TrendsThere are still plenty of games without frame generation, as well. For instance, Ive been playing a lot ofPath of Exile 2recently, and although the game supports DLSS and FSR upscaling, it doesnt come with frame generation. With Lossless Scaling, I cap my frame rate at 60 fps, turn on frame generation, and get a consistent, locked 120 fps.This is easily my favorite way to use Lossless Scaling. Even with a ton of PC power, games likePath of Exile 2show big performance dips, particularly as you progress toward the endgame. Upscaling helps, but it still doesnt get around some nasty frame rate drops when the screen lights up in elemental vomit. Games with a large performance window like Path of Exile 2orDestiny 2really benefit from Lossless Scaling.In one of these games, you might hover around 100 fps, but youll see dips toward 60 fps when theres a lot going on. That inconsistency is noticeable. It doesnt matter if 60 fps feels smooth. If youre oscillating between a high frame rate and a low one, youll notice the difference. Lossless Scaling allows you to essentially drop to the lowest point of your performance window and use frame generation to boost you back up, providing a consistent experience with little to no frame drops.Jacob Roach / Digital TrendsThose are two obvious use cases. Add frame generation to games that dont have it, and bypass fps caps in games without messing with mods or worrying about interfering with anti-cheat software as is the case withElden Ring.But Lossless Scaling actually goes further. Remember, it works with anygame andanygraphics card.If youre emulating a game, for example, Lossless Scaling is fair game. Particularly when emulating older consoles, there are loads of games capped at 30 fps, and Lossless Scaling can smooth them out. As someone who constantly uses EmuDeck to emulate games across PC and my Steam Deck, Ive used Lossless Scaling for emulated games too many times to count.In fact, you dont even need to be running a game on your PC for Lossless Scaling to work. If you have a capture card and preview window, you can apply Lossless Scaling to the gameplay preview. I wouldnt recommend this setup the latency between frame generation and playing out of preview window adds up quickly but it works.On the graphics card front, Lossless Scaling doesnt call for any particular hardware. You can use it on a Windows-based handheld like the Lenovo Legion Go or Asus ROG Ally though, unfortunately not on the Linux-based Steam Deck. Or, you can use it on older integrated graphics available on a desktop or laptop.Throughout this year, I actually used Lossless Scaling to playLords of the FallenandSystem Shockon an Asus ZenBook S 16 through the integrated graphics. Despite the powerful CPU in this laptop, the iGPU couldnt hope to run a game like Lords of the Fallenat a playable frame rate. But Lossless Scaling, in these cases, literally makes the impossible possible.THSThere isnt another app I can think of on PC that Id recommend to just about any PC gamer. Even extremely useful utilities like Special K arent right for every PC gamer. Lossless Scaling is something I would and have recommended toeveryPC gamer, though. It really doesnt matter if youre playing older games with weak hardware or you have the best of the best for the most demanding games coming out today. Theres a good chance you can find a use for the app.At the time of publishing, Lossless Scaling is part of the Steam winter sale, so you can pick it up for 20% off. Even when the sale is over, though, the app only costs $7, and its received a ton of free updates throughout this year alone. Hopefully that level of support continues into 2025.Editors Recommendations

Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled extensively this year, despite being sanctioned by the West.His meetings were mostly in Russia or Asia. The International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest.But ICC member Mongolia did not arrest Putin, citing its reliance on Russian energy.Russian President Vladimir Putin was a social butterfly this year, traveling to various countries and meeting foreign dignitaries at home even though he is heavily sanctioned.The Russian leader started the year mostly in his country ahead of the presidential election in March in which he won by a landslide.Soon after, Putin started traveling and hobnobbing with dignitaries, primarily at home and also in Asia.In all, Putin took 11 international trips this year, according to TASS state news agency.Since Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court, his travel was still limited but some world leaders came to him instead. He took part in over 220 events with 54 world leaders, per TASS.In July, Putin met Indonesia's then-President-elect Prabowo Subianto, who was visiting in his capacity as defense minister. Prabowo described Russia "as a real friend" during his visit with the Russian leader.In September, Putin met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of an economic forum.In October, Putin hosted the BRICS summit involving a group of major emerging economies, where he met a number of world leaders including Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.Away from home, here's who Putin met and what he did.Putting on a full bromance display with Xi in MayThe first notable person Putin met this year was Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The Russian leader traveled to Beijing to meet his Chinese counterpart.Xi rolled out the red carpet for Putin in Beijing with a show of pomp and pageantry featuring a marching band, a guard of honor, a 21-gun salute on Tiananmen Square, and flag-waving children.Putin was also treated to a banquet featuring delicacies like Peking Duck, sea cucumber, and sea bass in shrimp cream. Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping. Sergei Bobylev/Pool/AFP/\Getty Images For Xi, Russia is a strategic partner against Western dominance. For Putin, the Chinese connection is more than geopolitics.China has been a closing trade partner of Russia even before the invasion of Ukraine, and ties between the two have only gotten tighter since the war started.Since the EU's sweeping sanctions against Russia, Moscow has steered the country's trade especially in oil eastward, particularly to China and India.Trade between Russia and China hit a record $240 billion in 2023, a 26% jump from 2022.Putin followed his international itinerary by visiting the former Soviet republics of Belarus and Uzbekistan in the same month.North KoreaIn June, Putin made his way to Pyongyang, where he spent a day cozying up to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.The last time the Russian leader visited the isolated nation was in 2000.Kim showered Putin with presents, a welcoming ceremony involving a large crowd, a banquet, and a concert.Among the gifts Kim gave Putin were what appears to be a portrait of the Russian leader, a bust bearing Putin's likeness, a Russian-made Aurus limousine, several white horses, and a pair of Pungsan hunting dogs for the avid hunter. Putin observes the dogs gifted by Kim. North Korean State Media VietnamIn June, Putin visited Vietnam, a supply chain hot spot for many multinational companies diversifying their operations outside China.The US embassy in Vietnam issued sharp criticism of the visit, saying that "no country should give Putin a platform to promote his war of aggression and otherwise allow him to normalize his atrocities."During his visit, Putin was gifted with an installation art performance featuring a sculpture of "whinnying war horse, galloping majestically under the canopy of a birch forest," according to information from a Vietnamese government website.The late Vietnamese leader Nguyen Phu Trong, who died the following month, presented Putin with the gift, which was accompanied by a light show. The light show featured images of a young Putin and the Russian leader today.It's unclear if Putin took the sculpture home with him. Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Vietnam's President To Lam. Kristina Kormilitsyna/Sputnik/Kremlin/Reuters MongoliaIn the second half of the year, Putin visited several Central Asian countries, including the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.He also went to Kazakhstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.Among Putin's trips in the later part of the year, his September visit to Mongolia raised eyebrows. Russia's President Vladimir Putin met Mongolia's President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh in September. Mongolia did not arrest Putin even though the country is a ICC member. Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool/AFP/Getty Images Mongolia is a member of the International Criminal Court, so it is supposed to enforce the organization's arrest warrant for Putin.But that didn't happen.Instead, Mongolia gave Putin a lavish welcome and the Russian leader left a free man.Mongolia explained that Russia is too important for its energy security."Mongolia imports 95% of its petroleum products and over 20% of electricity from our immediate neighborhood, which has previously suffered interruption for technical reasons. This supply is critical to ensure our existence and that of our people," a Mongolian spokesperson told Politico.

Suchir Balaji was a researcher at OpenAI who later accused his employer of violating copyright law.One of his OpenAI colleagues told BI that he was one of the "true geniuses" at the startup.Friends described Balaji as a brilliant person with a passion for artificial intelligence.Longtime friends and former colleagues gathered at a private memorial service at the India Community Center in Silicon Valley on Saturday to remember Suchir Balaji, who many said was an intelligent but humble individual with impressive technical prowess."He was the sharpest person I ever met," Aayush Gupta, who interned with Balaji at Scale.AI in 2019, told Business Insider, adding that he was an "independent thinker." In his speech to the assembled crowd, Gupta said Balaji "seemed like he was entirely self-taught."That brilliance didn't go unnoticed at OpenAI, where the 26-year-old Balaji worked for nearly four years before he left the company in August and later accused his employer of violating copyright law.Tarun Gogineni, a research scientist at OpenAI since 2022, told Business Insider that he often bounced ideas about artificial general intelligence with Balaji and that his colleague was a "contrarian thinker" who could be seen getting into long debates on Slack and expressing his opinion."He was one of the true geniuses at OpenAI," Gogineni said.Gogineni recalled how Balaji worked with key figures at OpenAI, including cofounders Ilya Sutskever and John Schulman, to help launch WebGPT. Gogineni described the project as "in all meaningful ways, a spiritual predecessor" to ChatGPT."He worked closely with Ilya and John Schulman and some of the top people at OpenAI to come up with new algorithms for post-training," Gogineni said, referring to the process of fine-tuning an AI model after its initial training.After Balaji's death, which authorities have ruled a suicide, Schulman wrote in a social media post that Balaji was "one of the three lead contributors" to the WebGPT project."I worked with Suchir on and off since around 2021, and he was one of my favorite and most talented collaborators," Schulman wrote.Sutskever and Schulman left OpenAI in May and August, respectively.They did not respond to a request for comment.Balaji goes public on OpenAITwo months after Balaji left OpenAI, The New York Times published a profile in which the researcher said his employer violated copyright law to train ChatGPT.OpenAI has denied the accusation.In a statement, an OpenAI spokesperson said the company was "devastated to learn of Balaji's death" and that "our hearts go out to Suchir's loved ones during this difficult time."Gogineni said he was surprised to read about Balaji's concerns. In the nearly two years he overlapped with Balaji at OpenAI, Gogineni said he never recalled his coworker bringing up concerns about copyright violation."It was very surprising," Gogineni said. "I mean, I can't claim I was best friends with him. He was a work friend. But I had never ever seen him express any concern about copyright." Close friends and family left flowers at a private memorial service on Saturday for Suchir Balaji. Lloyd Lee/Business Insider Friends and Balaji's parents described Balaji as an independent person.Will Gan, who had known Balaji since ninth grade and also attended the University of California, Berkeley, told BI that Balaji usually maintained a sense of humor.If he ever shared concerns about AI, Gan said Balaji would always be "super jokey" and lighthearted."If you ever followed 'Dune,' how they've outlawed machines in that universe, that's what he would joke about that he'd want," Gan said.In serious matters in his life, however, Gan said Balaji could be reserved."I feel like, for example, if he had something serious going on at work or otherwise, he might not necessarily share that openly," Gan said. "I think that was just part of who he was to some extent."Gan said he never talked to Balaji about his plans to speak with a New York Times reporter."He just told us at some point before the article released that he was going to do this, and we were hyping him up and stuff like that," Gan said. "It wasn't like we were discussing, 'Oh shit, what are the ramifications' and stuff like that."Balaji's mom, Poornima Ramarao, previously told BI that she scolded her son for talking with a reporter and doing it so publicly without remaining anonymous. Ramarao said she is working with an attorney to try to get the SF police to further investigate Balaji's death.Balaji also had plans to provide documents to The New York Times Co. for its copyright lawsuit against OpenAI, court filings showed. His name appeared in a letter from the Times' attorney on November 18.Gan said he last saw Balaji during a weeklong trip to Catalina Island on November 22. Authorities found Balaji's body on November 26."We were all together in Catalina," Gan said of the trip. "And he seemed fine on that day."