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Dec 27, 2023 • 4 min read

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New U.S. Nuclear Reactor:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted a construction permit for a new nuclear test reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This reactor, developed by Kairos Power, a California-based company, represents a significant innovation in nuclear technology, being the first non-water-cooled reactor approved in the U.S. in over 50 years. Named the Hermes demonstration reactor, it will use molten salt to cool its core, a novel approach compared to traditional water-cooled reactors.
The construction of this 35-megawatt thermal reactor is set to begin next year at the Heritage Center Industrial Park. The project is a collaborative effort involving the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). While primarily funded through private investment, the project has been earmarked for a substantial $303 million in funding from the Department of Energy. This initiative is seen as a major step forward in deploying clean, safe, and reliable energy.
The approval of the Hermes reactor by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission comes at a crucial time. The U.S. is exploring various options for advanced reactors and small modular reactors, aiming to maintain grid reliability amidst decarbonization, power hydrogen production, and bring zero-emissions electricity to diverse locations. The Hermes reactor represents a significant milestone in the evolution of nuclear power technology.

Microsoft‘s Copilot AI:

Microsoft has introduced a new standalone Copilot AI chatbot application for Android users, expanding its accessibility beyond the Bing mobile app. This move comes after Microsoft discreetly launched the app.
Copilot allows users to interact with AI on their smartphones, offering functionalities like asking questions, generating images, and creating content. It stands out by providing access to the latest GPT-4 models, a feature usually reserved for ChatGPT Plus subscribers from OpenAI. Previously known as Bing Chat, Microsoft rebranded the service to Copilot last month.
Bing Chat had made its debut earlier in the year within the Bing search engine and continues to be available there. In addition to the Android app, Copilot can be used via a dedicated web interface for desktop interactions and is also integrated into Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating systems. While Android users now have a specific app for Copilot, iOS users can still utilize the service through the Bing app.

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