Things I learned lately 17 Feb

• The natural language processing (NLP) that forms the interface between users and ChatGPT (natural language AI query tool) has been around for a while in other forms. Your auto correct and auto suggest features on your phone are a type of NLP.
• The ‘transformer’ machine learning model that forms the basis of ChatGPT was developed by a team at Google Brain in 2017.
• A heavy industry consortium in Germany wants to bring back a DC electricity grid to make the path between generation, storage and use in plants with heavy usage much more efficient. This makes sense, considering that generation and consumption both happen as DC current in most of those cases. Tesla must be turning in his grave.
• Part of what is now Texas used to be called New Philippines.
• The state name Montana was almost applied to what is now Idaho, and Montana could have been named Shoshone.
• The oldest known company in the world that still exists today is the Japanese construction company named Kongo Gumi, which had its start in 578AD building a temple for Prince Shotoku.
• The first car that didn’t need a crank to start it was the 1912 Cadillac Model 30.