Following the success of OpenAI's GPT series of large language models, an increasing number of institutions are proposing "foundation" models for artificial intelligence that, like GPT, are "pre-trained" to have very broad capabilities in a domain of knowledge. We saw this last week with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang proposing a "world foundation model" for autonomous vehicles and robots. On Tuesday, at the annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, AI computer startup Cerebras Systems and medical research powerhouse Mayo Clinic presented findings of what they're calling a foundation model for genomics that can tease out the genetic root of inherited conditions. The goal is to "build the ChatGPT of healthcare," according to Cerebras and Mayo Clinic. The first breakthrough of the year-long collaboration is the potential capability to predict drug response from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

California Fire Battalion chief David Acuna joins'Fox & Friends Weekend' to provide an update on the ongoing Los Angeles fires. Private drones being flown near the wildfires consuming Los Angeles County continued to interfere with aerial firefighting efforts Saturday evening, according to officials, as the death toll from the flames rises. Officials have detected 48 privately owned drones flying over the fires since the infernos erupted Tuesday, Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief Robert Harris said during a briefing Saturday evening. "When those privately owned drones are detected, we have to pause firefighting activities, so we ask you to please assist us by not operating drones in the area," Harris said, adding that the drones' owners are being sought by police and will face potential prosecution. Authorities urge civilians not to fly drones near wildfires because they can get in the way of low-flying firefighting aircraft and delay emergency responders.

CES 2025 is already buzzing, and one of the standout reveals at this year's Unveiled event is OpenDroids' R2D3 -- a multi-tasking domestic robot that promises to revolutionize the way we tackle household chores. OpenDroids, a San Francisco-based robotics startup founded just last year, is stepping into the spotlight with its second-generation home assistant. Co-founder Jack Jay described the R2D3 to an eager crowd as a "Roomba on crack," emphasizing its enhanced capabilities over the company's debut model, the R1D1. The R2D3 is equipped to handle everything from folding laundry to washing dishes, setting the stage for a future where cleaning your home feels like a thing of the past. Both the R2D3 and its predecessor are built around the idea of making everyday life a little easier, leveraging self-charging capabilities, real-time depth perception, and surprisingly nimble movement for a chore bot.

In San Francisco, meanwhile, a lawsuit is underway against the operators of a number of nudify apps. In some instances, the complaint identifies the defendants by name, but in the case of Clothoff, the accused is only listed as "Doe," the name frequently used in the U.S. for unknown defendants. According to the website's imprint, Clothoff is operated out of the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires. But the company has concealed the true identities of its operators through the use of shell companies and other methods. For a time, operators even sought to mislead the public with a fake image, presumably generated by AI, of the purported head of Clothoff.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Balaji's death on November 26 was ruled a suicide, and Fox News Digital previously reported that the San Francisco Police Department found no evidence of foul play. But the 26-year-old's mother is urging police to reopen their investigation, saying it "doesn't look like a normal situation." Bereaved mother Poornima Ramarao told Business Insider that a private autopsy commissioned by Balaji's family and completed in early December produced concerning results. Now, they are working with an attorney to urge the department to conduct a "proper investigation."

PCWorld executive editor Gordon Mah Ung, a tireless journalist we once described as a founding father of hardcore tech journalism, passed away over the weekend after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. Gordon was 58, and leaves behind a loving wife, two children, older sister, and mother. With more than 25 years' experience covering computer tech broadly and computer chips specifically, Gordon's dogged reporting, one-of-a-kind personality, and commitment to journalistic standards touched many, many lives. He will be profoundly missed by co-workers, industry sources, and the PC enthusiasts who read his words and followed him as a video creator. Gordon studied journalism at San Francisco State University and then worked as a police reporter for the Contra Costa Times in the late 1990s. In 1997, he joined Computerworld (a PCWorld sister publication) before I recruited him to join boot magazine (later re-launched as Maximum PC), where he would ultimately lead hardware coverage for 16 years. At Maximum PC, Gordon developed his trademark voice that blended a hardcore passion for PC tech with non-sequiturs, deadpan humor, and occasional bursts of outrage.

Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He had been well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. "We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir's loved ones during this difficult time," said a statement from OpenAI. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on 26 November in what police said "appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation."

If you're a college student looking to get hands-on experience in the world of AI, collaborate with other students around the world, and learn from industry leaders passionate about AI, you'll want to be aware of Perplexity's Campus Strategist program. Perplexity is a leading name in AI these days, and the company says this free program provides not only real-world experience but also mentorship from top minds. The window to apply for the 2025 strategist program is open now, but if you want in, you'll need to move quickly as the deadline to apply is Dec. 28, 2024. You'll get monthly virtual meetings with Perplexity's leadership team, experience co-creating an on-campus marketing campaign and applying for marketing budgets to run your own campus events, a free Perplexity Pro account, early access to new features, and Perplexity merch. The top performers will earn a trip to the Perplexity office in San Francisco.

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). A former OpenAI employee and whistleblower, Suchir Balaji, was recently found dead in his apartment in San Francisco, California. The San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has identified Balaji, 26, as the deceased person, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

A Chinese man has been arrested for allegedly flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base, as the FBI investigates mysterious drones in New Jersey. Yinpiao Zhou, 39, a Chinese National now living in Brentwood, California, was charged with failure to register an aircraft not providing transportation and violation of national defense airspace. Zhou was arrested Monday at San Francisco International Airport prior to boarding a China-bound flight and made his initial appearance Tuesday in United States District Court in San Francisco. He is in federal custody pending prosecutors' appeal of a federal magistrate judge's decision to release him. No plea was taken and his arraignment is expected to be scheduled in US District Court in Los Angeles in the coming weeks.