#25: 26 in 2026

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! My final exams wrapped up in December, and since then, I’ve been reflecting on 2025. It was a year defined by curiosity, learning, and growth.

I set a goal to write 26 blogs last year and managed to publish 24. I explored topics ranging from the technical mechanics of large language models to the complexities of AI policy and safety. I spent hours reading Engadget, The Verge, and books like Chip War. But I realized my deepest learning came from the constant challenge of identifying the next topic, researching it, and articulating it clearly.

I saw this habit in action just today. I was having brunch with my family at Zareen’s in Palo Alto when I noticed an AI-controlled personalized electric heater at our outdoor table, made by a company called Focal. At first, I was just amazed. Then I started digging into the specs. It uses sensors to target specific zones rather than wasting energy on empty air, and guests can scan the QR code to personalize how much heat they want from their individual devices. The concept felt intuitive. Ads are personalized. My YouTube feed is personalized. Now the warmth at my lunch table is personalized too.

Reflecting on this, I realize how much I love technology and how it’s reshaping daily life. This blog has given me a constructive channel to focus and refine those observations. It gave structure to my curiosity. A frustration in Spanish class became an explanation of AI scaling laws. A Waymo ride revealed insights about the future of AI safety. My curiosity about college admissions turned into a technical proposal for an LLM Council.

This blog gave my observations a home and helped me grow alongside the tech world I love. I look forward to finding and writing more stories in 2026!