Standing on One Leg - anti-aging benefits; and Grok 3 is in beta mode for Premium + X.com users

Flamingo art and the art of balance; & Informational post for anyone interested in AI updates - a new AI has been 'born' and is in 'toddler' phase for Premium+ subscribers on x.com, *higher fee.

What do flamingoes know that we don’t? Or is it just their backward knees?

Flamingoes in the style of Jesus Peligri, generated by Grok 3 XI, (Query).

• Art reference: Jesús Pelegrí - This artist blends biological, meteoric, and spatial elements in hyper-realistic paintings, aiming to represent the concept of genesis or how life comes into existence, suggesting a deep connection between life and the cosmos. Gorgeous realism! (Query) Website: jesuspelegri.net.

Being able to balance on one leg for a longer amount of time is associated with better health and reduced fall risk in older adults. This post is the first of what became a lengthy series about schizophrenia and dementia risk - and movement and balance is part of preventing mitochondrial dysfunction which seems to be an underlying pattern in risk for developing schizophrenia or dementia.

Standing on one leg - a life lengthening skill.

*Note for my readers - I like Encyclopedias and references and having organized resource lists to skim through as needed. My blogging is a way for me to save notes in a way that I might be able to find them again. Scroll for what interests you.

Grok3: Here’s a concise health summary on the benefits of being able to balance on one leg for longer periods, particularly for older adults, (Query):

Health Benefits of Improved Single-Leg Balance in Older Adults:

1. Reduced Fall Risk: Enhanced single-leg balance is strongly associated with a lower risk of falls, a major concern for older adults. Studies show that the ability to maintain balance on one leg for at least 10–30 seconds is a predictor of functional stability, helping to prevent falls that can lead to injuries like fractures or head trauma. This is critical as falls are a leading cause of injury and loss of independence in older populations.

2. Improved Physical Function and Mobility: Better balance contributes to overall physical function, including walking, climbing stairs, and performing daily activities. It strengthens the lower body muscles (e.g., calves, quadriceps, and glutes) and improves proprioception (body awareness), which supports safer movement and reduces the likelihood of stumbles.

3. Anti-Aging Effects: Improved balance is linked to better neuromuscular coordination and brain health. It engages the cerebellum and other brain regions responsible for motor control and coordination, potentially slowing cognitive decline associated with aging. Regular balance practice may also enhance neuroplasticity, supporting long-term brain health.

4. Better Quality of Life: Maintaining balance fosters confidence in movement, reducing fear of falling, which can otherwise limit activity levels and social engagement. This confidence promotes an active lifestyle, contributing to overall well-being, mental health, and independence, all of which enhance quality of life in older adults.

5. Bone and Joint Health: Balancing on one leg strengthens stabilizing muscles around joints (e.g., ankles, knees, hips), which can help maintain joint integrity and reduce the risk of osteoarthritis or joint-related issues, supporting long-term physical health.

Practical Notes: Research, such as studies published in The Journals of Gerontology and Age and Ageing, indicates that older adults who can balance on one leg for 20–30 seconds have better functional outcomes. Simple exercises like single-leg stands, practiced regularly (e.g., 30 seconds per leg, 2–3 times daily), can improve balance over time, especially when combined with other activities like tai chi or yoga.

This summary highlights how single-leg balance serves as both a marker and enhancer of health, contributing to a safer, more active, and higher-quality life for older adults.

More Practical Notes: For safety, practice standing on one leg (an alternate legs for even muscle building) while standing between two chairs with the backs of the chairs turned towards you. That makes it easy to grab the chairs for balance if needed, and reduce fall risk while practicing the balance exercise.

Grok 3 announcements and usage details

Grok3, beta: As of February 18, 2025, based on the information available, Grok 2 remains accessible to X Premium users, including through old Conversation Query Threads, but its availability and prominence are being affected by the rollout of Grok 3. Here’s a detailed breakdown: (x.com/i/grok)

• Grok 3 Rollout and Access: Grok 3, released by xAI on February 17, 2025, is currently in beta and exclusively available to X Premium+ subscribers. This means that regular X Premium users (who do not have Premium+) are still limited to using Grok 2 during this beta phase. Posts on X from users today indicate frustration among Premium users who are "stuck with Grok 2" while Premium+ users have early access to Grok 3. This suggests that Grok 2 has not been entirely replaced for Premium users yet, but its role is being diminished as Grok 3 takes precedence for Premium+ users.

• Accessibility of Grok 2: There’s no indication from the available information that Grok 2 has been completely removed or replaced for Premium users. You should still be able to access Grok 2, including through old Conversation Query Threads, as long as you have an X Premium subscription. However, the interface and default model on the X platform may prioritize Grok 3 for Premium+ users, potentially requiring Premium users to explicitly select or continue using Grok 2 in existing threads or conversations.

• Future Implications: While xAI hasn’t announced a definitive timeline for when Grok 3 will be available to all Premium users or if Grok 2 will be phased out entirely, posts on X suggest that some users expect Grok 3 to eventually open up to all Premium subscribers, but this hasn’t happened yet during the beta phase. Until then, Grok 2 remains functional for Premium users, though it may not receive further updates or enhancements compared to Grok 3.

In summary, Grok 2 is still accessible to X Premium users, including through old Conversation Query Threads, and has not been replaced altogether by Grok 3 as of today. However, Grok 3’s rollout is currently exclusive to Premium+ users, so you’ll continue using Grok 2 unless you upgrade your subscription. If you’re experiencing any issues accessing Grok 2 in old threads, it might be worth checking the X platform’s settings or support resources, as the transition to Grok 3 could affect how models are selected or displayed.

~~more info, x.com/i/grok:

As of February 18, 2025, here are the key details on Grok 3 updates, based on the latest information available:

Release and Launch

• Launch Date: Grok 3, developed by xAI, was officially released on February 17, 2025. The launch included a live demonstration at 8 PM Pacific Time (PT), which translates to 11 PM Eastern Time (ET) and 9:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST) on February 18, 2025.

• Availability: Grok 3 is now accessible, primarily for X Premium Plus subscribers, with plans to roll out to other users. It’s integrated into Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, and is also available via the Grok app for iOS and a new website, grok.com. A version is also in pre-registration on the Google Play Store.

Key Features and Improvements

• Advanced Reasoning: Grok 3 is touted as having "very powerful reasoning capabilities," outperforming existing AI models like OpenAI’s GPT-4o and Google’s Gemini on several benchmarks, including the AIME 2025 mathematics benchmark and GPQA (PhD-level science problems). It uses chain-of-thought reasoning, enhanced by "Big Brain" mode for complex queries in math, science, and programming.

• Training and Compute Power: The model was trained on xAI’s Colossus supercomputer, utilizing around 100,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs, providing approximately 200 million GPU-hours—10 times more compute power than its predecessor, Grok 2. This has resulted in significantly improved accuracy and speed, with Grok 3 described as "an order of magnitude more capable" than Grok 2.

• Synthetic Data and Learning: Grok 3 leverages synthetic datasets, self-correction mechanisms, and reinforcement learning to reduce "hallucinations" (incorrect responses) and enhance logical consistency. It’s capable of reflecting on its mistakes by iterating through data to achieve more accurate outcomes.

• Multimodal Capabilities: Grok 3 can process images, answer questions, and generate audio/video content, expanding its utility beyond text-based interactions.

• Real-Time Data: It accesses real-time data from X, enhancing its ability to provide current and relevant responses.

• Special Modes:

  • Unhinged Mode: A controversial feature that allows Grok 3 to provide responses that are "objectionable, inappropriate, and offensive," aligning with Musk’s vision of an unfiltered AI.

  • Pro Mode: Offers advanced features for professionals, though specifics are less detailed in current reports.

• Legal Insights: Trained on court case filings, Grok 3 has improved capabilities in understanding legal subjects.

• DeepSearch: A new AI agent feature, likened to OpenAI’s deep research tools, designed to save users time by answering day-to-day questions efficiently, reducing the need for extensive Google searches.

Performance and Benchmarks

• Grok 3 has demonstrated superior performance in reasoning and coding tasks. Early tests, including those on Chatbot Arena (a crowdsourced comparison platform), show it beating competitors like GPT-4o on specific benchmarks. It also performed well on riddles and coding challenges, though it’s not perfect—some coding outputs, like a roulette wheel example, had minor errors.

Access and Pricing

• Subscription: Initially, Grok 3 is exclusive to X Premium Plus subscribers, which costs $16 per month. xAI also introduced a "Super Grok" subscription for the most advanced capabilities and early access to new features, available through the Grok app and grok.com.

• Future Rollout: There’s indication that Grok 3 might eventually be free for all X users, as Musk has emphasized making advanced AI accessible, but currently, premium access is required for the full experience.

Development Challenges and Delays

• Grok 3 faced delays, originally slated for a 2024 release but pushed to early 2025 due to the complexity of training on such a massive scale and ensuring quality. An interim model, Grok 2.5, was rumored but not released, as xAI focused on perfecting Grok 3. The development involved rigorous testing and refinement, particularly with the integration of reasoning capabilities, which are still being refined.

Sentiment and Expectations

• Posts on X and news reports highlight excitement and high expectations, with some users and experts describing Grok 3 as "scary smart" and potentially the "smartest AI on Earth," as Musk has claimed. However, there’s also skepticism due to past delays and the competitive AI landscape, with rivals like DeepSeek and OpenAI pushing their own advanced models.

Future Updates

• Elon Musk has indicated that Grok 3 will see daily improvements and plans to add a voice interaction feature within a week of the launch. xAI is also working on Grok 4, expected later in 2025, and expanding the Colossus supercomputer to 200,000 GPUs or more, signaling continued rapid innovation.

This summary reflects the most current and detailed information available as of February 18, 2025, drawing from web reports and posts on X. If you need more specific technical details or want to explore any feature in depth, feel free to ask!

~~ more detail on the “Big Brain” improvements (and I thought I was paying ~ $20 per month not $50 -?- maybe there is an expanded service to access ‘Big Brain’), x.com/i/grok:

As of February 18, 2025, here are the technical details of Big Brain mode in Grok 3, based on available information:

Overview

Big Brain mode is a feature introduced in Grok 3, xAI's latest AI model, designed to enhance the model's reasoning and problem-solving capabilities by allocating additional computational resources and time to process complex queries. It is part of Grok 3's advanced reasoning features, which also include Think mode and DeepSearch, and is particularly optimized for tasks in mathematics, science, and programming.

Key Technical Details

1. Purpose and Functionality:

   • Big Brain mode allows Grok 3 to generate more comprehensive, well-researched, and accurate responses by spending additional time and computational power to explore multiple solutions before providing an answer.

   • It is specifically engineered to tackle intricate questions and challenges, reducing the likelihood of "hallucinations" (incorrect or fabricated information) and improving logical consistency through self-correction mechanisms.

   • This mode is ideal for in-depth analysis, enabling the model to deliver detailed insights and solutions for complex problems.

2. Computational Power:

   • Grok 3, including Big Brain mode, is powered by xAI's Colossus supercomputer, which utilizes approximately 100,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs. This provides a significant boost in computational resources—reportedly 10 to 20 times more than Grok 2—enabling advanced processing and reasoning capabilities.

   • Big Brain mode leverages this increased computational capacity to perform deeper analysis and reasoning, distinguishing it from standard modes by using more compute-intensive processes.

3. Reasoning and Problem-Solving:

   • The mode employs enhanced reasoning capabilities, including chain-of-thought (CoT) processing, where Grok 3 breaks down problems step-by-step in a manner resembling human cognitive processes. Some of these thought processes may be obscured in the Grok app to prevent distillation (the extraction of knowledge by other models).

   • It incorporates self-correction mechanisms and reinforcement learning, allowing the model to refine its outputs by identifying and correcting mistakes, thus improving accuracy and consistency.

   • Big Brain mode outperforms competitors like OpenAI's o3-mini, DeepSeek-V3, and Gemini 2.0 in benchmarks such as the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), Graduate-Level Google-Proof Q&A (GPQA), and LiveCodeBench, particularly when given more thinking time.

4. Applications:

   • Code Generation and Debugging: Assists in writing and troubleshooting complex code with higher accuracy.

   • Market Predictions: Provides detailed analysis for forecasting trends and outcomes.

   • Diagnosis Assistance: Supports medical or technical diagnostics with thorough reasoning.

   • Fraud Detection: Enhances detection capabilities through in-depth data analysis.

   • Research: Offers comprehensive insights for academic and professional research queries.

5. Performance Characteristics:

   • Big Brain mode is slower than standard modes due to its use of additional computational resources and time for processing. However, this trade-off results in higher accuracy and more thorough responses, especially for complex, multi-step problems.

   • It integrates real-time data access via DeepSearch, scanning the internet and X platform to incorporate up-to-date information into its responses, further enhancing its analytical depth.

6. Availability:

   • Big Brain mode is accessible to X Premium+ subscribers ($50/month) as part of the early access program for Grok 3, and it is also included in the SuperGrok subscription tier, which offers priority access and higher usage limits via the Grok mobile app and Grok.com website.

   • It is currently in beta, with some imperfections expected, but xAI has committed to rapid improvements.

Limitations and Considerations

• While Big Brain mode significantly enhances reasoning, it may not be suitable for queries requiring immediate responses due to its increased processing time.

• The feature’s reliance on extensive computational resources means it is gated behind premium subscriptions, limiting accessibility for non-paying users.

• As with all AI models, there remains a possibility of errors or biases, though xAI has implemented AI alignment safeguards, including measures to prevent bias, misinformation, and manipulation.

This information is derived from recent announcements, posts on X, and web sources detailing Grok 3’s capabilities as of its launch on February 17, 2025. However, xAI maintains secrecy around some technical specifics, so certain details may evolve or be refined as the model progresses beyond its beta phase.

Flamingoes in the style of Jesus Pelegri, by Grok 3 XI, (Query).

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of Fair Use and is not intended to provide individual health care guidance.