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Events on Sunday 31 December 2023 8
2007 – 2023Return as Optimus Prime in Live-Action FilmsReturned to voice Optimus Prime in Michael Bay's live-action Transformers film, describing the experience as 'slipping into a very old, very comfortable pair of shoes.' He went on to voice the character in all subsequent films through Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023), introducing Optimus to an entirely new generation.
2020 – 2023Martial Arts and Later LifeHeld a sixth-degree black belt in karate and taught martial arts alongside his literary work. Continued writing, performing and campaigning until his diagnosis with a brain tumour in late 2023.
2021 – 2023The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin ZephaniahPublished his autobiography The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, reflecting on his journey from a troubled childhood to becoming one of Britain's most beloved poets.
20232023: Max VerstappenRed BullVerstappen set a new record with 19 wins from 22 races in the most dominant season in F1 history, winning his third consecutive title.
2023AI race begins in earnestGoogle, Microsoft and others race for AIFollowing the success of ChatGPT, 2023 saw an unprecedented AI race with Microsoft investing $10 billion in OpenAI, Google launching Bard, and Meta releasing Llama. AI became the dominant technology theme.
2023Rockstar Album and Continued WorkReleased new exhibitions at David Zwirner Gallery in New York. Publicly apologised for racist comments against Black people found in her earlier writings. Despite her advanced age, she continued painting daily at her studio across the street from the hospital.
2023Sleep and Killing RomanceIn his final year, starred in two contrasting films: the horror film Sleep and the comedy Killing Romance.
2023The City and Its Uncertain WallsPublished The City and Its Uncertain Walls, his first full-length novel in six years, returning to the walled town from Hard-Boiled Wonderland. The same year, he received the Princess of Asturias Award for Literature, one of Spain's most prestigious cultural prizes.