Every year since 1955, the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) simulates Santa Claus’ journey as he leaves the North Pole and delivers gifts to children around the world.

For Christmas 2024, NORAD added an AI chatbot to its tracking site, but its AI capabilities are quite limited, according to an initial test. NORAD Tracks Santa officially launched on December 1st, but the actual simulation begins at midnight on December 24th.

Visit the NORAD Tracks Santa website in advance to play web games, watch videos about Santa and NORAD, listen to Santa’s favorite Christmas songs, learn more about Santa and his traditions, find out what NORAD is doing, and with Radar (the AI ​​chatbot). .

Real-time simulation can reach martial proportions, as this video from Christmas 2013 shows. In the video, Santa’s reindeer sleigh is referred to as “The Big Red One” (which is also the name of the US Army’s famous 1st Infantry Division):

NORAD is a joint command of the United States and Canada that monitors the airspace over North America and provides “early warning of missile, aircraft and spacecraft attacks on North America.” Back in 1955, NORAD’s predecessor organization was the first to introduce the gag of watching Santa Claus’ flight on Christmas Eve – back then, of course, without the Internet or YouTube.

On the NORAD Tracks Santa website there is a large timer that counts down to the start of Santa’s famous sleigh ride. Check it out and don’t forget to tune in on December 24th to watch him do his thing!