tweaktown
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August 1
- Reddit CEO says Microsoft refuses to negotiate with Reddit to scrape its data1. Reddit CEO Steve Huffman calls on Microsoft to negotiate for data scraping. 2. Reddit has updated its API policies, charging for access and blocking non-paying search engines. 3. Microsoft, Anthropic, and Perplexity have refused to negotiate with Reddit for data access.
- Samsung's new PRO Plus and EVO Select microSD cards can store 'more than 45 console games'1. Samsung launches 1TB variants of PRO Plus and EVO Plus microSD cards. 2. Cards offer sequential read speeds of 180MB/s and 160MB/s respectively. 3. Suitable for 4K video, gaming, and photography with a 10-year limited warranty.
- EA CEO says next Battlefield game is 'one of the most ambitious projects in our history'1. EA CEO Andrew Wilson describes the next Battlefield game as one of the most ambitious projects in the company's history. 2. The game is being developed by the largest team ever assembled for a Battlefield title. 3. The project includes single-player, multiplayer, and various modes, with four studios involved in its development.
- Activision made this epic Call of Duty: Warzone map open-source and available for AI training1. Activision has made the Caldera map from Call of Duty: Warzone open-source for AI training and education. 2. This is a first-of-its-kind release in the gaming industry, available in OpenUSD format. 3. The map includes geometry and time samples of player movement, aiming to advance game development and AI research.
- Apple's new iPhone 16 Pro, Pro Max to be made in India: first premium iPhone assembled in India1. Apple is rumored to manufacture its higher-end iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max in India for the first time. 2. The decision is aimed at deepening manufacturing capabilities with partners in India. 3. The India-assembled iPhone 16 models are expected to be available in the country after the launch in 2025.
July 31
- AMD Ryzen 9000 series CPU pricing: 9950X is $599, 9900X is $449, 9700X is $359, 9600X is $2791. AMD's Zen 5-based Ryzen 9000 series CPU pricing is officially announced. 2. The flagship Ryzen 9 9950X is priced at $599, the Ryzen 9 9900X at $449, the Ryzen 7 9700X at $359, and the Ryzen 5 9600X at $279. 3. The CPUs are set to launch in August, with the higher-end models releasing on August 15.
- 'Friend' the new $99 wearable AI that can bully you when you're down1. Friend, a new $99 wearable AI device, can mock users when they are in low spirits. 2. The device, worn as a medallion, listens to conversations and responds via Bluetooth to the user's smartphone. 3. Friend currently supports iOS only, with potential future Android compatibility.
- Microsoft officially denounces AI deepfake abuse with a plea to the US government1. Microsoft calls for new laws against AI-generated deepfake videos. 2. The company emphasizes the need to hold creators accountable for nefarious uses. 3. Brad Smith highlights the risks of deepfakes being used for fraud, abuse, and manipulation, especially targeting children and the elderly.
- Google confirms it broke password manager on Chrome for millions of Windows users1. Google confirmed a faulty update broke Chrome Password Manager for millions of Windows users. 2. The glitch lasted 18 hours and affected approximately 2% of the user base. 3. The incident highlights the importance of independent password managers and diversifying data storage.
- Warcraft and StarCraft RTS successor Stormgate launches, DLSS 3 brings huge performance gains1. Stormgate, a new free-to-play RTS game developed by veterans of Warcraft and StarCraft, is set to launch. 2. The game supports DLSS 3, allowing for over 100 FPS in 4K with a GeForce RTX 4070. 3. Early Access launch is scheduled for August 13, featuring campaign, competitive 1v1, and co-op modes.
- DRAM and NAND flash revenue to increase 'significantly' in 2024 thanks to AI1. DRAM and NAND Flash revenue expected to increase significantly in 2024 due to AI. 2. DRAM revenue projected to reach $90.7 billion in 2024, with a further increase to $136.5 billion in 2025. 3. NAND Flash revenue expected to reach $67.4 billion in 2024, driven by QLC enterprise SSDs.
- Nation moves to create internet 'kill switch' and force social media platform licenses1. Malaysia's Parliament is set to vote on a new legislation to implement an internet 'kill switch' for enhanced digital security. 2. The legislation also includes a requirement for social media platforms with over eight million users to apply for a license starting January 1, 2025. 3. Failure to comply with the licensing requirement will result in legal action.
- Samsung still needs to wait 2-4 months for its HBM3E memory to be approved for NVIDIA AI GPUs1. Samsung has received approval for its HBM3 memory to be used in NVIDIA's AI GPUs. 2. The approval for Samsung's next-gen HBM3E memory is expected in the next 2-4 months. 3. The HBM market is projected to grow significantly, reaching $71 billion by 2027.
- Microsoft officially ends an iconic Xbox era with a new update1. Microsoft has officially closed the Xbox 360 Marketplace, disabling the purchase of games and DLCs. 2. Content already purchased will remain playable and downloadable. 3. The Microsoft Movies and TV app will no longer function on Xbox 360 systems.
- BioWare's new Dragon Age game will be a native Steam app, no EA software required1. Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the latest game from BioWare, will be a native Steam app and Steam Deck Verified. 2. The game will not require the EA App to run, making it more convenient for PC gamers. 3. BioWare has confirmed the game will launch later this year with over 700 characters and 140,000 lines of dialogue.
July 30
- NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang on next wave of AI: physical AI, has a 'three-body problem'1. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang identifies the next wave of AI as 'physical AI', requiring three computer systems: AI, robotics, and Omniverse. 2. Huang mentions the 'three-body problem' in reference to the complexity of integrating these systems. 3. NVIDIA aims to empower organizations with AI capabilities for better customer service and operational efficiency.
- Meta's AI Studio lets you create AI friends or an AI twin that can post, chat, and respond1. Meta launches AI Studio in the US, allowing users to create custom AI chatbots. 2. These AIs can be integrated into Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. 3. Users can create AI friends, specialists, or digital twins with long-term memory.
- SK hynix exports of SSDs rose 84% in 1H 2024: big increases for AI data centers1. SK hynix's SSD exports increased by 84% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. 2. The company exported $501 million worth of SSDs in 1H 2024, driven by AI and data center demands. 3. SK hynix is expanding production capacity to meet the growing demand for high-capacity SSDs.
- NVIDIA CEO believes 'Everybody will have an AI assistant' and it will transform every job1. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang predicts that AI assistants will be ubiquitous in every company and job. 2. At SIGGRAPH 2024, NVIDIA showcased the integration of AI in various fields including 3D modeling, physics, materials, and robotics. 3. Huang believes that AI will transform industries by enhancing human capabilities and reducing energy consumption in scientific computing.
- NVIDIA's new game-changing AI tech could shape the future of game visuals and rendering1. NVIDIA introduces Real-Time Neural Appearance Models to enhance game visuals and performance. 2. The technology aims to provide film-like quality in real-time with significant shading performance improvements. 3. The new AI model can render complex materials faster and more efficiently than traditional methods.
- Apple did NOT use any NVIDIA AI GPUs to train its AI models, used Google TPU chips1. Apple uses Google TPUv4 and TPUv5p clusters for AI model training instead of NVIDIA GPUs. 2. Apple utilized 2048 TPUv5p chips for iPhone-related AI models and 8192 TPUv4 chips for server AI models. 3. Apple's research paper suggests the possibility of creating larger, more sophisticated AI models with Google TPUs.
- Researchers tease CRAM tech: over 1000x reduction in AI processing energy requirements1. Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have developed CRAM technology, which reduces AI processing energy consumption by at least 1000x. 2. CRAM uses a high-density, reconfigurable spintronic in-memory compute substrate to process data within memory cells, eliminating the need for data transfer. 3. This technology significantly improves energy efficiency in AI computing, addressing the high power demands of AI workloads.
- AMD Fluid Motion Frames 2 is here, a 'major advancement' for frame generation technology1. AMD Fluid Motion Frames 2 introduces significant latency reduction and image quality improvement. 2. The technology is available on Radeon RX 6000 and 7000 Series graphics cards and Ryzen Processors with integrated Radeon Graphics. 3. AFMF 2 supports borderless fullscreen and works with Vulkan and OpenGL games.
- GDDR6X memory shortage to make this popular GeForce RTX 40 Series GPU hard to find1. GeForce RTX 4070 expected to be in short supply due to GDDR6X memory issues; 2. The shortage also affects RTX 4070 SUPER, RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, RTX 4080 SUPER, and GeForce RTX 4090; 3. GeForce RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Ti unaffected as they use standard GDDR6 memory.
- AMD's new RDNA 3.5-based Radeon 890M, 880M integrated GPU inside Strix Point APUs tested1. AMD's new Ryzen AI 300 series 'Strix Point' APUs feature a new RDNA 3.5 GPU, the Radeon 890M and 880M. 2. The Radeon 890M and 880M offer up to 41% more performance than previous-gen RDNA 3 GPUs. 3. The new APUs include Zen 5 CPU cores, RDNA 3.5 GPU cores, and a new XDNA 2 NPU for AI workloads.
July 29
- ASUS launches AMD Ryzen AI 300 series 'Strix Point' APU laptops which start at $13991. ASUS launches new AMD Ryzen AI 300 series 'Strix Point' APU-powered laptops starting at $1399. 2. The laptops include ProArt P16, ProArt PX13, and ZenBook S16 models. 3. Features include Zen 5 CPU cores, RDNA 3.5 GPU cores, and XDNA 2 NPU for AI workloads.
- TSMC will use ASML's next-gen High-NA EUV machines for next-gen A14 process node in Q3 20271. TSMC plans to use ASML's High-NA EUV lithography machines for its A14 process node in Q3 2027 and A14P in 2028; 2. TSMC is ASML's largest customer and a key driver for its future growth; 3. The first wave of orders for High-NA EUV machines is estimated to be around 70 units, worth $26.6 billion.
- NVIDIA's high-end RTX 40 series GPU production slashed by 50% preparing for RTX 50 series GPUs1. NVIDIA has reduced the production of high-end RTX 40 series GPUs by up to 50% in preparation for the launch of the RTX 50 series. 2. Supply shortages and price hikes are expected for the RTX 40 series, especially for models like the RTX 4070 and above. 3. AIB manufacturers like ASUS, GIGABYTE, MSI, and ASRock may benefit from the price increases due to the AI server boom.
- OpenAI is in talks with a chip maker that is bigger than AMD and Intel combined1. OpenAI is in discussions with Broadcom to develop AI hardware to rival NVIDIA. 2. Broadcom, with a market cap of $705.8 billion, is significantly larger than Intel and AMD combined. 3. The collaboration aims to challenge NVIDIA's dominance in the AI hardware market.
- Elon Musk and X's Grok AI now scrapes every post from every user unless they opt out1. Elon Musk's Grok AI now accesses all user posts on X unless users opt out. 2. The AI is trained using massive amounts of data from social media platforms. 3. Users can opt out of data scraping by adjusting settings on a desktop computer.