The Download: glass chips and “AI-free” logos
This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology.
Future AI chips could be built on glassHuman-made glass is thousands of years old. Butit'snow poised to find its way into the AI chips used in the world's newest and largest datacenters.
This year, a South Korean company calledAbsolicswill start producing special glass panels that make next-generation computing hardware more powerful and efficient. Other companies, including Intel, are also pushing forward in this area.
If all goes well, the technology could reduce the energy demands of chips in AI datacenters-and even consumer laptops and mobile devices.Read the full story.
-Jeremy Hsu
The must-reads
I'vecombed the internet to find you today's most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 The race is on toestablisha globally recognized AI-free" logo
Organizations are rushing to develop a universal label for human-made products. (BBC)
+ A QuitGPT" campaign is urging people to ditch ChatGPT.(MIT Technology Review)
2 Elizabeth Warren wants answers onxAI'saccess to military data
The Pentagonreportedly gaveit access to classified networks. (NBC News)
+ Here's how chatbots could be used for targeting decisions.(MIT Technology Review)
+ The DoD is struggling to upgrade software for fighter jets. (Bloomberg$)
3 Models are applying to be the faces of AI romancescams
The AI face models" are duping victims out of their money. (Wired$)
+ Survivors have revealed how the pig butchering"scamswork.(MIT Technology Review)
4 Meta is planning layoffs that could affect over 20% of staff
The job cuts could offset its costly bet on AI. (Reuters$)
+There'sa long history of fears about AI's impact on jobs.(MIT Technology Review)
5 ByteDance delayed launching a video AI model after copyright disputes
It famously generated footage of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting. (The Information$)
6 Cybersecurity investigators have exposed a huge North Korean con
The scammers secured remote jobs in the US, then stole money and sensitive information. (NBC News)
7 A Chinese AI startup is set for a whopping $18 billion valuation
That'smore than quadruple its valuation just three months ago. (Bloomberg$)
+ Chinese open models are spreading fast-here'swhy that matters.(MIT Technology Review)
8 Peter Thiel has started a lecture series about the antichrist in Rome
His plans have drawn attention from the Catholic Church. (Reuters$)
9 Norway is fighting back against internet enshittification
It'sjoined a global campaign against the online world's decay. (The Guardian)
+ We may need to move beyond the big platforms.(MIT Technology Review)
10 How a startup plans to resurrect the dodo
Humans wiped them outnearly 400years ago-can gene editing bring them back now? (Guardian)
Quote of the day
I would build fission weapons. I would build fusion weapons. Nuclear weapons have been one of the most stabilizing forces in history-ever."-Anduril founder Palmer Luckey shares his love of nukes withAxios.
One More Thing
We need a moonshot for computing
TIM HERMAN/INTELThe US government is organizing itself for the next era of computing.Ultimately, ithas one big choice to make: adopt a conservative strategy that aims to preserve its lead for the next five years-or orient itself toward genuine computing moonshots.
There is no shortage of candidates, including quantum computing, neuromorphiccomputingand reversible computing. And there are plenty of novel materials and devices. These possibilities could even be combined to form hybrid computing systems.
The National Semiconductor TechnologyCentercan drive these ideas forward. To be successful, it would do well to follow DARPA's lead by focusing on moonshot programs.Read the full story.
-Brady Helwig & PJMaykish
We can still havenice things
A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas?Drop me a line.)
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