Microsoft has announced the launch of its latest chip, the Maia 200, which the company describes as a silicon workhorse designed for scaling AI inference.The 200, which follows the company’s Maia 100 released in 2023, has been technically outfitted to run powerful AI models at faster speeds and with more efficiency, the company has said. Maia comes equipped with over 100 billion transistors, delivering over 10 petaflops in 4-bit precision and approximately 5 petaflops of 8-bit performance — a substantial in ...

Nvidia said on Monday it has invested $2 billion in CoreWeave to hasten the data center company’s efforts to add more than 5 gigawatts of AI computing capacity by 2030.The chipmaker, already an investor in CoreWeave, said it had bought the company’s Class A shares at $87.20 per share. As part of the deal, CoreWeave and Nvidia plan to together build “AI factories” (data centers) that would use the chipmaker’s products. CoreWeave will also integrate Nvidia’s products across its platform, including the new R ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the upcoming AI partnership results between Apple and Google, specifically focusing on a new version of Siri set to be announced in February 2024 [1] - This update will utilize Google's Gemini AI models and aims to fulfill Apple's promises made in June 2024 regarding task completion using personal data and on-screen content [1] - A more significant upgrade is expected to be revealed in June 2024 during Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, featuring a more conversational Siri akin to chatbots like ChatGPT, potentially running on Google's cloud infrastructure [2] Company Developments - Apple has faced challenges in aligning its AI strategy, with reports indicating internal disagreements, including a dismissal of earlier reports by Mike Rockwell [3] - The partnership with Google and the recent departure of Apple's AI chief John Giannandrea suggest a potential new direction for the company's AI initiatives [3]

The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into Waymo after its robotaxis have been spotted illegally passing stopped school buses numerous times in at least two states.The NTSB is specifically focusing on the more-than-20 incidences that have occurred in Austin, Texas, it said in a post on X on Friday. It’s the first time Waymo has been investigated by the NTSB, but it’s the second investigation launched into Waymo over its school bus problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety ...

Core Insights - Netflix has acquired Warner Bros.' film and television studios, including HBO and HBO Max, in a deal valued at approximately $82.7 billion, which is expected to significantly disrupt the streaming and entertainment industry [2][3][8] Company Developments - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) was under financial pressure due to billions in debt and declining cable viewership, prompting the exploration of a sale [4] - Netflix's all-cash offer was amended to $27.75 per WBD share, which was deemed more attractive than Paramount's bid of approximately $108 billion aimed at acquiring the entire company [7][8] - Paramount's attempts to acquire WBD were rejected multiple times due to concerns over its heavy debt load, which would have left the combined entity with $87 billion in debt [10] Regulatory Environment - The deal faces intense regulatory scrutiny, with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos scheduled to testify before a U.S. Senate committee [13] - Prominent lawmakers have expressed concerns that the merger could lead to excessive market power, potentially harming consumers and stifling competition [14] - If regulators block the acquisition, Netflix would incur a $5.8 billion breakup fee [15] Industry Reactions - The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has criticized the merger on antitrust grounds, fearing it may limit diverse storytelling and lead to job losses [16][18] - Concerns exist regarding the impact on independent creators and the potential shortening of theatrical release windows for films [18][19] Subscriber Implications - Netflix has assured subscribers that HBO's operations will remain largely unchanged in the near term, with no immediate pricing changes expected during the regulatory approval period [20][21] - Historical trends suggest that Netflix may raise subscription prices after the acquisition is finalized [21] Timeline for Closure - The deal is not yet finalized, with a WBD stockholder vote expected around April, and the transaction anticipated to close 12 to 18 months after that, pending regulatory approvals [22]

Core Viewpoint - Meta is pausing teens' access to its AI characters globally across all its apps to develop a special version tailored for teens [1][5] Group 1: Company Actions - Meta is not abandoning its AI character efforts but is focusing on creating a safer experience for teens [1] - The company has rolled out new parental control features aimed at restricting teen access to sensitive topics, inspired by PG-13 movie ratings [2] - Meta has received feedback from parents requesting more insights and control over their teens' interactions with AI characters, leading to the decision to pause access [4] Group 2: Upcoming Changes - Teens will lose access to AI characters until the new teen-specific versions are ready, affecting users who have provided a teen birthday or are suspected to be teens based on age prediction technology [5] - The new AI characters will include built-in parental controls and will focus on age-appropriate topics such as education, sports, and hobbies [6] Group 3: Industry Context - Social media companies, including Meta, are under scrutiny from regulators, with ongoing legal challenges related to the protection of minors and social media addiction [7] - Other AI companies have also modified their offerings for teens in response to lawsuits, implementing age restrictions and safety rules [8]

Meta today said that it is pausing teens’ access to its AI characters globally across all its apps. The company mentioned that it is not abandoning its efforts, but wants to develop an updated version of AI characters for teens, the company exclusively told TechCrunch.The move comes days before a case against Meta is set to go on trial in New Mexico, in which the company is accused of a lack of effort in protecting kids from sexual exploitation on its apps. Wired reported Thursday that Meta has sought to li ...

Microsoft provided the FBI with the recovery keys to unlock encrypted data on the hard drives of three laptops as part of a federal investigation, Forbes reported on Friday.Many modern Windows computers rely on full-disk encryption, called BitLocker, which is enabled by default. This type of technology should prevent anyone except the device owner from accessing the data if the computer is locked and powered off.  But, by default, BitLocker recovery keys are uploaded to Microsoft’s cloud, allowing the tech ...

Core Insights - ByteDance has signed a deal with non-Chinese investors to create a majority American-owned joint venture for TikTok in the U.S., concluding a six-year political saga initiated by former President Trump in 2020 regarding national security concerns [1] Group 1: Joint Venture Structure - Adam Presser, previously TikTok's head of operations and trust and safety, will become the CEO of TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, with TikTok CEO Shou Chew serving as a director [2] - The three managing investors—Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX—will each hold a 15% stake in the joint venture, alongside other investors including Michael Dell's family investment firm and several smaller investors [2] Group 2: National Security Measures - The joint venture will implement defined safeguards to protect national security, including comprehensive data protections, algorithm security, content moderation, and software assurances for U.S. users [3] Group 3: Governance Structure - The joint venture will operate as an independent entity governed by a seven-member board, which includes notable figures from various firms such as TPG Global, Susquehanna International Group, and DXC Technology [4] Group 4: Political Reaction - Former President Trump expressed support for the deal, highlighting that the app will now be owned by a group of American investors, emphasizing its significance as a voice in the market [5]

Core Viewpoint - Tesla has discontinued its basic driver-assistance system, Autopilot, to promote the adoption of its more advanced Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology [1][2]. Group 1: Discontinuation of Autopilot - The discontinuation of Autopilot is part of Tesla's strategy to enhance the adoption of FSD, which is marketed as a more advanced driver-assistance system [1]. - A judge ruled that Tesla had engaged in deceptive marketing by overstating the capabilities of Autopilot and FSD, leading to a 30-day suspension of its manufacturing and dealer licenses in California [2]. - The California DMV has allowed Tesla 60 days to comply with the ruling by dropping the Autopilot name [2]. Group 2: Features and Customer Impact - Autopilot included features like Traffic Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer, but new cars will now only come with Traffic Aware Cruise Control as standard [3]. - It remains unclear if existing customers will be affected by this change [3]. Group 3: Pricing and Subscription Model - Starting February 14, Tesla will eliminate the one-time $8,000 fee for FSD, transitioning to a monthly subscription model priced at $99, with potential future increases as software capabilities improve [4]. - This shift aims to make FSD more accessible while aligning with Tesla's long-term goals [4]. Group 4: Future Developments and Goals - Elon Musk envisions that Tesla's newer cars will achieve "unsupervised" driving capabilities, allowing drivers to engage in other activities during the ride [5]. - Tesla has begun rolling out robotaxi versions of its Model Y SUVs in Austin, Texas, which operate without human safety monitoring personnel [6]. - As of October 2025, only 12% of Tesla customers had subscribed to FSD, highlighting a gap between expectations and actual adoption [8].