Apple Tightens macOS Privacy Over AI Agent Issue; YouTube Shorts Recommendations-No Unoriginal Content; Sen. Sanders-Bill Bans Feds from Using Flock; OpenAI Putting Ads in ChatGPT Image Generation
Posted: October 5, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AI, Apple, Artificial Intelligence, chatgpt, flock, llm, technology, YouTube Leave a commentApple is locking down its macOS privacy controls even more as AI agents get more powerful and more intrusive. 9to5mac.com reports that Apple will tighten up ‘Full Disk Access.’ That change should help protect user privacy. The real purpose for Full Disk Access in the first place is to “allow backup apps to function properly on the Mac.” That’s good and important…you should back up often. What has been happening though is “some developers” are using the Full Disk Access setting in macOS in “ways that could put users at risk.” Granting Full Disk Access to AI Agents can expose everything on a user’s systems—including files, mail, messages, and even browsing history—without users’ full knowledge and understanding. For communication apps, this can also compromise the privacy of the people users are communicating with.” Shortly, with new controls, a user will have to give explicit permission to an app or Agent to have Full Disk Access. Two always-on agents right now are Meta Muse and OpenAI’s Dots. Both request substantial access to your personal data.
In a victory of sorts for content creators, YouTube has announced that it has adjusted its Shorts recomendations so that users will see less unoriginal content. According to 9to5google.com, users who upload content that blatantly steals video from another channel will not get the same reach as they did before the change, according to what YouTube laid out in its release. The change should mean users will see a focus on original content, and creators that upload original Shorts will likely be rewarded. YouTube hasn’t detailed a rollout date for this change, but it sounds like it may be live already.
It will go no place in this Congress, but if the Democrats take control of both Houses in November, a bill that was moved by Senator Bernie Sanders might get reintroduced in the next Congress and get some traction. TechCrunch.com says the Ban Flock Act would bar federal agencies from using automatic license plate readers, or tapping into data collected by readers run by local police and private companies. Despite its title, the bill doesn’t call out nine-year-old Flock in the text but rather covers any and all ALPR systems. That’s a good thing, since there are 3 different companies that make the license plate reading cams. There are exceptions for toll collection and or uses that Congress approves in future legislation, which would have to limit data retention to 48 hours. State and local governments would be fined for violating the law and sharing with the feds.
Well here’s a real non-shocker…OpenAI is testing a visual ad format during image generation in ChatGPT. Thenextweb.com notes that the commercial is clearly labeled as separate from the image being made— if that makes you feel better about it. Nothing like charging you money via tokens, then making money from serving you ads. The younger folks who have grown up with the ability to pay extra on a subscription for streams will hate this. Usually it’s one or the other…not charging you AND running ads. OpenAI cheerily notes that the advertising doesn’t influence the answers ChatGPT gives.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
OpenAI Releases ‘Dots’; Apple Pressed over ICE Tracking App Removals; Android Auto Gemini-Can’t Call 911; Google Play Adds Usage-Based Billing Subscriptions for AI Apps
Posted: September 29, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AI, Android Auto, Apple, Artificial Intelligence, chatgpt, gemini, llm, technology Leave a commentEven as controversy continues to roil things after OpenAI agents escaped and hacked Hugging Face, OpenAI moves ahead in releasing new agents anyone can use with minimal supervision. It is worth noting that they are holding back their latest ChatGPT model due to safety concerns. That said, Engadget.com reports that at their DevDay event today in San Francisco, OpenAI announced Dots…pitching them as proactive, always-on AI systems that can chip away at tasks for you every hour of the day. “The magic of dots is when they bring you work done the way you would do it, sometimes before you even think to ask,” the company explains. It points to an example where a tester’s Dot noticed they had forgotten to bill a publication for an article. The Dot prepared an invoice and sent it on the person’s behalf after it obtained their approval. Dots can interact with more than 4,000 apps using OpenAI’s ecosystem of plug-ins. Dots will come in Pro, Business, Premium, and Enterprise tiers and be available in select markets to users…who can choose one primary Dot to name and customize. OpenAI says eventually you will be able to control teams of Dots. Or will they control you? Ok, just kidding…kinda.
Apple is getting continued blowback over dropping ICE tracking apps such as ICEBlock from the App Store. The Trump administration had claimed that the apps endangered officers. According to arstechnica.com, US Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) has opined that Apple has no evidence to support claims that apps raised safety concerns. Instead, the lawmaker accused Apple of using immigrant deaths with no connection to the apps to justify censoring Americans who have the right to record ICE activity. It appears that Apple is “working with the government to violate its customers’ First Amendment rights to record and report on the activities of their own government,” Raskin said in a letter to Apple sent Monday, CNN reported. To ensure that no Americans’ core speech rights are violated by removals unconstitutionally ordered by the government, Raskin has asked Apple to “send a full list of the apps it removed following concerns from the Justice Department” so that it will finally be possible to “conduct an independent review of those removal decisions.”
Something crucial to keep in mind if you use Android Auto and have to call 911…do it yourself, don’t ask Android Auto’s Gemini to do so. The latest iteration apparently won’t. Androidpolice.com says that in posts to Reddit and to the Android Auto community forum, there were posts like this one: “Three times at least in the past month I have needed to call 911 and my Gemini assistant integrated via Android Auto says calling or dialing 911.. and stops.” Apparently past versions COULD call 911. If you go to the Gemini Apps Help page, you can find a section called ‘What Gemini Apps Can’t do.’ It states right there that it can’t make emergency services like 911. If you use Android Auto and the Gemini app in your car, do yourself a favor…if you need to call 911…just dial 911 directly.
Android developers will get payment options around subscriptions in Google Play apps they build. 9to5google.com notes that this means to you as a user you should keep an eye out for User-Based Billing to support generative AI apps and other usage based services. This new way of extracting a few more bucks from you is being termed ‘prepaid metered billing.’ It means users can automatically top off their balance when it drops below a set threshold. Everybody—but everybody in tech—as well as other sectors…is pushing for some kind of regular subscription. You can easily be into hundreds of bucks a month flying out the door on them. Everything from Netflix, public radio, MS Now, and now your agentic AI apps will have lovely subscriptions for you to keep track of. Add yours up…you may be surprised at how much this nickel and diming takes out of your account every month.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
Nvidia-Software Platform to Stop AI Agents from Bad Actions; Meta Muse AI Wants Full Disk Access & Your Passwords; Google Messages…Some Nice Upgrades; Meta & YouTube WILL Run Musk Documentary Ads
Posted: September 28, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AI, Artificial Intelligence, chatgpt, llm, technology Leave a commentWith two of the biggest AI companies, Anthropic and OpenAI basically asking to be regulated, and with the escaped AI agents hacking into both companies, and now several government websites, now Nvidia says is is bowing a new software platform to allow AI developers to set up safeguards for agents and prevent them from breaking out of their ‘sandboxes.’ Cnbc.com reports that the Open Agent Safety Platform..according to Nvidia…could have prevented OpenAI’s HuggingFace incident in July. That’s when OpenAI models escaped containment, accessed the open internet and breached Hugging Face, which operates an open-source developer platform. One component of the platform is called Nvidia OpenShell, which runs on central processors and sets limits on agent capabilities. Nvidia also announced Sentry, which monitors agents and runs on network chips, not CPUs or GPUs. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates noted over the weekend that a ‘kill switch,’ as California Governor Gavin Newsom has called for…is probably a bit naive, but this Nvidia platform may be a start.
Meta has really been pushing its AI Muse as an agent that can do all sorts of things for you…including shopping on the net. Now, according to zdnet.com, a tech reporter got set to give it a try…but has found that it not only wants access to your calendar, contacts, and email messages, but also wants to store your logins and passwords. Excuse me, but what? This from the AI agent of a company that lied about privacy controls and shared private data with advertisers, resulting in FTC penalties. This is the company that discriminated in housing ads algorithmically based on users’ race, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin, and was penalized for it by the Justice Department. Well, if you are up for sharing all of the above, it apparently does work pretty well as a personal assistant. One caveat on internet purchases…Amazon has blocked it because it wants too much access to your personal info that Amazon has! In 1984, big brother may have been watching, but in 2026, a number of big tech firms are watching…and hoovering up whatever shreds of your personal info companies don’t already have…but they will be so helpful!
Google Messages has updated, and a few nice touches are included. First of all, timestamps are easier to see. In addition, androidpolice.com notes that you can long press on a message instead of having to go to the venue to get quick access to Replay, Forward, Copy, Star, Delete, Select more, and Info. You can also long-press to highlight parts of a message if you want to copy and paste specific text. A couple of little things, but it is cool to have some of the tools more accessible for quick action. A lot of us live with our messaging apps pretty constantly, so a few seconds here, a few there can really add up.
After most social media platforms had refused to carry ads for the upcoming documentary by Alex Gibney on Elon Musk. TikTok, Meta, YouTube, and of course X had all refused to run the ads. After some blowback, now Meta and YouTube will be running the ads after all. TechCrunch.com says that Meta actually put out a statement that said ‘This was an error and the ads are being restored.’ I haven’t seen any yet on Facebook, Instagram, or Threads…but am on the lookout for them. YouTube said in an update over the weekend that ‘the trailer has always been available on YouTube.’ A couple of the platforms had initially claimed the ads were political advertising, but since Musk isn’t running for anything, that’s hard to justify. Musk has railed against Alex Gibney, who has directed acclaimed documentaries including “Going Clear” (about the Church of Scientology) and “The Inventor” (about Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos), as well as a movie about Steve Jobs. “Musk,” his latest, premiered at the Venice International Film Festival earlier this month and has received almost universally positive reviews. The film currently has a 100% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is set for theatrical release in the United States on October 9.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
Meta Connect Hardware Headlines
Posted: September 24, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AI, Artificial Intelligence, chatgpt, Tech, technology Leave a commentThere was plenty going on at Meta Connect during the Zuckerberg keynote yesterday. Here are some of the hardware highlights. The did indeed roll out the camera-free AI glasses we talked about earlier this week. The glasses are designed by Essilor Luxottica, and they start at $349. The claimed battery life is 12 hours between charges. You can use them to listen to music and podcasts, take calls, translate speech, and of course chat with Meta’s AI assistant, Muse. Meta claims they have high-quality audio, but tiny speakers in the bows of glasses are unlikely to give you AirPods quality sound, let alone top quality sound from a good set of headphones. The glasses will be open for preorder on October 13th at any rate.
Meta also showed off an all-new gadget. They call it Muse Charm, and it is a little AI device with a screen and a lanyard to hold it. Theverge.com compared it to a smart watch without the watch band. Meta didn’t give anyone a chance to play with the device, but it looks like it has several mic holes and a small camera. Meta plans to ship the Charm in time for the holidays. Pricing and other deets are coming soon according to Zuckerberg.
The big reveal at Connect was some new Meta VR Glasses. They are oversized, and look more like goggles, but are much smaller and lighter than the headsets Meta and others have offered in the past. The bows just sit on your ears like a regular pair of glasses. Engadget.com notes that you can’t see through them without the passthrough feature turned on. At 100 grams, they are heavier than the Meta Ray-Bans, but much lighter than the Quest 3S or really any other headset. They do have a separate pack that houses the battery power and processing. It has a clip so you can hang it on a pants pocket, but it is really too big and heavy for that…clipping to your belt is better. There are no controllers, the device picks up on hand and eye movements to take commands. The gesture recognition is much like the Apple Vision Pro at $3500. So what do the Meta VR glasses cost? They will start at $1299 and should be out this spring.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re…’Metafied’ for now.
Meta-Human Callers Back Up Muse AI; Meta Connect is Later Today; New Anthropic & OpenAI Models-More Power for Less Money; Microsoft Cuts Xbox Jobs; Discord Revised Age Verify Policy
Posted: September 23, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AI, Artificial Intelligence, chatgpt, llm, technology Leave a commentMeta Connect is later today, with the keynote set for 4PM Pacific. We’ll have more on the announcements tomorrow. Meanwhile, Meta has been testing what they term ‘human concierges’ for Muse AI…that is, contractors taking over some calls placed through the agent. Thenextweb.com reports that For half of Meta’s employees, the ‘human agent calls’ option was enabled, with an opt-out for those who did not wish to participate. Daniel Roberts, a Meta spokesperson, told Reuters that employee feedback had been “overwhelmingly positive” and that the purpose of the test was to help shape the safety and privacy protections before its public release. It is worth mentioning that other AI firms have also used humans to intervene or to just select the best answer out of several that the large language model comes up with before sending out the answers to users. Meta opened Muse to US users on September 8th, and the agent can send out email, make purchases, and book travel on the user’s behalf.
Both OpenAI and Anthropic’s latest models are offering a bit more power than the last generation but with notably less cost. According to arstechnica.com, both AI makers have made the latest models more efficient, but not strikingly more capable. With some companies having burned through their AI budget for the year in just one quarter, more efficiency and lower cost are pretty critical to trying to expand use of the AI models. Even with lower cost, the token system employed by the AI companies still make it really difficult to know how much you are spending when you query the models.
Microsoft is laying off a bit less than 600 people worldwide as they continue to restructure the Xbox division. Around 300 of the folks getting pink slips are in Washington. Geekwire.com notes that in July, Redmond had said that around 3200 roles would be gone by the end of the year…that’s about 20% of the division. Work on the new Halo game will move to Activision, which Microsoft bought in 2023. A much reduced team will stay on at Halo Studios. Activision is also taking over World’s Edge.
Discord has bowed its revised age verification rules. The platform had planned to enact a policy this year that would have required either a facial age estimation or an ID scan for users who couldn’t have their status as adults confirmed by its internal tools. The company announced in February that it would be delaying those changes in response to concerns about privacy and the collection of personal data involved in both of those verification methods. Concerns is putting it mildly….there was a fierce blowback by users. Engadget.com says that starting this week, Discord will automatically sort users into either the Adult or Teen age group based on markers such as how long the account has existed, the servers they’re in and their general activity levels. Discord will not be accessing messages or calls to determine an age estimate, and the individual’s age group will not be displayed on their profile or shared with other server members. Discord users will be able to check which group they’ve been sorted into under the Account Status section of the User Settings menu. For an expected 90 percent of platform’s audience, no further action will need to be taken if they are placed in the correct group.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
Googlebooks Expand Android Ecosystem; Apple Smart Glasses Will Have a More Crowded but Growing Market; Mercedes Will Use British AI in Cars; Saudi Arabia Launches Car Industry with 2 EVs
Posted: September 22, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AI, Android, Apple, Artificial Intelligence, Google, Mercedes-Benz, Tech, technology Leave a commentGoogle has unleashed a line of Googlebooks, in conjunction with several manufacturers. This will give Google more of an ecosystem something like Apple has, where a user who is locked into their products can seamlessly move from smartphone or watch to laptop and back. I use this feature all the time with my Apple devices, and expect those folks in the Google world will welcome the ability to move seamlessly.
Androidpolice.com reports that the features include Continue On…which connects phones and Googlebooks in the manner I just described above. Also, there is a Flies app that allows viewing, searching, and opening files and photos that live on Android phones right on your Googlebook. Finally, you get Cast My Apps…which puts a phone’s apps right on the desktop of the Googlebook, so you can split tasks easily. Of course, you also have Google Gemini AI, which you can summon with the ‘Magic Pointer,’ which means just wiggle the cursor with mouse or trackpad and your Gemini AI ‘genie’ is there to help out.
There are 5 ‘flavors’ of Googlebook, ranging in price from $899 to $1299. The manufacturers include Asus, Lenovo, Dell, HP, and Acer. Preorders are open now for the new Googlebooks at the Google Store and Best Buy. They will be on shelves by October 4th.
Apple’s upcoming smart glasses…slated for release in 2027…will enter an increasingly crowded field, but one that is growing fast. As we just reported yesterday, Meta has rolled out some camera-less smart glasses, which is an interesting move. Apple appears to still be planning on using cameras, but no display.
Right now, 96% of units shipped lack a display. According to macrumors.com, shipments of display-less AI glasses increased 258% the first half of 2025. This includes the popular Meta Ray-Ban glasses, which do have cams and provide photography, audio, calling, and AI features with no screen. Meta will be a tough competitor, even for Apple. Right now they account for 94% of smart glasses shipments. It is expected that Apple will shoot for a more premium product like everything else they sell…at a more premium price than the Meta Ray-Bans.
It sounds blasphemous, but Mercedes-Benz has signed a deal with British firm Wayve to use their AI Driver feature in future Mercedes vehicles. Thenextweb.com notes that Mercedes has invested $1.5 billion in Wayve’s Series D stock, and in addition signed a production agreement to put the AI Driver into the upcoming Mercedes cars within the next 2 years. The system provides urban and motorway point-to-point driving assistance. Both companies point out that the system is for point-to-point driving assistance, and not autonomy. That means the driver remains responsible.
The Saudi government has teamed up with Foxconn to launch Arabia’s fist domestic car line, dubbed Ceer…with a C. Ironically, for a country that is basically a giant oil well, the first 2 cars are electric vehicles. Arstechnica.com says that Ceer means ‘drive forward’ in Arabic.
The two models are the Exobot sedan and an SUV. They are both very sleek and futuristic-looking. They do use a Elon Musk-esque aircraft- type steering yoke, not a round wheel. They have what they are calling falcon doors….basically a riff on gullwing doors. They are loaded with electronic gadgetry, like some of the latest EVs from China. The Exobot has a claimed 310 mile range for the SUV and 373 for the sedan. Prices have yet to be announced.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
NVIDIA CEO Tells Trump-Not Gonna Slow Down AI; Agility-New Robot Can Work 20 Hours a Day-Kind of; European Offshore Wind Farms-Unexpected Weather Issues; GM-New UI For Top Trucks Includes Apple CarPlay
Posted: September 15, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AI, Artificial Intelligence, General Motors, Robots, technology, wind-farms Leave a commentWhile the CEOs of Anthropic, OpenAI, and Elon Musk have called for a slowdown on AI development, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told Donald Trump in a phone call taken live on stage that as far as putting the brakes on AI development that (Nvidia) was “not going to let that happen, sir.” TechCrunch.com reports that the CEO was on stage for the All-In Summit when the call came through from the White House. Trump has gone all in on pushing for the fastest development of AI, claiming that if we don’t, the Chinese will leap ahead of the US in the tech. It’s a bit scary having a president who doesn’t even use a computer…let alone understand how computers, AI, or the internet works…is acting like he does know more than the CEOs of the actual companies developing AI models.
Agility Robotics has rolled out its newest robot, the Digit 5. According to geekwire.com, the Oregon-based company claims the robot can lift over 50 pounds and can work 20+ hours a day…while working alongside humans. There is a certain degree of hype in this, since the robot can only run on its battery for 90 minutes…before having to head to a charger for a 9 minute recharge. That means it will be needing more break time than a human! The device can reach objects as high as 7.2 feet off the ground, which will be handy. An early investor in Agility has been Amazon, which would love to replace workers in its warehouses with robots…who require a heavy initial cost..but then need no benefits. It may take a while to see their way to positive cash flow on these things, though, because the mechanical marvels cost over $200,000 each!
European researchers have discovered a new wrinkle when it comes to wind power. Bgr.com says a German study has found that giant offshore wind farms have an unintended consequence….the study determined that they caused a 10% to 15% decrease in coastal precipitation. Ah, but there is a potential solution…the newer bladeless wind turbines. More research is planned, but it will be a non-starter to have Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands to get as much as 15% reduced coastal rainfall.
The CEO of General Motors a couple of years ago famously announced that the General was going to ditch Apple CarPlay completely, but would continue to offer Android Auto in its infotainment systems. Now, arstechnica.com notes that the best-selling GM trucks…the Chevrolet Silverado and GMS Sierra pickups will have CarPlay in addition to Android available through the in-dash infotainment system. A GM spokesperson wouldn’t say if the General was going to backtrack on EVs…which right now don’t allow either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to cast your phones through the in-dash infotainment system. A press release did say that the new system was built “as a single scalable foundation across electric, gas and diesel-powered vehicles, it transforms time spent behind the wheel into an effortless, personalized journey.” That kind of sounds like they may indeed have listened to customer complaints and that they are restoring using your Android or Apple phone to cast phone calls and music through the in-dash infotainment system.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
Google Avoids Another Breakup Attempt; FTC Alleges Amazon Rigged Ad Auctions; Uber Deleting 3,000 Jobs; Apple Joins Google in Shameful ‘Lake America’ Label
Posted: September 2, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AI, Amazon, Apple, Artificial Intelligence, books, chatgpt, Google, Uber Leave a commentWhen I read about attempts to break up Google…or for that matter, Meta or Amazon, I keep coming back to the government’s years long work on breaking up AT&T. How’d that work out? The pieces of AT&T basically reassembled as a couple large telcos, and now we have really 3 big cell companies…two of which are Verizon and AT&T…both large chunks of the old AT&T that was supposedly broken up. With that said, Google has dodged the bullet on another break up attempt by the government. Theverge.com reports that a US district Judge, Leonie Brinkema, has declined the Justice Departments’s request to make Google sell off parts of its ad tech business. The court DID say it would adopt most of the behavioral changes proposed by the parties, with some modifications. But those won’t become public until the parties meet to work out any additional proposed revisions and to review the judge’s opinion for confidential information that must be redacted. They could include proposals like restricting Google from using self-preferencing ad auction tactics or letting third-party ad tech tools access the same real-time information as Google. Google can still appeal, but they may really want to go with this deal, and at least put off risking a ruling that does force them to spin off part of their very lucrative ad business.
The Federal Trade Commission and 22 states have sued Amazon, alleging that it has conducted a secret scheme to overcharge advertisers for seven years. According to arstechnica..com, the filing asserts that Since 2019, Amazon.com, Inc. has secretly and systematically overcharged its approximately 1.2 million advertising customers by manipulating the ‘auctions’ that it uses to set the price of ads on its platform,” the lawsuit said. “Amazon represents, and advertisers believe, that competitive auctions set the prices for advertising on its leading e-commerce website. But, in reality, Amazon overrides and replaces the actual auction results with higher prices set by Amazon to increase its profits.” Amazon says the ‘FTC cherry-picked’ details, and that the lawsuit is ‘misguided.’ The FTC says customers paid more than they would have if Amazon operated the auction in the way it claimed it did. This should be an interesting trial to follow, unless the online giant decides to settle…with the Feds and 22 states after them, that might be their best option.
Uber has chopped about 3,000 jobs, as it moves to what it claims is a more efficient organization. This will be close to 10% of the 34,000 employees of the ridesharing firm. Engadget.com says they are removing management layers and aiming to be “simpler and faster.” Uber will continue to have its global teams based in New York and San Francisco, and will continue to have tech hubs, as well as regional and country-based teams.
Apple has joined Google in caving to the whims of Donald Trump and his latest antic of renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America. They had previously done so with the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Techcrunch.com reports that the foolish name will only appear on the Maps app in the US, and not elsewhere. Reportedly, this came after a call direct from the White House to the C Suite at Apple. Also according to reports, rank and file Apple employees are furious that the top suits gave in to Trump on this ridiculous move. This has also caused Apple Maps users….like Google Maps users…to leave in sizable numbers and switch to Mapquest, which has stayed at the top of Apple’s App Store downloads, besting ChatGPT…which had been at the top for some time. It is rather appalling that huge tech firms fear a megalomaniacal president enough that they feel like they have to go along with such foolish and childish moves. It’s sad for us that we will have to put up with this clownish behavior for the next two years. As for me, I am unaffected…I will just keep using the Inrix map software in my car that I haven’t paid to update…so the lake will remain Ontario, as the gulf has stayed Mexico!
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
Nvidia-Server Chip Prices Going Up 15%; More Apple Fold Leaks; Zillow Settles Antitrust Suit with FTC; Open AI-California Needs Stronger AI Safety Bill
Posted: August 24, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AI, Artificial Intelligence, finance, investing, technology Leave a commentNvidia is saying that AI chips prices for servers will go up by 15% next year. I know, you’re thinking ‘Why do I care? I’m not buying server chips…I don’t have a giant AI server farm. Well guess what? Those higher prices will find there way down to your smartphones and all the other electronics that have systems-on-chips you own. Thenextweb.com reports that the specific chips that will see the bump first are Nvidia’s Vera Rubin and Grace Blackwell chips. It is wither pointing out that Nvidia has a gross margin of a whopping 75% on chips and is STILL passing on increased raw material prices to buyers. Those kind of rapacious margins are a lot of what makes it the most valuable listed company in the world. Coming out of the auto business, where 2-5% is a decent margin, and radio…where a lot of stations at least used to make 30%…a few even 40%…a gross margin of 75% just seems obscene.
As is the case a lot of times, from Apple to other tech makers, some folks have gotten their hands on early models of product to use and report back about. According to Appleinsider.com, some of those folks are now leaking a few tidbits about the imminent Apple folding iPhone. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman spoke to several beta users, and here are a few nuggets. The phone is thick when folded, but still fits in a pocket. When opened to the larger inside screen, you get iPad like app layouts which will be cool. Often, iPad apps are larger window layouts and are easier to use. On the down side, the folding iPhone lacks a telephoto cam…which by itself is enough for me to not want one at any price. I have used the tele lens repeatedly to shoot video and pics of grandkids doing gymnastics and sports, so a phone without telephoto is not going to work for me. Also, the folding iPhone doesn’t have Face ID, but like my iPad Mini uses Touch ID. That is a step backwards, too. For a phone costing north of $2000, I expect more. Maybe some future year, Apple. **Caveat…Apple often puts out multiple beta models for testing by its employees and others…so the final final might have FaceID and a telephoto…but I am doubtful.
Zillow has settled an antirust suit with the Federal Trade Commission. Engadget notes that this flowed from Zillow buying off rival Redfin for $100 million. The FTC in a press release said the two sides resolved the lawsuit and reversed an agreement from Zillow that shut down Redfin’s internet listing service (ILS) for apartment rentals. As part of the settlement, Redfin has to reenter the ILS market and make commitments that would ensure its competitiveness, including a relaunch with “significantly more listings,” according to the FTC. The settlement also requires Zillow to provide Redfin with employee information to allow for employee recruitment. On the consumer side, Zillow has to offer its customers the ability to renegotiate their contracts without any extra cost or penalty as part of the settlement
OpenAI is calling for California to tighten up its AI safety bill. TechCrunch.com reports that the maker of ChatGPT is wanting expanded safeguards including “requiring monitoring of frontier models under training or evaluation for potential serious incidents,” and by “strengthening cybersecurity protections throughout the model-development lifecycle.” It is notable that OpenAI had opposed SB 53. Our take is that this has less to do with one of OpenAI’s models escaping its test environment and hacking Hugging Face, and more to do with a previously unknown group releasing a powerful new model into the wild. It is called Ox Alpha, and has appeared on the OpenRouter platform without any company claiming ownership. It features a massive 1 million token context window and multimodel support for text, images and video…and has top tier performance on coding and agentic tasks. Hmm. Count on big companies to ask for regulation when an unknown competitor comes up and might clean your clock.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
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