Senior Editor https://readwrite.com/author/jonfingas/feed/ Crypto, Gaming & Emerging Tech News Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:23:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://readwrite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cropped-readwrite-favicon-32x32.png Senior Editor https://readwrite.com/author/jonfingas/feed/ 32 32 Apple may use a new Apple TV and HomePod mini to intro custom wireless chip https://readwrite.com/apple-may-use-a-new-apple-tv-and-homepod-mini-to-intro-custom-wireless-chip/ Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:23:58 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=432199 Apple may use a new Apple TV and HomePod mini to intro custom wireless chip

Apple will reportedly use new versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini to launch its first custom Bluetooth and… Continue reading Apple may use a new Apple TV and HomePod mini to intro custom wireless chip

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Apple may use a new Apple TV and HomePod mini to intro custom wireless chip

Apple will reportedly use new versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini to launch its first custom Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip, sources tell Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.

The part, codenamed Proxima, is said to be limited to Wi-Fi 6E and otherwise fall short of the features in the Broadcom hardware used today. However, the extra speed isn’t as necessary for smart home devices like these.

Proxima will also come to iPhones “later next year,” Gurman’s contacts say, suggesting that the Apple TV and HomePod mini upgrades might come earlier.

As with the first-party modem unofficially expected to debut in the iPhone SE 4, the short-range wireless chip is believed to be part of a larger Apple strategy of taking more direct hardware control. It could allow for tighter integration between products and, in the long term, better performance.

It might also reduce Apple’s dependency on outside partners. The tech giant has had problems with third-party chip providers, whether it’s Intel’s struggles to make power-efficient processors or Qualcomm’s patent disputes. Proxima theoretically helps Apple avoid such issues with Broadcom.

What else to expect from Apple TV and HomePod mini updates

The Apple TV 4K was last updated in 2022. While the A15 chip inside is still fast enough for movies and TV-oriented games, it’s too slow for Apple Intelligence. Apple might include Proxima alongside an A17 or A18 chip that can make use of new generative AI features, such as a more sophisticated Siri.

The HomePod mini hasn’t been updated since 2020. While it’s not going to get the performance needed to run Apple Intelligence on-device, it has faced stiffer competition from Amazon and others that have improved the audio quality of similarly-priced smart speakers.

All HomePods also have relatively limited smart home integration. While they support the Matter standard along with Apple’s HomeKit, they don’t do much more besides serving as hubs with temperature sensors. Although Apple is believed to be working on smart displays, it might want to make its screenless devices more powerful in the process.

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Google and Samsung unveil Android XR, a platform for headsets and smart glasses https://readwrite.com/google-and-samsung-unveil-android-xr-a-platform-for-headsets-and-smart-glasses/ Thu, 12 Dec 2024 20:48:52 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=432196 Google and Samsung unveil Android XR, a platform for headsets and smart glasses

Google, Samsung, and Qualcomm have jointly introduced Android XR, an operating system for mixed reality headsets and glasses — including… Continue reading Google and Samsung unveil Android XR, a platform for headsets and smart glasses

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Google and Samsung unveil Android XR, a platform for headsets and smart glasses

Google, Samsung, and Qualcomm have jointly introduced Android XR, an operating system for mixed reality headsets and glasses — including an initial device from Samsung.

The long-in-the-making platform is effectively Google’s approach to spatial computing like that in the Apple Vision Pro and newer updates to the Meta Quest 3. Apps and media have a physical presence, and can blend both the real and digital worlds. You can watch a YouTube video on a large virtual screen, explore 3D photos, or juggle multiple Chrome browsers floating in front of you.

Google is unsurprisingly giving Gemini a prominent role in Android XR. You can talk to the generative AI about what you see, or use it to control your hardware. Circle to Search even becomes more intuitive as you can literally draw a circle around whatever interests you.

As on the Vision Pro, you can also run mobile apps (in this case, Android phone and tablet apps).

With smart glasses, the OS will focus on always-available and frequently Gemini-powered help, like navigation or translations. Google’s just-announced tests for prototype Project Astra glasses will run Android XR.

The new OS is already available in a preview release, and will use common developer tools like Android Studio, Android Studio, OpenXR, and Unity. Google is working with companies like Sony and Xreal on XR devices, and is still collaborating with early entrant Magic Leap on future products.

Samsung’s Project Moohan is the first Android XR headset

The first confirmed device is Samsung’s Project Moohan (pictured above), a mixed reality headset that will be available in 2025. While neither Google nor Samsung are sharing many details, it will have “state-of-the-art” displays and “natural” control whose voice input goes beyond hand gestures and controllers. Qualcomm adds that it will run on a Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset launching in 2025.

Samsung appears determined to address the comfort issues that have affected the Vision Pro. It’s promising a light, “ergonomically optimized” headset that you’ll want to wear.

There are still challenges that Samsung hasn’t addressed so far. It’s not clear whether or not Project Moohan will significantly undercut Apple’s current $3,499 starting price. Battery life is also a concern — existing high-end mixed reality headsets rarely last for more than two hours per charge.

How does Android XR compare to the Apple Vision Pro?

The interface and experience similarities between Apple, Google, and Meta platforms are clear in conventional headsets — they’re aiming for the same general spatial computing concept.

However, there are differences in the smart glasses category. Meta’s experimental Orion glasses appear to be more of an extension of the app-oriented interface from the Quest. Apple is rumored to be making its own glasses, but little has emerged about them. Practical eyewear is believed to be years away as the companies focus on slimming the technology, improving battery life, and bringing costs down.

More importantly, Google is pitching Android XR as an open ecosystem for headsets and glasses. As with phones and tablets, this promises to expand the variety of devices you can buy, with different designs and prices. It might also allow for apps that aren’t possible on more closed platforms like Apple’s visionOS.

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Android now offers more tools to thwart Bluetooth tracker stalking https://readwrite.com/android-now-offers-more-tools-to-thwart-bluetooth-tracker-stalking/ Wed, 11 Dec 2024 19:32:07 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=432012 Android now offers more tools to thwart Bluetooth tracker stalking

Google is rolling out Android updates that make it harder to spy on you with a Bluetooth tracker that supports… Continue reading Android now offers more tools to thwart Bluetooth tracker stalking

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Android now offers more tools to thwart Bluetooth tracker stalking

Google is rolling out Android updates that make it harder to spy on you with a Bluetooth tracker that supports the Find My Device network.

To start, you can pause your phone’s location updates for up to 24 hours. This lets you quickly prevent misuse of your whereabouts while you try to find and disable the unfamiliar tracker, Google says.

If you receive an alert about an unknown Bluetooth tracker moving with you, the “Find Nearby” option helps you locate the offending device. You might discover that someone slipped a tag into your backpack or underneath your car, for instance.

This only applies to tags that support Find My Device. As many modern trackers are compatible, though, this reduces the chances that someone can abuse off-the-shelf hardware to watch your movements without your consent.

An important step in spotting unwanted Bluetooth tracker activity

Privacy issues surrounding Bluetooth trackers flared soon after Apple released the AirTag in 2021. While Apple did include some anti-stalking measures at launch, there was nothing to warn Android users. It was also relatively easy to remove the speaker and prevent it from warning victims. The audio alert initially took three days, creating a window of opportunity even for those stalkers who didn’t tamper with the hardware.

Apple released an Android app later that year, but it had to run in the foreground to spot AirTags. There also weren’t safeguards against unwanted Android-oriented tags. Apple and Google eventually addressed this in 2023, when they started collaborating on a common standard for detecting rogue Bluetooth tracker units. Android’s Unknown Tracker Alerts appeared in July that year.

These latest Android updates could be particularly important, however. Trackers have many positive uses, such as finding lost luggage. Still, a sufficiently determined person can use them to stalk ex-partners, follow cars home to steal them later, or otherwise use the inconspicuous gadgets to jeopardize your safety. Now, you’ll have a simple emergency cutoff as well as a better chance of finding the tracker in question.

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Windows preview lets you share iPhone files with your PC https://readwrite.com/windows-preview-lets-you-share-iphone-files-with-your-pc/ Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:34:15 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=431994 Windows preview lets you share iPhone files with your PC

Microsoft has released an Insider preview that lets you “seamlessly” share files from your iPhone to a Windows 10 or… Continue reading Windows preview lets you share iPhone files with your PC

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Windows preview lets you share iPhone files with your PC

Microsoft has released an Insider preview that lets you “seamlessly” share files from your iPhone to a Windows 10 or 11 PC.

So long as you’re part of the Windows Insider Program and your iPhone runs iOS 16 or later, you can pair with Windows’ Phone Link app and enable file sharing.

To share files from your iPhone with your PC, you send them to the Link to Windows app using iOS’ built-in sharing tools. To share from the PC to the iPhone, you right-click on the file you want, choose “Share,” and then either “My Phone” or “Phone Link.”

Microsoft hasn’t said when it expects iPhone sharing to become widely available. As with many Insider previews, you’re more likely to see bugs. The company encourages you to point out issues through the Feedback Hub.

Limitations on sharing iPhone files to Windows

The feature might not be satisfying if you expect drag-and-drop file sharing like you frequently get with Android phones. This still requires special apps on both sides, and isn’t going to let you put files exactly where you’d like them. Large-scale transfers, including folders, still aren’t going to be elegant.

However, this might address one of the most common complaints about linking an iPhone with a Windows PC: the inability to quickly share files beyond photos. This could be helpful if you need to move a must-read document and don’t want to rely on cloud services.

The expansion doesn’t come as a shock. Apple has generally been more willing to accommodate Windows users in recent years, such as integrating iCloud images into Windows 11’s Photos app. While you’ll still get the tightest integration on Macs, moves like this can keep iPhone users loyal when switching from Windows isn’t realistic.

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Google intros Gemini 2.0 with a focus on AI agents https://readwrite.com/google-intros-gemini-2-0-with-a-focus-on-ai-agents/ Wed, 11 Dec 2024 17:07:43 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=431973 Google intros Gemini 2.0 with a focus on AI agents

Google has released the first version of Gemini 2.0, its next-generation large language model, and the focus is on AI… Continue reading Google intros Gemini 2.0 with a focus on AI agents

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Google intros Gemini 2.0 with a focus on AI agents

Google has released the first version of Gemini 2.0, its next-generation large language model, and the focus is on AI agents that do work on your behalf.

Gemini 2.0 Flash has upgrades that make it more useful for agentic AI, including multimodal output. It can now produce natively-created images alongside text, or make “steerable” text-to-speech audio in multiple languages. The LLM can also directly access Google searches, run code, and perform third-party user-defined tasks.

The move allows for agents that can not only perform multiple steps, but work across domains and better understand physical objects. Accordingly, an update to Project Astra with the new model can use Google’s search, Lens, and Maps to better interpret what you see. It can speak in multiple and even mixed languages, and remembers more of your recent and past conversations.

Google is also hinting at its long-term plans with new prototype AI agents. Project Mariner uses Gemini 2.0 to explore “human-agent interaction,” currently in the web browser. It can navigate and perform tasks on the web by understanding and reasoning around what’s on screen.

In Gemini Advanced using the 1.5 Pro model, Deep Research is an early AI assistant that can create a multi-step research plan and analyze info once you’ve approved the strategy. It doesn’t just search the web, Google notes — it “refines” what it learns through multiple searches, and creates a report with linked sources. This theoretically finishes research in minutes that would normally take hours.

Gemini 2.0 and Deep Research availability

Google is making Gemini 2.0 Flash available now as an experimental model. Worldwide, you can use a “chat optimized” version on the desktop and mobile web. The native Gemini mobile app will have access in the near future, and 2.0 will come to more Google services in 2025.

Project Astra will soon be available for a “small group” of testers using prototype smart glasses. Project Mariner is already available for trusted testers through a Chrome extension, but Google wants to talk to web creators to make sure any wider work is deployed “safely and responsibly.”

Deep Research is available today for Gemini Advanced subscribers in English on desktop and mobile browsers, and comes to mobile in 2025.

There’s pressure to roll out 2.0 relatively quickly. Many companies see AI agents as the eventual replacement for apps, as they can potentially handle many duties at the same time. Former Google and Meta leaders recently formed a startup, /dev/agents, devoted to making a platform for agentic AI. The Gemini revamp could be key to maintaining Google’s clout in generative AI as the technology evolves from its narrow-purpose origins.

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Trump choice for FTC chair aims to fight ‘Big Tech censorship’ https://readwrite.com/trump-choice-for-ftc-chair-aims-to-fight-big-tech-censorship/ Wed, 11 Dec 2024 16:13:58 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=431961 Trump choice for FTC chair aims to fight 'Big Tech censorship'

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the new… Continue reading Trump choice for FTC chair aims to fight ‘Big Tech censorship’

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Trump choice for FTC chair aims to fight 'Big Tech censorship'

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the new leader hopes to fight alleged attempts to censor conservative views online.

Trump claims Ferguson, a Republican commissioner President Biden appointed in April, has a history of resisting “Big Tech censorship” and supporting free speech.

Ferguson himself maintains that he’ll end a Big Tech “vendetta” against competition and free speech, and that the US is both an industry leader and a haven for innovators.

In Ferguson’s place, antitrust law firm partner Mark Meador will become an FTC commissioner.

Trump recently picked Brendan Carr to lead the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with a similar agenda. The incoming President wants both historically independent agencies to more directly serve his policies, including the anti-censorship push. Trump and other conservatives have asserted that Google, Meta, and other major tech companies are censoring right-wing ideas by banning users, deleting posts, or supposedly prioritizing liberal content.

The companies have long rejected these claims. Instead, they’ve said they’re combatting hate speech and misinformation that potentially leads to real-world harm, such as threats against minorities or false election material. The main exception is X, which under Elon Musk has lifted some content restrictions. Musk is pro-Trump and will co-lead an advisory “Department of Government Efficiency” under the second Trump administration.

What will Trump’s FTC pick do with Big Tech regulation?

In addition to loosening policies around online speech, Ferguson is expected to take a deregulatory approach that contrasts sharply with the FTC under current chair Lina Khan.

Khan had become an outspoken opponent of alleged Big Tech anti-competitive abuses even before Biden nominated her, and mostly acted on that during her tenure. She and the FTC cracked down both on major companies like Amazon as well as practices widely seen as anti-consumer, such as hard-to-cancel subscriptions. As a parting shot, the Commission is investigating Microsoft’s cloud business for possible antitrust problems.

Ferguson won’t necessarily refuse to regulate large tech companies beyond speech. However, he has made clear that he won’t pursue those companies as aggressively as Khan. He may be less likely to oppose mergers or govern specific behaviors.

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Apple releases iOS 18.2 with Visual Intelligence and Image Playground https://readwrite.com/apple-releases-ios-18-2-with-visual-intelligence-and-image-playground/ Wed, 11 Dec 2024 13:00:46 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=431514 Apple releases iOS 18.2 with Visual Intelligence and Image Playground

Apple has released iOS 18.2 along with matching updates for iPadOS and macOS, bringing Visual Intelligence to the iPhone 16… Continue reading Apple releases iOS 18.2 with Visual Intelligence and Image Playground

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Apple releases iOS 18.2 with Visual Intelligence and Image Playground

Apple has released iOS 18.2 along with matching updates for iPadOS and macOS, bringing Visual Intelligence to the iPhone 16 family along with a host of Apple Intelligence image features.

As unveiled in September, Visual Intelligence uses your phone’s camera to recognize the world around you and perform AI tasks. Press and hold the Camera Control button and the iPhone can search Google for goods to buy, answer queries with ChatGPT, or summarize the text in front of you. This is somewhat similar to Google Lens, but it’s available more immediately and isn’t tied to Google’s AI models.

Image generation also plays an important part in the iOS 18.2 upgrade. You can now produce Genmoji, or custom emoji based on you or generic elements. Image Playground is also available, both integrated into Messages and as a standalone app, to create images based on prompts, suggestions, and (if you like) people you know. It’s limited to animated and illustrated styles, so you won’t get photorealistic pictures like you might with OpenAI’s DALL-E or Google Gemini.

Siri can now use ChatGPT to fulfill requests with your permission, including image and text generation. You don’t need a ChatGPT account, and neither Apple nor OpenAI stores requests.

On the iPad, Image Wand turns your Notes sketches and phrases into detailed images. Writing Tools are now on the Mac, and iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 all let you describe the tone you’d like to set for text instead of choosing from simple options like “friendly” or “professional.”

Apple Intelligence comes to more countries with iOS 18.2

In addition to the feature expansion, Apple Intelligence is now available in languages beyond US English. You can use it in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK without having to change your settings.

Non-English countries are expected to receive support in early 2025. Regardless of region, you’ll need at least an iPhone 15 Pro, the iPad mini 7, or an M1-based device (such as the iPad Air or Macs from the past few years) to use Apple Intelligence.

Apple hasn’t yet specified when some of the most advanced Intelligence features will be available, including a Siri upgrade that understands context and specific app functions.

Those are also believed to be arriving in early 2025, however, and Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman has suggested that Apple is moving to a more gradual approach for updates as a whole with even some iOS 19 features already moved to 2026.

If accurate, that isn’t surprising. Generative AI models like GPT and Gemini tend to have rapid update schedules that can make it difficult to stick to Apple’s traditional yearly releases. Apple is also racing to add AI features while simultaneously improving its underlying software — even Google has only gradually introduced Gemini Live and similar functionality to Android.

In that sense, iOS 18.2 is part of a transition to a new approach where Apple delivers a steady stream of improvements rather than monolithic upgrades.

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GM quits Cruise robotaxis to focus on self-driving personal cars https://readwrite.com/gm-quits-cruise-robotaxis-to-focus-on-self-driving-personal-cars/ Wed, 11 Dec 2024 03:29:34 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=431838 GM quits Cruise robotaxis to focus on self-driving personal cars

GM says it will end funding of Cruise robotaxi efforts to concentrate on autonomous driving for personal cars. The automaker… Continue reading GM quits Cruise robotaxis to focus on self-driving personal cars

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GM quits Cruise robotaxis to focus on self-driving personal cars

GM says it will end funding of Cruise robotaxi efforts to concentrate on autonomous driving for personal cars.

The automaker will instead combine Cruise’s technical team with its own to establish a “single effort” for both driverless cars and driver aids. There would be “considerable time and resources” needed to grow the robotaxi business, GM says.

GM already owns 90% of Cruise, but will use shareholder deals and its own funds to buy out the remaining 10% stake. It then plans to work with Cruise leadership to “restructure and refocus,” with completion due in the first half of 2025. The move is expected to save over $1 billion per year.

The decision isn’t surprising. Cruise has reeled ever since one of its robotaxis struck a pedestrian in October 2023. That led to California banning the autonomous cars on its streets for months, and a restructuring of the company that included layoffs and the departure of CEO Kyle Vogt. Cruise voluntarily halted testing in other states and shelved plans for its shuttle-style Origin robotaxi. Xbox veteran Marc Whitten became Cruise’s new CEO in June.

The leadership change was overshadowed in November when Cruise admitted to submitting a false incident report in hopes of affecting a federal safety investigation over the pedestrian impact. It agreed to pay a $500,000 fine to defer prosecution.

The incident and its aftermath not only disrupted Cruise, but gave its main rival Waymo a competitive advantage. Combine this with GM’s other challenges, including a weaker EV market (if one where it’s doing relatively well), and the costs of maintaining Cruise as-is were going to be steep. This theoretically helps GM streamline its costs even as it aims to challenge Tesla, Ford, and others with increasing autonomy in their vehicles.

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Apple Watch Ultra 3 could let you send texts by satellite https://readwrite.com/apple-ultra-watch-3-could-let-you-send-texts-by-satellite/ Wed, 11 Dec 2024 02:07:58 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=431835 Apple Ultra Watch 3 Could Let You Send Texts by Satellite

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will have satellite service that lets you send texts, according to Bloomberg sources. Much like recent… Continue reading Apple Watch Ultra 3 could let you send texts by satellite

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Apple Ultra Watch 3 Could Let You Send Texts by Satellite

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will have satellite service that lets you send texts, according to Bloomberg sources.

Much like recent iPhones, the toughened smartwatch will use this as a backup for when cellular service or Wi-Fi isn’t available. That would fit the Ultra’s target demographic of hikers, divers, and others who can’t count on terrestrial wireless networks.

Apple might also move beyond LTE data with the Watch Ultra 3, the insiders say. The new wearable supposedly drops the Intel cellular modem in favor of a MediaTek part that supports 5G RedCap (aka 5G NR-Light). The technology that isn’t as fast as regular 5G, but is power-efficient and offers higher peak speeds than LTE.

Health might also play an important role. Blood pressure monitoring is said to be coming to all 2025 Apple Watch models. While it wouldn’t offer precise measurements, it would warn you if your pressure is climbing and shows signs of hypertension.

The Apple Watch line can already alert you to possible atrial fibrillation (AFib), and still monitors blood oxygen levels for users outside of the US. That last feature is disabled in the country in response to a patent dispute with Masimo.

Why satellite service in the Apple Watch Ultra 3?

Apple didn’t significantly refresh its higher-end timepiece in 2024; it only gave the Watch Ultra 2 a new black finish and band options. Satellite data (along with 5G and blood pressure monitoring) might give you an incentive to buy the new model if you’d previously put off an upgrade.

There are also competitive motivations. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 might rival not just the latest version of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra, but other rugged smartwatches and dedicated satellite communicators from brands like Garmin.

It’s not clear if any of these features will come to the Apple Watch Series 11. The Ultra series typically has.a much larger battery that’s better-suited to satellite and 5G. The company might also reserve some features for the Ultra to encourage purchases of the premium version.

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Google quantum chip finishes tasks in minutes that could take 10 septillion years https://readwrite.com/google-quantum-chip-finishes-tasks-in-minutes-that-could-take-10-septillion-years/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 19:24:57 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=431511 Google quantum chip finishes tasks in minutes that could take 10 septillion years

Google has unveiled Willow, a next-generation quantum computing chip that it claims can complete a benchmark task in minutes that… Continue reading Google quantum chip finishes tasks in minutes that could take 10 septillion years

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Google quantum chip finishes tasks in minutes that could take 10 septillion years

Google has unveiled Willow, a next-generation quantum computing chip that it claims can complete a benchmark task in minutes that would require 10 septillion years with a conventional supercomputer.

The time needed for the classical approach to random circuit sampling (an industry standard for quantum computing challenges) “vastly exceeds the age of the Universe,” according to Google Quantum AI lead Harmut Neven.

The breakthrough comes largely through Willow’s approach to error correction. Where existing quantum computers tend to produce more errors as you add qubits (quantum bits) and grow in complexity, Willow reduces those mistakes as the system gets larger. Its 105-qubit array lasts longer than the individual bits, Google says.

While tests don’t necessarily translate to real-world results, Neven adds that Google is using “conservative assumptions” that would give traditional supercomputers the best possible conditions, such as full bandwidth for secondary storage.

What’s next for Google’s Willow and quantum computing?

Google is clear about the goals for the Willow era of quantum chips: it wants to develop “real-world” uses that aren’t practical for conventional computers. Random circuit sampling doesn’t have known uses, and simulations of quantum systems have led to breakthroughs but are still achievable through familiar methods.

This could take a long while. Willow helps Google cross a second milestone in its roadmap, where error correction becomes viable. However, it still needs to make long-lived logical qubits and a logical gate. It also has to scale the engineering for the task and, ultimately, make a large quantum computer with that error correction in place. That’s going to require larger qubit counts and other processes that are still distant, even with the help of partners like Nvidia.

For Google, though, there’s a strong incentive to keep moving forward. Quantum computing could be the key to truly advanced AI by collecting training data and producing models that just aren’t possible today. The company casts this as useful for discovering new medicines and energy technologies, but it could also be useful for artificial general intelligence (AGI) in robots that need to understand virtually everything about the world around them.

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OpenAI’s Sora AI video generator is now available to everyone https://readwrite.com/openais-sora-ai-video-generator-is-now-available-to-everyone/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 18:19:37 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=431448 OpenAI's Sora AI video generator is now available to everyone

OpenAI has made its Sora AI video generator available to the public, including some tools that help creatives produce complex… Continue reading OpenAI’s Sora AI video generator is now available to everyone

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OpenAI's Sora AI video generator is now available to everyone

OpenAI has made its Sora AI video generator available to the public, including some tools that help creatives produce complex projects.

The long-in-development model lets you generate short video clips from text prompts. However, you can also “remix” prompts to varying degrees by using additional prompts, and a Storyboard can string together multiple prompts while producing transitions between clips.

Sora limits videos to resolutions between 480p and 1080p for up to 20 seconds, and OpenAI has taken numerous steps to minimize the potentials for copyright violations and misinformation that affect both the company as well as rivals like xAI’s Grok. You can’t base videos around many forms of copyrighted material or some recognizable public figures, and all footage includes a watermark.

You need a ChatGPT Plus subscription to create up to 50 videos at 480p, and fewer at 720p. Pro users get 1080p access, 10 times the usage, and longer-lasting videos. OpenAI says it’s working on “tailored pricing” for a variety of users starting early 2025. Free ChatGPT users can always watch clips, but can’t create them.

OpenAI Sora: potential and pitfalls for video production

As with other AI video generators, Sora’s results are frequently mixed. You might see continuity errors like disappearing objects or misspelled text. The large language model also doesn’t have a built-in understanding of physics, so objects and effects might not behave properly. This isn’t something you’d use to replace conventional video production, especially for realistic output.

However, it might be useful for animations and abstract videos where accuracy isn’t important. You could make persuasive motion graphics or B-roll footage without requiring significant artistic knowledge.

There are some concerns that might persist even if OpenAI addresses all the technical issues. Models like Sora and Google’s Veo still tend to be trained on publicly available content, raising the possibility that they’ll violate copyright. Actors and producers have already objected to the potential that their work might be replaced by AI — Sora won’t completely alleviate their fears.

And while OpenAI might make it harder to produce misinformation, you can still crop watermarks (as YouTuber Marques Brownlee illustrated) and use carefully-written prompts to mislead audiences. There’s still the chance that malicious creators will use Sora and similar generators to spread false claims that could lead to real-world harm.

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Apple’s iPhone SE 4 might include a 48MP main camera https://readwrite.com/apples-iphone-se-4-might-include-a-48mp-main-camera/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:54:36 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=431413 iPhone SE 4 might include a 48MP main camera

The iPhone SE 4 might get a 48-megapixel main camera at the rear, according to a supply chain report from… Continue reading Apple’s iPhone SE 4 might include a 48MP main camera

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iPhone SE 4 might include a 48MP main camera

The iPhone SE 4 might get a 48-megapixel main camera at the rear, according to a supply chain report from ET News.

South Korea’s LG Innotek will supposedly provide both that 48MP sensor as well as a 12MP front camera system with a TrueDepth sensor for Face ID.

If accurate, the new hardware would give iPhone SE 4 the largest camera upgrade in the budget phone’s eight-year history. Every SE model until now has had a 12MP main camera. While initially competitive, that has become more of a limitation as the rest of the lineup has moved to using 48MP sensors for at least the primary cam.

A 48MP rear camera would not only provide sharper ordinary photos but allow for a “lossless” 2X digital zoom that crops in for a 12MP image. You still wouldn’t get the telephoto or ultrawide photography that requires dedicated lenses, but this might make the SE 4 more appealing if you still care about picture quality.

The new phone is believed to be shipping in early 2025, most likely in March as with past models. The existing SE currently starts at a $429 price.

The iPhone SE 4 camera upgrade adds to much-improved specs

Should the iPhone SE 4 get a new camera, it’ll complement an expected redesign that will help the device catch up after years of using an iPhone 8-derived chassis.

The SE is poised to switch from an old 4.7-inch LCD to the 6.1-inch OLED found in the iPhone 13 and 14. It might use a notch for the front camera rather than the Dynamic Island cutout from the iPhone 14 Pro onward, but it could still get a USB-C port and the customizable Action Button introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro.

As with other iPhone SE models, performance could be the main draw. Apple Intelligence needs much more computing power than the current SE’s A15 Bionic chip and 4GB of RAM can deliver, so the fourth-generation model might leap to an A18 with 8GB of memory. That’s what’s found in the regular iPhone 16.

This could be vital to improving Apple’s competitiveness in the mid-range phone space. The present-day SE sometimes lags behind similarly-priced Android rivals like Samsung’s Galaxy A35 5G, Google’s Pixel 8a, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus, and a raft of Chinese phones from affordable sub-brands like Poco and Realme.

Some of those competitors will still have larger screens or a wider variety of included cameras. However, Apple will likely have a much faster chip as well as better core photography and longer software support.

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Nvidia faces China antitrust probe in response to chip restrictions https://readwrite.com/nvidia-faces-china-antitrust-probe-in-response-to-chip-restrictions/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:50:26 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=431380 Nvidia faces China antitrust probe in response to chip sanctions

China has begun an investigation of Nvidia over alleged antitrust violations in what’s been interpreted as retaliation for expanded US… Continue reading Nvidia faces China antitrust probe in response to chip restrictions

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Nvidia faces China antitrust probe in response to chip sanctions

China has begun an investigation of Nvidia over alleged antitrust violations in what’s been interpreted as retaliation for expanded US restrictions on chips.

The Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) didn’t say just how Nvidia violated the country’s competition laws. However, it did allege that Nvidia broke promises made to China when buying networking giant Mellanox in 2020.

We’ve asked Nvidia for comment and will let you know if we hear back.

China’s possible retaliation against US chip policies

The probe comes less than a week after the US imposed new restrictions on China’s access to AI-related chips. The move barred China from buying fast memory from both US-based companies like Micron as well as foreign firms like Samsung and SK Hynix.  The Commerce Department also put more limits on manufacturing tech, although it made sure US partners like Japan still had access.

At the time, China accused the US of abusing “export control measures” that “hindered” trade. The nation said it would protect its interests, but didn’t elaborate on its response.

If this is a retaliatory measure, it doesn’t come as a surprise. The US and China have been embroiled in a trade battle for years, particularly when officials from the States and other countries accused Huawei of enabling Chinese government surveillance of foreign networks. China has long denied the accusations, but Huawei is banned from both selling in the US and from using many American components. In May, the US pulled Intel and Qualcomm licenses that let them export certain products to Huawei.

The US measures have had only a limited impact in some cases. Huawei’s smartphone business has rebounded in China, with phones like the Mate 60 narrowing the gap with the US and South Korea while using locally-made chips. There are concerns the country is using workarounds to access and replicate US tech despite restrictions. In that light, China’s move against Nvidia is more symbolic than a practical response to lasting damage.

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