Intel and Google Deepen Partnership on AI CPUs and Custom Infrastructure Processing Units, OpenAI Delays Major U.K. “Stargate” GPU Project, and Alphabet’s Waymo and Waze Partner to Tackle Potholes.
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Show Notes
Meta bets on closed AI to power ads
Meta has introduced its long-awaited proprietary AI model, Muse Spark, shifting from the open-source Llama family. Despite the risk of low user adoption for a paid model, analysts believe Muse Spark’s main goal is to boost Meta’s core advertising revenue (98% of income) by using its strong image/video processing to improve ad engagement and targeting. This closed-model approach aims to establish Meta as a top-tier AI company, though it faces developer skepticism compared to open-weight alternatives.
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Intel and Google double down on AI chips
Intel and Google have expanded their partnership to focus on advancing AI-focused CPUs and co-developing custom Infrastructure Processing Units (IPUs). This collaboration, driven by the shift from AI model training to deployment, renews demand for powerful chips. Google will continue to deploy Intel’s Xeon processors, including the latest Xeon 6. This strategic move, which Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan calls central to modern AI demands, could help Intel improve its financials and regain market share lost earlier in the AI boom, especially as complex agentic AI systems require powerful CPUs.
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OpenAI delays U.K. “Stargate” project
OpenAI has delayed its major U.K. infrastructure project, “Stargate,” which aimed to deploy up to 8,000 GPUs, due to concerns over high energy costs and the country’s regulatory environment, particularly around AI and copyright. Despite the delay to this key component of the U.K.’s AI strategy, an OpenAI spokesperson confirmed the company remains committed to the U.K. market and its London research hub, stating the project will proceed when conditions are favorable for long-term investment.
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Waymo and Waze team up to fix potholes
Waymo and Waze, both Alphabet companies, have started a data-sharing pilot program to help cities locate and repair potholes. Waymo’s robotaxis are funneling data collected by their sensors to a free Waze platform, which is accessible to cities and Waze users in the five initial markets (Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area). This program aims to supplement Waze user reports, fill data gaps, and support safer street maintenance as Waymo continues its expansion.
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Spotify adds universal video off switch
Spotify is introducing universal video toggles to address user preference for controlling the increasing amount of video content, allowing users to turn off music videos and other video types like video podcasts, vertical videos, and artist clips, in addition to the existing Canvas toggle. These new controls, found under Settings > Content and display, apply universally across all platforms and can be managed for family plan members, offering a reprieve for users who desire a simpler, music-focused app experience despite the company’s recent push into video features such as Canvas loops (2018), video podcasts (2020), and music videos (2024).
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Court allows Pentagon blacklist of Anthropic to stand (for now)
A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., has temporarily upheld the Pentagon’s national security blacklisting of the AI company Anthropic, which had challenged the designation that blocks it from government contracts. Anthropic, developer of the Claude AI assistant, claims Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth overstepped his authority and retaliated against the company for refusing to remove usage guardrails that prevent the military from using Claude for surveillance or autonomous weapons, citing ethical concerns. The Justice Department, however, contends the blacklisting stems from Anthropic’s refusal to accept contractual terms.
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Tesla working on smaller, cheaper EV
Tesla is reportedly developing a new, smaller, and cheaper compact electric SUV, measuring 4.28 meters long, which is significantly shorter than the Model Y. Production is slated to begin in China, with possible expansion to the U.S. and Europe. This new model, which could be designed for both human-driven and driverless operation, signals a potential return to focus on mass-market EVs, following CEO Elon Musk’s previous emphasis on robotaxis. The vehicle is expected to be priced substantially lower than the Model 3, partly due to a smaller battery and reduced range. The project is currently in early development.
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Instagram expands teen content restrictions globally
Instagram is expanding content restrictions for teen accounts globally, aiming to limit exposure to themes like extreme violence, sexual nudity, and drug use, as well as hiding or not recommending posts with strong language and risky stunts. These new guidelines, which Meta was forced to rebrand after a cease-and-desist from the Motion Picture Association, follow legal actions against the company regarding harm to teenagers and appear to be a preventative measure amid ongoing scrutiny over its impact on teen mental health.
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YouTube introduces AI avatars for Shorts
YouTube is launching a new feature globally (outside of Europe) for users 18+ with a channel, allowing them to create a photorealistic, talking AI avatar of themselves for use in Shorts. The creation process involves a “live selfie” recording of the user’s face and voice in the YouTube app or YouTube Create. This enables prompt-based video generation up to eight seconds long. All avatar-generated videos will include watermarks and digital labels like SynthID and C2PA, and the initial face and voice recordings are used solely for avatar creation by the channel owner.
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