Category: Assistive Technology

Assistive TechnologyPolicy

California Governor Vetoes Data Center Water Reporting Bill Amid Drought Concerns

California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed legislation that would have required data centers to disclose water consumption levels. The decision comes as the state faces significant water sustainability challenges and data centers continue to expand in water-stressed regions.

Governor Blocks Mandatory Water Reporting for Data Centers

California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed legislation that would have required data centers in the state to disclose their water consumption levels, according to reports. The decision, first reported by The Register, blocks Assembly Bill 93 which would have mandated water use reporting for an industry known for significant water consumption for cooling operations.

by Tyler Brooks P.E
Assistive TechnologyEnergy

UK Energy Costs Threaten Hyperscale Data Center Growth, CEO Warns

The UK’s high energy prices and regulatory constraints are creating an “untenable” environment for hyperscale data center development, according to Pure Data Centers CEO Dame Dawn Childs. Industry leaders warn that without government support and grid modernization, the country risks losing major AI investments to more competitive markets.

Power Pricing Crisis Deters Hyperscale Investment

According to reports from industry leadership, the United Kingdom‘s high energy prices are creating significant barriers for hyperscale data center development, particularly for AI infrastructure. Pure Data Centers CEO Dame Dawn Childs has stated that power costs make large-scale AI data centers “untenable” without substantial government subsidies.

by Megan Carter
Assistive TechnologyInfrastructure

Ipswich Portal Installation Begins, Linking UK Town to Global Destinations

Work has commenced on installing the UK’s first international portal in Ipswich’s town square. The real-time visual link will connect the Suffolk town to cities including Dublin, Philadelphia, and Vilnius. Council leaders indicate the project aims to increase visitor numbers and position Ipswich alongside forward-thinking global cities.

UK’s First International Portal Installation Underway

Work has begun on installing what Ipswich Borough Council describes as the United Kingdom’s first international portal in the town’s main square, according to reports. The structure outside Town Hall on the Cornhill will provide a real-time visual connection to other global destinations, with installation now underway according to council statements.

by Tyler Brooks P.E
Arts and EntertainmentAssistive TechnologyComputing

Meta and Arm Forge Partnership to Boost AI Performance on Nvidia’s Arm-Based CPUs

Meta Platforms has entered a strategic partnership with Arm Holdings to enhance AI software efficiency on Nvidia’s Arm-based datacenter CPUs. The collaboration focuses on optimizing existing codebases for better performance in Meta’s AI ranking systems. This move comes as Arm’s datacenter market share surges to 25%, driven by adoption from major cloud providers.

Strategic Partnership Announced

Meta Platforms has entered into a strategic partnership with Arm Holdings to optimize its AI software for more efficient operation on the British chip designer’s CPUs, according to reports. The collaboration, announced Wednesday, signals Arm’s expanding role in the datacenters of Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, though sources indicate the focus will be on optimizing existing Arm-based silicon rather than developing custom processors.

by Megan Carter
Assistive TechnologySoftware Guides

FSF Launches Librephone Project to Reverse-Engineer Mobile Firmware Blobs

The Free Software Foundation has launched the Librephone project to develop free software replacements for proprietary binary blobs in mobile device firmware. The multi-year initiative will focus on reverse-engineering components handling cellular connectivity, Wi-Fi, and GPU functions to enhance software freedom for mobile users.

New Initiative Targets Mobile Software Freedom

The Free Software Foundation has launched a new initiative called Librephone aimed at bridging the gap between Android distributions and true mobile phone freedom, according to foundation announcements. Rather than building another mobile operating system, sources indicate the project focuses specifically on developing replacements for proprietary software blobs – binary components without available source code – found in Android device firmware.

by Megan Carter
Arts and EntertainmentAssistive TechnologyGaming Hardware

Apple Launches M5 Chip With Major AI Performance Gains and 15% Faster CPU

Apple’s latest M5 silicon delivers substantial AI optimizations with GPU performance increases up to 45% and CPU gains of 15%. The new chip features integrated neural processors and enhanced memory bandwidth for improved machine learning workloads across Apple’s product lineup.

Apple’s M5 Silicon Marks Significant AI Performance Leap

Apple has launched its fifth-generation M-series silicon this week, with the Apple Inc. M5 chip appearing in updated MacBook, iPad, and Vision Pro models. According to reports, the new system-on-a-chip represents Apple’s most significant artificial intelligence performance improvement to date while maintaining the company’s focus on power efficiency.

by Megan Carter
Assistive TechnologyPolicy

South Korea Nears Decision on Google, Apple High-Resolution Map Export Requests

South Korea is reportedly nearing a crucial decision on whether to allow Google and Apple to export high-resolution geographic map data overseas. The detailed maps would provide significantly enhanced navigation capabilities but face security scrutiny from lawmakers concerned about sensitive military site exposure.

South Korea’s Map Data Export Decision Approaches

South Korea is reportedly nearing a decision on whether to allow Google and Apple to export high-resolution geographic map data to servers outside the country, according to sources familiar with the matter. The detailed maps, which would use a 1:5,000 scale, would show streets, buildings, and alleyways in far greater detail than currently available on these global platforms. However, analysts suggest several regulatory and security hurdles remain unresolved as the government weighs the implications of exporting sensitive geospatial information.

by Tyler Brooks P.E
Arts and EntertainmentAssistive TechnologySemiconductors

ASML Sees AI-Driven Orders Surge Amid China Sales Decline Forecast

ASML Holding, the leading chip equipment maker, has exceeded Q3 order estimates amid booming AI investments. However, the company anticipates Chinese sales to drop significantly next year following export restrictions. Shares rose 3.2% following the positive earnings report.

AI Investment Boom Drives ASML Performance

ASML Holding, the world’s largest supplier of computer chip-making equipment, has reportedly beaten third-quarter order estimates as the global rush toward artificial intelligence continues to drive demand, according to recent financial reports. The company’s net bookings reached 5.40 billion euros ($6.27 billion), surpassing analyst expectations of 5.36 billion euros.

by Tyler Brooks P.E
Assistive TechnologySoftware Guides

Ollama Expands GPU Support With Experimental Vulkan Backend For AMD and Intel Hardware

The popular AI framework Ollama has introduced experimental Vulkan support, significantly expanding GPU compatibility beyond NVIDIA hardware. This development could enable broader AI acceleration across diverse hardware configurations, particularly benefiting users of AMD and Intel graphics solutions on Linux platforms.

Ollama Broadens AI Hardware Compatibility

The AI framework Ollama has rolled out experimental Vulkan support that reportedly expands GPU acceleration capabilities to a wider range of hardware, according to reports from industry sources. This development potentially enables enhanced AI inference performance across AMD and Intel graphics processors, moving beyond the traditional NVIDIA-centric approach that has dominated the AI acceleration landscape.

by Tyler Brooks P.E