Artificial Intelligence
Ongoing coverage on Artificial Intelligence.
Latest coverage
Samsung, who've been accused of worsening the RAM crisis via price fixing, reckon components will only get more expensive in 2027
Samsung predicts the ongoing RAM crisis will worsen in 2027, with supply unlikely to improve until 2028. The company's Q2 earnings call revealed that AI firms are securing future supply through long-term contracts, which benefits Samsung's financial outlook but contributes to higher consumer prices. This situation is at the center of a US lawsuit accusing Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron of fixing RAM prices.
Video game console prices will continue to rise until at least 2029 reveals data
Ongoing semiconductor shortages, exacerbated by high demand for AI infrastructure, are expected to continue driving up video game console prices until at least 2028, according to Samsung. This trend, which has already increased the cost of consoles like the Xbox Series S, could lead to future hardware like the PlayStation 6 costing over £1,000 at launch. Suppliers like Samsung are prioritizing AI data centers, further tightening supply for consumer electronics.
AI Yi-Yi!
The European Union's AI Act, which includes rules for chatbots and content, is set to take effect this week, despite some speculation about delays. Meanwhile, China's AI models are creating a divide between Silicon Valley and the White House, impacting international AI development and policy.
AMD graphics card price hikes are reportedly following Nvidia's, as the AI-fuelled RAM shortage continues to set wallets alight
AMD is reportedly increasing its graphics card prices by 10%, following Nvidia's earlier price hike of up to 30%. This is attributed to an ongoing RAM shortage, exacerbated by the demand for AI hardware, which is also leading to a lawsuit against major memory chip makers for alleged price fixing. Concerns are also raised about potential new AMD Radeon RX 9050 cards with only 4GB of VRAM.
EU announces new rules on AI transparency
The European Union has announced that new rules regarding AI transparency are now enforceable across the bloc. These regulations aim to provide greater clarity and oversight on artificial intelligence technologies.
Square Enix responds to Kingdom Hearts Collection AI controversy two months after players called it out
Square Enix has responded to accusations that AI-generated art was used in promotional material for the upcoming Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3. The company stated that the assets were created by their development team without generative AI, and that issues stemmed from human error. Updated artwork has been implemented to address player feedback.
Steam Week in Review: Once positioned as mainstream-friendly PC gaming solutions, can Valve's hardware survive the…
Valve's Steam Deck and Steam Machine hardware are facing challenges due to rising component costs, exacerbated by AI data center demand, leading to significant price increases. Despite these issues and a muted reception for the Steam Machine, the Steam Deck continues to appear on Steam's top sellers list, indicating ongoing consumer interest.
Company that said it could scan and destroy books for AI data-harvesting has deleted that part of its website: 'no…
Third-party book database company ISBNdb has removed a section of its website that advertised sourcing printed books in bulk for AI training data. The company claims the page was a test of market interest and no such service was ever offered, despite evidence to the contrary. This comes amid reports of AI companies using third-party rebuyers to obscure their book-scanning and destruction practices for LLM training.
AI Yi-Yi!
The article discusses the imminent surge in AI computing power, suggesting that the United States' lead over China in AI development is diminishing. Major tech companies like Microsoft and Nvidia are expected to play significant roles in this expansion.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain's AI slop music video is terrible for us all
The article criticizes ShiftUp's use of AI-generated music and video for Stellar Blade: Blood Rain, calling it detrimental to the game's artistic integrity and the broader gaming industry. CEO Kim Hyung Tae's pro-AI stance is highlighted, contrasting with the company's previous success with human-created music in Nikke: Goddess of Victory. The author expresses concern that normalizing such practices could lead to a future of soulless, mass-produced games.
MMOs You’ve Never Heard Of: Mogul Life, PvP.Farm, and VoxelMancy
This article rounds up three lesser-known multiplayer online games: Mogul Life, a mobile pixel art MMO focused on corporate growth and investment; PvP.Farm, a browser-based factional PvP MMO with mechs and no safe zones; and VoxelMancy, a free-to-play voxel building sandbox. VoxelMancy's developer confirmed the use of AI for its assets.
Judge Lets Minnesota’s Nudification Law Stand as xAI’s Last-Minute Block Attempt Fails
A federal judge has allowed Minnesota's law against nonconsensual intimate imagery to stand, rejecting a last-minute attempt by xAI to block it. The judge cited xAI's significant delay in challenging the law, which imposes a $500,000 penalty on developers for each instance of misuse. While the company argues the law infringes on free speech, litigation is ongoing, with a hearing scheduled for August 19 to decide on a preliminary injunction.
The Sunday Papers
This article reflects on the moral decay within the gaming industry and the broader societal issues discussed in various articles from the past week. It touches upon topics such as the misuse of AI, the joy of food, historical events like the Bronze Age Collapse, and unique architectural designs, all while expressing a desire to focus on more positive aspects of life.
OpenAI CEO suggests parents make AI-generated podcasts to remember their children's lives for them
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman suggested using generative AI to create personalized podcasts for parents to remember their children's lives. This idea, shared on X, has drawn significant criticism, with many users questioning the need to delegate family connection to AI and highlighting the importance of direct human interaction.
AI Measured 15,000 Museum Bird Skeletons — And Rewrote How We Picture Evolution’s Pace
Researchers at the University of Michigan utilized artificial intelligence to analyze 15,000 museum bird skeletons, revealing that evolutionary changes in songbirds occurred in rapid bursts, often coinciding with shifts in Earth's climate. This AI-driven approach, which measures skeletons in seconds, provides data-driven insights into evolutionary theory and the impact of environmental variability on species diversification over millions of years.
Square Enix says art for Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 didn’t use AI
Square Enix has denied that AI was used to create the artwork for the Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3. The company stated that no AI was involved in the creation of the art, which had drawn criticism on social media for perceived errors.
I was excited for this Quake port of Half-Life until I discovered the creator's wild AI conspiracy theories
A new total conversion mod called Libre-life aims to port Half-Life's assets into Quake sourceports, allowing players to experience the classic game within a different engine. The modder, KleskBY, has also expressed controversial views on artificial intelligence, stating that critics are hypocritical and influenced by foreign governments.
Gamescom Gets a Live Look at ONEchain’s AI Agent Economy
ONEchain, run by Korean studio NEXUS, will demo an AI-native gaming economy at Gamescom on August 26th. The demonstration will feature autonomous agents that compete, create, trade, and earn on-chain, with the battle royale game ClawRoyale serving as a primary example. This event highlights the growing integration of AI and blockchain in the gaming industry, with the Blockchain Game Alliance playing a key role in promoting and establishing standards for these technologies.
AI Yi-Yi!
Major technology companies are investing over $1 trillion in artificial intelligence infrastructure, with an additional $745 billion expected in 2026. The article also briefly mentions Claude publishing malicious code.
We've seen a lot of malfunctioning robots this year, but this is my favorite fail yet
This article highlights notable robot malfunctions and failures from July, including a Neura Robotics bot collapsing during a Qualcomm presentation and a Unitree Robotics mech punching a concrete wall. It also touches on a drone capable of swimming and flying, a concept for a demon-like robot called Threehalves, and a controversial AI robot teacher pilot program at a high school due to the parent company's association with sex dolls.
