OpenAI’s own chips
OpenAI, the company best known for its ChatGPT LLM, is reportedly considering stepping into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) chip production, according to Reuters, which has sources close to the matter. It’s even gone as far as considering a potential acquisition that’ll make that reality a little more attainable.
These discussions have supposedly been on the table since last year at least, though OpenAI hasn’t taken the plunge just yet. If the reports are true, CEO Sam Altman has made acquiring more chips a top priority within the company, having previously blamed the lack of GPU availability for OpenAI’s speed and reliability issues.
A surplus of AI chips could help keep the company’s costs down, too. According to Stacy Rasgon from Bernstein Research (via Engadget), OpenAI loses itself around $0.04 per query. We won’t pretend we’re any good at math, but if OpenAI’s 100m-plus users are any indication, the company is losing plenty of money. Rasgon said if the company hits even a tenth of Google’s search numbers, it’ll need $48.1 billion worth of GPUs and spend a further $16 billion per year to maintain the growth.
For now, however, OpenAI is stuck with Nvidia, which controls the market for AI chips, with 10,000 of its GPUs currently powering up Microsoft’s supercomputer that the company uses to develop its tech.
Spotify’s lossless audio feature might finally become real
It’s quite literally been years since Spotify said it would be adding lossless audio to the streaming service, and it looks like it might finally be following through on its promise. Unfortunately, if the rumours of a ‘Supremium’ tier are true (and they probably are), you’ll have to pay (more) to try out the feature.
When that’ll be, though, Spotify hasn’t officially said. According to some new information, courtesy of Chris Messina on Threads (via The Verge), we’ve got a clearer idea of Spotify’s launch plans and what else might be launching alongside HiFi audio. We also got a look at the Supremium logo – all but confirming Spotify’s intention to stick with the less-than-stupid name.
If Messina’s info is correct, you can expect to be listening to 24-bit lossless audio “by year end,” though he does mention the exact date is unclear. Messina says other features that could make it to the $20/m service, such as “Your Sound Capsule”, a “Highlights” feature that’ll offer more in-depth listening statistics and AI-generation playlist tools.
Spotify might also bump up the number of “free” audiobook hours it’ll give you to “20-30 hours” from the 15 hours it recently just handed to Premium subscribers in some territories. South Africa is, unfortunately, still waiting its turn to get on that very short list.
Samsung’s Ring Ambitions
If you weren’t aware, Samsung’s got a Galaxy Ring in the works. Samsung hasn’t said so officially, but there’s been plenty of rumours and a listing in the Wearables app that mentions a ‘Galaxy Ring’ that all but confirms the tracker’s existence. Other than the fact that it exists, however, the Galaxy Ring largely remains a mystery. According to a fresh batch of leaks from The Elec (via Android Authority), we’ve got an idea of when we can expect it to hit shelves.
We also know that Samsung is only working on one Ring model, meaning there won’t be a souped-up Plus or Ultra model waiting in the wings. Apparently, the Ring’s current iteration is still too large for consumers, with Samsung working on knocking that size down some while squeezing in as many features as possible.
The outlet also reaffirmed the rumoured launch dates, with Samsung apparently targeting a late 2024 or early 2025 release. The big idea is to launch the device alongside the Samsung Galaxy Flip and Fold 6, which would line it up for a September 2024 release, though that might be delayed due to medical certifications.
Cyberpunk goes live-action
Three years later, with plenty of patches, a massive DLC expansion, and $120 million of investment, Cyberpunk 2077 has finally regained the trust of CD Projekt Red’s fanbase, and the studio is drafting off that success. It recently announced a Cyberpunk 2077 live-action project with Anonymous Content set to lead its development.
Ironically, you might not know Anonymous Content by name, but you’ll know the company’s productions quite well. It’s known for its work on Mr. Robot, True Detective, and Leo’s Oscar-winning The Revenant. Information on Cyberpunk’s transition to live-action is still scarce, with the announcement failing to mention whether the project would be a movie or series, when it would come out, or where it would come out.
What we do know is that it’ll be a “brand-new story set in the world of Cyberpunk 2077,” and that it’s “at an early development stage.” It’s still searching for a screenwriter to lead the project, which means we probably won’t be seeing it hit the big or small screen until 2025 at the earliest. If it’s anything like Netflix’s massive Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, though, we don’t mind the wait.