The core strategy? Continuity, enhanced performance, and a significant push into integrated social features. This isn't about reinventing the wheel; it's about making the wheel faster, smoother, and more connected.

The Hardware: Iteration, Refinement, and Magnetic Charm

The physical device, as shown, is textbook Nintendo: evolutionary, not revolutionary.

• Display: A larger 7.9-inch, 1080p handheld screen is a welcome upgrade from the original's 6.2-inch 720p panel, offering roughly double the pixels for a crisper portable experience though sadly it is LCD and not OLED for this version. Impressively, Nintendo maintained the same overall thickness (13.9mm), suggesting significant internal engineering refinement. When docked, the system now targets 4K resolution with HDR support – finally bringing Nintendo into the modern living room display standard, albeit likely through upscaling for most titles, as native 4K remains a heavy lift.

• Performance: The promise of up to 120fps gameplay (in compatible games, naturally) is significant. While the jump to 1080p handheld and 4K docked addresses visual fidelity, the higher frame rate option targets gameplay smoothness, a key differentiator for dedicated gaming hardware over more casual platforms. The question remains: will this 120Hz capability extend to TV output via the new dock, or is it handheld-only? The presentation wasn't explicit.

• Joy-Con 2: They attach magnetically. This is a subtle but potentially huge quality-of-life improvement, eliminating the sometimes-fiddly rails. Internally, they feature larger control sticks (a silent nod, perhaps, to the drift issues that plagued their predecessors?) and bigger, more tactile SL/SR buttons for horizontal play. The addition of a dedicated 'C-Button' on the right Joy-Con 2 is intriguing, hinting at expanded control schemes or perhaps quick-access functionality, likely tied into the new social features. Where the NFC reader for amiibo now resides wasn't immediately obvious – perhaps integrated more seamlessly into the body or sticks?

• Storage: Internal storage jumps to 256GB, an 8x increase over the launch Switch's paltry 32GB, addressing a major pain point. However, the move to support only microSD Express cards for expansion is a potentially controversial strategic choice. While offering significantly faster read/write speeds necessary for loading larger, high-fidelity Switch 2 games and potentially enabling the 120fps modes, it breaks compatibility with the vast number of standard microSD cards users already own. This friction point is notable. Will users be able to offload games to older, slower cards for storage, even if they can't be played directly from them? Unclear, but strategically important for managing the transition. The need for speed likely dictates this, but it is an odd departure from Nintendo's usual user-friendliness.

• Ports: Two USB-C ports (top and bottom) offer flexibility for charging in tabletop mode or connecting peripherals like the new camera. It might also come in handy as a backup port if your kid is a little tough on a port.

• Dock: The new dock, besides enabling 4K/HDR output, features a built-in fan for active cooling, crucial for maintaining stable performance during demanding docked play.

Software & Services: GameChat, GameShare, and GameCube

Here's where Nintendo makes its bolder moves:

• GameChat: This is the centerpiece of Nintendo's enhanced social strategy. Integrated voice and video chat directly into the OS, usable across games (even different ones simultaneously), is a direct shot at Discord and platform-specific party chats on PlayStation/Xbox. Leveraging a built-in microphone on the console itself plus noise-canceling tech is smart, reducing headset friction. The optional USB-C Nintendo Switch 2 Camera accessory enables video chat, displaying friends' faces picture-in-picture. Frankly, cameras attached to TVs haven't historically taken off. My own family defaults to FaceTime on separate devices while gaming. Will Nintendo's seamless integration and potential use in games like the updated Super Mario Party Jamboree change that behavior? It remains the biggest question mark. Nintendo is offering a free open-access period for GameChat until March 31, 2026, clearly aiming for rapid adoption before requiring the standard Nintendo Switch Online membership.

• GameShare: This feels like Nintendo leaning into its local multiplayer strength and extending it. The ability to locally share one copy of a compatible game across multiple Switch 2 and original Switch systems is a powerful network effect play. It lowers the barrier for multiplayer sessions significantly. Extending this to online play with GameChat integration further strengthens the value proposition. This feature will roll out via software updates for select titles, starting with Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics on the original Switch – a smart backward-compatible bridge.

• Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack: The expected addition – Nintendo GameCube titles. Launching with fan-favorites like Wind Waker, Soulcalibur II (with Link!), and F-Zero GX, this significantly bolsters the Expansion Pack's value. Crucially, Nintendo announced that owners of the original Switch versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom who are also NSO+Expansion Pack members will receive the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades (featuring enhanced resolution, frame rates, and HDR) for free. This is a massive incentive to subscribe to the higher tier.

• Upgrade Packs: This brings us to the potentially grating subject of the "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" upgrades. While the free visual and performance boosts for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members are a welcome, strategic move to bolster that subscription tier, the implication that other first-party titles like Super Mario Party Jamboree, Kirby, and Metroid Prime 4 will require purchasing an "Upgrade Pack" to unlock their Switch 2 potential feels decidedly less consumer-friendly. It stands in stark contrast to Microsoft's Smart Delivery approach on Xbox, which set a clear precedent early in the generation: buy the game once, and the system automatically delivers the best available version for your hardware, free of charge. Nintendo's decision introduces friction and feels somewhat like a tax on loyalty for users who already own these games and are also investing in the new hardware, forcing them to pay again for enhancements that many now expect as part of the generational transition. The exact cost of these packs will be crucial, but the very concept creates a slightly sour note amidst the otherwise exciting hardware reveals.

• Backwards Compatibility: Confirmed. Plays compatible Nintendo Switch games (physical and digital). System Transfer carries over save data, digital games, and more via Nintendo Account linkage. Essential for a smooth transition.

The Content: World Bending and Enhanced Editions

Nintendo knows content is king:

• Mario Kart World: Steering away from purely circuit-based competition, Mario Kart World arrives as the premier launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2, presenting perhaps the most ambitious evolution for the series yet. Taking clear inspiration from open-world racers like Forza Horizon, the game boasts a vast, interconnected map spanning diverse regions – deserts, cities, jungles, snowy peaks, and more – where players can "Drive Virtually Everywhere." Beyond the classic Grand Prix (now featuring a massive 24 racers per race), Mario Kart World introduces innovative modes like "Knockout Tour," an elimination-style challenge where players race across multiple checkpoints scattered across the globe, and "Free Roam," encouraging exploration, discovery of hidden routes, and even photo opportunities with friends. This shift towards a persistent world aims to leverage the Switch 2's power, offering a visually richer and more seamless racing experience intended to be a major system seller, albeit carrying a premium $79.99 price tag, signaling Nintendo's confidence in its AAA pricing power.

  • Open Exploration ("Drive Virtually Everywhere"): This is the headline change. The presenters emphasized the ability to go off the designated race tracks and explore vast, interconnected world regions. Gameplay showed characters driving through fields, deserts (dodging camels!), and even underwater sections outside traditional course boundaries. This fundamentally shifts Mario Kart from a pure track racer towards something resembling Forza Horizon or The Crew, albeit with that distinct Nintendo charm.

  • Seamless Grand Prix: Instead of selecting tracks from a menu for a cup, the presentation explicitly stated, "You'll also drive to the next course as part of the competition." Footage showed racers leaving one track area and driving through the open world to reach the next starting line within the Grand Prix structure. This creates a more cohesive world experience.

  • Increased Racer Count (24): Grand Prix races now feature 24 simultaneous racers, double the standard 12 from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This promises significantly more chaotic and crowded races.

  • Knockout Tour Mode: A brand-new mode described as racing "non-stop from one corner of the world to another." It features multiple checkpoints, and if a player falls below a certain placement threshold when reaching one, they are eliminated. This survival-style racing across the large world map adds a competitive endurance element.

  • Free Roam Mode: Capitalizing on the open exploration, this mode allows players to simply drive anywhere, discover new areas/routes, and explicitly supports multiplayer "scenic drives."

  • Photo Mode: Integrated within Free Roam, players can pause the action and take photos with friends at various locations across the world, complete with poses and camera adjustments.

  • Dynamic World: The presentation mentioned that the time of day and weather conditions will change the atmosphere of the world, suggesting dynamic environmental shifts during gameplay. Footage showed daytime, nighttime, and rainy conditions in the same city environment.

• Characters seen in Mario Kart World

  • Mario (Standard outfit in kart, Pilot outfit in plane-kart & regular kart, Off-road kart)

  • Luigi (Farmer outfit on motorcycle & tank-kart, Aviator outfit on motorcycle)

  • Peach (Biker outfit on motorcycle, Kimono/Yukata outfit on motorcycle, Black Kart, Scooter)

  • Daisy (Orange Kart, Green Kart, Magic Carpet Kart, Scooter)

  • Rosalina (Biker outfit on motorcycle, Scooter)

  • Yoshi (Standard on motorcycle & kart, White variant on motorcycle)

  • Toad (Blue variant shown racing)

  • Toadette (Pink Off-road kart)

  • Bowser (Various karts/vehicles)

  • Bowser Jr. (Clown Car/Kart?, Plane-Kart)

  • Donkey Kong (Kart)

  • Wario (Motorcycle, Bomb Kart)

  • Waluigi (Motorcycle)

  • King Boo (Tuxedo variant)

  • Birdo (Pink in plane-kart, Red on motorcycle)

  • Pauline (Motorcycle)

  • Nabbit (Kart)

  • Iggy Koopa (Kart)

  • Roy Koopa (Orange Kart, Standard Kart)

  • Lemmy Koopa (Circus Ball Kart)

  • Spike (Kart)

  • Shy Guy (Gold variant on Magic Carpet Kart)

  • Inkling Boy (Kart)

  • Inkling Girl (Kart)

  • Pom Pom (Kart)

  • Kamek (Seen flying, likely a playable racer based on context/history)

  • Boo (Briefly seen, possibly an item, possibly a racer)

  • Biddybuggy (Driven by small blue character, likely Toad variant)

• Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour: Nintendo seems keen on giving players a hands-on introduction to their new hardware's capabilities with Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Launching exclusively as a paid digital title alongside the console on June 5th, this game appears to take inspiration from titles like Sony's Astro Bot, transforming the console and its peripherals into a explorable playground. Players navigate areas themed after the Joy-Con 2 and console body, engaging in mini-games and tech demos designed to highlight features like the new mouse controls, enhanced HD Rumble 2, gyroscope functionality, and perhaps even the built-in microphone. While serving as an interactive tutorial is a smart move, the decision to make Welcome Tour a separate purchase, unlike the free pack-in nature of similar showcase titles on other platforms, is a curious one that might test the willingness of early adopters to pay for what is essentially an extended hardware demonstration.

• Donkey Kong Bananza: Capping off the first-party Nintendo reveals was the energetic re-emergence of a beloved icon in Donkey Kong Bananza. Pitched as a brand-new 3D platforming action game exclusive to Switch 2, the footage showcased DK doing what he does best: applying brute force with surprising agility across a variety of vibrant landscapes. Environments ranged from lush jungles and icy caverns to what looked like industrial zones and hazardous, possibly acidic, liquid areas, all rendered with a clear visual upgrade leveraging the new hardware. Gameplay revolved around DK smashing through obstacles, enemies, walls, and even the ground itself with powerful slams, alongside familiar climbing and rolling mechanics, suggesting a focus on environmental destruction and momentum-based platforming. Nintendo seems keen to give DK a significant solo outing early in the Switch 2's life; the name Donkey Kong Bananza might elicit a slight chuckle (and frankly, makes me crave a banana split), but promises appropriately chaotic, banana-fueled action. Slated for a July 17, 2025 release, this looks positioned to be a key early title showcasing the Switch 2's power for Nintendo's core platforming audience, a necessary muscle flex alongside the more expansive Mario Kart World.

• Nintendo Switch 2 Editions: Beyond Zelda, Super Mario Party Jamboree, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond are getting enhanced Switch 2 Editions. These feature improved visuals, potentially unique Switch 2 features (mouse controls, camera integration, advanced rumble via the refined "HD Rumble 2"?), and require the purchase of an "Upgrade Pack" for owners of the original Switch versions (unless you're an NSO+Expansion Pack subscriber for the Zelda titles). The pricing of these Upgrade Packs will be critical.

• Third-Party Support: The montage was crucial, showcasing a strong (if expected) lineup: Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition (2025), Hades II (Later This Year), Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition (Launch Day), Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion (9.05.25), Split Fiction (Launch Day), EA Sports FC & Madden NFL (Coming to Switch 2), Hogwarts Legacy: Signature Edition (Launch Day), Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 (Summer 2025), Project 007 (TBA), Yakuza 0: Director's Cut (Launch Day), Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster (Launch Day), The Duskbloods (2026), Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (Winter 2025), Deltarune Chapters 1-4 (Launch Day), Borderlands 4 (2025), Sid Meier's Civilization VII (Launch Day), Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Launch Day), Hollow Knight: Silksong (2025), Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (8.27.25), Goodnight Universe (2025), Two Point Museum (2025), Wild Hearts S (7.25.25), Witchbrook (Holiday 2025), Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S (Launch Day), Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (Launch Day), Marvel Cosmic Invasion (Holiday 2025), Star Wars Outlaws (2025), Human Fall Flat 2 (TBA), Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer (Launch Day), Reanimal (2025), Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Launch Day).

Strategy and Positioning: The Refined Ecosystem

The Nintendo Switch 2 strategy is clear: Don't break what works, but enhance it significantly. Priced at $449.99, it sits just below the Series X Xbox and standard PS5, carving its own niche based on hybridity and its unique first-party IP.

The backwards compatibility, GameShare, and free Zelda upgrades for NSO+ members are critical for migrating the massive Switch install base. GameChat is the wildcard – a potentially powerful integrated social layer, but one that faces established competition and questions around the camera peripheral's uptake. The magnetic Joy-Cons and improved performance address key hardware complaints.

The microSD Express decision remains the most significant potential friction point, forcing a choice between speed and utilizing existing storage investments. Questions linger: Will the cartridges still taste awful? Can 120Hz output to compatible TVs? How much will those Upgrade Packs cost?

Nintendo is betting that refining its winning formula, layering on performance and social features, and leveraging its unparalleled IP catalog is enough to maintain momentum. It's a strategy focused on deepening the existing moat rather than digging a new one. Pre-orders opening April 9, 2025, will be the first test.

A timer counts down, 4:46… 4:45… 4:44…

The crowd at San Francisco event is buzzing. They’re here for Worldcoin’s big announcement, and anticipation hangs heavy in the air. The stage is stark, a stark circle of light on a black platform. A single, futuristic white sphere sits on a pedestal, cold, metallic, and unnervingly anthropomorphic.

A timer counts down, 0:04… 0:03… 0:02…

The screen flashes, “Hello World.” Two young men walk onstage, bathed in the expectant gaze of the assembled crowd. They are Alex Blania and Sam Altman, the brains behind this ambitious project, here to usher in what they believe is the next major paradigm shift in our digital existence: an anonymous, human layer for the internet.

Worldcoin, a project as audacious as its name, is built on the premise that artificial intelligence is not only coming, but coming fast. To navigate this brave new world, the company argues, we need a new type of infrastructure: proof of personhood.

The concept, in essence, is simple (though, as Altman’s CISO wryly notes, simple is a relative term in this domain): verify that you are human, not a bot. The mechanism? A strange, glowing orb that scans your iris, creating a unique World ID.

Hold on. Did you feel that shiver down your spine? That primal unease? Let’s address the elephant in the room: the newly announced pearl Orb itself. This biometric authentication, while technologically fascinating, elicits a visceral reaction, a flicker of something akin to dystopian fear.

Blania is well aware of this. He acknowledges the initial discomfort but emphasizes the company's commitment to privacy and anonymity. The iris scan, he claims, is never stored in its entirety, and the process is secured by multi-party computation, ensuring that no single entity controls the data.

But beyond the Orb, the real story is about scale. Worldcoin is betting that this Proof of Personhood will become a foundational building block for a new internet, one that needs to navigate the complexities of a world where AI is rapidly blurring the lines between human and machine.

The company has outlined its vision with four core tenets:

1. Build Proof of Personhood anonymously: Achieved through the Orb and its iris-scanning technology, enabling verifiable human identities on a global scale.

2. Distribute ownership of the network: Using Worldcoin’s cryptocurrency, WLD, to grant ownership and participation in the network to each verified human.

3. Scale and decentralize continuously: Increasing the number of Orbs and onboarding partners worldwide to achieve critical mass and true decentralization.

4. Use it to make the benefits of AI accessible to everyone: Unlocking the potential of AI while ensuring its benefits are distributed fairly and equitably among all verified individuals.

World App 3.0: Building a Global Village on Proof-of-Personhood

Worldcoin's recent announcement of World App 3.0 unveiled more than just a revamped app; it revealed a vision for a user-centric, human-first approach to the crypto ecosystem. While the Orb remains central to verifying humanity, World App 3.0 shifts focus to the practical applications of this verified identity, aiming to become a “Super App” that integrates social interaction, payments, and a range of third-party services.

World ID: Beyond Just Proof

World App 3.0 goes beyond merely displaying your World ID, a digital token proving you're a unique human. It introduces "World ID Credentials," allowing users to store digital versions of government-issued IDs like driver's licenses and passports, secured through the innovative AMPC technology. This move aims to bridge the gap between traditional identity systems and the decentralized world, paving the way for secure and private online verification without centralized data storage.

Building Connections: World Chat and Community

World App 3.0 recognizes the inherent human desire for connection. The new "World Chat" feature leverages the Proof of Human network, enabling secure and private messaging between verified individuals. This human-centric approach aims to foster authentic interactions, free from the rampant bot activity plaguing traditional social networks.

The introduction of "Community Operators" further fosters this sense of global community. These individuals can purchase or rent new Orbs and provide verification services within their local communities, enabling easier access to World ID and building trust within localized networks.

Beyond Transactions: A World of Mini Apps

World App 3.0 isn’t just about payments, though the integrated wallet now leverages the speed and low transaction costs of the newly launched Worldcoin blockchain, Worldcoin Chain. The real innovation lies in the "Mini Apps" platform, which allows third-party developers to integrate their applications into the World App ecosystem.

From voting systems to games like "Flappy Orb," Mini Apps can leverage the World ID and AMPC technology to offer novel use cases. This opens a world of possibilities, where verified human participation becomes a cornerstone for a new generation of services, built on trust, privacy, and global accessibility.

This move positions World App as a potential “Super App” for the crypto space, mirroring the success of WeChat in China and Gojek in Southeast Asia. It is also a direct challenge to X’s user base. Could Worldcoin be Altman’s attempt to outmaneuver Musk in the race to build a new digital paradigm? Also I wonder how Apple feels about competition with digital IDs and app stores.

But this isn't just about building a better digital wallet or social network; it’s about creating a fundamental layer for the internet itself. A layer that, in theory, could be used to verify voters in elections, access government services, or even guarantee the authenticity of a Zoom call.

A Human Network in the Age of AI

The ambition is staggering, and the challenges are enormous. The question of privacy, despite the company’s assurances, will continue to dog the project. Skeptics will point to the potential for abuse, misuse, and the concentration of power in the hands of those who control the technology.

Furthermore, the success of Worldcoin hinges on its ability to achieve global scale, a monumental feat in a world fragmented by borders, regulations, and differing social norms. The company’s reliance on physical Orbs creates a logistical hurdle, and it remains to be seen whether their ambitious plans for “Orb on Demand” and decentralized manufacturing will pan out.

Yet, the underlying need for Proof of Personhood in a future dominated by AI is undeniable. The Turing test, once a philosophical thought experiment, is now a practical necessity. We need new tools to distinguish between humans and machines (or Agents as Sam calls them), to prevent the erosion of trust, and to ensure that the benefits of technological progress are shared fairly.

Worldcoin, or just World (and World.org) now, in its quest to build a “human network,” is tackling a problem that is as complex as it is critical. Whether they succeed or fail, their attempt to build a new infrastructure for the internet in the age of AI will be one of the defining stories of our time.

The clock is ticking. Will this ambitious project be the answer to our digital future, or will it become another cautionary tale of technology outpacing ethics?

There are two types of recliners: those where the cat sits in the seat, and those where the cat sits on the headrest. The Flexispot XRC5 (not an affiliate link) is the former. And let me tell you, the orange cat knows best.

Delivery & Assembly

The recliner arrived in two large boxes: one for the seat portion and one for the backrest. I can't provide a firsthand account of the assembly process because my spouse put it together quickly while I was away on a business trip. This was surprising, considering she doesn't enjoy assembling IKEA furniture (perhaps she was just motivated to get rid of the big boxes). Or maybe it was some deep-seated desire to conquer the beast before it conquered our living room.

Remote

The XRC5 includes a wired remote, which tucks away neatly into a side crevice, controlling the heating and back massage functions. Thankfully, there's an outlet close to where we set up the chair. While there are many combinations and timing options for the different massage zones, I don't use this feature often, as it has more of a vibrating effect rather than a deep tissue massage. I wasn't disappointed, since I knew this wasn't that type of chair. Plus, my kids and their friends seem to enjoy the massage feature. On the other hand, the heating function is something I'll be using more regularly as we roll into winter. Nothing like a good roast to keep the bones from freezing.

Comfort

In terms of comfort, this Flexispot recliner is pretty nice. It offers decent lumbar support, and I can sort of sit in it with a small child beside me, although it works better if they sit on one of the wide armrests. For taller folks, a note: this recliner is more suited for napping than watching TV. I'm about 6 feet tall, and my head is at a slight angle when reclining—even though our TV is mounted high above the fireplace, it's still a bit too steep for comfortable viewing. But for naps? It's fantastic. I mean, we're talking drift-off-into-the-void levels of comfort here. This works well for us, as our other recliner fits me better for TV watching.

Notes

I'm a fan of the side pocket for holding books, especially since our space doesn't accommodate a side or coffee table. The power adapter is 12V @ 1A. One minor issue: the chair's height off the ground is unfortunately just right for our old Roomba 670 to get stuck under. To solve this, we usually just spin the chair around to face the wall, keeping the robot from getting trapped and ensuring it completes its job. It’s like the chair and Roomba are locked in some kind of passive-aggressive domestic Cold War.

Thanks to Flexispot for sending in a review unit.

Gemini: More Than Just Another Assistant

The air was thick with talk of "making AI helpful for everyone", but this wasn't just marketing hype, not this time. Google was showing, not telling, with a demo reel of the new Gemini Assistant in action. Think of it as your personal digital Swiss Army knife, only instead of blades and tweezers, it's armed with lightning-fast (except during the live demo) information synthesis, conversational understanding, and even a touch of digital creativity. The live demo was actually refreshing given that we are in the era of Apple’s prerecorded keynotes.

Need a workout routine tailored to your personal trainer's cryptic email? Gemini's got you. Want to know if you're free for dinner with Clara without even opening your calendar? Gemini's on it.

The ambition driving the Gemini Era is clear: to seamlessly integrate AI into everyday life, making tasks easier, communication more natural, and creativity more accessible. This isn't just about a smarter Google Assistant, though the new Gemini Assistant is certainly a leap forward. It now moves beyond basic voice commands, capable of synthesizing information across multiple sources, understanding complex requests, and even drafting messages and brainstorming with you. But the true power of Gemini lies in its ubiquity and accessibility. Google, unlike some of its rivals, isn't restricting Gemini to its latest flagship devices or a select language. They are baking Gemini into the core of Android, the world's most popular mobile operating system, meaning its benefits will reach billions of users globally, across a wide range of devices. This is AI for the masses, folks, and a move that could leave their walled-garden competitors sweating.

Google's AI Power Play: A Unified Approach

What truly sets Google's approach apart is its commitment to a fully integrated AI ecosystem. Unlike rivals who are adding AI features piecemeal, Google is weaving Gemini into every layer of its technology stack. This includes the powerful TPUs humming in their data centers, the efficient Gemini Nano model running directly on Pixel devices, the Android operating system itself, and finally, the suite of Google apps and services billions rely on.

This unified approach is a strategic gamble. By controlling all aspects of the AI experience, from model training to chip design, Google can create a level of synergy and personalization unmatched by competitors. This vision extends beyond just Pixel devices. Google is actively collaborating with silicon partners and other Android manufacturers to optimize Gemini for a diverse array of hardware, including the burgeoning foldable phone market. It's a move designed to solidify Android's position as the leading AI-powered mobile platform, and to potentially reshape the mobile landscape as we know it.

This is Google flexing its engineering muscle, reminding everyone that they control the whole board, from silicon to software. And it's a strategy that could pay off big time, allowing them to deliver a level of personalization and seamless integration that makes other AI offerings look like crude prototypes.

Pixel 9: Where the Magic Happens

Of course, the most tangible expression of Google's AI ambitions is their own hardware: the Pixel phone. The new Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, along with the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold, showcase how Google's full tech stack, from silicon to software, is coming together to deliver a new kind of mobile experience.

The new design is sculpted and refined, with premium materials and durable Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Pixel 9 has got that new Tensor G4 chip, a processor designed specifically for the Gemini era. This thing chews through AI tasks like a hungry gremlin in a silicon factory, making everything from call summaries to image generation happen at ludicrous speed. Though one could imagine how much faster it could be with an Apple chip manufactured on TSMC’s latest node.

The Pixel Experience: AI That Matters

Pixel has always been Google's playground for pushing the boundaries of what a phone can do, and the Pixel 9 lineup is no exception.

Take Call Notes, for instance. This feature leverages Gemini Nano to transcribe and summarize your phone calls, making it easier than ever to extract key information without scrambling for a pen and paper (remember those?). And since it all happens on-device, your conversations stay private.

Then you have Pixel Screenshots. This handy feature uses AI to make your screenshots searchable, organizing your visual clutter into a personalized library of important information. Need to remember that amazing recipe you saw online? Just search for "chocolate cake" and Pixel Screenshots will find it instantly.

And then there's Pixel Studio, a new app lets you create unique and personalized visuals simply by describing what you want to see. Want a picture of a giant corgi wearing a sombrero riding a hot air balloon over the Golden Gate Bridge? Pixel Studio will conjure it up in seconds, using the power of Gemini's text-to-image generation.

But it's not just about single-use features. Google is reimagining the entire phone experience with AI. Take their new approach to phone calls, for instance. Pixel 9 phones now have the ability to detect if a caller is a scammer, and can even hold for you and provide a helpful summary of the conversation once the other person is finally ready to talk. New AI-powered features like Add Me allow you to seamlessly insert yourself into group photos.

The End of the Beginning

The Made by Google event wasn't just about launching new products; it was a shot across the bow of the entire tech industry. The future, as Google sees it, is one where AI is deeply embedded in our lives, constantly learning, adapting, and offering assistance in ways we're only beginning to imagine. That is if we are willing to bring more of our data to its data silo as these new AI features work best when they have a greater view of your life. As someone who has their data split between iMessage and Gmail I’m very curious to see how we move from an era where using the best of breed apps from different vendors was the playbook to now deciding if we want to surrender more of our digital lives to a single company's AI. The appeal of a truly personalized and seamlessly integrated AI experience is undeniable. But are we ready to trust a single company, even one as powerful and omnipresent as Google, with such intimate access to our digital selves?

This is the fundamental tension of the Gemini Era. Google is offering us a tantalizing glimpse into a future where our phones anticipate our needs and help us navigate the complexities of daily life. But this future comes with a price, one that requires us to carefully weigh the benefits of convenience against the potential costs to our privacy. The choices we make today will determine not just the future of mobile computing, but the very shape of our relationship with technology in the years to come.

Right out of the box this stand has a very premium look and feel. Attachment point on the desk is solid and seems to have the necessary rubber coatings to not mar the area it is attached to. The articulation joints are very stiff. While this makes setup a little bit more difficult, the stand stays in place during use. And since I still use the iPads touch interface periodically even when mounted, it’s critical that the stand doesn’t move around a lot. The cable management is good, and they provide clear plastic cable retainers that you can use as necessary to  customize the routing.

Use Case

It’s worth explaining my particular use case and how the family uses our 12.9” iPad that will really highlight why a stand like this is so nice. While I’m the main user or the iPad, it does get shared by the family for various applications. When at home the iPad resides next to the  computer to be used as an additional display. The ability to increase screen real estate with a device I already have is a no brainer, especially with the quality of the screen on the iPad Pro.

When it’s not being used as a second screen for the MacBook, it serves as the primary device for signing documents (yes, you’d be amazed how many times we grab this to sign something both the wife and I don’t want to print and ink sign), reading and accessing content on the couch, taking notes for projects (I want to hand sketch drawings sometimes) or written notes. For travel, it goes with us in the car or on a plane so kids can watch movies, play games, color etc. Additionally we use it in the kitchen for recipes, and tracking cooks on the grill or smoker with our Meater thermometers. The last most common usage for the iPad is as our music library. We recently digitized our entire sheet music collection with the ForScore app and use a PageFlip Firefly to flip pages. This has turned out to be an exceptional use for the iPad, but not the point of this review. What I’m trying to do is paint a picture of how much the iPad moves around the house, and how frequently it gets used. Having a single location in the office for the iPad that it can reside and charge (huge emphasis on charge), is super convenient for us. The magnetic attachment makes all this movement more seamless.

Function

The magnetic attachment is great, and I don’t have any concerns about the stability of the iPad while its hovering next to my screen. One caveat, is the box warns not to use this with a case. I don’t use the iPad with a case around the house, so it really isn’t a problem. If I’m going to take the iPad on a trip, I use a Logitech case and put it on at that time, so no concerns here for us. The biggest detractor on the mounting plate is pretty minor, but when compared to the CharJen stand I have, the surface finish doesn’t have the nice velvet feel of the CharJen, it feels to just be a nicely smoothed aluminum face. I’m not concerned with it damaging the iPad, however it loses a little of the premium feel. What Kuxiu gets right here are really strong magnets, and a very stable linkages. This mount is very stable, and this can’t be understated when you are mounting a device that has touch capability. Although most of the time I am using it in this configuration as an additional screen, there are times I want to move back to the iOS software and interact with it via touch while still mounted. The strength and rigidity of the Kuxiu stand make this possible.

Possibly my favorite thing about this stand compared to others I’ve used in the past is the wireless charging. This may not sound like a big deal, but for my use cases, its a minor detail that I really enjoy. When first attaching the iPad to the mount, it triggers the iPad to ask if you want to install a Chinese keyboard, Kuxiu explained in an email to me that this is required because of the way Apple designed the port to be used with keyboards. It only does that once, and after dismissing the prompt it never asks again. Other than that it just works.

Summary

Overall, this is an outstanding stand with a premium look and feel. Stiff articulation joints with strong magnetic attachment points, wireless charging and good aesthetic make for an ideal addition to your office study.

Pros: Wireless Charging, Solid construction and premium feel, long reach, easy setup.

Cons: Exceptionally stiff joints make it a little hard to get into the right position, could use one more degree of freedom (rotation) on the joint that connects the mounting plate.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3WwnYGF

Kuxiu Store: https://bit.ly/3RxClaJ

(Editor: I do not earn affiliate review from these links and thank you to my friend for helping with this review)

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Core Franchise Expansions: A Calculated Gamble

Mario & Luigi: Brothership

The Direct opened with a bang, the announcement of Mario & Luigi: Brothership sent a wave of excitement through long-time Nintendo fans, marking the return of the beloved RPG series. This newest entry leverages nostalgia, showcasing familiar elements while introducing new mechanics that promise to reinvigorate the franchise.

The trailer showcased the series' signature humorous tone, highlighting the comedic dynamic between the iconic plumber brothers. The visuals retain the charming, cartoonish aesthetic that defines the series, offering a comforting familiarity for returning players. The combat system appears to blend traditional turn-based RPG mechanics with the series' signature action-oriented "Bros. Attacks", requiring careful timing and coordination to execute powerful moves. Also the introduction of "Fusion Summons", allowing Mario and Luigi to merge with classic Mario enemies, adds a fresh twist to the familiar formula, promising a deep and engaging RPG experience.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership aims to appeal to both veteran players seeking a nostalgic return and newcomers looking for a charming, engaging RPG experience. It's a testament to Nintendo's ability to revitalize its dormant franchises, proving that even after an absence, the magic of Mario and Luigi remains as potent as ever.

Echoes of the Past: A Link to the Future?

Nintendo, known for its careful stewardship of its core franchises, took a strong step with the reveal of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. This upcoming Zelda title shakes up the established Zelda formula in a big way, shifting the focus from the traditionally silent hero, Link, to the wise Princess Zelda.

The teaser trailer offered limited gameplay details, but the core mechanic, the “Tri Rod” instead of Link’s sword, provides Zelda with the ability to manipulate the environment and create "Echoes" of objects. Which means this will be a more puzzle-focused experience, leaning into Zelda's traditional role as a figure of knowledge and magic.

The shift in protagonist and gameplay mechanics signals a potential paradigm shift for the Zelda series. While it may raise concerns among long-time fans accustomed to Link's adventures, this bold move could attract a wider audience drawn to the unique premise of a new perspective on Hyrule. By placing Zelda front and center, Nintendo is exploring fresh narrative possibilities and gameplay mechanics, signaling a willingness to adapt and evolve a cherished franchise for a new generation of gamers.

The “Echoes of Wisdom” subtitle further reinforces the emphasis on Zelda's intellectual and magical prowess. This new adventure promises to delve deeper into Zelda’s character, potentially exploring her lineage, her connection to the Triforce of Wisdom, and her role in Hyrule's fate.

While questions remain about the overall structure and narrative of Echoes of Wisdom, the initial reveal has sparked both curiosity and excitement. It’s a gamble for Nintendo, but one that could redefine the future of The Legend of Zelda.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - A Glimpse into a Darker Future

The Metroid Prime 4: Beyond teaser offered a tantalizingly brief look at what awaits players in the next installment of the beloved first-person adventure series. While the lack of gameplay details leaves much to speculation, the teaser establishes a clear direction: a darker, more cinematic experience that pushes the boundaries of the Nintendo Switch.

Visually, the teaser is stunning, showcasing a level of detail and atmospheric depth that surpasses previous Metroid Prime games. This suggests a conscious effort from Nintendo to elevate the visual fidelity of the franchise, appealing to a gaming audience increasingly accustomed to high-end graphics and possibly hinting at a graphically demanding title that will push the rumored Switch 2 which wasn’t mentioned yesterday. The moody lighting and ominous environments hint at a shift in tone, moving away from the somewhat sterile environments of previous entries towards a more brooding and mysterious atmosphere.

The teaser offers a glimpse of Samus Aran facing off against a colossal, monstrous creature, hinting at a threat that might extend beyond the familiar Metroids and Space Pirates. This could indicate a deeper exploration of Metroid lore, introducing new enemies, allies, and planets, adding to narrative universe.

Super Mario Party Jamboree: A Party for the Ages

Nintendo knows how to throw a party, and the upcoming Super Mario Party Jamboree promises to be the most explosive celebration yet. Building upon the successful formula of the series, Jamboree aims to deliver a fun-filled experience packed with minigames, new boards, and enhanced online features for maximum social interaction.

The Direct teased a massive collection of over 110 minigames, ensuring a diverse and engaging experience for players of all skill levels. These minigames encompass a wide range of genres and challenges, from frantic button-mashing contests to strategic puzzle-solving endeavors.

Five brand-new game boards, each with unique themes and mechanics, were also unveiled. From the unpredictable tides of “Goomba Lagoon” to the treacherous heights of “Rainbow Galleria,” these boards promise to introduce exciting twists and turns to classic Mario Party gameplay.

Moreover, Jamboree expands its online offerings, allowing players to connect with friends and rivals around the world. The highlight is the "Koopa-thlon" mode, where up to twenty players can compete in a series of minigame challenges, battling for bragging rights and the leaderboard. This emphasis on 20 player online multiplayer caters to the growing demand for connected gaming experiences, fostering a sense of community and extending the party into cyberspace.

Remakes and Remasters: Banking on the Familiar

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition

Next came Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition, a competitive speedrunning experience featuring a collection of classic NES titles. This move is a clear attempt to capitalize on the retro gaming craze that has swept the internet. From competitive Twitch streams to speedrunning YouTube channels, nostalgia is a powerful force, driving engagement and viewership. Nintendo, perhaps belatedly, seems to be recognizing this.

This focus on nostalgia continued with the announcement of multiple remakes and remasters. "Donkey Kong Country Returns HD" brings the beloved Wii title to the Switch, while "Luigi's Mansion 2 HD" will let players relive the spooky adventures of Luigi on the big screen. These remasters are low-risk, high-reward propositions for Nintendo, leveraging existing assets and fan loyalty to drive sales.

TALES OF THE SHIRE: A LORD OF THE RINGS GAME - Second Breakfast, First Adventure

Taking a decidedly different approach to the typical Tolkien adventure, TALES OF THE SHIRE: A LORD OF THE RINGS GAME invites players to experience the pastoral, idyllic life of Hobbits in the Shire. This charming life sim, with RPG elements, offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the rich culture and folklore of Tolkien's beloved fantasy world, without the battles and world-ending threats.

Players will step into the role of a newly arrived Hobbit, tasked with building a life in the Shire. The game emphasizes engaging in daily activities that are central to Hobbit culture: gardening, fishing, foraging, cooking delicious meals, and fostering relationships with your fellow Hobbits. Customization features allow players to personalize their appearance and build and decorate their own cozy Hobbit-hole.

While the game primarily focuses on peaceful pursuits and community building, danger lurks beneath the surface. Strange occurrences and the appearance of hostile creatures threaten the tranquility of the Shire. As players explore this idyllic countryside, they'll uncover clues to a growing mystery that could interrupt the Shire's peaceful existence.

Players won't have to face these challenges alone. A unique aspect of the game is the ability to team up with up to three other players in local or online co-op. Together, players can explore, solve puzzles, and defend the Shire from encroaching threats.

TALES OF THE SHIRE offers a heartwarming and lighthearted experience, capturing the essence of Hobbit life as depicted in Tolkien's books. It's an experience about community, crafting, and the simple pleasures of a peaceful existence, with just a touch of adventure to keep things exciting. This unique take on the Lord of the Rings universe is sure to captivate players looking for a more relaxed and cozy game.

Embracing Third-Party Collaborations: Building Bridges with LEGO

While Nintendo has traditionally relied heavily on its first-party titles, the company is increasingly embracing collaborations with third-party developers to expand its reach and appeal to broader demographics. This Nintendo Direct highlighted this strategy with the announcement of LEGO Horizon Adventures.

This partnership with Guerrilla Games brings the post-apocalyptic world of Horizon Zero Dawn to the Nintendo Switch, reimagined through the lens of the popular LEGO franchise. This unexpected crossover is a clever move, appealing to both younger LEGO enthusiasts and fans of the mature Horizon series. It allows Nintendo to tap into a different audience, potentially introducing the Horizon universe to a younger generation while offering a lighter, more family-friendly experience for existing fans.

This collaboration exemplifies Nintendo's evolving approach to third-party relationships. By embracing well-established franchises like LEGO, Nintendo can broaden the appeal of its platform and reach new segments of the gaming market. These partnerships also allow Nintendo to diversify its content portfolio, offering a wider range of experiences beyond its core franchises.

A Strategic Shift: Broader Horizons for Nintendo

The Direct's emphasis on reviving beloved franchises, coupled with the unexpected inclusion of a mature title like "Metal Slug," suggests a strategic shift in Nintendo's approach. This seemingly diverse lineup caters to both nostalgia-driven veterans and a new generation of gamers.

However, it's critical to analyze the long-term implications of this strategy. While leveraging nostalgia can yield short-term gains, sustainable success requires consistent innovation and the development of new IPs. Nintendo's upcoming titles hold the potential to attract a broader audience, but their long-term success hinges on their ability to deliver truly engaging and unique gameplay experiences, solidifying Nintendo’s place in the ever-evolving gaming landscape.

Nintendo’s move towards leveraging nostalgia is a defensive maneuver. While it might buy them some time, the future success of the Switch hinges on their ability to innovate and deliver truly new experiences. Until the Switch 2 is announced, Nintendo will continue to mine their rich history, hoping to spark joy and reignite the passion of a generation raised on 8-bit heroes.

Forget stuffy conference halls; Neri, channeling his inner Hunter S. Thompson, opted for an expansive setting. The vibe? More rock-and-roll than enterprise computing.

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Neri, clad in a sharp stylish dress shirt and radiating an almost evangelical zeal, declared that HPE is "again leading a revolution," a revolution fueled by the "generative AI industrial revolution."

The keynote centered on a three-pronged attack on the future of enterprise computing:

AI is Everywhere, Even in Space:

Neri hammered home the message that AI is no longer a niche technology but a driving force for good, transforming everything from drug discovery to sustainable energy. HPE, he emphasized, is uniquely positioned to harness this force, having powered innovations from the audio oscillator that revolutionized the movie industry to Frontier, the world's fastest supercomputer.

And the ambition doesn't stop at Earth's atmosphere. Neri revealed HPE's partnership with Venturi Astrolab for the upcoming Artemis mission, which will see their edge computing and AI capabilities deployed on the moon.

Fear and Loathing in AI Land:

Acknowledging the dangers of "innovation at any cost," Neri highlighted the ethical considerations and security risks inherent in the AI boom. He emphasized HPE's commitment to responsible AI development, anchored in their five key AI ethics principles. With data sovereignty and brand protection at stake, HPE is building guardrails to ensure a secure AI future.

The Partnership That Will Change the World (Again):

The climax of Neri's sermon arrived with the introduction of Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia, onto the Sphere stage. Huang, a rockstar in his own right, joined Neri in proclaiming the dawn of a new era, fueled by the partnership between HPE and Nvidia.

This alliance, they argued, is not just about merging technology but about creating a productized solution for enterprises to embrace generative AI.

The centerpiece? HPE Private Cloud AI, a turnkey solution offering a seamless, three-click deployment process for even the most complex AI workloads. This, they proclaimed, is the future of AI, democratized and delivered through the combined might of two industry titans.

So, what's the outlook from HPE's keynote?

Antonio Neri is betting big on generative AI, and he's convinced that HPE, hand-in-hand with Nvidia, is the only company capable of ushering in this new era. Whether this gamble pays off remains to be seen, but they have a strong partnership with Nvidia . They're taking risks and trying to become the rock-and-roll revolutionaries of the generative AI world.

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Understanding Apple's Vision: A Shift in Perspective

Apple's WWDC 2024 keynote wasn't about showcasing shiny new hardware or iterating on existing software features. It marked a profound philosophical shift for the tech giant, a decisive move away from being primarily a hardware company towards becoming a leader in the nascent field of "Personal Intelligence."

This transition is about more than just slapping "AI-powered" stickers on existing products. Apple envisions a future where technology seamlessly adapts to individual needs and preferences, proactively anticipating user desires while respecting their data privacy. This vision manifests in the form of "Apple Intelligence" - a unified, integrated AI system deeply intertwined with user data and context, standing in stark contrast to the cloud-centric AI approach favored by competitors.

Three key elements define Apple's vision:

1. From Isolated Features to Unified Intelligence: Apple Intelligence is not a standalone app or a set of disjointed features sprinkled across the OS. It's a foundational layer, woven into the fabric of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, empowering every interaction with an undercurrent of proactive, personalized assistance.

2. The Power of "Personal" in Personal Intelligence: Apple emphasizes the deeply individual nature of its AI system. It's not about generic intelligence trained on massive datasets of anonymized user information. It's about understanding the nuances of your data, your routines, and your preferences to deliver truly tailored experiences.

3. Privacy as a Core Tenet: Perhaps the most significant differentiating factor is Apple's unwavering commitment to user privacy. While competitors rely heavily on harvesting user data to train their AI models in the cloud, potentially raising concerns about data security and misuse, Apple Intelligence prioritizes on-device processing and secure, transparent cloud infrastructure.

The Engine Room of Apple Intelligence

Apple's vision for a more personal, private AI depends on a tightly integrated system of cutting-edge hardware and software.

Silicon as the Foundation: At the heart of this revolution lie Apple's custom silicon chips – the A17 Pro for iPhones, and the M-series chips powering the iPad and Mac eligible devices. These processors enable Apple Intelligence to process language, analyze images, and make complex decisions without relying on the cloud.

Semantic Indexing: Your Data, Organized but Not Compromised: To deliver personalized experiences, Apple Intelligence needs access to vast amounts of personal data. But instead of uploading everything to the cloud, Apple employs on-device semantic indexing. This technology acts like a hyper-efficient librarian, meticulously categorizing and cross-referencing your data - emails, photos, calendar entries, even the content of your handwritten notes.

Private Cloud Compute: Scaling Power Without Sacrificing Privacy: While on-device processing forms the bedrock of Apple Intelligence, there are times when more horsepower is needed, particularly for computationally demanding tasks like generated a recipe. This is where Apple's innovative "Private Cloud Compute" comes in.

Instead of relying on generic cloud infrastructure, Apple has built dedicated servers powered by, you guessed it, Apple Silicon. Crucially, only the data strictly necessary for a specific task is transmitted, and it's never stored or accessible to Apple itself. It seems that the models that run on Apple’s servers are GPT-3.5 class models. So it makes sense that Apple also offers GPT-4o through a partnership with OpenAI. It will be interesting to see if Apple users will receive the same or different throttling that free users of ChatGPT see.

Apple Intelligence in Action: A Day in the Life

The power of Apple Intelligence lies in how seamlessly it integrates into everyday tasks. Imagine this: Your morning begins not with a cacophony of notifications, but a curated list of what matters. Apple Intelligence understands your schedule and priorities, surfacing urgent work emails, a reminder about your child's permission slip, and even a heads-up that your usual coffee order is ready for pickup.

Writing the Next Chapter in Apple's Story

WWDC 2024 will be remembered not for the features Apple announced, but for the future it boldly proclaimed. With Apple Intelligence, the company isn't just iterating on existing technology; it's attempting to rewrite the rules of the game.

In an era where every new feature seems tied to an ever-expanding subscription tier, Apple Intelligence arrives as a breath of fresh air. It's deeply integrated, deeply personal, and, remarkably, available to all users without requiring an iCloud+ subscription. This approach stands in stark contrast to the industry trend of monetizing AI advancements through premium tiers, reinforcing Apple's commitment to making this technology accessible, not just those willing to pay a premium… for now.

This isn't hyperbole. By placing "personal" before "intelligence," Apple is making a statement. It's a rejection of the one-size-fits-all AI paradigm, a commitment to user privacy that stands in stark contrast to the data-hungry practices and the not quite fully thought out or security harden features (Microsoft Recall) of many competitors, and a bet on a future where technology empowers individuals, not the other way around.

Will Apple succeed? The answer, as with all ambitious ventures, remains unwritten. Building truly personal, privacy-focused AI at scale is a monumental challenge. If even partially realized, Apple Intelligence has the potential to usher in a new era of computing.

Gelsinger's core message was clear: Intel is back. Back to process leadership, back to product innovation, and back to being the driving force behind computing's next act.

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Reviving Moore’s Law (and Intel’s Fortunes)

The specter of Moore’s Law loomed large, as it always does when the future of computing is debated. Gelsinger, however, wasn't about to cede any ground to the naysayers (with a pointed jab at Nvidia's Jensen Huang). He doubled down, proclaiming Moore's Law alive and well, fueled by Intel’s ambitious roadmap of five nodes in four years.

This aggressive cadence, culminating in the imminent 18A node, underpins Intel's entire strategy. It's the foundation for their renewed focus on product excellence, from the data center to the edge and, most crucially, to the PC.

Xeon Flexes its Muscles in the Data Center

Intel knows its bread and butter remains the data center. Gelsinger showcased the new Xeon 6 with E-cores, highlighting its remarkable density and efficiency gains. The on-stage demonstration of a 6:1 rack consolidation was a powerful (and theatrical) reminder of Xeon's potential to redefine data center economics.

But it's not just about brute force. Intel is positioning Xeon as the platform for the AI-powered data center. The emphasis on RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) workloads, combining Xeon's processing power with Gaudi accelerators and open software frameworks, signals a multi-pronged strategy to address the evolving demands of AI.

Gaudi: The Disruptor Intel Needs?

Gaudi, Intel’s AI accelerator, took center stage as the challenger to Nvidia's dominance. Gelsinger hammered home Gaudi 3’s price-performance advantage, open ecosystem, and impressive benchmarks against Nvidia’s H100. The "wall of Gaudi 3," showcasing a growing ecosystem of partners, was a clear signal that Intel is serious about challenging the status quo in AI training and inference.

The AI PC: Intel's Second Wind?

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Gelsinger's presentation was the emphasis on the AI PC. Echoing the transformative impact of Wi-Fi, he positioned the AI PC as the next major inflection point in personal computing.

Intel is betting big on its Core Ultra and Lunar Lake platforms, promising a future where 48 TOPS makes AI seamlessly integrated into every aspect of the PC experience. The partnership with Microsoft is an early indicator of this vision coming to fruition. However slides comparing the power efficiency of Intel’s new chips to Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Elite were noticeably absent as x86 chips still can’t match ARM chips in performance-per-watt power curves.

At least now that the RAM is on package these new chips will see some power efficiency gains. However users will have to wait for Arrow Lake for expanded memory options.

The Ecosystem is Everything (Again)

Running through Gelsinger's entire presentation was a recurring theme: the importance of a collaborative ecosystem. From foundry partners like TSMC to OEMs like ASUS and Acer, Intel is working to foster an ecosystem that extends its reach.

The Bottom Line: Cautious Optimism

Intel's Computex showing was a much-needed shot in the arm for a company looking to reclaim its mantle as theundisputed leader in computing. The roadmap is ambitious, the partnerships are promising, and the products are showing real potential.

However, the road to redemption is paved with fierce competition and technological hurdles. Whether Intel can translateits vision into sustained market leadership remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Intel is not going down without a fight.

Computex 2024 might just mark the beginning of a comeback story for the ages or the beginning of a new arc for Qualcomm. Or, it could be another chapter in the ongoing saga of the semiconductor industry's relentless cycle of innovation and disruption. Only time will tell.

The Shift from CPUs to AI Factories:

Huang's core argument hinges on the limitations of traditional CPU-centric computing. As data demands grow exponentially, CPU performance scaling can't keep pace, leading to "computation inflation." The answer, he argues, lies in accelerated computing, where specialized processors like GPUs offload and accelerate specific tasks.

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Nvidia, through decades of work (employing more software engineers than hardware engineers) on CUDA and its vast library of domain-specific acceleration tools, has reached a tipping point. The virtuous cycle Huang describes – lower computing costs driving developer adoption, fueling demand, and further cost reductions – has created a platform ripe for generative AI (and AI driven profits from data center build outs.)

If you build it they might not come — but if you don't build it they cannot come and so […] now we have 100 million GeForce RTX AI PCs in the world

The Generative AI Revolution:

Generative AI, exemplified by ChatGPT, represents a fundamental shift from perception-based AI to AI that can create. This "AI factory," as Huang calls it, produces "tokens" – words, images, music, even physical simulations – representing a new commodity with applications across every industry.

Nvidia's Generative AI Blueprint:

Huang outlines a multi-pronged strategy to capitalize on this shift:

• Building the AI Factory: Nvidia's Blackwell architecture, with its interconnected GPUs, high-speed networking (Infiniband and Spectrum-X), and focus on reliability and availability, forms the foundation of this factory. Furthermore, the announcement of "Rubin," the next-generation platform slated for release after Blackwell Ultra, signals Nvidia's commitment to relentless innovation and a yearly cadence of performance leaps.

• Democratizing AI Development: Nvidia Inference Microservices (NIMs) package complex AI models into easily deployable containers, making AI accessible to a wider range of developers.

• Pioneering Physical AI: The next wave of AI, according to Huang, will be "physical AI" – robots and autonomous systems that understand and interact with the physical world. Nvidia's Omniverse platform will serve as a training ground for these physical AI agents.

• AI-Powered PCs: Recognizing that AI's reach extends beyond the data center, Nvidia highlights the 100 million GeForce RTX PCs already equipped with tensor cores, priming them to become powerful AI platforms. These devices, coupled with AI assistants like Microsoft Copilot and Nvidia's own AI enhancements, will transform the PC experience, making AI an always-on collaborator. One of my favorite parts is where Jensen is talking about building platforms: “If you build it they might not come — but if you don't build it they cannot come and so […] now we have 100 million GeForce RTX AI PCs in the world”

Implications:

Nvidia's vision extends far beyond gaming and into the very fabric of the digital economy. Here are some key implications:

• The Rise of the AI Economy: Generative AI lowers the cost of creation, potentially unlocking trillions of dollars in economic value across industries.

• Data Center Transformation: The shift from general-purpose computing to AI-specific workloads necessitates a complete rethinking of data center architectures, with Nvidia well-positioned to capitalize on this transition.

• A New Software Paradigm: NIMs could revolutionize software development, shifting from writing instructions to assembling teams of AI agents.

• The Democratization of Robotics: As physical AI advances, robotics will move beyond factories and warehouses into everyday life, driven by Nvidia's platform and partnerships.

Challenges:

Huang's keynote was undeniably bullish, but challenges remain:

• The AI Skills Gap: Building and deploying AI solutions still requires specialized expertise, potentially limiting broader adoption. I wonder how many employees that have access to Copilot 365 actually make full use out of it outside of generating meeting notes.

• Competition: While Nvidia enjoys a strong lead (especially with their software platform CUDA), rivals like AMD and Qualcomm are unlikely to stand still. AMD’s 2024 Computex keynote will kick off in moments and Qualcomm, a leader in inference, has shown off their impressive power sipping Snapdragon Elite chips the other week.

Conclusion:

Jensen Huang's Computex keynote was a bold statement of intent. Nvidia is no longer just a chipmaker; it aspires to be the architect of a new AI-powered world. Whether this vision comes to fruition remains to be seen, but the stakes, as Huang himself acknowledged, are nothing short of revolutionary.

To start off with the graphic is really confusing because it looks like “Copilot + PC” -- like it is an initiative, but it is “Copilot+ PC” as in Copilot Plus as a descriptor on PC. “Ultrabook” was the best PC marketing name. They should have named the software feature set just “Copilot Plus” to match their Copilot naming schemes like “Copilot Pro”. Then add a “Works with Copilot Plus” sticker to all supported PCs.

Yes Microsoft’s Recall feature looks a lot like Rewind AI except that it is multimodal in that it works on images too instead of just text. It is powered by Windows Copilot Runtime which uses up to 40 local multimodal small language models (SLMs) built into Windows 11. Microsoft didn't tell us any of the names of these SLMs but they said that some of them are used for Screen Region Detection, NLP, Text Encoding, image encoding, and OCR. It isn't clear what is processed off device or if the feature works completely offline. Recall might be creating embeddings (a collection of floating point numbers essentially) locally of what it sees and stores them in the Windows Semantic Index. Then maybe Recall only sends the embeddings to a cloud LLM for some tasks.

I hope Rewind AI continues to add new features including running local models but it sounds like a feature like Recall has to be built by a first party as it has access to compositing graphics layer of every window to provide super efficient screen data collection. Accessibility APIs will not get you the same efficiency.

Another thing that stood out to me was the screen print looking shirt that Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm, was wearing. An Apple executive would not be caught dead in a shirt like that and especially not in a keynote.

One last detail that slipped by that I thought was interesting was that Prism -- Microsoft's ARM64 emulator for Windows -- is "as efficient as Rosetta 2" which I wouldn’t be entirely surprised at if that turns out to be true even Microsoft’s prowess with Xbox’s backward compatibility support powered by emulation.

I couldn't find the transcript for the event anywhere so I posted it below below along with the link to the event video that Microsoft just posted and other related links like Joanna Stern’s interview with Satya Nadella where I found it odd that he said that running an AI model locally was a “spiritual decision.”

Event Transcript:

And I'm going to play a short clip of that.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ I'm reminded of another seminal moment in our history, some 30 Years ago, in the same fields when we talked about windows 95.

And here we are some 30 years after to talk about windows yet Again in this unbelievable new era of ai.

In many ways, in some sense, if you go all the way back to even The birth of at least modern computing 70 years ago, the Pursuit has always been about how to build computers that Understand us instead of us having to understand computers.

And i feel like we really are close to that real breakthrough.

And that's what i want to talk about.

I mean, if you think about the new user interface, the Universal user interface that's multi-modal that you can support Text, images, video, both as input and output, we have that.

We have memory that retains the important context, recalls our Personal knowledge and data across all of the applications And devices.

And we have this new reasoning Capabilities, right, that help us complete complex tasks.

We're entering this new era where computers not only Understand us but can actually anticipate what we want and our Intents.

For us, this platform shifts, Starts with microsoft copilot.

Copilot is your everyday ai Companion.

It puts knowledge and expertise At your fingertips and help you act on it.

It works across devices, every role, every function, every Industry.

Copilot is empowering every Person and every organization on the planet to be more Knowledgeable, more productive, more creative, and really be More connected to everything that matters to all of us.

In fact, every day we learn about new and incredible things That people have been able to achieve with copilot.

But while we obviously made a lot of progress, it's pretty Early still on this platform shift.

The fundamental driving force behind this ai wave that Perhaps that i think we have to stay grounded on are the Scaling laws.

Just like, say, the moore's law Helped drive the information revolution, the scaling laws of Deep neural networks are going to drive the intelligence Revolution.

However, we fundamentally believe That computing always will be distributed.

Up until now, the scaling laws have helped us build and serve These very powerful models in the cloud.

But today, we're going beyond the cloud to the device, Removing those fundamental constraints of power and space, Reducing latency, ensuring privacy.

We believe ai will be distributed.

The richest ai experiences will harness the power of the cloud And the edge, working together in concert.

This in turn will lead to a new category of devices that turn The world itself into a prompt, devices that can instantly see Us, hear, reason about our intent and our surroundings.

For us, this vision starts with our most beloved and most widely Used canvas, windows.

And it's why we're introducing an Entirely new class of windows pcs engineered to unleash the Power of distributed ai across the edge and cloud.

We call this new category Copilot+ PCs.

You know, to me, whenever you think about a platform like Windows, it really comes down to rethinking the core Architecture of the pc across silicon, systems, and the end User experience.

And that's what we've done.

We're introducing a new state-of-the-art ai models Running locally and continuously to reason over your data from Text to the pixels.

And to make this possible, we're Introducing a new system on chip.

We're also modernizing the entire Operating system to unleash the power of the soc and deliver These next generation applications, models, and Experiences that are simply just not possible in today's pcs.

The result is the fastest, most ai-ready windows pc ever built.

And just like we have always done with windows, we're taking A partner-first approach to bring Copilot+ PCs to life.

Windows to me has always been about the platform that enables Things that are bigger than windows to be born.

The web was born on windows.

We are again creating a new Opportunity across our entire ecosystem as we build this new Category together.

On the silicon side, we're Working with amd, intel, and qualcomm, and every major oem That, you know, who are a part of the windows ecosystem are Going to be bringing some of their best innovation together.

We're adding ai as a first-class namespace on windows.

So that means every developer can take advantage of it, and You'll hear a lot more about this tomorrow at build.

Just like win 32, in fact, my first developer conference was The win 32 developer conference, and what win 32 meant for Graphical user interface, the new windows Copilot run time That we're announcing today will be to ai.

And as you will see shortly, developers are already Leveraging this to build ground-breaking experiences.

Today we are reimagining devices as we know them so that they Understand us and our intent.

We're bringing real joy and a Sense of wonder back to the creation on the pc.

And we're using power of these new devices to make the world Accessible, and much, much more.

To tell you more about this new Category of devices and how we're bringing the ai wave to The pc, let me introduce yousuf mehdi and team.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, satya, and good morning, everybody.

Great to see you all.

We wake up every day excited About our mission to empower people to achieve more.

And we've been pursuing this by building creativity and Productivity experiences on some of the world's most powerful And beautiful devices.

But today's kind of a special Day because today we get to reimagine the platform that Fuels our work and our passions by harnessing the full power of Ai on a completely new category of pcs.

Now, over the last year, we've been laying the foundation for This moment.

We brought Copilot to your Windows desktop and to your keyboard with the Copilot key.

We introduced as an industry the first generation of neural Processors that enable a new level of computing performance With up to 10 trillion operations per second.

These have led to more powerful pcs that accelerate everything You do by up to 20%.

And they deliver new ai Experiences, like windows studio effects that don't tax the cpu And the gpu.

These improvements provide the Most compelling reason to upgrade your pc in a long time.

We estimate over 50 million ai pcs will be purchased just in The next 12 months alone.

But now let's turn our attention To the next generation, Copilot+ PCs.

We've reimagined the entirety of the pc from the inside out.

We've made a huge leap forward in technical capability to Usher in this new category.

And even with all this power, These new pcs are unbelievably thin, light, and beautiful.

I'm going to show you these in a minute, but let's start first By describing what makes them unique.

First, they are the most powerful windows pcs ever built.

Second, they give you access to the most advanced ai available With microsoft Copilot.

And finally, they're going to Introduce all new productivity, creativity, and communication Capabilities that i think of literally as superpowers.

Let's start first by talking about performance.

Copilot+ PCs introduce a new systems architecture Powered by the cpu, gpu, and an all-new npu running at an Incredible 40 trillion operations per second.

40 Trillion.

We also completely re-architected Windows 11 on a new minimum hardware configuration to Optimize performance and battery.

The result, Copilot+ PCs Are the fastest windows pcs ever built.

And if we wanted to do a comparison, they're 58% faster Than the most advanced macbook air with the m3 processor.

And all of that with a battery that can last all day.

All right, next, we talked about microsoft Copilot.

We've updated microsoft Copilot, your everyday ai Companion, by reimagining what Copilot can do on windows.

Let's take a look.

It's going to be easier than Ever to call on Copilot with just a tap on your keyboard or On the center of your windows task bar.

As you see here, we're simplifying the experience.

We're making it more personal.

We're making it faster to get to What you want.

We're also going to make it a Flexible app experience so you can resize it, you can snap it, Or you can even maximize it and run it in full screen.

And one of the great things now when you have Copilot on Windows is i can now use two windows and i can literally drag And drop something from one window to the other, like in This case with the northern lights, and i'm able to ask it, Hey, tell me about this phenomenon that happened in Seattle last weekend.

And i get a great set of Information on it.

Later this year, you're going to See Copilot show up in windows in settings where it's going to Provide helpful suggestions for you.

So, for example, here, when you go into windows settings and You need to configure your pc, with one click, Copilot will Help you.

Or you can get things done in Fewer steps when you go to file explorer.

For example, you can quickly get a photo and you can edit it Without having to open an app.

Or even what's great, one of my Favorites, within notifications itself, so when you're on your Windows desktop and you get a notification, you can now simply Click on that notification and Copilot, for example, in this Case will answer that question to reply to an e-mail with the Right power point just with a click.

And we're really excited to bring the latest technology from Our partners at open ai to Copilot.

I'm delighted to share that gpt 4.0 with amazing text, voice And vision capabilities will soon be available in Copilot.

Let me show you a preview.

One of our developers, ryan, Simply shared his screen with Copilot while he was playing Minecraft.

Now, what you're going to see Here is two voices.

The first will be ryan, the Second will be Copilot.

And he's going to be having a Natural conversation like he would with a friend while he Plays.

Let's watch this experience.

Hey, Copilot, how's it going?

I'm doing great.

And it looks like you're About to dive into some minecraft.

Ready to build, explore, and maybe dog a few mobs?

Yeah, i'm trying to figure out how to make a sword.

My son plays this game all the time, and i have no idea what I'm doing.

No worries.

I'm here to help you impress your son.

I see you've got a crafting table in front of you, which is a Great start.

To craft a sword, you'll need Some materials.

Can you open your inventory?

Sure.

Just press e on your keyboard.

Yeah.

Do i have what i need?

Let's see.

You've got some sticks, perfect For the sword's handle, but it looks like you're missing the Material for the blade.

You can use wood, stone, iron, Gold, or diamond.

All right.

Let's pause it there for a second.

Did you see how Copilot not only could understand that he Was in minecraft, but it could also understand ryan's request For help and assess the inventory on his screen?

Well, it gets better.

As ryan continues, he gets a Surprise that Copilot amazingly identified, and it tailors Interaction.

Let's watch.

Let's start by gathering some wood or stone.

Shall we head out and find some resources?

Yeah, that sounds great.

Oh, my god, what's that?

Oh, no, it's a zombie.

Run.

You need to get away from it fast.

Either sprint away or quickly build a tower of blocks straight Up to get out of its reach.

If you can find a shelter or dig Into the side of a hill, do it now.

Just make sure it can't reach you.

All right.

I think i might be safe now.

That was a close one.

Great job finding shelter.

So that was honestly for us, yeah.

For us, that was honestly a magic moment to discover how Copilot with gpt 4.0 could immediately identify and adapt And be helpful on a screen that it had no knowledge of until it Saw it, in this case, a surprise zombie spawn.

And i love this example because it demonstrates how Copilot can Become a natural and helpful part of your entire windows Experience.

Like, just stop and imagine.

You're in your flow, you're on your pc, working away or having Fun, just talking to Copilot naturally, and it understands And assists you along the way in what you're doing.

It really is going to be a whole new way of experiencing the World.

All right, finally, let's talk About these new experiences that are only possible on Copilot+ PCs.

Because of the 40 tops mpu and Over 40 new on-device ai models, the pc can now process and Reason over information in a way it has never been able to do Before.

It actually understands your Context and your intent.

In other words, the pc better Adapts to you, as sakti said, versus you having to adapt to It.

Let's show you what we mean Through our new feature, recall.

Now, let me set it up.

The opportunity for recall starts simply by seeking to Solve one of the most frustrating problems that we Encounter daily.

Searching for a file or a Photo or an e-mail or even a web page from just a few days ago, It should be simple, but often it's just not.

You have to remember, hey, where did i put that file folder?

Or where was it in many of my browser tabs that were open?

Or worse, i have to go through thousands of e-mails to try and Find what we're doing.

And, you know, you guys have had That problem, right?

And then, you know, worse, we've Created these cumbersome workarounds for this very human Problem.

We e-mail ourselves to remind Ourselves, or we keep a lot of browser tabs open, which Clutter the experience and they actually slow the pc down.

Even worse, some of us write notes that we put on our Computer just to remind ourselves.

And yet, i find it ironic that you can search for literally Millions of documents on the internet and find literally Anything in subsecond time.

So why is that?

And we stopped and asked ourselves.

And really, at the end, at the Foundation level, it's because the ways pcs store content is Not aligned with how we remember and connect with information As humans.

Pcs like to organize information In database structures, you know, like file explorer.

While our minds think more in relationships.

We remember information in relation to people, time and Places.

We're inherently more visual and We create associations and connections that are unique to Our life experiences.

With recall, we're going to Leverage the power of ai and the new system performance to Make it possible to access virtually anything you have Ever seen on your pc.

It's going to be, honestly, as if You have photographic memory.

And the ability to access this Memory with simply your words in a form that's natural for You.

And recall is only going to be Possible on these advanced pcs.

To show you recall, i'd like to Welcome our product leader on windows who built this Incredible new capability, carolina hernandez.

Welcome, carolina.

Thanks, carolina.

Give us an overview of recall, please.

Yeah, absolutely.

I would love to.

My team developed recall to help you find anything you have ever Seen or done on your pc.

We leverage the power of the mpu To ensure content stays on your device, which makes the Experience fast and maintains your privacy.

Okay.

Let me show you a few ways that Recall helps me.

Like all of you, i am constantly Jumping between different tasks throughout my day.

Managing my time between a career i am passionate about, Staying connected with my family and friends around the world, And the hobbies that i love.

Recall helps me get through all These tasks more quickly.

My family and i have been Searching for the perfect dress for my grandmother, who lives In columbia, to wear at my cousin's wedding.

I've been browsing pinterest and shopping websites for some Options that i can share with her.

After looking for options for a few weeks, i wanted to go back And see some of the favorite blue dresses i have found.

But i didn't keep all my browser tabs open.

With recall, i can just search for blue dress.

And it pulls together all the dresses i have seen.

Now, grandma decided that she wanted to get the awesome pan Suit that we shared in our discord chat about three weeks Ago.

Now, scrolling through multiple Weeks of chat messages to find that specific dress would have Taken an eternity.

Instead, with recall, it was easy.

I refined my search using descriptive language.

Blue pan suit with a sequin lace from abuelita.

And as you can see, recall quickly found the discord chat My family and i were using to discuss the options.

And here it is, the dress that abuelita liked.

Recall analyzes the snapshot, and it gives me options for what I can do next.

In this case, i want to click the Link, which takes me back to the right web page where i can make The purchase.

And now, grandma has a gorgeous Outfit for the wedding.

This is a great example, carolina, that i think is going To show how recall is so helpful for people.

But one thing i'm not sure people noticed is you used the Word peacock, but it wasn't anywhere in what you were Searching for.

How did recall recognize that And what's going on behind the covers?

Yeah, absolutely.

So recall can understand that Peacock is in the family of the blue hues, so it creates that Semantic association that is used to help me find the dress.

Okay.

Recall is also essential for me At work.

Like many of you, my team and I spend a ton of time collaborating on presentations And documents.

For example, over the past few Weeks, we have been collaborating on a presentation For a product pitch.

The deck was created by my Partners in the marketing team, and when i finally got around To add my content, i could not figure out where to look for The deck.

I tried to remember, was the Deck shared in the call?

maybe i had seen it in an E-mail, or maybe i could go and find it in my recent files in My account.

I don't really have time to Spend clicking around, but with recall, i no longer have to go On a searching expedition.

I remembered in the outline, we Had added a purple chart with writing.

A chart with purple writing.

And to find the powerpoint, all I had to do was simply use my voice to search for that clue That i remember.

In a few seconds, recall found The deck for me, and noticed that it took me to the exact Place that i remember, saving me even more time.

Now, to put the finishing touches, i wanted to add the Final marketing line, but couldn't remember the exact Words.

I did remember that niki Shared it in the planning meeting on teams last tuesday.

With timeline and recall, i was able to scroll back in time and Find the snapshot of that meeting.

I was then able to quickly copy that quote and add it to the Workbook.

And then once again, recall Made it easier for me to find the information just using the Clues that i remember.

Now, these are just two of the Examples of how i use recall on a daily basis.

Thank you so much, carolina.

Thank you.

Now, we know to achieve a real breakthrough with recall and ai, You have to be able to trust it with your data and your Identification.

So we've built recall with Responsible ai principles and aligned it with our standards.

And we're taking a very conservative approach.

We're going to keep your recall index private and local and Secure on just the device.

We won't use any of that Information to train any ai models, and we put you Completely in control with the ability to edit and delete Anything that has been captured.

Now, recall is just the first of Several of these great breakthrough experiences that We're going to show you, possible only because of the Copilot+ PC architecture.

We're going to show you a couple More in just a minute, and i think you'll see many more as Developers come and start to get to work on the platform.

Next, what i'd like to do is i'd like to welcome pavan Davaluri, the leader of the windows and devices engineering Team.

But before i do, i will give you One last sneak peek at a few more experiences coming to Windows, Copilot+ PCs.

Windows has always believed in making technology accessible to everyone.

Today, we're carrying that belief into this new era of AI, with the re-imagined core architecture for the PC, weaving AI into every layer from chip to Windows to the Cloud, taking advantage of the edge for speed, privacy, and energy efficiency.

The result is breakthrough experiences and acceleration and innovation from the entire ecosystem only possible on Windows.

Let's start by taking a closer look, starting with that amazing recall experience you just saw.

Recall is a deceptively simple solution for navigating information on your PC. But there's a lot happening on the back end to make that possible.

Let me show you.

Recall is powered by state-of-the-art AI models, including several multimodal small language models, all running concurrently and built into Windows 11.

These models understand many kinds of content, organizing a vast sea of information, including text, images, video, and more.

These are deeply integrated into Windows, not simply bolted on.

This allows the AI to efficiently access Windows components, like the graphics compositor that renders the user interface, so it only captures meaningful signals.

Most importantly, all of this intelligence works in any application.

So you can search across everything you've seen on your PC, like this orange couch in the Word doc behind me.

The deep integration also allows an incredibly robust approach to privacy and security.

You can pause or stop, or even delete captured content.

You can choose to exclude specific websites or apps.

So even the AI running on your device can't access private content.

Windows then takes that captured information and combines it with system data to build a richer understanding of not just your content, but the context that surrounds it.

All of this content is transformed and stored in a new Windows Semantic Index.

The Semantic Index is a vector store built and stored entirely on your device.

It is as unique as each of you.

And there's that orange couch in your Semantic Index.

This is a dramatic improvement over traditional indexing systems, and that will let you find your content quickly and intuitively.

As you can see, a lot goes into an experience like Recall, but that's just one example.

A core element of our re-architecture of Windows that Satya and Yousef mentioned is the Windows Copilot Runtime.

It is a powerful AI capability we've woven into every layer of Windows.

The Windows Copilot Runtime includes more than 40 AI models, and it powers rich experiences like Recall.

It also provides the infrastructure that allows us to continuously update and maintain the quality of on-device models.

All of this functionality in the Windows Copilot Runtime makes it possible to reimagine what apps can do, speeding up the pace of innovation.

For example, when our Photos team saw the new AI capabilities in Windows, it sparked their imagination.

They have a vision for an AI-first Photos app powered by the NPU, an AI that's always working.

Copilot can understand your image, help you focus on what matters, add energy and excitement, or give you ideas for creative composition.

In fact, it can intelligently generate controls for you on the fly, bringing your vision to life.

Soon, with the Copilot+ PC, you'll be able to use super resolution to instantly restore old photos, or use AI narrator to storytell your collections.

And let Copilot+ PC be your assistant photos editor.

Yousef just showed Copilot helping in Minecraft.

Let's take a look at the Xbox team's visions for players and game developers using the Windows Copilot Runtime and on-device models.

Let's play the video.

♪♪♪ That was amazing.

That was amazing.

And because it uses the NPU, you can maximize the GPU for gameplay.

Windows Copilot Runtime also follows Microsoft's responsible AI principles.

So Windows AI experiences are fair, safe, and trustworthy.

In fact, we're using Azure infrastructure for safety and quality validation.

So we can stay current with responsible AI as the landscape evolves rapidly.

No other device or operating system handles this level of AI sophistication.

One way we're bringing responsible AI to life is with our on-device image generation models, where we use Azure for content moderation and to apply a digital signature marking the final images AI generated.

This combines the speed and privacy of on-device AI with safety and trust that's only possible when Windows and the cloud are working together.

Breakthrough AI experiences like these are only possible because of a quantum leap in computing performance.

That means up to 20 times as powerful and up to 100 times as efficient for running AI workloads compared to traditional PCs from just a few years ago.

We're partnering closely with AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm to make that leap with Copilot+ PCs.

Let's hear from the leaders who've been driving this innovation with us.

♪♪♪ This single moment represents many, many years in the making.

We have partnered to build a whole new generation of processors for these new Copilot+ PCs, bringing our customers groundbreaking performance to power through their day.

Integrating the world's fastest NPU for laptops built for AI, we bring dedicated computing for today's and tomorrow's groundbreaking AI experiences running locally on-device so you can achieve more, create more, and engage more.

We are delivering the next generation of PC processors that will enable a whole new class of laptop.

We can't wait for Windows PC users everywhere to experience the significant leap in performance and new capabilities of a Copilot+ PC. It's a new PC era.

For every person.

Everywhere.

Intel.

Qualcomm.

And AMD is all in.

We're deeply grateful for their partnership.

Every Copilot+ PC will have the building blocks needed to deliver outstanding performance, including 16 gigabytes of RAM, a minimum of 256 gigabytes of SSD storage, an integrated neural processing unit, or an NPU.

NPUs specialize in the matrix math needed for AI, and the NPUs on Copilot+ PCs are the most powerful in the PC category.

Capable of over 40 trillion operations per second, this is a step change in AI performance, allowing AI that is lightning fast and always working, even with multiple AI workloads running concurrently.

Not only that, these NPUs barely sip a few watts of power, even when fully utilized.

We have brought that same focus on efficiency to every part of the Copilot+ PCs.

We were relentless in finding ways to reduce power consumption system-wide.

The result is unprecedented battery life with all of your AI.

These devices also stand out in security.

By default, all Copilot+ PCs are SecureCore PCs, hardened with Microsoft Pluton chip-to-cloud security.

Today, we're debuting Copilot+ PCs on the ARM architecture with the Snapdragon X series.

And we were excited to partner with Qualcomm to design this entirely new chip together.

And we rebuilt Windows 11 from the inside out for ARM.

As a result, Copilot+ PCs on Snapdragon X will deliver up to 15 hours of web browsing and up to 22 hours of local video playback.

That is 20% more than the latest MacBook Air 15-inch.

In fact, that's right.

In fact, Copilot+ PCs outperformed the MacBook Air 15-inch by up to 23% on peak performance, and more importantly, up to 58% on sustained multi-thread throughput performance.

And performance like that means your apps run great on your Copilot+ PCs.

Our ecosystem is bringing more Windows apps natively to ARM, starting with the Microsoft apps, including Microsoft 365, Edge, and the Inbox apps you can count on.

Top apps like Google Chrome, WhatsApp, Zoom, Adobe Photoshop, Disney Plus, Spotify, and many more will run natively day one on your Copilot+ PCs.

In fact, on Copilot+ PCs running on Snapdragon X, we expect you'll spend 90% of your application minutes in native apps.

We're also introducing Prism, a new ARM emulator on Windows 11.

Prism is as efficient as Rosetta 2, combined with the performance of the Silicon in the platform, every app runs great on Copilot+ PCs.

Together with the Windows Copilot Runtime and the new Silicon, we're enabling new experiences, the ones you've seen today and the ones that haven't been invented yet.

And because Windows is the most open platform for AI, your favorite apps are going to take advantage of all of this power.

We'll dive deeper into the Windows Copilot Runtime at Build tomorrow.

We've reimagined and re-engineered the entire system, from chip up through every layer of Windows, enabling new experiences for customers, new opportunities for developers, and a new platform for hardware innovation.

And that makes Copilot+ PCs truly built for an era of AI.

All that innovation only matters when it turns into something new and valuable for you.

To see the very first Copilot+ PCs and the incredible experiences they unlock, here's Brett and team.

Thank you.

Thank you, Pawan.

All right, well, let's talk devices.

The role of Surface has always been the lead with innovation and technology to showcase the best experiences Microsoft has to offer.

This was our purpose from the very beginning when we brought touch to PCs, exciting our customers and inspiring the industry to innovate along with us.

Today, we are living our exact purpose yet again.

Alongside our partners, we are incredibly excited to enter this new era of AI and show you what Copilot+ PCs can do.

Thank you.

Introducing the first ever Copilot+ PCs from Surface, the all new Surface Laptop and Surface Pro. They have been designed and engineered to be the ultimate Copilot+ PCs, and these are the most powerful laptop and pro we have ever built.

They come with the longest battery life we have ever delivered, and compared to previous Surface generations, it isn't even close.

Thank you, Troy.

Surface Pro and Surface Laptop are made with the attention to detail, quality, craftsmanship you've always expected on a Surface.

You will also see the work that went into accessibility, inclusivity, security, sustainability throughout every layer of these devices.

There is so much to love about these Copilot+ PCs from Surface, so here's Adrian and the team to show you what they can deliver, starting with Surface Laptop.

At Surface, customers are at the center of everything we do, and the new Surface laptop was built for you.

When you're spending so many hours a day on your PC, details matter, and we've made thoughtful choices to create a premium and elegant design you'll love.

This is an evolution of our iconic touchscreen laptop.

It's been redesigned with modern lines and razor-thin bezels, so you get a larger viewing area and a smaller footprint.

It's sleek, light, available in 13.8 and 15-inch displays, and now in four beautiful colors.

Sapphire is my personal favorite.

All of this while reducing the carbon emissions by 78% per enclosure.

But the beauty of this laptop is also what's on the inside, and we know you need a fast and snappy PC that can keep up with you.

This new laptop is more than 80% faster than our previous generation, which is impressive, but performance is more than just a benchmark.

It's about how responsive the device feels with the things you do every day, whether it's drafting a Word doc, writing emails, editing images in Photoshop, or launching multiple tabs in Chrome.

On this new Surface laptop, you can do all those things faster than on a MacBook Air and across twice as many screens.

That includes three 4K monitors and the laptop itself.

This is everyday performance that saves you time and helps you get more done.

In addition to this performance, Surface laptop has the battery life you need, and this is the longest battery life on any Surface PC. And it's more efficient than ever, too, achieving peak performance with about half the battery drain.

To prove it to you, we did a web browsing rundown of the new 15-inch Surface laptop side-by-side with the Surface Laptop 5 and the latest MacBook Air.

Now, of course, this is sped way up, but with the exact same web content, the new Surface laptop in the middle just keeps on going, far longer than the Laptop 5 and the MacBook Air.

The new Surface laptop has nearly double the battery life of Surface Laptop 5, with up to 22 hours of local video playback.

Add Wi-Fi 7 on top of all of that, the fastest connection available, we think you are going to be blown away by the speed, snappiness, and battery life on this new Surface laptop.

The PixelSense touchscreen display is packed with the cutting-edge tech you'd expect from Surface.

With stunning HDR and Dolby Vision IQ, it delivers vivid colors, better contrast, and crisp details.

The new studio camera has been seamlessly incorporated into the bezels, no notch.

And it delivers new Windows Studio effects, like creative filters.

Typing is quiet, comfortable, and intuitive, now enhanced with the Copilot key and a precision haptic touchpad that's smooth, responsive, and customizable.

So there it is, incredible performance in a thin, light, and modern touchscreen laptop with AI experiences you can only get from Copilot+ PCs.

But don't just take my word for it, Oyin's here to show you.

Welcome, Oyin.

♪ Thanks, Adrienne.

Now, for photographers and everyday users alike, performance is a critical aspect of their device experience.

As you know, it's not just about the speed of completing complex tasks.

It's about the efficiency and smoothness of running multiple applications simultaneously.

This is where multi-threaded processing performance becomes essential.

Now, photographers have hundreds, maybe thousands of photos they have to manage, and post-production can be a time-consuming part of their projects.

So in front of me, I have the new Surface laptop.

And right here is the MacBook Air with M3 with the same memory and storage specs on each device, both running Adobe Photoshop natively.

So I've already uploaded the same 30 images on both devices, and now I'm ready to work on the edits I want for these images.

Getting started, as I zoom in here, I notice how responsive and precise the laptop is at keeping up with my movements.

When I zoom in here, I mean, when I zoom in here, it's good, but it doesn't, I don't feel the sense of control I'm getting when I'm almost like physically grabbing and manipulating this canvas over here.

It feels so good.

So I have the edits I want made for these photos.

We're using image upscale, denoise, and custom color preset for a sharper image with more appeal.

I'll run a batch image processing job to apply the preset to all the photos on each device.

So let's get started here.

And running it now.

So this task is a CPU-intensive scenario that takes advantage of great multi-threaded performance.

And with up to 32 gigabytes of RAM, my laptop can handle larger data-intensive tasks concurrently.

So I can do more with this PC with less concern about slowdowns or bottlenecks.

And the display is beautiful.

At 600 nits, this is the brightest display we've ever shipped on a laptop.

And it has a P3 color gamut, making it a great display for photo editing, especially if you're working with high-res images where color accuracy is crucial.

Now, bringing focus back to the image processing job, look at this amazing speed we're getting on the Surface laptop.

This is running at almost two times as fast as the MacBook Air over here, while maintaining my productivity and battery life.

So we'll get this out of the way here.

Now, creators rely on Adobe Creative Cloud for their most important workflows.

So together with Adobe, we're excited to share that Adobe's flagship apps are coming to Copilot+ PCs, including Photoshop, Lightroom, Firefly, and Express, all available today, with Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and more coming in June or shortly after.

And we're continuing to partner with and optimize these apps for the MPU.

So we're going to switch and take a look at another creative platform building for the MPU.

DaVinci Resolve Studio is the leading post-production editing tool used across Hollywood, known for bringing stunning visuals and visual effects to life.

We partnered with Blackmagic Design to offload some of the more popular features onto the MPU, really pushing the limits of what you can achieve on a thin and light PC. So we wanted to get this in the hands of a creative expert, so we sent a new Surface laptop to the leading technical producer for Rings of Power, Star Trek, and Avatar, modern filmmaker Ron Ames.

Let's check it out.

This is the best time to be making films because of our technology and the ability we have to shape story, shape imagery, and shape sound.

The division of labor with specialty chips is something that I think we've known and believed in for a really long time, the separation of the CPU and GPU and putting processes to the GPU that would keep things moving quickly.

With the repetitive requirements of AI, a neural processor unit taking over those labors makes the experience so much faster.

I've only run DaVinci Resolve on a Mac before.

The thing that excited me the most was seeing DaVinci Resolve running on a Windows PC with a neural processor and the power of that being put in the hands of emerging filmmakers and content creators.

So for example, tools like Magic Mask can do things like change the color of my shirt in an instant, like that.

Wait, wait, try that again, like that.

These new machines are really pushing the boundaries of storytelling, making anything you can think of possible.

That's really exciting to me.

Thank you.

Isn't that awesome?

Now, I'm not a professional filmmaker myself, of course, but I've been playing around with this Magic Mask feature on my laptop.

So I can select and make complex color corrections to any object in a single frame and render that across the whole clip.

So it's easy as this.

I'll select a key frame, and with just a single swipe, I'm able to detect and mask that jellyfish there.

And if I play this forward, Magic Mask is going to track the jellyfish through the whole clip.

So let's take a look at the Task Manager here.

You'll notice the MPU is enabled, Magic Mask is offloaded, and my CPU and GPU resources are almost completely available for me to work on any other task without slowing down my PC. And this is running really fast.

I'm really impressed with this.

Let's wait and see as it finishes.

And so what I'm going to do with this is I'm going to make a quick color edit.

We're going to change the color of this jellyfish and really see what we're able to do here with the power of this MPU.

And hit play.

And there it is.

Complex editing made quick and simple with AI.

Thank you.

We're so excited about the potential of Copilot+ PCs to give time back to all creators so they can focus on what they do best.

Thank you.

Thanks, Oyen.

It's amazing to see that level of performance from our app partners across the CPU and the MPU.

Another new experience that's powered by the MPU and available across all Copilot+ PCs is live captions, now with live translations.

Imagine if we could talk to our family, our friends, and our colleagues, or enjoy content from across the world in any language.

With this new feature, live captions will turn any audio that passes through your PC into a single, consistent captions experience in real time on your screen.

It's incredible and makes content more accessible to more people.

Video calling has become such a huge part of our lives, both at home and at work.

Let's watch how live captions can help global teams communicate more naturally.

Applause.

As you saw, the captions just switched automatically and instantly across three different languages, Spanish, Mandarin, and Russian.

This was never possible before.

And since it's a Windows feature, it's available across all your apps consistently.

Any video calling app, any entertainment app, translated locally on the MPU.

It translates from over 40 languages into English today, and we'll be adding more output languages over time.

Now, let's pivot to the two-in-one that started it all.

Take a look at our next Copilot+ PC, the all-new Surface Pro. Video playing.

Video playing.

Applause.

The new Surface Pro combines leading performance, incredible battery life, and new AI experiences in our signature ultra-flexible design.

We talked about how important speed and perf are to you.

This new Pro is up to 90% faster than Surface Pro 9.

We had designed Surface Pro to adapt with you, whether it's powering your multiple 4K monitors at the office or waiting for a ride from the airport.

You stay connected with lightning-fast Wi-Fi 7 and optional 5G. And for the first time, we're introducing a new OLED with HDR display with a near-infinite contrast ratio so you can see every detail with deep blacks and brighter colors.

We know how important your onboard camera is, and this new ultra-wide front-facing camera is our best Surface camera ever.

The custom lens has incredible sharpness, accurate color capturing, and great low-light performance.

And the rear-facing camera has support for 4K video, so you can capture and edit all on one device.

Let's talk about the all-new Surface Pro Flex Keyboard.

We've revolutionized the 2-in-1 keyboard, now designed to be used both attached and detached, so you can position your Pro and keyboard where they suit you.

It's a more comfortable setup, built with additional layers of carbon fiber for more stability on your lap.

It can adapt with you wherever you need to stay productive, like on a plane or in a lecture hall.

It's backlit, and it flexes to meet your unique needs, whatever those may be.

It's also our most accessible keyboard, and we're excited to introduce a new bold key set option to assist people who have low vision or make it easier to read and reduce eye strain.

The customizable haptic touchpad is 14% larger than our previous touchpad.

It helps people with limited hand movement and simply makes the touchpad easier to use, because when we develop inclusive products, we create a more comfortable and empowering experience for each of us.

The slim pin is securely stored, always visible and charging.

The ink flows naturally across any app, with precise inking and a built-in haptic touch, making it a fantastic engine for a more immersive experience.

The Surface Pro is perfectly complemented by this new keyboard and pen, and it's going to transform your creative workflows.

I'm excited to have Erika here to bring it to life and highlight some more Copilot+ PC experiences.

Welcome, Erika.

♪ Humans are highly visual and imaginative beings.

We consume and create art as a means of self-expression, a way to articulate complex or abstract thoughts and explain the world around us.

In its simplest form, art is a place we derive joy.

Kids are great at this.

They create from a place of pure wonder and exploration, without judgment.

But as we get older, we stop drawing or painting or doing these things that we love because we become insecure.

We become frustrated that our artwork doesn't actually reflect the vision we had in our head.

And so we start to lose some of that joy we associate with the creative process.

When DALI unveiled image generation to the world, that was the first time the average person was able to express the wildest figments of their imagination, all using natural language.

Now that's powerful.

Since then, the world has generated 10 billion unique images on Image Creator.

But what if there was a way you could participate in the process on a more intimate level, integrate some of the natural, free-form, and playful elements of drawing that are so innate to us?

Today, we're releasing a feature called Co-Creator that will allow you to explore the full range of your imagination without sacrificing the integrity or intent of your original drawing.

So spring is in full bloom here in Washington.

I'm going to use wildflowers as our muse today.

Now, this experience was built on diffusion-based algorithms, meaning we start with a random image and go through a series of diffusion or denoising as that random image tries to match up with our text prompt.

In this case, I'm going to use mountainous valley of wildflowers.

Now, the magical thing about this experience is that the generated output is not only taking guidance from my text prompt, but also my inked strokes.

So notice how these two blue blobs have suddenly become a more refined valley, just like that.

So there are five different machine learning models running locally in tandem on the NPU to optimize for highest quality output over minimum number of inference steps, making this experience feel truly co-creative, the generated output responding to every single stroke.

Now, I actually really like what I have going on here, but I can also play with how much I want to let AI modify my image.

You'll notice there's this creativity slider below the text prompt here.

The farther I slide to the left, the closer we resemble my original drawing.

Sliding it farther to the right allows the AI to play with a little more creativity or freedom.

Now, once I've found the perfect balance here, I can actually take this a step further and continue iterating on top of my generated image.

So I think a monarch would be the perfect touch here, hovering over this far right flower.

It's going to be a big monarch.

And just like that, the AI nails it.

So to me, this feature is really about removing barriers of expression and reigniting people's creative confidence, and it is so much fun.

So this idea of limitless expression, of course, applies to photos and videos as well.

New features are coming to the Photos app exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, making it easier than ever before to edit and amplify content.

With Restyle Image, I can transform any photo with just a single click.

If I want to get super creative with it, I can actually design my own background using a text prompt or select from a variety of preset filters like anime or watercolor for contextually aware stylization.

Maybe you're seeking a set of visuals that doesn't actually exist in your inventory.

With Image Creator, I can spin up an endless stream of unique images in a matter of seconds, even something as abstract as biomimicry-inspired furniture.

Like Co-Creator, because these features are running on the NPU, rather than making the round trip to and from the cloud, these experiences are happening fast and without the need for any sort of tokens or premium subscription.

And it's not just Windows Inbox apps that are taking advantage of this dedicated layer of silicon.

CapCut is one of the largest and fastest-growing mixed-media and content creation apps.

One of my favorite features, Auto Cutout, uses AI models that are now enabled on the NPU, enhancing speed and performance.

So last week, I took a dance class from my favorite local choreographer here.

Shout out to John Kim.

And you can see, I took this video on my phone, and we absolutely nailed the choreography.

But this studio backdrop is really cramping my style.

So I'm going to show you how, in just a few short clicks, I can transform this simple clip from class into a full-blown music video.

So I'm simply going to select a keyframe here, navigate to Cutout, and select Auto Cutout.

Now, notice what would typically be running my CPU and GPU is now almost entirely handled by the NPU at 67% utilization.

And just like that, AI has masked and detected all five dancers throughout the entirety of this minute-long clip.

Now, because we have the power of 45 tops behind us, this is happening three times faster than on our Pro9.

Drop it.

Let's bring our dancers down.

Drop it behind a super-cool, dynamic background.

And I have officially fulfilled a lifelong dream of starring in my very own music video.

So from experiences built into Windows to powerful applications like CapCut or DaVinci Resolve Studios, Copilot+ PCs are empowering people to unleash their creative potential in ways that are more accessible than ever before.

And I cannot wait to watch you guys take it to the next level.

Thank you.

That was amazing.

Thank you, Erica, and to the entire team that made these devices.

At its core, Surface has been at the forefront of innovation with Windows and where the best Microsoft experiences come together.

Today, with these two new devices, we are excited to again set the standard for what the PC can do.

Surface is committed to Copilot+ PCs and to bringing new technologies that transform how people live, work, create, connect first.

Surface Pro and Surface Laptop are just the start.

I am pumped for you to dive in and can't wait to see what you do with them.

Yousef, back to you.

All right.

Thank you, Brett, Adrian, Oyen, and Erica.

In our industry, the creation of a new category of computing requires three elements.

A giant leap in capability, a matching user experience breakthrough, and a platform for the industry that enables creators and builders.

For the last several years, we've been working with the PC industry to create the platform for Copilot+ PCs.

As Pavit announced, we start today with Qualcomm and their incredible silicon innovation.

Soon, we're going to welcome AMD and Intel onto this general-purpose platform.

We've been working with the most popular Windows applications to have them run natively, utilizing the full power of the MPU.

And finally, in addition to Surface, all of the leading OEMs are building new, beautiful, and powerful Copilot+ PCs.

In fact, we have many of the new devices that they are announcing here today.

Before we take a look, let's hear from the leaders of the PC industry about their vision and their commitment to this new category.

Copilot+ PCs represent an inflection point for the entire industry.

We are no longer talking about machines that run AI, but an entirely new class of AI-powered Windows PCs.

This is a PC revolution.

The power and the promise of AI has inspired and unlocked a new wave of innovation and performance across the ecosystem.

This new class of PC is engineered for AI from the inside out.

Copilot+ PCs deliver brand new AI experiences we know people will love.

We're talking about a new class of PCs that can run complex models across applications all at the same time.

It's a new PC era.

Now we are fundamentally changing the relationship between the people and devices and transforming the way we work, play, and communicate.

Find anything.

Create and do everything.

We are unleashing an entirely new wave of unmatched human creativity, productivity, and capability.

It's a new PC era.

For every person.

Everywhere.

Acer.

Asus.

Dell.

Lenovo.

Samsung.

HP is all in.

What an incredible moment to see the industry coming together on this new chapter of the PC. Thank you to all our partners who are here with us today in the audience.

Let's take a quick look at some of their exciting new devices.

We'll start here with Acer's Swift 14a.

It's a Copilot Plus exclusive design featuring a 2.5K resolution touchscreen and it's perfect for co-creating.

We have here Asus.

The Asus Vivobook S15 is a sleek all-metal design with an amazing 3K OLED display and an AI sense camera.

Here at Dell.

Dell is launching several new Windows Copilot+ PCs for consumers and businesses.

The XPS, the Latitude and the Inspiron range all have new family members coming.

And the XPS 13 with machined aluminum and Gorilla Glass is the thinnest and lightest XPS ever.

Then we have HP.

HP's new OmniBook X and EliteBook Ultra feature sleek design, incredible battery life, and fast charging.

And they have PolyStudio tuning for amazing video conferencing.

And these devices feature 50% recycled materials.

And then we have Lenovo.

Lenovo is launching a Yoga Slim 7X and a ThinkPad T14s.

The Yoga offers a 14.5-inch OLED touchscreen and intelligently adjusts PC performance based on your usage.

And Samsung has two devices with a GalaxyBook 4 Edge featuring 14 and a 16-inch screen with incredible performance.

They promise 22 hours of battery life and they have great cross-device AI between your Galaxy phone and your tablet.

And of course, we have the amazing new Surface Pro and Surface laptop.

What an incredible lineup of devices to choose from.

And we know that to have these kind of things, first you'll have to be able to go and find them and we'll have them available on Microsoft.com and available from all of the leading global retailers.

And starting at just $999, Copilot+ PCs will not only be the fastest PCs, but they're also going to be the most affordable with up to $200 in savings versus the equivalent MacBook.

Because the magic only happens when you can get your hands on one of these beautiful devices, I'm delighted to announce that pre-orders start today and they're going to be available on June 18th.

Today, it's just the beginning.

There's an incredible team here at Microsoft that is passionate about our mission to empower people to achieve more.

We couldn't be more excited about the opportunity ahead for Copilot+ PCs and what we can bring to people.

Thank you very much.

Microsoft Mechanics www.microsoft.com Microsoft Mechanics

The M3 chip, the latest addition to Apple's silicon family, is the powerhouse behind the new MacBook Pro and iMac. This chip is a testament to Apple's commitment to innovation and sustainability. The M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips not only deliver power-efficient performance but also help the new MacBook Pro and iMac meet Apple's high standards for energy efficiency . This is a significant stride towards Apple's goal of achieving net-zero climate impact across its entire business by 2030.

The MacBook Pro, equipped with the M3 chip, shows Apple's relentless pursuit of excellence. The new MacBook Pro boasts an even longer battery life, up to 22 hours, reducing the need for frequent charging and energy consumption over its lifetime . This is a game-changer for professionals and creatives who require a powerful machine that can keep up with their demanding workflows. These chips could not have come at a better time given the impressive benchmark results of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chip.

On the other hand, the new 24-inch iMac, supercharged with the M3 chip, is set to revolutionize the all-in-one desktop experience. Available in a spectrum of seven vibrant colors, the new iMac is not just a powerful machine but also a statement piece that can liven up any space. The new iMac delivers a huge leap in performance in its remarkably thin design. It is up to 2x faster than the prior generation with M1, and for those upgrading from an Intel-based iMac, the new iMac is up to 2.5x faster than the most popular 27-inch models, and 4x faster than the most powerful 21.5-inch model.

Both the MacBook Pro and iMac, powered by the M3 chip, offer a seamless experience with iPhone, faster wireless connectivity, and come with macOS Sonoma.

Personally, I'm most excited by the MacBook Pro with an M3 with up to 24GB of RAM. I'm a fan of the new lower starting price coupled with great speakers and a great display. I think for many developers maxing out the RAM to 24GB on an M3 powered MacBook Pro will give them the most bang for their buck. I was hoping for a gaming focused segment given the nighttime Halloween-eve setting and advances Apple has made with Sonoma and the M3 chip. It continues to be seen if Apple can attract the attention of game developers to the Mac.

In conclusion, Apple's new M3 chip, MacBook Pro, and iMac are set to redefine the boundaries of performance and efficiency in the tech world. With these new products, Apple continues to lead the world in innovation, offering users an unparalleled computing experience.

Affirm, the buy now, pay later (BNPL) company, is working on a new paid subscription service called Affirm Plus based on finding in their code. For $7.99 per month, Affirm Plus members will receive the following benefits:

• 0% APR on plans totaling up to $2500

• A 4.75% APY rate on savings

• The ability to keep 0% APR on any plans started during their membership

Affirm Plus would be a significant expansion of Affirm's existing BNPL service as it is the first paid subscription service offered by the BNPL company.

Affirm Plus will most likely be available to all US residents who are at least 18 years old and have a good credit score.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of the benefits of Affirm Plus:

• 0% APR on plans totaling up to $2500: Currently 0% APR purchases on Affirm are only for well qualified buyers up to a year.

• A 4.75% APY rate on savings: This is a very competitive interest rate for a savings account. It is much higher than the interest rates offered by most traditional banks.

There is no word yet on when Affirm might launch Affirm Plus.

Apple has released the release candidate (RC) version of iOS 17, and code in the build has revealed some new camera features that are coming to the iPhone 15.

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One of the most notable changes is that the iPhone 15 will be able to capture 48-megapixel photos at 1x zoom. This is a significant upgrade from the 12-megapixel sensor in the iPhone 14, and it will allow users to take even more detailed photos.

48 MP can be captured on the Main camera at 1×. Night mode, flash, and macro photos will always be saved at 12 MP. Live Photos can be saved at 12 or 24 MP.

However, not all camera modes will support 48 megapixels. Night mode, flash, and macro photos will all be limited to 12 megapixels. This is likely because these modes require faster shutter speeds, which can't be achieved with a higher-resolution sensor.

Live Photos will also be able to be captured at 12 or 24 megapixels (maybe next year’s iPhone 16 will capture 48 MP Max Live Photos). 24 MP Live Photos is a new option that wasn't available on the iPhone 14.

Another limitation is that some of the new “lenses” on the main camera can only capture in the 24 MP mode. This is because these lenses take an image from a subsection of the 48 MP image sensor.

Additional Main camera lenses require 24 MP capture. Choose 24 MP Photo mode captures in the Formats section of Camera Settings.

The code also reveals two new camera settings called “JPEG Max (up to 48 MP)” and "ProRAW Max (up to 48 MP)". These formats will allow users to save photos in full 48 megapixel quality.

Users can expect the following file sizes when capturing photos at the new

24 MP size:

• 3 MB for HEIF at 24 MP

• 4.8 MB for JPEG at 24 MP

• 35 MB for ProRAW at 24 MP

  Compared to 48 MP Size:

• 5 MB for HEIF Max at 48 MP

• 10 MB for JPEG Max at 48 MP

• 75 MB for ProRAW Max at 48 MP

Log is a video format that retains more information in the file, providing additional flexibility when editing color and making adjustments after the video is captured. Log will appear flat and gray before processing adjustments are made.

When a person, dog, or cat is in the frame, you can quickly turn the photo into a Portrait with a beautifully blurred background by tapping the [Portrait] button, or by editing it later in Photos.

The new Log encoding, ACES support,Next-generation portraits, recording in ProRES up to 4K at 60 fps to external storage, Smart HDR 5, Photonic Engine powered Night Mode, and new 24MP super-high-resolution default will only be available on the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max when they are released on Friday, September 22.

The iOS 17 RC is available now for developers and beta testers. It also adds support for HEIF Max, JPEG Max, ProRAW Max to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. And feature for changing the focal point in a Portrait photo when in edit mode is coming to the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The final version of iOS 17 will be available as a free software update on Monday, Sept. 18.

The code strings also suggest that AI chat will be end-to-end encrypted, meaning that Meta cannot read or listen to the other messages and calls in the chat.

Here are some of the code strings that were found in the WhatsApp mobile app:

• "We'll let you know when you can talk to different characters and use AI in chats."

• "Get early access to AI chats"

• "Messages are generated by Meta AI."

• "Meta may use your Al messages to improve AI quality. But your personal messages are never sent to Meta. They can't be read and remain end-to-end encrypted."

• "New AI Chat"

• "This AI chat uses a secure technology from Meta. Tap to learn more."

• "When you mention [name of AI bot], the AI generates a response. Meta can't read or listen to the other messages and calls in this chat, because they are end-to-end encrypted."

• "Generating AI stickers."

• "Chat with an AI"

• "AI Character"

It is unclear when Meta plans to launch AI chat in WhatsApp. However, Financial Times says that the “Personas” chat feature could launch this month.

In addition to the code strings found in the WhatsApp mobile app, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also hinted at the company's plans for AI chat in Messenger and WhatsApp. Zuckerberg said that Meta is building a new top-level product group to integrate generative AI into its services used by billions of users. He said that the team will focus on building creative tools at first, but its long-term goal is to create "AI personas that can help people in a variety of ways."

It is possible that Meta's AI chat and AI Character features in WhatsApp could be similar to Character.ai, an A16Z startup and ChatGPT, a prototype AI chatbot developed by OpenAI.

If Meta is able to successfully launch AI chat in WhatsApp, it could be a major new way for people to interact with the messaging app. AI chat could be used for customer service, education, entertainment, and more.

The image shows the new base with a light wood grain finish on top. The sides and back of the base are still black plastic, but the wood grain top gives it a more natural and inviting look.

The new base also appears to be slightly taller than the current base and has a button and status lights on the upper right side of the base. The image also appears to include a slightly updated Roomba j7+ with branding on the side. This could be a newer model of the Roomba j7+.

It is unclear when the new wood grain Clean Base will be released. However, it is likely to be available in the next few months since the current base is a year old and the current iRobot j series Clean Base is out of stock.

Kernel was created by Nikias Molina, a YouTuber who wanted to create an app that would make it easy for people to track the movies and TV shows they were interested in. Molina said that he was inspired to create Kernel after seeing how many people were using social media to share their thoughts on movies and TV shows.

"I wanted to create an app that would bring the social aspect of movie and TV show tracking to the App Store," Molina said. "Kernel makes it easy for people to share their lists with friends, and it also allows users to see what streaming services movies are playing on. This makes it easy for people to find and watch the movies and TV shows they're interested in."

Kernel is available for free on the App Store.

Here are some of the features of Kernel:

• Create and share movie and TV show playlists

• See what streaming services movies are playing on

• Get notifications for upcoming movie and TV show releases

• Follow your friends' lists and see what they recommend

After trying out Kernel for a few days and I have really enjoyed the clean design. There are a few quick interactions that could be add but Molina said they should be included in the next release. Also I use my Mac to look up what streaming services are playing certain movies so I’m also hoping that native Mac support, or even Catalyst support, is added soon. Finally data lasts longer than apps so I’m also interested in how to import and exports lists I’ve made on other apps to and from Kernel.

Kernel is a great way to track the movies and TV shows you're interested in. The app's social features make it easy to share your lists with friends and find new content to watch. If you're looking for a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest movies and TV shows, then Kernel is the app for you.

DuckDuckGo, the popular privacy-focused search engine, is working on a VPN service. The company has not yet made any official announcements.

If DuckDuckGo does launch a VPN service, it would be a major addition to the company's privacy offerings. DuckDuckGo already offers a number of privacy-focused features, such as private search, tracker blocking, and HTTPS Everywhere. A VPN would further protect users' privacy by encrypting their traffic and hiding their IP addresses.

It is still unclear when DuckDuckGo will launch its VPN service but here are some of the potential benefits of using a DuckDuckGo provided VPN:

• It could encrypt your traffic and hide your IP address, making it more difficult for websites and advertisers to track you.

• It could allow you to access blocked websites and content.

• It could improve your online security by protecting you from malware and phishing attacks.

If you are concerned about your online privacy, a DuckDuckGo VPN could be a good option for you.

Based on findings in each respective app’s code, X, formally Twitter, and LinkedIn are both working on supporting Passkey, a new passwordless authentication standard developed by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium.

Passkey uses public-key cryptography to create a secure link between a user's device and a website or app. This means that users no longer need to remember or type in passwords, which can be vulnerable to phishing attacks.

X and LinkedIn are not the only companies that are working on supporting Passkey. Apple, Google, and Microsoft have all committed to supporting Passkey in their platforms and apps.

It is still unclear when X and LinkedIn will begin supporting Passkey. However, the fact that they are both working on it is a positive sign for the future of passwordless authentication.

Passkey is a promising new technology that has the potential to make online authentication more secure and convenient. The support of X and LinkedIn is a major step forward for Passkey, and it is likely that more companies will follow suit in the near future.

Here are some of the benefits of Passkey:

• It is more secure than passwords, as it uses public-key cryptography.

• It is more convenient than passwords, as users no longer need to remember or type them in.

• It is more resistant to phishing attacks, as users cannot be tricked into entering their passwords on fake websites.

Passkey is still a new technology, but it has the potential to revolutionize online authentication. The support of X and LinkedIn is a major step forward for Passkey, and it is likely that more companies will follow suit in the near future.

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According to hidden code in Gmail for iOS, the '“Emoji reactions” feature would work similarly to how it works in other email apps like Outlook. To react to an email with an emoji, users would most likely select the emoji reactions button on the email and then select an emoji from the menu. The emoji would then appear on the email.

There are some restrictions for when you can use Emoji reactions:

• "You received this via BCC, so you can't react with an emoji."

• You can’t react to encrypted messages

• "You can't react with an emoji to a large group."

• You can't react with an emoji more than so many unspecified times

The emoji reactions feature would be a welcome addition to Gmail. It would allow users to quickly and easily express their thoughts and feelings about messages without having to type a response. This could be especially useful for emails that are long or complex.

It is unclear when Google plans to release the emoji reactions feature for Gmail. However, given that it is currently in development, it is likely that it will be available to users in the near future.

Here are some of the benefits of emoji reactions for Gmail:

• They can help to quickly and easily express thoughts and feelings.

• They can help to make conversations more engaging and fun.

• They can help to reduce the amount of typing that is required.

• They can be used to convey a variety of emotions, from happiness to sadness to anger.

Overall, emoji reactions have the potential to make Gmail a more efficient and enjoyable way to communicate.