The term "semiconductor" derives from the material's ability to be either conductive or non-conductive. Unlike a full conductor like copper where electricity always flows, materials like silicon can have their current turned on or off. This on/off switch is the fundamental principle that allows for storing binary data.
A new class of power users, or "token maxers," are building hyper-personalized AI assistants. By giving models unlimited tokens and access to all personal data, they are asking the AI not just to help them, but to *be* them—handling emails, scheduling, and even offering parenting advice from a digital clone.
AI expert Noam Brown suggests the strategic high ground in AI is moving from simply possessing model weights to having the massive inference capacity to deploy them. This implies that even if a model is stolen or distilled, the ability to run it at scale becomes the true competitive advantage and geopolitical chokepoint.
A study found that telling participants they had high-quality REM sleep improved their cognitive performance, regardless of their actual sleep. This "placebo sleep" effect demonstrates that one's mindset and self-perception can directly influence physiological and cognitive outcomes, suggesting you can "convince yourself" you are well-rested.
Meta is partnering with Overview Energy to beam 1 gigawatt of solar power from space to Earth. This ambitious strategy aims to provide constant, around-the-clock power for its data centers, bypassing the intermittency of ground-based solar and highlighting the critical need for novel energy solutions to support AI's growth.
Beijing ordered Meta to unwind its $2B acquisition of Manus, an AI firm founded in China but based in Singapore. This late-stage intervention, involving two non-Chinese entities, serves as a stark warning about the geopolitical risks for any tech company with Chinese founders or significant operations, even after relocating.
Despite fears of AI displacing jobs, employment in Filipino call centers—a highly exposed sector—grew 4%. Meanwhile, US call center jobs have declined since 2016, a trend likely driven by outsourcing, not recent AI. This complicates the simple narrative of AI-driven job loss, showing technology diffusion takes time.