Today's Hardware Pulse
Nvidia driver adds DLSS 5 profile options, hinting at next‑gen AI rendering
Nvidia's GeForce Game Ready driver 610.47 introduces three new profile settings—Enable DLSS NR override, Enable DLSS NR SL override, and Override DLSS NR presets—suggesting continued development of its upcoming DLSS 5 neural‑rendering technology. The earlier DLSS 5 reveal sparked debate over AI‑driven image alteration, after which Nvidia fell silent on the feature.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Cyient Semiconductors raises $30M Series A
1X Technologies Launches Full‑Scale Production of NEO Humanoid Robots in California
1X Technologies has opened a 58,000‑square‑foot factory in Hayward, California, to produce its NEO humanoid robot at scale. The vertically integrated plant will supply research programs and, later this year, U.S. consumers, signaling a shift toward domestic mass‑manufacturing of advanced robotics.
The $15 Raspberry Pi Upgrade Every Wi-Fi Router Needs
Consumer routers provide basic connectivity but lack granular control, and a $15 Raspberry Pi Zero 2W can upgrade any home network with Pi‑hole DNS filtering. Pi‑hole intercepts DNS queries, blocks domains on curated lists, and eliminates ads, malware, and phishing sites across...
Bringing Mathematical Rigour in the World of Hardware – a Journey Into Formal Verification
Robert Simpson, a mathematics graduate, joined Axiomise to apply formal verification (FV) to silicon design. He describes how rigorous logical reasoning uncovers bugs that conventional testing misses and how his academic habits translate to real‑world hardware correctness. At Axiomise, he...
IEEE Experts Reveal the Future of RFID Innovation: RFID Journal Interview
The IEEE interview highlights RAIN RFID’s rapid evolution, noting that tag prices have dropped from over a dollar to just a few cents, enabling massive scale in retail and logistics. Inventory accuracy in apparel and footwear has surged to 95‑99%,...
Forget iPhone 18: First iPhone 20 Leaks Reveal Apple’s Most Radical Design Yet
Apple’s rumored iPhone 20, slated as the 20th‑anniversary flagship, could debut a “liquid glass” display, 1.1 mm bezels and convex edges that blur the line between screen and frame. The device is also expected to feature an under‑panel camera, eliminating notches for...
The New All Rounder Revopoint POP 4 3D Scanner Now on Kickstarter: Technical Specifications and Pricing
Revopoint has launched the POP 4 handheld 3D scanner on Kickstarter, pricing early‑bird units at $579, a 37% discount to the planned $919 retail price. The device combines five scanning modes—including dual blue‑laser lines and near‑infrared structured light—to capture shiny, dark,...
Intel Core Ultra 5 225 Review: Arrow Lake’s Forgotten CPU Needs a Price Cut
Intel’s budget‑oriented Core Ultra 5 225 launches at roughly $180 but struggles to match the performance of AMD’s Ryzen 5 9600X and even its own newer 250K Plus variant. While it delivers solid single‑thread efficiency and stays cool with a 65 W TDP, it lacks Hyper‑Threading...
Arm Sees $2bn Demand for New CPU, Before Shipping a Single Chip
Arm announced that its upcoming AGI data‑center CPU has already attracted roughly $2 billion in pre‑orders, despite not having shipped a single chip. The company’s CEO Rene Haas said the new processor will make data‑center services Arm’s largest business segment. The...
Wingzz China: Chinese Robotics and Technology Have Moved Beyond the Demonstration Phase
Chinese robotics and AI have moved from showcase projects to everyday operations across factories, warehouses, hospitals and retail. Companies such as Unitree, UBTech and DeepSeek are delivering low‑cost robots and affordable large‑language models that perform concrete tasks, while platforms like...
Invasive Nanowire BCIs Needed, Non‑Invasive for Biomarkers
I love brain-to-computer interfaces and one of my first papers and granted patents was in AI/ML for BCI. And I was very much impressed with BrainCo's non-invasive BCIs and artificial limbs and sensing fingers (that they sell to Tesla btw)....
Forget the iPhone: Apple’s Leaked “AI Pin” Is Its Smartest Device Yet
Apple is reportedly developing an AI‑powered wearable dubbed the “AI Pin,” a small pendant that acts as an extension of the iPhone. Slated for a late‑2026 or early‑2027 launch, the device will feature dual cameras, a custom Apple chip, and...
Nvidia Pours Billions Into a Glassmaker's Optical Factories
Nvidia announced a multiyear partnership with Corning, pledging up to $3.2 bn to replace copper interconnects with glass‑based co‑packaged optics in AI data‑center racks. The deal includes three new optical manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Texas, boosting domestic fiber capacity...
USC Memristor Crossbar Operates Above 700 °C, Setting New Record
University of Southern California scientists have demonstrated a memristor crossbar that runs at temperatures above 700 °C, breaking the previous high‑temperature record for electronic memory. The device stores data for more than 50 hours, switches in tens of nanoseconds, and endures...
Ukraine’s Tryzub Laser Can Now Hit Drones up to 5 Kilometers Away
Ukrainian firm Celebra Tech has integrated its Tryzub high‑power laser into a mobile counter‑drone trailer now in final testing. The system can neutralize reconnaissance drones out to 1,500 meters and FPV drones at 800‑900 meters, with a claimed reach of up to...
Linux Drivers For The AMD Elan SoCs From The 1990s On Track For Retirement
The Linux 7.1 kernel cycle stripped Kconfig options for i486 platforms, effectively ending compilation for those targets. With that groundwork, a new patch series targets the removal of AMD Elan drivers—32‑bit SoCs from the 1990s built on the Am486 core. If...
Why Valve’s New Steam OS Update Completely Changes How You Use Your Deck
Valve has released a major SteamOS update that adds a Desktop Mode Switch, enhanced battery indicators, integrated chat, remote download management, and improved Steam Controller support. The new desktop toggle lets users shift from gaming to a full PC desktop...
Volarious VIGIL V1 Airborne Drone Detection Payload
Volarious, a Singapore‑based drone technology firm, will exhibit at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2026 in Detroit (May 12‑14) showcasing its V‑LINE PRO tethering system that stretches drone flight from minutes to multiple hours. The company will also debut the VIGIL V1 airborne drone detection payload, which provides...
Core Scientific’s Muskogee Bet: Can Crypto-Era Infrastructure Fuel AI?
Core Scientific is expanding its Muskogee, Oklahoma campus to roughly 1.5 GW of gross power capacity, with the goal of delivering about 1 GW of leasable power for AI workloads. To accelerate the build, the firm will acquire Polaris DS LLC, securing 440 MW...
COHR’s InP Ramp Threatens AXTI’s Margin Outlook
This terrible for $AXTI $COHR ramping InP capacity fast reads pretty bad for $AXTI. Here are some cliff notes: 1. COHR accelerated internal 6-inch ramp, now one qtr ahead of schedule, effectively "air-gaps" the merchant market. The biggest buyers are becoming their own...
Qcells to Manufacture Residential Battery System in Michigan
Qcells announced a partnership with contract manufacturer Jabil to produce its third‑generation residential energy‑storage system, the Q.HOME CORE G3, at Jabil’s Auburn Hills, Michigan plant. The LFP battery is domestic‑content‑eligible and is now commercially available for nationwide shipment. The storage...
Rambus Introduces PCIe 7.0 Switch IP with Time Division Multiplexing for Scalable AI and Data Center Infrastructure
Rambus announced a PCIe 7.0 Switch IP that incorporates time‑division multiplexing (TDM) to address the bandwidth and latency challenges of next‑generation AI and data‑center system‑on‑chips. The new switch enables flexible traffic scheduling across shared PCIe links, improving fabric utilization for large‑scale...
Samsung’s Shocking Galaxy S27 Ultra Leak: Is Losing a Camera Lens Actually a Good Thing?
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra is rumored to shift focus from flashy specs to refined, user‑centric features. The flagship will house a 200 MP main sensor, 50 MP ultra‑wide and telephoto lenses, and a variable aperture that adapts to lighting conditions, while...
331. Why Curing Motion Sickness Is Key to AV Success
In this episode Grayson Brulte talks with Daniel Socia Shulman, CEO of MotionSync, about the pervasive problem of motion sickness—affecting roughly one‑third of the population—and its impact on autonomous vehicle adoption. Shulman explains the sensory mismatch that causes nausea and...
After a $16 Billion Stargate AI Data Center Was Built Despite Being Voted Down, Michigan Towns Rush to Block New...
OpenAI and Oracle are moving ahead with the $16 billion Stargate AI data center in Saline Township, Michigan, despite a 4‑1 township board vote rejecting the rezoning request. The facility will draw about 1.4 GW of electricity—enough to power ChatGPT at scale—and...
Don’t Wait Until 2027: Why the Standard iPhone 18 Is Shaping Up to Be a Major Letdown
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 line is rumored to lean on shared components with the budget‑focused iPhone 18e, potentially blurring the distinction between tiers. Industry leaks suggest the standard model could see a less bright OLED panel and no meaningful upgrade over the...
Grab a Free 360Hz Alienware OLED Gaming Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse, Thanks to Fanatical
Fanatical is running a $1 mystery‑egg giveaway that can net winners a high‑end Alienware gaming bundle, including the AW2725DF 27‑inch 1440p 360 Hz QD‑OLED monitor, the Pro Wireless mouse, and the Pro Wireless 75% keyboard. The monitor retails for about $600,...
Screenless Fitbit + Century AI Beats Whoop Price
Google Fitbit Air - Screenless Activity Tracker Listed on Amazon US for $99.99 Paired with Century AI and you basically have whoop style experience for less than half of what Whoop costs every year
Tablets ‘Relegated in Importance’ as Demand Flatlines
Tablet shipments barely grew in Q1 2026, rising just 0.1% year‑on‑year to 37 million units, signaling a stagnant market. Apple remained the clear leader with 14.8 million iPads, up 7.9%, while Huawei and Lenovo posted the strongest gains at 28% and 20% respectively....
Nvidia Commits $300 Million to Corning for Three U.S. AI Fiber Plants
Nvidia is investing $300 million in Corning to construct three new optical‑fiber manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Texas. The plants will lift U.S. fiber output by more than 50% and create roughly 3,000 high‑paying jobs, securing a domestic supply chain...
Qualcomm Launches Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 and 4 Gen 5 Chips, Promising Lag‑free Mid‑range Android Phones
Qualcomm unveiled its Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 mobile platforms, targeting mid‑range Android smartphones with up to 77% faster GPU performance, AI‑enhanced cameras and 90 FPS gaming. The chips promise 20‑43% faster app launches and 18‑25% less screen stutter, a move...
Smart Glasses for the Authorities
ICE is preparing to field AI‑enhanced smart glasses that can pull facial‑recognition, gait and other biometric data from federal databases in real time. The devices are modeled on counter‑terrorism tools such as ABIS and BEWL, extending them to routine street...
Photonic‑Crystal Laser Beams Data Across River in First Demo
The laser inside your 4K Blu-Ray player is dim and unfocused. A newer kind, built from photonic crystals, is so bright and directional it can beam data across a river with minimal hardware. A Glasgow company just showed it working...
Meta's NVL72 Achieves True 1:1 CPU‑GPU Ratio
Base GB200 NVL72 is 2 GPUs per CPU. Meta's custom Catalina NVL72, ➡️shown almost than a year ago at a public event, is 1:1. Some of y'all just missed the reason why, I guess.
How China Wins The AI War
In this episode, Ed Elson and AI expert Alice Hahn discuss China's AI startup DeepSeek, which is raising a $1 billion round at a $50 billion valuation—a figure far lower than U.S. rivals like Anthropic or OpenAI due to differences in Chinese...
Anthropic Secures Full Access to xAI's Colossus Super‑Compute
Anthropic Says It’s Buying 100% of Compute From xAI’s Colossus Data Center The data center, known as Colossus 1, has 300 megawatts of capacity and more than 220,000 Nvidia chips. https://t.co/iDeMXbeqF2
Understanding Modern GPU Architecture: Fundamentals and Advances
Digital Design & Comp. Arch: L20: GPU Architectures (Spring 2026) We will describe the operational principles, design, and programming models of modern GPUs. We will cover both fundamentals and recent advances in GPUs. @SAFARI_ETH_CMU https://t.co/BVGdQn714C via @YouTube
8 Bambu Lab Printer Upgrades that Are Actually Worth Your Time
Bambu Lab’s plug‑and‑print 3‑D printers can be significantly upgraded without major hassle. The article highlights the AMS 2 Pro material system ($360) that adds 65 °C filament drying, RFID sync and up to 24‑color printing, as well as a range of filament dryers,...
Thailand Clears $29 Bn AI and Data‑Centre Projects, Led by TikTok’s $25 Bn Expansion
Thailand’s Board of Investment cleared $29 bn of AI‑related projects on Wednesday, highlighted by TikTok’s $25 bn data‑centre expansion across three provinces. The approvals mark a decisive push to position the country as a regional hub for AI infrastructure and foreign tech...
Khadas Mind Graphics 2 and Mind xPlay Display + Keyboard Review – Part 1: Unboxing, Teardown, and First Try
Khadas unveiled its Mind Graphics 2 eGPU dock and Mind xPlay portable display with magnetic keyboard, tested alongside the Mind 2 mini PC. The Graphics 2 dock packs an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB GPU, a 350 W GaN power supply, 2.5 GbE networking, and supports...
Optus, Ericsson Claim SA 5G Aggregation First
Optus and Ericsson have demonstrated a world‑first 180 MHz standalone (SA) 5G carrier‑aggregation trial on a live commercial network at Optus’s Sydney campus, combining 900 MHz, 2.1 GHz, 2.3 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands. The test, run on Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra devices, recorded peak downlink speeds...
Tablet Market Comes in Flat for Q1
The global tablet market posted flat year‑over‑year shipments in Q1 2026, with a typical seasonal dip in the quarter. Growth was driven by inventory build‑up in Latin America and the Middle East‑Africa, not by end‑user demand, prompting a cautious outlook. Apple...
Airties Launches Lite Platform for Retail Wi-Fi Gateways
Airties has introduced Airties Lite, an AI‑driven platform that lets internet service providers manage retail‑purchased Wi‑Fi gateways using the TR‑369 (USP) standard. The solution provides real‑time connectivity scoring, AI‑based root‑cause diagnostics and proactive campaign tools without requiring custom firmware on...
The AI Revolution Has a New Capital – and It’s Not in California
A wave of AI‑driven investment has turned Seoul’s Kospi into the world’s hottest market, with retail investors pouring roughly $19 billion into leveraged chip stocks. Record earnings at Samsung, TSMC and SK Hynix—whose combined AI‑related revenues surged nearly 50‑fold—have pushed Samsung past...
IonQ Posts Record Q1 2026 Revenue of $64.7 Million, 755% YoY Growth
IonQ announced Q1 2026 revenue of $64.7 million, a 755% increase from a year earlier and 30% above the midpoint of its guidance range. The company raised its full‑year revenue target to $270 million, citing strong demand for its 256‑qubit system and...
Quantum Motion Raises $160M to Bring Quantum Into Data Centers
Quantum Motion, a UK silicon‑based quantum computer maker, closed a $160 million Series C round led by DCVC and Kembara, making it the best‑funded UK quantum firm. The company argues its CMOS qubits cut cost by 100‑fold and energy use by 1,000‑fold...
LLM System Design Interview #44 - The Bandwidth-Precision Trap
In a DeepMind senior AI engineer interview, candidates are asked why casting an entire model to Float16 causes immediate loss divergence and NaNs. The trap highlights a common mistake: using low‑precision arithmetic for both inputs and accumulations, which leads to...
GaN-on-Silicon HEMTs for Tomorrow's Handsets?
A collaborative team from A*STAR, NTU and Soitec has demonstrated GaN‑on‑silicon HEMTs that combine high power‑added efficiency, high power density and low‑noise performance, positioning them as a potential replacement for GaAs HBTs in RF front‑end modules of future smartphones. The...
GaN: Boosting Optical Power Converter Efficiency
Nichia has demonstrated a gallium‑nitride (GaN) optical power converter that exceeds 60 percent power‑conversion efficiency, a leap from the previous 43 percent benchmark. The device uses a high‑power LED‑style epitaxial structure with 60 In₀.₁₂Ga₀.₈₈N/GaN quantum‑well pairs and a flip‑chip design on an...
Navitas Revenue Grows 18% in Q1
Navitas Semiconductor posted Q1 2026 revenue of $8.6 million, an 18% sequential increase, as high‑power GaN and SiC markets now account for the bulk of sales and grew roughly 35% year‑over‑year. GAAP gross margin remained negative at 9.3%, while non‑GAAP margin edged...
Veeco Announces InP Tool Orders Worth over $250m
Veeco Instruments disclosed more than $250 m in orders for its Spector ion‑beam deposition, Lumina MOCVD and WaferEtch wet‑processing systems. The orders target InP laser production used in silicon‑photonic transceivers and are slated for delivery beginning in 2026, with a steep...