Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is negotiating with Nvidia to produce its Blackwell AI chips at TSMC’s new plant in Arizona, according to insider sources. The Blackwell chips, unveiled in March, are designed for generative AI and accelerated computing, boasting speeds up to 30 times faster for tasks like chatbot responses. Production at the Arizona facility is expected to commence next year.
While TSMC will handle the front-end chip production in Arizona, the chips will require shipment back to Taiwan for essential packaging. Arizona’s plant lacks chip-on-wafer-on-substrate (CoWoS) capacity, which is crucial for Blackwell chips. TSMC currently reserves all CoWoS operations for its Taiwan facilities.
The agreement, if finalised, would expand the client base of TSMC’s Arizona site, which already counts Apple and Advanced Micro Devices among its customers. Neither TSMC nor Nvidia commented on the ongoing discussions, and Apple and AMD have yet to respond to inquiries.
TSMC’s investment in Arizona includes three advanced facilities, supported by US government subsidies aimed at revitalising domestic semiconductor production. The collaboration with Nvidia highlights the increasing global demand for AI chip technology.
Google has rolled out a comprehensive feature update for Pixel and Android devices this December, introducing smarter tools and usability enhancements. Key among these is the expansion of Gemini AI extensions, enabling seamless interactions with Spotify, messaging, and smart home devices. Gemini now remembers user preferences, such as dietary habits, to provide personalised suggestions. It also powers enhanced accessibility tools, such as image Q&A in the Lookout app for visually impaired users.
Pixel devices received significant upgrades, including theft-protection updates requiring biometric authentication for sensitive changes. Expressive captions were introduced to reflect emotions like whispering or applause in Android content. The Pixel 9 series stands out with improved screenshot management, HDR support for Instagram, and smarter call-screening features. Pixel Fold devices now offer a dual-screen portrait mode, enhancing photo framing.
Wearables and tablets weren’t left out. The Pixel Watch now integrates with Nest Doorbell, allowing users to view visitors at the door. Expanded fitness metrics are now available across various Pixel and Fitbit models, while the Pixel Tablet gained support for VPNs and new lock screen widgets.
Nvidia has signed an agreement with the Vietnamese government to establish an AI research and development centre and a data centre in Vietnam. The partnership aims to advance the country’s AI capabilities and bolster its digital infrastructure. The announcement follows Nvidia’s efforts to strengthen ties with Vietnam’s tech sector.
The deal was formalised during a meeting in Hanoi attended by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. While financial details remain undisclosed, the collaboration aligns with Vietnam’s aspirations to use AI for clean energy and sustainable development.
Nvidia also revealed its acquisition of healthcare startup VinBrain, part of s Vingroup in Vietnam, although the transaction’s value was not disclosed. Earlier this year, Vietnamese tech giant FPT announced plans to build a $200 million AI factory leveraging Nvidia’s technology.
Prime Minister Chinh expressed Vietnam’s ambition to lead in AI and integrate it into clean energy projects, aiming to harness natural resources like wind and solar power.
Microsoft has introduced Copilot Vision, an AI-powered feature available in a limited US preview for users of Microsoft Edge. This experimental tool, part of the Copilot Labs program, can read web pages to answer user queries, summarise and translate content, and even assist with tasks like finding discounts or offering gaming tips. For example, it can provide recipes from a cooking site or strategic advice during an online chess game.
To address privacy concerns, Microsoft emphasises that Copilot Vision deletes all processed data at the end of each session and does not store information for model training. The feature is initially restricted to a pre-approved list of popular websites, excluding sensitive or paywalled content, though Microsoft plans to expand compatibility over time.
Microsoft’s cautious rollout reflects ongoing efforts to balance innovation with publisher concerns over AI’s use of web data. The company is collaborating with third-party publishers to ensure the tool benefits users without compromising website content or functionality.
Broadcom has announced breakthrough technology aimed at accelerating custom chip performance in response to rising demand for generative AI infrastructure. The innovation, known as 3.5D XDSiP, enhances memory integration and speeds up processing by directly linking critical components. Developed in collaboration with TSMC, the technique uses advanced packaging methods, including chip-on-wafer-on-substrate, which remains a bottleneck in AI chip supply chains.
The California-based chipmaker has positioned itself as a key player in the AI hardware market, supplying custom processors to cloud providers looking to diversify beyond Nvidia’s pricier options. Although Broadcom has not disclosed its partners, industry experts suggest that major companies like Google and Meta are among its clients.
Broadcom’s CEO, Hock Tan, stated in September that the company expects AI revenue to reach $12 billion in fiscal year 2024, reflecting a significant increase from earlier forecasts. Five products using the 3.5D XDSiP technology are currently in development, with production shipments planned for early 2026.
The custom chip market, valued at $45 billion by 2028, is set to be dominated by Broadcom and rival Marvell. Analysts predict continued growth for both companies as AI infrastructure demand expands globally.
Tamar Eilam, a leading scientist at IBM, is pushing boundaries in sustainable computing. With 24 years at the company, she serves as an IBM fellow and chief scientist for sustainable computing, tackling one of AI’s most pressing challenges its immense energy consumption. Eilam’s work includes spearheading projects like Kepler, an open-source tool that quantifies the energy usage of applications, helping teams adopt greener AI practices.
AI’s energy demands are staggering, with reports showing that a single ChatGPT search consumes ten times more electricity than a typical Google search. Eilam envisions AI as a double-edged sword—capable of aiding sustainability efforts like decarbonising power grids while also requiring extensive resources to function. To address these issues, her team focuses on efficient AI training methods, high-quality data use, and platform optimisations to reduce resource drain.
Eilam advocates for transparency and trust in AI development. IBM’s approach ensures energy-efficient models, like its Granite line, while addressing intellectual property concerns with verifiable data sources. She also highlights the need for startups and companies to prioritise openness about energy impacts and guardrails to prevent misuse.
Beyond technical achievements, Eilam is a vocal advocate for gender diversity in AI. She emphasises breaking unconscious biases and encourages women to persist in leadership roles. Her passion for merging climate solutions with cutting-edge technology continues to shape sustainable computing innovations.
Ethiopia has rapidly become a major player in Bitcoin mining, now contributing 2.5% of the global hash rate. According to local miner Kal Kassa, this figure is expected to more than double within the year, with local operations consuming 600 MW of power. By year-end, this could rise to 1 gigawatt, increasing Ethiopia’s share to 7% of the global Bitcoin network’s hash rate.
The country’s rise as a mining powerhouse follows China’s 2021 ban on Bitcoin mining, prompting many Chinese miners to relocate. Companies like Bitmain-backed BitFuFu and BIT Mining have set up operations in Ethiopia, attracted by the nation’s abundant hydropower and surplus renewable energy.
The Ethiopian government has actively supported the industry, generating over $55 million in revenue over the past 10 months from agreements with Bitcoin mining companies. This shift could position Ethiopia and other early Bitcoin-adopting nations as new economic leaders in the coming decades.
Italian startup iGenius and Nvidia are teaming up to launch one of the largest deployments of Nvidia’s advanced servers by mid-2025. The ‘Colosseum’ data centre in southern Italy will house around 80 GB200 NVL72 servers, each powered by 72 of Nvidia’s latest Blackwell chips, enabling unprecedented AI computing capabilities.
iGenius, a European AI unicorn with over €650 million in funding this year, specialises in open-source AI models for industries like banking and healthcare, prioritising strict data security. The Colosseum system will leverage Nvidia’s tools, including the NIM software platform, to simplify AI model distribution for businesses using Nvidia hardware.
Nvidia executives lauded the partnership, with VP Charlie Boyle highlighting its scale and uniqueness. Multiple Nvidia teams are working closely with iGenius to bring the cutting-edge system online, marking a significant milestone in AI infrastructure development.
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Pro, a premium version of its chatbot priced at $200 per month, designed for engineering and research applications. The new subscription tier joins the company’s existing lineup, including ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise, signalling OpenAI’s drive to broaden its technology’s industry adoption.
ChatGPT Pro offers users cutting-edge tools like OpenAI’s o1 reasoning model, o1 mini, GPT-4o, and an advanced voice interface. It also includes o1 pro mode, a high-performance feature utilising extra computational power to tackle complex queries, making it especially valuable for technical professionals.
According to OpenAI, o1 pro mode significantly outperforms earlier iterations like o1 and o1-preview on benchmarks for tasks in mathematics, science, and coding. This launch underscores OpenAI’s commitment to delivering sophisticated AI solutions tailored to specialised and demanding fields.
Former PayPal COO David Sacks has been named as President-elect Donald Trump’s advisor on cryptocurrency and AI policy. Trump announced the appointment on Truth Social, stating Sacks would focus on creating a legal framework to support the US cryptocurrency industry and foster growth.
Sacks, a prominent venture capitalist and co-founder of Yammer, has been a longtime advocate for cryptocurrencies, describing them as aligning with PayPal’s original vision of a ‘database of money.’ His firm, Craft Ventures, has invested in major startups like SpaceX and Reddit.
While Sacks’ cryptocurrency stance is clear, his approach to AI policy remains less defined. However, his deregulatory leanings suggest a shift from the stricter policies of the outgoing Biden administration.
