Google is testing a new feature that adds blue check marks next to verified companies in its search results to help users identify trustworthy sources, a company spokesperson confirmed on Friday. This move aims to protect users from fraudulent websites that impersonate official businesses, potentially spreading false information and damaging brands.
The spokesperson mentioned that Google frequently tests new features to help users identify credible businesses online, with this checkmark initiative being a limited trial. While Google already employs automated systems to block ‘scammy’ or fake content from its search results, this additional feature offers an extra level of verification.
According to The Verge, some users have noticed these blue checkmarks next to official site links for companies like Microsoft, Meta, and Apple. However, the feature is not yet widely available, suggesting that Google is still in the early stages of testing.
TSMC is advancing its 2nm chip production, but a significant challenge is emerging regarding power supply. A report from S&P indicates that the foundry’s electricity consumption could nearly triple by 2030, potentially accounting for 24% of Taiwan‘s total electricity usage. In 2023, TSMC consumed nearly 250 GW of electricity, representing 8% of the island’s total power and 16% of the industrial sector’s demand.
The slow growth in Taiwan’s power generation could hinder TSMC’s production, which relies heavily on energy. Projections suggest that by 2030, TSMC’s power consumption could rise to 794 GW, driven by a 90% increase in wafer shipments. The report highlights that advanced manufacturing processes, such as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, require significantly more power than older systems.
Taiwan’s electricity reserve margin is falling short of the government’s target, currently below 15%. The Economic Daily News warns that if it drops below 10%, power supply stability could be compromised. Furthermore, Taiwan’s transition from coal and nuclear energy to natural gas and renewable sources might result in higher electricity prices, adding further pressure on the power supply.
Samsung Electronics has announced the mass production of its PM9E1, a PCIe 5.0 SSD that boasts the highest performance and largest capacity in the industry. Built on a 5nm controller and eighth-generation V-NAND technology, the PM9E1 offers enhanced power efficiency and powerful performance, making it an ideal choice for on-device AI PCs. Compared to its predecessor, the PM9A1, key attributes like speed, storage capacity, and security have all seen significant improvements.
The new SSD features an eight-channel PCIe 5.0 interface, enabling sequential read speeds of up to 14.5 gigabytes per second (GB/s) and write speeds of 13GB/s, more than doubling the capabilities of the previous generation. This impressive performance facilitates rapid data transfer for demanding AI applications, allowing large models to be transferred from the SSD to DRAM in less than a second.
Available in multiple storage options—512GB, 1 terabyte (TB), 2TB, and a market-leading 4TB—the PM9E1 is particularly suited for users needing high-capacity storage for large files, including AI-generated content and high-resolution videos. Its improved power efficiency, exceeding 50%, also supports longer battery life for on-device applications.
To enhance security, Samsung has implemented Security Protocol and Data Model (SPDM) v1.2, which includes features like secure channels and device authentication to prevent data manipulation during production or distribution. With the PM9E1, Samsung aims to expand its advanced SSD offerings to global PC manufacturers and plans to introduce additional PCIe 5.0-based consumer products to strengthen its position in the on-device AI market.
Facebook, once the go-to platform for connecting with family and friends, is shifting its focus to attract younger users, according to Tom Alison, head of Facebook at Meta. With younger generations favouring apps like Instagram and TikTok, Meta aims to revitalise Facebook by helping users expand their networks and make new connections, aligning with how young adults use the platform today.
To achieve this, Facebook is testing two new tabs, Local and Explore, aimed at helping users find nearby events, community groups, and content tailored to their interests. This initiative aligns with Meta’s efforts to compete with TikTok, which has 150 million US users, by introducing its short-form video feature, Reels, in 2021. Data reveals that young adults on Facebook spend 60% of their time watching videos, with over half engaging with Reels daily.
Facebook also reported a 24% increase in conversations initiated through its dating feature among young adults in the US and Canada. At a recent event in Austin, Texas, the platform promoted its new direction with the slogan ‘Not your mom’s Facebook,’ emphasising its push to attract a younger audience.
Google is adding ads to AI-generated summaries, known as AI Overviews, which appear in response to certain search queries. These ads, labelled ‘Sponsored,’ will appear alongside non-sponsored content, offering users quick access to relevant products and services. This marks Google’s latest effort to monetise its AI search feature and boost user engagement, particularly among younger audiences.
Along with ads, Google is also rolling out AI-organised search results. These new pages will display more diverse content, including videos, articles, and forum posts. While these AI-organised results will not include ads, they aim to make search results more relevant and visually appealing, offering users a more tailored experience.
As Google continues to expand its AI-driven search features, there are concerns about the impact on web traffic for publishers. Some studies suggest AI-generated summaries could reduce page views and ad revenues, potentially costing publishers billions. However, Google says it is working to address these concerns while continuing to refine its AI search technology.
Google has announced it will stop linking to New Zealand news articles and end agreements with local news outlets if a proposed law to ensure fair revenue sharing moves forward. The New Zealand government is reviewing legislation aimed at making tech companies like Google pay for news content featured on their platforms, following a similar model introduced in Australia.
Google New Zealand’s Country Director, Caroline Rainsford, expressed concerns about the potential law, saying it would require major changes to Google’s services. She highlighted that Google could be forced to stop showing news content on platforms like Google Search and Google News in the country if the law passes.
The company also warned the legislation could negatively affect smaller publishers and create financial uncertainty. Despite these concerns, the New Zealand government remains in consultation, with Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith considering feedback before any final decision.
While the minority coalition partner ACT opposes the law, it is expected to receive enough cross-party support to pass. Australia has already implemented a similar law, which has been deemed successful by a government review.
Tim Brooks, one of the co-leads on OpenAI’s video generation tool, Sora, has left the company for Google. Brooks, who had been working on Sora since January 2023, announced on X that he will join Google DeepMind to focus on video generation technologies and ‘world simulators.’ His departure comes as Sora faces technical challenges, reportedly taking over 10 minutes to generate a one-minute video, leaving it behind competitors like Luma and Runway.
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis welcomed Tim Brooks, highlighting his contribution to the development of world simulators, which aim to create virtual environments for a variety of applications, from filmmaking to AI training. DeepMind has been developing models like Genie, which generate interactive virtual worlds using images, photos, and sketches to create action-controllable environments.
Tim Brooks’ departure is part of a growing trend of high-profile exits from OpenAI. Key figures like CTO Mira Murati and research scientist Andrej Karpathy have also left the company in recent months. While OpenAI has demonstrated its video generation tool, Sora, to Hollywood studios and filmmakers, it has yet to secure a significant production partnership, leaving its future uncertain amid stiff competition.
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has raised $6.6 billion in new funding, pushing its valuation to an estimated $157 billion. The funding round saw participation from major investors such as Microsoft, Nvidia, Thrive Capital, and Khosla Ventures. Despite recent restructuring and the sudden exit of longtime Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, investor confidence remains high, with many believing in the company’s strong growth potential. Thrive Capital alone has committed $1.2 billion and may invest another $1 billion next year if revenue targets are met.
OpenAI is in the midst of restructuring, moving away from its non-profit origins towards a more commercial, for-profit model. The recent funding could convert into equity if this transition succeeds. CFO Sarah Friar suggested a potential buyback of employee shares, though no concrete plans have been set. Investors have also secured protections, allowing them to renegotiate the valuation if the restructuring is not finalised within two years.
Since launching ChatGPT, OpenAI has seen rapid growth, attracting 250 million weekly active users. Despite incurring heavy losses, the company anticipates generating $3.6 billion in revenue this year, with projections reaching $11.6 billion in 2024. As it scales, OpenAI remains committed to its pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI), aiming to advance AI capabilities while moving towards profitability.
Recent research reveals that OpenAI’s ChatGPT remains the most sought-after AI tool, with nearly 25 million searches from US users each month. Despite its immense popularity, Google’s Gemini follows far behind in second place, receiving just 1.5 million searches.
Although Gemini struggled earlier in the year, public interest has been growing. This uptick might be tied to its association with Google’s AI-powered Pixel 9 phones, which launched after the data was collected. Gemini’s appearance on Android devices could further boost its profile.
Other popular AI tools trail significantly behind, with Microsoft’s Copilot in third place, generating 368,000 searches monthly. Perplexity and Brave Search round out the top five. Interestingly, AI models like Character.ai and Claude failed to make the top 15 in searches.
Superside’s study demonstrates the clear user preference for established AI models. While the interest in AI continues to rise, a few dominant players seem to capture the majority of attention.
Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s CEO, has described demand for the company’s AI chips as ‘insane’, reflecting the increasing global interest in AI technology. His remarks came as Nvidia announced an expanded partnership with IT consultancy Accenture, aimed at scaling AI solutions for businesses worldwide.
The collaboration will see a new business group formed, focused on building custom AI systems using Nvidia’s cutting-edge technology. The partnership also involves Meta’s open-source AI models, Llama, further reinforcing Nvidia’s position as a major player in the growing AI ecosystem. Huang highlighted the role of the partnership in addressing global AI demand, marking the start of what he termed the ‘enterprise AI’ wave.
As corporations scramble to build AI infrastructure, Nvidia’s dominance in AI hardware, particularly in graphics processing units (GPUs), has been a key driver of the company’s success. Nvidia’s stock has surged, closing 1.6% higher, and more than doubling in value this year, while Accenture’s shares also rose by 1.2%.
Nvidia’s success is driven by widespread adoption of AI across industries such as healthcare, cloud computing, and finance. The partnership with Accenture represents the latest step in Nvidia’s strategy to secure its leadership in the enterprise AI market, which is poised for exponential growth in the coming years.
