Last Week's Tech Highlights
Earbuds with Real-Time Translation Break Language Barriers
Timekettle unveiled its W4 Pro earbuds at CES 2025, featuring real-time two-way translation for phone and video calls. Supporting 40 languages, the earbuds translate conversations with a 3-5 second delay, ensuring natural and seamless communication. Powered by Babel OS, the W4 Pro earbuds also provide AI-supported conversation summaries. The earbuds are priced at $449 and aim to redefine multilingual communication.
Microsoft Announces $80 Billion AI Investment
Microsoft plans to invest $80 billion in data centers for AI model training and cloud applications during fiscal year 2025. The company highlighted the critical role of data centers in supporting AI's computational demands. Over half of the investment will focus on U.S. operations, reflecting Microsoft’s leading position in the AI race. Capital expenditures in Q1 2025 increased by 5.3%, reaching $20 billion.
Meta to Replace Engineers with AI by 2025
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to replace mid-level software engineers with AI by 2025. While initially costly, the shift is expected to automate all coding processes long-term. The announcement follows Meta's restructuring initiatives, including changes to content moderation and diversity programs. This move highlights the rapid adoption of AI in tech roles traditionally performed by humans.
Salesforce to Halt Software Engineer Hiring in 2025
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff confirmed the company will not hire new software engineers in 2025, citing a 30% efficiency boost from its AI tool, Agentforce. While engineering roles decline, Salesforce plans to hire 1,000-2,000 new sales representatives to promote its AI solutions. This decision aligns with Salesforce’s focus on AI-driven productivity and follows recent workforce reductions.
AI Poses Threat to 200,000 Wall Street Jobs
AI is expected to eliminate 200,000 positions on Wall Street within the next 3-5 years, particularly in back-office and operational roles. Technologies for data analysis, financial trend evaluation, and risk assessment outperform humans, leading to significant reductions in entry-level hiring. However, experts predict AI will transform rather than entirely replace these roles, potentially boosting banks' profits by 12-17% by 2027.
Meta Smart Glasses Involved in Terror Attack
Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses were used by a terrorist in New Orleans to plan a New Year’s Day attack that killed 14 people and injured 35. The glasses allowed the attacker to record target locations discreetly. While the device wasn’t used for live streaming during the incident, the case raises concerns about the misuse of wearable technology and prompts calls for stricter regulations.
Meta Eliminates Content Moderators, Risks Harmful Content Surge
Meta is transitioning to a "community notes" system, replacing professional content moderators on Facebook and Instagram. CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged this change could lead to increased harmful content. Critics view the decision as politically motivated, while supporters argue it enhances free speech. Meta will focus on addressing severe legal violations and user-reported issues.
Bakery Uses 40-Year-Old Commodore 64 for Sales
Hilligoss Bakery in Indiana continues to use 1982 Commodore 64 computers for sales transactions. Known for their reliability and low maintenance costs, these iconic devices remain functional for daily operations. Similar cases worldwide highlight the durability and practicality of retro technology in modern settings.
Robots Improve Nursing Home Care
A Notre Dame study found that robots in Japanese nursing homes increased employee satisfaction, supported staffing, and improved care quality. Robots assisting with tasks like patient transfers and mobility reduced physical workloads, leading to fewer staff departures and better patient outcomes. The findings suggest robots can complement human caregivers by enabling more time for empathy-driven tasks.
John Deere Unveils New Robot Mower
At CES 2025, John Deere introduced an electric robotic lawn mower designed for commercial landscaping. Equipped with a 21.4 kWh battery and stereo cameras for 360-degree vision, the mower can operate for up to 10 hours. The company also showcased autonomous agricultural and construction equipment, highlighting its commitment to addressing labor shortages.
China Plans Space-Based Solar Power Station
China is developing an orbital solar power station capable of transmitting uninterrupted energy to Earth. The ambitious project, described as the "Three Gorges Dam in space," will leverage 36,000-kilometer-long solar panels. If successful, it could revolutionize renewable energy and position China as a leader in space technology.
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Apple Enables AI-Driven Photo Analysis Without Consent
Apple has activated its Enhanced Visual Search feature by default in iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1, analyzing users' photos for landmarks and notable sites using AI. Despite claims of privacy protection through homomorphic encryption, critics argue that processing data without user consent contradicts Apple's transparency principles.
Tesla Data Sharing Raises Privacy Concerns
Following a Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas, Tesla used vehicle data to track driver Matthew Livelsberger's movements via charging stations and software logs. While police credited the data with aiding the investigation, privacy advocates warn of potential misuse. Modern vehicles’ access to drivers’ locations, call logs, and messages highlights the lack of federal regulations governing consumer data in the automotive industry.
Las Vegas Explosion Suspect Used ChatGPT for Planning
Authorities revealed that Matthew Alan Livelsberger, responsible for a Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas, used ChatGPT to calculate explosive quantities and select triggering mechanisms. OpenAI stated its tools aim to provide responsible usage guidance and flagged harmful queries. The incident raises concerns over AI misuse despite safeguards.
Wallet Drainer Malware Stole $500 Million in Cryptocurrency in 2024
Wallet Drainer malware targeted over 332,000 crypto wallets in 2024, stealing nearly $500 million. The malware tricks users into approving malicious transactions. Losses surged by 67% compared to the previous year, with the largest single theft amounting to $55.48 million. Chainalysis reports total crypto thefts exceeded $2.2 billion in 2024, highlighting the growing risks for digital assets.
FCC Proposes Spectrum Auction to Replace Chinese Telecom Equipment
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel has proposed auctioning AWS-3 spectrum bands to fund the "Rip and Replace" program, which aims to remove Huawei and ZTE equipment from U.S. telecom networks. The program addresses national security risks posed by Chinese tech companies, with proceeds from the auction expected to support small carriers and bolster competition.
China Overtakes Starlink with Groundbreaking Satellite Tech
China’s Chang Guang Satellite Technology achieved a record-breaking 100 Gbps satellite-to-Earth laser data transmission using its Jilin-1 satellite constellation. This speed is 10 times faster than previous benchmarks and sets a new standard for 6G applications, remote sensing, and next-gen satellite positioning. The company plans to expand the technology to 300 satellites by 2027.
NVIDIA CEO: AI Chip Performance Surpassing Moore's Law
At CES 2025, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang announced that the company’s AI chips are improving faster than Moore's Law. The newly unveiled GB200 NVL72 data center chip outpaces its predecessor in AI inference tasks by 30-40 times, significantly reducing costs. Huang highlighted a decade-long 1,000x improvement in chip performance, emphasizing NVIDIA’s leadership in AI technology.
Telegram Shares User Data Following CEO's Arrest
Telegram has begun sharing user data with authorities after CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France last year over allegations of enabling criminal activities. Data requests surged in Q4 2024, with over 2,000 users targeted in the U.S., Germany, and France. Telegram plans to release a transparency report under the EU’s Digital Services Act this month.
Samsung Misses Q4 Earnings Expectations
Samsung Electronics projected a Q4 operating profit of 6.5 trillion won ($4.5 billion), falling short of analysts' expectations of 7.7 trillion won. Delays in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chip supplies to NVIDIA, increased R&D costs, and weak smartphone sales contributed to the shortfall. Detailed earnings will be released on January 31.
Major Internet Outage in Russia Blamed on Telecom Issues
Russia’s Roskomnadzor attributed a nationwide internet outage to network problems at a major telecom operator, affecting services like Google, Yandex, and banking platforms. Moscow was hit hardest, with disruptions impacting mobile and cable internet. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in Russia’s "sovereign internet" infrastructure.
CES 2025 Highlights Innovations in AI and Consumer Tech
CES 2025 showcased innovations ranging from NVIDIA's RTX 50 GPUs to LG’s portable StanByMe 2 TV and sustainable AeroCatTower. John Deere unveiled autonomous farming robots, and Acer introduced the eco-friendly Aspire Vero 16 laptop. AI-powered products, including Meta’s augmented reality glasses and advanced TVs, set new benchmarks for smart technologies.