Technology notes

News and notes on AI, chips, and IT.

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Xiaomi Expands Its In-House Chip Strategy… Targets Smartphones, AI, and Autonomous Driving with the Xring O3, O100, and D100

Smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has significantly expanded the scope of its semiconductor strategy. Following the unveiling and mass production of its new smartphone processor, the Xring O3, the company announced that it has also completed development of the Xring O100, an AI chip for consumer devices, and the Xring D100, a chip for autonomous driving. What’s significant about this announcement isn’t just the addition of a new smartphone chip. Xiaomi has expanded its AI capabilities from mobile devices like smartphones and tablets to From home appliances to electric vehicles

Aug 24, 20269 min read

Semiconductors & infrastructure

Are AI Data Centers Heading to Space? Starcloud Raises $250 Million in Funding

As competition in AI intensifies, so do the power and cooling demands on data centers. Even when companies try to install more of the latest GPUs, grid connections, cooling infrastructure, site acquisition, and various permits and approvals often can’t keep up with the pace of expansion. Instead of solving this problem on Earth, there is a company that aims to move the data center itself into Earth orbit. It is Starcloud, a U.S. startup founded in 2024. Starcloud announced on August 21 local time According to the announcement, $250 million (

Aug 22, 202610 min read

Robotics & emerging technology

China's Humanoid Robot Olympics Kick Off; Robots Are Now Tested on Their Work Capabilities Rather Than Their Running Ability

The 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games kicked off in Beijing, China, on August 22 for a five-day run. Just hearing the name brings to mind scenes of robots running, dancing, and playing soccer. In fact, this year’s event also features spectator-focused competitions such as track and field, soccer, combat, martial arts, and sports dancing. However, the real change in this competition is taking place on one side of the arena. Robots are tightening screws, Connect the cable, at hotels and at home

Aug 22, 202615 min read

AI models & services

OpenAI Cuts GPT-5.6 API Prices Again; AI Competition Has Now Become a Cost War

OpenAI has lowered the developer API pricing for its top-tier model, GPT-5.6 Sol. Based on the standard short context, the input price has dropped from $5 to $4 per million tokens, and the output price has dropped from $30 to $20. In terms of percentage reduction, the input price has dropped by 20%, and the output price by approximately 33%. These prices are part of a promotion valid through at least November 21, 2026. Following the price cuts for GPT-5.6 Terra and Luna last July, the fact that prices have now been lowered for the top-tier Sol model as well

Aug 22, 20269 min read

Security & privacy

What the $400 Million TikTok Settlement Revealed: New Standards for Children's Personal Information and Age Verification

TikTok and ByteDance have reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve a lawsuit over the protection of children’s personal information in the U.S., agreeing to pay $400 million. At first glance, the sheer size of the fine imposed on this major platform stands out. However, there is a more important aspect to this case. How the platform verifies users’ ages, the extent to which it collects data from users under 13, and how it handles parents’ requests to delete The question of how thoroughly this should be handled is at the heart of the regulation

Aug 22, 202611 min read

Semiconductors & infrastructure

Brazil's $440 Million Supercomputer Strategy

The focus of the AI competition is rapidly shifting from model performance to securing computing infrastructure. Brazil has now unveiled an AI investment plan worth approximately 2.3 billion reais—about $444.2 million, according to Reuters. What stands out is that Brazil has not entrusted all its resources to a single country or company. It is separately pursuing an infrastructure project for large language models (LLMs) in partnership with a Chinese company and a project for a massive supercomputer—likely to be powered by U.S.-made GPUs—thereby ensuring a range of technological options. I went with an expansive layout. This time

Aug 21, 20269 min read