Mobile Tech & Gadgets

A Japanese toilet company has been manufacturing key parts in the chip industry for years. And now it is going to be key in AI

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Toto, world famous for their toilets with a trickle that we usually miss so much when we return from Japan, has been quietly manufacturing key components for the semiconductor industry for decades. Just like account Financial Times, an activist fund has focused on that part of its business, and the market is starting to pay attention. What has happened. Palliser Capital, a UK-based activist fund, has sent a letter to Toto’s board of directors arguing that the advanced ceramics the company works on are being ignored and underestimated by the market. The fund, which owns a stake among the 20 largest in the company, according to share from FT, calls Toto “the most underrated and overlooked AI memory beneficiary.” What is important. Toto is not just a bathroom company. Since 1988 it has been manufacturing the so-called ‘electrostatic chucks’ in series.‘ (electrostatic jaws), high-precision ceramic components used in the manufacture of NAND memory chips to hold silicon wafers during the production process, controlling temperature and avoiding contamination. This business, which they fit within their “advanced ceramics” division, already represents around 42% of the company’s total operating profit, according to data from Bloomberg. The connection with AI. He data center boom for artificial intelligence has skyrocketed the demand for memory chips. Companies like Meta, Amazon or large memory manufacturers (SK Hynix, Samsung, Kioxia) are accelerating their production to face a widespread shortage. That translates into more demand for the components that Toto manufactures. The company’s ceramic technology is also specially adapted for cryogenic etching, a process that is expected to gain popularity as memory chips become more complex and layered. Business tips. According to share The fund also criticizes that Toto is not explaining well to investors the importance of this segment and that the allocation of internal capital is not prioritizing this lucrative sector. The fund proposes that the company expand its ceramics business, sell cross-stakes in other companies and make better use of its 76 billion yen in cash (about $496 million). If Toto did all that, Palliser estimates the stock could rise more than 55%. The market had already started to move. Toto shares have accumulated a revaluation of more than 60% in the last year. Just like share Bloomberg, at the end of January, after the support of Goldman Sachs, which raised the value to buy pointing to the memory shortage as a tailwind, the stock rose 11% in a single day, its biggest rise in five years. Be careful with the warnings. The idea that Toto would have that competitive advantage before other competitors can be at that level comes from Palliser himself, who has an obvious interest in making that narrative credible. Tom’s Hardware points out that while electrostatic jaws play a real role in advanced manufacturing processes, whether that translates into sustained growth still depends in part on large memory manufacturers committing to expanding production and, for now, they are being cautious faced with the risk of oversupply if the AI ​​market cools. The phenomenon is not exclusive to Toto. Japan has a long history in chip production, which has led companies with very different profiles to develop businesses related to semiconductors almost without anyone noticing. Just like share Bloomberg, Ajinomoto, known for its broths and its mastery of umami, makes insulating films for chips based on its expertise with amino acids. Kao, a cosmetics company, has a silicon wafer cleaning business. The AI ​​business is revaluing companies that, a priori, had nothing to do with it. And Toto is the latest example of this. Cover image | Taylor Vick and Upgraded Points In Xataka | What future awaits artists with the rise of AI? In Ireland they see it so black that they are already preparing a basic income

You can save up to 435 euros if you hand in your old mobile

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Google repeats once again movement with its Pixel. The Pixel 10 They arrived last summer, but the family was waiting for a new member who is about to land in stores. Yes, we are referring to the Google Pixel 10a, the cheapest of all, which comes to fight to be one of the best mid-range phones of the year. If you were waiting for it, this promo from the official store interests you: By handing over your old cell phone you can save up to 435 euros. Your old phone can save you a lot when you buy the Pixel 10a The new Google phone is part of the 549 euros (in its configuration with 128 GB of storage). Now, the Google Store once again has a promotion active as it already had with the Pixel 9a thanks to which we can save a good amount when handing over our old mobile phone. This, which is active from today until next March 18, can get us a refund of up to 435 euros. The final figure we will obtain It will depend on the mobile phone that we deliver. If we decide to opt for this promo, we will have a period of 30 days from when we receive our new Pixel 10a at home to send it. Once this is done, Google experts will analyze and review the device and, based on its condition, give us the appropriate refund. As we say, the valuation will depend on the model we deliver and its condition. Now, during this promo, Google Store will give us a bonus of 100 euros in the event that our device does not reach those 435 euros of maximum reimbursement that we can receive. We will not be able to obtain a figure greater than this, but it is interesting in case our mobile phone is old. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A durable Pixel with a very good quality-price ratio This new Pixel 10a has what it takes to be a top option if you are looking for the best Android experience and have a tight budget. At the performance level we can expect great performancesince it mounts the Tensor G4 chip. This, the same one that brought all the Pixel 9 familyproved to be efficient and have more than enough for the most everyday apps and tasks. As a screen, we will have a 6.3-inch pOLED panel with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits. The Pixel 10a will not only be great for watching movies or series, but its diagonal makes it ideal for those people who prefer to have a compact mobile phone. At the photography level, this Pixel relies on a dual camera system where a 48-megapixel main sensor and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera are combined. It comes with a 5,100 mAh battery just like its predecessor, although in this case fast wired charging goes up to 30 W. Finally, as usual with Google phones, it is a Pixel that will have seven years of guaranteed updateswhich means that we have a durable mobile phone with us. All added to the fact that it brings the best of Gemini very integrated, making it a very complete phone that, if we hand over our old mobile, we can get it at a great price. Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Google In Xataka | The best mobile phones (2025), we have tested them and here are their analyzes In Xataka | The best quality-price mobiles (2025). Their analyzes and videos are here

features, price and technical sheet

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Google just launched the Google Pixel 10aits new mid-range terminal. He Google Pixel 9a It worked amazingly last year, being one of the most recommended mid-range for those looking for a good photography experience. This year’s model seeks to stay on that same path, offering a similar design, although not the same, and a clear commitment to computational photography. The terminal will be available starting at 549 euros, the same price as last year. And it makes sense, since the improvements in the technical sheet, in the pure and simple components, are scarce. There are some specific new features that we will detail below, but the new features come in the software, an aspect that Google has more than mastered. Google Pixel 10a technical sheet Google Pixel 10a dimensions and weight 153.9 x 73 x 9mm 183 grams screen 6.3-inch pOLED (Actua Display) FullHD+ resolution (2,424 x 1,080 pixels) 422 dpi 20:9 format Refresh rate: 60-120 Hz Maximum brightness: 2,000 nits Peak brightness: 3,000 nits Gorilla Glass 7i HDR processor Google Tensor G4 ram memory 8GB internal storage 128/256 GB rear camera Wide Angle 48 MP, f/1.7, FOV 82º, Super Res Zoom x8 Wide angle: 13 MP, f/2.2, FOV 120º OIs+EIS 4K Video@60 FPS front camera 13 MP f/2.2, FOV 96.1º 4K Video@30 FPS battery 5,100 mAh 45W fast charging Qi wireless charging (10W) operating system Android 16 7 years of updates CONNECTIVITY USB Type C 3.2 Dual SIM (nanoSIM+eSIM) WiFi 6E 5G Bluetooth 6 NFC GPS OTHERS Google AI IP68 resistance fingerprint reader 2x microphones PRICE From 549 euros 10 GOOGLE APPS THAT COULD HAVE SUCCESSFUL When something works… Google Pixel 10a | Image: Google The Google Pixel 10a is practically identical to the previous model. At first glance it is the same, but there is a subtle difference: the camera module no longer protrudes. Not that I did it much before, but now the lenses are completely integrated into the chassis. The back is completely smooth, something that those who hate the phone to wobble will appreciate. And really, that is the most striking change in terms of design, beyond the colors. Otherwise, the phone is identical to the previous model. Same finish, same screen size, practically the same. Now, there are two key differences: the brightness and the protection of the glass: He maximum brightness It is 2,000 nits compared to the 1,800 nits of the Pixel 9a. The peak brightness, for its part, increases by 300 nits, going from 2,700 to 3,000 nits. The protective glass on the panel changes from Gorilla Glass 3 to Gorilla Glass 7i. According to Google, it has better resistance to abrasions and shocks. Google Pixel 10a | Image: Google Another change is found in the battery or, rather, in the power of fast charging. The device continues to mount a 5,100 mAh batterybut fast charging goes from 30 to 45W as long as we use a compatible charger. And that’s all in terms of hardware, because the remaining technical sheet is identical to that of the last model. The Pixel 10a mounts a pOLED panel 6.3 inches with FullHD+ resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate, as well as the same Google Tensor G4 processor as the Pixel 9a and the same amount of RAM and storage. It comes out, yes, with Android 16 and the promise of seven years of updates. Google has not detailed whether it is seven years of software or seven years in total (Android versions, Pixel Drops and security patches). It incorporates everything expected in terms of connectivity, with the update to Bluetooth 6.0that the USB is now USB 3.2 and the Satellite SOS service (emergency calls via satellite). It is the first time that a Pixel a incorporates this function, until now exclusive to the Pixel 9 and 10. Google Pixel 10a | Image: Google As for the camera, the same batch of sensors as the last generation (48-megapixel wide-angle and 13-megapixel wide-angle) and lots and lots of AI. New features include Auto Best Take and Camera Coach. The first helps everyone look good in the photo by analyzing the frames, while the second uses Gemini models to guide composition, lighting, etc. AI plays a fundamental role in the Google experienceso we will also use it for digital zoom of up to eight times and editing. The latter is quite nice, and the Google Pixel 10a allows us to edit photos using voice. You just have to ask your mobile phone and Gemini will be in charge of making the appropriate changes. Versions and price of the Google Pixel 10a Google Pixel 10a | Image: Google He Google Pixel 10a It can be purchased from March 5, although reservations begin today. Its price is 549 euros for the 8/128 GB version and, although Google has not revealed the price of the version with more capacity at the time of writing these lines, it can be expected to be similar to last year: 649 euros for 8/256 GB. Images | Google In Xataka | Google is going to borrow money to pay back in 100 years. You have to believe that in 100 years Google will still be there

Toni Urban, Pixel Product Manager, about the Pixel 10a

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The new Pixel 10a comes to the fore to compete once again in the mid-range, a territory that over the years has become more ambitious and also more demanding. Each new generation tries to get a little closer to the experience of the top modelsincorporating advances that previously seemed reserved for more expensive devices. However, in this process there is a balance that does not depend only on technology, but on the ability to keep the essence of this segment intact. And it is precisely at that point where Google’s new proposal seems to be located. This balance does not arise in isolation, but from the product development process itself. In order to better understand this approach, we have spoken with Tony UrbanPixel Product Manager at Google, directly involved in this generation. Their answers allow us to contextualize the decisions made in the new Pixel 10a and frame its proposal within the evolution that the range has followed in recent years. Pixel 10a technical sheet GOOGLE PIXEL 10a DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 153.9mm x 73.0mm x 9.0mm 183g SCREEN 6.3 inch pOLED Resolution: 1080 x 2424 422 pixels per inch Refresh up to 120 Hz Brightness up to 2,000 nits in HDR Maximum brightness of up to 3,000 nits outdoors Corning Gorilla Glass 7i PROCESSOR Google Tensor G4 Titan M2 Security Coprocessor MEMORY 8GB STORAGE 128GB / 256GB BATTERY and charging 5,100 mAh Wire: 45W Wireless: 10W REAR CAMERAS Major: 48 MP with f/1.7 aperture and 82º field of view Wide angle: 13 MP with f/2.2 aperture and 120º field of view FRONT CAMERA 13 MP with f/2.2 aperture and 96.1º field of view Operating system Android 16 SOUND Dual stereo speakers two microphones CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi 6E 5G sub 6 GHz Dual SIM (nanoSIM + eSIM) Bluetooth 6 NFC USB-C (USB 2.0) OTHERS IP68 certification On-screen fingerprint reader PRICE 549 euros Pixel 10a, an update that focuses on coherence The Pixel 10a largely maintains the design that was so well received in the previous generation: straight edges with gently rounded corners, a compact format and that feeling of lightness that, when we hold it in our hands, does not give up transmitting solidity. It is when turning it that the most visible changes begin to appear. The rear now adopts a completely flat surface and any trace of relief on the camera module disappearsa discreet adjustment in appearance, but significant within the silent evolution with which Google has been fine-tuning the visual identity of the Pixel family for some time. Behind this iteration there is also a reflection on what those who choose the A series really expect. As Urban tells us, the development has focused on the aspects that these users value most, with photography at the center. “Having a great camera is important for everyone, no matter what budget they have. And we know that at Pixel we do it really well, so being able to take many of those learnings from the Pro range to the A series is something we know how to execute very well.” That same logic explains the commitment to a completely flat rear: “In this generation we were able to do it with a completely flat surface… because we were able to transfer a large part of the physical optics to computational photography in the software layer and in the processor. “You still get the same great photos you’re used to in the Pixel family, but in that nice flat format.” There are decisions that are not explained only from the technical sheet, but from the idea of ​​balance that defines a device. On the Pixel 10a, one of them is the continuity of your processing platform: Google is betting on it again G4 tensioner already present in the Pixel 9aa detail that does not go unnoticed in a newly presented phone. Far from being an isolated gesture, this choice points to a concrete way of understanding the evolution within the mid-range, as our interviewee explains to us. “We had to make tough engineering decisions to maintain that $549 price point, which we’ve maintained for four generations. The chipset is part of that consideration. We knew we could still deliver the best of Google’s AI and the best camera experience with the chip we had; we didn’t feel like we were sacrificing quality, and we still made important improvements.” Beyond that internal decision, the Pixel 10a introduces noticeable advances in everyday use. One of the most obvious appears in the 6.3-inch Actua screen, now capable of reaching up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness and offer better legibility outdoors, accompanied by improvements in connectivity and loading speed that reinforce the feeling of an updated device without altering its position within the mid-range. They are less striking changes than a leap in processor, but which many users can appreciate. This progressive evolution also extends to photography and functions supported by artificial intelligence, two classic pillars of the Pixel family. The camera system arrives practically unchanged in terms of figures, with a 48 MP main sensor accompanied by a 13 MP ultra wide angle. To improve the experience, it relies on functions such as Best Shot, include me either Camera Coach. It remains to be seen, however, how all this balance translates into real use. Sustained performance, temperature management or the behavior of the device on a day-to-day basis will be key to understanding how far this proposal really goes. It will be something that we will analyze in detail in Xataka when we can test it thoroughly. Until then, and at least from what we can see, the Pixel 10a can be a very valid option for those willing to spend 549 euros in exchange for the more direct Google and Android experience within the mid-range. Images | Xataka | Google In Xataka | The CEO of Nothing is clear that we do not need a high-end mobile phone every year. A mix of RAM crisis and common sense

Now they can sink anything, even islands

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we have been counting: China has transformed its naval power away from the most visible spotlights for years, constantly advancing technologies that prioritize stealth, persistence and the ability to deny access to the adversary. While international attention was focused on aircraft carriers and large surface ships, a silent evolution has been brewing under the sea that now points to a profound change in the way force is projected and conflict resolved. The unexpected weapon. Yes, far from the classic idea of ​​aircraft carriers or strategic bombers, China’s last great leap in naval warfare has not come since the most visible platformsbut from its conventional submarines, discreet and until now considered secondary to nuclear power. The incorporation of the missile YJ-19 anti-ship hypersonic to diesel-electric submarines with air-independent propulsion has turned these “ordinary” units into a threat capable of change the rules of the gamecombining extreme stealth with a strike capability designed to overcome the most advanced naval defenses and project lethal power without warning. From conventional submarine to hypersonic hunter. He YJ-19 missilepresented publicly in 2025 and now accepted for operational service, represents a qualitative leap compared to the previous YJ-18 by raising the speed of the attack to the hypersonic threshold or, in other words, it has multiplied the difficulty of detection and interception. Integrated in The Type-039B of the Yuan class, the backbone of the Chinese conventional submarine fleet, this missile transforms these vessels into the only non-nuclear submarines in the world armed with a system of this type, a move that radically reinforces the maritime denial capacity of the People’s Liberation Army Navy and places at its AIP fleet in a league of its own within the global naval balance. The silent advantage of torpedo tubes. The technical key that explains the disruptive nature of the YJ-19 missiles is not only in their speed, obviously, but in their compatibility with torpedo tubesstandard horizontal s of 533 millimeters, a ability which allows existing submarines to be modernized without practically having to resort to complex vertical launch systems. This decision saves costs, as it makes deployment cheaper, faster and more widespread, allowing, for example, a large fleet of silent submarines to launch hypersonic attacks. from hidden positionssomething that other powers cannot easily replicate with their conventional submarines. A conventional fleet as a strategic weapon. It is another of the legs that emerges after the movement. Thanks to the AIP propulsionthe Yuan can remain submerged for long periods at low speed, which allows their acoustic signal to be reduced and can operate in coastal waters or areas with restricted access. Therefore, now armed with missiles specifically designed to pierce modern naval defenses, these submarines have ceased to be simple tactical platforms and have become authentic strategic multiplierscapable of threatening entire combat groups and imposing unaffordable costs on any naval force operating near the Chinese coast. Taiwan in the background. The last reading of the advance is possibly the most obvious in terms of the future. If Beijing decided to move towards an open conflict over to the island of Taiwanthe incorporation of the YJ-19 to AIP submarines would deep implications: would allow establishing a lethal maritime encirclement without the need to expose large surface units, making it difficult for allied fleets to intervene and increasing the risk for any attempt to break a blockade. In this way, the silent, dispersed submarines armed with hypersonic missiles could attack ships, port infrastructure or even supply lines with little room for reaction, turning the sea surrounding the island into an extremely hostile environment and reinforcing the Chinese strategy of area denial from the shadow Image | CCTV, SteKrueBe In Xataka | Satellite images leave no room for doubt: China’s nuclear renaissance is already visible from space In Xataka | Chinese fighters are getting dangerously close to Taiwan’s F-16s. And they are “shooting” flares at them

A Chinese station has trained its employees to save 2 seconds on their task. Now they have 30,000 more passengers

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Think of an activity that you repeat daily. Think about how much time it takes you and what it would mean to spend two seconds less. What would you do with that time? That is what the workers and technicians at the Guangzhou South Train Station (China) have asked themselves. And the result has been spectacular: 48 more trains in motion and 30,000 more passengers on the tracks. 2 seconds. It is the time that the Chinese workers and technicians employed at the Guangzhou South Train Station (China) had in mind. It was the great objective. For more than a month, they have all been working with one goal in mind: reducing the time it takes to clean and prepare trains passing through the station by two seconds. Zhong Miao, comprehensive control service officer of Guangzhou South Railway Station, explains to the Chinese media that after a month and a half they managed to reduce the time of this task from 58 to 56 seconds. The final intention, of course, was for the train to be stopped for less time. The result. With the changes introduced, station operators were able to make way for 48 more trains in a single day. The two seconds that may seem insignificant allowed the number of passengers to increase by more than 30,000 people. To achieve this, they point out in the local mediathe operators worked with an enormous amount of data collected through numerous cameras. This station alone has a control room with 208 screens. With them they analyzed how much time passengers spent at the station and it has been possible to reduce the travel time of travelers by 17% compared to the figure collected three years ago. Guangzhou South Railway Station. For a train, two seconds was nothing short of marginal. For a station where more than half a million people pass through every day, it’s a whole world. And the new way of acting has been launched taking advantage of the Spring Festival, days in which the routes multiply taking advantage of the Chinese New Year. If the forecasts are met, on average, 530,000 passengers on Chinese high-speed trains will pass through this station every day. It is estimated that a new record was broken in October of last year when the million passengers passed through the station. It is not even the busiest station in China, its 28 platforms do not represent any record either. But to give us an idea of ​​the hustle and bustle that goes on inside, On February 13, 1,200 trains were operated in a single day as a result of the movements of the aforementioned Spring Festival. To give us an idea, during travel peaks such as Easter, 270 trains pass through Atochain which high speed is added but also long and medium distance. The longest high-speed line in the world. The station is located at a key point, near Shenzhen and Hong Kong and serves as a transit station for all travelers arriving from Southeast China to large cities such as Chongqing, Beijing or Shanghai, with which the station is connected. In fact, the Guangzhou-Beijing line is one of the crown jewels of Chinese railway service. And it is that since 2012 it is the longest high-speed line in the worldwith 2,298 kilometers. During its inauguration, it was hoped that the train would take less than eight hours to cross a distance comparable to traveling from Algeciras to Amsterdam. Today, This journey can be completed in 7 hours and 17 minutes. if you take the fastest bullet train. Photo | Tauno Tohk and Yang In Xataka | China has not only created the most extensive high-speed network in the world: it wants to operate it at 1,000 km/h and has taken a new step

It is a serious mistake according to the latest study on Alzheimer’s

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To this day, Alzheimer’s disease continues to be one of the greatest challenges in medicine to understand why it occurs, to lead to better treatments. And although pharmacology is advancing in leaps and bounds to try to stop it, science makes it increasingly clear to us that lifestyle is our best weapon to prevent the disease. And we not only talk about the diet either physical exercisebut also of how the brain is ‘trained’ with writing or reading. Some activities that we are losing. New evidence. A new study published in the prestigious magazine Neurology has pointed out that having “cognitive enrichment” throughout life can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 38% and delay the onset of the disease up to five years. Although here the question is how the brain can be enriched to avoid this devastating disease. A protective shield. The study is based on a small sample of 1939 peoplewith an average age of 80 years and with 75% women, who did not have any type of dementia at the beginning of the experiment. From here they began to follow them for eight years with different annual evaluations to determine the degree of dementia they had. But what exactly is “cognitive enrichment”? The team of researchers measured the exposure of these individuals to intellectually stimulating environments throughout their lives, which include such everyday and accessible habits as reading, writing, learning new languages, visiting museums or libraries, and having educational resources at home from childhood. The results. Once all the data was analyzed and cross-referenced, it was possible to see that the people who had the greatest cognitive enrichment showed an incidence of Alzheimer’s of 21%. This is a figure that increases as less intellectual and cultural activity is seen, until reaching an incidence of 34% in those patients who are in the 10% range of cognitive enrichment. Overall, the group with greater stimulation had a 38% lower risk of Alzheimer’s and a 36% lower risk of mild cognitive impairment. Delaying the disease. Beyond the risk percentages, the most important thing is the delay in the onset of the disease. Here the study found that people with a highly stimulated mind delayed the onset of Alzheimer’s in about five yearsmanifesting on average at 94 years of age compared to 88 years of age in the group with less stimulation. In the case of mild cognitive impairment, the “delay” achieved was even greater when the disease debuted at age 78 to age 85. What is it due to? One of the most fascinating aspects of the work comes from analyzing different corpses to see what was happening in their own brains depending on the lifestyle they lived when they were alive. And here it was seen that cognitive enrichment did not prevent amyloid plaques from forming, which is one of the causes of Alzheimer’s. What was seen here is that people who had kept their minds active with writing or reading showed much slower cognitive decline and better memory and thinking ability, even when their brains already showed the physical damage associated with dementia. It is as if the brain, having been trained and nurtured for decades, had built other pathways to continue functioning efficiently even though the main pathways began to collapse due to the ‘junk’ in the brain generated by the disease. There are nuances. In this case we have focused on an observational study based, in part, on the memory of the patients’ own experiences, such as what they did fifty years ago. This shows an important association, but it is not a direct coincidence or indisputable by other studies. However, the findings do not fall on deaf ears, but rather They add to a mountain of previous evidence which suggests that prior enrichment reduces the pathologies associated with Alzheimer’s. This makes science point to the recommendation of dedicate at least one hour a day to hobbies and reading can protect our brain. Technology against us. It is a reality that today some activities such as handwriting have declined in favor of writing on a tablet or computer to take notes or write emails. This is also added to the fact that audiobooks are beginning to have a lot of weight in our daily lives, which means that we train our brain less and less to put on and read a good book. In this way, keeping the brain busy with activities such as crossword puzzles, sudoku or any type of activity can be essential to stop diseases as devastating as this one. Images | Thought Catalog In Xataka | Alzheimer’s no longer seems irreversible: science allows brains with advanced damage to recover for the first time in animals

deal with the websites of the Spanish administration

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Claude’s latest upgrade isn’t advertised as “smarter”: it’s advertised as an acting agent. Sonnet 4.6 Not only does he reason, he also navigates websites, fills out forms and completes procedures with the mouse and keyboard, just like a person would do. It’s a quantum leap in what AI can do for you, not to you. The demonstration chosen by Anthropic It was a great example: a user renewing his car registration on the website of the American equivalent of the DGT. It seems like a simple, functional and well-designed website. We want to see how it would go with the Electronic Headquarters of the Tax Agency. The context. Claude had already taken a big leap this month with the arrival of Opus 4.6 just two weeks ago. Sonnet 4.6 is the intermediate version, the one used by most users, including those on the free plan, and Anthropic has transformed it into more than just an improved chatbot: its OSWorld scores, the benchmark standard for measuring computer use by AI, have grown steadily for sixteen months. The company claims that tasks that previously required its most powerful model (Opus 4.5 and 4.6) are now solved by Sonnet 4.6, at the same price as always. Between the lines. There is a very clear market strategy here. Anthropic just closed a $30 billion round and aired its first ad in the Super Bowl, taking a dig at OpenAI. Now it democratizes agentic capabilities in its free plan. The objective is not only to attract developers: it is to reach the average user and change their daily relationship with AI. When chatbots started to have memory, our way of interacting with them changed. They went from tools to relationships. When they start doing things for us for real, like booking appointments, filling out forms or managing hellish paperwork, the change will be of a different magnitude. Yes, but. The technical and cultural challenge is enormous. AI that navigates computers is vulnerable to attacks of prompt injection– Malicious instructions hidden in web pages that can hijack the agent. Anthropic has improved the resistance of Sonnet 4.6 at this point, but the issue is not resolved. And that is without entering the ecosystem of European government websites, where the user experience already represents a challenge for us humans. The big question. When does a brutal demo stop being a brutal demo and become something that anyone uses to manage their tax return? That distance, between the promise of the agent and the reality of the digital bureaucracy, is where the real game is going to be played, beyond the hype. In Xataka | What is Claude Cowork, how it works, and what things you can do with this AI assistant on your computer Featured image | Anthropic, Xataka

that his boat was too

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History has given us many iconic dates, but few have left as much of an imprint and have become as iconic as that of October 12, 1492when the expedition commanded by Christopher Columbus arrived in Guanahani Island. That day his crew breathed a sigh of relief. The old and new world came (officially) into contact. And humanity took another step towards the Modern Era. That event was so important that it and its protagonists have been covered in rivers floods of ink. The last on account of a discovery in the subsoil of southern Galicia. Its protagonists are Columbus’ ships. On a farm in Pontevedra… In recent months, the residents of Pontevedra (Galicia) have looked with special interest at a plot located in the heart of the urban center, between Arcebispo Malvar Street and Avenida de Uruguay, very close to the coast of the Lérez River. The plot in question measures 14,000 m2is known in the city as ‘Finca do Teucro’ and is interesting because they want to urbanize it. Hence, some time ago the promoters of the project, promoted by Sarebthey hired a company specialized in tastings. The objective: to clarify if any important archaeological remains are hidden under the rocks and weeds of the site. Surprise under the ground. So far nothing special. Nor does it deserve to go beyond the pages of the local press. If the tastings have grabbed headlines throughout Galicia and even other regions That is why archaeologists have found it. In the most superficial layer they discovered a vestige without much historical interest, but which has shaken the nostalgia of more than one Pontevedra resident: the ancient sports court in which he trained decades ago SD Teucroa local handball team. He played there in the 60s, before doing so at the Municipal Pavilion. What is important is what the archaeologists discovered when excavating deeper levels of the estate. Their shovels revealed a stone wall and a structure that experts (in the absence of more exhaustive analysis) have identified as a medieval shipyard and a small dock. Much of the construction is still undergroundbut a priori the discovery fits with what we know about Pontevedra’s seafaring past. Now it is up to the Xunta to evaluate the remains. Why’s that? The person in charge of presenting the discovery It was the Councilor for Urban Planning, Alberto Oubiña, who recalled the role that shipyards such as the one that has just emerged under the weeds in Finca do Teucro played in their day. They did not manufacture warships or merchant vessels, nor frigates like those of Ferrol. Its function was rather different: to build and repair light boats that were then used to fish on the coast, navigate the estuaries and engage in river transport. “Everything indicates that they could have been small shipyards where people prepared and launched their barges,” clarify Oubiña. What does it have to do with Columbus? During his presentation, the councilor not only offered a few glimpses of the maritime history of Pontevedra during the Middle Ages. When talking about the shipyards in the area, he also made a comment that has attracted attention beyond from Galicia: “There are those who even say that one of the caravels with which Columbus went to Colonize America was made there.” This does not mean that in Pontevedra they believe that the vestiges of ‘Finca do Teucro’ can be directly related to the 1492 expedition (in fact the shipyard seems designed for barges), but Oubiña’s words have served to stir an old theoryclosely linked to oral tradition, which ensures that one of Columbus’s ships yes it was related with Galicia. La María, aka ‘Gallega’. Oubiña did not go into details, he only spoke of “one of the caravels” of the 1942 expedition, but his words have little of mystery. Three large ships participated in Columbus’s adventure: the caravels Pinta and Niña and the ship Santa María. Of the three, this last one is the one that has been seen with the greatest interest from the north. The reason: some historians claim that sailors knew it as ‘the Galician’a supposed nod to its place of construction. Right now its manufacturing It is usually located in Cantabria. The Galician theory dates back to at least the 19th century and a few years ago he was in charge of remembering her in Pontevedra Viva Guillermo García de la Riega Bellver when reviewing some of the theses defended in the essay ‘La Gallega, Nao Capitana de Colón’. The work states that “there is no justification” that the Santa María was actually built in Cantabria and, after remembering the ship’s nickname (‘La Gallega’), it argues that in 15th century Pontevedra “boats of all kinds” were also built, not just barges. Why is it important? For several reasons. The first, because the theories about the Galician link of the Santa María ship are by no means new. It was drawn up several centuries ago by the scholar Martin Sarmiento. The origin of that specific ship is especially interesting due to the central role (the admiral was traveling on it) that it played in Columbus’s expedition that ended up reaching America. The second reason is that the theory about the supposed Pontevedra origin of the Santa María connects with another, much more popular hypothesis, which assures that Columbus himself I had Galician roots. Its defenders place its birthplace in the south of Galicia. There are those who even identified him with a capital figure in the Late Middle Ages of Galicia: Pedro Álvarez de Sotomayor, ‘Pedro Madruga’. Images | Wikipedia 1 and 2, Sareb In Xataka | Statues of Columbus have reached Japan and Egypt. And that tells us something crucial about his controversial figure.

All Big Tech are betting the money they have and the money they don’t have on the future of AI. All but one: Apple

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650 billion dollars. There it is nothing. That is the total amount that Google, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft are going to invest in data centers for AI. That amount of money is astonishing and is similar to the current GDP of countries like Argentina or Israel. But the curious thing is not only that: there is a Big Tech that is totally ignoring this fever to spend on AI as if there were no tomorrow. Apple against the current. The company led by Tim Cook is the only one of the group of large technology companies whose capex (planned capital expenditure) was reduced last quarter. Based on FactSet data compiled by SherwoodApple’s forecasts for that quarter were not to spend more, but attention, spend (quite a bit) less. The numbers don’t lie. According to the data provided by these companies, Amazon expects that in 2026 its capex reaches up to 200,000 million dollars. Google wants to go from 175,000 to 185,000 million. Meta estimates that the expense will be between 115,000 and the 135,000 million. And although Microsoft did not give a specific figure, it surely exceeds the $114 billion estimated by Wall Street. And Apple? Apple will not spend more, but 19% according to its latest estimates: about $12.7 billion. Amazon: +42% YoY (vs. previous year) Microsoft: +89% YoY Google: +95% YoY Goal: +48% YoY Apple: -19% YoY Cupertino goes from AI. While its competitors spent record sums last quarter (which ended December 31) on the purchase of material and properties linked to the AI ​​sector and data centers, Apple continues not to invest in this sector. It is something that makes it clear that the company seems to have definitively decided that this is not its war. Siri+Gemini is the best test. Confirmation of that “surrender” is in the recent announcement that Gemini will be the AI ​​on which the new version of Siri will be based. Apple’s new AI assistant is expected to hit the market this spring with at least some initial features, but the fact that it does so depends entirely on Google’s AI model makes it clear that Apple here prefers to delegate rather than invest to have its own foundational model. AI will be a commodity. Instead of participating in this costly war of language models, Apple is clear that AI is going to end up being a commodity, something that is going to become a basic standard technology like the PC, mobile phone or laptop is now. Model prices plummet as the capacity of those models grows, and benchmarks make it clear that no model is better than another for long. Apple as a gateway to AI. As usual, what Apple will do is take advantage of the fact that has the “gateway to AI. With 2.4 billion devices worldwide, it controls the most valuable distribution channel on the planet. It has the luxury of not making “the engine,” but rather acting as an avenue to bring AI to the masses. Here agreements like the one it has completed with Google are just the beginning. It doesn’t matter being late. It is something that is in the company’s DNA. He also did not want to fight the search engine battle, but it did not matter: he reached an agreement with Google, which has paid him billions of dollars for years to be able to put its search engine as the default engine on iPhones, iPads and Macs. Apple prefers that others pave the way and absorb the costs of early learning. Then she usually arrives with superior integration and a refined experience (iPod, iPhone) or directly with deals like the one she completed in the search engine space. AI will be invisible and ubiquitous. Apple’s goal doesn’t seem to be to offer its own chatbot on the web, but to make AI invisible and ubiquitous. It doesn’t matter which model runs behind it, but simply that this AI works transparently for the user. And it does so, of course, seamlessly integrated into Apple services and applications. Privacy by flag. And of course, with that vaunted commitment to privacy that Apple always boasts of. Its Private Cloud Compute is the best proof of this. By not relying on advertising (hello Google, hello OpenAI), it is able to offer advanced features without collecting massive data from users. But there is risk. Still, the strategy has a critical risk: if AI models become a commodity and end up creating technological monopolies, Apple could be permanently at the mercy of its suppliers. If these competitive advantages end up being consolidated in the model layer – the one controlled by OpenAI, Anthropic and Google – and not in the integration layer – which is Apple’s – the dependence on third parties will be a dangerous strategic weakness. Room for maneuver. Apple has annual benefits close to 100 billion dollars, which gives it an enviable financial position to wait for this “hype” cycle to cool down. It is clear that there is an AI bubble and that bubble will probably end up exploding and leaving many victims. If it does, one of those that will undoubtedly have room to maneuver to survive will be Apple. Image | Xataka with Freepik In Xataka | China does not have a spending problem with AI. What it has is a huge income gap compared to its main rival

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