enters

AI enters the era of CPUs. To no one’s surprise, this is bad news for the consumer.

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The current state of data centers is redefining the production lines of the main technological players. What seemed like a specific crisis in the price of RAM and SSDs has ended up becoming a tsunami that is sweeping away products and the consumer market. The data centers They need the same components as consumers and the rest of the industry, and there was one component that seemed safe: the processors. It’s over. Danger! During his presentation of results In the first quarter of 2026, Intel gave a worrying piece of information: the ratio of CPUs and GPUs in data centers could soon reach 1:1. So far, we’ve talked about memory and GPUs as the primary hardware in data centers, but there needs to be a CPU running the show, and currently, there was one CPU for every eight GPUs. However, things are starting to change due to agentic AI. How to know the components of your PC (RAM, Graphics, CPU…) and the state they are in Training is still important, but now we seem to be entering the era of inference, and that’s where CPUs excel. David Zinsner, Intel’s chief financial officer, described in the call with investors that the CPU/GPU ratio had already gone from 1:8 to 1:4 (one CPU for every four GPUs), but that this agentic AI was exploding the memory of the CPUs, approaching the aforementioned 1:1. Change of course. I think you can now anticipate where the shots are going to go. As we read in Tom’s Hardwarethis action has caused a reaction: that Intel begins to move its production lines to begin to reduce its capacity in consumer products and increase the output of Xeon processors, which are indicated for servers and continuous work. All because, currently, delivery times for server CPUs are about six months away and they cannot allow AMD, which also has its products for servers, to beat them in that race. Consequences. Price increases. Without palliatives. Xeon CPU prices are estimated to have risen in March by 10% to 20% due to that shortage, but consumer CPUs have also increased in price by 5% to 10%. It is not going to stop there, as another 10% price increase is expected for the second half of the year. In fact, it is the same as with mobile phones, with Intel pointing out that the consumer PC market will decrease by double digits this year. Here it happens as in the rest of the segments: manufacturers are raising prices for everyone (hyperscalers and consumers), but they allocate their production to data centers because they are the ones that will buy the most volume from them. Intel doesn’t care if there is no CPU for users because it is not the bulk of its current market, but what it cannot afford is to have hyperscalers for more than six months expectingespecially if data centers are expected to have to mount more CPUs in the short term. The objective: the great foundry. Intel has been in the doldrums for a few years. In the consumer segment, AMD’s Ryzens have beaten them to the punch, the ARC GPUs have not finished coming together and things were not going well. A series of poor results led the United States government to invest $2 billion to ‘rescue’ the company with one goal: to make it the largest American foundry. Because, even if things did not go well, they are still one of the few companies in the world with the capacity to create chips, like TSMC or Samsung. They have some of the best machines on the market and that government bailout soon began to bear fruit with clients such as Apple and Nvidia. During the presentation of results A few days ago, Intel declared a net loss of $3.7 billion, but something happened nonetheless: the stock rose 20%. The reason is that investors are not looking at Intel’s present, but rather its future, and the changes applied in recent months seem to be going in the right direction. They are not the only ones. This change of direction and production lines is not exclusive to Intel. We have seen it in other companies, but it is true that here they directly advocate leaving out the consumer to prioritize the large customer: Big Tech. Something similar happened with Samsung a few days ago, when it was reported that the company had begun to move your LPDDR4 memory production lines to LPDDR5. This type of memory is better, but also more expensive, which will cause devices that previously mounted LPDDR4 memory (low-end miniPC or entry- and mid-range mobile phones) to have to go directly for LPDDR5 memory that is faster, but also more expensive. In the end, the translation is the same as always: as users, we are going to have to tighten our belts and hold on with the devices we have for a while longer. How long? Until 2027 if you ask some, 2028 if you ask others or if that… 2030. Images | Intel In Xataka | There is no energy for so many data centers and the consequence is clear: half of those planned for 2026 in the US are in danger

Iran has turned Hormuz into the entrance to a VIP nightclub. And Spain enters the guest list and the US stays at the door

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Spain has never been a great military power, but it has been a key player in energy routes. In fact, more than 60% of the gas Its consumption arrives by ship and its refineries are among the most important in southern Europe. Furthermore, its geographical position makes it a natural bridge between Africa, America and the Mediterranean, which means that any change in global energy flows ends up impacting, directly or indirectly, its economy. Iran as oil watchdog. what is happening in Hormuz At this moment it breaks one of the great premises of the global order of recent decades. The naval superiority of the United States was assumed to be overwhelming, backed by a navy that far surpasses the rest of the world in capacity and deployment, and which guaranteed the security of the great sea routes. However, Iran has shown that it is not necessary to dominate the oceans to control a key point. It is enough to have the ability to deny access in a small space, combine asymmetric military pressure and assume the cost of the conflict. The result is that Washington, despite its power, is tied hand and foot and cannot reopen the strait without escalating the war to levels much more dangerous. This turns Iran into a kind of “watchdog” for world oil, capable of deciding who passes and who doesn’tand marks a paradigm shift where the control of strategic bottlenecks outweighs global military supremacy. A tight as a VIP nightclub. Yes, because Iran has transformed the Strait of Hormuz into something more than an energetic chokepoint: has converted it in a business which works in the same way as the door of an exclusive nightclub, that is, a space where not just anyone enters, but only those who are on the list. And there Spain appears among the guests (what have confirmed explicitly) and, of course, the “hostile ships” of the United States and Israel are clearly banned. In other words, they have established a system selective access that redefines control of one of the most critical routes on the planet and turns geopolitics into a direct filter on who can trade and who cannot. Spain and its no to war. Impossible to ignore the government statement Spanish with Iran’s latest move. Pedro Sánchez’s refusal to align with Donald Trump’s strategy broke the dynamic common in Europe. Spain blocked the use from its bases, refused to actively participate in the operation, and turned “no to war” into foreign policy. That movement, which seemed isolated, began to influence other countries. Germany and Italy, for their part, they took distance. And Europe stopped moving as a bloc, showing that there is room to challenge Washington without completely breaking the alliance. The “prize”. It remains to be seen if in the end it will be “poisoned”, but the truth is that this Spanish positioning has had immediate consequences. Iran has shown a special disposition towards Spain, facilitating ship transit linked to their country in a context in which the passage is practically closed for many others. This preferential treatment turns neutrality into an operational advantage tangible, but also introduces a delicate dimension. Spain gains room for maneuver in the short term, but at the cost of exposing itself to criticism and pressure from its allies, critics who may interpret such access as a dangerous concession in a highly polarized environment. The Iranian model that no one saw coming. I was counting this morning the financial times that Tehran is designing a maritime traffic control system much more structured than it might seem. Transit no longer depends solely on navigation, but of a process which combines diplomacy, supervision and, in some cases, high payments to guarantee passage. As? Apparently, the ships must coordinate with the Iranian authorities, undergo verifications and follow specific routes under surveillance. This “handmade” model that few saw coming in the middle of the war introduces a de facto “toll” that transforms the strait into an economic and political tool at the same time, reinforcing Iran’s ability to influence global trade. A global bottleneck. The impact of this change is enormous if we take into account the importance of the Strait of Hormuz. How have we been countingit passes approximately one fifth of world oil, as well as gas and essential raw materials for the global economy. The war has reduced traffic drastically, has increased attacks on ships and has generated a situation of great uncertainty for thousands of sailors. What was once a predictable route has become a high risk spacewith immediate consequences on energy prices and market stability. From highway to guarded corridor. They explained in The Guardian through a visual analysis that the functioning of the strait has also changed in operational terms. The usual routes have been replaced by controlled runners closer to the Iranian coast, where authorities can directly supervise transiting ships. This system allows almost individualized traffic management, reducing the volume of passage and increasing control on each vessel. The result is that Hormuz has stopped behaving as an international maritime highway and begins to function as a regulated access, where each movement depends on prior authorization. Consequences. In the long term, this model opens the door for Iran to obtain important income and consolidate a tool for strategic pressure on world trade. However, also raises legal issues and diplomatic tensions significant, since it questions basic principles of international maritime law. Given this scenario, other countries could accelerate the search for alternatives, such as new energy infrastructure or different trade routes (China and Russia they are already doing it). If this process is consolidated, the result could be a system fragmentation global, where access to key resources depends increasingly on political decisions and less on norms shared for years. Image | eutrophication&hypoxiaNARA, US Navy, اری In Xataka | Israel has found the secret route of the war in Ukraine: it has just bombed the “Uber of shahed drones” between Russia and Iran In Xataka | Iran is … Read more

charges every time someone enters a Universal park

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In 1987, while Warner Bros. was trying to sign him to make films for it (something that would not come until the 2001 Amblin co-production ‘AI’), Steven Spielberg signed a deal with Universal that had nothing to do with film. Decades later, that Creative Consultant contract in theme parks brings him more money than any of his films and has gone down in history as one of the most lucrative in the history of entertainment. And the best: it has no expiration date. The origin of the contract. In 1987, Universal Studios didn’t have the money to compete with Warner. What it did have was Sid Sheinberg, the president of MCA, Universal’s parent company, who had been betting for years on a young director whom he had signed when he was barely a teenager and for whom the director had provided hits like ‘Jaws’ or ‘ET the Extraterrestrial’. When Warner launched a financial offensive to snatch up Spielberg, Sheinberg improvised a cashless solution: making his star director a creative consultant for the theme parks Universal planned to build, with a share of the gross receipts. Forever. ELON MUSK VS JEFF BEZOS: STAR WARS How was it known? For two decades, the terms of the agreement were known only to a small circle of lawyers, but came to light thanks to a footnote in the financial documents that Universal presented in 2009, in the midst of the economic crisis. It was then known that Spielberg perceived 5.25% of all gross revenue generated by the two parks built after the signing (Orlando and Japan), an amount valued at up to 70 million dollars annually (approximately 120 dollars per ticket, 2.38 dollars for each ticket sold) and that It later spread to Singapore and Beijing.. Universal Studios Hollywood was excluded because the park already existed before the initial agreement. It doesn’t stop, it doesn’t stop. The key term here is “in perpetuity”: no expiration date. The original text included a clause granting Spielberg 2% of all box office grosses and a portion of concessions, in perpetuity. These are not royalties linked to a specific film or a specific attraction. Spielberg charges for each ticket sold at the parks covered by the agreement, regardless of whether any of his films have a presence there. The financial crisis of the late 2000s put Universal in an uncomfortable position. The agreement included a clause allowing Spielberg to demand a final payment and terminate the contract, which he did. The figure was estimated to be around $200 million. But the studio was building The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and could not afford that payment. Spielberg agreed to postpone it until June 2017 in exchange for an increase in his share from 2% to 5.25% of gross receipts, just as the opening of the Harry Potter zone promised to skyrocket attendance. In 2017 he agreed to continue collecting royalties. Other cases. Spielberg’s deal with Universal has no direct equivalent in the industry. Perhaps George Lucas’ situation with the ‘Star Wars’ franchise, which sold to Disney in 2012 for $4 billionis comparable, but it is still a simple sale of rights. In other words: no matter how much the franchise films make now, Lucas receives nothing. Of course, Spielberg was very smart there: the opening of Epic Universe in Orlando in May 2025 adds a new source of gross revenue to which Spielberg is entitled under his contract. According to the latest estimatesif visitor volume reaches projections from previous expansions, the director’s annual revenue could exceed $100 million over the next few years. What I said: a great business. Image | William Warby

“The wound is the place where the light enters”

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Can suffering transform us? Is it true, as Rumi, the great Persian poet of the 13th century, said, that “a wound is a place where light enters”? From the pre-Hislamic myth of Siyavash to the Sufi mysticism of the annihilation of the self or the Shiite obsession with martyrdom, Persian and Iranian thinkers have been thinking about suffering as a transformative force for thousands of years. It is a rich, lyrical, wild and sometimes very dangerous tradition. Therefore, it is curious that thousands of years of such a rich relationship with pain comes to us filtered and converted into Instagram stories. What Rumi didn’t say. Let’s start at the beginning: most likely, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi never wrote those words. And, in this case, it should not surprise us either. In 1995, the recently deceased Coleman Bryan Barks published a book titled ‘The Essential Rumi‘ and, without anyone yet being able to explain it, it sold more than half a million copies. The only real problem with this is that Barks didn’t know Persian. He wasn’t even a really specialized translator. He took previous translations, he cleaned them of references to Islam and He adapted the verses to Western taste. It was a huge success that advanced something we are used to today: the probability that a date we see on the internet be false it is getting higher and higher. And yet, the quote has some truth. Because, in effect, today’s Iran is the repository of an ancient tradition that sacralizes transformative suffering. When Yazid I’s army ambushed and murdered Husain ibn Ali and his 72 companions near KarbalaThey had no idea what they were about to do. They thought they were resolving once and for all the thorny issue of Muhammad’s succession, but the martyrdom of the third imam of the Shiites would germinate in a strange cultural substrate: the idea that suffering is not an accident, it is a battlefield. Thus spoke Zarathustra. That’s where you can best see the ‘Zoroastrian substrate‘: in this religion, Ahura Mazda creates the world as a battle in which humans have to take sides. For old Persian philosophy, evil is not something inherent to the world: it is an army that must be defeated. Therefore, suffering, sacrifice and pain are part of the process that, if we are successful, will lead us to good. It is not the absence of love (as it might seem in the Judeo-Christian mentality), it is a definitive ethical filter. That is the archetype, then came its incarnations. When Islam takes hold in Persia, that substrate is there and takes many forms. While for the Shiites, martyrdom is redemptive and intercedes for us before Allah; For Sufi mysticism, suffering becomes a vehicle towards God, towards the annihilation of the ego and its arrival at divinity. To us, today, all these details don’t matter a little to us, honestly. What is relevant is how hundreds of philosophers resolved the “problem of evil“in a completely different way than what we are used to. Evil is not an error that must be explained by appealing to the unfathomability of God, Evil is the path by which the universe is renewed. No self-help. And in this context, Rumi’s dubious quote (“a wound is a place where light enters”) would be much more radical than any self-help manual would be willing to go. Suffering does not make us wiser, stronger, or smarter. It is simply the price to pay: there is no point in trying to justify it. Today, even knowing how dangerous this line of thought is, it is impossible not to look at those thinkers thinking how much of them really remains in our way of living. Image | If you’ve ever thought about “leaving everything and going to the mountains,” these thinkers have a lot to tell you

AI enters clinics to tell you its real potential

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For years, freezing eggs meant also freezing an unknown. Women who opted for vitrification as a strategy to preserve their fertility knew how many oocytes they stored, but not what real potential they had. The estimate depended almost exclusively on age and population statistics. There wasn’t much else. That’s starting to change. Artificial intelligence has begun to be used in reproductive medicine not only to optimize technical processes, but also to offer patients more precise predictive information about their real chances of becoming mothers in the future from their own vitrified eggs. From visual intuition to algorithmic precision. Before the introduction of AI, the quality of an oocyte could hardly be objectively assessed. According to Dr. Marcos Meseguer, Global Director of Embryology Researchin an interview for Xatakathe assessment depended on general morphological criteria and the embryologist’s subjective impression, often based on whether the egg “looked pretty or ugly.” There were no solid quantitative standards or models capable of estimating the biological competence of the oocyte. The prediction was extremely limited, almost equivalent to chance. The technological leap has not been incremental, but qualitative. “We have gone from having practically no prognostic tools to having models with real prediction capacity,” Meseguer details. Today, algorithms are introducing a layer of quantitative analysis that transforms that scenario. More in depth. The change is not minor. As Meseguer explains to us, AI allows us to analyze thousands of images of oocytes whose subsequent clinical results are known—if they formed an embryo, if they reached a blastocyst—and learn patterns associated with reproductive success. The algorithm always evaluates the same parameters in a standardized way. This systematization eliminates variability between observers and converts a subjective assessment into an objective and reproducible evaluation. In other words, for the first time a probabilistic estimate can be offered based on data and not just general statistics by age. It’s not magic: measure better, don’t see more. It is important to clarify what exactly AI does and what it does not do. The algorithm does not detect hidden genetic abnormalities nor does it replace tests such as preimplantation genetic diagnosis. As the specialist clarifies, the genetic analysis is not performed on the oocyte, but on the embryo after fertilization. The AI ​​applied to the oocyte analyzes the same images that the embryologist sees, but in a quantitative way. It accurately measures parameters such as oocyte diameter, the thickness of the zona pellucida or certain characteristics of the cytoplasm. “The difference is not seeing more, but measuring better and in a standardized way,” says Marcos Meseguer. Furthermore, the oocyte is not evaluated dynamically, as is the case with the embryo, but rather statically. It is not about choosing an “ideal candidate”—all mature oocytes are used in assisted reproduction—but rather about stratifying their biological potential and offering probabilistic estimates of competence. More information, but no guarantees. This advance does not imply that laboratories “select” only the best oocytes. All mature oocytes (metaphase II) continue to be used. The difference is in the stratification of their biological potential. In fertility preservation—women who vitrify eggs for use years later—this information takes on special relevance. Instead of basing expectations solely on age, personalized data derived from algorithmic analysis can be incorporated. However, caution is key. Age continues to be the most determining prognostic factor. AI does not modify biology or compensate for physiological limitations. It is a support tool, not a miracle solution, warns the expert. What it does achieve is reduce uncertainty. And in a field marked by emotional stress and complex decision-making, having quantified and objective information can change the clinical conversation. A global trend towards automation. The incorporation of artificial intelligence is part of a broader transformation of fertility laboratories. A recent example picks it up The New York Times from a study published in Nature Medicine. The work analyzes a microfluidic device called OvaReadycapable of recovering eggs that the conventional method did not detect after follicular aspiration. In the study, the device analyzed follicular fluid that had already been examined manually. In more than half of the patients, additional oocytes were found that were going to be discarded. The birth of a girl was even documented from one of those recovered oocytes. Although this technology is not exactly a predictive system like image analysis algorithms, it illustrates a clear trend: laboratories are incorporating automated tools that standardize processes and reduce exclusive dependence on human judgment. Experts quoted by the American newspaper highlightHowever, larger studies are still needed to confirm that these additional eggs consistently increase the live birth rate. The real impact: better managing the “biological clock”? Technological enthusiasm, however, has boundaries. “AI is a tool to support diagnosis and decision-making, not a miracle solution,” says the specialist in the interview. It can optimize decisions and reduce variability, but it cannot modify the intrinsic quality of gametes or alter biological limitations. In other words, it improves the information available, but does not change the biology. The next step. Development does not stop at the oocyte evaluation. According to the embryologist, the next big leap will be the progressive optimization of ovarian stimulation protocols through predictive models that integrate clinical, hormonal and previous response data. More than “absolute customization”, it will be a continuous improvement in precision. Reproductive medicine is moving toward increasingly data-driven decisions. In economic terms, technological incorporation may initially entail a higher cost, but in the medium and long term it could reduce failed cycles and make the system more cost-effective. Freezing eggs without freezing uncertainty. Vitrification will continue to be a bet with a margin of uncertainty. No algorithm can promise a future pregnancy. But it can offer a more refined estimate of the biological potential of those frozen eggs. For years, fertility preservation was a decision supported by general statistics. Today it is also beginning to rely on personalized predictive models. Artificial intelligence does not eliminate the passage of time or guarantee motherhood. But it does introduce something new to a discipline historically marked by probability: … Read more

the division enters a new stage

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On a Friday night we tend to be focused on other things, not a movement that reconfigures Xbox’s leadership. However, that is what we have found: the retirement of Phil Spencer, the resignation of Sarah Bond as president of Xbox and a new name at the head of Microsoft Gaming. The information, published by IGNpoints to a replacement that few publicly anticipated. And when we talk about the two most visible faces of the division in the last decade, we are not talking about a simple internal adjustment, but about a turning point. In detail. Phil Spencer will leave his position as CEO of Microsoft Gaming on Monday, February 23, 2026, according to sources familiar with the matter cited by the aforementioned media. In the email sent to staff, Spencer himself explains that the conversation began months ago: “Last fall, I told Satya that I was thinking about taking a step back and starting the next chapter of my life.” The transition, he maintains, was designed in advance. In parallel, as we say, Sarah Bond has presented her resignation as president of Xbox. It has not been proposed as a natural succession or as a staggered relief, but rather as an exit that coincides with Spencer’s retirement. The new boss. The name that the helm takes is Asha Sharmauntil now president of CoreAI, the area focused on product and artificial intelligence within Microsoft. As his LinkedIn profile shows, he joined the company in 2024 and was previously VP of Product and Engineering at Meta and COO at Instacart, in addition to serving on the board of The Home Depot. His profile comes from the field of product and large-scale platforms, rather than from a public career linked to the historical management of Xbox. The redesign does not remain in the executive management. Matt Booty, until now head of Xbox Game Studios, is promoted to Chief Content Officer and will work closely with Sharma. It is not a minor change: it begins to play a central role in the content strategy at a time when the portfolio of studios and franchises is one of the division’s most visible assets. Three commitments. In his first message to the team, Sharma structures his roadmap into three clear axes. The first is direct: “First, great games. It all starts here.” It speaks of unforgettable characters, heart-warming stories and creative excellence, and promises to empower studios, invest in iconic franchises and support new ideas. Within this framework is the promotion of Booty, whom he defines as someone who understands “the craft and challenges of building great games.” The second axis goes through what it calls “the return of Xbox”, with an explicit reaffirmation of the console’s role in the brand’s identity after 25 years. The third looks at the “future of gaming,” with new business models and shared tools for developers and players in an environment where gaming lives across diverse devices. Balance and what’s coming. The transition, at least on paper, has been designed months in advance and with an orderly transfer. Spencer will continue in an advisory role over the summer, but formal leadership will change hands on Monday, February 23, 2026. From now on, the focus will shift to execution: how the commitment to big games is realized, what real weight the console will have in the strategy and how cross-platform expansion will be integrated. The relief is defined; The stage begins that we will have to measure in facts. Images | Xbox In Xataka | Video games have grown a lot this year. But the money goes to China, Roblox and the owners of mobile platforms

Artemis II enters decisive territory

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There are times when a space program stops being a promise and becomes a tangible countdown. Artemis II just reached that point. The mission enters the realm of controlled preparation of decisions that are no longer easily or costlessly reversed. It is not yet the launch, nor even a set date, but it is the step that requires demonstrating that everything designed, integrated and tested over the years can work. The concrete advance arrived at the weekend with a movement as slow as it is symbolic. The Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft completed its transfer from the Vehicle Assembly Building to ramp 39B of the Kennedy Space Center, a journey of about 6.5 km that took twelve hours. The operation concluded with the placement of the assembly on the pedestals of the launch platform, a step that enables the start of activities. The test that puts Artemis II against reality The next step is the Wet Dress Rehearsalthe test that conditions everything that comes after. In this test, NASA explains that the teams must demonstrate the ability to load a large amount of cryogenic propellants, carry out a launch countdown test and practice the safe removal of rocket fuel without astronauts on board. The countdown will stop shortly before the simulated takeoff. While preparations are being finalized, work on the ramp is progressing on several fronts simultaneously. NASA details that the teams have connected purge lines to maintain rocket and spacecraft cavities in adequate conditions, have enabled communications with the Launch Control Center and have carried out movement tests of the crew access arm. The emergency evacuation system has also been connected, with basket release practices, and Orion and various elements of the SLS have been turned on to verify their response in the launch environment. With those tasks underway, the focus shifts to the realistic mission schedule. NASA notes that the launch window opens as early as Friday, February 6, but stresses that the program direction will evaluate the preparation after the Wet Dress Rehearsal before selecting a day. In parallel, the choice also depends on external conditions: the position of the Moon for the planned trajectory and the security requirements that force Orion to re-enter within very specific margins to protect the heat shield. The caution surrounding this phase is not gratuitous. Artemis II is the program’s first manned mission and comes after a long development, marked by technical reviews and schedule slippages. During the campaign of Artemis I, The loading of cryogenic propellants was marked by problems maintaining adequate temperatures and hydrogen leaks in several attempts. Corrections and procedures learned then have now been incorporated, but this section serves precisely to verify that these solutions work consistently in a vehicle intended to carry people on board. Unlike the next mission in the program, Artemis II is a verification flight, not direct exploration. The planned profile includes several elliptical orbits around the Earth, a push towards the moon and a flyby without landing on the moon, lasting approximately ten days. This scheme will confirm that Orion can sustain a crew in deep space, validate systems such as life support and check communications and navigation for that environment, with the support of the Deep Space Network, before preparing the jump to Artemis III. With all this work already concentrated on the ramp, Artemis II now has more than just an administrative advance at stake. The loading test and subsequent review will determine whether the system is truly ready to take on a manned flight beyond Earth’s orbit. If problems arise, NASA is considering the option of returning the rocket to the assembly building for additional work, a reminder that there is still room for maneuver even if it impacts the schedule. Images | NASA (1, 2, 3, 4) In Xataka | Faced with the need to look for weapons against superbacteria, science has opted to send viruses into space

After invading the development of video games, AI enters an untouchable area with a Sony patent: the player himself

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Sony has registered a patent that proposes a future where video games can complete themselves. The document, presented in September 2024 and released this weekdescribes a system of “artificial intelligence ghosts” capable of actively intervening in PlayStation games. These virtual agents would go beyond traditional guides: they would not only show how to overcome obstacles, but they could directly take control and solve entire levels while the player watches. How it works. The patent details an assistance system with several levels of intervention. For example, “Guide Mode” would allow the ghost to show the solution to a specific problem, such as solving a puzzle or executing a precise sequence of commands, but it would have to be completed by the player. “Complete Mode”, on the other hand, would hand over total control to the artificial agent, which would overcome the obstacle autonomously. More modes. The registration document describes four modes Selectable additional features: Story Mode, Combat Mode, Exploration Mode and Full Game Mode, suggesting specialization in certain tasks, depending on the type of challenge presented to the player. The system would function as a layer superimposed on the user’s character, visible on the screen as a visual reference. In some cases, this digital ghost could even hold conversations with the player’s avatar to offer contextualized instructions. What does it feed on? The technology would be fueled by recordings of previous games, including content shared on YouTube and social networks. The original patent document justifies the need to access these videos by stating that “players can research the game or search for previous gameplay on Internet sites, but that process is time-consuming.” Help systems. Player aids have come a long way. In the ’90s, players who got stuck called support lines (Nintendo’s being especially popular) or consulted guides in magazines, full of maps and secrets. The web democratized access through databases such as GameFAQs and, later, through audiovisual content on YouTube that allowed step-by-step solutions to be seen. In fact, Playstation 5 already incorporates Game Helpa system that displays clips of other users overcoming specific sections of the game. Its application, however, leaves something to be desired. Microsoft, of course, is betting on Copilot in the form of a conversational assistant that answers questions about the game. The proposal for artificial ghosts goes one step further, going from pre-recorded content to direct intervention in the game. AI in industry. The artificial intelligence integration video game development is accelerating. In 2024Unity revealed that 62% of studios that were using its tools implemented AI in some phase of production, highlighting animation as the main application. A survey from the Game Developers Conference of the same year indicates that approximately a third of professionals in the sector were already using these technologies. Data from the Tokyo Games Show raised the figure to more than half of Japanese companies. The automation of gameplay It’s not new either. Kotaku mentions in its article successful titles such as ‘Vampire Survivors’, with semi-automatic mechanics; ‘Megabonk’, nominated for the Game Awards for its automated design; or, in general, all idle subgenrewhich has such popular examples as ‘Ball X Pit’. The debate. This technology poses a dilemma: on the one hand, it would allow more players to enjoy complex content and prevent abandonment due to frustration. It would be integrated into the accessibility options (difficulty settings, control remapping, color blind modes), without forcing anyone to use it. On the other hand… do we run the risk of losing the “challenge” of games by delegating our participation to AI agents? What’s the point of playing then? And of course, it raises multiple questions in multiplayer environments, where there will be a temptation to take credit for victories achieved by the ghost. In Xataka | The new “test” to discover whether or not an AI model is truly intelligent: play Pokémon

Spain enters the “Scandinavian blockade” and that causes a radical change starting December 23

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Something is happening in Scandinavia and that something is going to affect us directly. It’s already affecting us. Because, as I write, a huge anticyclonic blockade over the Nordic countries is channeling polar (continental) air towards southern Europe. Specifically towards us. What is a lock atmospheric? We speak of blocking when the “normal” flow of west-east winds is interrupted and the jet becomes more wavy (it has variations from north to south). This slows down the typical advance of storms and sends them to areas with little traffic. In Europe, to be specificwe speak of “Scandinavian blocking” when a mass of high pressure in the north of the continent reorganizes the storms and favors cold weather towards mid-latitudes. What translated it turns out: a complicated week. At least in Spain and the Balearic Islands, where low pressures in a context of cold inflows and episodes of stability can end up generating many problems. We talk about yellow warnings for rain in the entire northwest half and snow levels approaching 700 meters in many areas of the country (and 1,200 in the south) Why is this important? I mean, we’re in winter, right? Yes, it’s true: but we are also on Christmas Eve, one of the busiest times of the year. Snow at medium levels and, above all, frost increase exponentially the probability of incidents on roads, ports and mountain passes. That is to say, we do not need a “new Filomena” for the country to turn upside down and accidents to skyrocket. And all this without talking about the associated problems. Indeed. On the one hand, a pattern of low maximums tends to put pressure on electricity and heating demand (with very intense peaks and the possible risks involved). On the other hand, agriculture will suffer damage and the cold will be a terrible factor because it will help the flu epidemic keep wreaking havoc. The debate now is on the impact. That is, the usual debate. For the first time in many years, we are not going to have a warm Christmas and that, we already know, is going to cause problems. The issue is how many problems and to what extent we will be able to get them right. Image | ECMWF In Xataka | Lightning seems like a normal thing: in reality we have been trying to understand it for years and we have achieved it in a laboratory

As of October 9, transfers in the EU will no longer be the same. A new bank verification enters into force

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You open the bank’s app, choose “Transfer,” you go, you write the name of the recipient and confirm. Today, October 7, 2025, if that name does not match the holder of the account, the usual thing is that the payment is executed without alerts. As of October 9, that everyday gesture changes. In the EU, starting with the entities of the euro area, the bank must check if the name you enter with that of the IBA before authorizing the shipment. The idea is simple, that money reaches who owes. Until now, European banks were not obliged to verify whether the beneficiary’s name coincided with the IBA before executing a transfer. The system was based only on the account number, which allowed payments to be processed even if the name was not correct. Some countries, such as the Netherlands, had developed verification mechanisms such as the “Iran-Naam Check”, but there was no common norm. The new European regulation corrects that disparity and establishes a uniform procedure for the entire union. Three possible messages. When the bank taught the name and the Iban, the answer may be one of three. Total coincidence. If the data fully coincide, the transfer will be validated without additional notices. Partial coincidence. If there are slight differences (a changed letter, an absent tilde or an abbreviated name) an alert will appear indicating partial coincidence. In that case, the user may review the data or continue under their responsibility. Without coincidence. If there is no coincidence, the system will warn that the data does not quote, without showing the real name of the holder for privacy reasons. WARNING, DO NOT BLOCK. Receiving an alert does not mean that the payment is blocked. The system is designed to inform, not to prevent the operation. Even if the name and the IBAN do not coincide, the user will be able to move forward with the transfer under their own responsibility. What changes is the transparency of the process. Before it was not known if the data fit; Now the bank will show you before executing the shipment. The final decision will remain yours. People and companies. The verification is based on the identification data of the account holder. If the beneficiary is a natural person, the system will compare its name and surname as it appears in the receiving bank. In the case of a legal person (for example, a company or association), the verification will focus on the company name or the commercial name. The usual errors, such as tildes, abbreviations or second denominations, can generate partial coincidences, but will not prevent the transfer, as we mentioned above. Standard, immediate and periodic. Verification will apply to both standard and immediate transfers, without additional cost for the user. One of the payment entities that have detailed how the process will work is Nickel. As explainedperiodic transfers scheduled before October 9, 2025 will not be subject to the beneficiary’s verification, although its execution is subsequent. Only the coincidence in the new orders created from that date and once, at the time of configuring them, will be verified. Absence of verification. As Nickel also explains, it can happen that the system fails to check the name with the Iban. This ruling, the company points out, may be due to communication problems between banks or specific technical limitations. In that case, the entity indicates that it will also proceed with the transfer, without the system confirming the coincidence of the beneficiary. Nickel herself advises to cancel the operation if there are doubts about the recipient, especially when it comes to high amounts or unusual accounts. The origin of the measure is in the rebound of bank fraud in the last decade. The European institutions, headed by the Commission and the ECB, considered that the system knows a mechanism for verifying the beneficiary to prevent erroneous payments and identity robberies. With the new standard, each transfer will include an automatic verification that acts as an informative filter. It does not delay shipping, but offers a warning that did not exist before. Vishing, Smishing, Romance and BEC. Behind the regulatory change are the fraud that proliferate in Europe and that banks try to stop new verification tools. He Vishingfor example, use false phone calls to impersonate bank employees or authorities. He SMISHING It arrives by SMS with messages that simulate being from the bank or a shipping company. They have also extended The romantic scamswhere the victim’s trust is gained before asking for money, and the CEO fraudin which an alleged manager orders urgent and confidential transfers. Beyond the differences between modalities, almost all bank scams share the same pattern. They use psychological manipulation techniques to generate urgency, fear or trust, and rely on identity supplant to seem legitimate. In most cases, they seek to make the user a bank transfer, taking advantage of emotions such as concern, empathy or hierarchical pressure. The verification of the beneficiary does not eliminate these risks, but it can act as a pause that allows to detect the deception in time. Before clicking “Send.” Stop for a few seconds can make a difference. Before confirming a transfer, it is convenient to calmly review the name and I went from the recipient, especially if it is a new account or a recent change. If the bank notice indicates a partial or without coincidence, the most prudent is to verify the data by a different channel (a direct call or an official website). And, given the minimal suspicion, canceling is always better than regretting. The new system also reaches companies and professionals who make frequent payments. Each transfer will require confirming the coincidence between the name of the beneficiary and the IBAN, which will add a small step to the usual process. For companies, it can be an opportunity to reinforce their treasury controls and detect internal fraud attempts or supplier supplant. It is not a lock, but a filter of verification. What banks, what countries, what deadlines. The … Read more

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