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The Steam Machine’s key to eating the market will be the price. And there Valve has an ace up its sleeve

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The video game world is revolutionized. It’s not every day that a new “PC-console” is announced, but even rarer is that the device comes from Valve. They have just presented the Steam Machinea console-shaped PC that has been posed as a direct threat to Xbox and PS5but also for the Windows PC itself. Much has changed since Steam Machines from a decade ago and, with the new model, Valve will not take timid steps. Steam Deck has shown them that they have a lot to say in the field of hardware, but as always, success will depend on the price of the Steam Machine. It has to be attractive to gain a foothold. And Valve has a wild card called 30%. The price of the Steam Machine and the 30% wildcard A decade ago, Valve already took a hit with the first Steam Machines. He said that they were a timid bet because Valve developed the system, but between the fact that there were not so many games available for it (based on Linux) and that the machines were not designed by Valve, but rather delegated to companies like Asus and AlienWare (which set prices that were not competitive), well the thing ended… badly. The situation has changed a lot by three factors: In the shadows they continued to develop the Steam OS systemmaking it compatible with both Linux and Windows games. They launched a Steam Deck with which they have shown that they know how to make competitive hardware. Although threats such as Amazon and Epic Games have appeared, their platform remains the undisputed queen when we talk about PC gaming. The Steam Machine will arrive (accompanied by a new controller and a virtual reality viewer named Steam Frame) at the beginning of 2026. We do not know the specific date, nor the price. And, of course, once the initial excitement of the announcement had passed, the conversation turned to theorizing about the price of the Steam Machine. Here I want to be cautious because whenever hypotheses are launched about the price of hardware there are a lot of factors that come into play. We can take the components as a reference and say “To build a PC like this is about 700 euros”but then there are the design costs (it is very small and that increases the price), development, logistics… The last time the price of a console was theorized was with nintendo switch 2and their 470 euros They ended up surprising (although the 90 of some of their games were more surprising). Therefore, I don’t want to venture to say whether the Steam Machine will cost more or less. There are some clues. The Verge is one of the media outlets that has had the machine nearby and claims that Valve plans a price “similar to a PC with similar features.” From the middle they point about $800, but that’s only in components (without the system and other costs, for example), but the components are customized and look like versions of laptop CPUs and GPUs, not the ones we can buy for a desktop. From the technical media Digital Foundry take for granted that the range will be between 500 and 600 euros, but again: it is difficult to estimate because there is not much to scratch. Now, my reflection is that, if the objective of Steam is to punch the table and wants to take part of the pie from both the consoles Like the PC itself, the Steam Machine will be sold at a loss. Because? Because if there is a company that can afford it, it is Valve. For starters, it’s a private company. Gabe Newel, Valve’s boss, owns 51% of the shares. This implies that they do not have to give explanations to shareholders. This is why we do not have public figures for Steam profits or Steam Deck sales (although it is esteem which dominates the -small- consolidated PC market). But the reason why Valve can sell a console at a loss, or not care so much about not making money per machine sold, is because all the ones they sell have Steam as launcher and store, and the company keeps a significant percentage per game sold on the platform. That percentage is around 30%which implies that if a million copies of a game are sold, Valve’s share of the pie is considerable. And, although not all games sell millions, thousands of video games are released every month. that “solely” for setting up the servers and hosting the games developed by other companies. Besides, there is the matter of the stickersa market in which Steam also keeps a good percentage of each transaction. AND It is something that moves dizzying figures. On the Steam Machine, as on the Steam Deck, you can run games from platforms such as GOG, Epic or Rockstar, but in the end The PC marketplace par excellence is Steam. It is the mainstream platform and each of those Steam Machines will be a window to a store that has offers every now and then and that is very well positioned at a time when console games are more and more expensive. The consoles themselves are much more expensive than when they were launched five years ago. Therefore, although it is impossible to guess a price for the Steam Machine, as I said, If there is someone who can sell their machine at a loss because it will recover the difference with the software, that is Valve. And if they launch an affordable machine, with the market as it is, they can deal a tremendous blow to their direct competitors: consoles. But also to the PC itself. In Xataka | There are more and more physical video games that are paperweights. It is a tremendous problem for video games as art.

The mobile the AI ​​promises, but I only see repeated tricks. The real ace under the sleeve is called “agent” and comes on the way

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How could it be otherwise, AI has also reached our mobilemainly from the hand of two protagonists: Apple Intelligence on one side, Google Gemini In the other. However, in a matter of one year, we have gone from almost no manufacturer has ia that many protagonists of the industry now fight in the classic race. Samsung was a pioneer in some Galaxy AI’s first steps in which it enveloped the generative AI with profits: transcription voice recordings, simultaneous translation and generations of wallpapers, to name a few. More than a year later, AI suites for smartphone have multiplied. And yet, There is still a long way to go. Although these tools are a first step, the true pending revolution is the agricultural AI, capable of performing complex tasks autonomously. However, its implementation faces significant obstacles that limit their current potential. The next step is the agents After witnessing the MWC 2025, it is clear that IA has not been the central theme, although the most mentioned. Obviously, he has had his time of prominence, with Rimbombantes “AI” on several fronts: Motorola, Honor, Realme and Samsung have presumed suites for Android. Magicai, Next AI, Hyperai … prolong the journey of Galaxy AI, which by the way, has also overcome herself with the arrival of the Galaxy S25. How is better about the first -time version? We basically talk about two more skills, which revolve around to personalization. A short but sure step, that in essence it does not be far from What I could test Last year. Of those mentioned, the one that surprised me the most was Magicaithe honor suite (integrated into magicos) and its ambitious Honor Alpha Plan. For a simple reason: already introduces the concept of AI agents. It is not only an AI that responds, but one that can understand a complex objective, plan steps and execute actions proactively through different applications and services to achieve it (for example, plan and reserve a complete trip, not only look for a flight). These agents or agriculture contrast with current functions, which are more reactive or limited to a single task or app. Google has taken some shy steps with Gemini’s extensions, But there is a problem to treat: Interoperability between services. For an agent to reserve a table or ask for food, he needs to interact fluently with any restaurant or cast app, which in turn requires standardized APIS or a deep level of integration that, for the moment, does not exist in a generalized way. On the other hand, these demonstrations have an important limitation: they control the screen and do not allow the user to continue using the mobile while the agent acts. Leave that feeling that the machine does it for us, but it blocks us the machine itself. In the demonstration, the Honor’s AI could interact with the phone and the real world: Given the information that the brightness of his screen was very high, the mobile responded with the instructions while reducing it. Similarly, he is able to book a table in a restaurant, running its respective app automatically. Surely that is the correct direction of the mobile AIalthough it is early to say it. Along the way, several actors must be taken by the hand: not in vain, asking for online food is not just Google or Honor, in this case. Now, not only these agents are useful, but also the rest of the tools that manufacturers are adding to their customization layers. Galaxy ai is not the only It is easy to highlight the aforementioned Samsung Galaxy AI: it was a pioneer to incorporate tools based on generative, yes, together with Google. ‘Roda to search’ opened the way and is now present in a large number of Android mobiles. That is why both the Pixel and Galaxy, and the rest of the manufacturers, now have some Common functions. That are also far from the aforementioned agents. The difference marks the customization layer. Out of what Google lends its partners, the interesting thing is to know the commitment of manufacturers such as Honor, Xiaomi, Realme who already tries to follow Galaxy AI’s track. This is what I found. I start with the most unknown in Europe, a techno that could perfectly rival the strongest in the sector. Your techno aidoes not move away from what is seen in other suites of tools: restoration of old photographs, transformation of portraits into animations, a call assistant. In short, nothing new under the sun. Xiaomi, who has announced the arrival of his Hyperai In the new ones Xiaomi 15also proposes a similar conjunction: Ai Writing generates messages for us, Ai Speech Turn the voice into text, it has a translator in real time, generation of images, draft objects (example photos) and even a function destined to the recording of film video. Is more extensive than in other manufacturersbecause Xiaomi already had this AI suite in China for a long time. As we see, photography is one of the most handled aspects by AI, along with productivity tools. There are others that try to differentiate themselves, among them the mythical Motorola, now under the amparo of Lenovo. Motorola’s functions resemble what is seen in Project Astra de Google (now integrated into Gemini Live) Moto AI It is the name that receives its AI system, and not only affects the phones: Motorola adds its own agent to the most advanced headphones of the catalog. I witnessed a demonstration that pointed ways, no matter how much had some timely delay, given by the Internet connection. This system includes a voice assistant in the purest Gemini style: capable of organizing the agenda, saving annotations in a personal diary and of course, improvements in the photographic processing to avoid blurred shots. For now, Motorola does not have many models compatible with motorcycle AI: only the Edge 50 Ultra and the Razr 50 and Razr 50 Ultra. Realme, and his NextaiThey look similar to the AI ​​application to the mobile … Read more

The European Union has an ace in the sleeve to negotiate tariffs with the United States: digital services

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The United States is the great world importer. Its economy is the paradigm of consumerism, and China – the great world factory – has taken advantage of it. Precisely Trump’s tariffs –now in pause in almost everyone– They intend to correct that deficit, but not only with China, but with everyone. And the European Union, one of the affectedhas its particular As in the sleeve: its deficit in services. The EU is what the US to the goods. The European Union is a great services importer. In the old continent we are eager consumers of digital services that come from the US and ranging from the subscription to Netflix to the use of platforms such as Azure or AWS. The situation in services is similar to the one Trump wants to correct, but in that USA panorama it is “our China” and the EU would be the US. Europe has digital services deficit. And von der Leyen knows. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has already made it clear that the shots can go in the negotiations for tariffs. As they point out in Financial Timesthe president indicated that the EU will seek a “completely balanced” agreement with Washington during the 90 -day truce to the application of the reciprocal tariffs announced by Trump a few days ago. Trump makes the accounts that agree. The European Parliament already published a study Preliminary of what would happen if the US imposed extra tariffs on EU products, and detailed what the situation of imports of goods and services was. The US only talks about goods (Goods’) of consumption in its analysis, and does not mention the services for a simple reason: it has a deficit of goods (it loses) but surplus of services (it is winning). The EU is losing in services, and if the US applies tariff But it is that the US exports services to every cloth. As they also point out In The Wall Street JournalTrump’s mathematics ignore digital services exports. The former leading role of the United States as a manufacturer, with Ford or General Motors as great examples, has changed: now there the protagonists are the services, but the tariffs raised by the US government take them out of the equation, and that clearly affects the EU. In danger. According to the European Parliament data, in 2023 the EU had a surplus of goods and USA had a service surplus. In the Global EU had a surplus of 48,000 million euros, but in the study they indicate that it is a modest figure that “only represents 3% of the total commercial flow, 1.6 trillion euros.” Tariffs to services. If these negotiations fail, explained von der Leyen, the EU will expand the global trade war on services. The idea would be to include an income tax for digital advertising, something that already outlined with the DSA. The measure could have a remarkable impact on the income of companies that depend on the advertising model such as Meta, Google and Facebook. Evening threats. “We are developing retaliation measures,” said Von der Leyen, noting that “there is a wide Ramgo of countermeasures … in the event that negotiations are not satisfactory.” The advertising tax would be applied in Europe and would be different from taxes to digital sales, which have independent tax burdens according to each Member State. Image | Xataka with chatgpt In Xataka | There is a critical sector that is still expected the worst before the tariffs of the United States: that of medicines

Silicon Valley millionaires want to lift their own Neom. They have an ace in the sleeve to convince Greenland

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In the list of projects that sought to create self -sufficient enclaves outside the State there are several examples. We have the Failed project north of San Francisco, Prosperous in Honduras or the Seasoning attempts In international waters. Also hyperbolic projects on the way, Like Neomall ideas that have shared a common vision: experiment with radical economic models and alternative governance, backed by millionaire capital and an almost ideological faith in without restrictions, although few have passed the prototype. Greenland looks like the next stop. Silicon Valley and “freedom.” We tell it A few months ago: the Trump administration has reactivated its ambition to acquire Greenland, but not only as a goal strategic and geopoliticalbut also as a scenario for an initiative promoted by technological billionaires. We talk about the creation of a high -tech libertarian city, known as “Freedom City”. Inspired by ideals of extreme and free market deregulation, this vision contemplates a self -sufficient enclave dedicated to the development of artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, space releases, nuclear microreactors and high -speed trains. According to Reuters revealedthe plan has already been discussed in private among investors such as Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen and Shervin Pishevar, all with a history of similar projects, and has the explicit interest of Ken Howery, former ambassador to Denmark and key figure in negotiations for the possible annexation or purchase of the island. Howery, close to Trump and Elon Musk, has expressed Enthusiasm for potential Of cultural and geographical synergies between Taiwan, the United States and Japan, and although he refused to comment on the plans, several medium sources say that their role would be crucial to advance the idea. All roads lead to Greenland. The choice of the island is not accidental. Three times bigger than Texas but with Just 57,000 inhabitantsthe island has vast strategic mineral reserves, including rare earths, and houses an American military base that gives it a huge geopolitical value in the Arctic. Trump has publicly insisted that “We must have Greenland” and has not ruled out take it by force If Denmark refuses to sell it. In fact, his vice president, JD Vance, recently visited the military base with his wife, which It generated protests of the local population and harsh criticism of the new Prime Minister of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who considered the visit as a disrespect to the sovereignty of the island. During the same, Vance accused Denmark of not properly protecting the territory of alleged Russian and Chinese incursions, although he did not contribute concrete details. Meanwhile, the Danish government declined to comment on the rumors of a technological city funded by American private capital. A new doctrine. The proposal to build a libertarian citizen in Greenland reflects a broader ideological movement among businessmen from Silicon Valley, which for years promotes the called “Startup Cities” or “Charter Cities”: urban enclaves with minimal state intervention, designed to promote innovation and self -sufficiency. We already count The Prospera caseand now, inspired by the philosophy of “manifest destination”From the nineteenth century, its defenders see in Greenland the opportunity to open a new border for the American Expansion and Domain experiment, this time in technological key. SHERVIN PISHAR He described the initiative as “the dawn of a new manifest destination”, while Dryden Brown, co -founder of the Praxis projectargues that Greenland is the ideal place to build a prototype city that serves as a general essay for future human colonies on Mars, in line with Elon Musk’s interplanetary dreams. Brown even traveled to Greenland and has assured that other companies have raised him collaborate at the Foundation of that city. In an X publication, wrote: “We must build a prototype of Terminus on Earth before leaving towards Mars. Greenland is that place.” Investors and power networks. The impulse behind this ambitious proposal comes from a consolidated group of technological investors, many of them linked to each other through previous projects. Thiel, Andreessen and Pishevar have invested in Pronomos capitala firm dedicated to financing experimental cities in countries willing to offer special regulatory conditions. One of his main advisors, Patri Friedman (grandson of economist Milton Friedman) has confirmed that several of their projects are in the negotiation phase with governments and that one, Prosperousalready operates in Honduras under a similar model (although with rather terrible results). In addition, Praxis, backed by figures such as Joe Lonsdale and Sam Altman’s background, has raised More than 500 million of dollars to develop a new city, and could channel part of that capital towards Greenland. While Thiel denied being involved in specific plans for the Island and Musk has not commented on this, the connections between these actors and their historical interest in technological secession projects reinforce the credibility of the initiative. What they offer to the locals. Unlike the Trump rhetoricthese billionaire investors have an ace in the sleeve to convince the people of the island, one where the exploitation would make the enclave A unique space. During a hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, experts argued that the Costa de Greenland houses one of the highest critical mineral concentrations in the world, many of them previously inaccessible because it is under thick layers of ice, but that they could become exploitable due to the melting caused by climate change and the development of new mining techniques. There is more, of course. For project drivers, Greenland is not only a geopolitical opportunity, but also an ideal platform to experiment with advanced technologies and urban models of the future. Technological investors that promote the creation of a Freedom City offer the local population an accelerated economic development vision, based on the Job promisewealth and technological opportunities in an environment of minimal regulation. They also raise the territory into a Global Innovation Center With high -value industries such as AI, clean nuclear energy, advanced transport and space exploration, which would imply massive massive investment and modern infrastructure. In addition, some actors close to the Trump administration have suggested to replace … Read more

Volkswagen has an ace in the sleeve if its electric of 20,000 euros does not take off. The company sells more sausages than cars

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Last week he was one of those crucial moments in the history of a company like Volkswagen. The dream of the German house of offering the general public at an electric non -exorbitant price or, as they themselves announced, “for all”, it was advanced under the ID name. Every1a utility on the border of 20,000 euros as a red line. It happens that, if things come out auctionly, VW has an ace in the sleeve. Because they sell more sausages than cars. An unexpected record. As we said, Volkswagen closed 2024 with a surprising fact: He sold more currywurstthe famous German sausages, than cars. While the manufacturer delivered 5.2 million vehicles worldwide, its food division reached a record of 8.5 million sausages sold200,000 more than in 2023. Of course, although the unexpected gastronomic success has been celebrated by the company, what is doubtful, does not seem to compensate for the difficult financial situation that crosses. Decline in sales. Because the excellent data of the sausages is certainly negative. Annual results, published on Tuesdaythey revealed one 30.4% drop In net benefits, despite a slight increase of 0.7% in total income. Sales collapse in China, its most important market, has been a severe blow, since the country registered its lowest level of Volkswagen vehicles in more than a decade. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers Like Byd They have gained land with cheaper electric models, surpassing VW as The largest car seller In the Asian giant. The secret of VW sausages. The currywursta sausage bathed in tomato sauce with spices of curry and accompanied by fried potatoes, has been a symbol within the Volkswagen culture Since its introduction in 1973. Originally prepared to feed workers in their dining rooms, the product has expanded until it is sold in supermarkets from 12 countries. To get an idea of ​​the importance it has for the company, it even has a piece number in the spare parts catalog: 199 398 500 Awhich reinforces its status as an “original Volkswagen component.” It is sold in the 30 canteens of the company, in work kiosks and in supermarkets near its factories. Volkswagen’s butcher shop at the Wolfsburg plant in 1973 The controversy. In 2021 the company tried scandal which included the protest of former German Foreign Minister Gerhard Schröder, who He defended the sausage as “an energy bar for production workers.” After the controversy, Volkswagen reintroduced currywurst in 2023 apologized by ensuring that he had only wanted to respond to the growing demand for vegetarian and vegan options among his employees and, since then, his popularity has continued on the rise. “The Volkswagen currywurst has become much more than a simple snack; is an icon ”, Gunnar Kilian declaredGroup’s Human Resources Director, holding the sales record. Structural problems And while sausages reach historical figures, the automaker faces a deep crisis. In an attempt to reduce costs, Volkswagen was about to close factories in Germany for the first time in its history and, although he managed to avoid it, he announced The dismissal of 35,000 employees In the coming years. In addition, the company temporarily suspended its labor security program, which had protected jobs until 2029, and only after a last minute negotiation with the unions in December It extended up to 2030. The company’s situation has also been threatened by external factors. It We have recentlyDonald Trump has warned that he will impose tariffs on car imports from Europe and Mexico, where Volkswagen has plants than They supply the US market. To this are added geopolitical uncertainty and the increase in commercial restrictions, which adds more pressure to the company’s recovery strategy. The electric bet. Despite the difficult panorama, the German house maintains the hope of a rebound in 2025, with the forecast of a growth of More than 5% In your income. As part of its transformation, it has presented plans to launch in 2027 That most affordable electric model To date with the intention of recovering land in front of their Chinese rivals. Meanwhile, the irony that a global renowned automotive company sells more sausages that cars reflects the deep difficulties that the sector is going through. Although the currywurst has become an unusual stability pillar for Volkswagen, it is impossible to hide the monumental challenges he faces to recover his leadership in the sector and adapt to an increasingly competitive market. Image | MonstourzVolkswagen, Lothar Schaack In Xataka | Guide to know if your car can circulate through the Zbe of Madrid in 2025: labels, registered and areas In Xataka | Xiaomi Su7: The electric car points directly to Tesla and Porsche presuming autonomous performance and driving

In addition to Gold and Rare Earth China has an ace in the sleeve to lift its economy: old orange peels

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We knew that the Chinese nation was not going wrong with The “Gold Fever” of the 21st centurysomething similar in terms of mining fever unleashed in California in the mid -nineteenth century, but without the dazzling element so precious and marked by rare earths. However, if what is about “pure gold”, they were not badly assorted after finding One of the biggest giant gold deposits. In fact, China has “Gold” even in trees. Xinhui’s gold. This enclave, a seemingly ordinary district in the city of Jiangmen, province of Guangdong, has turned this part in the epicenter of a lucrative industry based on something that a priori should not have great value: The aging tangerine peels, known there as Chenpiand whose production and commerce have transformed the local economy. In the background: some peels valued by their medicinal and culinary properties, an element that can reach astronomical prices, coming to be sold for $ 9,650 around 500 gramswhich reflects its status as a precious asset both in traditional Chinese medicine and in luxury gastronomy for elites. Historical origins and benefits. CNN counted last week in a large report that the use of Chenpi in traditional Chinese medicine dates back to the Song dynasty (1127-1279)with records that highlight its properties to strengthen the spleen, improve digestion and benefit the respiratory system. In that sense, the shells, scientifically called citri reticulatae pericarpium, contain antioxidants and flavonoids With potential for stabilize blood pressure and prevent obesity. And from all places, the Xinhui region, located at the confluence of the Xijiang and Tanjiang rivers, offers unique soil and water conditions that enrich the peaks with a higher micronutrient content than those grown in other areas. That said, to be considered Authentic Chenpithe shells must undergo an annual drying process for the sun for at least three years, being carefully stored for the rest of the time. Typology. Exist even Four main types of Chenpi According to the time of the harvest: those of green peels, collected before maturation, those of second red tangerine peels, collected in November, the large red peels, completely mature in December, and finally those of red shells, harvested after This station, and with a higher sugar content. Industry boom and economic impact. In recent decades, the Chenpi industry has promoted unprecedented economic growth in the Xinhui region. The production of these peculiar shells has turned the region into an economic power, contributing approximately 23,000 million yuan (3.2 billion dollars) in 2023, and Representing a quarter of Jiangmen’s GDP. In this regard, local businessmen like Zhou Zhiweiwho left Hong Kong in the 1990s to return to Xinhui, have played a crucial role in the consolidation of the industry. Zhou, now vice president of the Chenpi Industry Association of Xinhui, says it manages annually around 163 tons of shells, contributing to the Xinhui positioning as the main world producer. Chenpi Chenpi revaluation for elites. In the end, such an exquisite product has ended where other similar ones: in high gastronomy. Here names such as the renowned chef chi wai chef, The Legacy House restaurant In Hong Kong, who has been promoting the incorporation of Chenpi in haute cuisine, exploring its potential beyond traditional medicine. Inspired by his childhood in Xinhui, LI has introduced exclusive menus that highlight the diversity of flavors of the Cenpi according to their age, harvest and origin, emulating the appreciation for the Terroir In the wine industry. Exclusive dishes with the “gold” peel. In fact, in The last gastronomic menu that the chef is offering Com diners can enjoy dishes such as the swim bladder soup with heads with a lamb, made with Chenpi over 50 years, highlighting “its deep flavor and amaderated notes.” Also the mere stew steak with six -year shell “with sweet nuances” thanks to the postin -winter harvest, or the lobster rolls with bamboo straw, accompanied by 13 -year -old shells, which says they contribute a slight flavor to oyster due to its origin in the riverside region of Meijiang. In addition, Li says that It seeks to transform the perception of Chenpishowing that its initial, well -balanced bitterness becomes a sweet and sophisticated taste, symbolizing the relationship between bitterness and sweetness in life, according to the old Chinese proverb. Innovation and future of Chenpi. Chenpi production has evolved over time, with advances in harvesting and storage techniques. Currently, producers use both the shells and the mandarin pulp (previously discarded) to manufacture health and enzyme products. In Xinhui, Initiatives such as Chenpi Villagea cultural and tourist center dedicated to the mandarin peel, reflect those efforts to diversify the industry. In this complex, products such as ice cream, coffee with Chenpi dust and culinary memories are offered, attracting tourists and consolidating that cultural identity of the region. As producer Zhou explained to the CNN When observing the boom of the market, Xinhui has managed to focus and give importance to advanced manufacturing and diversification of Chenpi products, ensuring the sustainability of the long -term sector. A region that has achieved something fascinating: to raise an ingredient as humble as a simple tangerine peel aged in “gold” at all levels, both economic and cultural for the region. Image | Zhionghwaong Sham, Simon Law In Xataka | China has given one of the largest treasures ever found: giant gold worth 83,000 million dollars In Xataka | China still has no avant -garde lithographs. Even so, it is making gold with mature nodes

In the midst of a campaign against TikTok, ByteDance has an ace up its sleeve: becoming an AI powerhouse

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At ByteDance there is frenetic activity. At the moment, your social network TikTok is on a kind of legal limbo in the USbut ByteDance has many more open fronts. One is especially striking: AI. Especially because she had barely shown any signs of being involved in this segment. A most “interstellar” AI agent. First of all, the launch of the UI-TARS project is surprising. The name is probably a nod to the movie ‘Interstellar’, which featured an AI robot called TARS. The proposal is very reminiscent of Anthropic’s ‘Computer Use’ system, but unlike it, UI-TARS is Open Source, something surprising and which suggests that other startups and independent developers can use it as a basis for their projects. The code is available on GitHub. “Talking” to your computer. As in the case of Anthropic, it is possible to ask UI-TARS Desktop that executes tasks on your computer interface, which is capable of analyzing and recognizing to execute them. The developers warn that at the moment performance and behavior may be erratic. Your own programming assistant. Bytedance recently launched a developer assistant. Is called Bring and offers the same advantages as already popular alternatives as Cursor. With this platform we have a “virtual software engineer” who answers questions about the code, completes and generates it, and is even capable of developing projects from scratch based on user prompts. And a model that reasons…. The thing doesn’t end there, of course. ByteDance launched this week Doubao-1.5-proan update to its AI model that is now capable of “reasoning” and thus competing with OpenAI’s o1. In fact, those responsible for it claim that it surpasses its competitor in the AIME benchmark, in which the response of these models to complex instructions is measured. And even though it is affordable, cheap and gives benefits. As they point out on PandaDailythe model is especially efficient and for example the price per million input tokens is only 11 cents. Not only that: even though it costs relatively little, it promises a gross margin of 50%, which in a reasoning model – which usually requires significantly more resources – is striking. {“videoId”:”x9c3qcu”,”autoplay”:false,”title”:”The BRUTAL Chinese SURVEILLANCE system”, “tag”:”video surveillance”, “duration”:”73″} Huge investment in chips. In 2025 ByteDance plans to spend $12.3 billion on infrastructure for the development of its AI models. This is indicated by sources close to the company, indicate in Financial Times. 5.5 billion will be dedicated to acquiring chips in China, while 6.8 billion dollars will be invested abroad to develop their models taking advantage of advanced NVIDIA chips. Be careful with this other Bytedance. These are just the latest developments in the field of AI for ByteDance. This division continues to make losses – like most AI companies – because among other things it is reinvesting over and over again in R&D, and at this rate we may soon have to talk about another AI giant. In Xataka | China strikes back in the AI ​​war: its new open model matches Claude and GPT-4, and it is giving it away (function() { window._JS_MODULES = window._JS_MODULES || {}; var headElement = document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)(0); if (_JS_MODULES.instagram) { var instagramScript = document.createElement(‘script’) ; instagramScript.src=”https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”; instagramScript.async = true; instagramScript.defer = true; headElement.appendChild(instagramScript); – The news In the midst of a campaign against TikTok, ByteDance has an ace up its sleeve: becoming an AI powerhouse was originally published in Xataka by Javier Pastor .

Russia’s ace up its sleeve is a nuclear plant

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Russia is quietly managing to expand its dominance in the nuclear sector. Recently, the Kremlin has announced the construction of more than 10 nuclear plants in different allied countries, has now decided to put its flag in the arctic with a floating nuclear plant. In short. The Akademik Lomonosov nuclear power plant has generated its first billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy, according to Rosatom reports. The floating nuclear power plant located in the Arctic region of Chukotka has also completed its first fuel cycle. In addition, the nuclear plant, which has been in operation for more than five years, is currently satisfying more than 60% of the area’s energy demand. Floating nuclear plant. A concept designed to bring clean and stable energy to remote or difficult-to-access regions, such as the Arctic. In this specific case, the central Akademik Lomonosov It is built on a boat. The Russian floating nuclear plant in more technical terms It is operating with two KLT-40S nuclear reactors, similar to those used by nuclear icebreakers, capable of generating electricity and heat for isolated communities or mining projects. Furthermore, its design is designed to operate in extreme conditions, although poses challenges related to nuclear safety and environmental impact in vulnerable regions. Other operations. Originally planned to replace the Bilibino nuclear plant, the Akademik Lomonosov It also provides additional services, such as desalination of up to 240,000 cubic meters of water per day, and supplies energy to a population of 5,000 people, including mining operations in the Baimskaya mineral area. It is not the only plant. The American company Westinghouse and the British Core Power have joined forces to develop floating nuclear plants equipped with ultra-compact eVinci reactors. These fourth-generation modular reactors can generate up to 5 MWe and operate for more than eight years without the need for refueling. In addition, its compact design and complete factory assembly has facilitated its maritime transport, offering a clean and flexible energy solution for islands, ports and coastal communities. West looking in the rearview mirror. Between the sanctions for the Ukrainian War and the divisions for gas from from Russia. The Kremlin has found its spearhead in the nuclear sector to dominate a large part of the geopolitical framework. Currently, Russia dominates 27% of the world’s conversion capacity and 39% of the global uranium enrichment market, a situation that highlights energy dependency of Western nations. As the West strives to reduce its energy dependence and achieve its sustainability goals, Russia continues to consolidate its global influence, using both technological innovations and key natural resources. The Ural country’s rise in nuclear capacity will increase this new year 155%, reaching 950 gigawatts in 2050. Image | Rosatom Xataka | The investigations into the cut submarine cables in the Baltic have taken a turn: it was not Russia, it was inexperience

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