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PowerLattice, a startup founded in 2023 by electrical engineers from Qualcomm, NUVIA, and Intel, has emerged from stealth with a $25 million Series A funding round. The company is developing a chiplet that reduces the power needs of computer chips by more than 50%.
The funding round was led by Playground Global and Celesta Capital, bringing the total funding to $31 million. Pat Gelsinger, former CEO of Intel and general partner at Playground Global, expressed strong support for PowerLattice's technology.
PowerLattice's first batch of chiplets is being produced by TSMC, in partnership with an unnamed manufacturer for testing. The company plans to make its product available for testing by other customers in the first half of 2026, targeting major chip manufacturers like Nvidia, Broadcom, and AMD.
PowerLattice competes with Empower Semiconductor in addressing the energy problem. However, Gelsinger believes PowerLattice's 50% energy efficiency gain is an "extraordinary" result, expecting a larger funding round to follow.
Databricks co-founder Andy Konwinski warns that the U.S. is losing its edge in AI research to China, posing a threat to democracy and U.S. AI labs. He highlights that Chinese AI innovation benefits from government support and open-source practices, fostering broader development.
Konwinski contrasts this with the U.S., where he observes a decline in open scientific exchange, with major AI labs prioritizing proprietary innovations and attracting top talent with high salaries. He advocates for open-source AI to foster innovation and ensure the U.S. remains a leader in the field, emphasizing the importance of freely exchanged ideas.
YouTube TV and Disney have reached an agreement, ending a two-week blackout of Disney-owned channels. The deal restores networks like ABC, ESPN, and FX to YouTube TV subscribers.
The agreement also includes making ESPN's new direct-to-consumer service available on YouTube TV at no extra cost. YouTube will have the option to sell select Disney networks and the Disney+/Hulu bundle as part of different packages.
To compensate for the disruption, YouTube TV offered subscribers a $20 credit. This resolution follows a previous renegotiation in 2022 that also involved a brief blackout.
Amazon's satellite internet program, previously known as Project Kuiper, has been rebranded as 'Leo,' signaling a shift in focus from serving unserved communities to securing larger commercial contracts. The name change reflects the network's location in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
While Project Kuiper initially emphasized affordability and aimed to provide fast, affordable broadband to underserved communities, recent changes in messaging and partnerships with companies like Airbus and JetBlue suggest a move towards competing with services like SpaceX's Starlink.
The new Leo website highlights the network's capabilities for home and commercial internet service, including seamless video calls and 4K video streaming, with less emphasis on serving rural and remote locations. Despite the rebranding, Amazon claims the mission remains the same.
Apple is reportedly preparing for the possibility of Tim Cook stepping down as CEO, potentially as early as next year. The board and senior executives are considering succession plans after Cook's tenure, which began in 2011 following Steve Jobs' resignation.
John Ternus, Appleās senior vice president of hardware engineering, is considered a leading candidate to succeed Cook. During Cook's leadership, Apple's market capitalization grew significantly, reaching $4 trillion.