Author: Sarah Collins

AITechnology

DIRECTV to Introduce AI-Powered Personalized Ads Featuring Viewer Faces on Idle Screens

DIRECTV is reportedly planning to transform idle TV screens into personalized advertising spaces using artificial intelligence technology. The new system will integrate viewer facial features directly into customized ads while offering alternative screensaver options. Implementation is expected to begin in early 2026 for Gemini device users.

AI-Driven Advertising Coming to Idle Television Screens

DIRECTV is reportedly preparing to launch a groundbreaking advertising system that will utilize artificial intelligence to create personalized commercials featuring viewers’ own faces, according to reports from industry sources. The television service provider has announced a partnership with Glance to develop this new advertising platform that will transform how consumers interact with their idle television screens.

by Sarah Collins
AerospaceGovernment

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Implements Major Workforce Reduction Amid Budget Uncertainty

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is cutting 550 positions in a significant workforce reduction. The cuts come amid budget uncertainty and could impact future Mars exploration missions, including the ambitious Mars Sample Return project.

Major Workforce Reduction at NASA’s Premier Research Facility

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA’s primary center for robotic space exploration, has announced it will eliminate 550 positions, according to reports. The cuts represent approximately 10% of the facility’s 5,500-person workforce and will affect technical, support, and business teams at the renowned research and development center.

by Sarah Collins
HardwareTechnology

AI Hardware Price Wars Intensify as GPU Rental Costs Plunge

Nvidia’s flagship AI accelerators now rent for as low as $2.80 per hour, representing significant declines from previous pricing. Industry analysts suggest this reflects an emerging divide between hyperscale cloud providers and smaller competitors in the AI infrastructure market.

AI Computing Market Shows Divergent Pricing Trends

The artificial intelligence hardware market is experiencing dramatic price fluctuations, with GPU rental costs for AI training plummeting while major cloud providers maintain stable premium pricing, according to recent industry analysis. Sources indicate that Nvidia’s B200 GPU accelerator, which reportedly cost approximately $500,000 upon its late 2024 release, now rents for as low as $2.80 per hour—representing a significant decline from earlier pricing levels.

by Sarah Collins
EnergyTechnology

Eskom’s Diesel Power Generation Remains High Despite Loadshedding Relief

South Africa’s power utility Eskom continues relying heavily on diesel-powered generation despite dramatically reduced loadshedding. The open-cycle gas turbines produced over 1,000 gigawatt-hours in the first half of 2025/26, costing substantially more than coal-based electricity generation.

Eskom’s Continued Diesel Dependency Despite Loadshedding Improvement

Despite experiencing just four days of rolling blackouts during the first half of the 2025/26 financial year, South Africa’s power utility Eskom reportedly generated more than 1,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity using its diesel-powered open-cycle gas turbines, according to recent reports. This continued reliance on expensive generation methods comes even as the utility has made significant progress in reducing loadshedding compared to previous years.

by Sarah Collins