UN Report Warns AI Could Widen Global Inequality Gap
The United Nations Development Programme warns that artificial intelligence could exacerbate global inequality. The report urges a “people first” approach to prevent a new technological divide.
Author: Darren Holt
Darren Holt brings a distinctive perspective to technology journalism through his specialized focus on industrial computing ecosystems and automation infrastructure, where he deciphers complex technical integrations for both enterprise and engineering audiences. His analytical approach to emerging technologies—particularly industrial IoT and smart manufacturing systems—stems from hands-on experience evaluating how edge computing transforms traditional production environments. Darren consistently demystifies the convergence of operational technology with enterprise IT, offering readers practical insights into next-generation industrial architectures. This unique vantage point enables him to forecast how industrial automation trends will reshape global manufacturing paradigms.
Uncle Sam Bets $150M on a Chip Startup. Silicon Valley Cringes.
The Commerce Department is injecting up to $150 million into semiconductor startup xLight, making the U.S. government its likely largest shareholder. This marks the second-ever direct equity stake in a private company by Washington, using funds from the 2022 CHIPS Act. The startup, led by CEO Nichol
Closed Automation Systems Are Costing Factories Millions
A new global study commissioned by Schneider Electric reveals the massive hidden cost of proprietary industrial automation. For smaller manufacturers, the impact can be a staggering 25% of annual revenue lost to inefficiency and downtime.
Microsoft’s Latest Windows 11 Update Hides Your Password
Microsoft has confirmed a bug in its optional August 2025 preview update, KB5064081, that hides the password icon on the Windows 11 sign-in screen. The company hasn’t issued a fix yet, but there’s a simple, if annoying, workaround for affected users.
Yann LeCun Leaves Meta, Calling LLMs a “Dead End”
One of AI’s founding architects is stepping away from Meta to pursue what he believes is the real future of artificial intelligence. Yann LeCun argues that current large language models are fundamentally limited and that true intelligence requires systems that can perceive and reason about the physi
Why a RAM Boycott Won’t Work for Gamers
PC gamers are organizing a RAM boycott to protest skyrocketing memory prices, but industry experts say it’s doomed to fail. The AI sector now consumes most DRAM production, leaving consumer demand as an afterthought. This shortage could last until 2027, forcing gamers to make tough choices.
Responsible AI Is Actually Paying Off
A PwC survey reveals responsible AI is proving its business value, with 58% of executives reporting improved ROI and enhanced customer experience. But scaling ethical AI practices remains challenging despite clear benefits.
SemiLEDs’ wild year: 8x revenue growth despite brutal margins
SemiLEDs just reported an eight-fold revenue increase for fiscal 2025, jumping from $5.18 million to $43 million. But the celebration might be premature – their gross margins plummeted to just 2% in the final quarter. This looks like growth at any cost, and the cost appears to be profitability.
Linux Gets Faster Forking on Big Servers
Linux developers have tackled a performance regression affecting single-threaded workloads on high-core-count systems. The fix involves smarter per-CPU counter management that significantly reduces overhead when creating new processes. Benchmarks show improvements ranging from 1.5% to 15% depending
Social Media Algorithms Can Actually Change Your Political Feelings
A groundbreaking study used browser extensions to rerank X feeds in real-time during the 2024 election. Reducing exposure to partisan animosity content made participants feel warmer toward political opponents, while increasing it had the opposite effect. The research offers the first causal evidence