The big picture: Apple's possible foray into custom AI server processors reflects a broader trend in the tech industry. Companies like Amazon, Meta and Microsoft have already made significant strides in this area. Meanwhile, Google has also been leveraging Broadcom's intellectual property in its Tensor Processing Units. Apple is reportedly developing a custom server processor to power its AI services. Codenamed "Project Baltra," the initiative aims to bolster the AI capabilities integrated into Apple's operating systems, with production expected to begin in 2026, according to The Information, which cites three unnamed sources familiar with the matter.These sources indicate that Apple is partnering with semiconductor giant Broadcom for this endeavor. Apple now possesses a strong history and experience designing its own Arm-based silicon and already maintains an existing relationship with Broadcom in 5G component development.While specific details remain scarce, it is speculated that Broadcom's recent unveiling of its 3.5D eXtreme Dimension System in Package (3.5D XDSiP) technology could play a role in the project's development.This advanced packaging solution offers a multi-die processor architecture, which includes stacked compute dies on logic dies. It also integrates a high-bandwidth memory (HBM) interface and employs a face-to-face chiplet design to boost performance.The 2026 production target for Project Baltra aligns with Broadcom's projections for the production timeline of its 3.5D XDSiP technology. // Related StoriesApple could leverage this technology in several ways. The ability to integrate multiple dies and HBM stacks could allow Apple to create more powerful AI processors with higher compute density and improved efficiency. The 3.5D XDSiP platform also offers flexibility in design, enabling chip designers to pair different fabrication processes for each component, potentially allowing Apple to optimize various parts of its AI processor for specific tasks.The scalability offered by 3.5D XDSiP could help Apple design highly efficient AI processors to meet the demands of large language models and other compute-intensive AI workloads. As Moore's Law scaling becomes increasingly challenging, advanced packaging technologies like 3.5D XDSiP could allow Apple to push the boundaries of AI chip performance beyond the limitations of conventional process node improvements.Source: App Economy InsightsIn related news, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan recently projected the AI semiconductor market to reach $60 $90 billion by 2027, emphasizing strategic partnerships in AI as key drivers of sustained growth. Following the company's latest quarterly report, Broadcom's stock surged over 20%, pushing its market capitalization above $1 trillion, making it the 10th largest company in the world.As with many of Apple's projects, details about Project Baltra are likely to remain under wraps until an official announcement. However, this initiative underscores Apple's commitment to advancing its AI capabilities. At a recent developer conference, Craig Federighi, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, described the company's vision for "Apple Intelligence" to function both on-device and in a private cloud powered by Apple Silicon.

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsPerformanceBattery lifeBoth last a long time, but Qualcomm maintains performanceThis was a turbulent year in the world of Windows laptops. The introduction of Qualcomms Snapdragon X chips completely changed the game and I dont say that lightly.They entered the market in such a forceful way that both AMD and Intel were forced to respond quickly with their own more power-efficient chips that could compete. Intels Core Ultra Series 2, otherwise known as Lunar Lake, attempted to beat Qualcomm at its own game, boasting a dramatic improvement in battery life.Recommended VideosBut now that the dust has settled a bit, which chip results in the best laptops you can buy right now? Ive tested a number of systems using both chips, and I finally feel like I can see where the chips are falling.RelatedThe Qualcomm Snapdragon X comes in two variations, the Snapdragon X Elite and the Snapdragon X Plus. As you can see in the chart below, they vary widely in terms of their core counts, speeds, and integrated Adreno graphics performance. Qualcomm doesnt advertise their TDP (thermal design power), but evidence points to their running at between 15 watts and 80 watts.The primary concern with the Qualcomm chipsets is that Windows on Arm requires applications to be written natively for the platform to see the best performance. While the current version of Windows on Arm has a very good emulation engine compared to past versions, and its much more compatible with a variety of applications, there can still be a penalty if an important app wont run at all or at full speed.QualcommIntels Core Ultra Series 2, or Lunar Lake, also has various iterations that are more consistent in their overall design. They all have eight cores with the same number of performance and efficiency versions. Most are 17-watt parts, while the Core Ultra 9 288V is a 30-watt part.We havent yet reviewed a laptop with the Core Ultra 9, so we cant directly attest to its performance. Lunar Lake is an x86 chipset and so uses the same version of Windows as past Intel and AMD chips. Theres no concern about compatibility and no performance concerns around emulation.IntelLooking at our benchmark results, we see that Snapdragon X is a lot faster than Core Ultra Series 2 in CPU-intensive tasks. Theres some variability, but thats generally true. Its not as fast, though, in GPU-intensive tasks. Intels Core Ultra Series 2 chips have the best integrated graphics weve ever seen in a Windows laptop, so we have to give credit where credit is due. Meanwhile, Qualcomms Adreno graphics are in last place among the options, behind AMD and Apple as well.None of the laptops with these chips provide a viable gaming platform for AAA gaming, nor does either chip provide a truly significant performance benefit for creative applications. For that, youll want a discrete GPU, and as of now, that category of laptops dont exist for either platform. Youll have to jump to AMDs latest chips or go back to Intels previous generstion if you want something more powerful.its also important to note that Apples M3 chipset that runs in similar thin-and-light laptops splits the difference in CPU tasks while enjoying faster graphics.But looking at my testing results so far, its clear that Qualcomm has an upper hand against Intel, both in single-core and multi-core performance and for these types of laptops, thats what matters most.Cinebench R24(single/multi)Geekbench 6(single/multi)3DMarkWild Life ExtremeAcer Swift Go 14 AI(Snapdragon X Plus / Adreno)107 / 7162413 / 113883231HP OmniBook X(Snapdragon X Elite / Adreno)101 / 7492377 / 134906165Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441(Snapdragon X Plus / Adreno)108 / 4192451 / 87446457Dell XPS 13 9345(Snapdragon X Elite / Adreno)121 / 9212805 / 145116397Acer Swift 14 AI(Core Ultra 7 258V / Intel Arc 140V)121 / 5252755 / 111385294HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14(Core Ultra 7 258V / Intel Arc 140V)116 / 5982483 / 107257573Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition(Core Ultra 7 258V / Intel Arc 140V)109 / 6302485 / 105695217Asus Zenbook S 14(Core Ultra 7 258V / Intel Arc 140V)112 / 4522738 / 107347514MacBook Air(M3)141 / 6013102 / 120788098Kunal Khullar / Digital TrendsSo, how do they perform in terms of battery life? After all, both chipsets are intended to make more Windows laptops better equipped to compete with Apple MacBooks, which have been significantly longer-lasting.Its a challenge to compare battery life across each platform because weve reviewed laptops with different display technologies and resolutions. The longest-lasting machines have been those with FHD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS displays, while those with 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED displays have done the worst. The Acer Swift 14 AI, for example, used Intel Lunar Lake combined with a 14.0-inch FHD+ IPS display and is one of the best performers, while the Acer Swift Go 14 used a Snapdragon X Plus along with a 14.5-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) IPS display and it also did very well. The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 combined Lunar Lake with a 2.8K OLED display and wasnt as impressive.Generally speaking, its safest to say that Intels new chipset is likeliest to give the best performance the more the CPU is being pushed. That shows up best in our Cinebench R24 test that runs the chipsets at maximum performance. Here, Intel does better than Qualcomm. When looking at all three scores, the Apple MacBook Air M3 remains a strong option, and its likely that the M4 version arriving early in 2025 will provide even stronger scores.The bottom line is that both the Snapdragon X and Core Ultra Series 2 represent important advances for the Windows platform. Unlike in the past, you can easily select a Windows laptop that will give you all-day and maybe even multiday battery life. Thats huge.Web browsingVideoCinebench R24Acer Swift Go 14 AI(Snapdragon X Plus)15 hours, 29 minutes21 hours, 38 minutes1 hour, 42 minutesHP Omnibook X(Snapdragon X Elite)13 hours, 37 minutes22 hours, 4 minutes1 hour, 52 minutesDell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441(Snapdragon Plus)10 hours, 9 minutes19 hours, 28 minutes2 hours, 25 minutesDell XPS 13 9345(Snapdragon X Elite)12 hours, 29 minutes22 hours, 9 minutes1 hour, 37 minutesAcer Swift 14 AI(Core Ultra 7 258V)17 hours, 22 minutes24 hours, 10 minutes2 hours, 7 minutesHP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14(Core Ultra 7 258V)11 hours, 5 minutes15 hours, 46 minutes2 hours, 14 minutesLenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition(Core Ultra 7 258V)14 hours, 16 minutes17 hours, 31 minutes2 hours, 15 minutesAsus Zenbook S 14(Core Ultra 7 258V)16 hours, 47 minutes18 hours, 35 minutes3 hours, 33 minutesApple MacBook Air(Apple M3)19 hours, 38 minutes19 hours, 39 minutes3 hours, 27 minutesIf you go exclusively by efficiency, then both platforms are easy enough to recommend. Intels Core Ultra Series 2 is more efficient overall because it maintains efficiency when working harder. But both equip Windows laptops that are so much longe- lasting.However, Qualcomms Snapdragon X is considerably faster. If youre a demanding productivity user, its a stronger choice. Youll still want a discrete GPU if gaming or video editing is your primary usage, and we havent yet reviewed either platform with a discrete GPU. Thats going to take longer with Qualcomm. But for thin-and-light laptops for productivity, the Snapdragon X provides the better combination of speed and battery life right now.Perhaps the strongest point in favor of Qualcomm, though, is pricing. Yes, its been out a bit longer, but as of now, you can pick up Snapdragon X laptops for significantly less than any options for Intels latest chipset.Editors Recommendations

OpenAI has been on a Shipmas product launch spree, launching its highly-awaited Sora video generator and onboarding millions of Apple ecosystem members with the Siri-ChatGPT integration. The company has also expanded its subscription portfolio as it races toward a for-profit status, which is reportedly a hot topic of debate internally.Not everyone is happy with the AI behemoth abandoning its nonprofit roots, including one of its founding fathers and now rival, Elon Musk. The xAI chief filed a lawsuit against OpenAI earlier this year and has also been consistently taking potshots at the company.You cant sue your way to AGI.Recommended VideosNow, the Microsoft-backed company has published a trove of emails and conversations between Musk and OpenAI executives with quite a stunning claim. It was Musk, all along, who was allegedly chasing a for-profit status and sought the CEO role, absolute control, a merger with Tesla, and a majority equity. A few core OpenAI executives were also enthusiastic about a hybrid plan where a research division would function as a nonprofit alongside a for-profit wing exploring hardware partnerships.OpenAI works closely with Microsoft and has also inked a lucrative ChatGPT deal with Apple. Rolf van Root / UnsplashAs the involved parties explored a for-profit arm, Musk wrote to the top OpenAI executives that he would unequivocally have initial control of the company, subject to change in the near future. OpenAI rejected Musks demands, and he eventually left, subsequently starting his own company called xAI.RelatedHe should be competing in the marketplace rather than the courtroom.The current structure provides you with a path where you end up with unilateral absolute control over the AGI, former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever wrote to Musk in an email chain. You stated that you dont want to control the final AGI, but during this negotiation, youve shown to us that absolute control is extremely important to you.OpenAI eventually established the capped-profit OpenAI LP entity and claims to have reached out to Musk on multiple occasions with an equity offering, but he declined. But it seems that Musk is not the only party unhappy with OpenAI inching toward a for-profit structure.Mark Zuckerberg training with UFC champions Israel Adesanya (left) and Alexander Volkanovski (right). Meta/Mark ZuckerbergMeta has reportedly written a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, asking for a block on OpenAIs pursuit of transforming into a nonprofit company. The letter, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, notes that OpenAI initially gathered funding as it promoted a charitable mission and now wants to amass profits.The Mark Zuckerberg-led company has asked the attorney general to not only stop OpenAIs transformation, but also urgently look into its obligations as a nonprofit in the context of activities like distributing assets to third-party entities.That is wrong.Metas core argument is that OpenAI sets a dangerous precedent where a non-profit gets a fat sum in donations, builds a product or service, and then abandons its charitable roots to seek profits down the road. Of course, the social giant is also competing against OpenAI with its own Meta AI stack, so theres that.Interestingly, Metas letter namedrops Musk, noting that he is qualified and well positioned to represent the interests of Californians in this matter. Notably, Musk hasnt been a fan of Zuckerberg lately, and until a few months ago, the two were butting heads and goading each other in a cage fight.The fight never happened. It would be interesting to see whether OpenAI faces any legal heat in its for-profit while working closely with Microsoft.Editors Recommendations

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Beyond BCIs Werner Herzog muses on mysteries of the brain in Theater of Thought Auteur director's latest documentary runs the gamut from BCIs and how we construct reality to whether fish can dream. Jennifer Ouellette Dec 13, 2024 1:12 pm | 16 Credit: Argot Pictures Credit: Argot Pictures Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreWerner Herzog has made more than 60 films over his illustrious career. His documentaries alone span an impressive topical range, from the life and death of bear enthusiast Timothy Treadwell (Grizzly Man) to people who choose to live and work in Antarctica (the Oscar-nominated Encounters at the End of the World) or a haunting exploration of the oldest human paintings in France's Chauvet Cave (Cave of Forgotten Dreams). His latest offering, Theater of Thought, tackles what might be his most ambitious subject yet: the mysterious inner workings of the brain.Theater of Thought premiered in 2022 at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado and is now getting a theatrical release. Herzog's inspiration grew out of his conversations with Rafael Yuste, a Columbia University neurobiologist who also served as scientific advisor on the film. "How can we read thoughts?" he writes in his director's statement. "Can you implant a chip in your brain and in my brain, and see my new film without a camera? Why is it that some young people immerse themselves in video games and become addicted to completely artificial worlds? Sometimes mice even prefer invented cartoon worlds, so who is the ghost writer of our mind, of our reality?"The topic might be scientific in nature, but Theater of Thought is not really a science documentary, despite Herzog's use of the classic talking head format. It's more of a personal, almost quixotic quest, with plenty of random branching digressions along the way. "It was like a road movie, one Monument Valley and one Grand Canyon, then one Mount Everest after the other," Herzog told Ars. "You just couldn't stop wondering and enjoying." For the viewer, it's as much a journey through the eccentric workings of Herzog's endlessly curious, nimble mind.That mind is partly revealed through Herzog's running narration, such as when he muses about collective behavior and whether fish have soulsa digression sparked by his interview with Siri co-inventor Tom Gruber. "In the background, I saw his TV screen still on, we didn't switch it off, and I saw some very, very strange school of fish," said Herzog. "I asked him about the school of fish, which he had filmed himself. And all of a sudden, I'm only interested in the fish and common behavior. Why do they behave in big schools, in unison? Why do they do that? Do they dream? And if they think, what are they thinking about? I immerse the audience into a very strange form of underwater landscape and behavior of fish." Werner Herzog's inspiration for Theater of Thought arose from conversations with Columbia University neuroscientist Rafael Yuste, who served as science advisor on the film. Argot Pictures Werner Herzog's inspiration for Theater of Thought arose from conversations with Columbia University neuroscientist Rafael Yuste, who served as science advisor on the film. Argot Pictures Yuste (left) with Kernel founder Bryan Johnson (right). Argot Pictures Yuste (left) with Kernel founder Bryan Johnson (right). Argot Pictures The University of Washngton's Rajesh Rao specializes in human brain-to-brain communications. Argot Pictures The University of Washngton's Rajesh Rao specializes in human brain-to-brain communications. Argot Pictures Yuste (left) with Kernel founder Bryan Johnson (right). Argot Pictures The University of Washngton's Rajesh Rao specializes in human brain-to-brain communications. Argot Pictures University of Washington neuroscientist Eberhard Fetz Argot Pictures Herzog's camera captures a brain surgery in progress, Argot Pictures We glimpse the inner workings of Herzog's mind in the kinds of questions he asks his subjects, such as when he queries IBM's Dario Gil, who works on quantum computing, about his passion for fishing, eliciting an enthusiastic smile in response. He agrees to interview University of Washington neuroscientist Christof Koch after Koch's early-morning row on the Puget Sound and includes music from New York University neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux's band, the Amygdaloids, in the film's soundtrack. He asks married scientists Cori Bargmann and Richard Axel about music, their dinner conversations, and the linguistic capabilities of parrots. In so doing, he brings out their innate humanity, not just their scientific expertise."That's what I do. If you don't have it in you, you shouldn't be a filmmaker," said Herzog. "But you see, also, the joy of getting into all of this and the joy of meeting these scientists. We are talking about speaking parrots. What if two parrots learned a language that is already extinct and they would speak to each other? What would we make of it? So I'm asking, spontaneously, because I saw it, I sensed it, there was something I should depart completely from scientific quests. And yet there's a deep scientific background to it."This sense leads Herzog to make some unexpected connections. Case in point: He deftly segues from an interview with LeDoux on his work mapping the mechanisms of fear in the brain to a visit with veteran tightrope walker Philippe Petit. Petit famously performed a high-wire walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in 1974, so he knows something about confronting and conquering fear.At one point, he asks a subject whether it's possible to use brain-reading technology to ask someone who has just died if they are in heaven or hell. Herzog is a filmmaker, so this naturally leads him to a 1930 Soviet silent film called Earth. "It has to do with the joy of filmmaking," Herzog said of his decision to include a clip from Earth. "The beginning of the film, an old peasant is dying under an apple tree, on a big heap of apples. And all the other peasants surround him, and one of them asks, 'Can you give us some sort of sign, when you are dead, whether there is paradise?' It's such a beautiful beginning of a movie."For Herzog, making the documentary was about the journey and following the whims of his insatiable curiosity; he was less concerned about finding definitive answers. It's a wise approach, given how much we have to learn about how the physical mass of tissue that is the brain gives rise to complex human thought and consciousness. "Not a single one of the scientists, not one, could even tell you what a thought is, and not a single one could even tell you what consciousness is," he said. "There are open questions that will remain open for probably a very, very long time. But it doesn't matter. Let's engage in finding out. I'm comfortable that certain things we'll never know. At the same time, there's this great joy of exploration and trying to get answers, even if they're only incomplete."Theater of Thought is now playing in select theaters. Trailer for Werner Herzog's Theater of Thought. Jennifer OuelletteSenior WriterJennifer OuelletteSenior Writer Jennifer is a senior reporter at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series. Jennifer lives in Baltimore with her spouse, physicist Sean M. Carroll, and their two cats, Ariel and Caliban. 16 Comments

Musk vs. the government Elon Musk slams SEC as agency threatens charges in Twitter stock probe SEC offered settlement in stock probe and is investigating Neuralink, Musk says. Jon Brodkin Dec 13, 2024 12:20 pm | 112 Elon Musk leaves federal court in New York on Thursday, April 4, 2019 after a hearing in a case involving the SEC. Credit: Getty Images | Bloomberg Elon Musk leaves federal court in New York on Thursday, April 4, 2019 after a hearing in a case involving the SEC. Credit: Getty Images | Bloomberg Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreElon Musk has at least one more battle to wage against Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who will be leaving the agency when President-elect Trump takes over in January.Musk yesterday posted a copy of a letter sent to Gensler by Musk's attorney, Alex Spiro. The letter dated December 12 says the SEC issued a settlement demand in its investigation into whether Musk violated federal securities laws in connection with 2022 purchases of Twitter stock, and that the SEC is investigating Neuralink. The Spiro letter said:Yesterday the Commission Staff issued a settlement demand that required Mr. Musk agree within 48 hours to either accept a monetary payment or face charges on numerous counts. They indicated that this demand was the result of a directive from their superiors and that charges would be brought imminently unless Mr. Musk acquiesced. This demand follows a multi-year investigation and more than six years of harassment of Mr. Musk by the Commission and its Staff. More recently, the Staff subpoenaed me, Mr. Musk's attorney, for testimony and threatened to send a process server if I did not immediately cooperate. I categorically refused. This week, the Commission has also reopened an investigation into Neuralink.Spiro accused the SEC of "an improperly motivated campaign" against Musk, his companies, and people associated with him. "We demand to know who directed these actionswhether it was you or the White House," Spiro wrote. "These tactics and misguided scheme will not intimidate us. We reserve all rights."Musk wrote in his post sharing the letter, "Oh Gary, how could you do this to me?" He wrote in an earlier post yesterday that "the SEC is just another weaponized institution doing political dirty work."Late disclosure of Twitter stock buyThe SEC began its investigation in April 2022 after Musk acquired a 9 percent stake in Twitter and failed to disclose it within 10 days as required under US law. He bought the company later that year.Musk previously tried to avoid giving a third round of testimony in the probe, but a federal judge ruled in December 2023 that he had to testify again. The SEC has said its investigation "relates to all of Musk's purchases of Twitter stock in 2022 and his 2022 statements and SEC filings."An SEC spokesperson told Ars today that the commission's policy is "to conduct investigations on a confidential basis to preserve the integrity of its investigative process. The SEC therefore does not comment on the existence or nonexistence of a possible investigation."A Reuters source confirmed the settlement offer. "The SEC sent Musk a settlement offer on Tuesday seeking a response in 48 hours, but extended it to Monday after a request for more time, the source said," according to a Reuters article today.The settlement offer was also confirmed by a source who spoke to The Washington Post. "One person familiar with the probe, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a confidential law enforcement proceeding, confirmed that Musk had been sent a settlement offer in recent days," the Post wrote last night. "But the person said they believed the tech billionaire had actually been given until Monday to evaluate the offeradding that rejecting a settlement still would not immediately trigger charges by the SEC, which typically sends formal notices before such cases are brought."Musk has had several legal battles with the SEC. In 2018, he and Tesla each agreed to $20 million payments in a settlement over the SEC's complaint that "Musk's misleading tweets" about taking Tesla private caused the stock price to jump "and led to significant market disruption." He has tried and failed to get out of that settlement, claiming that he was "forced" into signing the deal and that the SEC used the 2018 consent decree to "micro-manage" his social media activity.Musk to have influence in Trump adminMusk won't have to worry as much about government regulation once Trump takes over. Trump picked Musk to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, or "DOGE," which will make recommendations for eliminating regulations, cutting expenses, and restructuring federal agencies.As Reuters wrote today, Musk "is set to gain extraordinary influence after spending more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help Donald Trump win November's presidential election. His companies are expected to be well insulated from regulation and enforcement measures."The SEC's November announcement of Gensler's planned departure from the agency touted his work to adopt "several rules to ensure that investors get the disclosure they need from public companies and companies seeking to go public."Trump chose Paul Atkins to replace Gensler as SEC chair, calling Atkins an advocate "for common sense regulations." Atkins, a former SEC commissioner who founded the Patomak Global Partners consultancy firm, testified to Congress in 2019 that the SEC should reduce its disclosure requirements.Jon BrodkinSenior IT ReporterJon BrodkinSenior IT Reporter Jon is a Senior IT Reporter for Ars Technica. He covers the telecom industry, Federal Communications Commission rulemakings, broadband consumer affairs, court cases, and government regulation of the tech industry. 112 Comments

Exercise has many health benefitsJane Williams/AlamyGetting a good nights sleep and other healthy habits could slow the biological ageing of your brain, potentially protecting against conditions like dementia.These habits, known as the Lifes Essential 8 checklist, were originally intended to help people boost their cardiovascular health. They include getting the equivalent of at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, per week and eating a healthy diet rich in nuts, fruits, vegetables and whole foods.The