Ryzen AI and Fire Range: AMD’s big CES 2025 reveals
AMD has announced a range of new processors and graphics cards at CES 2025, including high-performance desktop CPUs, energy-efficient laptop chips, and AI-powered processors for next-generation Copilot+ PCs. The company’s latest flagship, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, targets gamers and creators with 16 cores and speeds of up to 5.7GHz, offering an 8% performance boost in select games compared to its predecessor. AMD also introduced the Fire Range series for laptops and the Ryzen AI 300 and Ryzen AI Max chips, which integrate neural processing units for AI workloads.
The growing market for handheld gaming PCs has led to the release of AMD’s Ryzen Z2 series, optimised for portable devices. Meanwhile, the company’s new Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 GPUs, built on RDNA 4 architecture, promise improved ray tracing, AI acceleration, and better media encoding. AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution 4.0, designed to enhance gaming visuals with minimal latency, was also unveiled.
Expanding beyond hardware, AMD’s Adrenalin software now includes AI-powered features, such as image generation and local AI models for summarising documents. With a strong market presence and increasing demand for AI and gaming solutions, AMD’s 2025 lineup reflects its strategy to remain competitive across multiple segments. Ryzen AI and Fire Range: AMD’s big CES 2025 reveals
Google TV introduces AI-powered news summaries with Gemini
Google has announced a major update to its TV operating system at CES 2025, integrating its Gemini AI assistant to deliver personalised news summaries. The new ‘News Brief’ feature will scrape news articles and YouTube headlines from trusted sources to generate a concise recap of daily events. Google plans to roll out the feature to both new and existing Google TV devices by late 2025.
The move marks Google’s deeper foray into AI-generated news, a space that has faced legal challenges from media companies over copyright concerns. While rival firms like OpenAI and Microsoft have been sued over unlicensed content use, Google’s News Brief does not currently display its sources, apart from related YouTube videos. AI-generated news has also faced accuracy issues, with previous AI models producing misleading or entirely false headlines.
Beyond news summaries, Google aims to make TVs more interactive, with Gemini allowing users to search for films, shows, and YouTube videos using natural language. Future Google TVs will include sensors to detect when users enter the room, enabling a more personalised experience. As the company continues expanding AI features in consumer technology, the success of News Brief may depend on how well it addresses content accuracy and transparency concerns.
Amazon invests $11 billion in Georgia
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced a $11 billion investment to build new data centres in Georgia, aiming to support the growing demand for cloud computing and AI technologies. The facilities, located in Butts and Douglas counties, are expected to create at least 550 high-skilled jobs and position Georgia as a leader in digital innovation.
The move highlights a broader trend among tech giants investing heavily in AI-driven advancements. Last week, Microsoft revealed an $80 billion plan for fiscal 2025 to expand data centres for AI training and cloud applications. These facilities are critical for supporting resource-intensive AI technologies like machine learning and generative models, which require vast computational power and specialised infrastructure.
The surge in AI infrastructure has also raised concerns about energy consumption. A report from the Electric Power Research Institute suggests data centres could account for up to 9% of US electricity usage by 2030. To address this, Amazon has secured energy supply agreements with utilities like Talen Energy in Pennsylvania and Entergy in Mississippi, ensuring reliable power for its expanding operations.
Amazon’s commitment underscores the growing importance of AI and cloud services, as companies race to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Anthropic in talks to raise $2 billion at $60 billion valuation
AI startup Anthropic is reportedly in advanced discussions to secure $2 billion in funding, potentially valuing the company at $60 billion. The funding round is being led by venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners, according to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal. The company, known for its Claude chatbot, was valued at around $18 billion in 2024 following a fundraising round led by Menlo Ventures.
Investor interest in Anthropic has grown significantly, with Amazon doubling its investment in the company to $8 billion last year as part of its push into generative AI. Alphabet has also pledged up to $2 billion in backing, further reinforcing the startup’s position as a key player in the AI sector. The company was founded by former OpenAI executives Dario and Daniela Amodei, who left the firm to develop their own AI models.
Competition in the AI industry remains fierce, with OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, leading the charge after launching ChatGPT in 2022. OpenAI recently secured $6.6 billion in funding, bringing its valuation to an estimated $157 billion. The race to dominate the AI market has intensified, with major tech firms investing heavily in developing next-generation AI models.
Nvidia introduces high-performance AI supercomputer for developers
Nvidia has introduced Project Digits, a compact AI supercomputer designed for researchers, data scientists, and students. The system, unveiled at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, runs on Nvidia’s powerful Grace Blackwell Superchip and provides up to a petaflop of computing performance. CEO Jensen Huang described it as a “cloud computing platform that sits on your desk” and highlighted its ability to prototype and fine-tune AI models.
A single Project Digits unit can run AI models with up to 200 billion parameters, while two linked devices can handle models with up to 405 billion parameters. The machine is powered by a Blackwell GPU and a 20-core Grace CPU, supported by 128GB of memory and up to 4TB of storage. It can function as a standalone system or connect to a primary Windows or Mac PC, offering flexibility for AI development.
Pricing starts at $3,000, making it an investment primarily for professionals and institutions rather than casual users. Nvidia plans to launch Project Digits in May through select partners. Huang believes the device will bring AI supercomputing capabilities to millions of developers, accelerating advancements in AI.
Meta appoints three new board directors
Meta Platforms has elected three new directors to its board, including Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a close associate of President-elect Donald Trump. Investor and former Microsoft executive Charlie Songhurst and Exor CEO John Elkann have also joined. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said their expertise would help the company navigate opportunities in artificial intelligence, wearables, and digital connectivity.
White’s appointment strengthens his ties with Zuckerberg, who has become a mixed martial arts enthusiast. The two have shared public exchanges in recent years, with Zuckerberg attending UFC events at White’s invitation. Songhurst has been involved in Meta’s AI advisory group since May, while Elkann holds leadership roles at Ferrari and Stellantis, alongside chairing the Agnelli Foundation.
Zuckerberg has been adjusting Meta’s strategy ahead of a possible second Trump presidency. The company recently promoted Republican policy expert Joel Kaplan and donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, signalling a shift in its political stance. Meta has also acknowledged past content decisions that were unpopular among conservatives as it prepares for the evolving political landscape.
Wall Street rallies as AI optimism boosts chip stocks and tariff concerns ease
US stock markets climbed to one-week highs on Monday, driven by gains in semiconductor stocks and optimism over AI investments. Reports suggesting that Donald Trump’s incoming administration may adopt a more selective approach to tariffs, rather than broad measures, also helped boost investor confidence. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.41%, the S&P 500 gained 1.02%, and the Nasdaq Composite surged 1.53%, with automakers and tech stocks leading the rally.
Semiconductor shares saw strong gains after Microsoft announced an $80 billion investment in AI-enabled data centres, while Foxconn posted better-than-expected quarterly revenue. Nvidia climbed 3.5%, AMD gained 2.8%, and Micron Technology surged 9.6%, pushing the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index to a two-month high. Meanwhile, the Russell 2000 index, which tracks small-cap companies, added 0.7% as investors weighed economic data and Federal Reserve policy signals.
Investors are closely watching monetary policy developments, with the Federal Reserve expected to provide further guidance on interest rate cuts later in the week. While Trump’s proposals could support corporate earnings and economic growth, concerns remain over potential inflationary pressures. US markets will be closed on January 9 for a national day of mourning in honour of former President Jimmy Carter.
Online sales rise as AI chatbots help shoppers during holidays
AI-powered chatbots played a key role in boosting online sales during the 2024 holiday season, with United States e-commerce revenue rising nearly 4% year-on-year to $282 billion, according to Salesforce. Consumers increasingly relied on AI-based customer service tools for purchases and returns, with chatbot usage growing by 42% compared to 2023. Retailers also leveraged targeted promotions, product recommendations, and loyalty programmes to attract bargain hunters.
Despite the sales growth, a sharp increase in product returns emerged as a significant challenge for retailers. The return rate climbed to 28%, up from 20% in the previous year, potentially affecting profit margins. Caila Schwartz, director of Consumer Insights at Salesforce, noted that AI-driven tools would be crucial in 2025 to help retailers reduce losses from returns and retain customers. Mobile shopping remained dominant, with 79% of all orders placed via smartphones, peaking on Christmas Day as last-minute buyers made their final purchases.
Social media platforms such as TikTok Shop and Instagram also played a growing role in holiday sales, driving 14% of traffic to e-commerce sites. AI-driven sales reached $229 billion globally, an increase from $199 billion in 2023. As retailers continue to invest in digital shopping tools, the balance between AI-driven efficiency and managing high return rates will be critical for sustaining profitability in the coming years.