TECH
Valve launches $1,049 Steam Machine amid component shortages
Valve announced its first Steam Machine console, pricing the 512 GB model at $1,049 and the 2 TB version at $1,349, powered by a six‑core AMD Zen 4 CPU, RDNA 3 GPU and DDR5 memory. The company will sell the units through a randomized reservation system that opens June 25, a process described by Ars Technica as a way to curb bots and resellers. The Verge reported that the high price reflects a broader RAM shortage, with Valve engineers saying they receive monthly “take‑it‑or‑leave‑it” offers from a few memory suppliers and cannot lock in contracts.
Tesla autopilot crash kills Texas woman, prompting NHTSA investigation
According to Ars Technica, a driver told police he was using Tesla's Autopilot when his Model 3 left the road and struck a home, killing 76‑year‑old Martha Avila. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the driver was sober and is cooperating with investigators, while the NHTSA has opened a special crash investigation. The report also highlights criticism of Tesla’s marketing of Autopilot and its push for regulatory changes, noting that safety advocates consider the technology unproven.
Anthropic faces US export ban after warning about AI risks
Ars Technica reports that the US government barred foreign nationals from Anthropic’s latest models, Mythos and Fable, citing national‑security concerns. Financial‑Times analysis cited by the outlet shows Anthropic’s public statements referenced risk‑related terms far more often than OpenAI, a factor critics say helped trigger the ban. Anthropic declined to comment as the dispute fuels broader debate over AI regulation and export controls.
Lucid Motors cuts 18% of workforce in second major layoff this year
Ars Technica reports Lucid Motors is laying off about 1,500 employees, roughly 18% of its staff, following a 12% cut in February. The company is ending the second shift at its Casa Grande, Arizona factory and eliminating the COO position to streamline operations. The measures are projected to save $158 million and help Lucid move toward profitability.
Microsoft and Chevron announce large gas‑powered data center project in West Texas
TechCrunch reports that Microsoft and Chevron unveiled plans for a 2.67‑GW natural‑gas power plant in West Texas to supply a Microsoft AI and cloud data center under a 20‑year power purchase agreement. The project, dubbed Project Kilby, would be among the nation’s largest co‑located gas‑power and data‑center developments and is expected to emit more than 13 million tons of CO₂, challenging Microsoft’s 2030 carbon‑free goal. The announcement marks a notable shift for a firm that has publicly emphasized sustainability.
AMD reinstates memory encryption in consumer CPUs after user backlash
AMD quietly removed Transparent Secure Memory Encryption (TSME) from non‑PRO Ryzen 9000‑series CPUs, prompting criticism that the change was hidden and possibly aimed at steering buyers toward higher‑priced models. After a wave of user complaints on social media, the company announced it will restore the “Memory Guard” BIOS option in a July firmware update. AMD has not explained why the feature was initially dropped, and analysts suggest performance or cost motives may have been factors.
Apple chip flaw lets iPhone jailbreak via unpatchable hardware bug
TechCrunch reports that a Barcelona‑based firm, Paradigm Shift, disclosed an unpatchable boot‑ROM vulnerability, dubbed “usbliter8”, in Apple A12 and A13 chips used in iPhone XS, XR through iPhone 11. The flaw requires physical access and cannot be fixed by software, meaning only newer hardware can mitigate the risk. Researchers say the exploit could enable new jailbreaks if combined with additional vulnerabilities.
Meta pauses employee‑tracking program after internal data leak
Meta announced it is halting the Model Compatibility Initiative, a tool that records mouse movements, clicks, keystrokes and screen content, after an internal security notice revealed that the data was accessible to any employee. The company said no evidence of misuse exists but is pausing the program while it investigates. Wired reported that employees had long protested the initiative and that the leak prompted the pause, which Meta disclosed to the outlet before informing staff.
Groq secures $650 million funding and expands team after Nvidia deal
Groq announced a $650 million financing round, six months after Nvidia signed a licensing agreement for its LPU technology and hired several Groq executives. The company, which did not disclose a new valuation, is pivoting to its neocloud services and adding former xAI, Meta, and Microsoft leaders as COO, CTO and CPO. It now operates 13 data centers worldwide, serving millions of developers.
Tata Electronics confirms data breach affecting Apple and Tesla supply chains
Tata Electronics, an Indian electronics and semiconductor maker that supplies Apple and Tesla, has confirmed a cyber‑security incident that exposed thousands of internal files. TechCrunch, which examined a sample of the leaked 630 GB of data, said the files appear to include Apple supplier specifications and Tesla manufacturing documents, though the authenticity could not be independently verified. Reuters added that the breach prompted notification to iPhone‑assembly employees, that Apple is investigating, and that a ransom demand was made to the company.