Google in talks with Samsung to make part of next-gen chip ↗
Google is reportedly considering Samsung to manufacture the memory-interface component of its next custom AI processor, codenamed Icefish. TSMC would continue producing the main computing component, while MediaTek is assisting with the design.
Samsung’s proposed component would use its advanced 2-nanometre process. Nothing has been confirmed, but Google plainly wants more chipmaking options as surging demand puts pressure on the customary supply chain. (Reuters)
Anthropic pursues data center leases, seeks financial backing from Google ↗
Anthropic has reportedly reached more than a dozen preliminary agreements to lease US data centres with over one gigawatt of combined capacity. Rather than merely renting cloud computing, the company would manage these facilities itself.
It has also discussed asking Google to guarantee its lease payments. That is a substantial infrastructure wager - the AI lab increasingly resembles a power-hungry industrial operator, an unexpected turn for a software company. (Reuters)
Anthropic taps TCS to scale its enterprise AI deployments ↗
Tata Consultancy Services is creating a dedicated business unit to deploy Anthropic models for corporate customers. TCS will receive early access to new models and introduce Claude to more than 50,000 employees.
The partnership targets financial services, healthcare, telecommunications and aviation. It gives Anthropic a vast enterprise distribution channel - not glamorous, perhaps, but this is how AI adoption spreads through large organisations. (TechCrunch)
Coinbase for Agents: Your AI Agent Can Now Trade and Pay with Coinbase ↗
Coinbase has launched tools that allow AI agents to connect to an account, analyse markets and execute crypto trades. Users can grant access to their main account or place the agent inside a separate sandbox.
Agents can also be instructed to rebalance portfolios or follow a particular trading thesis. Payments for premium data and computing through the x402 protocol are being added - practical, certainly, though handing software a wallet calls for rather careful limits. (TechCrunch)
Deezer Launches Free AI Music Detector for Playlists ↗
Deezer has released a free tool that checks playlists from services including Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud and YouTube Music for AI-generated tracks. It supports 20 major platforms and 27 languages.
The company says synthetic music accounts for 44% of new uploads to its own service, with roughly 75,000 AI tracks arriving each day. Most streams involving those tracks are flagged as fraudulent - a rather grim little jukebox. (TechCrunch)
Americans wary of AI-driven data center boom ↗
Only one-third of surveyed Americans supported the rapid construction of AI data centres. Some 57% opposed having one built locally, while just 14% felt comfortable with a nearby facility.
Electricity costs were the chief concern, shared by 77% of respondents across political groups. The AI boom may be popular in earnings calls, then... considerably less welcome beside someone’s home. (Reuters)
Google launches $50 million skilled worker initiative ↗
Google is committing $50 million to help train more than 300,000 skilled trade workers across the US. The programme will support 14 labour unions and four trade and contractor associations.
The focus includes electricians, welders, fibre technicians and cooling specialists needed to build and maintain AI data centres. It turns out the cloud requires an immense number of hard hats - a quietly terrestrial detail. (Axios)
FAQ
Why could Google use Samsung for its next-generation AI chip?
Google is reportedly considering Samsung to manufacture the memory-interface component of its Icefish processor using a 2-nanometre process. TSMC would continue producing the main computing component, while MediaTek is assisting with the design. Using multiple suppliers could give Google greater manufacturing flexibility as rising demand puts pressure on established chip supply chains.
How is Anthropic expanding its AI infrastructure and enterprise reach?
Anthropic has reportedly reached preliminary agreements for more than a dozen US data-centre leases, with a combined capacity exceeding one gigawatt. It is also partnering with Tata Consultancy Services, which plans to establish a dedicated unit for deploying Claude across sectors including finance, healthcare, telecommunications and aviation.
How can Coinbase AI agents trade and make payments?
Coinbase for Agents allows users to connect an AI agent to an account, enabling it to analyse markets, execute crypto trades and follow instructions such as portfolio rebalancing. Users can grant access to a primary account or operate through a separate sandbox. Careful permissions and spending limits remain important whenever software is able to control financial transactions.
How does Deezer detect AI-generated music in playlists?
Deezer’s free detector checks playlists from major music platforms for tracks that may have been generated by AI. The tool supports services including Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud and YouTube Music, spanning 20 platforms and 27 languages. It is designed to help listeners identify synthetic music in playlists created beyond Deezer’s own platform.
Why are AI data centres becoming a public concern?
Electricity costs are the leading concern among Americans surveyed about the rapid construction of AI data centres. Many respondents also opposed having a facility built near their community. The expansion is increasing demand for electricians, welders, fibre technicians and cooling specialists, which is why Google is funding training for more than 300,000 skilled trade workers.