Technology is advancing at a staggering pace, with global innovation constantly pushing the boundaries. Here’s your quick roundup of the latest movements in the tech world, covering cutting-edge technologies, groundbreaking research, and industry trends.

Musk’s CES “Future Declaration”: AI to Complete All Cognitive Tasks in 3 Years, 500,000 Robots in Production, First Manned Spaceship to Mars

In a recent interview at CES, Musk made some bold predictions about the future of technology. He firmly believes that AI is advancing rapidly, and within 3 to 4 years, it will be able to complete non-atomic cognitive tasks. Tesla’s Optimus robot plan is about to scale up significantly, and its self-driving technology is set to make major breakthroughs. Additionally, Musk revealed that a spacecraft could be sent to Mars within two years to advance interstellar exploration. Meanwhile, Neuralink continues to push forward with brain-computer interface technology, aiming to enhance human capabilities. These visionary moves are sketching an imaginative future for technological development, garnering worldwide attention.

Why Car Makers Are Racing Into the “Humanoid Robot” Arena

As technology advances, car manufacturers are jumping into the “humanoid robot” field. For instance, a major automotive player from Guangdong has introduced the GoMate robot, which features self-developed core components, unique control mechanisms, and energy-saving features powered by AI large model training. The shared technological roots between the auto industry and robotics make this an attractive area for carmakers, leveraging their existing tech and supply chain advantages. The humanoid robot market is growing at a compound annual rate of over 40%, and it is expected to find applications across multiple fields, reshaping the automotive and robotics industries. This is a critical direction for carmakers to boost their competitiveness and open new markets.

“Mini Supercomputers” Criticized, But NVIDIA’s Ambition Goes Beyond This

NVIDIA’s unveiling of “Project DIGITS” at CES created quite a stir. Dubbed the smallest AI supercomputer, it houses a custom “GB10” superchip, combining Blackwell GPUs with Grace CPUs, all linked by NVLINK-C2C interconnect. While the FP4 floating-point performance has drawn industry criticism, the system runs a Linux OS with a rich AI software library and is positioned as an AI development platform. This move not only reflects NVIDIA’s innovative attempts in AI hardware architecture but also hints at their ambitions in the desktop PC CPU market, potentially reshaping the ARM PC ecosystem.

New Developments! OpenAI’s Robot Project Is Hiring, May Develop Its Own Sensors

OpenAI’s hardware department has revealed its latest move in robotics. The project aims to develop universal, adaptable, and multifunctional robots, potentially building its own sensors and computing components, powered by self-developed AI models. The hiring positions span electronic sensing, mechanical design, and project management. Although robotics is not OpenAI’s top priority, the company has been steadily making moves in this area, having previously invested in related enterprises. This new hiring initiative shows OpenAI’s determination to delve into robotics, with hopes of leveraging its formidable technical edge to drive breakthroughs in robot technology.

Apple Plans to Release New Apple Watch SE, Series 11, and Ultra 3 This Year, Adding New Health Features

According to Bloomberg, Apple has big plans this year. The new Apple Watch SE will feature a completely new design, with more options in materials and colors. The Series 11 and Ultra 3 models, though maintaining a similar look, will see significant upgrades, including satellite connectivity, 5G RedCap support, and high blood pressure detection features. Apple is also developing AI-powered health coaching services and new apps. If true, this will mark the first full update to the Apple Watch lineup since 2022, solidifying Apple’s leadership in the smart wearable health sector.

Apple CEO Cook’s $74.6 Million Salary in 2024: Enough to Buy 60,000 iPhones

Apple’s financial filings show that CEO Tim Cook’s 2024 compensation will reach $74.6 million, primarily driven by stock awards, an 18% increase from the previous year. While the pay package is substantial, analysts remain cautious about Apple’s 2025 iPhone shipment projections, expecting it to fall between 220 million and 225 million units, below market expectations. The difference between Cook’s pay growth and Apple’s market strategy reflects the complex relationship between executive incentives and market forecasts, sparking deep discussions about Apple’s future trajectory.

AR Glasses: How Far Are We Really?

In the cutting-edge tech world, AR glasses have made key breakthroughs. West Lake University has developed silicon carbide AR glasses, utilizing silicon carbide lenses and micro-nano optical diffraction waveguide technology for ultra-light and full-color display. Meta’s Orion glasses have already demonstrated various intelligent applications, but the widespread adoption of AR glasses is still hindered by content ecosystems and high costs. However, with technological advancements and scaling, it’s expected that the cost of silicon carbide AR lenses will drop significantly within 3 to 5 years, driving AR glasses into the mass market and revolutionizing human-computer interaction and information access.

28-Year-Old “Revives” Enron in the US and Sells “Portable Home Nuclear Reactors”?

The latest internet sensation centers around 28-year-old Connor Gaidos who “revived” Enron and began selling “portable home nuclear reactors.” Through various promotional methods, including a website and press conference, Gaidos garnered a lot of attention. However, experts have analyzed the technology and pointed out that there are insurmountable barriers in energy conversion, radiation protection, and other aspects with current nuclear technology, making it a pipe dream. This incident may also be linked to Gaidos’ prior involvement in internet hoaxes, raising societal concerns about the spread of false tech information.

Goodbye, Nokia Smartphones

The technological evolution has witnessed the rise and fall of Nokia phones. From its glory days in the feature phone era, like the Nokia 1100, which was a global best-seller, to its decline after the Windows Phone ecosystem failed in partnership with Microsoft, and the struggles under HMD, Nokia has now discontinued the XR21 model, marking the end of its smartphone business. Despite the decline in the mobile sector, Nokia has continued to see strong revenues in telecom equipment, enterprise operations, and patent licensing. Its trajectory offers profound lessons for tech companies navigating the tides of industry change.