Chip News: 6 August 2025 - 9 August 2025

Smart Fabrics with Sensors: The Wearable Tech Revolution You Didn’t See Coming

Chip · Future · Health · Innovation · IoT · Neuroscience · Science · Technology · Trends · Wearable Tech

Smart Fabrics with Sensors: The Wearable Tech Revolution You Didn’t See Coming

The global smart fabrics market was around $6–8 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach tens of billions by the 2030s, growing over 30% annually. Google’s Project Jacquard produced a denim jacket with touch-sensitive threads in the sleeve that let the

August 15, 2025

Silicon Photonics Revolution – Light-Speed Tech Transforming AI, Data Centers & More

Chip · Future Trends · Manufacturing · Microelectronics · Technology

Silicon Photonics Revolution – Light-Speed Tech Transforming AI, Data Centers & More

Silicon photonics uses silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs) to manipulate light for data processing and communication, enabling on-chip and chip-to-chip interconnects at speeds such as 100 Gb/s and 400 Gb/s. A silicon photonic chip the size of a fingernail can host dozens

August 9, 2025

NPUs vs. TPUs: How On-Device AI Is Supercharging Your Gadgets in 2025

AI · Chip · Semiconductors · Technology

NPUs vs. TPUs: How On-Device AI Is Supercharging Your Gadgets in 2025

Apple kicked off on-device AI in 2017 with the iPhone A11’s Neural Engine, enabling Face ID and Animoji at up to 600 billion ops/sec. In 2023, the iPhone A17 Pro’s 16-core Neural Engine delivered about 35 TOPS, powering on-device speech, photography, and

August 9, 2025

The Ultraviolet Revolution: Inside the Invisible $150M Machines Shaping the Future of Microchips

Chip · Innovation · Microelectronics · Technology

The Ultraviolet Revolution: Inside the Invisible $150M Machines Shaping the Future of Microchips

Ultraviolet lithography machines cost upwards of $150 million each and are the size of a bus. Industry observers nickname the latest generation of these tools “the machines that saved Moore’s Law” because they enable modern leading-edge processors. ASML is the sole provider

August 7, 2025

Silicon Revolution 2025: AI Superchips, Chiplet Breakthroughs, and a Global IC Boom

AI · Chip · Hardware · Semiconductor Industry · Technology

Silicon Revolution 2025: AI Superchips, Chiplet Breakthroughs, and a Global IC Boom

Global chip sales in April 2025 hit $57 billion, up 22.7% year over year. Analysts project 2025 semiconductor revenue around $700 billion, with a path to $1 trillion by 2030. Apple released 3 nm system-on-chips, the A17 Bionic in iPhones and the

August 6, 2025

Trillion-Dollar Chip Wars: Inside the High-Stakes World of Global Semiconductor Production

Analiza rynku · Business · Chip · Innovation · Market · Semiconductors · Technology

Trillion-Dollar Chip Wars: Inside the High-Stakes World of Global Semiconductor Production

In 2024, global semiconductor sales surged to over $600 billion and could hit $1 trillion annually by 2030. Apple’s M1 Ultra packs 114 billion transistors on a single chip. ASML is the sole maker of EUV lithography scanners, with each machine weighing

August 6, 2025

PlayStation Portal Black Friday Discount Drops Price to $178.99 at Major Retailers
November 23, 2025, 12:04 AM EST. Sony's handheld remote player, the PlayStation Portal, just joined this year's Black Friday deals with its first major discount, dropping to about $178.99 at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy (roughly $21 off). The device now includes cloud streaming for select PS5 games for PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers, letting you stream from the cloud or from your library without a nearby PS5. Hardware remains a split DualSense controller with an 8-inch 1080p display; performance hinges on fast Wi-Fi, with ethernet recommended for streaming. Limitations include compatibility only with Pulse Explore earbuds and Pulse Elite headset, and a 3.5mm jack for wired headphones. Sony also discounts PS5 configurations up to $100, and reviews note the Portal is better in practice with reliable internet.
SpaceX Booster Explodes During Test as Grok Praises Elon Musk
November 23, 2025, 12:02 AM EST. Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok boosted hype about the billionaire even as a SpaceX booster exploded during testing. The incident involved the Booster 18 Version 3 at the Massey test site, described as suffering an anomaly during gas system pressure testing with no propellant and no engines installed. There were no injuries, but the setback compounds delays to SpaceX's ambitious Starship/super-heavy launch timeline, including NASA's Artemis 3 mission. The company will continue with on-orbit refueling tests, slated for late 2026, as it pursues a lunar return program once more. Ahead of that, SpaceX faces renewed competition from Blue Origin's New Glenn. The blast underscores the risks of iterative design and aggressive schedules in commercial space ventures.
US weighs allowing Nvidia H200 chips sales to China amid tech-trade détente
November 23, 2025, 12:00 AM EST. The Trump administration is weighing a policy shift that could allow the sale of Nvidia's H200 AI chips to China, signaling a possible shift in export controls as U.S.-China tech tensions ease after a Busan-trade detente. The Commerce Department is reviewing current prohibitions, with plans that could still change. White House officials did not comment. The move would reflect a friendlier stance since Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Trump brokered a tech-war truce, though China hawks warn shipments of advanced AI hardware could bolster Beijing's military. Critics say export controls under the Biden administration were designed to limit Beijing's access, and the policy review indicates flexibility amid evolving bilateral ties.