Tags: hardware

Developer Hermann Haraldsson has released Clawdmeter, an open‑source, battery‑powered device that displays Anthropic's Claude Code token consumption on a small AMOLED screen. Paired with a laptop via Bluetooth, the gadget shows animated pixel‑art while tracking real‑time usage stats pulled from Claude's API. Since its May 10 launch, the project has attracted over 800 GitHub stars, sparking interest among AI power users who want a visual cue for their token‑maxxing habits. Haraldsson says the device adds a playful, nostalgic layer to the growing practice of monitoring AI token usage at work. Lire la suite

Supply‑chain analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo reports that OpenAI is accelerating development of its inaugural hardware product—a smartphone slated for mass production in early 2027. The device will run a customized MediaTek Dimensity 9600 chip, feature an enhanced image‑signal processor, LPDDR6 memory, UFS 5.0 storage and a dual‑NPU architecture for simultaneous language and vision AI tasks. Kuo predicts shipments of up to 30 million units in 2027‑28, putting the phone in the same league as Samsung’s flagship models. Lire la suite

OpenAI may be moving into hardware with its first AI‑focused smartphone, analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo of TF Securities reports. The device, still under development, could enter mass production in the first half of 2027, though the company has not confirmed the plan. Supply‑chain clues point to a partnership with MediaTek for a custom processor, TSMC for chip fabrication, and Luxshare for assembly. Designed around on‑device artificial‑intelligence, the phone would prioritize dual neural‑processing units, LPDDR6 memory and advanced security features, signaling OpenAI’s bid to define a new class of AI‑agent phones. Lire la suite

OpenAI is reportedly developing a smartphone that places AI agents at its core, aiming to replace the traditional app ecosystem. The project involves chip designers MediaTek and Qualcomm and manufacturing partner Luxshare. Analysts say the device could launch as early as 2028, using top‑tier processors that power most premium Android phones today. By consolidating tasks into conversational agents, OpenAI hopes to reshape how users interact with their phones, emphasizing productivity over a clutter of separate applications. Lire la suite

Industry analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo says OpenAI is planning a smartphone that would replace traditional apps with AI agents. The device, slated to use a custom chip co‑developed with MediaTek and Qualcomm and manufactured by Luxshare, could give the company unfettered access to user data and enable on‑device and cloud‑based AI models. Kuo expects component decisions by late 2026 or early 2027, with mass production targeted for 2028. The move aligns with OpenAI’s push to bring its ChatGPT platform, now approaching a billion weekly users, into everyday hardware. OpenAI has not commented. Lire la suite

DeepSeek announced a 75% promotional discount on its new V4‑Pro model and reduced cache‑hit charges across its entire API to 10% of previous rates. The price cut, effective immediately and running through May 5, 2026, makes the model cheaper than OpenAI, Anthropic and Google offerings even at full price. The move intensifies a pricing battle amid U.S. accusations that Chinese firms are distilling American AI models at scale, positioning DeepSeek as a low‑cost alternative for developers and enterprises. Lire la suite

Amsterdam‑based startup Schematik, founded by former maker Samuel Beek, has secured $4.6 million in seed funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners. The company’s new AI‑driven platform promises to guide users through the entire hardware‑building process, from design to parts sourcing, and even offers step‑by‑step assembly instructions. Early adopters have already used the tool to create everything from MP3 players to custom Tamagotchi‑style bots. Anthropic recently announced a Bluetooth API that lets developers connect its Claude model to physical devices, a move that aligns closely with Schematik’s vision. The startup aims to lower the barrier to entry for electronics creation while keeping safety at the forefront. Lire la suite

Cognichip, a startup that builds a deep‑learning model to assist engineers in designing semiconductor chips, announced a $60 million financing round led by Seligman Ventures, with Intel CEO Lip‑Bu Tan joining its board. The company claims its AI system can cut chip‑development costs by more than 75 percent and halve the design timeline. Cognichip trains its own model on proprietary and synthetic chip‑design data, allowing secure collaboration with manufacturers. The firm, founded in 2024, has raised a total of $93 million but has not yet disclosed a chip designed with its technology. Lire la suite

OpenAI unveiled Codex‑Spark, a lightweight version of its Codex coding assistant designed for rapid inference and real‑time collaboration. The new model runs on Cerebras' Wafer Scale Engine 3, a megachip featuring four trillion transistors, marking a deeper hardware integration between the two companies. Currently in a research preview for ChatGPT Pro users, Spark aims to accelerate prototyping while complementing the heavier, longer‑running tasks of the original Codex model. Lire la suite

A fabricated story about an OpenAI Super Bowl commercial starring Alexander Skarsgård and a mysterious hardware device circulated online. The rumor claimed the ad had been leaked by a disgruntled employee, but OpenAI officials quickly labeled the claim as false. Investigations revealed the original Reddit post came from a newly created account and the supporting website and emails were part of a coordinated effort to spread misinformation. The incident highlights the challenges tech companies face in controlling narrative around high‑profile events. Lire la suite

Smartphone maker Nothing announced Playground, an AI‑driven platform that lets users create simple widget‑style apps by entering natural‑language prompts. The tool currently supports building and customizing Essential Apps widgets, with options for more technical users to tweak underlying code. Nothing emphasized security and ease of use, noting that full‑screen apps are not yet supported. The launch follows a recent $200 million funding round led by Tiger Global, and CEO Carl Pei highlighted the company’s vision of AI‑enhanced operating systems and hardware built specifically for AI use cases. Lire la suite

Microsoft announced progress on a microfluidic cooling technique that channels liquid coolant directly through tiny channels etched onto silicon chips. Lab tests show the method can remove heat up to three times more effectively than traditional cold‑plate systems and cut peak chip temperatures by roughly 65 percent. By delivering cooling straight to the silicon, the approach could enable more powerful processors, tighter server packing, and lower energy use in data centers. Microsoft says the technology may also support future 3‑D chip architectures, though broader deployment will require manufacturing changes and further testing. Lire la suite

Apple’s iPhone 17 introduces a dedicated camera control button that links directly to AI‑powered visual features. While the button offers quick access to the camera and customizable shortcuts, many users find it overly sensitive and prone to accidental activation, leading to unintended photo sessions and battery drain. Apple provides settings to adjust pressure sensitivity and to disable the feature entirely. The rollout reflects a broader industry push to embed AI functions into hardware, prompting debate over whether such additions enhance or complicate everyday device use. Lire la suite

Meta is set to announce its next generation of smart glasses at the upcoming Connect conference. The new model features a small display embedded in the right lens and can be operated via a wristband that reads hand‑movement signals using surface electromyography (sEMG) technology acquired from CTRL‑Labs. The glasses are expected to cost around $800 and may be larger and heavier than prior versions. Meta also hints at new Oakley designs with an integrated camera, while no new Quest headset is slated for release. Existing Ray‑Ban Meta glasses have already sold 2 million units, underscoring strong market demand. Lire la suite

Amazon has scheduled a press event for September 30 at 10 AM ET, featuring Panos Panay of the Devices & Services team. A composite invitation image hints at updates to the Kindle e‑reader line, Fire TV hardware, and Echo speakers. Recent product refreshes include the Kindle Scribe and Colorsoft, as well as the Echo Dot, Echo Pop, and Echo Show 8, suggesting that the upcoming announcements may focus on new or refreshed entry‑level Kindle models, a redesigned standard Echo speaker, and additional Fire TV or streaming stick options. Lire la suite