This week's exploration spans multiple dimensions, including chips, AI, hardware, gaming, and the cloud market, outlining the contours of a new wave of technological advancements: from industry technological breakthroughs to innovative business models, from the evolution of mainstream devices to adjustments in the gaming ecosystem. From a higher-level perspective, AI and self-developed chips are rapidly reshaping the global tech supply chain and creator value chain. The interaction between foldable devices, small and medium-sized enterprises, and platform policies further demonstrates the accelerating convergence of "technology + content + platform."
Summary of key points
Chip and hardware strategy upgraded
Apple is internally pushing to counter the GPU monopoly with the A18 Pro and its self-developed cloud chip (ACDC project); Samsung has completed its second-generation 2nm process layout and is preparing to compete for the first launch of Exynos; E Ink + Intel innovates the touch experience, and Epson continues to strengthen precision manufacturing.
AI Ecosystem and Content Business Transformation
Google and Cloudflare launched new monetization tools (Offerwall, AI crawler payment mechanism) to combat AI traffic diversion; the US Senate maintained state-level regulations on AI to enable flexible policies for local integration of the industry.
Gaming and hardware market dynamics intensify
Microsoft's Xbox and King are laying off more employees, prompting major gaming companies to adjust their development priorities. Nintendo Switch 2 hands-on events are warming up for the launch, while Samsung's tri-foldable Galaxy G Fold is attracting much attention.
Key points
• "Apple is rumored to use A18 Pro to build an entry-level MacBook"
Rumors suggest Apple will develop an entry-level MacBook powered by its own A18 Pro chip, potentially replacing the entry-level laptops currently powered by M-series chips. This model will be positioned as a thinner, more affordable, and practical laptop, further expanding the Apple Silicon ecosystem and complementing wearable devices like the Vision Pro.
• Samsung completes 2nm second-generation process design
Samsung has reportedly finalized the blueprint for its next-generation 2nm process, with the first chip expected to be its in-house Exynos 2700. Reports indicate that Qualcomm has also partnered with the company to test the waters with this process. If successfully mass-produced, 2nm will significantly improve performance and power efficiency, further advancing mobile chip technology. This demonstrates that global semiconductor competition is fully entering the sub-nanometer era, and the 2nm and 3nm competition between Samsung and TSMC will intensify.
• E Ink and Intel collaborate on electronic paper touchpad
E Ink and Intel have collaborated to develop an electronic paper touchpad with touch and multi-touch functionality, compatible with Windows and AI applications. This technology, emphasizing low power consumption and comfortable reading, is expected to be integrated into laptops and AI-powered PCs, providing a more natural writing and annotation experience and potentially contributing to a revolution in laptop input.
• Epson celebrates its 50th anniversary, focusing on "saving, small, and precise"
Epson celebrated its 50th anniversary by reaffirming its three core technologies: energy and resource conservation (Energy); lightweight and portable (Small); and precise, high-quality output (Precision). The company continues to innovate in the global imaging and commercial printing markets, with a particular emphasis on environmental protection and diverse application scenarios, including commercial printing, wearable devices, and smart displays.
• Google launches Offerwall tool
In response to the significant diversion of traffic from content creators by AI-powered search services (such as AI Overviews), Google Ad Manager has added the Offerwall feature, allowing publishers to monetize through interactive formats such as short ads, surveys, and micropayments. Test results show that using Offerwall can increase revenue by an average of 9% and is particularly suitable for small and medium-sized websites or those with limited resources.
Related links:Google launches Offerwall monetization tool to help publishers combat AI-driven traffic disruption
• US Senate rejects federal AI legislation
The US Senate rejected a federally led AI regulation bill, leaving regulatory authority at the state level. Currently, states are still required to set their own regulations. Large tech companies lack unified regulations for AI applications and the allocation of responsibilities, posing the risk of disparate standards due to local legal differences. This creates greater room for policy negotiation between AI companies and content owners.
• "Microsoft Xbox again lays off large numbers of employees"
Microsoft announced a new wave of layoffs, with approximately 10% of King's staff being laid off, including those working on the Everwild and Perfect Dark reboots. Phil Spencer stated that the layoffs will allow the team to focus on projects with the greatest growth potential. This news has also raised questions in the industry about the future direction of gaming production and the potential for AI-powered alternatives.
• Cloudflare launches AI crawler "pay-per-use" marketplace
Cloudflare has officially launched its Pay-Per-Crawl marketplace, allowing AI service providers to negotiate crawler fees with website owners through authorization. This new feature blocks AI crawlers by default unless the website explicitly authorizes and establishes a revenue-sharing mechanism. This business model accelerates the transformation of AI content business models and makes content charging a new normal in the ecosystem, significantly impacting both content creators and AI companies.
Related links:Cloudflare launches a paid marketplace for AI crawlers, transforming website content licensing into a new business model
• "Apple is rumored to be planning to establish its own chip cloud platform"
According to internal sources, Apple has been working on a project codenamed ACDC, which will utilize its own chips to configure a server architecture similar to AWS, Azure, and GCP, and lease out its cloud computing power. Reports indicate that Apple is internally testing workloads such as cloud AI inference and photo search, highlighting its superior performance compared to traditional GPUs. If this project materializes, it will directly compete with AWS, squeezing out the cloud service provider's position while also helping expand its service offerings.
• Nintendo Switch 2 Taipei City Experience Reminder
The Nintendo Switch 2 experience event required pre-registration of a trial voucher, confirmation of game content, and the presence of a mobile phone for on-site redemption. The event also featured a review of the new console's features and the games launching simultaneously before the console's release in Taiwan.
• "Samsung Galaxy G Fold will be the final chapter of the three-fold foldable"
An internal animation of One UI 8 reveals the new Galaxy G Fold's left and right screens fold inward, with the outer screen positioned in the center. Featuring a 9.96-inch inner screen and a 6.54-inch outer screen, it will be the highlight of Samsung's foldable flagship. Compared to Huawei's Z-shaped design, Samsung's inward-folding design prioritizes protection and simplified folding, but it's thicker and may be unveiled as the finale at the Unpacked event.
Related links:Samsung's long-rumored three-screen folding phone "Galaxy G Fold" may be the finale of the next launch event
