Amazon's Big AI Move & Qualcomm's ARM Laptop Surge | Tech News of the Week

Chaos Lever Podcast

In this episode of Chaos Lever, we dig into the latest tech updates and industry moves, from Amazon's ambitious push to rival OpenAI to Qualcomm’s plans for ARM-powered Windows laptops. We’ll also explore MacOS’s tricky approach to app sandboxing and debate whether Notepad really needs AI.

*Amazon to Invest in Anthropic AI to Compete with OpenAI—But There's a Catch*
Amazon is making a big move into the AI arena by deepening its investment in Anthropic, aiming to challenge Microsoft-backed OpenAI. AWS will further integrate Anthropic’s AI tech into its offerings, expanding on a 2023 partnership that also made AWS an Anthropic services provider. Interestingly, Amazon’s deal may require Anthropic to shift from NVIDIA chips to Amazon’s own "Trainium" and "Inferentia" chips, doubling up on revenue potential. Is this strategy genius or misguided? (https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/amazon-eyeing-multibillion-dollar-investment-in-claude-maker-anthropic-heres-why-its-a-big-deal)

*Qualcomm Promotes 58 Models of ARM-Based Windows Laptops*
Qualcomm is shaking up the laptop market with 58 new ARM-powered Windows models launching soon, partnering with brands like Dell, HP, and Samsung. These ARM-based laptops promise better battery life, but compatibility challenges still haunt Windows ARM. Some users, however, report smoother experiences with recent Windows updates and compatibility improvements. Can these new laptops finally compete with Intel and AMD? (https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/07/qualcomm_triples_windows_on_arm/)

*MacOS App Sandboxing: More Complicated Than It Seems*
Apple's approach to app sandboxing in MacOS sounds good in theory—limiting apps’ access to sensitive system areas—but its execution has loopholes. Certain processes can escape these sandbox restrictions, making it less reliable for security. This issue has been linked to several CVEs, sparking discussions on how Apple could improve MacOS sandboxing to catch up with BSD. (https://jhftss.github.io/A-New-Era-of-macOS-Sandbox-Escapes/)

*Notepad Gets an AI Update—But Do We Really Need It?*
Notepad, a trusty go-to for Windows users, is getting an AI update in the latest Windows 11 Preview. Users can now rewrite text with AI suggestions, though many wonder why a simple tool needs AI features. The new addition, which requires a Microsoft login, raises questions about the need for AI in every corner of the OS. Sometimes, simple is better! (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/11/06/new-ai-experiences-for-paint-and-notepad-begin-rolling-out-to-windows-insiders/)