By Emmanuel Ogbodo

Flagship Android phones may soon become more expensive due to rising chipset prices. Next month, Qualcomm is expected to unveil the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, while MediaTek will launch its competing Dimensity 9400. Qualcomm had previously indicated that its new flagship chip would be more costly than its predecessor, and recent leaks have reinforced this notion.

Tech tipster Digital Chat Station (translated source) has revealed that both Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 may come with around a 20% price increase compared to their predecessors, mainly due to the high expenses of TSMC’s 3nm manufacturing process.

According to the leak, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 might be priced at about $190, while the Dimensity 9400 could cost around $155. However, these figures are only estimates, as chipset prices can vary depending on factors such as exclusivity deals and production volume.

This isn’t the first mention of rising chip costs. In June, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had forecasted an even larger increase, estimating a 25-30% jump in prices. Another tech tipster, Ice Universe, also suggested a 20.68% rise for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Regardless of whether the increase is closer to 20% or 30%, it’s evident that flagship processors will be more expensive this year.

As manufacturers face these higher component costs, it’s likely that consumers will bear the brunt, meaning flagship phones featuring these new chipsets may see a price hike into 2025. However, the exact impact on the final phone prices remains uncertain, as it won’t be a direct reflection of the chip’s entire price increase.

The question is whether this price surge is justified. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 promises notable improvements, being Qualcomm’s first SoC to include its own Oryon cores, with early benchmarks indicating significant performance gains. Meanwhile, MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 will incorporate ARM’s powerful Cortex-X925 core and has recently achieved the highest AnTuTu benchmark score ever recorded for an Android phone.

By Emmanuel Ogbodo

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang believes that the only effective way to fight AI abuse is by deploying more AI. Speaking at an event hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, Huang emphasized that AI’s ability to generate fake data and misinformation at unprecedented speeds means that only advanced AI systems can keep up with and counter these threats.

Huang compared the current situation to cybersecurity, highlighting that “almost every single company” faces potential attacks, and defending against these threats requires AI-driven systems. In a similar manner, combating harmful AI will necessitate the use of even more sophisticated AI tools.

The concern about AI misuse is especially acute in the U.S. as the country approaches its upcoming federal elections in November. With the rise of AI-generated misinformation, many fear its potential influence on democracy. A recent Pew Research Center survey revealed that nearly 60% of Americans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about AI spreading false information about candidates, with both Democrats and Republicans sharing this anxiety. Additionally, around 40% believe AI will be mostly used for harmful purposes during the elections, while only 5% are optimistic about AI’s potential.

Huang urged the U.S. government to take AI seriously by becoming a practitioner of AI technology, suggesting that every department, especially those in Energy and Defense, should adopt AI solutions. He also proposed the idea of building an AI supercomputer to advance the country’s AI capabilities.

Huang warned that AI’s growth will require much more power in the future. Currently, AI data centers consume about 1.5% of the world’s electricity, but he predicts this could increase by 10 to 20 times as AI models start teaching each other, further driving up energy use. To address this, Huang suggested building data centers near sources of excess energy, such as remote locations with abundant resources.

Meanwhile, a debate over AI regulation is intensifying. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom recently vetoed Senate Bill 1047 (SB 1047), which aimed to impose mandatory safety measures for AI systems. The bill, authored by Democratic Senator Scott Wiener, would have required AI developers to implement a “kill switch” for their models and publish plans for mitigating extreme risks, with developers potentially facing legal action if their systems posed ongoing threats. However, Newsom argued that the bill’s stringent standards would stifle innovation and were not the most effective way to tackle AI dangers, prompting resistance from major tech companies like OpenAI, Meta, and Google.

By Emmanuel Ogbodo

TikTok has announced the closure of its music streaming service, TikTok Music, just months after expanding the service to five countries: Indonesia, Brazil, Australia, Singapore, and Mexico. The service will officially shut down on November 28th, as the company plans to refocus its resources on its “Add to Music App” feature.

This feature allows users to export songs discovered on TikTok to their preferred music streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. By redirecting its efforts towards this integration, TikTok aims to reinforce its role as a music discovery tool rather than competing directly with established music streaming giants.

Ole Obermann, Global Head of Music Business Development at TikTok, explained the decision: “We will be closing TikTok Music at the end of November in order to focus on our goal of furthering TikTok’s role in driving even greater music listening and value on music streaming services, for the benefit of artists, songwriters, and the industry.”

Launched last summer in Indonesia and Brazil, TikTok Music initially replaced ByteDance’s Resso in those markets, with licenses secured from major music companies. However, the service faced challenges in its expansion, notably the absence of Universal Music’s catalog in Australia, Singapore, and Mexico, hinting at potential licensing difficulties.

Despite these hurdles, TikTok’s “Add to Music App” feature has thrived, partnering with platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon, and now reaching users in over 180 countries. The company is reportedly exploring further partnerships with other streaming services, signaling its intent to strengthen its position as a music discovery tool rather than a standalone streaming service.