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Samsung announced several gaming monitors ahead of CES 2025, with the Odyssey 3D drawing attention for its glasses-free 3D technology, 6K display, and 165 Hz refresh rate. The company also revealed the 27-inch Odyssey G6, featuring a world-first 140 Hz refresh rate in dual mode, though this model doesn't offer the higher resolution capabilities of its 3D counterpart.
Key Points
- Samsung's Odyssey 3D monitor combines glasses-free 3D with 6K resolution at 165 Hz
- Nvidia halted testing of Intel's 18A chip production process, causing Intel stock to decline
- US State Department banned five Europeans involved in tech regulation advocacy from entering the country
- Waymo deployed software updates after San Francisco power outage overwhelmed its autonomous vehicle fleet
- The company reduced confirmation requirements for vehicles navigating unusual traffic situations
Intel Foundry Setback
Nvidia stopped testing Intel's 18A production process for chip manufacturing, according to Reuters sources. Intel recently opened its first mass production 18A line at its Fab 52 facility in Arizona, positioning the company as a potential competitor to TSMC and other established foundries.
The news triggered a significant decline in Intel's stock price, highlighting investor concerns about the company's foundry ambitions. Intel has invested heavily in domestic chip manufacturing as part of broader efforts to reduce reliance on Asian semiconductor production.
Tech Regulation Restrictions
The US Department of State announced it would deny entry to five European individuals who worked with organizations pushing for technology company regulations. Secretary of State described their work as promoting "acts of extraterritorial censorship."
The banned individuals include:
- CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate
- Two leaders from anti-hate speech group Hate Aid
- Head of the Global Disinformation Index
- Former EU Commissioner Terry Britain, who helped create the EU Digital Services Act
The decision represents a significant escalation in tensions between US tech companies and European regulatory efforts, particularly around content moderation and digital platform oversight.
Autonomous Vehicle Updates
Waymo issued fleet-wide software updates following a widespread San Francisco power outage that overwhelmed its autonomous vehicles' ability to navigate the city. The outage caused multiple traffic lights to malfunction, creating unusual conditions that triggered the vehicles' safety protocols.
The company's previous system required confirmation checks when vehicles encountered unusual traffic situations like dead stoplights. During the outage, the volume of confirmation requests created a bottleneck that temporarily disabled most of the fleet.
"Most Waymos were actually getting through the dark stoplights, but some were falling back on checking for confirmation, which caused a spike that essentially created a denial-of-service on the system," the company explained.
Waymo's updated software allows vehicles to make more autonomous decisions during widespread infrastructure failures without requiring human oversight for each unusual situation. The company emphasized that the problem stemmed from excessive caution rather than technical failures in navigation capabilities.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges for autonomous vehicle deployment in unpredictable urban environments, particularly during emergency situations that fall outside normal operating parameters.
