Who needs 2nm when you can have a glorious 350 nm?

Tsar Putin’s glorious Russian empire has invented superior photolithography, which will show the West who has the best technical prowess.

The photolithography tool, capable of producing chips with a 350 nm process technology or thicker, has been built in Russia and is undergoing testing in Zelenograd. This tech is so mature that Keith Richards used it to make the first chips for Noah’s ark.

To be fair it is used for some automotive and power chips, though it could be used for military equipment too but seriously it is  30 years behind the industry.

Intel made its Pentium MMX, Pentium Pro, and initial Pentium II processors on this node in 1995 and 1997, respectively, whereas AMD used this node for its K6 processor in 1997.

Still, no one told that Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia, Vasily Shpak, who was pleased that the Empire could now assemble and make a lithographic scanner.

There might be a reason no one told him. Even for Russia, a 350nm fabrication process may be considered outdated as two of the country's contract makers of chips — Angstrem and Mikron — will not touch it. Angstrem has a variety of technologies ranging from 250nm to 90nm, whereas Micron has processes ranging from 250nm to 90nm.

It is unclear how the Russian lithography tool can be commercially used. Still, we can guess that its main goal is to serve as a development vehicle for more sophisticated lithography machines.

Russia's semiconductor sector is developing much slower than the country's government announced in 2023. Previously stated short-term objectives include ramping up local chip production using 90nm technology by the end of the year, with a long-term goal of establishing 28nm manufacturing by 2027 and then 14nm node by 2030. This is about as likely as the conservatives winning the next British election.

There is another issue. Russia cannot develop sophisticated chips due to a lack of local talent and the latest electronic design automation tools. It does not have domestic raw materials to make chips using modern technologies. Furthermore, Russian entities can no longer license advanced CPU cores or chip IP, so they cannot even buy in the technologies they need to build advanced processors.

Very democratic

The recent leak of Google’s algorithms might show how the US search engine outfit might have had its boots on the throat of the western internet.

The 2,500-page document leak, initially reported by SEO expert Rand Fishkin, offered insights into the enigmatic workings of Google Search, which has puzzled observers for 26 years.

"I think the biggest takeaway is that what Google’s public representatives say and what Google search engine does are two different things," Fishkin said.

The documents provide a more intricate picture of Google Search's role in shaping the information we access. Selecting the appropriate webpage for your screen involves numerous editorial decisions made by a clandestine team at Google. For the SEO industry, which is heavily reliant on Google's algorithms, the leaked documents are seismic—equal to changing the rules of football halfway through the World Cup.

The leak details 14,000 ranking features that provide a framework for Google's web organisation. These elements include Google's assessment of a site's authority on specific topics, the site's size, or the frequency of webpage clicks. Google has refuted using some of these features in Search, but has acknowledged the authenticity of these documents.

A spokesGoogle said: "We would caution against making inaccurate assumptions about Search based on out-of-context, outdated, or incomplete information. We’ve shared extensive information about how Search works and the types of factors that our systems weigh, while also working to protect the integrity of our results from manipulation."

One ranking feature, "homepagePagerankNs," implies that the prominence of a website's homepage could bolster all its content. The leak mentions a system called NavBoost—first referenced by Google's VP of Search, Pandu Nayak, in his Department of Justice testimony—which allegedly uses click metrics to enhance Google Search rankings. The SEO community views these documents as validation of long-held suspicions: a site favoured by Google might receive a higher Search ranking for a query, even if a less-known site offers superior information.

Numerous small publishers have recently witnessed a decline in their Google Search traffic.  Google CEO Sundar Pichai was uncertain about the consistency of this trend. The leak contains a feature named 'smallPersonalSite,' the usage of which is unknown but suggests Google's recognition of smaller websites. Given the current difficulties such sites face, it appears Google has not mitigated the influence of larger brands.

Google has, at times, directed more traffic to smaller sites, which suggests that Google can influence traffic. As more national media outlets license their content for ChatGPT, Google Search favours larger publishers, potentially narrowing the diversity of information accessible to the public.

The impact of the leaked Google documents has been extensive. Kristen Ruby, CEO of Ruby Media Group identified two notable ranking features: "isElectionAuthority" and "isCovidLocalAuthority." These seem to be Google's methods for evaluating a webpage's reliability in providing accurate election and COVID-19 information.

In 2019, Ruby extensively critiqued Google's criteria for trustworthy web pages (referred to by Google as E-E-A-T, denoting Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust) as politically biased.

"It is problematic that Google is providing no context on critical items in the data such as ‘isElectionAuthority’ or ‘isCovidLocalAuthority.’ How is Google defining an authority in these critical domains?" Ruby questioned in an emailed statement. "I should not have to guess at what the answer is. Google should be forthcoming and tell me what the answer is."

How Google assigns rankings indicates the broader Search ecosystem. Daily, countless decisions are made about which information to highlight and which to suppress. While Google and other tech firms have long portrayed themselves as neutral algorithms, these ranking features suggest otherwise. The 2,500-page leak reveals numerous additional ranking features.

Ruby is concerned that Google's new AI Overviews may offer a singular, definitive answer. Instances where outdated Reddit posts gain undue authority, advising users on bizarre actions like adding glue to pizza, underscore the importance of Google's authority criteria, especially when the top result might be the sole voice heard.

Fears Jobs’ Mob muscling in on its act

Software King of the World Microsoft is concerned about OpenAI's attempts to deal with the fruity cargo cult Apple.

OpenAI CEO recently reached an agreement with the iPhone maker to incorporate some OpenAI services into Jobs’ Mob’s products to save it the time and expense of inventing them itself.

Satya Nadella recently met with Sam Altman to discuss an apparent deal between OpenAI and Apple. Nadella was concerned about the potential impact of a deal on Microsoft's product ambitions particularly as it came up with $10 billion investment in the company.

Apple is playing off Google and OpenAI for the deal, which could be worth billions. If OpenAI has indeed agreed with Apple, it would be a much-needed win for Altman but will make Vole look pretty stupid.

Altman is under pressure again after former employees and board members publicly criticised him.

A former OpenAI director, Helen Toner, recently accused Altman of lying to the board "multiple" times and "withholding information."

Toner, who participated in November's ousting of the CEO, said Altman had also kept the board in the dark about the company's ownership structure.

Altman has also faced criticism from Jan Lieke, a former executive at OpenAI.

Leike quit OpenAI earlier this month, accusing the company of prioritising "shiny products" over "safety culture and processes."

Although we would have thought that it sounded like Apple’s business motto,

It is also an issue Microsoft might have with Altman. Insiders say that Vole wants OpenAI to prioritise commercial products.  That said, it was Volish's intervention that returned Altman to his CEO role.

Not a fan

Computer hardware manufacturer Cooler Master has confirmed that it suffered a data breach on May 19 after a threat actor breached the company's website.

A threat actor known as 'Ghostr' told Bleeping Computer that it hacked the company's Fanzone website on May 18 and downloaded its linked databases.

Cooler Master's Fanzone site is used to register a product's warranty, request an RMA, or open support tickets, requiring customers to fill in personal data, such as names, email addresses, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, and physical addresses.

Ghostr said it downloaded 103 GB of data during the Fanzone breach, including the customer information of over 500,000 customers.

The threat actor also shared data samples, allowing BleepingComputer to confirm with numerous customers listed in the breach that their data was accurate and that they recently requested support or an RMA from Cooler Master.

Other data in the samples included product information, employee information, and information regarding emails with vendors. The threat actor claimed to have partial credit card information, but Bleeping Computer could not find this data in the data samples. The threat actor now says they will sell the leaked data on hacking forums but has not disclosed the price.

Cooler Master said, "We can confirm on May 19, Cooler Master experienced a data breach involving unauthorized access to customer data. We immediately alerted the authorities, who are actively investigating the breach. Additionally, we have engaged top security experts to address the breach and implement new measures to prevent future incidents. These experts have successfully secured our systems and enhanced our overall security protocols. We are in the process of notifying affected customers directly and advising them on next steps. We are committed to providing timely updates and support to our customers throughout this process."

GlobalData predicts unparalleled security and performance levels

The emergence of the quantum internet, which uses quantum mechanical principles and qubits rather than traditional binary bits, is set to revolutionise global connectivity with unparalleled security and performance levels.

According to a report by number crunchers GlobalData the technology will transform various sectors, including telecommunications, cybersecurity, and computing,

GlobalData Practice Head of Disruptive Tech Kiran Raj said the quantum internet will tackle essential challenges across numerous industries. For example, in telecommunications, it reduces latency and increases bandwidth, addressing significant constraints.

He said: “In the realm of cybersecurity, it introduces inviolable encryption techniques such as quantum key distribution (QKD) to protect confidential data. Regarding computing, it enables groundbreaking quantum algorithms, enhancing computational power and efficiency, especially in fields like cryptography, optimisation, and intricate simulations. Essentially, the quantum internet is anticipated to become a pivotal element for future industrial progress."

GlobalData Disruptive Tech Project Manager Saurabh Daga said that while the quantum internet has primarily been an experimental notion, recent scientific breakthroughs, coupled with parallel progress in quantum computing, are cementing its trajectory towards complete practical application and eventual market introduction.

“These developments signify a considerable step in incorporating the quantum internet into practical uses, marking a notable landmark in its evolution from concept to reality."

GlobalData's Disruptor Intelligence Center has been watching the following companies which it thinks will kick the whole thing off.

• Aliro Quantum's AliroNet Solution: The American startup Aliro Quantum has unveiled AliroNet, a comprehensive entanglement-based quantum network solution. AliroNet simulates quantum networks, conducts small-scale trials, and implements extensive networks, revolutionising sectors like government, defence, finance, research, and environmental sciences with secure communications and distributed quantum sensing.
• Cisco’s Project Lyra: In collaboration with UK-based Nu Quantum and supported by UK Research and Innovation, Cisco is working on Lyra to develop a modular quantum network infrastructure for a prototype quantum data centre. By merging quantum technology with standard networking, they aim to create scalable data centres, propelling Cisco's future networking technologies.
• QphoX's Quantum Modem Technology: The Dutch startup QphoX has created a quantum modem to expand quantum computers and establish a quantum internet. This technology facilitates secure, efficient data transfer over vast distances by converting quantum information between microwave and optical domains, fostering interconnected quantum systems.

• EPB’s Quantum Infrastructure: The Electric Power Board of Chattanooga (EPB) and Qubitekk have initiated a commercial quantum network that merges EPB's broadband proficiency with Qubitekk's quantum encryption technology. This network enables secure, rapid communication for sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government.

Daga said that the challenges persist in expanding quantum networks and ensuring their compatibility with current systems.

“Overcoming these hurdles is vital for fully capitalising on the quantum internet's advantages. As the technology matures, collaboration between industrial and academic entities will be crucial for the global deployment of quantum internet infrastructure, spurring innovation and economic development."

Half the industry could be mobile gaming.

Reports from NoKyc.com suggest that by 2030, mobile gaming could account for over 50 per cent of the total industry revenue.

The revenue from mobile gaming is projected to reach €405.55 million by 2030, using the current exchange rate. The widespread adoption of smartphones in the previous decade has propelled mobile gaming to the forefront of the industry. While mobile games once held limited interest for gaming development companies, they have emerged as the primary revenue generators for developers and publishers.

Data from Statista indicates that mobile games generated €182.08 million in revenue in 2023. Console gaming, the second-largest segment, earned a significantly lower revenue of €96.94 million. PC gaming contributed €74.32 million to the total revenue, and browser games added another €13.91 million.

Analysing the total revenue breakdown, mobile gaming accounted for 49.6 per cent of the overall revenue of €367.44 million in 2023. The previous year, mobile gaming's revenue share was 49.5 per cent.

Estimates suggest that mobile gaming's annual revenue will rise to €205.77 million in 2024, with its contribution to total revenue increasing marginally to 49.7 per cent.

By 2030, mobile gaming revenue is expected to surge to €405.55 million—a 153 per cent increase over eight years (from 2022 to 2030). Additionally, mobile gaming's share of the total revenue is projected to reach 50.3 per cent.

Therefore, it is evident that mobile gaming's revenue is growing more rapidly than other segments. Likewise, its contribution to the total industry revenue has been on an upward trajectory in recent years, a trend that is likely to persist in the foreseeable future.

Budgets being allocated

A recent study has indicated that Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are investing in AI tools to position themselves at the forefront of the world's fourth industrial revolution.

The 2024 CIO Report from global technology service provider Logicalis UK&I disclosed that 85 per cent of CIOs allocate budgets exclusively for AI development and implementation.

This is undoubtedly a strategic goal for many senior leaders in 2024, as 87 per cent of CIOs reported a significant demand for AI technology within their organisations.

Despite some concerns—72 per cent of CIOs are wary about the challenges of regulating AI use internally, and 64 per cent of business leaders are anxious about AI threatening their core business models—there is a strong embrace of AI's potential.

Logicalis UK&I CEO Neil Eke said: "Our survey demonstrates that CIOs are wholeheartedly adopting the disruption. In contrast to our 2017 report, where CIOs were primarily concerned with operational maintenance, their role in 2024 is much more strategic, progressive, and business-oriented. Digital transformation is giving way to AI innovation, with increased investment directed towards emerging technologies. With AI as the top priority for CIOs in 2024, it's unsurprising that many actively seek ways to integrate such capabilities into their businesses."

In 2024, CIOs must navigate major disruptive forces, including the rise of AI, advancing security threats, global economic volatility, and the pressing need for climate action—all of which overturn the established order and introduce a new array of leadership challenges.

Cybersecurity findings from the CIO Report include:

• 83 per cent of CIOs reported experiencing a cyber hack in the past year.
• Less than half (43 per cent) believe their business is fully prepared to handle another major security breach.
• Malware and ransomware (41 per cent) pose the most significant risks to organisations in the next 12 months, with data breaches (36 per cent) and phishing attacks (35 per cent) also identified as substantial threats.

Logicalis UK&I Security and Cloud Business Unit Director Mike Fry said that the widespread availability of sophisticated AI models, including to cybercriminals, may account for the high number of cyber hacks reported by CIOs.

“Additionally, a skills shortage in the IT industry, particularly in cybersecurity, is leading to overburdened IT teams facing increasing incidents and alerts. The deployment of AI by threat actors will become one of the most significant security threats. However, if utilised properly, AI offers the best chance for defence. Organisations should aim to implement security systems that harness AI technology to stay ahead. Integrating AI into Security Operations Centres and deploying AI-enhanced threat detection can tip the scales in our favour when it matters most."

CIOs must navigate the deluge of data, a task that 80 per cent of technology leaders find challenging. This lack of clarity consumes time and hinders the discovery of opportunities to reduce costs, enhance services, and deliver maximum value to the business.

No single company can address these challenges in isolation, so it's heartening that nearly all respondents recognise the importance of collaboration and the value of assessing the sustainability credentials of new suppliers.

Stole $5.9bn

Coppers from all over the world have fingered the collar of a global malware network which stole $5.9bn (£4.65bn) and is linked to other crime.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) partnered with the FBI and other international agencies to take down what was "likely the world’s largest botnet ever”.

Chinese national YunHe Wang, who is also a St Kitts and Nevis citizen, has been charged with creating and operating the network.

A botnet is a network of computers which have been infected with malware and are being controlled by a malicious actor.

Wang is charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud, substantive computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

He faces a maximum penalty of 65 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

According to the indictment, between 2014 to 2022, Wang and others created and operated the botnet, called 911 S5, from about 150 servers around the world.

The DOJ said that the botnet had been hacked into more than 19 million Internet Protocol (IP) addresses in almost 200 countries.

The botnet was used to carry out cyber attacks, large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats and export violations, the DOJ said.

The US estimated that more than half a million fraudulent unemployment insurance claims had originated from compromised IP addresses, resulting in a loss of more than $5.9bn.

The DOJ said the network also enabled cybercriminals to buy goods with stolen credit cards or launder money.

Wang allegedly sold access to the IP addresses and received approximately $99m, the DOJ said.

He bought property in the US, St Kitts and Nevis, China, Singapore, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.

The DOJ said that Assets worth around $60m have been seized or identified for seizure, including a Ferrari, a Rolls-Royce and several watches.

Law enforcement agencies in Singapore and Thailand and technology giant Microsoft were among the organisations that helped with the investigation.

Alongside mass production of 2nm

Samsung Foundry could announce its plans for 1nm and 2nm chips next month during its SAFE Forum event in the USA.

According to Taiwanese media, the South Korean firm  Samsung plans to bring forward its 1nm chip production by a year. Its 1nm chips were scheduled to reach the production stage in 2027. However, the company seems to have bought those plans to 2026.

The South Korean firm has been trying to take the lead in semiconductor production from its rival TSMC. However, the company's plans haven't worked. Due to heat and efficiency issues in Samsung's 4nm and 5nm chips, Qualcomm switched to TSMC for most of its smartphone chips.

With its 3nm process, which uses the Gate All Around (GAA) transistor architecture, Samsung expected to solve heat and efficiency issues. It started the mass production of 3nm chips in June 2022, but it didn't get any big-name chip clients due to yield-related issues.

Samsung's Exynos W1000 is expected to be the first mobile chip produced using Samsung Foundry's 3nm process. It will likely be used in the Galaxy Watch 7 series, in July 2024. The Exynos 2500 could be Samsung's second 3nm chip, and it will likely debut in the Galaxy S25, which will launch in early 2025.

Meanwhile, TSMC uses the GAA transistor architecture in its 2nm process node. TSMC CEO Wei Zhejia has claimed that the demand for 2nm chips will exceed that of 3nm and 5nm chips. The company plans to triple its 3nm production capacity, but TSMC does not expect to fulfil all its clients' chip orders.

Most of TSMC's 2nm chip production capacity will be sucked up by Apple for its next-generation A and M series chips for iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

Unsure if anyone noticed

Software King of the World Microsoft has updated its Edge browser with some performance enhancements.

Writing in the company bog , a spokesvole has been detailing the upgrades to Edge implemented in the past few months. The browser's user interface (UI) is more responsive, and favourites expand or collapse more swiftly. Microsoft has also hinted at further updates in its blog post.

Feedback gathered through telemetry data has informed Microsoft's modifications to Edge. Data clearly showed that a browser must be responsive to be regarded as having a fast UI. As of Edge version 122, the browser's UI is 42 per cent faster on many systems. For those using a PC with less than 8GB of RAM or without an SSD, Edge's interface is now 76 per cent faster.

The favourites section in Edge has also seen speed improvements. Specifically, collapsing and expanding favourites are 40 per cent faster, starting with Edge 124.

The performance enhancements are attributed to a variety of improvements, but Microsoft highlights two primary factors:

The organisation of the UI code in Edge was not sufficiently modular. Teams working on different components shared common bundles even when it was not strictly necessary. This led to one part of the UI code decelerating another by sharing elements unnecessarily.

Microsoft said that much of our code utilised a framework dependent on JavaScript to render the UI. This is known as client-side rendering, which has been a prevalent trend among web developers over the past decade as it has made web developers more efficient and facilitated more dynamic UI experiences.

Microsoft's focus on these areas resulted in an internal initiative called WebUI 2.0. This project encompasses smaller code bundles, reducing the JavaScript required to run. Microsoft intends to make some components of this project open-source in the future.

Microsoft said that over the coming months, it will continue to deliver responsiveness enhancements to many more Edge features, including history, downloads, wallet, and more.

We hope they fix the flaw in Bing, which sends you to an error page during a search. It has been bothering us on two different computers and is driving us nuts.