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What’s New Today: Google steps up AI performance with the Ironwood chip, and Space Forge scores the UK's biggest space tech funding at £22.6M.
Fast-Track Insights: From revolutionizing AI application efficiency to reshaping material manufacturing in space, today’s stories are packed with innovation.
Here’s a quick rundown of the biggest tech headlines making waves today. Let’s dive into the top stories, from Google’s chip launch to new breakthroughs in space tech.
Google has introduced its seventh-generation AI chip, Ironwood, designed to enhance the performance of AI applications, particularly in inference computing. Capable of operating in clusters of up to 9,216 chips, Ironwood offers double the energy efficiency compared to its predecessor, Trillium. By integrating features from previous chip designs and increasing memory capacity, Ironwood aims to reduce operational costs and improve the efficiency of running AI applications.
Cardiff-based startup Space Forge has raised £22.6 million in the UK's largest space tech funding round. The investment will advance their ForgeStar satellite platform, which is designed to manufacture high-performance materials in microgravity and return them to Earth without ablative capsules. This innovation aims to reduce CO₂ emissions and transform sectors like semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.
Despite major federal investments revitalizing American manufacturing, nearly 500,000 positions remain unfilled. While some jobs need college degrees or expertise in engineering and R&D, many only require technical training. Still, the gap remains due to a lack of awareness and the time it takes to build skills through training and on-the-job experience, calling for focused workforce development efforts.
In 2025, open-ear noise-cancelling headphones offer a blend of ambient awareness and immersive audio. Leading models like Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, Sony LinkBuds S, and Shokz OpenFit provide advanced ANC, comfort, and durability. Budget-friendly options such as Anker Soundcore AeroFit Pro and 1More Fit S50 deliver quality sound without compromising on features, catering to diverse user needs.
Europol, in collaboration with international law enforcement agencies, has dismantled a criminal network operating a "mafia crypto bank" involved in laundering approximately $23 million. The operation led to the arrest of 23 individuals and the seizure of significant assets, including €8 million in cash and €27 million in cryptocurrencies. The network facilitated illicit financial transactions for organizations engaged in migrant smuggling and drug trafficking, utilizing sophisticated methods to obscure the origins of the funds. This crackdown underscores the growing challenge of combating financial crimes involving digital assets.
