Apple plans to start its foray into generative AI by offloading complex queries to M2 Ultra chips running in data centers before moving to its more advanced M4 chips.

Bloomberg reports that Apple plans to put its M2 Ultra on cloud servers to run more complex AI queries, while simple tasks are processed on devices. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Apple wanted to make custom chips to bring to data centers to ensure security and privacy in a project the publication says is called Project ACDC, or Apple Chips in Data Center. But the company now believes its existing processors already have sufficient security and privacy components.

The chips will be deployed to Apple’s data centers and eventually to servers run by third parties. Apple runs its own servers across the United States and has been working on a new center in Waukee, Iowa, which it first announced in 2017.

While Apple has not moved as fast on generative AI as competitors like Google, Meta, and Microsoft, the company has been putting out research on the technology. In December, Apple’s machine learning research team released MLX, a machine learning framework that can make AI models run efficiently on Apple silicon. The company has also been releasing other research around AI models that hint at what AI could look like on its devices and how existing products, like Siri, may get an upgrade. 

Apple put a big emphasis on AI performance in its announcement of the new M4 chip, saying its new neural engine is “an outrageously powerful chip for AI.” 

After overcoming the hurdles of COVID-19 delays and budget overruns, NASA has finally given the Dragonfly rotorcraft mission the go-ahead. 

This autonomously operated nuclear-powered rotorcraft is set to embark on a groundbreaking journey to Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, in 2028.

Why Titan?

Titan is no ordinary celestial body. Located about 746 million miles from Earth, it’s the second-largest moon in our solar system and the only one with a dense atmosphere besides Earth. But what makes Titan truly unique is its organic chemistry. With an atmosphere rich in nitrogen and methane, it’s a haven for scientists seeking to understand the building blocks of life.

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Artist’s concept of Dragonfly rotorcraft (NASA/JHU-APL)

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The challenges of exploration

Titan’s swamp-like surface, composed of petroleum byproducts, poses a significant challenge for exploration. Traditional rovers won’t do well there. Enter Dragonfly, a rotorcraft powered by a radio thermal generator. It flies using aluminum/titanium rotors, designed to leap across Titan’s landscape, conducting geological surveys and searching for biosignatures.

Artist’s concept of Dragonfly rotorcraft (NASA/JHU-APL)

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Dragonfly’s quest for life

Dragonfly’s mission is to travel to multiple locations on Saturn’s moon, Titan, to uncover signs of life. The spacecraft will scrutinize the surface and just beneath it, searching for organic compounds and life indicators. Equipped with a neutron spectrometer, a drilling mechanism and a mass spectrometer, Dragonfly will enable researchers to analyze Titan’s complex organic chemistry extensively.

Artist’s concept of Dragonfly rotorcraft (NASA/JHU-APL)

The mission’s journey

Despite financial debates, the mission’s delay necessitates a more powerful rocket to ensure Dragonfly’s arrival on Titan. With a budget of $3.35 billion, the mission represents NASA’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

As NASA’s Dragonfly rotorcraft prepares to take flight, it is a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. This mission may not only unveil the secrets of Titan but also shed light on the origins of life itself. With the world watching, Dragonfly is poised to soar into the records of space exploration history.

How do you think the Dragonfly mission’s discoveries on Titan could reshape our understanding of life in the universe? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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If you’re looking for a budget-friendly tablet for entertainment purposes, the 10.2-inch ninth-gen iPad still offers excellent value for your money. It’s $100 cheaper than its larger, 10.9-inch successor with an older A13 Bionic processor, yet it runs the same software and can do a lot of the same things. It’s still plenty fast for basic tasks like streaming, playing games, and making video calls.

Granted, we wouldn’t recommend buying it if you need a tablet for daily work, but the last-gen iPad is also fine for some light productivity. It supports the same apps, after all, while you can even take notes with the first-gen Apple Pencil — though you’ll also have to buy that from a third-party retailer like Amazon. And while it lacks the 10th-gen iPad’s USB-C connector, again, it’s the last iPad with a 3.5mm headphone jack, which might make up for that if you aren’t ready to let go of your old wired headphones.