Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 10/10/24. We aim to educate people about this crucial area along with providing information of what is taking place.
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
AI
Google AI scientists win Nobel Prize in chemistry
The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists today — two of whom are significant figures at Google DeepMind — for their work around proteins, which the Nobel Prize committee describes as the “chemical tools of life.”
#newsonleo #technology #google #ai
DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and senior DeepMind research scientist John Jumper received the award for creating the open-source AlphaFold2 AI model to calculate the structure of human proteins. “With its help, they have been able to predict the structure of virtually all the 200 million proteins that researchers have identified,” the Nobel committee at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said in its announcement.
David Baker, who shares the prize with Hassabis and Jumper, was awarded for “computational protein design.” The Nobel committee noted that Baker had successfully designed a new protein in 2003 that was “unlike any other” and has since developed new proteins for pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nanomaterials, and tiny sensors over the last two decades.
“One of the discoveries being recognised this year concerns the construction of spectacular proteins. The other is about fulfilling a 50-year-old dream: predicting protein structures from their amino acid sequences,” said Nobel chemistry committee chair Heiner Linke. “Both of these discoveries open up vast possibilities.”
The scientific applications for AlphaFold2 include helping researchers to understand antibiotic resistance and develop plastic degrading enzymes, according to the Nobel committee. “Work that once took years now takes just a few minutes thanks to this year’s chemistry laureates,” the Nobel committee said on X.
The development of artificial intelligence technology has played a notable role in this year’s lineup, with the Nobel Prize in physics being awarded yesterday to two scientists credited with building the “foundation” for AI. That announcement has already attracted criticism from some physicists who feel the award was miscategorized — a sentiment echoed by Geoffrey Hinton, one of the physics awardees who is known as a “godfather of AI.”
“If there was a Nobel Prize for computer science, our work would clearly be more appropriate for that,” Hinton said in a post-award interview with The New York Times. “But there isn’t one.” When commended for his comment by the Times, Hinton added that it was “also a hint.”
Nintendo
Nintendo’s original alarm clock prototypes were a lot less playful
Nintendo just announced its new Alarmo clock with a motion sensor, and even though we’re still soaking in the $100 device, the company also shared a look at some interesting early prototypes that reveal how the project changed during its development.
#newsonleo #technology
While the Alarmo is round and an eye-catching red, one “early” prototype Nintendo showed in an “Ask the Developer” interview had a more boxy shape and came in gray. This prototype did have an interesting feature in its dot matrix LED display (similar to the now-discontinued Echo Dot with Clock), but Nintendo ultimately went in a different direction because “we felt that this display system wouldn’t be able to communicate the instructions sufficiently,” says Nintendo’s Yosuke Tamori, who oversaw the development of the Alarmo. “It was especially difficult to explain the product’s new features, such as the motion sensor,” he says.
Another prototype, which looks more like the Alarmo you can buy now, sat on a pedestal. “The system that serves as the brain of the alarm clock is in the base, and the LCD screen and speaker are built into the upper part, with one dial on the top, and a second on the side,” according to Tetsuya Akama, the director of the Alarmo project.
However, “the second prototype was difficult for left-handed people to use because the dial was on the right,” Tamori says. “Also, we wanted it to be stable even without the base part, so eventually, we placed all the controls on the top.”
Those two prototypes aren’t as immediately recognizable as an alarm clock, but Akama explained why the team went with the more traditional alarm clock shape with the final product:
The full interview, which is broken out into four separate parts, includes a ton of other interesting details about the Alarmo, including why the team went with the color red, didn’t go with gesture controls (somewhere, a Google employee is shedding a tear), and didn’t add any game elements to the clock.
EV
Porsche to recall over 27,000 EVs in US over battery short circuit risk
Porsche is recalling thousands of its Taycan electric vehicles over a possible short circuit risk that could cause a fire. The recall affects 27,527 Taycans built between October 21st, 2019, and February 1st, 2024, according to the NHTSA safety recall report.
#newsonleo #technology #ev
The problem has been narrowed down to a cell block module in the LG Chem-produced batteries used in the Taycan. However, Porsche doesn’t actually know which cars have the problem and says it can’t get the analytics to check:
To determine whether the issue is present, Porsche is advising owners to go to a dealership to install diagnostic software so they can monitor the battery. The update will be a “final remedy” for this recall, but it won’t happen until the first quarter of 2025. Porsche is also telling customers to only charge up to 80 percent capacity until the battery is replaced (if needed).
Meanwhile, Audi is recalling 6,499 E-tron GT and RS vehicles for the same reason, as those EVs share the same platform as the Taycan. One of the more prominent LG Chem-based EV recalls for potential fires was with the Chevy Bolt, which GM remedied by nerfing the batteries.
Technology
It’s clearly time: all the news about the transparent tech renaissance
Gadgets, much like fashion, can make style comebacks. For tech: we’ve lived through the ’80s beige keyboards, transitioned to the ’90s with gray and black plastic video game systems plus bright colors for Sony’s Walkman and Nintendo’s Game Boy handhelds, and then, at the turn of the millennium, welcomed the amazing see-through iMacs, N64 controllers, and other gadgets with clear casings.
#newsonleo #technology
And just like the return of grunge makeup and baggy jeans, transparent tech is back. See-through devices are leapfrogging over the ’00s piano white iPods, ’10s matte black smartphones, and some of today’s colored aluminum and glass finishes to (hopefully) become the next big trend. Now, we’ve got clear smartphones like the Nothing Phone, see-through earbuds like the Beats Studio buds, colorful translucent shell casings for game consoles, and even chargers and USB-C cables that show off some capacitors for your pleasure.
So dust off your Apple Studio Display CRT monitor, Toys R Us-exclusive Extreme Green colored N64 controller, and your other favorite transparent gadgets as you scroll through all of our clear tech news.
A lot of work went into making this transparent iPhone 16 Pro.Wanting to put its internals on display, YouTube’s Phone Repair Guru stripped an iPhone 16 Pro’s back panel down to the glass using a surprisingly complicated process. Gallium was even used to remove a thin layer of aluminum as the two metals react to create a soft alloy. The results look great, but maybe don’t try this mod at home.
Turns out, there are only 7,500 of those clear Meta Ray-Bans...They’re on sale now for $429 — an extra $100 more than the other translucent models — and are only available in the “standard” size. The limited-edition frames do come with transition lenses and “an exclusive custom-designed black case.” Meta normally charges a $50 premium for Transitions.
Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are already one of the best cracks at AI hardware to date. Now, Meta is pushing out a series of software updates, along with a new limited-edition translucent Ray-Ban style, that bring the smart glasses closer to actually feeling smart.
The company announced several updates to the Ray-Ban Meta glasses at its Connect conference on Wednesday, introducing new features like “Reminders,” which has the glasses take a photo of what you’re looking at and remind you about it later through a notification on your phone. You’ll also be able to scan QR codes and call phone numbers you’re looking at directly from the glasses.
Anbernic isn’t introducing performance improvements or new features with the additional colorways. They still feature a 3.5-inch, 640x480 screen and enough power to play N64 games.
Hey Task, it's good to see you here. I hope all is well with you.
I think you already know that @tokenizedsociety had taken the technology threadcast to the top before. Unity is strength hehehe...
Reuters: Space startups see funding growth as investors bet on capex-intensive ventures, report says
https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/space-startups-see-funding-growth-investors-bet-capex-intensive-ventures-report-2024-10-09/
Hi, @godfish,
This post has been voted on by @darkcloaks because you are an active member of the Darkcloaks gaming community.
Get started with Darkcloaks today, and follow us on Inleo for the latest updates.
AMD launches AI chip to rival Nvidia's Blackwell
Advanced generative AI such as OpenAI's ChatGPT requires massive data centers full of GPUs, which has created demand for more companies to provide AI chips.
AMD launched a new artificial-intelligence chip on Thursday that is taking direct aim at Nvidia's data center graphics processors, known as GPUs.
#amd #nvidia #technology #newsonleo #semiconductors
Instinct MI325X Overview
The Instinct MI325X is a high-performance AI chip designed for data center applications. It is the successor to the MI300X, which started shipping late last year. The MI325X is part of AMD's Instinct family of AI chips, which are designed to compete with Nvidia's products in the data center GPU market.
Key Features and Benefits
The Instinct MI325X boasts several key features and benefits, including:
Competitive Advantage
The Instinct MI325X has a competitive advantage over Nvidia's products in several areas, including:
Impact on the Data Center Market
The launch of the Instinct MI325X is likely to have a significant impact on the data center market, particularly in the AI and machine learning sectors. The MI325X is designed to compete with Nvidia's products, which have dominated the data center GPU market in recent years.
The MI325X is likely to attract data center customers who are looking for a more affordable and competitive option for AI and machine learning workloads. Additionally, the MI325X is designed to work seamlessly with AMD's EPYC 5th Gen CPUs, providing a complete solution for data center customers.
AMD's Strategy
AMD's strategy for the Instinct MI325X is to position it as a more competitive option for data center customers who are looking for high-performance computing at an affordable price. The MI325X is designed to work seamlessly with AMD's EPYC 5th Gen CPUs, providing a complete solution for data center customers.
AMD's CEO Lisa Su emphasized the importance of CPU capability in AI workloads, saying, "Today's AI is really about CPU capability, and you see that in data analytics and a lot of those types of applications." The MI325X is designed to deliver high-performance computing, making it a more attractive option for businesses that require high-performance computing.
EPYC 5th Gen CPUs
The EPYC 5th Gen CPUs are designed to work seamlessly with the Instinct MI325X AI chip, providing a complete solution for data center customers. The EPYC 5th Gen CPUs are designed to feed data into AI workloads, making them an attractive option for businesses that require high-performance computing.
The EPYC 5th Gen CPUs come in various configurations, ranging from a low-cost and low-power 8-core chip to 192-core, 500-watt processors intended for supercomputers. The EPYC 5th Gen CPUs are designed to work seamlessly with the Instinct MI325X AI chip, providing a complete solution for data center customers.
Impact on Nvidia
The launch of the Instinct MI325X is likely to have a significant impact on Nvidia's dominance in the data center GPU market. The MI325X is designed to compete with Nvidia's products, which have dominated the data center GPU market in recent years.
The MI325X is likely to attract data center customers who are looking for a more affordable and competitive option for AI and machine learning workloads. Additionally, the MI325X is designed to work seamlessly with AMD's EPYC 5th Gen CPUs, providing a complete solution for data center customers.
Conclusion
The Instinct MI325X AI chip is a significant development in the data center market, particularly in the AI and machine learning sectors. The MI325X is designed to compete with Nvidia's products, which have dominated the data center GPU market in recent years.
The MI325X is likely to attract data center customers who are looking for a more affordable and competitive option for AI and machine learning workloads. Additionally, the MI325X is designed to work seamlessly with AMD's EPYC 5th Gen CPUs, providing a complete solution for data center customers.
The launch of the Instinct MI325X is likely to have a significant impact on Nvidia's dominance in the data center GPU market, and AMD's strategy for the MI325X is to position it as a more competitive option for data center customers who are looking for high-performance computing at an affordable price.
Article
Zuckerberg's metaverse is finally showing signs of life, but it's not from VR
The company formerly known as Facebook appears to have found its footing in virtual and augmented reality through a different medium.
When Facebook changed its name to Meta in October 2021, CEO Mark Zuckerberg used the occasion to show the world his vision of a digital future of work and recreation accessible through a virtual reality headset. The company soon opened its play universe called Horizon Worlds, featuring floating personalized avatars.
#meta #technology #newsonleo #zuckerberg #smartglasses
Background
Meta's Orion AR glasses prototype has been in development for nearly a decade, with the first prototype emerging in 2016 under the leadership of Oculus' then chief scientist, Michael Abrash. Since then, the project has undergone significant changes, including a shift from research and development to the product path under the guidance of Andrew "Boz" Bosworth.
Key Features
Orion AR glasses come with a number of key features, including:
Demonstration
At Meta's annual Connect event, Zuckerberg demonstrated the Orion AR glasses prototype to a live audience. The demo was seamless, with the crowd oohing and aahing at the technology. The demo showed how the glasses could be used to see virtual objects and information in 3D space, and how users could control the device with their thoughts.
Impact
The Orion AR glasses prototype has generated significant excitement among employees and users. The company's internal shift in sentiment toward Zuckerberg's costly hardware ambitions has been reflected in the enthusiastic reception of the device.
Challenges
Despite the excitement surrounding Orion, there are still significant challenges to overcome before the device can be released to the public. These include:
Future Plans
Meta's plan to start courting developers next year, as it tries to get them excited about building apps for Orion, is a logical next step. The push into the developer community would coincide with Meta's expected debut of the fourth generation of its Llama family of AI models.
By releasing a more powerful Llama, Meta is hoping that developers would be able to incorporate the software in their future AR apps to help power tasks like recognizing real-world objects and more accurately reacting to voice commands.
The timeline for the release of a consumer version of Orion is expected to be within two years. However, this may be overly ambitious considering how long it took to get Orion this far. Meta has been testing functioning versions of Orion glasses for well over two years, with the company finishing the prototype in March.
Comparison to Other Devices
Orion AR glasses are compared to other AR glasses on the market, such as those from Apple and Microsoft. While these devices are also promising, Orion is notable for its advanced features and capabilities, including its use of neural signals to control the device.
Conclusion
Meta's Orion AR glasses prototype represents a significant breakthrough in virtual reality and a logical next step following its smart glasses. The company's resilience and innovative momentum have been demonstrated by its ability to build on the success of its second-generation Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. With the release of a consumer version of Orion expected to be within two years, Meta is poised to make a significant impact in the field of virtual and augmented reality.
Article
The Guardian: Meta launches its AI chatbot in the UK on Facebook and Instagram
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/09/meta-launches-its-ai-chatbot-in-the-uk-on-facebook-and-instagram
BBC: Friendship in divided times: People don't want to argue with you as much as you think
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20241009-perception-gap-people-dont-want-to-argue-with-you-as-much-as-you-think
BBC: Explorer Shackleton’s lost ship as never seen before
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd6qz387qjgo
BBC: Elon Musk to unveil 'Cybercab' at Tesla robotaxi event
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm29x5ke9jdo
BBC: 'We've used hallways, we've used bathrooms': How zoos protect animals when hurricanes hit
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20241009-how-zoos-and-aquariums-protect-animals-during-hurricanes
Wired: Hurricane Milton Shows How a Storm’s Category Doesn’t Tell the Full Story
https://www.wired.com/story/hurricane-milton-storm-category-doesnt-tell-full-story/
CNN: Lasers could take broadband where fiber optics can’t
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/09/tech/lasers-fso-internet-attochron-spc/index.html
Reuters: Google's Nobel prize winners stir debate over AI research
https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/googles-nobel-prize-winners-stir-debate-over-ai-research-2024-10-10/
Reuters: German cartel office ends proceedings against Meta
https://www.reuters.com/technology/german-cartel-office-ends-proceedings-against-meta-2024-10-10/
Reuters: Exclusive: Finnish utility Fortum reports pick up in cyberattacks and surveillance
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/finnish-utility-fortums-power-assets-targeted-with-surveillance-cyber-attacks-2024-10-10/
Reuters: AMD likely to launch new AI chips at San Francisco data center event
https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/amd-likely-launch-new-ai-chips-san-francisco-data-center-event-2024-10-10/
Reuters: US plan to break up Google's search dominance threatens profit engine, AI growth
https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-plan-break-up-googles-search-dominance-threatens-profit-engine-ai-growth-2024-10-09/
Reuters: OpenAI sees continued attempts by threat actors to use its models for election influence
https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/openai-sees-increasing-use-its-ai-models-influencing-elections-2024-10-09/
Reuters: BBC Weather app wrongly shows 18,995 mph wind speeds in Britain
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/bbc-weather-app-wrongly-shows-18995-mph-wind-speeds-britain-2024-10-10/
Reuters: Amazon adds Apple TV+ to its Prime Video streaming service in US
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/amazon-adds-apple-tv-its-prime-video-streaming-service-us-2024-10-10/
Reuters: US charges 3 companies, 15 people with cryptocurrency fraud
https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-charges-18-people-companies-cryptocurrency-fraud-2024-10-09/
Reuters: Spotify starts free streaming option in South Korea
https://www.reuters.com/technology/spotify-starts-free-streaming-option-south-korea-2024-10-09/
Amazon Prime Video will soon have Apple TV+ because streaming is just cable now
Amazon Prime members will be able to add Apple TV+ for $9.99
Apple TV+ will soon be available on Amazon’s Prime Video, as streaming platforms continue to consolidate to resemble the cable offerings they’ve largely outcompeted.
#newsonleo #technology #apple #amazon #entertainment
Later this month, Prime Video subscribers will be able to add Apple’s streaming service for $9.99 a month, adding to Amazon’s more than 100 existing add-on subscription options, the company said Wednesday.
“As we continue to expand our offering and make it easy for customers to personalize their streaming experience directly in one app, we are proud to welcome Apple TV+ and its popular and critically-acclaimed shows, films and events to Prime Video,” said Mike Hopkins, senior vice president and head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios.
Article
Everything HBO's Bitcoin Doc Got Wrong About Peter Todd And Satoshi
he documentary Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery aired on Oct. 8 by Home Box Office (HBO). It controversially claimed that it knew the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin.
#bitcoin #newsonleo #documentary #satoshi #technology #crypto
The film suggests that Peter Todd, a Bitcoin Core developer, is secretly Nakamoto. However, several inconsistencies quickly emerge when the facts are examined more closely.
In response to the documentary’s interpretation of Todd’s statements, the timeline misrepresentation and other inaccuracies, Cointelegraph breaks down everything wrong with the documentary.
“We’re all Satoshi”
One of the central claims of HBO’s documentary is that Todd used the pseudonymous title to give Bitcoin credibility, despite Todd’s personal timeline contradicting this theory.
Bitcoin was launched in 2008 while Todd was studying for a fine arts degree. Although Todd had an interest in cryptography, he has publicly stated that he didn’t begin working on BTC until 2014.
In the documentary, Todd sarcastically remarks that he is Satoshi, a comment that HBO may have taken too seriously or used to further an already overstretched and unwinding theory.
Todd stated:
“Oh, no, I am Satoshi. I’m Satoshi Nakamoto.”
BitcoinTalk forum post misinterpretation
The HBO documentary presents evidence in a 2010 post on the BitcoinTalk forum, one of the oldest online communities dedicated to discussing BTC and crypto-related topics.
The filmmaker implies that Todd accidentally posted from his account instead of Satoshi’s, allegedly revealing himself when finishing Satoshi’s thought and disappearing alongside the BTC creator.
Todd explained that:
“Satoshi’s last post was one week after I signed up for Bitcointalk, but [...] then I disappeared.”
Despite Todd’s implied tone that it was coincidental, the filmmaker uses this to suggest a more suspicious connection than a mere coincidence.
Dismissing accusations
Throughout the documentary, Todd repeatedly critiques the filmmakers for sensationalizing the story, calling them “pretty creative” when creating the “crazy theories” that Todd says are “ludicrous.”
In a sarcastic tone, Todd remarks, “Of course I’m Satoshi, and I’m Craig Wright,” making it clear that he finds the accusations absurd. He also predicted the documentary would be “very funny” for “a bunch of Bitcoiners.”
“It’s going to be yet another example of journalists really missing the point in a way that’s very funny [...] The point is to make Bitcoin the global currency, and people like you being distracted by nonsense can potentially do good on that.”
Replace-by-fee mischaracterization
The documentary also claims that Todd’s introduction of “replace-by-fee” (RBF) in 2014 was a pre-planned feature tied to Nakamoto’s original vision for Bitcoin. However, this falls short, as RBF was not part of the cryptocurrency’s initial design.
Todd’s introduction of RBF came years after Satoshi’s disappearance, but the filmmaker implied that RBF was tied to government influence after John Dillion offered a $500 reward for the solution.
The “strangely small fee,” as stated in the documentary, is presented as suspicious in the film but seems more like an attempt to build a larger narrative without sufficient supporting evidence.
Article
The Global Brain can be defined as the distributed intelligence emerging from all human and technological agents as interacting via the Internet. It plays the role of a nervous system for the social superorganism. A brief history of this idea is sketched, with a focus on the developments leading to the creation of the Global Brain Group, and the Global Brain Institute (GBI) that emerged out of it. As directors of the GBI, the authors of this paper took the initiative of editing a special issue on the topic of “the Global Brain as a model of the future information society”. We briefly sketch the contributions from the different papers in this issue. We conclude by reviewing some common dystopian misconceptions associated with the Global Brain paradigm, and by offering an optimistic outlook on how the “offer network” protocol inspired by this paradigm may lay the foundation for a much more synergetic and sustainable society.
Tesla stock price: $237.88
This is the price before the Robotaxi event. We will see where it moves from here.
Let's dive deeper into the concept of the global brain, its components, and its potential applications and risks.
Components of the Global Brain
The global brain is a complex system composed of multiple components, including:
How the Global Brain Works
The global brain works through a complex process of interconnectedness, where individual components interact and influence one another. This can be described as follows:
Applications of the Global Brain
The global brain has many potential applications, including:
Risks and Challenges
The global brain also raises concerns about:
The Future of the Global Brain
The future of the global brain is uncertain and depends on various factors, including technological advancements, societal trends, and human values. Some potential scenarios include:
In conclusion, the global brain is a complex system composed of multiple components, including the internet, social media, AI, sensor networks, and biological systems. The global brain has many potential applications, but also raises concerns about information overload, bias, and security risks. The future of the global brain depends on various factors, including technological advancements, societal trends, and human values.
The American Who Waged a Tech War on China
China is racing to unseat the United States as the world’s technological superpower. Not if Jake Sullivan can help it.
#technology #china #unitedstate
The Architect of America's Tech Cold War: Jake Sullivan's Mission to Outmaneuver China
In a sunlit corner office of the West Wing, Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Adviser, keeps a small, framed piece of white fabric adorned with three red arrows. This seemingly modest display piece symbolizes one of the most significant shifts in American foreign policy in decades - a coordinated effort to prevent China from accessing the world's most advanced semiconductor technology.
The gift, which Sullivan crafted for his counterparts from Japan and the Netherlands, draws from an old Japanese parable about the strength found in unity. It serves as both a testament to Sullivan's diplomatic acumen and a physical reminder of the high-stakes technological cold war he has helped orchestrate during his tenure in the Biden administration.
The Evolution of a Policy Wonk
Jake Sullivan's Journey to becoming the architect of America's tech-focused China strategy is as remarkable as it is unlikely. A Minnesota native from an Irish-Catholic household, Sullivan was the archetypal academic achiever - memorizing world capitals by age 14, becoming a world-class debater, and eventually earning a Rhodes Scholarship. His rapid ascent through the ranks of Democratic politics led him to become Hillary Clinton's close adviser at the State Department by age 35, having already visited 112 countries in service of American diplomacy.
Known for his "relentless mind" and ability to speak in polished paragraphs reminiscent of his former boss, President Barack Obama, Sullivan cultivated a reputation for depth and substance. His early career was marked by an almost Socratic approach to policy discussions, turning over counterarguments methodically until every logical flaw had been exposed. During the Obama years, his even disposition earned him the nickname "Mr. Sunshine" at the State Department.
However, the Jake Sullivan who nOW occupies one of the most crucial positions in American foreign policy is a markedly different figure from the optimistic policy wonk of the Obama era. The transformation began with Hillary Clinton's unexpected loss in the 2016 election, which forced Sullivan to confront some uncomfortable realities about the foreign policy establishment's blind spots. During his time at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Sullivan grappled with how globalization had failed to benefit average Americans and how the United States had unwittingly provided China with access to sensitive technologies.
The Third Wave Revolution
When Sullivan joined the Biden administration, he brought with him a revolutionary vision for American technology policy. In a speech at DC's historic Mayflower hotel, Sullivan outlined what he saw as the two previous waves of technological development: the first, when the Internet appeared to be a democratizing force, and the second, when authoritarian regimes co-opted these tools for suppression and surveillance. Sullivan called for a "third wave" - one shaped by US leadership and democratic values.
To execute this vision, Sullivan established a new directorate at the National security Council focused on advanced technologies like quantum computing and semiconductors. Despite the constant crush of global crises - from the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan to Russia's invasion of Ukraine - Sullivan never lost sight of the China challenge. As one former NSC official noted, "There was always a line for China, and tech competition was one of the bullets under China. It was the one thing that never got taken off."
The Semiconductor Strategy
At the heart of Sullivan's tech strategy was a focus on semiconductors - the tiny chips that power everything from smartphones to military equipment. The administration pursued a two-pronged approach: boosting domestic semiconductor production through the CHIPS and science Act while simultaneously working to prevent China from accessing the most advanced chip technology.
The latter effort required delicate diplomacy with key allies, particularly the Netherlands and Japan. The Netherlands is home to ASML, the only company in the world that makes the extreme ultraviolet lithography machines needed to produce leading-edge chips. Japan produces other critical equipment in the semiconductor supply chain. Sullivan spent months in quiet discussions with his counterparts in these countries, laying the groundwork for an unprecedented coordinated effort to restrict China's access to advanced semiconductor technology.
In October 2022, the commerce Department unveiled sweeping new export controls that prevented the most powerful chips designed by American companies like NVIDIA and AMD from reaching Chinese supercomputers. These controls were far-reaching, affecting any company in the world whose technology required US components, software, or workers to build. While this unilateral action was seen by some as a dramatic escalation in a second cold war, it also gave allies cover to follow suit.
The culmination of these efforts came in January 2023, when Sullivan hosted his counterparts from the Netherlands and Japan at Blair House. Though ostensibly there to finalize a mutual agreement, the United States had left little room for negotiation. As one Dutch foreign policy researcher noted, "It wasn't a conversation among equals." Nevertheless, both countries subsequently announced their own controls on semiconductor manufacturing equipment, including ASML's deep ultraviolet lithography machines.
Building New partnerships
While one aspect of Sullivan's strategy focused on constraining China's technological advancement, another equally important element involved fostering new technological partnerships around the world. India emerged as a key target for this approach. As the world's largest democracy and China's neighbor, India represented an ideal partner in the tech cold war.
Sullivan developed an unexpectedly close relationship with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, a former spy nearly twice his age. Their collaboration led to a new tech partnership between the US and India, which was showcased during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington. The partnership included collaborations in semiconductor assembly, jet engine production, and space missions.
However, these new alignments came with significant compromises. Under Modi's leadership, India has increased online censorship, led the world in internet shutdowns, and allegedly used spyware against journalists and dissidents. Similar trade-offs were evident in partnerships with Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates, both countries with poor records on digital freedom but strategic importance in the tech competition with China.
Challenges and Criticisms
Sullivan's approach has not been without its critics. Some argue that the administration's actions have only made China more determined to invest in its domestic tech sector. Others question whether China's access to advanced chips truly represents the grave national security threat that Sullivan claims. There are also concerns about the moral implications of partnering with authoritarian regimes in the name of containing China.
Sullivan acknowledges these debates but stands firm in his conviction that the alternative - allowing China to dominate the global tech landscape - would be far worse. "We have challenges with American tech, to be sure," he said. "But if the world were dominated by Chinese or Russian or Iranian tech, those problems would be infinitely worse."
The Impact and Legacy
As Sullivan's tenure potentially draws to a close, the impact of his tech strategy is becoming clearer. China has struggled to advance its semiconductor technology in the face of coordinated export controls. Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger estimated earlier this year that there's a "10-year gap" between the most powerful chips being made by Chinese chipmakers and those produced by Intel and Nvidia, thanks in part to the export controls.
However, China has not remained passive. It has imposed its own restrictions on critical minerals used in semiconductor production and has been stockpiling older chips and manufacturing equipment it can still access. A robust black market for banned chips has emerged, and some Chinese companies have found ways to evade the restrictions.
For the White House, keeping pace with these workarounds has been a constant challenge. The administration has already updated its export controls multiple times, with allies following suit. This cat-and-mouse game is likely to continue well beyond Sullivan's time in office.
The Road Ahead
As Sullivan potentially prepares to exit his role (his wife is favored to win a House seat in New Hampshire), questions remain about the durability of his tech strategy. Sullivan himself believes that much of what he's built will endure, regardless of who occupies the White House next. "We are building something that is not political and partisan," he said, arguing that it "has a really good chance of being embedded as a durable part of US foreign policy going forward."
There may be some truth to this assessment. The Trump administration initiated the trade war with China that Sullivan built upon, albeit with a more isolationist approach. Vice President Kamala Harris has emphasized the importance of ensuring that "the United States of America wins the competition for the 21st century." Many of the international agreements and partnerships Sullivan fostered won't be easily undone.
Conclusion: A Legacy in the Balance
Jake Sullivan's transformation from an optimistic globalist to the architect of a tech cold war reflects broader changes in American foreign policy thinking. His strategy represents a bet that by binding democratic allies together and investing in domestic technological capabilities, the United States can maintain its edge in the technologies that will define the future.
Whether this bet pays off remains to be seen. The global technological landscape is more unsettled than ever, and four years was always going to be too short to fully realize Sullivan's vision of a "third wave" dominated by democratic values. What's clear is that Sullivan has fundamentally altered the playing field of US-China competition, creating a framework that will likely shape technological development for decades to come.
As Sullivan prepares for whatever comes next, that small piece of fabric with three arrows remains on his bookshelf - a reminder of the delicate balance between competition and cooperation, between national security and global progress, that he has tried to strike. In the end, his legacy may be determined not just by how effectively he constrained China's technological advancement, but by whether the alternative path he charted truly leads to a more secure and democratic digital future.