Chips, Cheats & Chocolate Batteries: This Week in Wild Tech! (S4) S20

On this week’s episode of The JMOR Tech Talk Show, we're diving deep into a whirlwind of jaw-dropping innovations, legal showdowns, and headline-shaking moments from the tech universe. From edible batteries and AI courtroom avatars to privacy lawsuits, quantum defenses, and international tensions over chip exports, this isn’t just tech—it’s the pulse of tomorrow. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, an industry pro, or someone trying to keep up with our ever-evolving world, this episode is your must-listen roundup of everything electric, ethical, and extraordinary in tech. 🎧💡

1️⃣ NVIDIA Reworks AI Chip to Bypass U.S. Export Bans 🔧🇺🇸

NVIDIA, the powerhouse behind some of the world’s most advanced graphics and AI chips, is redesigning its hardware to navigate around strict U.S. export bans aimed at limiting tech access to countries like China. These bans were meant to curb AI development abroad, especially in military or surveillance contexts. But NVIDIA strategic workaround shows just how determined companies are to keep selling high-performance chips internationally while staying technically within legal bounds. This move reflects not just innovation, but a savvy understanding of geopolitical and commercial pressures in the silicon race.

2️⃣ Senator Proposes GPS-Tracked AI Chips to Block Smuggling 📡📍

Amid growing concerns over AI chip smuggling, a U.S. senator is proposing legislation that would require GPS tracking technology to be embedded directly into AI chips. The goal? Prevent these high-powered components from ending up in the hands of foreign adversaries through black markets or backdoor exports. While it might sound like a strong national security move, critics are raising red flags about privacy, feasibility, and whether GPS could even function reliably in all chip use-cases. The proposal ignites a deeper conversation about how far governments should go in surveilling technology at the hardware level.

3️⃣ Italy’s Moltiply Sues Google for €3B in Antitrust Case ⚖️💶

The David vs. Goliath story continues as Italian tech startup Moltiply launches a €3 billion lawsuit against Google, accusing it of unfair digital advertising practices that stifled competition. Moltiply alleges that Google's dominance in search and ads created an ecosystem that forced smaller platforms to pay more and get less visibility. If the case gains traction, it could set a major precedent for other EU-based companies to challenge Big Tech. With the EU already leading the charge on tech regulation, this lawsuit could fan the flames of broader antitrust reform across the continent.

4️⃣ RoboCake Debuts with Edible Chocolate Batteries 🍫🔋

Move over, lithium-ion—there’s a new battery in town, and it’s delicious. Startup RoboCake has created edible chocolate batteries that can store small amounts of power and safely be consumed. Initially designed for novelty use in food-tech and biodegradable wearables, these sweet circuits blend science with a sense of fun. While they won’t power your phone anytime soon, they could play a role in medical devices, children’s toys, or even interactive culinary experiences. Who said science couldn’t taste good?

5️⃣ AI Resurrects Victim as Courtroom Avatar 👩‍⚖️🧠

In a case that feels straight out of a sci-fi movie, a courtroom used AI to digitally recreate a murder victim who was then projected as an avatar to provide testimony based on digital memories and evidence. The "virtual witness" technique was designed to humanize the victim’s experience and provide more emotional clarity for the jury. While groundbreaking, this approach raises deeply ethical and legal questions: can AI-represented consciousness be trusted? Is it admissible? And where is the line between innovation and manipulation in a courtroom?

6️⃣ UK Launches Unhackable Quantum Cyber Shield 🛡️🧬

The UK has deployed a next-gen cybersecurity system based on quantum technology, claiming it’s virtually unhackable. Using quantum key distribution (QKD), the system transmits encryption keys using light particles, which can’t be copied or intercepted without detection. This represents a giant leap forward in national defense, especially as cyber threats grow more sophisticated. It’s also a signal to global powers that the cyber arms race has entered a new phase—one where quantum computing isn’t theoretical anymore, it’s operational.

7️⃣ Trump Moves to Lift Biden-Era Chip Export Curbs 🇺🇸📉

Former President Donald Trump has announced plans to roll back Biden-era restrictions on chip exports, particularly to countries like China. The move is aimed at bolstering U.S. manufacturing and giving American chipmakers more freedom to sell abroad. Proponents say it could energize the U.S. economy and reassert global influence, while critics warn it could compromise national security and fuel adversarial tech growth. This policy reversal could have ripple effects across the global semiconductor supply chain—and reignite trade wars.

8️⃣ AI Porn Site Mr. Deepfakes Shuts Down After Legal Crackdown ❌🎭

After years of controversy, the notorious deepfake adult site Mr. Deepfakes has officially gone offline. This comes after mounting lawsuits and public outcry about non-consensual content, especially involving AI-generated likenesses of celebrities and private citizens. The shutdown is a major win for digital rights advocates who argue that deepfake tech has gone largely unchecked. As legal frameworks begin catching up to AI’s capabilities, this could mark a turning point in how governments regulate synthetic media and protect personal identities.

9️⃣ Apple Settles $95M Siri Spying Lawsuit—Payouts Coming 🍏👂

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing Siri of unauthorized voice recordings. The suit claimed that Siri would activate unexpectedly and capture private conversations, violating user privacy. Apple denied wrongdoing but chose to settle, and now many users may be eligible for compensation. This case underscores the fine line between convenience and surveillance when it comes to smart assistants. It also places Apple, long seen as a privacy champion, under the same scrutiny as its rivals.

🔟 Amazon Unveils Ocelot Quantum Chip to Rival Google, Microsoft 🐆💻

Amazon has thrown its hat into the quantum ring with “Ocelot,” a new chip designed to outperform offerings from Google and Microsoft. The tech titan says Ocelot will help solve complex optimization problems faster than traditional supercomputers. With potential applications in logistics, AI, and encryption, Ocelot positions Amazon as a serious contender in the quantum computing space. It also adds firepower to the tech arms race, where supremacy could mean a multibillion-dollar advantage in next-gen industries.

1️⃣1️⃣ AI Now Designs and Refreshes Candy Crush Puzzles 🍬🎮

Your Candy Crush addiction? It just got smarter. King, the game’s parent company, now uses AI to auto-generate and test new levels for the hit mobile game. Machine learning ensures puzzles are engaging without being too hard or too easy, adjusting difficulty based on user feedback and behavior. The AI behind the game is even learning how players react emotionally—tweaking design to optimize fun and frustration. It’s gamification, 2.0 style.

1️⃣2️⃣ Pope Urges Tech to Serve Humanity, Not Dominate It ✝️🤝

Pope Francis is urging developers and leaders to ensure that technological advancements, particularly in AI, serve humanity rather than control or displace it. In a globally televised message, the Pope stressed compassion, dignity, and ethical design, challenging tech giants to ask not just “Can we?” but “Should we?” His words echo growing concern that unchecked tech may erode our shared humanity—and they offer a spiritual perspective to balance innovation with intention.

1️⃣3️⃣ India Uses Smartwatches to Monitor Heatwave Health Risks 🇮🇳⌚

In a clever blend of public health and wearable tech, India is now using smartwatches to monitor people during life-threatening heatwaves. These devices collect real-time data on heart rate, hydration, and temperature, sending alerts when users are at risk. With climate change making heat events more frequent and severe, this solution shows how low-cost wearables can become high-impact lifesavers—especially in densely populated regions.

1️⃣4️⃣ Virtual Kidnapping Scams on the Rise—Warnings Issued 🚨📞

A terrifying new scam trend is sweeping the globe: virtual kidnappings. Criminals are using AI to mimic the voices of loved ones, calling victims and claiming a family member has been kidnapped—then demanding ransom. These scams are emotionally devastating and increasingly believable, thanks to generative voice tech. Authorities are urging the public to verify information before reacting and to establish safe-word protocols within families. It’s a disturbing reminder that even our voices are no longer safe from exploitation.