MIT Technology Review's latest Download newsletter covers two topics: an ongoing debate over whether frontier AI models should be open-sourced or kept proprietary, and a profile of Fervo Energy, named one of the outlet's 10 Climate Tech Companies to Watch for 2026. Fervo uses horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to enable geothermal power generation outside traditional hotspots, and has secured a $2.2 billion public offering plus an expanded agreement with Google to build larger plants.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-10-13
Apple's new HomeView smart home display costs $299 in either a speaker-base or wall-mounted version, but the wall-mounted model doesn't include a mount or power solution. Buyers must separately purchase one of three Schneider Home mounts, priced from $59.95 to $129.95, with the priciest PoE option not arriving until early 2027.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-13
Atomic Canyon's NIVA virtual assistant, piloted with Constellation Energy, is now available to the entire US nuclear fleet, while Nuclearn says its AI products are used by more than 65 partners including NuScale Power. Microsoft and Nvidia are separately working on AI tools covering a nuclear plant's full life cycle, from permitting through operations.
hardware.slashdot.org
· 2026-10-12
Texas regulators are requiring data center projects to wait longer before connecting to the state's power grid, according to reporting referenced in the source. The move reflects growing concern over the strain that rapidly expanding data center demand is placing on Texas's electricity infrastructure.
a16z.com
· 2026-10-11
A new analysis from the Environment America Research and Policy Center, highlighted by Electrek, projects that gas-fired generator capacity in the US will grow by roughly 20 gigawatts, a 44 percent jump from today's 41.8 gigawatts, within four years. The report attributes much of this growth to surging electricity demand from AI data centers, and notes that planned wind farm capacity has fallen 34 percent since December 2025.
futurism.com
· 2026-10-11
Petra Power, founded in 2017, builds solid oxide fuel cells that convert fuel like natural gas directly into electricity without combustion. Founder Aaron Goodman says the devices cut fuel costs and emissions while being more compact than traditional power systems, and the company is pursuing deals with data center operators and the Defense Department. Goodman declined to name specific customers but said Petra is already working with neoclouds and infrastructure providers below the hyperscaler tier.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-10
Forecasters say a strong El Niño climate pattern is now established and will shape U.S. weather through the winter. The pattern tends to bring warmer-than-normal conditions to the northern U.S. and wetter conditions to the South, with periodic extreme swings in temperature and storm activity.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-10-10
Competing tech companies are striking alliances to secure scarce AI computing resources, according to a report describing a scramble for chips and data-center capacity. The report states that executives have had to step in personally to negotiate access to computing power needed to support AI development.
wsj.com
· 2026-10-10
A new Wood Mackenzie report finds that four-hour battery storage systems cost less than open-cycle natural gas turbines in all 43 markets surveyed across every continent. The firm projects battery costs will keep falling while gas turbine electricity costs rise, partly due to AI data center developers buying up available turbines and driving procurement waits to two-to-four years, with closed-cycle models backlogged into the early 2030s. Separately, solar was found to be the cheapest new power source in every surveyed market, though tariffs and import restrictions are pressuring prices in North America.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-09
Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown is reportedly using his Republican connections and business relationships to build ties with Washington policymakers. The effort comes as Anthropic faces criticism from some conservatives who characterize the company's AI safety approach as politically biased.
wsj.com
· 2026-10-09
WIRED published its 2026 buying guide for battery-powered leaf blowers, testing multiple models for air power, runtime and noise levels. The guide advises shoppers to weigh battery voltage (ranging 18 to 80 volts) alongside amp-hour ratings, which determine runtime, and to consider compatibility with existing tool battery systems already owned.
wired.com
· 2026-10-09
INIU has introduced the Outdoor Rugged 10000 power bank, designed to withstand rain, dust, and rough terrain during activities like hiking, camping, beach outings, and road trips. The device is positioned as a charging solution built to endure outdoor conditions that typical power banks may not handle well.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-09
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