News

As AI models grow larger and more capable, the supporting infrastructure must evolve in tandem. AI’s insatiable appetite has Big Tech going as far as restarting nuclear power plants to support massive new datacenters, which today account for as much as 2% of global electricity consumption, or more than the entire country of Germany.But the humble power grid is where we need to start.Constructing the computing superstructure to support AI tools will significantly alter the demand curve for energy and put increasing strain on electrical grids. As AI embraces more complex workloads across both training and inference, compute needs – and thereby power consumption – are expected to increase exponentially. Some forecasts suggest that datacenter electricity consumption could increase to as much as 12% of the global total by 2030.Semiconductors form the cornerstone of AI computing infrastructure. The chipmaking industry has focused primarily on expanding renewable energy sources and delivering improvements in energy-efficient computing technologies. These are necessary but not sufficient – they cannot sustainably support the enormous energy requirements demanded by the growth of AI. We need to build a more resilient power grid.Moving from Sustainability to Sustainable AbundanceIn a new report, we call for a different paradigm – sustainable energy abundance – which will be achieved not by sacrificing growth, but by constructing a holistic energy strategy to power the next generation of computing. The report represents the work of major companies across the AI technology stack, from chip design and manufacturing to cloud service providers, as well as thought leaders from the energy and finance sectors.The foundational pillar of this new strategy is grid decarbonization. Although not a new concept, in the AI era it requires an approach that integrates decarbonization with energy abundance, ensuring AI’s productivity gains are not sidelined by grid constraints. In practical terms, this entails embracing traditional energy sources like oil and gas, while gradually transitioning toward cleaner sources such as nuclear, hydro, geothermal, solar and wind. Doing this effectively requires understanding of the upgrades needed for the electricity grid to enable rapid integration of existing and new energy sources.Consuming electricity from the grid naturally assumes the emissions profile of the grid itself. It should come as no surprise that emissions related to the grid represent the single biggest component of the emissions bill facing any given company. In the conventional approach to sustainability, companies focused more on offsetting emissions derived from the grid rather than sourcing the grid with cleaner (or carbon-free) energy. To support the coming scale-out of AI infrastructure, access to a clean grid will be one of the most important aspects in reducing carbon footprint.Strategically selecting locations for datacenters and semiconductor fabs will be critical. Countries and regions have a varying mix of clean energy in the power grid, which impacts their carbon emission profile. For example, the United States and France generate a similar percentage of their overall electricity from renewable sources. However, the United States has a significantly higher country emission factor, which represents the direct carbon emission per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated.This is because most of the electricity in France is generated through nuclear power, while the United States still gets a significant percentage of electricity supplied through coal and natural gas. Likewise, there could be significant differences within a country such as the United States, with states like California having a higher mix of renewables compared to some other states.Driving Innovation in Semiconductor TechnologyA truly resilient grid strategy must start with expanded capacity for nuclear, wind, solar, and traditional forms of energy, while driving a mix shift to cleaner sources over time. However, to achieve this enhanced capacity, it will be necessary to invest in disruptive innovations. Transmission infrastructure must be modernized, including upgraded lines, substations and control systems. Likewise, the industry must take advantage of smart distribution technologies, deploying digital sensors and AI-driven load management techniques.Semiconductors have an important role to play. Continued growth of GPUs and other accelerators will drive corresponding growth in datacenter power semiconductors, along with increasing semiconductor content in other components such as the motherboard and the power supply.We forecast that the datacenter power semiconductor market could reach $9 billion by 2030, driven by an increase in servers as well as the number of accelerators per server. Approximately $7 billion of the opportunity is driven by accelerators, with the rest coming from the power supply and other areas. As the technology matures, we believe gallium nitride will play an important role in this market, given its high efficiency.As the grid incorporates increasing levels of renewables, more semiconductors will be needed for energy generation. Silicon carbide will be important for solar generation and potentially wind as well. We estimate that renewable energy generation could grow to more than a $20 billion market for semiconductors by 2030. A similar opportunity exists for smart infrastructure such as meters, sensors and heat pumps.Shifting Incentives for Sustainable GrowthRestructuring the power grid offers the single biggest opportunity to deliver sustainable, abundant energy for AI. Modernizing the power grid will require complex industry partnerships and buy-in from company leadership. In the past, sustainability initiatives were largely regarded as a compliance checkbox item, with unclear ties to business results. A new playbook is needed to enable the growth of AI while shifting business incentives toward generation, transmission, distribution and storage of clean energy and modernization of the power grid.To truly harness the transformative productivity and prosperity potential of AI, we need a comprehensive sustainability strategy that expands clean energy capacity, modernizes energy infrastructure, and maintains diverse energy generation sources to ensure stable, abundant power for continued technological innovation. When combined with progress in energy-efficient computing and abatement measures, this holistic approach can realistically accelerate the pursuit of sustainability while mitigating the risk of curtailing growth due to insufficient energy resources.We list the best IT infrastructure management service.This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

Login credentials for an account with root access was found in Cisco's Unified Communications ManagerThere are no workarounds, just a patch, so users should update nowDifferent versions of the tool are affectedAnother hardcoded credential for admin access has been discovered in a major software application - this time around it’s Cisco, who discovered the slip-up in its Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) solution.Cisco Unified CM is an enterprise-grade IP telephony call control platform providing voice, video, messaging, mobility, and presence services. It manages voice-over-IP (VoIP) calls, and allows for the management of tasks such as user/device provisioning, voicemail integration, conferencing, and more.Recently, Cisco found login credentials coded into the program, allowing for access with root privileges. The bug is now tracked as CVE-2025-20309, and was given a maximum severity score - 10/10 (critical). The credentials were apparently used during development and testing, and should have been removed before the product was shipped to the market.Get 55% off Incogni's Data Removal service with code TECHRADAR Wipe your personal data off the internet with the Incogni data removal service. Stop identity thievesand protect your privacy from unwanted spam and scam calls.View DealNo evidence of abuseCisco Unified CM and Unified CM SME Engineering Special (ES) releases 15.0.1.13010-1 through 15.0.1.13017-1 were said to be affected, regardless of the device configuration. There are no workarounds or mitigations, and the only way to address it is to upgrade the program to version 15SU3 (July 2025).“A vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) and Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition (Unified CM SME) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log in to an affected device using the root account, which has default, static credentials that cannot be changed or deleted," Cisco said.At press time, there was no evidence of abuse in the wild.Hardcoded credentials are one of the more common causes of system infiltrations. Just recently Sitecore Experience Platform, an enterprise-level content management system (CMS), held a hardcoded password for an internal user. It was just one letter - ‘b’ - which was super easy to guess.Roughly a year ago, security researchers from Horizon3.ai found hardcoded credentials in SolarWinds’ Web Help Desk.Via BleepingComputerYou might also likeNew Chrome flaw leaks sensitive information across websites - your data could already be in the wrong handsTake a look at our guide to the best authenticator appWe've rounded up the best password managers

The Last of Us TV show has lost one of its showrunnersNeil Druckmann is stepping away before work begins on season 3His departure has nothing to do with the HBO Max Original's poor season 2 ratingsThe Last of Us co-showrunner Neil Druckmann has made the shock decision to step back from working on HBO's TV adaptation.In a statement released yesterday (July 2), Druckmann confirmed he was departing the project after two seasons. However, Druckmann's departure has nothing to do with how poorly The Last of Us season 2 was received among general audiences. Instead, Druckmann, who is also the Studio Head and President of Naughty Dog, the videogame company that originally created The Last of Us, is walking away from its TV namesake to focus on his responsibilities with said company.pic.twitter.com/baQee9IpHOJuly 2, 2025"I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from my creative involvement in The Last of Us on HBO," Druckmann surprisingly revealed. "With work completed on season 2 and before any meaningful work starts on season 3, now is the right time for me to transition my complete focus to Naughty Dog and its future projects, including writing and directing our exciting next game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, along with my responsibilities as Studio Head and Head of Creative."Co-creating the show has been a career highlight. It’s been an honor to work alongside [co-showrunner] Craig Mazin to executive produce, direct, and write on the last two seasons. I’m deeply thankful for the thoughtful approach and dedication the talented cast and crew took to adapting The Last of Us Part I and the continued adaptation of The Last of Us Part II."Mazin is now expected to solely lead development on The Last of Us TV show, which is set to run for another two seasons. Indeed, The Last of Us season 3 was officially announced before season 2 premiered and Mazin has since confirmed he'll need a fourth season to adapt The Last of Us Part II's full story.Look for the ever-dimming lightThe death of Joel (Pedro Pascal) in season 2 episode 2 might have impacted The Last of Us' viewership (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)It's unclear if Druckmann always planned to call it quits on the HBO and Max TV Original after co-helming it for two seasons. What is clear, though, is that The Last of Us' sophomore season failed to recapture the spark that made its first season such a success.Per review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, The Last of Us season 1 was a critical and commercial hit; the series' first entry earning 96% critical and 86% audience scores respectively. However, while The Last of Us season 2 was similarly praised by critics – its 92% rating serving as proof of that – everyday viewers slammed one of the best Max shows' latest installment, which currently holds a paltry 37% approval rating.Things aren't much better on the viewing figures front, either. In May 2023, The Last of Us set a new HBO Max record that saw each episode pull in an average 32 million viewers in the US alone. Its season 1 finale pulled in a a series high 8.2 million people when it debuted on March 12, 2023, too.However, despite season 2 averaging 37 million viewers in the 90-day period following its premiere, its finale drew in just 3.7 million users. That represents a 55% decrease on its forebear's final entry. Clearly, the show's creative team have a lot of work ahead of them to ensure The Last of Us season 3 revives many people's interest in it.You might also likeThe Last of Us season 2 episode 1 is a purposefully paced, slightly dreary return for Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey's highly acclaimed HBO TV showThe Last of Us season 2 ending explained: is [spoiler] dead and how this chapter's final scene sets up the hit HBO show's third seasonThe Last of Us creators confirm exactly what I expected for season 3 of the hit HBO Max show

PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny has confirmed that a major update for the PS5 Pro will release in 2026Sony will implement an advanced graphics upscaling algorithm for the PS5 Pro as part of Project Amethyst in collaboration with AMDCerny said this update is "a drop-in replacement for the current PSSR" that will improve performance on PS5 ProSony is set to release a major update for the PlayStation 5 Pro in 2026, which is expected to significantly improve performance.That's according to PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny, who told Tom's Guide that the company will implement an advanced graphics upscaling algorithm for the PS5 Pro as part of its previously announced Project Amethyst initiative in partnership with AMD.Cerny called this update "a drop-in replacement for the current PSSR" (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution), which will offer better performance than upscaling tech and be easy for game developers to accommodate when it releases next year.He also said that the upgrade should have taken years, but by collaborating with AMD, Sony has been able to develop the advanced upscaling algorithm quickly enough for a 2026 release."This is not for proprietary technology," Cerny said. "This is really trying to move the industry forward. Obviously we want to use these technologies on our consoles, but these technologies are available to any of AMD's customers freely."Cerny also explained that this new version is not weaker than AMD's FSR 4, which both companies are aiming to deliver a version of for the PS5 Pro."It’s not a cut-down [version] of the algorithm,” he explained. "It’s the full-fat version of the co-developed super resolution that we’ll be releasing on PS5 Pro."The console architect went on to further discuss Sony's partnership with AMD, saying that they are now collaborating more closely than they did when designing the PS5 and the PS5 Pro.Both companies are also learning from each other, with Cerny mentioning that Sony helped AMD integrate more demanding, graphically complex scenes into their research, while AMD pushed Sony to create a dedicated quality assurance team aimed at vetting each new iteration of an upscaling algorithm."Mark makes us a better company," said Jack Huynh, AMD senior vice president and general manager of the Computing and Graphics Group. "We push each other."Project Amethyst was announced in December 2024 with the goal of developing machine learning technology across various devices and to create "in parallel, a set of high-quality CNNs for game graphics" to will help further graphical capability."With Amethyst, we’ve started on another long journey and are combining our expertise with two goals in mind," Mark Cerny said at the time.You might also like...Best PS5 games 2025 - the top 26 PlayStation 5 titles to play right nowThe Nintendo Switch 2 is the company’s least ambitious console to date, but its improvements are astronomical70 hours later, and I'm convinced The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a true system seller

Paramount+ is running several promotions right now that you won't want to miss.In the US, both of its streaming plans are discounted, bringing the price of Paramount+ 'Premium' down to just $0.99 per month from its usual $12.99 per month and Paramount+ 'Essential' down to the same $0.99 per month from its $7.99 per month.Those in the UK and Australia, meanwhile, can get a three-month subscription to either of its plans for 50% off. That brings down the price of Paramount 'Premium' to just £5.49 a month in the UK and AU$6.99 per month in Australia.Paramount+ 'Premium' two-month subscription: was $12.99 per month now $0.99 at ParamountThis is a record-low price for Paramount+'s 'Premium' subscription tier. If you want ad-free, 4K, Dolby Vision access to the streamer, then this discount on a two-month subscription is not to be missed. It's also available for its ad-supported 'Essential' tier, but we'd recommend signing to the 'Premium' plan as it offers better value. Just beware, this limited-time deal expires on July 13. View DealParamount+ 'Premium' three-month subscription: was £10.99 per month now £5.49 at ParamountThose in the UK can also get a great Paramount+ deal for a limited time. While the saving isn't as big as what's on offer in the US, it does still represent a 50% discount on the usual price of its 'Premium' and 'Essential' plans. Again, we'd recommend signing up for the 'Premium' tier as it's better value, but you'll have to be quick because this offer ends on July 10. View DealParamount+ 'Premium' three-month subscription: was AU$13.99 per month now AU$6.99 at ParamountAnother Paramount+ discount? You better believe it. Aussies can sign up to either Paramount+ 'Standard' or 'Premium' and get a 50% saving on the usual monthly price. This offer is only available for three-months, though, and expires on July 11, so we'd recommend snapping it up fast. View DealSuch great savings means you can access lots of top TV for less, including the ludicrously entertaining MobLand, Yellowjackets, Halo, Daria and classics like Cheers and Frasier. And it also means you can get access to some of the best Paramount+ shows that you might not have heard of, but that the critics have absolutely raved about.To help you decide whether you'd like sign up to one of the below deals in the US, UK and Australia, I've picked out three shows with a whopping 100% on Rotten Tomatoes for you to stream straightaway.Avatar: The Last AirbenderSet in a world where some people have the power to manipulate the four elements – earth, fire, air and water – Avatar: The Last Airbender is into its third season of 100% Rotten Tomatoes scores. Originally shown on Nickelodeon, it's a beautifully realised animated adventure and Vanity Fair for one is very impressed with its storytelling: "Franchise writers of all stripes could stand to learn something from how neatly Avatar lines up the audience's expectations, then satisfies them in a way that still manages to feel unexpected."It's "a gripping and emotionally rewarding watch" for viewers of all ages, The Daily Beast says, while Collider praised its "pitch-perfect comedy, intense element-bending action, and mythology that's worthy of obsession." And for IGN Movies, the first season was "a first class ticket to Funland."Colin From AccountsColin From Accounts is "a wonderful and hilarious romantic comedy that rightly puts a twist here and there on the conventions of the genre, to build something essential for lovers of this type of fiction," says Espinof. TIME agrees, praising the chemistry of Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall as Ashley and Gordon, the central characters. "There’s a lot of messy behavior and raunchy humor here, and the show is smart about the way it addresses the age gap between Ashley and Gordon. Fans of rom-coms about charmingly imperfect couples will surely find another favorite in Colin From Accounts.""It’s a show that very swiftly establishes a wide emotional range," says The Hollywood Reporter, "as well as a capable and deep ensemble around its two leads." Reviewing the first season, NPR added: "This eight-part series touches all the bases of the traditional romantic comedy, yet it never feels musty. Brimming with life and honesty, it's also exceedingly funny."Joe PickettEven the best shows on streaming rarely get 100% for every season, but so far the two seasons of Joe Pickett are both in the hundred percent club. A lot of that is down to lead actor Michael Dorman, who the Sydney Morning Herald says is "one of the most quietly compelling actors of his generation." Here he plays the titular Pickett, a game warden who discovers a murder in the wilderness around Yellowstone National Park and stumbles upon a conspiracy.The Australian raved about the western drama, saying that "Pickett has a complex and ambiguous relationship with society; he is man-in-the-middle between groups that represent the old and the new West." And it got a definite STREAM IT rating from Decider: "If you mix Yellowstone, Ozark and Big Sky, you get Joe Pickett. It’s definitely between Yellowstone and Big Sky on the surreal spectrum."You may also enjoyBest Paramount+ shows: 26 terrific series to stream this monthMobLand is the most-watched Paramount+ Original series premiere ever – here are 3 similar crime dramas I recommend streaming nextYellowjackets season 3 is the #2 show on Paramount+ – here are 3 more thrilling dramas to survive next

Xbox has canceled Everwild, Perfect Dark, and an unannounced game from ZeniMaxPerfect Dark developer, The Initiative, has also been shutteredLayoffs have occurred at several studiosMicrosoft has once again made significant cuts to its gaming division, as Xbox cancels a handful of games, closes a studio, and performs yet another round of mass layoffs.As reported by Bloomberg, Xbox has closed down studio The Initiative and subsequently canceled the upcoming Perfect Dark reboot. Rare's Everwild has also been canceled, as well as an unannounced online title from The Elder Scrolls Online developer Zenimax Online Studios.Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, has said in an email to Xbox staff that the cuts “reflect a broader effort to adjust priorities and focus resources to set up our teams for greater success within a changing industry landscape.”To facilitate these adjustments, Xbox has reportedly laid off staff across a number of its studios. These include ZeniMax, Candy Crush maker King, Call of Duty support studios Raven Software and Sledgehammer Games, Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 Studios, and Halo Studios which is responsible for the wider Halo franchise.In total, it seems that a harrowing 9,000 staff members have been affected by the cuts. Back in May 2025, Microsoft also cut an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 employees from its workforce, meaning the company has potentially let around 15,000 staff go in this year alone - a terrifyingly high number.It's not the first time Xbox has elected to close entire studios, either. Last year, the company shuttered Arkane Austin, as well as Alpha Dog Games, Roundhouse Games, and perhaps most controversially, Tango Gameworks. Thankfully, the Hi-Fi Rush and The Evil Within developer was able to be rehoused under South Korean publisher Krafton, but not every studio was so lucky.You can also check out...Nintendo Switch 2 owners, beware – some owners are reporting worrisome overheating problemsDying Light: The Beast won't have branching narrative choices, but the developer says it will pave the way for the series' futureSteam's new performance overlay feature will help you monitor how your games are running

Leaked photos show the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 from various anglesYou can see it in a stylish blue shade, and it looks very thinAnother leak suggests the phone will only have an IP48 ratingAt this point, we’ve seen numerous leaked renders of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, but so far we haven’t seen much in the way of photos. One leaked photo showed the back of the phone, but that was about it – until now.Today, @Jukanlosreve – who has a great track record for leaks – has shared photos showing the front, back, and sides of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, and while the details are no different to what we’ve already seen in renders, the phone looks much better in the flesh.You can see that it’s in a blue shade here, which could be the ‘Blue Shadow’ that we’ve previously heard might be one of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 colors – though from the name we’d expect that to be darker.Z Fold 7 pic.twitter.com/h8EhC7LbTPJuly 3, 2025In any case, you can also see a triple-lens camera, and one of the photos provides a good look at just how slim this phone might be.Previous leaks disagree on exactly how thin it will be, with sources pointing to anything from 3.9mm to 4.5mm when unfolded, but anywhere in that range would make it a lot thinner than the 5.6mm thick Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.A dust disappointmentFold7 IP48 pic.twitter.com/o9icyqDTmfJuly 2, 2025In other Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 news a leaked energy rating label shared by @MysteryLupin lists it as having an IP48 rating. That’s the same as the current model, and is at odds with some earlier leaks that pointed to better dust resistance.If the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 does have this rating, then while it will be able to survive submersion in water to depths of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes, it will only have minimal dust resistance, so that would be disappointing.We suspect this leaked label is correct though, since foldable phones always struggle with dust resistance, and since leaker @PandaFlashPro also recently claimed it has an IP48 rating.We should find out for sure soon, as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is set to launch on July 9, alongside the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7.You might also likeHow to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked on July 9: get ready for new foldable phones and moreA massive new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 leak suggests we could see some serious upgrades at next week's UnpackedSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could launch with a big free bonus – and it's good news for AI fans