Bion

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The Noonification: Robotics, LLMs: Exploring Consciousness, Sentience for AI Chatbots, and Bionics (9/16/2023)

There is a recent article in , , stating that: Scientific American What Does It ‘Feel’ Like to Be a Chatbot? "Consciousness, on the other hand, is about states of being—seeing the blue sky, hearing birds chirp, feeling pain, being in love. The difference between the real and the simulated is their respective causal powers. That’s why it doesn’t rain inside a computer simulating a rainstorm. The software is functionally identical to weather yet lacks its causal powers to blow and turn vapor into water drops. Causal power, the ability to make or take a difference to itself, must be built into the system. This is not impossible. A so-called neuromorphic or bionic computer could be as conscious as a human, but that is not the case for the standard von Neumann architecture that is the foundation of all modern computers. Once we have a solid explanation of human consciousness and its neural underpinnings, we can extend such an understanding to intelligent machines in a coherent and scientifically satisfactory manner." What Is Consciousness? Consciousness is described with states of being or subjective experiences, like 'seeing the blue sky, hearing birds chirp, feeling pain, being in love'. However, is consciousness just one subjective experience in one moment, or is consciousness all the possible subjective experiences for an individual? If there are several possible subjective experiences, then could there be different divisions or collections of consciousness? Also, must the subjective experience be these few regular examples of subjective experiences? A computer simulation of rain does not rain, but if an individual imagines what rain is, there is the possibility of having some feelings of what it means to be in the rain, the cold, sound, or others. Does the imagination not count, for the human as a lower version of subjective experience, albeit the event is not happening? Though it is observed that there is attention to consciousness, there is also a range to which humans can be conscious, making consciousness diversified. Of these diversifications, can chatbots not have some? If an individual asks another a personal question and gets an answer, are the question and answer not consciousness? The question is heard just like how birds chirp; the answer is provided subjectively, sometimes with the emotion or trauma of the time—depending on the question. So, questions and answers can also be consciousness, with or without the emotional variables. If the question was written, or something is read, just like seeing the blue sky, is reading not consciousness? It is known that chatbots do not have stomachs, so they cannot hear visceral sounds or know that it is from them. They also don't feel pain as they can be struck and not know. But, if humans know what pain is as a condition, and the memory of what happened to another person can lead to a feeling, or a visceral reaction can be understood when described, does it not show that consciousness can just be the memory of something, aside from the feeling? Describing consciousness as 'seeing the blue sky, hearing birds chirp, feeling pain, being in love' also means what? Knowing what the—blue sky, birds chirping, the feeling of pain, and being in love—are. If knowing those things in an attached manner or subjectively, means consciousness, can consciousness not be explained with the range of what can be known? And if knowing includes balance, movement, and regulation, can knowing not be extended beyond regular descriptions of things in conscious awareness? Consciousness can be described as all that can be known by humans, with a total of 1. Consciousness could have been described here as a subset of what can be known but the mechanisms from which the brain organizes knowing across processes seem similar, so even if consciousness is different say from balance, since they are both known, the blue sky and that an individual is walking and balanced with no vertigo, it is possible to interchange consciousness and knowing, giving both a rate of 1. The Divisions of Knowing There are divisions of knowing; they include emotion, regulation, feeling, memory, thoughts, intelligence, language, creativity, and so forth. Modulations of all internal senses are knowing processes and are mechanized equally. The kidney is regulated within limits and extents. While this regulation is not in conscious awareness, the outcome of some of the functions [subdivision of regulation] of the kidney is in conscious awareness. The ways 'the brain' gives limits and extents of functions, or to know, is linked with how it does for consciousness, with differences in duration and degree. Seeing is in awareness because the duration of prioritization within an interval is higher, which may spike the degree or intensity of experience. This is different from say the liver, where it can be prioritized during the day, but often shorter prioritization because of the dominance of external senses. Its longer prioritization at night is also in competition with other internal senses that should have their time. When it is said that 'the brain' is involved in consciousness, what exactly in the brain is involved? The hemispheres, the lobes, the center, the gray or white matter, the sulci, the gyri, or what? If a psychiatric patient is given ECT, but paralyzed beforehand, so that the seizures are local to the brain, without the experience in the body, can the activities in the brain be categorized as consciousness alone, since it is the origin and determinant, with the body as the medium? The brain decides and knows. The body doesn't. It is the knowing factor that binds to everything consciousness. It is postulated here that the collection of all the electrical and chemical impulses of nerve cells, with their features and interactions is the human mind. This means that the points of all the outputs of the functions of the brain are impulses, with their features and interactions. Electrical and chemical impulses are always interacting, it is the specifications of these interactions and the features, across centers in the brain that decide what memory, regulation, emotion, feelings, thoughts, intelligence, movement, and so forth are in the cerebral cortex, VTA, putamen, brainstem, cerebellum, and others. There is no key brain function without impulses. This exceeds neural correlates, cellular motifs, or nominal synaptic connections. What would be special about synapses if they don't bear chemical impulses? It is hypothesized here that electrical and chemical impulses are all in loops or sets, across circuits in the brain. It is within these loops that interactions are made, features are displayed and information is organized. It is how consciousness arises. Loops of impulses have different structures, according to what center and what function, but their basic interactive and characteristic pathways are the same. All interactions of impulses in loops help to know, features and degrees differ, but they make to know. Whenever a set of electrical impulses strike a set of chemical impulses, within a loop, they may expand, sharpen, check, or access them. These are done with features, including drifts or stairs, pre-/prioritization, sequences, early-splits or go-before, and a principal spot. Drifts or stairs provide rationing or fills of chemical impulses, where the exact combination of chemical impulses that decide a taste is, differentiating from other tastes, then smell, and so forth. There are dopamine neurons that send axons everywhere. The axon terminals release chemical impulses as part of loops, with rations that determine states or experiences. This is what makes dopamine implicated across functions, but does not make dopamine single in the totality of experiences. What Do They Know? If knowing is interchangeable with consciousness, do LLMs know? What do bionics know? Do robots know? Does generative AI know? There are debates about understanding, emotions, feeling, experience, and so forth that have been said that these technologies do not have, but what do they know in terms of what they do as an output, that in the knowing sphere of humans or of things that exist, they qualify for or pass? If there are things they have that pass for knowing, those things can be sought in the sub-divisions of things humans know, and then rated. If electrodes access biopotentials of the body, those electrodes are surely not conscious, but they are built to know signals—characteristics of human existence. What they do or relate with, they appear to know or they track electrical signals to tell what they [know or] find. If LLMs can answer questions about a road trip in an accurate way that is similar to how a conscious human would answer, LLMs may not have been on one, but they have a shade of human knowing. If robots make their way with computer vision, they may not be seeing, but they navigate their positions and use their landmarks like they know. If generative AI arranges images or videos of scenarios, like an imagination or a dream for a human, they did not experience or understand, but they can pass for knowing. When it is cold and a pet seeks shelter, or when thirsty and the pet seeks water, the pet knows the feeling and what reaction works. The core is knowing. The word consciousness may seem loaded, but when distilled to knowing, what it is or does is clearer. Sentience is also a word that is cautiously used, with many unwilling to extend it to other organisms, however, with knowing, it is not so complex. What does consciousness do? It makes to know. What centralizes sentience? Knowing. What explains consciousness? Knowing. Is there any description of consciousness that is not about knowing? No. Awareness of being or experience is known. Technology has already crossed over to many human domains, and it is strange to keep saying they are nothing when they can pass knowing tests and bear many aspects of what is known, even though there are several others they do not have. What they know can be compared to some . Some LLMs may already have 0.10 as their maximum of what they know. minimums in the subdivisions of memory Bionics and robotics would have systems that are less than that number, but they all have memory that knows in maximums that are still less than the minimums for humans in the memory division. For what consciousness does, knowing is involved. For knowing, what some digital systems output has a measure. To locate sentience, knowing is the channel. Feature image source

Robotics, LLMs: Exploring Consciousness, Sentience for AI Chatbots, and Bionics

রোবোটিক্স, এলএলএম: চেতনা অন্বেষণ, এআই চ্যাটবটগুলির জন্য সংবেদন, এবং বায়োনিক্স

Robotik, LLMs: Erforschung von Bewusstsein, Empfindungsvermögen für KI-Chatbots und Bionik

Robótica, LLM: exploración de la conciencia, la sensibilidad para los chatbots de IA y la biónica

Robotique, LLM : exploration de la conscience, de la sensibilité pour les chatbots IA et de la bionique

रोबोटिक्स, एलएलएम: एक्सप्लोरिंग कॉन्शसनेस, सेंटीएंस फॉर एआई चैटबॉट्स और बायोनिक्स

ロボティクス、LLM: AI チャットボットの意識、感覚、バイオニクスの探求

로봇공학, LLM: AI 챗봇 및 생체 공학을 위한 의식, 감각 탐구

Robótica, LLMs: Explorando Consciência, Senciência para Chatbots de IA e Biônica

Робототехника, магистратура: изучение сознания, чувствительности для чат-ботов с искусственным интеллектом и бионики

Robotik, Yüksek Lisans: Yapay Zeka Sohbet Robotları ve Biyonikler için Bilinci, Duyarlılığı Keşfetmek

Robotics, LLM: Khám phá ý thức, cảm giác đối với Chatbot AI và Bionics

机器人学、法学硕士：探索人工智能聊天机器人的意识、感知和仿生学

Senses are the tools we’ve been blessed with to navigate a complex existence. They become our perspective, the way we see the world - hear it, smell it, feel it, and taste it. People even attest to a sixth sense - a supposed intuitive faculty that affords awareness outside of ordinary perception. Our brain sits at the center of these senses in a half and half pool of grey and white matter, a repository of data collected by our senses over time. In short, brains give us context - makes sense that zombies are so obsessed with them. Bionic reading takes advantage of the brain’s repository of optical information and context to ease the assimilation of text. Stay with me. What is Bionic Reading? It is important to establish, at this point, that while Bionic reading is a concept, it is also a software service founded and owned by Swiss typographic designer . The name was coined as a tribute to the collaboration of the brain (bio) and technology to improve text comprehension. Renato Casutt Image source The image above displays two identical paragraphs, a regular version and another enhanced with bionic reading. Notice anything yet? This Twitter user did. I did too... The text in the image above describes the concept of bionic reading- a new method facilitating the reading process by guiding the eyes through text with artificial fixation points. As a result, the reader is only focusing on the highlighted initial letters and lets the brain center complete the word. How is Bionic Reading possible? Do you remember seeing images on social media where you’re asked to look at a black dot at the center of your screen for 30seconds (or more)? After which you blink and then stare at a surprising after-image on your wall. Image source Well, that and other optical illusions are possible because our brains are really good at recognizing . patterns and ‘seeing’ familiar objects The brain and the eyes have a really good working relationship. And text comprehension is one of the ways they prove it. Taking evolutionary trends into account, the fact that humans developed comprehension skills is a matter of cosmic luck one might say. Although scientists have no real understanding of why humans are able to read and write, they do know what happens to the brain when we read. Summarily: One part of your brain makes it possible to automatically recognize words, while the other part analyses the word’s meaning. It’s able to do this with the help of some physiological and language tools like fixation, saccade, and linguistic transparency/opacity. Let's demystify some of these terms - describes the way the eyes move and stop while reading. Think of it as the target of your eye’s gaze. It follows that If the eyes make fewer fixations over a body of text the reader is able to read faster. , influenced by a    number of factors including the reader’s vocabulary, vision span, and familiarity with the text. Fixation Eye fixation is a naturally occurring physiological process - Pause for a little while and look around the space you’re currently in. That in itself is an example of a saccadic eye movement. - they can be small movements like scanning through text or larger scale movements like when you looked around your room. They can occur voluntarily (whenever you feel like it), or reflexively, even when your eyes are already fixated on a subject. Saccade They are rapid eye movements that change the point of fixation - This analyses the degree to which the meaning of a compound word or idiom . Linguistic transparency and opacity can be inferred from its parts The summarises the relationship between these tools The eye is guided through text by means of typographic highlights. With the interplay of fixation, saccade, and opacity, visual stimuli can be transferred to the text, which decisively changes the typeface Bionic reading website Final Thoughts on Bionic Reading As someone that struggles with focus for extended periods, I am excited about how this could affect my assimilation and productivity in the long run. However, this is a piece of technology that is still in its early stages of development, with prototypes running on only a handful of apps. And as with any new piece of emerging tech, it will be subject to its share of criticism. I, for one, will be keeping a very close eye on how things progress with Bionic Reading. Let me know what you think about it in the comments! Lead image via: Image source

What is Bionic Reading and How is it Possible? 

¿Qué es la lectura biónica y cómo es posible?

Qu'est-ce que la lecture bionique et comment est-ce possible ?

बायोनिक रीडिंग क्या है और यह कैसे संभव है?

バイオニックリーディングとは何ですか？

O que é leitura biônica e como ela é possível?

Đọc Bionic là gì và nó có thể xảy ra như thế nào?

什么是仿生阅读，它是如何实现的？

AI and human hybrids have been the mainstay of Hollywood for decades. But what once was a plot device is fast becoming reality. When combined with humans, AI is envisioned to help us keep up with the pace of technological change. To assist those with special needs and those with mobility challenges. Plus, there are innovations designed to give humans an edge in an increasingly competitive and volatile world. Boosting brainpower One version involves sewing-machine-like robots implanting ultrafine electrodes deep within the human brain. Such technology is touted as a potential cure for neurological conditions like Parkinson’s, paralysis and degenerative brain diseases. Elon Musk, the entrepreneur behind the implants, plans to start trialling the technology in humans from 2020. The implants work by detecting neuron activity and has successfully recorded information from up to . 1,500 neurons at once Musk has revealed that, so far, “A monkey has been able to control a computer with his brain," during a in July 2019. YouTube Livestream Awaiting human trials So far, the technology averages an 87% success rate in monkey and rat trials. Meaning that a human trial is still a little way off. To get to this point, the success rate in-vivo will have to increase significantly and the implants will be subject to government approval (by the FDA, for instance). Plus, there are further challenges in making implants that can withstand the inhospitable environment of the brain. Still, the implications for patient care and rehabilitation are immense. As are the applications for humanity as a whole. Musk one day envisions the merging of humans and AI as a way to process vast amounts of data within our brains. To type 40 words a minute simply by thinking. Improved prosthetics Meanwhile, significant leaps are being made with prosthetic technology. Whereas previously, prosthetics could be clunky and uncomfortable to wear, new developments enable greater comfort and control. This is especially vital for lower limb prostheses that can cause complications in later life due to socket sores and hip instability. Advanced prostheses available today give some degree of mental control through myoelectricity. Electrical signals are detected by sensors to help the prosthetic limb move as desired. However, these prostheses come with no sensory feedback. Plus, their costs can run into tens of thousands. , for instance, is a lower limb prosthetic that automatically adjusts to changes in posture and surfaces. It costs around £20,000 per unit and is therefore unavailable on the National Health Service in England. The Linx System High costs Highlighting a catch-22 situation for the technology and healthcare companies developing advanced bionic solutions. Even when a new technology, like brain implants, becomes available for use in humans, it will remain inaccessible to the majority of the population because of cost. Plus, prosthetics must be fitted by a specialist - which is time-consuming and expensive. Making them inaccessible in many developing countries and rural areas. This is worsened by the need for regular adjustments to ensure a precise fit. Of course, developing countries and conflict zones are disproportionately affected by amputations. Driving up demand with little increase in supply. Hope for children But hope is on the horizon for some patients. The , for instance, has funded 3D-printed bionic arms for 10 British children as part of its ‘Future Bionics’ programme. Tej Kohli Foundation The Hero arms from Open Bionics can be controlled via electrical signals, with multi-grip functionality that gives a greater range of movement. In other words, it’s helping to give children a better life. Plus, because the arms are 3D-printed, they can personalise it to their unique style. Turning a disability into a superpower for this select group of children. The blind can see Researchers also have in their sights. Opening up a visual world to blind and visually impaired individuals. The implants have approximately 400 photodiodes or “pixels” that replace part of the retina’s spatial map. retinal implants Patients with macular degeneration (that destroys photoreceptors, causing vision loss) have tested the implants with some success. So far, they are able to recognise objects placed on a table and read printed or on-screen letters. However, more work is needed to shrink the photodiodes to a stage where patients can easily read the words of a book and gain sharper vision. Likewise, Second Sight is a company working with blind patients to restore a level of sight via video and an implant on the visual cortex. The brain is fed signals from a glasses-mounted video camera. In testing, four out of five blind patients were able to locate white shapes on a black screen and detect the direction that shapes were travelling in. Challenges to address For now, innovation in bionics is steady. Issues around cost must be resolved. Similarly, concerns around the ethics and safety of devices must be alleviated. Many healthcare professionals, as a whole, are wary of invasive implants that may increase the chances of infection. Particularly when an intervention is carried out with the potential risks outweigh the benefits - or for no medical reason at all (as is the case with reaching ‘superintelligence’ via brain implants). Experimentation on humans is also risky and highly regulated. For a technology like Musk’s implants, there must be thorough animal testing before human trials will take place. Any misstep could delay the technology by decades or shelve it completely. Gaining public acceptance The public’s response to bionics must also be considered. Certain advances, like improved prostheses, will be more readily accepted than others. The ‘ick’ factor is one contributor to this. Alongside concerns about patients being coerced into potential unsafe and untested technology. Or the race towards a human ‘super-species’ that increases social inequality and reduces national defence. To address this, there must be greater education around the benefits that bionic technology offers. It is truly life-changing. As the recipients of the Hero arms will testify. Plus, one could argue that we, as a race, have already become augmented. Relinquishing various parts of our lives to smart devices, like remembering items, navigating routes and speaking with friends. Going forward Whatever the next steps may be, it is certain that humanity is on a path towards a bionic future. It’s up to us to shape this, by making sure that every patient who needs augmentation gets it and that inequality doesn’t rise because of these developments. That’s the only way for humanity to become a superior race: involving everyone.

The New Face of Bionics: How Technology is Augmenting Humanity

It’s September, and, like clockwork, Apple rolls out its latest iPhone lineup. The crowd goes wild, tech reviewers pull out their thesauruses to find new ways to say "incremental," and millions of us look at our perfectly functional devices with a twinge of guilt for not being on the cutting edge. But here's the real question—do we actually need a new iPhone every year? Or is Apple, and perhaps other tech giants, playing into a larger cycle of consumerism, cleverly disguised as innovation? An Incremental Upgrade Carousel: Are We Really Moving Forward? Let's break it down. Over the past few years, Apple has introduced changes that, while noticeable, aren’t exactly revolutionary. Take the iPhone 14 series in 2022. Sure, it introduced the Dynamic Island feature (on the Pro models), which is essentially a jazzed-up notification bar, and the A15 chip from the iPhone 13 was simply carried over to the base models. \Fast forward to the iPhone 15 in 2023, and we see more of the same: incremental improvements like the A17 Bionic chip in the Pro models, a switch to USB-C ports—mandated by EU regulations, mind you—and a slight camera upgrade on the Pro Max. \And now, the latest iPhone 16 (2024) doesn't break the mold either. While there are some exciting upgrades like the A18 Pro chip for better gaming and machine learning, a Camera Control button, and even slimmer bezels, it feels more like polishing the edges rather than pushing the limits. Yes, the new features are cool, but they’re more “nice-to-haves” than essentials. The Illusion of Innovation and Apple’s Subtle Art of Selling Desire The crux of the problem is that these yearly releases don’t feel all that different and do not fundamentally change how we use our devices. The average consumer isn’t going to notice the difference between the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16 in their day-to-day life. What’s being sold as innovation often feels more like refinement, a way to perfect the existing design rather than reinvent it. Interestingly, Apple’s brilliance doesn’t lie solely in its design or engineering—it lies in its ability to create desire. Every keynote is a masterclass in salesmanship, painting each new feature as a must-have, even when many of those features are marginal improvements. But step back for a second and think about it: when was the last time a new iPhone truly revolutionized your experience? If you’re like most users, the answer might be years ago. Yet the allure remains. Part of this is driven by the fear of missing out (FOMO)—the feeling that we might fall behind in our personal or professional lives if we don't have the latest tech. It's a cycle that perpetuates itself, and Apple knows this all too well. This leads us to the BIG questions: Is Apple focused on pushing the limits of technology?
Are they leading some diabolical mind control game where they hypnotize us into emptying our pockets every year? \It’s easy to argue the latter, given the minor nature of the upgrades we’ve seen in recent years. A Philosophical Fork in the Road: Innovation or Corporate Strategy? This brings us to the heart of the matter. Shouldn’t innovation be about fundamentally changing how we interact with technology, rather than introducing slightly better versions of last year’s model? Apple has mastered the art of making us feel like we need to upgrade, but when you zoom out, it’s hard not to see a bigger corporate strategy at play. \Let’s talk about what real innovation looks like. Remember when Face ID came out? That was a game-changer, a feature that fundamentally changed how people interacted with their phones. Or take the introduction of touchscreen on smartphones—a true leap forward in user experience. These types of advancements, which require new hardware and deep engineering, are more worthy of an upgrade. But does a titanium frame or a slightly better telephoto lens move the needle in the same way? Not so much. \If Apple truly prioritized innovation, wouldn't we be better served by major, groundbreaking releases? Wouldn’t Apple keynotes be much more exciting if we knew something revolutionary was on the horizon, rather than the yearly parade of "faster," "lighter," and "with more megapixels"? The Consumerism Cycle: Keeping Up With the iJoneses At its core, Apple’s yearly release cycle isn’t just about innovation—it’s about consumerism. By constantly pushing out new products, Apple taps into our collective fear of falling behind. It's the modern-day equivalent of “keeping up with the Joneses,” but instead of a shiny new car, it's the latest iPhone with a slightly better camera zoom. \Here’s the kicker: Most of the advancements Apple touts could be delivered through software updates. Take a feature like improved low-light photography—many of these enhancements can be driven by software. Yet, Apple locks these upgrades behind new hardware, nudging you to part with your hard-earned cash. The Financial Toll of Keeping Up With Apple’s Pace Apple has created a financial treadmill that many consumers feel pressured to stay on. Think about it: in just three years, the iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and now iPhone 16 have hit the market, each with a price tag that often exceeds $1,000. And if you’re upgrading every year, or even every other year, that’s a huge financial burden over time. Let’s be clear: iPhones are expensive. For many, buying the latest iPhone isn't just a purchase—it's a major financial decision. The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999, and the Pro Max reaches $1,599. Is a slightly bigger screen, a new camera button, and marginally better battery life really worth that price tag? More importantly, are those changes worth upgrading from a perfectly functional iPhone 14 or 15? That’s debatable. But, as already stated, Apple’s marketing is designed to make you feel otherwise—to make you believe that without the latest features, you’re falling behind.\ HOW ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COST OF “NEW”? \Every time we toss aside a perfectly functional iPhone for the next shiny model, we’re contributing to a growing problem. According to The United Nations, e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream globally, with much of it coming from discarded electronics like smartphones. A Possible Path Forward There’s a scenario where your current iPhone continues to receive cutting-edge features through software updates, allowing you to stay current without needing to replace the hardware annually. And this isn’t just a pie-in-the-sky idea either. If you look at Apple’s current software strategy, we already see the company supporting iPhones with updates for five or six years. The potential is there; it just needs to be expanded. If Apple adopted a more sustainable model—releasing phones every two to three years, and prioritizing software updates in the interim—they could set a new standard in the tech world. Imagine the ripple effect: Apple, one of the most influential companies in the world, leading a charge towards sustainability by adopting a more measured, thoughtful release cycle. It could push other tech giants to rethink their own strategies, and help shift the collective mindset away from this "throwaway culture" that has become so pervasive. \ At the end of the day, the question is simple: Do we want a new iPhone every year, or do we want better iPhones when they truly matter? Apple, it’s time to think bigger. It’s September, and, like clockwork, Apple rolls out its latest iPhone lineup. The crowd goes wild, tech reviewers pull out their thesauruses to find new ways to say "incremental," and millions of us look at our perfectly functional devices with a twinge of guilt for not being on the cutting edge. But here's the real question—do we actually need a new iPhone every year? Or is Apple, and perhaps other tech giants, playing into a larger cycle of consumerism, cleverly disguised as innovation? It’s September, and, like clockwork, Apple rolls out its latest iPhone lineup. The crowd goes wild, tech reviewers pull out their thesauruses to find new ways to say "incremental," and millions of us look at our perfectly functional devices with a twinge of guilt for not being on the cutting edge. But here's the real question—do we actually need a new iPhone every year? Or is Apple, and perhaps other tech giants, playing into a larger cycle of consumerism, cleverly disguised as innovation? An Incremental Upgrade Carousel: Are We Really Moving Forward? Let's break it down. Over the past few years, Apple has introduced changes that, while noticeable, aren’t exactly revolutionary. Take the iPhone 14 series in 2022. Sure, it introduced the Dynamic Island feature (on the Pro models), which is essentially a jazzed-up notification bar, and the A15 chip from the iPhone 13 was simply carried over to the base models. Apple Apple \Fast forward to the iPhone 15 in 2023, and we see more of the same: incremental improvements like the A17 Bionic chip in the Pro models, a switch to USB-C ports—mandated by EU regulations, mind you—and a slight camera upgrade on the Pro Max. \And now, the latest iPhone 16 (2024) doesn't break the mold either. While there are some exciting upgrades like the A18 Pro chip for better gaming and machine learning, a Camera Control button, and even slimmer bezels, it feels more like polishing the edges rather than pushing the limits. Yes, the new features are cool, but they’re more “nice-to-haves” than essentials. The Illusion of Innovation and Apple’s Subtle Art of Selling Desire The crux of the problem is that these yearly releases don’t feel all that different and do not fundamentally change how we use our devices. The average consumer isn’t going to notice the difference between the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16 in their day-to-day life. What’s being sold as innovation often feels more like refinement, a way to perfect the existing design rather than reinvent it. Interestingly, Apple’s brilliance doesn’t lie solely in its design or engineering—it lies in its ability to create desire. Every keynote is a masterclass in salesmanship, painting each new feature as a must-have, even when many of those features are marginal improvements. But step back for a second and think about it: when was the last time a new iPhone truly revolutionized your experience? If you’re like most users, the answer might be years ago. Yet the allure remains. Part of this is driven by the fear of missing out (FOMO)—the feeling that we might fall behind in our personal or professional lives if we don't have the latest tech. It's a cycle that perpetuates itself, and Apple knows this all too well. This leads us to the BIG questions: This leads us to the BIG questions: Is Apple focused on pushing the limits of technology? Are they leading some diabolical mind control game where they hypnotize us into emptying our pockets every year? Is Apple focused on pushing the limits of technology? Are they leading some diabolical mind control game where they hypnotize us into emptying our pockets every year? \It’s easy to argue the latter, given the minor nature of the upgrades we’ve seen in recent years. A Philosophical Fork in the Road: Innovation or Corporate Strategy? This brings us to the heart of the matter. Shouldn’t innovation be about fundamentally changing how we interact with technology, rather than introducing slightly better versions of last year’s model? Apple has mastered the art of making us feel like we need to upgrade, but when you zoom out, it’s hard not to see a bigger corporate strategy at play. \Let’s talk about what real innovation looks like. Remember when Face ID came out? That was a game-changer, a feature that fundamentally changed how people interacted with their phones. Or take the introduction of touchscreen on smartphones—a true leap forward in user experience. These types of advancements, which require new hardware and deep engineering, are more worthy of an upgrade. But does a titanium frame or a slightly better telephoto lens move the needle in the same way? Not so much. \If Apple truly prioritized innovation, wouldn't we be better served by major, groundbreaking releases? Wouldn’t Apple keynotes be much more exciting if we knew something revolutionary was on the horizon, rather than the yearly parade of "faster," "lighter," and "with more megapixels"? The Consumerism Cycle: Keeping Up With the iJoneses At its core, Apple’s yearly release cycle isn’t just about innovation—it’s about consumerism. By constantly pushing out new products, Apple taps into our collective fear of falling behind. It's the modern-day equivalent of “keeping up with the Joneses,” but instead of a shiny new car, it's the latest iPhone with a slightly better camera zoom. \Here’s the kicker: Most of the advancements Apple touts could be delivered through software updates. Take a feature like improved low-light photography—many of these enhancements can be driven by software. Yet, Apple locks these upgrades behind new hardware, nudging you to part with your hard-earned cash. The Financial Toll of Keeping Up With Apple’s Pace Apple has created a financial treadmill that many consumers feel pressured to stay on. Think about it: in just three years, the iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and now iPhone 16 have hit the market, each with a price tag that often exceeds $1,000. And if you’re upgrading every year, or even every other year, that’s a huge financial burden over time. Let’s be clear: iPhones are expensive. For many, buying the latest iPhone isn't just a purchase—it's a major financial decision. The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999, and the Pro Max reaches $1,599. Is a slightly bigger screen, a new camera button, and marginally better battery life really worth that price tag? More importantly, are those changes worth upgrading from a perfectly functional iPhone 14 or 15? That’s debatable. But, as already stated, Apple’s marketing is designed to make you feel otherwise—to make you believe that without the latest features, you’re falling behind.\ HOW ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COST OF “NEW”? HOW ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COST OF “NEW”? \Every time we toss aside a perfectly functional iPhone for the next shiny model, we’re contributing to a growing problem. According to The United Nations, e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream globally, with much of it coming from discarded electronics like smartphones. A Possible Path Forward There’s a scenario where your current iPhone continues to receive cutting-edge features through software updates, allowing you to stay current without needing to replace the hardware annually. And this isn’t just a pie-in-the-sky idea either. If you look at Apple’s current software strategy, we already see the company supporting iPhones with updates for five or six years. The potential is there; it just needs to be expanded. If Apple adopted a more sustainable model—releasing phones every two to three years, and prioritizing software updates in the interim—they could set a new standard in the tech world. Imagine the ripple effect: Apple, one of the most influential companies in the world, leading a charge towards sustainability by adopting a more measured, thoughtful release cycle. It could push other tech giants to rethink their own strategies, and help shift the collective mindset away from this "throwaway culture" that has become so pervasive. \ At the end of the day, the question is simple: Do we want a new iPhone every year, or do we want better iPhones when they truly matter? Apple, it’s time to think bigger. At the end of the day, the question is simple: Do we want a new iPhone every year, or do we want better iPhones when they truly matter? Apple, it’s time to think bigger.

Annual iPhone Releases: Is Apple Innovating or Just Feeding Corporate Greed?

With phones becoming more and more powerful, it’s no surprise that big gaming companies have their eyes set on the mobile industry. Games that were once only reserved for console/PC can now be enjoyed on the go or on the toilet or wherever you want really. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the big AAA games that you can play on your iPhone. GET PUBLISHED ON HACKERNOON.
Join a global network of 45,000+ published devs, builders, founders, makers, VCs, hodlrs, and hackers. Start submitting your tech stories and tutorials to get published FREE on HackerNoon — no pop-ups, no paywalls. 5 AAA Games You Can Play on iPhone 1. Alien: Isolation Resident Evil 4 Remake
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Death Stranding
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 1. Alien: Isolation For horror lovers, you’ll be happy to hear that Alien Isolation is available on iPhone. You play as Amanda Ripley, a daughter looking for clues about her missing mother. But it’s not easy to uncover the truth when you have a terrifying Xenomorph breathing down your neck at every turn you make. The Xenomorph is a scary and powerful creature; one that you can’t fight head-on. You’ll have to play it smart and be sneaky. Players will have to hide, evade, and outsmart the Alien if they want to live to see another day. Note: These are the phones compatible with Alien: Isolation -

iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone X and later
iPhone SE 2 (2020) and later 2. Resident Evil 4 (2023) We’re staying on the horror train with another banger; this time, 2023’s Resident Evil 4. When the daughter of the U.S. president is kidnapped in Spain, only one man can save her. The man who never gives up the opportunity to do a useless backflip, Leon S. Kennedy. This game is way more action-oriented than something like Alien: Isolation, but it’s still a Resident Evil game, so there’s still a great amount of horror elements in it. Interestingly enough, this isn’t the only Resident Evil game that you can play on iPhone. Both Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village are also available. Note: You do need an iPhone 15 Pro or higher to play Resident Evil 4. 3. Assassin’s Creed Mirage The newest installment in the long-running Assassin’s Creed series, Mirage just made its way onto mobile phones this year after being released on consoles and PC last year. Like the other games in the series, Mirage is set in the past; this time, in Baghdad during the 800s A.D. You play as Basim Ibn Ishaq as you take him from petty thief to full-fledged member of the Hidden Ones and beyond. But not everything is as it seems, and there’s more to Basim than meets the eye. It will be up to you to figure out the mystery hiding in the shadows. Note: You do need an iPhone 15 Pro or higher to play Assassin’s Creed Mirage. 4. Death Stranding Enter into the complex mind of Hideo Kojima with Death Stranding. Starring famous actor Norman Reedus, you play as a delivery boy. Okay, I'm just kidding; that is an immense oversimplification of the game (although it does feel like that at times). But if we dig deep down beyond the walking/delivery boy memes, you have this extremely well-written game that will have you scratching your head to figure out what the hell is going on (in a good way, of course). And if you’ve never played it before, now would be a perfect time to do so as a sequel is walking our way in 2025. Note: You do need an iPhone 15 Pro or higher to play Death Stranding. 5. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - Definitive Let’s cap off the list with a classic. The game that got many of us in trouble with our parents: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Now available right from our pocket. I mean, what else can I say about this game that hasn’t been said a million times before? One of the greatest games of all time and highly influential, although I do admit I may be biased considering this is the GTA I played the most when I was a kid. But besides San Andreas, there are other GTA games available on iOS such as GTA: Liberty City Stories, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and GTA: Chinatown Wars. It’s great to see classics like these readily available for the current and future generations, and I hope more studios continue the trend of adding old-school games onto phones. Note: You need a phone with iOS 16.0 or later and a phone with the A12 Bionic chip or later to play San Andreas. More in Gaming: 5 Gaming Franchises That Need to Return
Top 10 Greatest Games of All Time According to the Hackernoon Team
Beyond The Base Game: Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Marketing Case Study Feature image source With phones becoming more and more powerful, it’s no surprise that big gaming companies have their eyes set on the mobile industry. Games that were once only reserved for console/PC can now be enjoyed on the go or on the toilet or wherever you want really. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the big AAA games that you can play on your iPhone. GET PUBLISHED ON HACKERNOON. Join a global network of 45,000+ published devs, builders, founders, makers, VCs, hodlrs, and hackers. Start submitting your tech stories and tutorials to get published FREE on HackerNoon — no pop-ups, no paywalls. GET PUBLISHED ON HACKERNOON. GET PUBLISHED ON HACKERNOON . GET PUBLISHED ON HACKERNOON Join a global network of 45,000+ published devs, builders, founders, makers, VCs, hodlrs, and hackers. Start submitting your tech stories and tutorials to get published FREE on HackerNoon — no pop-ups, no paywalls. Join a global network of 45,000+ published devs, builders, founders, makers, VCs, hodlrs, and hackers. Start submitting your tech stories and tutorials to get published FREE on HackerNoon — no pop-ups, no paywalls. 5 AAA Games You Can Play on iPhone 1. Alien: Isolation Resident Evil 4 Remake Assassin’s Creed Mirage Death Stranding Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Resident Evil 4 Remake Assassin’s Creed Mirage Death Stranding Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 1. Alien: Isolation For horror lovers, you’ll be happy to hear that Alien Isolation is available on iPhone. You play as Amanda Ripley, a daughter looking for clues about her missing mother. But it’s not easy to uncover the truth when you have a terrifying Xenomorph breathing down your neck at every turn you make. The Xenomorph is a scary and powerful creature; one that you can’t fight head-on. You’ll have to play it smart and be sneaky. Players will have to hide, evade, and outsmart the Alien if they want to live to see another day. Note: These are the phones compatible with Alien: Isolation - iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone X and later
iPhone SE 2 (2020) and later Note: These are the phones compatible with Alien: Isolation - iPhone 8 Plus iPhone X and later iPhone SE 2 (2020) and later iPhone 8 Plus iPhone X and later iPhone SE 2 (2020) and later 2. Resident Evil 4 (2023) We’re staying on the horror train with another banger; this time, 2023’s Resident Evil 4. When the daughter of the U.S. president is kidnapped in Spain, only one man can save her. The man who never gives up the opportunity to do a useless backflip, Leon S. Kennedy. This game is way more action-oriented than something like Alien: Isolation, but it’s still a Resident Evil game, so there’s still a great amount of horror elements in it. Interestingly enough, this isn’t the only Resident Evil game that you can play on iPhone. Both Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village are also available. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Resident Evil Village Note: You do need an iPhone 15 Pro or higher to play Resident Evil 4. Note : You do need an iPhone 15 Pro or higher to play Resident Evil 4. Note 3. Assassin’s Creed Mirage The newest installment in the long-running Assassin’s Creed series, Mirage just made its way onto mobile phones this year after being released on consoles and PC last year. Like the other games in the series, Mirage is set in the past; this time, in Baghdad during the 800s A.D. You play as Basim Ibn Ishaq as you take him from petty thief to full-fledged member of the Hidden Ones and beyond. But not everything is as it seems, and there’s more to Basim than meets the eye. It will be up to you to figure out the mystery hiding in the shadows. Note: You do need an iPhone 15 Pro or higher to play Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Note : You do need an iPhone 15 Pro or higher to play Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Note 4. Death Stranding Enter into the complex mind of Hideo Kojima with Death Stranding. Starring famous actor Norman Reedus, you play as a delivery boy. Okay, I'm just kidding; that is an immense oversimplification of the game (although it does feel like that at times). But if we dig deep down beyond the walking/delivery boy memes, you have this extremely well-written game that will have you scratching your head to figure out what the hell is going on (in a good way, of course). And if you’ve never played it before, now would be a perfect time to do so as a sequel is walking our way in 2025. sequel Note: You do need an iPhone 15 Pro or higher to play Death Stranding. Note : You do need an iPhone 15 Pro or higher to play Death Stranding. Note 5. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - Definitive Let’s cap off the list with a classic. The game that got many of us in trouble with our parents: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Now available right from our pocket. I mean, what else can I say about this game that hasn’t been said a million times before? One of the greatest games of all time and highly influential, although I do admit I may be biased considering this is the GTA I played the most when I was a kid. But besides San Andreas, there are other GTA games available on iOS such as GTA: Liberty City Stories , Grand Theft Auto: Vice City , and GTA: Chinatown Wars . GTA: Liberty City Stories Grand Theft Auto: Vice City GTA: Chinatown Wars It’s great to see classics like these readily available for the current and future generations, and I hope more studios continue the trend of adding old-school games onto phones. Note: You need a phone with iOS 16.0 or later and a phone with the A12 Bionic chip or later to play San Andreas. Note: You need a phone with iOS 16.0 or later and a phone with the A12 Bionic chip or later to play San Andreas. Note: More in Gaming: 5 Gaming Franchises That Need to Return Top 10 Greatest Games of All Time According to the Hackernoon Team Beyond The Base Game: Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Marketing Case Study 5 Gaming Franchises That Need to Return 5 Gaming Franchises That Need to Return Top 10 Greatest Games of All Time According to the Hackernoon Team Top 10 Greatest Games of All Time According to the Hackernoon Team Beyond The Base Game: Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Marketing Case Study Beyond The Base Game: Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Marketing Case Study Feature image source Feature image source source

5 Console-Level Games That You Can Play on Your iPhone Right Now

5 juegos de consola que puedes jugar en tu iPhone ahora mismo

Oraintxe bertan zure iPhonean jolastu ditzakezun kontsola-mailako 5 jokoak

5 بازی در سطح کنسول که می توانید همین الان در آیفون خود بازی کنید

5 Xogos a nivel de consola que podes xogar no teu iPhone agora mesmo

今すぐ iPhone でプレイできるコンソールレベルのゲーム 5 選

Сиз азыр iPhoneуңузда ойной турган 5 консолдук деңгээлдеги оюндар

5 konsolės lygio žaidimai, kuriuos dabar galite žaisti savo „iPhone“.

Lalao Console-level 5 azonao atao amin'ny iPhone-nao izao

5 игри на ниво на конзола што можете да ги играте на вашиот iPhone во моментов

Яг одоо iPhone дээрээ тоглох боломжтой консол түвшний 5 тоглоом

5 jocuri la nivel de consolă pe care le poți juca pe iPhone chiar acum

5 Console-Level Mitambo Yaunogona Kutamba pa iPhone Yako Izvozvi

The Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) has recently implemented significant upgrades that promise to expand the capabilities of the Bitcoin network. These enhancements, part of the Deuterium milestone, include the integration of threshold-Schnorr signatures and on-chain Bitcoin block headers. Bitcoin, originally conceived as digital gold, is evolving into a foundation for a decentralized economy. The rise of Runes and BRC20 tokens demonstrates increasing activity within the Bitcoin ecosystem. However, Bitcoin's lack of native smart contract support has limited developers' ability to build complex applications on the network. Key Implementations 1. Threshold-Schnorr Signatures This feature allows ICP smart contracts to directly sign Schnorr signatures, enabling various functions: - Etching Runes - Inscribing Ordinals - Sending and receiving BRC-20 tokens on Bitcoin L1 - Signing Taproot transactions 2. On-chain Bitcoin Block Headers Previously, ICP only supported Bitcoin's UTXO set. The new implementation provides access to full Bitcoin block content--crucial for emerging meta protocols that utilize block header data. Impact on Development These upgrades are expected to significantly boost development within the Bitcoin ecosystem. Developers can now create a wider range of applications, including: - Decentralized finance (DeFi) lending markets backed by Ordinals - Infrastructure improvements like decentralized indexers - Enhanced cross-chain asset transfers Ecosystem Benefits Several projects within the ICP ecosystem are poised to leverage these new capabilities: 1. Omnity Network - Plans to handle Bitcoin Taproot assets - Aims to connect with blockchains using ed25519 signature schemes - Will use block header data for trustless verification of Bitcoin blocks 2. Bioniq - Intends to use threshold-Schnorr signatures for cross-chain asset transfers - Operates as a Layer-2 solution for Bitcoin Ordinals, offering efficient trading and minting of Bitcoin-based digital assets 3. Helix Markets - Users will be able to trade ICP tokens and tokens from other ecosystems without bridging or wrapping assets - Potential to integrate with larger crypto ecosystems, accessing millions of active users and substantial trading volumes Implications for the Future The integration of threshold-Schnorr signatures and on-chain Bitcoin block headers by ICP represents a significant step forward in blockchain interoperability. These advancements enable developers to create more sophisticated applications that leverage Bitcoin's liquidity and user base without relying on traditional bridging or wrapping methods. As the Bitcoin ecosystem continues to evolve beyond its original use case, these enhancements provide the tools necessary for developers to build innovative solutions. The ability to interact seamlessly with multiple blockchain networks opens up new possibilities for decentralized applications and services. While these developments are promising, it's important to note that the long-term impact and adoption of these new capabilities remain to be seen. As with any technological advancement in the rapidly changing world of blockchain and cryptocurrency, ongoing research and development will be crucial to realizing the full potential of these innovations. Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR The Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) has recently implemented significant upgrades that promise to expand the capabilities of the Bitcoin network. These enhancements, part of the Deuterium milestone , include the integration of threshold-Schnorr signatures and on-chain Bitcoin block headers. Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) Deuterium milestone Bitcoin, originally conceived as digital gold, is evolving into a foundation for a decentralized economy. The rise of Runes and BRC20 tokens demonstrates increasing activity within the Bitcoin ecosystem. However, Bitcoin's lack of native smart contract support has limited developers' ability to build complex applications on the network. Key Implementations 1. Threshold-Schnorr Signatures 1. Threshold-Schnorr Signatures This feature allows ICP smart contracts to directly sign Schnorr signatures, enabling various functions: - Etching Runes - Inscribing Ordinals - Sending and receiving BRC-20 tokens on Bitcoin L1 - Signing Taproot transactions 2. On-chain Bitcoin Block Headers 2. On-chain Bitcoin Block Headers Previously, ICP only supported Bitcoin's UTXO set. The new implementation provides access to full Bitcoin block content--crucial for emerging meta protocols that utilize block header data. Impact on Development Impact on Development These upgrades are expected to significantly boost development within the Bitcoin ecosystem. Developers can now create a wider range of applications, including: - Decentralized finance (DeFi) lending markets backed by Ordinals - Infrastructure improvements like decentralized indexers - Enhanced cross-chain asset transfers Ecosystem Benefits Ecosystem Benefits Several projects within the ICP ecosystem are poised to leverage these new capabilities: 1. Omnity Network 1. Omnity Network - Plans to handle Bitcoin Taproot assets - Aims to connect with blockchains using ed25519 signature schemes - Will use block header data for trustless verification of Bitcoin blocks 2. Bioniq 2. Bioniq - Intends to use threshold-Schnorr signatures for cross-chain asset transfers - Operates as a Layer-2 solution for Bitcoin Ordinals, offering efficient trading and minting of Bitcoin-based digital assets 3. Helix Markets 3. Helix Markets - Users will be able to trade ICP tokens and tokens from other ecosystems without bridging or wrapping assets - Potential to integrate with larger crypto ecosystems, accessing millions of active users and substantial trading volumes Implications for the Future Implications for the Future The integration of threshold-Schnorr signatures and on-chain Bitcoin block headers by ICP represents a significant step forward in blockchain interoperability. These advancements enable developers to create more sophisticated applications that leverage Bitcoin's liquidity and user base without relying on traditional bridging or wrapping methods. As the Bitcoin ecosystem continues to evolve beyond its original use case, these enhancements provide the tools necessary for developers to build innovative solutions. The ability to interact seamlessly with multiple blockchain networks opens up new possibilities for decentralized applications and services. While these developments are promising, it's important to note that the long-term impact and adoption of these new capabilities remain to be seen. As with any technological advancement in the rapidly changing world of blockchain and cryptocurrency, ongoing research and development will be crucial to realizing the full potential of these innovations. Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program . HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR Vested Interest Disclosure: business blogging program business blogging program

Internet Computer Protocol Enhances Bitcoin Functionality

ইন্টারনেট কম্পিউটার প্রোটোকল বিটকয়েনের কার্যকারিতা বাড়ায়

Internet Computer Protocol verbessert Bitcoin-Funktionalität

El protocolo informático de Internet mejora la funcionalidad de Bitcoin

Le protocole informatique Internet améliore la fonctionnalité Bitcoin

इंटरनेट कंप्यूटर प्रोटोकॉल बिटकॉइन की कार्यक्षमता को बढ़ाता है

インターネットコンピュータプロトコルがビットコインの機能を強化

인터넷 컴퓨터 프로토콜, 비트코인 기능 강화

Protocolo de Computador da Internet Melhora a Funcionalidade do Bitcoin

Интернет-компьютерный протокол расширяет функциональность биткоина

İnternet Bilgisayar Protokolü Bitcoin İşlevselliğini Geliştiriyor

Giao thức máy tính Internet nâng cao chức năng của Bitcoin

互联网计算机协议增强了比特币的功能

Two Memorable Dates in Seismology: Conclusion and References

Authors:
(1) Clement Lhos, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA;
(2) Emek Barıs¸ Kuc¸uktabak, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA and Center for Robotics and Biosystems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA;
(3) Lorenzo Vianello, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA;
(4) Lorenzo Amato, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA and The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56025 Pontedera, Italy and Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy;
(5) Matthew R. Short, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA;
(6) Kevin Lynch2, Center for Robotics and Biosystems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA;
(7) Jose L. Pons, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA, Center for Robotics and Biosystems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA. Table of Links Abstract and I Introduction II Methods III Results IV Discussion V. Conclusion, Acknowledgment, and References V. CONCLUSION In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility of employing deep learning in gait state detection for exoskeleton control, eliminating the necessity of ground reaction force sensors. Despite challenges such as a limited dataset, realtime constraints, and issues related to error propagation, these obstacles were successfully addressed. Evaluation of our model’s closed-loop performance versus typical sensors (i.e., force plates, FSR footplates) highlights the system’s applicability across new users and several walking speeds and conditions. To address our model limitations, future work could include training datasets encompassing various walking speeds, overground walking and other activities (e.g. ramps, stairs). Furthermore, this work could be used to implement a state machine that utilizes an estimated stance interpolation factor, selecting impedance parameters in the mid-level controller for exoskeleton control and tailored assistance during walking. The proposed framework will be validated in future on additional healthy individuals as well as individuals with lower-limb impairments (e.g., stroke, spinal cord injury). ACKNOWLEDGMENT This work was supported by the National Science Foundation / National Robotics Initiative (Grant No: 2024488). We would like to thank Tim Haswell for his technical support on the hardware improvements of the ExoMotus-X2 exoskeleton. REFERENCES [1] R. Baud, A. R. Manzoori, A. Ijspeert, and M. Bouri, “Review of control strategies for lower-limb exoskeletons to assist gait,” Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, vol. 18, no. 1, Jul. 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-021-00906-3 [2] J. de Miguel-Fernandez, J. Lobo-Prat, E. Prinsen, J. M. Font-Llagunes, and L. Marchal-Crespo, “Control strategies used in lower limb exoskeletons for gait rehabilitation after brain injury: a systematic review and analysis of clinical effectiveness,” Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, vol. 20, no. 1, Feb. 2023. [3] E. Basalp, P. Wolf, and L. Marchal-Crespo, “Haptic training: Which types facilitate (re)learning of which motor task and for whom? answers by a review,” IEEE Transactions on Haptics, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 722–739, 2021. [4] M. Kim, A. M. Simon, and L. J. Hargrove, “Seamless and intuitive control of a powered prosthetic leg using deep neural network for transfemoral amputees,” Wearable Technologies, vol. 3, 2022. [5] W. Huo, S. Mohammed, Y. Amirat, and K. Kong, “Fast gait mode detection and assistive torque control of an exoskeletal robotic orthosis for walking assistance,” IEEE Transactions on Robotics, vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 1035–1052, 2018. [6] A. Ortlieb, R. Baud, T. Tracchia, B. Denkinger, Q. Herzig, H. Bleuler, and M. Bouri, “An active impedance controller to assist gait in people with neuromuscular diseases: Implementation to the hip joint of the autonomyo exoskeleton,” in 2018 7th IEEE International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (Biorob), 2018. [7] E. B. Kuc¸¨ uktabak, Y. Wen, S. J. Kim, M. R. Short, D. Ludvig, L. Hargrove, E. J. Perreault, K. M. Lynch, and J. L. Pons, “Haptic transparency and interaction force control for a lower-limb exoskeleton,” IEEE Transactions on Robotics, pp. 1–19, 2024. [8] M. Mundt, A. Koeppe, S. David, F. Bamer, W. Potthast, and B. Markert, “Prediction of ground reaction force and joint moments based on optical motion capture data during gait,” Medical Engineering & Physics, vol. 86, pp. 29–34, 2020. [9] A. Karatsidis, G. Bellusci, H. Schepers, M. de Zee, M. Andersen, and P. Veltink, “Estimation of ground reaction forces and moments during gait using only inertial motion capture,” Sensors, vol. 17, no. 12, p. 75, Dec. 2016. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/s17010075 [10] L. Mourot, L. Hoyet, F. L. Clerc, and P. Hellier, “Underpressure: Deep learning for foot contact detection, ground reaction force estimation and footskate cleanup,” Computer Graphics Forum, vol. 41, no. 8, pp. 195–206, 2022. [11] J.-Y. Jung, W. Heo, H. Yang, and H. Park, “A neural network-based gait phase classification method using sensors equipped on lower limb exoskeleton robots,” Sensors, vol. 15, no. 11, pp. 27 738–27 759, 2015. [12] D.-X. Liu, X. Wu, W. Du, C. Wang, and T. Xu, “Gait phase recognition for lower-limb exoskeleton with only joint angular sensors,” Sensors, vol. 16, no. 10, p. 1579, Sep. 2016. [13] C. Camardella, F. Porcini, A. Filippeschi, S. Marcheschi, M. Solazzi, and A. Frisoli, “Gait phases blended control for enhancing transparency on lower-limb exoskeletons,” IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 5453–5460, 2021. [14] V. Lippi, C. Camardella, A. Filippeschi, and F. Porcini, “Identification of gait phases with neural networks for smooth transparent control of a lower limb exoskeleton,” in Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics - Volume 1: ICINCO,, INSTICC. SciTePress, 2021, pp. 171–178. [15] J. Fong, E. B. Kuc¸uktabak, V. Crocher, Y. Tan, K. M. Lynch, J. L. Pons, and D. Oetomo, “Canopen robot controller (corc): An open software stack for human robot interaction development,” in Wearable Robotics: Challenges and Trends, J. C. Moreno, J. Masood, U. Schneider, C. Maufroy, and J. L. Pons, Eds. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2022, pp. 287–292. [16] F. Labarriere, E. Thomas, L. Calistri, V. Optasanu, M. Gueugnon, ` P. Ornetti, and D. Laroche, “Machine learning approaches for activity recognition and/or activity prediction in locomotion assistive devices—a systematic review,” Sensors, vol. 20, no. 21, 2020. [17] M. Kim and L. J. Hargrove, “Deep-learning to map a benchmark dataset of non-amputee ambulation for controlling an open source bionic leg,” IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 10 597–10 604, 2022. [18] D. P. Kingma and J. Ba, “Adam: A method for stochastic optimization,” arXiv preprint arXiv:1412.6980, 2014. [19] E. B. Kuc¸uktabak, Y. Wen, M. Short, E. Demirbas¸, K. Lynch, and J. Pons, “Virtual physical coupling of two lower-limb exoskeletons,” in 2023 International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), 2023, pp. 1–6. [20] S. Levine, A. Kumar, G. Tucker, and J. Fu, “Offline reinforcement learning: Tutorial, review, and perspectives on open problems,” arXiv preprint arXiv:2005.01643, 2020. [21] R. A. Alamro, A. E. Chisholm, A. M. M. Williams, M. G. Carpenter, and T. Lam, “Overground walking with a robotic exoskeleton elicits trunk muscle activity in people with high-thoracic motor-complete spinal cord injury,” Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, vol. 15, no. 1, Nov. 2018. This paper is available on arxiv under CC BY 4.0 DEED license. Authors: (1) Clement Lhos, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA; (2) Emek Barıs¸ Kuc¸uktabak, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA and Center for Robotics and Biosystems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; (3) Lorenzo Vianello, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA; (4) Lorenzo Amato, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA and The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56025 Pontedera, Italy and Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (5) Matthew R. Short, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; (6) Kevin Lynch2, Center for Robotics and Biosystems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; (7) Jose L. Pons, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA, Center for Robotics and Biosystems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA. Authors: Authors: (1) Clement Lhos, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA; (2) Emek Barıs¸ Kuc¸uktabak, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA and Center for Robotics and Biosystems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; (3) Lorenzo Vianello, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA; (4) Lorenzo Amato, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA and The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56025 Pontedera, Italy and Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (5) Matthew R. Short, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; (6) Kevin Lynch2, Center for Robotics and Biosystems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; (7) Jose L. Pons, Legs and Walking Lab of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA, Center for Robotics and Biosystems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA. Table of Links Abstract and I Introduction Abstract and I Introduction II Methods II Methods III Results III Results IV Discussion IV Discussion V. Conclusion, Acknowledgment, and References V. Conclusion, Acknowledgment, and References V. CONCLUSION In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility of employing deep learning in gait state detection for exoskeleton control, eliminating the necessity of ground reaction force sensors. Despite challenges such as a limited dataset, realtime constraints, and issues related to error propagation, these obstacles were successfully addressed. Evaluation of our model’s closed-loop performance versus typical sensors (i.e., force plates, FSR footplates) highlights the system’s applicability across new users and several walking speeds and conditions. To address our model limitations, future work could include training datasets encompassing various walking speeds, overground walking and other activities (e.g. ramps, stairs). Furthermore, this work could be used to implement a state machine that utilizes an estimated stance interpolation factor, selecting impedance parameters in the mid-level controller for exoskeleton control and tailored assistance during walking. The proposed framework will be validated in future on additional healthy individuals as well as individuals with lower-limb impairments (e.g., stroke, spinal cord injury). ACKNOWLEDGMENT This work was supported by the National Science Foundation / National Robotics Initiative (Grant No: 2024488). We would like to thank Tim Haswell for his technical support on the hardware improvements of the ExoMotus-X2 exoskeleton. REFERENCES [1] R. Baud, A. R. Manzoori, A. Ijspeert, and M. Bouri, “Review of control strategies for lower-limb exoskeletons to assist gait,” Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, vol. 18, no. 1, Jul. 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-021-00906-3 [2] J. de Miguel-Fernandez, J. Lobo-Prat, E. Prinsen, J. M. Font-Llagunes, and L. Marchal-Crespo, “Control strategies used in lower limb exoskeletons for gait rehabilitation after brain injury: a systematic review and analysis of clinical effectiveness,” Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, vol. 20, no. 1, Feb. 2023. [3] E. Basalp, P. Wolf, and L. Marchal-Crespo, “Haptic training: Which types facilitate (re)learning of which motor task and for whom? answers by a review,” IEEE Transactions on Haptics, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 722–739, 2021. [4] M. Kim, A. M. Simon, and L. J. Hargrove, “Seamless and intuitive control of a powered prosthetic leg using deep neural network for transfemoral amputees,” Wearable Technologies, vol. 3, 2022. [5] W. Huo, S. Mohammed, Y. Amirat, and K. Kong, “Fast gait mode detection and assistive torque control of an exoskeletal robotic orthosis for walking assistance,” IEEE Transactions on Robotics, vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 1035–1052, 2018. [6] A. Ortlieb, R. Baud, T. Tracchia, B. Denkinger, Q. Herzig, H. Bleuler, and M. Bouri, “An active impedance controller to assist gait in people with neuromuscular diseases: Implementation to the hip joint of the autonomyo exoskeleton,” in 2018 7th IEEE International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (Biorob), 2018. [7] E. B. Kuc¸¨ uktabak, Y. Wen, S. J. Kim, M. R. Short, D. Ludvig, L. Hargrove, E. J. Perreault, K. M. Lynch, and J. L. Pons, “Haptic transparency and interaction force control for a lower-limb exoskeleton,” IEEE Transactions on Robotics, pp. 1–19, 2024. [8] M. Mundt, A. Koeppe, S. David, F. Bamer, W. Potthast, and B. Markert, “Prediction of ground reaction force and joint moments based on optical motion capture data during gait,” Medical Engineering & Physics, vol. 86, pp. 29–34, 2020. [9] A. Karatsidis, G. Bellusci, H. Schepers, M. de Zee, M. Andersen, and P. Veltink, “Estimation of ground reaction forces and moments during gait using only inertial motion capture,” Sensors, vol. 17, no. 12, p. 75, Dec. 2016. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/s17010075 [10] L. Mourot, L. Hoyet, F. L. Clerc, and P. Hellier, “Underpressure: Deep learning for foot contact detection, ground reaction force estimation and footskate cleanup,” Computer Graphics Forum, vol. 41, no. 8, pp. 195–206, 2022. [11] J.-Y. Jung, W. Heo, H. Yang, and H. Park, “A neural network-based gait phase classification method using sensors equipped on lower limb exoskeleton robots,” Sensors, vol. 15, no. 11, pp. 27 738–27 759, 2015. [12] D.-X. Liu, X. Wu, W. Du, C. Wang, and T. Xu, “Gait phase recognition for lower-limb exoskeleton with only joint angular sensors,” Sensors, vol. 16, no. 10, p. 1579, Sep. 2016. [13] C. Camardella, F. Porcini, A. Filippeschi, S. Marcheschi, M. Solazzi, and A. Frisoli, “Gait phases blended control for enhancing transparency on lower-limb exoskeletons,” IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 5453–5460, 2021. [14] V. Lippi, C. Camardella, A. Filippeschi, and F. Porcini, “Identification of gait phases with neural networks for smooth transparent control of a lower limb exoskeleton,” in Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics - Volume 1: ICINCO,, INSTICC. SciTePress, 2021, pp. 171–178. [15] J. Fong, E. B. Kuc¸uktabak, V. Crocher, Y. Tan, K. M. Lynch, J. L. Pons, and D. Oetomo, “Canopen robot controller (corc): An open software stack for human robot interaction development,” in Wearable Robotics: Challenges and Trends, J. C. Moreno, J. Masood, U. Schneider, C. Maufroy, and J. L. Pons, Eds. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2022, pp. 287–292. [16] F. Labarriere, E. Thomas, L. Calistri, V. Optasanu, M. Gueugnon, ` P. Ornetti, and D. Laroche, “Machine learning approaches for activity recognition and/or activity prediction in locomotion assistive devices—a systematic review,” Sensors, vol. 20, no. 21, 2020. [17] M. Kim and L. J. Hargrove, “Deep-learning to map a benchmark dataset of non-amputee ambulation for controlling an open source bionic leg,” IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 10 597–10 604, 2022. [18] D. P. Kingma and J. Ba, “Adam: A method for stochastic optimization,” arXiv preprint arXiv:1412.6980, 2014. [19] E. B. Kuc¸uktabak, Y. Wen, M. Short, E. Demirbas¸, K. Lynch, and J. Pons, “Virtual physical coupling of two lower-limb exoskeletons,” in 2023 International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), 2023, pp. 1–6. [20] S. Levine, A. Kumar, G. Tucker, and J. Fu, “Offline reinforcement learning: Tutorial, review, and perspectives on open problems,” arXiv preprint arXiv:2005.01643, 2020. [21] R. A. Alamro, A. E. Chisholm, A. M. M. Williams, M. G. Carpenter, and T. Lam, “Overground walking with a robotic exoskeleton elicits trunk muscle activity in people with high-thoracic motor-complete spinal cord injury,” Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, vol. 15, no. 1, Nov. 2018. This paper is available on arxiv under CC BY 4.0 DEED license. This paper is available on arxiv under CC BY 4.0 DEED license. available on arxiv

Weight Distribution Estimation in Lower-Limb Exoskeletons via Deep Learning: Conclusion

The semiconductor chip tug-of-war between the US and China has chip companies scrambling to keep business going as usual. AI is ruling the tech world right now, as gadget makers and software giants integrate the tech into everything to enhance and empower their products. And this AI push has created an unprecedented demand for semiconductor chips. If you don’t know what semiconductor chips do, know that they’re in almost all your digital consumer products like mobile phones, smartphones, digital cameras, televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, and LED bulbs. And some of them are mighty powerful. For example, Apple’s M4 chip is a powerful Neural Engine, that can conduct 38 trillion operations per second, making it much better for AI tasks and enhancing features like Live Captions and Visual Look Up on the iPad Pro. Deemed Apple’s most powerful Neural Engine, it’s “a breathtaking 60x faster than the first Neural Engine in A11 Bionic.” When this is the kind of power a chip can generate, it’s no wonder that nations are getting involved in its market share. US Pushes to Expand its Chips The US has been aggressive about expanding its chipmaking. In April, under the Chips Act, the US government announced an award of up to $6.4 billion in grants to South Korea’s Samsung to expand its chip production in central Texas. Under pressure from the US to curb chip exports to China, countries like The Netherlands, Japan, and South Korea have also placed restrictions on their companies. Last June, The Netherlands’ government announced plans to restrict exports of semiconductor technology to protect national security. At the beginning of the year, the Deutch government rescinded an export license to halt the shipment of two older lithography machines to Chinese customers. Last year, Japan imposed export controls on advanced microchip technologies in China. China’s Chip Stature China manufactures semiconductors, but also consumes a lot of them, creating a snug ecosystem of chips. In 2020, the country purchased 53.7% of the world’s supply of chips to the tune of US$240 billion. The country controls the majority of the business of semiconductor companies. In 2022, Qualcomm earned 50% of its revenues from China, NVIDIA 26.3%. Dutch company ASML Holding NV recorded 14% of its sales in the country and Apple 24%. In response to US’ aggressive chip market tactics, China has started upping its chip-making game. In a bid to gain self-reliance in chips, China has been working on a US $143 billion+ support package for its semiconductor industry. As part of its effort to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, in May, Reuters reported two Chinese chipmakers have started producing high bandwidth memory (HBM) semiconductors, which are used in AI chipsets. In fact, Chinese tech conglomerate Huawei’s latest high-end phone now sports more Chinese suppliers. This includes a new flash memory storage chip and an improved chip processor. Some Chinese universities and research institutes even got hold of Nvidia’s high-end AI chips via resellers, according to Reuters. US Companies Rebel Another reason China isn’t bogged down yet is that US tech companies aren’t ready to let China go as a business partner yet. According to reports, many companies, like Qualcomm, ASML, and Apple, are ready to skip the US’ grants for business with China, owing to the smooth business relationship they’ve enjoyed so far with Chinese companies. This is why US chip sanctions aren’t appealing much to tech giants in the US. While these governments scramble to restrict Chinese business, companies are following their own path. In March, amongst all the political hubbub, Intel was able to sell chips worth hundred of millions of dollars to Huawei. China’s commerce minister has been wooing ASML to assure of China’s reliability as a business partner. Huawei, along with Nokia and Ericsson, are among the companies contracted to build 5G networks in China, with Samsung and Qualcomm also looking to gain greater market share in the country. A Shift in Chip Sentiment As the pressure mounts, some companies are beginning to toe the line though. The current chip situation has been setting off alarm bells for US companies like Intel, which depend on chip technology in a major way. They say they’re getting antsy about semiconductor manufacturing becoming concentrated in a single geographical location and have started taking steps for the future. In 2022, Intel signed the purchase agreement to become a landowner in Magdeburg, Germany, a planned site for its European semiconductor manufacturing facility. The tech company also brought on Bechtel as its general contractor for Intel’s new Ohio site already under construction. Semiconductor manufacturing is especially vulnerable given that 80 percent of current capacity is concentrated in one small geographic region. Our strategy is the industry’s strategy: Diversify our footprint today to bolster the chip supply needed for tomorrow
Keyvan Esfarjani, Executive vice president and chief global operations officer at Intel Corporationnone “Semiconductor manufacturing is especially vulnerable given that 80 percent of current capacity is concentrated in one small geographic region. Our strategy is the industry’s strategy: Diversify our footprint today to bolster the chip supply needed for tomorrow,” Keyvan Esfarjani, Executive vice president and chief global operations officer at Intel Corporation, said in a statement. Other companies are chipping in. November, last year, Nvidia offered a new advanced chip in China that meets the export restriction rules. According to Reuters, the chip, called the A800, represents the first reported effort by a US semiconductor company to create advanced processors for China that follow the new rules. In December, Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC announced tripling its planned investment in its Arizona plant to US$40 billion. The news was one of the largest foreign investment news in US history, with President Joe Biden personally going down there to hail the project. Chips to Chiplets Meanwhile, chip technology continues to innovate with rising demand. Chip makers like Nvidia, Intel, and AMD are pushing up their semiconductor abilities. These companies have introduced chiplet technology, a cheaper way to pack small semiconductor groups. Interestingly, China is offering this tech as well. The battle for supremacy in the semiconductor chip market between the US and China not only showcases geopolitical rivalries but also highlights the intricate interplay of technology, business, and international relations shaping the future of this critical industry. Navanwita Sachdev, Editor, The Tech Panda The semiconductor chip tug-of-war between the US and China has chip companies scrambling to keep business going as usual. AI is ruling the tech world right now, as gadget makers and software giants integrate the tech into everything to enhance and empower their products. And this AI push has created an unprecedented demand for semiconductor chips. If you don’t know what semiconductor chips do, know that they’re in almost all your digital consumer products like mobile phones, smartphones, digital cameras, televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, and LED bulbs. And some of them are mighty powerful. For example, Apple’s M4 chip is a powerful Neural Engine, that can conduct 38 trillion operations per second, making it much better for AI tasks and enhancing features like Live Captions and Visual Look Up on the iPad Pro. Deemed Apple’s most powerful Neural Engine, it’s “a breathtaking 60x faster than the first Neural Engine in A11 Bionic.” Apple’s M4 chip When this is the kind of power a chip can generate, it’s no wonder that nations are getting involved in its market share. US Pushes to Expand its Chips US Pushes to Expand its Chips The US has been aggressive about expanding its chipmaking. In April, under the Chips Act, the US government announced an award of up to $6.4 billion in grants to South Korea’s Samsung to expand its chip production in central Texas. $6.4 billion in grants Samsung Under pressure from the US to curb chip exports to China, countries like The Netherlands, Japan, and South Korea have also placed restrictions on their companies. Last June, The Netherlands’ government announced plans to restrict exports of semiconductor technology to protect national security. At the beginning of the year, the Deutch government rescinded an export license to halt the shipment of two older lithography machines to Chinese customers. Last year, Japan imposed export controls on advanced microchip technologies in China. announced rescinded imposed China’s Chip Stature China’s Chip Stature China manufactures semiconductors, but also consumes a lot of them, creating a snug ecosystem of chips. In 2020, the country purchased 53.7% of the world’s supply of chips to the tune of US$240 billion. The country controls the majority of the business of semiconductor companies. In 2022, Qualcomm earned 50% of its revenues from China, NVIDIA 26.3%. Dutch company ASML Holding NV recorded 14% of its sales in the country and Apple 24%. 53.7% Qualcomm NVIDIA ASML In response to US’ aggressive chip market tactics, China has started upping its chip-making game. In a bid to gain self-reliance in chips, China has been working on a US $143 billion+ support package for its semiconductor industry. US $143 billion+ As part of its effort to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, in May, Reuters reported two Chinese chipmakers have started producing high bandwidth memory (HBM) semiconductors, which are used in AI chipsets. Reuters reported In fact, Chinese tech conglomerate Huawei’s latest high-end phone now sports more Chinese suppliers . This includes a new flash memory storage chip and an improved chip processor. Some Chinese universities and research institutes even got hold of Nvidia’s high-end AI chips via resellers, according to Reuters . Huawei’s more Chinese suppliers according to Reuters Reuters US Companies Rebel US Companies Rebel Another reason China isn’t bogged down yet is that US tech companies aren’t ready to let China go as a business partner yet. According to reports , many companies, like Qualcomm, ASML, and Apple, are ready to skip the US’ grants for business with China, owing to the smooth business relationship they’ve enjoyed so far with Chinese companies. According to reports This is why US chip sanctions aren’t appealing much to tech giants in the US. While these governments scramble to restrict Chinese business, companies are following their own path. In March, amongst all the political hubbub, Intel was able to sell chips worth hundred of millions of dollars to Huawei. Intel was able to sell China’s commerce minister has been wooing ASML to assure of China’s reliability as a business partner. Huawei, along with Nokia and Ericsson , are among the companies contracted to build 5G networks in China, with Samsung and Qualcomm also looking to gain greater market share in the country. has been wooing Nokia Ericsson contracted to build A Shift in Chip Sentiment A Shift in Chip Sentiment As the pressure mounts, some companies are beginning to toe the line though. The current chip situation has been setting off alarm bells for US companies like Intel, which depend on chip technology in a major way. They say they’re getting antsy about semiconductor manufacturing becoming concentrated in a single geographical location and have started taking steps for the future. has been setting off alarm bells In 2022, Intel signed the purchase agreement to become a landowner in Magdeburg, Germany, a planned site for its European semiconductor manufacturing facility. The tech company also brought on Bechtel as its general contractor for Intel’s new Ohio site already under construction. signed Semiconductor manufacturing is especially vulnerable given that 80 percent of current capacity is concentrated in one small geographic region. Our strategy is the industry’s strategy: Diversify our footprint today to bolster the chip supply needed for tomorrow Keyvan Esfarjani, Executive vice president and chief global operations officer at Intel Corporationnone Semiconductor manufacturing is especially vulnerable given that 80 percent of current capacity is concentrated in one small geographic region. Our strategy is the industry’s strategy: Diversify our footprint today to bolster the chip supply needed for tomorrow Semiconductor manufacturing is especially vulnerable given that 80 percent of current capacity is concentrated in one small geographic region. Our strategy is the industry’s strategy: Diversify our footprint today to bolster the chip supply needed for tomorrow Semiconductor manufacturing is especially vulnerable given that 80 percent of current capacity is concentrated in one small geographic region. Our strategy is the industry’s strategy: Diversify our footprint today to bolster the chip supply needed for tomorrow Keyvan Esfarjani, Executive vice president and chief global operations officer at Intel Corporation none Keyvan Esfarjani, Executive vice president and chief global operations officer at Intel Corporation “Semiconductor manufacturing is especially vulnerable given that 80 percent of current capacity is concentrated in one small geographic region. Our strategy is the industry’s strategy: Diversify our footprint today to bolster the chip supply needed for tomorrow,” Keyvan Esfarjani, Executive vice president and chief global operations officer at Intel Corporation, said in a statement. Other companies are chipping in. November, last year, Nvidia offered a new advanced chip in China that meets the export restriction rules. According to Reuters , the chip, called the A800, represents the first reported effort by a US semiconductor company to create advanced processors for China that follow the new rules. According to Reuters Reuters In December, Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC announced tripling its planned investment in its Arizona plant to US$40 billion . The news was one of the largest foreign investment news in US history, with President Joe Biden personally going down there to hail the project. TSMC Arizona plant to US$40 billion Chips to Chiplets Chips to Chiplets Meanwhile, chip technology continues to innovate with rising demand. Chip makers like Nvidia, Intel, and AMD are pushing up their semiconductor abilities. These companies have introduced chiplet technology , a cheaper way to pack small semiconductor groups. Interestingly, China is offering this tech as well. chiplet technology China The battle for supremacy in the semiconductor chip market between the US and China not only showcases geopolitical rivalries but also highlights the intricate interplay of technology, business, and international relations shaping the future of this critical industry. Navanwita Sachdev, Editor, The Tech Panda Navanwita Sachdev, Editor, The Tech Panda Navanwita Sachdev, Navanwita Sachdev, Navanwita Sachdev, Editor, The Tech Panda

AI Boom Spurs US-China Chip Race

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