AMD Sells Data Center Division Amid Concerns Over Meta's AI Training

In a significant move within the tech industry, AMD has announced the sale of its data center infrastructure division, initially acquired through the purchase of ZT Systems, to the contract manufacturer Sanmina. This transaction is valued at approximately $3 billion and marks AMD's ongoing strategy to streamline its operations following recent acquisitions.

Having completed the acquisition of ZT Systems for $4.9 billion just a few months ago, AMD is now divesting part of the acquired business as it seeks to establish strategic partnerships. The deal with Sanmina will position the latter as a preferred manufacturing partner for AMD, allowing the chipmaker to focus on its core competencies while leveraging Sanmina's manufacturing capabilities.

In a related development, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is set to utilize the data of all adult European users for training its artificial intelligence applications starting next week. This decision has raised privacy concerns, prompting warnings from data protection authorities in Germany. Users who wish to opt out of this data usage must explicitly express their dissent, but officials have highlighted that such a withdrawal will only protect their personal profiles and not include public posts or images shared on fan pages.

Meanwhile, Australian researchers are innovating in renewable energy by developing a solar thermal plant utilizing plastic mirrors. This project aims to enhance the efficiency and reduce the costs associated with solar thermal energy, which is crucial for meeting industrial heat demands that account for a quarter of the global energy consumption.

Additionally, a European research team has made a breakthrough regarding historical solar storms. Their studies indicate that a solar storm that occurred during the last ice age was significantly more powerful than any recorded in recent history. This finding underscores the potential catastrophic risks posed by such solar events, should they repeat in modern times.

In the world of gaming, Ubisoft Blue Byte has announced 'Anno 117', which promises to be the most extensive installment in the Anno series to date. Set for release on PC, Xbox Series X and S, and PlayStation 5 later this year, the game is expected to offer players a wealth of choices that will shape their gaming experience.

In other tech news, Microsoft will discontinue its practice of providing free licenses for M365 Business Premium to non-profit organizations, while Netflix plans to end support for first-generation Fire TV devices. Apple faces challenges in establishing its AI operations in China due to potential political interference, and the Nextcloud app has regained access rights from Google, allowing users to upload media files once again.

As the tech landscape continues to evolve, these developments highlight the intricate balance between innovation, privacy, and regulatory scrutiny in the digital age.