Indian scientists have indigenously developed organic-inorganic halide perovskite self-powered broadband photodetector with partial substitution of lead by magnesium which can be useful for solar energy generation. Organic-Inorganic halide perovskite (Methyl Ammonium Lead Iodide, MAPbI3) has been the frontrunner of optoelectronic research, showing promise in solar cells, LEDs, and photodetectors.However, hybrid perovskite has been plagued by significant issue due to presence of toxic lead (Pb2+), which is known for harmful effects on health and the environment. Researchers from the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad, an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology (DST) have addressed these challenges by introducing an eco-friendly alternative to replace toxic Lead (Pb). The team turned to Mg, an alkaline earth metal known for its non-toxic nature and abundance, as a substitute to lead. They synthesised the MAPbxMg1-xCl2I perovskite using one-step anti-solvent approach. They carefully tuned the Mg2+ stoichiometry and achieved tetragonal perovskite phase with desired properties. They also fabricated the photodetector in a simplified architecture (FTO/TiO2/Perovskite/Carbon), unlike traditional architecture (FTO/TiO2/Perovskite/HTL/Gold) that contains expensive metal cathode (gold). It lead to an economic and robust configuration. The research represents a significant step towards the replacement of toxic Pb2+ in perovskite optoelectronic devices. The successful demonstration of MAPb0.5Mg0.5Cl2I-based photodetectors not only showcases the potential of magnesium substitution but also reinforces the drive for development of eco-friendly and sustainable technologies. In a world where several environmental concerns are rising, this study paves the way for a greener future in optoelectronics. This is possible by swapping-out toxic lead for benign magnesium, thus researchers have offered a promising alternative for photodetectors and other optoelectronic devices.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought the focus on bioactive ingredients that boost the immune system. Consequently, scientists worldwide resumed intensive studies on bioactive compounds that can boost the immune system to protect against SARS-CoV-2 and limit the accelerated transmission of this virus. Consequently, bioactive compounds from herbal sources and edible mushrooms gained commercial interest due to their easy availability, high antioxidant activity, nutritional value, and low side effects. Mushrooms are a popular source of food and North-East India is home to diverse groups of edible mushrooms. This increasing popularity of mushrooms led researchers from IASST, an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology (DST) to analyse the importance of edible mushroom and natural compounds from mushroom to attenuate the complications against COVID-19 and other viral infections. Research group lead by Prof. Ashis K Mukherjee, Director, IASST including Dr. Aparup Patra, Dr. M. R. Khan, Dr. Sagar R. Barge, and Paran Baruah from IASST, Guwahati carried out an analysis of the current therapies against COVID-19 versus the potential of natural anti-infective, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic products derived from a wide range of easily sourced mushrooms and their bioactive molecules. In the review article the scientists have assessed the roles and mechanisms of 13 different mushroom-derived bioactive compounds in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and the pathophysiology associated with its infection, such as lung infection, inflammation, cytokine storm, and thrombotic and cardiovascular effects. Their study said that mushrooms contain bioactive polysaccharides and compounds with immunomodulating, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and other medicinal properties. It also said that mushroom-based drugs are being tested in human trials, with promising results against SARS-CoV-2. The main advantages of using edible mushroom against viral infections are- they can be used as a nutraceutical supplement with no side-effects and can be act as an immunity booster. The study in the Journal of Fungi also suggests that there are huge opportunities for better understanding the role of mushroom-derived bioactive compounds by in-depth pre-clinical and clinical studies. In this regard a coordination between researcher, health professionals, and policymakers are warranted.
PSLV-C58 XPoSat Mission launch: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) may have ended 2023 with historic successes like Chandrayaan-3 mission, when it landed a lander and a rover on the dark side of the moon and the Aditya-L1 mission, which is well on its way to its parking slot at Lagrange L1 point to watch the Sun, but it is not sitting on its laurels and is all set to usher in the new year with a bang! On January 1, 2024, the Indian space agency has slated the launch for its next ambitious project, the PSLV-C58 XPoSat Mission launch.
PSLV-C58 XPoSat Mission launch schedule
The PSLV-C58 XPoSat mission launch is scheduled at 09:10 IST on Monday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The 25-hour countdown commenced on Sunday for the lift-off scheduled at 9.10 am from the first launch pad at this spaceport, located about 135 kms east of Chennai, on January 1.
“The countdown commenced for PSLV-C58 at 8.10 am today,” ISRO sources said.
What is PSLV-C58 XPoSat
XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) is the first dedicated scientific satellite from ISRO to carry out research in space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources.
PSLV-C58 XPoSat Payloads
The spacecraft will carry two scientific payloads in a low earth orbit.
1.POLIX
POLIX is an X-ray Polarimeter for astronomical observations in the energy band of 8-30 keV. The instrument is made of a collimator, a scatterer and four X-ray proportional counter detectors that surrounds the scatterer.
POLIX is expected to observer about 40 bright astronomical sources of different categories during the planned lifetime of XPoSat mission of about 5 years. This is the first payload in the medium X-ray energy band dedicated for polarimetry measurements.
XSPECT
XSPECT is an X-ray SPECtroscopy and Timing payload onboard XPoSat, which can provide fast timing and good spectroscopic resolution in soft X-rays. XSPECT would observe several types of sources viz X-ray pulsars, blackhole binaries, low-magnetic field neutron star (NS) in LMXBs, AGNs and Magnetars.
The PSLV-C58 rocket, in its 60th mission, would also carry 10 other satellites to be deployed in low earth orbits.
The OnePlus 12 is a little bit in limbo right now, because it’s been officially announced but it’s not yet available outside of China – and a new rumor fills in some of the details for those who are eagerly awaiting its international release.
According to well-known tipster @ishanagarwal24 (via Android Police), the OnePlus 12 spec configurations that will be made available outside of China will be 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, and 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
If that’s correct, that means the very top spec configuration – 24GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage – will be exclusive to China. That’s going to be something of a disappointment to power users who were planning to spend big on this handset.
We’re expecting both the OnePlus 12 and the cheaper OnePlus 12R to be launched globally on January 23, 2024, at which point we should get all the details about the spec options and the regional pricing for these handsets.
Exclusive: OnePlus 12R will again start with 8GB RAM + 128GB variant in 🇮🇳 India to keep the prices in check. Other variant is 16/256GB. Blue & Gray colors.OnePlus 12 is getting an upgrade, now starts at 12/256GB in India & other is 16/512GB. Green & Black. Article below. pic.twitter.com/B1JgaiT7vJDecember 29, 2023
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What we know so far
We’re assuming that the rest of the OnePlus 12 specs are going to be the same no matter which country you buy it in. Those specs start with a 6.82-inch AMOLED display running at a resolution of 3168 x 1440, and with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
Under the hood there’s a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor from Qualcomm running everything, and the phone is also fitted with a 5,400mAh battery offering 100W wired and 50W wireless charging (up from 5,000mAh on the OnePlus 11).
The cameras on the back are a 50MP primary camera, a 48MP ultrawide camera, and a 64MP telephoto camera that offers 3x optical zoom. On the front we’ve got a 32MP camera for taking selfies and making video calls.
We know much less about the OnePlus 12R, but it’s rumored to be running the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, and will be more affordable as a result. We will of course bring you all the announcements as they happen on January 23.
Today is the last day of 2023, and while the world is immersed in bidding adieu to the year, the artificial intelligence space is still brimming with intriguing developments. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the youth of the nation to explore AI tools, especially those that pertain to real-time language translation as a way to preserve and promote India’s native languages. In other news, a research team in South Korea has developed a generative AI-powered acoustic simulation technology that can help in lowering the technical barriers in brain ultrasounds. This and more in today’s AI roundup. Let us take a closer look.
PM Modi urges youth to explore AI translation tools
In the last ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episode of the year, PM Modi highlighted the impact of innovative technology, specifically AI, on various sectors, as per a report by ANI. He mentioned the successful use of an indigenous AI-powered Bhashini app during the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam event in Uttar Pradesh, which facilitated seamless translation from Hindi to Tamil. The Prime Minister expressed optimism about the widespread implementation of such technology in areas like judiciary and education, anticipating significant improvements in functionality. He encouraged the younger generation to explore and enhance AI tools for real-time translation, emphasizing the potential for transformative changes in schools, hospitals, and courts.
“That day is not far when a speech would be delivered in any language, but the audience would be able to listen to the same speech in their language in real-time. The same feature will also be available in movies in the future. In which the audience in a theatre hall would get to listen to real-time translations with the help of AI,” PM Modi added.
AI in brain ultrasound
A research team led by Dr. Kim Hyungmin at the Bionics Research Centre, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, has developed an acoustic simulation technology based on generative AI, reported ANI. This technology aims to predict and correct distortions in the ultrasound focus position caused by the skull during focused ultrasound therapy in real-time. Despite the lack of validation for the clinical utility of AI simulation models in non-invasive focused ultrasound therapy technologies, the application has been limited due to challenges in real-time reflection of ultrasound wave distortions caused by diverse skull shapes in patients.
Israel announces 9 innovation centers with a focus on AI
According to a report by ANI, the Israeli government has unveiled a 100 million shekel (USD 27.6 million) initiative aimed at fostering entrepreneurship in the country’s peripheral regions. This initiative will establish nine innovation centers nationwide, focusing on developing high-tech solutions for various challenges, including food technology, renewable energy, green building techniques, and AI. The goal is to stimulate innovation and economic development in Israel’s less central areas.
“Diversity of high-tech from a disciplinary, geographic and demographic point of view is a key element of the Authority’s strategy to strengthen Israeli high-tech in competition with other innovation centers in the world,” said Dror Bin, CEO of the Innovation Authority.
Deepfake videos rise 5X since 2019, says report
The increasing prevalence of AI technology in people’s lives has led to a concerning rise in deepfakes in India, raising apprehensions about their potential impact on electoral politics, particularly during the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. According to the ‘2023 State of Deepfakes Report’ by ‘Home Security Heroes,’ a US-based web security services company, there has been a five-fold increase in deepfake videos since 2019, reported PTI. In 2023, India experienced numerous troubling instances of deepfake videos, including one involving actor Rashmika Mandanna, where her face was superimposed on that of a British-Indian social media influencer.
AI software to detect bushfires in Australia
Researchers in Perth, specifically at Murdoch University’s Harry Butler Institute, are working on AI to identify bushfires in their initial phases and provide faster alerts to those in danger, reported PerthNow. Cisco, the tech firm, has granted funding for the development of this software. The initial phase of the project includes gathering data during prescribed burns to visually train the AI in detecting the composition of various fires. The director of operations at the Harry Butler Institute, Andre deSouza, mentioned that the final designs for the camera and AI model could potentially be 18 months away.
“We’re hoping to have an initial model trained following the next prescribed burns season (in) April to May 2024,” he said, adding, “While data is being collected and an AI model being trained, we will be working on the camera design itself”.
On the last day of the year, a new online scam has surfaced which is trapping many innocent people. On January 16, the inauguration ceremony for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will begin, with the consecration of Ram Lalla scheduled for January 22. Ahead of the big event, some bad actors are asking people for donations by pretending to be representatives of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust constituted to look after the construction and management of the Ram Mandir. These scammers are pulling off a QR code scam where they share a fake QR code to transfer the money to their own accounts.
Raising awareness about the QR code scam, the spokesperson of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Vinod Bansal took to X, where he posted about this dangerous scam. He said, “Beware! Some people are trying to cheat money by making fake IDs in the name of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. @HMOIndia @CPDelhi @dgpup @Uppolice should take immediate action against such people. @ShriRamTeerth has not authorized anybody to collect funds for this occasion” (roughly translated).
QR code scam targets devotees
Bansal also shared screenshots of such QR codes that were being shared on social media platforms such as Facebook by fake pages pretending to be part of the official trust. But upon scanning the code, you can see the name of the account holder is completely different than what the scammers claimed on their posts.
The VHP leader revealed that the organization has filed a formal complaint with the Director General and Inspector General of Police in UP. He said that he hoped the authorities would “take immediate steps in the matter of faith”.
The official complaint mentioned, “A miscreant by the name of Abhishek Kumar is seeking funds for Ayodhya Temple Development and using social media to spread such false information. He has posted the UPI QR codes in Facebook groups with the line “Ram mandir Ayodhya Chanda pradarshan karen”. On scanning the QR code, UPI will direct the user to the UPI ID with the name Manisha Nallabelly”.
How to avoid QR code scams
1. Never scan a QR code from social media platforms or somewhere random on the internet. Always verify the antecedents.
2. Whenever you scan a QR code through a UPI app, always make sure to check the name of the account holder.
3. If the name appears to be suspicious or incorrect, either reach out to the person you’re trying to transfer funds or the official organization.
4. Do not even scan such codes for fun. They may contain spyware or malware which can spread into your device even without you initiating a transaction.
5. Always report such fraudulent posts so the platform can quickly take them down and others can be saved from falling for such scams.
As the expected launch date for the Samsung Galaxy S24 draws closer and closer – it’s thought to be January 17, 2024 – we’re continuing to see leaks and rumors around the features we can look forward to on these flagship smartphones.
Tipster @MysteryLupin (via 9to5Google) has posted what appears to be a rundown of the AI features heading to the Galaxy S24 series. There’s live translation between languages, for example, built into the Phone app that Samsung puts on its handset.
Then there’s ‘nightography’ zoom, which seems to be a special kind of image processing for low light images, enabling more details to be captured clearly – even if you need to zoom into your subject from a distance.
A generative edit feature is also mentioned, which seems to match some of the tricks of the Magic Editor you can find in Google Photos on certain Pixel phones: think removing objects or filling in blank spaces with a tap.
All about the AI
From the headings used in the promotional material, it looks as though some or all of these AI features might be exclusive to the more expensive Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – though we’ll have to wait and see to be sure.
We know that Google has packed plenty of AI magic into its most recent Pixel phones, with more features predicted to follow with the Google Pixel 9 next year, and it would seem that Samsung is keen not to be left behind when it comes to its own handsets.
Rumors around AI being a significant part of the appeal of the Samsung Galaxy S24 have been appearing for months now, and previous leaks have pointed to features such as an audio recorder that can automatically transcribe speech from up to 10 different voices.
This latest leak gives us a bit more of an idea of how capable these phones are going to be, and by the middle of next month we’ll have the official rundown from Samsung. The upgrades will potentially go way beyond AI features as well.
2023 has been a big year for Apple. From iPhone 15, Apple Watch Ultra 2, Mac to Vision Pro, the tech giant has introduced some of its biggest products this year. We have compiled a list of 10 major products that were launched by Apple in the Year 2023 and what may come in 2024. Check the list below:
Apple kicked off the year 2023 with the M2 Mac mini, a budget-friendly powerhouse featuring the M2 or M2 Pro chip. Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro delivers faster performance, even more unified memory, and advanced connectivity.
2. MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max
Apple launched the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, equipped with the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. MacBook Pro with M2 Pro features a 10- or 12-core CPU up to 32GB of unified memory, and 19 cores GPU. MacBook Pro with M2 Max comes with a 38 cores GPU, 12 cores CPU supporting up to 96 GB of unified memory. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro costs ₹199900, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Max costs ₹249900.
3. Apple Vision Pro
At the Worldwide Developer’s Conference in June, Apple unveiled the long-awaited Vision Pro VR headset. It is set to hit select markets in early 2024 at $3499. It is powered by the M2 chip, and it promises an immersive experience, connecting seamlessly with other Apple devices.
4. 15-inch MacBook Air
Apple introduced the 15-inch MacBook Air at WWDC 2023. It comes with an expansive 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, the incredible performance of M2, up to 18 hours of battery life, and a silent, fanless design. In India, it is priced at Rs. 134900
5. Mac Studio and Mac Pro:
In June 2023, Apple launched new Mac Studio Mac Pro. According to Apple, Mac Studio is up to 6x faster than 27-inch iMac, and up to 3x faster than the previous-generation Mac Studio. It features M2 Max and M2 Ultra Chips. Mac Pro is up to 3x faster than the previous-generation Intel-based model. It is powered by M2 Ultra. Mac Studio starts at Rs. 209900 and Mac Pro starts at Rs.729900 in India.
6. AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
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Apple launched new AirPods Pro in 2023. It comes with USB-C, priced at Rs. 24900. It features the H2 chip, these earbuds support lossless HD audio output and boast IP54-rated water and dust resistance, alongside innovative features like Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness.
7. Apple Watch Series 9
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During the Apple Event in September 2023, Apple launched its latest Apple Watch Series 9. Apple Watch Series 9 is driven by the S9 chip and adds new capabilities like a double-tap gesture, a brighter display, and on-device Siri. In India, the Apple Watch Series 9 is priced at Rs. 41900.
8. iPhone 15 Series
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In September 2023, Apple launched its flagship phone, the iPhone 15 series. These iPhones boast a new display with Dynamic Island and a USB-C charging port. Apple iPhone 15 got some major upgrades this year. It got an inclusion of a new Dynamic Island cut-out for the front-facing camera and Face ID. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models are powered by the A17 Pro chip and they also got a titanium frame and a programmable action button.
9. Apple Watch Ultra 2
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Along with the iPhone 15 series, Apple launched its premium Watch Ultra 2 at Rs. 89900. This smartwatch comes with the S9 chip, a double-tap gesture and improved display brightness reaching 3000 nits, setting a new standard for premium smartwatches.
10. M3 Chipsets and MacBook Pro: The Scary Fast Event.
During the Scary Fast Event, Apple introduced the M3 chipset series, including the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max. These powerhouses, with the M3 Pro and M3 Pro Max leading the pack, promise a 60% performance boost. Apple also launched the new MacBook Pro lineup and iMac with M3 Chips.
We’re almost done with 2023, and as ever at TechRadar, it’s time to look back at how the various tech giants performed over the past year. In AMD’s case, we saw some inspiring new products introduced for its consumer processor and GPU ranges, and renewed gusto in its pursuit of AI.
There were also shakier times for Team Red, though, notably a string of blunders – the vapor chamber cooling debacle is one that springs immediately to mind, but there were other incidents, and a few too many of them. Join us as we explore the ups and downs of AMD’s 2023, weighing everything up at the end.
(Image credit: Future/John Loeffler)
Zen 4 gets 3D V-Cache
One of AMD’s big moves this year was the introduction of 3D V-Cache for AMD’s Ryzen 7000 desktop processors.
There were a trio of X3D models introduced, with the higher-end Ryzen 9 7950X3D and 7900X3D hitting the shelves first in February. These were good CPUs and we liked them, particularly the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, which is a sterling processor, albeit very pricey (similarly, we felt the price of the 7900X3D held it back somewhat).
What everyone was really waiting for, though, was the more affordable mid-range 3D V-Cache chip, and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D turned up in April. We praised the 7800X3D’s outstanding gaming performance and it’s the best choice for a gaming PC as we conclude in our roundup of the best processors. This was a definite highlight in AMD’s releases this year.
We were also treated to an interesting diversion in the form of a new last-gen X3D processor which AMD chose a very different tactic for. The Ryzen 5 5600X3D arrived in July as a cheap CPU that’s great for an affordable gaming PC, the catch being that it only went on sale through Micro Center stores in the US. For those who couldn’t get that, though, there was always the old Ryzen 5800X3D which dipped to some really low price tags at various points throughout the year. For gamers, AMD had some tempting pricing, that’s for sure.
Away from the world of 3D V-Cache, AMD also pushed out a few vanilla Ryzen 7000 CPUs right at the start of the year, namely the Ryzen 9 7900, Ryzen 7 7700, and Ryzen 5 7600, the siblings of the already released ‘X’ versions of these processors. They were useful choices to be thrown into the mix offering a bit more affordability for the Zen 4 range.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
RDNA 3 arrives for real
AMD unleashed its RDNA 3 graphics cards right at the close of 2022, but only the top-tier models, the Radeon RX 7900 series. And the RX 7900 XTX and 7900 XT were all we had until 2023 was surprisingly far along – it wasn’t until May that the RX 7600 pitched up at the other end of the GPU spectrum.
The RX 7600 very much did its job as a wallet-friendly graphics card, mind you, and this GPU seriously impressed us with its outstanding performance at 1080p and excellent value proposition overall. Indeed, the RX 7600 claimed the title of our best cheap graphics card for this year, quite an achievement, beating out Nvidia’s RTX 4060.
Then we had another sizeable pause – which witnessed gamers getting rather impatient – for the gap, or rather gulf, to be filled in between the RX 7600 and RX 7900 models. Enter stage left the RX 7800 XT and the 7700 XT as mid-range contenders in September, one of which really punched its weight.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
That was the RX 7800 XT and even though it only marginally outdid its predecessor for pure performance, this new RDNA 3 mid-ranger did so well in terms of its price/performance ratio versus its RTX 4070 rival that the AMD GPU scooped the coveted top spot in our best graphics card roundup. (Deposing the RTX 4070, in fact, which had held the number one position since its release six months prior).
As for the RX 7700 XT, that was rather overshadowed by its bigger mid-range sibling here, not making as much sense value-wise as the 7800 XT.
Still, the long and short of it is that AMD bagged both the title of the best GPU for this year, as well as the best budget offering – not too shabby indeed.
From what we saw of sales reports – anecdotally and via the rumor mill – these new desktop graphics cards pepped up AMD’s sales a good deal. While the RX 7900 series GPUs were struggling against Nvidia early in 2023, towards the end of the year, the 7800 XT in particular was really shifting a lot of units (more than the RTX 4070).
While Nvidia is still the dominant desktop GPU power by far, it’s a sure bet AMD regained some turf with these popular RDNA 3 launches in 2023.
(Image credit: AMD)
FSR 3 finally turns up
We did a fair bit of waiting for stuff from AMD this year as already observed, and another item to add to the list where patience was definitely required was FSR 3.
FSR is, of course, AMD’s rival to DLSS for boosting frame rates in games, and more specifically, FSR 3 was Team Red’s response to DLSS 3 that uses frame generation technology (inserting extra frames into the game to artificially boost the frame rate).
FSR 3 was actually announced in November 2022 – as we covered in our roundup of AMD’s highlights for last year – and we predicted back then that it wouldn’t turn up for ages.
However, it wasn’t a simple case of that’s that and AMD was level-pegging with Nvidia suddenly. For starters, Nvidia went ahead and pushed out DLSS 3.5 (featuring ray reconstruction), and frankly, AMD’s frame generation feature was quite some way behind Team Green’s in its initial incarnation. It was also not nearly as widely supported – and remains so – with adoption moving at a sluggish pace, and only four games available that make use of FSR 3 so far.
But at least it’s here, and AMD made another important move in December, as the year drew to a close, releasing an improved version of FSR 3. We saw with Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – the third game to introduce support – that the new version of FSR (3.0.3) runs a good deal more slickly, at least according to some reports.
(Image credit: AMD / Ubisoft)
On top of this, AMD also made FSR 3 open source. That means more games should be supported soon enough (and modders can, and already have, started introducing FSR 3 to some titles, but unofficial support will never be quite the same as the developer implementing the tech).
Furthermore, in terms of better support for games, Team Red did make another move at the same time as FSR 3. We’re talking about AMD’s Fluid Motion Frame (AFMF) tech which as well as being part of FSR 3 is integrated separately at a driver level.
This allows for frame generation boosts to be applied to all games – via the driver, with no need for the game to be coded to support it – with the caveat being that it only works with RX 7000 and 6000 GPUs. Now that’s great, but note that what you’re getting here is a ‘lite’ version of the frame generation process applied in FSR.
As 2023 now comes to a close, AFMF is still in preview (testing) and somewhat wonky, though Team Red has improved the tech a fair bit since launch, much like FSR 3.
In short, it looks like AMD is getting there, and also ushering in innovations such as anti-lag+ (for reducing input latency, with RX 7000 and supported games only, although this has had its own issues). Not to mention the company is wrapping up all this tech in HYPR-RX, an easy-to-use one-click tuning mode that’ll apply relevant (supported) features to make a given game perform optimally (hopefully).
But there’s still that inevitable feeling of following in Nvidia’s wake when it comes to FSR and related features, with AMD rather struggling to keep up with the good ship Jensen.
Still, AMD appears to have an overarching vision it’s making solid, if somewhat slow, progress towards, but we certainly need to see more games that (officially) support FSR 3 – with an implementation impressive enough to equal DLSS 3 (or get close to it).
(Image credit: Future)
Portable goodness
This year saw some interesting launches from AMD on the portable device front, not the least of which was the Ryzen Z1 APU. Built on Zen 4, this mobile processor emerged in April to be the engine that several gaming handhelds were built around, notably the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go.
There were two versions of the Z1, the 6-core vanilla chip, and a Z1 Extreme variant which was an 8-core CPU but crucially had a lot more graphics grunt (12 RDNA 3 CUs, rather than just 4 CUs for the baseline processor). The Z1 Extreme proved to be an immense boon to these Windows-powered gaming handhelds, driving the Legion Go to become what we called the true Steam Deck rival in our review.
The weakness of those Windows-toting Steam Deck rivals is, of course, the battery life trade-off (particularly when driving demanding games at more taxing settings). AMD was on hand to help here, too, introducing HYPR-RX Eco profiles to its graphics driver late in the year, which should offer a convenient way to tap into considerable power-savings (without too much performance trade-off – we hope).
Away from handhelds, in December we were also treated to the launch of a range of Ryzen 8000 CPUs for laptops. These ‘Hawk Point’ chips aren’t out yet, but will debut in notebooks in early 2024, although note that they’re Zen 4-based (the same as Ryzen 7000 silicon).
The line-up is led by the flagship Ryzen 9 8945HS, an 8-core processor with integrated graphics (Radeon 780M) that’ll be great for 1080p gaming (with some details toned down, mind). These chips will also benefit from AMD’s XDNA NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for accelerating AI tasks, and Team Red asserted that Hawk Point chips will be 1.4x faster than the Ryzen 7040 series in generative AI workloads – a pretty tasty upgrade.
(Image credit: AMD)
AI bandwagon
Those Hawk Point mobile CPUs showed AMD’s growing focus on AI, and this was a broader push for Team Red throughout the year, which comes as no surprise – everyone who was anyone in tech, after all, was investing in artificial intelligence. Moreover, Nvidia made an absolute fortune in the AI space this year, and obviously that didn’t go unnoticed at AMD towers.
As well as incorporating heftier NPUs in its processors, in May AMD tapped Microsoft for resources and cash to help develop AI chips (for the gain of both companies). But the real power move for Team Red came late in the year, when in December AMD revealed a Zen 4 APU for AI applications (the largest chip it has ever made, in fact, bristling with 153 billion transistors).
The Instinct MI300A is loaded with 24 CPU cores plus a GPU with 228 CDNA 3 CUs and eight stacks of HBM3 memory, posing a genuine threat to Nvidia’s AI dominance. AMD’s testing indicates that the MI300A is about on par with Nvidia’s mighty H100 for AI performance, and as the year ended, we heard that firms like Microsoft and Meta are interested in adopting the tech.
AMD said that the Instinct MI300A will be priced competitively to poach customers from Nvidia, as you might expect, while acknowledging that Team Green will of course remain dominant in this space in the near future. However, Lisa Su intends for her firm to take a “nice piece” of a huge AI market going forward, and if the MI300A is anything to go by, we don’t doubt it.
(Image credit: Reshetnikov_art / Shutterstock)
Year of the gremlins
While AMD had plenty of success stories in 2023, as we’ve seen, there were also lots of things that went wrong. Little things, medium-sized things, and great hulking gremlins crawling around in the works and making life difficult – or even miserable – for the owners of some AMD products who got unlucky.
Indeed, AMD was dogged by lots of issues early in the year, most notably a serious misstep with the cooling (vapor chamber) for RX 7900 XTX graphics cards. Although the flaw only affected a small percentage of reference boards, it’s absolutely one of the biggest GPU blunders we can recall in recent years. (Nvidia’s melting cables with the RTX 4090 being another obvious one).
Not to mention RX 7000 graphics cards consuming far too much power when idling in some PC setups (multiple monitors, or high refresh rate screens – a problem not resolved until near the end of the year, in fact).
There were other hitches besides, but you get the idea – 2023 was a less than ideal time for AMD in terms of gaffes and failures of various natures.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Concluding thoughts
Clearly, AMD tried the patience of gamers in some respects this year. First of all with those glaring assorted blunders which doubtless proved a source of frustration for some owners of their products. And secondly, purely due to making gamers wait an excessively lengthy time for features like FSR 3 – which seemed to take an age to come through – and ditto for filling out the rest of the RDNA 3 range, as those graphics cards took quite some time to arrive.
However, the latter were very much worth the wait. The double whammy for GPUs was a real coup for AMD, releasing the top budget graphics card in the RX 7600, and our favorite GPU of them all, the reigning RX 7800 XT that sits atop our ranking of the top boards available right now.
There were plenty of other highlights, such as releasing the best gaming CPU ever made – in the form of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D – which was a pretty sharp move this year. We also received a top-notch mobile APU for handhelds in the Ryzen Z1 Extreme.
AMD’s GPU sales were appropriately stoked as 2023 rolled on, and FSR – plus other related game boosting tech – seems to be coming together finally, albeit in an overly slow but steady manner as mentioned. In the field of AI, Team Red is suitably ramping up its CPUs, and with the Instinct MI300A accelerator it’s providing a meaningful challenge to Nvidia’s dominance.
In short, despite some worrying wobbles, 2023 was a good year for AMD. The future looks pretty rosy, too, certainly with next-gen Zen 5 processors that look set to get the drop on Intel’s Arrow Lake silicon next year. And some even more tantalizing Zen 5 laptop chips (‘Strix Point’ – sitting above Hawk Point, and sporting XDNA 2 and RDNA 3.5) are inbound for 2024.
Next-gen Radeon GPUs are a little sketchier – RDNA 4 is coming next year, but the range may top out at mid-tier products, as AMD refocuses more on AI graphics cards (as expected in terms of going where the profits are). Those RDNA 4 cards could still pack a value punch, though, and looking at the current mid-range champ, the RX 7800 XT, we’d be shocked if they didn’t.
In just a few hours from now, the clock will strike 12 and the world will welcome the year 2024. It is an occasion to celebrate with friends and family and to prepare your New Year’s resolutions. But if you are away from your loved ones, it is also the time to reach out to them to wish them well for the year ahead. However, you cannot send the same ‘Happy New Year 2024′ message you share with your elders and family with your friends. It requires you to come up with different creative messages. If you are struggling with this, don’t worry. We asked the three prominent AI chatbots — OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Microsoft Copilot — and they gave us some really good suggestions. Let us check them out.
To keep it consistent, we kept the text prompt the same across the three chatbots and kept it fairly simple. We asked it to “suggest unique Happy New Year 2024 wishes for family, friends, special someone, colleagues, and a funny one”. This is what they came up with.
ChatGPT’s Happy New Year 2024 wishes
For Family: As we step into a new year, may our family bond grow stronger, and our moments together become even more precious. Wishing you a year filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable memories. Happy New Year to my cherished family!
For Friends: To my amazing squad, may our adventures be wild, our laughter contagious, and our friendship unbreakable. Here’s to another year of making unforgettable memories together. Happy New Year, my fabulous friends!
For Special Someone: As the clock strikes midnight, I want to be with you, welcoming the new year wrapped in your warmth. May our love deepen, and our journey together be filled with joy and shared dreams. Happy New Year, my love.
For Colleagues: Wishing my incredible colleagues a year of professional achievements, collaborative successes, and a healthy work-life balance. May our team spirit soar to new heights in the coming year. Happy New Year to an amazing work family!
Funny: Here’s to another year of pretending to understand office meetings, mastering the art of looking busy, and trying not to trip over imaginary deadlines. May your coffee be strong, and your internet connection stronger. Happy New Year, fellow professional jugglers!
Google Bard’s Happy New Year 2024 wishes
For Family:
Memory Maker: “Here’s to creating more hilarious mishaps and heartwarming memories in 2024! Happy New Year, fam!”
Gratitude & Growth: “Cheers to the ones who always have my back, even when I trip over my own feet. Thank you for another year of unconditional love. May 2024 be our healthiest, happiest year yet!”
Future Focus: “To the future generations in this crazy family, let’s make 2024 the year we all conquer new heights. Remember, no matter how tall we grow, family will always be the root holding us strong. Happy New Year!”
For Friends:
Adventure Buddies: “2024: more spontaneous road trips, less awkward silences, and a whole lot of laughter (even at each other’s expense). Happy New Year, adventure buddy!”
The Unfiltered Truth: “Here’s to the one who knows all my embarrassing stories and still thinks I’m hilarious (or at least pretends to). Cheers to another year of unfiltered friendship! Happy New Year!”
Supportive Soulmate: “Thank you for being the wind beneath my wings when I felt like I couldn’t fly. May 2024 be filled with sunshine and tailwinds for both of us. Happy New Year, my friend!”
For Special Someone:
Starry-Eyed Romance: “With you by my side, every day feels like a New Year’s Eve celebration. Let’s make 2024 sparkle even brighter than your eyes. Happy New Year, my love!”
Shared Journey: “Here’s to another year of tangled limbs, whispered secrets, and adventures hand-in-hand. May 2024 be our most beautiful chapter yet. Happy New Year, my soulmate!”
Inside Joke: “Remember that time we…? Yeah, let’s not do that again in 2024. But everything else? More please! Happy New Year, you crazy, wonderful human!”
For Colleague:
Work-Life Balance Remix: “May 2024 be the year we slay deadlines without sacrificing sanity. Here’s to happy meetings, productive coffee breaks, and celebrating each other’s successes! Happy New Year, teamwork champion!”
Office Shenanigans: “To the one who makes Monday mornings bearable with terrible puns and even worse coffee habits. Cheers to surviving another year, and possibly conquering the photocopier! Happy New Year, fellow cubicle warrior!”
Humorous Appreciation: “Thank you for keeping me awake during those endless spreadsheets with your contagious laughter. May 2024 be filled with promotions (for you) and fewer paper cuts (for both of us). Happy New Year, office bestie!”
Funny:
“May your 2024 be as epic as Beyoncé’s halftime show, as smooth as your favorite meme, and as stress-free as a three-day weekend. Happy New Year!”
“Here’s to a year where your resolutions actually last longer than your gym membership. Cheers to 2024, the year we finally figure out how to fold fitted sheets! Happy New Year!”
“I hope your 2024 is so good, it makes 2023 look like a Netflix documentary about someone else’s terrible life. Happy New Year, party people!”
Microsoft Copilot’s Happy New Year 2024 wishes
For family: As we welcome the new year, I’m so grateful for having you as my family. You have been my pillar of strength and support throughout the year. I wish you all the happiness, health, and prosperity in 2024. May we always stay united and cherish our bond. Happy New Year!
For friend: You are more than a friend to me. You are my partner in crime, my confidant, my soulmate. You have made this year unforgettable with your fun, laughter, and adventure. I can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store for us. Let’s make it the best year ever. Happy New Year, my friend!
For special someone: You are the reason why I smile every day. You are the light of my life, the love of my heart, the dream of my soul. You have filled my year with joy, romance, and passion. I want to spend every moment of 2024 with you. You are my everything. Happy New Year, my love!
For colleague: It has been a pleasure working with you this year. You are a great colleague, a valuable team member, and a wonderful person. You have shown your dedication, professionalism, and creativity in every project. I appreciate your hard work and support. I hope 2024 brings you more success and satisfaction. Happy New Year, my colleague!
Funny: I know 2023 was a tough year for you. You had to deal with a lot of challenges, stress, and disappointments. But don’t worry, 2024 will be different. It will be worse. Just kidding! I hope 2024 will be a fantastic year for you. You deserve all the happiness and laughter in the world. Happy New Year, my funny friend!
Interestingly, we found ChatGPT’s wishes to be the most formal. Google Bard’s responses were the most diverse, quirky, and topical. Microsoft Copilot had the most elaborate messages. Use them wisely.
