AI-driven datacenter builds - drive Microsoft's emissions up a quarter in one year

Microsoft says it matched its entire electricity consumption with renewable energy last year. The bad news is it also increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25 percent due to datacenter construction.

The cloud and software biz has released a 2026 Environmental Sustainability Report, claiming its environmental sustainability work is entering a new phase due to rapid technological change.

A global shift towards Artificial Intelligence is reshaping economies, the report claims, which is becoming “foundational” to how technology is built and used.

Producing the infrastructure to support AI, however, is also upping demand for energy, water, land, and materials required to support it, Microsoft admits.

www.theregister.com

SK Hynix CEO warns 2027 will be memory’s “worst year” ever, with shortages set to outlast the decade

Memory shortages have gripped all aspects of the tech industry, and it seems to have become the norm these days. As the supply crunch continues, the CEO of SK Hynix, one of the three largest DRAM producers, has said that things are about to get much worse for the memory market.

Talking to Reuters at the commemoration of SK Hynix's Nasdaq Trading Debut of its ADR, CEO Kwak Noh-jung stated that the memory industry will see its "worst-ever" supply shortages in the coming year (2027). SK Hynix has also forecasted that, given the current market demand, they will fall way short of fulfilling the market demand, and that will continue beyond 2030.

...Heightened demand from AI customers and multi-year agreements further put pressure on the market...

Meanwhile, in other news: Microsoft advises users to throw out their perfectly good working PCs - and buy new ones so they can "upgrade" from Windows 10 - to an inferior Windows 11 operating system. That's if you can find a replacement system / at a sensible price! It's a mad world, isn't it?...

www.wccftech.com

Meta’s teen safety case just became a $1.4 trillion existential threat - almost equivalent to its roughly $1.5 trillion market value

Thirty-three states have banded together to sue Meta, alleging that the company was exploiting its young users on Instagram and Facebook for profit, including by collecting data from children without parental consent. Four of those states—California, New Jersey, Colorado and Kentucky—also claim that the company misled consumers about the addictive design features on the platforms, thereby causing mental health problems in children who got hooked from an early age.

The damages requested by those four states add up to a whopping $1.4 trillion, Meta said in a recent court filing, a figure that would allegedly go even higher with the other penalties the attorneys general seek to add. The number is high by many standards but especially when compared to the company’s market capitalization, which is just above $1.5 trillion.

Meta has denied the allegations, and recently attempted yet failed to get the addiction claims dismissed. In the latest court submission, the attorneys for Meta argued that the $1.4 trillion in damages was unsubstantiated and disproportionate.

www.gizmodo.com

Today's Reading: On the present moment, and our plans for the future

Never, in peace or war, commit your virtue or your happiness to the future. 

Happy work is best done by the man who takes his long-term plans somewhat lightly and works from moment to moment “as to the Lord.” 

It is only our daily bread that we are encouraged to ask for. 

The present is the only time in which any duty can be done or any grace received.

I remember being taught (many years ago) to set personal short, medium & long term plans (goals), and keep checking progress, to stay on target. A waste of time, & poor idea.

I love life, and by the Grace of God accept & am grateful for whatever comes my way. 

Take your plans easy, don't overstress yourself. 

Try to discern God's will, base your plans around that. 

Commit your plans to the Lord. 

Pray they are His will: if they are you will succeed! 
Always be flexible!

By: C.S. Lewis

From The Weight of Glory

Reading for today: Glory to God!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!

Read all of Ephesians 3  at Bible Gateway

Meta now lets anyone use your Instagram photos in AI images - unless you opt out

Meta launched its inaugural AI image model from the Meta Superintelligence Labs on Tuesday, its effort to compete with the likes of OpenAI’s GPT Images 2.0 and Google’s Nano Banana 2 in the AI image generation race.

The new model, called Muse Image, rolled out with deep integrations woven into the Instagram app. As part of this update, public Instagram profiles are now automatically opted into being fodder for generative AI remixes. All someone has to do is tag your account’s profile in a prompt - if it’s public - and they can use Meta AI to generate an image using your likeness.

Meta positions this feature as a cheeky way to personalize generations with images of real people. "Whether you want to design a custom event invitation, mock up a collaborative creative concept, or generate a personalized graphic, tagging a username lets Meta AI use public photos to build a visual that’s ready to post,” reads one of Meta’s announcement blogs about the new AI tool.

UPDATE 10 July 2026: Meta removes controversial AI feature on Instagram after backlash.

www.wired.com

Service time for my motorbike. What is SYNTHETIC motor oil?

 

MOTUL 300V 4T Factory Line Road Racing is a unique high-end lubricant based on ESTER Core® Technology and premium raw materials developed through racing activities.

Made for 4-stroke road racing engines from private track motorcycles to professional race bikes in Endurance, Supersport, Suberbike and GP motorcycle racing.

WIKIPEDIA: Synthetic oil lubricant comprises chemical compounds that are artificially modified or synthesised. Synthetic lubricants can be manufactured using chemically modified petroleum components rather than whole crude oil, but can also be synthesized from other raw materials. The base material, however, is still overwhelmingly crude oil that is distilled and then modified physically and chemically. The actual synthesis process and composition of additives is generally a commercial trade secret and will vary among producers.

www.motul.com