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A new wave of mini PCs built around AMD's Ryzen AI Max Plus PRO four ninety five is turning heads, with machines from Framework, Acemagic, and GMKtec now offering up to one hundred ninety two gigabytes of unified memory. GMKtec claims its EVO X5 Pro can run three hundred billion parameter AI models entirely on-device — the kind of workload that until recently demanded a server rack, not a machine that fits on your desk.
The AI buildout has a noise problem. Microsoft and Elon Musk's xAI are facing at least six lawsuits across Wisconsin and Mississippi, with residents alleging that data center operations are generating harmful noise, vibration, and air pollution. Investigators note that standard decibel monitors may actually miss the low-frequency sound most likely to disturb people living nearby, raising questions about how these facilities are regulated in the first place.
And if you own an LG television, this one is worth your attention. A Gamers Nexus investigation found LG sets scanning home networks and capturing microphone audio even with the screen off — four months after LG told Texas regulators it had addressed its tracking practices. The gap between a company's promises and its products' behavior is rarely this clearly documented.
Stay skeptical, stay curious. Tech Beat out.
