The video covers major 2025 hardware and AI industry updates, including Nvidia’s strategic deal with Grock to enhance AI capabilities, AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 7 9850 X3D launch, innovative DIY DDR5 RAM mods, GPU supply shortages in Japan, and grassroots efforts to create 32GB RTX 5080 cards. It also highlights concerns over OpenAI’s potential ad integration in ChatGPT, TSMC’s planned wafer price hikes impacting future hardware costs, and teases a “disappointment build PC” video set for early 2026.
In this hardware news recap, the host reflects on the disappointments of 2025, particularly related to AI, and teases an upcoming “disappointment build PC” video set to release on January 1st, 2026. The video covers several key hardware and industry updates, starting with Nvidia’s strategic deal involving Grock, an AI chip competitor. Nvidia has acquired key talent and licensed technology from Grock without fully acquiring the company, a move seen as a way to expand Nvidia’s AI inference capabilities while potentially limiting competition. This deal, valued at around $20 billion, is notable for its non-exclusive licensing, meaning other companies could still license Grock’s technology, though Nvidia has secured exclusive access to the team behind it.
Next, AMD’s Ryzen 7 9850 X3D processor has been confirmed through leaks by Dell and Alienware, indicating a likely launch early in 2026, possibly at CES. The 9850 X3D promises significant performance improvements with higher boost clocks compared to its predecessor. While rumors of a more advanced 9950 X3D2 dual V-cache CPU persist, the 9850 X3D is the confirmed upcoming product, signaling AMD’s continued push in high-performance gaming CPUs. Alongside this, a fascinating DIY trend has emerged from Russian modders who are assembling DDR5 RAM sticks by soldering memory chips onto blank PCBs, potentially reducing costs for enthusiasts despite the complexity involved.
The video also highlights supply challenges in Japan, where retailers are restricting sales of 16GB or larger GPUs due to limited availability. This shortage affects both Nvidia and AMD models, reflecting ongoing global supply chain pressures. Meanwhile, modders in China have reportedly created 32GB RTX 5080 graphics cards by modifying existing 16GB models, similar to previous VRAM upgrades seen on high-end GPUs like the RTX 4090. This grassroots hardware tinkering showcases the ingenuity within the community but also hints at potential price fluctuations for these modded cards.
On the software and AI front, OpenAI is reportedly exploring new revenue streams through sponsored content and advertising within ChatGPT, which raises concerns about the potential for biased or manipulative responses tailored to drive purchases. Unlike traditional ads, this integrated advertising could blur the lines between genuine AI assistance and commercial influence, posing ethical questions about user trust and the future of AI interactions. The host expresses caution about this shift, emphasizing the unique and intimate data AI tools have access to compared to standard search engines.
Finally, the video covers a report on TSMC’s planned wafer price increases for advanced semiconductor nodes over the next four years, driven by high demand from AI chip manufacturers. These price hikes will impact not only AI companies but also consumers, as TSMC remains the dominant supplier for cutting-edge CPUs and GPUs from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. The compounded effect of rising manufacturing costs and increased margins by chipmakers suggests that hardware prices are likely to continue climbing, posing challenges for consumers seeking the latest technology. The host closes by encouraging viewers to subscribe and look forward to the upcoming 2026 content.