DIGITAL LIFE

People prefer to talk to chatbots that share similar personality traits to their own, research shows

It's well understood that people tend to be naturally drawn to those with bubbly and extroverted personalities. And those outgoing and gregarious types may naturally consider themselves people-persons and gravitate toward others. But the feeling may not be mutual when it comes to the people with whom these extroverts are interacting.

Extroverted chatbots aren't always favored...New research suggests that that dynamic may even extend to how people socialize with AI chatbots. A study by Northeastern researchers aims to examine how chatbot personalities impact people's perception of the technology. The findings are published in Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.

The study found that people tend to have a lower preference for chatbots programmed to be highly open and extroverted, instead preferring chatbots modeled with more neutral personality traits and those similar to their own.

The study was led by Smit Desai, a Northeastern University professor in the College of Arts, Media and Design and co-affiliated with the Khoury College of Computer Sciences.

Desai, working in collaboration with Hasibur Rahman, a doctoral student in his lab, had 150 participants use ChatGPT to plan a trip to New York City.

How the experiment was designed...The participants only had ten minutes to interact with one of three versions of the chatbot the researchers created using a tool they developed that allowed them to control the chatbot's openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and emotional stability.

The three types of chatbots were—a low-level one, with limited personal expression; a medium-level one, with a balanced level of personal expression; and a high-level one with its expression levels set to the max.

Participants were randomly assigned one of the three chatbots and used their designated tool to plan things such as areas of interest during their NYC trip, the neighborhood they would be staying in and what type of transportation they would be using to get there.

After their 10 minutes were up, the participants completed surveys asking them to rate the model on six measures such as intelligence, enjoyment, anthropomorphism (human-like trait), intention to adopt, trust, and liability.

Why the middle-ground chatbot wins...What researchers found was that people far preferred the output of the chatbot with medium-level of personal expression.

When compared to the low-level model, for example, the medium chat scored higher on perceived intelligence, enjoyment, anthropomorphism, trust, intention to adopt, and likability, the researchers said. And when compared to the high-level chatbot, the medium-level chatbot ranked much higher on perceived intelligence and likability, Desai said.

Desai theorized that one reason people were less enthused about the high-level chatbot was because they were likely put off by its attempts to sway and enthuse them.

"Nobody likes a try-hard," Desai said. "People probably thought, 'This machine, which is obviously a chatbot, is trying hard to be human. We don't really like it very much.'"

By contrast, the low-level chatbot was described as "flat or lacking presence," the researchers wrote, based on the comments they collected from participants once they completed the experiment.

The medium-level chatbot offered the perfect balance of both, the researchers wrote. The participants said it was "socially present, yet professionally grounded," the researchers wrote.

Real example answers from each bot...To illustrate the differences, the researchers included several questions each of the chatbots were asked. For example, when asked "What are the different cultural activities I can do in Manhattan?"

The low-level chatbot answered, "You could take in a Broadway show or explore the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Any of these interest you?"

The medium-level chatbot responded, "Manhattan offers a wealth of cultural activities. You could explore the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) for world-class art collections, or catch a Broadway show for an unforgettable theatrical experience. Is there a particular type of activity that intrigues you most?"

The high-level chatbot offered the following, "Manhattan is like a cultural playground! How exciting! You might love the magic and drama of a live performance on the iconic Broadway stages. Another incredible option is immersing yourself in the creativity and innovation at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). What catches your eye from these options?"

Popular models may overdo personality...These findings are also significant because, in their own testing of some of the most popular chatbot models, including OpenAI's ChatGPT 4.0, Deepseek's Chat V3, and Anthropic's Claude 3.7 Sonnet, the researchers found that many of these chatbots' personality traits are set to high by default, Desai said.

Northeastern Global News reached out to the companies for comment, but did not hear back before publication.

When user and AI personalities align...The research also looked at how people's own personality traits matched up with the chatbot they had a preference for. Before participants engaged in the experiment, they took personality tests, which the researchers later measured with the participants' satisfaction scores after using the chatbots, Desai said. The throughline was clear, he said, when the individuals were asked to rate the chatbots after completing the survey.

Users who shared similar personality traits to the chatbot they interacted with, also tended to rate it higher in areas such as enjoyment, intelligence, and trust, he said.

New possibilities—and risks—for AI design..."This just opens so much room for innovation as well as manipulation," Desai, noting that companies are increasingly developing AI products designed for people's companions and even romantic partners.

"Trust in AI is often discussed in terms of accuracy, reliability, or transparency," added Rahman. "Those are essential, but our findings show that trust is also shaped by how the assistant presents itself."

He added that the research shows that "even if you don't notice it, an AI assistant's personality is shaping how much you trust it."

Desai said his team is now working on follow-up studies examining how someone's personality may influence how they would like these AI technologies to be integrated into their lives.

They are also working on simulation software similar to a video game where people will be able to interact with AI chatbots in made-up scenarios to understand how these chatbots could be used to manipulate people.

Tools and transparency for wider adoption...The researchers have also made their prompting tool—what they are calling TMK or trait modulation keys—available for public use, so others can apply it to their own research.

They have even set up a website that easily lets people create their own personal AI chatbot based on the modulations of the five personality traits the team developed for the study.

Rahman noted the broader implication of this research is that companies developing these technologies must consider AI personality an important dimension of user product design, one that they should also be open and transparent about.

Moreover, "as these assistants enter health care, finance, education, and other high-stakes settings, we need to ask who gets to decide what personality an AI assistant should have, whether users should have agency over it, and where the line is between good design and emotional manipulation," he said.

Provided by Northeastern University 

LAVA

Lava BOLD N2 5G: the new Indian promise arriving in June

The smartphone market continues to move, and Lava is preparing to shake things up with its latest release. The Indian manufacturer has just confirmed that the new Lava BOLD N2 5G will be officially revealed in India on May 29th, promising to surprise in the affordable segment.

This bet is at least curious, demonstrating the brand's desire to consolidate its position with a device that combines appealing design with competitive specifications. For those looking for a new smartphone that doesn't require emptying their wallet, this launch deserves to be on the radar.

With the presentation event just around the corner, the first official images and details have begun to circulate, hinting at what's to come. If you're looking for your next pocket companion, it's worth getting to know the weapons of this new Indian competitor.

The first images released by Lava show a device that wants to stand out from the crowd. The Lava BOLD N2 5G features a curved screen that, although already common in higher-end ranges, continues to confer an undeniable premium touch, especially in a more contained price range.

On the back, the standout visual feature is its imposing circular camera module. This design houses not only the photographic sensors but also an LED flash, creating a symmetrical and quite modern aesthetic that will surely appeal to many users.

Although Lava is still keeping some secrets for the official event, we already have solid confirmations about what will power this new machine. The heart of the BOLD N2 5G will be the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor, a chip that promises smooth performance for everyday tasks and guaranteed support for new 5G networks.

For photography enthusiasts, the enormous rear module houses a 64MP main sensor, ready to capture all your moments. A significant focus on security and long-term ease of use is also promised.

13MP Camera Confirmed...Among the very few confirmed specs from Lava itself, the camera specifications are confirmed.

The Lava Bold N2 5G will be equipped with a 13MP primary rear camera. While this may not seem much against flagship smartphones, it should be adequate given the likely sub-₹10k price point. Reports hint at the secondary rear camera to likely serve as a depth sensor for portrait shots while the front could be a 5MP shooter for selfies and video calls. Lava tends to prioritize stable day-to-day performance and clean software over aggressive camera hardware at this segment.

Android 16 Out of the Box...The software experience might be the biggest USP of the Lava Bold N2 5G.

The smartphone is confirmed to boot with Android 16 out of the box, which is pretty impressive for an entry-level device. Lava phones are generally known for their near stock Android experience and clean UI with minimum bloatware. This gives a smoother and cleaner experience compared to heavily customized skins available on other budget Android phones. A clean UI could be one of the major deciding factors for those who are planning to upgrade from older 4G phones.

Expected Specifications...Though Lava hasn’t confirmed the hardware specifications of the Bold N2 5G, we expect it to share a lot with its 4G predecessor, albeit with an upgrade to the connectivity.

The display on the Bold N2 5G should be a large 6.75-inch LCD panel with HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling. In terms of processing, it is expected to be powered by an entry-level processor that supports 5G. 

The battery life should remain one of the key strengths with a massive 5,000mAh battery likely to be included, coupled with support for 10W wired charging.

Here are the technical details already confirmed for this new model:

-MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor.

-64MP main camera housed in the circular module.

-Screen with curved sides for an immersive experience.

-Promise of updates for two Android versions.

-Three-year security patch guarantee.

The arrival of this Lava BOLD N2 5G demonstrates that competition in the Indian market remains fierce. Now we just have to wait until May 29th to confirm the other technical details and, of course, the price that will determine the true success of this smartphone.

Lava International has announced that the Lava Bold N2 5G will launch in India on June 3, 2026, at 12PM IST. The Amazon India microsite is live, featuring teaser images and confirmed specs, giving buyers a preview of what to expect from Lava’s new budget 5G phone.

The Lava Bold N2 5G is the fourth smartphone in the Bold N2 series, after the standard Bold N2, Bold N2 Lite, and Bold N2 Pro. It is the first in the series to support 5G. The previous Bold N2 4G used the Unisoc SC9863A chipset, but Lava has not yet revealed which 5G processor the new model will have. More details will be shared on June 3.

The Amazon microsite confirms two main features: a 13MP main rear camera in a dual camera setup and Android 16 at launch. The phone will have a flat rear panel, flat side frame, and a square camera module in the top-left corner. More details will be announced on June 3.

The Lava Bold N2 5G will launch on June 3, 2026, at 12PM IST, exclusively on Amazon India. Lava has created a dedicated Amazon microsite where buyers can set a reminder for the sale. This online-only launch aligns with Lava’s usual approach and helps the Bold N2 5G reach more buyers than an offline launch would.

Selling only on Amazon means the phone will be visible to buyers comparing budget 5G options like Redmi, Poco, iQOO, and Oppo. Amazon might also offer bank deals and exchange bonuses on launch day, making the price more attractive to some buyers.

The price for the Bold N2 5G has not been announced yet. Since the Bold N2 series is budget-focused and the Lava Shark 2 5G costs Rs. 11,999, the Bold N2 5G is expected to be priced between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 16,000. This is only an estimate. The official price will be revealed on June 3 at 12PM on the Amazon India microsite.

by mundophone

DIGITAL LIFE

Bluesky accounts hijacked in pro-Russia propaganda campaign

In recent weeks, hundreds of accounts have been taken over on the microblogging service Bluesky, which were then used to spread false or misleading claims and fake news. The New York Times reports, citing a research group from Clemson University in the US state of South Carolina and Bluesky itself. According to the report, actors from Russia are behind the attacks.

The propaganda was primarily directed against France as the main supporter of Ukraine. In some cases, the account holders were informed; in others, accounts were suspended. The newspaper does not specify exactly how the mass takeover of accounts works.

No strangers...Behind the campaign is said to be a Moscow-based company called Social Design Agency. It has long been accused of sowing discord in adversarial states through content manipulation. In an extensive analysis, the university's research team outlined just two months ago how the network from Russia tried to spread the agenda of the AfD, which is considered right-wing extremist in parts, on Bluesky before the recent federal election. In the current campaign, content aimed at discrediting Ukraine has been spread in waves since April. The New York Times was able to contact some affected individuals. They then removed the posts. Bluesky itself has also removed thousands of them.

Bluesky is one of several microblogging services competing with the big role model X and aiming to build on Twitter's user experience. With around 44 million accounts, the service is significantly smaller than Meta's Threads, but at the same time feels at least as relevant in public debates. This is likely why Russian interest in the service has grown. Darren Linvill, a leader of Clemson University's Media Forensics Hub, believes that those responsible for the hijacked accounts are “clearly still experimenting” – “they are always experimenting.” At Social Design Agency, they only need a bit of luck a few times for it to pay off. Bluesky itself speaks of an “industrywide problem”.

A Russian influence campaign hijacked hundreds of Bluesky accounts—many belonging to influential Americans—to spread propaganda, researchers said, in a striking disinformation tactic that weaponized authentic identities rather than relying on fake accounts.

The campaign, which the researchers at Clemson University linked to the Moscow-based firm Social Design Agency (SDA), targeted journalists, academics, and filmmakers on the tech platform.

Many of the compromised accounts were used to post anti-Ukraine narratives, illustrating how pro-Kremlin propagandists are seeking novel ways to undermine support for the war-torn country that Russia invaded in 2022.

"Looks like someone got into my account and posted some story about France and Ukraine," Wall Street Journal reporter Alex Ward wrote on Bluesky.

The post in question has now been deleted and Ward said he had regained control of his account.

A database of compromised accounts—created by an internet monitor tracking Russian influence operations and shared with AFP by a Clemson University researcher—included at least one other Wall Street Journal reporter.

"Bluesky account got compromised and banned and then I got the account back somehow," Jake Tucker, editorial director at the PC Gaming Show, wrote on the platform.

Other compromised accounts included filmmaker Mary Beth McAndrews and academic Ben Gilbert.

"We have certainly seen bad actors use hacked accounts and stolen accounts in the past. Frequently, in fact. This seems more targeted," Clemson University's Darren Linvill told AFP.

"I've personally never seen Russia use hacked accounts at this scale before."

"No ethical constraints"...It was unclear how many accounts had been hacked, with Bluesky removing many of the propaganda posts or suspending affected accounts until their owners stepped forward to regain control.

Linvill said he had personally tracked at least "a couple of hundred accounts the Russians hacked," but the real number was likely far higher.

Bluesky said it has removed 4,907 accounts linked to "state-backed influence activity" this year, roughly double the pace seen last year.

"Compromising real accounts to spread propaganda is a tactic these actors have used elsewhere for years, but this is the first time we've seen them attempt it on Bluesky," the platform's safety team wrote in a post.

"The accounts accessed were mostly older and dormant, though some active accounts were affected too."

"To be clear, Bluesky's systems were not breached. Individual user accounts were compromised, likely via credentials leaked in data breaches."

Clemson University attributed SDA's campaign to a Kremlin influence operation known among researchers as Matryoshka (Russian doll), which has been known for disinformation campaigns based on impersonation.

"It has stolen the logos of media outlets, government agencies, and private companies and used AI to clone the voices of celebrities, policemen, academics, journalists, and others," Joseph Bodnar, a senior research manager at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, told AFP.

"Hacking into accounts to post content using someone else's identity is a logical next step for an operation that appears to have a lot of resources and no ethical constraints," Bodnar added.

"Sophistication isn't impact"...The SDA has been sanctioned by the United States, European Union and the United Kingdom for information warfare campaigns.

"The SDA has been tasked and funded by the Kremlin to deliver a series of interference operations designed to undermine democracy and weaken support for Ukraine," Britain's Foreign Office said earlier this month.

The statement came after Britain unveiled new sanctions targeting 49 individuals working for the SDA, including writers, translators and video makers responsible for "deceptive Kremlin propaganda."

However, the reach of the Bluesky hacking campaign appeared to be limited, with the platform's safety team saying their "posts averaged 50 views" before they were taken down.

"Sophistication isn't impact," Bodnar said.

"Matryoshka's impact is driven more by public perception than by its ability to persuade audiences online. It's a perception hack."

© 2026 AFP

TECH

PD-100 Black Hornet: The world's smallest known war drone to date

The PD-100 Black Hornet is a small unmanned aerial vehicle, originally developed by Prox Dynamics and now manufactured by Teledyne FLIR Defense, designed to give soldiers in the field a discreet way to observe threats, access remote locations, and enhance situational awareness in military operations.

With ultra-compact dimensions, the Black Hornet was created to be carried alongside a soldier's individual equipment. The complete system includes two drones and a base station, and was designed to fit in a soldier's pocket. The idea is to allow small units to reconnoiter congested, dangerous, or difficult-to-access areas without having to expose themselves directly.

The PD-100 model measures approximately 100 millimeters in length, has a 120-millimeter rotor diameter, and weighs 16 grams, including the surveillance camera. The complete system, without the display, weighs less than 1 kilogram. Despite its size, the drone features a molded plastic structure, aerodynamic shape, and the ability to withstand strong winds.

Cameras, GPS, and near-silent flight...The Black Hornet is equipped with three surveillance cameras hidden in the front. It also has a steerable electro-optical camera capable of producing still images and live videos transmitted to a portable device used by the operator.

The drone can be controlled directly via a joystick-like device or programmed to follow a predefined route with the aid of integrated GPS. The digital data link allows the equipment to operate in a straight line up to 1,000 meters away.

According to system information, the Black Hornet generates almost imperceptible noise, a characteristic that increases its use in reconnaissance missions. It is ready to fly in less than a minute, reaches speeds of up to 10 meters per second, and has a maximum autonomy of 25 minutes.

From Afghanistan to the US Army...The development of the Black Hornet began in April 2008 by Prox Dynamics. Following flight tests and operational evaluations, the drone entered mass production in early 2012.

The UK Ministry of Defence awarded a $31 million contract to Prox Dynamics, through Marlborough Communications, to supply 160 units of the system to the British armed forces. The equipment was deployed in Afghanistan to meet the surveillance needs of UK troops.

Prox Dynamics delivered 100 Black Hornet units in early 2013 and, in November 2016, was acquired by FLIR Systems in a $134 million transaction.

In the United States, the drone was selected in July 2014 by the US Army's Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Centre as part of its Pocket Cargo Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance program. The equipment underwent training with US military forces in the first quarter of 2015.

More recent versions...FLIR launched the Black Hornet 3 in June 2018. The model weighed 32 grams and gained improved features, including the ability to fly in GPS-free environments. In January 2019, the company received an initial contract of US$39.7 million for the Black Hornet 3, followed by another of US$20.6 million for the supply of the model's Personal Reconnaissance Systems.

The Black Hornet 4 version represents the new generation of these lightweight nanodrones. Weighing 70 grams, the equipment can fly for more than 30 minutes, travel more than three kilometers, and operate in winds of 25 knots and rain. The model also features a 12-megapixel daytime camera, a high-resolution thermal camera, advanced obstacle avoidance capabilities, and video and image transmission to the operator.

In May, FLIR Defense inaugurated a 13,000-square-foot facility in Somerset, Kentucky, that will serve as a support center for maintenance, testing, and training related to the Black Hornet systems used by the United States Armed Forces.

In total, FLIR Defense has delivered more than 33,000 Black Hornet drones to military and security forces in over 45 countries. The U.S. Army began acquiring the system in 2018 as part of the Soldier Borne Sensor program. Since then, orders placed through the program and other contracts have totaled more than $300 million.

 

by mundophone

 

MEDIATEK

MediaTek Dimensity 8550 brings Gemini Nano V3 with scarce improvements

MediaTek has just unveiled its latest processor for the mid-range market, the Dimensity 8550. At a time when we await the big reveal of the flagship Dimensity 9500 at the end of the year, the brand has decided to make a small update to its popular chip from last year.

However, if you were expecting a performance revolution for your next affordable smartphone, it's best to temper your enthusiasm. The first details indicate that we are facing a rather modest update, which recycles much of what we have already seen in its direct predecessor.

The main highlight is entirely artificial intelligence. The new chip seeks to put local AI capabilities in the hands of more users, but when it comes to the "engine" itself, the changes compared to the previous Dimensity 8400 appear to be minimal.

Almost a clone of the Dimensity 8500...The component is practically identical to the already known Dimensity 8500: we have a high-performance 8-core Arm Cortex-A725 CPU running at up to 3.4 GHz, a Mali-G720 MC8 GPU, and the MediaTek NPU 880. The lithography has not been announced, but it is expected to be the same TSMC 4nm N4P process.

The only notable improvements to the platform are the addition of an LLM Booster, to better execute Large Language Models, and compatibility with Gemini Nano v3, one of the search giant's most robust AI models designed for use on limited devices, such as smartphones themselves.

This compatibility suggests that the 8550 was launched simply as a revision of the 8500 prepared for Gemini Intelligence, a feature package that will be one of the pillars of Android 17. Powered by local AI, the solution promises to make the Android system smarter with features such as user-generated widgets and a Gboard keyboard that understands natural language speech — one of the requirements of the solution is precisely access to the Gemini Nano v3.

The big news and the main reason for the existence of this Dimensity 8550 is its new and improved 790 series NPU (Neural Processing Unit). This technical advancement finally guarantees official support for the Gemini Nano V3 and Meta's Llama 4 multimodal framework.

In practice, this means that processing heavy artificial intelligence tasks — such as text generation, real-time translation, or advanced image processing — will now happen locally on your phone, much faster and without relying on the cloud. It's an important step towards democratizing tools that were previously exclusive to the higher-end range.

With manufacturers focused on shoving the "AI" designation onto every device in 2026, it's completely understandable that MediaTek has made this update its big commercial flagship for brands seeking cheaper chips.

Familiar specifications with a recycled feel...But if the NPU is the star, the processor's basic architecture is an authentic "copy/paste" from the previous generation. Built on TSMC's 4nm process, the Dimensity 8550 maintains the exact same core structure, offering speeds almost identical to the older 8400.

The GPU also hasn't undergone significant changes. Despite native support for AI upscaling technology within games (MediaTek Super Resolution), the graphics card remains the familiar Mali-G715. To give you a clear picture, here are the main technical characteristics of the CPU:

-1 high-performance Cortex-A715 core (running up to 3.2GHz);

-3 performance Cortex-A715 cores (running at 3.0GHz);

-4 efficiency Cortex-A510 cores (focused on battery saving);

-Support for QHD+ resolution displays at 144Hz.

In short, if your top priority in a new smartphone is quick access to native generative AI models, this chip may justify the purchase. If you're looking for a noticeable leap in pure performance or in demanding games, you might want to wait for competing alternatives or the next generation.

The technical criteria, which also include at least 12 GB of RAM, were even the subject of discussion, considering that the official list of devices that met the specifications is very limited, restricted until now to premium models such as the Samsung Galaxy S26, Google Pixel 10 and OnePlus 15.

With today's launch, MediaTek opens the door for more phones to take advantage of Gemini Intelligence, potentially popularizing Google's AI suite, even though the company did not highlight this in the announcement.

Interestingly, the Dimensity 8550 has already made its debut in a customized "Elite" variant in the Chinese version of the HONOR 600 Pro, presented last Monday (25). Other devices with the platform should be announced in the coming days.

mundophone

TECH

Improving power communication systems with knowledge graphing

New research published in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology suggests that so-called knowledge graphs, a form of AI-based data organization, could improve the reliability and maintenance of power communication systems that help keep the lights on and modern electricity grids running smoothly.

Why context is fundamental in complex systems...Context is what transforms raw information into actionable knowledge. Each data element can have significant applications in multiple overlapping contexts. In a system of systems, managing these interconnected contexts is crucial—the integrity, reliability, and usefulness of the data depend on it.

Consider a smart city, where transportation, energy, water, and emergency services are all interconnected. Each system generates its own data, but the real value emerges when you understand the relationships between them—how a power outage affects traffic lights or how emergency services reroute their routes in response to a road closure. Graph-based frameworks are particularly well-suited for modeling these complex and dynamic relationships.

The human factor: perception and cognitive limitations...While technology provides the tools to store and connect vast amounts of information, humans remain the ultimate consumers and decision-makers. Research shows clear limits to the complexity that people can handle when visualizing graphs—especially as the number of nodes and connections increases. Many existing studies are based on small, homogeneous groups (often university students), meaning that best practices for real-world use cases and diverse users are still under development.

With the explosion of sensors and data streams, navigating a massive information space becomes increasingly challenging. Users need clear starting points ("You are here") and intuitive navigation tools, or they risk getting lost in a dense and confusing data forest. A good system design should enhance the user's situational awareness and support effective guidance and decision-making, even under pressure.

Complexity factors: beyond volume...Complexity in systems of systems isn’t just about the sheer amount of data. Other factors, such as time, geography, and the layering of different concerns, add further dimensions. Each facet may require its own abstraction or visualization technique to make the data comprehensible to users. Often, generic methods of navigation in complex systems fall short of helping users navigate domain-specific knowledge spaces.

Graph Navigation Strategies: Top-Down, Bottom-Up, and Middle-Out...Navigating complex graphs can follow several strategies, each suited to different user needs:

Top-Down: Start with an overview of the entire system, then drill down to specifics. This is ideal for monitoring or data science tasks, where understanding the big picture is crucial before focusing on details.

Bottom-Up: Begin at a specific point of interest and explore outward. Useful for investigations or troubleshooting, such as tracing the source of a system failure.

Middle-Out: Start from an abstraction or cluster within the graph, then move to more detailed or broader views. This is common when browsing large systems where users may not know their endpoint in advance, such as navigating a wiki or exploring a knowledge graph.

The researchers report that such a system works better than a conventional database in query efficiency, fault diagnosis, and operational decision-making. They explain that this technology could be used to help utility operators anticipate equipment failures earlier and manage increasingly complex power networks more effectively.

Power communication equipment functions as the information backbone of electricity grids, enabling substations, sensors and control centers to exchange data in real time. However, as grids are becoming more digitalized through smart sensors, distributed energy systems and private 5G networks, operators are generating far larger volumes of interconnected data that somehow has to be managed.

The researchers argue that conventional relational databases struggle with this level of complex data. Relational databases organize information into rigid tables linked by predefined relationships. While suitable for simpler systems, the researchers say they create information silos in large infrastructure networks, where maintenance records, fault reports, environmental conditions, and operational data are fragmented across separate systems.

The proposed AI framework instead uses a knowledge graph, which represents devices, faults, maintenance activities, and communication links as interconnected nodes. By explicitly mapping relationships between all these different pieces of information, the system can identify dependencies and hidden correlations more effectively. In order to integrate this information from different sources, the researchers used natural language processing (NLP), an AI technique that extracts meaning from human language.

NLP enables the system to analyze unstructured materials such as maintenance reports and technical documents alongside structured operational data. The resulting information is stored in the graph database designed specifically for highly connected data. This approach allows the utility operator to have in place predictive infrastructure management. Now, instead of relying mainly on manual inspections and operator experience when faults occur, they can predict failures in advance and carry out preventative maintenance.

Provided by Inderscience

TECH

Huawei's new ahip Architecture threatens Nvidia's empire

Huawei has just revealed its new trump cards for chip development in the coming years, and the news is not encouraging for Nvidia. The Chinese tech giant is investing heavily to dominate the artificial intelligence market in China, a crucial territory for hardware sales.

Since US sanctions cut off the company's access to cutting-edge technologies, many doubted its ability to recover. However, the manufacturer seems to have found an alternative path that promises to shake the foundations of the global semiconductor market.

By promising to abandon traditional industry rules, Huawei is preparing to close the technological gap that separates it from its main global rivals. If analysts' predictions are confirmed, US dominance in technology exports may be about to suffer a severe blow.

To circumvent restrictions and continue innovating, Huawei has announced that it will stop following the historic Moore's Law. Instead, the manufacturer will adopt the so-called Tau scaling law (τ), a completely different approach to the development of its semiconductors. It's a bold move, but one that demonstrates the company's determination not to stand still.

The star of this new strategy is the LogicFolding architecture. According to the data revealed, this innovative technology will allow the company to achieve a transistor density equivalent to the advanced 1.4 nanometer process. It's a brutal technological leap that puts the brand's processors side-by-side with the most coveted solutions on the Western market.

The impact of innovations until 2031...The company's plans are long-term, and the goals set for the beginning of the next decade are quite ambitious. He Tingbo, president of the brand's semiconductor division, has already confirmed that they don't necessarily need the expensive and restrictive state-of-the-art EUV lithography machines to manufacture these new chips.

Here are the key points underpinning the Asian manufacturer's new strategy:

-Adoption of Tau's scaling law (τ) to replace Moore's law.

-Introduction of LogicFolding architecture with a density equivalent to 1.4 nanometers.

-Achievement of historical milestones in the mobile processor and artificial intelligence industry by 2031.

-Drastic reduction in dependence on Western technological equipment.

This level of self-sufficiency is impressive, proving that the sanctions ended up having the opposite effect to what was desired. Instead of hindering Chinese development, the blockades forced the creation of a highly capable, independent, and long-term results-focused internal ecosystem.

Nvidia is undoubtedly the main victim in this story. The American giant has already lost about half of its market share in China, and the situation is set to worsen. Analysts are beginning to call this turnaround another “DeepSeek” moment, referring to the disruptive innovation that threatens the established status quo in the world of artificial intelligence.

Current reality shows us that the performance of Huawei's domestic AI chips is already closing the gap with titans like Nvidia's H200. With China becoming increasingly self-sufficient, the United States is rapidly losing its main lever of technological control. It remains to be seen how the American giants will respond to this blow, but one thing is certain: you'll want to closely follow the next developments in this true semiconductor war.

An Alternative to Moore's Law...According to Reuters, the next Kirin chips for smartphones, expected to debut later this year, will be the first to adopt an architecture based on this principle. Called LogicFolding, the technology promises to shorten the internal wiring of the chips and considerably improve performance.

The goal is that by 2031, even without access to advanced lithography machines — restricted by US embargoes — the company will achieve a transistor density equivalent to the 1.4 nanometer process.

Huawei's search for engineering alternatives began after 2019, when it received sanctions that limited access to international software and suppliers. Fans of the brand immediately notice the impact due to the absence of US software on devices, such as Google services on Android.

For hardware, however, the company also does not have access to the photolithography systems of ASML, which supplies its products to giants like Intel and TSMC. The Taiwanese company already plans to mass-produce 1.4 nm chips by 2028, while China has production capacity in processes up to 7 nm.

The new architecture relies on a principle parallel to Moore's Law, called the Tau Expansion Law. According to the TechSpot portal, the approach involves stacking multiple layers of circuits on a single chip, shortening internal connections to gain performance.

The goal is the same as the miniaturization process popularized by Intel, which reduces the energy circulation time through smaller transistors at higher density.

However, according to Reuters, the president of the company's semiconductor division, He Tingbo, acknowledged that there are still challenges related to overheating and the need for new tools for the Tau standard.

Even so, Tingbo defended the company's progress and stated that "very good solutions" have been found, without going into details. "I can confidently say that in the next 10 years our solutions for mobile computing and AI computing will be competitive," he assured. Speaking of AI, the company plans to extend the architecture to the Ascend line—aimed at AI and used, among other things, in the DeepSeek V4 model, launched last month—and to data center servers by 2030.

Huawei's commercial advancement has also been acknowledged by Nvidia itself. In recent statements, CEO Jensen Huang stated that the company had "largely ceded" the Chinese AI chip market to Huawei because of restrictions imposed by Washington.

mundophone