DIGITAL LIFE

Online age checks create a pointless privacy risk

New cybersecurity research indicates that one of the world's leading age verification providers collects and shares highly sensitive personal data—including facial photos and device fingerprints—with third parties. The research also reveals that most websites that require age verification don't enforce the policy.

Age verification is now required by many digital platforms worldwide, but most systems create new risks for user data and privacy. This article explores why document-based age verification exposes everyone to greater risk—and how privacy-prioritizing technology, like World ID, offers a safer path for consumers and platforms.

Earlier this month, a teenage girl tried to log into a popular social platform. The site asked for her driver's license, a selfie, and patience while they verified her age. Three days later, hackers stole her data along with 69,999 others.

Welcome to the age verification paradox: systems designed to protect minors end up exposing everyone.

Age barriers started simple—just click a box confirming you're 18. Common methods now require submitting actual identification documents, which is privacy-invasive. Why would you need to provide your driver's license to an online platform to watch a movie trailer?

Today, mainstream gaming platforms, social media networks, and adult websites have, or are considering, methods that result in the creation of databases of government identity documents and other personal data.

The challenging regulatory landscape...Regulators around the world are implementing rules aimed at keeping minors safe, but most of the available techniques that can scale have notable drawbacks. The current landscape includes:

Self-reported age: Easy to lie about, offers no real protection

Document upload: Presents enormous risks of data breach and exposure to identity theft

Age inference from selfies: Requires central storage of biometric data, often with human reviewers verifying the photos

Credit card authorization: Excludes young adults with no credit history and creates trails of financial data

CPF verification: Links online activity to government records, creating surveillance concerns and may not be available to those under 18

Each method trades one problem for another. Protecting minors should not mean jeopardizing everyone's data security.

The findings come from a new study, "Papers Please: A First Look at Age Verification on the Web," that researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) presented on May 20 at the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy (SP 2026) conference in San Francisco.

The research team examined Yoti, a London-based company that provides age-verification services for an estimated 60% of websites that require it. Its client list includes Meta, OnlyFans, Sony PlayStation, and TikTok.

The research team determined that the process Yoti uses to verify a person's age broadcasts the person's personal information to third- and fourth-party companies.

When a bartender checks an ID, they quickly verify a customer's date of birth and identity before serving them. Companies like Yoti that employ digital age verification claim their products function the same way, but in a completely private manner.

That analogy has justified laws passed in 25 U.S. states—comprising more than 40% of Americans—mandating the use of digital age verification to gate access to social media and adult online content.

However, by measuring online age verification, researchers reveal that the reality of these systems is far from ideal. The study found that most sites covered by these laws do not appear to enforce age verification.

When sites comply, they force users to use third-party age-verification services like Yoti, which collect and share highly sensitive data with other third parties.

"There have been laws passed and court cases settled on the promise that these companies are incentivized to keep users' data private," said Assistant Professor Michael A. Specter at the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy. "We found that reality is starkly different."

Digital age verification laws are being considered by other legislative bodies to bar minors from social media sites. The problem, Specter and his colleagues argue, is that current methods of age verification are ineffective and create new privacy risks.

"In legal arguments, there have been comparisons to these services acting like a bartender checking IDs," said Specter. "However, what is really happening is the bartender is making photocopies of the patron's license and sending them to their food vendors."

According to the researchers, the data is then sent to credit card companies, IP geolocation services, and data brokers. The researchers found that the information being shared can be used to identify and track devices. For example, a single verification attempt may transmit a user's facial image, IP address, and device fingerprint to credit card companies.

Aside from privacy concerns, researchers note that differing state policies could lead to what they call the Balkanization of the U.S. web. In other words, users may have access to different parts of the internet depending on the state they are in. This will potentially limit the free exchange of ideas and information.

According to Assistant Professor Harry Oppenheimer of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, users are already accustomed to experiencing the internet differently across countries. However, this may signal the beginning of similar fragmentation within the United States.

"We are going to start seeing comparable differences between U.S. states," said Oppenheimer. "Users in some states will now have to go through additional steps to access information. Close your laptop in New York before a flight to Dallas and try to load the same web page—now you see two different results."

"We also observed age verification deployed on websites accessed from New York, which has no law requiring verification," said Associate Professor Paul Pearce of UC Irvine's Department of Computer Science.

"We don't know why these sites are deploying such verification—it could be a move to limit liability or simplify operations. Regardless, it points to an emerging threat for the open internet where restrictive laws from some states could impact the entire country and beyond."

"This is why we can't have nice things," Specter added.

Provided by Georgia Institute of Technology

HP

HP ZBook X G2i: Intel Panther Lake, Nvidia RTX Pro Blackwell 64GB and 120 Hz display

HP has finally started selling a new 16-inch laptop featuring ZBook X G2i processors. Also equipped with Nvidia RTX Pro Blackwell graphics and 64 GB of RAM, the ZBook X G2i comes with a massive 96 Wh battery and an optional 120 Hz display.

HP has quietly released the ZBook X G2i featuring Intel Panther Lake processors and Nvidia RTX Pro Blackwell graphics. To recap, the 16-inch laptop launched at the end of March. While the company revealed how the laptop surpassed the existing ZBook X G1i we reviewed last year (curr. $2,659 on Amazon), it refrained from confirming how much the ZBook X G2i would cost.

Intel® Core™ Ultra Processor...Unleash power-efficient performance with Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 processors (Series 3).3 This CPU with up to Intel Arc Pro graphics and dedicated Copilot+ NPU unlocks new levels of performance for the next era of AI-enhanced software and greatly increases efficiency for productivity tasks.

NVIDIA® Graphics...Experience high-end visualization and seamlessly multi-task on your biggest projects, now with up to an NVIDIA RTX PRO™ 3000 Blackwell GPU4 certified for pro apps.

Large Memory...Power through projects now with 2x the memory gen-over-gen, up to 128GB RAM5 for fast, powerful performance.

Now, HP has revealed that the ZBook X G2i costs a minimum of $3,609 in the US. As far as we can tell, the new laptop has not yet reached other markets like the Eurozone or the UK. Currently, HP has listed seven SKUs priced up to $10,431, which are as follows:

Intel Core Ultra 5 336H, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, no discrete GPU, IPS 1200p/400 nit/60 Hz display - $5,435

Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, 32 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, Nvidia RTX Pro 500 Blackwell (6 GB), IPS 1200p/400 nit/60 Hz display - $5,435

Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, Nvidia RTX Pro 500 Blackwell (6 GB), IPS 1200p/400 nit/60 Hz display - $5,855

Intel Core Ultra 9 356H, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, Nvidia RTX Pro 1000 Blackwell (8 GB), IPS 1200p/400 nit/60 Hz display - $6,281

Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, 64 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, Nvidia RTX Pro 1000 Blackwell (8 GB), IPS 1200p/400 nit/60 Hz display - $8,004

Intel Core Ultra 7 366H, 64 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, Nvidia RTX Pro 2000 Blackwell (8 GB), IPS 1600p/400 nit/120 Hz display - $8,591

Intel Core Ultra 9 386H, 64 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD, Nvidia RTX Pro 1000 Blackwell (8 GB), IPS 1200p/400 nit/60 Hz display - $10,431

Additionally, B&H Photo Video is offering a configuration for $4,298 with a Core Ultra 7 366H processor, 32 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD and an Nvidia GeForce RTX Pro 1000 dGPU. The retailer has not confirmed what display comes with this configuration, though.

HP estimates that it will begin shipping orders on July 3 within the US. All configurations feature a 96 Wh battery, too. Unfortunately, pricing and availability for other markets remain unknown at this stage. Please see HP's website for more details.

mundophone

TECH

Laser-powered engines may soon support 'intelligent' 6G networks

In a step toward developing next-generation, AI-enabled 6G wireless networks, scientists have demonstrated a laser-driven engine made from an easy-to-manufacture ceramic material that uses white light to move information over large distances. While conventional LED-based visible light communication (VLC) systems typically operate over only a few meters, the novel photonic engine—described in a study published in Matter—can move data over 1.2 kilometers.

"This is really a record with attractive performance beyond the traditional technology," says Zhiguo Xia of South China University of Technology in Guangzhou, China.

What 6G could make possible....Current 5G wireless networks work like highways through which information moves at high speeds, allowing for fast communication. 6G networks built into future smartphones and other objects such as streetlamps would not only allow information to move through networks an order of magnitude faster—they would be able to "see," "hear," and "think," detecting people and objects and their subtle movements.

Since 6G networks would incorporate data from satellites fixed low in Earth's orbit, they could even provide high-speed coverage in tough-to-reach regions such as deserts, oceans, and mountains.

However, scientists have faced barriers to developing 6G technology, including the need for ultra-dense base stations with high energy and infrastructure costs, as well as challenges in combining high-performance lighting materials and high-speed photodetectors into compact devices that can be mass-produced at low cost.

A laser-powered photonic engine...To address these challenges, Xia's team developed a photonic engine powered by lasers that can transfer large amounts of data over long distances by emitting high-quality white light—qualities that place it at the forefront of laser lighting technologies.

The findings offer direct experimental evidence supporting 6G communications technology, which so far has existed "largely at the visionary level," says Xia, potentially helping make a "paradigm shift from connection to intelligent connection possible."

"This work also provides compelling experimental support for the application of laser lighting in scenarios such as drone logistics and low-altitude air travel," says Xia.

How the ceramic material works...The researchers developed a low-cost technique for making the laser-powered engine's ceramic material by mixing calcium ions with a powder of chemical compounds used to make glass, which eliminates the need for high-pressure manufacturing equipment.

The ceramic transfers heat about 20 times more efficiently than traditionally used silicone resins, enabling the material to withstand more laser power than other laser-driven technologies.

Limitations and next steps...The researchers note that the engine mainly emits light in the yellow region (500–650 nm) and lacks red components, limiting its use in applications requiring a very high color rendering index—a measure of an object's true color compared to natural sunlight. It also operates at far below fiber optic speeds.

To further develop the engine, the team plans to investigate light-emitting materials with shorter fluorescence lifetimes and tunable emission bandwidths, which can further speed up data rates. They also plan to integrate the laser system with radio-frequency systems to ensure that service continues during bad weather.

"AI-driven link adaptation can dynamically adjust data rate and optical power, ultimately supporting a future 6G network that is space-air-ground integrated, fully covered, and highly reliable," says Xia.

Provided by Cell Press

 

SAMSUNG

First Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide screen protectors leak early

Fresh Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide leaks reveal the new, wider aspect ratio design via screen protectors we see for the first time. We can see a direct comparison to the Huawei Pura X Max, suggesting Samsung’s wide foldable will be narrower when closed and wider when opened.

New leaked images shared by one of the top smartphone tipsters provide a glimpse into the anticipated design of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide. The photos showcase a tempered glass screen protector for the first time, emphasizing a significantly wider aspect ratio compared to previous Samsung foldables.

This leak(image below) reinforces the growing consensus that the "Wide" variant is intended to offer a more traditional, smartphone-like experience on the cover display while transitioning to a near-square 4:3 inner screen for tablet-like productivity.

The leakster has overlaid the screen guard with an image for illustration purposes. We can see a direct comparison of the Fold 8 Wide’s protector to that of the Huawei Pura X Max, suggesting Samsung’s wide foldable will be narrower when closed and wider when opened.

Previous reports have highlighted that the wider variant of the Z Fold 8 should feature a 5.4-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch inner panel. To achieve its sleek form factor, the phone is rumored to make compromises in the camera department, allegedly ditching the telephoto lens in favor of a dual-camera setup.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide is also expected to weigh around 210 grams, representing a significant improvement over the current Galaxy Z Fold 7's 215 grams.

But of course, the main highlight of the new foldable is undoubtedly its more square shape with a 4:3 aspect ratio, offering a tablet-like user experience while remaining extremely portable.

For now, Samsung is not commenting on this type of leak, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide has already had a large portion of its specifications leaked.

So, we now know that the device will feature a 7.6-inch main screen, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy platform, 50 MP cameras, and One UI 9 with Android 17.

More of the same?...A new rumor reinforces that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 may arrive with fewer new features than expected. Apparently, the foldable and its supposed Wide variant should maintain the visible crease on the screen, in addition to leaving aside features that could make the phones more interesting, such as S Pen support and the privacy functions of the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

The details were shared by leaker Ice Universe, known for his accurate history of leaks in general, and suggest that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will not bring noteworthy changes to the screen, which may be a disappointment for those who expected improvements in the new generation.

The informant specifically mentions that the foldable will continue without S Pen support, last present in the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and would not offer adjustments that would reduce the crease of the fold — an aspect that should make it much less competitive, considering that rivals such as the OPPO Find N6 and even the speculated iPhone Ultra have practically solved this issue.

Another absence that could make a difference is the privacy screen launched with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Although there were no expectations of seeing the feature on the device, its inclusion could make the Z Fold 8 more attractive, as is already the case with the company's conventional phone.

There is another interesting point in the publication: Ice Universe implies that these "limitations" would also be present in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, the widescreen option in a small notebook format. If this is the case, the lack of the S Pen should be felt even more in this variant, whose design would favor the use of a stylus.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide (Expected)

7.6-inch LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2X internal screen with QXGA+ resolution

Punch-hole display with up to 120 Hz refresh rate

LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2X external screen with FHD+ resolution

Punch-hole display with up to 120 Hz refresh rate

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor

Dual front cameras:

10 MP internal lens (f/2.2)

10 MP external lens (f/2.2)

Dual rear cameras:

50 MP main lens (OIS, f/1.7)

50 MP ultrawide lens

5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 and NFC

Stereo sound and IP48 certification

4,800 mAh battery with 45W charging

Android 17 with One UI 9.0

--mundophone--

DIGITAL LIFE

Why are data centers increasing temperatures in neighborhoods?

The rapid growth of data centers is driving localized artificial heat waves. A landmark study published in the Journal of Engineering for Sustainable Buildings and Cities has revealed that such facilities can raise ambient air temperatures in nearby neighborhoods by up to 4 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius), increasing the risks of urban heat islands.

In said study, researchers from Arizona State University investigated the thermal footprint of two large-scale operations in the tech hub cities of Mesa and Chandler, Arizona. The researchers attached high-precision, rapid-response air temperature sensors to vehicles, driving them through surrounding communities from June through October. By tracking real-time geographic and atmospheric conditions, the team discovered that data centers act as immense thermal engines. A single facility can generate more waste heat than the electrical consumption of 40,000 households combined.

This localized warming stems from how these data centers stay cool, whereby they utilize expansive air-cooled condenser arrays that continuously exhaust plumes of hot air that can be 14° to 25° F warmer than the surrounding atmosphere. Prevailing winds then carry this thermal pollution beyond the facilities' property lines, creating a downstream heat wake extending up to a third of a mile into residential zones. Across the monitoring period, downwind areas experienced average temperature increases between 1.3° and 1.6° F, with peak anomalies hitting the 4-degree mark.

Unwittingly, this artificial temperature increase also causes neighborhood residents to crank their home A/C units up. which then exhaust even more waste heat into the streets, while driving up overall electricity demand. This extra electricity consumption forces power grids to work harder, often increasing regional emissions and further straining energy infrastructure. For desert communities already grappling with severe public health risks from extreme weather, this localized effect could become a compounding feedback loop.

David Sailor, lead author of the study notes that these initial measurements likely represent a conservative estimate, too. The atmospheric footprint could vary drastically depending on seasonal weather shifts, and ongoing, non-peer-reviewed research suggests that under certain conditions, a data center’s heat island effect might ripple outward to a six-mile radius. As tech giants continue aggressively expanding infrastructure to meet the demands of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital storage, the findings highlight an urgent need for urban planners to rethink zoning laws. 

“Heat islands”...The vast data centers that power artificial intelligence guzzle huge amounts of energy but they also have another alarming impact, according to new research. They are creating “heat islands,” warming the land around them by up to 16 degrees Fahrenheit, and making life hotter for more than 340 million people.

There are still big gaps in our understanding of the impacts of data centers, even as they boom in number, said Andrea Marinoni, associate professor with the Earth Observation group at the University of Cambridge, and an author of the study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed.

Marinoni and his colleagues decided to dig into one under-researched impact: the heat they release through their energy-intensive processes, including computation and powering cooling systems.

To do this, they looked at temperature data over the last 20 years from remote sensors and mapped it against the locations of AI “hyperscalers” — vast data centers that house thousands of servers and can stretch over a million square feet, which have mostly been built within the last decade.

They focused on more than 6,000 data centers located away from highly dense urban areas, as surface temperatures around these were less likely to have been affected by other factors, such as manufacturing or the heating of homes. The researchers also filtered out seasonal impacts, global warming trends and other influences.

They found surface temperatures increased by an average of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit after a data center started operations. In extreme cases, nearby temperatures increase by up to 16.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

These increases were consistent across the globe, the researchers found. In Mexico’s Bajio region, for example, which has become a data center hub, the study found unexplained temperature rises of around 3.6 degrees over the last 20 years. A similar situation was seen in Aragon, Spain, a European center for hyperscale AI data centers, which recorded a temperature increase of 3.6 degrees which was not replicated in neighboring provinces.

Strikingly, the impacts weren’t limited to a data center’s immediate surroundings; temperature increases affected areas up to 6.2 miles away, the research found, affecting more than 340 million people.

The findings are particularly alarming, the scientists say, because AI data centers are set to boom over the next few years, and these temperature rises come as planet-warming pollution is already making heat waves more extreme around the world.

The planned scale up of data centers “could have dramatic impacts on society” in terms of the environment, people’s welfare and the economy, Marinoni said.

Deborah Andrews, emeritus professor of design for sustainability and circularity at London South Bank University, who was not involved in the research, said there are plenty of concerns over the impacts of data centers but this was the first paper she’d seen focusing on the heat they produce.

“The ‘rush for AI-gold’ appears to be overriding good practice and systemic thinking,” she said, “and is developing far more rapidly than any broader, more sustainable systems.”

Other experts say more research is needed to verify the results. The study provides “some interesting figures” but the effects reported “seem very high,” said Ralph Hintemann, a senior researcher at the Borderstep Institute for Innovation and Sustainability. “As far as climate change is concerned, the emissions generated by power generation for data centres remain the more alarming aspect,” he added.

Marinoni wants the research to spark more discussion about how to reduce AI’s impacts. “There still might be time to consider the possibility of a different path … without affecting the demand of AI and its ability to provide progress for mankind,” he added.

mundophone

TECH

First iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max screen protectors reveal taller displays

The first screen protectors for the iPhone 18 Pro series, featuring a significantly smaller, off-center Dynamic Island cutout and a taller, narrower aspect ratio hint at potential design changes that might (literally) push the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max to new dimensions ahead of their official September launch.

Following the leaked iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max cases we showed you earlier, we get our first look at what are believed to be screen protectors for Apple's 2026 flagships.

There are two notable design elements. The first is the much smaller selfie camera cutout, which is in line with long-standing rumors of a 25-35% smaller Dynamic Island. The smaller hole you see in the protective glass is perhaps specifically there for the selfie camera.

However, the second notable difference compared to the design of the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max appears to be a slightly taller, narrower aspect ratio, a design change that hasn't been mentioned in previous leaks. Of course, unofficial images should always be taken with a dose of skepticism, but it would be quite interesting to see Apple adopt a taller display for the iPhone 18 Pro series.

A taller aspect ratio for for the regular iPhones would be in contrast with the super-wide cover screen of the foldable iPhone Ultra, but perhaps that is the whole point? If the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max end up with taller/narrower panels, this could bring their diagonal measurements to at least 6.4-inches for the 18 Pro and 7-inches for the 18 Pro Max model.

There’s only one way to find out if Apple is indeed going to break the 7-inch display barrier, and this is to wait for the official announcement of the iPhone 18 Pro series in September. Or further leaks. Stay tuned!

iPhone 17 series display sizes

iPhone 17: 6.3-inch

iPhone Air: 6.5-inch

iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch

iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch

The iPhone 18 lineup is shaping up to be one of Apple's most consequential in years, and also one of its most complicated. The Pro and Pro Max models are expected to arrive in September 2026, joined for the first time by Apple's long-rumored foldable device, widely referred to as the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra and expected to start above $2,000.

The standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and a second-generation iPhone Air, meanwhile, are reportedly being pushed to spring 2027, a significant departure from the all-in-one-fall-event model Apple has followed for years. If you've been waiting to upgrade to a standard iPhone, that shift changes the calculus considerably.

Previously, the iPhone 17 series impressed us with its surprisingly feature-packed base model, the incredibly slender iPhone Air, the boldly redesigned iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max and the entry-level iPhone 17E. We're hoping the iPhone 18 lineup will surprise us, too. 

The company is only a year or so away from the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone's launch. While the company sells more phones in the US than rival Android phones, Apple is consistently behind Samsung in global sales and just ahead of Chinese phone makers like Xiaomi. A lot is at stake for Apple with the next iPhone, including building interest in a possible foldable device, such as the rumored iPhone Fold.

Already, some of the hottest rumors include Dynamic Island shrinking, along with the possibility that the iPhone 18 and 18 Pro will have the same RAM as the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Also, word is that Apple could split the launch of its iPhone 18 lineup, with the premium models coming out this year and more entry-level models releasing next year. Here's a look at all the rumors and leaks we've uncovered about the potential iPhone 18 series.

mundophone

TECH

New semiconductor building blocks make power converters smaller, more affordable

Semiconductors are essential components of modern technology, serving as the foundation for countless electronic devices. As a result, the development and manufacturing of semiconductors have become a highly competitive field, with tech companies vying for leadership in this crucial sector.

Moreover, the significance of semiconductors has sparked widespread interest in trading and investing in the companies involved in their production, with individuals seeking exposure on the price fluctuations of these companies' stocks.

Electricity is part of virtually everything we do in modern society. From our energy grids to our smartphones and even our vehicles, electricity is what makes it all run. In a world where demand for electricity is higher than ever (and rapidly growing), energy efficiency is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Whether environmentalists who want to protect the planet or businesspeople looking to cut expenses, finding new ways to improve the efficiency of our systems and generate renewable energy is a key focus for all.

Sometimes these big developments come in small packages, and when it comes to electrical systems the components might be tiny but their impacts on efficiency can be big. That’s certainly the case with semiconductor devices, which are critical components in pretty much any electrical system you can think of, from those in your home that power your appliances to massive wind farms generating renewable energy.

Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory incorporated gallium nitride semiconductors to create a high-efficiency power converter that is more compact, affordable, and efficient.

A power converter is a type of device that manages semiconductor switching and transforms current or voltage, so electricity flows smoothly and safely among equipment, power sources, and users.

Silicon semiconductors are the fundamental building blocks of conventional converters. Manufacturer ROHM Semiconductor provided the ORNL research team with gallium nitride semiconductors that enable switching 10 to 20 times faster than silicon while losing less energy in the process.

In response to growing energy industry interest in gallium nitride, ORNL built converters with these semiconductors in its Grid Research Innovation and Development Center (GRID-C) and validated how the technology could fill performance gaps. GRID-C is a unique constellation of labs and test beds for pioneering research in grid systems integration, modeling, energy storage, analytics, and security.

ORNL researcher Rahul Biswash tests a converter built in the Grid Research Innovation and Development Center, or GRID-C, to measure the operating efficiency of incorporating a gallium nitride semiconductor. Credit: Alonda Hines/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

The smaller, lighter ORNL converter can be more affordably delivered, installed, and maintained, and it enables a flexible facility footprint that is less expensive for large projects.

"In the future, these are meant to help in artificial intelligence data center applications, which need many systems with these exact requirements," said researcher Prasad Kandula. "Size and weight add up quickly when you are looking at four to eight converters for each server, with enterprise data centers using hundreds to thousands of servers."

Smaller energy-converting semiconductor components are vital because they drastically improve efficiency, reduce heat, and save space. By making these components—such as power converters and transistors—smaller and leveraging advanced materials like Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Silicon Carbide (SiC), industries can cut energy waste and operate more sustainably.

In traditional circuits, logic devices that perform computation, like transistors, and memory devices that store data are built as separate components, forcing data to travel back and forth between them, which wastes energy.

This new electronics integration platform allows scientists to fabricate transistors and memory devices in one compact stack on a semiconductor chip. This eliminates much of that wasted energy while boosting the speed of computation.

Key to this advance is a newly developed material with unique properties and a more precise fabrication approach that reduces the number of defects in the material. This allows the researchers to make extremely tiny transistors with built-in memory that can perform faster than state-of-the-art devices while consuming less electricity than similar transistors.

By improving the energy efficiency of electronic devices, this new approach could help reduce the burgeoning electricity consumption of computation, especially for demanding applications like generative AI, deep learning, and computer vision tasks.

The main reasons why these smaller components are so important include:

Lower energy losses: Smaller components, especially those utilizing wide-bandgap materials, can switch currents on and off thousands of times per second. This minimizes heat generation and energy waste during power conversion.

Increased power density: Shrinking components allows engineers to pack more processing and conversion power into a much tighter space. For example, in large server and enterprise data centers, smaller power electronics enable more powerful infrastructure without requiring more floor space.

Improved system reliability: Smaller electronic hardware translates to shorter distances for electrons to travel, which inherently reduces power usage and prevents overheating. This decreases failure rates and extends the lifespan of the equipment.

Enhanced green energy Transition: Smaller, more effective semiconductors are critical for harvesting and converting power from renewable sources like solar panels and wind turbines. They allow devices to handle high voltages and temperatures with minimal power loss, directly supporting net-zero emission goals.

Better portability and weight reduction: In sectors like the automotive industry, shrinking semiconductor modules is essential. Smaller parts reduce the overall weight and size of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging stations, directly impacting battery range and cost.

Provided by Oak Ridge National Laboratory