The Hot Take: Samsung playing catch up and hopefully over take TSMC? Only time will tell.
Korean chip manufacturing giant Samsung is developing simulation technologies for lithography that rely on quantum computing and artificial intelligence, suggests a report from the Korean press. The technology will be used to run simulations of the first stage of the chip manufacturing process, and Samsung will also rely on artificial intelligence to streamline the process. Through the technology, the firm aims to reduce the time and cost of the lithography and etching processes. Samsung Is Developing Algorithms To Boost Its Photolithography, Say Sources In the semiconductor manufacturing process, lithography is the first and most important step. It involves high-end machines, [âŚ]Read full article at https://wccftech.com/samsung-chases-tsmc-with-quantum-powered-chipmaking-as-ai-reshapes-the-most-critical-step-in-fabrication/
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The Hot Take: Oh so the Ultra series aren't just crap then? /smh
It's curious to call this one a leak, exactly, since the original source is direct from AMD and live on the web, but here we go: AMD's Vishal Badole submitted a patch for the Linux Kernel that he describes as adding support for "a Low Power core type, in addition to the existing Performance and Efficiency types." That's pretty clear-cut.
Now,
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The Hot Take: Software development world is condensing fast with Ai....
Microsoft is expected to announce another round of layoffs soon. Less than 2.5% of the company's workforce will be affected, according to sources that spoke with Business Insider. Due Microsoft's size, even that small percentage means thousands of people will be affected.An SEC filing from June 30, 2025 showed Microsoft had about 228,000 employees. That figure has fluctuated since then, but it gives a gauge of the size of Microsoft's full-time workforce.Division cuts & AI infrastructureThis round of layoffs will affect thousands of roles across sales, consulting, and within the Xbox division. Microsoft is expected to announce the layoffs next week, though plans are subject to change.July layoffs have become commonplace for Microsoft because the company's fiscal year starts on July 1. Over 9,000 layoffs were made by Microsoft last July. Microsoft also lays off workers during other times of the year, such as the 6,000 layoffs made in May 2025.Microsoft is one of many tech giants looking to reduce head count and lower expenses in certain areas. Increased AI spending and the rise of AI has affected jobs at several levels.Voluntary retirements lowered the impactThis July will reportedly have fewer layoffs because several employees took voluntary retirement. Microsoft offered buyouts to employees level 67 and below in the United States who had 70 or more combined years of service and years of age (for example, someone who was 50 years old who had worked for Microsoft for 20 years).Roughly 9,000 Microsoft employees were eligible for that buyout and around one third of those eligible took the buyout, according to Business Insider.Xbox restructuringLayoffs have been expected, and not simply because they've become an annual occurrence. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is overseeing a restructuring of Xbox, much of which will occur within a 100-day reset.As is the case with all layoff-related stories, I understand the business decisions that lead to layoffs but feel bad for the employees affected.Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
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The Hot Take: All I have to say is YES!
A new class-action lawsuit filed in California accuses SK hynix, Samsung, and Micron of coordinating DRAM production to artificially restrict supply and maintain elevated prices for consumer memory products.
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The Hot Take: About time. I've been saying they should have one for a while.
The big story in computing these days is how an ongoing shortage of RAM (dubbed RAMageddon or the RAMpocalypse) has led to massive increases in hardware costs. The conventional explanation of the situation has been that shortages have been driven by the widespread construction of AI data centers. However, a new lawsuit (Garciaguirre et al. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., et al.) filed against RAM manufacturers Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, alleges that these companies are exploiting market conditions to artificially inflate prices.
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The Hot Take: Slowly Windows becoming more and more Linux.
Microsoft has shot down the idea that WSL 3 is on the way. The articles that have been calling it WSL 3 mixed up a different feature, WSL Containers, which the company showed at Build 2026 and is now days away from shipping. The correction came straight from the team that builds Windows Subsystem for Linux.
TL; DR: WSL 3 does not exist. WSL Containers does, and it shows up in less than a week.
Microsoft has officially denied that WSL 3 exists.
Craig Loewen, the Product Manager at Microsoft responsible for the Windows Subsystem for Linux, posted on X to clear up: âAs a PSA, there is no such thing as WSL 3! Iâve seen some articles talking about it, and itâs not currently a thing.â Loewen was addressing a wave of articles that misidentified a different announcement.
The confusion started from Microsoft Build 2026, where the company announced WSL Containers, a new built-in feature that lets you create, run, and interact with Linux containers directly on Windows without third-party tools like Docker Desktop. Popular publications reported this as WSL 3, partly because the abbreviation WSLc was floating around.
According to Loewen, WSL Containers is not a versioned successor to WSL 2. It is a new capability built on top of the existing WSL infrastructure. He also confirmed it will be available in just a week or so from his post on June 23, 2026.
What is WSL, and what are WSL Containers
If you are not a developer, hereâs a quick primer. WSL stands for Windows Subsystem for Linux, and it is a feature built into Windows that lets you run Linux environments directly inside Windows, without the need to dual-boot into a separate OS or set up a full VM.
However, a container is a lightweight, isolated environment that packages an application along with everything it needs to run, including dependencies, libraries, and configuration. Unlike a VM, a container does not simulate an entire operating system. It shares the host OS kernel but keeps its own file system and process space.
The advantage is that containers are faster to start, easier to share, and portable across machines. WSL Containers brings this container functionality directly into WSL itself.
WSL Containers vs WSL 1 and WSL 2: what is different
WSL Containers is not a version number. It is a new layer of capability on top of WSLâs existing virtual machine infrastructure.
WSL 1 launched in August 2016 as a translation layer that converted Linux system calls into Windows ones. There wasnât any real Linux kernel, so containers were a non-starter.
WSL 2 arrived in preview in May 2019 with a full Linux kernel running inside a lightweight managed VM, which made Docker Desktop possible.
WSL 1 (2016)
WSL 2 (2019)
WSL Containers (2026)
Primary purpose
Run Linux command-line tools on Windows
Run a full Linux OS inside Windows
Run isolated Linux containers natively on Windows
Engine
Translation layer, no real Linux kernel
Real Linux kernel in a lightweight Hyper-V VM
Dedicated Hyper-V engine built for OCI containers
Container support
No
Yes, but needs Docker Desktop
Yes, natively via wslc.exe
Control surface
Windows Command Prompt or Linux terminal
Linux terminal inside a distro (e.g., Ubuntu)
wslc CLI from any Windows terminal
So, what problem is WSL Containers solving?
In case you didnât know it already, developers who wanted Linux containers on Windows used Docker Desktop, which uses WSL 2 as its backend on Windows 11. Docker Desktop works well, but it comes with per-seat licensing costs for larger teams and needs a complex setup that IT administrators in enterprise environments have to manage separately.
WSL Containers removes the need for Docker
Containers can now be built, run, and deployed directly from Windows using wslc.exe, without installing Docker Desktop or any other third-party tool. The command syntax closely mirrors Docker, so developers do not face a steep relearning curve. WSL Containers also supports GPU passthrough via the Container Device Interface, which means you can run GPU-accelerated workloads like CUDA-based machine learning pipelines inside a Linux container on your Windows GPU drivers.
For enterprise IT administrators, the feature integrates into the existing Windows management infrastructure. Policy-based enablement through Group Policy or MDM controls, which containers can run and where images can be sourced from. Administrators can see running containers through standard Windows auditing tools, which is something Docker Desktop did not offer natively.
Microsoft announced WSL Containers at Build 2026
At Build 2026 on June 2, Microsoft positioned WSL Containers as a core part of its developer-optimized Windows 11 story. The official announcement, published by Executive Vice President Pavan Davuluri, described it as âa built-in way to create, run and interact with Linux containers on Windows.â
https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WSL-containers.mp4
WSL Containers has two components:
The first is the exe CLI, which lets developers build, run, and deploy Linux containers directly from the command line, out of the box.
The second is the WSL Container API, which allows Windows application developers to use Linux containers programmatically as part of app logic, covering scenarios like running local AI workloads, container-based testing pipelines, and Linux-based data processing from within native Windows apps.
Build 2026 also had a few other Linux tools for Windows 11. Coreutils for Windows is now generally available, bringing over 75 familiar Linux command-line utilities like ls, grep, cp, and mv natively to Windows without WSL or a VM. Built on the open-source uutils project in Rust, these commands run directly on Windows, which means scripts that use them work without modification. The Intelligent Terminal, an experimental feature that brings context-aware AI assistance directly into the terminal, was also previewed at the same event.
Why Microsoft keeps investing in Linux on Windows
Microsoftâs investments in WSL and Linux tooling are not altruistic. The company knows that if Windows becomes the easiest place to run Linux workloads, developers have fewer reasons to switch to macOS or a native Linux setup. We wrote about this when Microsoft outlined plans to upgrade WSL with faster file access, better networking, and easier setup.
Modern software development is overwhelmingly Linux-first. Build pipelines run on Linux. Cloud infrastructure runs on Linux. AI frameworks like PyTorch, TensorFlow, llama.cpp, and Ollama are built and optimized for Linux environments. Developers working on Windows have historically had to either fight their tools or maintain a separate Linux environment alongside their Windows machine.
With WSL 2 handling Linux kernel compatibility and WSL Containers eliminating the need for Docker Desktop, Microsoft is trying to remove every reason a developer might have to reach for a different platform. Coreutils on top of that means even the command-line muscle memory that belongs to macOS and Linux now works on Windows out of the box.
Itâs good news for developers. Each iteration of WSL has consistently improved the experience. Iâm also a fan of how WSL Containers arrive as a routine WSL update, available to every Windows 11 user without a major OS upgrade.
The post Microsoft denies WSL 3 exists, reveals Windows 11âs WSL Containers ship next week appeared first on Windows Latest
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The Hot Take: Interesting, Risc-V shop from rockstar architect Jim Keller.
Jim Keller isn't bothered by Cerebras's recent IPO and says that he welcomes it, but Tenstorrent will still beat them on everything. Tenstorrent CEO, Jim Keller, Signals Deal With Intel or Qualcomm While Promising To Beat Cerebras "on everything" Tenstorrent recently introduced its latest BlackHole Galaxy server, a system with which it can disrupt the entire AI segment, with performance levels that crush the competition. We covered the announcement last month when the company demoed its Blackhole server undercutting a NVIDIA GB300 with up to five times better TCO. Keller Accepts The Challenge To Beat NVIDIA, Cerebras & Others At [âŚ]Read full article at https://wccftech.com/jim-keller-cerebras-ipo-was-helpful-tenstorrent-to-beat-them-on-everything/
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The Hot Take: I just hear Tim Allen in my head from tool time.
Intel is expected to push the boundaries on power draw with its upcoming Nova Lake series processors, which will rival the best CPUs. According to newly leaked information, the flagship 52-core desktop variant is expected to feature a dual-compute tile architecture with a massive PL2 limit of 474W. The information was shared by LC Tech Leaks and confirmed by Jaykihn, who has a pretty solid track record with Intel hardware.PL2, or Power Limit 2, represents the maximum power a CPU can draw during short boost periods. That said, a PL2 target of 474W remains quite demanding, although a previous rumor suggests Intel may also have a PL4 emergency power limit over 700W. It is important to note that these power limits may only apply to the top-end models with the dual-tile architecture.Additionally, the leak also sheds light on the upcoming platform, including the previously rumored LGA1954 socket. We already know that Nova Lake-S will require a new generation of motherboards. Motherboard vendors are expected to classify their boards by sustained PL1 power levels, with configurations for 35W, 65W, 125W, and 175W CPUs. Enthusiast-grade motherboards, likely the Z990 series, are also rumored to feature three EPS 8-pin CPU power connectors instead of the traditional two. While vendors will have the option to include a third connector, its primary purpose would be to support extreme overclocking and would not affect the CPU's rated performance profile.The upcoming Nova Lake-S lineup is expected to carry the âCore Ultra 400Sâ moniker and will be Intel's biggest desktop CPU overhaul in years. Weâve previously reported leaked specifications indicating configurations ranging from 6 to 52 cores, with support for DDR5-8000 memory. The flagship 52-core model is expected to feature 16 performance cores, 32 efficiency cores, and a new Big Last Level Cache (bLLC) design to take on AMD's 3D V-Cache gaming dominance. The company is also rumored to introduce integrated Xe3 graphics, Thunderbolt 5, PCIe 5.0 connectivity, and an upgraded NPU for AI workloads.While these specifications are unconfirmed, it is clear that Intel is targeting substantial gains in gaming, multi-threaded performance, and overall platform capabilities with its next-gen processors.
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The Hot Take: We'll see how long before they go to Intel because TSMC is filled up in Arizona FABs.
Nvidia will stay TSMCâs biggest customer in 2027, but AMDâs EPYC Venice could pinch the CPU bragging rights.
TSMC is seeing rising demand for 2.5D advanced packaging as CPUs become more important in the agentic AI bunfight. Apparently, GPUs alone are no longer enough to feed the machine.
Morgan Stanley reckons Nvidia will remain TSMCâs largest CoWoS customer in 2027. TSMC is expected to reach wafer capacity of 200,000 wafers a month that year.
Nvidia is using TSMCâs CoWoS packaging for two main product families. CoWoS-L is for AI GPUs such as Blackwell and Rubin, while CoWoS-R is for Vera CPUs.
CoWoS-L capacity is expected to hit about 910,000 units, up 40 per cent year on year. Vera shipments are expected to double, which would help Nvidia lift data centre revenue by 52 per cent.
Morgan Stanley said:âNvidia uses TSMCâs CoWoS-L as the single source for all its AI GPU products (e.g. Blackwell and Rubin). Its 2027 CoWoS-L consumption could reach ~910k, up ~40 per cent year on year. Strong CoWoS-R bookings by Nvidia suggest room for AI GPM products (such as doubling). Taken together, we estimate Nvidiaâs 2027 forecast for Nvidiaâs data centre revenue to rise 52 per cent year on year.â
Nvidia has been pivoting harder into CPUs to claw back China revenue after GPU restrictions. Several customers have shown interest in Vera CPUs.
The company has hand-delivered the first Vera CPUs to Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceX and Oracle. Nothing says âagentic AI eraâ like an expensive chip being passed around the usual suspects.
The problem for Nvidia is that AMD is not politely standing at the back. Its next-generation EPYC Venice platform is already in volume production at TSMC.
Venice is based on AMDâs upcoming Zen 6 architecture and is expected to deliver better performance and efficiency. It targets both AI and HPC, while Vera is being pitched squarely at agentic AI.
Morgan Stanley projects Nvidiaâs Vera CPUs could reach 5.75 million units by 2027. AMDâs EPYC Venice, though, could reach 6.75 million units in 2027. That is 17 per cent more than Vera and 5.4 times its expected 2026 volume.
âBased on our CoWoS consumption forecasts, Nvidiaâs 5nm Vera CPU could grow to 5.75mn units in 2027, while AMDâs 2nm Venice CPU may reach 6.75mn units in 2027 vs. ~1.25mn in 2026,â the beancounters said.
AMD has another advantage on paper, with Venice using TSMCâs advanced 2-nanometre process. Vera is based on a 3-nanometre process. The real headache for both companies may not be each other. It is custom silicon, where the cloud crowd is deciding that buying chips off the shelf is for the riffraff.
OpenAI, Google, Amazon and others are either talking up custom chips or already building them. That turns the AI supply chain into a fight between outside suppliers and in-house silicon vanity projects.
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