Xbox Handheld delayed, Google AI wins/losses, Meta/Anduril collab + more!

Summary

TechLinked Podcast Summary – May 31, 2025 Episode

Hosted by Linus Media Group, TechLinked delivers thrice-weekly updates on the latest in tech and gaming culture. In this episode, the hosts delve into significant industry developments, including Microsoft's Xbox handheld delay, advancements and challenges in Google's AI initiatives, and a surprising collaboration between Meta and Anduril. Additionally, a series of quick updates touch on AI licensing, new GPU releases, innovative robotics, and futuristic wearable technology.

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1. Microsoft’s Xbox Handheld Delay and Strategic Shift

[00:39] The episode kicks off with breaking news that Microsoft has decided to postpone the development of its highly anticipated handheld Xbox console. Instead of pushing forward with their own device, Microsoft is reallocating resources to enhance Windows 11 for third-party gaming handhelds.

[00:42] According to Jez Cord from Windows Central, Microsoft’s decision stems from the need to strengthen their existing ecosystem. This move diverges from the initial plan to release the first dedicated Xbox handheld designed to natively run Xbox games by 2027.

[00:31] The co-host explains, “Microsoft has pumped the brakes on development of its handheld Xbox console and is now dedicating more resources towards optimizing Windows 11 for third party gaming handhelds.” This strategic pivot allows Microsoft to support a broader range of devices, potentially increasing their market reach and flexibility in the competitive gaming hardware landscape.

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2. SteamOS Advances and the Gaming Ecosystem

Shifting focus to SteamOS, Valve is making notable strides with their latest build, which now officially supports installation on third-party hardware. This development has been embraced by popular YouTubers such as Random Gaming in HD and ETA Prime, who have reported that SteamOS is “outperforming Windows 11 in many cases”.

[00:42] The hosts highlight that Valve has updated their language to include SteamOS compatibility ratings for games, ensuring clarity for users regarding which titles are optimized for their operating system. Additionally, the introduction of the GeForce Now app for Steam Deck enhances the gaming experience by providing a more reliable streaming service compared to previous alternatives.

[00:37] In response to SteamOS’s growing popularity, Microsoft is contemplating releasing an early version of Copilot for gaming within the Xbox app on iOS and Android. This feature would allow gamers to interact with AI for tips and assistance during gameplay, potentially serving as a countermeasure to SteamOS’s rising dominance. However, the co-host remains skeptical, noting, “I don't know, the damage might be done here,” indicating that SteamOS’s momentum may be challenging for Microsoft to reverse.

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3. Google’s AI Endeavors: Triumphs and Tribulations

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, asserted in a recent Verge Decoder podcast that AI is poised to surpass the Internet in significance. The hosts discuss this bold claim, agreeing that AI’s potential is immense but cautioning about its societal implications. Pichai envisions AI fostering innovation without necessarily enhancing human-to-human interaction, which contrasts with the connective power of the Internet.

[02:00] The podcast addresses practical advancements such as live translation in smart glasses, which nearly enable real-time conversations across different languages, and Gemini’s video analysis capabilities within Google Drive. These features showcase AI’s positive impact on productivity and communication.

However, not all is smooth sailing. The hosts critique some of Gemini's functionalities, including automated Gmail AI summaries that tend to overpopulate screens and lead to user frustration. Additionally, AI-generated overviews in Google Search have been prone to factual inaccuracies, such as incorrectly stating the current year.

A perplexing incident was reported where Google Maps erroneously marked all the busiest German autobahn routes as closed. While some speculated about interference from other AI systems, the hosts dismiss such theories as "outlandish," emphasizing the occasional glitches that accompany rapid technological advancements.

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4. Meta and Palmer Luckey’s Mixed Reality Collaboration with Anduril

In a surprising turn of events, Meta has reconciled with Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus, now leading the military tech company Anduril. Luckey, who was ousted from Oculus in 2017, has since made his mark in the defense sector. This partnership will focus on developing mixed reality technology tailored for military applications.

[03:37] The co-host remarks, “Meta has made amends with founder of Oculus and enjoyer of goatees grown in the scrotum style Palmer Luckey.” This collaboration marks a significant shift in Silicon Valley, where tech giants are increasingly engaging in military contracts—an area that was previously considered taboo before 2020.

Bloomberg highlights that this trend reflects a broader change, as established companies like Meta join forces with specialized tech firms like Anduril to advance defense technologies. The podcast humorously notes the Tolkien-inspired names of these companies, suggesting a whimsical yet concerning intersection of geek culture and military-industrial ambitions. The hosts mused, “Palmer Luckey's out here naming his company after the reforged Sword of Aragorn and yapping about his dream being to turn war fighters into technomancers,” blending fantasy elements with real-world technological developments.

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5. Quick Bits: Miscellaneous Tech Updates

AI Licensing and Legal Battles The New York Times has entered a landmark AI licensing deal with Amazon, allowing the streaming giant to use NYT content to train its in-house AI models and enabling Alexa to incorporate excerpts with links back to the NYT website. This move follows the NYT’s 2023 lawsuit against OpenAI for unauthorized use of their content, highlighting the ongoing tensions around AI and copyright.

Upcoming GPU Releases AMD enthusiasts are excited for the imminent release of the RX9060XT, available in both 8GB and 16GB variants. Notably, Yeston’s Gaia 16GB version boasts a 100 MHz higher base and boost clock, underscoring the importance of scrutinizing specifications before purchase. Additionally, Chinese chipmaker Lysuan is set to launch a new 6-nanometer GPU aimed at matching RX4060 performance levels, expected to enter external markets once tariffs are lifted.

Innovative Robotics from Hugging Face AI hosting platform Hugging Face has unveiled Hope Jr., a humanoid robot priced at approximately $3,000. This open-source robot invites enthusiasts to modify and enhance its capabilities, even adding unconventional features like spider legs. Alongside Hope Jr., the company introduced the Ricci Mini, a desktop robot with limited mobility but potential for intellectual challenges.

Futuristic Wearable Technology: Electronic Tattoos Researchers in Austin, Texas, have developed electronic tattoos—ultra-thin sensors applied to the face that monitor brain activity and eye movement to assess mental strain. Termed “E face tats,” these devices can alert employers to an employee’s cognitive load, allowing for dynamic task allocation. While innovative, the hosts express unease over the dystopian implications of such pervasive monitoring, humorously suggesting, “Maybe they should give these to real gang members,” to illustrate the potential for misuse.

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Conclusion

This episode of TechLinked provided a comprehensive overview of pivotal developments in the tech and gaming sectors. From Microsoft’s strategic reorientation and SteamOS’s competitive advancements to Google’s ambitious yet flawed AI pursuits, and Meta’s unexpected foray into military tech through collaboration with Palmer Luckey and Anduril, the landscape is rapidly evolving. Additionally, the quick bits offered a glimpse into future technologies and the ongoing interplay between AI and content licensing. For listeners seeking to stay informed on the latest tech trends without delving into every detail, this episode serves as a rich and engaging resource.

Transcript

[Host]

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[Co-Host]

Okay, and then it goes over there.

[Host]

Okay, gotcha.

[Co-Host]

Right, thanks. Oh hey, sorry. I just finished getting the tech news from my tech news guy and now I can give it to you.

[Host]

Where's he getting it from?

[Co-Host]

Hmm?

[Host]

Where's he getting it from?

[Co-Host]

From his guy. Microsoft has pumped the brakes on development of its handheld Xbox console and is now dedicating more resources towards optimizing Windows 11 for third party gaming handhelds. According to Windows Central's resident sneaky Xbox guy, Jez Cord, he must have a talent for hiding in vents above boardrooms. To be clear, we're not talking about Project Kennen, the Xbox edition of an Asus handheld first leaked by Jez himself after he squeezed his now sweaty body back out of the vents. We're talking about the we're talking about the first of its kind proper Xbox branded handheld console meant to natively run Xbox games, which was supposedly slated for a 2027 release. But but it makes sense that Microsoft wants to get its Windows 11 house in order first, because SteamOS is having what you might call a verified gamer moment. The newest build, which officially supports installation on third party hardware, is being installed on desktop PCs by multiple YouTubers, including random gaming in HD and ETA prime. And it's outperforming Windows 11 in many cases. Valve has noticeably changed their language recently, adding SteamOS compatibility ratings for games to help cover Internet. Any device running SteamOS that's not a Steam Deck. For everything else that's not rated as SteamOS compatible, there's the new official GeForce now app for Steam Deck, which apparently runs the service better than previously available alternatives. People are getting all hot and steamy over SteamOS, so Microsoft has gotta do something to draw gamers away. Oh hey, maybe releasing an early version of Copilot for gaming in the Xbox app on iOS and Android will help. So while gaming, you can ask the AI on your phone for tips. I don't know, the damage might be done here. There must be some amount of people out there who already think Xbox is owned by Elon Musk, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said on the Verge's Decoder podcast that AI is going to be bigger than the Internet, which I think is true, but with the opposite effect. See, the Internet allowed and encouraged unprecedented human to human contact across the globe. AI will allow you to completely avoid speaking to another human again, ever. Something that used to be necessary if you wanted to create a photorealistic short film like this one made by the Wall Street Journal, although it's still a pretty complicated process which will leave you even less time to interact with other humans. Okay, that's not entirely true. Live translation in smart glasses is real close to letting people have a near real time conversation in two separate languages. And and Gemini can analyze videos in Google Drive now, and that's cool. What's not cool is the other Gemini stuff, like Gmail AI summaries now automatically popping up and taking up half your phone screen unless you turn it off, and AI overviews in search still making basic errors like confidently stating it is not the current year that it is. I'm not sure if Gemini was involved in Google Maps suddenly marking all of the most used German autobahn routes as closed for a few because Google didn't say what happened. But what, you think Claude Foer from Anthropic crawled in and wreaked havoc in the Google Maps system for a while? That's outlandish. Great news, everyone. Meta has made amends with founder of Oculus and enjoyer of goatees grown in the scrotum style Palmer Luckey. Luckey was fired in 2017, but has since regained prominence through his successful military tech company and Enduril, which will now be working with Meta on mixed reality tech for the military. Military? Maybe. I don't know. And maybe that's because Meta CTO and head of Reality Labs, which is what Oculus became, apologized to Lucky for being rude on Twitter. And that's not really the whole story, but it's also not super important. Meta's involvement here comes after Anduril picked up where Microsoft left off after their HoloLens project for the army fizzled out, and Bloomberg notes that this all shows how much has changed in Silicon Valley. Everybody's doing military deals now, but pre 2020the expectation was that big tech wouldn't get involved in military projects. But that being taboo led to the founding of a number of relatively new, less scrupulous tech companies who are happy to accept military and sensitive government contracts, and many of whose names, like Anduril and Palantir are also references to the works of JRR Tolkien who would probably have some choice words for the people associating his name with the industrialization of war. Palmer Luckey's out here naming his company after the reforged Sword of Aragorn and yapping about his dream being to turn war fighters into technomancers. And the geekiness is kind of charming, but it also makes me want to go Tom Bombadil on this guy. Please shave. And please check out our sponsor SignalRGB the easy way to control and sync all of your RGB devices with one free app Look PC gamers, we love the pretty RGB lights all right, but they're messy. You've got different ecosystems and apps for Razer, Corsair, EVGA, SteelSeries, Logitech. Ah, well, guess what? SignalRGB just fixes that. This is one app that works for all of those brands and way more. Over 100 altogether with with controls for game integrations, macros, fan control and audio visualizers all in one clean interface. It's crisp. So delete the RGB bloatware and download SignalRGB today and simplify your setup. It's time for quick bits. But first, fun fact. At some point the never ending chain of tech news guys passing on the tech news turns into turtles. And honestly, I try not to think about that too much. The New York Times has made its first AI deal licensing the use of its content to Amazon to train their in house AI models and to allow Alexa to include excerpts from and links back to the NYT website. The New York Times, of course, sued OpenAI in 2023 for training its models on the Times content without a license. That's perhaps the most prominent AI copyright case and is still moving through the courts. And it all just goes to show you either die before AI scrapes your content for free or or live long enough to make a deal for AI to scrape your content for money. You are going to die though. We already knew that AMD's RX9060XT was coming soon with both 8Gig and 16Gig versions, but the two variants may have differences in other specs as well, depending on the manufacturer. Marketing materials from GPU board partner Yeston Yes, Ton lists their Gaia 16 gigabyte version with a 100 MHz higher base and boost clock. So make sure you read the fine print if you're in the GPU market. Or you could wait until Chinese chip maker Lysuan brings its brand new 6 nanometer GPU which is apparently targeting RX4060 level performance to external markets. The tariffs will have to be gone by then, I think. AI hosting Platform Hugging Face has introduced a humanoid robot called Hope JR, which Hope Jr. I don't know, which will cost around 3000 USD and is completely open source so anyone can rebuild or modify it however they like add spider legs. You know, just really this thing up if you want. The company also announced a small desktop open source robot called the Ricci Mini, which is a pretty rude thing to name a robot that can only move its head, but maybe it's also really good at arguing in bad faith and Researchers in Austin, Texas have developed specialized electronic tattoos, super thin sensors you stick around your head that monitor brain activity and eye movement to gauge the wearer's level of mental strain. The researchers figure that if workers wear these E face tats, their superiors could adjust assignments and reallocate personnel if the system detects that someone's cognitive burden has reached critical levels. That sounds dystopian, but I have to admit I love the idea of making face tattoos functional. Now you can have a couple tear tattoos under your eye because they tell your boss's computer when you're sad. Maybe they light up for the next trial. They should give these to real gang members and if they just can't take the stress of living outside the law, the mob boss can let them leave with no issues. Hey, you're not cut out for this, you know. You can go. But oh boy, will I have an issue with you. If you don't come back here on Friday for more tech news, don't think I won't do anything either. You know why I got this tattoo? Because I. Oh. What oh, it washed off already? You didn't want to know anyway.