Summary
Overview
This WAN Show episode covers major tech news including rising RAM and SSD prices affecting gamers, DuckDuckGo install spikes following Google's AI search changes, and California's digital ownership legislation. The show features a tape-to-tape hockey gaming segment with Linus, Luke, and team members, plus discussions on AI-generated content detection, stick drift solutions for Xbox controllers, and Linus's knife-forging experience in Japan.
Hardware Pricing Crisis and Chinese Memory Market Entry
RAM and SSD prices have seen unprecedented increases due to AI demand, creating significant challenges for consumers. Chinese memory maker CXMT has entered the mainstream DDR5 market through a partnership with Corsair, offering a small relief valve. The hosts reflect on how valuable their RAM has become, with some attendees at Whale Land leading with storage specs rather than GPUs due to the pricing situation.
- Chinese memory maker CXMT partnered with Corsair to bring DDR5-6000 kits to market, marking their first appearance in major Western brand products
- CXMT can produce consumer DDR5 because US sanctions blocked them from getting tools for HBM production for AI
- Linus considered selling his 64GB of RAM on Facebook Marketplace due to its increased value, estimating it's worth around $500 now versus $200-250 when purchased
- At Whale Land, attendees were leading conversations by mentioning their NVMe drives and RAM rather than GPUs, showing how expensive storage has become
" Making DDR5 is way more profitable today than it was six months ago. It's only going to accelerate China's long-term ambitions. "
" I was showing people's computers and the first specs they'd rattle off was their NVMe drives and their RAM. I don't remember the last time literally ever that I've done a walk at some LAN and people have rattled off their storage. "
DuckDuckGo Growth Following Google's AI Integration
Following Google's aggressive integration of AI features announced at Google I/O, DuckDuckGo saw significant growth in both app installs and visits to their AI-free landing page. The hosts discuss how Google's forced AI integration with no opt-out option is degrading search quality and driving users to alternatives, with particular concern about sponsored results dominating search pages.
- DuckDuckGo US app installs jumped 18% week-over-week in the six days after Google I/O conference
- Visits to DuckDuckGo's AI-free landing page climbed about 23% on average following Google's AI announcements
- A writer's meeting example showed Google search results completely filled above the fold with sponsored content, making it difficult to find actual information
- Linus and Luke discuss Kagi, a paid search engine with no ads or tracking, priced at $5/month for 300 searches or $10/month for unlimited professional tier
" Remember when Google's whole mission with search was to help you like actually fucking find something? What happened? "
" James was trying to look something up and he scrolled past the completely filling above the fold sponsored results, got all the way to the bottom where there was like more kind of misleading or sponsored results and then he had to go like back. "
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