Big AI has PC users furious. Nvidia and Micron’s weird emotional appeals make it worse

Corporations don’t have emotions. And but, they need others to suppose they do—and that we’re being too tough on them.

Twice this previous week, main tech firms appealed to empathy. One bid bubbled up in a Wccftech interview with Micron, when the reminiscence producer was requested if it and different suppliers have been abandoning shoppers. The response: “Our viewpoint is that we try to assist shoppers all over the world. We’re simply doing it by completely different channels. […] What’s happening proper now could be that the TAM [ed: Total Addressable Market] and information middle is rising simply completely tremendously. And we wish to be sure that, as an organization, we assist fulfill that TAM as nicely.”

The different got here from Nvidia, with CEO Jensen Huang calling gloomy views of AI “extremely hurtful” throughout a dialogue on the No Priors podcast. Huang’s take: “I think we’ve done a lot of damage lately with very well-respected people who have painted a doomer narrative, end of the world narrative, science fiction narrative. […] It’s not helpful to people, it’s not helpful to the industry, it’s not helpful to society, it’s not helpful to the governments.” 

I used to be struck by the argument Huang went on to current in that very same podcast section, which suggests AI goes by rising pains whereas reaching the purpose of performance, and such negativity hinders and slows that progress—in addition to that of the podcast hosts, who seeded the concept of self-interest because the motivator for regulatory motion. That these searching for regulation could also be making an attempt to freeze out new startups, not save humanity.

There’s a lesson right here for these of us within the stands—everybody is looking for their very own pursuits, together with shoppers. And we must be sensible about appeals to emotion, as a result of they’re not all the time within the curiosity of the listener.

Micron reported a income of $37.38 billion for fiscal year 2025. Nvidia reported a income of $57 billion for simply its newest quarter. AI is scorching.

Meanwhile, inflation and rates of interest proceed to depress consumer spending power right here within the U.S., which is mirrored overseas as nicely. AI has additionally torched jobs—it’s fueled 1000’s of layoffs already.

Sure, within the grand scheme of issues, the fevered tempo of tech usually has led to good outcomes in the long run. But that doesn’t change the person influence of incomes misplaced, plans destroyed, safety evaporated. So when an organization makes a play for my settlement by emotion, I all the time surprise: Who advantages from this imaginative and prescient?

In this case, shoppers not being utterly shut out isn’t the win Micron delicately posited. RAM now prices triple what it did simply naked months in the past—many will nonetheless be successfully shut out from upgrades and substitute PCs. For Nvidia’s half, the hints that zero regulation advantages progress ignores the human ingredient: As the saying goes, laws are sometimes written in blood. How a lot regulation is warranted is a distinct dialog, and an affordable one to have.

But you may’t have an affordable dialogue with out some critique or outright criticism. When firms enchantment to emotion, I ponder why it doesn’t minimize each methods. I ponder who advantages. In the case of expertise proper now, actually not people. This strategy isn’t a good tactic. None of us ought to settle for it as such.

In this episode of The Full Nerd 

In this episode of The Full Nerd, Will Smith, Adam Patrick Murray, Alaina Yee, and Michael Crider give CES 2026 a ultimate send-off with a take a look at the smaller issues we preferred on the present. I’m nonetheless contemplating constructing my very own E-Ink image show now. If expertise can save me from my unhappy bachelor-esque habits, I’m for it. 

Also, Will did make me really feel higher that I’m not as unhealthy as I believed, concerning house decor. I’ve a sofa, sir. And even a espresso desk!

I used to be not within the majority on my opinion of the present flooring robots, although.

Willis Lai / Foundry

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This week’s quieter nerd information

I can’t say I’m mad concerning the gradual movement of reports this week—I assume everybody’s nonetheless wrung out from CES 2026…or simply drained from counting all the mentions of AI from the keynotes. (I want to be aware that Will and I obtained our depend by pure, old style grit.) 

Still, there’s loads to eye with hypothesis. Or outright suspicion. (I’m giving that supposed Steam Machine pricing some side-eye.)

kingston.com

• Digging deep into the archives: Apparently, Chinese DIY builders are actually recommissioning DDR3 motherboards to be used. I by no means thought I may justify my continued use of my Sandy Bridge system, however right here we’re.

• Necessity is the mother of invention: Or no less than, the precipitator of modding laptop computer RAM to work as desktop RAM, as a result of it really works out to be cheaper.

• I am not all-in: Google Gemini can now join with Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube to offer extra personalised solutions to a person’s questions. It’s at the moment set as opt-out, and Google pinky-swears it’s not coaching the mannequin on any accessible information…however the firm is also reminding everybody that, you realize, your information resides already on its servers. Yeah.

• On the inside: I like me an excellent manufacturing unit tour. I used to be more than happy after I noticed a notification for this Gamers Nexus video, which provides a cool peek into manufacturing of Intel Arc playing cards at Sparkle.

• Uh, congrats, Linux? Security researchers have uncovered a brand new, beforehand unknown—and extra superior—malware concentrating on Linux cloud servers. An undesirable (however I assume predictable) reminder that unhealthy actors go after individuals, not platforms.

• ICYMI: Nvidia DLSS 4.5 (no less than, the tremendous decision half) is dwell—when you have a suitable card, you may strive it out proper now.

Valve

• I’m dubious: Buried deep in a Czech retailer’s web site have been two doable indicators of the upcoming Steam Machine’s value, with each the entry-level and improve variations circling the $1,00zero mark. Placeholder, or an indication of the occasions? My vote’s for the previous.

• More chip tariffs inbound: These will give attention to “advanced” processors, in keeping with experiences.

• Oooooh: Is AMD taking a web page out of Nvidia’s playbook? Rumor has it that Team Red will drop its new Gorgon Point CPUs simply days forward of Panther Lake’s imminent launch. (Shhh, don’t inform Brad I’m spreading scuttlebutt.)

• Cool…but I don’t have a problem, Brad: Brad raved about this specific software program demo amongst these he noticed at CES 2026. I admit it’s fascinating, however I wish to stress I’ve no points with what number of tabs I hold open. I dwell a snug life.

• I winced: Those deep within the reminiscence trenches predict years of RAM shortages, given the present local weather—the most effective estimate got here from Micron, with issues starting to ease in mid-2027. Yeah.

• Thanks, I hate it: Verizon made a deal to permit its customers to unlock telephones after 60 days. A brand new FCC ruling says it not has to. I assume it’s again to unlocked telephones just for me…

Gosh, what a banger of a begin to the brand new yr. I believed I’d spend most of this week sneaking in complaints about crowded gyms. Yes, it’s completely different individuals’s fault I ate an excessive amount of and drank a ton of Will’s wonderful eggnog. (Thanks once more for sharing that with us!)

Catch you all subsequent week!

Alaina

This e-newsletter is devoted to the reminiscence of Gordon Mah Ung, founder and host of The Full Nerd, and government editor of {hardware} at PCWorld.