Huge AI has PC customers livid. Nvidia and Micron’s bizarre emotional appeals make it worse

Firms don’t have emotions. And but, they need others to assume 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 had been abandoning customers. The response: “Our viewpoint is that we try to assist customers all over the world. We’re simply doing it via totally different channels. […] What’s occurring proper now’s that the TAM [ed: Total Addressable Market] and knowledge heart is rising simply completely tremendously. And we wish to guarantee that, as an organization, we assist fulfill that TAM as properly.”

The opposite got here from Nvidia, with CEO Jensen Huang calling gloomy views of AI “extraordinarily hurtful” throughout a dialogue on the No Priors podcast. Huang’s take: “I believe we’ve achieved plenty of harm these days with very well-respected individuals who have painted a doomer narrative, finish of the world narrative, science fiction narrative. […] It’s not useful to individuals, it’s not useful to the trade, it’s not useful to society, it’s not useful to the governments.” 

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

There’s a lesson right here for these of us within the stands—everybody is searching for their very own pursuits, together with customers. And we needs to be good 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 yr 2025. Nvidia reported a income of $57 billion for simply its newest quarter. AI is sizzling.

In the meantime, inflation and rates of interest proceed to depress client spending energy right here within the U.S., which is mirrored overseas as properly. AI has additionally torched jobs—it’s fueled 1000’s of layoffs already.

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

On this case, customers not being fully 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 alternative PCs. For Nvidia’s half, the hints that zero regulation advantages progress ignores the human component: Because the saying goes, rules are sometimes written in blood. How a lot regulation is warranted is a unique dialog, and an affordable one to have.

However 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 reduce each methods. I ponder who advantages. Within the case of expertise proper now, definitely not people. This strategy isn’t a good tactic. None of us ought to settle for it as such.

On this episode of The Full Nerd 

On 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 have a look at the smaller issues we appreciated 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. 

Additionally, Will did make me really feel higher that I’m not as dangerous as I believed, concerning residence 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 ground robots, although.

Willis Lai / Foundry

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And for those who want extra {hardware} speak throughout the remainder of the week, come be part of our Discord group—it’s filled with cool, laid-back nerds.

This week’s quieter nerd information

I can’t say I’m mad in regards to the sluggish circulation of stories this week—I suppose everybody’s nonetheless wrung out from CES 2026…or simply drained from counting all of the mentions of AI from the keynotes. (I want to observe that Will and I received our depend via pure, old school grit.) 

Nonetheless, there’s a lot 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 language 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.

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

• On the within: I like me manufacturing unit tour. I used to be more than happy once I noticed a notification for this Players Nexus video, which supplies a cool peek into manufacturing of Intel Arc playing cards at Sparkle.

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

• ICYMI: Nvidia DLSS 4.5 (at the very least, the tremendous decision half) is dwell—if in case you have a appropriate card, you may strive it out proper now.

Valve

• I’m doubtful: Buried deep in a Czech retailer’s web site had been two attainable indicators of the upcoming Steam Machine’s value, with each the entry-level and improve variations circling the $1,000 mark. Placeholder, or an indication of the occasions? My vote’s for the previous.

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

• Cool…however I don’t have an issue, 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 maintain open. I dwell a cushty life.

• I winced: These deep within the reminiscence trenches predict years of RAM shortages, given the present local weather—the very best 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 suppose 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. Sure, 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 text is devoted to the reminiscence of Gordon Mah Ung, founder and host of The Full Nerd, and government editor of {hardware} at PCWorld.