China blocking H200 sales, Microsoft's datacenter penance, yay 8GB GPUs + more!

Duration: 08:56

Timestamps:

0:00 it's a SETUP!

0:12 Nvidia H200 sales approved; China says no

1:45 Microsoft makes datacenters less-bad

3:17 Nvidia possibly making more 8GB GPUs

4:39 QUICK BITS INTRO

4:49 Meta metaverse layoffs

5:26 Bandcamp bans AI

6:09 GOG on taking on Steam

6:57 Flock data breach

7:43 Moon hotel reservations

NEWS SOURCES:

MAINS

IT’S NOT COOL WHEN IT’S LEGAL

US approves Nvidia H200 chip exports to China with some conditions (Formal green light, requires third party review on all units sold)

BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg4erx1n04lo

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1388348-us-formally-approves-nvidia-h200-chip-exports-to-china-what-conditions-are-in-place

Korea Harold: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10655338

Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-13/us-clears-path-for-nvidia-to-sell-h200s-to-china-via-new-rule

Regulation Document: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-00789.pdf

China's customs agents told Nvidia's H200 chips are not permitted, sources say

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-customs-agents-told-nvidias-h200-chips-are-not-permitted-sources-say-2026-01-14/

Techloy: https://www.techloy.com/china-blocks-nvidia-h200-ai-chips-at-customs-despite-u-s-export-approval/

TechStock2: https://ts2.tech/en/nvidia-stock-braces-for-a-china-shock-as-customs-blocks-h200-ai-chips-despite-u-s-export-nod/

MEANWHILE… Jensen says you Shouldn’t Talk Bad About AI, Saying That Those Fueling the “Doomer Narrative” Are Deeply Conflicted People

Insider Gaming: https://insider-gaming.com/nvidia-ceo-says-ai-doomer-narrative-is-hurtful/

Gizmodo: https://gizmodo.com/jensen-huang-is-begging-you-to-stop-being-so-negative-about-ai-2000709335

“Extremely hurtful” https://lmg.gg/c8hoD

Techspot: https://www.techspot.com/news/110879-jensen-huang-relentless-ai-negativity-hurting-society-has.html

Doomer quote clip: https://youtu.be/k-xtmISBCNE?t=1467

Emotional Damage clip for the end of the story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHb5CFGYz1A

POWER PLAY

Microsoft vows to cover full power costs for energy-hungry AI data centers

https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/01/microsoft-vows-to-cover-full-power-costs-for-energy-hungry-ai-data-centers/

Original SOurce Microsoft: https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2026/01/13/community-first-ai-infrastructure/

https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/microsoft-to-overhaul-ai-data-center-building-with-community-first-approach-says-it-will-be-a-good-neighbor-to-communities-cover-energy-cost-increases-and-replenish-water

At least Microsoft is at least sorta concerned with their environmental impact…

PROBABLY TOO POLITICAL, BUT SHEESH

EPA moves to stop considering economic benefits of cleaner air

https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/01/epa-axes-benefits-from-cost-benefit-analysis-for-air-pollution-limits/

NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/climate/trump-epa-air-pollution.html

Blue sky post analysing the EPA thing: https://bsky.app/profile/johndwalke.bsky.social/post/3mcbfk53xi22x

EPA: SOURCE (PAGE 34 - AS indicated on the page numbers in the footer): https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-01/combustion_turbines_eia_final_2026-01.pdf

THAT SAID, The White House DOES want AI companies to pay for the electricity they need and not pass on the burden to ordinary consumers

https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/trump-says-that-ai-tech-companies-need-to-pay-their-own-way-when-it-comes-to-their-electricity-consumption-says-major-changes-are-coming-to-ensure-americans-dont-pick-up-the-tab-for-data-centers

Truth social post: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115884759090137876

The guardian : https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/13/trump-microsoft-data-centers-electricity

8GB IS JUST RIGHT, ABOVE AVERAGE EVEN

NVIDIA Expected To Increase RTX 5060 And RTX 5060 Ti 8GB Supply While Scaling Back 16 GB Models

Original reporting is from Board Channels through VideoCardz:

https://videocardz.com/newz/nvidia-reportedly-shifts-rtx-50-supply-toward-rtx-5060-and-5060-ti-8gb-in-2026

Wccf Tech: https://wccftech.com/nvidia-expected-to-increase-rtx-5060-and-rtx-5060-ti-8gb-supply/

Trendforce: https://www.trendforce.com/news/2026/01/14/news-nvidia-reportedly-pivots-to-8gb-rtx-5060-instead-of-16gb-amid-memory-crunch-older-gpus-back-in-play/

Screencap of Board Channels post

https://cdn.wccftech.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Board-Channels-new-supply-RTX-50.webp

42 bewildered Amazon customers duped by $999 RTX 5090 scam, sent fanny packs instead

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/usd999-rtx-5090-gpu-scam-claims-42-victims-fanny-pack-bait-and-switch-tactic-employed-by-top-rated-amazon-seller

Neowin: https://www.neowin.net/news/999-rtx-5090-scam-leaves-amazon-buyers-with-fanny-packs-and-the-listing-is-still-live/

The Guru of 3D: https://www.guru3d.com/story/rtx-5090-on-amazon-sparks-scam-reports-and-refund-disputes/

Store page screenshot: https://www.guru3d.com/data/publish/226/20726aa4267070a0128e6c20bb469494481ecb/2026_01_13_09_38_30_guru3d.webp

QUICK BITS

META-MORPHOSIS

https://mashable.com/article/meta-facebook-reality-labs-vr-layoffs-zuckerberg

OS: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-13/meta-begins-jobs-cuts-after-shifting-focus-from-metaverse-to-phones

3 VR studios shuttered

https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-has-closed-three-vr-studios-as-part-of-its-metaverse-cuts-202720670.html

Twitter post: https://x.com/andyTHPS/status/2011091620314431519

Threads post: https://www.threads.com/@kathrynyu/post/DTdMOW6FLZN

https://www.polygon.com/meta-layoffs-vr-game-studios-twisted-pixel-sanzaru-games/

ANOTHER BOT BITES THE DUST

Bandcamp becomes the first major music platform to ban AI content (Also banned training models off their uploaded content)

https://www.theverge.com/news/861794/bandcamp-ban-ai-music

OS: https://get.bandcamp.help/hc/en-us/articles/23005947027991-Bandcamp-s-Acceptable-Use-and-Moderation-policy

OS: https://www.reddit.com/r/BandCamp/comments/1qbw8ba/ai_generated_music_on_bandcamp/

- Editors Note - Please add this to the end of the bandcamp qb: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMeIytMANY1/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1768434039250638&usg=AOvVaw0Or8txTqEfAmnEb9UUDFsJ

TOO STEAMY

New GOG Owner Isn’t Afraid of Taking on Steam: ‘They Already Have 80%, It Should Be Easier to Take from Them’

https://wccftech.com/new-gog-owner-isnt-afraid-of-taking-on-steam/

OS: this is the interview referenced: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-new-owner-of-gog-discusses-taking-on-steam-the-devil-of-drm-and-following-in-nightdives-footsteps

Maybe GOG can be a safe space for people like this:

Indie dev is delisting his AI game from Steam because his new girlfriend convinced him it's evil: 'The game existing in its current form is a disgrace to all game makers and players'

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/indie-dev-is-delisting-his-ai-game-from-steam-because-his-new-girlfriend-convinced-him-its-evil-the-game-existing-in-its-current-form-is-a-disgrace-to-all-game-makers-and-players/

OS: STEAM NEWS: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3435450/view/525364745339929910?l=english

WE’RE ALL TOTALLY FLOCKED

Police Unmask Millions of Surveillance Targets Because of Flock Redaction Error

https://www.404media.co/police-unmask-millions-of-surveillance-targets-because-of-flock-redaction-error/

OS: Have I been flocked : https://haveibeenflocked.com/?ref=404media.co

MOON SHOT

You can now reserve a hotel room on the Moon for $250,000

https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/01/you-can-now-reserve-a-hotel-room-on-the-moon-for-250000/

Product launch page: https://www.gru.space/reserve

Deposit page for $1000.00 non-refundable : https://buy.stripe.com/7sY28r1NM1Kkg0e650dwc01

It is 250k to 1m after the initial 1k

KTLA: https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/1-million-room-reservations-now-being-taken-for-future-hotel-on-the-moon/

They are hiring one guy to design the entire thing

Job listing: https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/galactic-resource-utilization-space-inc-gru-space/jobs/O9rgheB-founding-member-of-technical-staff-lunar-habitat