The humble bumblebee has played a part in obstructing an ambitious construction project by Meta, according to a Financial Times (FT) report.

The Mark Zuckerberg-led tech giant has apparently had to abandon a plan to build a nuclear-powered AI data center partly because a rare bee species has been found on the land where the facility would’ve been built.

Meta, like other tech behemoths such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, is looking to harness nuclear power to run its new energy-hungry data centers that are being built to propel their AI plans.

The FT said that Meta was hoping to partner with an existing operator of a nuclear energy facility for a new plant that would help to power its proposed data center, but that “multiple complications including environmental and regulatory challenges” have forced the tech company to think again.

Intent on seeing the project through, Meta is believed to still be considering various deals for carbon-free energy that would involve construction work in a different location, presumably one without any rare bees buzzing around nearby.

Processing data for generative-AI products requires enormous amounts of energy, prompting major tech firms to ink deals with nuclear power companies to supply their needs cleanly and efficiently.

Google announced just last month that it had inked a deal with nuclear energy startup Kairos Power to purchase 500 megawatts of “new 24/7 carbon-free power” from seven of the company’s small modular reactors (SMRs), with initial delivery from the first SMR expected in 2030 followed by a full rollout by 2035.

“The grid needs new electricity sources to support AI technologies that are powering major scientific advances, improving services for businesses and customers, and driving national competitiveness and economic growth,” Michael Terrell, Google’s senior director of Energy and Climate, wrote in a blog post announcing the deal. “This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably, and unlock the full potential of AI for everyone.”

Additionally, Microsoft announced in September that it’s working to restart a unit at New York’s Three Mile Island as part of a plan to power its own AI data centers.

The rise of AI continues to work its way into more industries and the latest on Microsoft’s front is an AI chatbot for Xbox that you can now test. The AI chatbot was initially discovered earlier this year and it now looks like the company is beginning to roll it out to users. Though it’s only a specific group of users for now.

The company hasn’t said when it will roll the feature out fully but it is reportedly testing the waters to prepare for future AI features coming to Xbox consoles. As reported by The Verge, Microsoft plans to integrate AI features with Xbox down the road. And the new AI chatbot appears to be part of Microsoft’s larger plan for AI integration with the Xbox platform.

Xbox Insiders can now test the AI Chatbot for support services

Officially called the ‘Support Virtual Agent,’ the new AI chatbot is available for Xbox Insiders beginning today. You’ll need to be an Insider to access the new AI support assistant, and if you fall into that category you can get to the tool from Microsoft’s Xbox Support page. Microsoft says Support Virtual Agent can answer questions about Xbox console and game support issues.

For example, if you don’t know how to redeem an Xbox gift card, the Support Virtual Agent will be able to tell you how to do that. You could also presumably ask it anything else pertaining to an issue you’re having with the Xbox platform. Say a game isn’t working and you need help fixing that, or you need assistance with a purchase.

After you sign into the support page with the same account you used for the Xbox Insider Program, you’ll get a pop-up about using the Support Virtual Agent after clicking the “ask a question” button, Microsoft says. From there simply type in the box what you want to ask and the tool will hand you AI-generated responses to best assist you with the issue you’re having.

Support Virtual Agent has two customization options

Microsoft doesn’t really make it clear if it will keep the customization feature, but for the testing period with Insiders during the preview, there are two customization options for the virtual agent. One is an Xbox orb featuring green and blue hues. The other is an animated robot head. It appears as if you can swap between these whenever you want. So at least during the preview, you can seemingly flip back and forth as you see fit.

The PlayStation 5 Pro is nearly here, as it hits retailers on November 7. If you’ve been on the fence about dropping a cool $700 , Sony just published a that will offer enhanced versions when the console launches later this week.

This list includes modern favorites like Baldur’s Gate 3, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarök. It also features newer games like NBA2K 25 and Dragon Age: The Veilguard. All told, it’s a pretty decent start. The console will unlock all kinds of graphical enhancements, like advanced ray tracing, higher frame rates and Sony’s proprietary upscaling system called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution.

However, it’s also worth pointing out some games that aren’t on the list. Gran Turismo 7 is missing, despite an enhanced version already being announced. It must not be ready yet. Final Fantasy XVI is also absent from the list, and that one has . The same goes for both Returnal and Elden Ring. Now, just because these games aren’t on the launch list, doesn’t mean they won’t get enhanced versions down the line. It probably depends on .

The PS5 Pro offers more than just slight graphical upgrades to pre-existing titles. It boasts faster memory, support for Wi-Fi 7 and ships with a large 2TB SSD. Digital Foundry and also found 2GB of additional DDR5 RAM and a user-accessible battery bay. These are all nifty upgrades, though I’m still not sure if all of this adds up to me spending $700.

In the debate over energy, the effect on climate is certainly important, but so is the impact of geopolitical tensions on energy availability. Some experts believe nuclear energy offers a path toward energy independence, but public perception and exorbitant licensing costs have gotten in the way. NANO Nuclear Energy is hoping to change that.

NANO Nuclear Energy adds a new level of convenience to nuclear energy — it’s currently developing portable, on-demand nuclear reactors for remote locations. It’s also aiming to fabricate and deliver nuclear fuel and offer consulting services for those in the nuclear industry.

NANO’s founder Jay Yu believes that, in many ways, nuclear power is the future of energy — and energy independence in particular. He notes that recent events have alerted more people than ever to the importance of the domestic creation of nuclear power. And James Walker, NANO’s CEO, agrees.

“The war in Ukraine set off a chain reaction affecting global energy dynamics, particularly in the realm of nuclear energy,” mentions Walker. “Before the conflict, the United States sourced a significant portion of its nuclear material from Russia. However, the onset of the war in Ukraine disrupted these arrangements, as geopolitical tensions escalated and sanctions against Russia were implemented.”

“This upheaval meant that the U.S. and other western countries could no longer rely on Russian nuclear material, prompting a need to find alternative sources to meet their domestic nuclear fuel requirements,” he continues. “This disruption underscored the vulnerabilities in supply chains and the strategic importance of energy independence.”

Energy sovereignty is a critical part of maintaining a country’s independence, so naturally, there’s an increasing interest in expanding nuclear power in the United States.

However, Walker notes that would-be innovators face significant challenges.

“Nuclear power in the U.S. is one of the most expensive in the world,” he says. “It is often said that nuclear power is cheap, but the paperwork is expensive. That creates a large upfront capital cost, which then requires a lot of financing. The financing cost can be a big portion of the entire project cost.”

With that kind of capital requirement, it’s no wonder nuclear energy hasn’t proliferated as much as proponents would like. But now, a new law — known as the Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act (ADVANCE Act) — is aiming to loosen existing restrictions.

This act, which was signed into law in July, proposes a reform of the current Nuclear Regulatory Commission review process, the implementation of incentives for nuclear developers, the promotion of public-private development partnerships. It also aims to provide support for designers of advanced reactors.

The incentives offered through the act — much like the tax credits and incentives that came with solar power a few years ago — will undoubtedly lead to faster, more advanced innovation in the field.

“Grants, tax credits, loan guarantees will alleviate the financial burden on nuclear developers,” Walker says. “These incentives aim to lower the capital costs and make financing more accessible and affordable.”

Lowering financial barriers is certainly a large part of what the law is trying to do. However, Walker explains the ADVANCE Act’s inclusion of public-private partnerships is another way to boost the nation’s innovation potential.

“The act promotes collaboration between the federal government, industry, other stakeholders to leverage resources and expertise,” he says. “This approach is intended to drive innovation and reduce the financial risks associated with nuclear projects.”

Of course, there’s another less quantifiable barrier to be mindful of — public perception. Unfortunately, when many people think of nuclear power, their minds go straight to some of the world’s most infamous nuclear power plant disasters.

“The public perception is that it is dangerous and dirty,” Walker says. “Public perception has led politics, which have impeded nuclear from being expanded.”

Walker notes that nuclear power is not nearly the hazard many make it out to be.

“The difference between public perception and reality is enormous,” he says. “If deaths/GWh are examined, nuclear power is safer than even wind and solar. It also generates the least amount of waste and is carbon-free energy.”

The signing into law of the ADVANCE Act, could help dispel some of the negative sentiment surrounding nuclear power and even usher in a whole new era of green energy. And because the ADVANCE Act’s goals are so aligned with those of NANO Nuclear, it just might open up a new era for Walker’s company, too.

“The law’s emphasis on advanced reactors aligns with Nano Nuclear Energy’s focus on innovative, portable microreactor technology,” he says. “Support for research, development, demonstration projects under the act can accelerate the advancement of our microreactor designs. They’re going to be safer, faster, more market-ready.”

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