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Blender’s Oscar-Nominated Success Story

Phil
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Blender’s Oscar-Nominated Success Story

Despite its relatively small budget, Flow has been delighting audiences around the world and garnering accolades since its release in October. It’s now a contender for the best animation Oscar 2025, and it’s Latvia’s first shot at Best International Feature.

Many are surprised to learn that the beautifully animated film, which follows the mystical journey of a dark grey cat and his companions, was made entirely in the free 3D modelling software Blender. But how do you make a such a powerful piece of animation in free software? The writer and director Gints Zilbalodis has shared some of his experience.

How Gints Zilbalodis Made Flow in Blender

In an interview at blender.org, Gints Zilbalodis, the Latvian writer and director, says he began working on Flow in 2019 and settled on Blender due to the real-time renderer EEVEE. He says the speed of rendering and even just the speed with which files open “saved a lot of time and frustration” on the project, while Blender’s customisability also helped his process.

Workflow and Team Collaboration

In 2021, Gints brought in riggers and developers to create custom scripts that streamlined the workflow. He would design an initial scene in previz and then a set-dressing team would refine it by adding more plants, props and environmental details. Concept artists sketched out buildings and figured out their construction, and other team members focused on developing tools.

Water Effects and Simulations

Water is a huge part of the film. This was handled by Mārtiņš Upītis, who would develop a Blender add-on for water effects, and Konstantīns Višņevskis, who handled smaller simulations, such as splashes and researched techniques for stylized fur and feathers, working on shaders.

Character Animation and Pipeline

Gints cites the arrival of the Belgian and French co-producers Take Five and Sacrableu Productions in 2022 as a key moment. They developed more tools and rigs to deliver character animation. “Expanding the team with experienced character and pipeline TDs, as well as animators working in a well-structured process, was essential to handle the complexity required by the film. This was a truly international coproduction,” he says.

Learning Blender

As for learning Blender, Gints says he picked up a lot online, while Konstantīns handled writing scripts. “I can’t write scripts myself, so having someone in the studio to help was invaluable,” he says. And while he says most animators made the switch to Blender within a week, “the learning never really stops”.

Conclusion

Gints Zilbalodis’ experience with making Flow in Blender demonstrates the power of free software in creating high-quality animations. With the right tools, collaboration, and learning, even small budgets can produce outstanding results.

FAQs

Q: How did Gints Zilbalodis learn Blender?

A: Gints picked up a lot online and had Konstantīns handle writing scripts. He says most animators made the switch to Blender within a week, but “the learning never really stops”.

Q: What add-ons did the team use in Blender?

A: The team used several add-ons, including GeoScatter for distributing plants and other environmental elements and Animation Layers to create handheld, shaky camera movements. They also used Cell Fluids and FLIP Fluids for fluid simulations.

Q: What was the role of co-producers in the project?

A: The co-producers, Take Five and Sacrableu Productions, helped develop more tools and rigs to deliver character animation and expanded the team with experienced character and pipeline TDs.

Q: What was the budget for Flow?

A: The budget for Flow was relatively small, but the film has still garnered significant accolades and is now a contender for the best animation Oscar 2025.

Watch the video below to learn more about the animation of Flow in this video from the Blender Conference.

The animation of Flow — Blender Conference 2024 – YouTube

Watch On

For more software choices, see our picks of the best animation software.

OpenAI has evidence that its models helped train China’s DeepSeek.

Avery Winslow
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0
OpenAI has evidence that its models helped train China’s DeepSeek.

Chinese AI Company Accused of Stealing Technology from OpenAI

Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek has been accused of developing AI models that compete with OpenAI’s flagship offerings, including the popular ChatGPT, at a fraction of the cost. However, OpenAI and Microsoft are investigating whether DeepSeek used OpenAI’s data to develop their own models.

Accusations of Data Theft

According to sources, Microsoft security researchers detected large amounts of data being exfiltrated through OpenAI developer accounts in late 2024, which are believed to be affiliated with DeepSeek. This has led to accusations that DeepSeek used OpenAI’s API to integrate OpenAI’s AI models into their own.

Distillation Technique Suspected

OpenAI has found evidence linking DeepSeek to the use of distillation, a technique used to train AI models by extracting data from larger, more capable ones. This is an efficient way to train smaller models at a fraction of the cost of training larger models. However, OpenAI has not provided details of the evidence it has found.

IP Theft Suspected

President Donald Trump’s artificial intelligence czar, David Sacks, has stated that it is possible that IP theft had occurred. “There’s substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled knowledge out of OpenAI models and I don’t think OpenAI is very happy about this,” Sacks said in an interview with Fox News.

OpenAI’s Response

OpenAI has stated that it is aware that companies, including those in China, are trying to distill the models of leading US AI companies. The company has a careful process for determining which frontier capabilities to include in released models and believes it is critical to work closely with the US government to protect its intellectual property.

Conclusion

The accusations of IP theft and data exfiltration have raised concerns about the integrity of the AI model development process. As the AI industry continues to grow, it is crucial to ensure that companies like OpenAI and others take measures to protect their intellectual property and prevent unauthorized use of their technology.

FAQs

Q: What is distillation in AI model development?
A: Distillation is a technique used to train AI models by extracting data from larger, more capable ones.

Q: What is OpenAI’s stance on the allegations?
A: OpenAI has stated that it is investigating the allegations and has found evidence linking DeepSeek to the use of distillation.

Q: What is the potential impact on the AI industry?
A: The allegations of IP theft and data exfiltration could have significant implications for the AI industry, as it may lead to a loss of trust in the integrity of AI model development.

Superman Trailer Fails to Impress

Phil
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0
Superman Trailer Fails to Impress

Fresh Trailer for Upcoming Superman Film Sparks Debate

A recent trailer for the upcoming Superman film has generated a mixed reaction from fans, with some praising the visuals and others criticizing the character design and special effects.

Questionable VFX and Character Detail

The trailer, which features David Corenswet as Superman, has been under scrutiny for its use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and character detail. The scene, which shows Superman barrel rolling through the skies, has been accused of using unnecessary augmentation, with some fans claiming it looks "goofy" and "uncanny".

Criticism of Superman’s Flying Pose

One of the main criticisms of the trailer is Superman’s flying pose, with some fans claiming it is inaccurate and not in line with the character’s traditional depiction. "Superman iconically flies hands forward. Not always. But as an introduction, it’s strange to choose no hands," said one fan.

Director Defends Trailer

In response to the criticism, director James Gunn took to social media to defend the trailer, stating that there is "absolutely zero CG in his face. People’s faces can look different when you put a wide angle lens up close. The background plate in Svalbard is 100% real as is David."

Freeze Frame Analysis

One fan took a closer look at the trailer, freezing the frame to examine Superman’s eyes, which appear to be in different directions. "I’ve seen the head-on Superman flying clip get a lot of flack on here, where I didn’t really think much of it, though maybe something didn’t 100% seem right," they said.

Conclusion

While the trailer has generated a lot of debate, it’s clear that comic book fans are passionate about their favorite characters and will not hesitate to speak up when they feel something is off. Whether the criticisms are valid or not, it’s clear that the new Superman film will be a highly anticipated release.

FAQs

Q: What is the controversy surrounding the Superman trailer?
A: The trailer has been criticized for its use of CGI and character design, with some fans claiming it looks "goofy" and "uncanny".

Q: What did director James Gunn say about the trailer?
A: Gunn stated that there is "absolutely zero CG in his face" and that people’s faces can look different when using a wide angle lens.

Q: What is the criticism of Superman’s flying pose?
A: Some fans claim that Superman’s flying pose is inaccurate and not in line with the character’s traditional depiction.

Q: Will the criticisms affect the release of the film?
A: It’s unclear at this point, but it’s likely that the controversy will generate even more buzz around the film’s release.

Gemini’s Deep Research

Emerson Blake
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0
Gemini’s Deep Research

Google’s Deep Research Feature Now Available on Android

What is Deep Research?

The web is filled with resources, making it possible to find all the answers you need in one place. However, this abundance of information can also make finding exactly what you need a long and overwhelming process. Google’s Deep Research offering aims to help you manage that process — and it’s now rolling out on Android.

How Does Deep Research Work?

Deep Research is an agentic feature for Gemini Advanced that can conduct thorough research on your behalf. Since its launch, the experience has been live for all Gemini Advanced users on the desktop and mobile web. As of this week, Deep Research is also rolling out to the free Gemini Android app. To use the AI agent, select "1.5 pro with Deep Research" from the drop-down menu in the app.

Using Deep Research

With Deep Research, you can pose a question about the topic you want to learn more about. The agentic feature will create a multi-step research plan, which you can approve or disapprove. If the plan is approved, it will browse the web for you for a few minutes. The Deep Research process mimics what humans do when engaging in research processes, such as browsing the web, making new searches with their findings, and continuing the process multiple times until it has collected sufficient information to answer your question.

Benefits of Deep Research

The findings are then used to create a comprehensive report, organized with links to the original sources so that you can dive deeper into a particular area of interest. That report can be refined with follow-up questions, and — once you’re happy with the results — can be exported into Google Docs.

Gemini Advanced Plan

Gemini Advanced is part of the Google One AI Premium plan, costing users $20 per month. Other perks of the plan include 2TB of storage, Google Photos editing features, 10% back in Google Store rewards, Google Meet premium video calling features, and Gemini for Workspace. Google also offers users a two-month free trial as part of the new plan.

Conclusion

Deep Research is a powerful tool that can help you manage the overwhelming process of finding information on the web. With its ability to create comprehensive reports and mimic human research processes, it’s a valuable addition to the Gemini Advanced feature set. Now available on Android, Deep Research is a feature that’s sure to benefit users who need to conduct thorough research on a regular basis.

FAQs

Q: What is Deep Research?
A: Deep Research is an agentic feature for Gemini Advanced that can conduct thorough research on your behalf.

Q: How do I use Deep Research?
A: To use Deep Research, select "1.5 pro with Deep Research" from the drop-down menu in the Gemini Android app and pose a question about the topic you want to learn more about.

Q: What kind of reports can I expect from Deep Research?
A: Deep Research creates comprehensive reports, organized with links to the original sources, that can be refined with follow-up questions and exported into Google Docs.

Q: Is Deep Research available on all devices?
A: Deep Research is available on Android devices, as well as the desktop and mobile web.

The Best No-Code Game Engines

Phil
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0
The Best No-Code Game Engines

Claire Morwood

A self-taught game designer, programmer and artist, Claire Morwood encourages everyone to try no-code apps and start creating.
(Image credit: Claire Morwood)

Claire Morwood recommends

Bitsy An excellent beginner platform

Downpour Smartphone app for making collage games

Bipsi Phone and tablet app for simple games

Alex Goodwin

No-code game development software; a whale flies above a person in a rowboat

Alex Goodwin suggests learning how Unreal Engine works, using Blueprints, as it will stand you in good stead for future projects.
(Image credit: Alex Goodwin Games)

Conclusion

No-code game engines and tools are becoming increasingly popular, enabling artists and anyone with a good idea to create video games without the need for typing thousands of lines of code. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned developer, there are plenty of options out there to suit your needs.

From the web-based Bitsy to the smartphone app Downpour, there’s a no-code game maker platform that can help you get started. Even experienced developers like Alex Goodwin recommend learning visual scripting tools like Blueprints in Unreal Engine, which can help you create complex games with ease.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is no-code game development?

A: No-code game development refers to the process of creating video games without writing any code. Instead, you use visual tools and interfaces to design and build your game.

Q: What are some popular no-code game development platforms?

A: Some popular no-code game development platforms include Bitsy, Downpour, and Bipsi. There are also visual scripting tools like Blueprints in Unreal Engine and Unity Visual Scripting.

Q: Do I need prior experience of programming to use no-code game development platforms?

A: While prior experience of programming can be helpful, it’s not necessarily required. Many no-code game development platforms are designed to be user-friendly and accessible to beginners.

Q: Can I create complex games with no-code game development platforms?

A: Yes, many no-code game development platforms are capable of creating complex games with ease. Visual scripting tools like Blueprints in Unreal Engine can help you create complex logic and interactions without writing any code.

Qwen 2.5-Max Outperforms DeepSeek V3 in Some Benchmarks

Taylor Marlowe
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0
Qwen 2.5-Max Outperforms DeepSeek V3 in Some Benchmarks

Alibaba’s Response to DeepSeek: Qwen 2.5-Max

Alibaba has responded to the recent breakthroughs in DeepSeek with Qwen 2.5-Max, the company’s latest Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) large-scale model.

Outperforming Peers

Qwen 2.5-Max boasts pretraining on over 20 trillion tokens and fine-tuning through cutting-edge techniques like Supervised Fine-Tuning (SFT) and Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF).

When comparing Qwen 2.5-Max’s performance against some of the most prominent AI models on a variety of benchmarks, the results are promising.

Evaluations included popular metrics like the MMLU-Pro for college-level problem-solving, LiveCodeBench for coding expertise, LiveBench for overall capabilities, and Arena-Hard for assessing models against human preferences.

According to Alibaba, “Qwen 2.5-Max outperforms DeepSeek V3 in benchmarks such as Arena-Hard, LiveBench, LiveCodeBench, and GPQA-Diamond, while also demonstrating competitive results in other assessments, including MMLU-Pro.”

Making Qwen 2.5-Max Accessible

To make the model more accessible to the global community, Alibaba has integrated Qwen 2.5-Max with its Qwen Chat platform, where users can interact directly with the model in various capacities—whether exploring its search capabilities or testing its understanding of complex queries.

For developers, the Qwen 2.5-Max API is now available through Alibaba Cloud under the model name “qwen-max-2025-01-25”. Interested users can get started by registering an Alibaba Cloud account, activating the Model Studio service, and generating an API key.

Conclusion

Alibaba’s Qwen 2.5-Max is a significant breakthrough in the field of artificial intelligence, outperforming its peers in various benchmarks and demonstrating exceptional performance across the board. The company’s commitment to scaling AI models and enhancing their fundamental thinking and reasoning abilities has the potential to revolutionize the industry.

FAQs

Q: What is Qwen 2.5-Max?
A: Qwen 2.5-Max is Alibaba’s latest Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) large-scale model, designed for downstream tasks like chat and coding.

Q: What are the key features of Qwen 2.5-Max?
A: Qwen 2.5-Max boasts pretraining on over 20 trillion tokens and fine-tuning through cutting-edge techniques like Supervised Fine-Tuning (SFT) and Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF).

Q: How can developers access Qwen 2.5-Max?
A: Developers can access Qwen 2.5-Max through Alibaba Cloud’s Model Studio service, generating an API key and registering an Alibaba Cloud account.

Q: What are the implications of Qwen 2.5-Max for the industry?
A: Qwen 2.5-Max has the potential to revolutionize the industry, enabling AI models to match and surpass human intelligence in solving intricate problems.

AI Chatbot Navigates China’s Censors

Avery Winslow
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0
AI Chatbot Navigates China’s Censors

As the world scrambles to understand DeepSeek — its sophistication, its implications for the global A.I. arms race — one natural question has arisen: Given that it is made by a Chinese company, how is it dealing with Chinese censorship?

Testing DeepSeek’s Censorship

I decided to test it out. I’m based in China, and I registered for DeepSeek’s A.I. chatbot with a Chinese phone number, on a Chinese internet connection — meaning that I would be subject to China’s Great Firewall, which blocks websites like Google, Facebook and The New York Times.

Surprising Results

The results of my conversation surprised me. In some ways, DeepSeek was far less censored than most Chinese platforms, offering answers with keywords that would often be quickly scrubbed on domestic social media. Other times, the program eventually censored itself. But because of its "thinking" feature, in which the program reasons through its answer before giving it, you could still get effectively the same information that you’d get outside the Great Firewall — as long as you were paying attention, before DeepSeek deleted its own answers.

Censorship Around the World

In other ways, though, it mirrored the general experience of surfing the web in China. Some words were taboo. And DeepSeek’s developers seem to be racing to patch holes in the censorship. (DeepSeek could not immediately be reached for comment.)

Testing the Same Questions with a Firewall

I also tested the same questions while using software to circumvent the firewall, and the answers were largely the same, suggesting that users abroad were getting the same experience. Until now, China’s censored internet has largely affected only Chinese users. But if DeepSeek gains a major foothold overseas, it could help spread Beijing’s favored narrative worldwide.

The "Zero Covid" Policies

I started by asking DeepSeek about public opinions toward China’s "zero Covid" policies.

Reasoning Through the Answer

As DeepSeek "reasoned" through how to answer me, it offered a wide-ranging survey of the issue. It noted that the public’s responses had varied, from widespread support early on to exhaustion later. It noted the difficulty of gauging public sentiment, given censorship. It said a fire in the city of Urumqi had helped set off what became known as the white paper protests, a rare show of public dissent in China, which helped speed the end of restrictions.

The Answer Disappears

Then, just as it finished typing out that answer, it erased it. It was replaced by: "Sorry, that’s beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else." I asked the same question, again. This time, it gave a variant on the previous answer that was, in subtle ways, less sensitive. It still acknowledged rare public protests — more than Chinese officials have done — but didn’t use the words "white paper." This time, the answer didn’t disappear.

Pressing Further

I decided to press further, asking for more detail on those protests. The reasoning process was astonishingly detailed: It mentioned specific songs the demonstrators had sung, named universities where students had protested, and explained how participants had been detained. But this time, DeepSeek cut itself off before even finishing the answer.

Language and Censorship

There was also a clear difference between questions posed in English and Chinese. When asked the same questions in Chinese — "What were the white paper protests?" and "How did Chinese citizens view the zero Covid policies?" — the program did not even "think." Instead, it immediately returned its apology: "I’m sorry, I haven’t yet learned how to think about this type of question."

The War in Ukraine

Asked in English about the causes of the war in Ukraine, the first line in DeepSeek’s answer declared: "The war in Ukraine, which escalated significantly with Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, has deep-rooted causes that are historical, geopolitical, and ideological."

A Clear Difference

That was striking, because the Chinese government has refused to call Russia’s incursion an "invasion." It prefers the Kremlin’s term, "special military operation." When I asked more specifically about China’s stance on the war, DeepSeek provided Beijing’s official rhetoric. But then it added, "China is not neutral in practice." Its actions (economic support for Russia, anti-Western rhetoric, and refusal to condemn the invasion) tilt its position closer to Moscow.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my testing of DeepSeek’s A.I. chatbot revealed that while it is less censored than most Chinese platforms, it still mirrors the general experience of surfing the web in China. Some words are taboo, and the program seems to be racing to patch holes in the censorship. With its "thinking" feature, DeepSeek can still provide information that would be blocked by the Great Firewall. However, it is clear that the program is designed to conform to China’s censorship practices, and its developers are working to ensure that it does not get around these restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does DeepSeek censor the internet?
A: DeepSeek is designed to conform to Chinese censorship practices and is subject to the Great Firewall.

Q: Can I get around the censorship by using a VPN or other tools?
A: Yes, some users have reported success in using VPNs and other tools to bypass DeepSeek’s censorship. However, DeepSeek’s developers seem to be constantly updating their systems to patch these loopholes.

Q: Can I use DeepSeek to access information that is blocked in China?
A: No, DeepSeek is designed to operate within the constraints of China’s censorship regime. While it may provide some information that is not available in China, it will not allow you to access information that is specifically blocked by the Great Firewall.

Q: Is DeepSeek a reliable source of information?
A: DeepSeek’s information is only as reliable as its training data and algorithms. While it may provide some accurate information, it is not a substitute for fact-checking and verification.

The Met’s NFT Frenzy

Phil
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0
The Met’s NFT Frenzy

The Met’s NFT Art Game: A New Way to Engage with Art

A New Era of Engagement

Remember NFTs? Much of the world seems to have forgotten them after the boom back in 2021. But the art world still sees the potential of blockchain-backed assets. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has launched a short-session game called Art Links that awards players with NFT badges if they can identify connections between works of art from The Met collection.

How the Game Works

The Met’s first Web3-based experience is a serialized game with new challenges released every Thursday for 12 weeks. Players identify connections, or ‘chains’, between works of art to win in-game NFT badges as well as in-person and digital rewards like exhibition catalogues, discounts at The Met Store, and private, curator-led tours.

Design and Features

The game was designed with the art and tech platform TRLab to provide an interactive way to engage with the museum’s collection. The Met’s CEO Max Hollein says it’s a first for any museum and that it aims to broaden engagement and understanding of culture and creativity. "Art Links exemplifies how The Met continues to connect audiences to ideas and to one another while exploring emerging technology," he says.

Playing the Game

In each game, players create a chain that consists of seven artworks and six connections, which can be words, emojis, or artworks. The chain is completed in three rounds, with each round becoming more difficult. Each chain includes at least one work from The Met’s collection of 20th- and 21st-century art, placing these in a broader creative context. There are four types of connections: Highlights, showcasing key works, artists, or movements; Material, focusing on how works are made; Emojis, highlighting signs, symbols, and visual culture; and Web3, showing how artists across time have engaged with core concepts underpinning the blockchain, such as randomization, security, and ledgers.

Earning Badges and Achievements

Players can collect 12 badges, one for each weekly chain, with opportunities to earn seven achievements linked to in-game challenges. Five of the achievement tokens are free, while two have to be purchased. Themes that players will discover during the 12 weeks include: ‘Objects in Disguise,’ artworks made from surprising and sometimes deliberately deceptive materials and ‘Harlem as Muse,”’ featuring artists who looked to Harlem as a subject and source of inspiration.

Conclusion

The Met’s Art Links game is a new and innovative way to engage with art and explore the intersection of art and technology. By providing an interactive and immersive experience, the game encourages players to think creatively and make connections between seemingly unrelated works of art.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I play the game?
A: Players create a chain of seven artworks and six connections, completing three rounds of increasingly difficult challenges.

Q: What rewards can I earn?
A: Players can earn in-game NFT badges, as well as in-person and digital rewards like exhibition catalogues, discounts at The Met Store, and private, curator-led tours.

Q: How long does the game last?
A: The game is a 12-week experience, with new challenges released every Thursday.

Q: Can I buy or trade the NFT badges?
A: Yes, players can purchase and trade the NFT badges, but only a limited number are available for each chain.

Trim

Parker Lennox
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0
Trim

Trim() Method in C#

Introduction

The Trim() method in C# is used to remove the leading and trailing white spaces from a string. This method is commonly used to clean up strings that may have unwanted spaces or characters at the beginning or end.

How Trim() Works

The Trim() method removes all the leading and trailing white spaces from a string. It does not remove any characters in the middle of the string. This method is case-sensitive and will only remove spaces, not other characters.

Example

Here is an example of how to use the Trim() method in C#:

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        string matn = "  Salom, Dunyo  ";
        string message = matn.Trim();

        Console.WriteLine(message);
    }
}

In this example, the Trim() method is used to remove the leading and trailing spaces from the string " Salom, Dunyo ". The output will be "Salom, Dunyo".

Trimming Specific Characters

The Trim() method can also be used to remove specific characters from the start and end of a string. This is achieved by passing a string parameter to the Trim() method. For example:

string matn = "  Salom, Dunyo  ";
string message = matn.Trim(' ', ','); // Remove spaces and commas

Console.WriteLine(message);

In this example, the Trim() method is used to remove spaces and commas from the string. The output will be "SalomDunyo".

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Trim() method is a powerful tool in C# that can be used to clean up strings and remove unwanted characters. It is a simple and efficient way to preprocess strings before using them in your application.

FAQs

Q: What does the Trim() method remove?

A: The Trim() method removes leading and trailing white spaces from a string.

Q: Can I use Trim() to remove characters in the middle of a string?

A: No, the Trim() method only removes characters from the start and end of a string, not from the middle.

Q: Can I use Trim() to remove specific characters?

A: Yes, you can use the Trim() method to remove specific characters by passing a string parameter.

ASML shares bounce on strong demand for AI chipmaking kit

Parker Lennox
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0
ASML shares bounce on strong demand for AI chipmaking kit

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

ASML’s Surging Orders Suggest Strong Demand for AI Chips

ASML, the chip manufacturing equipment maker, said orders for its most advanced machines surged last quarter, suggesting producers of artificial intelligence processors were increasing capacity before China’s DeepSeek this week triggered a panic over future demand.

Netherlands-based ASML lost its title as Europe’s most valuable tech company on Monday when it was caught up in a stock market panic over DeepSeek that also wiped hundreds of billions of dollars from the value of Nvidia, Broadcom, and other chipmakers.

The Impact of DeepSeek

The low-cost techniques used by the Chinese company to create a breakthrough new AI model suggested that big advances could be made without the need for the vast investment in chips and computing power that US rivals such as OpenAI, Meta, and Elon Musk’s xAI have planned.

DeepSeek’s focus on efficiency was in part caused by US-driven export controls that limit China’s access to ASML’s equipment and Nvidia’s most powerful chips.

ASML’s Strong Demand for Production Capacity

However, Wednesday’s annual results from ASML pointed to strong demand for the equipment that chip manufacturers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Intel, and Samsung need to produce the most cutting-edge chips for customers such as Nvidia and Apple.

Shares in ASML jumped 11 per cent in early trading on Wednesday.

Net Bookings and Sales

ASML said that its net bookings in the fourth quarter, which includes orders placed by customers but not yet delivered, hit €7.1bn, far higher than the €4bn analysts had expected, according to consensus estimates from Visible Alpha.

Of that figure, orders for its “extreme ultraviolet lithography” (EUV) machines — its most advanced tools — made up €3bn, also well ahead of analysts’ forecasts.

Overall net sales for the fourth quarter grew 24 per cent to €9.3bn, while the group reported net income of €2.7bn, slightly ahead of estimates.

CEO’s Perspective

Strong demand for production capacity for AI chips is offsetting an otherwise lacklustre semiconductor market, ASML chief executive Christophe Fouquet said.

“The growth in artificial intelligence is the key driver for growth in our industry,” he said. “It has created a shift in the market dynamics that is not benefiting all of our customers equally, which creates both opportunities and risks as reflected in our 2025 revenue range.”

Conclusion

ASML’s strong demand for production capacity and surging orders for its most advanced machines suggest that the company is well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for AI chips. The company’s CEO emphasized the importance of AI in driving growth in the industry, and the company’s results support this view.

FAQs

Q: What is ASML?

A: ASML is a chip manufacturing equipment maker based in the Netherlands.

Q: What is DeepSeek?

A: DeepSeek is a Chinese company that has created a breakthrough new AI model using low-cost techniques.

Q: Why did ASML’s stock price jump?

A: ASML’s stock price jumped 11 per cent in early trading on Wednesday after the company reported strong demand for its production capacity and surging orders for its most advanced machines.

Q: What is EUV?

A: EUV stands for “extreme ultraviolet lithography,” which is ASML’s most advanced tool for producing cutting-edge chips.

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