TNB Tech Minute: Meta Unveils Four New Custom-Built Chips for Internal Use

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Here's your afternoon TNB Tech Minute for Wednesday, March 11th. I'm Julie Chang for The Wall Street Journal. Meta Platforms announced four new custom-built chips today. The social media giant said the chips expand their use from ad ranking and recommendations to more generative AI inference work.

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In a post, the company said the new chips are all either already deployed or are scheduled for deployment this year and 2027. They are not yet used to train its AI models. As it stands now, Meta relies on its partnerships with outside chipmakers for that.

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In other meta news, its messaging app WhatsApp will roll out parent-managed accounts for preteens, providing new controls for messaging and calling. The move comes as concerns mount over minors' access to social networks. In a blog post today, WhatsApp said parents will be able to control who can contact the account and which groups they are able to join.

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The new accounts will be available to users who are either under 13 or below the minimum age required to use WhatsApp in their country. The accounts must also be set up by a parent or guardian aged 18 or over. Finally, Microsoft is rallying behind Anthropic.

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In a court filing, Microsoft is urging the court to issue a temporary restraining order that blocks the Pentagon's designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk for all existing contracts. Without an order, Microsoft warns that it and other tech companies will need to immediately alter existing product and contract configurations used by the Department of War.