In this week’s IT SPARC Cast – News Bytes, John and Lou explore the intersection of AI, hardware, and IT freedom — from creative tension at EA to chipmaking disruption.

First, Electronic Arts (EA) launches ReefGPT, an internal AI design tool meant to boost productivity across studios. Developers say it’s unreliable and fear job losses, while leadership insists AI is the future. John and Lou unpack the deeper message: AI won’t take your job, but someone using AI will.

Then, Qualcomm jumps into the AI data center market with its new AI200 and AI250 chips — scaled-up versions of its mobile neural processors, ready to challenge Nvidia and AMD for inference workloads. The hosts discuss how this could finally relieve the GPU bottleneck driving AI infrastructure costs through the roof.

Next, Ubiquiti declares “SFP Liberation Day.” The new $49 SFP Wizard not only tests but reprograms fiber modules to work with any switch — bypassing vendor lock-ins from Cisco, HPE, and others. John and Lou call it “the jailbreak every network engineer has been waiting for.”

Finally, Substrate, a U.S. startup, unveils an X-ray lithography chipmaking tool that could rival ASML’s $400M EUV machines. Backed by $100M in funding, the company aims to bring advanced chip manufacturing back to the U.S. — potentially reshaping the semiconductor landscape.

00:00 - Intro

00:52 - Electronic Arts (EA) AI Divide

•EA launches ReefGPT to accelerate game design.

•Creatives call it unreliable and fear losing creative control.

https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-ai-divide-roiling-video-game-giant-electronic-arts-2025-10?op=1  

04:15  - Qualcomm Joins the AI Arms Race

•Qualcomm announces AI200 (2026) and AI250 (2027) chips for data centers.

•Targets Nvidia’s GPU monopoly with rack-mounted, liquid-cooled solutions.

•Could ease supply pressure and diversify AI compute resources.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/27/qualcomm-ai200-ai250-ai-chips-nvidia-amd.html 

11:35 - Ubiquiti Liberates the SFPs

•“SFP Liberation Day” brings a $49 SFP Wizard tool for testing and reprogramming optics.

•Supports SFP, SFP+, and QSFP modules across brands.

•A win for network engineers tired of overpriced vendor modules.

https://blog.ui.com/article/welcome-to-sfp-liberation-day 

15:58 - Substrate Announces Chipmaking Tool to Rival ASML

•Substrate reveals an X-ray lithography system

•Rivaling ASML’s EUV tools at lower cost.

•Could reshape semiconductor competition and domestic manufacturing.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-startup-substrate-announces-chipmaking-tool-that-it-says-will-rival-asml-2025-10-28/

https://www.ft.com/content/2496edef-4f1b-47aa-877d-9c01271faaa1

https://www.wsj.com/tech/peter-thiel-backed-startup-secures-100-million-to-make-chips-in-u-s-baff93ac

21:02 - Mail Bag & Wrap Up

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