The killer app for 5G gets unveiled with iPhone 16. By Joe Madden, principal analyst at Mobile Experts. It’s AI, specifically AI’s need for big, fast uploads. Interestingly, Joe says that the applications for 2G, 3G and 4G were known when the networks were deployed — allowing wired applications to go wireless — but 5G uses are still emerging.

“Peak shaving” could help data centers solve the AI power problem — for now. Diana Goovaerts reports. Data center power consumption comes in spurts, putting a strain on power grids. But “… most data centers have plenty of battery and generator power available on standby as backup power in case the electrical grid goes down. With peak shaving, data centers can just put those existing assets to more active use.” (I achieved peak shaving this morning — new blade.)

The iPhone 16 may cause a surge in demand — a “supercycle.” “’Given the strong consumer interest in AI capabilities, we anticipate a supercycle of upgrades when Apple launches their new devices that will support an embedded Apple Intelligence expected later this year,’ said Rebekah Griffiths, vice president of Product Management and Strategy at Assurant, which collects phone trade-ins and prepares them for resale.’” Monica Alleven reports. I’m skeptical.

AT&T and Verizon aren’t worried about an iPhone supercycle (Dan Jones)

Brightspeed is replacing copper with a unique wireless technology. By Linda Hardesty

And something I listened to: The newly relaunched Five Nines Podcast, hosted by Diana. The introductory episode of the new series focuses on startup Vaire Computing with the ambition of becoming the next Nvidia using technology called “reversible computing” that reduces processor heat generation to virtually zero. CEO Rodolfo Rosini says existing processors are basically heaters that produce compute as a by-product.