Company News in Brief
Nvidia faces gamer backlash over 'breakthrough' AI graphics feature
A new feature from chip-maker Nvidia that promises cinematic-quality graphics using AI has prompted a backlash online, despite the company claiming it would "reinvent" what is possible in video games.
Nvidia said the DLSS 5 tool, which will be rolled out this autumn, would allow games to have "photoreal computer graphics previously only achieved in Hollywood visual effects".
In images shared with the media, the tech was shown radically changing the appearance of characters and environments in games such as Resident Evil Requiem and Hogwarts Legacy.
Nvidia has become a household name because of the advanced microchips it makes for AI data centres.
-BBC News
PPC reports significant financial improvements as turnaround strategy progresses
PPC’s share price rose sharply by over 4% Wednesday morning after it reported further evidence that its “Awaken the Giant” turnaround strategy is delivering improvements in operating and financial performance.
For the 10 months to January 31, the group’s South Africa and Botswana unit ended with a net cash position of R367 million, significantly improved from R106m a year before.
The share price traded at R5,96 on the JSE Thursday morning, extending steady gains from R4,10 a year ago.
An increase in group revenue was driven mainly by the growth in PPC’s Zimbabwe operations, while the South Africa and Botswana group revenue remained largely unchanged from the prior period.
This all resulted in a 22% increase in total group earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA). Cement volume sales remained flat in South Africa and Botswana.
“Our turnaround plan is deliberately ambitious. It is designed to rebuild PPC’s iconic status by restoring our competitiveness and long-term value creation. The results for the ten months clearly demonstrate the ongoing and compounding benefits of this strategy,” said PPC CEO Matias Cardarelli.
-IOL Business Report
