Tech Business & Industry Moves

Apple CEO Tim Cook is criticized for cautious AI spending because, despite the company's size, its AI investments have not yet yielded significant returns. Investors expected rapid advancements, such as a major generative AI upgrade to Siri, to drive demand for new products like the iPhone 16. However, Apple delayed these AI features, while competitors like Amazon have launched advanced AI assistants, leading to doubts about Apple's AI strategy and slower innovation pace.

Apple's AI models, including those for Siri, are criticized for underperforming compared to AI models from companies like OpenAI and Meta. Apple's research paper highlights that many reasoning AI models show initial success but fail on more complex tasks, suggesting their 'thinking' is pattern matching rather than true reasoning. This has led to skepticism about Apple's generative AI capabilities and the effectiveness of its AI investments.

The Semiconductor Skills, Talent and Education Programme (STEP) is a UK government-funded initiative coordinated by the UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF) to build a robust pipeline of semiconductor skills. It consists of four connected projects ranging from schools outreach to post-graduate training. The programme aims to improve awareness of the semiconductor sector, provide financial support and skills development for students pursuing Electrical and Electronics Engineering degrees, and support further education in chip design and semiconductor materials. Collaborators include universities, research institutions, and industry partners to maximize impact and underpin the long-term success of the UK semiconductor sector.

Foundry 2.0 refers to the next generation or evolution of semiconductor foundry services, where foundries not only manufacture chips but also provide advanced design, customization, and integrated solutions to meet the growing complexity and demand in the semiconductor market. This concept includes enhanced capabilities in chip design, manufacturing technology, and customer collaboration, positioning companies like Intel to secure competitive positions in this emerging foundry landscape.

The MIT Technology Review Insiders Panel focuses on exploring the forces reshaping AI, including global market shifts, rising model makers, and evolving safety concerns. It provides sharp analysis and unpublished insights from the team that researches and reports on AI daily.

MIT Technology Review contributes to understanding AI's impact through in-depth reporting packages, such as its recent focus on AI's energy and resource usage. This includes examining the energy demands of AI inference and the broader environmental implications of AI data centers.