Apple is teaming up with Broadcom to develop its first server chip dedicated to artificial intelligence processing. Expected to enter mass production by 2026, the chip, code-named Baltra, represents Apple’s latest venture into custom hardware aimed at reducing reliance on Nvidia’s high-cost and supply-constrained processors.
The chip will use Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s N3P process, highlighting Apple’s commitment to furthering manufacturing technology. Broadcom, already benefiting from AI-driven growth, saw its shares climb 5% following the announcement.
This partnership builds on Apple’s recent successes in chip growth, including its M-series processors for Mac devices. It also echoes a broader trend among tech giants like Google, which have pursued custom AI chips to enhance their services. With the global market for custom chips projected to reach $45 billion by 2028, Apple’s move furthers its role as a leader in the AI tech industry.
Swiss robotics firm Anybotics has raised an additional $60 million, closing its Series B round at $110 million. Known for its Anymal quadruped robot, the company focuses on automating routine inspections in complex industrial environments such as oil and gas, mining, and utilities. Equipped with sensors and cameras, Anymal enhances safety and productivity by detecting issues like thermal anomalies and gas leaks, minimising human exposure to hasardous areas.
Since first announcing the Series B round 18 months ago, the Swiss Zürich-based startup has doubled its robot deployments, with nearly 200 units now operational across various industries. Clients include major companies such as Novelis and Iamgold, as well as Stanford University, which uses the technology for advanced research.
The new funding will support Anybotics’ expansion into the US following the opening of its San Francisco office. Co-led by Qualcomm Ventures and Supernova Invest, the investment ensures the company can scale its operations globally, with plans for a broader product portfolio and industry applications in the future.
Samsung has filed a legal challenge against India‘s Competition Commission (CCI), accusing the watchdog of unlawfully detaining employees and seizing data during a 2022 raid connected to an antitrust investigation involving Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart. The CCI claims Samsung colluded with the e-commerce giants to launch products exclusively online, a practice it argues violates competition laws.
In its filing with the northern city of Chandigarh’s High Court, Samsung alleged that confidential data was improperly taken from its employees during the raid and requested the return of the material. Samsung has secured an injunction to pause the CCI’s proceedings but seeks a broader ruling to prevent the use of the seized data. The CCI, in turn, has asked the Supreme Court to consolidate similar challenges by Samsung and 22 other parties, arguing that companies are attempting to derail the investigation.
The case stems from findings earlier this year that Amazon, Flipkart, and smartphone companies like Samsung engaged in anti-competitive practices by favouring select sellers and using exclusive product launches. While Amazon and Flipkart deny wrongdoing, brick-and-mortar retailers have long criticised their pricing and market strategies. Samsung, a major smartphone brand in India with a 14% market share, maintains it was wrongly implicated and cooperated only as a third party in the investigation.
Malaysia has opened a national AI office to shape policies, oversee regulations, and position the country as a regional leader in AI development. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called the move a milestone in the nation’s digital transformation. The office aims to centralise AI strategy, research, and regulatory oversight.
The new agency plans to deliver key initiatives within its first year, including a code of ethics, a regulatory framework, and a five-year AI technology action plan leading up to 2030. Details were revealed on its official website, highlighting its comprehensive approach to managing AI advancements.
The government has also announced collaborations with six global companies, including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, which have invested heavily in Malaysia’s cloud and AI infrastructure over the past year. These partnerships are expected to enhance the country’s technological capabilities further.
Malaysia’s digital economy has significantly contributed to its growth, with the information and communications sub-sector receiving over 71 billion ringgit in approved investments in 2024. These advancements underscore the country’s ambitions to become a regional technology hub.
A revolutionary AI-powered robot named SwagBot is changing the face of cattle farming. Developed by researchers at the University of Sydney, it offers an innovative way to manage livestock while tackling environmental challenges like soil degradation. SwagBot, first launched in 2016, has evolved from a basic herding machine to a sophisticated tool equipped with sensors, AI, and machine learning.
The autonomous robot can assess pasture health, type, and density while monitoring livestock well-being. By guiding cattle to the most nutritious grazing areas, SwagBot reduces the risk of overgrazing and ensures optimal pasture use. Salah Sukkarieh, a University of Sydney professor, highlighted its ability to manage cattle movement fluidly without relying on traditional fences.
Australia’s vast cattle farms, home to about 30 million animals, often face dry conditions and poor-quality pastures. SwagBot offers a game-changing solution by feeding real-time data to farmers, enabling more efficient grazing decisions. Part-time farmer Erin O’Neill noted the robot’s potential to support pregnant cattle by identifying the best-quality pastures for their needs.
SwagBot is still in development but represents a significant step towards integrating robotics in agriculture. As farms increasingly adopt such technologies, they aim to boost productivity, reduce environmental impact, and address challenges in hiring workers for remote locations.
Policymakers seeking to regulate AI face an uphill battle as the science evolves faster than safeguards can be devised. Elizabeth Kelly, director of the US Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute, highlighted challenges such as “jailbreaks” that bypass AI security measures and the ease of tampering with digital watermarks meant to identify AI-generated content. Speaking at the Reuters NEXT conference, Kelly acknowledged the difficulty in establishing best practices without clear evidence of their effectiveness.
The US AI Safety Institute, launched under the Biden administration, is collaborating with academic, industry, and civil society partners to address these issues. Kelly emphasised that AI safety transcends political divisions, calling it a “fundamentally bipartisan issue” amid the upcoming transition to Donald Trump’s presidency. The institute recently hosted a global meeting in San Francisco, bringing together safety bodies from 10 countries to develop interoperable tests for AI systems.
Kelly described the gathering as a convergence of technical experts focused on practical solutions rather than typical diplomatic formalities. While the challenges remain significant, the emphasis on global cooperation and expertise offers a promising path forward.
Aqemia has secured $38 million in funding led by Cathay Innovation, marking its second successful raise this year and bringing its total funding past $100 million. Founded in 2019, the company leverages a unique combination of ‘quantum-inspired’ physics and generative AI to accelerate drug discovery, focusing initially on cancer and immuno-oncology treatments.
By using statistical mechanics algorithms, Aqemia creates synthetic data to predict drug molecule properties, bypassing the costly need for experimental data. The France-based startup’s approach has already attracted partnerships, including a lucrative agreement with Sanofi worth up to $140 million.
The latest funding will support Aqemia’s global expansion, with a London office set to open in 2025, tapping into the UK‘s talent pool. Backers include Cathay Innovation and previous investors such as Bpifrance and Eurazeo, boosting the company’s reach into international markets.
HarperCollins CEO Brian Murray highlighted the evolving audiobook market and AI’s potential during the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference. He praised Spotify‘s innovative approach to audiobooks, offering 15 free listening hours to Premium users, which he said attracted casual listeners and boosted HarperCollins’ revenue. Spotify’s wholesale distribution model also provides clear royalty structures for authors.
Murray acknowledged AI’s dual role as a threat and opportunity. Generative AI could flood the market with lower-quality content, but high-quality works may continue to thrive. He noted AI’s potential for streamlining marketing, translations, and audiobook production for niche markets, while also envisioning its use in adapting books for film or television.
Spotify, aiming to grow its global audiobook market, is testing family plan access. HarperCollins is closely watching these developments as both companies explore expanding their audiobook offerings and incorporating AI-driven solutions.
Google has announced a $20 billion partnership with Intersect Power and TPG Rise Climate to build renewable energy projects, battery storage, and grid upgrades for its data centres. The initiative includes wind, solar, and battery storage facilities, each paired with 1-gigawatt-scale data centres to meet growing energy demands for AI technology. The first phase is expected to be operational by 2026.
The plan aims to address grid bottlenecks, with Google funding required upgrades to accelerate connectivity. This strategy highlights renewables’ speed over nuclear options, which have longer timelines for implementation.
Industry experts predict a shortfall in energy for AI-focused data centres by 2027, underscoring the urgency for alternative power sources. While Google also invests in nuclear energy projects, renewables are expected to dominate in the near term.
General Motors has announced it will cease funding its Cruise self-driving taxi project, redirecting its autonomous vehicle efforts toward personal cars. The decision reflects the intense competition and financial demands of scaling in the robotaxi sector. GM stated that the resources required to make Cruise profitable were a major factor in its pivot.
Cruise has faced mounting challenges in recent months. Following a fatal accident in October 2023 that led California to revoke its driverless testing permit, the company suspended operations across the US and cut a quarter of its workforce. Leadership changes and federal scrutiny further complicated Cruise’s trajectory, with co-founder Kyle Vogt departing amid the fallout.
This move signals broader difficulties within the autonomous taxi industry, where other giants like Ford and Volkswagen have also scaled back ambitions. GM, which owns 97% of Cruise, had once predicted billions in revenue from the venture by 2030. While companies like Tesla, Waymo, and Amazon continue to chase the robotaxi dream, GM is betting its future on personal autonomous vehicles instead.
