Apple’s new iPhone 16, launched on Monday, faced criticism in China for its lack of AI features, as the company contends with increasing competition from domestic tech giant Huawei. While Apple highlighted AI-enhanced capabilities in its global announcement, the iPhone 16’s Chinese version will not have AI functionality until next year, which sparked significant debate on Chinese social media platforms.
On Weibo, discussions centred on the absence of AI, with users questioning the value of the new model compared to Huawei’s imminent launch of a three-way foldable smartphone. Some users expressed disappointment that Apple hadn’t yet partnered with a local AI provider to enhance the iPhone‘s functionality in China.
Despite the AI criticism, analysts believe that the lack of immediate AI integration is unlikely to impact short-term sales. Experts pointed to Apple’s strong customer loyalty and predicted that users of older iPhone models will still drive demand for upgrades. However, they warned that the company must develop a robust AI ecosystem in China to stay competitive in the long run.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 will begin on Friday through platforms such as JD.com, with deliveries expected from 20 September. Meanwhile, Huawei’s latest models continue to gain popularity in China, posing a growing challenge to Apple’s market share.
Israel-based startup Quantum Source has secured $50 million in funding to advance the development of quantum computers that utilise light-based technology. That approach, which generates photons for data processing, promises to be more efficient than traditional methods. By allowing quantum systems to operate at room temperature, Quantum Source’s technology eliminates the need for bulky, costly cooling systems, making it easier to deploy in standard data centres.
CEO Oded Melamed explained that their method offers significantly greater efficiency, potentially making quantum computers smaller and more practical for widespread use. The company plans to use the new funding to build a complete quantum system capable of generating millions of qubits, the essential units of quantum computing.
The funding round was led by California-based Eclipse and included investments from Standard Investments, Level VC, and Canon Equity. Since its founding in 2021, Quantum Source has raised $77 million and currently employs 45 people in its Tel Aviv suburb office.
The US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has outlined several recommendations to enhance the coordination of federal broadband programs to ensure efficient use of resources and equitable access to high-speed internet. One key recommendation is to standardise programs at the time of authorisation, which would reduce complexity and unnecessary variation for applicants. By establishing common frameworks and guidelines, stakeholders can navigate the application processes more effectively, streamlining broadband initiatives’ deployment across various regions.
Another significant recommendation focuses on the coordination of funding among federal agencies in the US. The NTIA suggests that agencies should work collaboratively to minimise duplication of efforts and ensure that federal broadband funding is directed to areas with the most pressing needs. This involves documenting standard operating procedures to guide funding decisions and promote the most efficient utilisation of resources, ultimately enhancing the impact of federal investments in broadband infrastructure.
Data collection and mapping are also critical areas highlighted in the NTIA’s recommendations. Federal broadband programs should align their reporting requirements with the standards set for the Broadband Funding Map and NTIA’s annual access broadband report. The NTIA encourages efforts to incentivise states to contribute relevant data, which would improve the accuracy and comprehensiveness of broadband deployment data. This enhanced data collection is essential for informed decision-making and effective planning in addressing the digital divide.
Additionally, the NTIA recommends common policies across federal programs to adjust funding and establish a deduplication review process through revised MOUs. This would enable agencies and State Broadband Offices to review funding commitments, preventing overlaps and ensuring effective resource allocation.
Apple’s upcoming iPhone, featuring the A18 chip, has been developed using Arm’s latest V9 chip design, according to a report from the Financial Times. The device is expected to be unveiled at Apple’s event in Cupertino, California, on Sept. 9, where updates to other products and apps will also likely be revealed.
Apple and Arm have a longstanding partnership, with the two companies recently signing a deal that extends beyond 2040. Arm’s V9 chip technology has played a crucial role in powering Apple’s custom chip designs for iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
Arm, owned by SoftBank, controls the intellectual property behind much of the world’s smartphone chip architecture. The company’s V9 design accounts for half of global smartphone revenue, making it an industry leader in chip innovation.
Apple’s history with Arm dates back to the early 1990s when it helped found the firm. Despite the failure of the Newton handheld computer, which used an Arm-based processor, the collaboration evolved into the development of highly successful mobile devices.
Israel’s Tower Semiconductor and India’s Adani Group will invest $10 billion (839.47 billion rupees) in a semiconductor project in Maharashtra, India. That investment aligns with India’s efforts to boost its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, despite previous setbacks such as Foxconn’s withdrawal from a major joint venture and delays in another semiconductor project.
The new plant in Maharashtra will initially produce 40,000 wafers and is part of a broader initiative by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish the country as a global chipmaker. The state of Maharashtra also announced additional investments totalling 1.17 trillion rupees, which will create 29,000 jobs. This includes new electric vehicle manufacturing units, with Skoda-Volkswagen and Toyota-Kirloskar investing significant amounts to produce electric and hybrid vehicles.
Why does this matter?
The semiconductor and electric vehicle manufacturing expansion reflects India’s growing role in these sectors, aiming to capitalize on its rapidly developing technology landscape.
Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s former chief scientist, has launched a new company called Safe Superintelligence (SSI) to develop safe AI systems that significantly surpass human intelligence. In an interview, Sutskever explained that SSI aims to take a different approach to AI scaling compared to OpenAI, emphasising the need for safety in superintelligent systems. He believes that once superintelligence is achieved, it will transform our understanding of AI and introduce new challenges for ensuring its safe use.
Sutskever acknowledged that defining what constitutes ‘safe’ AI is still a work in progress, requiring significant research to address the complexities involved. He also highlighted that as AI becomes more powerful, safety concerns will intensify, making it essential to test and evaluate AI systems rigorously. While the company does not plan to open-source all of its work, there may be opportunities to share parts of its research related to superintelligence safety.
SSI aims to contribute to the broader AI community’s safety efforts, which Sutskever views positively. He believes that as AI companies progress, they will realise the gravity of the safety challenges they face and that SSI can make a valuable contribution to this ongoing conversation.
The government of Mauritius has launched an innovative initiative to provide free mobile internet services to citizens aged 18 to 25, with the primary goal of empowering the younger generation. Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth articulated that this program aims to equip youth with essential digital tools, information, and educational resources necessary for thriving in an increasingly digital world.
By facilitating access to online platforms, the initiative seeks to enhance employment opportunities in the IT sector and support around 100,000 young individuals in their pursuit of personal and professional growth. To participate, eligible youth must register through the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) website and submit their national identity card and mobile phone numbers. Once approved, they will receive a generous, renewable monthly package of 200GB from one of the three mobile operators in the country: My.t Mobile, Emtel, or Chili Mauritius.
These mobile packages provide substantial data allowances, including access to 4G and 5G connectivity and 350 Wi-Fi hotspots across the island. While the initiative has garnered enthusiasm among the youth, it has also sparked lively discussions on social media, with some questioning whether it serves as a strategic move to encourage young people to register their SIM cards. Concerns have been raised regarding the program’s implementation and whether it is an attempt to sway first-time voters ahead of upcoming elections.
Huawei Cloud introduced advanced AI technologies at the Saudi Arabia 2024 Summit, aiming to accelerate the country’s digital transformation and support Vision 2030. This new infrastructure promises ultra-low latency and robust AI model training and inference capabilities, enhancing various sectors nationwide. The company is also the first cloud provider in Saudi Arabia to fully comply with local data security policies, ensuring high levels of data protection and aligning with the country’s digital sovereignty strategy.
The impact of Huawei Cloud is significant, with a tenfold increase in public cloud revenue over the past year. It serves a diverse client base, including government bodies, telecom carriers, FinTech firms, and media organisations, highlighting its role in the digital economy. Sector-specific solutions include supporting smart city projects for the government, market expansion for local e-commerce businesses like Zode, and advanced digital banking services.
Technological innovations, such as the Pangu model and CodeArts, drive industry advancements and accelerate software development. Additionally, Huawei Cloud invests in the local ecosystem by training over 3,000 university students and partnering with over 100 local businesses, fostering a thriving digital landscape in Saudi Arabia
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), in collaboration with leading global chip designers and suppliers such as Broadcom and Nvidia, is focusing on developing advanced silicon photonics technology. This initiative has gained momentum due to the increasing demand for faster data transmission speeds driven by the rise of AI applications. TSMC has established a dedicated R&D team of over 200 employees to explore high-speed computing chips based on silicon photonics, with production expected to commence in the second half of next year.
TSMC’s efforts aim to solve critical challenges in energy efficiency and AI computing power, positioning silicon photonics as a transformative force in the semiconductor industry. The company also targets a range of chip processes, from 45 to 7 nm, with mass production anticipated by 2025.
The silicon photonics market is projected to grow substantially, with significant developments expected as early as 2024. TSMC’s partnerships with major customers are crucial for advancing this technology, and it is poised to revolutionise applications across CPUs, GPUs, and other computing processes. As the semiconductor industry continues to evolve, TSMC’s commitment to silicon photonics underscores its role as a leader in shaping the future of high-speed data communication and AI innovations.
AI could lower oil prices over the next decade by boosting supply and cutting costs, according to a report by Goldman Sachs. AI is expected to improve logistics and increase the amount of profitably recoverable resources, potentially reducing the marginal price incentive for oil by around $5 per barrel. This could have a negative impact on the incomes of oil-producing nations, including OPEC+ members.
While AI is expected to modestly increase oil demand, particularly in power and natural gas sectors, Goldman Sachs predicts that the cost savings enabled by AI will have a more significant effect on lowering oil prices. An estimated 25% productivity gain from AI could push prices down, outweighing the demand boost and resulting in a net negative impact on oil prices.
Goldman Sachs also forecasts that AI could reduce the cost of new shale wells by up to 30%. Furthermore, AI could increase the recovery factors of the United States‘ shale resources by 10% to 20%, potentially boosting oil reserves by 8% to 20%, or 10 to 30 billion barrels. This enhanced productivity could further contribute to downward pressure on oil prices.
Oil futures have already experienced declines, with Brent crude futures dropping by 4.5% to $74.02 per barrel, marking their lowest level since December. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell by 4.1% to $70.58, their lowest since January. As AI advances, US technology companies are also pursuing energy assets from bitcoin miners to secure power for their expanding data centres.
