Amazon has created a new division focused on agentic AI to enhance automation for users and businesses. The initiative will be led by AWS executive Swami Sivasubramanian.
WS CEO Matt Garman described agentic AI as a potential multi-billion-dollar business, with the goal of enabling systems to take proactive actions without user prompts.
The announcement follows Amazon’s recent unveiling of an upgraded Alexa, which incorporates similar AI capabilities.
As part of a broader restructuring within AWS, senior vice president Peter DeSantis also outlined leadership changes, including the realignment of AI units Bedrock and SageMaker under the compute organisation.
The company believes these shifts will accelerate innovation and improve customer experience.
Amazon has been investing heavily in AI to maintain its competitive edge in cloud computing and e-commerce. The restructuring signals a stronger push toward AI-driven automation, which the company sees as central to the next wave of technological progress.
Shares of Amazon fell slightly following the announcement, closing at $204.81.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Malaysia has secured a landmark deal worth $250 million with Arm Holdings to acquire the company’s advanced chip design blueprints.
The agreement, which spans a decade, will enable Malaysia to produce its own AI chips, including graphics processing units, as demand for AI and data centres continues to surge globally.
The deal is part of Malaysia’s broader goal to become a major player in semiconductor manufacturing over the next ten years.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that the deal will also see Arm establish its first Southeast Asian office in Kuala Lumpur. The move is aimed at strengthening the company’s presence in the region, including expanding its reach to Australia and New Zealand.
Alongside this, Malaysia will invest in training 10,000 engineers to support the local manufacturing ecosystem.
The initiative is expected to drive significant economic growth, with Malaysia aiming to create 10 local chip companies, each generating annual revenues between $1.5 to $2 billion.
Malaysia aims to build a complete supply chain for advanced industries, covering everything from AI data servers to autonomous vehicles and robotics.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Apple has launched new versions of the iPad Air, now featuring its latest M3 chip and AI capabilities. Starting at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch variant, the updated iPads are set to be available for pre-order with deliveries beginning on March 12.
The new devices are designed to meet growing demand for AI-powered features, such as enhanced writing and photo editing tools, helping Apple remain competitive against rivals like Samsung and Huawei.
Apple continues its strategy of integrating AI into its product ecosystem, recently introducing ‘Apple Intelligence’ to its devices, offering ChatGPT for tasks such as email composition and image editing.
Apple’s iPad sales have been robust, exceeding expectations during the holiday quarter, with over half of the sales attributed to new customers.
While the new iPad Air models come with double the storage and improved performance, Apple’s regular iPad has also been updated, though it will not feature the AI enhancements found in the Air. The move underlines Apple’s focus on integrating AI into its higher-end devices to attract tech-savvy consumers.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Thales, one of Europe’s largest satellite manufacturers, has warned governments against becoming too dependent on private satellite systems, specifically highlighting concerns about Starlink.
Patrice Caine, the CEO of Thales, emphasised the risks of relying on external providers for secure communications, stressing that government operations require stability, reliability, and full control.
Caine pointed out that while Starlink’s massive constellation offers resilience, its business model, which includes frequent satellite renewals, could pose problems.
Many European governments, he said, prefer to control their own infrastructure, a strategy exemplified by initiatives like the Iris2 constellation for secure communications.
Thales’ comments come at a time when private players like SpaceX are gaining ground, with Starlink expanding globally and securing key markets.
However, Caine warned that the blending of economic and political motives in such private ventures may not reassure government clients.
The growing shift towards private sector-led space services could disrupt the traditional satellite industry, where companies like Thales and Airbus have long held dominance.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
MIPS, a long-established Silicon Valley company, has revealed a shift in its strategy to focus on designing chips for AI-driven robots.
Once known for competing with Arm Holdings in computing architecture, MIPS now aims to create specialised chips for sensing, decision-making, and controlling robot movements.
However, move like this one comes as the demand for robotics technology, particularly in areas like autonomous vehicles, grows rapidly.
MIPS’ decision marks a major transition from licensing its technology to designing its own chips. Chief Executive Sameer Wasson stated that the company would initially target the automotive industry, with plans to have technology integrated into cars by 2027.
Despite focusing on chip design, MIPS intends to continue licensing its technology to other firms.
This strategic pivot is expected to position MIPS as a key player in the robotics sector, particularly as AI continues to revolutionise industries.
Although MIPS is not transitioning into a full-fledged silicon company, its decision to develop tangible, working chips is aimed at providing greater confidence to potential customers and partners.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Malaysian authorities are investigating whether local laws were breached in the shipment of servers that may have contained advanced AI chips subject to U export controls.
The case is linked to a fraud investigation in Singapore, where three men were recently charged over transactions involving servers supplied by US firms. The equipment was allegedly transferred to Malaysia and may have included Nvidia’s artificial intelligence chips.
The Malaysian government confirmed it is working closely with the United States and Singapore to determine whether US-sanctioned chips were involved. Authorities aim to find effective measures to prevent such transactions from violating trade regulations.
Singapore has not specified whether the chips in question fall under US export restrictions but acknowledged they were used in servers that passed through Malaysia.
US officials are also examining whether DeepSeek, a Chinese AI firm whose technology gained attention in January, has been using restricted US chips.
Washington has tightened controls on AI chip exports to China, and any unauthorised shipments could lead to further scrutiny of supply chains in the region.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Microsoft’s UK boss has warned that many companies are ‘stuck in neutral’ when it comes to AI, with a significant number of private and public sector organisations lacking any formal AI strategy. According to a Microsoft survey of nearly 1,500 senior leaders and 1,440 employees in the UK, more than half of executives report that their organisations have no official AI plan. Additionally, many recognise a growing productivity gap between employees using AI and those who are not.
Darren Hardman, Microsoft’s UK chief executive, stated that some companies are caught in the experimentation phase rather than fully deploying AI. Microsoft, a major backer of OpenAI, has been promoting AI deployment in workplaces through autonomous AI agents designed to perform tasks without human intervention. Early adopters, like consulting giant McKinsey, are already using AI agents for tasks such as scheduling meetings.
Hardman also discussed AI’s potential impact on jobs, with the Tony Blair Institute estimating that AI could displace up to 3 million UK jobs, though the net job loss will likely be much lower as new roles are created. He compared AI’s transformative impact on the workplace to how the internet revolutionised retail, creating roles like data analysts and social media managers. Hardman also backed proposed UK copyright law reforms, which would allow tech companies to use copyright-protected work for training AI models, arguing that the changes could drive economic growth and support AI development.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
South Korea has announced the creation of a $34 billion policy fund to support companies in key industries such as semiconductors, automotive, and advanced technologies, in response to growing global competition and protectionist policies.
The state-run Korea Development Bank will manage the fund by providing low-interest loans and other financial support over the next five years to businesses involved in national strategic industries.
The government stressed that maintaining competitiveness in these strategic sectors has become crucial to the country’s economic security, particularly amid the uncertainties caused by the new US administration.
South Korea has identified 12 industries, including semiconductors, AI, and biopharmaceuticals, as critical for its future economic stability and will offer targeted financial support to strengthen these sectors.
In addition to the fund, South Korea also unveiled new policies to attract skilled global talent in cutting-edge fields. These measures include offering top-tier visas and permanent residency to professionals with experience at major international firms, aiming to enhance the country’s workforce in strategic industries.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Musk did not meet the high standards required to block the move. However, the judge indicated that she would expedite a trial on the matter, which is expected to take place later this year.
Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but left before its major success, argued that OpenAI had initially sought his charitable funding to create AI for the public good, but has since shifted its focus towards making profits.
His lawyer, Marc Toberoff, expressed satisfaction that the judge had agreed to a swift trial, claiming that the case involves urgent public interest concerns.
OpenAI, which is seeking to become a for-profit entity to attract the necessary capital for its AI projects, welcomed the court’s decision.
The company emphasised that its goal is to develop advanced AI models to benefit society. Musk’s legal action, which also includes antitrust claims, stems from his frustration with OpenAI’s shift in direction since he departed from the organisation.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Nvidia and Broadcom are conducting manufacturing tests with Intel’s advanced 18A chip-making process, signalling potential confidence in the struggling company’s technology.
Sources indicate that the tests, though preliminary, could lead to major contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is also evaluating Intel’s capabilities, though it is unclear if it has sent test chips for validation.
Despite the interest, Intel’s foundry business has faced repeated delays, with its 18A process now pushed back another six months due to challenges in qualifying essential intellectual property.
The company has struggled to secure major external clients, with most of its foundry revenue still coming from its own chip production.
The US government sees Intel as critical to restoring domestic semiconductor manufacturing and has explored deals to strengthen its position, including potential partnerships with TSMC.
Intel has signed agreements with Microsoft and Amazon for chip production, though details remain vague. Industry experts suggest that many chip designers are waiting to see if Intel can reliably deliver on its foundry promises before committing to large-scale production.
Financial setbacks have placed additional pressure on Intel, with its foundry revenue declining 60% last year and break-even projections now delayed until at least 2027.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
