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| Here's a look at today's tech briefing: - U.S. to announce $20B in funding for Intel chip plants.
- Microsoft to unveil new Surface hardware and AI tools tomorrow.
- EU to pass new rules combatting online disinformation during elections.
- Tim Cook is promoting Apple in China.
Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | The Biden administration plans to provide Intel with up to $8.5B in direct funding and another $11B in loans to expand its chip factories in Arizona, Ohio, New Mexico, and Oregon. President Joe Biden is scheduled to announce the CHIPS Act funding today during a visit to Intel's campus in Chandler, Arizona. More: - Intel plans to use the funds to build and upgrade fabs in Chandler and New Albany, Ohio, modernize plants in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and expand facilities in Hillsboro, Oregon.
- Intel estimates the projects will create 10,000 manufacturing and 20,000 construction jobs.
- The agreement between Intel and the Commerce Department is still preliminary and could change, reports noted.
Zoom out: - The funding comes from the 2022 U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, which earmarked $200B to boost domestic chip manufacturing.
- The law sets aside $39B in grants and $75B in loans and guarantees to encourage chip makers to build and expand plants in the U.S., with the goal of bringing semiconductor production back from Asia.
- According to SEMI data, about 70% of the world's chip manufacturing capacity is in South Korea, Taiwan, and China, with the Americas fifth behind Japan. This contrasts sharply with 1990, when the U.S. had 37%, Europe 44%, and Japan 19% of global capacity.
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| 2 | | Microsoft is expected to unveil the Surface Pro 10 and a Surface Laptop 6 during its online event tomorrow, March 21. The event could also reveal the latest AI updates for Windows 11 and Microsoft Copilot. More: - Microsoft is rumored to unveil its first "AI PCs" ― including an OLED Surface Pro 10 tablet and a Surface Laptop 6 ― that could support new generative AI tools.
- The event page also tells customers to tune in "for the latest in scaling AI in your environment with Copilot, Windows, and Surface."
- The theme, "Advancing the new era of work with Copilot," suggests a focus on AI offerings for businesses.
- Microsoft could unveil new AI features for Windows, such as real-time captioning, gaming enhancements, and upgraded Windows Studio Effects.
- A new "AI Explorer" coming to Windows 11 would act as a built-in timeline feature, allowing users to search their PC history using text prompts.
- The event will livestream on Microsoft's website starting at 9 a.m. PT/noon ET on Thursday,
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| 3 | | European lawmakers are expected to adopt new rules requiring major online platforms to combat AI-generated disinformation and deepfakes during elections, sources told the Financial Times. The broad rules would end years of self-regulation, with platforms facing fines of up to 6% of global turnover for failing to address election-related harms. More: - The European Commission is set to approve the mandatory rules to combat election disinformation as early as next week, FT reported, citing people familiar with the plans.
- The rules would target issues like false content, mass manipulation efforts, and deepfakes ahead of European elections in June.
- During election season, platforms must form teams to monitor for disinformation in 23 languages and coordinate with EU cybersecurity agents across all member states, sources said.
Zoom out: - The rules will be enforced through the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), a relatively new law designed to improve online safety in the bloc.
- It applies to major digital platforms and search engines like Google, Facebook, and Amazon. The DSA restricts targeted ads at children, bans manipulative "dark patterns," and requires platforms to clarify algorithms, among other measures.
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| 4 | | Apple CEO Tim Cook is visiting Shanghai this week to open a new store and promote Apple in China. During meetings with suppliers BYD Electronics and Lens Technology, Cook stressed China's importance in the company's supply chain. More: - Cook is in Shanghai for the inauguration of Apple Jing'an, the company's eighth store in the city, set to open in the downtown Jing'an district on Thursday.
- The CEO shared a post on his official Weibo account today, showing him strolling through a tourist district and having breakfast with Chinese actor Zheng Kai.
- Despite Apple moving much of its supply chain away from China, Cook reportedly stressed that the company plans to uphold its nearly 30-year relationship with the country.
- Cook visited China, Apple's third-largest market by revenue, twice last year and attended the China Development Forum in Beijing.
Zoom out: - iPhone sales in China dropped 24% in the first six weeks of 2024 amid rising competition from local smartphone makers, according to recent data from Counterpoint Research.
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| 5 | | Starting April 10, major U.S. internet providers will be required under FCC rules to display "nutrition label" like information about their services. The labels are meant to shield consumers from hidden fees. More: - Verizon's Brian Higgins said the labels will let customers easily compare products and choose the best provider for their needs.
- Broadband providers will have to display the labels for both wireless and wired products at the point of sale.
- Each label must have "easy-to-read facts" about price, speed, data allowances, discounts, bundles, and other information.
- The labels must be clearly visible on main web pages and customer account portals, and not hidden behind multiple clicks, according to the FCC.
- Most providers have to comply by April 10, though smaller ISPs have until October 10.
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| 6 | | Two U.S. investment firms, Toronto's Delphia and San Francisco's Global Predictions, agreed to settle for $400,000 with the SEC for falsely advertising their use of AI, known as "AI washing." In resolving the charges, both companies neither acknowledged nor denied the accusations. More: - The SEC charged Global Predictions with distributing misleading AI-related information on its website and social media last year.
- Delphia faced accusations of false claims about AI and machine learning in various communications, including SEC filings and press releases, from 2019 to 2023.
- Delphia will settle for $225,000 and Global Predictions $175,000.
Zoom out: - The cases mark the start of the SEC's crackdown on the improper promotion of AI technologies.
- SEC Chair Gary Gensler recently warned companies about "AI washing," saying that they need to detail how they use AI, along with its risks, and not lie about their AI models or applications.
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 | AI and technology writer | | Beth is a contributing editor and writer of Inside's AI and Tech newsletters. She has written for publications including USA Today, the Arizona Business Gazette, and The Arizona Republic, where she received recognition with a Pulitzer Prize nomination and a First Amendment Award for collaborative reporting on state pension cost increases. You can reach her at Beth.Duckett@yahoo.com. | | This newsletter was edited by Eduardo Garcia | |
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