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Apple To Increase Spending On AI Development
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Apple is set to invest more in artificial intelligence to catch up with rivals. CEO Tim Cook suggested last Thursday that the company may buy additional data centers or even acquire a major player in the AI space. A recent report also revealed that Apple is developing a ChatGPT rival and an “answers engine.”
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Apple said it’s open to investing more in AI and told employees the company “must” win the AI race.
- CEO Tim Cook urged employees to focus on AI development and assured the company will make the necessary investments.
- The tech giant allegedly created a new team called Answers, Knowledge and Information, which is developing an “answers engine.”
According to Reuters , during a conference call last week, Cook said that Apple is committed to advancing AI technology and is open to acquiring large companies to support this effort.
“We’re very open to M&A that accelerates our roadmap,” explained Cook to investors. “We are not stuck on a certain size company, although the ones that we have acquired thus far this year are small in nature.”
Compared to other tech giants, Apple has lagged behind in taking bold steps in the AI race. Google recently announced a $25 billion investment in data centers and AI infrastructure. Meta acquired Scale AI for more than $10 billion, and OpenAI partnered with Aker and Nscale last week to build the largest data center in Europe.
In a recent Bloomberg report , Apple expert Mark Gurman revealed that after the earnings call, Cook gathered employees and emphasized that the company must compete in the AI revolution, and that they will make the investments necessary to succeed. Anonymous sources said that the CEO stressed the need and the urgency of standing out in the increasingly competitive AI market.
Gurman also reported that Apple is developing a ChatGPT rival, as the company falls behind in chatbot innovation. Despite recent updates, Siri has failed to keep pace with advancements from competitors.
To address this, Apple has reportedly formed a new team called Answers, Knowledge, and Information (AKI) to develop an internal “answers engine.” While still in its early stages, the initiative is already recruiting talent with expertise in search algorithms and engine development.
Photo by Mariia Shalabaieva on Unsplash
Lyft And Baidu To Launch Robotaxi Service In Europe
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
The American ridesharing company Lyft and the Chinese company Baidu announced on Monday a new partnership to launch a robot taxi service across Europe. The firms plan to deploy Baidu’s autonomous vehicles, Apollo Go, in 2026, beginning in Germany and the United Kingdom.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Lyft and Baidu announced a new partnership to launch robotaxi services in Europe.
- The new service will begin to roll out in the UK and Germany next year, after regulatory approval.
- Baidu will provide Apollo Go’s fully-electric RT6 vehicles, and Lyft will manage operations and technical support.
According to the press release , the initiative is still subject to regulatory approval. However, Lyft and Baidu expect to begin deploying Baidu Apollo Go’s sixth-generation vehicles next year, aiming to scale to “thousands” of vehicles in the following years.
“By integrating Baidu’s cutting-edge autonomous driving technology with Lyft’s platform reach and operational expertise, we’re excited to deliver safer, greener, and more efficient mobility solutions to more users,” said Robin Li, Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Baidu.
Apollo Go’s fully electric RT6 vehicles will be accessible to users through Lyft’s digital platform. The robotaxis will be powered by Baidu’s AI technology, the Autonomous Driving Foundation Model (ADFM), which has already been tested in Wuhan across more than 3,000 square kilometers and through over 11 million rides.
As explained in the press release, Baidu will provide the vehicles, and Lyft will manage market operations, technology validation, and technical support.
“Our partnership with Baidu is all about creating a great customer experience,” said David Risher, Lyft CEO. “Their extensive track record operating the world’s largest autonomous ride-hailing service means we can bring all the benefits of AVs — safety, reliability, and privacy — to millions of Europeans.”
Risher also noted that Lyft wants to implement a hybrid approach in which human drivers and AVs work together to provide the best options for the customers.
Lyft will also leverage its recent acquisition of FREENOW, a European taxi service operating across 180 cities in the region.
The robotaxi market continues to expand across the globe. Zoox recently launched its first “serial production facility” in the United States, Waymo recently began testing autonomous vehicles in Japan , and Tesla began to roll out robotaxi services in Texas .
