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Not so fast: German court says Apple can't call Watch carbon neutral
TechCrunch· 2025-08-26 16:35
Two years ago, Apple announced its Watch Series 9 as its first carbon-neutral product. From cradle to grave, the company said the manufacturing, use, and disposal of the then-new model didn’t contribute to global warming. Now, a German court says that Apple has to recant the claim. Each aluminum Apple Watch Series 9 and Series 10 — two models with the carbon-neutral designation — generates just over 8 kilograms of carbon emissions. Apple then offsets those emissions through the purchase of carbon credits.T ...
Apple is holding its iPhone 17 event on September 9
TechCrunch· 2025-08-26 16:05
Group 1 - Apple is holding its iPhone 17 event on September 9, starting at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET at the Steve Jobs theatre in Cupertino [1] - The iPhone 17 lineup is expected to include one regular model and two Pro models, with a potential new iPhone 17 Air model that is 5.5 mm thick and features a 6.6-inch screen, making it 0.08 inches thinner than current models [2] - The base iPhone 17 is anticipated to have a larger 6.3-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, an upgrade from the previous 60Hz [2] Group 2 - Alongside the iPhones, Apple is likely to update the Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3, with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 featuring a bigger screen and faster charging [3] - The company may also announce AirPods Pro 3, which would include a more compact design, a new chip for improved noise cancellation and audio processing, and touch-sensitive controls [3]
After falling behind in generative AI, IBM and AMD look to quantum for an edge
TechCrunch· 2025-08-26 16:04
In Brief IBM and AMD are partnering to develop next-generation computing architectures that integrate IBM’s quantum systems with AMD’s AI-specialized chips. The move could position both the tech giant and chipmaker as key infrastructure players, as they look to regain ground after falling behind on the generative AI boom.Together, IBM and AMD will attempt to launch a commercially viable quantum computing architecture – one that’s scalable and open-sourced. In other words, it will be more widely accessible t ...
Tesla could have avoided that $242.5M Autopilot verdict, filings show
TechCrunch· 2025-08-25 23:32
Core Points - A jury awarded a $242.5 million verdict against Tesla for its role in a fatal crash involving its Autopilot system, which occurred in 2019 [2][3] - Tesla had the opportunity to settle the case for $60 million but chose to reject the offer [1] - The jury found the driver responsible for two-thirds of the blame, while Tesla was assigned one-third [3] Legal Proceedings - The lawsuit was filed in 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida [5] - The crash involved a Tesla Model S with Autopilot engaged, which failed to brake in time, resulting in a collision that killed one person and severely injured another [2][3] - Tesla plans to appeal the verdict, citing "substantial errors of law and irregularities at trial" [4]
Elon Musk's xAI sues Apple and OpenAI, alleging anticompetitive collusion
TechCrunch· 2025-08-25 17:30
Core Argument - Elon Musk's X and xAI have filed a lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI, alleging collusion to suppress competition in the AI market [1] Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit claims that Apple is attempting to protect its smartphone monopoly by collaborating with OpenAI, which is accused of being a monopolist in the generative AI chatbot market [1] - Musk's legal actions are part of ongoing disputes with OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, including a previous attempt to block OpenAI's transition to a for-profit model and an unsolicited bid to acquire OpenAI for $97.4 billion [2] Group 2: Public Statements and Reactions - Musk has publicly accused OpenAI and Apple of creating an environment where no other AI company can compete effectively, stating that it is "impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach 1 in the App Store" [3] - Sam Altman has responded to Musk's allegations, suggesting that Musk manipulates X to benefit his own interests while harming competitors [3] - OpenAI and Apple have not provided immediate comments regarding the lawsuit [4]
Amazon AGI Labs chief defends his reverse acquihire
TechCrunch· 2025-08-23 20:01
Group 1 - Amazon's hiring of Adept's founders represents a trend known as reverse acquihires, where large companies hire key startup team members and license their technology instead of outright acquisitions [1] - David Luan, co-founder of Adept, is now leading Amazon's new AGI Lab, indicating a strategic move towards enhancing Amazon's capabilities in AI [2] - Luan expressed a desire to be remembered as an AI research innovator rather than a deal structure innovator, highlighting the importance of talent and computational resources in advancing AI research [3] Group 2 - Luan's motivation for joining Amazon was to tackle significant research challenges in AGI, which he believes require substantial financial and computational investment [3] - He emphasized that solving the remaining crucial research problems in AGI necessitates "two-digit billion-dollar clusters," underscoring the scale of resources needed for such advancements [3]
Apple is in talks to use Google's Gemini for Siri revamp, report says
TechCrunch· 2025-08-22 18:15
Core Insights - Apple is lagging in the development of Siri as a competitive AI assistant, prompting considerations to utilize technology from other companies [1][2] - The company is exploring a partnership with Google, a direct competitor in the smartphone market, to enhance Siri's capabilities [1] - Apple has previously engaged with OpenAI and Anthropic for similar discussions regarding technology integration for Siri [2] Company Strategy - Apple is contemplating a shift in strategy by potentially adopting external technology to improve Siri, rather than relying solely on in-house development [1] - The decision on whether to partner for Siri's revamp is expected to take several weeks, indicating a careful evaluation process [2] Competitive Landscape - The move to consider partnerships with competitors like Google highlights the increasing pressure on Apple to keep pace with advancements in AI technology [1][2] - Google's initiative to train a model that could operate on Apple's servers signifies a collaborative approach in a highly competitive environment [2]
Nvidia reportedly halts production on its H20 AI chips
TechCrunch· 2025-08-22 16:53
Group 1 - Beijing's actions may hinder Nvidia's efforts to re-enter the Chinese AI market [1] - Nvidia has instructed suppliers to halt production of the H20 AI chip following warnings from Beijing against using these chips due to security concerns [2] - The Chinese government is promoting the use of domestic chips among companies [2] Group 2 - Nvidia received initial approval to sell AI chips in China just a month prior to the production halt [2] - An Nvidia spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to cybersecurity and denied the existence of any backdoors in their chips [3] - The spokesperson reassured the market that the H20 chip can be used with confidence [3]
Waymo approved to start autonomous vehicle testing in New York City
TechCrunch· 2025-08-22 14:19
Group 1 - Waymo has received a permit to test its autonomous vehicles in New York City, marking the first approval of its kind from the city [1] - The company plans to deploy up to eight Jaguar I-Pace SUVs in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, with testing set to begin immediately [1] - Waymo's vehicles must have a trained safety operator present at all times and cannot pick up passengers during the testing phase [1][4] Group 2 - This permit is a significant step towards launching a robotaxi service in New York City, which presents unique challenges compared to other cities where Waymo operates [2] - Waymo has been preparing for this move since 2021, manually mapping the city and engaging with local lawmakers and organizations [3] - The permit is part of a new autonomous vehicle safety regime initiated by Mayor Eric Adams in 2024, requiring coordination with first responders and submission of a detailed testing and safety plan [4] Group 3 - After the trial period ends in late September, Waymo will need to apply for an extension to continue testing its vehicles [5]
OpenAI lawyers question Meta's role in Elon Musk's $97B takeover bid
TechCrunch· 2025-08-22 00:31
Core Points - OpenAI is seeking evidence from Meta regarding any coordination with Elon Musk and xAI related to a potential acquisition or investment in OpenAI [1][2] - OpenAI's legal team has subpoenaed Meta for documents concerning Musk's $97 billion bid to take over OpenAI, which was made in February [1][2] - Meta has invested significantly in AI development, including hiring key researchers from OpenAI and investing $14 billion in Scale AI [3] Group 1 - OpenAI's lawyers claim that Musk communicated with Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg about financing arrangements for xAI's bid to purchase OpenAI [2] - Meta has objected to OpenAI's subpoena and argues that Musk and xAI can provide relevant information instead [4] - OpenAI is also requesting documents related to any restructuring or recapitalization of the company, which is central to Musk's lawsuit [2] Group 2 - Meta has been actively developing its own AI models and has poached several leading AI researchers from OpenAI [3] - The ongoing legal battle highlights the competitive landscape in the AI sector, with major players like Meta and Musk's xAI vying for dominance [3][4] - The situation is evolving, and further updates are expected as the legal proceedings continue [4]