This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Apple says the claim is 'meritless' Did US tech giant Apple abuse the dominant position of its app store in the UK? A trial opening Monday in which plaintiffs want more than one billion pounds is set to answer that question. The complaint, filed in May 2021, accuses Apple of breaching European and UK competition laws by "its e ...

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Apple's board of directors has recommended a vote against a shareholder proposal to end the company's diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Apple's board of directors has recommended shareholders vote against a proposal to end the company's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, going against the grain of decisions ...

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg made his surprise announcement this week to slash content moderation policies in the United States. There will be "real-world harm" if Meta expands its decision to scrap fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram, a global network warned Thursday while disputing Mark Zuckerberg's claim such mode ...

Core Insights - TSMC's net sales increased by 33.9% year-over-year, reaching NT$2.9 trillion ($87.8 billion), driven by high demand for AI technology [2][3] - The company's revenue growth surpassed its previous estimate of nearly 30%, indicating strong ongoing investment in AI infrastructure from major clients like Microsoft and Amazon [3] - TSMC is a key player in the AI revolution, producing advanced microchips essential for Silicon Valley products [3] Company Performance - TSMC's revenue growth reflects a significant increase in demand for chips used in various applications, including Apple's iPhones and Nvidia's AI hardware [2] - The company's shares have more than doubled since the AI boom began in late 2022, following the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT [4] Geopolitical and Operational Challenges - TSMC faces geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China, particularly regarding technology import restrictions and trade issues [4] - The semiconductor supply chain is vulnerable to disruptions, prompting governments to encourage TSMC to diversify production locations [5] - TSMC is expanding its manufacturing footprint internationally, with plans for new factories in the U.S. and an existing facility in Japan [5]

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Since its founding in 1994, Amazon has undergone exponential growth. Initially an online bookstore, the company has evolved into a global e-commerce powerhouse. Yet its reach extends far beyond retail. Amazon is also a dominant force in technology infrastructure (Amazon Web Services, or AWS), d ...

US Export Restrictions on AI Chips - The Biden administration plans to impose additional restrictions on the export of AI chips, particularly targeting Nvidia Corp, to limit advanced technology access for China and Russia [1] - The US aims to control AI chip sales to data centers globally, focusing on aligning businesses with American standards and concentrating AI development in friendly nations [2] - The new regulations will create three tiers of chip export restrictions, with the strictest measures targeting adversaries like China and Russia [3][4] Tiered Export Control System - Tier 1 includes the US and 18 allies (eg Germany, Japan, South Korea) with unrestricted access to American chips [11] - Tier 2 covers most countries with computing power limits equivalent to 50,000 GPUs from 2025-2027, though companies can bypass limits by meeting US security standards [14][15] - Tier 3 includes China, Macau, and arms-embargoed nations (about two dozen total) with near-total prohibitions on chip shipments [16] Impact on Semiconductor Industry - Nvidia shares dropped over 1% following news of the export restrictions, despite a 4.3% YTD gain through the close [6] - Nvidia opposes the restrictions, arguing they threaten economic growth and US leadership in AI technology [7] - The Semiconductor Industry Association criticizes the rushed policy change during presidential transition [17] Additional AI Technology Controls - The new rules also restrict export of closed AI model weights to Tier 3 countries and impose security standards for Tier 2 countries [18] - Open weight models and less powerful closed models remain unaffected by the restrictions [18] - Fine-tuning open weight models for specific purposes in Tier 2 countries requires US government approval [19] Strategic Objectives - The US seeks to leverage its AI technology advantage to shape global AI development and reduce reliance on Chinese technology [10][11] - Regulations aim to ensure the US and allies maintain superior computing power compared to the rest of the world [13] - Companies can bypass national limits by meeting US security and human rights standards through the VEU program [5][15]

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain AT&T is trying to address one of the biggest frustrations for wireless phone and internet customers—losing service to outages and still paying for it. Dallas-based telecom giant AT&T has heard the complaints and is launching a bill credit guarantee to stop customers from paying for service on days whe ...

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Meta has said it will end fact-checking operations on its Facebook and Instagram platforms. Australia is deeply concerned by Meta's decision to scrap US fact-check operations on its Facebook and Instagram platforms, a senior minister said Thursday. The government—which has been at the forefront of efforts to rein in social med ...

Industry Overview - The autonomous driving space is growing, with the US potentially leading globally in this sector [1][2] - The industry has matured compared to the previous presidential administration, with global competition involving US, Chinese, and German auto players [2] - Tech experts expect the Trump administration to set a national standard on autonomous driving standards, which could boost safety and US leadership in the field [1][3] Company Performance - Waymo, a Google-owned robotaxi venture, operates commercially in three US cities and plans to expand to two more US cities in 2025 [5] - The company currently provides more than 150,000 trips weekly, indicating significant operational scale [5] Competitive Landscape - Elon Musk, expected to play an influential role in the Trump White House, plans to launch a robotaxi venture by 2027, directly competing with Waymo [4] - Waymo's co-CEO welcomes competition, emphasizing that making roads safer is a mission too big for one company [5] Regulatory Environment - There is a potential risk of a "race to the bottom on safety" with a national standard, but the Trump administration has been "very forward-leaning" on autonomous driving [6] - A national framework for autonomous driving should require companies to demonstrate their safety record [7] Strategic Outlook - The incoming Trump administration's focus on autonomous driving could create a real opportunity for US leadership in safe, sustainable, and autonomous transportation [3] - Waymo's co-CEO sees the alignment of autonomous driving with the administration's goals as a positive development [3]

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Vendors wait for customers at a mobile phone shopping center in Jakarta. Indonesia on Wednesday upheld a ban on iPhone 16 sales despite Apple's $1 billion pledge to invest in the country after a negotiation deadlock, citing the company's failure to meet domestic market requirements. Indonesia in October prohibited the marketin ...