Apple, Meta, and More!

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For Today

• Apple Drops AI-Powered iMacs & Upgrades iOS/macOS

• Meta Starts Building Its Own AI Search Engine

• Untether Launches New AI Chips

• Nasdaq Reaches Record High, Led by Tech Giants

• TSMC Faces Scrutiny Over Trade Violation

•  AI Tool of The Week

• QUOTE OF THE DAY
  

Apple Drops AI-Powered iMacs & Upgrades iOS/macOS

iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1 Release: On October 28, Apple unveiled iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1, introducing "Apple Intelligence" features such as advanced writing tools, refined notification summaries, and the "reduce interruptions" focus mode.

New iMacs with M4 Chips: Apple also announced new iMac computers equipped with M4 processors, enhancing performance and AI capabilities. Preorders began at a base price of $1,299, with availability starting November 8.

Availability

• The first Apple Intelligence features are now available as a free update with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, accessible in most regions when Siri language is set to U.S. English.

• In December, support expands to localized English in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. By April, Apple will roll out broader language support, including Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and more.

• Apple Intelligence is compatible with iPhone 16 series, iPhone 15 Pro series, iPads with A17 Pro or M1 and later, and Macs with M1 and later.

Meta Starts Building Its Own AI Search Engine

In a bold move to cut ties with Google and Microsoft, Meta is building its own AI-powered search engine. This new platform aims to deliver conversational responses to your search questions, integrated into popular apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. It's Meta’s bid to create a truly unified, in-house search experience!

Untether Launches New AI Chips

Canadian startup Untether AI has launched its latest AI chip, the "240 Slim," designed specifically for edge computing applications, meaning it’s built to run on-site, close to where data is collected.

The 240 Slim offers a unique advantage by optimizing AI functions directly on the device, bypassing the need for constant cloud connectivity. This on-the-edge processing reduces latency, enhances privacy (by limiting the need to transfer sensitive data to the cloud), and saves energy. These capabilities are crucial for devices in remote or mobile environments—think self-driving tractors in agriculture or urban surveillance drones—where cloud connectivity may be limited or costly.

Untether’s focus on edge AI taps into a growing trend toward decentralized computing, a necessity as AI applications become more pervasive. The demand for chips that can deliver high-speed AI processing on the ground is set to soar, with industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and autonomous transport benefiting most.

Nasdaq Reaches Record High, Led by Tech Giants

On October 25, the Nasdaq Composite reached an intraday high of 18,690.01, propelled by a resurgence in tech stocks, including companies like Nvidia, Apple, and Meta. This growth is partly attributed to advancements in artificial intelligence and strong earnings reports.

TSMC Faces Stock Decline Amid Trade Violation Reports

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has been thrust into a trade controversy that led to a 4.3% drop in its stock price. Reports suggest that a high-end TSMC-manufactured chip was discovered in a Huawei AI processor, potentially violating international trade restrictions. Huawei, a Chinese tech giant, has faced tight U.S. export restrictions limiting access to advanced chip technology, and TSMC’s involvement here has raised regulatory eyebrows. TSMC has since reported the situation to Taiwan and U.S. authorities, who are investigating possible compliance breaches.

Trade restrictions between the U.S. and China have heightened scrutiny over advanced tech exports, and if TSMC faces penalties, this could trigger significant supply chain instability. Potential fallout includes production delays, price hikes, and even chip shortages in industries reliant on TSMC’s high-tech chips, from smartphones to electric vehicles. TSMC’s central role in tech manufacturing makes any regulatory issues potentially impactful on a broad scale.

AI Tool of The Week

Pollo.ai is an AI-powered video generator that turns text prompts or images into high-definition videos, offering options from realistic scenes to imaginative animations. It’s designed for speed and ease of use, allowing anyone to create unique videos in minutes without technical skills. Users can create cinematic, animated, or commercial videos and have access to both free and paid plans.

Prompt: cute dogs cooking