News
Microsoft unveils Phi-2, the next of its smaller, more nimble genAI models
Microsoft has announced the next of its suite of smaller, more nimble artificial intelligence (AI) models targeted at more specific use cases.Earlier this month, Microsoft unveiled Phi-1, the first of what it calls small language models (SLMs); they have far fewer...
What is Stolen Device Protection for iPhone and how does it work?
Take that, iPhone thieves — Apple is about to make it even more difficult to use its smartphones when you have no right to do so. In the upcoming iOS 17.3, it is testing out a new security system called "Stolen Device Protection."Here's a look at what this is, and...
Microsoft will overtake Apple as the world’s largest company in ’24
Since 2011, Apple has been the world’s biggest company by market capitalization on almost a daily basis, dropping on occasion to second place. When it first took the title, Apple was worth a bit under $340 billion. By this past June, it had become the first company in...
15 little-known Google Assistant tricks for Android
Fancy new features are fan-frickin'-tastic. But let's face it: We aren't all carrying shiny new phones right now. And we don't all have shiny new Android versions in front of our shiny faces this time of year.That doesn't, however, mean we can't enjoy the gift of...
Essential AI reveals funding, development of full-stack AI automation tools
Startup Essential AI has raised $56.5 million in funding — including funds from tech heavyweights AMD, Google, and Nvidia — showcasing the increasing investment in companies rushing to meet demand for generative AI products designed to improve business processes.The...
Apple Pay will need to open up to a little more competition
In the wake of Epic’s major app store win against Google, Apple may be looking to open up some of its Apple Pay tech to mobile payment rivals. The iPhone maker has decided to make the offer rather than submit to regulation — or face a hefty fine.NFC for the rest of...
Public cloud service revenue jumps 19%, with Microsoft leading overall: IDC
Revenue for public cloud services for companies such as Microsoft, AWS, and Google increased 19% year over year in the first half of 2023 on the back of the increased adoption of AI and organizations' persistent interest in moving more and more resources to the cloud,...
Microsoft sets precedent, partnering with union to develop AI policy
Microsoft has partnered with the AFL-CIO — the largest US union group, representing 60 unions and 12.5 million workers — to explore how AI will impact workers amid growing concerns about job losses with the rising adoption of the technology.The collaboration was...
Making sense of genAI pricing in office apps
Generative AI has the potential to boost workplace productivity, automating tasks such as drafting emails and providing meeting summaries. But deciding how much businesses should pay to access these tools can be a conundrum for software vendors.“This is untested...
First CHIPS Act grant nets $35 million for BAE
The Biden administration said Monday it will grant $35 million to BAE Systems to expand operations at the British company’s New Hampshire plant, which is pivotal in producing computer chips for military aircraft.This funding initiative marks the inaugural allocation...
Change as opportunity: How Apple gains from rebooting its supply-chain strategy
During the Covid crisis, Apple learned that putting the majority of its production in one nation weakened its supply chain. Since then, it has been working to fix that problem by encouraging partners to open up in new nations.That’s a sensible response to supply-chain...
Why billions of CHIPS Act dollars have not been distributed
Over the past 30 years, the US share of global semiconductor production has fallen from 37% to just 12%, according to White House figures.Meanwhile, China’s share of chip manufacturing has grown nearly 50% over the past two years and now makes up about 18% of the...