Joe Tsai, the CEO of Taipei-based chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), is being hailed as AI's "voice of reason" by Catherine Thorbecke in an opinion piece. She argues that while tech executives have made exaggerated claims about AI's capabilities, Tsai has taken a more measured approach, focusing on practical applications and responsible development.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/tech-and-telecom-law/joe-tsai-is-becoming-ais-voice-of-reason-catherine-thorbeckeA recent report by PYMNTS highlights the varying levels of success with generative AI (GenAI) across different industries. The information sector leads in achieving positive ROI, with 65% of firms reporting success, thanks to its ability to leverage GenAI for targeted applications like content generation and automated cybersecurity systems. In contrast, retail lags behind, with only 17% of surveyed firms experiencing very positive ROI, due to a reliance on standard models and underexplored opportunities for customization. The manufacturing and construction sectors, however, are finding success in driving efficiency and innovation through GenAI, particularly in optimizing production processes and supply chain optimization.
https://www.pymnts.com/artificial-intelligence-2/2025/information-firms-lead-in-genai-roi-with-65percent-reporting-positive-results/Joelle Pineau, Meta's vice president for AI research, is leaving the company at the end of May after eight years. She has been a key figure behind Meta's "open-source" approach to building AI systems, including its Llama model. Based in Montreal, where she also teaches computer science at McGill University, Pineau will not be replaced and her departure comes ahead of the debut of a new LlamaCon AI conference on April 29.
https://apnews.com/article/meta-ai-research-chief-stepping-down-joelle-pineau-c596df5f0d567268c4acd6f41944b5dbSoftBank plans to invest $1 trillion in AI infrastructure projects in the US, with a focus on robots to help American employers address labor shortages. The investment is contingent on OpenAI restructuring into an independent for-profit company by year's end; if not met, funding would be reduced to $20 billion or $10 billion, according to reports from Nikkei and the Wall Street Journal.
https://www.pymnts.com/artificial-intelligence-2/2025/softbank-reportedly-aims-to-borrow-16-billion-for-ai-stargate/A study presented at a European Central Bank conference found that early adopters of artificial intelligence (AI) in the manufacturing sector experienced a short-term decline in productivity as they replaced human workers with robots. However, firms that survived this upheaval went on to outperform their peers in terms of sales growth, productivity, and employment, provided they managed to adapt to new practices such as inventory management. Researchers Kristina McElheran and colleagues analyzed data from the US Census Bureau and found AI adoption rose from 7.5% to 9.1% among a sample of 30,000 firms over the study period.
https://channelnewsasia.com/business/if-ai-doesnt-kill-your-company-it-will-make-it-stronger-study-shows-5037991China has greenlit autonomous flying taxis, with two companies receiving licenses to operate the service. The companies are not specified in the article. The move is seen as a significant step towards commercializing autonomous air transportation in China.
https://www.livemint.com/news/trends/china-greenlights-autonomous-flying-taxis-two-companies-receive-licenses-ready-to-take-off-11743510655141.htmlAjay Anand, Senior Vice President at Johnson & Johnson, has been named as the inaugural Executive in Residence at the Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative (WAIAI). He will work alongside faculty and students to bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI research and real-world industry challenges. Anand brings over 26 years of transformational leadership experience to the role, having led global initiatives in consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and telecommunications. As Executive in Residence, he will advise the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton faculty, mentor students, and guide future AI innovators on projects such as the Wharton AI & Analytics Accelerator.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/indian-american-executive-ajay-anand-named-to-leadership-role-at-wharton-8051138Apple is planning to introduce an "AI doctor" feature in its iPhone's Health app. The AI-powered tool will provide personalized health advice and recommendations based on users' medical history and lifestyle. The exact release date for this feature has not been announced yet, but it is expected to be part of the upcoming iOS update.
https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/apple-plans-to-add-ai-doctor-to-iphone-s-health-app-here-s-what-it-could-do-apple-intelligence-ios-19-wwdc-2025-11743387750830.htmlArm, a UK-headquartered company owned by Japan's SoftBank Group, has seen its technology gain popularity in the data center market due to lower power consumption compared to rival processors from Intel and AMD. Arm's chips are used in advanced AI systems by companies like Nvidia, which utilize two Blackwell chips, and have become increasingly popular among cloud computing companies such as Amazon.com, Alphabet's Google, and Microsoft. According to Mohamed Awad, Arm's infrastructure chief, the company generates revenue through licensing fees and royalty payments for each chip sold, with data center chips often using more of its intellectual property.
https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2025/03/31/exclusive-arm-expects-its-share-of-data-center-cpu-market-sales-to-rocket-to-50-this-year