We're just a few days away from one of Apple's most-anticipated developer conferences in recent memory.
To put it simply, Google's last major tech conference put Apple on the defensive and some say the latter is now playing catch up. Many argued that the internet search giant delivered AI tools that Apple has been promising for more than a year.
Will Tim Cook's company be able to close the chasm created by Google?
It's a critical question, but regardless of the outcome, it's the consumers who ultimately benefit from the intense competition.
While we wait for Apple's announcements on Monday, we'll take a look at what shook the technology world earlier this week.
The Big Story
Chipping in
UAE-owned GlobalFoundries announced plans to invest $16 billion to expand its semiconductor manufacturing in the US. Photo: GlobalFoundries
In brief | US-based semiconductor manufacturer GlobalFoundries, owned by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company, announced plans on Wednesday to invest $16 billion to expand semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging in the states of New York and Vermont.
In terms of labour and economic boosts, the planned investment was celebrated on several levels.
Why it matters | The recent announcement of a UAE-US AI Campus centred mainly on how it would impact the Emirates.
But that deal also sparked confidence in the form of a lengthy current and future technology partnership between the two countries.
With UAE-backed GlobalFoundries set to benefit, the US will soon have more peace of mind as semiconductor production becomes paramount in the quickening AI race.
It's no surprise that so many companies – such as Apple, Qualcomm and General Motors – are giving it the stamp of approval.
Quoted | “We’re excited to see GlobalFoundries expand right here in the US. These chips are an essential part of Apple products like iPhone, and they’re a powerful example of American manufacturing leadership”
– Tim Cook, Apple chief executive
Future in focus
Concern has been raised over the environmental impact of the booming space sector. Photo: Reuters
The Red Cross made a splash at a defence expo in Washington
The exhibition booth for the International Committee for the Red Cross at the AI+ military defence conference in Washington definitely stood out – and that was the whole point. “When technology makes it into a battlefield, it's going to have consequences,” Jonathan Horowitz, legal adviser to the Red Cross, said at the ICRC’s exhibit, which focused on the potential problems in the use of artificial intelligence conflicts.
This is a signal: As AI begins to creep into just about every aspect of our lives, expect to see more organisations try to resist to some extent. It's not a surprise that military entities want to use it to gain a competitive advantage, but with the technology being developed so quickly, the human factor is being forgotten. As groups like the Red Cross have shown, a resistance is starting to form, and it probably won't be subsiding any time soon.
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"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
