Intel, a major US chip company, has unexpectedly retired its CEO, Pat Gelsinger. Gelsinger, who has been with Intel for over 40 years, has significantly influenced the company. His sudden departure has raised questions about whether it signals panic within the company. Intel has recently reported a net loss of two billion US dollars in the last quarter. The company has been slow to adapt to the AI trend and needs changes in strategy and products. As of now, Intel has not named a successor for Gelsinger.
Meanwhile, Apple faces accusations in the United States of monitoring its employees’ data and suppressing their freedom of expression. An employee has filed a lawsuit claiming that Apple’s policies allow the company to access and monitor all data on employees’ devices and their iCloud accounts. The allegations suggest that Apple spies on its employees’ iPhones.
In another development, German car manufacturer Audi is defying tariff threats from Donald Trump by establishing its first electric car battery assembly plant outside Germany, located in Mexico. This move comes despite Trump’s threats of imposing 25% import tariffs on Canada and Mexico if they do not take action against migrants and drug smuggling. Such tariffs would affect German carmakers, who have set up assembly plants in Mexico to benefit from tariff-free exports to the US.
In Europe, recent damage to two data cables in the Baltic Sea has made headlines, with Russia being the suspected culprit. Undersea cables are crucial to global data exchange, with 99% of international data traffic relying on them. However, such cables frequently suffer disruptions due to sabotage, negligence, or natural events, with over 200 incidents reported in 2023. Repairs are costly and time-consuming. To enhance prevention, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has launched a new initiative.
On a different note, when searching for David Mayer, Google identifies David Mayer de Rothschild as an adventurer and environmentalist. However, ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, cannot provide information about David Mayer or even spell the name, despite various attempts to coax it into doing so.
In labor news, ongoing negotiations reveal stark differences between employees seeking higher wages and companies aiming to reduce pay. This has led to warning strikes at Volkswagen, where workers demand more pay while the company seeks concessions.
WhatsApp has updated its system requirements for the iPhone, meaning owners of three older iPhone models will need to upgrade by May 2025.
Start-up company Helsing plans to produce 1,000 AI-enhanced kamikaze drones monthly starting January. These drones are designed to locate targets even in the presence of jamming signals.
The US government continues to impose sanctions to slow China’s progress in AI technology. A new round of sanctions is imminent.
The EU is setting up a cybersecurity alert system to detect and counter online threats in real-time. This move has been approved by the EU Council.
Apple’s popular Bluetooth and UWB trackers, AirTags, are due for an update, with rumors suggesting new features are in the works.
Security researchers have discovered a new method for cybercriminals to bypass antivirus scans using tampered Word documents.
Chinese researchers have developed a new method to remove plastic particles from liquids, achieving high success rates in trials.
IBM’s Security Verify Access Appliance has been found vulnerable to attacks using malicious code, prompting a security update.