Tech
tech
Rani Molla

Apple retires AI head to show it’s serious about AI

Yesterday, Apple announced that its AI head, John Giannandrea, who presided over the company’s largely subpar endeavors into generative AI, would retire at the relatively young age of 60.

Giannandrea is set to leave the company this spring — right around the time Apple’s long-delayed, AI-powered Siri is expected to debut, with Microsoft’s corporate VP for AI, Amar Subramanya, taking the reins.

The move signals that Apple, which has invested far less in AI than its Big Tech peers — and has comparatively little to show for it — is finally getting serious about the technology.

“We believe that Subramanya represents the right hire at the right time with the clock ticking on Apple’s AI strategy heading into next year with outside hires a necessary move to improve the AI strategy,” writes Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. “We believe that this was a major reset while expecting more outside hires from Cook & Co. to get Apple on the right track when it comes to AI while further preparing the company for its AI Siri launch by mid 2026 which has been delayed due to development challenges and now represents a major turning point in the company’s history.”

The company put it this way: “This moment marks an exciting new chapter as Apple strengthens its commitment to shaping the future of AI for users everywhere.”

John Giannandrea to retire from Apple

John Giannandrea to retire from Apple

The move signals that Apple, which has invested far less in AI than its Big Tech peers — and has comparatively little to show for it — is finally getting serious about the technology.

“We believe that Subramanya represents the right hire at the right time with the clock ticking on Apple’s AI strategy heading into next year with outside hires a necessary move to improve the AI strategy,” writes Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. “We believe that this was a major reset while expecting more outside hires from Cook & Co. to get Apple on the right track when it comes to AI while further preparing the company for its AI Siri launch by mid 2026 which has been delayed due to development challenges and now represents a major turning point in the company’s history.”

The company put it this way: “This moment marks an exciting new chapter as Apple strengthens its commitment to shaping the future of AI for users everywhere.”

More Tech

See all Tech
tech
Rani Molla

Trump to push Big Tech to fund new power plants as AI drives up electricity costs

President Donald Trump is expected to announce a plan Friday morning that would require Big Tech companies to bid on 15-year contracts for new electricity generation capacity. The move would effectively force companies to help fund new power plants in the PJM region as soaring demand from AI data centers pushes up electricity costs across the US power grid.

Earlier this week, Trump called on tech giants to “pay their own way,” arguing that households and small businesses should not bear the cost of power infrastructure needed to support energy-hungry data centers.

Microsoft quickly responded, saying it would “pay utility rates that are high enough to cover our electricity costs,” along with committing to other changes aimed at easing pressure on the grid. Other major tech companies are expected to follow suit, though Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives warned the added costs could slow the pace of data center build-outs.

As we’ve noted, forcing tech companies to shoulder higher electricity costs is likely to hit some firms harder than others. Companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon can pass at least some of those costs on to customers by selling data center capacity downstream. Meta, in contrast, does not have a cloud business, meaning its AI ambitions lack a direct revenue stream to offset rising power costs.

So far tech stocks don’t appear to be affected much in premarket trading. However utility companies most levered to the AI boom certainly are, with Vistra, Constellation Energy, and Talen Energy deep in the red ahead of the open as analysts at Jefferies warn that these firms face risks from this plan.

Trump Moves to Make Tech Giants Pay for Surging Power Costs

Trump Moves to Make Tech Giants Pay for Surging Power Costs

Earlier this week, Trump called on tech giants to “pay their own way,” arguing that households and small businesses should not bear the cost of power infrastructure needed to support energy-hungry data centers.

Microsoft quickly responded, saying it would “pay utility rates that are high enough to cover our electricity costs,” along with committing to other changes aimed at easing pressure on the grid. Other major tech companies are expected to follow suit, though Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives warned the added costs could slow the pace of data center build-outs.

As we’ve noted, forcing tech companies to shoulder higher electricity costs is likely to hit some firms harder than others. Companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon can pass at least some of those costs on to customers by selling data center capacity downstream. Meta, in contrast, does not have a cloud business, meaning its AI ambitions lack a direct revenue stream to offset rising power costs.

So far tech stocks don’t appear to be affected much in premarket trading. However utility companies most levered to the AI boom certainly are, with Vistra, Constellation Energy, and Talen Energy deep in the red ahead of the open as analysts at Jefferies warn that these firms face risks from this plan.

tech
Jon Keegan

OpenAI working to build a US supply chain for its hardware plans, including robots

When OpenAI purchased Jony Ive’s I/O, it entered the hardware business. The company is currently ramping up to produce a mysterious AI-powered gadget.

But OpenAI plans on making more than just consumer gadgets — it also plans on making data center hardware, and even robots.

Bloomberg reports that OpenAI has been on the hunt for US-based suppliers for silicon and motors for robotics, as well as cooling systems for data centers.

AI companies are looking toward robots as a logical next step for finding applications for their models.

OpenAI told Bloomberg that US companies building the AI brains of robots might have an edge against the Chinese hardware manufacturers that are currently making some impressive humanoid robots.

OpenAI Seeks US-Based Suppliers for Planned Robotics, AI Device Push

OpenAI Seeks US-Based Suppliers for Planned Robotics, AI Device Push

Bloomberg reports that OpenAI has been on the hunt for US-based suppliers for silicon and motors for robotics, as well as cooling systems for data centers.

AI companies are looking toward robots as a logical next step for finding applications for their models.

OpenAI told Bloomberg that US companies building the AI brains of robots might have an edge against the Chinese hardware manufacturers that are currently making some impressive humanoid robots.

Millie Giles
WIKI BIRTHDAY TO YOU
23h
As Wikipedia turns 25, its future will depend on AI — for better or worse

The online encyclopedia is celebrating 25 years since launch, but its next quarter century will likely be defined by the AI giants it’s now signing content deals with.

Wikipedia Home Page, Closeup on LCD Screen
tech
Jon Keegan

ICE agents arrest workers from Meta’s Hyperion data center site

Yesterday, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers stopped and arrested two workers from Meta’s massive Hyperion data center construction site in Richland Parish, Louisiana.

According to the Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office, two dump truck drivers were stopped and arrested as part of a traffic stop as they headed to the construction site where thousands of people are working.

Bloomberg reports that unmarked vehicles at the perimeter of the construction site were stopping and checking the identification of workers. The Sheriff’s Office said ICE agents did not enter the Meta site at any time.

Immigration Officers Descend on Meta Data Center, Arrest Drivers

Immigration Officers Descend on Meta Data Center, Arrest Drivers

Bloomberg reports that unmarked vehicles at the perimeter of the construction site were stopping and checking the identification of workers. The Sheriff’s Office said ICE agents did not enter the Meta site at any time.

tech
Jon Keegan

Two cofounders leave Thinking Machines Lab to return to OpenAI

A group of researchers have left Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab to go back to OpenAI. Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s head of apps, posted on X that Thinking Machines cofounders Barret Zoph and Luke Metz, along with Sam Schoenholz, will be returning to the company.

In October, Thinking Machines cofounder Andrew Tulloch left to work for Meta.

Thinking Machine Labs was cofounded by Murati, a former OpenAI executive, and the startup has been raising large amounts of money, reportedly with a $50 billion valuation.

Two Thinking Machines Lab Cofounders Are Leaving to Rejoin OpenAI

Two Thinking Machines Lab Cofounders Are Leaving to Rejoin OpenAI

Thinking Machine Labs was cofounded by Murati, a former OpenAI executive, and the startup has been raising large amounts of money, reportedly with a $50 billion valuation.

Latest Stories

Sherwood Media, LLC produces fresh and unique perspectives on topical financial news and is a fully owned subsidiary of Robinhood Markets, Inc., and any views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of any other Robinhood affiliate, including Robinhood Markets, Inc., Robinhood Financial LLC, Robinhood Securities, LLC, Robinhood Crypto, LLC, or Robinhood Money, LLC.
©2026 Sherwood Media, LLC