TECH

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Apple has announced plans to establish a quarter-million-square-foot artificial intelligence server factory in Houston, Texas, by 2026. The facility, developed in partnership with Foxconn, will be dedicated to manufacturing servers for Apple Intelligence, the company's AI feature suite that powers email drafting and other automated tasks.

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The application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) software such as Microsoft’s Copilot and OpenAI’s ChatGPT has revolutionized modern workplaces, delivering record levels of efficiency and automation. However, research in recent months indicates that the tools enhance productivity but reduce employees’ critical thinking and problem-solving abilities simultaneously.

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Despite international attention, Chinese tech firms remain steadfast on their AI capabilities, fueled by the recent success of DeepSeek's R1 chatbot. The Hangzhou-based startup stunned the industry by developing a chatbot that rivals Western competitors in functionality while significantly reducing costs. But concerns about the app's handling of users' personal data have pushed countries including South Korea, Italy, Australia and some US states to ban or restrict its use.

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Meta announced Friday that it will build a 50,000-kilometer (31,000-mile) undersea cable connecting five continents to carry data, including for artificial intelligence development. The cable will link the US, South Africa, India, Brazil, and "other regions," the company said in a blog post.

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In a strategic move to capture the budget-conscious segment of the smartphone market, Apple has introduced the iPhone 16e, a cost-effective variant of its flagship iPhone 16. Priced at $599, the iPhone 16e is set to launch on February 28, with pre-orders commencing on February 21.

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On January 23, 2025, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, one of the world’s most popular artificial intelligence tools, experienced a significant global outage. The downtime left millions of users without access, triggering widespread frustration—and a touch of humor—across social media platforms. The incident highlighted both the growing reliance on AI tools and the challenges of maintaining consistent service in a rapidly expanding digital world.