Business
Apple’s New China Problem: ChatGPT Is Banned There
Apple is depending on its planned AI features to improve iPhone sales, particularly in China, where demand has been slow. But there’s a problem: ChatGPT, which will soon be integrated into Siri, is illegal in China.
In a presentation earlier this month, Apple (AAPL) demonstrated its proprietary technology called Apple Intelligence, which will enable exciting new AI features, and announced a partnership with OpenAI to use their viral ChatGPT tool in a limited capacity. (When Siri is enabled and requires more assistance with a query, ChatGPT can come in.)
The move demonstrated Apple’s efforts to accelerate the latest buzzy technology at a time when major rivals such as Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Samsung have already established their AI foothold. An agreement with OpenAI could help Apple bridge the gap.
However, China is one of the first countries in the world to govern the generative AI technology that underpins these popular businesses. In August, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country’s top internet watchdog, issued new industry guidelines requiring enterprises to seek approval before deployment. As of March, the organization had authorized over 100 AI models, all from Chinese enterprises.
Apple’s New China Problem: ChatGPT Is Banned There
According to a Wall Street Journal article published Thursday, Apple is looking for a Chinese AI company to collaborate with ahead of the iPhone’s projected September release, although an agreement has yet to be made.
Apple did not return a request for comment.
The need to find a partner—and quickly—comes at a time when Apple’s smartphone sales fell a staggering 10% in the first quarter of this year, according to market research firm IDC. This was owing primarily to a steep decline in iPhone sales in China, which is the company’s second-biggest market. Nationalism, a difficult economy, and more competition have all contributed to the company’s decline in China.
Resurgent competitors.
Meanwhile, according to Counterpoint Research, Huawei’s smartphone sales increased by 70% in the first quarter.
If a solution is not developed by the autumn, Chinese consumers may feel shortchanged and opt to wait until they can have the complete AI experience with Apple, she noted.
“Apple is very likely to seek a local partner in China in place of OpenAI, because simply put, it needs to,” said Nabila Popal, senior director at IDC Research. “Chinese consumers are expecting their premium phones to have the latest AI functionality and may hesitate to spend over $1000 for devices that don’t have all the AI bells and whistles.”
“The real growth in China for Apple will come in the long term, as Apple Intelligence evolves offering more use cases, extends language support beyond English and when Siri can leverage other local AI models to provide the ChatGPT-like function,” according to Popal.
Apple’s New China Problem: ChatGPT Is Banned There
Meanwhile, Reece Hayden, an analyst at ABI Research, suggested that some AI businesses in China may be better suited to target their customers by offering more local dialects than what is currently seen in overseas AI models.
Apple would be one of many foreign businesses collaborating with the Cyberspace Administration of China on AI and smartphones. In January, Samsung collaborated with Chinese tech giant Baidu (BIDU) to deploy its AI model to power its translation service. It collaborates with another AI business, Meitu, on photo editing tools. In other parts of the world, Samsung employs its proprietary AI technology, and Google’s (GOOGL) AI model, Gemini, is banned in China.
According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung accounts for less than 1% of China’s total market share.
Although the clock is ticking for Apple to sign a collaboration before its autumn software launch, Jeff Fieldhack, a research director at Counterpoint, believes it will be able to do so on time.
“Apple should be able to have a partnership aligned very quickly because it has such a strong global install base, and it would be a gem for these companies to work with them,” he added, saying that they will soon be identified as an AI powerhouse in the country.
Meanwhile, Reece Hayden, an analyst at ABI Research, suggested that some AI businesses in China may be better suited to target their customers by offering more local dialects than what is currently seen in overseas AI models.
Apple’s New China Problem: ChatGPT Is Banned There
Apple would be one of many foreign businesses collaborating with the Cyberspace Administration of China on AI and smartphones. In January, Samsung collaborated with Chinese tech giant Baidu (BIDU) to deploy its AI model to power its translation service. It collaborates with another AI business, Meitu, on photo editing tools. In other parts of the world, Samsung employs its own proprietary AI technology and Google’s (GOOGL) AI model Gemini, which is also banned in China.
According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung accounts for less than 1% of China’s total market share.
Although the clock is ticking for Apple to sign a collaboration before its autumn software launch, Jeff Fieldhack, a research director at Counterpoint, believes it will be able to do so on time.
“Apple should be able to have a partnership aligned very quickly because it has such a strong global install base, and it would be a gem for these companies to work with them,” he added, saying that they will soon be identified as an AI powerhouse in the country.
SOURCE – (AP)
Business
Sonic the Hedgehog Dominates Christmas Wish Lists
Sonic the Hedgehog is dominating Christmas wish lists this year. The lovable blue hedgehog is back in the spotlight, from sonic the hedgehog toys and games to sonic the hedgehog coloring pages and movie hype.
Sonic-themed holiday merchandise is on fire, from quirky sweaters to action figures flying off shelves. Sonic the Hedgehog Christmas outfits for kids are selling out fast, making them a go-to gift option for festive fun.
Retailers have been quick to recognize Sonic’s holiday appeal. Special promotions and exclusive items, like the Sonic holiday t-shirts, are everywhere.
Everyone’s stocking up on Sonic merchandise, from big-box stores to boutique retailers.
Online shopping platforms are seeing a surge in searches for Sonic items. Whether it’s Sonic Christmas-themed tops or Sonic the Hedgehog coloring pages, Sonic the Hedgehog toys or Sonic and the Hedgehog 3, the demand is skyrocketing.
Retailers who tap into this trend are sure to see strong holiday sales.
Sonic has been around since the early 90s, but his popularity never wanes. With the release of Sonic 3, fans are more excited than ever.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures is preparing “Sonic the Hedgehog 4,” with the newest addition in the family-friendly genre set for a spring 2027 release.
The announcement comes as “Sonic 3” opens in theatres on Friday, estimated to gross $55 million to $60 million from 3,800 North American locations.
The sequel is shaping up to be a good holiday season blockbuster for Paramount, which explains the desire in future “Sonic” adventures. On the international front, the film will be released on Christmas Day in 52 markets.
On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave “Sonic 3” an outstanding 87% fresh score.
The first two films grossed a total of $725.2 million at the global box office and generated over $180 million in global consumer expenditure through home entertainment rentals and digital purchases.
They also inspired a spinoff Paramount+ series, “Knuckles,” which premiered earlier this year.
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Business
Amazon Strike Called By Teamsters Union 10,000 Walkout
An Amazon strike has hit facilities in the United States in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the corporation for a labour agreement during a peak shopping season.
The Teamsters union told the Associated Press that Amazon delivery drivers at seven facilities in the United States walked off the job on Thursday after the firm failed to discuss a labour contract.
According to the union, Amazon employees in Teamsters union jackets were protesting at “hundreds” of additional Amazon facilities, which the union billed as the “largest strike” in US history involving the company.
The corporation, which employs over 800,000 people in its US delivery network, stated that its services will be unaffected.
It was unclear how many people, including members of Germany’s United Services Union, participated in Thursday’s demonstration. The Teamsters union reported that thousands of Amazon employees were implicated in the United States.
Amazon Strike at 10 Locations
Overall, the group claims to represent “nearly 10,000” Amazon strikers, having signed up thousands of people at roughly ten locations across the country, many of whom have joined in recent months.
The organization has claimed recognition from Amazon going on strike, claiming the firm illegally neglected its obligation to bargain collectively over salary and working conditions.
The Teamsters is a long-standing US union with nearly one million members. It is well-known for securing lucrative contracts for its members at companies like delivery behemoth UPS.
Most of the Teamsters’ Amazon campaigns have concerned drivers working for third-party delivery companies that partner with the tech behemoth.
Amazon denies that it is liable as an employer in those circumstances, which is a point of legal contention. In at least one case, labour officials have taken a preliminary stance in favour of the union.
Stalled Contract Negotiations
Amazon employees at a major warehouse on Staten Island in New York have also chosen to join the Teamsters. Their warehouse is the only Amazon facility in the United States where labour officials have formally recognized a union win.
However, the Amazon strike is because contract negotiations have not progressed since the 2022 vote. It was not one of the areas scheduled to go on strike on Thursday.
Amazon, one of the largest employers in the United States, has long received criticism for its working conditions and has been the target of activists seeking to gain traction among its employees.
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Business
Amazon Encounters Numerous Strikes As Unions Aim At The Holiday Shopping Surge.
(VOR News) – Thousands of Amazon employees at various sites across the country were scheduled to go on strike on Thursday in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the retail behemoth to acknowledge its unionised workers in the United States.
The walkout is expected to concentrate on seven Amazon locations across the country during the holiday purchasing surge and may be the most significant union action against Amazon in the nation’s history.
The business announced on Thursday morning that there had been no effect on operations. It also stated that it is “continuing to concentrate on fulfilling customers’ holiday orders.”
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters maintains that it represents more than 10,000 Amazon employees and contractors in aviation centres, warehouses, and delivery centres.
Amazon has refused to acknowledge the union for many years.
The retail giant, which employs approximately 1.5 million individuals, excludes contractors and part-timers. A strike has been initiated by delivery couriers and warehouse employees at seven distinct locations in order to exert pressure on the company to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that would encompass modifications to compensation, amenities, and working conditions.
Picketing was intended for New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Skokie, Illinois.
Also, the Teamsters assert that they are establishing picket lines at “hundreds” of additional warehouses and delivery centres by encouraging non-unionized workers to picket under U.S. labour law, which protects workers’ ability to take collective action to further their interests.
“Amazon workers are exercising their power,” Randy Korgan stated to NPR.
“They now realise there is a pathway to take on a corporate giant like this – and that they hold the power.” Amazon responds by accusing the Teamsters of fabricating information regarding the strikes, asserting that the participants are “entirely” outsiders rather than employees or subcontractors of the corporation.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that “the reality is that they were unable to secure sufficient support from our employees and partners and have invited external parties to harass and intimidate our team.” For more than a year, the Teamsters have been intentionally misleading the public by claiming to represent “thousands of employees and drivers.” They do not.
The Teamsters did not provide a specific duration for the strike; however, they informed NPR that it would extend beyond one day. Workers would receive $1,000 per week in strike money, as per the union.
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien issued a statement in which he stated, “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can attribute it to Amazon’s insatiable greed.” We established a firm deadline for Amazon to attend the meeting and treat our members equitably. They disregarded it.
The Teamsters granted until December 15 to convene with its unionised employees and develop a collective bargaining agreement.
Amazon has opposed all unionisation efforts in court, asserting that unions were not advantageous to its employees and emphasising the compensation and benefits that the organisation currently provides.
Amazon has been accused of discriminatory labour practices on numerous occasions, including the termination of labour organisers. Furthermore, it has disputed its official status as a contract employer.
Teamsters organize Amazon delivery couriers and other employees.
In June, Amazon established its first unionised warehouse in Staten Island, New York, two years after making history by voting to join the fledgling Amazon Labour Union, which is also affiliated with the Teamsters.
The union is one of the most influential in the United States and Canada, with 1.3 million members. On Thursday, the German United Services Union declared that Amazon employees in Germany would participate in a strike in conjunction with their American counterparts.
In the past, Amazon has experienced demonstrations in Germany and Spain that were related to the holiday season in order to advocate for improved wages and working conditions.
“The holiday season has arrived.” Delivery is anticipated. Patricia Campos-Medina, the executive director of Cornell University’s Worker Institute, asserts that “this is the moment in which workers have control over the supply chain.”
The Teamsters have reported that Amazon’s profits have increased both during and after the pandemic. The corporation is currently valued at over $2.3 trillion, with net income of $15 billion in the most recent quarter alone. It is the second-largest private employer in the United States, following Walmart.
SOURCE: NPR
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