عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Technology

AI and iPhones Likely Stars of Apple Event

Apple has estimated that US tariffs will cost the iPhone maker more than a billion dollars in the current quarter. SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Apple has estimated that US tariffs will cost the iPhone maker more than a billion dollars in the current quarter. SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
TT
TT

AI and iPhones Likely Stars of Apple Event

Apple has estimated that US tariffs will cost the iPhone maker more than a billion dollars in the current quarter. SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Apple has estimated that US tariffs will cost the iPhone maker more than a billion dollars in the current quarter. SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Apple is set to unveil its iPhone 17 lineup on Tuesday, with enhanced artificial intelligence features expected to take center stage.

The Silicon Valley powerhouse has remained tight-lipped about what is in store at an event dubbed "Awe Dropping" in invitations, but it comes at the time of year Apple typically introduces a new generation of iPhones that drive its revenue.

Despite iPhones maintaining their premium market position, Apple faces mounting pressure to prove it is keeping pace in the generative AI race, said AFP.

"Apple's perception as being 'late to the AI party' presents a significant challenge," market tracker Canalys said in an analyst note.

While iPhone challengers powered by Google-backed Android have "aggressively advanced AI integration, Apple's slower rollout of first-party AI features has created adoption gaps," with people delaying new iPhone purchases, Canalys added.

Apple introduced its "Apple Intelligence" AI features late last year, but the features underwhelmed users -- particularly the long-awaited improvements to its Siri voice assistant, which remained disappointingly basic.

Looking ahead, Apple reportedly plans to integrate AI into online search next year alongside a Siri overhaul, though the company has not confirmed these reports. Apple is also reported to be partnering with Google to leverage its search and AI expertise.

"I will be surprised if there is a major announcement regarding Apple's AI strategy," Forrester analyst Thomas Husson said in a note.

"I am afraid that Apple's incremental innovation approach with the iPhone 17 will start reaching its limits – especially for those who are hungry for more innovation," he added.

Tuesday's main attraction should be the new iPhone models, headlined by an ultra-thin "Air" variant.

Most analysts view this as a strategic pivot -- Apple is positioning thinness, rather than screen size, as the new premium differentiator.

A super-thin iPhone could also lay the foundation for a foldable version of the smartphone, expected in the coming years.

But the engineering demands of thin phones can make them more costly to produce and shrink battery space.

Prices of the new iPhones in the United States are expected to climb as President Donald Trump's tariffs add to Apple's production costs. Since China remains Apple's primary production hub, these trade policies directly impact costs.

"Apple is navigating a delicate balance between its two largest markets – the US and China – amid rising trade tensions," Canalys said.

"A weaker US dollar now allows Apple to increase prices in the US while maintaining competitive pricing abroad."

The financial impact is already substantial: CEO Tim Cook disclosed that Trump's tariffs cost Apple $800 million last quarter, with an estimated $1.1 billion hit expected in the current quarter.

Most Viewed

 
 
Technology

Saudi National Cybersecurity Authority Launches Service to Verify Suspicious Links

Saudi National Cybersecurity Authority Launches Service to Verify Suspicious Links
TT
TT

Saudi National Cybersecurity Authority Launches Service to Verify Suspicious Links

Saudi National Cybersecurity Authority Launches Service to Verify Suspicious Links

The National Cybersecurity Authority has launched the “Tahqaq” service, aimed at enabling members of the public to proactively and safely deal with circulated links and instantly verify their reliability before visiting them.

This initiative comes within the authority’s strategic programs designed to empower individuals to enhance their cybersecurity, SPA reported.

The authority noted that the “Tahqaq” service allows users to scan circulated links and helps reduce the risks associated with using and visiting suspicious links that may lead to unauthorized access to data. The service also provides cybersecurity guidance to users, mitigating emerging cyber risks and boosting cybersecurity awareness across all segments of society.

The “Tahqaq” service is offered as part of the National Portal for Cybersecurity Services (Haseen) in partnership with the authority’s technical arm, the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE). The service is available through the unified number on WhatsApp (+966118136644), as well as via the Haseen portal website at tahqaq.haseen.gov.sa.

Technology

Saudi Arabia’s Space Sector: A Strategic Pillar of a Knowledge-Based Economy

The Kingdom is developing an integrated sovereign space system encompassing infrastructure and applications, led by national expertise - SPA
The Kingdom is developing an integrated sovereign space system encompassing infrastructure and applications, led by national expertise - SPA
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia’s Space Sector: A Strategic Pillar of a Knowledge-Based Economy

The Kingdom is developing an integrated sovereign space system encompassing infrastructure and applications, led by national expertise - SPA
The Kingdom is developing an integrated sovereign space system encompassing infrastructure and applications, led by national expertise - SPA

Saudi Arabia is undergoing significant transformations toward an innovation-driven knowledge economy, with the space sector emerging as a crucial pillar of Saudi Vision 2030. This sector has evolved from a scientific domain into a strategic driver for economic development, focusing on investing in talent, developing infrastructure, and strengthening international partnerships.

CEO of the Saudi Space Agency Dr. Mohammed Al-Tamimi emphasized that space is a vital tool for human development. He noted that space exploration has yielded significant benefits in telecommunications, navigation, and Earth observation, with many daily technologies stemming from space research, SPA reported.

Dr. Al-Tamimi highlighted a notable shift with the private sector's entry into the space industry, which is generating new opportunities. He stressed that Saudi Arabia aims not just to participate but to lead in creating an integrated space ecosystem encompassing legislation, investment, and innovation.

He also noted the sector's role in fostering national identity among youth, key drivers of the industry. Investing in them is crucial for the Kingdom's future, focusing on creating a space sector that empowers Saudi citizens.

In alignment with international efforts, the Saudi Space Agency signed an agreement with NASA for the first Saudi satellite dedicated to studying space weather, part of the Artemis II mission under a scientific cooperation framework established in July 2024.

According to SPA, the Kingdom is developing an integrated sovereign space system encompassing infrastructure and applications, led by national expertise. This initiative is supported by strategic investments and advanced technologies within a governance framework that meets international standards. Central to this vision is the Neo Space Group, owned by the Public Investment Fund, which aims to establish Saudi Arabia as a space leader.

Saudi Arabia views space as a strategic frontier for human development. Vision 2030 transforms space into a bridge between dreams and achievements, empowering Saudi youth to shape their futures. Space represents not just data and satellites but a national journey connecting ambition with innovation.

Technology

Nvidia, Joining Big Tech Deal Spree, to License Groq Technology, Hire Executives

The Nvidia logo is seen on a graphic card package in this illustration created on August 19, 2025. (Reuters)
The Nvidia logo is seen on a graphic card package in this illustration created on August 19, 2025. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Nvidia, Joining Big Tech Deal Spree, to License Groq Technology, Hire Executives

The Nvidia logo is seen on a graphic card package in this illustration created on August 19, 2025. (Reuters)
The Nvidia logo is seen on a graphic card package in this illustration created on August 19, 2025. (Reuters)

Nvidia has agreed to license chip technology from startup Groq and hire away its CEO, a veteran of Alphabet's Google, Groq said in a blog post on Wednesday.

The deal follows a familiar pattern in recent years where the world's biggest technology firms pay large sums in deals with promising startups to take their technology and talent but stop short of formally acquiring the target.

Groq specializes in what is known as inference, where artificial intelligence models that have already been trained respond to requests from users. While Nvidia dominates the market for training AI models, it faces much more competition in inference, where traditional rivals such as Advanced Micro Devices have aimed ‌to challenge it ‌as well as startups such as Groq and Cerebras Systems.

Nvidia ‌has ⁠agreed to a "non-exclusive" ‌license to Groq's technology, Groq said. It said its founder Jonathan Ross, who helped Google start its AI chip program, as well as Groq President Sunny Madra and other members of its engineering team, will join Nvidia.

A person close to Nvidia confirmed the licensing agreement.

Groq did not disclose financial details of the deal. CNBC reported that Nvidia had agreed to acquire Groq for $20 billion in cash, but neither Nvidia nor Groq commented on the report. Groq said in its blog post that it will continue to ⁠operate as an independent company with Simon Edwards as CEO and that its cloud business will continue operating.

In similar recent deals, Microsoft's ‌top AI executive came through a $650 million deal with a startup ‍that was billed as a licensing fee, and ‍Meta spent $15 billion to hire Scale AI's CEO without acquiring the entire firm. Amazon hired ‍away founders from Adept AI, and Nvidia did a similar deal this year. The deals have faced scrutiny by regulators, though none has yet been unwound.

"Antitrust would seem to be the primary risk here, though structuring the deal as a non-exclusive license may keep the fiction of competition alive (even as Groq’s leadership and, we would presume, technical talent move over to Nvidia)," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote in a note to clients on Wednesday after Groq's announcement. And Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's "relationship with ⁠the Trump administration appears among the strongest of the key US tech companies."

Groq more than doubled its valuation to $6.9 billion from $2.8 billion in August last year, following a $750 million funding round in September.

Groq is one of a number of upstarts that do not use external high-bandwidth memory chips, freeing them from the memory crunch affecting the global chip industry. The approach, which uses a form of on-chip memory called SRAM, helps speed up interactions with chatbots and other AI models but also limits the size of the model that can be served.

Groq's primary rival in the approach is Cerebras Systems, which Reuters this month reported plans to go public as soon as next year. Groq and Cerebras have signed large deals in the Middle East.

Nvidia's Huang spent much of his biggest keynote speech of 2025 arguing that ‌Nvidia would be able to maintain its lead as AI markets shift from training to inference.