AI Daily: Apple plots expansion into robots, home security

Catch up on the top artificial intelligence news and commentary by Wall Street analysts on publicly traded companies in the space with this daily recap compiled by The Fly:

EXPANSION: Apple (AAPL) is plotting its artificial intelligence comeback with an “ambitious slate of new devices,” including robots, a lifelike version of Siri, a smart speaker with a display and home-security cameras, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports. A tabletop robot that serves as a virtual companion, targeted for 2027, is the centerpiece of the AI strategy, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The smart speaker with a display, meanwhile, is slated to arrive next year, part of a push into entry-level smart-home products. Home security is seen as another big growth opportunity. New cameras will anchor an Apple security system that can automate household functions, the author notes. Publicly traded companies in the home security and automation space include Arlo Technologies (ARLO) and ADT (ADT).

INFRASTRUCTURE, AI-READY WORKFORCE: Google (GOOGL) is investing an additional $9B in Oklahoma within the next two years in cloud and AI infrastructure, the company said in a blog post. “This investment supports the development of a new data center campus in Stillwater and the expansion of our existing facility in Pryor, as well as expanded education and workforce development programs. As part of a broader $1B commitment to American education and competitiveness, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University are part of the first cohort of the Google AI for Education Accelerator that launched last week, giving Sooners and Cowboys no-cost access to Google Career Certificates and AI training courses. Google is also providing funding to support an innovative program with the electrical training ALLIANCE to increase the electrical workforce pipeline in Oklahoma by 135%, helping develop the labor force needed to build new energy infrastructure. This is an extraordinary time for American innovation. These investments will prepare Oklahoma’s students with critical AI and job-ready skills, and create a talent pipeline of workers to power not only Oklahoma’s future, but America’s AI leadership.”

HARASSMENT CLAIM: A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk must face OpenAI’s claims that his legal and media attacks are a “years-long harassment campaign,” Bloomberg’s Robert Burnson reports. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers on Tuesday refused Musk’s request to dismiss allegations that he has weaponized legal claims, social media posts and statements in the press to try to sabotage OpenAI’s success in an effort to gain advantage for his xAI genAI startup.