Articles tagged with "technology-industry"
Karen Hao on the Empire of AI, AGI evangelists, and the cost of belief
Karen Hao’s analysis, as presented in her book and discussed in a TechCrunch event, frames the AI industry—particularly OpenAI—as an emerging empire driven by the ideology of artificial general intelligence (AGI) that promises to “benefit all humanity.” Hao argues that OpenAI wields unprecedented economic and political power, reshaping geopolitics and daily life much like a colonial empire. This AGI-driven mission has justified rapid, large-scale expansion of AI development, often at the expense of safety, efficiency, and ethical considerations. The industry’s focus on speed and scale—primarily by leveraging vast data and supercomputing resources—has sidelined alternative approaches that might prioritize algorithmic innovation and sustainability but progress more slowly. Hao highlights that this relentless pursuit of AGI has led to enormous financial expenditures by major tech companies, with OpenAI alone projecting massive spending through 2029, and others like Meta and Google investing heavily in AI infrastructure. Despite these investments, the promised broad societal benefits
energyartificial-intelligenceAGIdata-centerscomputational-resourcestechnology-industryAI-researchA timeline of the US semiconductor market in 2025
The U.S. semiconductor market in 2025 has experienced significant developments amid geopolitical tensions and industry shifts, largely driven by the strategic importance of AI chip technology. Nvidia reported a record quarter in August, with a notable 56% year-over-year revenue growth in its data center business, underscoring its strong market position despite broader industry turmoil. Meanwhile, Intel underwent major changes: the U.S. government took an equity stake in the company’s foundry program to maintain control, and Japanese conglomerate SoftBank also acquired a strategic stake. Intel further restructured by spinning out its telecom chip business and consolidating operations to improve efficiency, including halting projects in Germany and Poland and planning workforce reductions. Political dynamics have heavily influenced the semiconductor landscape. President Donald Trump announced potential tariffs on the industry, though none had been implemented by early September, and publicly criticized Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan amid concerns over Tan’s ties to China. Tan met with Trump to discuss Intel’s role in revitalizing U.S
materialssemiconductorAI-chipsIntelNvidiachip-manufacturingtechnology-industryBig Tech Asked for Looser Clean Water Act Permitting. Trump Wants to Give It to Them
The Trump administration recently proposed environmental policy changes aimed at easing Clean Water Act permitting requirements for data centers, reflecting lobbying efforts by major tech companies. Specifically, the administration’s AI Action Plan includes recommendations to streamline the permitting process under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates discharges into federally protected waters during construction or operation. The Data Center Coalition (DCC), representing industry giants like Google and Amazon Web Services, along with Meta, had earlier requested these changes to reduce regulatory burdens, including exemptions from pre-construction notifications that help regulators assess environmental impacts before projects begin. Section 404 permits, known as 404 permits, are typically required for activities such as filling wetlands or redirecting streams, and obtaining them can be costly and time-consuming. Nationwide permits, which cover certain activities with less federal review and public participation, currently exist for various industries and construction types, including some buildings like stores and schools. Data centers sometimes fall under these existing permits but face more detailed scrutiny if their projects impact more
energydata-centersClean-Water-Actenvironmental-regulationAI-policyinfrastructure-permitstechnology-industryUS chipmakers could see bigger tax credits if Trump’s spending bill passes
The Trump administration’s current spending bill, known as the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” includes a provision that could significantly increase tax credits for semiconductor manufacturers building plants in the U.S. The bill, which has already passed the Senate, proposes raising the tax credit from 25% to 35%. This enhanced credit aims to incentivize companies like Intel, TSMC, and Micron Technology to expand their domestic manufacturing capabilities. This potential tax boost comes at a critical time for the semiconductor industry, which has faced challenges due to recent export restrictions on advanced AI chips to China. The increased tax credit could help offset some of the difficulties caused by these trade limitations and support the growth of U.S.-based chip production. However, the final impact depends on whether the spending bill passes in its current form.
materialssemiconductorchip-manufacturingtax-creditsUS-manufacturingtechnology-industryIntelIntel’s chief commercial officer and sales lead, Christoph Schell, resigns
IntelChristoph-Schellcorporate-leadershipresignationtechnology-industrybusiness-newsexecutive-changesSarah Tavel, Benchmark’s first woman GP, transitions to venture partner
Sarah-TavelBenchmarkventure-partnerwomen-in-venture-capitaltechnology-industryleadership-transitionsgender-diversity