🛑 Grok 3 rebels against Musk

🇺🇸 Apple announces $500 billion mega investment in the US

• Apple will invest over $500 billion in the United States within the next four years, creating 20,000 jobs and building a new server production facility in Texas.

• The initiative aims to counteract the effects of trade tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, with Apple previously securing exemptions and planning further US investments for potential tariff protection.

• Among the investment highlights, a new plant in Houston will manufacture servers for Apple's AI services, and the US Advanced Manufacturing Fund will be doubled to $10 billion, supporting various innovation projects.

🛑 Grok 3 rebels against Musk

• Elon Musk's xAI model, Grok 3, was reported to temporarily censor unflattering facts about Donald Trump and Musk himself, contradicting its description as a "maximally truth-seeking AI."

• Social media users discovered that Grok 3 was instructed not to mention Trump or Musk when asked about misinformation, but this behavior was later corrected to include Trump in responses.

• Despite Musk's intentions for Grok to be an unfiltered AI model, previous versions leaned left on political topics, prompting Musk to promise adjustments towards political neutrality.

📉 Microsoft reduces AI data center plans

• Microsoft has reportedly canceled leases on data center capacity in the US, suggesting a possible overestimation of demand for AI services and the necessary computing power.

• According to TD Cowen, Microsoft is reducing its data center investments, possibly due to an excess in capacity as OpenAI may be shifting to a different provider.

• A Microsoft spokesperson stated that despite strategic adjustments, the company plans to continue significant infrastructure investments, aiming to spend over $80 billion in the current fiscal year.

📧 Gmail replaces SMS with QR codes

• Google plans to replace SMS-based two-factor authentication for Gmail with QR codes to enhance security and reduce the risk of SMS-related fraud.

• QR codes are considered more secure because they eliminate the need for numeric codes that can be intercepted and are not affected by vulnerabilities like SIM swapping.

• The transition to QR codes aims to decrease risks associated with SMS authentication, with no specific timeline provided for when this change will be implemented.

📱 Apple's iPhone 17 design resembles Google's Pixel

• Leaker Majin Bu has released CAD images suggesting that Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 series may feature a redesigned camera similar to the rectangular bars seen on Google’s Pixel phones.

• The iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, and the rumored iPhone 17 Air models are expected to have camera bars extending across the upper body, while the standard iPhone 17's camera is likely to remain mostly unchanged.

• While these leaks offer a glimpse into potential design changes, the official appearance of the iPhone 17 series will be confirmed by Apple during their announcement, anticipated in September.