Although there was a sigh of relief when the US clarified that it would not be imposing tariffs on the import of smartphones and computer equipment, these tariffs are not going away. The US wants to bring back manufacturing on-shore, and plans to do this using a semiconductor tariff, commerce secretary Howard Lutnik said in an interview on ABC News, posted on the official rapid response White House’s Twitter feed. When asked about Trump’s decision to exclude a wide range of electronics, including smartphones and the electronic components used to make microchips, he said: “Those products are going to be part of the semiconductor sectoral tariffs, which are coming.” Lutnik said Trump would be introducing “a special focused type of tariff” to ensure these products are manufactured in the US, adding: “We need to have semiconductors, we need to have chips, and we need to have flat panels. We need to have these things made in America. We can’t be reliant on Southeast Asia.” While these products are currently exempt from the reciprocal tariffs that the Trump administration has imposed on other nations importing into the US, Lutnik warned that within a month or two they will be subject to sector-specific tariffs. Citing national security, he said: “We can’t be beholden and rely on foreign countries for the fundamental things that we need.” Discussing how tariffs are affecting manufacturers of electronics goods that rely on semiconductors sourced globally, Forrester senior analyst Alvin Nguyen said: “The fluidity of the tariff situation means there will be confusion about the impact to the supply chain due to the complexity of tracking where materials and manufactured goods are produced and assembled.” He noted that, in the medium term, semiconductor firms are likely to establish a geographic diversity strategy when making decisions on where to locate new foundries for manufacturing  and the supporting supply chains. According to Nguyen, such a strategy would be beneficial as it reduces the dependence on Taiwan for the majority of chip production. “For datacentres, this may cause some changes to datacentre investments depending on the state of tariffs and the cost impacts by location,” he added.  Nguyen notes that among the scenarios that may play out is that business leaders could change where and when they build datacentres based on sovereignty laws for AI and data, with datacentre builds based on when and where it makes economic sense. This is a very different approach to datacentre capacity planning, which has traditionally been based on forecasting the computing, storage and networking capacity required to support business growth. While policymakers in the EU and the UK have been on a path to encourage sovereign AI and cloud datacentre facilities, their existing plans recognise the huge upfront costs involved in developing chip manufacturing without relying on other countries. The EU Chip Act provides €43bn in semiconductor investment until 2030.  The future of European competitiveness: A competitiveness strategy for Europe 2024 report by Mario Draghi recommends that for strategic industries, the EU should pursue a coordinated EU strategy to bolster domestic production capacity and to protect key network infrastructures. Draghi said Europe should maximise its joint efforts to strengthen innovation in semiconductors and its presence in advanced chips segments. Intel is among the US chipmakers building out geo-diverse manufacturing, with a number of fabs in Europe.  In October 2024, a policy document from the Digital Future of Work research centre noted that the EU made substantial investments to build end-to-end domestic capabilities across the entire semiconductor supply chain. However, the document’s authors said that compared with the amount the EU has invested, the UK’s semiconductor strategy devotes a modest £1bn over the next decade focused on intellectual property and compound semiconductors. Compound semiconductors represent a growth opportunity for the UK, but this technology is very different to the semiconductors needed for the vast amounts of processing power and memory used in modern datacentre servers. They do, however, play a key role in the power supply units for these servers. The changes in US trade policy may scupper the UK’s semiconductor strategy, which relies on working with international partners. Without massive investment or incentives to get major chip manufacturers to build UK-based foundries, the country is prone to supply chain risks and exposed to the forthcoming US semiconductor tariffs. Read more stories about the US tariffs U.S. levies tariffs in onshoring bid, hiking tech costs: Newly implemented tariffs mean businesses will face added costs and trade complexities as the Trump administration pushes for companies to manufacture onshore. IT strategy implications of US tariffs: When is the best time to buy IT equipment? With tariffs in place that are set to increase, tech CEOs have signalled price rises ahead.

How can AI support, rather than replace, human flourishing? That is the central question of MIT Media Lab’s newly launched Advancing Humans with AI  (AHA) program.

What just happened? Nvidia has announced plans to move the production of its AI supercomputers entirely to the United States, a strategy that reflects a broader industry shift in response to trade policies favoring domestic manufacturing. The initiative, which includes partnerships with major manufacturers, will see Nvidia's Blackwell chips and AI supercomputers produced and tested at facilities in Arizona and Texas. The project spans more than a million square feet of manufacturing space, with operations already underway. Nvidia's Blackwell chips are being produced at TSMC facilities in Phoenix, Arizona, while supercomputer assembly plants are under development in Texas (Foxconn is leading efforts in Houston, and Wistron is establishing operations in Dallas). Nvidia expects mass production at these sites to begin within 12 to 15 months. To address the complexities of producing AI chips and supercomputers that require advanced manufacturing, packaging, assembly, and testing technologies, the company has partnered with Amkor and SPIL for packaging and testing operations in Arizona. The move comes as companies across industries respond to US trade policies aimed at reshoring manufacturing. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has framed the shift as both a strategic and practical response to rising demand for AI technologies. "Adding American manufacturing helps us better meet the incredible and growing demand for AI chips and supercomputers, strengthens our supply chain, and boosts our resiliency," Huang said. Nvidia plans to produce up to $500 billion worth of AI infrastructure domestically over the next four years. The announcement also follows reports that Nvidia recently avoided potential export restrictions on its H20 chip by securing a domestic manufacturing agreement with the Trump administration. The H20, one of Nvidia's most advanced chips still eligible for export to China, was exempted from the restrictions after CEO Jensen Huang committed to major investments in US-based production for AI data center components, according to NPR, citing two sources familiar with the matter. In a related development, former President Trump reportedly warned TSMC that it could face tariffs of up to 100 percent if it failed to establish new chip fabrication plants in the US. // Related Stories The implications of Nvidia's localization strategy go beyond manufacturing logistics. The company's AI supercomputers are expected to play a central role in powering so-called "AI factories" – data centers specifically designed for artificial intelligence workloads. These facilities are considered critical infrastructure for an emerging AI-driven economy, with projections calling for dozens of gigawatt-scale AI factories in the coming years. Nvidia is also integrating its own advanced technologies into these efforts. The company plans to use its Omniverse platform to create digital twins of factories for enhanced planning and optimization. In parallel, its Isaac GR00T robots will automate manufacturing processes, offering a glimpse into how AI and robotics may revolutionize industrial operations.

Star Wars: Zero Company is the official name of Respawn Entertainment and Bit Reactor’s long-awaited turn-based tactics game, placing players in control of a squad during the infamous Clone Wars. The companies first announced the news earlier today, although details are slim. A full panel has been promised at the panel for Star Wars Celebration Japan. If you can’t attend (and let’s face it: most of us can’t), the website will share all the news once the panel ends at 4:30 PM JT, which is around 3:30 AM ET. Here’s what we do know. Zero Company is a single-player, likely story-focused tactical game. There’s a single image showing “a few members of the elite squad under your command.” While we don’t who exactly the characters are, we do see an Umbaran, a Mandalorian, a human, a Clone, and a Droid. Interestingly enough, there also seems to be a Tognath Jedi in the crew. Image used with permission by copyright holder Rumors and leaks have suggested the game will be similar to X-Com in a lot of ways. The lack of concrete information at this point isn’t surprising; the team is clearly teasing the Star Wars celebration, and we can probably expect to see a reveal trailer then. A release date is more unlikely, as it’s not clear how far along into development the game is; however, considering it was first announced in 2022, there’s a chance we will get an idea of when to expect its release. Recommended Videos Star Wars fans have a lot to look forward to. Between the announcement of Zero Company, the recent news that the Knights of the Old Republic remake is alive and well, and the upcoming start of season 2 of Andor, there’s no shortage of exciting things in store. Editors’ Recommendations

The Federal Trade Commission says Meta has monopolized the social-media market—and should be broken up.

More like Zero UI Samsung’s Android 15 update has been halted Samsung has stopped the Android 15 update due to unforeseen bugs. Ryan Whitwam – Apr 14, 2025 12:50 pm | 0 Credit: Ryan Whitwam Credit: Ryan Whitwam Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Samsung began the process of updating millions of smartphones around the world to its latest One UI 7 (Android 15) software last week, but that process has now been halted. Over the weekend, Samsung purged the One UI 7 update from its servers, which indicates that a serious problem has occurred. The company isn't offering any explanation for the pause yet, but reports around the Internet suggest there are some bugs problematic enough that it required Samsung to slam on the brakes. This update was destined for the Galaxy S24, Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6, all of which launched with One UI 6 (Android 14). Samsung promises seven years of update support like Google, but it takes longer for it to release new operating system versions. Not only does Samsung modify the way Android looks, but it also integrates a raft of Galaxy AI features with Android. It takes time to do that—seven months and counting since Android 15's release—but it seems Samsung should have spent a little more time testing all those changes. As soon as Samsung began the rollout on April 7, Galaxy S24 users in Korea noticed their phones would intermittently refuse to unlock, as reported by frequent Samsung leaker IceUniverse. There are also reports that Samsung's supposedly private Secure Folder has a bug in One UI 7 that can see photos from the gallery appear in auto-generated Stories. These Stories are accessible from outside the Secure Folder, which rather defeats the purpose of having private photos. When asked about specifics, Samsung doesn't have much to say. "The One UI 7 rollout schedule is being updated to ensure the best possible experience. The new timing and availability will be shared shortly," the company said. Samsung's flagship foldables, the Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6, are among the phones waiting on the One UI 7 update. Credit: Ryan Whitwam Samsung's flagship foldables, the Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6, are among the phones waiting on the One UI 7 update. Credit: Ryan Whitwam One UI 7 is based on Android 15, which is the latest version of the OS for the moment. Google plans to release the first version of Android 16 in June, which is much earlier than in previous cycles. Samsung's current-gen Galaxy S25 family launched with One UI 7, so owners of those devices don't need to worry about the buggy update. Samsung is no doubt working to fix the issues and restart the update rollout. Its statement is vague about timing—"shortly" can mean many things. We've reached out and will report if Samsung offers any more details on the pause or when it will be over. When One UI 7 finally arrives on everyone's phones, the experience will be similar to what you get on the Galaxy S25 lineup. There are a handful of base Android features in the update, but it's mostly a Samsung affair. There's the new AI-infused Now Bar, more expansive AI writing tools, camera UI customization, and plenty of interface tweaks. Ryan Whitwam Senior Technology Reporter Ryan Whitwam Senior Technology Reporter Ryan Whitwam is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering the ways Google, AI, and mobile technology continue to change the world. Over his 20-year career, he's written for Android Police, ExtremeTech, Wirecutter, NY Times, and more. He has reviewed more phones than most people will ever own. You can follow him on Bluesky, where you will see photos of his dozens of mechanical keyboards. 0 Comments

Murali Swaminathan, Chief Technology Officer, Freshworks April 14, 20254 Min ReadBonaventura via Alamy StockAs tech pros, the question isn’t just whether AI will disrupt our industries -- it’s how we can leverage its power in a responsible, sustainable way. At SXSW 2025, I had the privilege of serving on the “Innovation Unbridled: Balancing the Promise and Peril of AI” panel. The session provided a thought-provoking exploration of AI’s transformative potential, and the challenges tech leaders face when integrating AI into their operations. What made this panel particularly engaging was the diverse audience -- attendees from all walks of life, asking tough questions that forced us to consider AI from ethical, practical, and social perspectives. Here are six key takeaways to guide your AI journey: 1. AI should solve problems, not create them AI must address real business challenges, not introduce new ones. Too often, organizations rush to adopt the latest tools and technologies without fully understanding their impact on existing processes. The result? More complexity, confusion, and inefficiency. It’s crucial to ensure that any AI implementation directly addresses specific pain points within your organization. Whether it’s automating tasks, improving customer personalization, or enhancing decision-making, AI should add measurable value. When deploying AI, start by asking: How will this improve our business outcomes? What specific problem does it solve? Related:Actionable insight: Prioritize AI tools that seamlessly integrate with existing systems and processes. Use AI as a strategic asset to enhance productivity and deliver tangible results. 2. AI should upskill people, not replace them It’s no secret that many fear AI will lead to widespread job displacement. While this concern is valid, the reality is that AI is designed to augment human abilities, not replace them. It can handle repetitive tasks, analyze vast amounts of data, and provide real-time insights, allowing employees to focus on higher-value activities that require creativity, empathy, and complex problem-solving. The key is understanding that AI’s real value lies in enabling your team to work smarter, not harder. AI can help streamline operations and improve efficiency, but it should never be seen as a substitute for human ingenuity. Actionable insight: Invest in upskilling and reskilling your workforce to ensure employees are ready for a future where AI complements their work. Offer training programs or collaborate with educational institutions for continuous learning opportunities. 3. Balancing open-sourcing AI with ethics Related:While open-sourcing AI has the potential to democratize access and drive innovation, it also raises important ethical concerns. How can we ensure that AI tools are used responsibly and safely? What measures need to be put in place to prevent misuse or unintended harm? It’s vital to ensure that any AI system deployed in your organization follows strict ethical guidelines. Whether you’re using open-source models or proprietary tools, transparency, accountability, and safety should always be top priorities. Actionable insight: Establish a robust AI governance framework within your organization, including security protocols, ethical guidelines, and regular audits. Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to create policies that protect both your business and customers. 4. AI’s role in reshaping industries AI is transforming industries, from precision healthcare to environmental sustainability, by driving value, personalization, and innovation. To fully leverage AI’s potential, businesses must adapt their operating models and become more agile. The challenge lies not only in adopting AI but also in fostering an environment where innovation thrives. This requires rethinking organizational structures, embracing cross-functional collaboration, and cultivating a culture of continuous improvement. Related:Actionable insight: Build an agile organization that adapts quickly to AI advancements. Encourage cross-functional collaboration, experimentation, and view AI as an enabler of ongoing business transformation, not a one-off project. 5. Fostering a culture of support and growth Workforce burnout is an increasing concern as businesses push employees to adopt new technologies and work longer hours to stay competitive. While AI can alleviate some repetitive tasks, leaders must prioritize creating an environment that nurtures employee growth and well-being. Actionable insight: As you implement AI to boost efficiency, foster a culture of support and growth. Encourage flexibility, invest in employee development, and set realistic productivity expectations. Innovation should empower your team, driving both business and personal growth without compromising employee satisfaction. 6. AI regulation -- balancing innovation with responsibility AI is evolving rapidly, and the need for regulation is becoming more pressing. Strong guardrails are essential to ensure AI is developed responsibly and ethically. As tech pros, it’s our responsibility to stay ahead of the regulatory curve, ensuring that your AI initiatives align with emerging ethical standards. While regulation may evolve over time, embedding ethical considerations into your AI strategy now will help future-proof your business. Actionable insight: Stay informed about AI regulation and collaborate with industry bodies to help shape the future of AI governance. This proactive approach will protect your organization from legal challenges and demonstrate your commitment to responsible innovation. Closing Thoughts AI must be used thoughtfully, serving both business goals and societal well-being. As tech pros, it is our responsibility to harness AI in ways that solve real problems, empower employees, and drive ethical innovation. By embracing these takeaways, you can position your organization to thrive in the AI era while staying true to your values and responsibilities. About the AuthorMurali SwaminathanChief Technology Officer, Freshworks Murali Swaminathan serves as chief technology officer at Freshworks, responsible for the company’s technology roadmap and strategy, and leading global engineering and architecture teams. With 30+ years of experience, he has held leadership roles at ServiceNow, Recommind (now OpenText), and CA Technologies (now Broadcom), delivering scalable, secure solutions that drive digital transformation. Murali holds a master’s in software engineering management from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s in electronics and instrumentation from Annamalai University in India.See more from Murali SwaminathanWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like

Smartphones may boost cognitive health by helping people stay socially connectedEvgeniyShkolenko/Getty Images There is much concern about the notion of “digital dementia” – the idea that relying on smartphones and the internet reduces a person’s cognitive abilities. But among those over 50 at least, these technologies appear to actually have the opposite effect. A meta-analysis of nearly 60 studies involving 410,000 people in this age group has found that those who spend more time using smartphones, computers and the internet are less likely to have cognitive impairment – and more likely to have slower cognitive decline – than…

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2." Warner Bros. Updated 2025-04-14T18:32:40Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Warner Bros. Television is working on a scripted "Harry Potter" TV show for HBO.  The cast includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts. The show is eyeing a release in 2026 and will remain "faithful" to the book series. A "Harry Potter" TV show is in the works.Warner Bros. Discovery first confirmed its plans to expand the wizarding world with a TV series at a press event in LA in April 2023. The untitled "Harry Potter" series was originally planned for release on its streaming service, Max, but will now be branded as an HBO original. It will feature a new cast and introduce a new generation to the wizarding world franchise created by author J.K. Rowling. Here's everything we know so far about the show.The series will be a 'faithful adaptation of the beloved original Harry Potter books' Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson starred in the "Harry Potter" films. Warner Bros. "We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way," Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO & Max content, said in a press release. "Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon and it is clear there is such an enduring love and thirst for the Wizarding World." The series will "dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years."In the same release, Rowling said: "Max's commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I'm looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long-form television series."Francesca Gardiner will be the showrunner and J.K. Rowling will serve as an executive producer  J.K. Rowling in 2018. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Gardiner's previous credits include "Succession," "His Dark Materials," and "Killing Eve."Mark Mylod, most recently recognized for his work on "Succession," will direct multiple episodes of the show. The show's executive producers include Gardiner, Mylod, Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts. "Harry Potter" franchise producer David Heyman is also in talks to executive produce.Users on X took to the platform to criticize Max for its decision to involve Rowling, who has been accused of making transphobic comments, in the project. Max did not respond to a previous request for comment.  The cast for the 'Harry Potter' series includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape "Harry Potter" series stars John Lithgow, left, and Paapa Essiedu, right. Karwai Tang/WireImage; Dave Benett/Getty Images for Harper's Bazaar UK In April, HBO confirmed six actors who have been cast as series regulars.John Lithgow will star as Albus Dumbledore, the Hogwarts headmaster. The actor is known for roles in "Terms of Endearment," "The Old Man," "The Crown," and "Dexter." He most recently starred in the Oscars contender "Conclave.""Ozark" actor Janet McTeer will play Minerva McGonagall, "I May Destroy You" breakout star Paapa Essiedu will portray Severus Snape, and actor-comedian Nick Frost will star as Rubeus Hagrid.Meanwhile, Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse will have guest/recurring roles as Quirinus Quirrell and Argus Filch, respectively.The show is eyeing a release in 2026 Daniel Radcliffe as Harry in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Warner Bros. Warner Bros.'s eight "Harry Potter" films comprise one of the studio's most successful franchises, grossing over $7 billion worldwide at the box office. The TV show, which is aiming to release in 2026, will stream on the service in the US and globally. In December, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that the show will start filming in Leavesden, where the previous "Harry Potter" movies were made, in the summer of 2025.WB Discovery CEO David Zaslav shared details about the expected debut during an earnings call in February 2024, per The Hollywood Reporter. Zaslav said that he, Bloys, and WBD TV chief Channing Dungey met with Rowling and her team to discuss the show."Both sides are thrilled to be reigniting this franchise," Zaslav said. "Our conversations were great, and we couldn't be more excited about what's ahead. We can't wait to share a decade of new stories with fans around the world."This story was originally published in April 2023 and has been updated to reflect recent developments. Kirsten Acuna contributed to a previous version of this article. Recommended video

Looks like it’s not just boats and planes you’ll get to drive in Mario Kart World (Nintendo) Ahead of a dedicated Nintendo Direct, people have already uncovered some of Mario Kart World’s secrets at a recent Switch 2 event. While there remains some understandable controversy regarding Mario Kart World’s price, it’s hard not to be excited for what is set up to be the largest entry in the series. We were very impressed by it after our hands-on preview and you’re sure to find plenty of positive impressions on social media by those who got to experience at the London preview event over the weekend. Some players even managed to stumble across some extra secrets not yet discussed by Nintendo, including larger vehicles you can pilot in the open world. YouTuber GetMadz drew attention to this with a recording of their play session at the London event, where they drove out into the open sea and spotted some kind of hovercraft. Upon driving into it, they were able to pilot it themselves before eventually disembarking back on dry land. This certainly isn’t the only example. In the game’s announcement trailer, you can see Birdo drive into the back of a truck and take control of it. We experienced this exact example while at the London event and were able to knock past other vehicles while roaming the open world. It’s not entirely clear if these hidden vehicles are exclusive to the free roam mode or can be used in regular races, but the example seen in the trailer suggests it could be the latter since other characters can be seen. Elsewhere, Digital Foundry and Engadget have claimed that Mario Kart World will boast an option to run at 120 frames per second rather than the standard 60 after its own hands-on session. Although neither have footage to demonstrate how 120fps looks in action, Engadget has nothing but praise for it, calling it ‘damn good’ and that ‘Racing has never looked this smooth on any Nintendo console.’ More Trending With any luck, all these features and more will be explained in greater detail at the upcoming Nintendo Direct. When is the Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct? A Nintendo Direct dedicated entirely to Mario Kart World is scheduled to air this week on Thursday, April 17 at 2pm BST. Nintendo hasn’t said how long it will run for, so there’s currently no telling how extensive it will be. There’s also no telling whether it’ll be enough to win over the people who are unhappy with the game’s £75 price tag. Hopefully, Nintendo will use the Direct to promote the Nintendo Switch 2 bundle that includes a copy of Mario Kart World since it’s £429.99 and thus lets you get the game at a cheaper price. What else is Nintendo hiding? (Nintendo) Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy