Happy Wednesday, AI & Data Enthusiasts! Today, we’re exploring breakthroughs in AI infrastructure, robot-assisted iPhone production (video inside!), and major shifts in tech partnerships, including Trump’s record-breaking inaugural speech. Let’s dive in!
In today’s edition:
🤖 UBTech Robots Help Build iPhones
💰 Trump’s $500B AI Investment
☁️ Microsoft Drops OpenAI as Cloud Partner
🔍 Perplexity Launches AI Search API
- Naseema Perveen
WHAT CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION MOST
UBTech’s Walker S1 Robots to Help Foxconn Build iPhones

Exciting news from Shenzhen! UBTech, a leading humanoid robot maker, has partnered with Foxconn—Apple’s Chinese manufacturing partner—to integrate its advanced Walker S1 humanoid robots into iPhone production. This partnership aims to revolutionize manufacturing through cutting-edge robotics and AI technology.
Robots in Manufacturing: The Walker S1 robot is being trained to handle delicate tasks like visual inspections, assembling components, and sorting parts. Its versatility extends to industries like automotive and consumer electronics.
Health & Safety Priorities: Robots will take over physically demanding tasks, such as lifting heavy loads, improving workplace safety and efficiency.
Future Expansion: UBTech and Foxconn plan to enhance the robots' motion, perception, and decision-making capabilities while exploring new applications through a dedicated research lab.
Market Adoption: UBTech has already deployed its robots with notable Chinese companies like BYD and SF Express, signaling a broader push for humanoid robots in manufacturing.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in integrating robotics into manufacturing, with the potential to redefine efficiency, safety, and scalability in smart factories. As UBTech leverages Foxconn’s supply chain, the dream of mass-producing humanoid robots for industrial applications is becoming a reality.
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WORTH WATCHING
Inside Apple’s Biggest Robot-Powered iPhone Factory
Take an exclusive inside look at Apple’s largest factory, where cutting-edge robots play a crucial role in building millions of new iPhones. Watch as automation and advanced technology come together to streamline production in one of the most impressive manufacturing hubs in the world.
Don’t miss out—watch the full video now! 🚀
KEEP YOUR EYE ON IT
Trump Announces $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Investment in the US
President Donald Trump has unveiled a landmark initiative to solidify America's leadership in AI development, promising a $500 billion investment in infrastructure through a new venture named Stargate.
Historic Partnership: Trump was joined by OpenAI's Sam Altman, SoftBank's Masayoshi Son, and Oracle's Larry Ellison at the White House to announce the initiative. Stargate will be spearheaded by these companies, with SoftBank financing and OpenAI overseeing operations.
Massive Scale: The project starts with $100 billion and plans for up to $500 billion over the coming years. The first data center, a 1 million-square-foot facility, is already under construction in Texas.
Economic and Strategic Impact: The initiative is expected to create 100,000 jobs in the US and aims to counter China's growing AI capabilities. Altman emphasized the importance of robust infrastructure to maintain global AI leadership.
Policy Reversal: Trump reversed a 2023 executive order by Biden, reducing oversight on AI risks, and stressed that this project would drive US innovation and secure national security.
With Stargate, the US aims to lead in AI-driven economic growth and tech dominance.
Microsoft is No Longer OpenAI’s Exclusive Cloud Provider
Big changes are underway in the AI infrastructure landscape. Microsoft, once the exclusive cloud provider for OpenAI, has restructured its agreement, allowing OpenAI to collaborate with other cloud providers like SoftBank and Oracle.
New Cloud Deal: Microsoft now has the "right of first refusal" for OpenAI’s cloud needs. Other providers can step in if it can’t meet OpenAI’s requirements.
Azure Commitment: OpenAI has renewed its large Azure commitment to support its products and model training while building additional compute capacity.
Partnership Tensions: Limited compute capacity caused delays in OpenAI's projects and led to collaborations with Oracle, sparking tensions between the companies.
Long-Term Agreement: The partnership remains intact through 2030, including revenue-sharing and exclusivity for OpenAI APIs on Azure, unless OpenAI achieves AGI and crosses $100 billion in profits.
This development marks a shift in the OpenAI-Microsoft relationship, creating room for more diverse collaborations while retaining a strong partnership. As competition heats up, it’s clear the AI cloud ecosystem is rapidly evolving.
Perplexity Unveils Sonar API for AI-Powered Search
Perplexity has launched Sonar, a new API service designed to integrate its generative AI search tools into enterprise and developer applications. This move expands its reach beyond its app and website, offering customizable, real-time AI-powered search.
Two Tiers Available:
Sonar: A cost-effective and fast option for basic generative search needs.
Sonar Pro: A premium version offering advanced capabilities for complex queries, with more detailed responses and twice the citations.
Real-Time Information: Sonar connects to trusted web sources, enhancing factual accuracy and authority in search results.
Use Cases: Companies like Zoom are leveraging Sonar to power AI chatbots, enabling real-time, citation-backed answers without leaving the platform.
Affordable Pricing: Sonar positions itself as the most economical search API on the market, with competitive rates for both input and output tokens.
With the launch of Sonar, Perplexity is poised to redefine AI search integration, providing businesses with a scalable and customizable solution. As it seeks to grow its revenue streams, this API could prove instrumental in expanding its market presence.
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ICYMI
Trump Delivers Longest Inaugural Speech in History.
Bitcoin Peaks at $109K After Trump’s Meme Coin Launch.
DeepSeek’s Open-source R1 Beats OpenAI o1.
PhD-Level AI Super-Agents: OpenAI’s Next-Gen Model.
Trump Revokes Biden’s AI Risk Order.
$$$ MONEY MATTERS
AI vision startup Metropolis acquires Oosto for just $125M.
OpenAI teams up with SoftBank and Oracle on $500B data center project.
Robinhood agrees to pay $45M in SEC settlement.
Raspberry AI raises $24M from a16z to accelerate fashion design.
Gumloop raised $17 million for its workflow automation platform.
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