OpenAI’s $40 billion funding deal led by SoftBank could make it one of the most valuable private firms in the world. But there is a catch. It must fully transition to a for profit model by the end of 2025 or risk losing billions, marking a major shift for the AI company.
Elon Musk’s xAI has bought social media platform X for $33 billion, calling it a major step in combining AI with real-time public conversation. Critics are concerned about data privacy and the true value of X, while others see it as a bold move to challenge AI leader OpenAI.
From quiet meetups to packed arenas, AI conferences are lighting up cities worldwide in 2025. With tech leaders, investors and innovators joining forces, these events mark a turning point as the global push toward Industry 5.0 gains speed, creativity and serious attention.
Microsoft's Build conference will showcase AI in Windows, featuring tools like Copilot. With Google's Gemini AI and OpenAI's GPT-4o, Microsoft aims to stay ahead in AI, drive PC upgrades, and introduce AI PCs with Neural Processing Units (NPUs).
This week, join us again with the AI Arms Race series as we cover Microsoft’s Build developer conference, kicking off on Tuesday.
This event provides Microsoft an opportunity to showcase its latest advancements in artificial intelligence (AI).
One of Microsoft’s distinct advantages is its ownership of Windows, which commands a massive PC user base.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted this during a keynote, stating, "2024 will mark the year when AI becomes a first-class part of every PC".
The company already integrates its Copilot chatbot assistant in the Bing search engine and offers it as a premium feature in its Office productivity software. Now, users will learn how AI will be embedded in Windows, transforming the capabilities of new AI PCs.
Just days before Microsoft’s conference, Google’s I/O event unveiled its most powerful AI model yet, demonstrating how its Gemini AI will enhance both computers and phones.
"Our advancements with Gemini signify a new era of intelligent, personalised computing" Google CEO Sundar Pichai remarked.
The search giant also revealed "GEMS" - its answer to OpenAI's custom AI models that can be finetuned for specialised tasks like being a "yoga bestie or calculus tutor."
With Gemini being deeply integrated into Google Workspace, Chrome, and even Search itself , one thing is clear: Google is going all-in on a future where AI assistants become our primary way of interacting with computers.
"Imagine being able to summarise a 500-page report with a single prompt or generate insightful visualisations from complex datasets," said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet. "Gemini 1.5 Pro empowers users to accomplish more in less time, unlocking new levels of productivity."
Prior to Google’s event, OpenAI announced its new GPT-4o model. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasised the transformative potential of their new model, stating, "GPT-4o sets a new standard for what AI can achieve, and we’re just scratching the surface".
As OpenAI’s lead investor, Microsoft’s Copilot technology is based on OpenAI’s models. The challenge for Microsoft is maintaining its prominent position in AI while also boosting PC sales, which have seen a downturn following the pandemic-induced upgrade cycle.
"We remain bullish on the PC market recovery due to positive customer feedback and recent upward revisions to notebook ODM builds" Erik Woodring, a Morgan Stanley analyst, noted in a recent report.
Gartner reported a 0.9% increase in PC shipments in the last quarter, marking a slight recovery from a multi-year slump. Microsoft CFO Amy Hood noted, "Demand for PCs was slightly better than expected," during the company’s quarterly earnings call.
New AI tools from Microsoft could incentivize both enterprise and consumer customers to upgrade their ageing computers. Bernstein analysts wrote, "While Copilot for Windows does not directly drive monetization, it should increase Windows usage, customer stickiness, and likely search revenue".
A key addition to AI PCs is the Neural Processing Unit (NPU), designed to handle AI tasks beyond the capabilities of traditional CPUs.
While Microsoft has not detailed the offline capabilities of AI PCs, examples from Google’s Pixel 8 Pro show potential uses like summarising and transcribing recordings and recommending text responses.
Intel’s latest Lunar Lake chips with NPUs are expected by late 2024, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chip mid-year, and AMD’s latest Ryzen Pro this quarter.
Apple has been using NPUs for years, with its new M4 chip expected to debut in the next round of Macs.
Qualcomm, unlike Intel and AMD, offers Arm-based chips, which boast longer battery life and thinner designs.
Microsoft’s Build conference will discuss thenext generation of Windows on Arm, emphasising how Windows operates on Qualcomm chips compared to Intel and AMD versions.
Microsoft will also host sessions like “AI Everywhere” to explore accelerating generative AI models on cloud-based devices.
An “Azure AI Studio” session will delve into how developers can create their own Copilot chatbots, potentially transforming how companies interact with their employees.
As the AI arms race continues, Microsoft’s strategic moves in integrating AI with its vast PC ecosystem could set new benchmarks in the industry, positioning the company as a pivotal player in the future of intelligent computing.
OpenAI’s $40 billion funding deal led by SoftBank could make it one of the most valuable private firms in the world. But there is a catch. It must fully transition to a for profit model by the end of 2025 or risk losing billions, marking a major shift for the AI company.
Elon Musk’s xAI has bought social media platform X for $33 billion, calling it a major step in combining AI with real-time public conversation. Critics are concerned about data privacy and the true value of X, while others see it as a bold move to challenge AI leader OpenAI.
Sam Altman’s praise for an AI-generated short story backfired as critics slammed it for shallow writing and clumsy metaphors. The backlash spotlights a gap between OpenAI’s marketing and its product’s creative limits, giving rivals a chance to challenge its content credibility.
Elon Musk’s legal clash with OpenAI over its profit-driven shift intensifies, with a judge denying his bid to halt the change. Musk claims the move betrays OpenAI’s mission. The battle could reshape investor trust in OpenAI and boost Musk’s xAI in the fight for AI dominance.
