AI Daily: New Intel CEO plots overhaul of manufacturing, AI ...
Catch up on the top artificial intelligence news and commentary by Wall Street analysts on publicly traded companies in the space with this daily recap compiled by The Fly:
AI OPERATIONS, MANUFACTURING OVERHAUL:
Intel’s (INTC) incoming CEO Lip-Bu Tan has considered significant changes to its chip manufacturing methods and artificial intelligence strategies ahead of his return to the company on Tuesday, two people familiar with Tan’s thinking told Reuters, in a sweeping bid to revive the ailing technology giant, Max A. Cherney reports. The new trajectory includes restructuring the company’s approach to AI and staff cuts to address what Tan views as a slow-moving and bloated middle management layer. Revamping the company’s manufacturing operations, which at one time only made chips for Intel but have been repurposed to make semiconductors for outside clients such as Nvidia (NVDA), is one of Tan’s core priorities, these sources said.
FOR-PROFIT SHIFT:
Microsoft (MSFT)-backed OpenAI and Elon Musk have agreed to fast-track a trial over OpenAI’s shift to a for-profit company, Reuters reports. In a federal court filing, Musk and OpenAI jointly proposed a trial in December.
AI SKILLS, AGENTS FOR ZOOM AI:
Zoom Communications (ZM) unveiled agentic AI Companion capabilities, new Zoom AI Companion skills, and AI updates across its platform, including Zoom Meetings, Zoom Team Chat, Zoom Docs, Zoom Phone, Zoom Whiteboard, Zoom Contact Center, industry solutions, and more. “AI Companion is evolving from a personal assistant to being truly agentic, which signals a major leap forward in how AI can enhance productivity and collaboration at work,” said Smita Hashim, chief product officer at Zoom. “We’re delivering value for our customers through AI agents and agentic skills that solve real customer problems, helping them connect, collaborate, and get more done, all within the Zoom platform our users trust and love.”
OPEN AI DAY:
Faraday Future (FFAI) announced that it held its first Open AI Day covering FF and FX’s AI strategy, products, and technology, and also announced the establishment of Future Aiher, an AI hybrid extended-range electric powertrain system company, focusing on designing and developing two key products: an AI hybrid extended-range system and an AI extended-range system, along with powertrain solutions to support them. An Aiher system would be a fusion of hybrids and range extenders, primarily range-extended with hybrid drive playing a secondary role. This newly formed subsidiary of FF is dedicated to the commercialization and development of AI-driven range extender systems for extended range electric vehicles.
ANALYST FOCUS LIST:
JPMorgan added Arista Networks (ANET) to the firm’s Analyst Focus List, while keeping an Overweight rating on the shares. The stock has pulled back on concerns related to artificial intelligence spending from cloud customers as well as company-specific concerns in relation to share loss to “White box” companies, the firm tells investors in a research note. JPMorgan believes both concerns “have limited materiality.” Arista shares offer “ample room for upside,” both from earnings upsides as well as upside to the valuation multiple, contends the firm.
