Tech

Ant Group cuts AI costs using Chinese semiconductors

Ant Group uses Chinese semiconductors to cut AI training costs by 20%, competing with US firms like Nvidia.

Published

4 weeks ago

March 24, 2025

Ahron Young

Ant Group uses Chinese semiconductors to cut AI training costs by 20%, competing with US firms like Nvidia.

In Short

Jack Ma-backed Ant Group has developed cost-effective AI training techniques using Chinese semiconductors, cutting costs by 20% and producing results comparable to Nvidia. As the company pivots towards local alternatives in response to US bans, its models may significantly enhance Chinese AI development and reduce costs for services.

Jack Ma-backed Ant Group Co. has developed cost-effective techniques for training AI models using Chinese-made semiconductors, reportedly reducing costs by 20%.

The company utilised domestically produced chips from affiliates like Alibaba and Huawei, employing the Mixture of Experts machine learning method, which produced results comparable to Nvidia’s H800 chips.

While Ant continues to use Nvidia for some AI development, it is increasingly leveraging alternatives such as Advanced Micro Devices and Chinese chips for its latest models.

This development positions Ant in competition with Chinese and US firms, especially following DeepSeek’s demonstration of cost-effective model training compared to major investments by OpenAI and Google.

The move highlights the shift of Chinese companies towards local alternatives in response to the US ban on advanced Nvidia semiconductors, including the powerful H800 model.

Ant recently published a research paper claiming that its models sometimes outperform those of Meta in specific benchmarks, a claim that Bloomberg has not independently verified. If confirmed, these models could significantly advance Chinese AI development by reducing inference costs for AI services.

As AI investment grows, Mixture of Experts models are becoming widely adopted due to their efficiency, dividing tasks into smaller data sets.

Tech

Nvidia to build AI supercomputers in the U.S. for first time

Nvidia invests $500 billion in U.S. AI supercomputers, shifting production to Texas to strengthen supply chains and boost domestic growth amid rising tariffs and national tech pressures.

Published

3 days ago

April 18, 2025

Veronica Dudo

Nvidia invests $500 billion in U.S. AI supercomputers, shifting production to Texas to strengthen supply chains and boost domestic growth amid rising tariffs and national tech pressures.

Nvidia to build AI supercomputers in the U.S. for the first time — a $500 billion move that could redefine the global tech industry.

With new tariffs on imports from China and Taiwan, the chip giant is shifting production to Texas, partnering with Foxconn and Wistron.

Nvidia says the decision will strengthen its supply chain and boost domestic economic growth.

The announcement comes amid growing pressure to secure national tech infrastructure and reduce reliance on Asia. How will this impact jobs, prices, and America’s AI ambitions?

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Tech

‘Stuck in the past’: Has Apple lost its edge?

Apple, once an innovator, faces criticism for stale updates and designs, prompting comparisons to 1980s IBM and calls for Tim Cook’s departure.

Published

5 days ago

April 16, 2025

Ahron Young

Apple, once an innovator, faces criticism for stale updates and designs, prompting comparisons to 1980s IBM and calls for Tim Cook’s departure.

Apple, once a symbol of innovation, is now under fire for uninspiring product updates.

The headline “Has Apple lost its edge? Critics say it’s stuck in the past” captures growing frustration over recycled designs and underwhelming features.

From the original iPhone to the lacklustre Apple Intelligence, critics now compare the company to IBM in the 1980s. Is it time for Tim Cook to step aside?

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Tech

OpenAI explores social network to rival Elon Musk

OpenAI is considering a social network to rival Musk’s X, spurred by the success of its new image-generation feature.

Published

5 days ago

April 16, 2025

Ahron Young

OpenAI is considering a social network to rival Musk’s X, spurred by the success of its new image-generation feature.

In Short

OpenAI is considering creating a social network to compete with Elon Musk’s X and Meta’s Instagram, following high demand for its new image-generation tool.

The company has raised $40 billion in funding and is facing increased server demands, prompting efforts to temporarily limit the tool’s usage.

OpenAI is contemplating the development of a social network to rival Elon Musk’s X and Meta’s Instagram, according to an informed source.

This initiative is reportedly in the early stages and has emerged following the success of OpenAI’s latest image-generation tool, which has stressed the company’s servers.

The announcement was first reported by The Verge, while OpenAI has chosen not to comment on the matter.

Image-generation

In March, OpenAI launched its new image-generation feature designed to create various visual content, including diagrams, infographics, and logos. This tool also enables users to produce artistic renditions from their uploaded images.

Recently, images generated by this feature have gained significant traction on social media, with OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman recently using one for his profile photo on X. Altman noted the overwhelming popularity has led to increased server demands.

He mentioned that the company is currently looking to limit the feature’s usage temporarily while they enhance its efficiency.

The generative AI sector is highly competitive, particularly with the involvement of Musk’s xAI, which recently acquired X. The relationship between Altman and Musk has become contentious, particularly surrounding OpenAI’s move to become a for-profit entity.