Intel's AI Chief to Part Ways With Chip Maker in Wake of CEO Exit
Intel's head of data-center and artificial-intelligence operations is leaving the group to take the helm of European telecommunication group Nokia NOKIA 2.15%increase; green up pointing triangle, the latest high-profile departure at the chip maker as it struggles to revamp its business.
Justin Hotard, who joined Intel in February last year, will be replacing Pekka Lundmark as Nokia's chief executive as of April 1.
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Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Intel to outsource marketing to Accenture and AI, resulting in more layoffs
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Employees at Intel's marketing division were informed that many of their roles will be handed over to Accenture, which will use AI to handle tasks traditionally done by Intel staff, reports OregonLive. The decision is part of a company-wide restructuring plan that includes job cuts, automation, and streamlining of execution. The marketing division has been one of Intel's key strengths since the company began communicating directly with end users with the launch of its "Intel Inside" campaign in 1991. However, it looks like the company will drastically cut its human-driven marketing efforts going forward, as it plans to lay off many of its marketing employees, believing that Accenture's AI will do a better job connecting Intel with customers. The number of positions affected was not disclosed, but Intel confirmed changes will significantly alter team structures, with only 'lean' teams remaining. Workers will be told by July 11 whether they will remain with the company. Among other things, the aim of the restructuring is to free up internal teams to focus on strategic, creative, and high-value projects, rather than routine functions. Therefore, Intel intends to use Accenture's AI in various aspects of marketing, including information processing, task automation, and personalized communications. Intel has acknowledged the shift to Accenture and explained that this will not only cut costs but will modernize its capabilities and strengthen its brand. How exactly the usage of AI instead of real people can reinforce the brand hasn't been explained yet. "As we announced earlier this year, we are taking steps to become a leaner, faster and more efficient company," a statement by Intel published by OregonLive reads. "As part of this, we are focused on modernizing our digital capabilities to serve our customers better and strengthen our brand. Accenture is a longtime partner and trusted leader in these areas and we look forward to expanding our work together." In messages to staff published by OregonLive, Intel indicated that part of the restructuring may involve existing employees training Accenture contractors by explaining how Intel's operations work. This knowledge transfer would occur during the transitional phase of the outsourcing plan, although it is unclear how long this phase will take. Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
South Korea counts on shipbuilding to ease US tariff woes
Asia's fourth largest economy South Korea is facing gruelling tariffs by US President Donald Trump, but its shipbuilding industry could prove a useful bargaining chip. Already hit by sector levies on steel and car exports, Seoul is laser-focused on negotiations over a 25 percent country-specific tariff that has been suspended until July 8. AFP takes a look at what's going on: - Why shipbuilding? - In the 1970s, South Korea's military leader president Park Chung-hee accelerated the country's heavy industry, designating sectors such as steel and shipbuilding "strategically important" and rolling out state subsidies. At the same time, POSCO was founded -- now one of the world's largest steel producers -- and conglomerate Hyundai built its shipyard in southeastern Ulsan, which started to grow rapidly. European rivals struggled to keep pace. Sweden's Kockums Shipyard filed for bankruptcy in 1987 -- and in a symbolic shift of global shipbuilding power, Hyundai acquired its 140-metre (460-foot) Goliath crane for one dollar. It now towers over southern Ulsan. In the 1990s and 2000s, South Korean shipbuilders such as Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries ramped up investment in research and development, backed by generous government subsidies. The country secured a competitive edge in high-value-added vessels, including LNG carriers, very large crude carriers, and offshore platforms. Now, South Korea ranks as the world's second-largest shipbuilding nation, trailing only behind China. - Is it important? - South Korea's exports hit a record high in 2024, with analysts pointing to shipbuilding as one of the key drivers. The sector accounted for nearly four percent of total exports and grew by almost 20 percent from the previous year -- reaching $25.6 billion. Shipbuilding directly employs around 120,000 workers -- roughly one percent of the country's total workforce -- with indirect employment significantly higher in industrial hubs like Ulsan. Industry data shows so far this year, new orders have exceeded 13 trillion won ($9.4 billion). In March, Hanwha Ocean secured a landmark $1.6 billion contract to build LNG carriers for Taiwan's Evergreen Marine, one of the largest single orders in the sector this year. - Why is it a 'bargaining chip'? - Trump has showed "significant interest in South Korea-US shipbuilding cooperation," said South Korea's trade, industry and energy minister Ahn Duk-geun in April. Like the Europeans, the US shipbuilding industry has lagged behind South Korea and China, and as a result, the sector is seen as a "highly important bargaining chip in trade negotiations," he added. At an APEC finance ministers' meeting in South Korea in May, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met Chung Ki-sun, vice chairman of HD Hyundai, the country's largest shipbuilder, before he met Seoul's top officials. "South Korea's shipbuilding and defence industries see a window of opportunity," said Kim Dae-jong, a professor at Sejong University. - How does it help the US? - Greer also met with the CEO of Hanwha Ocean, the first non-American company authorised to carry out a dry-dock maintenance of a US Navy vessel. The move last September was seen as significant as it signalled that Washington sees South Korea, where it already has 28,000 US troops stationed, as a strategic defence hub. With worries growing about China's expanding naval fleet and potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait, the US has begun seeking reliable overseas shipyards to support its operations in the Asia-Pacific region. The global market for ship maintenance, repair, and overhaul is projected to exceed $60 billion annually, according to industry estimates. - Any problems? - Despite multi-billion-dollar contracts, data suggests South Korea's shipbuilding industry is losing ground in the global race. China dominates with South Korea's market share dropping, according to industry data. Demand for eco-friendly vessels is rising, and the government need to overhaul regulations "to support the development of next-generation eco-friendly vessels," Rhee Shin-hyung, a professor at Seoul National University, told AFP. South Korea's woeful demographics also make staffing hard. In Geoje -– home to Samsung Heavy Industries -– the number of residents in their 20s and 30s has nearly halved in recent years. Orders are down in 2025 which hints that "the shipbuilding boom may end sooner than the market anticipated," warned Rhee. Global ship orders between January and April fell by almost half the volume recorded during the same period last year. Shipbuilders have been enjoying a "supercycle" but unfortunately the "peak is expected to be lower and the boom shorter-lived compared to the past," Nam Chul, vice president at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, told AFP. hs/ceb/ecl
Miami Herald
9 hours ago
- Miami Herald
European leaders seek ‘digital sovereignty' over tech infrastructure
June 21 (UPI) -- Leaders of many European nations say they need to do more to develop technological infrastructure to ensure digital sovereignty instead of relying on services from global tech firms. A recent forum discussion on the market dominance of global corporations assessed the "blurring of the boundaries between economic and political control" among European nations by tech firms. A consensus of attendees at the ongoing Berlin Summit 2025 agreed European nations need to coordinate their efforts to develop infrastructures to "avoid path dependencies and long-term dependence on global platform players," Forum New Economy reported on Friday. "European countries are highly dependent on companies from the USA and China in a variety of technological infrastructures, from cloud services and social media to generative artificial intelligence," Forum New Economy reported. Such companies dominate European markets and are increasing their control of digital infrastructures, innovation networks, supply chains, data flows and research agendas. An example is Microsoft earlier this year suspending the business email account for International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan. The action occurred within months of the ICC issuing a warrant for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Although the tech firm suspended Khan's ICC email account, Microsoft officials said it still is providing services for the ICC. The company also announced their intent to support the digital sovereignty of European nations. "We've operated in Europe for more than 40 years, and we have been and always will be a steadfast partner to Europe," Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said in a social media post on Friday. Microsoft is supporting European sovereignty and that of its respective nations with several existing and new tech offerings, Nadella said. The services include Microsoft Sovereign Cloud, Data Guardian, External Key Management and Sovereign Private Cloud. The existing and new offerings "bring digital sovereignty to all European organizations" and"unlock new sovereign ways to run private sovereign clouds," Nadella said. "These new offerings build on decades of pioneering work in sovereign cloud solutions by ourselves and to our partners," he added. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
