Latest news with #YuichiroChino
Business Mayor
24-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Companies turn to AI to navigate Trump tariff turbulence
Artificial intelligence robot looking at futuristic digital data display. Yuichiro Chino | Moment | Getty Images Businesses are turning to artificial intelligence tools to help them navigate real-world turbulence in global trade. Several tech firms told CNBC say they're deploying the nascent technology to visualize businesses' global supply chains — from the materials that are used to form products, to where those goods are being shipped from — and understand how they're affected by U.S. President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs. Last week, Salesforce said it had developed a new import specialist AI agent that can 'instantly process changes for all 20,000 product categories in the U.S. customs system and then take action on them' as needed, to help navigate changes to tariff systems. Engineers at the U.S. software giant used the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, a 4,400-page document of tariffs on goods imported to the U.S., to inform answers generated by the agent. 'The sheer pace and complexity of global tariff changes make it nearly impossible for most businesses to keep up manually,' Eric Loeb, executive vice president of government affairs at Salesforce, told CNBC. 'In the past, companies might have relied on small teams of in-house experts to keep pace.' Firms say that AI systems are enabling them to take decisions on adjustments to their global supply chains much faster. Andrew Bell, chief product officer of supply chain management software firm Kinaxis, said that manufacturers and distributors looking to inform their response to tariffs are using his firm's machine learning technology to assess their products and the materials that go into them, as well as external signals like news articles and macroeconomic data. 'With that information, we can start doing some of those simulations of, here is a particular part that is in your build material that has a significant tariff. If you switched to using this other part instead, what would the impact be overall?' Bell told CNBC. 'AI's moment to shine' Trump's tariffs list — which covers dozens of countries — has forced companies to rethink their supply chains and pricing, with the likes of Walmart and Nike already raising prices on some products. The U.S. imported about $3.3 trillion of goods in 2024, according to census data. Uncertainty from the U.S. tariff measures 'actually probably presents AI's moment to shine,' Zack Kass, a futurist and former head of OpenAI's go-to-market strategy, told CNBC's Silvia Amaro at the Ambrosetti Forum in Italy last month. 'If you wonder how hard things could get without AI vis-a-vis automation, and what would happen in a world where you can't just employ a bunch of people overnight, AI presents this alternative proposal,' he added. Nagendra Bandaru, managing partner and global head of technology services at Indian IT giant Wipro , said clients are using the company's agentic AI solutions 'to pivot supplier strategies, adjust trade lanes, and manage duty exposure dynamically as policy landscapes evolve.' Wipro says it uses a range of AI systems — both proprietary and supplied by third parties — from large language models to traditional machine learning and computer vision techniques to inspect physical assets in cross-border transit. 'Not a silver bullet' While it preferred to keep company names confidential, Wipro said that firms using its AI products to navigate Trump's tariffs range from a Fortune 500 electronics manufacturer with factories in Asia to an automotive parts supplier exporting to Europe and North America. 'AI is a powerful enabler — but not a silver bullet,' Bandaru told CNBC. 'It doesn't replace trade policy strategy, it enhances it by transforming global trade from a reactive challenge into a proactive, data-driven advantage.' AI was already a key investment priority for global firms prior to Trump's sweeping tariff announcements on April. Nearly three-quarters of business leaders ranked AI and generative AI in their top three technologies for investment in 2025, according to a report by Capgemini published in January. 'There are a number of ways AI can assist companies dealing with the tariffs and resulting uncertainty. But any AI solution's success will be predicated on the quality of the data it has access to,' Ajay Agarwal, partner at Bain Capital Ventures, told CNBC. The venture capitalist said that one of his portfolio companies, FourKites, uses supply chain network data with AI to help firms understand the logistics impacts of adjusting suppliers due to tariffs. 'They are working with a number of Fortune 500 companies to leverage their agents for freight and ocean to provide this level of visibility and intelligence,' Agarwal said. 'Switching suppliers may reduce tariffs costs, but might increase lead times and transportation costs,' he added. 'In addition, the volatility of the tariffs [has] severely impacted the rates and capacity available in both the ocean and the domestic freight networks.' WATCH: Former OpenAI exec says tariffs 'present AI's moment to shine'
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Definition of Stargate
Credit - Yuichiro Chino—Getty Images Stargate is a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure project announced on January 21, 2025, by President Donald Trump. This ambitious initiative is a joint venture among leading technology companies, including OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank, with the goal of advancing AI capabilities and securing American leadership in the field. The project aims to invest up to $500 billion over the next four years, focusing on building state-of-the-art data centers and energy infrastructure across the United States. The inception of Stargate marks a significant collaboration between industry giants. OpenAI, known for developing advanced AI models like ChatGPT, brings its expertise in AI research and development. Oracle, a leader in cloud computing and enterprise software, contributes its robust cloud infrastructure and enterprise solutions. SoftBank, a global investment firm with a strong focus on technology, provides substantial financial backing and strategic guidance. This partnership reflects a concerted effort to enhance the United States' position in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. The announcement of Stargate has garnered significant attention, highlighting the strategic importance of AI infrastructure in national and global contexts. The project is seen as a response to the growing competition in AI development, particularly from nations like China. By investing heavily in AI infrastructure, the partners aim to accelerate advancements in AI technologies, which have the potential to revolutionize various sectors, including healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. The primary objective of Stargate is to establish a robust and scalable AI infrastructure that can support the development and deployment of advanced AI models. By investing up to $500 billion, the project seeks to: Enhance AI Capabilities: Develop and train more sophisticated AI models that can perform complex tasks with higher accuracy and efficiency. Secure American Leadership in AI: Strengthen the United States' position in the global AI race, ensuring technological sovereignty and economic competitiveness. Foster Innovation: Provide a platform for researchers and developers to experiment with and implement cutting-edge AI technologies. Create Economic Opportunities: Generate hundreds of thousands of jobs and stimulate economic growth through the construction and operation of AI infrastructure. These goals align with the broader vision of integrating AI into various facets of society, from healthcare advancements to economic development. Stargate is designed to be a comprehensive AI infrastructure project with several key features: Data Center Development: Construction of multiple data centers equipped with high-performance computing resources to support AI model training and deployment. Energy Infrastructure: Development of dedicated energy sources, including natural gas power plants, to meet the substantial energy demands of AI operations. Strategic Partnerships: Collaboration among leading technology companies—OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank—to leverage their expertise and resources. Job Creation: The initiative is expected to create over 100,000 jobs, spanning construction, operations, and research roles. These features are intended to create a sustainable and efficient environment for AI development, positioning Stargate as a pivotal project in the AI sector. Despite its ambitious scope, Stargate faces several challenges: Funding and Financial Viability: Securing the projected $500 billion investment is a significant undertaking, with concerns about the feasibility of such a large-scale funding effort. Regulatory Hurdles: Navigating the complex regulatory landscape for AI development and infrastructure construction may pose delays and compliance challenges. Technological Integration: Ensuring seamless integration of diverse technologies and platforms from multiple partners requires meticulous planning and coordination. Global Competition: Competing with rapidly advancing AI initiatives from other countries, particularly China, necessitates continuous innovation and investment. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for the successful realization of Stargate's objectives and its long-term impact on the AI industry. Stargate represents a monumental effort to advance AI infrastructure in the United States, bringing together leading technology companies to invest heavily in the future of artificial intelligence. While the project holds immense potential to drive innovation, economic growth, and secure national leadership in AI, it also faces significant challenges that require strategic planning, substantial investment, and complicated collaboration. The success of Stargate could set a precedent for future AI infrastructure projects, influencing the trajectory of AI development and its integration into various sectors of society. Copyright © by All Rights Reserved Contact us at letters@
