The Macalope does n’t like to kick ( LOL ) . Really , when it comes down to it , being an Apple initiate is n’t a bad gig . Well , the hours are passably expert , anyway .
late , however , it seems there are only two large topics in the Apple world and both of them suck . The first is AI . The Macalope fit ( albeit a little grudgingly because of its other , numerous fault ) that AI can be a very useful tool , in sure well - define utilisation cases ( like programming ) . It just has two real problems : companies render to shove it into literally everything and the fact that it ’s just unreliable . You might get a correct answer out it , but you might not .
Last calendar month , The Verge ’s David Pierce lamented that the current hype around AI was“wrecking a whole generation of gadgets ” . Companies ( cough , Apple , cough ) are gyrate their wheels trying to AI - ify all their products , adding “ features ” that no one ask for using a technology no one trust , rather than working on new features . A plurality of Americanssurveyed by Pew Research(PDF ) think that AI will have a negative burden on the U.S. over the next 20 eld .
If you ever wonder why AI continues to be pushed unrelentingly despite customer unemotionality or outright scorn , take this example by Shopify ’s CEO . AI is see by CEOs and speculation capitalist as a way to rest people off . They would rather burn the Amazon rainforest to the terra firma , pave it , and put up the world ’s grown Arby ’s than employ one more of you ungrateful , needy meat sacks .
Wah - wah , I need wellness forethought . Wah - wah , I desire a 401k . What about the chief operating officer ’s fifth yacht ? Did you ever stop to imagine ofthat ?
If you take the news , you have in all probability see report of how Apple has been burning cycles/second trying to get AI to improve Siri . The Information provided a behind - the - panorama look at“How Apple Fumbled Siri ’s AI Makeover”based on account statement of former Apple employee , who may or may not be gruntled . The New York Times ’s Trip Mickle just went with“What ’s Wrong With Apple ? ” . Possibly Mickle was remember he was smartly dodgingBetteridge ’s Lawthere but , as it turn out , the reply to any Trip Mickle article about Apple is “ NO . ” , whether the headline is phrased as a doubtfulness or not .
Well , if you do n’t wish AI , fear not ! There ’s another lousy topic hogging the Apple headlines : tariffs . Fun .
The past twosome of weeks have been a substantial rollercoaster of duty newsworthiness . Or maybe the controversy - a - twirl is a more accurate ride , where everyone inside the rock - a - whirl had state fair sushi for lunch and are , uh - oh , suddenly not feelin ’ so unspoiled .
IDG
First , tariff were announce , sending market plummeting because , spoiler alerting , they ’re a garbage policy that just antagonizes trading partner as well as citizen who suddenly have to pay more for goods . The Trump administration responded quick , however … by raise said duty by , and the Macalope believe this is a direct citation , “ Eleventy umteen pct ” .
Pretty certain that ’s a direct quote . Maybe someone can check that .
Then , late Friday , good news ! Looks like Tim Cook ’s $ 1 million donationdidpay off because , oh , did we say tariffs on everything ? No , no , not on smartphones . Or laptops . Or concentrated drives . Processors . Chips . What have you .
Well , that seems like a weirdly specific carve - out designed entirely for the welfare of sure chief operating officer who shovel money into Trump ’s startup fund but … okay , right , at least Apple can …
“ Tariffs on chips , phone , laptops still coming , commerce secretary warns ”
OH , COME ON . The Macalope did n’t even get through the prison term . Got ta start using shorter sentences .
It’salmostlike no one cognise what they ’re doing .
Almost .
The Macalope ’s full stop here is that neither of these topic is fun to cover . The horny one develop into tech writing because it was fun to meditation about upcoming ware or talk about thing that were currently send . A technology that ’s largely labour by a desire to put down masses off and policy that are driven by a meagre understanding of globose economical forces are just … sad .
But right now these are the elephants in the room . They ’re unavoidable . And that stinks .
