Australia Releases New National AI Plan, Opts for Existing Laws to Manage Risks 
Banks Consider $38 Billion Funding Boost for Oracle, Vantage, and OpenAI Expansion 
Sam Altman Reportedly Explored Funding for Rocket Venture in Potential Challenge to SpaceX 
Australia Moves Forward With Teen Social Media Ban as Platforms Begin Lockouts 
Microchip Technology Boosts Q3 Outlook on Strong Bookings Momentum 
Apple Appoints Amar Subramanya as New Vice President of AI Amid Push to Accelerate Innovation 
EU Prepares Antitrust Probe Into Meta’s AI Integration on WhatsApp 
YouTube Agrees to Follow Australia’s New Under-16 Social Media Ban 
TSMC Accuses Former Executive of Leaking Trade Secrets as Taiwan Prosecutors Launch Investigation 
Trump Administration to Secure Equity Stake in Pat Gelsinger’s XLight Startup 
Norway’s Wealth Fund Backs Shareholder Push for Microsoft Human-Rights Risk Report 
Nexperia Urges China Division to Resume Chip Production as Supply Risks Mount 
ByteDance Unveils New AI Voice Assistant for ZTE Smartphones 
Hikvision Challenges FCC Rule Tightening Restrictions on Chinese Telecom Equipment 
Baidu Cuts Jobs as AI Competition and Ad Revenue Slump Intensify 
Apple Alerts EU Regulators That Apple Ads and Maps Meet DMA Gatekeeper Thresholds 
Quantum Systems Projects Revenue Surge as It Eyes IPO or Private Sale 
Apple is expected to fulfill its announced timeline of transitioning to Apple Silicon with several upcoming Mac computers reportedly in the works. Aside from a refreshed MacBook Air, the tech giant is also reportedly working on redesigned Mac Pro with its in-house SoC.
MacBook Air refresh with upgraded Apple Silicon slated in 2022
Starting next month, Apple is likely to host several launch events where products, including new Mac laptops, could be announced. Several reports have previously indicated that significant changes to the MacBook Air may be pushed to next year, but the wait could be worth it.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in the latest edition of the PowerOn newsletter (via 9To5Mac) that the refreshed MacBook Air is part of the lineup of Apple Silicon-powered devices to launch within the next year. Other sources have previously claimed that the slim laptop, which has served as the entry-level Mac in recent years, could be the first to sport the awaited M2 chip. The redesigned MacBook Pros expected to launch later this year are anticipated to sport the M1X SoC.
Gurman also reported that the refreshed MacBook Air is planned to ship with MagSafe support, which could mean it would sport a dedicated magnetic port for charging. The latest model relies on Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports.
Mac Pro with Apple Silicon and Intel chip reportedly in the works
MacBook devices are not the only ones planned to be redesigned, per Gurman. A Mac Pro in the works is expected to launch with a similar appearance as the currently available workstation but with a smaller form factor.
The “revamped” Mac Pro is also reportedly launching with an Apple Silicon in the latter part of 2022. Apple may not be entirely phasing out Intel-powered Mac Pros, though. Gurman mentioned that the company is also working on another Mac Pro update, which would be powered by an Intel chip. This could explain recent reports that an upcoming Apple workstation could ship with Intel Ice Lake Xeon W-3300 processors.
In June 2020, Apple announced the two-year transition to Apple Silicon. The timeline kicked off with the launch of MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini devices with M1 last November. The report expects Apple to still accomplish its target with the iMac series making a full transition “by the end of next year.”
Photo by Howard Bouchevereau on Unsplash
