Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, recently expressed the company’s intention to expand its workforce in the United Kingdom, a move that stands in stark contrast to the downsizing trend seen in the tech industry. Apple aims to bring aboard more employees to contribute to the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
This announcement comes just a day after Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite, disclosed their decision to reduce their workforce by 16%. Notably, major tech giants like Amazon, Meta, Google, and Microsoft have initiated large-scale job cuts since 2022.
Tim Cook has been a vocal critic of the prevalent trend of layoffs in the tech sector, previously referring to it as a “last resort” back in May. When asked about the impact of AI on jobs in the UK, he asserted, “We’re actively hiring in that area, and we anticipate an increase in investment.”
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The tech industry’s interest and investment in AI continue to grow substantially. Amazon, for instance, recently unveiled a commitment to invest up to $4 billion (£3.3 billion) in the San Francisco-based AI company Anthropic. Earlier in the year, Microsoft made a multi-billion dollar investment in OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT.
Michelle Donelan, the Culture Secretary, hailed Apple’s decision as “another vote of confidence in our burgeoning tech sector.” She shared her thoughts on X, the microblogging platform formerly known as Twitter, emphasizing the UK’s global standing in AI and technology.
Antony Walker, the deputy chief of techUK, the industry association, acknowledged that the transformative power of AI would lead to an increase in staff in AI-related businesses over the next few years. However, he also stressed the importance of a long-term strategy that prioritizes digital skills training and lifelong learning.
Tim Pullan, CEO of ThoughtRiver, a provider of AI solutions for legal professionals, believes that the global economy is entering an “AI-driven revolution.” He highlighted the significant potential for the UK to become a prominent AI superpower, attracting investments and fostering innovation.
Mr. Cook underscored the pivotal role of AI in various features of Apple devices, including fall detection and predictive typing. He mentioned ongoing research in generative AI, which involves creating media based on text prompts. Despite concerns over copyright and ownership related to generative AI, major corporations continue to invest in this technology, given its potential to “learn” from vast amounts of online data.
This has resulted in high-profile copyright lawsuits in the United States, with authors like George RR Martin and John Grisham suing OpenAI over claims that their books were used in training the system.
