This week’s stories are about tech, gadgets and AI, coming from Korea, Sweden and the USA

1-iPhone prices could soar to $3,500 if made in the U.S

Apple’s iPhone could cost more than triple its current price if the tech giant is forced to relocate manufacturing to the United States.

I saw this story at CNN and Trump reaffirmed his demand that Apple manufacture its flagship product domestically, stating, “I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else.” He warned that failing to do so would result in a tariff of at least 25%.

However, Dan Ives, Global Head of Technology Research at Wedbush Securities, told CNN that such a move is “a fictional tale,” emphasizing the immense cost and complexity of shifting Apple’s tightly integrated Asian supply chain to the U.S, according to the story. (By the way I have a story here about Apple ‘s Turkey move)

“You build that supply chain in the U.S. with a fab in West Virginia and New Jersey, they’ll be $3,500 iPhones,” Ives noted, pointing to the astronomical costs of domestic fabrication plants and chip production.Ives estimates it would cost Apple $30 billion and take three years just to shift 10% of its supply chain to the U.S.Apple currently relies on Asia for iPhone manufacturing, with about 90% of production taking place in China. Core components like chips and screen panels are sourced from Taiwan and South Korea, respectively, while final assembly also occurs predominantly in China, as the story put it.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said on the company’s last earnings call that “the majority” of iPhones shipped to the U.S. will now come from India in an effort to avoid additional costs—already projected to rise by $900 million this quarter, the story underlined.

iPhone prices could soar to $3,500 if made in the U.S (Photo: Apple)

2-OpenAI to open first Korean office

OpenAI announced plans to open its first office in Seoul, marking a significant step in expanding its global presence as demand for its ChatGPT service surges in South Korea.

I read this story at Reuters and the artificial intelligence company confirmed it has formally established a legal entity in South Korea. According to OpenAI, the country now ranks second only to the United States in the number of paying ChatGPT subscribers.

To support its growing footprint, OpenAI has begun hiring staff to manage partnerships and local engagement, with more announcements expected in the coming months, as the story noted. “Korea’s full-stack AI ecosystem makes it one of the most promising markets in the world for meaningful AI impact—from silicon to software, and students to seniors,” emphasized Jason Kwon, Chief Strategy Officer at OpenAI.

Earlier this year, OpenAI revealed it would co-develop AI products tailored to the South Korean market in collaboration with Kakao, a leading local chat app operator, according to the story.

OpenAI to open first Korean office

3-Swedish industry giants build nation’s largest AI supercomputer with Nvidia

A consortium of leading Swedish companies, including AstraZeneca, Ericsson, Saab, and SEB, announced a partnership with Nvidiai to build an advanced AI infrastructure in Sweden. The initiative, supported by Wallenberg Investments, aims to prepare Sweden’s top industries for the AI-driven future by deploying cutting-edge computing systems.

The consortium will establish a new joint company to operate the AI infrastructure, which will provide secure and sovereign access to computing power for its partners. The first phase will include the deployment of two Nvidia DGX SuperPODs equipped with the latest Grace Blackwell GB300 systems, marking the creation of Sweden’s largest enterprise AI supercomputer to date.

Let me note that Nvidia also plans to open its first AI Technology Center in Sweden. The center will support AI research, provide expert access, and offer hands-on training through Nvidia’s Deep Learning Institute to help develop AI talent across sectors.

Here are how each consortium member will use the infrastructure:

• AstraZeneca will focus on next-generation drug discovery using AI-powered models and large-scale data processing.
• Ericsson plans to develop cutting-edge AI models to improve performance, drive new business models, and enhance customer experiences for billions of users.
• Saab will integrate AI to accelerate the development of advanced defense systems.
• SEB, one of Sweden’s largest banks, will use AI to boost productivity, launch new services, and future-proof its operations.

Swedish industry giants build nation’s largest AI supercomputer with Nvidia