Tech Brew Ride Home - Wed. 04/09 – Instagram iPad App But For REAL This Time?

Starting point is 00:00:00 On April 4th, 2023, around 2 in the morning, a man was found stabbed multiple times on a sidewalk in downtown San Francisco. Hey, who did this to you? What happened next turned the story into a political firestorm. Reports have identified the victim as Bob Lee, the founder of Cash App. From Bloomberg Podcasts, this is Foundering, the Killing of Bob Lee, beginning April 16. Welcome to the Tech meme right home for Wednesday, April 9th, 2025. I'm Brian McCullough today. Google unveils its new TPUs this time with inference. Temu and Sheehan officially get nuked from orbit. More signs of pullback in AI data center buildout. Are we actually for real about to get an iPad Instagram app? And a cute little home robot from ages ago looks like it's finally coming to a house near you this summer. Here's what you missed today in the world of tech. Google's Cloud Next conference is going on this week and there. Google unveiled. Ironwood, its seventh generation TPU and the first it's ever made for inference, coming later in in a 256 chip cluster or a 9,216 chip cluster, quoting TechCrunch. Ironwood arrives as competition

Starting point is 00:01:23 in the AI accelerator space heats up. InVIDIA may have the lead, but tech giants, including Amazon and Microsoft, are pushing their own in-house solutions. Amazon has its tranium, inferentia, and Graviton processors available through AWS, and Microsoft hosts Azure instances for its Cobalt 100 AI chip. Ironwood can deliver 4,614 T-flops of computing power at peak, according to Google's internal benchmarking. Each chip has 192 gigabytes of dedicated RAM with bandwidth approaching 7.4 TBPS. Ironwood has an enhanced, specialized core, sparse core, for processing the types of data common in advanced ranking and recommendation workloads, e.g. an algorithm that suggests apparel you might like. The TPU's architecture was designed to minimize data, movement, and latency on chip,

Starting point is 00:02:12 resulting in power savings, Google says. Google plans to integrate Ironwood with its AI hypercomputer, a modular computing cluster in Google Cloud in the near future. They added, end quote. Google also launched Workspace Flows, an AI tool to automate multi-step processes in Alpha, and new docs sheets, meet, chat, and vids features like audio in docs, quoting 9 to 5 Google. As first teased at I.O. last year, the company today announced Google workspace flows as a tool to automate those multi-step processes using AI that can actually research, analyze, and generate content for you. It's currently available through an alpha program. It makes use of gems or custom versions of Gemini that you create.

Starting point is 00:02:55 Like in the Gemini app, you simply describe what you need in plain language and works. Workspace flows will design and build sophisticated, logic-driven flows, no complex coding or configuration needed. Other examples of specialized tasks include checking if marketing copy fits your brand voice, reviewing policy documents before approving a request, and intelligently sorting customer support tickets. Workspace flows can refer to Google Drive files for context and then use custom trained gems to take the right next steps. Google is also working to connect third-party tools to workspace flows. Google Docs is adding audio features that let you create both podcast-style summarizers, like Notebook LMs, audio reviews, and full audio versions of your documents.

Starting point is 00:03:40 Meanwhile, help me refine in Google Docs will offer thoughtful suggestions on how to strengthen your argument, improve the structure of your piece, or make your key points clearer, as well as help formatting. Google describes it as a writing coach. Google Sheets is adding, Help Me Analyze as an on-demand analyst that can create interactive charts, highlight interesting trends, provide guidance, and suggest next steps. It's coming later this year. Gemini and Google Meet will give you a personal in-meeting advisor if note-taking, take notes for me, is enabled. As such, you can generate a summary, what did I miss, and specific recaps as well as ask about specific topics or decisions, end quote. Also worth noting that Google updated Gemini Code Assist

Starting point is 00:04:22 to add agentic capabilities, including creating apps from product specifications in Google Docs, into preview. Today in tariff stuff, by the way, I don't think I'm going to do this every day. And by this, I mean highlight when prices have gone up on something because in theory, prices are going to go up on everything. For example, according to US ITC data, in 2024, China's share of US imports was 86% for US game consoles, 79% for PC monitors, 73% for smartphones, 70% for batteries, and 66% for laptops. So yeah, I won't always be doing this, but today I'll note that Razor is pausing direct sales of its upcoming Blade 16 and other laptops in the U.S. as new tariffs take effect,

Starting point is 00:05:16 leaving only skins and accessories available to buy for now. And I will note this, you know, because of Temu and Sheehan. If you like buying from there, gird your loins, quoting Bloomberg. The U.S. will tax imports of items priced up to $800 at the rate of 90% of their value up from a previous plan to levy a 30% ad valorem tax, according to the amendment on reciprocal tariffs published by the White House Wednesday. While the tax exemption on items of marginal value under a rule dating back to the 1930s was due to end May 2nd, the latest increase comes after Beijing retaliated to Trump's previous round of tariffs. Chinese online marketplaces like Temu and Sheehan had used the de minimis loophole to enter the U.S. duty-free so far. Washington will also increase

Starting point is 00:06:02 the per postal item fee on goods entering after May 2nd and before June 1st to $75 from the planned $25. Parcels entering after June 1st will pay a fee of $150 per item instead of the $50 announced previously according to the Executive Order Wednesday, end quote. And more of this, apparently. Sources say that to avoid tariffs, Apple, Dell, Microsoft, Lenovo, and others pressed suppliers to fly as many high-end $3,000-plus devices as possible to the U.S. before April 9th, quoting Yahoo Finance. PC shipments grew at their fastest quarterly pace since the pandemic after companies from Apple to Dell

Starting point is 00:06:44 hastened product deliveries around the world before tariffs hit. Laptops led the way as the entire spectrum of desktops, workstations, and portable computers rose 9.4% to 62.7 million units in the first quarter, according to market tracker, Canales. It was the fastest increase for the industry since the spring of 2021 when COVID restrictions were driving demand for electronics to work and play at home. The surge was especially pronounced with respect to the U.S., but the researchers warned that end-user demand is largely stable, and the current quarter will take a hit, end quote. I did another preemptive buy like this myself. I know that the new Grand Theft Auto doesn't come out until the fall, but that's a game I kind of don't want to play in front of my kids.

Starting point is 00:07:28 on the big living room TV for obvious reasons. So I pulled the trigger on a PlayStation portal now so that when the time comes, I can play in private and not cost me an arm and a leg. It's funny, remember when we were worried about headlines like this, because we were afraid it might nuke the rally in tech stocks? Those were different times. Microsoft is reportedly backing away from its October 2024 plan to invest $1 billion in three Ohio. data centers, the latest in a string of its data center project cancellations. Quoting a venue called Data Center Dynamics. This is the latest in a series of data center project cancellations from Microsoft

Starting point is 00:08:17 with reports recently emerging that the company had pulled back on as much as two gigawatts of data center projects across the U.S. and Europe. Shortly after, it was further reported that cancellations also occurred in APEC in the U.K. Speculation over Microsoft's ever-growing list of canceled data center projects has been Rife. Brokridge T.D. Cohen first brought attention to the matter with analysts from the company speculating that the lease cancellations and deferrals of capacity points to data center oversupply relative to its current demand forecast. Thus far, Microsoft stance has been unmoving with the company providing the blanket statement to publications, quote, thanks to the significant investments we have made up to this point,

Starting point is 00:08:56 we are well positioned to meet our current and increasing customer demand. Last year alone, we added more capacity than any prior year in history. While we may strategically pace or adjust our infrastructure in some areas, we will continue to grow strongly in all regions. This allows us to invest and allocate resources to growth areas for our future. Our plans to spend over $80 billion on infrastructure this fiscal year remains on track as we continue to grow at a record pace to meet customer demand, end quote. Quoting Ketan Joshi on X.

Starting point is 00:09:26 One of the benefits of the project spam, approach to development is that if you want 10 new data centers, you propose 100, cancel 90, and then everyone thinks your 10 new data centers are very reasonable, paired back, and responsible growth, end quote. Inverse of that, sources tell Bloomberg that Amazon is considering a $15 billion warehouse expansion plan for nearly 80 new U.S. logistics facilities, suddenly reversing its post-pandemic construction slowdown. The e-commerce company is asking potential capital,

Starting point is 00:10:05 partners to submit proposals, the people said, asking not to be identified, citing private information. The properties are expected to be mostly delivery hubs, where vans and trucks are loaded for the final leg to shoppers' homes, but some projects would also be large, multi-story fulfillment centers packed with robots, the people said. Amazon's request for information from financing partners predated last week's tariff announcement from President Donald Trump that roiled global markets and spurred fears of a possible recession. It's unclear exactly how the stricter trade policies would impact the e-commerce company's plans. Technology company is willing to lease the facilities for 15 to 25 years, and some of the sites could be funded directly by Amazon, the people said.

Starting point is 00:10:42 Amazon's renewed push for more warehouses suggests that the company could be emerging from a construction slowdown that followed its rapid pandemic-era expansion. The company has tried out various ways to expand its network of warehouses in the past. Throughout most of its history, Amazon signed long-term lease agreements with industrial developers who took on the risk of buying land and building sprawling warehouses. Between 2020 and 2022, though, Amazon shifted that approach and went on a buying spree for developed properties and bare land across North America, taking parts of the development process in-house. The company sought to lock in scarce industrial space close to customers to help speed up delivery times, but Amazon ended up with a surplus of warehouse space. Now the industrial real estate market is softening.

Starting point is 00:11:25 A surge of new supply has coincided with slower demand, pushing industrial vacancy rates past 7% for the first time since 2014. Brokridge Jones-Lang LaSalle said in a fourth quarter report, end quote. Is it finally actually happening? The information says Instagram is working on an iPad app. And Instagram head, Adam Osseri told staff to be willing to assume more risk to take advantage of a potential TikTok U.S. ban or other disruption. Quote, last week, Instagram head Adam Oserry told his staff that if TikTok were banned or otherwise disrupted, Instagram would have to be willing to assume more risk to take advantage of the situation, according to a current employee. It's unclear what Mosseri meant by risk,

Starting point is 00:12:12 but Instagram could make a move even more aggressive than launching a standalone app for its short-form video feature reels. Then on Monday night, Meta held an event in New York City with creators and gave attendees early access to its new video editing app edits, according to a person who attended. The event was among the latest in a string of similar events that have promoted edits. Instagram announced the existence of the new app earlier this year as an effort to compete with ByteDance's popular cap cut, which is also under threat of being banned. Instagram has taken other steps to face off against TikTok as part of an initiative codenane Project Ray. It has tweaked its app to more closely resemble TikTok, including by making photos and videos on users' profiles vertical rather than square and increasing the

Starting point is 00:12:56 minimum length of a Reels video from 90 seconds to three minutes. Instagram is also working on a version of the Instagram app designed for iPads of the current employees said, which could further drive usage of Instagram. Currently, iPad users can download a version of the Instagram app designed for iPhones, which appears zoomed in on iPads. Not a good experience, end quote. Google Maps is launching tools to help cities analyze infrastructure and traffic,

Starting point is 00:13:27 quoting the verge. Google is integrating new datasets for Google Maps platform directly into BigQuery, the Tech Giants fully managed data analytics service for the first time. This should make it easier for people to access data from Google Maps platform products, including imagery insights, roads management insights, and places insights. The data from those products could help cities, developers, companies, and authorities solve a wide variety of problems, Google says.

Starting point is 00:13:51 Information from the imagery insights data set, for example, can inform telecom companies about the condition of infrastructure objects like utility poles and street signs. With roads management insights, road authorities can analyze historical and real-time. traffic information. Places insights, meanwhile, can arm individuals with customized aggregated data about places within a specified area based on criteria like user rating or wheelchair accessibility, and accessing Earth Engines dataset via BigQuery will let people find sustainability-related insights like wildfire risk or deforestation from satellite imagery, according to Google, end quote. Finally, today, Samsung and Google plan to launch Bali, a soccer ball-shaped home robot that uses AI

Starting point is 00:14:39 and can project video onto walls like a personal BB8, they say. It's coming this summer, quoting Bloomberg. The yellow device can roam around a person's home like a Rumba vacuum cleaner using small wheels and is designed to bring AI to life as a friend and as a true companion. Jay Kim, a Samsung executive vice president who oversees Next Generation AI technology said in an interview, Thomas Currian Google Cloud's chief executive officer said, it's more like a personal BB8 than an Alexa dot referring to a robot in Star Wars. The device can use Samsung's Smart Things platform to control smart home devices and appliances,

Starting point is 00:15:15 manage calendars and reminders, answer questions, make and take phone calls, and play video through the built-in projector. The device runs Samsung's Tyson operating system, which is also used on many of its TVs, allowing it to access content providers such as YouTube, Netflix, and its own Samsung TV Plus. The company said, Samsung's Kim said the device is a completely new Bali, compared to the version that generated fanfare at the CES technology conference in 2020, one of the biggest changes being the collaboration with Google Cloud. The device will use Google's Gemini AI models and reasoning to understand user commands,

Starting point is 00:15:48 tap into Google search and process visual data captured by the onboard cameras for in-home navigation. It also uses Samsung AI models for features like accessing personal data and the weather. Asked about the prior delays and the potential for further challenges, Lee said it's the right timing, I believe. as you see, AI is evolving at light speed. We are ready to show it and release it to the market. The device will arrive first in the U.S. and South Korea, at least to start, will only work in American, English, and Korean. I think it's going to be super exciting for people, Korean said in an interview. It's hard to describe a system that can sense, move, and interact as naturally as it does.

Starting point is 00:16:23 When you say, come here, it really senses how to get there. He added saying that the system takes a lot of magic behind the scenes to make it work. Lee said Samsung chose Google Cloud because of its belief in Gemini's capabilities. The work marks an extension of existing partnerships on Android devices, smartwatches, and an upcoming mixed reality headset also arriving later this year. He added that the companies are already planning for future bodily features, including a software development kit for third-party apps and video conferencing. In March, Google announced Gemini Robotics, AI models built for robots. But in terms of high-profile partnerships, Curian implied those will be rare, saying the work with Samsung required a lot of tuning and optimization. We do have people in manufacturing industries that are building other robotics. but this is the only partnership we have with this personalized experience, end quote.

Starting point is 00:17:19 I've been remiss in not mentioning that my alma mater, the University of Florida, won the National Championships and basketball the other night. Go Gators. But more importantly, go gunners. Arsenal beat Real Madrid, 3-0 in the Champions League yesterday. I know a lot of you are not into football, but if you know, you know, that's a big historic win for us. But what was more crazy is we scored a direct-free, kick, which we haven't done in like 400-odd games. And not only did we do one, we did two. And not only

Starting point is 00:17:51 that, both came from Declan Rice, who had never scored a direct free kick in his career since last night. And again, he got two. And one of them was straight up Roberto Carlos quality. Look it up if you can. It had so much spin on it that it went like a foot and a half outside the goal before swerving back just inside the post. Again, if you know, you know, talk to you tomorrow.

Tech Brew Ride Home - Wed. 04/09 – Instagram iPad App But For REAL This Time?

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