🍎 Apple will never get good AI and this is why

Today, we’re looking at Apple’s quiet admission of failure, replacing its A.I. chief after years of stalled progress with Siri. It’s a rare leadership reset that exposes just how far behind Apple has fallen in the race to define A.I. We’re also looking at China’s fastest-rising A.I. contender: Zhipu. With soaring usage and paid subscriptions, it’s now aiming for the country’s first major A.I. IPO offering a glimpse at how China plans to compete with Silicon Valley.

In today’s post:

• Apple's Siri problem cost them their AI chief

• China’s top OpenAI rival is gaining ground

• The AI boom’s unexpected winners

What’s Trending Today

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Apple’s AI reset just got real

Apple’s head of artificial intelligence, John Giannandrea, is stepping down. After years of stalled progress with Siri and failed A.I. bets, the company is making a leadership change.

Here’s everything you need to know:

• Giannandrea joined Apple in 2018 after leading AI efforts at Google.

• His hire was seen as a power move to finally fix Siri and build out Apple’s A.I. vision.

• But despite years of work, Apple’s A.I. efforts lagged far behind rivals like OpenAI and Google.

• The much-hyped Siri upgrade was delayed after failing internal quality checks.

• Apple also scrapped its self-driving car project to reassign engineers to A.I. with little to show for it.

• Giannandrea was quietly removed from Siri oversight earlier this year.

• His replacement, Amar Subramanya, is another Google alum with a brief stint at Microsoft.

Apple’s strength has always been tight product execution not first-mover advantage. But in A.I., that strategy is wearing thin. Siri’s shortcomings aren’t just a tech problem, they’re a credibility issue. Swapping execs might help, but catching up now will take more than clean org charts.

The New Framework for Enterprise Voice AI

Enterprise teams are automating more calls than ever — but without a consistent framework, deployments become unpredictable, costly, and slow to scale.

The BELL Framework introduces a structured way to design, test, launch, and improve Voice AI agents with reliability.

Get the guide enterprises are now using to de-risk voice automation and accelerate deployment.

Download The Free Guide

BREAKTHROUGH

Zhipu AI is building momentum and eyeing an IPO

Zhipu, one of China’s leading A.I. startups, just passed a key milestone. With a growing user base and rising revenue, it’s pushing toward China’s first major A.I. IPO.

Here’s everything you need to know:

• Zhipu now earns over 100 million yuan ($14M USD) in annual recurring revenue.

• Its flagship GLM-4.5 model helped subscription usage grow 10x in just two months.

• The company sells A.I. tools and models that Chinese developers use to build their own apps.

• Co-founder Zhang Peng says the growth shows Chinese companies are willing to pay for A.I.

• While $14M is small compared to U.S. rivals, it signals real traction in China’s A.I. market.

• Zhipu’s upcoming IPO would be a first for the country’s still-nascent A.I. sector.

• It’s part of a broader push to build domestic alternatives to U.S.-based A.I. giants.

China’s A.I. ecosystem doesn’t need to beat OpenAI to matter. What Zhipu shows is that real demand exists for homegrown models and users are willing to pay. If it pulls off this IPO, it won’t just be a financial win, but a symbolic one in the race to localize A.I. innovation.

STRATEGY

Data centers are turning construction workers into six-figure earners

The gold rush in A.I. isn’t just benefiting engineers and startups. Construction workers are raking in record pay as tech giants race to build the infrastructure behind the boom.

Here’s everything you need to know:

• Demand for data centers has exploded as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft expand A.I. capacity.

• Construction workers moving into this niche are seeing 25–30% pay bumps.

• Some are now earning well over $100K, many for the first time in their lives.

• One worker went from running a drywall business to managing 200 people on-site.

• Perks include daily bonuses, heated break tents, and free lunches.

• A national shortage of 439,000 skilled tradespeople is fueling the wage spike.

• It’s reshaping the labor market for skilled trades fast.

A.I. often feels abstract. But these data centers make it real—and they’re quietly transforming lives. The people wiring the power and pouring the concrete are the overlooked backbone of this new era. In the end, the future of A.I. might depend as much on electricians and welders as it does on algorithms.

🚀 Founders & AI Builders, Listen up!

If you’ve built an AI tool, here’s an opportunity to gain serious visibility.

Nextool AI is a leading tools aggregator that offers:

• 500k+ page views and a rapidly growing audience.

• Exposure to developers, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts actively searching for innovative tools.

• A spot in a curated list of cutting-edge AI tools, trusted by the community.

• Increased traffic, users, and brand recognition for your tool.

Take the next step to grow your tool’s reach and impact.

Reach 140,000+ READERS:

Expand your reach and boost your brand’s visibility!

Partner with Nextool AI to showcase your product or service to 140,000+ engaged subscribers, including entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts, developers, and industry leaders.

Ready to make an impact? Visit our sponsorship website to explore sponsorship opportunities and learn more!