The AI world this week : all you need to know (week of May 20)
From Apple's Siri struggles to France's massive AI data center plan... here's what moved the AI world this week.
Hi Big Bang AI fam 👋
Here's your weekly ☕️ AI update.
This week in AI…
Apple's internal struggles with Siri revealed in damning report
Nvidia opens up its chip ecosystem in strategic shift
Microsoft's AI agents learn to collaborate and remember
Actors' union files complaint over AI Darth Vader voice in Fortnite
France announces massive 14GW data center for AI development
Let's break it all down together…
1. Apple's Siri struggles exposed in explosive report
A new report from PCMag has revealed the internal issues that have kept Apple's voice assistant lagging behind competitors like ChatGPT and Google Gemini.
The investigation found:
Siri's codebase is described by insiders as "brittle" and difficult to update
Teams have been hindered by "technical debt" accumulated over 13 years of development
A major rewrite project called "Blackbird" failed in 2019 after two years of work
Multiple organizational restructures have disrupted product development
While Apple recently announced AI features for iOS 18, sources suggest the company is still playing catch-up, despite having introduced Siri years before competitors entered the market.
Why this matters to you 👇
Shows how early technical decisions can create long-term limitations
Highlights the challenges of maintaining legacy AI systems
Explains why Apple has been slower to integrate modern AI capabilities
2. Nvidia : AI supercomputers are coming to personal computers
Nvidia (the company making most of the chips powering today's AI) just announced that major computer brands will soon offer incredibly powerful AI computers for individual use.
These new computers will process AI tasks on your desk that previously required massive data centers
Major brands like Dell, HP, and Lenovo will be making these AI powerhouses
They'll run complex AI programs without needing to send your data to the cloud
These systems will make it easier for smaller companies and individuals to create AI applications
As Michael Dell put it, this marks "a new era of desktop computing" that brings AI power directly to users.
Why this matters to you 👇
More AI tools will work directly on your computer (protecting your privacy)
AI features will become faster and more responsive
New AI apps and tools will be developed by a wider range of people, not just big tech companies
You might soon have access to the same AI tools that only big companies could afford before
3. Microsoft wants AI “agents” to work together and remember conversations
At Microsoft's annual Build conference in Seattle, the company revealed plans for AI assistants (called "agents") from different companies to work together and better remember their conversations with users.
What this means in simple terms:
Microsoft is supporting industry standards that would allow AI assistants from different companies to collaborate
They're backing something called "Model Context Protocol" (MCP) that could create an "agentic web", similar to how internet protocols helped spread the early web
They're also working on cost-effective ways for AI assistants to remember previous conversations through "structured retrieval augmentation"
As Microsoft's Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott explained: "Most of what we're building feels very transactional." The company wants to move beyond one-off interactions to AIs that maintain memory of your previous requests.
Why this matters to you 👇
In the future, your Amazon Alexa might work together with your Microsoft AI to solve problems
AI assistants will remember your preferences without you having to repeat yourself
More companies will be able to create specialized AI tools that work with others, not just tech giants
Your experience with AI will feel more like ongoing relationships rather than isolated conversations
4. Actors' union files complaint over AI Darth Vader voice in Fortnite
The actors' union SAG-AFTRA has filed an official complaint against Epic Games over the use of AI to recreate Darth Vader's voice in the popular game Fortnite.
What this means in everyday terms:
Epic Games added Darth Vader to Fortnite, allowing players to talk to the character using "conversational AI"
The company says they had permission from James Earl Jones' estate (the original actor who voiced Darth Vader)
However, the actors' union filed an "Unfair Labor Practice complaint" with the US National Labor Relations Board
The union claims Epic made "unilateral changes" without notifying them or allowing them to negotiate terms
In Fortnite's announcement, they stated that players can "strategise with the ultimate Sith Lord. With your voice. And he'll respond back using conversational AI."
The actors' union isn't against digital recreations entirely - they said they "welcome members and their estates exercising their right to control how digital replicas are used." However, they want to be involved to "protect our right to bargain terms and conditions" that could affect all voice actors.
Why this matters to you 👇
Shows growing tensions between technology companies and creative professionals
May determine how your favorite characters appear in games going forward
Could affect whether voice actors are replaced by AI in future games
Raises questions about who controls a person's voice after they've passed away
Reports already indicate players are finding ways to make the AI Darth Vader say inappropriate things
5. France plans major AI computing hub outside Paris
France has announced plans to build a large-scale computing facility outside Paris specifically designed for AI development.
The key details in simple terms:
The project is a partnership between France's national investment bank Bpifrance, UAE investment fund MGX, French AI company Mistral AI, and Nvidia
The facility will have a power capacity of 1.4 gigawatts (enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes)
Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2026, with operations starting by 2028
The project aims to create "Europe's largest AI campus" supporting all aspects of AI development
Other partners include EDG Group (energy), Sipartech, France's electricity operator RTE, engineering group Bouygues, and the engineering university École Polytechnique.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang described it as "a transformational infrastructure for France - built in France, to fuel France in the era of AI."
Why this matters to you 👇
Shows how countries are competing to lead in AI development
Creates a European alternative to US and Asian AI computing centers
Could lead to new AI technologies designed with European priorities and values
May create new job opportunities in tech within Europe
What's Next?
Whether you're using AI tools, concerned about their impact, or just curious about how technology is changing, staying informed helps you navigate this rapidly evolving landscape.
The smart move?
Try one new AI tool this week. Ask questions. Notice how AI is showing up in your everyday apps and services.
P.S. What AI topics would you like us to explain next week? Let us know, we read every reply!
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The Big Bang AI Team
