Trump Exempts Phones and Chips from Tariffs—for Now

1. Trump Exempts Phones and Chips from Tariffs—for Now

• The Trump administration announced exemptions for smartphones, laptops, and chips from its latest round of tariffs on Chinese imports—temporarily shielding Apple, Dell, and others. However, semiconductors may still face penalties under a separate investigation.

• This gives tech firms short-term relief but leaves long-term uncertainty around trade policy and supply chain exposure. The risk of retaliatory measures or renewed tariffs remains high.

• CEOs should not assume these exemptions will hold—now is the time to diversify suppliers, de-risk logistics, and build proactive trade contingency plans.

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2. OpenAI Reveals AI Engineer That Can Build Apps Autonomously

• OpenAI introduced its experimental Agentic Software Engineer (A-SWE), an AI agent capable of autonomously building apps, testing bugs, and writing documentation. CFO Sarah Friar said it can turn pull requests into fully functioning software with minimal human input.

• A-SWE signals a major shift in software development—moving from assistance to full autonomy—enabling faster iteration and reduced engineering overhead. It’s part of OpenAI’s push to turn AI into a full-stack builder.

• Leaders should assess how agentic AI might restructure their engineering workflows and reduce costs in competitive tech cycles.

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3. Google Launches Firebase Studio for Natural Language App Development

• Google launched Firebase Studio, an AI-first development environment that allows users to build full-stack apps with plain-language prompts and images. It integrates with React, Angular, Next.js, and connects directly to Google Cloud.

• The platform removes traditional coding bottlenecks and enables faster prototyping for teams without deep engineering resources. Google positions this as a move to democratize app creation at scale.

• Business leaders should explore how low-code AI platforms like Firebase Studio can speed up product cycles and expand innovation capacity across more teams.

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4. ChatGPT Rolls Out Long-Term Memory for Personalized Interactions

• OpenAI is rolling out a long-term memory feature for ChatGPT, allowing it to remember facts about users and past interactions. The update is now live for Pro users and will expand further over the coming weeks.

• The new memory capability brings ChatGPT closer to a true digital assistant, enabling more personalized, context-aware responses. It’s a foundational step in long-term AI-human interaction.

• Executives should test memory-enabled AI for internal productivity and customer experience—tools like this will soon be embedded into every workflow.

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5. AI Founder Rebuked for Using Avatar to Testify in Court

• AI entrepreneur Jerome Dewald faced backlash after using an AI-generated avatar to appear before a judge without disclosure. The court sharply criticized the act as misleading and stressed the importance of in-person authenticity in legal proceedings.

• This case highlights the growing need for ethical guidelines around AI representation in professional settings. As avatars and AI-generated personas proliferate, misuse could create serious legal and reputational risks.

• CEOs must establish clear AI governance policies now—before employee misuse, legal missteps, or public backlash force reactive damage control.

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