By Owen Grand, Jack Best & Kai Luginbuhl  – Contributors

Apple Vision Pro 

Apple’s highly anticipated entry into the augmented and virtual reality space is poised for a groundbreaking debut with its launch of the Vision Pro, the company’s first-ever augmented reality (AR) headset. Scheduled for release on Feb. 2, eager consumers began placing pre-orders on Jan. 19. The release marks a milestone for Apple as it steps foot into a new market. The Vision Pro may disrupt the tech landscape, challenging established players like Meta and Sony.

While future users anticipate its advanced gaming and enterprise features, Apple’s strategic emphasis is on its service. Several streaming apps will offer 3D movies and users can experience immersive entertainment. The device’s hefty price tag of $3,499 may raise eyebrows, but Apple’s large subscriber base and developer ecosystem could play crucial roles in popularizing the headset. 

The new headset, although impressive, remains a small product category compared to Apple’s core iPhone business. Unless it scales rapidly and attracts a significantly larger customer base, it may not have a substantial impact on their stock price. 

AI accelerates lithium-ion battery tech

The batteries sector has long sought chemical innovations to create less lithium-dependent batteries. Lithium mining can be expensive and damaging to the environment. Top scientists have been attempting to develop new combinations with lithium and other elements to create a cheaper and more efficient battery. Battery tech development has been notoriously slow due to the abundance of tests required to find superior and more efficient chemical combinations for electric batteries. 

A team of researchers at Microsoft and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a new chemical makeup for solid-state electric batteries. The AI model processed 32 million possible inorganic material combinations and narrowed it down to 18 combinations of high interest. This was all done in under a week. Experts said that without the AI model, it could have taken a decade to process that many combinations. The AI-derived solid-state electrolyte, named N2116, uses 70 per cent less lithium than current solid-state lithium batteries. It took researchers just nine months to develop a prototype, suggesting that the door is wide open for more positive AI-facilitated research.

Microsoft rises back to the top

On Jan. 12, 2024, Microsoft reclaimed its title as the world’s most valuable company, reaching a new record-high market cap of $2.887 trillion. This is in part due to incorporating AI technology across its existing software, thereby enhancing its value for consumers. 

The battle for market capitalization in the tech space has been closely monitored over the past years, with companies like NVIDIA taking the markets by storm, experiencing a remarkable 1,349 per cent increase over the past five years. However, the tech giants, Apple and Microsoft, maintain a significant buffer that distances themselves from the rest of the competition. 

As technology continues to evolve, Microsoft has not only emerged as a top player in the market cap race, but it has also solidified its commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation. For us, this recent success signifies more than just a numerical milestone; it is a testament to Microsoft’s strategic foresight and adaptability in navigating the ever-changing tech landscape.