Daily News Digest: Apple Invests $500 Billion in the US

February 25, 2025 -- Today’s top stories: Apple Invests $500 Billion in the US, EU Responds to US Tariff Threats, and AI Boosts Mineral Discovery.

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By CommonWealth Magazine
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2025-02-25

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Apple announces $500 billion investment in US amid tariff threats that could affect the iPhone

Apple has announced plans to invest over $500bn in the US over the next four years, with plans to expand teams and facilities in Michigan, Texas, California, Arizona, Nevada, Iowa, Oregon, North Carolina, and Washington.

The Tech giant said plans include a new factory in Texas, doubling the US advanced manufacturing fund, a manufacturing Academy, and accelerated investments in AI and silicon engineering. Other states including Nevada, California, and Arizona will see further investment, part of a total funding package of $500bn.

The move comes just days after us President Donald Trump said apple CEO Tim Cook promised him that the Tech giant’s manufacturing would shift from Mexico to the US.

Trump noted the company was doing so to avoid paying tariffs. That pledge, coupled with Monday’s investment commitment, came as Trump continues to threaten to impose tariffs that could drive up the cost of iPhones made in China.

Apple will produce servers in the new factory, which is slated to open in 2026.

The new factory will form part of a major investment plan Apple is committing to over the next four years, starting with a new advanced manufacturing factory in Texas.

The Tech giant said it expected to create 20,000 new jobs over that time, with the "vast majority" of roles in research and development, software, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Reference Sources

EU responds to White House tariff threats

(Source: Getty Images)

The European Union (EU) has responded to the White House memorandum, which threatened tariffs to combat digital services taxes (DSTS), fines, practices, and policies that foreign governments levy on American companies.

The DSTS of EU member states, which Trump takes issue with, are Non-Discriminatory and applied to all large digital services regardless of where they were based and act like "any other form of taxation." The Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) also apply to all large digital sectors operating in the EU single market.

The Commission remained open to working with the US and other trading partners to find global solutions to shared challenges.

Reference Sources

euractiv - Commission responds to White House tariff threats on EU tech laws

AI is speeding the mining of valuable metals needed to power the clean economy

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to find minerals and metals that power electric cars, solar panels, and hydrogen fuel cells. Earth AI combines AI-powered mineral discovery software with proprietary drilling technology, and its data goes back 50 years.

When the system finds what it thinks are metal deposits, Earth AI can drill down to verify it in just a tennis Ball-Sized hole.

The mining process takes half the cost and a fraction of the amount of time that was previously required. Individual annual mine revenues can range from $50M to $3Bn, according to mining data online. Earth AI doesn't explore around existing mines, but finds new areas and then SELLS that information to mining companies.

The company has raised a total of $38M. Other investors include Y Combinator, Cantos Ventures, Scrum Ventures, Alpaca, Sparkwave Capital and Overmatch.

The company recently discovered one of the largest verified deposits of palladium in Australia using AI as part of a joint venture with legacy minerals.

Reference Sources