Apple Pledges $500B US Investment, Texas AI Factory

Apple Pledges $500B US Investment, Texas AI Factory
Above: Apple CEO Tim Cook attends the inauguration of US Pres. Donald Trump in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025. Image copyright: Kevin Lamararque/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Spin


Pro-Trump narrative

After inspiring Big Tech to join the America First business model after the election, the world's largest companies are now putting their money where their mouths are in record amounts. From chip design and infrastructure to education and skills training, President Trump is returning America to the top of the innovation list. The best AI hardware, software, and training programs will be built and run by Americans.


Anti-Trump narrative

This new Trump-Big Tech partnership is based on lies and greed. On the one hand, Trump's promise to bring back factory jobs will be stunted by his tariffs on steel, which will inflate raw material costs and reduce jobs. On the other hand, tech executives are joining Trump due to his relationship with oil companies, which they will use to produce the mass amounts of energy required to develop AI. This partnership will pollute the country with no economic benefit in return.


Cynical narrative

Big Tech's growing relationship with Trump is a problem, and the typical left vs. right paradigm isn't analyzing it correctly. Whether he realizes it or not, Trump is handing the government over to an even more powerful, unelected force — Silicon Valley ideologues. These AI moguls want their products to replace all human workers — starting with bureaucrats and, eventually, the average American.


Metaculus Prediction


Public Figures


The Controversies



Go Deeper


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