Afternoon Coffee: AI Strategy for U.S. May Get Boost; Palm Oil Producers Turn to Satellites for Sustainability

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Artificial intelligence research in the U.S. may get a boost from the White House, with the possibility of an executive order that would direct federal agencies to prioritize AI research and development, the Associated Press reports.

China and other countries have crafted strategies for their nations’ AI efforts.

“Tech leaders have pushed the Trump administration to develop a national AI strategy,” the AP reports. “The White House in December hosted a listening session with the CEOs of Google, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle and Qualcomm to field ideas for securing American dominance in AI and other fields such as quantum computing and faster wireless technology known as 5G.”

‘They say you’re Big Brother’

Reuters reports that big palm oil users, like Nestle and Mondelez, are turning to more satellite technology to curb deforestation and boost sustainability efforts.

“They say you’re Big Brother,” Benjamin Ware, global head of responsible sourcing at Nestle, told Reuters. “It’s not Big Brother — it’s today’s reality ... there is nothing secret anymore.”

Tesla Lagging on Repair Parts

Tesla production has finally ramped up, but Elon Musk’s company faces another supply chain issue — not having enough parts to service his electrical cars, The Wall Street Journal reports. Customers are waiting weeks and months for repairs, and Musk has said the issue must be addressed this year, the Journal reports.