Techmeme Ride Home Mon. 04/28 – The Prompt Engineer That Never Was…
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Apr 28, 2025 
Join Ben Smith, a journalist at Semaphore and expert on Silicon Valley dynamics, as he unpacks the challenges Apple faces with manufacturing in China amid its iPhone’s 20th anniversary. He discusses the obsolescence of the ‘Prompt Engineer’ role and reveals insights about the secretive yet influential group chats among tech elites that shape public discourse. The conversation highlights how these chats have evolved during the pandemic and explores the delicate balance between transparency and power in modern communication.
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Apple's China Manufacturing Challenge
- Apple's iPhone manufacturing is deeply integrated with Chinese suppliers and complex parts.
- Shifting production outside China, especially for new models, is very challenging before 2027.
Tariffs Impact Small Tech Makers
- Tariffs on Chinese imports are causing price hikes and shortages for smaller tech makers.
- Companies struggle with inventory and rising shipping costs, risking empty shelves soon.
End of Support for Early Nest
- Google will end support for early Nest thermostats, removing remote control and assistant features.
- This signals risks of smart devices losing key functions as software support ends.