“What new technology does is create new opportunities to do a job that customers want done.”

—Tim O’Reilly, Founder of O'Reilly Media

Big Tech’s Billion-Dollar Bets

The AI race is getting expensive—and strategic. Apple just dropped a jaw-dropping financial commitment to U.S. manufacturing, headlined by a massive AI server facility in Houston.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is playing it cooler, reaffirming its data center investments even as reports of canceled leases stir questions.

Two tech giants. Two very different plays. But the goal? Total AI dominance.

Apple’s $500B Power Play

Apple is making its largest U.S. investment ever, committing $500B over the next four years.

The centerpiece? A 250,000-square-foot AI server facility in Houston, designed to power Apple Intelligence. Groundbreaking begins this year, with completion by 2026.

And, the spending spree doesn’t stop there:

• $10B for Apple’s U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Fund.

• A new Apple Manufacturing Academy in Detroit, focused on AI and smart manufacturing.

• A “multibillion-dollar” expansion for TSMC’s Fab 21 facility in Arizona.

Microsoft: Recalibrating or Retreating?

While Apple goes full throttle, Microsoft’s $80B infrastructure plan shows a more cautious approach.

Recent reports suggested their canceled AI data center leases may be a sign of oversupply, but Microsoft quickly clarified:

• The $80B infrastructure spend is still “on track.”

• Investments are just being reallocated with a renewed focus on U.S. operations.

• Last year saw Microsoft’s largest capacity growth ever (and they don’t plan on slowing down).

Fables tell us that slow and steady wins the race, but only will time will tell if the same applies to AI.

Reputation Matters: How Widewail is Reshaping Reviews

When was the last time you chose to shop at a store with a 1-star rating? Exactly, never.

A dealership’s online reputation can make or break customer decisions. That’s where Widewail steps in with an AI-powered solution for managing and improving online reviews.

We teamed up with CEO Matt Murray for a deep dive into Widewail’s analysis of 8.1M Google reviews across thousands of dealerships, highlighting critical factors like staff interactions, communication, repair times, and pricing.

Key Features

• AI-Powered Sentiment Analysis: Identifies customer feedback patterns with actionable insights.

• Automated Review Requests: Integrates with dealership workflows to generate consistent reviews.

• Response Management: Streamlines customer review responses, encouraging high response rates.

Strengths

• Data-driven insights help dealerships adjust operations effectively.

• Automated review processes save staff time.

• Performance benchmarks against industry leaders like Lexus and Hendrick provide improvement context.

Limitations

• Insights depend on data volume; lower review counts mean fewer insights.

• Human oversight remains essential—AI tools assist, but people create experiences.

Widewail isn’t a magic fix, but its AI-powered insights give dealerships a clear path to reputation improvement. For those ready to understand what customers value—and where they need to improve—Widewail offers a smart, structured approach.

Sometimes, when a piece of content hits, it's hard to know exactly why. But, AI can work to help you dissect, and even re-create some of that magic with this prompt:

💡 Bonus Prompt: Provide three alternative angles or themes based on current industry trends that would modernize the original campaign while keeping its core message intact. Think: humor, local community tie-ins, or tech-forward features.

Artificial Intelligence Without Data is Just Artificial

At the J.D. Power Auto Summit during NADA 2025, we caught up with Brian MacDonald, CEO of CDK Global, to discuss AI’s growing role in automotive retail, hybrid market trends, and how technology is shaping dealership operations.

A Tool, Not a Rival

AI’s influence in auto retail is undeniable, but MacDonald stressed that its real power comes from supporting—not replacing—people. “Artificial intelligence without data is just artificial,” he said.

The key, according to MacDonald, is combining AI-driven insights with human expertise, allowing dealership staff to interpret and act on data in ways that best serve their customers.

Human Connection Still Reigns

Despite the growing role of technology, car sales remain personal. “Every vehicle is sold to a person by another person,” MacDonald pointed out.

Customers still value in-person interactions, especially when it comes to financing, trade-ins, and other complex parts of the buying process. Technology’s role is to simplify and streamline, giving buyers the flexibility to engage online or in-store—whichever they prefer.

The Main Takeaway

As AI becomes more integrated into retail auto, its success will hinge on how well it complements the human element. For dealerships, the future lies in using AI to enhance customer experiences—not replace them.

• AI-powered search engine Perplexity says it’s building its own web browser named Comet. ☄️

• Yesterday, Anthropic released Claude 3.7 Sonnet, its first “hybrid reasoning model” that can solve more complex and nuanced problems. 🧠

• Google’s new AI-assisted tool Career Dreamer can help you explore new job possibilities. 🌙