New & Used EV Prices Dip 20%; Macs Getting AI Centric M4 Chips; British Version of DARPA Building AI Gatekeepers; Taylor Swift Music Back on TikTok

If you are in the market, or thinking about getting in the market for an EV, the timing may be good for you. Inventories of both new and used EVs are up and that is putting pressure on prices. Online searches for EVs on cars.com are up 14.9 percent year over year. Arstechnica.com reports that inventory of electrics is 107% more than a year ago, and they are staying on lots over 90 days. Dealers and manufacturers like to just see a 60 day inventory. The average selling price of a new EV…again according to cars.com is now down 4.3% from this time last year to $63,806…still pricy, but moving in the right direction. Of note…the data doesn’t include new Tesla sales, as they have no dealer network. Looking at used EVs…the prices of those have dipped a bit over 20% since last year…the average selling price is now $36,429. Now, if new EVs or even the used ones would hit that buyer sweet spot of $32,000…you might see a real burst of EV buying.

In the continuing race for faster, better, more powerful chips, plus the push to make AI ubiquitous, Apple will start refreshing its Macs with M4 chips late this year. According to macrumors.com, the new chips will focus on improving performance for artificial intelligence capabilities. As with the current batch, there will be low, medium, and high powered chips in the M4 line. The new chips will still be 3 nanometer chips, but prime Apple maker TSMC says they have improved the process to give better performance and power efficiency. After the M4’s, we may see the move to 2 nanometer chips. 

The British version of DARPA…you know DARPA, the Pentagon advanced science folks that invented Darpanet, which became the internet…have rolled out what they are calling a Gatekeeper for AI. Thenextweb.com says it’s a digital sentinel that will ensure that other AI agents only operated within the guardrails set for a specific application. The Advanced Research and Invention Agency, or ARIA, will pour 59 million pounds into the system. They hope to soon be demonstrating a proof of concept for the plan, which includes electricity grid balancing and supply chain management. If effective, the project could safeguard high-stakes AI applications, such as improving critical infrastructure or optimizing clinical trials.

Not exactly tech, but of interest…Taylor Swift’s music has returned to TikTok after a 10 week lapse due to a licensing fight between the platform and Universal Music Group. Variety.com reports that the tunes were back this morning. This all happens just in front of the release of her next album ‘The Tortured Poets Department,’ which drops April 19th. UMG had accused TikTok of trying to ‘bully’ the music company into a deal worth less that the prior agreement…which of course TikTok disputes. At any rates it looks like the platform cut a separate deal with Swift, who owns her masters and would be able to make her own deal…though her music is distributed by UMG. Swifties, rejoice! I will show some uncharacteristic restraint, and refrain from telling a Swifty…a Tom Swift joke here.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.