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Apple wants to replace some of its iPhone assembly workers with automation.According to The Information, Apple has told managers to “reduce the number of workers on iPhone final assembly lines by as much as 50% over the next few years.”This comes after a 2022 clash between iPhone workers and police outside a Foxconn assembly plant in Zhengzhou, China, over COVID-19 lockdowns and pay disputes. It resulted in police officers in hazmat suits beating some of the factory workers, not exactly a good look.Apple reportedly paused efforts to build out automation in the past due to high up-front costs; however, it has now decided to spend the money—potentially hundreds of millions a year—to decrease the human workforce.
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According to The Information, a number of Apple’s recent acquisitions should simplify that move. That includes Darwin AI and Drishti, which analyzes assembly line efficiency via video footage and helps discover bottlenecks.
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