Zhipu AI Launches GLM-Image Model Trained on Huawei Chips, Boosting China’s AI Self-Reliance Drive 
China Halts Shipments of Nvidia H200 AI Chips, Forcing Suppliers to Pause Production 
Elon Musk Seeks $134 Billion in Lawsuit Against OpenAI and Microsoft Over Alleged Wrongful Gains 
Federal Judge Clears Way for Jury Trial in Elon Musk’s Fraud Lawsuit Against OpenAI and Microsoft 
U.S.–Taiwan Trade Deal Spurs $500 Billion Semiconductor Investment in America 
China Considers New Rules to Limit Purchases of Foreign AI Chips Amid Growing Demand 
TikTok Expands AI Age-Detection Technology Across Europe Amid Rising Regulatory Pressure 
Microsoft Strikes Landmark Soil Carbon Credit Deal With Indigo Carbon to Boost Carbon-Negative Goal 
xAI Restricts Grok Image Editing After Sexualized AI Images Trigger Global Scrutiny 
TSMC Shares Hit Record High as AI Chip Demand Fuels Strong Q4 Earnings 
South Korea Sees Limited Impact From New U.S. Tariffs on Advanced AI Chips 
China’s AI Models Narrow the Gap With the West, Says Google DeepMind CEO 
Micron to Buy Powerchip Fab for $1.8 Billion, Shares Surge Nearly 10% 
TSMC Set to Post Record Q4 Profit as AI Chip Demand Accelerates 
Nvidia Denies Upfront Payment Requirement for H200 AI Chips Amid China Export Scrutiny 
Google Seeks Delay on Data-Sharing Order as It Appeals Landmark Antitrust Ruling 
Apple’s next premium line of smartphones, now widely dubbed as iPhone 12, is anticipated to be the highlight of a new decade for the tech industry. Apple fans will be more excited about it as several sources claim that the Touch ID feature could be coming back in a major way.
iPhone 12 features, specs: How Touch ID will co-exist with Face ID
The Touch ID feature has not been seen on new iPhone models since the release of the iPhone X in 2017. The so-called bezel-less trend on smartphones has pushed Apple to ditch the physical home button where the Touch ID scanner has been placed for years. It is now speculated that the Touch ID will return along with the release of the iPhone 12.
Sources noted, though, that the physical home button will not come back along with the Touch ID. Economic News Daily published a couple of reports revealing Apple’s supposedly secret meeting with GIS known to be Taiwan’s top manufacturer of touchscreen components. The talks reportedly focused on Apple’s plan to use Qualcomm’s ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint scanner that would be applied to the iPhone 12 models.
Analysts with a good track record in predicting Apple’s hardware plans saw this coming. Ming-Chi Kuo said in a previous note that the company would re-introduce Touch ID along with Face ID in the same device by 2020.
It has been heavily reported that the company would launch iPhone SE 2 with Touch ID under a home button making the Touch ID + Face ID combo very likely intended for the iPhone 12 series. Since the component of the in-display fingerprint scanner normally occupies a small space under the screen, iPhone 12 would have enough section for the notch where Face ID sensors are placed.
iPhone 12 release date: Apple introduces biannual release cycle for next iPhone lineups
Apple has been keeping a consistent annual calendar for the release dates of its hardware and software products. However, it was reported recently that the company could be using a new strategy starting in 2020 with two iPhone unveil events every year. With the iPhone SE 2 rumored for an early 2020 launch and the iPhone 12 still slated in fall, this prediction seems very plausible.
