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Broadcom Shares Slip as Revenue Forecast Underwhelms AI-Driven Expectations

Broadcom shares declined over 3% in early trading on Friday after its third-quarter revenue forecast failed to meet the high expectations of investors who have been heavily bullish on chip stocks amid the ongoing artificial intelligence surge.

The Palo Alto-based semiconductor giant projected third-quarter revenue of approximately $15.80 billion, slightly above the analysts’ consensus estimate of $15.71 billion, according to LSEG data. However, analysts noted that expectations for Broadcom had already been elevated due to its critical role in AI infrastructure.

“High expectations drove a bit of downside,” said Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon, reflecting the sentiment that even marginally positive forecasts may not be enough in the current AI-fueled market climate.

Broadcom provides semiconductors to major clients like Apple and Samsung and supplies advanced networking hardware essential for AI data centers, where massive data transfers are required to power generative AI models. In addition to its networking chips, Broadcom also designs custom AI processors for large cloud providers, offering an alternative to Nvidia’s expensive off-the-shelf chips.

Despite its position in the AI supply chain, Broadcom remains exposed to global trade uncertainties, particularly around U.S. export restrictions aimed at limiting China’s access to advanced technology. “AVGO is ramping two additional customers, but they are still small. So the processor business will grow this year, but at a measured rate,” Morgan Stanley commented.

Rival Marvell Technology, meanwhile, offered a more optimistic outlook last week, forecasting stronger-than-expected second-quarter revenue driven by growing demand for custom chips supporting AI workloads in data centers.

Broadcom briefly crossed the $1 trillion market cap threshold in December, reflecting investor optimism about AI-related chip demand. Its shares have climbed roughly 12% year-to-date. However, its current valuation — with a 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio of 35.36 — remains significantly higher than Marvell’s 20.63, according to LSEG data.

UK Judge Warns Lawyers Against Using AI to Cite Fake Cases, Threatens Sanctions

London’s High Court issued a stern warning on Friday that lawyers who rely on artificial intelligence to cite fabricated or non-existent legal cases risk being held in contempt of court or facing criminal charges. The caution comes amid growing concerns about generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, leading legal professionals astray.

Judge Victoria Sharp condemned lawyers in two recent cases who used AI-generated arguments containing fake case law. She urged legal regulators and industry leaders to take stronger actions to ensure lawyers understand their ethical duties regarding AI use.

“There are serious implications for the administration of justice and public confidence in the justice system if artificial intelligence is misused,” Judge Sharp said in her written ruling. She stressed the need for practical, effective measures from those responsible for legal regulation and leadership within the profession.

Since generative AI tools became widely accessible over the past two years, lawyers globally have faced scrutiny for referencing false authorities in court. Sharp emphasized that lawyers who cite non-existent cases breach their duty not to mislead courts, which can amount to contempt of court.

In the most severe instances, deliberately submitting false information with intent to disrupt justice could constitute the criminal offence of perverting the course of justice, she warned.

While legal regulators and the judiciary have issued guidance on AI use by lawyers, Judge Sharp said guidance alone is insufficient to curb misuse and called for stronger enforcement and leadership.

OpenAI Reports Rise in Chinese Groups Using ChatGPT for Malicious Activities

OpenAI disclosed in a report released Thursday that it has detected an increasing number of Chinese-linked groups leveraging its AI technology, including ChatGPT, for covert and malicious operations. Although the activities have expanded in scope and tactics, OpenAI noted the operations remain generally small in scale and target limited audiences.

Since its launch in late 2022, ChatGPT and other generative AI tools have raised concerns about misuse, including the rapid creation of human-like text, images, and audio that can be weaponized for misinformation, hacking, or social manipulation. OpenAI regularly monitors and publishes findings on such harmful usage on its platform.

Among the examples cited by OpenAI:

  • Accounts generating politically charged social media posts related to China, including critiques of a Taiwan-centric video game, false claims against a Pakistani activist, and content about the USAID closure. Some posts also criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs with messages such as “Tariffs make imported goods outrageously expensive, yet the government splurges on overseas aid. Who’s supposed to keep eating?”

  • Chinese threat actors employing AI to assist in cyber operations, including open-source intelligence gathering, script modification, system troubleshooting, and creating tools for password brute forcing and automating social media actions.

  • Influence campaigns originating from China producing divisive content on U.S. political topics, often supporting opposing sides simultaneously, combined with AI-generated profile images to amplify polarization.

In response, China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed OpenAI’s claims as baseless and stressed its commitment to responsible AI governance and opposition to AI misuse.

OpenAI, valued at around $300 billion after a recent $40 billion funding round, continues to emphasize transparency and vigilance in monitoring misuse of its AI technologies worldwide.