Applied Materials Rallies on Strong AI Chip Equipment Demand

Applied Materials shares climbed after the company reported strong demand tied to artificial intelligence chip manufacturing. Executives pointed to sustained investment from semiconductor customers expanding advanced node production. Analysts said AI-driven capital expenditure cycles are supporting equipment makers despite broader industry volatility. The company reaffirmed its outlook, citing healthy order backlogs and continued momentum across memory and logic chip segments globally.

Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman said artificial intelligence could automate a substantial share of white-collar tasks in the coming years,driven by rapid advances in generative models and enterprise integration.He highlighted productivity gains but noted that workforce transitions will require coordinated reskilling and supportive policy frameworks. Industry analysts expect broader AI deployment to accelerate operational efficiency,while debates continue over long-term employment impacts and evolving job design.