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After dissing Apple Vision Pro, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg now asking advertisers to ditch iPhones, iPads

After taking shots at Apple’s mixed reality headset, the Vision Pro, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has now trained his guns at Apple’s iPhone, iOS and App Store businesses. The feud between the tech giants escalated when Meta Platforms released guidelines advising advertisers to use a workaround to evade a hefty 30 per cent service fee charged by Apple. This workaround is specifically targeted at “boosted posts,” a popular advertising feature offered by Meta for Facebook and Instagram, as per a report by The Wall Street Journal. Boosted posts, which allow users to enhance the visibility of their content by purchasing advertisements directly through their smartphones, generate substantial revenue for Meta, particularly from small businesses. Starting later this month, Meta plans to impose an additional 30 per cent surcharge on US advertisers who continue to purchase boosted posts through iPhone and iPad apps. Meta is planning to pass the burden of Apple’s fees to its consumers, rather tha...
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OpenAI plans to decimate Alphabet's core business, to launch an alternative to Google Search soon

OpenAI, the studio behind ChatGPT, is reportedly planning to get into the web search arena, a move that could potentially disrupt the dominance of industry giants like Google. According to sources cited in a report by The Information , OpenAI is in the process of developing a web search product, potentially in collaboration with Microsoft’s Bing, to directly compete with Google. This development follows Microsoft’s infusion of its Bing search engine with Copilot AI tools, as announced by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, signalling a clear intent to challenge Google’s stronghold in the search market. The emergence of OpenAI’s search tool speculated to leverage Bing’s search capabilities, suggests a close partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI. While the specifics of OpenAI’s search tool remain unclear, including whether it will be a standalone product or integrated into ChatGPT, its development underscores OpenAI’s ambition to revolutionize search with a more conversational and context-...
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India Inc's AI moment: Over 59 per cent enterprises have deployed AI, says IBM report

A recent study commissioned by IBM sheds light on the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within Indian enterprises, with findings indicating that a significant majority, totalling 59 per cent, have actively implemented AI strategies into their operations. According to Sandip Patel, Managing Director of IBM India & South Asia, the surge in AI adoption underscores the tangible benefits experienced by businesses leveraging this technology. Despite this positive momentum, Patel emphasizes the need for a more extensive embrace of AI at scale, highlighting a lingering hesitancy among some enterprises to transition beyond experimental phases. Crucially, Patel underscores the importance of robust data and AI governance tools in ensuring responsible AI model development. Without such measures in place, enterprises risk exposure to various challenges, including data privacy breaches, legal entanglements, and ethical dilemmas. The IBM Global AI Adoption Index, conducted in c...
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Tesla soon in India, government close to finalising concession on import duties for EVs

Tesla, the prominent US-based electric automaker, may soon establish its presence in India, with the government nearing the finalisation of a policy to extend concessional import duties on electric cars valued above Rs 30 lakh (approximately $36,000) for 2-3 years, suggests a report by The Economic Times. Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that the reduced import duties could be provided by the Indian government in exchange for bank guarantees from Tesla, which intends to invest in constructing an electric vehicle factory within the country. Tesla has expressed its willingness to invest up to $2 billion if the Indian government offers a reduced import duty of 15 per cent on imported electric cars during the initial two years of operations. The government is reportedly exploring the option of temporarily reducing import duties based on bank guarantees, aiming to incentivize foreign automakers to expedite plans for local manufacturing. This move is expected to stimulate emplo...
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Microsoft claims Chinese, Russian, Iranian, North Korean hackers are using its Gen AI tools to attack the US

In a statement released on Wednesday, tech giant Microsoft revealed that a number of adversaries of the US, including Iran North Korea, Russia and China, have begun employing generative artificial intelligence (AI) for orchestrating offensive cyber operations. The company, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, disclosed that it had identified and thwarted threats, in collaboration with its partner OpenAI, which utilized or attempted to exploit AI technology developed by these adversaries. According to a blog post, Microsoft described these techniques as “early-stage” and not particularly innovative but emphasized the importance of publicly exposing them. The move comes as rival nations increasingly leverage large-language models (LLMs) to bolster their capabilities in breaching networks and conducting influence operations. While cybersecurity firms have traditionally employed machine learning for defence purposes, the emergence of LLMs, notably led by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, has intensifi...
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World Heart Month: 5 awesome features of the Apple watch that have saved numerous lives

As February marks Heart Month, it’s an opportune time to delve into the Apple Watch’s robust features tailored for cardio health and fitness tracking. Renowned as one of the premier smartwatches available, the Apple Watch has gained widespread acclaim, particularly for its emphasis on cardiovascular well-being. The latest Apple Heart and Movement Study, which was first published in 2019, has unveiled new insights into cardio fitness and activity trends over the past year. Spearheaded by researchers from Brigham & Women’s Hospital, these findings shed light on the following key areas: Over half (54.8 per cent) of participants achieved the recommended weekly goal of 150 minutes or more of moderate aerobic activity, with the percentage increasing with age and slightly higher among males. December 25th marked the least active day in 2023, whereas May 27th stood out as the most active day. Individuals with higher cardio fitness levels engaged in over 15 minutes more daily activity ...
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Over 50% smartphone users pick them up without thought, average user spends 31% of waking time on phones

A groundbreaking report conducted by the Boston Consulting Group, India sheds light on the remarkable transformation in human behaviour driven by the unprecedented surge in smartphone usage over the past 13 years. According to the report, individuals now pick up their smartphones without a clear purpose nearly half the time, indicating a significant shift in daily habits. Titled ‘Reimagining Smartphone Experience: How ‘Surfaces’ can play a key role in making the phone smarter,’ the report unveils startling statistics: 31 per cent of waking time is spent on smartphones, with a staggering 84 per cent of users checking their devices within 15 minutes of waking up. On average, users interact with their smartphones a remarkable 80 times per day. The report attributes this surge in smartphone usage to the accessibility and affordability of mobile devices, particularly in regions like India where the population skipped the traditional desktop phase and embraced mobile internet directly. ...
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