Technology

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...

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-...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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. ...

In a bid to establish itself as a major player in smartphone exports, India faces the risk of losing ground to competitors like China and Vietnam. Government documents obtained by Reuters reveal that India’s Minister of State at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, emphasised the need for swift action to entice global companies with reduced tariffs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic agenda prioritises smartphone manufacturing as a cornerstone for growth and job creation in the country. Despite India’s status as the world’s second-largest mobile market, with production reaching $44 billion last year, concerns loom over the country’s competitiveness in attracting tech giants like Apple, Foxconn, and Samsung. While financial incentives have driven production growth, high tariffs pose a significant challenge. Critics argue that these tariffs deter companies from diversifying their supply chains beyond China, prompting them to favour countrie...

As Valentine’s Day approaches, cybersecurity experts issue a chilling warning: romance scams are on the rise in India, with a staggering 66 per cent of individuals falling victim to deceptive online dating schemes. In a shocking revelation, it has been disclosed that in 2023 alone, 43 per cent of Indians became prey to AI voice scams, resulting in a financial loss for 83 per cent of those targeted. A recent report by Tenable, the exposure management company, highlights the evolution of romance scams, blending traditional tactics with cutting-edge technologies like generative AI and deepfakes. The findings underscore a disconcerting reality: AI-generated deepfakes have reached a level of sophistication where more than two-thirds (69 per cent) of Indians struggle to differentiate between artificial and genuine human voices. Exploiting these advancements, scammers craft convincing personas for romance scams, with celebrity impersonations, particularly targeting older demographics, bec...

The buzz surrounding Apple’s next-generation iPhone, the iPhone 16, has been steadily growing since the release of the iPhone 14 in late 2022. Initial speculation hinted at a complete removal of the front notch, but with the adoption of this feature in the regular iPhone 15, enthusiasts are now left pondering what innovations the iPhone 16 will bring to the table. Recent rumours indicate a potential overhaul in the design of the rear-facing camera lenses, with talks of a stacked configuration for the regular iPhone 16 and the addition of a dedicated camera button for the iPhone 16 Pro. Display options are also expected to diversify, catering to a wider range of preferences, particularly within the Pro tier. However, details remain speculative until Apple officially unveils the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. Despite the lack of confirmed information, anticipation continues to mount among consumers eager to get their hands on the latest technology from the tech giant. Release Timeline ...

Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency, has surged past the $50,000 mark for the first time in over two years. This notable milestone comes as optimism grows around potential interest rate cuts later in the year and following regulatory approval for US exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking Bitcoin’s price. The cryptocurrency market has witnessed a 16.3 per cent increase in Bitcoin’s value since the beginning of the year. On Monday, Bitcoin reached its peak value since December 27, 2021, hitting $49,899 at 12:56 PM EST, marking a 4.96 per cent increase for the day, with its value oscillating around the $50,000 level. Antoni Trenchev, co-founder of the crypto lending platform Nexo, described the $50,000 mark as a significant milestone for Bitcoin. He attributed this achievement to the launch of spot ETFs last month, which not only failed to push Bitcoin above this key psychological level initially but also led to a 20 per cent sell-off. The positive momentum extended beyond Bitcoin, with...

In an era where Artificial Intelligence (AI) permeates various aspects of daily life, the online dating has become a battleground for scammers and catfishers using AI to deceive unsuspecting people, looking to find a real connection. India, in particular, grapples with a prevalent issue of online dating scams, as highlighted in a recent study conducted by McAfee. The second edition of McAfee’s annual report titled “Modern Love” focuses on the interplay between AI and online dating in India, shedding light on the intricate dynamics between technology’s potential to foster genuine connections and its exploitation in fraudulent activities. Surveying 7,000 participants across seven nations, with a significant emphasis on India, the study underscores the escalating concern surrounding catfishing and romance scams, especially with the integration of AI technology. An alarming 77 per cent of Indian respondents reported encountering AI-generated fake profiles or photos on dating platforms a...

Jeff Bezos, the executive chairman of Amazon, recently filed a statement with federal regulators disclosing the sale of nearly 12 million shares of Amazon stock, amounting to over $2 billion. The transaction, which took place on February 7th and 8th, saw Bezos divesting himself of 11,997,698 shares of common stock in five blocks ranging from 1 million to more than 3.2 million shares. While Bezos, who founded Amazon in a Seattle garage nearly three decades ago, officially lists his address as Seattle, reports suggest he has relocated to Miami. In addition to the recent sale, Bezos also listed a proposed sale of 50 million Amazon shares around February 7th, with an estimated market value of $8.4 billion. Bezos’s decision to offload Amazon shares comes amid a rise in his estimated wealth, with Bloomberg Billionaires Index reporting a $22.6 billion increase in his net worth this year due to surging company stock. As of February 11th, Bezos is listed as the second-wealthiest person global...

OpenAI has achieved a remarkable milestone, with its annualised revenues crossing the $2 billion mark, driven primarily by the widespread adoption of its leading artificial intelligence product, ChatGPT. This success propels OpenAI into the ranks of the fastest-growing technology companies in history. According to sources familiar with the company’s finances, OpenAI reached the $2 billion annualized revenue milestone in December 2023. Buoyed by robust interest from business clients keen on integrating generative AI tools into their workflows, the company aims to more than double this figure by 2025. This exponential growth trajectory positions OpenAI alongside esteemed Silicon Valley counterparts like Google and Meta, achieving revenues of $1 billion within a decade of its inception. Originally established as a not-for-profit AI research lab in 2015, OpenAI transitioned into a commercial powerhouse after establishing a business arm in 2020. Despite internal disruptions in November, ...

In correspondence shared with the government of India, China’s leading smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi reveals concerns expressed by smartphone component suppliers regarding setting up operations in India amidst increased government scrutiny of Chinese companies. The communication, dated February 6th, advocates for incentives and tariff reductions to facilitate local manufacturing, as per a Reuters report. With an 18 per cent market share, Xiaomi is a significant player in India’s smartphone market. In the letter, it appeals to Indian authorities to consider offering manufacturing incentives and reducing import tariffs on specific smartphone components. Xiaomi currently assembles smartphones in India using a combination of local and imported components, predominantly from China. The letter, in response to an inquiry from India’s information technology ministry, underscores the need for bolstering the country’s component manufacturing sector. It comes against the backdrop of heighten...

Pros – Arguably the best display in a smartphone – Solid, top-notch performance – Galaxy AI has some awesome features – All-rounder camera setup – Solid design, now perfected – Titanium frame with flatter, grippier sides – Long software update commitment – Features of the S-Pen suite – Tons of interesting AI features to explore Cons – 45W wired charging at this price point – AI features like Chat Assist and Call Assist new fine-tuning Price: Starts at Rs 1,29,999 for the 12GB+256GB variant Rating: 4.75/5 The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra was hands down one of the best, most rounded Android smartphones to get launched in 2023. Following it up with something that would be interesting and new enough to entice phone enthusiasts and tech nerds was always going to be a tall order. And yet, despite keeping the same design, and bringing a select few updates to the specifications, Samsung has managed to catch everyone’s attention with its latest flagship, the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It tr...

OpenAI, the AI startup behind ChatGPT reached a significant milestone in December, surpassing $2 billion in revenue. This news, reported by the Financial Times on Friday, underscores the remarkable growth trajectory of the San Francisco-based company. Buoyed by robust interest from corporate clients seeking to integrate generative AI tools into their operations, OpenAI is optimistic about its prospects for further revenue expansion. The company aims to more than double its revenue by 2025, riding on the success of its flagship product, ChatGPT, which has experienced substantial growth in recent months. Previously reported figures indicated that OpenAI’s annualized revenue had surged to $1.6 billion in December, up from $1.3 billion in mid-October, largely fueled by the popularity of its ChatGPT offering. Investors have shown substantial confidence in OpenAI’s potential, valuing the startup at over $80 billion. This valuation reflects the widespread recognition of OpenAI’s pivotal ro...

In a bid to tackle the escalating issue of river and ocean pollution in India, Hong Kong-based marine technology startup Clearbot unveils plans to launch a cutting-edge fleet of larger solar-powered autonomous boats. These advanced vessels, slated for deployment in March, aim to significantly amplify Clearbot’s ongoing efforts in cleansing polluted waters. Each of Clearbot’s new self-driving electric boats boasts a remarkable capacity to collect approximately 500 kg of plastic waste and other debris from the river and ocean. This represents a doubling of the capability compared to the company’s existing robotic cleaners presently operational across Indian seas and lakes. Founded by graduates from the University of Hong Kong in 2019, Clearbot seeks to revolutionise the marine services sector, as highlighted by Utkarsh Goel, the co-founder, and chief technology officer. The vision is to automate and electrify tasks traditionally performed by manned diesel boats, thereby fostering susta...

Google has announced a significant update to its AI-powered chatbot, formerly known as Bard, now rebranded as Gemini. With this rebranding comes a new subscription service, Gemini Advanced, offering enhanced reasoning capabilities powered by the Gemini artificial intelligence. Priced at $19.99 per month for US consumers, subscribers gain access to the more powerful Ultra 1.0 AI model, along with two terabytes of cloud storage, a value-added feature previously priced at $9.99 per month. Additionally, subscribers will soon enjoy the integration of Gemini into Gmail and Google’s productivity suite. This move puts Google in direct competition with Microsoft and its partner OpenAI in the burgeoning market for AI subscription services. Microsoft’s recent announcement of a similar subscription offering for AI in its programs, priced at $20 per month in the US, further underscores the growing competition in this space. According to Product Lead Jack Krawczyk, Google’s subscription service...

Asus unveiled its latest offering in the Indian market, the Asus Chromebook CM14. This sleek laptop boasts a MediaTek Kompanio processor and touts military-grade protection, ensuring durability for everyday use. The device’s design features a metallic chassis and a 180-degree ‘lay-flat’ hinged display, facilitating easy content sharing and collaboration among users. Moreover, Asus claims a remarkable battery life of up to 15 hours on a single charge. Asus Chromebook CM14: Specifications and features Diving into the specifications, the Asus Chromebook CM14 sports a 14-inch full-HD anti-glare non-touch LCD screen with a 60Hz refresh rate, 220 nits brightness, and 16:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, it is powered by a MediaTek Kompanio 520 CPU, coupled with an ARM Mali G52 MP2 GPU and 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM. The device comes pre-installed with Google’s Chrome OS and offers 128GB of eMMC onboard storage. In terms of features, the Asus Chromebook CM14 includes a 720p webcam with a privacy sh...

Several banks are eyeing the payments business of Paytm Payments Bank, but they remain cautious due to concerns over the source of funds in its nodal accounts. These banks may insist on conducting fresh KYC (know your customer) checks on the merchant base before proceeding with any takeover, as reported by the Economic Times. Bankers highlighted worries about fraudulent merchants gaining access to their systems during the transition process. A senior executive from one of the interested banks emphasized the need for careful navigation, acknowledging the significant business opportunity but also emphasizing the associated risks. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had directed Paytm to halt accepting deposits and credit transactions post February 29, citing lapses around KYC rules and money laundering guidelines. While fresh KYC is a standard requirement, it could pose challenges in the event of a hurried transfer before the deadline, as additional formalities may take more time. Potenti...

Cryptocurrency miners in China are moving to greener pastures as the CCP continues to crack down on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, in a bid to regulate the crypto market heavily. The country where they are setting up their new base? Ethiopia. Recently, large cargo containers have been spotted near the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), signalling a new development in Africa’s energy landscape. These containers house powerful computers, marking the arrival of Chinese Bitcoin miners in the region, as per a report by the South China Morning Post. Driven by the quest for affordable electricity and favourable regulations after being ousted from China, these miners have found Ethiopia appealing due to its low electricity costs and welcoming government stance, despite a ban on cryptocurrency trading. Ethiopia’s emergence as a hub for crypto mining reflects a global trend amidst concerns over climate change and energy scarcity, and just how damaging mining any cryptocurrency, espe...

PhonePe is gearing up to unveil its app store on February 21. With this, PhonePe aims to disrupt the dominance of tech giants Apple and Google using its Indus Appstore. The much-anticipated launch event is scheduled to take place in New Delhi and is expected to draw government officials, startup luminaries, and industry executives, according to sources familiar with the matter. The company initially introduced its developer platform for the Android-based app marketplace in September last year. PhonePe announced that the developer platform would be accessible to developers free of charge for the first year, after which a modest annual fee would be levied. What sets the Indus Appstore apart from its formidable rivals is its commitment to not impose platform fees or commissions on developers for in-app payments. Additionally, developers will enjoy the freedom to integrate any payment gateway of their preference within their applications. This move comes amidst growing discontent among...

While choosing our final list of smartphones under 30K this month, we were caught up in more of an internal competition than external with certain brands. As one can expect in this segment, we have phones with excellent displays, powerful processors, impressive cameras with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and of course, 5G compliance. But we had to evaluate each option a lot more minutely before shortlisting the ones we did. Let’s find out who made the cut under Rs 30,000 in India this month. Best phones to buy under Rs 30,000 in India OnePlus Nord 3 5G The OnePlus Nord 3 5G is now available in this budget. The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC, and you get its 8GB RAM and 128GB UFS 3.1 internal storage variant under 30K currently. It has a 6.74-inch Fluid AMOLED screen with a higher than Full HD resolution of 2772X1240 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ compliance. It is protected against scratches by Dragontrail Glass and the phone’s glass back has Corning Gor...