Technology

In a noteworthy development, two scientists working on major projects at Google DeepMind, the artificial intelligence division of Alphabet, are reportedly in discussions with investors to setup a new AI startup in Paris, as reported by Bloomberg. Sources familiar with the matter told Bloombrg that Laurent Sifre and Karl Tuyls, both scientists at DeepMind, have engaged in discussions with potential investors to secure funding that could surpass EUR 200 million, a substantial amount even in the thriving field of AI. While the venture is currently known as Holistic, the scientists have not officially commented on the matter despite multiple requests. A DeepMind representative has declined to provide any insights into the potential startup plans. Notably, Sifre and Tuyls, who are regarded as leaders in their field, have reportedly given notice to leave DeepMind. Laurent Sifre gained recognition as a co-author of the groundbreaking 2016 DeepMind research on Go, where a computer system s...

Having laid off hundreds of employees just days into 2024, e-commerce giant Amazon has terminated more people from its workforce from  Buy with Prime division, according to a report by Reuters. Launched in 2022, Buy with Prime provides fulfilment and delivery services to non-Amazon retailers through Amazon’s expansive logistics network. Despite the layoffs, Amazon emphasized that Buy with Prime remains a key focus, with ongoing substantial investments in the unit. The company did not disclose the exact number of employees affected by this move. However, according to inside sources that the Reuters report quotes, over 30 employees from the Buy with Prime unit are impacted by the layoffs. Amazon clarified that it is actively assisting the affected employees in finding alternative roles both within and outside the company. This reduction in staff comes on the heels of Amazon’s recent layoffs in its streaming and studio operations, including Twitch live-streaming platform and Audib...

Social media platform Reddit is reportedly gearing up for its initial public offering (IPO) in March, marking the first major IPO of a social media company since Pinterest in 2019. The move comes amid heightened competition for advertising dollars from platforms like TikTok and Facebook. Reddit, valued at about $10 billion in a 2021 funding round, is said to be seeking to sell approximately 10 per cent of its shares in the IPO, aiming for a valuation closer to the time of listing. The company filed confidentially for its IPO in December 2021 and is planning to make its public filing in late February, followed by a roadshow in early March, to complete the IPO by the end of March. The IPO will test the willingness of Reddit’s user base to support the company’s stock market debut. Reddit users have played a role in fueling “meme” stock rallies for companies like GameStop and AMC Entertainment Holdings in recent years. Founded in 2005, Reddit is known for its niche discussion groups and...

In a budget of Rs 15,000, one starts to see smartphones with features like AMOLED displays, 120Hz refresh rate and the arrival of 5G. In addition to that the processors start to get more powerful and the storage more generous. Just like last quarter, all the phones in this list are 5G-ready, and courtesy of the Republic Day sales, we also have a couple of options with 256GB internal storage. Time to look at who made it to our list of phones under Rs 15,000 this month. Best phones to buy under Rs 15,000 in India Poco X5 5G The Poco X5 5G remains a great all-round option under 15K, thanks to its well-rounded feature set, and you now get its 256GB storage variant in this budget. This phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chip and you get 8GB RAM with it. This phone flaunts a 6.67-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 1200 nits and 120Hz refresh rate; a rare combination in this budget. The screen is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla...

A recent study conducted by researchers from Leipzig University, Bauhaus-University Weimar, and the Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence highlights a decline in the quality of Google search results, particularly in product-review searches. The study focused on 7,392 product-review search terms over a year on Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. The findings revealed that the highest-ranked pages featured more optimization, affiliate links, and lower-quality text. This decline is attributed to aggressive affiliate marketing strategies, where websites prioritize monetization through product reviews with affiliate links. Affiliate marketing involves websites earning commissions by directing users to retailers like Amazon, Flipkart, BestBuy, and Walmart through special links. While major publishers often maintain strict policies separating reviews and editorial decisions from business concerns, some less scrupulous sites focus on maximizing profits, contributing to t...

Google has introduced a brand new feature at the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series, called Circle to Search. The new feature, that does exactly what its name implies, is actually a pretty innovative functionality that allows users to tap a button, circle an item on their phone screen and instantly receive a page filled with Google search results related to the circled item. Initially launching on Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series and Google’s Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, Circle to Search is set to expand to other “select, premium” Android phones in the future. While reminiscent of Google Lens, Circle to Search offers the added convenience of accessibility from anywhere on the device. Users can activate the feature by long-pressing the home button in three-button navigation or using the navigation handle in gesture navigation, making it appear on top of the current app or screen. The tool allows circling, highlighting, or tapping on subjects, including both text and images. In a brief demo on a...

In a major development that will be setting the tone for all flagship Android smartphones to launch this year, Samsung has finally launched its Galaxy S24 series, powered by Samsung’s Galaxy AI. Continuing with its tradition of launching three devices under its flagship series, Samsung has launched the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+ and the Galaxy S24 Ultra. While the Galaxy S24 and the Galaxy S24+ are similar to the true flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra in a number of ways, the two siblings are powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 2400 SoC, whereas the Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered by the new Snapdragon S24 Ultra. What’s more, is that all three devices bring some major AI features Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Features and Specifications The Samsung Galaxy S24 boasts a 6.2-inch full-HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It runs on Samsung’s Exynos 2400 chipset and offers storage options up to 256GB. The triple rear camera setup includes a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra wide-ang...