News & Analysis News - Page 18

OpenAI publically launches Sora its text-to-video AI generator for ChatGPT Plus and Pro users
Initially introduced in February as a limited research preview, Sora Turbo is now being rolled out to regions where ChatGPT is active, excluding the EU, UK, and Switzerland for the time being. The service is included in existing subscription plans at no extra cost

Google's new quantum chip is mindboggling, dwarves the fastest supercomputers we have today by miles
Google's Willow quantum processor claims to solve problems in 5 minutes what the world's fastest super computer will take 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years. Naturally, Google is hailing Willow as a major milestone

Apple, Sony to join forces to turn Vision Pro into gaming console, working to develop controllers
Apple is said to be engaging with third-party developers to bring more VR games to its platform, even offering controller support as a selling point. There’s also speculation that Apple might provide funding to kickstart the development of new programmes for the Vision Pro

Apple to launch more Apple Intelligence features with iOS 18.2. Here's what to expect
The upcoming release of iOS 18.2 promises a bunch of creative and practical tools like Genmoji, Image Playground, and ChatGPT integration, all aimed at enhancing how users interact with their devices

UnitedHealthcare CEO was murdered using homemade 3D-printed ‘ghost’ gun, first such case in US
Although described as a 3D-printed weapon, the firearm in question isn’t entirely manufactured using a printer. Experts explained that these guns typically feature hybrid designs, combining 3D-printed frames with traditional metal components like springs and tubing

China hits back at US, initiates antitrust investigation in NVIDIA’s AI chip dominance
The probe, led by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), scrutinises NVIDIA’s $6.9 billion acquisition of Mellanox Technologies in 2019, which was approved by Beijing in 2020 under strict conditions to ensure non-discriminatory access to products for the Chinese market

BYD to outsell Ford, Honda, beat 2024 sales goals heartily as Tesla continues to struggle in China
By the end of November, BYD had already delivered 3.76 million vehicles, including over 500,000 units in November alone, putting it on track to surpass its 4 million sales goal for the year

OpenAI employee claims they have already achieved AGI, keeping it under wraps
Just days after the release of its latest model, "O1," a technical team member from OpenAI stirred the pot by suggesting that the company has already crossed the AGI threshold. He claims OpenAI’s systems are now “better than most humans at most tasks.”

How banks are using satellite images to determine farmers' income & repayment capacity
Some companies provide satellite-based risk scores and ratings at both farm and village levels. Combined with climatic data on rainfall, temperature, and humidity, these insights allow banks to gauge a farmer’s income potential and repayment capacity with greater precision

Redmi launches its Note 14 series in India starting at Rs 18,999; Check pricing, specs and features
Redmi has officially launched its much awaited Noted 14 series, which comprises of the Redmi Note 14 Pro+, Redmi Note 14 Pro, and the Redmi Note 14. The Redmi Note 14 starts at Rs 18,999, the Note 14 Pro at Rs 24,999, and the top of the line Note 14 Pro+ at Rs 30,999, without offers

Apple sued for dropping CSAM detection features from services, devices
Announced in 2021, the plan was for Apple to scan images on iCloud for child abuse material using on-device technology. While Apple retained a nudity-detection tool for its Messages app, the CSAM detection feature was dropped in 2022 amid privacy and security concerns

North Korean hackers dump RokRAT malware on South Korea's digital infra, target Internet Explorer
Known for their sophisticated attacks, ScarCruft, also called APT37 or RedEyes, has targeted South Korean digital infrastructure, with a focus on human rights activists, defectors, and political entities in Europe

Flipkart to shift base from Singapore to India as it prepares to public, IPO in next 12-15 months
In a strategic move to align with local regulations and prepare for a listing on India's stock exchange, Flipkart will be shifting its base from Singapore to India

Sonodyne Malhar Hi-Fi Wireless Music System Review: Blast from the past
This vintage looking speaker may be missing a couple of modern features but it does pack a serious punch.

NASA delays Artemis II mission to the Moon again, launch rescheduled for April 2026
A key factor in the setback is the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield, which raised concerns during the uncrewed Artemis I test flight. The shield, designed to withstand the intense heat of re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, wore away in unexpected ways during testing

Meta teams up with Hollywood director James Cameron's tech company for AR & VR content
The collaboration between Meta and Lightstorm Vision marks a significant investment in Meta’s augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) ambitions. Meta plans to leverage Lightstorm Vision’s cutting-edge technology to enhance 3D production tools and storytelling capabilities

Elon Musk's xAI raises another $6 billion from over 90 different investors in latest funding round
OpenAI, which has raised $17.9 billion since its founding in 2015, remains a formidable competitor. However, xAI is closing the gap rapidly. xAI's Colossus supercomputer is set to grow from 100,000 Nvidia GPUs to over a million

OpenAI launches o1 model that can solve 'all maths, science problems,' locks it behind $200/month paywall
OpenAI o1 isn’t the GPT-5 many users are eagerly awaiting. However, it’s a significant step forward for AI-powered tools, especially in the face of growing competition from Google’s Gemini and Meta’s AI projects

Google and Andhra Pradesh to work together to accelerate AI innovation and adoption across the state
Google plans to offer 10,000 certifications through its AI Essentials course, enabling students, professionals, and government officials to integrate AI into their daily workflows for greater efficiency

Brazilian federal judge overturns Apple's antitrust case, calls it 'disproportionate,' regulators to appeal
Brazil's CADE’s ruling earlier this year demanded that Apple allow third-party payment options and remove its anti-steering policies within 20 days, threatening substantial fines for non-compliance

Indian Govt. denies special treatment for Elon Musk’s Starlink in satellite spectrum Allocation
Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar clarified that the Telecommunications Act, 2023, allows for such spectrum assignments for satellite-based services as outlined in its First Schedule

Backbone officially enters Indian market, launches Backbone One gaming controller starting at Rs 7.5K
Designed to turn smartphones into handheld gaming consoles, the Backbone One controller taps into the growing demand for high-quality mobile gaming accessories

GenAI used in less than 1% of election-related misinformation in 2024, finds Meta study
The study examined election-related posts across 40 countries, including key regions like India, the US, and the EU, and found that AI played a minor role in spreading misinformation during major elections in 2024

NASA develops OWLAT and OceanWATERS robotics for autonomous ocean world exploration
OWLAT is a physical testing platform equipped with a robotic arm, sensors, and interchangeable tools for sampling, which mimics low-gravity dynamics using a specialised Stewart platform. OceanWATERS, on the other hand, provides a virtual testing ground

'Elon will do the right thing, won't abuse government powers,' says OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
Altman addressed concerns that Musk might misuse his proximity to political power to benefit his own businesses or harm competitors, calling such behaviour “profoundly un-American”

Google updates Gemini AI Assistant with Utilities extension can now control smartphone tasks
Previously, Gemini fell short when it came to device-related tasks, relying on separate app extensions or Google Assistant for help. Now, with Utilities, Gemini is better equipped to streamline interactions, making it more useful and intuitive for Android users

Google's new AI weather model GenCast handily beats world’s most reliable forecast systems
Unlike traditional models, which rely heavily on physics-based equations, GenCast uses machine learning to generate ensemble-based forecasts. This means it can create probability-driven projections

OpenAI & US Defense contractor Anduril to co-develop military AI & AI drones
The venture plans to bring together OpenAI’s advanced machine-learning models and Anduril’s expertise in military hardware and software, using data from real-world drone operations to train AI systems

Chinese hackers compromised at least 8 US telecoms in Salt Typhoon hacking campaign, finds White House
Hackers in the Salt Typhoon hacking campaign targeted telecom carriers in dozens of countries and reportedly accessed the phone and text communications of a select group of highly targeted individuals, including several government officials

Apple allegedly agreed to invest $1 billion to reverse iPhone 16 ban, claims investment minister
If Apple’s alleged $1 billion investment is confirmed, it could set a new precedent for how the company navigates localisation demands in emerging markets. Indonesia’s policy has already prompted similar moves from other global tech firms