News & Analysis News - Page 2

Why are hundreds of H-1B visa holders 'stuck' in India?

Hundreds of Indian professionals on H-1B visas are stranded in India after US consulates abruptly cancelled and postponed visa interviews scheduled for mid-December. The delays, linked to expanded social media vetting under the Trump administration, have left workers with expired visas and employers unsure how long they can wait

ChatGPT is now a murder accused: How a son killed his mother before dying by suicide

A landmark California lawsuit has put AI safety under the lens after alleging that ChatGPT deepened the paranoia of a mentally unstable man who killed his mother before dying by suicide. The woman’s estate is now suing OpenAI. The case, centred on months of AI-driven conversations, claims the chatbot reinforced the sons delusional beliefs

Will Australia’s under-16 social media ban influence other countries? What is India thinking?

Australia has officially barred all under-16s from social media. With major platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit, among others, now legally required to block young users, countries across Europe, Asia and the US are reassessing their own policies. Experts in India say the real solution may lie in education, awareness and behavioural reform

Is social media damaging your child’s ability to focus?

A new long-term research, tracking over 8,300 children in the US, has found a clear link between social media use and the rise in inattention symptoms between ages 10 and 14. While TV viewing and video games did not affect concentration, apps like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat were associated with declining focus

Why countries are watching Australia's social media ban for children

Australia is set to enforce a nationwide prohibition on social media use for children under 16, compelling major platforms to block existing underage accounts and prevent new sign-ups from December 10. The rollout, monitored closely by governments worldwide, introduces sweeping age-verification requirements, appeal systems, and new safeguarding duties for some of the world’s biggest digital platforms

Are humanoid robots spooking the Chinese government?

China’s once-celebrated humanoid robotics boom is now under the lens as Beijing warns of runaway growth, excessive product duplication, and inflated investor expectations. With more than 150 companies racing ahead despite weak commercial demand, policymakers fear the sector’s rapid expansion may be edging toward instability

History Today: When OpenAI launched ChatGPT, revolutionising the way we see AI

On November 30, history witnessed the release of ChatGPT in 2022 and revolutionised global engagement with artificial intelligence. The day also saw Michael Jackson’s Thriller reshape pop culture in 1982, and Barbados gain independence in 1966

After Australia, Deloitte’s AI scandal in Canada: A global consulting crisis in the making?

Concerns over AI use in public-sector consulting have increased after Canada's Newfoundland and Labrador uncovered unverifiable citations in a $1.6 million Deloitte health workforce report. The revelation mirrors a recent Deloitte scandal in Australia, raising questions about the growing risks of AI-generated material influencing major government decisions

What was Project Mercury that Meta quietly shut down after it exposed social media harm?

Newly unsealed court filings reveal that Meta quietly ended Project Mercury, an internal study showing that users who took a break from Facebook felt less anxious and socially pressured. The disclosures — part of a sweeping US lawsuit targeting multiple social platforms — raises questions over whether tech giants withheld evidence of potential mental-health risks to young users

Are AI toys putting young children at risk this holiday season?

Children’s advocacy groups are warning parents against buying AI-powered toys this holiday season, saying they expose kids to unsafe conversations and weaken creativity. With more than 150 experts backing Fairplay’s new advisory, concerns are rising that AI toys marketed as educational companions may actually replace real play and imaginative learning

White House eyes to sue states that pass AI laws — Trump's July bid had failed

US President Donald Trump's administration is reportedly drafting an executive order that would direct the country's Department of Justice to sue American states that are passing laws regulating Artificial Intelligence.

'Baby shark, doo, doo...': How a 90-second children’s video created a $400-million brand

Pinkfong’s transformation from a small South Korean startup into a global children’s media powerhouse began with a 90-second video released in 2016. 'Baby Shark Dance' became the most-watched YouTube video ever, driving new franchises and now an IPO that valued the company at nearly $400 million

US-China tech war has an unexpected winner: AI prodigy with $23 bn fortune

The tech war between the United States and China has helped Chinese tech entrepreneur Chen Tianshi become one of the world’s richest self-made billionaires. Here's how it happened

What is Threema, the Swiss messaging app that helped Delhi blast accused?

Investigators probing the deadly Red Fort car explosion say the accused built a concealed communication system using Threema, a Swiss encrypted messaging app, which is banned in India. Authorities allege the three suspects relied on the platform’s anonymity-driven architecture to prepare for multiple attacks before the plot was disrupted

What is ‘vibe working’? Is it the future of AI productivity?

'Vibe working', a term popularised by Microsoft, is helping AI and humans collaborate — from automating office tasks to aiding in creativity and productivity. But as the 'vibe' spreads across industries, questions arise about its real value

Why Satya Nadella deserves his nearly $100 million pay at Microsoft

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella earned $96.5 million in fiscal 2025, a 22 per cent rise from last year and his largest payout since taking charge in 2014. The record compensation — mostly tied to performance — comes as Microsoft posts record revenues, profits, and AI-driven growth

How OpenAI’s ChatGPT Atlas browser will be different from Chrome and others

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Atlas, its first-ever AI-powered web browser, designed entirely around the ChatGPT interface. With features like conversational search, memory recall, and autonomous 'Agent Mode', Atlas aims to revolutionise web navigation and challenge Google Chrome’s long-held dominance

Russia's cyber attacks against NATO nations rise by 25% in 2025, Microsoft analysis finds

Amid the war in Ukraine, Russia has increased its cyber-attacks on Nato nations by 25 per cent over the past year, Microsoft's annual digital defence report reveals

Hours before Trump's new tariff move, China began probing US firm over Israeli chip deal

Hours before US President Donald Trump announced 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods, “over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying,” reports are emerging that China opened an investigation into Qualcomm

'Work from Anywhere' not valid for 'work from home': Google memo to employees

Google is reportedly imposing more stringent guidelines for its employees, adding more restrictions to its remote working policy. A new report has suggested that the tech giant is updating its "Work from Anywhere" policy, which was introduced during the pandemic

Is Tim Cook preparing to leave Apple? Who could succeed the tech CEO?

Tim Cook may be preparing to step down from Apple after more than a decade at the helm and speculation is growing about who could take his place. Senior executives such as Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams, Senior Vice President John Ternus, and software head Craig Federighi are viewed as potential successors

Why is Elon Musk telling people to cancel Netflix subscriptions?

Elon Musk has urged millions to cancel Netflix, citing outrage over comments by 'Dead End: Paranormal Park' creator Hamish Steele about Charlie Kirk’s death and the streamer’s diversity and LGBTQ content. The Tesla chief amplified posts accusing Netflix of pushing a 'woke agenda'

Elon Musk becomes the first person to hit $500 billion net worth: Forbes

Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday became the first person ever to achieve a net worth of nearly $500 billion, propelled by a rebound in the EV company's shares and surging valuations of the tech entrepreneur's other startups this year.

A new US bill to replace H-1B lottery system? What it means for Indian workers and Big Tech

The H-1B visa programme is facing its biggest shake-up in decades. US lawmakers are pushing bipartisan bills to raise wages, tighten hiring rules, and end the lottery system in favour of higher pay-based selection. India accounts for 71 per cent of H-1B approvals

TikTok survives in US: Trump signs order for $14bn carve-up deal

US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to advance a deal on the TikTok App in the United States with a group of mostly American investors

What will be the impact of Trump’s $100,000 visa fee? 5,500 jobs each month

The Trump administration’s plan to impose a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas could cut 5,500 foreign work permits every month, hitting Indian tech professionals and US companies reliant on global talent. Experts warn the move may disrupt hiring and drive jobs offshore

Who will manage TikTok operations in the US? Murdoch, Ellison, Dell in talks

TikTok’s future in the US may soon be decided as President Donald Trump confirmed plans for American investors, including Lachlan Murdoch, Larry Ellison, and Michael Dell, to take control of its US operations. The deal would shift TikTok’s data storage, ownership, and algorithm oversight to the US

Trump UK visit: How the $204 billion US investment may help the British economy bounce back

US President Donald Trump’s second State visit to the UK featured lavish royal ceremonies, record US investments worth £150 billion, and the signing of a landmark Tech Prosperity Deal with PM Keir Starmer. While the visit brought pledges of thousands of jobs, differences over steel tariffs and immigration remain unresolved

What's the cost of keeping Elon Musk away from politics? A trillion dollars, it seems

Tesla has proposed a record-breaking $1 trillion compensation plan to retain CEO Elon Musk and secure his focus on ambitious projects like autonomous taxis and humanoid robots. The move comes as Musk personally purchased $1 billion in Tesla shares while facing criticism over political involvement

What is the US HIRE Bill and why is India’s $250-billion IT sector worried?

The proposed US HIRE Bill could significantly impact India’s IT industry by imposing a 25 per cent tax on outsourcing. Introduced by US Senator Bernie Moreno, the legislation aims to bring jobs back to the US, but it threatens Indian tech giants like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, which depend heavily on American clients for revenue