Tech News - Page 26

OpenAI bets big on agentic AI, unveils new Tasks feature

Right now, the Tasks feature is available in beta for ChatGPT Plus, Teams, and Pro users. The company has said it plans to expand it to those on the free tier soon. To use it, all you need to do is head over to the web version of ChatGPT and find the Tasks page in the profile menu

US blacklists over 24 Chinese tech company over Huawei using TSMC chips in SoC

The US Commerce Department added 25 companies based in China, as well as two in Singapore, to its Entity List. Being placed on this list means that these companies can no longer receive US goods or technology without a special license, which is usually denied

Nothing looks to raise $100 million, expand beyond smartphones & wearables as sales cross $1bn

Nothing is exploring new product categories to broaden its lineup beyond smartphones and wearables. With around 600 employees, the company manufactures devices in China and India, and it’s working on enhancing the software experience by adding more AI features

TikTok to keep paying 7000 US employees even if SC does not halt ban

While the law could significantly affect TikTok’s operations in the US, the company stressed that it is focused on continuing to support its employees through this period

North Korea stole $659 million in crypto last year, say US, South Korea, Japan

The North Korean hackers are reportedly using sophisticated tactics to breach cryptocurrency exchanges, digital asset custodians, and even individual users

Google testing AI-powered feature called PermissionsAI to block pop-up ads

PermissionsAI works by using Google’s “Permission Predictions Service” and Gemini Nano v2, which look at a user's past responses to similar requests. If users always deny pop-ups, PermissionsAI will quietly store the request out of sight

In US TikTok Ban, Meta and Google will emerge as true winners as they divvy up ad revenue

TikTok’s rapid rise, alongside the growth of Amazon, has presented a real challenge to Meta and Google. If TikTok is banned, more than half of the advertising dollars spent on the platform in the US would shift to Meta and Google properties

Samsung, TSMC get pulled into Biden administration's efforts to cut chip access to China: Report

The US is determined to close loopholes that allow Chinese entities, including Huawei, to acquire advanced chips. The new rules will target leading semiconductor manufacturers to cut off supply at the source

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) review: A gaming beast masquerading as an ultraportable laptop

Don’t be fooled by the svelte& sophisticated design of Asus ROG Zephyrus G16. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU that power this laptop make it an absolute beast

Best phones under Rs 15,000 (Jan 2025): Realme P1 5G, Poco M7 Pro 5G to Samsung Galaxy M35 5G

Here are the top 5 smartphones to buy under Rs 15,000 in India at the moment, and they are all 5G-ready.

TCL launches the 115-inch X955 Max QD Mini LED TV, the biggest television in India

TCL's super-sized television, released at CES 2025, is priced at Rs 29,99,990 in India

US bans all Chinese, Russian tech in passenger cars citing national security reasons

For now, the ban will apply to passenger vehicles weighing under 10,001 pounds, but there are plans to extend it to include larger vehicles like buses and trucks down the line. The restrictions will be rolled out in two phases

Meta plans to layoff at least 5% of its staff based on performance in latest move to revamp company

Meta's restructuring announcement is part of a larger restructuring effort at Meta, which began last year under what Zuckerberg called the “Year of Efficiency." The company has been focusing on cutting costs, optimising teams, and improving profitability

Intel to be split in two, VC and investment arm named Intel Capital to be spun into a different company

This decision is part of a broader effort to streamline Intel’s operations, improve efficiency, and make the company more agile. While Intel will still be involved as an investor, this change will allow Intel Capital to grow on its own, focusing more on expanding its portfolio

UK’s competition watchdog to investigate Google over search dominance

UK's CMA's investigation is focusing on how Google’s dominance in the market affects consumers, businesses, news publishers, and its rivals. With Google controlling more than 90% of searches in the UK, the CMA believes this dominance could be skewing the playing field

China trying to slow Apple's supply chain expansion in India, Vietnam, blocks critical materials & machinery

India has quickly becoming a major hub for iPhone assembly, tapping into its large, affordable workforce and government incentives. Vietnam, on the other hand, has become a key location for AirPods. China isn’t taking Apple’s shift lightly

EU reassessing fines against Google, Apple and other US tech firms because of Trump 2.0

The EU has led the way in regulating Big Tech, but the delay in these rulings highlights how much of the process is shaped by politics. Some of the key players who went after Big Tech, are nearing the end of their terms, with some seeking re-election

Chip designer Arm planning to hike prices, plans to build its own chips

Arm’s new direction comes on the back of a legal dispute with Qualcomm. The two companies had a row over royalty terms, which reached a head in December 2024. The issue stemmed from Arm’s purchase of Nuvia, a start-up with technology Arm wanted to use to make its own chips

NVIDIA to soon launch Arm-based CPUs for laptops, likely launch at Computex 2025, reveal leaks

NVIDIA's push into Arm-based SoCs for laptops signals a major shift in its strategy, moving beyond GPUs into a more comprehensive role in mobile and consumer computing. If successful, this could reshape the landscape for Windows on Arm devices

Tesla outsells Audi for the first time, despite selling fewer vehicles than expected

Audi's sales were heavily impacted by increasing competition in key markets like Europe and China, combined with weak demand for its electric models. While the German premium car brand, Audi, delivered 1.67 million vehicles, Tesla managed to outsell it with 1.79 million deliveries

China’s Xiaomi, Huawei leave Apple, Samsung in the dust as global smartphone market recovers

While Apple and Samsung both saw slight declines in shipments, Xiaomi experienced a notable 15.4 per cent growth in its shipments. This growth is attributed to the brand’s aggressive push into mid-range and budget segments

Nothing likely to launch Phone (3) by March this year, tipster leaks email from CEO Carl Pei

Pei's email detailed that the Nothing Phone (3) aims to redefine personal computing devices, making life easier for users by integrating AI in ways that previous models did not

Hackers broke into Azure OpenAI, generated tonnes of ‘harmful’ content, claims Microsoft

While Microsoft has not disclosed the exact nature of the content created by the cybercriminals, it confirmed that it violated the company’s policies and terms of service

After Apple, Tata Electronics plans to manufacture phones for Xiaomi and Oppo

Tata Electronics’ ambitious plans don’t stop with Xiaomi and Oppo. The company is also in discussions with other major companies like Microsoft, Dell, and HP, seeking to further diversify its client base through laptop manufacturing

OpenAI cosying up to Trump, recommends investing heavily in AI if US wants to beat China

At the heart of OpenAI’s recommendations is the desire to promote AI made in the US, ensuring that emerging technologies are not shaped by authoritarian governments like China. According to OpenAI's VP for global affairs, Chris Lehane, AI is now as essential as electricity

Apple may have to pay $1.83 billion in fines if found guilt in UK trial App Store trial

The complainants argue that Apple forces developers to charge higher prices for apps and in-app purchases to cover the hefty 30 per cent commission, who claim Apple’s practices are monopolistic and unjust

US TikTok users flock to another Chinese social media called RedNote over potential ban

In addition to RedNote and Lemon8, several other video apps are also trending. Flip, a social shopping platform featuring short-form videos, is gaining attention, currently ranking at number 14 on Google’s Play Store and number four on Apple’s App Store

Apple fighting shareholders who want to end DEI hiring, asks investors to vote against proposal

A group of shareholders, led by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), has put forward a proposal that wants to see Apple abandon its DEI practices

Apple's USB-C not completely secure, hacktivist breaks open Apple’s Type-C port's security

A security researcher demonstrated how he managed to break into the ACE3 USB-C controller, a crucial component used in the iPhone 15’s USB-C port. This controller handles both charging and data transfers on the device, making it an essential part of the phone's functionality

Want to manage your screen time better and improve productivity? Apple’s iOS 18’s here to help

With features line dynamic widgets, iPhone mirroring, and a customisable lock screen, iOS 18 makes it a whole lot easier to get rid of distractions, especially when you're at work