News & Insights

The biggest tech companies are warring over who’s responsible for children’s safety online, with billions of dollars in fines on the line as states rapidly pass conflicting laws requiring companies to verify users’ ages.

Flipkart's Freedom Sale returns in early August with deals on electronics, home appliances, and personal care. The sale will include various promotional offers and bank discounts.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warns that the real risk of AI lies in human misuse rather than autonomous machines. He emphasises the need for ethical guidelines and safeguards as AI tools become more powerful and accessible, amidst growing scrutiny on AI governance.

OpenAI has launched its ChatGPT Agent for Plus, Pro, and Team subscribers after a delay. The new AI tool offers enhanced functionality compared to the previous Operator, featuring various tools and external platform connectivity, though some users still report access issues.

Electronic Arts has unveiled Battlefield 6, featuring a new antagonist, Pax Armata, and a return to single-player campaigns. The game promises large-scale warfare, destructible environments, and fan-favorite features like 64-player matches. 

Samsung has launched its latest foldable smartphones and smartwatches in India, including the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and Galaxy Watch 8 series. Available for purchase, the devices received 210,000 pre-orders within the first 48 hours, marking a record for the Galaxy Z series.

Lava has launched the new Blaze Dragon 5G smartphone in India with a price of ₹9,999. It features a Snapdragon SoC, 120Hz HD+ display, 4GB RAM, and a 5,000mAh battery.

Infinix has introduced the Smart 10, a budget phone priced at ₹6,799. It features a 6.67 inch HD+ display, 5,000mAh battery, and IP64 rating. Available in four colors, it goes on sale on Flipkart on August 2

OpenAI's GPT-5 model is expected to debut in early August, featuring unified reasoning capabilities. CEO Sam Altman announced its launch, noting it will simplify user experience and integrate various model functionalities.

GitHub introduces Github Spark, enabling developers to create apps using natural language prompts. This experimental feature offers options between OpenAI and Claude Sonnet models, allowing users to build interactive micro apps and brainstorm ideas with variant options.

Sloppification looks set to help the video-sharing site become the world’s largest media company.

CHINA-AI/EXPO (PIX):Tech firms to showcase AI innovations in a China under US sanctions

Get up to 32% off on top-rated laptops during the Amazon Sale. Find the perfect machine for work, play or studies, hand-picked for every need.

Risk highlighted as Chinese hackers hit Microsoft

Apple has released the first public beta of iOS 26, offering a new visual design and enhanced features aimed at general users. Users can download it from the Apple Beta Software Program, with compatibility for iPhones from SE (2nd gen) to iPhone 16.

Starlink has mostly restored service after a 2.5-hour global outage affecting tens of thousands of users. Elon Musk and Starlink VP Michael Nicolls confirm the issue was due to a software failure and vow to prevent future disruptions.

NVIDIA-CHINA/CHIPS-REPAIR (PIX):In China, repair demand for banned Nvidia AI chipsets booms

If it’s advising you where to go, you’re probably not the only one heading there.

Alphabet's explosive stock rally, fueled by strong AI investments and a stellar Q2 earnings report, has added over $1 trillion in market value since early 2023. The surge has also made CEO Sundar Pichai a billionaire, with a net worth of $1.1 billion, per Bloomberg.

Lego has launched a brick-built version of the 1989 Nintendo Game Boy, priced at $60. Preorders are open for the set, which features intricate designs, custom buttons, and lenticular screens simulating gameplay. The release is set for October 1, appealing to collectors and nostalgic fans.

Yahoo Mail faced a major outage on Thursday, affecting thousands of users who couldn't access their accounts. Many reported a 'Temporary Error 15' message. While complaints surged on social media, Yahoo has not yet addressed the issue or provided a resolution timeline.

Musk announced plans to revive Vine on X with AI technology, aiming to transform short-form video content. The original app gained popularity for its six-second videos before shutting down in 2016. 

Realme has launched the realme 15 Pro 5G, realme 15 5G, and realme Buds T200 in India. The smartphones feature advanced AI capabilities and impressive camera systems. Sales start on July 30, 2025.

WhatsApp is testing a new feature for Android that allows users to have real-time voice conversations with Meta AI. Currently available to select beta users, it could enhance user interaction through a waveform icon and voice mode settings in future updates.

Three China-linked cyber espionage groups have launched a significant hacking campaign affecting various organisations, including US government agencies. The attack exploits vulnerabilities in Microsoft SharePoint, prompting investigations by federal officials and cybersecurity experts.

AI will not replace doctors in a hurry, but platforms like Microsoft AI Diagnostic Orchestrator (MAI-DxO) are improving diagnostic accuracy to levels which is hard to ignore

iQOO has launched the Z10R 5G smartphone in India, featuring three configurations and two colour options. It offers a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 processor, 120Hz AMOLED display, dual rear cameras, and a 5,700mAh battery with fast charging, available from July 29.

With the iPhone 17 series expected to launch in September, the iPhone 16 Pro is now available for ₹1,11,900 on Amazon, featuring discounts and bank offers. 

MICROSOFT-CYBERATTACK:Microsoft says some SharePoint server hackers now use ransomware

India's top conglomerates and smaller firms are increasingly roping in consultants with deep expertise in AI. Sessions range from a one-day workshop to a six-month course. Here's how much such trainers earn 

Trump's AI plan prioritizes deregulation to boost US dominance

Amazon is reportedly closing its AI research lab in Shanghai, a shift in strategy amid US-China tensions. This follows recent job cuts across AWS, with operational challenges for American tech firms in China. Amazon has not confirmed the lab's closure or its future plans in the region.

Meta has rolled out new safety features on Instagram for teenage users, including conversation. prompts, improved blocking options, and clearer account information. Adult-managed accounts for children under 13 will benefit from stricter safety settings.

Motorola is preparing to launch a fresh version of the Moto 360, complete with a stainless steel build and modern smartwatch features.

Apple has launched AppleCare One, a $20/month subscription insurance plan covering up to three devices. It includes services like battery replacements, theft protection, and 24/7 support. 

The anticipated foldable iPhone, likely to debut in late 2026, could include a 5.5-inch outer screen and 7.8-inch foldable display. Apple is likely to focus on a tailored iOS experience and integrating components from Samsung to compete with major Android foldable devices.

OnePlus has launched the OnePlus Pad Lite tablet in India, featuring an 11-inch HD+ display, MediaTek Helio G100 chipset, and up to 8GB RAM. 

Sam Altman spoke to a packed room at a conference held by the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C.

OpenAI's ChatGPT processes over 2.5 billion prompts daily, with 330 million from the US alone. The chatbot has over 500 million weekly active users and is popular on mobile platforms. CEO Sam Altman's upcoming Washington visit aims to discuss AI accessibility amidst shifting information consumption.

OpenAI has flagged the agent as high-risk under its safety framework. Is this just marketing hype or a sign that AI is genuinely becoming more powerful and autonomous?

ElevenLabs Reader offers hands-free, hyper-realistic narration of PDFs, eBooks, and web pages—ideal for multitaskers, learners, and accessibility needs. 

Mayor Matt Mahan of San Jose is leading the adoption of AI in public administration, employing tools like ChatGPT to streamline processes and secure funding. The city plans to train a significant portion of its workforce in AI, while emphasising the importance of human verification.

Zoho Corporation is expanding its AI offerings with the introduction of Zia LLM, speech-to-text systems for English and Hindi, and new automation tools. These innovations aim to enhance efficiency in various business departments and are designed with user privacy in mind.

Mark Zuckerberg dismissed reports of Meta's $100-200 million pay packages for AI talent as inaccurate, but emphasised the market for talent is competitive, adding that it is important to recruit top researchers.

A study from the Max Planck Institute reveals that people are increasingly adopting AI-like language patterns in speech, with words and structures influenced by chatbots like ChatGPT. This trend raises concerns about the potential loss of linguistic diversity and personal expression.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang hailed Chinese AI models like DeepSeek as world-class, adding that AI is ‘fundamental infrastructure’ akin to electricity. Speaking in Beijing, he called China's open-source AI a ‘catalyst for global progress’.

Unlike text, which is relatively uniform, spoken language is richly-layered—with cultural nuances, colloquialisms, and emotion. Startups building voice-first AI models are now doubling down on one thing above all else: the depth and diversity of datasets.

Broadcom has launched the Tomahawk Ultra networking processor to enhance AI workloads by improving chip communication in data centres, challenging Nvidia’s market dominance. It connects four times more chips than Nvidia’s NVLink Switch and uses enhanced standard Ethernet for broader compatibility.

All it needs is a few lines of text on your phone. And a minute later, you have hyperreal footage.

In many business processes, validating information across PDFs is a recurring nightmare as it involves going through multiple contracts, compliance checklists, payment receipts and other documents—each stored in different formats, layouts, or systems.

Google is rolling out AI Mode in Search for users in India after a successful trial in Labs. The feature aims to enhance user experience by providing AI-powered responses and deeper topic exploration, with no sign-up required.

Most firms are still trying out AI agents, hailed by Big Tech as game changers. Analysts warn that many of these may be scrapped within two years as they hide high costs, uncertain returns, and weak risk controls. Can firms unlock value through human-AI agent teamwork?

In a world where each day brings more bad news about wars, death, destruction and tariffs, here’s a feel-good story about how artificial intelligence is helping ensure Indian children are in good health, right from birth.

The way we ‘Google’ is changing. Disorienting as it may be, our favourite search engine is becoming an ‘answer engine’. But do the benefits outweigh the downsides?

This week’s AI tool is Anthropic's AI-powered app builder.

Without explicit guidance, artificial intelligence tools present risks to data privacy, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance.

AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini enhance daily tasks, but effective prompts are crucial for quality responses. Here is a guide to create better prompts and up your AI game.

After Hewlett Packard Enterprise closed its deal for Juniper, more legacy tech companies could be seeking partners. Barron’s has a couple of ideas.

AI-generated short videos featuring historical figures as modern-day influencers are trending among Gen Z on Instagram.

Baidu introduced MuseSteamer, an AI-driven video tool for businesses, and revamped its search engine to support complex queries. 

Microsoft has launched MAI-DxO, an AI system that diagnoses complex medical cases with 85.5% accuracy, outperforming experienced doctors at 20%. The system combines various AI models, optimising diagnostic efficiency and cost-effectiveness. 

Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google and Alphabet, has multiple areas to focus on—lawsuits, global businesses, government relations, cloud, Android and more. That leaves him with less time for Gemini. Enter Brin, who now has just one big goal.

Struggling to capture the essence of your meetings? Discover how ChatGPT Record can automate transcription and summarisation, saving hours of tedious work.

Unless superintelligence is just around the corner

Digital ID systems like India’s Aadhaar, the open-source Modular Open Source Identity Platform, and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman-backed World ID are gaining traction as a significant world population still lacks any official or digital ID.

Data collated by Mint showed that AI-related roles have risen by up to 80%. Further, having AI skills on résumés can lead to candidates drawing up to 64% higher salaries—showing that despite an overall lull in jobs, AI roles are reigning supreme.

Google has launched Gemini CLI, an AI-powered coding assistant that allows developers to use natural language commands in a terminal interface. This open-source tool aims to democratise AI access and compete with existing tools like OpenAI's Codex.

AI avatars of adult content celebrities on this platform don't eat, sleep or breathe, but ‘remember you, desire you and never log off’.

This week, Mint unlocks Perplexity Labs—an AI-powered tool that can turn messy user feedback into clear, actionable insights.

A conversation with Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi of UBS Global Wealth Management. Where she sees the next “transformational innovations.”