Apple partners with Alibaba to bring AI features to China
Apple has partnered with Alibaba to develop AI features for iPhone and other devices in China. Earlier, several AI companies including Baidu were considered, but Apple found Alibaba more suitable as it has big user data, which can improve AI. One of the major reasons for the decline in iPhone 16 sales is said to be the lack of AI features, which forced Apple to change its strategy in China. Now both the companies are developing new AI tools together, but they will have to get the approval of the Chinese government before launching them. Tencent, ByteDance and DeepSeek were also in the race for this partnership, but DeepSeek was dropped by Apple due to lack of manpower. At present, no official information has been given about when the AI features will come, but this move can give a new direction to Apple’s business in China.
Vodafone Idea’s 5G launch: Why and how to expand in new cities?
Vodafone Idea (Vi) has finally launched its 5G services in India, with the first launch in Mumbai in March and expansion to Delhi, Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Patna from April. After lagging behind Jio and Airtel for a long time, Vi is now upgrading its network to provide faster internet access to more users. The company recently expanded its 4G network, taking the number of 4G subscribers to 12.6 crores, although the total number of subscribers fell to 19.98 crores. The launch of 5G will not only give the company a chance to strengthen its market position but also improve average earnings per user (ARPU), which rose to ₹173 this quarter. Vi has installed more than 4,000 new mobile towers for this expansion, which will improve connectivity and internet speeds. The company is focused on staying competitive by increasing investments and rapidly rolling out 5G in new cities.
Binance and US SEC’s legal battle halted for 60 days, solution expected from Trump government
Binance and the US market regulator SEC have filed a joint petition in the court seeking a stay of their legal battle for 60 days. In 2023, the SEC accused Binance of breaking US law and running an exchange without permission, causing the company to face huge difficulties. But now, the environment is changing due to the removal of the former tough chairman of the SEC and the new pro-crypto policies of President Donald Trump. The Trump government has promised to make clear rules for the crypto industry, which makes Binance and the SEC feel that their dispute can be resolved soon. Both parties sought time from the court so that they can work on a possible solution. Now the question is whether this legal battle will end due to the policies of the Trump government or will Binance have to face further challenges?
When will the uncertainty over crypto in India end?
The government and RBI are still not completely clear about cryptocurrency in India, due to which there is confusion among investors and industry people. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said that a new discussion paper is being prepared on crypto, which will clarify the government’s stand, but there is no fixed timeline for this. Crypto is taxed at 30% in India, while many countries like the US and the UAE are rapidly adopting it. Industry experts believe that if the government does not take a decision soon, talent and innovation in India’s Web3 and crypto sector may go abroad. The government’s stance is that crypto cannot be considered a currency, but there is a consideration to regulate it. Now the question is, when will the government release this report and will this secure the future of crypto in India?
Instagram implemented new rules for the safety of teenagers
Instagram has made new changes to increase safety for teenagers in India, due to which the accounts of all users under the age of 16 will be converted to ‘Teenage Mode’. Its purpose is to protect children from online dangers and make their social media experience safer. Under this change, conversations with strangers will not be allowed, obscene and threatening words will be automatically blocked, and parents will be able to see who their children are chatting with, although they will not be able to read the messages. Apart from this, Instagram will now demand an ID card or video selfie to confirm the correct age. Content related to plastic surgery and violence will not be shown in Explore and Reels, while users will be advised to take a break after using the app for 60 minutes. Sleep mode will automatically turn on from 10 pm to 7 am, so that the screen time of teenagers can be controlled. The purpose of this move of Meta is to make social media more safe and controlled for teenagers.
Cannibalism in ancient Europe: Fight or necessity?
Investigation of 18,000-year-old human remains in a cave in Poland has revealed shocking facts, where clear marks of cutting and breaking have been found on the bones. Scientists believe that this cannibalism was not due to hunger, but was the result of mutual conflict and war. Investigations conducted using 3D technology revealed that the bodies of the dead were systematically cut, the brains were removed and the bones were made edible. This practice was not limited to this cave alone, but evidence of this has been found in other parts of Europe as well, which indicates that it was a part of conflict and battle for resources in ancient times.
Microsoft investigation in France: Suspected misuse of search engine
France’s antitrust agency has launched an investigation against Microsoft, alleging that the company is misusing its Bing search technology. The move was taken after complaints of smaller search engines, which rely on Bing’s data, getting incorrect and low-quality search results. It is believed that this strategy can weaken competition, leading to imbalance in the tech market. The French watchdog is trying to find out whether Microsoft abused its power through unfair business strategies. If the allegations are proven, the company could be fined heavily. Microsoft said in its clarification that it is fully cooperating in the investigation, but the matter could also affect its global business. Earlier, similar investigations have been conducted on big companies like Google, Apple and Nvidia, which has caused a stir in the tech industry.
ISRO’s SpaDeX mission: Challenges along with success
ISRO’s SpaDeX mission gave India a new milestone in space docking technology, where two satellites were successfully connected in orbit, but a technical problem arose in the process of increasing the orbit. Why is this mission important? Because it will lay the foundation for technologies like space station and refueling in space in the future. Although the docking was completed without any hindrance, the process of increasing the height of the satellites stopped due to a fault in the gas valve. Now ISRO is engaged in finding a solution to this problem, so that space docking technology can be improved further in future. This mission launched from PSLV C60 rocket has included India in the list of select countries which have successfully demonstrated docking technology in space.
Growing impact of AI: Software engineering most affected
According to the new report, AI has had the greatest impact on software engineering, where it is being rapidly adopted in tasks like coding, debugging and networking. But AI is not just taking away jobs, it is also helping to make work easier and faster. 36% of companies are using AI, but only 4% of companies are adopting it in more than 75% of their work. Creative sectors such as media, art and design are also being affected by AI, while its use in sectors such as agriculture and fishing is very less. The report also revealed that AI is more inclined towards helping people improve their work rather than complete automation, thereby increasing work efficiency and opening up new possibilities.
