Techi

OpenAI has closed a record-breaking $40 billion private funding round, marking the largest capital raise by a private firm so far. The investment, primarily led by Japan’s SoftBank, values the AI company at $300 billion. This places OpenAI among the most valuable privately held tech companies in the world, alongside TikTok’s parent company (ByteDance) and second only to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which currently holds a valuation of $350 billion. “Today we’re announcing new funding—$40 billion at a $300 billion post-money valuation, which enables us to push the frontiers of AI research even further, scale our compute infrastructure, and deliver increasingly powerful tools for the 500 million people who use ChatGPT every week,” OpenAI announced in an official statement. “We’re excited to be working in partnership with SoftBank Group—few companies understand how to scale transformative technology like they do. Their support will help us continue building AI systems that drive scientific disco...

Vodafone Idea, the long struggling yet third largest Indian telecom player, has gotten a major relief from the government — it’s second in 5 years — and one which could well be called the largest ever in India’s long, controversial telecom history. The government on Saturday late evening, approved conversion of Vodafone Idea’s dues to equity stake worth ₹36,950 crores, taking Indian Government’s stake to nearly 49%. The allocation will involve issuing 3,695 crore equity shares with a face value of ₹10 each at an issue price of ₹10 per share. The pricing has been determined based on the higher of the volume-weighted price over the last 90 trading days or the last 10 trading days before February 26, 2025, in accordance with Section 53 of the Companies Act, which prohibits issuing shares below their par value. This is the second time that the Indian government has provided a significant financial relief to the embattled carrier. Back in 2021, as a part of an overall COVID relief packag...

Apple is making a strong AI push into the healthcare industry, with plans to introduce an AI-powered health coaching service and a revamped Health app. The initiative, codenamed “Project Mulberry,” aims to improve how users monitor and manage their well-being through personalized recommendations, food tracking, and AI-driven medical guidance. As part of this effort, Apple is also reportedly working on an AI agent that could serve as a virtual doctor, offering insights and advice based on user data. Apple’s Health app has been a part of its ecosystem for years, collecting data from the Apple Watch and other devices to help users track their fitness, sleep, and other health metrics. However, the company will, according to reports, introduce a more advanced AI-powered health coach. This will be useful, especially since not everyone has regular access to healthcare professionals, and even those who do may not receive frequent, personalized guidance. If widely adopted, AI-driven health mo...

Elon Musk’s AI company xAI has acquired Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) in an all-stock transaction valued at $45 billion, which includes the assumption of $12 billion in debt. The billionaire also revealed that this acquisition values xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion. Prior to this new deal, X held a $6 billion stake in xAI. Meanwhile, the combined entity will operate under a new holding company, xAI Holdings Corp, registered in Nevada, with Musk serving as president. According to Musk, this merger is expected to enable easier fundraising and streamline operations by combining data, models, compute power, distribution, and talent under a single corporate structure. “The combined company will deliver smarter, more meaningful experiences to billions of people while staying true to our core mission of seeking truth and advancing knowledge. This will allow us to build a platform that doesn’t just reflect the world but actively accelerates human pr...

Google has faced another regulatory setback in India after the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) upheld key findings by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) that the company had engaged in anti-competitive practices through its Play Store billing policies. The silver lining is that while affirming that Google abused its dominance in the digital payments and app store markets, the tribunal significantly reduced the financial penalty imposed on the tech giant. The fine, originally set at ₹936.44 crore (approximately $110 million), has now been lowered to ₹216.69 crore ($26 million) following a reassessment of the financial impact of Google’s practices. Google will now be required to pay the revised penalty amount, having already deposited 10% of the sum. The company has 30 days to clear the remaining balance. The case against Google stemmed from allegations that the company unfairly required app developers on its Play Store to use the Google Play Billing System (GPB...

Meta has unveiled a new ‘Friends’ tab on Facebook — rather counterintuitive statement considering what the platform was originally meant to be. The new ‘Friends’ tab is aimed at reviving the platform’s original purpose of connecting people with their personal social circles. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the development on Thursday, and is a part of the social media company’s effort to bring back what he refers to as “OG Facebook”, or the earlier version of the platform that prioritized direct interactions between friends. The feature is now available in the US and Canada. “We’re introducing a new Facebook Friends tab that makes it easier to connect with your friends,” the social media company said in an official statement. “Connecting with friends has been a part of Facebook since it launched. Over the years, Facebook evolved to meet changing needs and created best-in-class experiences across Groups, Video, Marketplace and more, but the magic of friends has fallen away. We’ll be add...

For years, Android’s development process has involved public and private branches, with some aspects being openly accessible through the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). However, Google is now changing that, and going forward, all Android development will now take place within Google’s internal branches, effectively ending real-time public visibility into the growth of the platform. This change, which Google confirmed to Android Authority, does not mean that Android is abandoning open-source principles entirely. The company will still release source code to AOSP once updates are finalized, but developers, manufacturers, and the public will no longer have access to in-progress changes. This move aligns with Google’s broader efforts to consolidate its control over Android, a shift that has been occurring gradually over the past few years. Historically, Google has maintained two branches of Android development: one internal and another public through AOSP. While the internal branch ...

OpenAI reportedly has internally projected that its revenue will more than triple in 2025, reaching $12.7 billion, up from $3.7 billion in 2024. According to a report by Bloomberg, this anticipated growth is attributed to the expanding adoption of OpenAI’s artificial intelligence products and services, including various subscription offerings for both consumers and businesses. Notably, the Sam Altman-lead company had informed in February 2025 that it had surpassed 2 million paying business users, doubling its enterprise customer base since September 2024. However, despite this expanding customer base and projected revenue growth, the Microsoft-backed AI trendsetter does not expect to become cash-flow positive until 2029. This is primarily because the development and deployment of advanced AI systems involve huge costs, including investments in specialized hardware, data centers, etc. These expenses currently outpace the company’s revenue, leading to ongoing financial losses. Apar...

Apple has officially announced that its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 will take place from June 9 to June 13. The conference will be conducted online and is free for all developers. Additionally, on June 9, select developers and students will have the opportunity to attend an in-person special event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California. Speaking of possible launches, WWDC 2025 is expected to showcase the latest advancements in Apple’s software platforms, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Anticipated highlights include the unveiling of iOS 19, which may feature a significant design overhaul inspired by the Apple Vision Pro headset. However, there could be some limitations, as VisionOS is built for an immersive, 3D experience with hand-gesture controls. Certain features may not be suitable or adaptable to the 2D interface of iOS and macOS. Interestingly, some recent reports suggest that the Cupertino-headquartered company is preparing for a signif...

The Indian government has reportedly imposed a $601 million (~ ₹5,145 crore) tax demand on Samsung Electronics and its executives for allegedly evading tariffs on imported telecom equipment. According to a report by Reuters – citing a government order – this amount includes unpaid taxes and penalties. Mainly, the issue related to the importation of the ‘Remote Radio Head’ (RRH), a critical component (necessary for 4G LTE) used in telecom towers. The concerned authorities allege that the South Korea-based electronics giant misclassified Remote Radio Head’s imports to avoid tariffs of 10-20%. In fact, customs officials have described these actions as fraudulent, claiming that Samsung intentionally submitted false documents to bypass duties. The investigation into Samsung’s import practices began in 2021, involving searches of its offices in Mumbai and Gurugram, seizure of documents and electronic devices, and questioning of top executives. And, now investigations revealed that betwe...

Han Jong-Hee, a long-term veteran of Samsung Electronics and the co-CEO of the enterprise, has passed away at the age of 63. According to reports, Han suffered a cardiac arrest before passing away on Tuesday. Just one week before his passing, Han chaired Samsung’s annual shareholders’ meeting, where he addressed concerns about the company’s current stock performance and challenges in AI-driven semiconductors. During the meeting, he acknowledged that the current year would be a difficult one for Samsung, citing uncertain global trade policies, regulatory issues, and other factors. “First and foremost, I sincerely apologise for the recent stock performance not meeting your expectations. Over the past year, our company failed to adequately respond to the rapidly evolving AI semiconductor market,” he had said at that time. Han Jong-Hee had been with Samsung for nearly four decades, building a reputation as one of the most influential figures in the company’s history. He joined Samsung E...

Ant Group, the fintech company backed by Jack Ma, has achieved an important advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) model training by using Chinese-made semiconductors (chips). According to a Bloomberg report , by incorporating chips from Alibaba Group and Huawei Technologies, Ant Group has developed a method that reduces AI training costs by around 20%. In fact, despite using locally produced chips instead of relying on costly, high-end imported technology and hardware, the Chinese company is still capable of delivering high-performance results and remains competitive.  Generally, training large AI models requires expensive and high-performance chips, making it challenging for smaller companies to compete. But Ant Group’s latest approach leverages domestic semiconductors and a machine learning technique known as Mixture of Experts (MoE). Speaking of working, this method divides tasks into specialized subsets, enhancing efficiency and reducing dependency on costly hardware...

Chinese electronics major Xiaomi is now set to raise as much as $5.27 billion through a top-up placement, a move aimed at expanding its footprint in electric vehicles (EVs) and advancing its research and development (R&D) efforts. According to a Reuters report , Xiaomi is offering 750 million Class B shares for sale at a price range of HK$52.80 to HK$54.60 per share. This pricing represents a 4.2% to 7.4% discount to the company’s closing price of HK$57 on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as of Monday. The capital generated from this equity sale is expected to be deployed toward business expansion, developing its tech, and general corporate operations. Xiaomi’s decision to pursue this fundraising comes at a time when Chinese tech firms are increasingly turning to equity capital markets to raise funds. Xiaomi has been a mainstay in the global smartphone and consumer electronics landscape for years (currently, it competes with the likes of Apple and Samsung, and maintains a market sh...

OpenAI and Meta (the parent firm of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) are reportedly in talks with Reliance Industries (one of India’s largest conglomerates), to collaborate on AI-related projects in India. According to a report by The Information , OpenAI and Meta might be looking to tap into the country’s growing AI ecosystem by leveraging Reliance’s infrastructure, market reach, and data resources. The report says one proposal under consideration involves Reliance Jio (a subsidiary of Reliance Industries) distributing OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Additionally, OpenAI has considered reducing ChatGPT’s subscription fee from $20 to a more affordable rate. Meanwhile, Reliance is also exploring the possibility of selling OpenAI’s models to its enterprise clients via application programming interfaces (APIs). The company is also planning to host these models locally to ensure customer data remains within India. Interestingly, this initiative could leverage a new data center that Reliance plans t...

If you recently opened Google Maps expecting to revisit past trips, only to find your entire Timeline history wiped clean, you’re not alone. Many users, unsurprisingly, have taken to forums and social media, frustrated over the sudden disappearance of their location history — some spanning years. Now, Google has finally confirmed that a technical issue was responsible for the data loss. And while some users (those with encrypted Timeline backups) may be able to recover their lost Timeline entries, others — especially those who didn’t enable cloud backups — are out of luck. The issue first gained traction when users on platforms like Reddit and Google’s own support forums began noticing that their Google Maps Timeline data had vanished. The Timeline feature, which tracks users’ visited locations over time, is widely used by those who rely on Google Maps to keep a record of past trips and places visited. Eventually, the number of complaints surged, with some users reporting the loss of...

Meta-owned Instagram has started testing a feature that provides AI-generated comment suggestions on posts. Several reports indicate that users encountering this feature will notice a ‘pencil with a star’ icon next to the comment field. Tapping this icon prompts the AI to generate multiple (at least three) comment suggestions tailored to the post’s content. For example, on a fitness-related post, the Meta AI might suggest comments like ‘Incredible achievement! How long did you train for this?’ or ‘Such an inspiration! Any tips for beginners?’ Interestingly, users can select an AI-suggested comment. They can edit it if wanted or post it directly. Short video how it works pic.twitter.com/WdVOxcumZa — Jonah Manzano (@jonah_manzano) March 15, 2025 Meanwhile, Meta has confirmed this experimental feature, according to a report by TechCrunch . In fact, the company said that it regularly tests new ways for users to utilize Meta AI across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and...

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has appointed SIDBI Venture Capital Limited (SVCL) to manage a ₹1,000 crore venture capital fund aimed at boosting space technology startups in India. The primary objective of this fund is to provide crucial capital support to private players in the space sector, promoting innovation and growth. This fund will be deployed over five years, starting with ₹150 crore in 2025-26, followed by ₹250 crore annually for the next three years. It will conclude with ₹100 crore in 2029-30. Speaking of details, the initiative aims to support around 40 startups across the space supply chain, including upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. Growth-stage startups can receive funding between ₹10 crore to ₹30 crore, while late-stage startups may get between ₹30 crore to ₹60 crore. The move is also expected to generate employment opportunities by enabling startups to scale, invest in research and development, and expand thei...

Google has introduced an update to Gmail that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance email search functionality. With this update, Gmail now considers factors like the recency of emails, how often users click on certain emails, and users’ frequent contacts to show the most relevant emails at the top of search results. So far, Gmail displayed search results in chronological order based on keywords. Speaking of significance, after the update, when users search for emails, the most relevant ones will appear at the top of the search results. This will make it easier and faster to find important emails without having to scroll through a long list, saving users valuable time. Meanwhile, in terms of availability, this latest Gmail update is being released worldwide for people who use personal Google accounts. The update is available for both – the Gmail website and the Gmail app for Android and iOS. Currently, it is only for personal accounts, but the company also plans to make it av...

Meta’s AI chatbot is now set to roll out across Europe, marking the social media company’s long-awaited expansion of its AI assistant to the region. Starting this week, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger will introduce Meta AI in 41 European countries and 21 overseas territories. However, the European version of the chatbot will be relatively restricted compared to its US counterpart, as it will only support text-based interactions and will not include image generation or editing features. This means that it will help users with general queries, brainstorming ideas, and retrieving information from the web, as well as search for specific content on Instagram, enabling them to surface relevant posts and reels based on their interests. The move follows a year-long delay due to privacy concerns raised by European regulators, particularly over how Meta trains its AI models using user-generated content. Despite these setbacks, the company has now secured the necessary regulatory ...

Social media platform X (the erstwhile Twitter) is now suing the Indian government, challenging its interpretation and use of Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology (IT) Act. The company has filed a lawsuit in the Karnataka High Court, arguing that the government is bypassing the established legal safeguards outlined under the IT Act. The Information Technology Act, 2000, lays out specific provisions regarding content moderation on digital platforms. Section 79(3)(b) requires online intermediaries to take down unlawful content when directed by the government or a court order. Failure to comply with such orders can result in the loss of “safe harbor” protection, making platforms legally responsible for user-generated content. However, X argues that Section 79(3)(b) does not give the government the authority to directly block content. Instead, the company contends that such powers are vested exclusively in Section 69A, which outlines a detailed legal framework for content remo...

Apple has now been ordered to open up its famed ‘walled garden’ — the entire iOS/iPadOS/MacOS ecosystem — to its rivals in a landmark new order by competition watchdogs of the European Commission. This decision, announced on Wednesday, is part of the sweeping Digital Markets Act (DMA), a set of rules designed to curb the market power of Big Tech firms. As a first step, Apple is required to provide necessary technical know-how to third party hardware makers, allowing them to seamlessly connect these third-party devices to Apple hardware, as seamless as its own accessories connect. The Commission mandates Apple to offer clear documentation and a structured process for app developers who seek to obtain interoperability with iPhone and iPad features. Additionally, the Commission is expecting a more predictable timeline for interoperability requests and timely updates (amongst others) ensuring that developers are not at a disadvantage compared to Apple’s own services. These measures, acc...