Category: TECH & STARTUP

Google has laid off hundreds of employees across its platforms and devices unit, which includes teams working on Android, Pixel smartphones, and Chrome. The cuts follow a voluntary exit program offered in January after Google merged its platforms and devices teams last year. This continues a trend of tech companies restructuring workforces while shifting resources toward AI and next-generation computing projects.READ FULL

Despite Trump administration pressure and tariffs up to 145% on Chinese goods, Apple is unlikely to move iPhone production to the US. Analysts estimate such a shift could triple iPhone prices to $3,000 and wouldn’t be feasible until at least 2028. Apple continues diversifying manufacturing to India and Vietnam while focusing its US investments on AI infrastructure rather than phone assembly.READ FULL

Facebook has debuted “#FacebookIRL Stories,” a new podcast series hosted by creator Amin Hannan Chowdhury. The series will feature creators, SMBs, and community leaders sharing their journey from ideation to growth. Targeting young adults, the podcast aims to provide practical advice on content creation, community building, and business development.READ FULL

Two Microsoft employees disrupted the company’s 50th anniversary celebration Friday, protesting its ties to the Israeli military. Ibtihal Aboussad confronted AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman during his keynote, while Vaniya Agrawal interrupted a rare joint appearance by Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and CEO Satya Nadella. The protesters accused Microsoft of using AI for military operations in Gaza. Both employees reportedly lost access to their work accounts following the demonstrations.READ FULL

New Jersey has criminalized the creation and distribution of AI-generated deepfakes under legislation signed by Governor Phil Murphy. Offenders could face up to five years in prison and civil lawsuits. The law defines deepfakes as realistic but false representations of someone’s actions or words. It follows advocacy by Westfield High School student Francesca Mani, a deepfake victim herself. New Jersey joins about 20 other states with similar legislation targeting election-related and child sexual abuse content.READ FULL

Tencent officially released its Hunyuan T1 reasoning model on March 21, featuring faster response times and improved processing of lengthy texts. Built on the Turbo S foundational language model, T1 promises enhanced clarity and structural coherence with low hallucination rates. Tencent claims the model outperforms rival DeepSeek R1 on select knowledge and reasoning benchmarks, marking another advancement in China’s competitive AI landscape.READ FULL

Nvidia and Disney unveiled AI-driven robots inspired by Star Wars at Nvidia’s GTC conference. The droids, named Besh and Grek, can express emotions through movements learned via reinforcement learning in simulations. Powered by the new Newton physics engine co-developed with Google DeepMind, these robots will debut at Disney parks starting in 2026, though they’ll remain under human control rather than operating autonomously.READ FULL

Intel’s new CEO Lip-Bu Tan will receive a $1 million base salary with potential bonuses up to $2 million annually. His compensation package includes approximately $66 million in performance-tied stock options and grants. Tan, who replaces Pat Gelsinger, must maintain or increase Intel’s stock price to receive equity awards. He’s also committed to personally purchasing $25 million in Intel shares. Intel’s stock has risen nearly 20% in 2025 following Tan’s appointment.READ FULL

Intel has appointed semiconductor industry veteran Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO, effective March 18. Tan, former CEO of Cadence Design Systems and a previous Intel board member, will lead the struggling chipmaker through a critical turnaround period. He faces declining market share, falling stock prices, and fierce competition. In a letter to employees, Tan committed to restoring Intel’s position while maintaining its integrated design and manufacturing operations.READ FULL

South Korea has suspended new downloads of Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek over data privacy concerns. The app, which had gained over a million weekly users, remains accessible to existing users but unavailable for new downloads until it complies with local privacy laws. Several other countries, including Italy, Taiwan, and some US states, have also imposed restrictions on DeepSeek citing security risks.READ FULL

In 2024, TikTok transformed beyond entertainment in Bangladesh, becoming a hub for education, business growth, and cultural expression. The platform launched initiatives like #LearnOnTikTok and #AmarBangladesh, hosted its first SMB workshop in Dhaka, and introduced business tools for entrepreneurs. According to Pooja Dutta, Head of Content Operations for South Asia, TikTok has evolved into a space offering inspiration, information, and exploration opportunities.READ FULL

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman predicts AI will soon match human capabilities but suggests its impact may be less dramatic than expected. Speaking at The New York Times DealBook Summit, he discussed plans to release more powerful AI systems, potentially reaching artificial general intelligence within years. Despite OpenAI’s $157 billion valuation and $6.6 billion recent funding, the company faces challenges including $5 billion in expected losses, competition from Elon Musk’s xAI, and evolving dynamics with Microsoft.READ FULL

Australia has passed a law banning children under 16 from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, with potential fines up to A$49.5 million for non-compliance. Set to fully implement by November 2025, the law aims to protect children from harmful online content. Prime Minister Albanese defends the measure as crucial for child safety, despite mixed reactions from the public, tech companies, and young Australians who are already planning ways to circumvent the ban.READ FULL

ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is suing former intern Tian Keyu for 8 million yuan ($1.1 million), alleging he deliberately disrupted its AI training systems by altering code during his internship. Tian, a Peking University postgraduate student, was dismissed in August. While ByteDance claims operational damage, they say reports of millions in damages and thousands of affected processors are “seriously exaggerated.” The rare lawsuit highlights growing concerns in AI development security.READ FULL

British businesses have suffered £44 billion in revenue losses due to cyberattacks over the past five years, with 52% of private companies experiencing at least one incident. Email compromises (20%) and data theft (18%) were the most common attacks. Despite the threat, only 61% use anti-virus software and 55% have firewalls. The findings come from a YouGov survey of 905 IT decision-makers, commissioned by insurance broker Howden.READ FULL

ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has launched a new share buyback program valuing itself at $300 billion, a 12.9% increase from December 2023. The company is offering to purchase shares at $180.70 each, up from $160 previously. Despite strong revenue growth of $110 billion, ByteDance faces challenges in the US, where a new law requires it to sell TikTok’s US assets by January 19, 2024, or risk a ban.READ FULL

Bitcoin surged to $89,637 in Asian trading hours, marking a 25% increase since November 5, primarily driven by Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. election. Trump’s vocal support for cryptocurrencies and promises to make the U.S. a global crypto hub have boosted investor confidence. Bitcoin has emerged as a top market performer post-election, alongside Tesla, whose shares have jumped nearly 40% under the new Trump administration.READ FULL

OpenAI has acquired the domain ‘chat.com’ to serve as a direct access point for its ChatGPT AI chatbot. The $15.5 million domain purchase is part of OpenAI’s branding strategy to make ChatGPT more user-friendly and accessible. The move aligns with OpenAI’s recent shift towards simpler product names and reinforces its goal of making ChatGPT an everyday tool for more people.READ FULL

Apple is expanding its Tap to Pay service for iPhone to five new countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Ireland, Romania, and Sweden. The service allows merchants to accept contactless payments through their iPhones without additional hardware, supporting payments via cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets. Multiple payment platforms including Adyen, SumUp, and Viva.com are supporting this expansion. The service requires iPhone Xs or later models with the latest iOS version.READ FULL

ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming has become China’s richest person according to the Hurun China Rich List 2024, with a fortune of $49.3 billion. The 41-year-old surpassed previous leader Zhong Shanshan, whose wealth dropped 24% to $47.9 billion. ByteDance’s global revenue rose 30% to $110 billion in 2023, boosting Zhang’s wealth despite TikTok’s legal challenges in the US. China’s billionaire count dropped by 142 to 753, reflecting economic challenges.READ FULL

Netflix has shut down its AAA game development studio, Blue, just three years after entering the gaming industry. The studio, established in 2022 under former Overwatch producer Chacko Sonny, never released a game. While Netflix continues to focus on mobile gaming and has acquired several studios, the closure of Blue suggests a potential shift away from AAA game development ambitions.READ FULL

Meta is reintroducing facial recognition technology to combat celebrity-focused scams on Facebook. The trial, launching globally in December, will compare profile photos of 50,000 public figures with advertisement images to identify and block fraudulent ads. The program excludes regions like the UK, EU, and some US states due to regulatory restrictions. Celebrities can opt out, and Meta promises immediate deletion of facial recognition data after comparison.READ FULL

Mira Murati, former CTO of OpenAI, is reportedly raising over $100 million for a new AI startup focused on developing proprietary AI models. Murati left OpenAI last month after serving in various roles since 2018, including a brief stint as interim CEO. Her departure is part of a broader exodus of executives from OpenAI. With her extensive background in AI development, Murati’s new venture is attracting significant investor interest in the competitive AI startup landscape.READ FULL

Billionaire Elon Musk has pledged to give away $1 million daily until the November election to signers of his petition supporting the U.S. Constitution. He awarded the first check at a pro-Trump rally in Pennsylvania. Musk’s America PAC is supporting Trump’s campaign, mobilizing voters in battleground states. At the event, Musk painted a stark picture of the election, suggesting a Harris victory would be “the last election.” The petition garners contact details for potential Trump voters. Musk has donated at least $75 million to America PAC.READ FULL

Meta has released new AI models, including a “Self-Taught Evaluator” that could reduce human involvement in AI development. This model uses AI-generated data for training and employs a “chain of thought” technique to improve response accuracy. The technology potentially paves the way for autonomous AI agents capable of self-improvement. Meta researchers suggest this approach could eventually surpass human evaluation in effectiveness. The company also released other AI tools, including updates to image identification models and datasets for material discovery. Unlike some competitors, Meta makes these models publicly available.READ FULL

Meta has partnered with horror film company Blumhouse to test its new AI video tool, Movie Gen. The tool, set for public release next year, can create 16-second videos with sound from prompts or photos. Oscar-winner Casey Affleck praised it as a collaborator rather than just a tool. Despite concerns in Hollywood about AI replacing creative roles, Blumhouse founder Jason Blum welcomed the opportunity to test the program. Filmmaker Aneesh Chaganty demonstrated Movie Gen’s capabilities in a promotional video for Meta.READ FULL

A federal judge in California has ruled that Meta, Facebook’s parent company, must face lawsuits from over 30 U.S. states accusing it of encouraging social media addiction among teenagers. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers rejected Meta’s attempt to dismiss the claims, allowing the case to proceed largely intact. The states are seeking injunctions against Meta’s allegedly illegal practices and unspecified monetary damages. This ruling is part of a broader legal challenge against social media companies for their impact on adolescent mental health.READ FULL

YouTube offers free data analysis education through channels like Mo Chen, Alex the Analyst, Codebasics, Agatha, and FreeCodeCamp. These channels cover tools such as Python, SQL, Excel, Tableau, and Power BI, providing practical lessons and hands-on projects. They cater to beginners and experienced learners, offering insights into real-world applications and career guidance for aspiring data analysts.READ FULL

Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the Cybercab, a fully autonomous robotaxi prototype, at the ‘We, Robot’ event in California. The vehicle, priced under $30,000, lacks traditional controls and uses AI and cameras for navigation. Production is expected to begin in 2026 or 2027. Musk also introduced the Robovan, a larger autonomous vehicle, and mentioned the Optimus humanoid robot. This launch aligns with Tesla’s shift towards AI and robotics, though investors expressed concerns about production timelines.READ FULL

Turkey has blocked access to Discord after the platform refused to comply with government requests for user data. The ban follows a court decision citing concerns over child abuse and obscene content, particularly after controversial posts appeared following two murders in Istanbul. Turkish officials stated the platform’s anonymity hindered monitoring of illegal activities. The block coincides with Russia’s similar action against Discord on Tuesday for not removing banned content.READ FULL

A US judge has ordered Google to open its Android operating system to competing app stores following Epic Games’ antitrust victory. The ruling, effective November 1, prohibits Google from exclusive app launches and revenue sharing with competitors for three years. This follows Google’s December court loss to Fortnite-maker Epic Games. Google plans to appeal the decision. The ruling affects Android’s dominant 70% global smartphone market share, though changes will only apply within the US.READ FULL

Meta has unveiled its new AI video generator “Movie Gen,” capable of creating high-definition videos with sound from text prompts. The tool can also edit existing footage and generate matching audio effects. While not yet publicly available, Movie Gen can output videos in various aspect ratios and transform still images into dynamic scenes. This announcement follows OpenAI’s earlier release of its video generator, Sora, marking another milestone in AI-powered video creation technology.READ FULL

Elon Musk’s X paid $5.2 million in fines to settle a dispute with Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who had banned the platform over disinformation concerns. However, X mistakenly transferred the money to the wrong account. The conflict began during Brazil’s 2022 presidential election and escalated after the January 2023 riots. X hopes this payment will resolve the issue and lift the ban in its largest Latin American market.READ FULL

Amazon plans to hire 250,000 seasonal workers for the 2024 holiday season, maintaining last year’s hiring levels despite projected record e-commerce spending of $240.8 billion in Q4. The workers will be distributed across Amazon’s warehouses and transportation facilities, excluding delivery partner personnel. While Amazon’s hiring matches previous years, overall retail seasonal hiring is declining, with industry projections showing 520,000 jobs compared to last year’s 564,200.READ FULL

OpenAI has secured $6.6 billion in new funding, potentially valuing the company at $157 billion. Major investors include Microsoft, Nvidia, and Thrive Capital. The funding comes as convertible notes, contingent on a possible restructuring to a for-profit model. Despite internal changes and significant losses, investor confidence remains high. CEO Sam Altman projects revenue of $11.6 billion next year.READ FULL

Google’s upcoming Pixel 9A may lose its signature camera bar, according to leaked renders. The new design features a flush, pill-shaped camera module, drawing comparisons to the iPhone 7 Plus. The phone is expected to run Android 15 and may be the last Pixel with a Samsung-made Tensor chip. Google plans to switch to TSMC processors from 2025. The Pixel 9A is likely to be unveiled at Google I/O.READ FULL