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US President Donald Trump confirmed that Apple will collaborate with Intel to design and manufacture semiconductor chips within the United States. Announcing the development on the Truth Social platform, Trump stressed that it is not just important to design chips but to produce chips domestically. Trump also claimed that the US government acquired 10 per cent equity in Intel, helping the company's overall valuation to shoot up to USD600 billion from USD100 billion. Consequently, the US government's holding in the company is now over USD60 billion in just nine months. Trump argued that the United States must rebuild its semiconductor manufacturing base, criticising previous administrations for allowing production capacity to shift overseas, particularly to Taiwan. The partnership would provide Apple with greater supply-chain diversification, as the company currently depends heavily on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company for the production of its most advanced chips.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-uk-uae-imposes-social-media-ban-on-under-15s-becomes-first-arab-nation-to-do-so-1781784541127">After UK, UAE imposes Social Media ban on under-15s, becomes first Arab nation to do so</a><h3>Preliminary agreement</h3>A report by the Wall Street Journal in May said the two companies had reached a preliminary agreement, although specific details remained unclear. The move comes as Washington seeks to strengthen critical technology supply chains and reduce dependence on China amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. "First, we helped bring in Nvidia, and they agreed to build their first level Chips with Intel," Trump said in the Truth Social post and added that Musk also agreed to build the TerraFab in the US. Intel is on the stage of coming up with the most advanced chip node 18A-P that signals customers about readiness for cutting-edge innovation needed for advanced chips. "Our updates and presentations at VLSI signal to Intel Foundry customers and partners that we are fully committed to leading edge process innovation over the long term," said Naga Chandrasekaran, executive vice president and general manager of Intel Foundry. "This is a journey, and while we have more work ahead, we appreciate the opportunity to share the progress we are making with Intel 18A-P and our longer-range R&amp;D," he added.

Trump argued that the United States must rebuild its semiconductor manufacturing base, criticising previous administrations for allowing production capacity to shift overseas, particularly to Taiwan. 

US President Donald Trump confirmed that Apple will collaborate with Intel to design and manufacture semiconductor chips within the United States. Announcing the development on the Truth Social platform, Trump stressed that it is not just important to design chips but to produce chips domestically. Trump also claimed that the US government acquired 10 per cent equity in Intel, helping the company's overall valuation to shoot up to USD600 billion from USD100 billion. Consequently, the US government's holding in the company is now over USD60 billion in just nine months. Trump argued that the United States must rebuild its semiconductor manufacturing base, criticising previous administrations for allowing production capacity to shift overseas, particularly to Taiwan. The partnership would provide Apple with greater supply-chain diversification, as the company currently depends heavily on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company for the production of its most advanced chips. Also read: After UK, UAE imposes Social Media ban on under-15s, becomes first Arab nation to do so Preliminary agreement A report by the Wall Street Journal in May said the two companies had reached a preliminary agreement, although specific details remained unclear. The move comes as Washington seeks to strengthen critical technology supply chains and reduce dependence on China amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. "First, we helped bring in Nvidia, and they agreed to build their first level Chips with Intel," Trump said in the Truth Social post and added that Musk also agreed to build the TerraFab in the US. Intel is on the stage of coming up with the most advanced chip node 18A-P that signals customers about readiness for cutting-edge innovation needed for advanced chips. "Our updates and presentations at VLSI signal to Intel Foundry customers and partners that we are fully committed to leading edge process innovation over the long term," said Naga Chandrasekaran, executive vice president and general manager of Intel Foundry. "This is a journey, and while we have more work ahead, we appreciate the opportunity to share the progress we are making with Intel 18A-P and our longer-range R&D," he added.

Trump argued that the United States must rebuild its semiconductor manufacturing base, criticising previous administrations for allowing production capacity to shift overseas, particularly to Taiwan.&nbsp;

Apple to collaborate with Intel for domestic chip production, Trump announces

As artificial intelligence companies race to build larger models and more powerful data centres, another challenge is moving into focus: climate impact. Anthropic, one of the world's leading AI startups, has joined Frontier, a carbon removal initiative that funds technologies designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The move makes Anthropic the first pure AI company to join the group and comes alongside a new $915 million funding commitment that pushes Frontier's total pledged funding to $1.8 billion.The announcement is attracting attention because AI companies are facing increasing scrutiny over their energy consumption, data centre expansion and environmental footprint.<h2>Why Anthropic's decision matters</h2>Anthropic's membership is significant for one reason in particular. The company behind the Claude AI assistant has largely stayed away from major climate-related commitments until now. Unlike some large technology firms, Anthropic has not yet released a public sustainability report. The company has previously supported an "all of the above" energy strategy, a position often associated with using a broad mix of energy sources rather than relying exclusively on renewable power. Its decision to join Frontier therefore represents its first major climate-focused initiative. For observers of the AI industry, it may signal a shift in how AI companies approach environmental concerns as demand for computing power continues to grow.&nbsp;<h2>What Frontier actually does</h2>Frontier was launched by technology companies including Google, Stripe and Shopify to help scale the carbon removal industry.Its role is relatively simple. The organisation identifies and evaluates companies developing carbon removal technologies and then signs long-term contracts to purchase carbon removal credits from projects it believes can succeed. Those credits allow participating companies to offset some of their emissions while supporting the development of technologies that could help reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. Since launching in 2022, Frontier has committed nearly $700 million across more than 50 projects and contracted the removal of around 1.8 million tonnes of carbon. The organisation has supported a range of technologies, including direct air capture, enhanced rock weathering, bio-oil and ocean-based carbon removal methods.&nbsp;<h2>Why carbon removal is becoming more important</h2>Climate scientists have repeatedly argued that cutting emissions alone may not be enough. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, carbon dioxide removal technologies are likely to play a role in achieving global net-zero emissions targets. The challenge is that the industry remains relatively small and expensive. Many companies want to reduce their carbon footprint but struggle to find reliable large-scale carbon removal providers.&nbsp;That is where Frontier hopes to make a difference. The organisation acts as a shared platform that helps companies support emerging carbon removal technologies while reducing investment risks.&nbsp;<h2>Frontier is becoming more selective</h2>Alongside the new funding commitments, Frontier announced changes to its strategy. Rather than backing a large number of smaller projects, the organisation plans to focus on fewer projects with the potential to remove at least one billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually in the future. New contracts are expected to run for eight to ten years. Frontier also said future projects will face stricter requirements, including demonstrating a path towards government support or subsidy programmes. The growing AI and climate debate. Anthropic's decision arrives during a broader debate about artificial intelligence and sustainability. AI systems require enormous computing resources, which in turn demand significant amounts of electricity and water. Technology companies including Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta are investing billions of dollars in data centres to support growing AI demand. As those investments increase, pressure is also growing for companies to explain how they plan to manage their environmental impact. For Anthropic, joining Frontier may be only a first step. But it reflects a reality that many AI companies can no longer ignore: the future of artificial intelligence may depend not only on computing power, but also on how sustainably that power is produced and used.

Anthropic has joined Frontier, becoming the first AI startup to back the carbon removal initiative. The move comes as AI companies face growing scrutiny over energy use, emissions and the environmental impact of rapidly expanding data centre infrastructure.

As artificial intelligence companies race to build larger models and more powerful data centres, another challenge is moving into focus: climate impact. Anthropic, one of the world's leading AI startups, has joined Frontier, a carbon removal initiative that funds technologies designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The move makes Anthropic the first pure AI company to join the group and comes alongside a new $915 million funding commitment that pushes Frontier's total pledged funding to $1.8 billion. The announcement is attracting attention because AI companies are facing increasing scrutiny over their energy consumption, data centre expansion and environmental footprint. Why Anthropic's decision matters Anthropic's membership is significant for one reason in particular. The company behind the Claude AI assistant has largely stayed away from major climate-related commitments until now. Unlike some large technology firms, Anthropic has not yet released a public sustainability report. The company has previously supported an "all of the above" energy strategy, a position often associated with using a broad mix of energy sources rather than relying exclusively on renewable power. Its decision to join Frontier therefore represents its first major climate-focused initiative. For observers of the AI industry, it may signal a shift in how AI companies approach environmental concerns as demand for computing power continues to grow. What Frontier actually does Frontier was launched by technology companies including Google, Stripe and Shopify to help scale the carbon removal industry. Its role is relatively simple. The organisation identifies and evaluates companies developing carbon removal technologies and then signs long-term contracts to purchase carbon removal credits from projects it believes can succeed. Those credits allow participating companies to offset some of their emissions while supporting the development of technologies that could help reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. Since launching in 2022, Frontier has committed nearly $700 million across more than 50 projects and contracted the removal of around 1.8 million tonnes of carbon. The organisation has supported a range of technologies, including direct air capture, enhanced rock weathering, bio-oil and ocean-based carbon removal methods. Why carbon removal is becoming more important Climate scientists have repeatedly argued that cutting emissions alone may not be enough. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, carbon dioxide removal technologies are likely to play a role in achieving global net-zero emissions targets. The challenge is that the industry remains relatively small and expensive. Many companies want to reduce their carbon footprint but struggle to find reliable large-scale carbon removal providers. That is where Frontier hopes to make a difference. The organisation acts as a shared platform that helps companies support emerging carbon removal technologies while reducing investment risks. Frontier is becoming more selective Alongside the new funding commitments, Frontier announced changes to its strategy. Rather than backing a large number of smaller projects, the organisation plans to focus on fewer projects with the potential to remove at least one billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually in the future. New contracts are expected to run for eight to ten years. Frontier also said future projects will face stricter requirements, including demonstrating a path towards government support or subsidy programmes. The growing AI and climate debate. Anthropic's decision arrives during a broader debate about artificial intelligence and sustainability. AI systems require enormous computing resources, which in turn demand significant amounts of electricity and water. Technology companies including Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta are investing billions of dollars in data centres to support growing AI demand. As those investments increase, pressure is also growing for companies to explain how they plan to manage their environmental impact. For Anthropic, joining Frontier may be only a first step. But it reflects a reality that many AI companies can no longer ignore: the future of artificial intelligence may depend not only on computing power, but also on how sustainably that power is produced and used.

Anthropic has joined Frontier, becoming the first AI startup to back the carbon removal initiative. The move comes as AI companies face growing scrutiny over energy use, emissions and the environmental impact of rapidly expanding data centre infrastructure.

Anthropic becomes first AI company to join Frontier's carbon removal effort as industry's energy demands rise

A viral moment from the India AI Impact Summit earlier this year has resurfaced after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei offered his explanation of what happened on stage alongside OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The incident attracted widespread attention after videos appeared to show the two AI leaders refusing to hold hands during a group photograph.&nbsp; &nbsp;<h2>However, Amodei says the reality was far less dramatic</h2>Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg, he said the situation was the result of confusion and last-minute changes rather than a reflection of tensions between the two executives. 'The summit was extremely disorganised' Amodei said the organisers changed arrangements shortly before the photograph was taken.&nbsp;"The summit was extremely disorganised," he told Bloomberg.According to him, participants were brought on stage at the last minute and the order in which people were standing changed unexpectedly. "We all came up at the last minute and they changed the order in which we were standing, and then they took a picture of us and then they ordered us all to hold hands," he said.&nbsp;Amodei stressed that he was not specifically criticising India."I am not saying anything bad about India in particular, but like all of these kinds of international summits that have heads of state are super disorganised," he added.&nbsp;Prime Minister Modi was also on stageAmodei also recalled the unusual circumstances surrounding the photograph. "There was Narendra Modi up there suddenly telling everyone to hold hands," he said while describing the moment. The comments offer a new perspective on an incident that generated significant online discussion among technology enthusiasts and AI observers. At the time, many interpreted the body language of the executives as evidence of friction between two of the most influential companies in artificial intelligence.<h2>The larger story: Anthropic versus OpenAI</h2>While Amodei dismissed speculation surrounding the summit photograph, he spoke more openly about his departure from OpenAI. The Anthropic chief was among several senior figures who left OpenAI in 2021 to establish Anthropic, a company that has since become one of OpenAI's biggest competitors. Founded by Dario Amodei, his sister Daniela Amodei and other former OpenAI employees, Anthropic has built its reputation around AI safety and responsible development.&nbsp;During the interview, Amodei suggested that disagreements over safety were not the sole reason behind his departure.<h2>Why Amodei says he left OpenAI</h2>According to Amodei, trust played a larger role than policy disagreements. "There are many valid disagreements to be had on safety. We certainly had some of those disagreements with them, but that alone is not sufficient to leave," he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;"When you feel that you can't trust someone, when you feel that their values are not what they say they are, when you feel that they're not honest, that makes it very hard to continue to work with a company," he said.&nbsp;Amodei also said he has no regrets about the decision. "Why argue with someone when you don't have the same vision and you don't trust them?" he said, adding that the market and public would ultimately decide which approach succeeds.&nbsp;The remarks come at a time when competition in artificial intelligence is intensifying. Anthropic and OpenAI are among the most closely watched companies in the global AI race, alongside major technology firms investing billions of dollars into advanced AI models. As AI becomes increasingly important to business, governments and consumers, public interest in the relationships between industry leaders continues to grow. For now, however, Amodei says one of the internet's favourite AI rivalries may have been overanalysed. According to him, the viral India AI Summit moment was less about corporate competition and more about a chaotic stage arrangement.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says the viral moment involving Sam Altman at the India AI Impact Summit was caused by confusion and last-minute changes on stage, not rivalry. He also opened up about why he left OpenAI and founded Anthropic.

A viral moment from the India AI Impact Summit earlier this year has resurfaced after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei offered his explanation of what happened on stage alongside OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The incident attracted widespread attention after videos appeared to show the two AI leaders refusing to hold hands during a group photograph. However, Amodei says the reality was far less dramatic Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg, he said the situation was the result of confusion and last-minute changes rather than a reflection of tensions between the two executives. 'The summit was extremely disorganised' Amodei said the organisers changed arrangements shortly before the photograph was taken. "The summit was extremely disorganised," he told Bloomberg. According to him, participants were brought on stage at the last minute and the order in which people were standing changed unexpectedly. "We all came up at the last minute and they changed the order in which we were standing, and then they took a picture of us and then they ordered us all to hold hands," he said. Amodei stressed that he was not specifically criticising India. "I am not saying anything bad about India in particular, but like all of these kinds of international summits that have heads of state are super disorganised," he added. Prime Minister Modi was also on stage Amodei also recalled the unusual circumstances surrounding the photograph. "There was Narendra Modi up there suddenly telling everyone to hold hands," he said while describing the moment. The comments offer a new perspective on an incident that generated significant online discussion among technology enthusiasts and AI observers. At the time, many interpreted the body language of the executives as evidence of friction between two of the most influential companies in artificial intelligence. The larger story: Anthropic versus OpenAI While Amodei dismissed speculation surrounding the summit photograph, he spoke more openly about his departure from OpenAI. The Anthropic chief was among several senior figures who left OpenAI in 2021 to establish Anthropic, a company that has since become one of OpenAI's biggest competitors. Founded by Dario Amodei, his sister Daniela Amodei and other former OpenAI employees, Anthropic has built its reputation around AI safety and responsible development. During the interview, Amodei suggested that disagreements over safety were not the sole reason behind his departure. Why Amodei says he left OpenAI According to Amodei, trust played a larger role than policy disagreements. "There are many valid disagreements to be had on safety. We certainly had some of those disagreements with them, but that alone is not sufficient to leave," he said. "When you feel that you can't trust someone, when you feel that their values are not what they say they are, when you feel that they're not honest, that makes it very hard to continue to work with a company," he said. Amodei also said he has no regrets about the decision. "Why argue with someone when you don't have the same vision and you don't trust them?" he said, adding that the market and public would ultimately decide which approach succeeds. The remarks come at a time when competition in artificial intelligence is intensifying. Anthropic and OpenAI are among the most closely watched companies in the global AI race, alongside major technology firms investing billions of dollars into advanced AI models. As AI becomes increasingly important to business, governments and consumers, public interest in the relationships between industry leaders continues to grow. For now, however, Amodei says one of the internet's favourite AI rivalries may have been overanalysed. According to him, the viral India AI Summit moment was less about corporate competition and more about a chaotic stage arrangement.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says the viral moment involving Sam Altman at the India AI Impact Summit was caused by confusion and last-minute changes on stage, not rivalry. He also opened up about why he left OpenAI and founded Anthropic.

‘Summit was extremely disorganised’: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on viral viral stage moment from India AI event

As companies around the world rush to integrate artificial intelligence into daily operations, one CEO has shared an example of how difficult that transition can become. Eric Vaughan, chief executive of software company IgniteTech, says the firm replaced nearly 80 per cent of its workforce after many employees refused to adopt AI tools despite extensive training and company-funded support.&nbsp;The comments, first reported by Fortune, have attracted attention because they illustrate a growing challenge facing businesses: technology can be introduced quickly, but changing workplace habits may take much longer. According to Vaughan, resistance to AI became one of the biggest obstacles in the company's transformation into what he describes as an AI-first organisation.<h2>The company spent heavily on AI training</h2>Vaughan said IgniteTech invested significant resources into helping employees learn how to use artificial intelligence. The company introduced weekly "AI Mondays", where workers focused exclusively on AI-related projects. Employees were also offered reimbursements for AI tools, prompt-engineering courses and external training programmes. The company even brought in outside experts to support staff. According to Vaughan, IgniteTech dedicated around 20 per cent of its payroll towards AI learning efforts for one day each week over an entire quarter. Despite that investment, some employees remained unwilling to embrace the technology. "We took 20 per cent of our entire payroll for one day a week for an entire quarter to get people to learn AI and still found people that said, 'I'm not going to do it,'" Vaughan said.<h2>Why the company replaced so many employees</h2>The transition began in early 2023 after Vaughan became convinced that generative AI represented a major shift for businesses. He viewed AI as a technology that companies would eventually need to adopt to remain competitive. As a result, IgniteTech pushed aggressively towards integrating AI into products, workflows and employee responsibilities. However, Vaughan said some workers rejected the direction entirely. Between 2023 and early 2024, the company replaced nearly 80 per cent of its workforce, affecting hundreds of employees. "That was not our goal," Vaughan said. "But changing minds was harder than adding skills."<h2>A wider debate over AI in the workplace</h2>The comments arrive at a time when artificial intelligence is transforming industries ranging from software development and customer support to finance and healthcare. Many employers are encouraging workers to use AI tools to improve productivity and automate repetitive tasks. At the same time, concerns remain about job security, changing workplace expectations and the speed of technological change. IgniteTech's experience highlights a growing question facing employers: how should organisations respond when employees are unwilling to adopt technologies that leadership views as essential?<h2>Vaughan says he would make the same decision again</h2>While defending the outcome, Vaughan described the process as difficult. He said he would make the same decision again but stopped short of recommending that other businesses follow the same approach. According to the CEO, alignment between leadership and employees ultimately mattered more than training programmes alone. "If your team isn't in sync with you, I don't think any amount of training or strategy is going to fix that problem," he said.<h2>What this means for workers and businesses</h2>The story reflects a broader shift taking place across the technology industry. As AI tools become more capable, employers are increasingly expecting workers to understand and use them as part of their roles. For employees, AI skills are rapidly becoming a valuable workplace asset. For businesses, the challenge is not only introducing new technology but also helping teams adapt to it. The debate is likely to continue as artificial intelligence becomes more deeply embedded in everyday work.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A Texas-based software company replaced nearly 80 per cent of its workforce after many employees resisted adopting artificial intelligence, according to CEO Eric Vaughan. 

As companies around the world rush to integrate artificial intelligence into daily operations, one CEO has shared an example of how difficult that transition can become. Eric Vaughan, chief executive of software company IgniteTech, says the firm replaced nearly 80 per cent of its workforce after many employees refused to adopt AI tools despite extensive training and company-funded support. The comments, first reported by Fortune, have attracted attention because they illustrate a growing challenge facing businesses: technology can be introduced quickly, but changing workplace habits may take much longer. According to Vaughan, resistance to AI became one of the biggest obstacles in the company's transformation into what he describes as an AI-first organisation. The company spent heavily on AI training Vaughan said IgniteTech invested significant resources into helping employees learn how to use artificial intelligence. The company introduced weekly "AI Mondays", where workers focused exclusively on AI-related projects. Employees were also offered reimbursements for AI tools, prompt-engineering courses and external training programmes. The company even brought in outside experts to support staff. According to Vaughan, IgniteTech dedicated around 20 per cent of its payroll towards AI learning efforts for one day each week over an entire quarter. Despite that investment, some employees remained unwilling to embrace the technology. "We took 20 per cent of our entire payroll for one day a week for an entire quarter to get people to learn AI and still found people that said, 'I'm not going to do it,'" Vaughan said. Why the company replaced so many employees The transition began in early 2023 after Vaughan became convinced that generative AI represented a major shift for businesses. He viewed AI as a technology that companies would eventually need to adopt to remain competitive. As a result, IgniteTech pushed aggressively towards integrating AI into products, workflows and employee responsibilities. However, Vaughan said some workers rejected the direction entirely. Between 2023 and early 2024, the company replaced nearly 80 per cent of its workforce, affecting hundreds of employees. "That was not our goal," Vaughan said. "But changing minds was harder than adding skills." A wider debate over AI in the workplace The comments arrive at a time when artificial intelligence is transforming industries ranging from software development and customer support to finance and healthcare. Many employers are encouraging workers to use AI tools to improve productivity and automate repetitive tasks. At the same time, concerns remain about job security, changing workplace expectations and the speed of technological change. IgniteTech's experience highlights a growing question facing employers: how should organisations respond when employees are unwilling to adopt technologies that leadership views as essential? Vaughan says he would make the same decision again While defending the outcome, Vaughan described the process as difficult. He said he would make the same decision again but stopped short of recommending that other businesses follow the same approach. According to the CEO, alignment between leadership and employees ultimately mattered more than training programmes alone. "If your team isn't in sync with you, I don't think any amount of training or strategy is going to fix that problem," he said. What this means for workers and businesses The story reflects a broader shift taking place across the technology industry. As AI tools become more capable, employers are increasingly expecting workers to understand and use them as part of their roles. For employees, AI skills are rapidly becoming a valuable workplace asset. For businesses, the challenge is not only introducing new technology but also helping teams adapt to it. The debate is likely to continue as artificial intelligence becomes more deeply embedded in everyday work.

A Texas-based software company replaced nearly 80 per cent of its workforce after many employees resisted adopting artificial intelligence, according to CEO Eric Vaughan.&nbsp;

‘Fired them all, will do again’: Tech CEO replaced 80% of employees with AI, says humans not ready to embrace technology

The Central government has told the Delhi High Court that the messaging platform Telegram’s privacy and anonymity features have made it particularly attractive to criminal networks, due to which the app has become the “new dark web” and is being exploited for illegal activities like terrorism, child exploitation, drug trafficking, cybercrime, and financial fraud as it helps evade law enforcement.&nbsp;The Centre alleged in its court submission that Telegram has become a platform for the circulation of leaked examination papers such as NEET, cyber fraud, terrorism-linked propaganda, child sexual exploitation material, drug trafficking and financial crimes.&nbsp;<h2>‘Telegram has become the new dark web’</h2>&nbsp;“Telegram has become the new dark web, linking threat actors. Criminals have rapidly adopted Telegram to post links on channels that connect to dark web forums through deep web links, making it hard for authorities to track and attribute criminals,” the Centre said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/had-a-great-time-on-last-visit-trump-tells-wion-recalls-massive-india-stadium-event-1781715435397">‘Had a great time on last visit,’ Trump tells WION, recalls massive India stadium event</a>&nbsp;The affidavit filed by the government says that Telegram’s privacy and anonymity features have made it particularly attractive for crime and criminal networks, as users can hide their phone numbers and Telegram IDs through privacy settings, making it difficult for investigators to establish the real identities behind accounts.&nbsp;“It has been observed that Telegram is being exploited for illegal activities including drug trafficking, cybercrime, extremism, terrorism, child exploitation, and cyber scams and frauds, primarily due to privacy features,” the affidavit said.&nbsp;The Centre flagged its concerns after its decision to temporarily block Telegram’s operations in India ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21. Telegram has challenged the blocking in the Delhi High Court.&nbsp;<h2>Telegram groups, channels being used to circulate extremist, radical content</h2>&nbsp;The government also alleged that Telegram groups and channels are being used to circulate extremist and radical content, alleging terror organisations are using them to spread violent propaganda and misinformation.&nbsp;The Centre also alleged that the platform is being used in academic fraud, citing its use in the circulation of leaked examination papers, including NEET-related materials.Fraudsters create fake accounts using false identities to carry out financial scams, publish data breaches and coordinate cyber offences, the affidavit said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-india-trade-deal-worth-over-6-billion-to-come-into-force-on-july-15-1781712306423">UK-India trade deal worth over $6 billion to come into force on July 15</a>&nbsp;Some Telegram channels and groups have been circulating Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) and such content remains a major concern for enforcement agencies monitoring online platforms.&nbsp;It also flagged the alleged use of Telegram channels for the sale and purchase of mule bank accounts, which are used to receive and transfer proceeds of cybercrime and money laundering operations.The Centre also alleged that Telegram channels are widely used to distribute pirated movies, web series and other copyrighted content, causing losses to content creators and raising intellectual property concerns.

The government said that Telegram’s privacy and anonymity features have made it particularly attractive for criminals, as they can hide their phone numbers and Telegram IDs through privacy settings, making it difficult for investigators to establish the real identities behind such accounts.

The Central government has told the Delhi High Court that the messaging platform Telegram’s privacy and anonymity features have made it particularly attractive to criminal networks, due to which the app has become the “new dark web” and is being exploited for illegal activities like terrorism, child exploitation, drug trafficking, cybercrime, and financial fraud as it helps evade law enforcement. The Centre alleged in its court submission that Telegram has become a platform for the circulation of leaked examination papers such as NEET, cyber fraud, terrorism-linked propaganda, child sexual exploitation material, drug trafficking and financial crimes. ‘Telegram has become the new dark web’ “Telegram has become the new dark web, linking threat actors. Criminals have rapidly adopted Telegram to post links on channels that connect to dark web forums through deep web links, making it hard for authorities to track and attribute criminals,” the Centre said. Also Read: ‘Had a great time on last visit,’ Trump tells WION, recalls massive India stadium event The affidavit filed by the government says that Telegram’s privacy and anonymity features have made it particularly attractive for crime and criminal networks, as users can hide their phone numbers and Telegram IDs through privacy settings, making it difficult for investigators to establish the real identities behind accounts. “It has been observed that Telegram is being exploited for illegal activities including drug trafficking, cybercrime, extremism, terrorism, child exploitation, and cyber scams and frauds, primarily due to privacy features,” the affidavit said. The Centre flagged its concerns after its decision to temporarily block Telegram’s operations in India ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21. Telegram has challenged the blocking in the Delhi High Court. Telegram groups, channels being used to circulate extremist, radical content The government also alleged that Telegram groups and channels are being used to circulate extremist and radical content, alleging terror organisations are using them to spread violent propaganda and misinformation. The Centre also alleged that the platform is being used in academic fraud, citing its use in the circulation of leaked examination papers, including NEET-related materials. Fraudsters create fake accounts using false identities to carry out financial scams, publish data breaches and coordinate cyber offences, the affidavit said. Also Read: UK-India trade deal worth over $6 billion to come into force on July 15 Some Telegram channels and groups have been circulating Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) and such content remains a major concern for enforcement agencies monitoring online platforms. It also flagged the alleged use of Telegram channels for the sale and purchase of mule bank accounts, which are used to receive and transfer proceeds of cybercrime and money laundering operations. The Centre also alleged that Telegram channels are widely used to distribute pirated movies, web series and other copyrighted content, causing losses to content creators and raising intellectual property concerns.

The government said that Telegram’s privacy and anonymity features have made it particularly attractive for criminals, as they can hide their phone numbers and Telegram IDs through privacy settings, making it difficult for investigators to establish the real identities behind such accounts.

Telegram being used for carrying out cyberattacks, circulating child porn, drug trade: Govt tells Delhi High Court

India likes to talk about building AI. Prime ministers give speeches about it. Policy documents run to hundreds of pages. The IndiaAI Mission has been allocated tens of thousands of NVIDIA GPUs, the same American chips India has no ability to replicate and the country's biggest tech ambitions are being staked on hardware it cannot design, fabricate or control. Before the AI conversation gets any further, it is worth asking a simpler, more uncomfortable question: has India ever actually built a computer or a mobile phone on its own? The honest answer is no.&nbsp;The Chips Were Never Indian&nbsp;Every device that has been called an Indian computer or an Indian smartphone has been assembled around a foreign processor. HCL, often cited as a pioneer of Indian computing, built its early personal computers around Intel chips running Microsoft DOS and, later, Windows. The operating system was American. The silicon was American. The Indian contribution was the chassis and the brand name. Lava International, the most credible claimant to the Made-in-India smartphone title, today ships its Agni series running MediaTek's Dimensity 8350 chipset, a Taiwanese design fabricated in fabs India has no access to, on top of Google's Android. According to Lava's own product listings, there is no Indian silicon inside any phone it sells.&nbsp;The Best India Has Produced and What It Means&nbsp;India does have an indigenous processor. The Dhruv64, unveiled in December 2025 by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing under the government's Microprocessor Development Programme, is a 64-bit dual-core chip running at 1.0GHz. According to the Press Information Bureau, it is designed for embedded systems, not consumer devices. To put that in context: Intel's Core i7-14700K has 20 cores and boosts to 5.6GHz. Apple's M-series chips, found in every MacBook sold today, have up to 16 cores with neural engines that run billions of operations per second. The Dhruv64 is not a consumer chip. It will not appear in any phone or laptop you can buy. It is, by the government's own description, a starting point.&nbsp;The OS Story Is No Better&nbsp;BharOS, the Indian mobile operating system developed by IIT Madras and launched with considerable fanfare in January 2023, was supposed to be India's answer to Android. According to Wikipedia and multiple technology publications, BharOS is a closed-source Android fork, meaning it is built on top of the same open-source code that Google's Android uses. As of mid-2026, it has not shipped in a single commercial consumer device. Lava executives had announced in February 2024 that 500 Lava phones would run BharOS within six months. That did not happen. BharOS remains a government-institutional project. The Shakti processor from IIT Madras, India's other flagship chip initiative, is targeting a 7nm design by 2028. It too is not in any device a civilian can purchase.&nbsp;The AI+ Scandal Summed It Up&nbsp;If one story captures where Indian hardware ambition actually stands, it is the AI+ smartphone controversy of 2025. AI+, led by former Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth, was marketed as India's first fully sovereign smartphone, engineered in India, data stored in India, built to counter Chinese surveillance risks. According to reporting by IBTimes UK and Free Press Journal, technology reviewers and YouTubers publicly challenged whether the device was anything more than a Chinese white-label product with Indian packaging. The company responded with legal action against critics rather than transparency about its supply chain. A phone marketed as the antidote to Chinese hardware dependency turned out to share the same problem it was sold to solve.&nbsp;No GPU, No AI&nbsp;The most direct evidence that India is not ready to build AI is its complete absence from the GPU supply chain. According to The Print, the lack of an indigenous GPU is a direct stumbling block to India's AI self-reliance ambitions. India's IndiaAI Mission runs on NVIDIA hardware. The country's largest supercomputer cluster operates on just 700 GPUs, a figure that trails what a single mid-sized American university research lab deploys. India is also subject to US export control caps, with a reported ceiling of 50,000 advanced GPUs under existing regulations. According to the Organiser, indigenous GPU development is targeted for demonstration by end of 2025 and production by 2029. Demonstration. Not production. Not deployment.&nbsp;The Honest Reckoning&nbsp;India has built engineers. It has built services firms. It has produced researchers who work on AI at Google, Meta and OpenAI. What it has not built is the physical layer: the fabs, the chip architectures, the GPU clusters, the operating systems deployed at consumer scale. TIFRAC, India's first indigenous computer, was completed in 1960. It took six years to build and was never followed by a second. Sixty-six years later, the country's best commercial chip runs at 1GHz. The gap between where India is and where AI infrastructure actually begins is not a policy problem. It is an industrial problem — one that takes decades, not mission statements, to close. Claiming AI leadership while importing every chip that runs it is not a strategy. It is branding.

India's AI superpower pitch collapses under scrutiny: its best chip runs at 1GHz, BharOS hasn't shipped in a single consumer phone, and every 'Made in India' device runs on foreign silicon and a foreign OS.

India likes to talk about building AI. Prime ministers give speeches about it. Policy documents run to hundreds of pages. The IndiaAI Mission has been allocated tens of thousands of NVIDIA GPUs, the same American chips India has no ability to replicate and the country's biggest tech ambitions are being staked on hardware it cannot design, fabricate or control. Before the AI conversation gets any further, it is worth asking a simpler, more uncomfortable question: has India ever actually built a computer or a mobile phone on its own? The honest answer is no. The Chips Were Never Indian Every device that has been called an Indian computer or an Indian smartphone has been assembled around a foreign processor. HCL, often cited as a pioneer of Indian computing, built its early personal computers around Intel chips running Microsoft DOS and, later, Windows. The operating system was American. The silicon was American. The Indian contribution was the chassis and the brand name. Lava International, the most credible claimant to the Made-in-India smartphone title, today ships its Agni series running MediaTek's Dimensity 8350 chipset, a Taiwanese design fabricated in fabs India has no access to, on top of Google's Android. According to Lava's own product listings, there is no Indian silicon inside any phone it sells. The Best India Has Produced and What It Means India does have an indigenous processor. The Dhruv64, unveiled in December 2025 by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing under the government's Microprocessor Development Programme, is a 64-bit dual-core chip running at 1.0GHz. According to the Press Information Bureau, it is designed for embedded systems, not consumer devices. To put that in context: Intel's Core i7-14700K has 20 cores and boosts to 5.6GHz. Apple's M-series chips, found in every MacBook sold today, have up to 16 cores with neural engines that run billions of operations per second. The Dhruv64 is not a consumer chip. It will not appear in any phone or laptop you can buy. It is, by the government's own description, a starting point. The OS Story Is No Better BharOS, the Indian mobile operating system developed by IIT Madras and launched with considerable fanfare in January 2023, was supposed to be India's answer to Android. According to Wikipedia and multiple technology publications, BharOS is a closed-source Android fork, meaning it is built on top of the same open-source code that Google's Android uses. As of mid-2026, it has not shipped in a single commercial consumer device. Lava executives had announced in February 2024 that 500 Lava phones would run BharOS within six months. That did not happen. BharOS remains a government-institutional project. The Shakti processor from IIT Madras, India's other flagship chip initiative, is targeting a 7nm design by 2028. It too is not in any device a civilian can purchase. The AI+ Scandal Summed It Up If one story captures where Indian hardware ambition actually stands, it is the AI+ smartphone controversy of 2025. AI+, led by former Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth, was marketed as India's first fully sovereign smartphone, engineered in India, data stored in India, built to counter Chinese surveillance risks. According to reporting by IBTimes UK and Free Press Journal, technology reviewers and YouTubers publicly challenged whether the device was anything more than a Chinese white-label product with Indian packaging. The company responded with legal action against critics rather than transparency about its supply chain. A phone marketed as the antidote to Chinese hardware dependency turned out to share the same problem it was sold to solve. No GPU, No AI The most direct evidence that India is not ready to build AI is its complete absence from the GPU supply chain. According to The Print, the lack of an indigenous GPU is a direct stumbling block to India's AI self-reliance ambitions. India's IndiaAI Mission runs on NVIDIA hardware. The country's largest supercomputer cluster operates on just 700 GPUs, a figure that trails what a single mid-sized American university research lab deploys. India is also subject to US export control caps, with a reported ceiling of 50,000 advanced GPUs under existing regulations. According to the Organiser, indigenous GPU development is targeted for demonstration by end of 2025 and production by 2029. Demonstration. Not production. Not deployment. The Honest Reckoning India has built engineers. It has built services firms. It has produced researchers who work on AI at Google, Meta and OpenAI. What it has not built is the physical layer: the fabs, the chip architectures, the GPU clusters, the operating systems deployed at consumer scale. TIFRAC, India's first indigenous computer, was completed in 1960. It took six years to build and was never followed by a second. Sixty-six years later, the country's best commercial chip runs at 1GHz. The gap between where India is and where AI infrastructure actually begins is not a policy problem. It is an industrial problem — one that takes decades, not mission statements, to close. Claiming AI leadership while importing every chip that runs it is not a strategy. It is branding.

As India pitches itself as the world's next AI superpower, a harder truth sits beneath the headlines: the country has never shipped a fully indigenous computer, never put a homegrown chip in a consumer phone, and its best processor runs at 1GHz, a speed Intel crossed in the year 2000.&nbsp;

Forget building AI, India is yet to build its first fully indigenous computer or mobile phone

China has carried out the most dramatic restructuring of its higher education system in a generation. Between 2021 and 2025, Chinese universities revoked or suspended 12,200 undergraduate degree programmes — more than 30 per cent of the country's total, while simultaneously launching 10,200 new ones. The programmes being cleared out are in the humanities, arts, foreign languages, human resources and management. What is being built in their place is an AI-first curriculum aligned entirely with Beijing's ambitions to dominate the industries of the future.&nbsp;The Courses That Did Not Survive&nbsp;The subjects on the chopping block tell a clear story. Public administration, accounting, HR management, international economics, editing and advertising, these are fields that produced millions of graduates annually but are now being treated as redundant in an economy where AI handles hiring screens, financial reconciliations, content moderation and customer service. Foreign language departments, long a prestige staple of Chinese universities, are being wound down as large language models increasingly outperform human translators. Of the roles that Chinese graduates have historically targeted, programming, accounting, editing, and sales, all have seen sharp declines in job postings since 2018, with AI tools eating into demand faster than the labour market can adjust.&nbsp;What Is Replacing Them&nbsp;The incoming programmes are tightly anchored to Beijing's industrial policy. Universities are launching majors in semiconductor design, robotics engineering, AI systems integration and a fast-emerging field called embodied intelligence — the science of embedding advanced AI into physical machines and humanoid robots so they can operate in the real world. Nine universities have already added formal degree programmes in embodied intelligence, a subject that barely existed as an academic discipline five years ago. The shift is not just about teaching students to use AI tools, it is about training an entire generation to build, deploy and iterate on the systems that will power China's next industrial base.&nbsp;The Jobs Crisis Driving The Overhaul&nbsp;Beijing's decision is not purely ideological, it is a response to a jobs emergency. Youth unemployment in China has hovered between 15 and 19 per cent for the 16-24 age group, and more than 12.7 million students were set to graduate in 2026 alone. The old model, expand university enrolment broadly across all disciplines and trust the economy to absorb graduates, stopped working years ago. Millions of degree holders have been unable to find work that matches their qualifications, fuelling public frustration and a cultural backlash against traditional education. The government is now responding by forcibly aligning what universities teach with what the economy actually needs, regardless of which departments resist.&nbsp;A Signal To The World&nbsp;China's move carries implications well beyond its own borders. The country is essentially running a live experiment in centrally directed curriculum design at national scale, stripping out fields it has decided AI will render redundant and doubling down on fields where it believes human-AI collaboration will remain essential. Whether this produces the skilled AI workforce Beijing is betting on, or simply trades one kind of graduate unemployment for another, will become visible within the next five years. For countries like India, where HR, MBA and accounting degrees remain among the most enrolled programmes, the Chinese overhaul is an early, unavoidable question: how long before the same reckoning arrives?

China has scrapped over 12,000 university degree programmes in arts, HR, and accounting and replaced them with AI, robotics and embodied intelligence courses in its most radical education overhaul in decades.

China has carried out the most dramatic restructuring of its higher education system in a generation. Between 2021 and 2025, Chinese universities revoked or suspended 12,200 undergraduate degree programmes — more than 30 per cent of the country's total, while simultaneously launching 10,200 new ones. The programmes being cleared out are in the humanities, arts, foreign languages, human resources and management. What is being built in their place is an AI-first curriculum aligned entirely with Beijing's ambitions to dominate the industries of the future. The Courses That Did Not Survive The subjects on the chopping block tell a clear story. Public administration, accounting, HR management, international economics, editing and advertising, these are fields that produced millions of graduates annually but are now being treated as redundant in an economy where AI handles hiring screens, financial reconciliations, content moderation and customer service. Foreign language departments, long a prestige staple of Chinese universities, are being wound down as large language models increasingly outperform human translators. Of the roles that Chinese graduates have historically targeted, programming, accounting, editing, and sales, all have seen sharp declines in job postings since 2018, with AI tools eating into demand faster than the labour market can adjust. What Is Replacing Them The incoming programmes are tightly anchored to Beijing's industrial policy. Universities are launching majors in semiconductor design, robotics engineering, AI systems integration and a fast-emerging field called embodied intelligence — the science of embedding advanced AI into physical machines and humanoid robots so they can operate in the real world. Nine universities have already added formal degree programmes in embodied intelligence, a subject that barely existed as an academic discipline five years ago. The shift is not just about teaching students to use AI tools, it is about training an entire generation to build, deploy and iterate on the systems that will power China's next industrial base. The Jobs Crisis Driving The Overhaul Beijing's decision is not purely ideological, it is a response to a jobs emergency. Youth unemployment in China has hovered between 15 and 19 per cent for the 16-24 age group, and more than 12.7 million students were set to graduate in 2026 alone. The old model, expand university enrolment broadly across all disciplines and trust the economy to absorb graduates, stopped working years ago. Millions of degree holders have been unable to find work that matches their qualifications, fuelling public frustration and a cultural backlash against traditional education. The government is now responding by forcibly aligning what universities teach with what the economy actually needs, regardless of which departments resist. A Signal To The World China's move carries implications well beyond its own borders. The country is essentially running a live experiment in centrally directed curriculum design at national scale, stripping out fields it has decided AI will render redundant and doubling down on fields where it believes human-AI collaboration will remain essential. Whether this produces the skilled AI workforce Beijing is betting on, or simply trades one kind of graduate unemployment for another, will become visible within the next five years. For countries like India, where HR, MBA and accounting degrees remain among the most enrolled programmes, the Chinese overhaul is an early, unavoidable question: how long before the same reckoning arrives?

In the most sweeping overhaul of its university system in decades, China has scrapped over 12,000 undergraduate degree programmes, gutting arts, HR, foreign languages and accounting and replaced them with courses in AI, robotics and embodied intelligence.&nbsp;

'HR not required': China cuts 12,000 courses in ultimate push for AI education

Google has launched Android 17, bringing a range of new artificial intelligence features, multitasking tools and security improvements to Pixel devices. The update arrives alongside Wear OS 7 and the latest Pixel Drop, which introduces new Gemini-powered capabilities including AI-generated music, video editing tools and enhanced translation features.&nbsp;The release is significant because it shows how aggressively Google is integrating AI into its products at a time when major technology companies are competing to make artificial intelligence a central part of everyday devices.&nbsp;<h2>Gemini becomes more powerful across Android</h2>Artificial intelligence is at the heart of Android 17. Google is expanding the role of its Gemini platform with support for newer AI models such as Gemini Omni, Lyria 3 and AudioLM. Gemini Omni will allow users to edit videos through conversational commands. Instead of manually navigating editing tools, users can make changes by describing what they want. Meanwhile, Lyria 3 introduces AI-generated music creation. Users can create original music tracks from text prompts and even images directly through Gemini-supported experiences. Pixel 10a devices will also receive upgraded speech-to-speech translation powered by AudioLM, aiming to make multilingual conversations more natural.<h2>Android 17 introduces new multitasking features</h2>Beyond AI, Android 17 includes one of its biggest multitasking upgrades in years. A new "bubble bar" places recently used apps in floating bubbles at the bottom of the screen. Users can move between apps more quickly and manage multiple tasks with fewer taps. Google says the feature is designed to improve workflows for people who regularly switch between messaging, browsing, video calls and productivity apps. The update also introduces a screen-and-selfie recording feature. This allows users to record their screen and front-facing camera simultaneously, making it easier to create reaction videos, tutorials and social media content for platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.<h2>Pixel devices gain new communication and safety tools</h2>Google is also introducing several new communication features. Users can now record personalised outgoing audio messages when they cannot answer calls. The "Take a Message" feature is expanding to more countries and regions. Safety tools are also receiving attention. The latest Pixel Watch update can automatically contact emergency services and selected contacts if it detects a car crash, a serious fall or a lack of pulse. These additions reflect Google's broader push to make wearable devices more useful beyond fitness tracking.AirDrop compatibility and security improvementsOne of the more surprising additions is expanded compatibility between Android Quick Share and Apple's AirDrop ecosystem on selected older Pixel devices, including the Pixel 8a and Pixel 9a.<h2>The update also strengthens security.</h2>New tools include a "Mark as Lost" option in Find Hub, improved Live Threat Detection and additional protections against scams and digital threats. Parents are also receiving more control options, including content filtering and screen-time management features that can be protected with a PIN.&nbsp; Wear OS 7 gets ready for the AI eraGoogle's smartwatch platform is also receiving a significant upgrade. Wear OS 7 introduces better integration with future hardware products, including AI-powered glasses and connected audio devices. Later this year, Google plans to add more Gemini Intelligence features to Wear OS. These include AI-generated widgets created from simple descriptions and personalised experiences built using information from Google apps and conversations. The company says battery life improvements of up to 10 per cent are also part of the update.&nbsp;<h2>Android 17 is more than a routine software update.</h2>The release highlights how smartphone companies are shifting from adding isolated AI features to building AI directly into the operating system itself. While competitors are preparing their own AI upgrades, Google is using Android 17 to demonstrate how AI can assist with communication, creativity, productivity and safety in everyday use. For users, the update offers a glimpse of how smartphones and smartwatches may evolve as AI becomes a standard part of the digital experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Google has launched Android 17 and Wear OS 7, bringing Gemini-powered AI tools, AI-generated music, video editing, improved multitasking and stronger security features. The update reflects Google's growing effort to place AI at the centre of the Android experience.


Google has launched Android 17, bringing a range of new artificial intelligence features, multitasking tools and security improvements to Pixel devices. The update arrives alongside Wear OS 7 and the latest Pixel Drop, which introduces new Gemini-powered capabilities including AI-generated music, video editing tools and enhanced translation features. The release is significant because it shows how aggressively Google is integrating AI into its products at a time when major technology companies are competing to make artificial intelligence a central part of everyday devices. Gemini becomes more powerful across Android Artificial intelligence is at the heart of Android 17. Google is expanding the role of its Gemini platform with support for newer AI models such as Gemini Omni, Lyria 3 and AudioLM. Gemini Omni will allow users to edit videos through conversational commands. Instead of manually navigating editing tools, users can make changes by describing what they want. Meanwhile, Lyria 3 introduces AI-generated music creation. Users can create original music tracks from text prompts and even images directly through Gemini-supported experiences. Pixel 10a devices will also receive upgraded speech-to-speech translation powered by AudioLM, aiming to make multilingual conversations more natural. Android 17 introduces new multitasking features Beyond AI, Android 17 includes one of its biggest multitasking upgrades in years. A new "bubble bar" places recently used apps in floating bubbles at the bottom of the screen. Users can move between apps more quickly and manage multiple tasks with fewer taps. Google says the feature is designed to improve workflows for people who regularly switch between messaging, browsing, video calls and productivity apps. The update also introduces a screen-and-selfie recording feature. This allows users to record their screen and front-facing camera simultaneously, making it easier to create reaction videos, tutorials and social media content for platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Pixel devices gain new communication and safety tools Google is also introducing several new communication features. Users can now record personalised outgoing audio messages when they cannot answer calls. The "Take a Message" feature is expanding to more countries and regions. Safety tools are also receiving attention. The latest Pixel Watch update can automatically contact emergency services and selected contacts if it detects a car crash, a serious fall or a lack of pulse. These additions reflect Google's broader push to make wearable devices more useful beyond fitness tracking. AirDrop compatibility and security improvements One of the more surprising additions is expanded compatibility between Android Quick Share and Apple's AirDrop ecosystem on selected older Pixel devices, including the Pixel 8a and Pixel 9a. The update also strengthens security. New tools include a "Mark as Lost" option in Find Hub, improved Live Threat Detection and additional protections against scams and digital threats. Parents are also receiving more control options, including content filtering and screen-time management features that can be protected with a PIN. Wear OS 7 gets ready for the AI era Google's smartwatch platform is also receiving a significant upgrade. Wear OS 7 introduces better integration with future hardware products, including AI-powered glasses and connected audio devices. Later this year, Google plans to add more Gemini Intelligence features to Wear OS. These include AI-generated widgets created from simple descriptions and personalised experiences built using information from Google apps and conversations. The company says battery life improvements of up to 10 per cent are also part of the update. Android 17 is more than a routine software update. The release highlights how smartphone companies are shifting from adding isolated AI features to building AI directly into the operating system itself. While competitors are preparing their own AI upgrades, Google is using Android 17 to demonstrate how AI can assist with communication, creativity, productivity and safety in everyday use. For users, the update offers a glimpse of how smartphones and smartwatches may evolve as AI becomes a standard part of the digital experience.

Google has launched Android 17 and Wear OS 7, bringing Gemini-powered AI tools, AI-generated music, video editing, improved multitasking and stronger security features. The update reflects Google's growing effort to place AI at the centre of the Android experience.

Android 17 arrives with Gemini-powered upgrades, new multitasking tools and AirDrop compatibility

SpaceX has achieved another milestone just days after its historic stock market debut. The company has surpassed Amazon in market value after a surge in its share price pushed its valuation above $2.7 trillion. The rally has added roughly $1 trillion to SpaceX's value since it went public last week, making it the fifth-most valuable company in the world.&nbsp;The rapid rise has attracted attention because SpaceX's financial profile looks very different from many of the companies it now rivals. While Amazon generated around $78 billion in profit on $717 billion in revenue during 2025, SpaceX reported a loss of $4.9 billion on revenue of $18.7 billion. Yet investors continue to push the stock higher.<h2>Why SpaceX shares are rising so quickly</h2>The latest jump came after SpaceX announced plans to acquire AI coding startup Cursor in a $60 billion all-stock deal. The acquisition is seen as a major step in the company's effort to strengthen its artificial intelligence business. Investors appear to be focusing less on current earnings and more on SpaceX's long-term growth potential. The company has increasingly positioned itself as more than a space and satellite operator. It is now promoting opportunities in artificial intelligence, computing infrastructure and enterprise software.&nbsp;That broader vision is helping fuel investor enthusiasm.The AI factor behind SpaceX's valuationArtificial intelligence has become a central part of the SpaceX investment story.&nbsp;Earlier this year, Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, became part of SpaceX's wider business structure. Since then, the company has highlighted massive opportunities in AI infrastructure and enterprise applications. SpaceX has argued that its addressable AI market could eventually be measured in trillions of dollars.<h2>The Cursor acquisition fits directly into that strategy</h2>Cursor has emerged as one of the fastest-growing AI coding platforms and is viewed as a key player in the rapidly expanding market for autonomous software development tools. For investors, the deal signals that SpaceX intends to compete aggressively in AI rather than remain focused solely on rockets and satellites.&nbsp;A historic IPO with unusual characteristics, SpaceX's public listing was already attracting attention before the stock surge. The company debuted with a valuation of roughly $1.7 trillion and raised nearly $86 billion through the offering. However, only around 4 per cent of SpaceX's shares were made available for public trading.&nbsp;Market analysts had warned that such a limited float could lead to significant price swings because a relatively small amount of buying or selling activity could have a larger impact on the share price.&nbsp;<h2>That prediction appears to be playing out.</h2>Since listing, SpaceX shares have experienced sharp gains as investor demand continues to outpace available supply.Overtaking Amazon is symbolically significant. Amazon is one of the most profitable and influential companies in the world, with businesses spanning e-commerce, cloud computing, logistics, advertising and artificial intelligence. SpaceX, by comparison, remains a much younger company with significantly lower revenue and ongoing losses. The gap highlights how investors are increasingly valuing future growth opportunities rather than current financial performance. Supporters believe SpaceX's position in space technology, satellite communications and artificial intelligence could create enormous long-term value.<h2>The next test for SpaceX</h2>The company's soaring valuation now places even greater pressure on management to deliver. Investors will be watching closely to see whether SpaceX can successfully integrate Cursor, expand its AI operations and justify the ambitious forecasts that helped drive its share price higher.For now, however, the market appears convinced. Just days after completing the largest IPO in history, SpaceX has overtaken Amazon and joined the ranks of the world's most valuable companies.

SpaceX has overtaken Amazon to become the world's fifth-most valuable company after a sharp rally in its share price.

SpaceX has achieved another milestone just days after its historic stock market debut. The company has surpassed Amazon in market value after a surge in its share price pushed its valuation above $2.7 trillion. The rally has added roughly $1 trillion to SpaceX's value since it went public last week, making it the fifth-most valuable company in the world. The rapid rise has attracted attention because SpaceX's financial profile looks very different from many of the companies it now rivals. While Amazon generated around $78 billion in profit on $717 billion in revenue during 2025, SpaceX reported a loss of $4.9 billion on revenue of $18.7 billion. Yet investors continue to push the stock higher. Why SpaceX shares are rising so quickly The latest jump came after SpaceX announced plans to acquire AI coding startup Cursor in a $60 billion all-stock deal. The acquisition is seen as a major step in the company's effort to strengthen its artificial intelligence business. Investors appear to be focusing less on current earnings and more on SpaceX's long-term growth potential. The company has increasingly positioned itself as more than a space and satellite operator. It is now promoting opportunities in artificial intelligence, computing infrastructure and enterprise software. That broader vision is helping fuel investor enthusiasm. The AI factor behind SpaceX's valuation Artificial intelligence has become a central part of the SpaceX investment story. Earlier this year, Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, became part of SpaceX's wider business structure. Since then, the company has highlighted massive opportunities in AI infrastructure and enterprise applications. SpaceX has argued that its addressable AI market could eventually be measured in trillions of dollars. The Cursor acquisition fits directly into that strategy Cursor has emerged as one of the fastest-growing AI coding platforms and is viewed as a key player in the rapidly expanding market for autonomous software development tools. For investors, the deal signals that SpaceX intends to compete aggressively in AI rather than remain focused solely on rockets and satellites. A historic IPO with unusual characteristics, SpaceX's public listing was already attracting attention before the stock surge. The company debuted with a valuation of roughly $1.7 trillion and raised nearly $86 billion through the offering. However, only around 4 per cent of SpaceX's shares were made available for public trading. Market analysts had warned that such a limited float could lead to significant price swings because a relatively small amount of buying or selling activity could have a larger impact on the share price. That prediction appears to be playing out. Since listing, SpaceX shares have experienced sharp gains as investor demand continues to outpace available supply. Overtaking Amazon is symbolically significant. Amazon is one of the most profitable and influential companies in the world, with businesses spanning e-commerce, cloud computing, logistics, advertising and artificial intelligence. SpaceX, by comparison, remains a much younger company with significantly lower revenue and ongoing losses. The gap highlights how investors are increasingly valuing future growth opportunities rather than current financial performance. Supporters believe SpaceX's position in space technology, satellite communications and artificial intelligence could create enormous long-term value. The next test for SpaceX The company's soaring valuation now places even greater pressure on management to deliver. Investors will be watching closely to see whether SpaceX can successfully integrate Cursor, expand its AI operations and justify the ambitious forecasts that helped drive its share price higher. For now, however, the market appears convinced. Just days after completing the largest IPO in history, SpaceX has overtaken Amazon and joined the ranks of the world's most valuable companies.

SpaceX has overtaken Amazon to become the world's fifth-most valuable company after a sharp rally in its share price.

SpaceX is now worth more than Amazon after gaining $1 trillion in market value

Just a few days after completing one of the most closely watched public listings in technology history, SpaceX has announced another major move. The company has agreed to acquire AI coding startup Cursor in a $60 billion all-stock deal, according to details released by the company. The transaction comes less than two months after the companies announced a strategic partnership and marks one of the largest acquisitions ever involving an AI software company. The move is attracting attention not only because of its size, but also because of what it signals about SpaceX's future priorities.<h2>Why SpaceX wants Cursor</h2>SpaceX says the acquisition is designed to strengthen its artificial intelligence division, which has become a central part of the company's long-term strategy. The AI unit is built around xAI, Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, which merged with SpaceX earlier this year. SpaceX has repeatedly highlighted AI as one of its biggest growth opportunities, telling investors that artificial intelligence could eventually represent a multi-trillion-dollar market. Cursor specialises in AI-powered coding tools that help developers write, edit and improve software. The company has emerged as one of the fastest-growing names in the AI industry as demand for autonomous coding assistants has surged.By bringing Cursor into the business, SpaceX gains access to technology that many believe could become a core part of the next generation of software development.<h2>A startup that grew at remarkable speed</h2>Founded in 2022 under the name Anysphere, Cursor quickly became one of the most talked-about AI startups. The company participated in OpenAI's startup accelerator programme and attracted significant investor interest as AI coding tools gained popularity. Before the acquisition announcement, Cursor was reportedly preparing a new funding round that could have valued the company at around $50 billion. The startup had already raised billions of dollars from investors over the past two years and built a reputation as one of the strongest challengers in the rapidly growing AI coding market.The timing is hard to ignoreThe acquisition arrives at a pivotal moment for SpaceX. Following its blockbuster IPO, the company's share price surged, adding hundreds of billions of dollars to its market value in a matter of days. That stronger valuation may have made a large stock-based acquisition easier to execute. At the same time, SpaceX's AI division has faced challenges. The company has been restructuring parts of its AI operations while attempting to address controversies surrounding AI-generated content and the performance of some products. The Cursor deal appears aimed at accelerating development while bringing in proven AI talent and technology.<h2>A bet on the future of AI</h2>SpaceX has repeatedly argued that artificial intelligence represents one of the largest opportunities in technology. Company presentations have highlighted opportunities ranging from AI infrastructure to enterprise software applications. Cursor fits directly into that strategy because software development is increasingly becoming one of the most important uses of generative AI. Many industry analysts believe coding assistants could become standard tools for developers in the coming years. If that happens, Cursor could become one of the most strategically important acquisitions in SpaceX's history.&nbsp;SpaceX expects the transaction to close during the third quarter, subject to customary approvals. For investors, the deal offers an early indication of how the company plans to use its newly strengthened position following its public listing. For the wider technology industry, it underscores a broader trend: competition in artificial intelligence is moving beyond chatbots and into specialised tools that can automate increasingly complex tasks. The acquisition also sends a clear message. SpaceX is no longer positioning itself solely as a space and satellite company. It is increasingly presenting itself as a major AI player, and the Cursor deal may be one of its boldest moves yet.

SpaceX has agreed to acquire AI coding startup Cursor in a $60 billion stock deal shortly after its blockbuster IPO. The acquisition strengthens the company's AI ambitions, expands its software capabilities and signals a deeper push into the fast-growing market for autonomous coding tools.

Just a few days after completing one of the most closely watched public listings in technology history, SpaceX has announced another major move. The company has agreed to acquire AI coding startup Cursor in a $60 billion all-stock deal, according to details released by the company. The transaction comes less than two months after the companies announced a strategic partnership and marks one of the largest acquisitions ever involving an AI software company. The move is attracting attention not only because of its size, but also because of what it signals about SpaceX's future priorities. Why SpaceX wants Cursor SpaceX says the acquisition is designed to strengthen its artificial intelligence division, which has become a central part of the company's long-term strategy. The AI unit is built around xAI, Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, which merged with SpaceX earlier this year. SpaceX has repeatedly highlighted AI as one of its biggest growth opportunities, telling investors that artificial intelligence could eventually represent a multi-trillion-dollar market. Cursor specialises in AI-powered coding tools that help developers write, edit and improve software. The company has emerged as one of the fastest-growing names in the AI industry as demand for autonomous coding assistants has surged. By bringing Cursor into the business, SpaceX gains access to technology that many believe could become a core part of the next generation of software development. A startup that grew at remarkable speed Founded in 2022 under the name Anysphere, Cursor quickly became one of the most talked-about AI startups. The company participated in OpenAI's startup accelerator programme and attracted significant investor interest as AI coding tools gained popularity. Before the acquisition announcement, Cursor was reportedly preparing a new funding round that could have valued the company at around $50 billion. The startup had already raised billions of dollars from investors over the past two years and built a reputation as one of the strongest challengers in the rapidly growing AI coding market. The timing is hard to ignore The acquisition arrives at a pivotal moment for SpaceX. Following its blockbuster IPO, the company's share price surged, adding hundreds of billions of dollars to its market value in a matter of days. That stronger valuation may have made a large stock-based acquisition easier to execute. At the same time, SpaceX's AI division has faced challenges. The company has been restructuring parts of its AI operations while attempting to address controversies surrounding AI-generated content and the performance of some products. The Cursor deal appears aimed at accelerating development while bringing in proven AI talent and technology. A bet on the future of AI SpaceX has repeatedly argued that artificial intelligence represents one of the largest opportunities in technology. Company presentations have highlighted opportunities ranging from AI infrastructure to enterprise software applications. Cursor fits directly into that strategy because software development is increasingly becoming one of the most important uses of generative AI. Many industry analysts believe coding assistants could become standard tools for developers in the coming years. If that happens, Cursor could become one of the most strategically important acquisitions in SpaceX's history. SpaceX expects the transaction to close during the third quarter, subject to customary approvals. For investors, the deal offers an early indication of how the company plans to use its newly strengthened position following its public listing. For the wider technology industry, it underscores a broader trend: competition in artificial intelligence is moving beyond chatbots and into specialised tools that can automate increasingly complex tasks. The acquisition also sends a clear message. SpaceX is no longer positioning itself solely as a space and satellite company. It is increasingly presenting itself as a major AI player, and the Cursor deal may be one of its boldest moves yet.

SpaceX has agreed to acquire AI coding startup Cursor in a $60 billion stock deal shortly after its blockbuster IPO. The acquisition strengthens the company's AI ambitions, expands its software capabilities and signals a deeper push into the fast-growing market for autonomous coding tools.

SpaceX to acquire Cursor for $60 billion: Why it could be the company's most important deal yet

The UK is joining Australia, Indonesia, and a handful of other nations to implement social media restrictions, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer announcing a ban on under-16s' access to platforms like Facebook and Instagram soon. Most bans across nations are age-based, applying mainly to those below 16 or 18. Full nationwide bans for mostly US-based platforms exist in China and Iran. India banned TikTok in 2020. While full nationwide bans cause near-total revenue loss from those markets, limited bans based on age, known as age-gating, do not affect the company's bottom line, as such restrictions target younger, less monetised teen demographics. These restrictions are basically a rap on the knuckle for the firms, and a drop in the ocean when compared to the billion-dollar revenues of Meta, Google, TikTok, Snap and others. Here is why:<h2>Fines and penalties are low compared to social media platform revenues</h2>In Australia, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube and Twitch face fines of up to AU$49.5 million (US$33.2 million) if they fail to remove under-16 accounts. Against Meta's multi-billion-dollar quarterly profits, this amount is nothing. No major fines have been paid. The country's watchdog, eSafety, is sending monthly notices for six months and will pursue penalties only for systemic breaches. The main cost so far is reputational, from compliance probes on these firms.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-keir-starmer-to-bar-all-under-16s-from-major-social-media-platforms-1781508860388">UK government to bar all under-16s from major social media platforms, Keir Starmer announces</a><h2>Social media bans: Account removals vs actual usage</h2>Platforms revoked access to about 4.7 million under-16 accounts in Australia since the December 2025 ban. Yet usage persists, with surveys showing up to 20 per cent of 13–15-year-olds still accessing TikTok and Snapchat months later, and most prior users retaining access via workarounds like VPNs and fake ages. This, in effect, limits the losses for social media firms both in terms of real users and revenue.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-to-ban-social-media-for-under-16s-proposes-sweeping-online-safety-curbs-1781586711769/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-to-ban-social-media-for-under-16s-proposes-sweeping-online-safety-curbs-1781586711769/embed</a><h2>Is revenue actually lost for companies due to social media bans?</h2>A 2023 Harvard study found social media platforms earned nearly $11 billion in US ad revenue from under-18s in 2022. Snapchat derived 41 per cent of its 2022 US ad revenue from under-18s, TikTok 35 per cent, YouTube 27 per cent, and Instagram 16 per cent. Nobably, the figure is only 1.9 per cent for Facebook and 2 per cent for X. Instagram drew most revenue from 13–17-year-olds , at $4 billion, followed by TikTok, before it was briefly banned in US, at $2 billion.&nbsp;Under-16s are a smaller slice of the user base, but they are key drivers of engagement and future growth.In February this year, Snap CEO called global ad revenue from under-18 impressions "not material."&nbsp;Analysts broadly agree to this: teens are under-monetised as they lack the disposable income advertisers chase. So the short-term financial impacts of bans may be minimal.The bigger boomerang hits creators, who used to earn billions through these platforms in markets like Australia and lose reach when their under-16 audience is cut off.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/is-india-planning-australia-like-social-media-ban-for-children-under-16-what-we-know-1771386744225">Is India planning Australia-like social media ban for children under 16? What we know</a><h2>Cost of compliance is also minimal compared to revenues</h2>Age-verification runs roughly $0.12–$0.65 per check , and can include facial estimation, ID-based, or mobile-based methods. As Australia's six industry codes for age assurance took effect in March, a government analysis estimated AU$53.9 million in initial age-assurance costs across services plus AU$4.5 million annually. For the big tech firms, these amounts are manageable, though the tech can be cumbersome. The cost of running the business will eventually come down as technology matures. Indirect risks such as cybersecurity, data privacy obligations, and breach exposure from collecting age data could remain.In short, the direct business costs to major platforms from age bans look modest. Fines and compliance are nearly negligible against their global revenue. Full bans, like TikTok's in India and the US before reinstatement, are far costlier.

The UK plans an under-16 social media ban. But such age-gating measures might have only a limited financial impact on Meta, TikTok and other social media giants. Fines, compliance costs and teen ad revenue remain relatively small compared to their billion-dollar revenues.

The UK is joining Australia, Indonesia, and a handful of other nations to implement social media restrictions, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer announcing a ban on under-16s' access to platforms like Facebook and Instagram soon. Most bans across nations are age-based, applying mainly to those below 16 or 18. Full nationwide bans for mostly US-based platforms exist in China and Iran. India banned TikTok in 2020. While full nationwide bans cause near-total revenue loss from those markets, limited bans based on age, known as age-gating, do not affect the company's bottom line, as such restrictions target younger, less monetised teen demographics. These restrictions are basically a rap on the knuckle for the firms, and a drop in the ocean when compared to the billion-dollar revenues of Meta, Google, TikTok, Snap and others. Here is why: Fines and penalties are low compared to social media platform revenues In Australia, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube and Twitch face fines of up to AU$49.5 million (US$33.2 million) if they fail to remove under-16 accounts. Against Meta's multi-billion-dollar quarterly profits, this amount is nothing. No major fines have been paid. The country's watchdog, eSafety, is sending monthly notices for six months and will pursue penalties only for systemic breaches. The main cost so far is reputational, from compliance probes on these firms. Also read: UK government to bar all under-16s from major social media platforms, Keir Starmer announces Social media bans: Account removals vs actual usage Platforms revoked access to about 4.7 million under-16 accounts in Australia since the December 2025 ban. Yet usage persists, with surveys showing up to 20 per cent of 13–15-year-olds still accessing TikTok and Snapchat months later, and most prior users retaining access via workarounds like VPNs and fake ages. This, in effect, limits the losses for social media firms both in terms of real users and revenue. https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-to-ban-social-media-for-under-16s-proposes-sweeping-online-safety-curbs-1781586711769/embed Is revenue actually lost for companies due to social media bans? A 2023 Harvard study found social media platforms earned nearly $11 billion in US ad revenue from under-18s in 2022. Snapchat derived 41 per cent of its 2022 US ad revenue from under-18s, TikTok 35 per cent, YouTube 27 per cent, and Instagram 16 per cent. Nobably, the figure is only 1.9 per cent for Facebook and 2 per cent for X. Instagram drew most revenue from 13–17-year-olds , at $4 billion, followed by TikTok, before it was briefly banned in US, at $2 billion. Under-16s are a smaller slice of the user base, but they are key drivers of engagement and future growth. In February this year, Snap CEO called global ad revenue from under-18 impressions "not material." Analysts broadly agree to this: teens are under-monetised as they lack the disposable income advertisers chase. So the short-term financial impacts of bans may be minimal. The bigger boomerang hits creators, who used to earn billions through these platforms in markets like Australia and lose reach when their under-16 audience is cut off. Also read: Is India planning Australia-like social media ban for children under 16? What we know Cost of compliance is also minimal compared to revenues Age-verification runs roughly $0.12–$0.65 per check , and can include facial estimation, ID-based, or mobile-based methods. As Australia's six industry codes for age assurance took effect in March, a government analysis estimated AU$53.9 million in initial age-assurance costs across services plus AU$4.5 million annually. For the big tech firms, these amounts are manageable, though the tech can be cumbersome. The cost of running the business will eventually come down as technology matures. Indirect risks such as cybersecurity, data privacy obligations, and breach exposure from collecting age data could remain. In short, the direct business costs to major platforms from age bans look modest. Fines and compliance are nearly negligible against their global revenue. Full bans, like TikTok's in India and the US before reinstatement, are far costlier.

The UK plans an under-16 social media ban. But such age-gating measures might have only a limited financial impact on Meta, TikTok and other social media giants. Fines, compliance costs and teen ad revenue remain relatively small compared to their billion-dollar revenues.

UK to join under-16 social media bans, but will it really hurt the companies? The Big Question

 Industry executives say the current situation reflects a broader structural challenge rather than a temporary supply chain disruption. As AI demand continues to expand, multiple sectors could experience mounting pressure to secure access to critical semiconductor components.

&nbsp;Industry executives say the current situation reflects a broader structural challenge rather than a temporary supply chain disruption. As AI demand continues to expand, multiple sectors could experience mounting pressure to secure access to critical semiconductor components.

Buying new phone? AI boom could make your smartphone prices more expensive: Here's why

The artificial intelligence boom is entering a new phase. Over the past two years, most people have become familiar with AI tools that answer questions, generate images or help write emails. But technology companies are increasingly focused on something more ambitious: AI systems that can take actions on behalf of users.<h2>The concept is known as Agentic AI</h2>Many industry leaders now believe this shift could transform how people use software, work online and interact with technology. The reason it is attracting attention is simple: AI is moving from helping people complete tasks to potentially completing some of those tasks itself.<h2>What exactly is Agentic AI?</h2>Traditional AI systems respond to prompts. A user asks a question, requests a summary or uploads a file, and the system generates an answer. Agentic AI goes a step further. Instead of simply responding, AI agents can break down goals into smaller tasks, make decisions, use digital tools and work through multiple steps to achieve an objective.For example, rather than helping someone plan a holiday, an AI agent could potentially compare prices, organise an itinerary, book reservations and make adjustments if plans change.In simple terms, it is the difference between receiving advice and having a digital assistant carry out the work.<h2>Why tech companies are investing heavily</h2>The biggest names in technology are already moving in this direction. OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Anthropic and Meta have all discussed or demonstrated AI systems capable of handling increasingly complex workflows. Industry executives frequently describe AI agents as one of the most important developments in artificial intelligence since the arrival of large language models. The potential economic impact is also significant. Businesses see AI agents as a way to automate repetitive tasks, improve productivity and allow employees to focus on higher-value work. From customer support and software development to research and administration, many sectors are experimenting with early versions of AI agents.<h2>Why experts say the shift is happening faster than expected</h2>A year ago, many experts believed advanced AI agents were still years away. Today, the conversation has changed. Recent advances in reasoning models, memory systems and tool use have allowed AI systems to complete increasingly sophisticated tasks. Instead of handling a single instruction, some AI models can now manage long workflows involving multiple decisions and actions. That progress has led many technology leaders to argue that AI agents may arrive sooner and have a greater impact than previously expected. The rapid pace of investment also reflects growing confidence that the technology is becoming commercially useful rather than remaining a research project.<h2>The opportunities and concerns</h2>Supporters argue that Agentic AI could make software far more useful. Businesses could automate routine processes. Consumers could spend less time on repetitive digital tasks. Researchers could analyse information more quickly. Developers could accelerate software creation.At the same time, concerns remain. The more autonomy AI systems receive, the more important reliability, security and oversight become. Questions around accountability, data privacy and workplace disruption continue to be debated by governments, researchers and technology companies. The challenge for the industry is finding the right balance between capability and control.<h2>A glimpse of the next internet era</h2>The rise of Agentic AI may represent a larger shift than many people realise. For decades, software has largely required users to navigate menus, click buttons and manage workflows themselves.AI agents could gradually change that model.Instead of telling software exactly what to do, people may increasingly describe a goal and allow AI systems to determine how to achieve it. Whether that future arrives in months or years remains uncertain. What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that the conversation in the technology industry has already moved beyond chatbots. The focus is now shifting towards AI systems that can act, adapt and solve problems with greater independence.

The AI industry is rapidly moving towards Agentic AI, a new generation of systems designed to complete tasks rather than simply answer questions. Technology leaders believe AI agents could reshape software, work and productivity faster than many expected.

The artificial intelligence boom is entering a new phase. Over the past two years, most people have become familiar with AI tools that answer questions, generate images or help write emails. But technology companies are increasingly focused on something more ambitious: AI systems that can take actions on behalf of users. The concept is known as Agentic AI Many industry leaders now believe this shift could transform how people use software, work online and interact with technology. The reason it is attracting attention is simple: AI is moving from helping people complete tasks to potentially completing some of those tasks itself. What exactly is Agentic AI? Traditional AI systems respond to prompts. A user asks a question, requests a summary or uploads a file, and the system generates an answer. Agentic AI goes a step further. Instead of simply responding, AI agents can break down goals into smaller tasks, make decisions, use digital tools and work through multiple steps to achieve an objective. For example, rather than helping someone plan a holiday, an AI agent could potentially compare prices, organise an itinerary, book reservations and make adjustments if plans change. In simple terms, it is the difference between receiving advice and having a digital assistant carry out the work. Why tech companies are investing heavily The biggest names in technology are already moving in this direction. OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Anthropic and Meta have all discussed or demonstrated AI systems capable of handling increasingly complex workflows. Industry executives frequently describe AI agents as one of the most important developments in artificial intelligence since the arrival of large language models. The potential economic impact is also significant. Businesses see AI agents as a way to automate repetitive tasks, improve productivity and allow employees to focus on higher-value work. From customer support and software development to research and administration, many sectors are experimenting with early versions of AI agents. Why experts say the shift is happening faster than expected A year ago, many experts believed advanced AI agents were still years away. Today, the conversation has changed. Recent advances in reasoning models, memory systems and tool use have allowed AI systems to complete increasingly sophisticated tasks. Instead of handling a single instruction, some AI models can now manage long workflows involving multiple decisions and actions. That progress has led many technology leaders to argue that AI agents may arrive sooner and have a greater impact than previously expected. The rapid pace of investment also reflects growing confidence that the technology is becoming commercially useful rather than remaining a research project. The opportunities and concerns Supporters argue that Agentic AI could make software far more useful. Businesses could automate routine processes. Consumers could spend less time on repetitive digital tasks. Researchers could analyse information more quickly. Developers could accelerate software creation. At the same time, concerns remain. The more autonomy AI systems receive, the more important reliability, security and oversight become. Questions around accountability, data privacy and workplace disruption continue to be debated by governments, researchers and technology companies. The challenge for the industry is finding the right balance between capability and control. A glimpse of the next internet era The rise of Agentic AI may represent a larger shift than many people realise. For decades, software has largely required users to navigate menus, click buttons and manage workflows themselves. AI agents could gradually change that model. Instead of telling software exactly what to do, people may increasingly describe a goal and allow AI systems to determine how to achieve it. Whether that future arrives in months or years remains uncertain. What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that the conversation in the technology industry has already moved beyond chatbots. The focus is now shifting towards AI systems that can act, adapt and solve problems with greater independence.

The AI industry is rapidly moving towards Agentic AI, a new generation of systems designed to complete tasks rather than simply answer questions. Technology leaders believe AI agents could reshape software, work and productivity faster than many expected.

It's happening faster than expected: How Agentic AI is reshaping the tech industry

A major shift is quietly taking place online. For years, finding information on the internet followed a familiar pattern. People opened a search engine, typed a few keywords and clicked through a list of links.&nbsp;That model is now changingIncreasingly, users are turning to AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity to get answers directly rather than browsing multiple websites. The change may seem subtle today, but it could become one of the most significant transformations in the history of the internet.From searching for links to receiving answersTraditional search engines were built around keywords. A user searching for "best laptop for students" or "how to invest money" would receive pages of links and decide which websites to visit.<h2>AI systems work differently.</h2>Instead of presenting a list of results, they often generate a direct response by analysing information from multiple sources. For users, this can save time.Instead of opening five or ten websites, many people now receive a summary in seconds. This shift is becoming increasingly visible through products such as Google's AI Overviews and AI-powered search tools.<h2>Why this matters for websites and publishers</h2>The consequences extend beyond how people search. For years, websites focused heavily on ranking highly in search results. Businesses invested in search engine optimisation, while publishers competed for clicks from search traffic. Now, visibility increasingly depends on whether AI systems choose to reference, summarise or recommend content. In simple terms, the challenge is no longer just appearing in search results. It is becoming about being recognised as a trusted source that AI systems can understand and cite. This is encouraging publishers and businesses to focus more on expertise, original reporting, strong branding and clear information.<h2>AI is becoming a new discovery layer</h2>Many technology experts describe the current transition as a move from keyword-driven search to AI-mediated discovery. In the past, people actively searched for information.&nbsp; Now information is increasingly being surfaced, recommended or summarised by algorithms and AI assistants. This trend can already be seen across social media, recommendation systems and AI chat platforms.The result is a new discovery layer sitting between users and the wider internet. Instead of directly navigating the web, many people are beginning to rely on AI systems to guide them.&nbsp;The shift does not mean traditional search engines will disappear. Search remains one of the most important services on the internet and continues to process billions of queries every day. However, the balance is changing. Future online experiences may involve conversations rather than keyword searches. Users may increasingly ask questions, request recommendations or seek explanations from AI systems that understand context and intent. For businesses, creators and publishers, this could require a new approach to visibility. Success may depend less on ranking for individual keywords and more on producing useful, trustworthy and authoritative information that both humans and AI systems can understand.<h2>The internet's next chapter</h2>Every era of the internet has been defined by a dominant way of finding information. First came directories. Then search engines. Later, social media feeds became powerful discovery tools. Now AI appears to be creating another shift. Most people still think of the internet as a place where they search for information. Increasingly, however, information is being selected, summarised and presented by AI systems before users ever reach a website. The transition is still unfolding, but its impact is already being felt across technology, media, business and everyday online life.

A major change is reshaping the internet as users move from keyword-based searches to AI-powered discovery. Tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity are increasingly delivering answers directly, altering how people find information and how websites gain visibility.


A major shift is quietly taking place online. For years, finding information on the internet followed a familiar pattern. People opened a search engine, typed a few keywords and clicked through a list of links. That model is now changing Increasingly, users are turning to AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity to get answers directly rather than browsing multiple websites. The change may seem subtle today, but it could become one of the most significant transformations in the history of the internet. From searching for links to receiving answers Traditional search engines were built around keywords. A user searching for "best laptop for students" or "how to invest money" would receive pages of links and decide which websites to visit. AI systems work differently. Instead of presenting a list of results, they often generate a direct response by analysing information from multiple sources. For users, this can save time. Instead of opening five or ten websites, many people now receive a summary in seconds. This shift is becoming increasingly visible through products such as Google's AI Overviews and AI-powered search tools. Why this matters for websites and publishers The consequences extend beyond how people search. For years, websites focused heavily on ranking highly in search results. Businesses invested in search engine optimisation, while publishers competed for clicks from search traffic. Now, visibility increasingly depends on whether AI systems choose to reference, summarise or recommend content. In simple terms, the challenge is no longer just appearing in search results. It is becoming about being recognised as a trusted source that AI systems can understand and cite. This is encouraging publishers and businesses to focus more on expertise, original reporting, strong branding and clear information. AI is becoming a new discovery layer Many technology experts describe the current transition as a move from keyword-driven search to AI-mediated discovery. In the past, people actively searched for information. Now information is increasingly being surfaced, recommended or summarised by algorithms and AI assistants. This trend can already be seen across social media, recommendation systems and AI chat platforms. The result is a new discovery layer sitting between users and the wider internet. Instead of directly navigating the web, many people are beginning to rely on AI systems to guide them. The shift does not mean traditional search engines will disappear. Search remains one of the most important services on the internet and continues to process billions of queries every day. However, the balance is changing. Future online experiences may involve conversations rather than keyword searches. Users may increasingly ask questions, request recommendations or seek explanations from AI systems that understand context and intent. For businesses, creators and publishers, this could require a new approach to visibility. Success may depend less on ranking for individual keywords and more on producing useful, trustworthy and authoritative information that both humans and AI systems can understand. The internet's next chapter Every era of the internet has been defined by a dominant way of finding information. First came directories. Then search engines. Later, social media feeds became powerful discovery tools. Now AI appears to be creating another shift. Most people still think of the internet as a place where they search for information. Increasingly, however, information is being selected, summarised and presented by AI systems before users ever reach a website. The transition is still unfolding, but its impact is already being felt across technology, media, business and everyday online life.

A major change is reshaping the internet as users move from keyword-based searches to AI-powered discovery. Tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity are increasingly delivering answers directly, altering how people find information and how websites gain visibility.

A massive shift is happening online, and most people haven't noticed

Scroll through the news and India looks like an AI superpower in the making - enterprise adoption rates among the highest in the world, government AI summits, and billion-dollar data centre deals. But step outside the boardrooms and city offices, and for a huge share of people across the Indian subcontinent, AI is still something that exists mainly on a screen, in a Hollywood movie, a viral video, or a headline about ChatGPT, not something they have ever opened or used themselves.&nbsp;The Numbers Behind The Gap&nbsp;The disconnect shows up clearly in the data. Fewer than one in five rural residents across the Asia-Pacific region can perform even a basic digital task like a spreadsheet calculation, compared to roughly one in four in urban areas and AI naturally requires a layer of digital comfort above that. Around a quarter of the Asia-Pacific population remains offline entirely, with no realistic path to encountering AI tools in daily life.&nbsp;Smartphones, But Not Equal Access&nbsp;On paper, smartphone penetration looks promising, over 85% of Indian households now own at least one smartphone. But ownership doesn't mean equal access. Within those households, usage is often skewed heavily towards one or two members, typically men. Across South Asia, women remain up to 40% less likely than men to own a smartphone or have independent internet access - which means the household ‘having a smartphone’ often translates to almost no hands-on AI exposure for large numbers of women and older family members.&nbsp;The Language Wall&nbsp;Perhaps the biggest barrier isn't the device, it's the language on the screen. Most AI tools, from chatbots to voice assistants, are built first for English or a handful of major national languages. For the hundreds of millions across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka who are most comfortable in regional languages and dialects, that's an immediate wall. Education data reflects this too: in surveys of rural schools, none offered any AI-related curriculum, compared to over 40% of urban schools, meaning an entire generation in rural areas is growing up without even classroom exposure to how these tools work.&nbsp;Two Different Countries, One AI Story&nbsp;AI is an abstract concept for majority of people, something that exists in the same mental category as flying cars or robots that talk, impressive, a little unsettling, but fundamentally not part of daily life. Interestingly, surveys show young people in India and other emerging economies are actually more optimistic about AI than their counterparts in wealthier nations but that optimism is often based on what they've seen depicted online or in films, rather than direct experience.&nbsp;Why Closing This Gap Matters&nbsp;The risk is that AI becomes another technology that arrives in the subcontinent only for those who are already digitally privileged, urban, English-speaking, smartphone-owning, and male - while everyone else watches from the outside, the same way many experienced the early years of the internet and smartphones. Bridging that gap will require AI tools that work natively in regional languages, are designed for low-bandwidth and shared-device environments, and are introduced through schools and community programmes - not just enterprise dashboards. Until then, for a large share of people across the Indian subcontinent, AI will keep feeling exactly like what it currently is to them: something that only really exists in the movies.

India leads in enterprise AI adoption, but for hundreds of millions across the subcontinent, AI remains something seen only in movies. Here's why the gap exists.

Scroll through the news and India looks like an AI superpower in the making - enterprise adoption rates among the highest in the world, government AI summits, and billion-dollar data centre deals. But step outside the boardrooms and city offices, and for a huge share of people across the Indian subcontinent, AI is still something that exists mainly on a screen, in a Hollywood movie, a viral video, or a headline about ChatGPT, not something they have ever opened or used themselves. The Numbers Behind The Gap The disconnect shows up clearly in the data. Fewer than one in five rural residents across the Asia-Pacific region can perform even a basic digital task like a spreadsheet calculation, compared to roughly one in four in urban areas and AI naturally requires a layer of digital comfort above that. Around a quarter of the Asia-Pacific population remains offline entirely, with no realistic path to encountering AI tools in daily life. Smartphones, But Not Equal Access On paper, smartphone penetration looks promising, over 85% of Indian households now own at least one smartphone. But ownership doesn't mean equal access. Within those households, usage is often skewed heavily towards one or two members, typically men. Across South Asia, women remain up to 40% less likely than men to own a smartphone or have independent internet access - which means the household ‘having a smartphone’ often translates to almost no hands-on AI exposure for large numbers of women and older family members. The Language Wall Perhaps the biggest barrier isn't the device, it's the language on the screen. Most AI tools, from chatbots to voice assistants, are built first for English or a handful of major national languages. For the hundreds of millions across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka who are most comfortable in regional languages and dialects, that's an immediate wall. Education data reflects this too: in surveys of rural schools, none offered any AI-related curriculum, compared to over 40% of urban schools, meaning an entire generation in rural areas is growing up without even classroom exposure to how these tools work. Two Different Countries, One AI Story AI is an abstract concept for majority of people, something that exists in the same mental category as flying cars or robots that talk, impressive, a little unsettling, but fundamentally not part of daily life. Interestingly, surveys show young people in India and other emerging economies are actually more optimistic about AI than their counterparts in wealthier nations but that optimism is often based on what they've seen depicted online or in films, rather than direct experience. Why Closing This Gap Matters The risk is that AI becomes another technology that arrives in the subcontinent only for those who are already digitally privileged, urban, English-speaking, smartphone-owning, and male - while everyone else watches from the outside, the same way many experienced the early years of the internet and smartphones. Bridging that gap will require AI tools that work natively in regional languages, are designed for low-bandwidth and shared-device environments, and are introduced through schools and community programmes - not just enterprise dashboards. Until then, for a large share of people across the Indian subcontinent, AI will keep feeling exactly like what it currently is to them: something that only really exists in the movies.

&nbsp;For hundreds of millions, AI remains something seen in movies and headlines, not something they've ever actually used.

'It's in the movies': Why AI is still sci-fi for people in the Indian subcontinent

Apple has started rolling out visionOS 27 to developers, and according to a report by CNET, the update transforms the Vision Pro headset into the company's most advanced testbed yet for an AI-powered Siri — one that doesn't just listen, but actually sees and understands the world around the wearer in real time.&nbsp;Siri That Can See What You See&nbsp;The headline feature is Visual Intelligence, which lets Vision Pro users ask Siri about virtually anything they're looking at. Point your gaze at an object, a sign, or a scene, and Siri can identify it, answer questions about it, and pull up relevant contextual information instantly, effectively giving the assistant a live feed of your surroundings to reason about. According to a report by CNET, this is the closest Apple has come to merging an AI assistant directly with a person's field of vision, which is why early impressions are already describing it as ‘cyborg-level’ technology.&nbsp;A New Way To Talk To Siri&nbsp;Alongside Visual Intelligence, visionOS 27 introduces a redesigned Siri interface built around a 3D orb that users can place anywhere in their virtual space. Simply looking at the orb is enough to start a conversation, there's no need for a wake word or a button press, making interactions feel far more natural inside a headset.&nbsp;Spatial Features And What's Coming Next&nbsp;The update also adds spatial tools, including the ability to turn a regular panorama photo into a full spatial scene that can be set as a personal Environment inside the headset. Developer testing for visionOS 27 began on June 8, with the broader software update expected to roll out more widely in the fall. The full AI-powered Siri capabilities, however, are expected to arrive later in 2026 as Apple continues building out Apple Intelligence across its devices.&nbsp;Why It Matters&nbsp;Vision Pro has so far been a niche, high-priced device, but according to a report by CNET, it's increasingly becoming the place where Apple tests its most ambitious AI ideas before they reach the iPhone and other mainstream products. A Siri that can see, understand, and respond to the physical world in real time — rather than just answering typed or spoken commands — represents a meaningful step toward the kind of always-aware AI assistant that Apple, Google, and Meta are all racing to build into their hardware.

Apple's visionOS 27 brings Visual Intelligence and a redesigned Siri to Vision Pro, letting the AI assistant see and understand your surroundings in real time.

Apple has started rolling out visionOS 27 to developers, and according to a report by CNET, the update transforms the Vision Pro headset into the company's most advanced testbed yet for an AI-powered Siri — one that doesn't just listen, but actually sees and understands the world around the wearer in real time. Siri That Can See What You See The headline feature is Visual Intelligence, which lets Vision Pro users ask Siri about virtually anything they're looking at. Point your gaze at an object, a sign, or a scene, and Siri can identify it, answer questions about it, and pull up relevant contextual information instantly, effectively giving the assistant a live feed of your surroundings to reason about. According to a report by CNET, this is the closest Apple has come to merging an AI assistant directly with a person's field of vision, which is why early impressions are already describing it as ‘cyborg-level’ technology. A New Way To Talk To Siri Alongside Visual Intelligence, visionOS 27 introduces a redesigned Siri interface built around a 3D orb that users can place anywhere in their virtual space. Simply looking at the orb is enough to start a conversation, there's no need for a wake word or a button press, making interactions feel far more natural inside a headset. Spatial Features And What's Coming Next The update also adds spatial tools, including the ability to turn a regular panorama photo into a full spatial scene that can be set as a personal Environment inside the headset. Developer testing for visionOS 27 began on June 8, with the broader software update expected to roll out more widely in the fall. The full AI-powered Siri capabilities, however, are expected to arrive later in 2026 as Apple continues building out Apple Intelligence across its devices. Why It Matters Vision Pro has so far been a niche, high-priced device, but according to a report by CNET, it's increasingly becoming the place where Apple tests its most ambitious AI ideas before they reach the iPhone and other mainstream products. A Siri that can see, understand, and respond to the physical world in real time — rather than just answering typed or spoken commands — represents a meaningful step toward the kind of always-aware AI assistant that Apple, Google, and Meta are all racing to build into their hardware.

Apple's visionOS 27 update turns Vision Pro into a testbed for a smarter, AI-powered Siri that can see and understand the world around you in real time. Here's what the new Visual Intelligence features can do.

'It sees what you see': Why Siri AI on Apple Vision Pro is 'cyborg-level' technology

A quiet but historic shift just happened on the internet: bots now generate more web traffic than humans do. According to new data shared by Cloudflare, automated bot traffic overtook human traffic for the first time on April 27, 2026, with bots accounting for roughly 57.5% of HTML web requests compared to 42.5% from humans.&nbsp;Faster Than Anyone Expected&nbsp;Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince said on X that he had expected this milestone to arrive by late 2027, not in 2026. The acceleration has been driven largely by the explosion of AI agents, software that browses, searches, and clicks through thousands of websites on behalf of users or other AI systems, often far faster and more frequently than any human ever could. Before the current AI boom, bots made up roughly 20% of web traffic. That figure has now crossed 50% in just a couple of years.&nbsp;Not All Bots Are The Same&nbsp;It's important to note that ‘bot traffic’ is not a single category. Some of it comes from search engine crawlers indexing pages, and a growing share comes from AI assistants and agents fetching information for real users. But a significant portion is also malicious, separate cybersecurity data suggests around 51% of overall internet activity is automated, and roughly two-thirds of that automated activity is classified as malicious, used for tasks like scraping content without permission, overwhelming ticket and booking systems, or manipulating prices on e-commerce sites.&nbsp;What It Means For Websites And Businesses&nbsp;The shift has real implications for how websites are built and run. Experts now suggest that businesses can no longer design purely for human visitors, they also need to think about how their content is read, indexed, and acted upon by AI agents. That means structuring information clearly enough for a ‘machine mind’ to parse it correctly, not just making it look good to the human eye, since an AI agent may be the one actually completing a purchase, booking, or search on a person's behalf.&nbsp;A Caveat Worth Remembering&nbsp;Cloudflare's figures are based specifically on HTML web traffic, they don't account for video streaming, email, gaming, or general app usage, where humans still dominate by a wide margin. So this isn't a sign that humans have left the internet. Rather, it reflects how much of the web's day-to-day background traffic, page requests, searches, link-following, is now being handled by automated systems rather than people clicking around themselves. As AI agents become a normal part of how people shop, search, and get things done online, that gap between bot and human traffic is only expected to widen further.

Cloudflare data shows bots now generate more web traffic than humans for the first time ever. Here's why it happened early, and what it means for the internet.

A quiet but historic shift just happened on the internet: bots now generate more web traffic than humans do. According to new data shared by Cloudflare, automated bot traffic overtook human traffic for the first time on April 27, 2026, with bots accounting for roughly 57.5% of HTML web requests compared to 42.5% from humans. Faster Than Anyone Expected Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince said on X that he had expected this milestone to arrive by late 2027, not in 2026. The acceleration has been driven largely by the explosion of AI agents, software that browses, searches, and clicks through thousands of websites on behalf of users or other AI systems, often far faster and more frequently than any human ever could. Before the current AI boom, bots made up roughly 20% of web traffic. That figure has now crossed 50% in just a couple of years. Not All Bots Are The Same It's important to note that ‘bot traffic’ is not a single category. Some of it comes from search engine crawlers indexing pages, and a growing share comes from AI assistants and agents fetching information for real users. But a significant portion is also malicious, separate cybersecurity data suggests around 51% of overall internet activity is automated, and roughly two-thirds of that automated activity is classified as malicious, used for tasks like scraping content without permission, overwhelming ticket and booking systems, or manipulating prices on e-commerce sites. What It Means For Websites And Businesses The shift has real implications for how websites are built and run. Experts now suggest that businesses can no longer design purely for human visitors, they also need to think about how their content is read, indexed, and acted upon by AI agents. That means structuring information clearly enough for a ‘machine mind’ to parse it correctly, not just making it look good to the human eye, since an AI agent may be the one actually completing a purchase, booking, or search on a person's behalf. A Caveat Worth Remembering Cloudflare's figures are based specifically on HTML web traffic, they don't account for video streaming, email, gaming, or general app usage, where humans still dominate by a wide margin. So this isn't a sign that humans have left the internet. Rather, it reflects how much of the web's day-to-day background traffic, page requests, searches, link-following, is now being handled by automated systems rather than people clicking around themselves. As AI agents become a normal part of how people shop, search, and get things done online, that gap between bot and human traffic is only expected to widen further.

For the first time in internet history, automated bot traffic has overtaken human traffic, according to new data from Cloudflare. Here's why it happened faster than predicted, and what it means for how the web works going forward.

Bots now outnumber humans on the internet! Here's what that actually means

Apple has agreed to a $250 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit that accused the company of misleading customers about artificial intelligence features on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro lineup. The proposed settlement, reached on May 5, 2026, covers an estimated 36 million iPhones sold in the United States and could see eligible buyers receive payments ranging from $25 to $95 per device.&nbsp;What The Lawsuit Was About&nbsp;The case, filed in federal court in the Northern District of California, centred on Apple's marketing of ‘Apple Intelligence’ the AI platform unveiled at WWDC 2024. Plaintiffs alleged that Apple showcased a significantly smarter version of Siri at the event, then ran a wave of advertisements when the iPhone 16 launched in September 2024, building consumer expectations that these AI capabilities would be available on the device from day one. Those ads, including a high-profile campaign, ran for several months before Apple quietly delayed the upgraded Siri features in March 2025 and pulled the advertising. Apple has not admitted any wrongdoing but chose to settle rather than continue litigating.&nbsp;Who Is Eligible&nbsp;Anyone who purchased an iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max in the United States between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025, may qualify for a payout under the settlement.&nbsp;How Much Can You Get, And How To Claim It&nbsp;Eligible customers can expect a minimum payment of $25 per qualifying device, with the amount rising to as much as $95 depending on how many valid claims are ultimately filed, the more people who claim, the more the payout per person could shift within that range. Apple is expected to share a list of eligible customers with a settlement administrator, after which the firm Verita will send email and postal notices directing recipients to an official claims website. Once a notice is received, claimants will have 90 days to file. The settlement website, SmartphoneAISettlement.com, is set to serve as the official portal once the process formally opens. Based on the current court timeline, the first payments, whether as checks or direct deposits, aren't expected to go out until after September 2026, and that date could shift depending on court approval and any appeals.&nbsp;What This Means Going Forward&nbsp;While $250 million is a relatively small sum for a company of Apple's scale, the settlement adds to a growing list of legal and regulatory headaches tied to its AI rollout, which has lagged behind rivals like Google and OpenAI in delivering on-device assistant upgrades. For consumers, the message is simple: if you bought a qualifying iPhone in that window, keep an eye on your email and mailbox over the coming months and don't pay anything upfront, since legitimate settlement claims are always free to file.

Apple will pay $250 million to settle claims it overhyped Apple Intelligence and Siri on the iPhone 16 and 15 Pro. Here's who qualifies and how to claim up to $95.

Apple has agreed to a $250 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit that accused the company of misleading customers about artificial intelligence features on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro lineup. The proposed settlement, reached on May 5, 2026, covers an estimated 36 million iPhones sold in the United States and could see eligible buyers receive payments ranging from $25 to $95 per device. What The Lawsuit Was About The case, filed in federal court in the Northern District of California, centred on Apple's marketing of ‘Apple Intelligence’ the AI platform unveiled at WWDC 2024. Plaintiffs alleged that Apple showcased a significantly smarter version of Siri at the event, then ran a wave of advertisements when the iPhone 16 launched in September 2024, building consumer expectations that these AI capabilities would be available on the device from day one. Those ads, including a high-profile campaign, ran for several months before Apple quietly delayed the upgraded Siri features in March 2025 and pulled the advertising. Apple has not admitted any wrongdoing but chose to settle rather than continue litigating. Who Is Eligible Anyone who purchased an iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max in the United States between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025, may qualify for a payout under the settlement. How Much Can You Get, And How To Claim It Eligible customers can expect a minimum payment of $25 per qualifying device, with the amount rising to as much as $95 depending on how many valid claims are ultimately filed, the more people who claim, the more the payout per person could shift within that range. Apple is expected to share a list of eligible customers with a settlement administrator, after which the firm Verita will send email and postal notices directing recipients to an official claims website. Once a notice is received, claimants will have 90 days to file. The settlement website, SmartphoneAISettlement.com, is set to serve as the official portal once the process formally opens. Based on the current court timeline, the first payments, whether as checks or direct deposits, aren't expected to go out until after September 2026, and that date could shift depending on court approval and any appeals. What This Means Going Forward While $250 million is a relatively small sum for a company of Apple's scale, the settlement adds to a growing list of legal and regulatory headaches tied to its AI rollout, which has lagged behind rivals like Google and OpenAI in delivering on-device assistant upgrades. For consumers, the message is simple: if you bought a qualifying iPhone in that window, keep an eye on your email and mailbox over the coming months and don't pay anything upfront, since legitimate settlement claims are always free to file.

Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing it of overhyping Apple Intelligence and a smarter Siri before delaying the features. Here's who qualifies, how much you could get, and how to file a claim.

Got an iPhone? Apple may owe you cash from $250 million Siri lawsuit

As artificial intelligence drives a global race to build bigger and more powerful data centres, questions are growing about the resources needed to run them. Now, Amazon has released a key figure that it had never publicly disclosed before: its global data-centre operations used about 2.5 billion gallons, or more than 9 billion litres, of water in 2025.&nbsp;The announcement comes at a time when governments, researchers and local communities are paying closer attention to the environmental footprint of data centres, particularly those supporting AI systems.&nbsp;Amazon said water consumption at data centres it directly owns and operates actually fell by 2 per cent compared with 2024 levels, despite the company expanding its data-centre footprint. The disclosure was made through a company blog post as scrutiny of AI infrastructure continues to intensify.&nbsp;Data centres require significant amounts of electricity and cooling. As AI models become larger and more complex, the facilities powering them are attracting increased attention over their impact on water supplies and energy networks. Public concern is also growing. A recent Reuters poll found that while one in three Americans support data-centre construction, only 14 per cent said they would be comfortable having one built near where they live.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.aboutamazon.com/dims4/default/cf9712d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x900+0+0/resize/1320x743!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Famazon-blogs-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F93%2F3dccab4646e5bedc23c3905c4781%2Fwater-efficiency-table4-amazon-news-lt-060826.jpeg" alt="Water efficiency comparison table showing Amazon/AWS improving from 0.25 liters per kilowatt-hour in 2021 to 0.12 in 2025, outperforming Microsoft, Google, and Meta"></figure>

<h2>Amazon says it uses less water than rivals</h2>Amazon also used the disclosure to highlight what it says is its efficiency advantage. According to figures shared by the company, its data centres used 0.12 litres of water per kilowatt-hour of electricity in 2025. Amazon says this was lower than comparable figures published by rivals including Microsoft, Google and Meta. However, comparisons come with important caveats.Google's figures cited by Amazon focus on Gemini AI-related data centres, which generally require more cooling because of their use of powerful AI processors. Amazon's reported water use also does not include water used during data-centre construction or water consumed by power plants generating electricity for its facilities.&nbsp;Amazon currently operates around 924 data centres globally, according to industry reports.The wider debate over AI and waterThe discussion extends well beyond Amazon.Researchers at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health estimate that the global water footprint of data centres could reach 9.3 trillion litres annually by 2030. According to the institute, that volume would be enough to meet the yearly domestic water needs of all 1.3 billion people living in sub-Saharan Africa.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.aboutamazon.com/dims4/default/f4ffae1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x900+0+0/resize/1320x743!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Famazon-blogs-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdf%2F2c%2F0d95222540f2b2dc51e7f7dc4cd3%2Fwater-efficiency-inline-graphic-numbers-amazon-news-lt-060926.jpeg" alt="Amazon water efficiency statistics: 10% cooling hours with evaporative design, 5.8 billion gallons returned annually, 130 data centers using reclaimed water"></figure><h2>At the same time, transparency around data-centre water use is increasing.</h2>In Oregon, legal action led to the release of records detailing water consumption linked to Google's facilities. Meanwhile, Utah recently passed legislation requiring certain new data-centre projects to disclose annual water usage.Amazon's plan to become 'water positive' Amazon says it wants to return more water to communities than it consumes.The company aims to become water positive by 2030 and says it has already achieved about 75 per cent of that goal.Part of the strategy involves using reclaimed and treated wastewater rather than drinking water. Amazon says 26 sites now operate entirely on reclaimed water, while agreements have been signed for another 130 facilities worldwide.The company also argues that its cooling systems reduce water demand. According to Amazon, its data centres rely on outside air cooling roughly 90 per cent of the time and only use water-based evaporative cooling during the hottest periods of the year.&nbsp;The disclosure highlights a growing challenge facing the technology industry. AI services are becoming more powerful and more widely used, but the infrastructure supporting them requires enormous amounts of electricity, computing power and water. As governments push for greater transparency and communities demand more information, companies such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft may face increasing pressure to show not only how much AI can achieve, but also what resources it consumes.

Amazon has disclosed for the first time that its global data centres used more than 9 billion litres of water in 2025. The announcement comes as AI-driven data-centre growth faces increasing scrutiny over its impact on water resources, energy use and local communities.

As artificial intelligence drives a global race to build bigger and more powerful data centres, questions are growing about the resources needed to run them. Now, Amazon has released a key figure that it had never publicly disclosed before: its global data-centre operations used about 2.5 billion gallons, or more than 9 billion litres, of water in 2025. The announcement comes at a time when governments, researchers and local communities are paying closer attention to the environmental footprint of data centres, particularly those supporting AI systems. Amazon said water consumption at data centres it directly owns and operates actually fell by 2 per cent compared with 2024 levels, despite the company expanding its data-centre footprint. The disclosure was made through a company blog post as scrutiny of AI infrastructure continues to intensify. Data centres require significant amounts of electricity and cooling. As AI models become larger and more complex, the facilities powering them are attracting increased attention over their impact on water supplies and energy networks. Public concern is also growing. A recent Reuters poll found that while one in three Americans support data-centre construction, only 14 per cent said they would be comfortable having one built near where they live.

Amazon has disclosed for the first time that its global data centres used more than 9 billion litres of water in 2025. The announcement comes as AI-driven data-centre growth faces increasing scrutiny over its impact on water resources, energy use and local communities.

'9 billion litres': Here's how much water Amazon's data centres used in 2025

Google has filed a lawsuit against a Chinese cybercrime network that it says used the company's Gemini artificial intelligence platform to carry out large-scale online scams targeting hundreds of thousands of people. The technology giant alleges that the group, known as Outsider Enterprise, used AI tools to generate fake websites, fraudulent messages and phishing campaigns that impersonated trusted brands and government services. Google says the scale of the operation highlights how artificial intelligence is changing the fraud landscape and making scams easier to produce.&nbsp;The case has drawn attention because it combines two major concerns: the rapid rise of AI tools and the growing threat of cybercrime.<h2>Google claims AI was used to create thousands of fake websites</h2>According to Google's lawsuit, the network used Gemini to help build hundreds of fake websites designed to resemble legitimate organisations. The sites allegedly copied services and brands including Google, YouTube, the US Postal Service and New York's E-ZPass toll payment system. Google says the operation relied on AI-generated content to make scams appear more convincing and to rapidly produce fraudulent websites at scale. They claims the network created 131 software kits that enabled criminals to build thousands of fake webpages and online scams with limited technical effort.<h2>Millions of scam messages sent in just weeks</h2>The figures outlined in the lawsuit illustrate the scale of the alleged operation. Google said that during a two-week period in May, the group sent around 2.5 million messages to Android users. Those messages directed victims to approximately 9,000 fake websites and more than one million fraudulent internet addresses connected to the network. The company estimates that hundreds of thousands of people were affected, with most victims located in the United States. Google said the financial damage runs into millions of dollars, although the exact amount has not been determined.&nbsp;Google, FBI and telecom firms join forcesIn what Google described as its first coordinated effort of this kind, the company is working alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation and major wireless providers. The effort includes cooperation with telecommunications companies such as AT&amp;T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Google has asked a federal court in New York for a restraining order that would allow authorities and technology companies to further disrupt the network's activities. Halimah DeLaine Prado, Google's general counsel, said the case reflects the scale of the impact linked to the alleged scam operation.<h2>Why AI-powered scams are becoming a growing concern</h2>The case comes as governments, technology firms and law enforcement agencies warn that artificial intelligence is making online fraud more sophisticated. According to the FBI, cybercriminals stole nearly $21 billion from Americans last year. Of that amount, approximately $893 million was linked to AI-related fraud schemes. Officials say AI can help criminals generate realistic messages, fake websites and convincing impersonations far more quickly than traditional methods. Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, said criminals are increasingly using AI to make fraud more persuasive and harder to detect.&nbsp;The lawsuit could become an important test case for how technology companies respond when their AI systems are allegedly misused by criminal networks. While Google argues that AI offers major benefits for businesses and consumers, the company is also signalling that it intends to take legal action against groups that exploit those tools for fraud. The case underscores a broader challenge facing the technology industry: as AI becomes more powerful, preventing misuse is becoming just as important as developing new capabilities.

Google has sued a Chinese cybercrime network accused of using Gemini AI to create thousands of fake websites and send millions of scam messages. The company is working with the FBI and telecom providers as concerns grow over the rise of AI-powered fraud.


Google has filed a lawsuit against a Chinese cybercrime network that it says used the company's Gemini artificial intelligence platform to carry out large-scale online scams targeting hundreds of thousands of people. The technology giant alleges that the group, known as Outsider Enterprise, used AI tools to generate fake websites, fraudulent messages and phishing campaigns that impersonated trusted brands and government services. Google says the scale of the operation highlights how artificial intelligence is changing the fraud landscape and making scams easier to produce. The case has drawn attention because it combines two major concerns: the rapid rise of AI tools and the growing threat of cybercrime. Google claims AI was used to create thousands of fake websites According to Google's lawsuit, the network used Gemini to help build hundreds of fake websites designed to resemble legitimate organisations. The sites allegedly copied services and brands including Google, YouTube, the US Postal Service and New York's E-ZPass toll payment system. Google says the operation relied on AI-generated content to make scams appear more convincing and to rapidly produce fraudulent websites at scale. They claims the network created 131 software kits that enabled criminals to build thousands of fake webpages and online scams with limited technical effort. Millions of scam messages sent in just weeks The figures outlined in the lawsuit illustrate the scale of the alleged operation. Google said that during a two-week period in May, the group sent around 2.5 million messages to Android users. Those messages directed victims to approximately 9,000 fake websites and more than one million fraudulent internet addresses connected to the network. The company estimates that hundreds of thousands of people were affected, with most victims located in the United States. Google said the financial damage runs into millions of dollars, although the exact amount has not been determined. Google, FBI and telecom firms join forces In what Google described as its first coordinated effort of this kind, the company is working alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation and major wireless providers. The effort includes cooperation with telecommunications companies such as AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Google has asked a federal court in New York for a restraining order that would allow authorities and technology companies to further disrupt the network's activities. Halimah DeLaine Prado, Google's general counsel, said the case reflects the scale of the impact linked to the alleged scam operation. Why AI-powered scams are becoming a growing concern The case comes as governments, technology firms and law enforcement agencies warn that artificial intelligence is making online fraud more sophisticated. According to the FBI, cybercriminals stole nearly $21 billion from Americans last year. Of that amount, approximately $893 million was linked to AI-related fraud schemes. Officials say AI can help criminals generate realistic messages, fake websites and convincing impersonations far more quickly than traditional methods. Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, said criminals are increasingly using AI to make fraud more persuasive and harder to detect. The lawsuit could become an important test case for how technology companies respond when their AI systems are allegedly misused by criminal networks. While Google argues that AI offers major benefits for businesses and consumers, the company is also signalling that it intends to take legal action against groups that exploit those tools for fraud. The case underscores a broader challenge facing the technology industry: as AI becomes more powerful, preventing misuse is becoming just as important as developing new capabilities.

Google has sued a Chinese cybercrime network accused of using Gemini AI to create thousands of fake websites and send millions of scam messages. The company is working with the FBI and telecom providers as concerns grow over the rise of AI-powered fraud.

'2.5 million messages, 9,000 fake websites': Google says Chinese cybercrime group used Gemini AI to target hundreds of thousands in scam campaign

The AI firm Anthropic has barred all foreign nationals from accessing its latest AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, as per an order of the United States government citing national security reasons. The company, known for its Claude chatbot, said government agencies had instructed it to prevent all foreign nationals from accessing Fable 5 and Mythos 5.&nbsp;The Mythos AI model is particularly adept at detecting software vulnerabilities, some of which have remained undiscovered for decades. This capability has been used by US authorities and select companies to plug security gaps. The Fable 5 model, released this week, is also based on Mythos technology, but its cybersecurity and biotechnology capabilities are blocked.&nbsp;&nbsp;The US government believes that such AI could become a dangerous cyberweapon in the wrong hands, and rightly so.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mou-will-ensure-end-of-war-on-all-fronts-including-lebanon-iran-s-foreign-minister-abbas-araghchi-1781296154181">MoU will ensure end of war on all fronts, including Lebanon: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi&nbsp;</a><h2>US government’s order to Anthropic sparks debate</h2>&nbsp;However, the US government’s order has sparked a debate about who controls the future of artificial intelligence and whether globalisation is dead.&nbsp;The access curb marks a major shift in how governments regulate artificial intelligence. Until now, restrictions largely focused on chips and hardware used to build and run AI systems.&nbsp;Now questions are being asked about technology sovereignty and whether countries can even rely on AI systems developed elsewhere.&nbsp;&nbsp;Globalisation has been one of the hallmarks of the modern world, as it enabled the free flow of goods, services, capital, technology, and ideas across national boundaries. The internet accelerated it by creating a global digital marketplace where innovation could spread rapidly and benefit people worldwide. The access curbs on advanced AI models show that AI is no longer viewed merely as a commercial product but as a strategic asset.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-govt-funded-foreign-biolabs-many-of-them-worked-on-dangerous-pathogens-reveals-tulsi-gabbard-1781283223008">US govt funded foreign biolabs, many of them worked on dangerous pathogens, reveals Tulsi Gabbard</a><h2>Powerful AI models can affect military capabilities, cybersecurity</h2>&nbsp;&nbsp;Governments recognise that powerful AI models can influence military capabilities, cybersecurity, scientific research, and economic productivity and are trying to protect technological advancements that can be misused.&nbsp;&nbsp;The globalisation concept was built on the principles of openness, international cooperation, and the belief that innovation should spread across borders.&nbsp;Globalisation also has its own challenges, the primary ones being income inequality, job displacement, and environmental concerns.&nbsp;Moreover, it would be premature to say that globalisation is dying or is dead. In fact, globalisation may be evolving and taking a new form. Global economic interdependence still remains strong even as some strategic technologies may be becoming more restricted.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-will-use-iran-s-frozen-funds-to-pay-for-damages-inflicted-on-gulf-allies-scott-bessent-1781205304888">‘US will use Iran’s frozen funds to pay for damages inflicted on Gulf allies’: Scott Bessent</a><h2>AI development depends on global supply chains, talent pools, and collaboration</h2>&nbsp;AI development itself depends on international supply chains, global talent pools, and cross-border collaboration. Researchers and engineers from different countries are contributing to the advancements in computing infrastructure and data science. Complete technological isolation is very difficult to achieve in a highly interconnected world.Both competition and cooperation are evident in the AI industry as nations compete for leadership in the field, but they also collaborate on research, standards, and governance frameworks.&nbsp;&nbsp;Various governments, academic institutions, and private companies from across the globe are heavily involved in international discussions on AI ethics, safety, and regulation. All these happenings suggest that globalisation is not disappearing but adapting to new situations, realities and perceptible threats.

Anthopic’s Mythos model is particularly adept at detecting software vulnerabilities, some of which remained undiscovered for decades. It has been used by US authorities and select companies to plug security gaps. The US believes such AI could become a dangerous cyberweapon in the wrong hands.

The AI firm Anthropic has barred all foreign nationals from accessing its latest AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, as per an order of the United States government citing national security reasons. The company, known for its Claude chatbot, said government agencies had instructed it to prevent all foreign nationals from accessing Fable 5 and Mythos 5. The Mythos AI model is particularly adept at detecting software vulnerabilities, some of which have remained undiscovered for decades. This capability has been used by US authorities and select companies to plug security gaps. The Fable 5 model, released this week, is also based on Mythos technology, but its cybersecurity and biotechnology capabilities are blocked. The US government believes that such AI could become a dangerous cyberweapon in the wrong hands, and rightly so. Also Read: MoU will ensure end of war on all fronts, including Lebanon: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi US government’s order to Anthropic sparks debate However, the US government’s order has sparked a debate about who controls the future of artificial intelligence and whether globalisation is dead. The access curb marks a major shift in how governments regulate artificial intelligence. Until now, restrictions largely focused on chips and hardware used to build and run AI systems. Now questions are being asked about technology sovereignty and whether countries can even rely on AI systems developed elsewhere. Globalisation has been one of the hallmarks of the modern world, as it enabled the free flow of goods, services, capital, technology, and ideas across national boundaries. The internet accelerated it by creating a global digital marketplace where innovation could spread rapidly and benefit people worldwide. The access curbs on advanced AI models show that AI is no longer viewed merely as a commercial product but as a strategic asset. Also Read: US govt funded foreign biolabs, many of them worked on dangerous pathogens, reveals Tulsi Gabbard Powerful AI models can affect military capabilities, cybersecurity Governments recognise that powerful AI models can influence military capabilities, cybersecurity, scientific research, and economic productivity and are trying to protect technological advancements that can be misused. The globalisation concept was built on the principles of openness, international cooperation, and the belief that innovation should spread across borders. Globalisation also has its own challenges, the primary ones being income inequality, job displacement, and environmental concerns. Moreover, it would be premature to say that globalisation is dying or is dead. In fact, globalisation may be evolving and taking a new form. Global economic interdependence still remains strong even as some strategic technologies may be becoming more restricted. Also Read: ‘US will use Iran’s frozen funds to pay for damages inflicted on Gulf allies’: Scott Bessent AI development depends on global supply chains, talent pools, and collaboration AI development itself depends on international supply chains, global talent pools, and cross-border collaboration. Researchers and engineers from different countries are contributing to the advancements in computing infrastructure and data science. Complete technological isolation is very difficult to achieve in a highly interconnected world. Both competition and cooperation are evident in the AI industry as nations compete for leadership in the field, but they also collaborate on research, standards, and governance frameworks. Various governments, academic institutions, and private companies from across the globe are heavily involved in international discussions on AI ethics, safety, and regulation. All these happenings suggest that globalisation is not disappearing but adapting to new situations, realities and perceptible threats.

Anthopic’s Mythos model is particularly adept at detecting software vulnerabilities, some of which remained undiscovered for decades. It has been used by US authorities and select companies to plug security gaps. The US believes such AI could become a dangerous cyberweapon in the wrong hands.

US restricts access of Anthropic’s Mythos and Fable to Americans only. Is globalisation dead in the age of AI?

In its blockbuster IPO on Friday (Jun 12), SpaceX sold roughly 555.6 million new Class A common shares at $135 apiece at a valuation of roughly $1.75 trillion, turning founder Elon Musk into a trillionaire. The IPO floated 4.3 per cent of SpaceX's equity. Musk's nearly 42 per cent stake and voting control were essentially untouched by the listing, as the IPO consisted mostly of newly issued shares rather than insiders cashing out. IPO sales came mainly from these newly issued shares, plus a roughly $3.75 billion friends-and-family tranche.<h2>How SpaceX IPO was lapped up by institutional and retail investors</h2>Out of the 4.3 per cent of the company that was offered in the IPO, SpaceX initially targeted roughly 30 per cent retail participation. However, demand reshaped the allocation, and up to 80 per cent of the offered shares eventually went to institutional investors. So, out of the $75 billion offered, a little over 20 per cent went to retail investors, worth an estimated $16-17 billion, while up to 80 per cent went to institutional investors, estimated about $59 billion, according to reports.The offering was oversubscribed by 3.5 to 4 times the $75 billion sought. Retail orders reportedly exceeded $100 billion, making it the biggest IPO debut for retail investors in recent memory.The institutional investors included pension funds, mutual funds, sovereign wealth funds, hedge funds, asset managers and strategic investors. Retail investors used platforms such as Robinhood, Fidelity, Charles Schwab, SoFi and E-Trade.Priced at $135, the stock opened at $150, up 11 per cent, briefly rose more than 30 per cent, and closed its first day at $160.95, up about 19.2 per cent.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/musk-vows-to-reach-mars-as-spacex-makes-wall-street-debut-1781284346523/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/musk-vows-to-reach-mars-as-spacex-makes-wall-street-debut-1781284346523/embed</a><h2>What percentage does Musk own now in SpaceX?</h2>Musk's SpaceX stake, worth around $1 trillion, remained up to five times more valuable than all the shares sold to the public in the IPO combined. Even after becoming a public company, he likely retained near-effective control because of his large equity stake and super-voting shares.According to SpaceX's S-1 filing, submitted publicly on May 20 after a confidential April 1 draft, Musk will control 82.4 per cent of the voting power after the IPO, as confirmed in the S-1/A amendment filed on June 3. Some post-IPO reports put that voting power at 85 per cent. Either way, it means Musk has unassailable majority vote.It is important to note that the listed SpaceX entity is no longer just the rocket company. After absorbing xAI and X in February 2026, the filing consolidated all three businesses. Therefore, the 42 per cent Musk ownership figure refers to the combined entity.His voting control is significantly higher because of the dual-class share structure, with Class B shares carrying super-voting rights, typically 10 votes per share compared with one vote for Class A shares.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/failed-3-times-before-success-what-can-founders-learn-from-spacex-s-first-three-failures-1781345514081">Failed 3 times before success: What can founders learn from SpaceX's first three failures?</a><h2>If Elon Musk still owns 42 per cent of SpaceX, who owns the rest?</h2>It is important to note that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires companies to disclose only beneficial owners holding 5 per cent or more of a share class.Every investor below that threshold, in this case most funds and all employees, is aggregated rather than itemised. The only other holders named in the filing with more than 5 per cent ownership are as follows:Antonio Gracias, a board member since 2010, is the largest individual shareholder after Musk. He holds more than 503 million Class A shares, representing about a 7.3 per cent stake according to the S-1 filing.Class B super-voting holders are strikingly few. Apart from Musk, they include SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell and Ira Ehrenpreis of DBL Partners. Ehrenpreis holds 564,650 Class B shares and 809,050 Class A shares. This structure keeps voting control firmly concentrated regardless of equity dilution.Everyone else, including institutional and employee shareholders pre-IPO, are not individually broken out in the SEC filing.<h2>Either way, all SpaceX shareholders are richer now</h2>Major pre-IPO institutional investors of SpaceX include Andreessen Horowitz, DFJ Growth, Founders Fund of Peter Theil, Sequoia Capital, Valor Equity Partners, Thrive Capital, Alphabet, Baillie Gifford, D1 Capital Partners, Fidelity, Baron Capital, T. Rowe Price and 137 Ventures.However, there is no uniformity in reporting regarding the percentage stakes these firms hold.Alphabet, Google's parent company, is estimated to hold around 6-7.5 per cent, based on a $900 million investment made during the 2015 Series F round.Founders Fund has been invested in SpaceX since 2008 and is estimated to hold about 1.5 per cent. However, some reports suggest that Fidelity, Founders Fund, Sequoia, Alphabet and Valor each hold stakes of 2 per cent or less.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spacex-just-made-history-1-8-trillion-ipo-is-the-biggest-listing-ever-1781284160310">SpaceX just made history! $1.8 trillion IPO is the biggest listing ever</a>SpaceX employees collectively hold an undisclosed share of the company. Notably, Donald Trump Jr., son of the US president, is among the shareholders through venture firm 1789 Capital.All non-Musk shareholders combined may now own more than $1 trillion worth of SpaceX stock.While there are discrepancies in the reporting, one thing is clear: the IPO created or expanded wealth for thousands of employees and investors simultaneously.

SpaceX's IPO floated about 4.5 per cent of the company, but Musk retained roughly 42 per cent ownership and 82.4 per cent voting control. Who owns the rest, including major pre-IPO investors and employees?

In its blockbuster IPO on Friday (Jun 12), SpaceX sold roughly 555.6 million new Class A common shares at $135 apiece at a valuation of roughly $1.75 trillion, turning founder Elon Musk into a trillionaire. The IPO floated 4.3 per cent of SpaceX's equity. Musk's nearly 42 per cent stake and voting control were essentially untouched by the listing, as the IPO consisted mostly of newly issued shares rather than insiders cashing out. IPO sales came mainly from these newly issued shares, plus a roughly $3.75 billion friends-and-family tranche. How SpaceX IPO was lapped up by institutional and retail investors Out of the 4.3 per cent of the company that was offered in the IPO, SpaceX initially targeted roughly 30 per cent retail participation. However, demand reshaped the allocation, and up to 80 per cent of the offered shares eventually went to institutional investors. So, out of the $75 billion offered, a little over 20 per cent went to retail investors, worth an estimated $16-17 billion, while up to 80 per cent went to institutional investors, estimated about $59 billion, according to reports. The offering was oversubscribed by 3.5 to 4 times the $75 billion sought. Retail orders reportedly exceeded $100 billion, making it the biggest IPO debut for retail investors in recent memory. The institutional investors included pension funds, mutual funds, sovereign wealth funds, hedge funds, asset managers and strategic investors. Retail investors used platforms such as Robinhood, Fidelity, Charles Schwab, SoFi and E-Trade. Priced at $135, the stock opened at $150, up 11 per cent, briefly rose more than 30 per cent, and closed its first day at $160.95, up about 19.2 per cent. https://www.wionews.com/videos/musk-vows-to-reach-mars-as-spacex-makes-wall-street-debut-1781284346523/embed What percentage does Musk own now in SpaceX? Musk's SpaceX stake, worth around $1 trillion, remained up to five times more valuable than all the shares sold to the public in the IPO combined. Even after becoming a public company, he likely retained near-effective control because of his large equity stake and super-voting shares. According to SpaceX's S-1 filing, submitted publicly on May 20 after a confidential April 1 draft, Musk will control 82.4 per cent of the voting power after the IPO, as confirmed in the S-1/A amendment filed on June 3. Some post-IPO reports put that voting power at 85 per cent. Either way, it means Musk has unassailable majority vote. It is important to note that the listed SpaceX entity is no longer just the rocket company. After absorbing xAI and X in February 2026, the filing consolidated all three businesses. Therefore, the 42 per cent Musk ownership figure refers to the combined entity. His voting control is significantly higher because of the dual-class share structure, with Class B shares carrying super-voting rights, typically 10 votes per share compared with one vote for Class A shares. Also read: Failed 3 times before success: What can founders learn from SpaceX's first three failures? If Elon Musk still owns 42 per cent of SpaceX, who owns the rest? It is important to note that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires companies to disclose only beneficial owners holding 5 per cent or more of a share class. Every investor below that threshold, in this case most funds and all employees, is aggregated rather than itemised. The only other holders named in the filing with more than 5 per cent ownership are as follows: Antonio Gracias, a board member since 2010, is the largest individual shareholder after Musk. He holds more than 503 million Class A shares, representing about a 7.3 per cent stake according to the S-1 filing. Class B super-voting holders are strikingly few. Apart from Musk, they include SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell and Ira Ehrenpreis of DBL Partners. Ehrenpreis holds 564,650 Class B shares and 809,050 Class A shares. This structure keeps voting control firmly concentrated regardless of equity dilution. Everyone else, including institutional and employee shareholders pre-IPO, are not individually broken out in the SEC filing. Either way, all SpaceX shareholders are richer now Major pre-IPO institutional investors of SpaceX include Andreessen Horowitz, DFJ Growth, Founders Fund of Peter Theil, Sequoia Capital, Valor Equity Partners, Thrive Capital, Alphabet, Baillie Gifford, D1 Capital Partners, Fidelity, Baron Capital, T. Rowe Price and 137 Ventures. However, there is no uniformity in reporting regarding the percentage stakes these firms hold. Alphabet, Google's parent company, is estimated to hold around 6-7.5 per cent, based on a $900 million investment made during the 2015 Series F round. Founders Fund has been invested in SpaceX since 2008 and is estimated to hold about 1.5 per cent. However, some reports suggest that Fidelity, Founders Fund, Sequoia, Alphabet and Valor each hold stakes of 2 per cent or less. Also read: SpaceX just made history! $1.8 trillion IPO is the biggest listing ever SpaceX employees collectively hold an undisclosed share of the company. Notably, Donald Trump Jr., son of the US president, is among the shareholders through venture firm 1789 Capital. All non-Musk shareholders combined may now own more than $1 trillion worth of SpaceX stock. While there are discrepancies in the reporting, one thing is clear: the IPO created or expanded wealth for thousands of employees and investors simultaneously.

SpaceX's IPO floated 4.3 per cent of the company, but Musk retained roughly 42 per cent ownership and 82.4 per cent voting control. Who owns the rest, including major pre-IPO investors and employees?

SpaceX after IPO: Musk became a trillionaire, but who all own what percentage of the company? Why we may never know

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has admitted that the company's large-scale AI restructuring included mistakes, months after thousands of employees lost their jobs or were moved into new roles. In an internal memo seen by Reuters, Zuckerberg told staff that Meta's transition towards becoming an AI-first company had not been perfect. He said the company would likely make more mistakes as it continues adapting to rapid technological change, but stressed that Meta is trying to provide stability for employees.&nbsp;The comments come after one of the biggest organisational changes in the company's recent history.<h2>Why Meta cut 8,000 jobs</h2>Earlier this year, Meta laid off around 10 per cent of its workforce, affecting roughly 8,000 employees. The company also reassigned about 7,000 workers to AI-related projects and workflows as part of a wider effort to reorganise around artificial intelligence.At the end of March, Meta employed nearly 78,000 people globally. Reports suggest that the combined layoffs and workforce reshuffling may have directly affected around one-fifth of the company's employees.The restructuring is part of Zuckerberg's broader strategy to position Meta as a leading AI company.<h2>Zuckerberg admits the transition has not been smooth</h2>In the memo, Zuckerberg acknowledged the difficulties involved in such a large transformation. "Given the complexity of these changes, we've made mistakes and will almost certainly make more," he told employees. The admission offers a rare glimpse into the challenges facing major technology firms as they race to integrate AI across products, services and internal operations. Meta has invested billions of dollars into AI infrastructure, advanced models, computing capacity and specialised talent. The company is also exploring AI agents that could automate tasks traditionally handled by human employees. While executives argue that AI will unlock new opportunities, the transition has also created uncertainty for workers across the technology sector.<h2>No more company-wide layoffs expected this year</h2>Alongside acknowledging mistakes, Zuckerberg attempted to reassure employees about their future at the company. According to the memo, Meta does not currently expect any additional company-wide layoffs this year.However, he stopped short of making firm guarantees."I don't want to overpromise because the world is changing in ways that are out of our control," Zuckerberg said.He added that Meta would continue looking for opportunities for employees who had been reassigned to help train and support AI systems.<h2>Meta's next step: More AI and more collaboration</h2>The company appears determined to continue its AI transformation despite the challenges. Zuckerberg said creating new AI-focused roles had given Meta greater flexibility. It allowed the company to reduce the size of some teams while retaining the ability to move employees back into different positions if needed.To improve morale and collaboration, Meta plans to increase spending on team-building activities, company events and offsite gatherings.The company is also preparing a large hackathon in July aimed at encouraging employees from different teams to work together on new AI projects and products.<h2>What this means for the wider tech industry</h2>Meta's experience highlights a growing reality across Silicon Valley. Technology companies are investing heavily in artificial intelligence while simultaneously reshaping their workforces. Some roles are disappearing, others are changing and entirely new positions are being created. Zuckerberg's admission suggests that even the world's biggest technology firms are still working out how best to navigate the AI transition. For employees, investors and competitors, Meta's next moves may offer an important indication of how AI will reshape the future workplace.

Mark Zuckerberg has admitted Meta made mistakes during its AI-led restructuring after laying off around 8,000 employees and reassigning thousands more. The CEO says no further company-wide layoffs are expected this year as Meta continues its push to become an AI-first company.


Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has admitted that the company's large-scale AI restructuring included mistakes, months after thousands of employees lost their jobs or were moved into new roles. In an internal memo seen by Reuters, Zuckerberg told staff that Meta's transition towards becoming an AI-first company had not been perfect. He said the company would likely make more mistakes as it continues adapting to rapid technological change, but stressed that Meta is trying to provide stability for employees. The comments come after one of the biggest organisational changes in the company's recent history. Why Meta cut 8,000 jobs Earlier this year, Meta laid off around 10 per cent of its workforce, affecting roughly 8,000 employees. The company also reassigned about 7,000 workers to AI-related projects and workflows as part of a wider effort to reorganise around artificial intelligence. At the end of March, Meta employed nearly 78,000 people globally. Reports suggest that the combined layoffs and workforce reshuffling may have directly affected around one-fifth of the company's employees. The restructuring is part of Zuckerberg's broader strategy to position Meta as a leading AI company. Zuckerberg admits the transition has not been smooth In the memo, Zuckerberg acknowledged the difficulties involved in such a large transformation. "Given the complexity of these changes, we've made mistakes and will almost certainly make more," he told employees. The admission offers a rare glimpse into the challenges facing major technology firms as they race to integrate AI across products, services and internal operations. Meta has invested billions of dollars into AI infrastructure, advanced models, computing capacity and specialised talent. The company is also exploring AI agents that could automate tasks traditionally handled by human employees. While executives argue that AI will unlock new opportunities, the transition has also created uncertainty for workers across the technology sector. No more company-wide layoffs expected this year Alongside acknowledging mistakes, Zuckerberg attempted to reassure employees about their future at the company. According to the memo, Meta does not currently expect any additional company-wide layoffs this year. However, he stopped short of making firm guarantees. "I don't want to overpromise because the world is changing in ways that are out of our control," Zuckerberg said. He added that Meta would continue looking for opportunities for employees who had been reassigned to help train and support AI systems. Meta's next step: More AI and more collaboration The company appears determined to continue its AI transformation despite the challenges. Zuckerberg said creating new AI-focused roles had given Meta greater flexibility. It allowed the company to reduce the size of some teams while retaining the ability to move employees back into different positions if needed. To improve morale and collaboration, Meta plans to increase spending on team-building activities, company events and offsite gatherings. The company is also preparing a large hackathon in July aimed at encouraging employees from different teams to work together on new AI projects and products. What this means for the wider tech industry Meta's experience highlights a growing reality across Silicon Valley. Technology companies are investing heavily in artificial intelligence while simultaneously reshaping their workforces. Some roles are disappearing, others are changing and entirely new positions are being created. Zuckerberg's admission suggests that even the world's biggest technology firms are still working out how best to navigate the AI transition. For employees, investors and competitors, Meta's next moves may offer an important indication of how AI will reshape the future workplace.

Mark Zuckerberg has admitted Meta made mistakes during its AI-led restructuring after laying off around 8,000 employees and reassigning thousands more. The CEO says no further company-wide layoffs are expected this year as Meta continues its push to become an AI-first company.

Zuckerberg admits errors in Meta's AI transition, says no more company-wide layoffs are expected this year

The US government, citing national security authorities, has directed Anthropic to suspend access to the Fable 5 and Mythos 5 by any foreign nationals, both within and outside the US territory. The direct implication of the order is that Anthorpic blocked access to the Fable 5 and Mythos 5 to all on Friday evening."Our understanding is that the government believes it has become aware of a method of bypassing, or 'jailbreaking' Fable 5, " said Anthropic in a statement. The company now finds itself on the Pentagon's blacklist, deemed too dangerous for its own use as well as foreign use. The US Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, sent a letter to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, saying that the model should remain locked down until the US National Security apparatus is hardened, which could take up to a few weeks.According to the letter from the Commerce Department, Anthropic would in future require a license to export, re-export and domestic transfer of those Anthropic models. Furthermore, Anthropic will also be required to provide individually validated licenses; otherwise, it might face civil and financial penalties.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-araghchi-us-iran-mou-strategic-victory-24-billion-funds-1781331748593">Araghchi says Iran won the war, claims US ready to unlock $24 billion</a><h2>What is "jailbreaking"?</h2>Anthropic's newly developed frontier “AI models” have been reported to have reached a level of capability that poses a catastrophic risk to public and national security. These models can possibly find loopholes in sophisticated software codebases and generate weaponised exploits; they can perform recursive self-improvement without human oversight, and disclose information synthesising dangerous pathogens or biological weapons. So Anthropic “instituted strong safeguards that greatly reduce the likelihood that Fable is misused for tasks related to cybersecurity (among others)”, jailbreaking is the possibility of bypassing those safeguards.&nbsp;“We reviewed a demonstration of this specific technique being used to identify a small number of previously known, minor vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities all appear relatively simple, and we have found that other publicly available models are able to discover them as well without requiring a bypass,” read Anthropic's statement. It claims that no tester has been able to provide a “universal jailbreak”, something that can broadly bypass all the safeguards and unblock a wide range of cyber capabilities. It also asserts that perfect jailbreak resistance is not available. Some minor vulnerabilities are likely to remain.

The US government has ordered Anthropic to restrict access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 after concerns over AI jailbreaking and potential national security risks. Here's what jailbreaking means.

The US government, citing national security authorities, has directed Anthropic to suspend access to the Fable 5 and Mythos 5 by any foreign nationals, both within and outside the US territory. The direct implication of the order is that Anthorpic blocked access to the Fable 5 and Mythos 5 to all on Friday evening. "Our understanding is that the government believes it has become aware of a method of bypassing, or 'jailbreaking' Fable 5, " said Anthropic in a statement. The company now finds itself on the Pentagon's blacklist, deemed too dangerous for its own use as well as foreign use. The US Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, sent a letter to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, saying that the model should remain locked down until the US National Security apparatus is hardened, which could take up to a few weeks. According to the letter from the Commerce Department, Anthropic would in future require a license to export, re-export and domestic transfer of those Anthropic models. Furthermore, Anthropic will also be required to provide individually validated licenses; otherwise, it might face civil and financial penalties. Also Read: Araghchi says Iran won the war, claims US ready to unlock $24 billion What is "jailbreaking"? Anthropic's newly developed frontier “AI models” have been reported to have reached a level of capability that poses a catastrophic risk to public and national security. These models can possibly find loopholes in sophisticated software codebases and generate weaponised exploits; they can perform recursive self-improvement without human oversight, and disclose information synthesising dangerous pathogens or biological weapons. So Anthropic “instituted strong safeguards that greatly reduce the likelihood that Fable is misused for tasks related to cybersecurity (among others)”, jailbreaking is the possibility of bypassing those safeguards. “We reviewed a demonstration of this specific technique being used to identify a small number of previously known, minor vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities all appear relatively simple, and we have found that other publicly available models are able to discover them as well without requiring a bypass,” read Anthropic's statement. It claims that no tester has been able to provide a “universal jailbreak”, something that can broadly bypass all the safeguards and unblock a wide range of cyber capabilities. It also asserts that perfect jailbreak resistance is not available. Some minor vulnerabilities are likely to remain.

The US government has ordered Anthropic to restrict access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 after concerns over AI jailbreaking and potential national security risks. Here's what jailbreaking means.

US locks down Anthropic's most powerful AI after alarming jailbreak warning

India is experiencing a massive transformation in the drone industry and its related components. From Defence and Surveillance to Smart Agriculture and instant deliveries, drone technology is increasingly becoming essential rather than optional as it undergoes a rapid structural shift. In 2026, India's drone industry is creating new career paths, business opportunities, and technological breakthroughs along with rapid expansion. After the Ministry of Civil Aviation liberalised the drone rules and the Rs 120-crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the domestic drone market is estimated to reach a valuation of $13 billion by 2030. Previous market attention was focused on simple assembly, but now the investors have shifted toward deep-tech startups pioneering indigenous core technologies. Earlier, Indian drone and its components manufactures were operated largely as aggregators, relying completely on global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers, imported flight controllers and motor electronic speed controllers. As a result, it created severe supply-chain vulnerabilities, especially for defence procurement. Currently, multiple tech startups, including drones, are successfully manufacturing complex and critical components that widely cover their battery, energy storage systems, battery management technologies and testing infrastructure, making it purely an indigenous technology. Kajal Shah, Co-founder and CEO of Dreamfly Innovations, said the country's drone revolution is creating opportunities across the broader technology value chain. "At Dreamfly Innovations, we believe India's drone revolution is creating a much larger opportunity than drones alone. The real value will be created by companies building the critical technologies that power these platforms—advanced batteries, power electronics, propulsion systems, and other mission-critical subsystems. As defence and commercial drone deployments scale, these enabling technologies will become strategic assets for the country. Our focus has always been on building world-class energy systems for aerospace and defence applications. We see a significant opportunity for Indian deep-tech startups to create globally competitive products in areas where performance, reliability, and engineering excellence matter most. The next generation of industry leaders will be the companies that own and innovate within these core technology layers."&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-s-2-billion-drone-push-why-batteries-could-be-biggest-winner-in-defence-tech-boom-1781254273226">India's $2 billion drone push: Why batteries could be biggest winner in defence-tech boom</a><h3>The battery acts as critical component</h3>Industry experts also believe that drones always capture more attention, making the technology that powers and supports these platforms increasingly important as both military and commercial applications expand. Among these components, battery systems are emerging as a critical component, directly influencing drone performance, endurance and operational effectiveness. Saurabh Markandeya, Co-founder and CTO of Dreamfly Innovations, said battery technology will play a defining role in the future development of the sector. "From our perspective at Dreamfly, batteries are one of the most important technologies underpinning the future of drones. Flight endurance, payload capacity, operational safety, and mission reliability are all fundamentally linked to the quality of the energy system. As drone applications become more sophisticated, battery performance is increasingly becoming a key differentiator rather than just a supporting component," he said. "We see a tremendous opportunity for India to build leadership in advanced battery technologies, intelligent battery management systems, thermal safety, and aerospace-grade manufacturing. The startups developing these capabilities today are not simply supplying components—they are creating the technological foundation required for India's long-term leadership in drones, aerospace, and defence. The stronger India's battery ecosystem becomes, the stronger its drone ecosystem will be," Markandeya added.&nbsp;

Industry experts also believe that drones always capture more attention, making the technology that powers and supports these platforms increasingly important as both military and commercial applications expand. 

India is experiencing a massive transformation in the drone industry and its related components. From Defence and Surveillance to Smart Agriculture and instant deliveries, drone technology is increasingly becoming essential rather than optional as it undergoes a rapid structural shift. In 2026, India's drone industry is creating new career paths, business opportunities, and technological breakthroughs along with rapid expansion. After the Ministry of Civil Aviation liberalised the drone rules and the Rs 120-crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the domestic drone market is estimated to reach a valuation of $13 billion by 2030. Previous market attention was focused on simple assembly, but now the investors have shifted toward deep-tech startups pioneering indigenous core technologies. Earlier, Indian drone and its components manufactures were operated largely as aggregators, relying completely on global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers, imported flight controllers and motor electronic speed controllers. As a result, it created severe supply-chain vulnerabilities, especially for defence procurement. Currently, multiple tech startups, including drones, are successfully manufacturing complex and critical components that widely cover their battery, energy storage systems, battery management technologies and testing infrastructure, making it purely an indigenous technology. Kajal Shah, Co-founder and CEO of Dreamfly Innovations, said the country's drone revolution is creating opportunities across the broader technology value chain. "At Dreamfly Innovations, we believe India's drone revolution is creating a much larger opportunity than drones alone. The real value will be created by companies building the critical technologies that power these platforms—advanced batteries, power electronics, propulsion systems, and other mission-critical subsystems. As defence and commercial drone deployments scale, these enabling technologies will become strategic assets for the country. Our focus has always been on building world-class energy systems for aerospace and defence applications. We see a significant opportunity for Indian deep-tech startups to create globally competitive products in areas where performance, reliability, and engineering excellence matter most. The next generation of industry leaders will be the companies that own and innovate within these core technology layers." Also read: India's $2 billion drone push: Why batteries could be biggest winner in defence-tech boom The battery acts as critical component Industry experts also believe that drones always capture more attention, making the technology that powers and supports these platforms increasingly important as both military and commercial applications expand. Among these components, battery systems are emerging as a critical component, directly influencing drone performance, endurance and operational effectiveness. Saurabh Markandeya, Co-founder and CTO of Dreamfly Innovations, said battery technology will play a defining role in the future development of the sector. "From our perspective at Dreamfly, batteries are one of the most important technologies underpinning the future of drones. Flight endurance, payload capacity, operational safety, and mission reliability are all fundamentally linked to the quality of the energy system. As drone applications become more sophisticated, battery performance is increasingly becoming a key differentiator rather than just a supporting component," he said. "We see a tremendous opportunity for India to build leadership in advanced battery technologies, intelligent battery management systems, thermal safety, and aerospace-grade manufacturing. The startups developing these capabilities today are not simply supplying components—they are creating the technological foundation required for India's long-term leadership in drones, aerospace, and defence. The stronger India's battery ecosystem becomes, the stronger its drone ecosystem will be," Markandeya added.

Industry experts also believe that drones always capture more attention, making the technology that powers and supports these platforms increasingly important as both military and commercial applications expand.&nbsp;

Billion-dollar opportunity behind India's drone revolution: A look at startups building core technologies

India's defence system is going through a massive paradigm shift as it is likely to order over $2 billion worth of military drones from domestic firms, marking the biggest such purchase. The move comes after global and regional conflicts have boosted demand for high-tech defence equipment. The proposal is at an advanced stage, with deliveries expected to be completed within the next 18 to 24 months. While mainstream attention on defence deals is completely on high-profile drone manufacturers and aircraft startups, the true rush is taking place quietly in the components used to manufacture this technology. Among all critical components, battery technology is becoming the strategic winner in advancing defence technology. The proposed acquisition also includes energy storage systems, battery management technologies and testing infrastructure. An expert indicated that batteries are emerging as a key player in the modern drone operations, directly influencing flight timing, payload capacity, operational reliability and mission readiness. "India's planned $2 billion drone procurement is not just a boost for drone manufacturers—it is a catalyst for the entire defence technology supply chain. Batteries are emerging as one of the most critical technologies in modern unmanned systems because they directly determine flight endurance, mission reliability, payload capability, and operational readiness. As drones become integral to surveillance, logistics, precision strike, and autonomous operations, the demand for high-performance, safe, and mission-critical energy systems will grow exponentially," Kajal Shah, Co-founder &amp; CEO, Dreamfly Innovations. "For India to build a truly self-reliant drone ecosystem, the country must also develop indigenous capabilities in advanced battery systems, battery management electronics, testing infrastructure, and energy storage technologies. We believe the next phase of India's defence-tech growth will be driven by companies that can deliver reliable energy platforms capable of meeting military-grade performance standards at scale," She added. Other experts also observed that India's focus on self-reliance in defence manufacturing is increasingly moving beyond platforms and hardware to include the technology that powers the drones, missiles or components used in aircraft. Highlighting the importance of this critical equipment in defence applications, Saurabh Markandeya, Co-founder and CTO of Dreamfly Innovations, said, "Every major shift in defence technology has been enabled by advancements in energy systems. Today's drone revolution is no different. While drones often capture the headlines, batteries are the invisible technology that powers every mission. Whether it is a surveillance drone operating in high-altitude environments, a logistics platform carrying critical supplies, or a tactical system deployed in demanding battlefield conditions, performance ultimately depends on the quality and reliability of the energy system onboard." Experts also believe that the demand for high-performance batteries capable of performing under any conditions will continue to rise as drones become central to surveillance, logistics, reconnaissance and tactical operations. The decision of the government to make deals with Indian manufacturers is also likely to benefit the domestic clean-energy and battery ecosystem, making the country self-reliance on this sector.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/why-india-may-need-russian-su-57s-before-its-indigenous-amca-project-takes-flight-wion-decodes-1780666620969">Why India may need Russian Su-57s before its indigenous AMCA project takes flight? WION decodes</a><h3>Drones are an indispensable part of warfare</h3>Commenting on the development, Saurabh Jain, CExO Energy Storage at GEON, Green Energy On, said, "India’s recent procurement of more than US$2 billion worth of military drones from local manufacturers is indeed an important move towards ensuring greater security for the nation. With drones becoming an indispensable part of warfare and security missions, there is no doubt that the technologies used to power the drones will need equal attention. Batteries and energy technologies will be crucial in the success of drone technology." "This move by the government to procure drones from Indian manufacturers is indicative of its determination to ensure the self-sufficiency of the nation in its technology production and thereby enhancing its defence capabilities. This will be of immense benefit to India as it would give a boost to the indigenous technology industry of the nation," he added.&nbsp;Labelling the batteries as the engine of the drones, Udyut Goyal, Head, Business Development, AmpereHour Energy, highlighted that the component directly influences the flight time of the drones, their recharge cycles, payload capacity, and operational capacity, helping the drones to deliver effectiveness.&nbsp;“Drones play a critical role in India’s defence-tech system, where they are viewed through the lens of airframes and software, but no matter how advanced a drone is, it is imperative to remember that ultimately, its engine is the battery. India invests a lot in its defence technology, so for the optimal use and operational efficiency of drones, we have to ensure a reliable battery system powers them. Batteries directly influence the flight time of the drones, their recharge cycles, payload capacity, and operational capacity, which helps us determine the mission’s effectiveness. Batteries are not just a supporting technology here, but they are, in fact, a strategic component,” he said.&nbsp;“With the growth of drone deployment in defence applications, there will be an increase in the demand for high-performance, lightweight, durable, and domestically developed energy storage solutions. This will allow India to make more innovations and strengthen its capabilities in the battery value chain and be less dependent on imported critical technologies. Beyond defence, too, India will benefit across various sectors such as electric mobility, renewable energy integration, and industrial energy storage. &nbsp;India’s drone push isn’t just a catalyst for defence-tech’s growth, but also for the development of a stronger, more self-reliant energy technology ecosystem, ” Goyal added. India has over 600 companies manufacturing drones along with their components, with more than 100 focused on defence applications. The large players for these technologies include companies like Adani Group, Larsen &amp; Toubro and Tata Advanced Systems, to startups like Dreamfly Innovations, ideaForge, Newspace Research and Asteria Aerospace. They focus on building reconnaissance, loitering munitions, logistics, precision-strike and critical component systems. In addition, the defence ministry has also opened more areas of procurement to startups and private firms, which has eased the testing process and pushed the armed forces to add systems through repeat and interim orders that allow these firms to refine their products rapidly. The best part is that, along with a breakthrough in a drone's battery, the development directly accelerates innovations in Commercial logistics and agricultural drones, Electric vehicles (EVs) and Renewable energy storage systems (BESS).

Drone battery technology is becoming the strategic winner in advancing defence technology. The proposed acquisition of military drones also includes energy storage systems, battery management technologies and testing infrastructure.

India's defence system is going through a massive paradigm shift as it is likely to order over $2 billion worth of military drones from domestic firms, marking the biggest such purchase. The move comes after global and regional conflicts have boosted demand for high-tech defence equipment. The proposal is at an advanced stage, with deliveries expected to be completed within the next 18 to 24 months. While mainstream attention on defence deals is completely on high-profile drone manufacturers and aircraft startups, the true rush is taking place quietly in the components used to manufacture this technology. Among all critical components, battery technology is becoming the strategic winner in advancing defence technology. The proposed acquisition also includes energy storage systems, battery management technologies and testing infrastructure. An expert indicated that batteries are emerging as a key player in the modern drone operations, directly influencing flight timing, payload capacity, operational reliability and mission readiness. "India's planned $2 billion drone procurement is not just a boost for drone manufacturers—it is a catalyst for the entire defence technology supply chain. Batteries are emerging as one of the most critical technologies in modern unmanned systems because they directly determine flight endurance, mission reliability, payload capability, and operational readiness. As drones become integral to surveillance, logistics, precision strike, and autonomous operations, the demand for high-performance, safe, and mission-critical energy systems will grow exponentially," Kajal Shah, Co-founder & CEO, Dreamfly Innovations. "For India to build a truly self-reliant drone ecosystem, the country must also develop indigenous capabilities in advanced battery systems, battery management electronics, testing infrastructure, and energy storage technologies. We believe the next phase of India's defence-tech growth will be driven by companies that can deliver reliable energy platforms capable of meeting military-grade performance standards at scale," She added. Other experts also observed that India's focus on self-reliance in defence manufacturing is increasingly moving beyond platforms and hardware to include the technology that powers the drones, missiles or components used in aircraft. Highlighting the importance of this critical equipment in defence applications, Saurabh Markandeya, Co-founder and CTO of Dreamfly Innovations, said, "Every major shift in defence technology has been enabled by advancements in energy systems. Today's drone revolution is no different. While drones often capture the headlines, batteries are the invisible technology that powers every mission. Whether it is a surveillance drone operating in high-altitude environments, a logistics platform carrying critical supplies, or a tactical system deployed in demanding battlefield conditions, performance ultimately depends on the quality and reliability of the energy system onboard." Experts also believe that the demand for high-performance batteries capable of performing under any conditions will continue to rise as drones become central to surveillance, logistics, reconnaissance and tactical operations. The decision of the government to make deals with Indian manufacturers is also likely to benefit the domestic clean-energy and battery ecosystem, making the country self-reliance on this sector. Also read: Why India may need Russian Su-57s before its indigenous AMCA project takes flight? WION decodes Drones are an indispensable part of warfare Commenting on the development, Saurabh Jain, CExO Energy Storage at GEON, Green Energy On, said, "India’s recent procurement of more than US$2 billion worth of military drones from local manufacturers is indeed an important move towards ensuring greater security for the nation. With drones becoming an indispensable part of warfare and security missions, there is no doubt that the technologies used to power the drones will need equal attention. Batteries and energy technologies will be crucial in the success of drone technology." "This move by the government to procure drones from Indian manufacturers is indicative of its determination to ensure the self-sufficiency of the nation in its technology production and thereby enhancing its defence capabilities. This will be of immense benefit to India as it would give a boost to the indigenous technology industry of the nation," he added. Labelling the batteries as the engine of the drones, Udyut Goyal, Head, Business Development, AmpereHour Energy, highlighted that the component directly influences the flight time of the drones, their recharge cycles, payload capacity, and operational capacity, helping the drones to deliver effectiveness. “Drones play a critical role in India’s defence-tech system, where they are viewed through the lens of airframes and software, but no matter how advanced a drone is, it is imperative to remember that ultimately, its engine is the battery. India invests a lot in its defence technology, so for the optimal use and operational efficiency of drones, we have to ensure a reliable battery system powers them. Batteries directly influence the flight time of the drones, their recharge cycles, payload capacity, and operational capacity, which helps us determine the mission’s effectiveness. Batteries are not just a supporting technology here, but they are, in fact, a strategic component,” he said. “With the growth of drone deployment in defence applications, there will be an increase in the demand for high-performance, lightweight, durable, and domestically developed energy storage solutions. This will allow India to make more innovations and strengthen its capabilities in the battery value chain and be less dependent on imported critical technologies. Beyond defence, too, India will benefit across various sectors such as electric mobility, renewable energy integration, and industrial energy storage. India’s drone push isn’t just a catalyst for defence-tech’s growth, but also for the development of a stronger, more self-reliant energy technology ecosystem, ” Goyal added. India has over 600 companies manufacturing drones along with their components, with more than 100 focused on defence applications. The large players for these technologies include companies like Adani Group, Larsen & Toubro and Tata Advanced Systems, to startups like Dreamfly Innovations, ideaForge, Newspace Research and Asteria Aerospace. They focus on building reconnaissance, loitering munitions, logistics, precision-strike and critical component systems. In addition, the defence ministry has also opened more areas of procurement to startups and private firms, which has eased the testing process and pushed the armed forces to add systems through repeat and interim orders that allow these firms to refine their products rapidly. The best part is that, along with a breakthrough in a drone's battery, the development directly accelerates innovations in Commercial logistics and agricultural drones, Electric vehicles (EVs) and Renewable energy storage systems (BESS).

Drone battery technology is becoming the strategic winner in advancing defence technology. The proposed acquisition of military drones also includes energy storage systems, battery management technologies and testing infrastructure.

India's $2 billion drone push: Why batteries could be biggest winner in defence-tech boom

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India's $2b drone push: Why batteries could be biggest winner in defence-tech