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Tag: Artificial inteligence

  • Apple Reportedly Courting Perplexity AI in Strategic AI Bid

    According to reports, Apple is thinking about putting in a bid to acquire Perplexity, an artificial intelligence (AI) startup.

    The Cupertino-based tech conglomerate has reportedly talked internally about the potential move to support its internal development of AI models and services.

    The possible transfer coincides with multiple delays in the company’s development of key features, like the AI-powered Siri, which still has no anticipated release date.

    But if the business decides to buy Perplexity, it will be the most expensive acquisition it has ever made.

    Multiple Rounds of Discussion Between Apply and Perplexity AI

    Apple’s head of mergers and acquisitions, Adrian Perica, has reportedly led discussions with senior officials, including Services SVP Eddy Cue and other important decision-makers in charge of Apple’s AI goal, according to a media outlet.

    The business has met with Perplexity several times in recent months to discuss the possibility of a deal, but it has not yet made a formal offer and may decide not to proceed.

    Perplexity AI, a rapidly expanding firm founded by Aravind Srinivas, combines conversational AI with real-time online search, perhaps serving as the basis for an Apple AI search engine.

    Apple is weighing two options: either a strategic partnership that incorporates Perplexity’s AI capabilities into Safari and other Apple services or a full acquisition that would incorporate Perplexity’s technology and talent into Siri and iOS.

    Apple Wants to Acquire More AI Talent

    Apple is actively seeking AI expertise, which is why it is interested in Perplexity. According to reports, the business is vying with Meta for the services of industry leaders including Daniel Gross, the creator of Safe Superintelligence Inc. Due to development issues, Apple has postponed the release of its next-generation Siri.

    During Google’s antitrust trial, Eddy Cue recently testified that Apple had talked about integrating Perplexity with Safari. The multibillion-dollar deal between Apple and Google, which guarantees Google Search will continue to be the default on iPhones, was clarified by the testimony.

    If regulators force a separation, that transaction, which was valued at $18 billion in 2021 alone, could be in jeopardy. In that case, purchasing Perplexity might give Apple a backup plan and enable it to develop its own artificial intelligence (AI) search engine.

    These behind-the-scenes initiatives indicate Apple is actively looking for ways to catch up with competitors like Google, Microsoft, and Meta in the rapidly changing AI landscape, even if the company’s WWDC 2025 keynote was rather silent on the subject.

    A $14 billion financing round was just concluded by Perplexity. Any transaction that approaches that magnitude would constitute Apple’s most significant acquisition to date.

    Although Apple has recently made billion-dollar transactions for Intel Corp.’s modem unit and a stake in Chinese ride-sharing company DiDi, the $3 billion acquisition of Beats in 2014 remains the company’s largest transaction to date.

  • Microsoft Layoffs Loom: Sales Team Braces for Impact in Coming Weeks

    According to various media reports, Microsoft is planning to lay off thousands of employees, mostly in its sales business. The layoffs are anticipated to be revealed in early July as the corporation continues to restructure in the face of significant expenditures in artificial intelligence.

    Following 6,000 layoffs in May and more than 300 more a few weeks later, the layoffs will be the Redmond-based software giant’s third significant employment decrease of the year.

    The expected summer layoffs were initially reported by Bloomberg, and according to sources, the timing aligns with the beginning of Microsoft’s new fiscal year in July.

    Sales Team to Face the Thunder Storm

    The upcoming cuts will disproportionately target customer-facing roles, in contrast to prior rounds that predominantly hit software engineers and product developers.

    As of June 2024, about 45,000 of Microsoft’s 228,000 employees work in the sales and marketing business. This change was hinted at by the company in April when it declared that it will outsource more software sales to small and midsized businesses to other companies.

    Although sales teams will take the brunt of the cuts, a media group reported that they won’t be the only ones affected.

    Microsoft Focusing More on AI

    The larger difficulty tech businesses face in striking a balance between AI spending and operational efficiency is reflected in Microsoft’s layoffs. This fiscal year, the business has set aside almost $80 billion for data centre expenditures, and officials have promised Wall Street that they will keep costs under control in other areas.

    At a recent internal town hall, CEO Satya Nadella told staff that the previous cuts were a “realignment” rather than a result of performance evaluations, emphasising that employees were not failing. It was about shifting into the next phase.

    Microsoft frequently announces organisational changes close to the conclusion of its fiscal year, so the timing fits a pattern. Following the Activision Blizzard takeover, the business further reduced its video game sector and let off 10,000 employees in January 2023 after hiring was prompted by the epidemic.

    According to media reports, Microsoft declined to comment on the anticipated layoffs, and the precise number of cuts is still being decided.

    Amazon CEO Echoing Similar Thoughts on Layoffs and Adaptation of AI

    Amazon has alluded to additional layoffs in the upcoming years in a recent letter to its staff. In a recent letter to his staff, Andy Jassy, the CEO of Amazon, outlined a clear vision for the company’s future.

    According to the letter, there will be significant changes in the workforce as a result of the increased emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI), including possible cutbacks in corporate employment responsibilities.

    Jassy underlined how AI is used throughout Amazon’s extensive operations, pointing to its use in Alexa, shopping features, and internal operations. He described generative AI as a “once-in-a-lifetime” technical development that may open up new opportunities for businesses and consumers alike.

  • Amazon CEO Signals More Layoffs Ahead in Aggressive Cost-Cutting Push

    Amazon has alluded to additional layoffs in the upcoming years in a recent letter to its staff. In a recent letter to his staff, Andy Jassy, the CEO of Amazon, outlined a clear vision for the company’s future.

    According to the letter, there will be significant changes in the workforce as a result of the increased emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI), including possible cutbacks in corporate employment responsibilities.

    Jassy underlined how AI is used throughout Amazon’s extensive operations, pointing to its use in Alexa, shopping features, and internal operations. He described generative AI as a “once-in-a-lifetime” technical development that may open up new opportunities for businesses and consumers alike.

    Underlining the Potential of Generative AI

    While showcasing the amazing capabilities of generative AI, Jassy pointed out that such technologies are uncommon; they only come along once in a lifetime and fundamentally alter the possibilities for consumers and companies.

    As a result, Amazon is making significant investments, and its progress is clear. It is evident in the way that Amazon is introducing Alexa+, its next-generation Alexa personal assistant, which is significantly smarter and more capable and the first to be able to take important actions for users in addition to intelligently responding to almost any query.

    He went on to say that tens of millions of people worldwide use Amazon’s AI shopping assistant to find new products and make better-educated decisions about what to buy.

    Jassy continued by concentrating on how Amazon is using generative AI to improve the efficiency of its internal processes.  He added that the business is utilising generative AI extensively in all aspects of its internal operations.

    Amazon is utilising artificial intelligence (AI) in its fulfilment network to enhance demand forecasting, inventory positioning, and robot efficiency, all of which have increased delivery speed and cost to serve.

    With the help of GenAI, it has redesigned its customer service chatbot, offering an even better experience than before. Additionally, it is using GenAI to create product description pages that are more intelligent and captivating.

    Infusion of More AI Means Leaner Workforce-Jassy

    Jassy made hints about how the workforce will be impacted by the use of AI. He mentioned that Amazon will require fewer individuals to perform certain tasks than it currently does, while a greater number of individuals will be required to perform other categories of jobs.

    Although it’s difficult to predict exactly where this will end up, the company anticipates that, as it improves efficiency from implementing AI widely throughout the organisation, it will shrink its overall headcount in the coming years.

    As the company undergoes this transition, Jassy advised his staff to be curious about artificial intelligence (AI), educate themselves, attend workshops and trainings, use and experiment with AI whenever possible, take part in team brainstorming sessions.

    All these steps are necessary to determine how to innovate for Amazon’s customers more rapidly and extensively, and work more efficiently with more resilient teams.

  • Geoffrey Hinton ‘Godfather of AI’ Warns of Mass Unemployment

    According to Geoffrey Hinton, the “Godfather of AI”, certain occupations are less vulnerable to AI’s replacement than others.

    Hinton stated that AI has the potential to result in widespread unemployment, particularly in white-collar jobs, in an interview that was broadcast on 17 June on the “Diary of a CEO” podcast.

    Hinton restated his claim that AI is better and said he believes AI would simply replace all people in mundane intellectual labour. White-collar jobs are referred to as “mundane intellectual labour”.

    Additionally, he clarified that AI would assume the human form and perform tasks that were previously performed by ten people.

    Because of the possibility of automation, Hinton stated that he would be “terrified” to work in a call centre at this time. But he noted that it will take longer for AI to displace blue-collar jobs.

    “I think it will be a long time before AI is as good at physical manipulation,” Hinton stated in the podcast. Therefore, being a plumber would be a wise choice, he added.

    AI Creating New Jobs is a Myth-Hinton

    Hinton questioned the idea that AI will lead to the creation of new jobs in the podcast, pointing out that if AI were to automate intellectual work, human labour would become scarce.

    According to Hinton, a task that AI simply couldn’t perform requires a highly skilled individual. In an effort to please its investors, OpenAI recently revealed plans to restructure its business, turning its for-profit division into a public benefit corporation (PBC).

     As per a media site, OpenAI stated that the plan will enable it to generate additional funds in order to stay competitive in the costly AI race.

    Some critics, however, expressed alarm, saying that while the proposal may be a positive beginning, it falls short of providing sufficient assurance that OpenAI will remain true to its initial goal of creating artificial intelligence for the good of humanity.

    Geoffrey Hinton and former OpenAI staff members are among the detractors. They said that the proposed restructure of OpenAI would have prioritised the financial interests of investors over the general welfare.

    According to a media report, Elon Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI and current rival through his business xAI, also opposed the plan on the same reasons and is suing OpenAI for violating the terms of the company’s founding agreement.

    About Geoffrey Hinton

    The 78-year-old Geoffrey Hinton is known as the “Godfather of AI” because of his work on neural networks, which he began in the late 1970s. He teaches computer science at the University of Toronto and was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work in machine learning (ML).

  • TRAI Unveils AI-Powered Consent Platform to Tackle Spam Calls and Protect Users

    To reduce spam calls, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has started a pilot initiative to develop a digital permission management system.

    The regulator will verify the technical, operational, and regulatory aspects of a digital consent registration function as part of the project. To test this framework, TRAI has enlisted a few banks and telecom providers in collaboration with the RBI.

    According to the regulator, because of the “sensitivity of banking transactions and cases of financial fraud through spam calls”, the banking industry would be given priority during the initial phase of implementation.

    The digital consent management platform will be gradually scaled up across industries thanks to the pilot project, which will be operationalised within a regulatory sandbox.

    Operating inside a regulatory sandbox environment, the pilot will evaluate the technical, operational, and regulatory aspects of the expanded Consent Registration Function (CRF) and set the stage for sector-wise scaling of the digital consent ecosystem, according to a statement from TRAI.

    The Goal-Safeguarding Consumer Interest and Enhancing Trust

    The initiative is in line with the telecom regulator’s overarching objective of protecting consumer interests and boosting confidence in legal commercial communications, the agency stated.

    In order to guarantee open practices throughout the ecosystem, TRAI further stated that it intends to keep collaborating with sectoral regulators and stakeholders. The creation of a digital consent management platform coincides with an increase in unsolicited messages and spam calls that consumers are receiving.

    The increase in such communications by companies from which a customer has already bought goods or services was noted by the regulator in the statement. Businesses claimed to have customer consent, according to TRAI.

    However, offline or unverifiable methods are frequently used to obtain this consent. Further explaining, TRAI stated that it is very challenging to determine the legality and authenticity of these consents because they were frequently obtained offline or through unverifiable methods.

    Customers have complained on multiple occasions that the businesses obtained their mobile numbers for this purpose through deceit, fraud, or unauthorised data-sharing.

    Many Initiatives Taken by the Regulator to Address Such Issues

    The regulator has taken a number of actions in recent months to address these problems. Some of the initiatives are now allowing telecom users to file complaints against unregistered telemarketers and starting the process of disconnecting telecom resources that are being utilised for spam.

    In order to obtain consent digitally and onboard companies delivering commercial messages, TRAI also started a project last year to create a safe and compatible digital consent register that will be managed by telecoms.

    The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018, were also modified by the regulator in February of this year in an effort to reduce annoying spam calls.

    According to the new regulations, telcos that violate the guidelines could face fines of up to INR 10 lakh. Telecom companies reportedly protested when TRAI loosened its strict deadlines a month later.

    In connection with financial irregularities, TRAI and the telecom department blocked 1 Cr mobile connections together last year.

  • AI to Drive Deeper Job Cuts, Warns BT Chief Kirkby

    A media report published on 15 June stated that Allison Kirkby, the chief executive of BT Group, stated that developments in artificial intelligence may intensify the substantial layoffs already occurring at the British telecoms business.

    BT’s goals to eliminate over 40,000 jobs and cut 3 billion pounds ($4 billion) in expenses by the end of the decade “did not reflect the full potential of AI,” Kirkby told a newspaper.

    She said, “Depending on what we learn from AI… there may be an opportunity for BT to be even smaller by the end of the decade,” according to a media site.

    Up to 55,000 jobs, including those of contractors, would be eliminated by 2030, according to a 2023 statement from Britain’s largest internet and mobile provider.

    Phillip Jansen, the company’s CEO at the time, stated that the organisation would operate with a substantially reduced cost base and a significantly smaller workforce by the conclusion of the 2020s.

    Possible Future Spin-Off of Openreach

    Kirkby, who succeeded Jansen a year ago, has also hinted at the potential of a future spin-off of Openreach, the company’s network infrastructure division.

    She stated that she did not believe the value of Openreach was accurately represented in the company’s share price. If this were to persist, BT would be compelled to explore alternative options.

    According to BT’s email response to a media outlet, the corporation is not now actively investigating Openreach. Last month, BT said that its full-year earnings and cash flow had been strengthened by the robust demand for fibre broadband and over 900 million pounds in cost savings.

    Openreach’s resilience helped to offset revenue and profit decreases at its commercial and consumer segments, where handset sales and legacy voice services continued to decline.

    Layoffs have Become a Common Scenario in 2025

    With big companies like Google, Microsoft, and others continuing to reduce their workforces, layoffs in the tech sector are not expected to halt in 2025.

    Companies are still cutting employees in an effort to simplify operations, save money, and emphasise automation and artificial intelligence, even though these figures are much lower than the major layoffs that occurred between 2022 and 2023.

    Layoffs.fyi, a website that tracks layoffs in the industry, reports that 93 organisations have laid off nearly 23,500 tech workers so far this year, and the number is still growing.

    Google and Microsoft are apparently contemplating a new round of layoffs, according to the most recent job reduction reports. According to reports, AI-led restructuring and performance-based terminations are part of the corporations’ goals to increase the effectiveness of their personnel.

  • Intel to Cut Factory Jobs as Fresh Layoffs Begin in July

    Intel is getting ready to start laying off a large number of employees at its production facilities in the middle of July. This will be the company’s first significant layoff since Lip-Bu Tan became CEO in March.

    The layoffs, which are anticipated to finish by the end of the month, are a part of a larger strategic reorganisation as the business looks to improve its competitiveness in the global semiconductor market and streamline operations.

    The Oregonian/OregonLive examined an internal memo that confirmed the layoff timeframe but did not specify the precise locations or the number of people that would be affected.

    Various media reports claim that individual business units have been given the freedom to handle the cuts as long as they adhere to the financial standards set by upper management.

    Layoffs Are Part of Company’s Transformational Goal

    The corporation has presented the layoffs as necessary for its continuous change. According to a statement from Intel, simplifying the organisation and giving engineers more authority will help the company better meet customer needs and improve execution.

    Additionally, it highlighted that these decisions were reached after “careful consideration” and promised that the affected staff will get respectful and compassionate treatment.

    The action is a response to mounting pressure on Intel to address enduring issues, such as declining demand in the PC and laptop markets, declining sales, and heightened rivalry in the semiconductor industry, especially in the artificial intelligence (AI) domain.

    Analysts have frequently highlighted Intel’s weakness in the AI-focused hardware market, while rivals like Nvidia and AMD have risen to the top. Although this most recent round of layoffs is the first under Tan’s direction, Intel’s employees have had a challenging recent past.

     Under then-CEO Pat Gelsinger, the business eliminated over 15,000 jobs in 2023, including about 3,000 in Oregon alone. With an estimated 20,000 employees based in Washington County, Intel continues to be the largest private-sector employer in Oregon despite these layoffs.

    Tan Already Hinted About Layoffs in April

    Intel employees in Oregon have been speculating about potential layoffs since Tan hinted at potential reductions during an investor call in April, but he did not provide specifics or a comprehensive strategic plan.

    Staff members’ discontent has grown as a result of this ambiguity, and they have expressed their worries about what they see to be a lack of transparency from senior management. Since taking over as CEO, Tan has kept a noticeably lower public profile than his predecessor.

    However, later this year, he is anticipated to provide a thorough restructuring strategy.

    According to industry observers, this strategy will put a higher priority on bolstering Intel’s production capacity, growing its AI presence, and regaining investor trust—all while putting the company in a better position to handle the fiercely competitive semiconductor market.

    In the upcoming months, Intel’s long-term strategy will probably be closely examined by both staff members and market observers as the business enters this challenging period of its transformation.

  • Sundar Pichai Says Human Coders Still Reign — AI Isn’t Ready to Take Over

    The question of whether artificial intelligence will eventually replace human programmers has been discussed a lot lately. However, Google CEO Sundar Pichai claims that AI isn’t going to replace developers anytime soon; on the contrary, it’s doing the exact opposite.

    Pichai recently stated in an interview with the Lex Fridman Podcast that artificial intelligence (AI) is meant to assist software engineers, not to take their jobs. According to him, artificial intelligence (AI) is a potent helper that may increase coding professionals’ creativity and productivity.

    Pichai underlined that AI programming is more about teamwork than rivalry. He clarified, “It’s about improving the capabilities of human coders.” Programmers are supposed to be able to accomplish more work more quickly and concentrate on higher-level thinking with AI tools for developers.

    Although there are legitimate worries about how automation could impact employment, Pichai thinks the reality of the present and the near future is different. AI-assisted coding, in his opinion, is a tool to make programmers more productive rather than a replacement.

    AI Helping Coders of Google

    Surprisingly, Pichai revealed that approximately 30% of Google’s code currently incorporates some form of AI-generated input. Things are already moving more quickly thanks to tools like Google’s own AI-powered development helpers.

    More significantly, he stated that the true victory lies in the speed at which teams are moving. “How much our engineering velocity has increased due to AI is the most important metric, and we measure this carefully,” he stated.

    A significant 10% increase in output without sacrificing quality. Even if AI is becoming more prevalent in coding, Pichai stated that Google intends to increase its number of software developers in the upcoming year.

     That might come as a surprise, but it demonstrates how AI is creating more opportunities rather than reducing them.

    According to Pichai, “The opportunity space of what we can do is expanding too.” AI for developers is not taking the place of occupations; rather, it is freeing up time for more creative tasks like idea generation, issue solving, and brainstorming.

    AI Enhancing Creativity

    The broader picture of how AI might democratise creativity in the computer industry was another topic Pichai covered.

    More people, including non-traditional programmers, can build, code, and innovate if tools are made more intelligent and easily available.

    He claimed that it would provide more individuals access to creative power. A new wave of innovative software development, more cooperative engineering teams, and a wider variety of coding assignments could result from this.

    This change is exemplified by platforms such as MagicShot.ai, which enable individuals to use AI to boost productivity, automate processes, and realise innovative ideas without requiring extensive technical knowledge.

  • Apple Unveils Dazzling ‘Liquid Glass’ UI in iOS 26 Developer Beta

    Hours after revealing its new software at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 in California, Apple has made the iOS 26 developer beta update available.

    ‘Liquid Glass’ is a new UI design language that Apple has included in its developer beta to allow app developers to improve their apps before the software’s final release. This is the largest change. Given that it is beta software, there may be glitches, and the program itself may feel shaky, particularly in the early iterations.

    Therefore, installing beta software is not recommended for users that use the device on a daily basis, as per various tech experts. To utilise it on Apple devices, wait for the official launch.

    How Liquid Glass Works?

    Apple’s latest design interface language, Liquid Glass, is translucent and acts like glass in real life. It cleverly adjusts its hue to light and dark conditions based on the material around it.

    Buttons, switches, sliders, text, tab bars, and sidebars for app navigation are just a few of the tiny elements that users interact with, according to Apple’s statement on 10 June.

    Notably, the updated design is compatible with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26 for the first time.

    Refining iPhone Experience Through Apple Intelligence

    The iPhone experience is improved by Apple Intelligence, which also makes it easier for consumers to complete tasks and opens up new ways to interact with the screen.

    Messages, FaceTime, and Phone all have live translation built in to facilitate multilingual communication by instantly translating text and audio. Apple-built models that operate fully on the device enable live translation, ensuring that customers’ private chats remain private.

    Visual intelligence expands on Apple Intelligence by enabling users to search and interact with everything they see across apps on their iPhone screen.

    Users can search Google, Etsy, or other compatible apps to find related images and products, or they can ask ChatGPT questions about what they’re seeing onscreen to find out more.

    Additionally, visual intelligence may identify when a user is viewing an event and recommend that they add it to their calendar, updating important information such as the date, time, and location.

    Users may express themselves in even more ways with Genmoji and Image Playground, such as by combining their favourite emoji, Genmoji, and descriptions to create original content. These days, shortcuts are smarter and more potent than before.

    In addition to seeing specific actions for features like Writing Tools and Image Playground, users may access intelligent actions, a whole new set of shortcuts made possible by Apple Intelligence.

    Users can now view their complete order details and progress notifications in one location, even for transactions made outside of Apple Pay, thanks to Apple Intelligence’s ability to automatically recognise and compile order tracking information from emails received by delivery carriers and merchants.

    Furthermore, any app can now directly access the on-device foundation model at the heart of Apple Intelligence thanks to a new Foundation Models framework. This gives developers access to powerful intelligence that is quick, built with privacy at its core, and accessible offline through free AI inference.

  • Microsoft’s Bing Unleashes Free AI Video Tool for Everyone!

    Bing Video Creator is a brand-new AI video production tool from Microsoft. With just a description of what they would like to see, users may now create brief AI films. The function is comparable to that of Bing Image Creator, which uses AI to generate images in response to user input.

    The Sora model from OpenAI powers the video tool. Bing Video Creator is now free and accessible through the Bing mobile app. It can produce five-second videos based on text prompts. It is anticipated that desktop access will soon be available.

    According to Microsoft, the new tool would enable users to make basic video clips in plain language without the need for sophisticated editing software.

    Bing Video Creator puts the power of video creation at users’ fingertips, whether they are letting their creativity run wild, bringing a tale to life, or searching for the ideal video to express their thoughts, according to Microsoft’s official blog post announcement.

    Steps for Users to Follow

    The Bing mobile app, which is accessible to iOS and Android users, must be downloaded in order to use Bing Video Creator. He has two options within the app: either put “Create a video of” into the search field or tap the bottom-right button and choose “Video Creator”.

    The new artificial intelligence video generator will start making a video that fits his description when he enters a prompt, like Otter and a capybara sipping cocktails while on vacation in Hawaii, lounging on a beach hammock.

    Microsoft points out that how detailed prompt determines the output’s quality. Something like a man in a blue tracksuit running along a foggy mountain route at sunrise, in slow motion, provides the AI more to work with than a vague request like “a person running,” which might not result in a meaningful clip. Accuracy is increased by including details like tone, objects, motion, and setting.

    More Offerings of Bing Video Creator

    The Bing video generator, on the other hand, can produce videos up to five seconds long and in vertical format (9:16). According to Microsoft, work is underway on a horizontal format (16:9).

    Up to three videos can be created by users at once; if all available slots are taken, the user will have to wait for one to finish before beginning another. He will receive a notification as soon as the video is created.

    The AI-generated video can then be downloaded and shared on social media or sent as a link. For a period of ninety days, the videos will be accessible for viewing and reuse. Naturally, like other AI technologies, this new one also raises safety concerns.

    Microsoft claims to have addressed these issues by incorporating safeguards into the new video production tool. Prompts identified as dangerous will be blocked by the platform, and users will be informed of this.

    In accordance with the C2PA standard, every video produced by the AI tool will also include digital credentials designating it as such. Microsoft claims that in order to reduce the possibility of abuse, it is depending on both its own extra security measures and OpenAI’s safety filters in Sora.