APPLE VS GOOGLE AI

Google sued over suicide-related AI chats on school computer

The parents of a 13-year-old girl have sued Google claiming she planned a potential suicide and funeral using its AI technology on a school-issued computer. Developers of fast-evolving AI technology are facing a litany of similar lawsuits in the US. OpenAI faces several wrongful death suits, including from the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, a teenager who committed suicide allegedly using methods advised by ChatGPT. Google and the startup Character.

Amagi, Shiprocket post profits; US polls’ impact on IT

Amagi’s Q2 profit surged nearly 30x while Shiprocket swung into the black for the first time. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL review: Google's most complete Pixel yet, but can it win over iPhone users?

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL is Google's most complete flagship yet, with a premium design, excellent display, reliable battery life and improved cameras. While its Tensor G6 processor trails Apple's latest iPhone in raw performance, its smooth software, seven years of updates and better video recording make it a compelling Android alternative. Priced at ₹1,34,999, it is particularly appealing to iPhone users considering a switch.

After taking voluntary buyout offer in Google and returning laptop, she ran 7 miles home. Her 2027 prediction and unusual career journey is intriguing

Former Google employee Kristin Furdak Smart, after a fulfilling decade with the company, opted for a voluntary exit program. Joining in 2007 and returning in 2017, she played a key role in numerous employee training initiatives. Celebrating her departure with an energetic seven-mile run home, she whimsically hinted at a potential comeback in 2027, showcasing her playful spirit and dedication to an active lifestyle.

Carl Pei teases Nothing’s first AI-native product; says it 'couldn't have been an app'

Nothing will launch its first AI-native product in December with a focus on productivity. The chief executive, Carl Pei, provided limited details about the product’s functions. It is suggested that the product may help users capture conversations and take notes. Other companies are also exploring wearable AI devices that focus on companionship or productivity.

Google turns off AI for schoolchildren by default

Google has said it will switch off its AI tools for schoolchildren by default, after drawing criticism for pushing artificial intelligence features to students while schools are still debating how the technology should be used in classrooms. The feature was switched on by default for students at schools that had already enabled Gemini.

Google voluntary buyouts: What's the exit package, which teams qualify and how many employees are eligible after Microsoft's similar offer?

Google Voluntary Exit Programme Details: Google has expanded its voluntary buyout programme to selected employees in five countries. The offer comes as Microsoft rolls out a similar voluntary exit scheme covering around 60,000 employees. Here's a look at Google's severance package, eligible teams and the number of employees who could opt for the offer.

Qualcomm's smartphone chip sales miss estimates, shares fall

Demand for lucrative high-bandwidth storage for AI servers has pushed up memory chip prices, raising the cost of consumer electronics and squeezing smartphone processor designers such as Qualcomm.

Apple cuts employee AI budgets in cost-control push

Apple has reduced employee budgets for AI usage as part of a broader effort to rein in costs, even as it seeks to expand the use of AI across its operations, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Apple becomes world’s most valuable company with $5.1 trillion market cap as AAPL stock today hits record high after Democrats win midterm elections

Apple stock price surged more than 6% to a record high on Wednesday, lifting its market capitalization to $5.1 trillion and making it the world’s most valuable company. The rally followed Democrats’ midterm election victories and came after Apple reported stronger-than-expected quarterly revenue and earnings.

Google hands schools the AI switch as learning concerns grow

Google plans to restrict access to its AI tools for K-12 students, pending administrator approval. This change follows feedback aimed at enhancing control over classroom AI usage. The company is also expanding its Guided Learning feature, which helps students solve problems systematically. Research shows mixed results regarding AI's impact on student performance and learning outcomes.

Google extends voluntary buyout offers to employees in several countries

The move comes amid mounting AI spending that has unnerved Wall Street and dented Alphabet's stock price. Microsoft last week offered voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees in an effort to contain costs. Alphabet's workforce has grown steadily in recent quarters, but it has sought to shift resources toward priority areas.

Nearly $500 billion wiped off Alphabet’s market value in a single day. What spooked investors?

Apple’s robust India quarter; Giva’s $100 million funding

Apple posted record sales in India in the September quarter. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

Apple shares slide as higher memory costs fuel margin concerns

The iPhone maker has benefited from using memory purchased at lower prices, but that advantage is expected to diminish over time, leaving more of its purchases exposed to higher prices.

Apple beats sales and profit expectations but AI costs weigh on holiday sales

Apple exceeded analysts' expectations for its latest results on Monday when the iPhone-maker said it notched a "revenue record" for the July-September quarter, driven by iPhone sales and services revenue, but increased costs related to AI will drag down margins. This includes primarily the impact of higher memory costs, as well as some costs related to the ramp of Siri AI," Parekh said.

First Apple Intelligence features land in China, with Alibaba’s Qwen on board

The tech giant has partnered with Alibaba to bring its Qwen model into some of the experiences. Chinese users will be able to use Qwen through Siri, Writing Tools, and Visual Intelligence, enabling text and image understanding. Users can access it by signing in with a Qwen account or through Apple, the company said in a blog post.

Apple's new CEO John Ternus to face first earnings test as memory costs surge

Ternus, who took the reins from Tim Cook in September, has overseen the introduction of Apple's first foldable phone, smart home hub and Apple's first touch-screen laptops. All of those products began shipping during the company's current fiscal first quarter, amid what Cook had called a "100-year flood" of rising memory costs.

Apple CEO John Ternus defends AI strategy: ‘Don't want to ship AI for AI's sake’

His comments come at a time when Apple has faced criticism for falling behind rivals such as Google in the AI race. Ternus also spoke about the risks associated with increasingly powerful AI models, particularly from a cybersecurity perspective.

See data centres less as energy-sucking private warehouses, and more as quasi-public utilities

We need data centres. They run far more than ChatGPT. Search, banking, streaming, social networks, cloud software, government services, hospitals and almost every company's digital operations depend on them. AI simply raises the requirement dramatically. Google says its Vizag hub will provide new subsea connectivity for India. IEA says electricity use by AI-focused data centres jumped 50% in 2025. A country without serious compute infrastructure risks becoming a consumer, rather than a producer, of the AI revolution.

Alphabet's heavy cloud spending drives bigger-than-expected cash burn

The company reported negative free cash flow of $9.07 billion, compared with analysts' estimate of a cash burn of $36 million, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Apple set to unveil first touchscreen MacBooks, ending years of resistance to the technology

Apple is preparing to introduce its first touchscreen MacBooks, reflecting a shift in consumer demands for laptop technology. The company's previous resistance to touchscreens has changed as consumer preferences have evolved. Analysts suggest that this change is a necessary response to market trends and expectations. Recent product launches, such as the folding iPhone and upgraded MacBook Pro, aim to enhance consumer experience.