TECHNOLOGY BLOG
Energy infra startups see bigger cheques as investors bet on sovereign play
Bengaluru-based Enerzolve, which makes smart meters, power conversion systems and energy storage systems, is in talks to raise $20 million from existing investors Jungle Ventures and Kae Capital as well as Schneider Electric, people aware of the matter told ET. That’s nearly four times the $5 million it raised in a January round.
WhatsApp to make payments, travel and everyday tasks easier: Bengaluru-based head Kunal Shah reveals his plans
WhatsApp head Kunal Shah has outlined plans to expand the platform beyond messaging, making payments, travel services and everyday tasks easier. The company also aims to improve voice notes, stickers and video while using AI to help users manage bookings and appointments. Shah said personal messages and calls will remain end-to-end encrypted.
Meta expands teen protections, brings AI age checks to more users
Meta uses AI to analyse whether a user is a teenager. This allows the company to identify users who may have lied about their age during registration and place them under Teen Account protections, which will automatically limit who can contact them, the content they see, and the time spent on its apps.
Sarvam names Google Cloud India head Sashikumar Sreedharan as president & chief business officer
Sashikumar will additionally join Sarvam's board of directors. He will lead the company's business across enterprises and government, while expanding its engagement with digital-native companies, developers and partners.
Why Big Tech companies Microsoft, Google, Meta and others are opting for voluntary buyouts
In response to fluctuating market demands, Meta has rolled out voluntary exit packages in France aimed at workforce restructuring. This initiative is part of a broader trend as tech giants like Google and Microsoft implement similar measures globally to optimize costs. These packages offer employees the choice to depart with financial incentives and transition support, showcasing a more favorable approach compared to traditional layoffs amidst economic uncertainty.
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.
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Google will cut off search access for students at schools that reject AI
The Mountain View, California, company has been facing pushback from educators, child development experts and parents over the use of its technology in schools, with the backlash heating up since it announced in August that it had turned on its Gemini chatbot for many K-12 students who use Google Classroom.
Pixxel's Indian ownership comes under scrutiny
Pixxel founder and chief executive Awais Ahmed in a blog post on X said the company remains “headquartered, owned, managed and controlled in India,” on Monday. Indian investors, including the founders, collectively hold the largest shareholding in the company, followed by investors from Singapore, the UK and the US, he added.
Google’s Space AI just wrote a Haiku from orbit; here’s how it did it
Google launched its Project Suncatcher prototype satellite on October 1, 2026, aboard SpaceX's Transporter-18 mission. Following initial checks, the satellite completed early machine learning tests with its onboard Gemma AI model. During a ground-station pass, the satellite generated a haiku about life in space, showcasing its capabilities. Google plans to explore the reliability of this technology under space conditions in future tests.
PB Fintech, Delhivery improve Q2 profits; Binance's $6.3 billion caper
PB Fintech on Friday reported a strong jump in profit and revenue for the July-September quarter. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Google AI avoids answering who won 2020 US presidential election, sparking debate: Here’s what we know
Google AI faced backlash for failing to accurately respond to queries about the 2020 US presidential election results. Users noticed discrepancies between responses for the 2020 and 2016 elections, which sparked concern. Critics suggested the issue implicates political intervention in AI output, while others attributed it to training errors. Google acknowledged the problem and indicated that it is working on solutions for the affected datasets.
Microsoft director took a voluntary exit offer in July. Now, he is a construction worker, plumber. What prompted his career change?
After 25 years at Microsoft, former director Shawn Mrzena accepted a voluntary exit offer in July and swapped corporate meetings for hands-on work and outdoor adventures. He has since explored construction, plumbing, product design and fly fishing. Sharing his 90-day experience on LinkedIn, Mrzena said leaving corporate life helped him rediscover the satisfaction of building and fixing things. He plans to decide his next career move in 2027.
Pentagon treating military base freezer malfunctions as suspected cyberattack, officials say
In August, military commissaries in the United States experienced freezer malfunctions that resulted in significant food spoilage. Investigators are exploring these incidents as possible cyberattacks, with updates being shared with French counterparts. A similar attack in France impacted hundreds of commercial freezers, causing significant financial losses. The vulnerability of refrigeration systems to cyber threats poses risks to food safety and supply chains.
Pixxel sets up US subsidiary to serve federal agencies
Pixxel in September raised $100 million (around Rs 945 crore) in the largest funding round in India’s spacetech sector, co-led by Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek and UK-based space investor Seraphim, ET reported.
Pentagon treating military base freezer malfunctions as suspected cyberattack
The Pentagon is treating the spate of mysterious freezer malfunctions that spoiled food at military bases across the United States in August as a suspected hack, according to four officials familiar with the matter.
DeepSeek, Moonshot used OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra to train latest models: report
Chinese AI developers DeepSeek and Moonshot AI relied heavily on outputs from OpenAI's powerful GPT-6 Astra model to train their latest models, The Information reported on Wednesday, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter.
'Dropboxers, today will be your last day': Dropbox lays off 9% of global workforce; CTO Ali Dasdan to step down. Read what the company said in memo
Dropbox is set to cut approximately 200 jobs as part of its growth-oriented reorganization plan. The focus will be on restructuring teams in engineering, product, and administration, resulting in several employees leaving immediately. On November 18, Chief Technology Officer Ali Dasdan will also resign. Employees impacted by the layoffs will receive severance packages including financial support, while the company aims to enhance operations and customer service effectiveness.
Cognite reports $1 billion in verified AI value, confirming impact of industrial AI solutions
Driving approximately 36% of value verified to date, customers are leveraging AI and automated workflows to prevent costly asset shutdowns across complex industrial operations, help them get back running when the unexpected happens, and lower the costs of running their operations.
'Involuntary entrepreneur era': Tech veteran's warning to IT workers as Microsoft offers buyouts to 60,000 employees
Microsoft’s voluntary buyout offers to around 60,000 employees have raised concerns about job security across the technology sector. Tech veteran Maureen Wiley calls this the “Involuntary Entrepreneur Era”, warning workers to prepare for career uncertainty. The latest programme follows earlier retirement packages and 4,800 job cuts, as Microsoft increases artificial intelligence spending and manages workforce costs.
Microsoft offers voluntary exits to 60,000 employees: What's in it, who qualifies and will India’s 23,000-strong workforce be impacted?
Microsoft has introduced a voluntary exit offer for eligible employees in India, the US, the UK and Canada, covering around 60,000 workers globally. The programme offers financial support and career transition services, but India's share remains unclear. The announcement comes amid US scrutiny of Microsoft's foreign-worker visa practices.
What is the difference between buyout and layoff? Microsoft offers buyout to 60,000 employees; check what it means for workers
Microsoft buyout offer to 60,000 workers: Microsoft has introduced a Voluntary Exit Offer (VEO) for eligible employees in India, the US, Canada and the UK, with reports suggesting around 60,000 workers could qualify. The programme allows employees to leave voluntarily with financial support, unlike layoffs, where the company decides to cut jobs. The move comes as Microsoft ramps up AI investments while managing workforce costs.
Layoffs: Microsoft, Amazon, HP among companies reducing staff due to AI push
Recent developments reveal that leading tech firms like Microsoft and Amazon are making substantial job cuts due to the rise of AI technologies. Microsoft has launched a voluntary exit program that may impact approximately 60,000 employees globally. Meanwhile, Amazon has laid off around 30,000 workers as part of a restructuring effort driven by AI advancements.
Former Microsoft employee tells wife he was lucky to be fired from tech sector in 2022. What is he doing now?
Former Microsoft employee Ian Yong Hoe Tan says he feels fortunate to have been retrenched in late 2022, amid growing concerns about AI-driven job losses. Reacting to Microsoft’s voluntary buyout offers for around 60,000 employees, he said the development left him shaken. Tan now works as a lecturer at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Microsoft announces voluntary exit offer for 60,000 employees in India, 3 other countries
Microsoft has announced a voluntary exit programme for eligible employees in multiple countries, including India. The offer is available to employees at level 70 and below until December 1. Eligible employees will receive severance packages and career transition services as part of the initiative.
Tech reporter’s remarks on Indian VCs set off debate on India’s deeptech startup scene
The discourse surrounding Ashlee Vance's comments on Indian VC risk aversion has generated a flurry of insights online. Vance suggested that Indian venture capitalists often overlook startups with immense potential, such as Ather, valued at nearly $7 billion. Anu Hariharan’s analysis pointed to operational issues deterring investors from engaging in India's startup scene.
AI companies turn to religion for moral guidance, but experts warn of oversimplification
As technology companies focus on developing powerful artificial intelligence, they are increasingly seeking religious guidance. Executives are collaborating with philosophers and faith leaders to navigate ethical challenges. Many warn that simplifying religion into rules may ignore its cultural complexities. Scholars express concern that this approach could distort certain traditions while favoring others. The ongoing dialogue raises important questions about how AI should reflect diverse moral viewpoints.
Japanese companies compensate users as cyberattacks buffet economy
GMO Internet Group said customers would be compensated for losses stemming from unauthorised access following a cyberattack on its foreign exchange trading service, and all customers would receive 5,000 yen ($32) as "an initial gesture of good faith," CEO Masatoshi Kumagai said in a blog post on Sunday.
Apple bets iPhone Duo can remake foldable market as sales begin
Its reception could prove an early test for new Apple CEO John Ternus, the former hardware chief who unveiled iPhone Duo barely a week after taking charge in September.
ECB says AI, greener economy help euro zone weather energy shock
Despite facing substantial energy challenges from escalating oil and gas prices, the euro zone economy has shown resilience in growth. Economists from the European Central Bank attribute this to reduced fossil fuel reliance and enhanced fiscal support. Additionally, advancements in AI and technology exports have fueled the region's economic expansion. Nevertheless, caution is advised as these benefits may prove temporary, with ongoing geopolitical tensions posing significant risks to future stability.
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