This week, Prime Minister Narendra ModiThe meeting with top tech CEOs in New York set the stage for stronger US-India collaboration in technology and innovation. Meanwhile, the tech industry saw major changes in workplace policies Ditch announced a return to full-time office work for its global sales team, raising employee concerns. Cybersecurity issues come to forefront as popular YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia‘s channels were hacked and later restored Telegram A surprising policy change was made regarding user data disclosure, and there’s more in this week’s top tech news.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets top tech CEOs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met top tech CEOs in New York during his three-day US visit and discussed technology, innovation and opportunities in India. Industry leaders participated in the round table conference AdobeShantanu Narayan, GoogleSundar Pichai, Arvind Krishna of IBM, amdLisa Su, and Modernaकी नौबर अफेयान. He highlighted India’s progress in technology and expressed optimism towards India.
The meeting follows recent US-India collaboration in semiconductor supply chains and emerging technologies, including initiatives with GlobalFoundries and IBM.
Dell orders its global sales team to work out of the office full time
Dell’s global sales team will have to return to the office full-time from September 30, 2024, ending the era of hybrid work. The decision, announced via email, has sparked a backlash among employees concerned about commuting costs and possible layoffs. The company framed this change as “a return to winning and taking share” in response to the rapidly evolving industry and technology landscape.
However, employees view this with suspicion, with some suggesting it is a tactic to encourage resignations and accomplish the goal of headcount reduction. The move follows a similar announcement by Amazon, which led to a survey showing 73% of its employees were considering job hunting.
Dell’s email, signed by sales department presidents Bill Scannell and John Byrne, emphasizes that remote work should be the exception rather than the routine, but the decision has been criticized and raised concerns about hidden costs and potential pay cuts. There are concerns.
Ranveer Allahabadia aka BearBiceps’ YouTube channel hacked, YouTube restores it within 48 hours
Influencer and podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia, better known as BearBiceps, has restored his YouTube channels after they were hacked and renamed on September 25. The cyberattack resulted in all videos being removed and their channels being renamed to focus on Elon Musk and Donald Trump. ,
In a video update, Allahbadia thanked the YouTube team for restoring his channels and expressed his gratitude towards his supporters. He used the event to raise awareness about cybersecurity and urged followers to educate themselves on the topic. Allahbadia denied speculation that the hack was a publicity stunt, saying, “My work is my religion. It is my belief.”
Telegram will share details IP addresses and phone numbers with authorities
Telegram has announced an important policy change regarding user data disclosure. CEO Pavel Durov said the company would now provide users’ IP addresses and phone numbers in response to legal requests, a departure from its previous stance of non-cooperation with authorities. The company says it has not disclosed any user messages to third parties, including governments. The policy change follows Durov’s arrest in France in August for alleged crimes he committed on Telegram, charges he denies.
Airtel will use AI to detect spam calls and messages
Bharti Airtel has launched an AI-powered network solution for its customers to detect spam calls and messages. Developed in-house by Airtel’s data scientists, the AI algorithm analyzes various parameters such as usage patterns, call/SMS frequency and call duration to accurately flag suspected spam. The solution also alerts customers to malicious links received via SMS and can detect anomalies such as frequent IMEI changes.
Gopal Vittal, Managing Director and CEO, Airtel, emphasized that the initiative aims to protect customers from unwanted communications and is an important milestone in addressing the spam menace in India.
WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram are getting new AI features
Meta has announced significant upgrades to its AI capabilities, including the ability to conduct conversations using celebrity voices on WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram in the US. AI can now analyze and edit photos, answer questions about them, and even create personalized content for social media feeds. Powered by the new Llama 3.2 model, Meta AI can understand both images and text.
The company is testing AI-generated images for Facebook and Instagram feeds, including “Imagined for You” images that can show users in different scenarios. Additional features include AI-generated backgrounds for Instagram Stories, automatic translation for Reels, and advanced capabilities for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, such as real-time translation and improved natural language interactions.
Apple adds nine Mac models to ‘obsolete’ and ‘classic’ lists
Apple has added nine Mac models to its ‘Obsolete Products’ list and three to its ‘ Vintage ‘ list, effectively ending support for these older devices.
Obsolete products that Apple stopped selling more than 7 years ago are no longer eligible for hardware repairs from Apple or third-party providers, except for battery repairs on Mac laptops for up to 10 years.
Older products sold 5 to 7 years ago are still eligible for repair, but availability of their parts may be limited. Newer obsolete Macs include various models of MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, MacBook, and iMac from 2015 and 2016, while newer vintage Macs are from 2017 and 2018.
