IT major Infosys announced its acquisition of in-tech, a prominent engineering R&D services provider specializing in the German automotive industry, on Thursday in an exchange filing. This 450 million euro acquisition will help the IT company expand its footprint in Europe. The acquisition is expected to be wrapped up in the first half of the financial year 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, the company said. Infosys has already received approvals from regulatory authorities in Germany, Romania, Austria, India, and “such other regulatory approvals as may be required”.

Headquartered in Germany, in-tech is one of the fastest-growing engineering R&D services providers, playing a pivotal role in driving digitization across the automotive, rail transport, and smart industry sectors. The company focuses on areas such as e-mobility, connected and autonomous driving, electric vehicles (EVs), off-road vehicles, and railroad solutions. The German firm offers a comprehensive suite of services, including system design, methodical consulting, advanced electronics platform development, and validation of automotive-specific software and hardware systems.

“Together with in-tech, Infosys Topaz, an AI-first set of services, solutions, and platforms, and recently acquired InSemi’ semiconductor’s expertise, we have successfully created deeper capabilities for the next phase of automotive innovation in the arena of software-defined vehicles. We are excited to welcome in-tech and its leadership team into the Infosys family,” said Dinesh Rao, executive vice president, and co-delivery head at Infosys.

“Together we now cover the entire end-to-end process, a step that is crucial to fully meet our customers’ needs. With access to more talent and expertise, we gain incredible strength and scale in our delivery capability, enabling us to successfully implement even more ambitious projects,” added Tobias Wagner, CEO of in-tech.

Infosys also reported its results for the financial year 2023-24 (FY24) on Thursday. Infosys reported a net profit increase of 8.9 percent to Rs 26,233 crore from Rs 24,095 crore recorded at the end of FY23 and its annual income from operations went up by 4.7 percent to Rs 1,53,670 crore in FY24 from Rs 1,46,767 crore in FY23.

OpenAI, backed by Microsoft Corp., has appointed Pragya Misra as its first employee in India, naming her as the head of government relations. The move comes as India votes in a new administration, a crucial time for shaping artificial intelligence regulations in the country. Misra, 39, previously worked at Truecaller AB and Meta Platforms Inc. She is set to start at OpenAI toward the end of the month. Her appointment signals OpenAI’s efforts to advocate for favorable regulations as governments worldwide grapple with how to regulate AI technology.

India, with its vast population and rapidly growing economy, presents significant growth opportunities for global tech companies like OpenAI. However, navigating India’s regulatory landscape can be challenging due to local lawmakers and regulators prioritizing the protection of domestic firms. OpenAI representatives and Misra did not respond to requests for comment outside regular US office hours. Misra’s experience in leading public affairs at Truecaller and Meta Platforms Inc., where she spearheaded WhatsApp’s campaign against misinformation in 2018, positions her well for her new role at OpenAI.

In India, OpenAI faces competition from tech giants like Alphabet Inc.’s Google, which is developing AI models tailored for the country, aiming to cater to diverse linguistic needs and widen internet access. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized the importance of integrating AI technologies into government services, particularly in sectors like healthcare. Altman, who has previously met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscored India’s role as an early adopter of OpenAI’s generative-AI service, ChatGPT.

While Altman has advocated for more regulations in the AI space, he has also expressed concerns about the potential harm caused by the technology. He believes that while significant regulatory changes may not be necessary for current AI versions, they may become essential in the near future. OpenAI’s decision to appoint its first employee in India reflects the company’s recognition of the country’s importance in the global AI landscape.

With a population of 1.4 billion and a rapidly growing economy, India presents a vast market and innovation hub for AI technologies. By establishing a presence in India, OpenAI aims to leverage local talent and resources to drive its growth and influence in the region. Pragya Misra’s appointment as head of government relations underscores OpenAI’s commitment to engaging with policymakers and stakeholders in India.

Her experience in navigating regulatory environments and building partnerships will be instrumental in advancing OpenAI’s interests and objectives in the country. India’s government has shown increasing interest in AI regulation and adoption, recognizing its potential to transform various sectors, including healthcare, education, and governance.

As AI technologies continue to evolve, policymakers are grappling with issues related to privacy, security, and ethical use, making effective government relations crucial for companies like OpenAI. Moreover, OpenAI’s competition with tech giants like Google highlights the importance of strategic positioning and advocacy efforts in India’s competitive market.

By proactively engaging with regulators and policymakers, OpenAI seeks to shape the regulatory landscape in its favor while also fostering collaboration and innovation within the AI ecosystem. Overall, OpenAI’s decision to establish a presence in India and appoint a government relations head underscores its commitment to driving responsible AI development and adoption globally.

As the company expands its footprint in India, it is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of AI in the region and beyond.

Micron Technology Inc., the leading US manufacturer of computer-memory chips, is positioned to receive $6.1 billion in grants from the Commerce Department to support domestic factory projects, as part of an initiative to reestablish semiconductor production in the United States. While the award is still pending finalization, individuals familiar with the matter anticipate its announcement next week. Additionally, Micron, alongside Intel Corp. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., is expected to accept loans as part of its award package.

However, the exact value of these loans is currently unknown. Micron shares gained as much as 2.6 per cent in late trading after Bloomberg reported on the planned award. The stock was already up 36 per cent this year through Wednesday’s close. President Joe Biden is scheduled to travel on April 25 to the Syracuse, New York, region as part of the announcement, the people said. Micron, based in Boise, Idaho, is building factories near Syracuse, as well as in its home state. Representatives for Micron, the Commerce Department and the White House declined to comment.

The 2022 Chips and Science Act set aside $39 billion for direct grants, as well as loans and loan guarantees worth $75 billion, to revitalize American chipmaking after decades of production shifting to Asia. Officials have unveiled six preliminary awards so far: three to firms that produce older-generation semiconductors, plus multibillion dollar packages for Intel, TSMC and South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has said the agency plans to spend about $28 billion of the grant funding on leading edge projects.

After the preliminary agreement is announced, Micron would enter months of due diligence and then receive the money in tranches tied to project-specific benchmarks. Micron has pledged to build as many as four factories in New York state, plus one in Idaho. But those plans “require Micron to receive the combination of sufficient Chips grants, investment tax credits and local incentives to address the cost difference compared to overseas expansion,” Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Mehrotra said last month.

The company is proceeding with projects in China, India and Japan as well. Raimondo has said that her agency will prioritize funding projects that begin production by the end of the decade. Two of Micron’s four New York sites are on track to meet that benchmark, while the other two won’t be operational until 2041, the company said in a recent federal filing. That means that Micron’s award is likely to support only the first two New York facilities, people familiar with the matter said earlier. Computer memory and storage chips are a vital part of everything from smartphones to the biggest data centers, where they store information and help advanced logic process information. Production is primarily done in Asia.

Micron’s biggest two competitors, Samsung and SK Hynix Inc., account for the majority of that manufacturing. These companies also intend to establish factories in the United States — one for logic chips and another for advanced packaging — contributing to a surge of over $200 billion in private semiconductor investment catalyzed by the Chips Act.

A spokesperson for Alphabet-owned Google confirmed that the company is implementing layoffs, although the exact number of affected employees was not disclosed. This represents the latest round of cuts at the tech giant as it focuses on cost reduction efforts. The spokesperson clarified that the layoffs are not affecting all departments and that impacted employees will have the opportunity to apply for internal positions. However, details regarding the number of employees affected and the specific teams involved were not provided. A small percentage of the impacted roles will move to hubs the company is investing in, including India, Chicago, Atlanta, and Dublin.

The layoffs follow a slew of job cuts across Google and the tech and media industry this year, adding to fears that layoffs may continue as companies grapple with economic uncertainty. “Throughout the second half of 2023 and into 2024, a number of our teams made changes to become more efficient and work better, remove layers, and align their resources to their biggest product priorities,” the spokesperson added.

Employees across several of Google’s teams in its real estate and finance departments have been affected, according to a Business Insider report on Wednesday. The finance teams affected include Google’s treasury, business services, and revenue cash operations, it added. Google’s finance chief, Ruth Porat, sent an email to staff saying the restructuring includes expanding growth to Bangalore, Mexico City, and Dublin, according to the Business Insider report. Google let go of hundreds of workers across multiple teams in January, including its engineering, hardware, and assistant teams as the company ramps up investment and builds its artificial intelligence offerings. Company CEO Sundar Pichai reportedly told employees at the start of the year to expect more job cuts.

In a bid to revamp its iPhone lineup, Apple is reportedly planning significant changes to the screen sizes of its Plus and Pro models by 2025. According to industry analyst Ross Young, cited by reports, the upcoming 2025 iPhone Plus is expected to feature a smaller-sized display compared to its predecessors. This adjustment positions the iPhone Plus models to have a larger screen size than the standard iPhone model and iPhone Pro, but slightly smaller than the iPhone Pro Max.

The current generation iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro boast a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max feature a larger 6.7-inch display. With this purported shift in screen sizes, Apple aims to further differentiate its product lineup and potentially enhance the appeal of the iPhone Pro Max model.

Additionally, reports suggest that Apple may introduce changes to the display sizes of the iPhone Pro line as early as this year. The anticipated 2024 iPhone Pro and Pro Max models are rumored to sport 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively.

Beyond alterations in screen dimensions, Apple is said to be transitioning to LTPO OLED display panels across all iPhone models from 2025 onwards. This move would enable all iPhones in the lineup to support a higher refresh rate, enhancing overall display performance. Currently, while the baseline models of the iPhone 15 series feature OLED displays with a 60Hz refresh rate, the higher 120Hz refresh rate display is exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models.

Traditionally, Apple unveils its new iPhone models in September. It is anticipated that the iPhone 16 series will follow this pattern and launch globally in September of this year. While minor hardware improvements are expected for this year’s model, the major highlight is anticipated to be the introduction of the iOS 18 operating system. iOS 18 is rumored to bring significant AI features, enhancing the overall user experience. More details about iOS 18 are expected to be unveiled at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) on June 10, where the company will delve into the new features and tools it plans to introduce with the next-generation operating system.

Flipkart on Tuesday announced its annual week-long summer sale starting from April 17 to April 23, 2024, offering a wide selection of cooling.

Flipkart has announced the 6th edition of Super Cooling Days 2024, a week-long annual sale event offering exciting deals on cooling home appliances. The sale, scheduled from April 17 to April 23, 2024, aims to provide customers with a wide range of products at affordable prices to combat the intense summer heat. Super Cooling Days 2024 will showcase an extensive selection of cooling appliances, including Air Conditioners (ACs), Refrigerators, Air coolers, and Fans from leading brands such as Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, Haier, Godrej, and IFB.

The sale will feature India’s biggest refrigerator store, offering various types of refrigerators with the latest technology and prices ranging from Rs 9,990 to Rs 2,00,000. ACs starting from Rs 25,000 In the AC category, customers can choose from a premium store featuring a variety of brands with prices ranging from Rs 25,000- to Rs 65,000. The sale will also offer an extensive range of Inverter ACs for different room sizes, with features like Wi-Fi connectivity and energy-efficient ratings. ACs, Air coolers starting from Rs 1,299 Flipkart will offer a vast array of ceiling fans ranging from Rs 1,299 to Rs 15,000, along with energy-efficient BLDC fans at Rs 1,999 and various Table, Pedestal, and Wall Fans.

Air coolers, including Personal coolers starting at Rs 3,999 and Desert coolers from Rs 6,499, will also be available to cater to diverse cooling needs. Deals and payment options To make the shopping experience more rewarding, Flipkart will provide multiple deals and payment constructs, including a New Customer offer, Tap & Win, and offers on SuperCoins.