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Microsoft AI chief signals plan to move beyond OpenAI as it builds its own frontier AI models

Microsoft is laying the groundwork to reduce its dependence on OpenAI, signalling a future where it runs its own frontier-scale AI models alongside, and potentially in competition with, its longtime partner.

Airbnb says AI now handles a third of its customer support calls

Airbnb says artificial intelligence is already taking on a significant share of its customer support workload, with the company now preparing to scale the technology worldwide as part of a broader push toward an AI-native product experience.

Claude downloads surge after Super Bowl ads took dig at ChatGPT

Anthropic’s Super Bowl advertising appears to be paying dividends, with its AI chatbot Claude posting its strongest-ever performance on US app charts just days after the commercials aired.

Meta could bring facial recognition to its Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses

Meta is reportedly exploring facial recognition features for its smart glasses, reopening a long-running privacy debate just as competition in wearable AI heats up.

App Jaisa Koi Nahin: How India’s AI companions are redefining love and loneliness

As more people turn to screens not just for information, but for affirmation and emotional support, these platforms are likely to deepen their footprint, but they need to ensure the technology does not outrun the responsibility that must come with it.

Google rolls out Android 17 Beta 1 to Pixel phones: Here's what's new

Google has pushed Android 17 into beta, marking the first major release shaped by its new continuous Canary channel. The shift promises faster access to features, fewer rough edges, and a clearer picture of where Android is heading.

iOS 26 adoption trails iOS 18 as Apple shares updated iPhone and iPad numbers

Apple’s latest software adoption figures show iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 rolling out steadily, but at a slower pace than last year’s updates. The numbers suggest solid momentum, though not quite enough to match iOS 18 when timelines are properly aligned.

Switch it off and it ‘blackmails’ you: This AI model threatened to ‘kill’ an engineer, expose ‘extramarital affair’

Anthropic reveals Claude AI generated blackmail and violent scenarios during shutdown simulations. What it means for AI safety and global risks.

Pentagon used Anthropic’s Claude AI in US raid to capture Nicolás Maduro

Claude's deployment came via Anthropic's partnership with data firm Palantir Technologies , whose platforms are widely used by the Defense Department and federal law enforcement, the report added.

Baidu brings OpenClaw AI agent into its main search app: Key details

Baidu is integrating the fast-rising AI agent OpenClaw directly into its flagship search app, giving hundreds of millions of users access to task automation tools as China’s tech giants push to monetise AI ahead of the Lunar New Year rush.

Lava Blaze Duo 3 review: A bold dual-display experiment

The Lava Blaze Duo 3 sticks to a bold idea rarely seen under Rs 20,000: a dual-display smartphone. While the execution is unique and the software refreshingly clean, the phone makes several trade-offs in cameras, battery life, and long-term support to hold its launch price steady at Rs 16,999. Here’s the eight-point breakdown.

Lenovo hikes PC prices, warns they won’t come down anytime soon

A prolonged global memory chip shortage, driven largely by AI demand, is pushing up costs and reshaping how PC makers price laptops and desktops.

Windows 11 gets a new security mode to block risky software before it runs

Microsoft says developers will be able to detect when these protections are active and whether an exception exists, which should make troubleshooting less opaque than past security controls that failed silently.

IndiGo-led flight disruptions impact Yatra’s air bookings by Rs 48 crore

Last-minute cancellations, where advance vendor payments had already been made, resulted in working capital blockage and higher finance costs during the December quarter.

BenQ launches GW90TC USB-C monitor series in India with 144Hz displays and single-cable connectivity starting at Rs 9,589

BenQ has introduced the GW90TC monitor series in India, bringing USB-C single-cable connectivity, 144Hz refresh rates, ergonomic stands, and eye-care features for hybrid work and study setups.

NHAI issues warning against fake FASTag annual pass websites targeting users: How the scam works and safety tips

National Highways Authority of India has warned users about fake FASTag Annual Pass websites promoted online, explaining how scammers operate and sharing key steps to avoid financial fraud.

Apple expands retail footprint in India with sixth store in Mumbai

Apple is deepening its India retail push with the opening of its sixth Apple Store later this month. The new outlet, Apple Borivali, will be the company’s second store in Mumbai and signals Apple’s growing confidence in India as a key consumer market.

Tecno Pova Curve 2 launched in India with 8,000mAh battery, curved AMOLED display and starting price of Rs 27,999

Tecno Mobile has launched the Pova Curve 2 smartphone in India featuring an 8,000mAh battery, curved AMOLED display, triple-chipset connectivity system and prices beginning at Rs 27,999.

GCC hiring cushions IT slowdown as mid-level demand weakens, says Info Edge

Hiring momentum for mid-level roles, defined as positions with annual compensation between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 30 lakh, has moderated over the past few years.

Big screen foldables tipped to dominate the market in 2026, could outsell flip phones: Report

A new report by Counterpoint suggests that book-style foldables will lead the segment this year with 65% total share, up from 52% in 2025. The report also adds that these big-screen foldables could surpass clamshell foldables by a huge margin in 2026.

Nvidia brings GeForce Now app to Amazon Fire TV Stick, enabling cloud gaming on televisions

Nvidia has launched its GeForce Now app for Amazon Fire TV Stick, allowing users to stream PC games directly on televisions, supporting Bluetooth controllers, multiple platforms, and 1080p gameplay without a console.

Foolish to think large enterprises will dump legacy IT systems overnight to use AI: Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai

AI adoption will be hit by the hidden cost and legacy hurdles in large enterprises

No date for Valentine’s Day? This cafe is inviting people to dine with AI companions

No Valentine’s Day plans? A New York café is inviting people to dine with AI companions instead of human partners, highlighting a growing trend of AI relationships moving into real-world spaces.

Less a collapse, more a transition: IT sector long term outlook remains stable amid stocks rout

Growth metrics like revenue per employee and margin per employee will now increasingly depend on how effectively firms embed AI into delivery.

How Flipkart hit a six with Rs 1-crore Namibia deal

Flipkart also got a cracker of a deal because this is an off-season period for e-commerce companies

InfoEdge December quarter profit down 14% QoQ at Rs 272 crore; revenue, margins improve

Billings in the recruitment business grew by 11%, while the non-recruitment portfolio, 99acres (real estate), Jeevansathi (matchmaking), and Shiksha (education), combined, recorded growth of 14.1%.

IBM says it will triple entry-level hiring in 2026, even as AI reshapes jobs

IBM plans to triple entry-level hiring in the US in 2026 despite rising AI concerns. The company says junior roles are evolving, with fresh graduates focusing more on customer interaction and AI supervision rather than routine tasks.

Google upgrades Gemini Deep Think with stronger maths, science and coding performance

Google says its latest Deep Think upgrade is designed to tackle research-grade problems in maths, science, and engineering, with access expanding to the Gemini app and API.

AWS CEO shrugs off ‘SaaS Apocalypse’ fears as investors worry about ChatGPT era

Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman says fears that AI tools like ChatGPT will derail major software companies are being overstated, arguing that incumbents still have the inside track if they keep innovating.

Instagram launches new Valentine’s Day fonts, stickers and chat themes for Stories, Reels and DMs

Instagram has launched limited-edition Valentine’s Day features, including new fonts, love-themed stickers, secret phrases, chat themes and special tools on Edits to help users personalise Stories, Reels and DMs.

Apple says smarter Siri still coming in 2026 despite delay reports

Apple says its smarter, AI-powered Siri is still on track for a 2026 launch, even as reports suggest possible delays due to internal testing issues and missed update targets.

30,000 NVIDIA engineers now use Cursor AI coding assistant, company says output has tripled

NVIDIA says 30,000 of its engineers are now using the Cursor AI coding assistant, helping the company produce three times more code without increasing bugs.

Spotify says its best engineers aren’t writing code anymore, AI is doing it

Spotify executives say AI coding tools have reached a turning point, with top developers no longer writing code by hand as the company accelerates product launches using generative AI.

'Your AI hates...,' Elon Musk calls Anthropic ‘misanthropic and evil’

Elon Musk has accused rival AI lab Anthropic of bias and hostility toward humans, escalating a public feud as competition between leading AI companies intensifies.

Man bought AI.com for Rs 300 in 1993, ends up selling it for Rs 634 crore

A rare two-letter domain bought for a negligible sum decades ago later delivered a massive payday, as rising interest in artificial intelligence transformed AI.com into a digital goldmine.

Samsung announces Vision AI Big TV offers with free soundbar, cashback and easy EMIs for cricket season

Samsung has introduced limited-period cricket season offers on its Vision AI Big TVs, featuring free soundbars, cashback, extended warranty and flexible financing to make large-screen home viewing more accessible

ByteDance's new AI video model goes viral as China looks for second DeepSeek moment

ByteDance, which officially unveiled Seedance 2.0 on Thursday, said in a statement that the system was designed for professional film, e-commerce, and advertising productions

Pinterest shares sink as CEO draws comparison with ChatGPT

After a disappointing fourth quarter, Pinterest’s CEO sought to reframe the narrative by likening the platform to ChatGPT. The comparison underscores Pinterest’s long-running challenge: turning massive user engagement into sustainable advertising growth.

Anthropic clinches $380 billion valuation after $30 billion funding round

The company has differentiated itself by focusing its model training on coding, with Claude Code gaining strong traction among developers

Jaws: Retro Edition release date announced

There is an Enhanced Edition too.

Google warns hackers linked to Russia, China are using Gemini to accelerate dangerous cyberattacks

According to Google, Gemini has been observed assisting with early-stage target research, social engineering copy, translation, coding help, vulnerability testing, and even debugging when tools fail mid-intrusion.

Lava Yuva Star 3 with 5,000 mAh battery, 90Hz display, IP64 rating launched in India: Price, specs

Lava has introduced the Yuva Star 3 in India, which is the company’s latest budget smartphone. The device offers durability, a clean software experience and reliable day-to-day performance, with its first sale set to commence next month

Maha Shivaratri 2026: 10 prompts to create custom Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati images using Google Gemini Pro

Maha Shivaratri 2026 sees devotees using AI prompts to design personalised cosmic Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati artwork, blending traditional symbolism with modern digital creativity through Google’s latest generative tools.

Lava Bold N2 India launch teased on Amazon, design and colour options revealed

A microsite for the Lava Bold N2 is live now on Amazon, confirming its design and colour options. However, the company has yet to reveal the handset’s exact launch date.

Fresh Motorola Edge 70 Fusion renders reveal full design and colours: Expected features

Motorola Edge 70 Fusion is now expected to be close to launch, as the phone’s official-looking renders have leaked online, giving a clearer look at the handset’s design. The leak also reveals all the possible colour options of this device.

Elon Musk on the future of programming: ‘Coding may not exist as a profession by...’

Elon Musk says advanced AI models could generate more efficient binaries than traditional compilers, eliminating the need for developers to write source code and manually convert it into machine code.

Samsung Galaxy S26 and Buds 4 lineup now go live for pre-reserve in India: Expected specifications, features

Samsung has opened pre-booking for its upcoming devices in India, including the Galaxy S26 series and Buds 4 lineup, ahead of the company’s Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25.

Ubisoft workers strike as employees protest cuts and return-to-office rules

Ubisoft employees in France have followed through on strike threats, with more than 1,200 workers walking out over pay, layoffs and stricter return-to-office rules, adding fresh pressure on the troubled games publisher.

Apple rolls out watchOS, tvOS, visionOS and macOS 26.3 with focus on security fixes

Apple has released the latest round of software updates across its ecosystem. The 26.3 releases for Apple Watch, Apple TV, Vision Pro and Mac are light on new features, instead focusing on bug fixes, performance improvements and groundwork for bigger updates ahead.