Technology

Tech wrap Jan 6: OnePlus 13 launch, Samsung Vision AI for TVs, Redmi 14C

This January brings exciting launches from top brands. On January 7, OnePlus unveils its flagship 13 series at a live event. Samsung introduces Vision AI for smarter TVs, while Xiaomi rolls out the budget-friendly Redmi 14C 5G. Realme teases its 14 Pro series 5G, launching on January 16. LG also showcases its OLED EVO TVs with built-in AI and new lifestyle projectors. Stay tuned for these groundbreaking tech releases! What to expect from the OnePlus 13 series launch on Jan 7 OnePlus, the Chinese smartphone maker, is gearing up to reveal its latest flagship smartphones in the OnePlus 13 series at the Winter Launch Event on January 7. The event will be held in person, starting at 9 PM IST, and will also be streamed live on the official OnePlus India YouTube channel. Samsung brings on-device AI features to TVs with ‘Vision AI’ At CES 2025, Samsung unveiled advanced AI technology for its 2025 TV line-up, introduced under the name “Vision AI.” These features were revealed at Samsung’s CES 2025 First Look event. The company also highlighted collaborative efforts with Microsoft and Google, integrating new functionality into its entertainment devices, including speakers and soundbars. Xiaomi has introduced the Redmi 14C 5G, a budget-friendly smartphone, in India. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor, the device supports dual 5G SIMs. With prices starting at Rs 9,999, the phone boasts a “Premium Starlight Design” and a glass back panel for a refined look. Realme 14 Pro series 5G launching on Jan 16 in India-inspired colorways Realme has announced the launch of its 14 Pro series 5G smartphones in India on January 16. The company also unveiled the first glimpse of the smartphones, showcasing new colors inspired by India – Bikaner Purple and Jaipur Pink. Samsung unveils AI-powered Neo QLED TVs, The Frame Pro, and more Samsung showcased a range of new entertainment devices at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, USA. Alongside its “Vision AI” features, the company introduced Neo QLED, OLED, and QLED TVs, as well as “The Frame Pro.” A new interactive triple-laser ultra-short-throw projector also made its debut. LG brings OLED EVO TVs with built-in AI, new lifestyle projectors LG unveiled its 2025 OLED Evo TV series at CES 2025, featuring innovations like the wireless OLED Evo M5 and OLED Evo G5 models. The new TVs are equipped with AI-driven personalization features designed to create customized viewing experiences. LG also introduced lifestyle projectors, adding versatility to its product line-up.

Italy Fines OpenAI €15 Million for ChatGPT GDPR Data Privacy Violations

Italy’s data protection authority has fined ChatGPT maker OpenAI a fine of €15 million ($15.66 million) over how the generative artificial intelligence application handles personal data. The fine comes nearly a year after the Garante found that ChatGPT processed users’ information to train its service in violation of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The authority said OpenAI did not notify it of a security breach that took place in March 2023, and that it processed the personal information of users to train ChatGPT without having an adequate legal basis to do so. It also accused the company of going against the principle of transparency and related information obligations toward users. “Furthermore, OpenAI has not provided for mechanisms for age verification, which could lead to the risk of exposing children under 13 to inappropriate responses with respect to their degree of development and self-awareness,” the Garante said. Besides levying a €15 million fine, the company has been ordered to carry out a six-month-long communication campaign on radio, television, newspapers, and the internet to promote public understanding of how ChatGPT works. This specifically includes the nature of data collected, both user and non-user information, for the purpose of training its models, and the rights that users can exercise to object, rectify, or delete that data. “Through this communication campaign, users and non-users of ChatGPT will have to be made aware of how to oppose generative artificial intelligence being trained with their personal data and thus be effectively enabled to exercise their rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),” the Garante added. Italy was the first country to impose a temporary ban on ChatGPT in late March 2023, citing data protection concerns. Nearly a month later, access to ChatGPT was reinstated after the company addressed the issues raised by the Garante. In a statement shared with the Associated Press, OpenAI called the decision disproportionate and that it intends to appeal, stating the fine is nearly 20 times the revenue it made in Italy during the time period. It further said it’s committed to offering beneficial artificial intelligence that abides by users’ privacy rights. The ruling also follows an opinion from the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) that an AI model that unlawfully processes personal data but is subsequently anonymized prior to deployment does not constitute a violation of GDPR. “If it can be demonstrated that the subsequent operation of the AI model does not entail the processing of personal data, the EDPB considers that the GDPR would not apply,” the Board said. “Hence, the unlawfulness of the initial processing should not impact the subsequent operation of the model.” “Further, the EDPB considers that, when controllers subsequently process personal data collected during the deployment phase, after the model has been anonymised, the GDPR would apply in relation to these processing operations.” Earlier this month, the Board also published guidelines on handling data transfers outside non-European countries in a manner that complies with GDPR. The guidelines are subject to public consultation until January 27, 2025. “Judgements or decisions from third countries authorities cannot automatically be recognised or enforced in Europe,” it said. “If an organisation replies to a request for personal data from a third country authority, this data flow constitutes a transfer and the GDPR applies.”

Dev Information Technology soars 8% on launching new cybersecurity services

Shares of Dev Information Technology surged up to 7.76 per cent at Rs 163.80 a piece on the BSE in 23/12/2024 intraday trade. This came after the company launched new services under the cybersecurity segment. The newly enhanced cybersecurity services include cybersecurity consulting, threat and vulnerability management (VAPT), managed security operations centre (SOC), business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) and cloud security services. “With the global cybersecurity market projected to reach $271.90 billion by 2029, businesses face mounting challenges in securing their digital assets, driven by rising cyber threats, digital transformation, and stricter regulatory requirements. These enhanced cybersecurity services address these challenges by offering proactive defence strategies, real-time monitoring, and comprehensive solutions to help businesses stay ahead of evolving threats and ensure compliance,” the company said in a statement. Moreover, strategic partnerships with Microsoft and AWS provide credibility and access to cutting-edge technologies, ensuring the delivery of world-class solutions, the company said. DEV Information Technology, established in 1997 and listed on NSE and BSE, initially focused on business automation software solutions, with the company expanding to offer a range of IT services globally. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, with offices in India and Canada, DEV IT specializes in providing Cloud Services, Digital Transformation, Enterprise Applications, Managed IT Services, and Application Development. Its product portfolio includes Talligence, an analytics platform, and ByteSigner, a digital signing solution. Meanwhile, on the equities side, DEV Information Technology stock has outperformed the market, as in the last six months it has surged 35 per cent while falling 21 per cent in the last year. In comparison, BSE Sensex has risen 2 per cent in the last six months and 10 per cent in a year. The company has a total market capitalisation of Rs 357.28 crore. Its shares are trading at a price-to-earnings multiple of 19.06 times and at an earning per share of Rs 7.98. At 12:34 PM; the shares of the company were up 4.61 per cent at Rs 159 a piece. By comparison, the BSE Sensex was trading 0.52 per cent higher at 78,450.66 level.

Nalini Unagar Deletes Her YouTube Cooking Channel After ₹8 Lakh Loss, Removes 250 Videos: Lessons for Aspiring Creators

In a surprising move that has shocked her fans, Nalini Unagar, a well-known cooking YouTuber, deleted her channel after facing a massive financial loss of ₹8 lakh. With over 250 videos and years of effort gone in a flash, her decision has raised questions among creators and viewers alike. While her story serves as a cautionary tale, it also reminds us of the challenges and opportunities of earning on YouTube. If you’re a content creator or thinking of starting your YouTube journey, here’s how to avoid such pitfalls and make your channel profitable. The Rise and Fall of Nalini Unagar’s Channel Nalini started her channel with the hope of sharing her passion for cooking and reaching millions. Her videos showcased everything from traditional recipes to modern twists on classics. However, despite her consistent uploads and engaging content, Nalini struggled to monetize her channel effectively. With rising production costs, including equipment, ingredients, and promotional expenses, the financial burden became unbearable. Without a sustainable income stream, Nalini eventually decided to shut down her channel, leaving her fans disappointed and her years of hard work erased. Don’t Delete Your YouTube Dreams: Tips to Monetize Your Channel Nalini’s story is not uncommon, but it doesn’t have to be yours. Here are five actionable ways to ensure your YouTube channel becomes a source of income rather than a financial drain: Diversify Your Revenue Streams Relying solely on YouTube ad revenue can be risky, especially for small or medium-sized creators. Instead, explore: Sponsored Content: Partner with brands related to your niche. Affiliate Marketing: Promote products and earn a commission on sales through affiliate links. Merchandise: Sell your own products, such as recipe books, aprons, or kitchen tools if you’re in the cooking niche. Memberships: Offer exclusive perks to loyal subscribers through platforms like YouTube Memberships or Patreon. Optimize Your Content Strategy Creating engaging and search-friendly content is crucial. Here’s how: Identify Trends: Use tools like Google Trends and YouTube Analytics to discover trending topics in your niche. SEO-Friendly Titles and Tags: Include keywords that your audience is searching for. Consistency: Set a schedule for uploads to keep your audience engaged and coming back for more. Build a Community, Not Just a Channel Engage with your audience through comments, community posts, and live streams. A loyal community is more likely to support you financially through super chats, donations, and other monetization tools. Manage Costs Wisely Nalini’s story highlights the importance of keeping expenses in check. Start small with budget-friendly equipment. Use free or affordable editing software initially. Plan content that doesn’t require excessive spending. Learn from Analytics and Pivot Track what works and what doesn’t. If a certain type of video performs better, focus on creating similar content. Don’t hesitate to experiment and adapt based on viewer feedback and data insights. The Bigger Picture: Success Takes Time YouTube is a marathon, not a sprint. While Nalini’s journey ended prematurely, countless creators have turned their passions into thriving careers by staying consistent, learning from mistakes, and focusing on sustainable growth. If you’ve already uploaded dozens or hundreds of videos, don’t let temporary setbacks discourage you. Instead, use those videos as stepping stones toward success. Remember, every upload is an opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with your audience. Final Thoughts Nalini Unagar’s decision to delete her YouTube channel serves as a wake-up call for aspiring creators to approach their journey strategically. If you’re passionate about content creation, focus on building a sustainable income model, engaging your audience, and managing costs wisely. Your channel can be a source of inspiration, entertainment, and financial stability – but only if you play the long game. Don’t give up. Instead, remind yourself of why you started and find new ways to make your YouTube dream a reality.

Harness ‘double AI power’ to tackle high-tech crime: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 01/12/2024 called upon the police and security establishment to harness India’s double AI power of Artificial Intelligence and ‘Aspirational India’ to thwart the threats from digital fraud, cybercrime, and AI technology, particularly the potential of deepfake to disrupt social and familial relations. Addressing the DGP and IG conference on a concluding day, the prime minister also emphasized the transformation of the police to SMART through strategic, meticulous, adaptable, reliable, and transparent action while urging the law enforcement agencies to modernize and realign themselves with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’. He appreciated the initiatives taken in urban policing and suggested that each initiative be collated and implemented entirely in 100 cities of the country. He called for the use of technology to reduce the constabulary’s workload and suggested that police stations be made the focal point for resource allocation. He also highlighted the need to expand the focus on port security and prepare a plan of action for it. Recalling the unparalleled contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the prime minister exhorted the entire security establishment from MHA to the police stations, to pay homage to the great leader on his 150th birth anniversary next year, by resolving to set and achieve a goal on any aspect which would improve the image of police, professionalism and capabilities. The prime minister said wide-ranging discussions were held during the conference on national and international dimensions of security challenges. He expressed satisfaction with the counter strategies that emerged from the deliberations. He distributed the President’s police medal for distinguished service to officers of the Intelligence Bureau. Official sources said that in-depth discussions were held on existing and emerging challenges to national security, including counter-terrorism, left-wing extremism, cyber-crime, economic security, immigration, coastal security, and narco-trafficking. Emerging security concerns along the border with Bangladesh and Myanmar, trends in urban policing, and strategies for countering malicious narratives were also discussed. The conference was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, ministers of state for home Nityanand Rai and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, principal secretary to Prime Minister PK Mishra, and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan. The conference, which was held in a hybrid format, was attended by DGPs of all states and Union Territories heads of the central armed police forces and central police organizations physically, and over 750 officers of various ranks virtually.

PAN Card Misuse: Government Plans To Take Strict Actions Against Companies

The Ministry of Home Affairs has called for action against unauthorized use of personal data across various platforms. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has instructed the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) to crack down on all forms of unauthorized use of personal data of Indian citizens across multiple platforms. Driving the news: The Income Tax department has been directed by I4C to stop unauthorised database access, targeting fintech companies’ data harvesting practices. Why it matters: Fintech and loan companies have been using PAN numbers to: Pull customer details including addresses Access phone numbers Obtain full names Build customer profiles Cross-sell products like personal loans But why: The Union government wants every unauthorized access to the system database to be restricted in the event of the notification of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. The Act will bring in strict checks on who can access citizens’ data and for what purpose. To tighten its systems, the government is taking up this move. Industry disruption: The fintech industry, which used technology to streamline processes like credit underwriting, data gathering, and similar services, is finding many such avenues getting shut. Recently, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) asked banks to shut down any unauthorized access to the UPI database.

Snapdragon 8 Elite: Qualcomm Unveils Its Most Powerful Mobile Chip Yet

The cyber shark

High-Risk Vulnerabilities Found in Adobe Software: CERT-In Issues Urgent Cyber Safety Advisor

In the latest cyber safety advisory issued 16 October 2024, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team highlighted multiple vulnerabilities found in several Adobe software products. (Computer Emergency Response Team) CERT-In has categorized these discovered vulnerabilities as high threat level as it poses significant risks to users. The government’s security warns that if these vulgarities are exploited by hackers, then it could allow them to exploit targeted system weaknesses and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. According to CERT-In the vulnerabilities identified in Adobe products stem from various technical flaws, including out-of-bounds reads, integer overflow errors, and improper authentication and authorization mechanisms. Such issues pose a myriad of risks, including allowing cyber attackers to execute malicious code, bypass critical security features, read arbitrary files, and instigate memory leaks in the targeted system. This could further lead to data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage. “Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code, gain elevated privileges, bypass security features, read arbitrary files and cause memory leaks on the target system,” says CERT-In. The identified vulnerabilities by CERT-In span a broad range of Adobe products, primarily affecting users of Adobe FrameMaker, InDesign, InCopy, Lightroom, Animate, and Adobe Commerce. Specific versions at risk include: Adobe FrameMaker: 2020 Release Update 6 and earlier; 2022 Release Update 4 and earlier (Windows) Adobe InDesign: ID19.4 and earlier; ID18.5.3 and earlier (Windows and macOS) Adobe InCopy: 19.4 and earlier; 18.5.3 and earlier (Windows and macOS) Lightroom: 7.4.1 and earlier; Lightroom Classic 13.5 and earlier Adobe Animate: 2023 23.0.7 and earlier; 2024 24.0.4 and earlier (Windows and macOS) Adobe Commerce: Various versions including 2.4.7-p2 and earlier across different B2B and Open Source editions. To safeguard against these vulnerabilities, CERT-In is urging users to take immediate action and Update their Software’s. This is the most effective defense to apply the latest patches and updates released by Adobe. Users should consult the Adobe Security Bulletin for specific updates relevant to their software versions. Additionally, it is advisable to: — Regularly check and adjust security settings within Adobe products. Enable features that enhance protection against unauthorized access and file uploads. — Deploy antivirus software to detect any unusual activity within Adobe applications. Early detection can minimizing potential damage to your systems in future. — Regularly backup important files and data to secure locations. This ensures that even in the event of a cyber attack, critical information can be restored without significant disruption.

Jio launches ’Phone Call AI’ with feature to record, transcribe and translate calls at RIL AGM 2024

Jio’s Phone Call AI, the telecom giant’s highly anticipated feature for transcribing and summarising phone calls, potentially sparks serious concerns around privacy and data protection. Showcasing its latest AI innovations at the 2024 India Mobile Congress, Reliance Jio offered attendees an exclusive preview of Phone Call AI, currently in alpha testing. First introduced at Reliance’s 47th annual general meeting in August, this feature allows Jio subscribers to use AI to automatically transcribe phone calls. It can also summaries conversations and translate them into other languages. “This [Phone Call AI] allows anyone to easily capture and access important voice conversations, making them searchable, shareable, and understandable across languages — all with just a few clicks,” Jio said. To ensure transparency, the company initially claimed the service would periodically notify all parties that the call is being recorded. However, the IMC demonstration of Phone Call AI lacked such disclosures. Informing all participants that their conversation is being recorded and transcribed by AI is essential to safeguarding their privacy. How to use Phone Call AI While still in the testing phase, here’s what we learned about Phone Call AI at IMC 2024. Reliance Jio subscribers will likely need to opt in via the MyJio app, meaning it won’t be enabled by default for all users. Upon opting in, subscribers will provide consent for their calls to be recorded and stored on Jio’s servers. To get started, users would add the Phone Call AI number (1-800-732-673) as a participant to the ongoing call. The recording process begins after pressing #1 and ends by pressing #3. Approximately two minutes later, Jio sends the AI-generated transcript and summary of the call via SMS or WhatsApp. The AI-generated transcript and summary are not automatically shared with other call participants. Jio’s Phone Call AI is powered by an in-house AI model that reportedly achieves 90% accuracy, according to technicians at Jio’s IMC booth. Potential concerns with Phone Call AI Jio says that recorded calls will be stored on Jio Cloud in an encrypted format, with each subscriber receiving 100 GB of free storage. However, it remains unclear whether recordings, transcriptions, and translations will be stored outside the subscriber’s Jio Cloud. There is also no clarity on whether these recordings will be used to train Jio’s AI model. Speaking at IMC 2024 15 October, Reliance Jio Chairman Akash Ambani emphasized the importance of data localization and called on the Indian government to update its data centre policy. AI tools like Jio Brain, Glam AR, Bharat Diffusion, AI Headshots, and Fify — a fashion Chabot from Reliance-owned Find — were also showcased at this year’s India Mobile Congress.

Trump Campaign Enhances Security with Specialized Encrypted Devices Amid Iranian Hacking Threats

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign is now using specialized, encrypted mobile phones and secure laptops in an effort to protect staff following a series of successful Iranian hacks and two attempts to assassinate the former president. The campaign recently purchased a package of these devices from Santa Barbara, California-based Green Hills Software, the developer of a proprietary, security-focused operating system already used by multiple U.S. agencies, the company’s CEO told Reuters. The company sells a customized Android phone that comes pre-installed with its own unique operating system, stripping it of most functions aside from phone calling and text messaging, while implementing additional security controls. While Green Hills Software put out a press release on Oct. 1 about the deal with the campaign, the development has received virtually no press attention. Company President and CEO Dan O’Dowd said he approached the campaign through shared contacts and offered his company’s technology. “Securing the integrity of the democratic process is paramount,” O’Dowd said in the release. A Trump campaign spokesperson declined to comment. The top echelon of the campaign recently made significant security improvements to their hardware, said a person familiar with campaign matters who spoke on condition of anonymity, although they were unaware which vendor had been chosen. When asked about IT security at the Harris campaign, spokesperson Morgan Finkelstein said, “Broadly, we have robust cybersecurity measures in place, and personnel are trained to be vigilant against potentially malicious content.” The current plan to retool Trump campaign devices follows months of a targeted Iranian cyber espionage campaign, which stole internal communications and documents. The decision to upgrade security measures was also driven by physical threats to Trump, fearing that hackers or spies could surveil staff and use that information to personally target individuals, another person familiar with the matter said. In an interview, O’Dowd explained that a core group of campaign staffers are already using the devices, which are more resistant to remote cyberattacks. “No vulnerabilities have ever been published about our operating system,” he added. The phones function in an isolated channel, where only devices on the same plan can communicate with one another. The devices also use end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication by default – two measures widely recommended by cybersecurity experts. The Iranian hacking group responsible for compromising the campaign earlier this summer, dubbed APT42 in the security research community, is known for deploying sophisticated mobile phone malware that can record conversations and activate camera recording remotely. Notably, APT42 is also known to spy on targets that are then physically threatened by Iranian intelligence-related agents, Reuters previously reported, based on a series of attacks on Iranian dissidents. O’Dowd declined to discuss how many devices were purchased by the campaign or the overall cost, explaining that pricing often depends on a variety of factors and can differ between clients. The campaign also bought customized, stripped-down laptops which are inaccessible from the internet to outside attackers, he said. The laptops mirror the same approach as the mobile phones, with limited functionality, but also offer a way to access a shared set of files and logs so team members can remotely collaborate in a shared but isolated computer environment. O’Dowd said the technology has been previously used by legal teams working on sensitive court cases, where they wanted to keep certain files for clients separate and secure. Green Hills Software is a federal contractor, selling its operating system to multiple military branches, where it is integrated with a variety of platforms, including weapons systems, according to publicly accessible, opens new tab government procurement records. O’Dowd said the company’s laptop product is also used by FBI field offices.