Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani is focusing on small businesses and promoting innovative neuroscience research to boost Reliance’s revenue from the Indian Premier League (IPL). After striking an $8.5 billion merger with Walt Disney, Reliance plans to attract small companies to advertise during the IPL by offering affordable ad packages starting at $17,000. The company has been conducting closed-door seminars in various Indian cities to pitch these packages, aiming to expand its digital ad inventory and increase streaming revenue.
Reliance is also experimenting with “brain mapping” research to show higher engagement rates for its IPL ads compared to rivals like Google and Meta. The company claims its ads have up to four times more focus, engagement, and memorability, based on neural studies of participants. However, the ad rates for IPL streaming have risen by up to 25%, creating competition with lower-cost platforms like Instagram and YouTube, where some businesses find advertising more affordable.
Despite heavy investments in IPL and other cricket rights, Reliance faces challenges in making the venture profitable. The company is battling major global players in India’s growing digital advertising market, where Google and Meta dominate. Reliance’s ad pitch focuses on user data, offering targeted ads based on viewer demographics. Yet, experts argue that Reliance’s efforts, including using brain scans to boost ad appeal, may not be enough to compete with the sheer reach of platforms like YouTube.
The high cost of IPL broadcast rights, coupled with increasing ad rates, puts pressure on Reliance’s strategy. Still, Ambani remains confident in the IPL’s potential to attract advertisers and retain viewers who may subscribe to additional content offerings. With competition intensifying in India’s $28-billion digital ad market, Reliance’s new tactics may shape its future in the entertainment and advertising sectors.
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In Nagpur, India, flower shop owner Ashish Nagose is one of many young Indians turning to cryptocurrency trading as a way to supplement their income. With regulations tightening around equity derivatives in India, Nagose hopes that trading in crypto assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum can provide stability during slower months for his family-owned flower business. His efforts reflect a broader trend among young Indians who are increasingly looking to cryptocurrencies as a source of income, with the crypto market in India growing rapidly.
The surge in cryptocurrency trading volumes on Indian exchanges has been remarkable, more than doubling in the last quarter of 2024. As of now, young retail traders, particularly in smaller cities like Jaipur, Lucknow, and Pune, are driving much of the interest in crypto. Many of these individuals are seeking opportunities to earn more in a country where job growth has not kept pace with the economy. With India’s crypto market projected to grow to $15 billion by 2035, local platforms like CoinSwitch are seeing increasing numbers of users.
However, this rise in crypto interest is not without challenges. The Indian government has imposed steep taxes on crypto trading and has issued warnings about the risks and volatility of these digital assets. Despite these concerns, young traders like Sagar Neware are determined to make a living through crypto, aiming to restart their family’s business with the money they earn from trading.
The surge in crypto trading in India is also drawing attention to the need for regulatory oversight. While the government has yet to adopt comprehensive regulations for cryptocurrencies, it has warned of potential risks to macroeconomic stability. Despite the central bank’s caution, India’s young crypto enthusiasts are undeterred, continuing to learn and trade in hopes of a more prosperous future.
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Indonesia and Apple have reportedly reached an agreement to lift the country’s ban on iPhone 16s, with a potential deal expected to be signed this week. The ban was imposed in October after Apple failed to meet the requirement that smartphones sold in Indonesia must include at least 35% locally-made parts.
As part of the agreement, Apple will invest $1 billion into a manufacturing plant in Indonesia, focused on producing components for smartphones and other products. Additionally, Apple will commit to training local workers in research and development, expanding beyond its existing Apple academies. However, Apple has no immediate plans to begin iPhone production in the country.
Neither Apple nor Indonesia’s Ministry for Industry have responded to requests for comment on the matter.
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Tesla has introduced a long-awaited update to its Autopilot software in China, adding city navigation features that allow for automatic lane changes and traffic light detection. However, many Chinese Tesla owners were disappointed, expressing that the update did not meet the high expectations set by CEO Elon Musk. The new features, while similar to the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, are less advanced in China due to insufficient data on local roads and traffic rules.
Tesla faces stiff competition from Chinese automakers like Huawei, Xiaomi, and BYD, which offer advanced driver-assistance systems at lower prices or even for free. These rivals have already launched vehicles capable of navigating complex Chinese traffic, leaving Tesla behind in the race for smart-driving technology. Despite this, Tesla continues to charge its customers nearly $9,000 for the limited version of its FSD software, which many feel does not live up to the promises made by the company.
The delays in rolling out full FSD in China are partly due to regulatory hurdles and restrictions on data transfer between China and the US. Tesla is working on gaining approval from Beijing for its advanced systems, but China currently only requires registration for level-two autonomous features like Autopilot. Tesla is also looking into establishing a data centre in China to train its AI software, though the process has been complicated by strict Chinese data laws.
While Tesla’s Autopilot update is seen as a step forward, it faces growing criticism for not keeping pace with the rapidly evolving smart-driving features offered by local competitors. Tesla’s challenge in China highlights the complex balance the company must maintain between innovation, regulatory compliance, and local competition.
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The European Court of Justice has backed Italy‘s antitrust authority in a ruling against Google, stating that the tech giant’s refusal to allow Enel’s JuicePass app to work with its Android Auto platform could constitute an abuse of market power. This decision supports a 2021 fine of 102 million euros imposed by the Italian watchdog after Google blocked the e-mobility app. Google had argued that the refusal was due to security concerns and the absence of a specific template for compatibility, but the court disagreed, stating that dominant companies must ensure their platforms are interoperable with third-party apps unless doing so would harm security.
Although Google has since resolved the issue, the ruling sets a precedent for future cases involving platform dominance. The court acknowledged that companies could refuse interoperability if it compromises platform security, but if this is not the case, they must develop a compatible template in a reasonable timeframe. Google claimed the feature was only relevant to a small percentage of cars in Italy at the time, but the ruling now forces the company to comply with the antitrust decision. The case is final and cannot be appealed, and the Italian Council of State will follow the court’s guidance in its future ruling.
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Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has announced plans to release five new code repositories next week, reinforcing its commitment to open-source artificial intelligence.
The company, which gained global attention with its R1 reasoning model rivaling Western AI systems, described the release as ‘small but sincere progress’ towards full transparency. These repositories, tested in real-world applications, will provide essential infrastructure to support the AI models DeepSeek has already made public.
DeepSeek has set itself apart in China‘s AI sector by embracing open-source practices, a rare move in a market that typically favours closed-source models.
Founder Liang Wenfeng has emphasised the cultural significance of open-source over commercial gains, highlighting the satisfaction that comes from driving innovation and earning industry respect.
His approach has sparked global interest, particularly after the release of the R1 model, known for its strong performance and cost efficiency.
The company has also recently introduced a new algorithm, Native Sparse Attention (NSA), designed to improve efficiency in long-context training and inference.
DeepSeek’s popularity has surged, becoming China’s leading chatbot service with 22.2 million daily active users, surpassing long-established platforms like Douban. The growing user base and commitment to open-source are positioning DeepSeek as a major player in the global AI landscape.
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AI search startup Genspark has secured $100 million in a Series A funding round, raising its valuation to $530 million as it aims to disrupt Google’s dominance in the search engine market.
Backed by United States and Singapore-based investors, the Palo Alto-based firm now boasts over two million monthly active users. The funding follows a $60 million seed round last June, continuing Genspark’s rapid growth.
Led by CEO Eric Jing, formerly head of Baidu’s AI-powered Xiaodu unit, Genspark is positioning itself as a major contender in the AI-driven search space. Its platform uses multiple AI models working together to conduct detailed online research, aiming to provide users with streamlined, citation-backed answers—an approach that contrasts Google’s traditional list of links.
Google is also testing AI-enhanced search results, highlighting the growing pressure to innovate in the industry. Genspark’s latest funding positions it to expand its technology and user base as the battle for AI-powered search heats up.
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Google has quietly disclosed the pricing for its Veo 2 video-generating AI model, setting the cost at 50 cents per second of video. This translates to $30 per minute or $1,800 per hour, positioning Veo 2 as a premium tool for AI-generated video content.
While unlikely to produce big-budget epics, the model can create clips of two minutes or longer, as highlighted in Google’s initial announcement.
Jon Barron, a Google DeepMind researcher, compared Veo 2’s cost to Hollywood productions, noting that Avengers: Endgame had a production cost of around $32,000 per second.
Though Veo 2 operates at a fraction of that price, its output serves different purposes, targeting creators seeking efficient video generation without traditional production expenses.
The AI video generation space has grown increasingly competitive, with OpenAI recently releasing its Sora model to ChatGPT Pro subscribers for $200 a month. Google’s move to price Veo 2 publicly reflects the broader push to commercialise AI video tools as demand surges among content creators and businesses.
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology is set to cut up to 500 staff members, a move that could devastate the US AI Safety Institute and its related programme, Chips for America. Recent reports indicate that these cuts are primarily aimed at probationary employees, with some already receiving verbal notice of termination.
Established under a previous US presidential directive, the AI Safety Institute has faced an uncertain future ever since its inception. The current government’s plans to reduce its workforce are raising concerns among experts, who warn that such reductions will hinder the nation’s capacity to develop critical safety standards in AI development.
Critics from various AI safety and policy organisations have voiced their alarm, emphasising that these cuts occur at a time when specialised expertise is essential. The potential loss of institutional knowledge could leave the government ill-equipped to manage emerging risks in artificial intelligence.
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A new digital wellbeing companion, known as Sonny, is now being introduced in several schools across nine districts. Developed by Sonar Mental Health, this tool combines artificial intelligence with human oversight to provide initial mental health support to students.
Students can send their queries via text, with the AI suggesting responses that are ultimately reviewed by a dedicated team of professionals experienced in psychology, social work, and crisis intervention. This approach comes at a time when many schools are facing a severe shortage of qualified counsellours, with recent data revealing that 17 per cent of high schools lack a dedicated counsellour.
CEO Drew Bavir has emphasised that Sonny is not meant to replace professional therapy. Instead, it acts as a first point of contact, with Sonar staff ready to work alongside schools and parents to secure access to further specialist support when needed. This initiative represents a significant step forward in addressing the growing mental health challenges within schools.
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