
Three Intel senior executives to retire amid manufacturing shake up
Intel told staff on Tuesday that corporate vice presidents in the technology development group, Kaizad Mistry and Ryan Russell, would retire, as would Gary Patton, corporate vice president at its Design Technology Platform organization and a former IBM executive.
Intel also discussed changes to the technology development group, which is responsible for creating manufacturing processes, said two people briefed on the matter. The chipmaker plans to reduce its manufacturing capacity planning team and cut a portion of its engineering team, the people said.
Intel declined to comment on the changes.
Manufacturing operations are led by former Micron Technology executive Naga Chandrasekaran, who was hired about a year ago by then-CEO Pat Gelsinger.
Chandrasekaran's responsibility expanded in March as he took over technology development and manufacturing. He has since reorganized staff under him, including layoffs as part of global cutbacks.
When Intel announced its quarterly financial results last week, CEO Tan, who assumed the role in March, set a goal of slashing the chipmaker's workforce to 75,000 people by year-end, a reduction of around 22%. Intel also vowed to take a more disciplined approach to manufacturing investment.
Intel said its next-generation 14A manufacturing process depends on securing a new, significant customer, otherwise it could suspend or terminate development.
'We're developing Intel 14A … from the ground up in close partnership with large external customers,' Tan said in a memo released with the financial results. 'Going forward, our investment in Intel 14A will be based on confirmed customer commitments.'
Tan also told investors that Intel's 18A process could only generate a reasonable return if it is used for in-house products. Tan has debated whether to stop offering 18A technology to external customers to focus on 14A, Reuters reported in July.
Intel plans to ramp to high-volume manufacturing its Panther Lake PC chips this year using its 18A manufacturing process.
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Economic Times
41 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Grok Imagine goes live on Elon Musk's X platform
Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI has officially rolled out Grok Imagine, a text-to-video generation tool integrated within the X platform (formerly Twitter).The feature, which was previously being tested with a limited group of users, is now more widely accessible. According to Musk, users can update their X app and request access to the waitlist by navigating to the 'Grok' section in settings and selecting 'Imagine.' 'Grok Imagine is still in early beta, so will improve almost every day,' Musk wrote in a post on X, adding that real-time improvements are expected as the model scales. Grok Imagine allows users to generate videos and still images from text prompts, with videos of up to six minutes in duration. In addition, it can animate static images into moving visuals with synchronized sound, offering creators a more seamless workflow without needing external tools or software. Early users have compared the feature to Twitter's Vine, the once-popular short-form video app that was discontinued in 2017. However, Grok Imagine appears to be aimed at much broader use cases—including entertainment, education, and meme culture—leveraging generative AI for creative expression. The feature is available both via the standalone Grok app and within the main X platform. According to a post by the official Grok handle, full public rollout is expected in phases beginning October 2025. The launch follows xAI's recent disclosure that it is also working on a kid-friendly version of its Grok chatbot, suggesting the company is eyeing wider demographic adoption as it refines its AI capabilities. Meanwhile, xAI is in the process of preparing a fresh funding round, which could value the company between $170 billion and $200 billion, according to a July 12 Reuters report. The company expects to generate over $13 billion in annual earnings by 2029, as per financial projections shared by Morgan Stanley and reported by Bloomberg in June. With Grok Imagine now live, Musk appears to be positioning X as not just a social media platform but an AI-powered content engine, blending user-generated media with proprietary infrastructure and models built by xAI.
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Business Standard
5 hours ago
- Business Standard
India to keep buying Russian oil despite Trump's penalty threat: Report
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First Post
5 hours ago
- First Post
Trump's tariff threat: For India, no deal is better than a bad one
Trade deals aren't T20s—they're Test matches, needing years of diplomacy, while President Trump wants them wrapped up in days read more America is India's largest trading partner. Still, the world is larger than the US, and India is a sovereign global power. File Image/Reuters The President of the United States, Donald Trump, issues policy decisions and administrative orders from golf courses, aboard Air Force One, on his social media platform Truth Social, and occasionally from the White House in the form of Executive Orders. For President Trump, 'tariff' is the most beautiful word in the dictionary. Once again, on July 31, 2025, Trump disrupted the global trade order, sending markets into turmoil with a sweeping revision of ad valorem duties on imports from nearly 200 countries. His latest Executive Order was issued just a day before his extended deadline to the world expired on August 1, 2025. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India, along with Brazil, Canada, and Switzerland, has been hit particularly hard. I'll examine the implications for India shortly. Extreme Break, and the Cost to US Consumers First, what do these new tariff orders signify? Indisputably, they add more confusion to an already uncertain global trade environment. More critically, they represent a sharp departure from over a century of US trade policy. According to the Budget Lab at Yale University, the new tariffs will lead to an overall effective tariff rate of 18.3 per cent— the highest since 1934. They estimate this will cost the average American household around $2,400 in 2025 alone. Markets in a Tizzy The new trade policy, effective August 7, impacts nearly every country and marks a decisive break from decades of free trade. The result? Markets tumbled on both sides of the Atlantic. After an early-day sell-off in Asian markets, Europe's Stoxx 600 fell nearly 2 per cent, the UK's FTSE 100 declined by 0.8 per cent, and Wall Street closed lower, with the Dow Jones and S&P 500 down over 1 per cent, and the Nasdaq dropping more than 2 per cent. The market drop was worsened by weaker-than-expected US job data. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why So Much Uncertainty? First, the second Executive Order (dated July 31) came just months after the original April 2 order — a one-two punch for global markets. Second, there is no assurance that we've seen the worst of Trump's tariff campaign. Decoding the New Tariff Regime The revised tariffs impact nearly every country and signify a hard pivot toward protectionism. Here's how the new structure breaks down: 10 per cent Tariff: Imposed on countries with whom the US has a trade surplus (ie, countries that import more from the US than they export to it). 15 per cent Tariff: Set as a minimum for about 40 countries where the US runs a trade deficit. For some, this is lower than the April 2 'reciprocal' tariffs; for others, it's higher. Above 15 per cent: Over two dozen countries now face tariffs higher than 15 per cent, either due to agreed frameworks or unilateral decisions by Trump — mostly those with large trade deficits with the US. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trans-shipment Penalty: An additional 40 per cent tariff may be imposed on goods Washington deems as 'trans-shipped' through another country — a move primarily targeting Chinese goods. Winners and Losers The new tariff framework has created a jarring set of winners and losers. Losers: Brazil: Hit hardest with a 50 per cent tariff, including a vague 'free speech' penalty. India: Faces a 25 per cent tariff, plus an unspecified penalty for purchasing Russian energy and military hardware — potentially as high as 200 per cent. Syria: 41 per cent tariff — second highest after Brazil. Myanmar and Laos: 40 per cent each. Switzerland: Slapped with a 39 per cent tariff, the highest for any European nation outside the EU. Iraq and Serbia: 35 per cent each. Canada: Tariff raised to 35 per cent, but goods compliant with the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) are exempt. South Africa, Algeria, Libya: 30 per cent each — the highest in Africa. Moldova, Mexico, Brunei, Tunisia, Kazakhstan: All face a 25 per cent tariff — same as India, though India has the added Russia penalty. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Winners: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Vietnam: Each now faces a 20 per cent tariff, down sharply from April's rates (46 per cent for Vietnam, 44 per cent Sri Lanka, 37 per cent Bangladesh, 31per cent Taiwan). Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand: Tariffs lowered to 19 per cent, from as high as 49 per cent (Cambodia) and 32 per cent (Indonesia) in April. This comparison puts India at a clear disadvantage among its Asian peers. Trump had initially imposed tariffs up to 27 per cent on Indian goods in April, later paused. Since then, multiple rounds of trade talks have taken place. There's More Beyond general import tariffs, targeted levies now affect specific industries: Steel & Aluminium: 50 per cent (effective June 4) Copper: 50 per cent (effective August 1) Automobiles & Car Parts: 25 per cent (from April 3 and May 3) Though not yet implemented, Trump has threatened 200 per cent tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, citing national security. Ninety Deals in Ninety Days? On April 2 — what Trump dubbed Liberation Day — he introduced his first round of 'reciprocal' tariffs. Days later, he paused them, giving trading partners 90 days to negotiate deals with the US. Trump ambitiously aimed for 90 deals in 90 days. According to Kevin Hassett, Director of the National Economic Council, over 50 countries began talks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Arm-Twisting, Not Diplomacy Despite his optimism, Trump has little to show beyond coercive deals: UK: A deal allowing 100,000 cars to be exported to the US at 10 per cent tariff (down from 25 per cent). EU: 15 per cent flat tariff — less than the threatened 30 per cent. Japan: 15 per cent tariff, plus $550 billion investment in US infrastructure and agricultural market access. Philippines: Reduced from 20 per cent to 19 per cent. China: Tariff reduced from 145 per cent to 30 per cent; China reciprocated with a cut from 125 per cent to 10 per cent. South Korea: Tariff set at 15 per cent (down from 25 per cent); Korea pledged $350 billion investment and $100 billion in US energy purchases. These are not carefully negotiated, mutually beneficial agreements — they are outcomes of arm-twisting. Trade Deals Aren't White-Ball Cricket Trump's 90-deal ambition was destined to falter. Trade deals aren't T20 matches — they're Test cricket. They require years of diplomacy and legislative buy-in. The global average to finalise a trade deal is 2.5 years. Trump wants them done in days. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India's Trade Talks – Derailed Again India has held five rounds of talks with the Trump administration — predating the April 2 tariffs. Trump repeatedly claimed a 'great deal' with India was coming. Then, out of nowhere, he delivered a bouncer. Despite ongoing talks, he branded India a 'tariff king' and an 'abuser of trade ties', imposing a 25 per cent tariff — significantly higher than most Asian peers — plus an unspecified Russia-related penalty. The most alarming scenario? Trump enforces his earlier threat of a 100 per cent secondary tariff on Russian energy buyers. This would make Indian goods prohibitively expensive in the US. The Logic? There Often Isn't One Trump's justification? High Indian tariffs, non-monetary barriers, and India's defense trade with Russia. Here's what he posted on Truth Social on July 30: 'Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high… Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia… INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25% PLUS A PENALTY… STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST. THANK YOU… MAGA!' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The next day, Trump doubled down: 'I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care…' Consequences of No Deal In just three days, Trump reversed course — from promising a 'great deal' to dismissing India's economy altogether. The 25 per cent tariff took effect on August 1. A last-minute mini deal India and the US had been negotiating since February has now collapsed. A comprehensive trade deal looks even more unlikely. Time for Bharat First If the new tariffs and the Russia penalty persist, India's GDP could take a 0.2-0.4 per cent hit, especially affecting export sectors like marine products, textiles, leather, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals. But it's time to hold the line. As the government rightly states, India must take all necessary steps to protect its national interest — as seen in recent trade pacts like the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the UK. America is India's largest trading partner. Still, the world is larger than the US, and India is a sovereign global power. India must refuse any trade agreement that is inequitable or detrimental to its farmers, entrepreneurs, and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). No deal is better than a bad deal. The author is a multi-disciplinary thought leader with Action Bias and an India based impact consultant. He is a keen watcher of changing national and international scenarios. He works as President Advisory Services of Consulting Company BARSYL. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.