Latest news with #MarkZuckerberg-led
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Mark Zuckerberg-led Meta forays into defence sector, signs deal with Anduril for ‘AI, mixed reality gear'
Mark Zuckerberg-led Meta Platforms and defence technology startup Anduril Industries have announced a deal to develop 'mixed reality gear' to provide soldiers with enhanced control on the battlefields, according to reports. The development, will fuse Meta's augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) tech with Anduril's data analytics platform 'Lattice', into a product such as glasses, goggles or visors, AFP reported. 'Meta has spent the last decade building AI and AR to enable the computing platform of the future. We're proud to partner with Anduril to help bring these technologies to the American servicemembers that protect our interests at home and abroad,' Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in the release. Anduril describes its Lattice platform as an AI-powered command and control system that integrates data from thousands of sources to provide real-time battlefield intelligence for decision making. The partnership will include developing new products for US military use and includes an AI-powered helmet with virtual reality (VR) and AR features, according to a Bloomberg report. Anduril is working with Meta 'to design, build, and field a range of integrated XR products that provide warfighters with enhanced perception and enable intuitive control of autonomous platforms on the battlefield', the company blog said. According to a report by Core Memory, at least one of the products will be a 'sci-fi-style military helmet' named 'Eagle Eye'. 'It's the thing that everyone's always wanted. People have called them different things: They've called them Call of Duty googles. They've called it, you know, the helmet from Halo. These are old ideas that have only recently become really technologically viable,' Palmer Luckey, the co-founder of Anduril, told Core Memory in an interview. Notably, Meta changed its 'acceptable use' policies in November to allow use of its large language AI models by US military contractors, including Lockheed Martin Corp., Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. and Palantir Technologies Inc. A spokesperson for Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Bloomberg said. Notably, Anduril's Luckey also co-founded Oculus VR, the gaming headset company he sold to Meta in 2014. He was removed from Meta after controversy around financing a group creating anti-Hillary Clinton memes ahead of the 2016 US presidential election. Since Donald Trump's re-election, Mark Zuckerberg's politics too have trended rightward. The tech billionaire also bought a $23 million residence in Washington DC. (With inputs from Agencies)
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Meta threatened with injunction over data-use for AI training; Google DeepMind unveils new AI agent; Amazon cuts jobs
Meta threatened with injunction over data-use for AI training An Austrian advocacy group NOYB is looking to obtain an injunction against Meta to prevent them from using personal data from EU users to train AI models. Max Schrems, a privacy activist who leads the 'None of your Business' group has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Meta which plans to start using personal data from European users on Instagram and Facebook from May 27. The company said that users will have a form so they can object to data usage while also saying that private messages and other public data from users under 18 years will be exempt. The group said that while they could file an injunction, they were also looking at alternatively filing a class action lawsuit for non-material damages. Meta has denied the group's allegations saying their actions comply with guidelines from the European Data Protection Board. The Mark Zuckerberg-led company has argued that EU users have been offered a way to opt out of the data usage. Google DeepMind unveils new AI agent Google DeepMind has announced a new AI agent called AlphaEvolve that can solve advanced computing and math problems while also solving real-life issues to increase efficiencies of data centers, chip design and AI training processes. The AI agent can also improve large language models including the one AlphaEvolve is based on. The agent can generate code powered by the Gemini 2.0 Flash AI model and then rank the code it has produced in terms of quality using a formula. AlphaEvolve then chooses the code that's important and works to improve them over multiple rounds by asking for suggestions constantly. The agent then moves on to using Gemini 2.0 Pro after it doesn't have anymore suggestions to give. The AI agent manages to reduce hallucinations using this technique which is still very common in even the advanced large language models. AlphaEvolve also improved the Tensor processing chips and removed some unnecessary parts from the chip's Verilog hardware description. Amazon cuts jobs Amazon has laid off 100 jobs in their devices and services unit which handles Kindle, Echo speakers, Alexa and the Zoox self-driving cars. The company said that the layoffs were regular and a part of their business review but didn't confirm the segments in which the layoffs occurred. The layoffs were done to streamline operations and align their product roadmap better, a company spokesperson said. On the other hand, Amazon added more than 4,000 jobs from last year's fourth quarter to this year's first as per their earnings report that was out this month. Last in 2023, the company cut job roles for Alexa and has been firing employees in small numbers from multiple businesses. Amazon has already announced an overhaul for Alexa shifting the voice assistant to integrate advanced AI technology. Chief exec Andy Jassy has said that he intends to reduce bureaucracy at the company and cut down the number of managers.
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Business Standard
08-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Israeli spyware firm NSO to pay WhatsApp $168 mn in damages, rules court
Tech giant Meta Platforms has won a $168 million verdict against the Israeli spyware company NSO, maker of the Pegasus spyware. The verdict brings an end to the six-year-long contest between the US's largest social networking platform and the world's best-known spyware company, Reuters reported. WhatsApp bug exploitation at centre of Meta-NSO legal battle The case pertains to exploiting a bug in the encrypted messaging platform WhatsApp and selling it to clients who used it to keep a check on journalists, activists, and political dissidents. The case in California's federal court marks the first time a spyware company has been held responsible for breaching the technical sanctity of the platforms that operate on smartphones. Court orders NSO to pay $168 mn in damages to Meta The federal court ruled on Tuesday (local time) that NSO owes $444,719 in compensatory damages to Meta, along with $167.3 million in punitive damages, the tech giant said. In a statement, Meta said, 'Today's verdict in WhatsApp's case is an important step forward for privacy and security as the first victory against the development and use of illegal spyware that threatens the safety and privacy of everyone.' NSO responds to ruling, signals possible appeal NSO also released a statement following the verdict and noted it would 'carefully examine the verdict's details and pursue appropriate legal remedies, including further proceedings and an appeal.' The report, citing Natalia Krapiva, a senior lawyer with the human-rights group Access Now, stated that the Israeli spyware company first gained attention in 2016 and has now become a 'poster child for the surveillance industry and their abuses and impunity.' NSO defends Pegasus, despite global surveillance abuse claims NSO has long defended its spyware software, stating that it is used to track terrorists and pedophiles. However, it has been implicated in abusive surveillance in several countries across the world, including Saudi Arabia, Spain, Mexico, Poland, and El Salvador. WhatsApp vs NSO: Timeline of Pegasus spyware dispute The legal battle between the two began in 2019, when Mark Zuckerberg-led WhatsApp found that NSO's Pegasus had exploited a bug in the application's audio-calling feature. The vulnerability allowed Pegasus to infect over 1,400 devices worldwide without them knowing. Over the last six years, Meta shared proof that NSO spent millions of dollars every year developing the spyware. It further claimed that Pegasus did not just target Meta apps, but can also break into phones and turn on cameras and microphones in devices without the knowledge of their users.
Mint
08-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Google layoffs: 200 sales, partnerships jobs cut as money flows to AI and data centres, says report
Google on May 6 laid off at least 200 people in sales and partnerships roles across its global business unit, according to a report by The Information, citing sources. The report was also carried by Reuters, who in a statement from the company reported that Google is 'making small number of changes across teams', which are aimed at increased collaboration and customer service. Notably, Silicon Valley tech giants are increasingly prioritising development of artificial intelligence (AI) and allocation for data centres that run their AI tools, while scaling back on other investments, the Reuters report added. Last month, on April 10, Google laid off hundreds of employees working in its platforms and devices division, which includes work on Android OS, Chrome browser, and Pixel phones, sources told The Information. On April 15, Business Standard reported that these jobs included some roles at Google's Bengaluru and Hyderabad offices. The sources cited in the report also claimed that Google plans to cut jobs in India across advertisement, marketing and sales. In a statement to The Information, a Google spokesperson said: 'Since combining the Platforms and Devices teams last year, we've focused on becoming more nimble and operating more effectively and this included making some job reductions in addition to the voluntary exit program that we offered in January.' Since January 2023, Google has laid off at least 12,000 employees, or 6 per cent of its global workforce. This was announced by parent company Alphabet. As of December 2024, the tech giant had 1,83.323 employees, the report said. Alphabet is not alone. In January 2025, Mark Zuckerberg-led Facebook parent company Meta Platforms cut 5 per cent employees, it said were the 'lowest performers', it added. The company also announced increased hiring of machine learning engineers. In September 2024, Microsoft gave pink slips to 650 Xbox employees, while Apple cut 100 jobs, and Amazon laid off whole units last year, the Reuters report added. (With inputs from Reuters, Agencies) Key Takeaways Tech companies are increasingly prioritizing AI development over traditional roles. Workforce reductions are part of a larger trend affecting multiple tech giants. Google is restructuring to enhance collaboration and operational efficiency.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Meta releases AI app; Amazon won't break down tariff costs online; New Tata plant starts iPhone production
Meta releases AI app Mark Zuckerberg-led Meta has announced its standalone AI assistant app as a rival to OpenAI's ChatGPT. The app will help users directly connect with their family of Llama AI models. Zuckerberg said that Meta AI already had a billion users currently and while the app at the moment is simple, using it regularly will give it more context about the users. The app also has a social media feed so others can see AI-generated posts by their peers. Users can share their prompts and AI art too. Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses users will also be able to connect the new app with the device. There's an experimental mode that enables naturalistic voice conversations. However, the feature will not be able to look through the web. Additionally, Meta AI will have access to user Instagram and Facebook accounts to know them better. Amazon won't break down tariff costs online Amazon has clarified that they will not be displaying the tariff costs next to their products on their website after the White House criticised reports that said that the company would do so. The e-commerce giant was considering the move internally for certain segments like their Haul service, a recently launched, low-cost storefront, and hadn't made a final decision yet. The White House responded to the speculative report calling it a 'hostile and political act' and went on to tag the company as having 'partnered with a Chinese propaganda arm.' However, U.S. President Donald Trump responded to Amazon's clarification in a positive manner saying founder Jeff Bezos was 'terrific.' The tariffs have impacted many businesses including Amazon especially rivals like Temu and Shein. New Tata plant starts iPhone production As Apple shifts production for their iPhones from China to India, a new Tata Electronics plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu has started production. The plant will reportedly be making older models of iPhones on one assembly line. Meanwhile, a second plant by Taiwan's Foxconn is under construction in Bengaluru, Karnataka and will be manufacturing one assembly line within the coming days. The $2.6 billion plant is also expected to create 50,000 jobs at full capacity once it is finished by December 2027. Currently, China accounts for more than 75% of global iPhone production while India makes up 18% of it. The hardware giant is moving at a faster pace to push production in India and even shipped around 600 tones of iPhones last month to beat the Trump tariffs.
