Amazon AWS Launches New Division Focused on Agentic AI

Posted on March 5, 2025March 5, 2025 by Rabia Tayyab

Picture this AI that not only talks to you but also books your taxi, reserves a table at your favorite restaurant, and completes daily chores without a single command from you. That future is closer than you think. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is making this reality with a new team focused on “agentic AI”, a type of Artificial Intelligence that can take action on its own.

Reuters Reported that Swami Sivasubramanian, who earlier was in charge of AI and Data at AWS, will head this new team. According to AWS CEO Matt Garman, Said.

“Agentic AI has the potential to be the next multi billion business for AWS,”

The emergence of agentic AI could be a great opportunity for AWS commercially. Garman wrote:

“We have the opportunity to help our customers innovate even faster and unlock more possibilities, and I firmly believe that AI agents are core to this next wave of innovation,”

In conjunction, Amazon also announced an improved version of its voice assistant, Alexa, with some Agentic AI capabilities, which will be released to a small number of users later this month. Shares of Seattle-based Amazon were down less than 1% to $204.81.

AWS is also pushing forward innovation through other massive transformations such as the merging of some AI teams and establishing a new group focusing on customer experience.
DeSantis said the changes will help “accelerate innovation.”

AWS Senior Vice President Peter DeSantis also announced more organizational changes within AWS in an internal email, including moving AI groups Bedrock and SageMaker under the Compute organization and merging Customer Experience and Commerce into a new group. These changes are aimed at accelerating innovation.

AWS has a plan for agentic AI, and honestly, I find that really interesting. Imagine actually handling tasks on its own without us giving any instructions. That can potentially, if not really change how we live day by day. Surely it blurs the line between reality and technology in what might become a new lifestyle.

Still, I wonder how much control we will have or if our data will even be safe. So, if AWS can manage to strike that balance between useful AI and safe AI, then that is going to be a landmark moment.

Musk Attempt to Stop OpenAI Transition into a for-Profit Entity Turned Down by Judge

Posted on March 5, 2025March 5, 2025 by Munazza Shaheen

Elon Musk co-founded Open AI and was a major financial contributor to it from 2015 to 2020, as per the lawsuit. Musk claims, the original vision of OpenAI was to work as a non-profit entity with no personal gain. When ChatGPT was launched, Sam Altman started commercializing the product with a monthly fee for its pro users. At that time, Musk advocated having a separate for-profit entity. However, differences emerged while finalizing the plan as Musk wanted majority shares. In 2018, Musk resigned from the OpenAI board after the company refused to attach OpenAI to Tesla.

In Feb 2024, Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its leadership. This was withdrawn in June 2024 and a new revived lawsuit was filed in August 2024. This lawsuit had several allegations. One of them was the transition to for-profit entity. Musk highlighted that OpenAI is deviating from the original plan of keeping OpenAI as a non-profit and their vision to serve the masses was not being accomplished.

The Judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, dismissed the for-profit allegation because Musk wasn’t able to provide any substantial evidence in favour of his allegation. While the attempt to block OpenAI’s transformation was denied, the border lawsuit remained active. The Judge has offered to expedite the trial process so that this case can be concluded early to avoid any harm to the business.

It should be remembered that Elon Musk was among the 11 co-founders, including Sam Altman and Greg Brockman. Musk invested more than 44 Million as per the lawsuit point 82 in OpenAI. We believe any organization that wants to be involved in technological advancements needs to be a for-profit entity to sustain the consistent technological advancements in AI. The operational costs of research and development are ever so high, and inconsistent government and investor policies can hamper the process.

This legal battle is like a personal feud between Elon Musk and Sam Altman. Musk has no open ground to stop OpenAI from operating as a for-profit entity. Judges claimed the same. It is interesting to note that just as recently as February 2025, Musk offered $97.4bn to take over OpenAI and preserve the AI research lab’s original mission. However, the board rejected the offer.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Sam Altman said this of Musk

“I think he is probably just trying to show us down, he obviously is a competitor, its you know he’s working hard and he has raised a lot of money for xAI and they are trying to compete with us from a technological perspective from you know getting the product into the market and I wish he would complete by building a better product but I think there’s been a lot of tactics, you know mana many lawsuits, all kind of crazy stuff and now this. And we will try to just put our head down and keep working”.

With stiff competition from several prominent companies like DeepSeek, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, Meta AI and a few others, this legal battle is not good for OpenAI. Sam Altman needs to keep a clear head and ensure the company is making progress to keep the competition at bay while going through this legal battle. At the moment, it seems like they are moving in the right direction. Altman tweeted

“we are likely going to roll out GPT-4.5 to the plus tier over a few days.” There is no perfect way to do this; we wanted to do it for everyone tomorrow, but it would have meant we had to launch with a very low rate limit. We think people are gonna use this a lot and love it.”

On the other hand, Musk needs to keep driving his xAI company forward. Competition is heating up, with the recent announcement that DeepSeek computing power costs only $6 million. AI is heading to an era where we will see lower computing costs, but at the same time, data is increasing by many folds. It is a challenge for AI companies to keep evolving and coming up with new techniques to keep their noses in front; otherwise, they will be left far behind in this global race.

OpenAI Faces Legal Scrutiny over Copyright Claims, as Alec Radford gets Subpoenaed

Posted on March 5, 2025March 5, 2025 by Fatimah Misbah Hussain

Who knew AI models would end up needing copyright lawyers more than programmers? The more artificial intelligence transforms an industry, the more fire it ignites in the legal arena over how these models are trained. The war on AI and intellectual property has now reached a point as the boundaries are violated by exploiting the works of human creators. In this high-profile copyright case, former OpenAI Researcher and its leading Developer in Generative AI, Alec Radford, has been issued a subpoena, shedding further light on the confusing details of AI training data, Fair use, and the future of Generative models. Depending on how the case turns out, it might quite literally become a turning point in the ethics of AI, legal frameworks, and the protection of creative works in the digital age.

According to a court filing, Radford received the subpoena on 25 February, marking a key development in the lawsuit against OpenAI’s use of copyrighted materials in training its AI models. This was filed in the U.S District Court for the Northern District of California in the case entitled “re OpenAI ChatGPT Litigation”, which was previously initiated by several renowned book authors, Paul Tremblay, Sarah Silverman, and Michael Chabon. They claimed that OpenAI used their literary works without authorization to train its AI models, which is a copyright violation. They asserted that OpenAI’s ChatGPT produces text that is very similar to theirs and does not give any credit for it, which amounts to direct copyright infringement.

Radford’s Contribution to OpenAI:

Radford, who most recently left OpenAI to pursue independent research, has also been a key contributor in building the Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (GPT) on which OpenAI’s product, such as ChatGPT, runs. His other recent contributions have been to OpenAI’s speech recognition model Whisper, and its DALL·E image-generation model. Joining OpenAI in 2016, Radford was instrumental in developing the company’s AI capabilities.

Radford’s work as the lead author for OpenAI’s original paper on Generative Pre-trained Transformers provided the foundation for the AI models to support a surplus of applications today. His participation in the lawsuit gives an impression that the accusers are interested in seeking insider knowledge into OpenAI’s training processes and, more evidently, the usage of copyrighted content in making those models.

Legal Feuds:

The irony lies in that OpenAI needs a human lawyer to defend its non-human intelligence. As OpenAI has kept up its defense against copyrighted materials, the storm in the legal battle has intensified. Last year, the court dismissed two of the claims against OpenAI but allowed direct copyright infringement claims to go through. The accusers’ legal team are now seeking testimony from the former personnel of OpenAI to claim support towards justice further.

Radford is not the only big name involved in this legal battle; also caught in its net are Dario Amodei and Benjamin Mann, who left OpenAI to found Anthropic, an AI research company. Although these two former executives have resisted because the burden is too great, they are still answerable. Thus, this week, a U.S. magistrate judge ruled that Amodei must undergo questioning regarding his past work at OpenAI in two separate copyright cases, including one by The Authors Guild.

Broader Implications and Issue of Fair Use:

If the lawsuit is directed in favor of the accusers, it will have significant legal repercussions for the entire AI industry. A favorable ruling would likely force AI companies to re-examine their data collection and usage techniques for training models, followed by tighter controls, arrangements for licensing with content creators, and an alternative definition of copyright protection for AI-generated content.

At the heart of the OpenAI defense is a focus on the fair use doctrine, which allows limited use of copyrighted materials without permission under certain circumstances. On the other hand, the accusers argue that these AI models are commercial products that generate revenue for OpenAI, thus making fair use a questionable argument. As AI-generated content becomes widespread, courts will have to define the lines of fair use regarding machine learning and data scraping.

Therefore, the outcome of this lawsuit will affect both AI developers and content creators. If the courts determine that OpenAI’s use of copyright materials is outside fair use, this could bring new regulations and change how AI models are trained. It would heighten expectations requiring explicit licensing agreements with content creators. Conversely, a ruling in favor of OpenAI may further strengthen the positions of AI companies to scrape an enormous amount of data with minimum oversight.

With everything in mind, the case could be a pioneer for change within the AI sector. It is within the much wider framework of generative models, including not just generative adversarial networks or diffusion models, that gives birth to ethical/legal questions regarding training data. OpenAI claims its processes are protected by fair use, but what becomes an issue is the transparency regarding data sourcing, especially about any potential violation of intellectual property rights.

Samsung Unveils Galaxy S25 AI Features at MWC 2025, Redefining Smart Technology

Posted on March 4, 2025March 4, 2025 by Shahid Anwar

The Mobile World Congress 2025 kicked off in the Presence of the King of Spain, Felipe VI, on Monday 3rd March. The main focus has been the new AI features available in Mobiles. MWC started way back in 1987 with the name “GSM mobile system”, is the world’s biggest event on Mobiles. It is held in Barcelona, Spain.

Samsung has set up a huge booth to display its latest advancements in AI with special emphasis on the True AI Companion Galaxy S25 Mobile phone. The phone was released earlier in this year, and it has been making noise since for all the right reasons.

AI Doing The Magic

The visitors were shown what AI can do for humans with a simple voice command. You could tell your mobile to find the schedule of an upcoming event and add it to the mobile calendar. Bang, the mobile would complete the wish in no time. You will have a nice reminder set in the calendar to make sure you are not missing out on anything important to you. At the same time, AI saves you the hassle and, more importantly, time.

Image Credits:Samsung

Gemini, The New Bixby

Samsung booth was full of visitors engaging with Gemini Live, the new AI assistant. It facilitates the user with brainstorming ideas/solutions while learning through interactions with the user. It also supports image file input, PDF file input, and more. Gemini provides a multimodal AI experience that will increase productivity and creativity.

Image Credits: Samsung

Faithful Personal Assistant – Now Brief

One of the other features appreciated by the visitors at the Samsung booth was “Now Brief”. The feature used the “Now Bar” to show content on the mobile lock screen. It learns from the routines of the users and then provides relevant, personalized snapshots of information that could prove to be beneficial to the user. For example. It can share the ideal time to depart for a planned trip or the most efficient route to your destination. The visitors experienced first-hand how “Now Brief” helps you kickstart your morning with your schedule. In the evening, it shows a summary of the daily activities and insights so you can keep track of your performance for the day and plan tomorrow accordingly.

Image Credits: Samsung

Sleep with peace like never before

Galaxy S25 shows you your sleep data from last night, and you can also review a comprehensive sleep analysis through the Samsung Health app. It includes duration, sleep stages, and blood oxygen levels. It also considers the different factors affecting your sleep, such as room brightness, temperature, humidity level, etc. Then, it helps you to optimize your sleep quality.

Say Hello to Your Beautiful Pictures

Galaxy S25 has a state-of-the-art camera that the ProVisual Engine powers. At the Samsung booth, the guests were shown how new AI-enhanced photography tools create amazing pictures. There are new and exciting editing options available. You can also organize your content seamlessly and intuitively. The Portrait Studio and Filters allow you to apply AI-generated effects on the photos. Attendees were very excited to use these feature. It creates a unique artistic touch to each image.

Image Credits: Samsung

Another improved feature is Nightography. Along with Galaxy AI, nightography has also evolved to take low-light photography and videography to a new level. Visitors were also amazed by the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 50MP ultra-wide-angle camera. It allows users to capture group photos of family and friends like never before. Also, it is very easy to capture beautiful landscapes using wide-angle features.

Awake The Artist Inside You

The Drawing assistant feature bewitched the guests. It converts hand-made sketches into high-quality works of art in various styles. Attendees were shown how AI took input through text, images, or freehand drawings, creating a beautiful piece of art with flair and precision like never before.

Image Credits: Samsung

Gamers Get Ready For Games

People also showed keen interest in the last item in the booth. Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, the Galaxy A35 Series’ customized processor, showed its high-speed gaming with stunning visuals. Also, it allows for seamless multitasking. Galaxy S25 Ultra has a vapor chamber that is 40% larger than its predecessor. It will help maintain powerful performance for extended periods.

Image Credits: Samsung

Conclusion

The Samsung S25 Series, the True AI companion, has some serious upgrades to offer users. It is bound to help us save time and improve the quality of our lives. You can say goodbye to old pictures, see a new face of yourself with creative photography, and take pictures at night like you do in the day. You can bring your creative ideas to life using the Drawing assistant. You can enjoy games without any slowness or pauses with the powerful processor. Samsung has put up powerful products to empower people all over the world. The innovation is breaking new bearers and will have an impact on the human race.

Samsung Unveils Mind-Blowing AI Innovations in Mobile, Health, Home, and Networks!

Posted on March 4, 2025March 4, 2025 by Rabia Tayyab

Samsung has once again proved itself in the world of technology as it presented a breathtaking extravaganza of AI-oriented innovations at the Mobile World Congress 2025, held in Barcelona. From mobile experiences to intelligent health solutions, secure smart homes, and advanced network functionalities, Samsung’s futuristic innovations are set on reconfiguring the technological universe as we know it.

The Galaxy S25 series comes with powerful AI features, including Google’s Gemini AI Assistant, making mobile technology more exciting. The new AI updates in Samsung Health can transform personal health management by providing real-time insights and smart recommendations. At home, the improved SmartThings platform and Knox Matrix security offer a safer and smarter living environment. Samsung’s AI-driven solutions also promise better networks for everyone.

A Look Back at Samsung’s AI Pathway

Samsung’s concentration on artificial intelligence is nothing new. Over the past ten years, the company has substantially invested in researching and developing AI, buying companies like Viv Labs in 2016 to curtail its AI assistant. With Bixby’s introduction in 2017, this major AI effort directed toward mobile devices was intended to create a more natural, conversational user experience. In the coming years, Samsung would broaden the scope of these AI initiatives by putting intelligent features in all of its products, from smart TVs to home appliances. The transformation of AI was accelerated by Samsung Research’s launching of global AI centers, enabling the company to investigate AI applications across health, home automation, and network optimization.

AI in Mobile: The Galaxy S25 Series

Unveiled at MWC 2025, the Galaxy S25 series was brimming with AI-enhanced features. In particular, the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra, with Snapdragon 8 Elite, featured “AI Select,” an intelligent feature that optimizes apps and battery usage by observing user behavior patterns. The inclusion of Google Gemini AI Assistant within the Samsung Bixby ecosystem has created a seamless experience with predictive suggestions and advanced voice recognition. Such a progression in AI capabilities can be attributed wholly to Samsung’s sustained R&D in this field and strategic partnerships.

Smart Health Solutions: Personalized Care at Your Fingertips

Samsung Health has made major advances in AI-assisted features for personalized health insights. The redesigned app analyzes user data and generates comprehensive reports on sleep quality, stress levels, and even recommendations for lifestyle changes. The “Now Brief” feature delivers real-time health assessments so users can make informed choices. This approach is characteristic of Samsung’s efforts to infuse AI into health management, a vision it hinted at with the introduction of BioActive sensors on Galaxy watches.

AI-Driven Smarter Homes

Samsung’s hope for a connected home has taken a significant step forward with enhancing the SmartThings platform. Advanced AI technology offers predictive automation, whereas security-configured rules allow users to control connected devices. Both limbs are unified via the Knox matrix to provide a fortified layer for all connected things. Shell-shocked by the purchase of SmartThings in 2014, Samsung entered the smart home technology stage to bring AI-powered solutions to today’s doorstep.

AI-Empowered Networks: Redefining Connectivity

Samsung threw its hat in the ring for AI-based solutions, dishing out products like the Cognitive Network Operations Suite (NOS), while AI Energy Saving Manager manages energy consumption through intelligent analytics based on reference operations. The South Korean company’s AI focuses on the networking aspect, a key pillar of its broader growth roadmap that is aimed at eventual 5G leadership, which started full-fledged with commercial 5G solutions launched in 2019.

Our Take: A Bright Future Ahead

Samsung’s AI innovations are leading the tech industry by making mobile, health, home, and network devices smarter, safer, and more efficient. If Samsung continues to expand its AI capabilities, we could see devices that not only understand but also think for their users. These advancements could greatly improve productivity, security, and quality of life, positioning Samsung as a leader in creating a smarter and more connected world.

Trump’s Administration Cuts AI Funding, Threatening U.S Innovation?

Posted on March 4, 2025March 4, 2025 by Fatimah Misbah Hussain

AI technology is progressing enormously, and the United States is leading in technological innovation, but it seems the recent move by the Trump Administration is all set to jeopardize that position. Cutting off important personnel within the National Science Foundation (NSF) and slashing research funding has created an alarm in the scientific community. With the dismissal by the Trump Administration of National Science Foundation employees who are specializing in AI, experts now think disruptions of funds in AI may prevent advancement in this area, which bears heavy implications for national security, economic growth, and global competitiveness.

With tensions already brewing, the clash between AI scientists and policymakers emphasizes the need for consistency in funding scientific research.A significant impact is expected by the Directorate for Technology Innovation and Partnerships, the particular office that plays an important role in channeling federal grants to AI research.

Most of the review panels that were planned to evaluate and approve funding for research projects in AI have been either canceled or postponed, which means an extensive delay in financial support for many projects. This disruption would set back research efforts in machine learning, robotics, and automation, which are critical to National Security, health, and industrial innovation.

Criticism on Funding Reductions:

Experts and researchers working in AI have strongly condemned the administration’s actions aimed at reducing significant grantings, especially the cuts that influenced Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Musk, a known champion of AI, has been accused of indirectly disrupting the research ecosystem via his imposition of restrictions on funding. A large number of researchers feel that the cuts could have long-term implications for the United States, along with it remaining on top, while other countries are making large-scale investments in promoting the technology itself.

Geoffrey Hinton, an AI pioneer and Nobel Laureate, stated in a post on X,

“Musk to be expelled from the British Royal Society because of the huge damage he is doing to scientific institutions in the U.S.”

Hinton called it a crime about the loss of US scientific institutions to progress and maintain their integrity. Such opinions among AI researchers and academics have been articulated, noting that without stable government funding, groundbreaking AI discoveries might be slowed down and would give countries like China, the incentive to take the driving seat in the field.

Musk’s Reaction:

Musk quickly defended his views on efficient funding in response to Hinton’s remarks while also conceding that he could be wrong. Musk responded to Hinton’s post:

“Only craven, insecure fools care about awards and memberships. History is the actual judge, always and forever. Your comments above are carelessly ignorant, cruel and false. That said, what specific actions require correction? I will make mistakes, but endeavor to fix them”.

Musk’s outburst has sparked a further debate in tech and research communities. Some believe that slow government processes need to be pushed to reduce wasteful spending, while others believe AI research needs to be funded reliably for the long term that may require harsh cuts to undeserving expenditures. The remarks have generated renewed interest on the ethical stakes surrounding private sector influence on public funding for science, therefore raising the debate about how AI will be governed in the future.

Consequences of AI Funding Cuts:

The current controversy has expanded into wider debates within the scientific community regarding the extent of government overreach versus the appropriate extent of financial support for AI research. The experts have warned that global competition in AI will indeed be further hindered by any funding disruptions as the U.S becomes less competitive in any artificial intelligence developments. Other countries like China as well as the European Union have suddenly increased their budgets in research devoted to AI applications, defense, cybersecurity, and automation.

It remains unclear whether the administration will reverse itself in light of a vast flood of criticism. For now, it does seem that the growing backlash from members of the AI research community and policymakers indicates that the quarrel over funding for AI research is far from over. In the next few months, we will be able to know whether the U.S continues to enjoy the competitive atmosphere with AI or if short-term funding decisions will conceal long-term impacts on innovation and economic leadership.

Infinix Unveils Solar Charging Phone Concept at MWC 2025 for a Greener Future

Posted on March 3, 2025March 3, 2025 by Fatimah Misbah Hussain

Let’s fast forward to the future and imagine, what if all smartphones are not wall-charged or power-banked but rather are enabled to charge through sunlight? This very dream is being unveiled by Infinix at MWC 2025 with the introduction of solar charging concepts. With a built-in solar panel on the back of the phone, it becomes the solar charging case that rethinks how we keep our devices charged and running. These concepts, although still in the experimental phase, show the prospect of a greener and more sustainable mobile technology.

At this year’s MWC, Infinix has made an eco-conscious decision by advancing solar phone charging solutions. The Chinese manufacturer, noted for pushing the frontiers of innovation, presented two revolutionary concepts: a solar panel integrated into a smartphone and a solar charging case. Although still in concept mode, both prototypes were fully working, thus indicating a possible future where solar energy can give an environmentally friendly charge to mobile devices.

Solar Energy-Reserving Technology:

Infinix’s Solar Energy-Reserving technology uses Perovskite Solar Cells, which are cheaper and thinner alternatives to silicon solar panels. This technology has also been applied to other concepts, including Anker solar beach umbrella and the concept of cloak. The system aims at the highest conversion efficiency of solar energy while managing panel temperature, incorporating the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) for voltage control. Due to the overheating hazards under solar irradiance, this regulation will avoid overheating and thus control damage.

Currently, this solar technology has a power output of up to 2W to charge the phone battery when not being used, rather than fully recharge it. The concept of a built-in solar panel on the phone sounds simple enough, but the solar charging case presents a lot of flexibility. It has been designed to connect through the small side contacts on a prototype phone and charge power directly into the device. This removable option allows users to switch in and out between a regular case and a solar-powered case, thus proving true practicality for some emergency situations, travel, or power outages.

Second Generation Color Changing E Ink Phone:

A more advanced second generation of color-changing E Ink phones with more personalization options was also present at Infinix. Instead of the previous model that requires plugging to change color, the new one runs on internal rechargeable batteries, giving the user an increased level of customization. Users can now choose designs and color palettes, even the ability to generate colors from an image or dynamically change colors according to weather. Just as it goes with the tech trends of 2025, Artificial Intelligence acts as the brain behind this feature and adds yet another level of personalized experience that users can utilize.

Sustainable Future:

The recent innovations of Infinix will, therefore, provide evidence for a growing trend toward renewable energy solutions among consumer electronics. Solar charging might be just on the verge of beginning, but these innovations will lead to a more energy-efficient and eco-friendly smartphone in the near future. Concepts like solar charging accessories and AI customization may soon become mainstream, with a consequential influence on the future of mobile devices, as the demand rises for sustainable technology. While these distinct features are still only concepts, they present a vision of what a future of environmentally responsible, smart, and energy-efficient phones could be like. With the rising consumer demand for longer battery life and eco-friendliness, Infinix’s experimental designs are quite a hype and stand at the forefront of the next phase of smartphone innovation.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Launches as a Premium Flagship to Challenge Apple and Samsung

Posted on March 3, 2025March 3, 2025 by Fatimah Misbah Hussain

All the moves made by Xiaomi, this was the most daring and yet greatest of all, amidst the tussle for smartphone supremacy. Rolling out the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, the Chinese electronic giant does not limit itself to the budget and mid-range segment, as this flagship is determined with its intent on clashing head on with Apple and Samsung at the premium level. With mind-boggling camera technology, a nifty design, and going beyond just being hardware, that kind of powerhouse device is an indication of pure commitment.

Xiaomi formally launched its latest flagship smartphone, Xiaomi 15 Ultra, establishing a rare and serious foray into the premium market previously reigned by Apple and Samsung. Priced at 1,499 euros (S$2,108), the premium device was unveiled at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona, thereby demonstrating the company’s intent to recalibrate its position in the smartphone sector.

Powerhouse for Camera:

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra incorporates a quad-camera setup, it features some of the most advanced image sensors from the Sony Group along with Leica Camera optics. This reinforced persistence on camera quality, falls somewhere in line with Xiaomi’s recent forays into camera centric top devices, thereby identifying themselves from the competition in the premium segment.

Beyond Smartphones:

With the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, the company introduced a completely new range of smart personal devices, such as introducing a Smartwatch, the new electric scooter, and wireless earbuds. With the latest figures from market tracker Canalys report, the dominance of Xiaomi in the smart personal audio market has become evident and it led growth amongst audio brands in 2024.

Furthermore, Xiaomi has proven to be resilient even in the smartphone front. After all, it still ranks third in the world as a smartphone vendor, behind such companies as Samsung and Apple. According to IDC, the company saw a 15% increase in phone shipments during the year due to which it accounted for a fairly large share in the overall downturn in shipments among top brands.

Emerging Influence in Tech and Automotive:

Besides devices, the company has even gotten investors excited about Xiaomi’s foray into electric vehicles (EVs), which has caused a massive rise in its shares listed in Hong Kong over the last year. To this extent, its smartphones and EVs now carry the “Ultra” tagline, marking an entry point to the continuing branding efforts toward a high end image. The 15 Ultra even offers a faux-leather back option designed to correspond with the interiors of its electric vehicles.

Launch of Xiaomi’s latest most expensive smartphone is symbolic and strategic, as it indicates how Xiaomi is looking beyond product launches. The company already has an ecosystem of smart devices, strongholds in global smartphone rankings, and interests in the emerging electronic vehicle business, with these, it positions itself to be a major contender in consumer technology. Whether this ambitious push turns out to be a success in the long run will show up later, but for the moment, Xiaomi is shaking things up in the high end technology space.

UK Investigates TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur Over Children’s Data Privacy Concerns

Posted on March 3, 2025March 3, 2025 by Fatimah Misbah Hussain

Rising online platforms have increasingly become characters that create the web experience for millions, in turn growing concern among parents regarding the safety of children and data privacy. Nowadays, when social media algorithms decide what users shall see, this hazard of inappropriate content being exposed to today’s young audiences or personal information being misused has become very real. The British Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has come into play, undertaking a major investigation into TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur for alleged breaches of Children’s Data Protection Law. The decision of the inquiry may set a whole new pattern for the way tech companies interact with online privacy regarding children.

The investigation into TikTok and Reddit was announced by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for the alleged mishandling of children’s personal data and online safety, as the inquiry will examine whether these platforms operate within the boundaries of data protection laws and age assurance regulations aimed at protecting young users.

Algorithm Driven Content and Age Verification:

Social media platforms employ highly sophisticated algorithms to recommend content and keep users engaged but these machines, while doing that, often expose children to content that might be harmful or inappropriate. The ICO is specifically interested in how TikTok, a Chinese based app owned by parent company ByteDance, assembles and uses personal data of minors, 13 to 17 years of age, to recommend content on their feeds.

On the other hand, Reddit and Imgur are also being looked into for their age verification efforts to assess whether they effectively inspect and restrict child users. Given the fines in the past against the big social media platforms for failure to comply with UK data protection laws, compliance with these laws is critical.

Regulatory Actions:

The Information Commissioner’s Office said in a statement, “If we find there is sufficient evidence that any of these companies have broken the law, we will put this to them and obtain their representations before reaching a final conclusion”. They are very clear that these firms would have to face them if they were found to be in breach of the law before a final verdict. That same year, TikTok was penalized $16 million (£12.7 million) for the violation of data protection laws, which included such violations as using without account the personal data of children under the age of 13.

Reddit has assured all that they will cooperate with such a venture as it is legally binding with all their users’ adults, and then it will be put in place. The Reddit spokesperson said, “Most of our users are adults, but we have plans to roll out changes this year that address updates to UK regulations around age assurance”. However, there is little word from major players such as TikTok, ByteDance, and Imgur.

Strengthening Online Safety Regulations:

This makes Britain tough on social media, as they have mandated stricter age verification for online social media platforms for the protection of children against harmful content. Proposed regulations also require algorithmic changes for filtering or reducing exposure to harmful content for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

The ICO investigation is yet another step towards the worldwide efforts to check the social media platforms in holding them accountable against the usage of these platforms by the young people. Just as companies are being scrutinized for their actions, the likes of TikTok, Reddit and Imgur find themselves under tremendous pressure to increase transparency, adopt stricter age verification, and modify the algorithm to reduce exposure to harmful content. It’s unclear yet what final consequences this investigation may bring, penalties, policy changes, or stricter enforcement but this issue holds significance and has to be addressed one way or the other.

Samsung Expands AI-Powered Galaxy A-Series with Three New 5G Models

Posted on March 3, 2025March 3, 2025 by Shahid Anwar

The two major players in mobile technology duel – Samsung and Apple are competing with each other for supremacy in AI and mobile technology. Samsung and Apple have been among the leaders in the world for mobile technology and both have made considerable steps in the AI-infused cellular phone market. With technology improving everyday, the mobiles prices have seen an upward trend in recent year. But lately, in surprising turn of event, a good trend has started, mobile companies are recognizing the potential in cheaper mobiles. Normally, you would associate Apple with expensive mobile iPhone models only. But recently, they launched a cheap AI-based iPhone 16e. Now, Samsung has also released three mobiles that have new AI features enabled.

Samsung’s AI-Powered A-Series

Samsung unveils of three AI-Powered models in their popular A-Series, a bold move towards competition. It comes days after Apple revealed its cheaper iPhone 16e. Samsung is leveraging its own AI capabilities along with Alphabet’s Google, which operates the Android AI Operating System used in Samsung mobiles. On the contrary, Apple is pursuing its own Apple Intelligence suite with other AI systems. There is Open AI’s ChatGPT and AI solutions from Alibaba, which Apple is reportedly adopting for its devices in the USA and China respectively.

Here’s a breakdown of Samsung’s new AI-powered A-Series models and their pricing:

Galaxy A26 is priced at US$299.99
Galaxy A36 comes at $400
Galaxy A56 is available for $500

The Future of AI in Smartphones

The way things are moving forward, we can expect more intelligent features, more sophisticated personalization from all mobile companies worldwide. With the intense competition in mobile AI technology, we expect it will turn mobiles into intelligent assistants that will help with day-to-day activities of the people. This is a very good initiative, and people all over the world will benefit from the cheap prices, making AI more accessible to users. With the competition intensifying, we believe the next generation of mobile phones is very near. Soon, current mobiles will be a thing of the past, just as we now reminisce about the famous Nokia 3310.

Signal Surges to No.1 Downloaded App in the Netherlands

Posted on March 3, 2025March 3, 2025 by Rabia Tayyab

The privacy-focused messaging app Signal has experienced an extraordinary rise in the Netherlands. Over the past month, it has topped app store rankings for iOS and Android. According to multiple app intelligence platforms, including Sensor Tower and AppFigures, Signal has consistently remained the most downloaded free app in the country. This sharp increase occurs amid rising global concerns about data privacy and government surveillance. But why has the Netherlands, in particular, undergone such a drastic shift toward Signal?

Growing Awareness of Digital Privacy

While Signal has seen waves of adoption in the past—often in response to WhatsApp’s controversial policy changes or major geopolitical events—its current surge in popularity appears to be driven by a deeper shift in public perception. Signal President Meredith Whittaker, in an interview with the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, noted that the app has seen 25 times more registrations in the Netherlands compared to previous periods. While the exact timeframe of this growth wasn’t disclosed, she attributed the surge to a mix of factors:

“Growing awareness of privacy, distrust of big tech, and the political reality in which people realize how vulnerable digital communication can be.”

Signal’s Unmatched Privacy Standards

Unlike mainstream messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Messenger, Signal is operated by a not-for-profit foundation rather than a data-driven corporation. This means no targeted ads, metadata tracking, and full end-to-end message encryption. It has become the go-to alternative for Dutch citizens increasingly skeptical of Big Tech’s influence, especially in light of Meta’s recent privacy breaches, Signal.

A 958% Download Surge

Data from AppFigures shows just how dramatic Signal’s growth has been in the Netherlands:

December 2024: 22,000 downloads
January 2025: 99,000 downloads
February 2025: 233,000 downloads

That’s an explosive 958% increase in three months, far outpacing growth in neighboring European markets. For comparison:

Belgium: +250%
Sweden: +153%
Denmark: +95%

Image Credits:Sensor Tower / screenshot

Anti-Big Tech Sentiment in Europe

Dutch digital rights organizations suggest that rising tensions between the U.S. government and European tech policies have contributed to the adoption boom. Rejo Zenger, senior policy advisor at Bits of Freedom, explains: “The Dutch are highly dependent on U.S. tech giants, and recent global developments have intensified discussions about digital sovereignty. We are seeing a broader debate—not just ‘Which messenger should I use?’ but ‘How can we reduce our reliance on foreign-controlled platforms?’”

Similarly, Vincent Böhre, director of Privacy First, believes the political climate has played a role. “Since Trump’s re-election, there has been widespread criticism of U.S. Big Tech firms in Dutch media. This has led even non-technical users to seek privacy-friendly alternatives like Signal.”

A European Trend in the Making?

Signal’s dominance in the Netherlands could be the start of a wider European shift. Governments across the continent are cracking down on end-to-end encryption, pressuring companies like Apple to weaken privacy protections. Speaking at RightsCon 2025 in Taiwan, Whittaker reaffirmed Signal’s firm stance against compliance with such regulations:

“Signal’s position is clear—we will never weaken encryption or compromise the security guarantees people depend on.” She further stated in an interview with Swedish broadcaster SVT that Signal would rather exit a market than comply with data retention laws:
“If forced to store messages, we would rather leave Sweden entirely. Breaking encryption is simply not an option for us.”

What’s Next for Signal?

With its growing adoption in the Netherlands and across Europe, Signal proves that privacy-first alternatives can compete against Big Tech giants. If public distrust of corporate data practices continues, the messaging app could see similar adoption waves in other privacy-conscious nations in the coming months. For now, the Netherlands is leading the charge, and it may be the beginning of a much larger movement towards secure and independent digital communication.

Flora Introduces AI-Powered Infinite Canvas For Creative Professionals

Posted on March 3, 2025March 3, 2025 by Rabia Tayyab

AI-generated art has become a widespread trend, but many professional designers and artists argue that existing AI tools are not built for real creative work. Flora, launched this week, aims to change that narrative with its AI-powered “infinite canvas,” designed specifically for creative professionals. While AI tools like Midjourney, DALL·E, and Stable Diffusion have made it easy for non-creatives to generate images with simple text prompts, Flora takes a different approach. Instead of focusing solely on generative AI models, Flora provides a structured visual interface that allows professionals to control and refine their creative output.

Flora: AI for True Creativity, Not Just AI Slop

Flora’s founder and CEO, Weber Wong, believes that most AI tools today cater to hobbyists rather than professionals. Flora’s mission is to build an AI tool that complements, rather than replaces, human creativity.

“AI creative tools should be more than toys for generating AI slop. We are obsessed with building a power tool that will profoundly shape the future of creative work,” Flora’s manifesto states. Instead of building yet another generative AI model, Flora integrates with existing AI tools to provide users with an intuitive and interactive infinite canvas. This workspace allows creatives to generate and refine text, images, and videos in a collaborative, visual-first environment.

“The model does not matter, the technology does not matter. It’s about the interface,” Wong explained.

Image Credits:Flora /

How Flora Works

Flora enables a more structured, exploratory approach to AI-powered creativity. A designer can start with a simple image prompt, refine elements step by step, add annotations, and build variations. The canvas structure allows for iteration, making it easier to explore different creative directions.

Some key features include:

✔ Visual-first workflow – AI-generated elements are mapped on an interactive canvas.
✔ Collaborative editing – Teams and clients can modify, approve, and refine content in real time.
✔ AI-powered iteration – Creatives can quickly generate and compare multiple design variations.

Designed for Professional Creatives

While Wong envisions Flora being useful to all kinds of artists and designers, the company is initially focusing on design agencies. Wong’s team is actively working with designers from Pentagram, a world-renowned agency, to refine the product for professional use. “Our goal is to help creatives do 100X more work without compromising quality,” Wong said.

He compared Flora to how music production evolved, stating that today, a single musician can create orchestral-quality compositions from their home studio, thanks to modern software. Similarly, Flora could redefine the creative process for digital artists.

AI’s Controversial Role in Creativity

Flora’s launch comes at a time when many artists remain skeptical of AI’s impact on creative industries. Wong acknowledges these concerns, especially regarding copyright and intellectual property issues, but insists that Flora’s goal is not to replace artists, but to empower them.

“Flora isn’t training its own AI models, we integrate existing models while ensuring we follow societal standards,” Wong said. Flora’s approach aims to provide transparency and creative control, making AI more acceptable to professionals who have previously been wary of its use in art and design.

Flora’s Funding and Pricing Model

While Flora has not publicly disclosed its total funding, it has secured backing from major investors, including A16Z Games Speedrun, Menlo Ventures, and Long Journey Ventures. Angel investors from Midjourney, Stability AI, and Pika have also supported the project. The product is currently available for free with limited features, while a professional subscription starts at $16 per month.

The Future of AI-Driven Creative Workflows

As AI tools continue to evolve, platforms like Flora may set new industry standards by providing a balance between automation and human creativity. Whether it becomes an essential tool for designers or just another AI experiment remains to be seen. But with growing interest from design professionals, Flora is already making waves as a potential game-changer for AI-powered creative work.