Tech

As AI agents enter the real world, four gaps matter: containment, infrastructure, resources, and regulation. Can we close them before capability outruns safeguards?

Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max went on sale in India on Friday, drawing long queues and enthusiastic buyers across major cities. Customers turned up early at Apple stores, with some waiting for hours to secure the new devices

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said AI must remain under human control and urged global norms involving governments and technology companies. He called US-China understanding an essential starting point for AI governance, while stressing sovereignty, inclusivity, safety, trust and broad access to AI knowledge

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella praised Seattle's growing technology community and strengthening ties with India at a forum attended by over 40 Indian-origin tech CEOs and CTOs. Discussions covered AI, semiconductors, quantum technology, talent, aerospace and other areas of bilateral collaboration

The cloud is on the ground, powered by electricity, cooled by water and sustained by engineering. AI isn’t just digital anymore; it has a very physical footprint

Huawei has unveiled new chip technologies and the Atlas 960 SuperPoD computing cluster as China steps up its AI capabilities. The company also plans new Ascend chip series, amid US restrictions on advanced chips and growing China-US technology competition.

Meta officials admitted to a mistake before the NCPCR and agreed to directly report child abuse content to Indian law enforcement agencies, government sources said. The company will also vet such content itself amid scrutiny over its algorithms and child safety measures

Tesla will unveil its long-delayed next-generation Roadster on October 1, CEO Elon Musk announced. First showcased in 2017, the high-performance electric sports car has faced repeated delays and is now reportedly being developed as an all-new carbon-fibre hypercar.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has backed a more cautious approach to frontier AI development, citing safety and alignment concerns. He also indicated that OpenAI is unlikely to go public in 2026, saying significant work remains on AI safety.

AI startup Anthropic has disclosed attempts by malicious actors to misuse its models for cyberattacks, surveillance, and biological weapons research. The company says it blocked these efforts and strengthened safeguards in its latest models.

Anthropic, an AI company, blocked users in northern Yemen who were misusing its models to develop advanced missile systems. The accounts, linked to Iran-backed Houthi rebels, were found using smartphones to run weapons programs.

DeepTech startups need a different playbook and a longer view, with early-stage focus on technological progress, validation and intellectual property

Apple’s iPhone 18 lineup is expected to be 20 to 43 per cent more expensive in India, analysts said, citing memory costs and rupee depreciation. The company’s foldable iPhone Duo could cost up to Rs 4.5 lakh and capture 24 per cent of the foldable market.

India and France have signed three new space-sector agreements covering satellite launches, space surveillance and microsatellite technology. The deals deepen longstanding cooperation between ISRO and CNES, while expanding private-sector collaboration in satellite manufacturing, launch services, commercial space activities and sovereign capabilities

Apple will launch the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in India on September 18, with prices starting at Rs 1.64 lakh. Pre-bookings open on September 12 across 65 countries. Apple’s India revenue crossed USD 10 billion in FY26, driven by record iPhone shipments.

Smartwatches can help track fitness and detect some irregular heart rhythms, but experts warn they cannot diagnose heart attacks. A clinical ECG and medical assessment are required, while people should recognise warning signs such as chest pain, breathlessness and dizziness

Indian space-tech startup GalaxEye has secured a US patent for its OptoSAR imaging technology, combining optical and SAR sensors for synchronized Earth observation. The patent strengthens its global intellectual property position as the company plans a 30-satellite constellation targeting defence, commercial and government applications

A new neuroaesthetics study suggests beauty is represented in the brain through two distinct dimensions: visual content and emotional pleasure. Researchers found these systems operate separately but interact, while visual arts expertise appears to reshape how the brain represents aesthetic experiences

ISRO has clarified that it will not be privatised and will continue to lead India’s space programme, focusing on advanced research, strategic missions, human spaceflight, next-generation launch systems, and planetary exploration. The private sector’s growing role is meant to complement ISRO’s capabilities, scaling mature technologies and expanding India’s space ecosystem under reforms initiated since 2020.

Hyderabad is set to host one of the country’s largest data centres with a 1-GW capacity, promising a major technology push and thousands of jobs. However, the project has triggered concerns over its massive electricity and water requirements, with experts warning of environmental strain in a city already facing resource challenges.

OpenAI said it is working on a framework for reporting and addressing AI misalignment incidents after researchers found rogue agents had taken control of a German website. The company also said it is engaging government regulators worldwide on the issue.

A private spacecraft, Link, operated by Katalyst Space Technologies, attempted to rescue NASA’s ageing Swift Observatory but had to abandon the mission due to low fuel. Despite getting within 15 km of Swift and capturing data and photos, the spacecraft couldn’t boost the telescope to a higher orbit.

Advances in AI are lowering barriers to biological design, raising a new biosecurity challenge: what researchers call deepfake viruses

Uber and Wayve are launching London’s first self-driving taxi service with fewer than 20 electric vehicles. Human safety drivers will initially supervise trips. The rollout marks Britain’s cautious progress toward autonomous transport amid regulatory hurdles and competition from global robotaxi operators