India's tech expertise takes center stage as Amandeep Singh Gill, Sharad Sharma, and Nazneen Rajani join the UN's High-Level Multistakeholder Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the initiative, aiming to tackle AI challenges and enhance cooperation across sectors. Guterres highlighted AI's potential in crisis management and public services. The diverse panel signifies a collaborative effort to harness AI for Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing India's pivotal role. This union of minds promises innovative strides, fostering international collaboration for a tech-driven global future.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed plans to create the world's inaugural artificial intelligence safety institute, aimed at evaluating and understanding the risks associated with AI technology. The announcement precedes a global summit on November 1-2 at Bletchley Park, where around 100 participants, including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, will discuss the unpredictable advances of AI and the potential loss of human control. Sunak emphasized the need to address fears related to AI while ensuring its responsible development for a better future. China and the European Union are also expected attendees.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has offered to donate $1 billion to Wikipedia if the online encyclopedia changes its name to "Dickipedia." Musk, known for his unconventional social media posts, made the proposition on Twitter, sparking widespread reactions. He also inquired about adding a cow and a poop emoji to his Wikipedia page. The offer follows Musk's recent takeover of Twitter, which he renamed "X." The proposal has generated mixed responses, with some questioning his motives and others finding humor in the situation. This move adds to Musk's history of intriguing social media antics.          

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, announced a new feature allowing users to manage two WhatsApp accounts within a single app on their phones. Addressing the challenge of balancing personal and professional conversations, the feature enables seamless switching between accounts without the need for logging out or using multiple devices. Users can set up a second WhatsApp account by adding a new phone number or using multi-SIM/eSIM phones. The company emphasized using only official WhatsApp versions for security, cautioning against downloading imitations or fake versions to add multiple accounts. Customizable privacy and notification settings enhance user control.

Social media platform X, formerly Twitter, announced it will test charging users a $1 annual subscription fee for basic features like likes, reposts and bookmarks. This "Not A Bot" subscription aims to combat bots and spammers, a top priority for new owner Elon Musk. The fee amount will vary by country based on exchange rates. It will first be tested in New Zealand and the Philippines. Existing users won't be affected but new non-paying users can only view and read posts, not engage. Bots have been a major issue for Musk since acquiring the company. X also limited tweet visibility last year to ensure user authenticity. The fee may be expanded if it succeeds in reducing bots.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual interaction with Google CEO Sundar Pichai today. They discussed Google's initiatives in India including efforts to expand access to AI tools in Indian languages. PM appreciated Google's plans to manufacture devices in India and open a fintech centre in Gujarat. He invited Google to contribute to the upcoming Global Partnership on AI Summit in Delhi. PM encouraged Google to leverage GPay and UPI for greater financial inclusion. The leaders agreed on the importance of digital inclusion and using technology ethically for social empowerment.

The upcoming Amazon Great Indian Festival and Flipkart Big Billion Days sales will see huge price drops for iPhone 12, 13 and 14 models in India. iPhone 12 will be available for Rs 38,999 on Flipkart after discounts, down from its Rs 79,900 launch price. Amazon will offer iPhone 13 below Rs 40,000, reducing the 2021 launch price by over Rs 30000 with exchange deals. Flipkart has hinted iPhone 14 and 14 Plus prices will dip below Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000 respectively, down from their September 2022 launch prices of Rs 79,900 and Rs 89,900. The sales present great opportunities for buyers to purchase recent iPhones at significantly discounted prices.

  Google CEO Sundar Pichai has unveiled the company's initiative to manufacture Chromebook laptops in India in collaboration with HP. The move aims to bolster Google's presence in the market and aligns with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's $2 billion production incentive plan, encouraging tech giants to invest in the country. Chromebooks will be produced at a Flex Ltd. facility near Chennai, targeting the education sector primarily. This strategic step enables Google to compete with rivals like Dell and Asustek while ensuring compliance with local manufacturing regulations, contributing to India's growing electronics sector.

Google is reportedly considering moving a major part of its production from Vietnam to India after a factory worker in Vietnam allegedly leaked images of the upcoming Pixel 8 Pro, as can be seen in the photo window here. While Google produces some components in India, it hasn't invested as much as other brands. India's superior record in maintaining confidentiality compared to Vietnam could see more production shifting. The Pixel leak incident comes after Apple and Google faced breaches in China but rarely in India where leaks before launch are uncommon and embargoes are strictly followed. 

Google is rolling out an earthquake alert service in India that utilizes sensors in Android smartphones to detect earthquakes and estimate their intensity. Called the 'Android Earthquake Alerts System', it has been introduced in consultation with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and National Seismology Centre (NSC). Through this service, Google aims to provide Android users in India with automatic early warning alerts when an earthquake occurs in their area. The system will be rolled out to all Android 5+ users in the country over the coming week. This launch aligns with Google's efforts to provide helpful alert services during natural disasters, leveraging sensors in smartphones.