Tag: Artificial Intelligence

Business

Apple Hits $4 Trillion Market Value as Strong iPhone Sales Offset AI Concerns

Tanisha Cardozo

Apple has officially surpassed a $4 trillion market value, becoming the third Big Tech company in history to achieve this milestone, after Nvidia and Microsoft. The milestone comes amid robust demand for its iPhone 17 lineup and the iPhone Air, which have helped lift shares about 13% since their launch on September 9, marking Apple’s first positive performance for the year.

The iPhone remains a critical revenue driver, accounting for more than half of Apple’s profit. Analysts say the iPhone Air’s slim design positions Apple to compete effectively against rivals like Samsung Electronics, while early sales of the iPhone 17 have outperformed its predecessor by 14% in key markets such as the U.S. and China, according to research firm Counterpoint. Brokerage Evercore ISI expects the strong demand to exceed market expectations for the quarter ending September, with upbeat forecasts anticipated for the December quarter.

Apple shares had faced headwinds earlier in the year due to stiff competition in China and uncertainties related to high U.S. tariffs affecting its major manufacturing hubs in Asia. While Apple has taken a cautious approach to artificial intelligence, including delayed upgrades to Siri and a slower rollout of the Apple Intelligence suite, reports indicate ongoing collaborations with Alphabet’s Gemini AI, Anthropic, and OpenAI.

Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer of Northlight Asset Management, noted, “The lack of a well-understood AI strategy is one of the overhangs for the stock. If Apple can incorporate AI in a way that excites consumers, it would transform the company.”

Apple reported its strongest quarterly results in years during April-June, achieving double-digit growth across key segments and surpassing analyst expectations. Its shares currently trade at 33.2 times projected earnings for the next 12 months, compared to 27.42 for the Nasdaq 100, reflecting the company’s strong valuation. Apple is expected to announce its Q4 results on October 30, which could further impact investor sentiment.

Despite underperforming the Nasdaq 100 this year, Apple’s milestone highlights the enduring appeal of its ecosystem, driven largely by iPhone sales and global brand loyalty.

Business

Amazon to Cut Up to 1,000 Jobs in India Amid Global AI-Driven Restructuring

Tanisha Cardozo

Amazon is preparing to eliminate between 800 and 1,000 positions in India as part of a sweeping global restructuring effort driven by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, The Economic Times reported. The move marks one of the company’s largest workforce reductions in India to date.

According to sources cited by ET, the layoffs will span key corporate functions such as technology, human resources, and finance, with employees reporting to global teams facing the steepest cuts. The India-specific reduction forms part of Amazon’s plan to trim approximately 14,000 corporate roles worldwide, a strategy outlined by Beth Galetti, Senior Vice President of People Experience and Technology.

In a blog post shared with employees, Galetti said the restructuring aims to simplify Amazon’s organizational structure by removing layers of management, reducing bureaucracy, and channeling resources into the company’s “biggest bets” — including artificial intelligence initiatives.

The decision follows CEO Andy Jassy’s June 2025 internal message warning that AI would reshape Amazon’s workforce. “We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs,” Jassy wrote, describing “agentic AI” as a transformative technology that would fundamentally change the way work is carried out across the company.

Amazon has aggressively increased its AI investments, allocating more than $100 billion in 2025 compared to $83 billion in 2024. While the company continues to hire for AI and machine learning roles, overall headcount is expected to decline as automation takes over certain operational and support tasks.

As of June 30, Amazon employed roughly 1.55 million people globally, including about 350,000 in corporate positions. This latest wave of layoffs marks Amazon’s second major downsizing effort in recent years, following the elimination of 27,000 jobs between late 2022 and early 2023.

For affected employees, Amazon plans to offer a 90-day internal transfer window, giving them an opportunity to apply for other roles within the company. Those unable to secure new positions will receive severance pay, outplacement support, and continued health insurance coverage.

Despite Amazon’s strong financial performance, Galetti emphasized that the company must adapt to rapid technological shifts to remain agile and competitive. “As the pace of AI transformation accelerates, we need leaner structures that allow us to move faster and innovate better,” she said.

The move highlights a growing trend in the tech industry — where major corporations are increasingly restructuring around AI and automation, reshaping the global employment landscape even amid record profits.

Social Media

OpenAI Developing Generative Music Tool That Makes Music from Text & Audio Prompts

Tanisha Cardozo

OpenAI is working on a new generative music tool that can create music from text and audio prompts. This innovative project is expected to enable users to add original soundtracks or instrumental accompaniments to videos, according to a report by The Information. However, there’s no official word yet on when it will launch, or whether it will be a standalone product or integrated into existing platforms such as ChatGPT or the video-generator Sora.

The tool is expected to offer features like multi-vocal track generation and AI-assisted mixing, making it appealing to independent musicians and content creators. As per the report, the project involves collaboration with students from the prestigious Juilliard School, who are helping to annotate musical scores to provide accurate training data for the AI model. The partnership aims to understand how machines can learn and replicate musical patterns and emotions.

Notably, OpenAI’s new tool builds on its previous projects — MuseNet and Jukebox — and promises enhanced user control over musical style, tone, and energy. Jukebox, released in 2020, enabled users to create AI music in various genres like reggae and blues, though it is no longer actively maintained.

The move by OpenAI into the music generation space is expected to intensify competition with other tech giants like Google and startups like Suno, which already offer generative music solutions. The development of this tool has also sparked discussions around copyright, ethical questions, and creative ownership. Several voices in the music industry have raised concerns about AI companies not fairly compensating artists, with some calling for stronger laws to protect human musicians. At the same time, some scammers have exploited AI music tools to fraudulently earn streaming revenue on platforms like Spotify.

As of now, there is no confirmed release date nor clarity on distribution format. Whether the tool will debut as a stand-alone app or integrate into OpenAI’s broader ecosystem remains to be seen. But if released, it could reshape how creators build music, merge audio with video, and how the music industry approaches production and rights in the age of AI.

Social Media

OpenAI’s Big India Move: 1-Year FREE ChatGPT Go Access; Sign Up from Nov 4

Tanisha Cardozo

OpenAI has announced that starting November 4, Indian users can enjoy one year of free access to ChatGPT Go, the company’s new subscription tier that offers higher query limits, image generation, and file uploads. The limited-time offer coincides with OpenAI’s first-ever DevDay Exchange event in Bengaluru, celebrating the company’s growing presence in India — its second-largest and one of the fastest-growing markets for ChatGPT.

“To celebrate OpenAI’s DevDay Exchange event in Bengaluru on November 4 — its first in India — OpenAI is making ChatGPT Go available free for one full year to all users in India who sign up during a limited-time promotional period,” the company said in a statement.

Launched in India in August, ChatGPT Go was designed in response to user feedback seeking more affordable access to OpenAI’s most advanced tools. Within a month of its launch, the number of paid ChatGPT subscribers in India more than doubled, highlighting the nation’s growing enthusiasm for AI-powered productivity solutions.

Building on this demand, OpenAI has now expanded ChatGPT Go to nearly 90 global markets. India, however, continues to stand out — home to millions of developers, students, and professionals who use ChatGPT daily to enhance learning, creativity, and work.

“This promotion is a continuation of OpenAI’s ‘India-first’ commitment and supports the IndiaAI Mission, reinforcing the growing momentum around AI in India as the country prepares to host the AI Impact Summit next year,” OpenAI said. The company also confirmed that existing ChatGPT Go subscribers in India will be eligible for the 12-month free access period.

Nick Turley, Vice President and Head of ChatGPT, praised the enthusiastic response from Indian users since the initial rollout. “Since launching ChatGPT Go in India a few months ago, the adoption and creativity we’ve seen from users has been inspiring,” he said. “Ahead of our first DevDay Exchange event in India, we’re making ChatGPT Go freely available for a year to help more people across India easily access and benefit from advanced AI.”

The announcement underscores OpenAI’s growing investment in India’s digital and AI future. As one of the world’s largest technology ecosystems, India continues to be a key focus market for AI innovation and adoption. With initiatives like this, OpenAI is not only expanding access but also empowering a new generation of Indian creators, developers, and thinkers to lead the global AI transformation.

EduConnect

Microsoft’s Aruna Chakkirala Talks GenAI, Responsible AI at Goa Business School

Tanisha Cardozo

As part of the ongoing Fomento Lecture Series, Microsoft’s Lead AI Cloud Solutions Architect, Aruna Chakkirala, delivered an insightful talk at Goa Business School, Goa University, on Tuesday. The session, titled “Business Impact of AI and Building Meaningful GenAI Use Cases,” offered students a first-hand perspective into how artificial intelligence, particularly Generative AI, is reshaping the world of work and innovation.

An alumna of Goa University herself, with a Master’s in Computer Applications, Aruna’s return to campus was both nostalgic and impactful. Drawing from over two decades of global experience in AI and cloud architecture, she explored the widespread influence of Generative AI across industries and how it’s essential for young professionals to orient themselves toward this transformative technology.

She advised students to focus not only on acquiring AI skills but on building domain understanding—stressing that AI should be seen as a tool to augment human capabilities, not replace them. This, she said, is crucial for improving job prospects in an increasingly AI-integrated job market.

Addressing a pressing concern among students, Aruna candidly acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding AI’s impact on employment. “We still don’t know how this wave of AI growth will ultimately affect job creation or displacement,” she said, validating the mixed sentiments within the academic community.

What remained constant throughout her talk was the emphasis on Responsible AI. For Aruna, responsible innovation has always been at the core of her professional journey. She spoke about the ethical dimensions of AI systems and the importance of building transparent, explainable models. Her book, Interpretability and Explainability in AI using Python, underscores this very philosophy and remains a valuable resource for professionals and learners alike.

The session concluded with an interactive Q&A where students engaged with Aruna on current AI trends, future opportunities, and the importance of human-AI collaboration. The event further cemented Goa Business School’s commitment to providing students with access to leaders driving real-world tech transformation.