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Former NPR host alleges Google cloned his voice

Veteran radio journalist David Greene has taken legal action against Google, claiming its AI feature in NotebookLM reproduced his recognisable on-air voice without consent.

Greene said the AI-generated presenter matches his rhythm, tone and speaking quirks so closely that friends assumed he had authorised its use. A forensic voice study submitted with the lawsuit reported a similarity of more than 50%. Google has dismissed the allegation, maintaining the audio was created using a professional voice actor.

The dispute highlights mounting concerns over how generative AI systems are trained and whether individuals have rights over their vocal identity in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

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Beyond

PM Modi says India ready to lead global AI era

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has positioned India as a major force in the rapidly evolving global artificial intelligence landscape, describing AI as a “civilisational inflection point” that will reshape economies, governance and daily life.

Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit, he said India’s AI strategy is built on inclusion, innovation and technological self-reliance, with a focus on ensuring that the benefits of the technology reach all sections of society. He underlined that AI should not remain in the hands of a few countries or corporations but must serve humanity at large.

The Prime Minister highlighted that India’s digital public infrastructure has created a strong foundation for developing affordable and scalable AI solutions. This model, he said, can support not only domestic growth but also offer pathways for other developing nations.

Addressing concerns over job losses, Modi said the emphasis is on skilling and reskilling the workforce to prepare for new opportunities in an AI-driven economy. Rather than replacing human effort, he noted, AI will enhance productivity and improve outcomes in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education and public service delivery.

He also pointed to India’s young talent pool, vibrant startup ecosystem and expanding computing capacity as key strengths that will help the country transition from being a technology adopter to a global technology creator.

Calling for responsible innovation, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of ethical, transparent and bias-free AI systems. He urged greater international cooperation to develop frameworks that ensure safety, trust and equitable access.

The summit brought together policymakers, industry leaders and researchers from across the world, reflecting India’s ambition to shape the global AI agenda while using the technology as a tool for inclusive growth and social transformation.

Also Read: Adani Ports ties up with Marseille Fos for IMEC corridor

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Beyond

Rupee gains 5 paise in early trade, hits 90.67 per dollar

The Indian rupee appreciated by 5 paise to 90.67 against the US dollar in early trading on Wednesday, helped by easing global crude oil prices and fresh buying by foreign institutional investors (FIIs).

The domestic currency opened stronger at the interbank foreign exchange market and briefly touched 90.60 per dollar before trimming some of its gains. It had ended the previous session 2 paise higher at 90.72.

Forex dealers said the fall in international oil prices supported the rupee as it reduces India’s import burden and lowers demand for the US currency. At the same time, renewed foreign fund inflows into Indian markets improved liquidity and boosted sentiment in the forex market.

Despite the early strength, the rupee could not hold on to its peak levels due to a stronger dollar overseas and a muted trend in domestic equities, which weighed on investor confidence. The dollar index remained firm against major global currencies, capping sharp gains in the local unit.

Market participants expect the rupee to trade in a narrow range in the near term, as global factors continue to drive currency movements. Fluctuations in crude oil prices, the direction of foreign capital flows and the performance of Indian stock markets are likely to remain key triggers.

Also Read: Gold at ₹1.51 lakh, silver at ₹2.34 lakh

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Beyond

Gold at ₹1.51 lakh, silver at ₹2.34 lakh

Gold has declined about 16% to nearly ₹1.51 lakh per 10 grams from its recent highs, while silver has crashed around 38% from close to ₹3.8 lakh to about ₹2.34 lakh per kg. The correction, instead of triggering a rush to jewellery stores, has led to cautious sentiment as buyers expect prices to soften further before making purchases.

In the physical bullion market, gold in Delhi was quoted at around ₹1.57 lakh per 10 grams, down about 1.4%, while silver slipped over 2% to nearly ₹2.45 lakh per kg. Futures on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) also mirrored the weak trend, reflecting subdued participation from both retail investors and traders.

Jewellers across major cities have reported low footfall despite the price drop. According to trade sources, customers are tracking the market closely but postponing purchases in the hope of a deeper correction. The sharp volatility seen after months of record-breaking rallies has made buyers cautious and more price-sensitive.

The fall in domestic prices follows weak global cues. A stronger US dollar, profit-booking after the earlier surge, easing geopolitical tensions and thin Asian market volumes have reduced the safe-haven demand for precious metals. These factors have collectively put pressure on bullion rates.

Analysts believe the current decline comes after an extraordinary rally through 2025 and early 2026, when both gold and silver scaled historic highs. The ongoing slide is being viewed as a phase of consolidation rather than a long-term reversal.

Also Read: Sensex drops 100 pts, Nifty slips below 25,700

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Corporate

Adani Group unveils $100 bn plan for AI data centres

The Adani Group announced a $100 billion investment to build AI-ready data centres across India by 2035, a move aimed at creating a sovereign AI and computing infrastructure powered entirely by renewable energy. Following the announcement, shares of Adani Enterprises jumped over 2%, reflecting strong investor confidence in the group’s long-term technology vision.

The plan will expand Adani’s existing 2-gigawatt (GW) data centre capacity to 5 GW, positioning it among the world’s largest integrated AI and cloud computing networks. These centres will handle high-density workloads including artificial intelligence, large language models, and cloud services, giving India a strategic advantage in next-generation technology.

Adani’s strategy combines renewable energy generation, storage systems, transmission networks, and high-performance computing hardware into a single ecosystem. The project complements the group’s ongoing 30 GW solar and wind initiative at Khavda, Gujarat.

The rollout will include global tech partnerships, with Google setting up a major AI campus in Visakhapatnam, Microsoft establishing facilities in Hyderabad and Pune, and talks underway with other international firms to expand AI campuses nationwide.

According to the Adani Group, nations that control both energy and compute resources will lead the next wave of innovation, and this investment positions India as a creator and exporter of AI technology, strengthening economic growth and job creation.

Also Read: India team to visit US to finalise trade pact

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HiLITE rewards employees with 47 luxury cars

Kozhikode-based HiLITE Group celebrated its 30th anniversary by gifting 47 cars worth around ₹20 crore to its employees, recognizing their role in the company’s growth.

The cars included luxury models like Range Rovers, Audi Q8s, and Land Rover Defenders, as well as popular SUVs such as Tata Harrier, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, and Skoda Kodiaq.

The gesture was part of a larger anniversary event where the group also announced plans to develop 50 million sq. ft. of new projects across Kerala by 2030, aiming to create jobs and boost economic activity in the state.

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Anthropic launches Bengaluru office, expands India partnerships

Anthropic has officially opened its Bengaluru office, marking its second Asia-Pacific hub after Tokyo. India is now Claude.ai’s second-largest market, with usage spanning software development, enterprise solutions, and education.

The company is partnering with organizations like Air India, Razorpay, Pratham, and Central Square Foundation to apply AI in sectors such as aviation, fintech, education, agriculture, and legal access. Efforts also focus on improving AI fluency in 10 major Indian languages and creating open-source tools for developers.

The new office will hire local talent to support partnerships and scale Claude-powered solutions nationwide.

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Technology

Apple sets March 4 global launch event

Apple has announced a global event on March 4 called the “Special Apple Experience.” The event will have in‑person gatherings in New York, London, and Shanghai, starting at 9 am ET. Unlike the usual big keynote, this event is expected to be more interactive, letting the media get hands-on with new products.

While Apple hasn’t confirmed the lineup, industry reports point to several updates. The highlight could be the iPhone 17e, a budget-friendly addition to Apple’s latest smartphone series. Mac fans may see refreshed MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models powered by the new M5 chips, alongside a possible low-cost MacBook aimed at first-time users.

iPads could also get upgrades. The base iPad may feature a faster A18 chip, while the iPad Air is expected to get the M4 processor, boosting performance and AI features.

Apple has not yet confirmed if the event will be streamed online, but with multiple product launches likely, March 4 is shaping up to be one of the company’s key launch events this year.

Also Read: Elon Musk’s $850 bn fortune nears trillion mark

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Infosys climbs 3% after AI deal with Anthropic

Shares of Infosys advanced nearly 3% after the company unveiled a strategic partnership with Anthropic to deliver next-generation artificial intelligence solutions for global clients.

The collaboration will combine Anthropic’s Claude models with Infosys’ Topaz platform and establish a specialised Centre of Excellence to build sector-focused AI applications, initially targeting telecom and later expanding into other industries.

Chief executive Salil Parekh said the move will help enterprises modernise systems, automate complex processes and adopt responsible AI at scale. The announcement strengthened investor confidence and pushed the stock among the day’s key gainers in the IT pack.

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Beyond

India team to visit US to finalise trade pact

India will send a high-level delegation to Washington next week to give the proposed interim trade agreement with the United States its final legal shape, a key step that could lead to the deal being signed as early as March. The visit signals that negotiations have moved into the last and most technical phase after both sides agreed on the broad contours of the pact.

The delegation will be led by India’s chief trade negotiator along with senior commerce ministry officials. They will hold in-person meetings with their US counterparts to convert the agreed terms into a formal and legally binding document. Officials from the two countries are already holding virtual discussions to resolve technical issues before the face-to-face talks begin.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said the framework of the agreement has been largely settled and the upcoming meetings will focus on finalising the legal language. The benefits under the pact will come into force only after the agreement is signed.

The interim trade deal is expected to provide tariff relief and improved market access for select goods traded between the two countries. For India, this is particularly important for labour-intensive sectors such as textiles and other export-oriented industries that depend heavily on the US market.

The United States is one of India’s largest trading partners, and the proposed agreement is seen as a step towards deepening economic engagement. It is also expected to reduce trade barriers and make it easier for companies in both countries to do business.

Officials believe the limited pact could eventually pave the way for a broader and more comprehensive bilateral trade agreement in the future. If the legal text is finalised on schedule, the deal will mark a significant milestone in India-US trade ties and open new opportunities for exporters while strengthening overall economic cooperation.

Also Read: Summit marks India’s big play in AI