Category: Technology

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Reddit tests AI for smarter product searches

Reddit is testing a new AI-powered search feature designed to make it easier for users to discover products discussed in its community threads. For a limited group of users in the U.S., searching for items like “best headphones” or gift ideas may now show interactive product carousels directly in the search results.

These carousels highlight product images, prices, and links to buy, based on recommendations and discussions from Reddit posts and comments. The feature aims to help users explore products mentioned by the community without leaving the platform.

The company says the AI tool offers quick insights on popular products, surfacing items that are frequently recommended in relevant threads. Reddit will monitor user interactions closely and refine the feature before considering a wider rollout.

This initiative aligns with Reddit’s broader push into e-commerce, building on efforts like its Dynamic Product Ads, which provide personalized product suggestions based on user interests.

Reddit’s CEO, Steve Huffman, has noted that search activity on the platform has grown significantly, highlighting the potential for search-based features to engage users while also creating new revenue opportunities.

By combining its community-driven content with shopping tools, Reddit is exploring a subtle shift toward commerce while maintaining the platform’s discussion-focused identity. The test reflects a wider trend where social platforms are experimenting with AI-powered tools to enhance user discovery and engagement.

This AI search feature represents a measured approach to integrating commerce on Reddit, keeping the emphasis on community recommendations while offering users a more convenient way to find products that matter to them.

Also Read: OpenAI–Tata partner for 100mw AI data centre in India

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Mark Zuckerberg grilled in social media addiction trial

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified on February 18 in a Los Angeles courtroom in a landmark case alleging that social media platforms, including Instagram, are designed to be addictive and can harm children’s mental health. The lawsuit, filed by a California woman, claims that her early use of social media contributed to worsening depression and suicidal thoughts. The case has drawn attention nationwide, raising questions about the responsibility of tech companies for the mental health of young users.

During his testimony, Zuckerberg strongly denied that Meta intentionally designs its platforms to be addictive. He said the company prioritizes user safety and has introduced multiple measures, including age restrictions, parental controls, and safety tools to protect younger users. “We do not intentionally make platforms addictive,” he told the court, adding that engagement metrics are not designed to harm users.

Plaintiffs’ lawyers highlighted internal Meta documents discussing user engagement goals and features that encourage users to spend more time on the platform. They argue these features show a deliberate focus on keeping users hooked, despite known risks to mental health. Zuckerberg acknowledged that enforcing age restrictions can be challenging because users can provide false birth dates when signing up, but maintained that Meta actively works to reduce underage use.

The case also examines whether social media companies have a duty to warn users and parents about potential mental health risks. Experts note that the trial could have significant implications for the tech industry, potentially influencing how platforms manage safety features, transparency, and engagement practices in the future.

It is observed that the trial as a test case for social media regulation, as it could set a precedent for other lawsuits across the United States targeting tech giants over addiction and harm to minors. Zuckerberg’s testimony is seen as a key moment in the proceedings, with both sides presenting evidence about the effects of social media use on children and adolescents.

Also Read: Dixon Technologies down 38% with rising memory costs

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Sarvam Kaze, India’s multilingual answer to Meta ray-ban

Bengaluru-based Sarvam AI has unveiled Kaze, its first AI-powered smart glasses, marking India’s formal entry into the global AI wearables segment. The device was showcased at the India AI Impact Summit, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi tested the glasses, signalling strong policy-level visibility for indigenous AI hardware.

Kaze is designed as a voice-driven, hands-free computing interface powered by Sarvam’s in-house foundational models, with a core focus on Indian language support and localised AI use cases. Through integrated cameras, microphones and open-ear audio, the glasses can process real-time visual context, respond to spoken queries and deliver contextual assistance without requiring users to access a smartphone.

The product targets enterprise and public-sector deployments in areas such as field services, education, accessibility, navigation and document workflows, alongside future consumer applications. Sarvam’s on-device and edge-optimised AI approach is expected to reduce latency and improve privacy for real-time interactions.

The launch places Kaze in direct comparison with Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, which currently leads the category with camera, audio and voice assistant features. However, Sarvam is betting on multilingual AI, India-specific workflows and domestic design-to-manufacture capabilities as key differentiators.

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YouTube faces global outage, millions affected

On 17–18 February 2026, the video platform YouTube went down for users around the world, leaving many unable to watch videos or use the app properly. The outage affected countries including the US, India, the UK, Australia, and Mexico.

In the United States alone, over 3 lakh users reported problems on tracking site Downdetector. Users faced issues like blank homepages, error messages, videos not loading, and problems accessing related services such as YouTube Music, YouTube Kids, and YouTube TV.

Many users took to social media, including X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, to share their frustration. While some videos could still be accessed through direct links, the home page and recommended videos were often missing or not working.

YouTube confirmed the outage and said its engineering teams were working to fix the problem. The company explained that a glitch in its recommendation system, the feature that suggests videos and populates users’ home pages, was the main cause.

By Wednesday morning, YouTube announced that services across all platforms had been fully restored. Users could again access videos, playlists, recommendations, and related services without issues. The company thanked users for their patience during the disruption.

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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.

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Nokia patent win stops Acer, Asus PC sales in Germany

Direct sales of Acer and Asus laptops and desktop PCs in Germany have been suspended after a patent ruling in favour of Nokia. The decision, delivered by the Munich I Regional Court, found that the two PC makers used the company’s video-coding technology without a valid licence.

The case centres on patents tied to High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), a widely used format that enables high-quality video streaming and playback on modern devices. The court said the vendors failed to meet FRAND obligations, allowing an injunction that blocks them from selling directly to customers in the country.

Following the order, Acer has shut its German online store, while Asus has listed several models as unavailable. The restriction applies only to their own sales channels, so consumers can still purchase devices through third-party retailers as long as stocks last.

The ruling is part of a broader global dispute over Nokia’s standard-essential patent portfolio. Industry analysts say the short-term impact on buyers will be limited, but prolonged supply disruptions could reduce product availability in one of Europe’s largest PC markets.

Both companies are expected to appeal the decision or negotiate a licensing deal that could restore normal sales. The outcome will be closely watched across the tech industry, where compliance with core multimedia patents has become a critical requirement for hardware makers.

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

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India AI Impact Summit greets skills, tech, leaders

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced in New Delhi today, 16th February, at Bharat Mandapam, positioning the country as a key convening ground for global artificial intelligence strategy, cross-border investment and enterprise technology collaboration.

The five-day event brings together government leaders, multinational technology firms, venture capital stakeholders, research institutions and high-growth startups to accelerate scalable and responsible AI deployment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the India AI Impact Expo, a large-format showcase featuring more than 600 startups and multiple international pavilions. The expo highlights production-ready AI use cases across healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, agriculture, mobility and public digital platforms, with a focus on real-world enterprise integration rather than experimental innovation.

Confirmed participation by global leaders including Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron and Justin Trudeau underscores the growing alignment between AI policy, trade frameworks and supply-chain partnerships. Ministerial engagements and bilateral meetings are expected to prioritise semiconductor collaboration, trusted compute capacity, data governance standards and talent mobility.

For industry, the summit’s CEO roundtables and sector-focused tracks are centred on three strategic themes — workforce transformation, sustainable AI infrastructure and inclusive digital growth. Discussions are expected to translate into announcements around strategic alliances, R&D investments, innovation corridors and public–private partnerships.

The event also reflects India’s push to leverage its digital public infrastructure, deep developer base and expanding startup ecosystem to become a global AI development and deployment hub. With strong representation from venture funds and global system integrators, the platform is being viewed as a catalyst for capital deployment into India’s AI value chain.

Enhanced security protocols and traffic management measures have been implemented across central Delhi to ensure seamless movement of international delegations and business leaders.

From a corporate perspective, the summit signals a shift from policy intent to execution, with a clear emphasis on enterprise-scale adoption, future-ready skilling and long-term technology partnerships that can anchor India’s position in the global AI economy.

Also Read: Apple’s 6th India store to open in Borivali on Feb 26

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Apple’s 6th India store to open in Borivali on Feb 26

Apple Inc. will open its sixth official retail store in India on February 26, expanding its presence in one of its fastest-growing markets. The new outlet will be located in Borivali, a key residential and commercial hub in Mumbai.

The store will open at the Oberoi Sky City Mall, becoming Apple’s second retail outlet in Mumbai after its flagship store at Apple BKC. With this launch, Apple continues to deepen its physical retail footprint across major Indian cities.

India has become an increasingly important market for Apple, both in terms of sales and manufacturing. The company has steadily expanded its retail operations to provide customers with direct access to its full product lineup, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and accessories.

The Borivali store will offer personalised services such as product setup, technical assistance at the Genius Bar, and Today at Apple sessions ,  free workshops designed to help customers explore photography, coding, creativity and more. Customers will also have access to Apple Trade In and pickup services.

Apple’s expansion strategy reflects its long-term commitment to India. By choosing Borivali, the company aims to serve customers in Mumbai’s western suburbs, making its products and services more accessible beyond central business districts.

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NVIDIA brings GeForce NOW to Amazon Fire TV

NVIDIA has launched GeForce NOW on Amazon Fire TV Stick, letting users play PC games on their TVs without a console or gaming PC. The service streams games from NVIDIA’s cloud servers, so all processing happens remotely, while the gameplay is sent over the internet.

Supported Fire TV devices include Fire TV Stick 4K Plus (2nd Gen) and Fire TV Stick 4K Max (1st & 2nd Gen). Players need a compatible controller and a stable internet connection to enjoy smooth gameplay. The games stream at 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second, giving TV viewers clear and responsive performance.

Gamers can access titles from popular PC stores like Steam, Epic Games Store, and Battle.net. NVIDIA also added eight new games to the service, including Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Mega Man 11, and the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection.

This launch brings cloud gaming into living rooms, letting people enjoy console-like experiences without extra hardware. Currently, Fire TV streaming is limited to 1080p and does not support HDR or 4K, but it offers an entry-level way to experience PC gaming on a TV.

By expanding to Fire TV, NVIDIA can compete with other cloud gaming platforms like Amazon Luna and Xbox Cloud Gaming, which also focus on TV streaming. The service is rolling out globally, but it is not yet available in India, with plans to expand regionally in the future.

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Global tech leaders gather for India AI Summit

India is set to host one of its biggest technology events yet — the India AI Impact Summit 2026,  in New Delhi from February 16 to 20. The summit is attracting some of the most powerful names in the global artificial intelligence industry, highlighting India’s growing importance in the AI world.

Top leaders expected to attend include Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis, and senior executives from Microsoft and Meta. French President Emmanuel Macron is also likely to be present. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a keynote address during the event.

The summit will take place at Bharat Mandapam and is being described as one of the largest AI gatherings hosted in the Global South. The event will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, startups and students to discuss how AI can be used responsibly and effectively.

The focus of the summit is not just technology, but also business and real-world impact. India is seen as a major growth market for AI. It produces a huge amount of global data and has one of the world’s largest pools of skilled tech talent. For global companies, this represents strong business potential.

The event will include panel discussions, exhibitions, and AI competitions. Organisers have planned special programs to encourage youth and women innovators, with prize money for winning ideas. Topics will cover AI safety, economic growth, sustainability, healthcare, agriculture and education.

India wants to position itself as a key player in shaping global AI policies and innovation. By hosting such a large summit, the country aims to show that it is ready to lead conversations around responsible AI development while also creating business opportunities.

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