Technology News: Tech Updates: Ola Maps, Musk's Privacy, Google Weather, CMF Phone 1, Apple Siri, Govt AI Summit

Ola has replaced Google Maps with its inhouse Ola Maps for navigation of its cabs and services. This change can help the company save Rs 100 crore annually while aiming at providing faster and better navigation. The Ola Maps will also be available with other platforms through an open API. Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO of Ola, emphasized cost savings and new features such as street view and 3D maps. This comes after Ola's exit from Microsoft Azure was seen as a key pivot into in-house solutions.

Elon Musk has said the social media company he controls, X, reviews some users' direct messages in order to carry out surveillance for lawbreaking. Urging continued skepticism, he did not clarify his comments on what has changed since X, despite promoting end-to-end encryption, was now working to do more encryption of direct messaging to and from both groups and individuals. Users are taken to social media in shock and dismay over why X has access to private DMs to collaborate with governments including requests seeking clarification on the privacy standing of the platform.

Google updated its Weather app and included the newest day-date combination within a 10-day forecast in version 12.25 of Google App. This update brings the following key functionality to the app: improved long-term planning with some idea of the weather forecast. There weren't actually any important updates since the 2023 redesign. Meanwhile, with iOS 18, Apple has in store significant revamps to the Weather app itself beyond real and feel-like temperatures and home and work locations from the Contacts app.

Nothing's CMF By has launched in India the budget-oriented sibling, the CMF Phone 1, for a price tag of Rs 15,999 for the 6GB + 128GB and Rs 17,999 for the 8GB + 128GB variant. It comes with swappable covers, a 6.67" Super AMOLED display that sports a 120Hz refresh rate, and is run by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset. Alongside, the business declared Buds Pro 2 for Rs 4,299 and Watch Pro 2 at a price of Rs 4,999 to Rs 5,499. Sales begin on July 12.

Apple has given a preview of the AI avatar for Siri at WWDC 2024, which was due for release with iOS 18 and the launch of the iPhone 16 series. According to this Bloomberg report, this AI upgrade is going to slip into Spring 2025 as iOS 18.4. Apple is very cautious about making sure that the updates released are robust and reliable. Rather unlike Google or Microsoft, Apple lays more emphasis on privacy by having all the processing done on the device itself. Meanwhile, OpenAI's ChatGPT tools for iPhone users will be available before Siri's AI enhancements.

The 'Global IndiaAI Summit' on July 3-4, 2024, at New Delhi, has further worked on the growth of AI in compute capacity, foundational models, datasets, application development, future skills, start-up financing, and safe AI. Over 12,000 experts, policymakers, and industry leaders who attended the global summit deliberated upon the future of AI in India. Announcements at the summit included a Rs10,000 crore India AI Mission, procurement of GPUs, and an AI innovation centre. Key discussions included the role of AI in entrepreneurship, cross-sector integration, ethical governance of AI, and the potential of AI as a transformative tool for the betterment of society.