Top Tech News of the Week
By TOI Tech Desk
In a week filled with significant developments, the tech industry saw major acquisitions, successful game launches, and continued regulatory scrutiny. Here’s a breakdown of the key stories.
Alphabet Acquires Wiz for $32 Billion
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, made its largest-ever acquisition by purchasing cybersecurity firm Wiz for a staggering $32 billion. This deal surpasses the $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility in 2012. The move aims to strengthen Google Cloud’s security capabilities, responding to the rising demand for cloud computing services driven by the AI boom. Wiz, a five-year-old startup founded by former Israeli army colleagues and headquartered in New York, is projected to generate $1 billion in revenue this year. The acquisition is subject to regulatory review, particularly in light of Google’s ongoing antitrust cases in the United States. If approved, the deal is expected to close in 2026.
Google Launches Pixel 9a
Google has unveiled the Pixel 9a, a mid-range smartphone priced at approximately Rs 49,900. The phone features Google’s Tensor G4 chip and a refreshed design with a 6.3-inch Actua display boasting a 35% increase in brightness compared to its predecessor, along with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The Pixel 9a is available in four colors: Peony, new Iris, Porcelain, and Obsidian. Camera improvements include a dual rear system with a 48MP main camera, a 13MP ultrawide lens, and the introduction of Macro Focus for the A-series. AI features include Add Me, Best Take, Magic Editor with Auto Frame, and Gemini built-in with Gemini Nano, making it a unique offering in the sub-$500 phone category. The Pixel 9a also promises over 30 hours of battery life (up to 100 hours with Extreme Battery Saver), offers seven years of OS updates, is IP68 water and dust-resistant, and incorporates enhanced security features. Additional functionalities include Circle to Search, Pixel Studio, Call Assist, and family-focused tools like Google Family Link, School Time, and the new Google Wallet for kids. The phone is slated for release beginning in April 2025.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Hits 2 Million Players
Ubisoft announced that Assassin’s Creed Shadows reached 2 million players within just two days of its March 20th release. The company noted that this launch performance exceeded that of both Assassin’s Creed Origins and Odyssey. While specific sales figures remain undisclosed, the game currently holds the top-selling position on Steam, with nearly 59,000 concurrent players at the time of reporting, nearing Odyssey’s all-time peak of 62,069 players. The game’s success is particularly noteworthy for Ubisoft following some commercial letdowns and ongoing discussions about a potential buyout with Tencent by the founding Guillemot family. Despite facing initial controversies that led to a day-one patch addressing in-game temples and shrines in Japan, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has received “very positive” user reviews on Steam, with 81% of over 6,000 reviews marked as positive. The game is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Ubisoft+, Amazon Luna, and Mac, with an iPad version anticipated in the future.
EU Takes Action Against Google and Apple
The European Commission has initiated enforcement actions against Google and Apple for allegedly violating the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). In preliminary findings announced on March 19, the Commission accused Google’s search engine of unfairly prioritizing Alphabet’s own services over competitors and preventing app developers on Google Play from guiding consumers to more advantageous offers elsewhere. Apple is facing demands to make its operating systems compatible with competing devices and provide a clear methodology for app developers seeking access to its systems. Violations of the DMA could lead to fines equaling up to 10% of worldwide revenue (20% for repeat infringements), potentially reaching close to $80 billion based on Apple’s 2024 revenue. Apple has criticized the decision as excessive “red tape” that could hinder innovation, while Google maintains that the alterations would make it harder for users to find what they are looking for.
X Sues Indian Government
Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government, alleging that the Ministry of Information Technology is unlawfully extending its censorship powers. The lawsuit claims that the government has established a secondary content removal mechanism that evades legal safeguards for free speech by allowing a large number of officials to issue removal orders without proper oversight. X argues that this violates constitutional rights related to equality and freedom of expression. This legal dispute highlights the ongoing conflict between X and Indian authorities over content moderation, tracing back to prior issues in 2021 regarding farmers’ protests. This lawsuit arises at a pivotal time as Musk plans to introduce his other companies—Starlink and Tesla—in India, with the Karnataka High Court slated to continue reviewing arguments on March 27.
Other Developments
- AI Partnerships: OpenAI and Meta Platforms are reportedly in discussions with India’s Reliance Industries to potentially form partnerships aimed at expanding their AI offerings within the country. One proposition involves Reliance Jio and OpenAI collaborating to distribute ChatGPT, potentially at a discounted subscription rate. Additionally, Reliance has considered marketing OpenAI’s models to its corporate clients through an API and hosting both Meta and OpenAI models locally in a three-gigawatt data center in Jamnagar, Gujarat, which Reliance claims will be the world’s largest. This local hosting would enable customer data to stay within India.
- Pebble Smartwatch Creator: Eric Migicovsky, the original creator of the Pebble smartwatch, is preparing to introduce two new smartwatches through his company, Core Devices. The first model, the Core 2 Duo, is priced at $149 and is scheduled to be released in July. It retains the same black-and-white e-paper display from the original Pebble 2 and utilizes leftover frames from the original Pebble designs. Despite using 8-year-old technology, the watch benefits from improvements in efficiency, offering over 30 days of battery life, and incorporating a new speaker for AI assistant interactions. Only about 10,000 units are planned to be available. The second model, the Core Time 2, will be released in December for $225 and will include a touchscreen in the classic Pebble design, maintaining the original buttons, prolonged battery life, and customizability. Both watches will run on the open-source Pebble operating system. Migicovsky acknowledges the challenges of iPhone compatibility, while Android integration is more straightforward. His goal is not to sell millions of units, but rather “to make something I really want.”
