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BMW has a new luxury car customer in India: CEO Hardeep Singh Brar reveals who is giving BMW an edge over other German rivals
In an interview with ET Online, BMW Group India President and CEO Hardeep Singh Brar discussed the changing luxury car market, the growing influence of younger buyers and startup founders, BMW's edge over its German rivals, and why he would still choose a petrol car over an EV.
Lawyers square off in fight over voice data used to train AI
Ross Kimbarovsky of Loevy & Loevy is representing the plaintiffs - a group of journalists, podcasters and audiobook narrators - in the proposed class action lawsuits. He said each of the defendants faces hundreds of millions of dollars in potential damages.
Microsoft AI's chief marketing officer Andra Mallard exits after 6 months as Copilot faces intense competition from ChatGPT and Claude. No one is replacing her
Microsoft AI CMO Andra Mallard is leaving after just six months, as the company reshapes its Copilot strategy amid intense competition from OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude. Mallard plans to move her family to Europe to be closer to her ailing father and will remain at Microsoft in an advisory role until early next year. Microsoft is not replacing her.
This man quit his $250,000 Meta job to start over. Three years later, he works just 20 hours a week and lives a stress-free life. What he chose to do next changed his life
Jason Shen left Meta after nearly three years, prioritising his time and personal fulfilment. He turned executive coaching into a full-time career, generating significant revenue with fewer hours. Shen's journey involved co-founding a startup acquired by Meta, which strengthened his leadership skills. He sacrificed millions in potential stock awards for greater control over his daily life. This career change highlights the importance of life satisfaction after achieving financial security.
YouTube offers creators millions to not work with Netflix
The payment would come in a couple of different forms. YouTube has discussed directly financing some programs, and it has also offered to allot a portion of major brand deals to creators. Though YouTube hasn’t finalised deals with any creators, it is close an agreement with several partners, said the people, who declined to be identified because the negotiations are sensitive and ongoing.
Following smart money: Where are India’s top investors betting next?
As private credit, venture debt and co-investments gain traction, India’s family offices and institutional investors are increasingly diversifying portfolios in search of differentiated sources of alpha.
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Selena Gomez accused of fraud, sued by investors over collapse of mental health startup 'Wondermind'
Investors have filed a lawsuit against Selena Gomez and Wondermind co-founders. They allege misrepresentation of the mental health startup's prospects and unmet promises. The company was presented as focused on mental fitness and developing new products. Investors claim the promised app was never developed and financial problems were hidden. They seek to recover the millions of dollars they invested in the venture.
He left America, moved into a $100 billion ghost city near Singapore and tried to build a new society. Malaysia ghosted him
Balaji Srinivasan left the US and took his experiment to build a new kind of society to Malaysia’s $100 billion ghost city, Forest City. His Network School attracted residents who wanted to live around shared ideas about technology and community, but a local council later ordered it to stop operating over licensing issues. Srinivasan has since turned to Kazakhstan for his next campus.
To Compete in the Global Economy, Europe Needs to Boost Its VC Ecosystem
Europe’s struggle to produce globally dominant companies is not a mystery—it is the predictable result of a weak and fragmented venture capital ecosystem. Despite an economy comparable in size to that of the United States, Europe invests only a fraction as much in venture-backed firms, and the gap is widening as capital concentrates around AI and other winner-take-all technologies. The consequences are visible in lower innovation, weaker returns for investors, and a steady outflow of entrepreneurial talent. But Europe’s venture deficit is not inevitable. While structural disadvantages exist, policy choices and investor behavior play a decisive role. Three shifts in attitude are essential. First, Europe must resist the segmentation of its capital markets and rebuild a credible, pan-European pathway for venture-backed firms to scale and go public. Second, policymakers need to abandon the impulse to spread venture funding evenly and instead concentrate resources in a small number of high-potential clusters, where innovation benefits from scale and spillovers. Third, Europe must learn from global role models—avoiding well-documented policy failures, particularly around taxation, and adopting approaches that make entrepreneurship genuinely attractive.
Can AI companies be sued if autonomous agents hack other systems? Here's what legal experts say
OPENAI-HUGGING-FACE-Explainer-Who is liable when AI goes rogue? Lawyers see new risks
Irish proverb of the day: “He who is not strong must be...” — inspiring life lessons on resilience, wisdom, adaptability, problem-solving, perseverance, confidence, and why intelligence often defeats raw strength from the timeless traditions of Irish folklore
Today's Irish Proverb of the Day brings timeless wisdom that still fits modern life: "He who is not strong must be clever." This powerful Irish saying reminds us that intelligence, resilience, and smart thinking often achieve what force cannot. Discover its deeper meaning, inspiring life lessons, and why this ancient Irish proverb continues to guide success, confidence, and everyday decision-making.
Amazon loses US court ban on Perplexity's AI shopping tools
In a novel legal dispute, the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that Amazon was unlikely to succeed on its claim that Perplexity's AI agents violated a federal computer-hacking law.
Spotify's higher spending on marketing, AI features to hit profit
Spotify anticipates that increased marketing and development expenditures will adversely affect profits in the current quarter. The platform forecasts its third-quarter monthly active users to fall short of Wall Street's expectations, a decline attributed to product changes in emerging markets. To counteract this, Spotify is investing significantly in AI features aimed at attracting and retaining its user base, alongside introducing a new agreement for fan-generated covers and remixes.
Create a culture of open communication with youth to fight drug menace together: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a nationwide campaign against drug addiction. He urged family elders and teachers to foster open communication with children. The campaign aims to keep the nation's youth physically and mentally fit. Support from society and rehabilitation facilities are crucial for recovery. This initiative precedes elections in Punjab, a state facing drug challenges.
Who gets faster Internet? India's net world may soon have first class and economy
India is reviewing its net neutrality rules to allow 5G network slicing, a move that could let telecom operators offer premium connectivity with guaranteed speed, latency and reliability. The policy shift could transform industries from healthcare to manufacturing while raising concerns about a two-tier internet where businesses and consumers pay for faster network performance.
Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Sergey Brin, Larry Page and more: Tech billionaires are flocking to America's second-most expensive metro area and it's not California or New York
Tech billionaires such as Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Sergey Brin, and Larry Page are among high-profile names who are flocking to Miami despite soaring costs in the US city. Tax proposals in California and New York are pushing billionaires to Florida. No state income tax, warm weather, international travel connections have made Miami a favourite.
Sam Altman, Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, Elon Musk and Jensen Huang unite behind one AI vision: Why America's biggest tech billionaires are calling for open-weight AI models
A coalition of 25 leading technology companies and organizations has urged US policymakers to support open-weight AI models, arguing they are essential for maintaining America's leadership in artificial intelligence. The letter has received backing from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Elon Musk.
Digital nomad visas: Who should apply, who shouldn't, top countries for Indians
Digital nomad visas now offer professionals a new route for global mobility. These permits allow individuals to live abroad while working remotely for foreign employers. Remote work acceptance after the pandemic fuels the rise of these attractive new visas. Spain and Portugal are top destinations for Indians seeking this lifestyle. Careful tax planning and understanding local rules are crucial for applicants.
Cheaper, open and intelligent: Chinese AI models gain ground, as they make inroads in the US
Chinese artificial intelligence models are increasingly adopted by American users and businesses. These advanced systems offer competitive performance at significantly lower costs. Companies are switching to Chinese AI for routine tasks and cost reduction efforts. While US tech giants express frustration, independent developers find them appealing. China's open-source approach and state support fuel global expansion ambitions.
'Don't fall into trap of vested interests', BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar tells NEET protesters
Rajeev Chandrasekhar urged students protesting the NEET paper leak to debate the issue in Parliament. He advised students against falling into vested interests' traps or resorting to violence. Chandrasekhar stated that the alleged paper leak was a crime requiring thorough investigation and accountability. He highlighted the government's actions, including a re-examination and CBI probe, and new legislation.
The Risks of Prioritizing Short-Term Revenue Over Customer Fit
Most startups measure success through top-line revenue growth. But beneath vanity metrics often lurks a hidden threat: sales debt. Like technical debt in software development, sales debt accumulates when companies prioritize short-term revenue over customer fit, creating financial drag, operational burdens, and strategic distractions that can undermine long-term success. In this article, we leverage our experience as sales leaders as well as a series of in-depth interviews to describe what sales debt is, how it impacts companies (for better and worse), and how leaders can address it.
Startups bet on AI and a leaner future
When Eric Lauer needs to hire at Giftory, the online gift-giving platform he runs, he's no longer looking for eager young coders fresh out of college. "We're still in a hypergrowth phase," Lauer said.
OnePlus exits Europe, North America as the 'flagship killer' fights for relevance
OnePlus is withdrawing from Europe and North America as part of a global strategy adjustment. This move follows reports of parent company Oppo restructuring its smartphone business operations. India remains a key market for OnePlus, with local operations continuing as usual. The company once defined the premium Android market with its "flagship killer" positioning.
US panic is missing the point on Chinese AI
Since last year, I have been tracking the trend of American startups using Chinese AI. This year, the shift has become harder to ignore. But it didn’t emerge in a vacuum. China’s low-cost, open-weight push was always going to appeal to developers, the backbone of AI innovation. Washington’s wake-up call arrived late.
Udaan’s structured funding deal; Temasek pares Lenskart stake
Hit by debt troubles, Udaan has closed a structured financing deal. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Singapore Court declines stay of Byju’s founder’s sentence
Singapore's High Court denied a stay on Byju Raveendran's jail sentence. The founder of the failed education startup faces imprisonment if he returns. Raveendran has appealed the contempt ruling to Singapore's Court of Appeal. Foreign investors are pursuing claims against Raveendran globally. The Qatar Investment Authority welcomed the court's latest ruling.
This New York startup offers $18,000 housing stipend to live in one of America's most expensive neighbourhoods. But there's a catch
Rilla, an AI firm, offers employees an $18,000 housing stipend annually. This benefit helps offset high living costs in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood. The company also provides three meals daily and gym facilities for its staff. Employees generally work twelve-hour shifts for six days each week. This demanding schedule is part of Rilla's intense company culture.
Zostel hits Oyo IPO filings; PhonePe’s new CTO
Zostel asked Sebi to review Oyo’s IPO filings, escalating their dispute over the Zo Rooms acquisition. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.
Break traffic rules too often? You may have to take driving test all over again
Frequent traffic offenders will soon face mandatory re-tests to renew their driving licences as part of significant amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act. The government also plans to expedite compensation for accident victims and increase appeal costs for disputes. Third-party insurance premium setting will return to IRDAI, and licence suspensions will now require a three-year cooling-off period.
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