Researchers found that neurons release an enzyme, VLK, that activates pain signaling from outside the cell—an unexpected mechanism. Removing VLK dulled pain in mice, while adding more heightened it, all without impairing normal movement. This suggests a safer way to treat pain without targeting risky receptors inside neurons. The discovery also provides new clues about […]
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Realme GT 8 Pro succeeds the GT 7 Pro launched last year [File]
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Realme will launch its premium flagship smartphone, the Realme GT 8 Pro, in India today; this is going to be the second Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 powered phone in the country after OnePlus 15.
The Chinese smartphone maker will launch the race-themed inspired Realme GT 8 Pro Dream Edition as well.
Realme GT 8 Pro succeeds the GT 7 Pro launched last year. It will also begin Realme’s partnership with Ricoh Imaging, with an exclusive Ricoh GR-powered camera along with two focal lengths of 28mm and 40mm and five Ricoh GR tones.
Realme GT 8 Pro will sport a 50 MP main camera, and a 200 MP telephoto lens. It is going to support 4K 120fps Dolby Vision recording as well.
Realme GT 8 Pro will come with a switchable camera bump that can be detached and replaced with round, square, robot-theme. It turns the lens cover into a freely interchangeable component. Users can unscrew the original camera bump, pick their preferred one, and confirm the fit with a precise lock-in click.
Realme GT 8 Pro will run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. It is likely to get up to 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage. The phone will also be the first to run Realme UI 7.0 based on Android 16 out of the box.
Realme said that the GT 8 Pro will ship with a 7,000 mAh battery along with a 120W SuperVOOC fast charging. It will also support up to 50W wireless charging
Realme GT 8 Pro is going to use a 2K display with 7,000 nits peak brightness.
Realme GT 8 Pro will feature a paper-like leather back panel, made from recycled plastics and textiles, the company said. The smartphone will be sell in Diary White and Urban Blue colours.
Realme GT 8 Pro is likely to carry a OnePlus 15-style pricing in India.
Published – November 20, 2025 08:18 am IST
The Garmin update spans popular devices including the Venu X1, Vivoactive 6, Fenix 8 series, Forerunner 570 and 970, as well as Edge 540, 840, 1050 and select MTB models
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Garmin has begun rolling out a major round of software updates that bring new health, training and navigation features to many of its latest smartwatches and Edge cycling computers. Users can install them starting today.
The update spans popular devices including the Venu X1, Vivoactive 6, Fenix 8 series, Forerunner 570 and 970, as well as Edge 540, 840, 1050 and select MTB models.
One of the biggest additions on the smartwatch side is Health Status, a feature that monitors key biometrics while you sleep, including heart rate, HRV, respiration, skin temperature and blood oxygen, and sends alerts if something looks off.
For cyclists, the update adds smart hydration reminders based on your fitness and course demands, real-time weather overlays, improved Power Guide support and new tools that compare your performance to others in your GroupRide.
Garmin Connect+ subscribers are also getting an upgrade: new 3D topographic maps designed to make route planning and terrain analysis more intuitive.
The update is already live, and compatible devices can grab it automatically or through Garmin Connect or Garmin Express. If you own a recent Garmin watch or cycling computer, chances are you’ll see new features waiting for you.
How to update your Garmin device
Most compatible Garmin devices will install the update automatically once connected to Wi-Fi, but you can also trigger it manually.
On your smartwatch, open the Settings menu, and Scroll to System and select Software Update. If the update is available, choose Install Now.
If you want to do this via Garmin Connect, open the Garmin Connect app on your phone, Pair or sync your device. If an update is available, Garmin Connect will prompt you to install it.
If you plan to update through Garmin Express (desktop), connect your device to your computer via USB, then open Garmin Express and select your device and click Install when the update appears.
The update is live now, and if you own a recent Garmin watch or cycling computer, there’s a good chance these new features are already waiting for you.
Published – November 20, 2025 09:18 am IST
Competition watchdog CCI has approached the NCLAT to seek clarity over its recent judgment in the WhatsApp case, and asked whether the order implies that user consent is needed in cases where data is used for advertising or for non-advertising purposes.
Earlier this month, the appellate tribunal granted partial relief to WhatsApp after setting aside a section of the order by the fair trade regulator that had banned the instant messaging app from sharing data with Meta Platforms for advertising purposes for five years.
However, the NCLAT had retained ₹213 crore penalty on the social media platform and upheld WhatsApp’s 2021 policy breach of Section 4(2)(a)(i) and 4(2)(c) as it constituted abuse of dominance by the instant messaging app and created a situation of market denial.
The matter had come before a two-member bench of the NCLAT on Tuesday, which had passed the order on November 4, 2025, on which it had issued notice to Meta and WhatsApp, whose counsel were present in the tribunal.
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has directed to list the matter on November 25, for the next hearing of the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) plea seeking clarification.
When contacted, CCI counsel Samar Bansal told PTI they want a clarification as to whether user consent is required if his data is used for advertising purposes or for non-advertising purposes.
“Now, in our understanding, what the NCLAT has basically said, in a nutshell, is that user consent is paramount and that regardless of whether the data is being used for advertising purposes or for any other non-advertising purposes, please take user consent. That is what the NCLAT holds in different parts of the order,” he said.
However, in Para 264, the concluding part of the judgement, the learned court has said that Para 247.1 of the original CCI order is set aside and 247.2 is upheld. The effect of this is that now user consent is required for WhatsApp sharing user data for non-advertising purposes, but there is nothing being spoken of at all, one way or the other, for advertising purposes.
“So, we have simply moved an application that the court must clarify what it meant, and actually, what its order already says is that user consent must be taken regardless of whether WhatsApp is sharing data, user data with other Facebook companies for advertising purposes or for non-advertising purposes. That is the one simple clarification we have asked,” he said.
NCLAT, in its 184-page-long order, said that cross-platform data sharing between WhatsApp and Meta enhanced Meta’s advantage in the display advertising market, creating an entry barrier for rival firms in digital advertising that did not have equivalent access to WhatsApp data.
However, it had also said CCI “order holding breach of Section 4(2)(e) is not sustainable”, as it cannot be concluded that Meta has leveraged its dominance in one market (OTT messaging) to protect or extend dominance in another (online display advertising), as WhatsApp and Meta are distinct legal entities.
In November last year, the CCI imposed a penalty of ₹213.14 crore on social media major Meta with respect to the WhatsApp privacy policy update done in 2021.
Meta Platforms and WhatsApp challenged this order before the NCLAT, which, in January this year, passed an interim order, staying the five-year ban imposed by the CCI on data-sharing practices between WhatsApp and Meta for advertising purposes, offering a breather to the tech giant.
Published – November 20, 2025 09:40 am IST
Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief AI scientist [File]
| Photo Credit: AP
Meta’s chief artificial intelligence researcher Yann LeCun on Wednesday confirmed he is departing the tech giant to focus on a startup seeking a breakthrough in machine intelligence.
“As many of you have heard through rumors or recent media articles, I am planning to leave Meta after 12 years,” LeCun said in a post on his Facebook page.
“I am creating a startup company to continue the Advanced Machine Intelligence research program (AMI) I have been pursuing over the last several years with colleagues.”
The 65-year-old French engineer said the goal of the startup is to bring about “the next big revolution in AI” with systems that understand the physical world and can reason as well as plan actions.
A breakthrough in that area could pave the way for more capable AI-powered machines, such as robots that adapt to situations for which they are not programmed.
Meta will be a partner of the new company, according to LeCun.
LeCun spent 12 years leading the Facebook Artificial Intelligence Research (FAIR) lab at Meta, where chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has made the quest for “superintelligence” a priority.
Zuckerberg this year embarked on a major recruitment campaign to acquire talent for the tech titan’s AI efforts, poaching Scale AI co-founder Alexandr Wang and putting him in charge of a newly formed unit called Superintelligence Labs.
LeCun was placed under Alexandr Wang’s supervision in the unit, which was part of a strategic overhaul of Meta’s approach to AI.
Published – November 20, 2025 09:55 am IST
FILE PHOTO: xAI is in advanced talks to raise $15 billion in fresh equity at a valuation of $230 billion.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Elon Musk’s artificial-intelligence startup xAI is in advanced talks to raise $15 billion in fresh equity at a valuation of $230 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
The fundraising terms were outlined to investors by Musk’s wealth manager, Jared Birchall, on Tuesday night, the report said. It was not clear whether the valuation figure Birchall shared was pre- or post-money, the paper added.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Jared Birchall could not be immediately reached. XAI, in what seemed like an automated reply, said “Legacy Media Lies” in response to a Reuters request for comment.
The new valuation would more than double xAI’s $113 billion mark disclosed when it merged with Musk’s social-media platform X in March.
Musk last week dismissed as “false” a CNBC report claiming xAI was raising $15 billion in a Series E round valuing the firm at $200 billion. The startup has been rapidly scaling its data-centre footprint to train more advanced models as it tries to close the gap with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude. xAI, launched in July 2023 as a rival to OpenAI, is also investing heavily in infrastructure, including property in Memphis, Tennessee, for its planned Colossus supercomputer.
Musk has previously floated the idea of using Tesla to back xAI, and Tesla shareholders approved an investment in the startup earlier this month, though a large number abstained. Investor appetite for AI companies remains robust despite growing warnings of an AI bubble, fueled by soaring valuations and aggressive spending plans.
Published – November 20, 2025 10:05 am IST
The European Commission announced on Wednesday a major digital law reform that would ease certain requirements of its data protection regulation.
The aim is to reduce the proliferation of cookie consent banners that clutter websites across the internet.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into force across the EU in 2018, has fundamentally changed how companies handle personal data.
By requiring greater transparency about how data is collected and used, GDPR has reshaped online practices throughout the bloc.
An accompanying ePrivacy directive brought cookies into public view by requiring all platforms to obtain explicit consent before using them.
Cookies are the trackers that monitor users’ online behaviour, enabling companies to target them with personalised advertising.
Since the rise of artificial intelligence, the big tech companies have repeatedly expressed concerns that European regulations are too restrictive.
However, some companies have found ways to use European data. In April, Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, announced it would train its AI models on user data unless users specifically opt out.
The Commission has presented its proposals as an effort to simplify and clarify European digital law.
“A regulatory solution on the consent fatigue and the proliferation of cookies banners is long overdue.”
It said it also aims to “stimulate opportunities for a vibrant business environment, creating more legal certainty and opportunities, in particular in sharing and re-using data, in processing personal data or training Artificial Intelligence systems and models.”
The main aim of the proposed changes to the Commission’s ePrivacy directive is to reduce the number of systematic requests for cookie permission.
Under the new rules, consent would be centralised within GDPR itself. Users would be able to register their preferences directly in their browser or another application, eliminating the need for repeated pop-ups on every website they visit.
However, “considering the importance of online revenue streams for independent journalism”, news media companies would still be allowed to request consent directly from visitors to their sites.
The Commission is introducing a new legal basis for using personal data to train AI models.
By invoking “legitimate interest”, companies could feed their AI models during training or testing phases, provided they don’t override the “interests or fundamental rights and freedoms” of users.
Wednesday’s proposal includes other relaxations and simplifications of the current regulation.
For example, notifications about leaks of personal data would change. Companies would only need to alert authorities when the risk level reaches a higher threshold, and would be given more time to do so.
Several digital rights associations have come out strongly against the plan.
Austrian association Noyb blasted the proposed changes as “a gift to US big tech as they open up many new loopholes for their law departments to exploit”.
Last week, 127 European associations and organisations expressed concern at the move in a letter to the Commission.
“Unless the European Commission changes course, this would be the biggest rollback of digital fundamental rights in EU history,” the grouping said.
They said the GDPR was one of the few laws “that gives members of the public mechanisms to challenge powerful companies or authorities when they overstep”.
Published – November 20, 2025 10:07 am IST
FILE PHOTO: The EU’s General Court dismissed a request by Amazon to scrap its designation as a platform subject to stricter requirements under EU online content rules.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
The European Union’s General Court on Wednesday dismissed a request by Amazon to scrap its designation as a platform subject to stricter requirements under EU online content rules.
Amazon had contested the lawfulness of the provision in the EU’s Digital Services Act that specifies which online platforms are labeled as “very large”. Those companies are required to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content on their platforms.
The EU’s second-highest court said the EU was right in considering that marketplaces exceeding the threshold of 45 million users could be included in that group, as they too could pose a risk to society.
Amazon said it was disappointed in the ruling and that it intended to launch an appeal.
“The Very Large Online Platform status was designed to address systemic risks posed by very large companies with advertising as their primary revenue and that distribute speech and information,” it said in a statement.
“The Amazon Store, as an online marketplace, does not pose any such systemic risks; it only sells goods, and it doesn’t disseminate or amplify information, views or opinions.”
The court in its ruling, however, said the risks were posed by “disseminating illegal content or infringing fundamental rights, including consumer protection”, and said interference was justified.
“The obligations imposed on those platforms … are intended to prevent those risks, even if they entail significant financial burdens for those platforms,” it added
The court also dismissed all other arguments by the U.S online retail giant.
Published – November 20, 2025 10:16 am IST
FILE PHOTO: Suno said it has raised $250 million in a funding round led by Menlo Ventures, valuing the AI music company at $2.45 billion.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Suno said on Wednesday it has raised $250 million in a funding round led by Menlo Ventures, valuing the artificial intelligence music company at $2.45 billion, as it aims to develop more sophisticated tools for song creation.
The Massachusetts-based company allows users to generate songs via AI prompts, but has been caught in a copyright dispute with record labels such as Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group and Sony Music Group.
Suno’s series C funding round also saw participation from Nvidia’s venture capital arm NVentures, Hallwood Media, Lightspeed, and Matrix.
The music industry is seeing an increase in AI-generated songs which are hard to distinguish from human-made music. The trend was highlighted earlier this year when the AI band “The Velvet Sundown” had attracted one million Spotify listeners monthly.
The trend could reshape how platforms monetize songs and pay artists, while raising ethical and copyright concerns.
“In just two years, we’ve seen millions of people make their ideas a reality through Suno, from first-time creators to top songwriters and producers integrating the tool into their daily workflows,” Suno co-founder and CEO Mikey Shulman said.
Rising popularity of AI tools is drawing investor attention toward startups that can generate new content and revenue lines.
Last month, Universal Music Group settled a copyright case with another AI music company Udio. The two companies plan to launch an AI-powered music creation platform in 2026, using licensed music to train the tool.
Published – November 20, 2025 10:24 am IST
FILE PHOTO: Palo Alto Networks said it will buy cloud management and monitoring company Chronosphere for $3.35 billion, as the cybersecurity firm looks to strengthen its AI offerings.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Palo Alto Networks said on Wednesday it will buy cloud management and monitoring company Chronosphere for $3.35 billion, as the cybersecurity firm looks to strengthen its AI offerings.
The Santa Clara, California-based company plans to integrate Chronosphere with Cortex AgentiX platform, allowing use of its AI agents on the cloud management firm’s data to detect performance issues and autonomously investigate their root cause.
Palo Alto will pay the deal amount in cash and new equity to substitute old awards.
Shares of Palo Alto were down more than 3% after the bell.
Chronosphere’s price tag and announcing the acquisition before closing the CyberArk deal are likely weighing on the shares, DA Davidson analyst Rudy Kessinger said.
Palo Alto will pay nearly 21 times Chronosphere’s annual recurring revenue, which was more than $160 million as of the end of September 2025.
The company announced the acquisition of identity security firm CyberArk Software for about $25 billion in July. While CyberArk’s shareholders approved the acquisition last week, both the deals are expected to close in the second half of fiscal 2026.
Separately, Palo Alto raised its annual revenue and profit forecasts on expectations of a surge in demand for its cybersecurity solutions to tackle rising online threats.
For fiscal 2026, Palo Alto now sees revenue in the range of $10.50 billion to $10.54 billion, compared with its earlier outlook of $10.48 billion to $10.53 billion.
It expects annual adjusted profit per share of $3.80 to $3.90, higher than the $3.75 to $3.85 it had forecast earlier.
Cybersecurity spending has remained resilient, underpinned by threats from nation-state actors and increasingly sophisticated ransomware attacks, benefiting companies such as Palo Alto.
For the first quarter ended October 31, revenue grew 15.6% to $2.47 billion, largely in line with the average of analysts’ estimates, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Published – November 20, 2025 10:38 am IST