Weekly Tech Wrap: Budget 2024 Makes Smartphones Cheaper, Apple May Produce iPads In Tamil Nadu, More

Weekly Tech Wrap: From OpenAI coming up with its own Search platform to Meta introducing Llama 3.1, here are the biggest tech headlines from the week that was.

Weekly Tech Wrap: Union Budget announced a reduction in customs duty for mobile phones, making them cheaper. OpenAI walks into Google territory. Tamil Nadu may become an iPad production destination. The world of technology was dominated by these headlines in the week that was. Take a look.

Mobile Phones To Get Cheaper

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a reduction in basic customs duties (BCD) on several mobile-related components. This announcement was made during the presentation of the Union Budget 2024, marking her seventh consecutive budget presentation.

There will be a 15 per cent reduction in BCD on mobile phones, printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA), and mobile chargers. This reduction is expected to lower the overall cost of these products, making smartphones more accessible to a larger segment of the Indian population.

OpenAI Brings SearchGPT

OpenAI has launched SearchGPT, a new AI-based search engine designed to offer real-time access to internet information. This innovative platform aims to challenge major players like Google and Microsoft, as well as new AI search services, in the competitive search engine market.

The announcement, made on Thursday, revealed that SearchGPT is currently in its prototype stage, with a limited number of users and publishers testing the service. OpenAI plans to incorporate the most successful features of SearchGPT into its widely-used ChatGPT platform in the future.

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Meta AI Now Available In Hindi

Meta AI has launched its Llama 3-powered generative AI tool in Hindi, marking a significant step in breaking down language barriers. The AI tool now supports six additional languages, enhancing its global accessibility. This update is available across major platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.

The announcement was made by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, highlighting the company's commitment to expanding the virtual assistant's capabilities and improving user experience. This update brings Meta AI's availability to a total of 22 countries, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Cameroon.

iPad Production Could Start In Tamil Nadu

Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn, one of Apple’s primary contract manufacturer, is contemplating the production of iPads at its Sriperumbudur plant in Tamil Nadu. This potential move reflects India's increasing capability to support Apple's extensive supply chain.

Historically, Foxconn and other international manufacturers in India have focused on assembling Apple's iPhone models. However, an insider familiar with the matter has disclosed that Foxconn is seriously considering expanding its operations to include iPad assembly at the Tamil Nadu plant. This development marks a notable broadening of Foxconn's manufacturing activities within the country.

Meta Launches Llama 3.1

Meta has officially launched its latest artificial intelligence model, Llama 3.1, marking a significant milestone in the AI industry. Promoted as the most sophisticated open-source AI model available, Llama 3.1 is designed to compete with leading proprietary models from major AI companies.

Meta's announcement follows earlier hints about the development of an AI model with capabilities to rival the best in the market. The company asserts that Llama 3.1 outperforms competitors such as GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet on various performance metrics, solidifying its position as a formidable player in the AI landscape.

That’s it from the world of tech headlines this week. Stay tuned to this space for more top stories next week.

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