Top Tech News Today: 40 Homegrown, International Firms Sign Up For PLI 2.0, iPhone 15 Models To Be Lighter, More

Forty top international laptop and personal computer manufacturers have applied for the government's production linked investment (PLI) 2.0 scheme for IT hardware.

The government approved the PLI scheme 2.0 for IT hardware with a budgetary outlay of Rs 17,000 crore.

40 Homegrown, International Companies Sign Up For PLI 2.0

Forty top international laptop and personal computer manufacturers have applied for the government's production linked investment (PLI) 2.0 scheme for IT hardware. According to the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), 40 domestic and international firms are among the applicants under PLI 2.0. The government approved the PLI scheme 2.0 for IT hardware with a budgetary outlay of Rs 17,000 crore in May, with an aim to give a push to domestic manufacturing of laptops, PCs and ultra-small devices.

Apple iPhone 15 Models Will Be Lighter

In line with previous reports, the upcoming iPhone 15 lineup will be lighter than its predecessors, famed Apple analyst Ming Chi-Kuo of TF International Securities has said. In a post on Medium, Kuo wrote that the titanium frame on the iPhone 15 series should contribute to weight reduction. He also mentioned that the iPhone 15 Pro Max model, which is said to get the biggest upgrades, is running behind production schedule. The Pro Max project was the last to kick off, so the mass production schedule lags behind other models, Kuo noted. Apple on Tuesday sent invites for the iPhone 15 series launch and the big event is set to take place on September 12 at 10am PT or 10:30pm IST.

X Is Getting Audio, Video Calls For Android, iOS: Elon Musk

Days after company CEO Linda Yaccarino said that X would be getting a video calling feature, Elon Musk on Thursday announced that audio and video call features will be added to the platform soon. The video and audio calling feature on X, formerly Twitter will work on platforms including Android, iOS, PCs and Macs. The feature will not require a phone number to make audio and video calls.

Google Pixel 8 Series Launch Date Out

In line with previous leaks and rumours, the Google Pixel 8 series will be launched soon after the unveiling of the Apple iPhone 15 lineup. Google has announced that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will be launched on October 4. The tech giant mentioned, in a video advertisement posted on X, formerly Twitter, that "big fall launches are stressful" but Pixel helps its friend stay cool as a cucumber. A Pixel device can be seen with a cucumber glued to its body along with a purported iPhone in the video ad. The Pixel 8 lineup may comprise a vanilla Pixel 8 and a pricier and better-specced Pixel 8 Pro.

BGMI-Maker Krafton Set To Release New Multiplayer Later This Year

Krafton, the South Korea-based developer of popular battle royale Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), is set to launch a brand new game by the end of this year. During a media meeting on Thursday, Krafton India CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn confirmed that the upcoming game will be a mobile-based multiplayer, but refrained from offering further details. Additionally, AI will continue to play a strong role in the company’s roadmap, both in terms of behind-the-scenes development and end products for gamers. 

OpenAI Set To Generate $1 Billion In Revenue In Over 12 Months

OpenAI, the creator of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT, is likely to generate over $1 billion in revenue in the next 12 months, says a report by The Information. The Microsoft-backed company is on track to create this revenue via selling AI software and computing capacity that powers it. Besides the viral chatbot ChatGPT, the company makes money by selling API access to its AI models for developers and enterprises directly and through a partnership with Microsoft, which invested over $10 billion into the company in January.