Musk's X denies French allegations of fraudulent data extraction, algorithm abuse
's social
media platform
X
said on Monday it denied all allegations made by French authorities over manipulation of its
algorithm
and "fraudulent data extraction," adding that it has not acceded to the demands made in a French criminal
investigation
.
"French authorities have requested access to X's recommendation algorithm and real-time data about all user posts on the platform in order for several "experts" to analyze the data and purportedly "uncover the truth" about the operation of the X platform," X said, adding that they denied the demands since they "have a legal right to do."
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Time of India
12 minutes ago
- Time of India
Tesla's California cool aura faces big test on Indian terrain
As Tesla gears up for its next showroom unveiling, this time in Delhi following the recent Mumbai debut, it is clear that the brand remains a big draw despite its limited numbers and high price tag. This was more than evident from the media hysteria accompanying the Mumbai event which dominated the headlines through the day. 'Tesla is a much admired brand, not just in India but all over the world. In India, it is always seen as a cool brand given the fact that it is very popular with the Silicon Valley IT crowd and the budding tech millionaires in India also want to own one. So do the stock brokers and equity traders.' says Ambi Parameswaran , noted brand strategist and author. Observers believe the charm lies in its disruption. On US roads, a Tesla is as common as a Toyota Camry and yet it still carries the sheen of Silicon Valley sophistication. It represents something far beyond transportation. In India, this halo still exists, albeit dimmed by sticker shock. According to Sandeep Goyal, Chairman, Rediffusion, 'More than anything else, it is the badge value. To be one amongst your social and work group to own a Tesla gives you bragging rights - the glow of that social esteem is incomparable!' Diminishing aura The fact that the company has lost its aura in recent times thanks to competition from Chinese carmakers, especially BYD, could be of little consequence to buyers in India. Many are also aware that the electric movement is already underway here thanks to local brands which have thrown their hats into the ring. 'Maybe the Indian-made cars from Tata and Mahindra may be better, or BYD may be better, but Tesla has the California cool aura, so there will be a long waiting list,' says Parameswaran. Vinay Raghunath, Partner, Automotive and Mobility Sector Leader, EY India, echoes these sentiments. 'Tesla's arrival marks a milestone in India's electric mobility journey. It will elevate consumer awareness, set benchmarks in connected and autonomous mobility, and prompt OEMs and ecosystem players to invest and innovate.' Tesla is also about the charisma of its CEO, Elon Musk, who has a huge fan following among India's young techies who almost revere him. This kind of hero worship may not resonate across the US and Europe where the Tesla chief has faced a lot of heat in recent times. The Elon Musk factor He has also had a publicised falling out with US President, Donald Trump, and subsequently exited the White House administration. Musk has raised the hackles of many people in the West with his provocative comments but India could not care less. 'Tesla is an Elon Musk statement. It is a statement of futuristics married to technology. Therefore, Indians love the Tesla story,' reiterates Harish Bijoor, Business & Brand Strategy Expert, Founder – Harish Bijoor Consults Inc. Perhaps, this may not be entirely true, argues V.G. Ramakrishnan, Managing Partner, Avanteum Advisors LLP. 'Tesla's aura in India has faded slightly from five years ago. Back then, it was the ultimate symbol of aspiration. Today, some of that sheen has worn of partly due to its pricing, Musk's polarising leadership and partly because American brands have struggled to localise in India. Apple is the exception; most others—Coke, Pepsi, Domino's—had to adapt to survive.' High levies In its turn, the company cannot ignore India either even while there have been constant cribs about the high import duty levels prevalent here. The Model Y shipped from Shanghai will, consequently, cost a bomb at over INR 60 lakh and it remains to be seen if this will still attract customers by the droves to Tesla showrooms. The price tag immediately sparked a wave of memes online, with some branding the vehicle 'TAX‑LA.' On offer is the base Autopilot suite (Level 2 ADAS), while Tesla's full self-driving (FSD) package—currently restricted by Indian regulation—remains off-limits. Yet, this is of little consequence when the top priority is to test the waters here. "Tesla or for that matter any other brand in the world of auto cannot ever ignore India. India is just too big to ignore. We host the largest number of potential consumers in the world, a wee bit of a notch above China as well. India is a "never mind the price" market at the top of the pyramid hierarchy of auto. This fact is scented by Tesla,' says Bijoor. Gauging market response The market response will also give the carmaker a better idea of its longterm business plan and if it makes sense to manufacture in India. Tesla's India debut has been long in the making—delayed by red tape, regulatory uncertainty, and Musk's well-documented standoff with India's high import duties. "In many ways, Tesla delayed an Indian entry as far as possible till friendly tariffs fell into place. This is just yet to happen, but might just. Tesla does pack charm. Its charm is in its differentiation,' continues Bijoor. While no 'friendly tariff' resolution is yet in place, Tesla has decided to test the waters. And true to its style, it arrives not as a mass-market disruptor, but as a high-end provocateur. It's no secret that the Centre tweaked its electric vehicle policy to suit Tesla except that the company was in no mood to bite the bait. Whether the India-US trade pact will offer import duty concessions is also a moot point since there is now no love lost between Trump and Musk. Tesla's influence is catalytic, rather than competitive—at least for now. With luxury EVs forming just 4 per cent of the 1.5–1.6 lakh EVs sold in the first half of FY25 (roughly 5,000–6,000 units), Tesla's positioning is elite, aspirational, and niche. It does not rival Tata, MG or Mahindra on volumes but its arrival will compel everyone, from automakers to policymakers, to look up and take notice. To what extent this attention or adulation will translate into sales remains to be seen.
Mint
12 minutes ago
- Mint
Apple needs to leave its ‘comfort zone' on AI. Elon Musk could help.
Apple's struggles with artificial intelligence are becoming critical. It needs to do something big to be a real player in that area, and a partnership with Elon Musk's xAI could be the ticket required, according to Melius Research. Apple has repeatedly delayed promised AI updates to Siri, its digital assistant. That has undercut hopes that such an upgrade could revive growth in iPhone revenue, which has stagnated since hitting $205 billion in Apple's fiscal 2022. Apple shares were down 16% this year as of Friday's close. The prospect that Apple will be able to deliver an impressive AI-enabled iPhone on its own is becoming more remote. The company recently lost one of its top AI researchers—Ruoming Pang, who led its machine-learning foundation model team—to Meta Platforms, according to The Wall Street Journal. That means the focus is on Apple's potential to strike a deal with an external AI partner. Melius's Ben Reitzes says Elon Musk's xAI could be the ally it needs. 'Apple could provide xAI with the users it needs to top [ChatGPT developer] OpenAI in return for giving Apple all the benefits of owning an LLM [large language model] without the capex," wrote Reitzes in a research note on Monday. Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Barron's on its AI plans. Any AI deal that Apple strikes with a third party risks its lucrative relationship with Alphabet's Google, in which the iPhone marker receives a percentage of the ad revenue from searches on its devices. The arrangement, which makes Google the default search engine on Apple devices, led to a $20 billion payment from Google to Apple in 2022, according to court filings. However, the Google-Apple deal is already at risk, with a judge currently considering potential curbs on the search-engine company after ruling last year in an antitrust lawsuit brought by the Justice Department that it had acted as a monopolist. That could make the time ripe to look elsewhere. A deal offering Apple a cut of subscriptions to xAI's products could offset a loss of revenue from the Google deal. One drawback of a partnership with xAI would be to leave Apple dependent on an external partner and a controversial one at that, with xAI's Grok chatbot having recently published a number of antisemitic posts. The company subsequently removed the posts and said they were the result of unauthorized changes made to the chatbot. Apple's preference for tight control over its platforms could mean it prefers to buy an AI provider. The search specialist Perplexity is a potential target frequently mentioned by analysts. Acquiring Perplexity could cost Apple more than $20 billion, considering its latest valuation of around $18 billion, but would likely still boost its shares, according to Reitzes. The Melius analyst calculates that if 100 million Apple users bought Perplexity's Pro Tier subscription at $200 a year, that would completely cancel out the potential loss of Google payments. 'Tim Cook and his team are likely to be rewarded for thinking bolder to accelerate Apple's AI push, even if they have to step out of their comfort zone," Reitzes wrote. News Corp, the owner of Barron's publisher Dow Jones, has sued Perplexity, alleging copyright infringement. News Corp also signed a multiyear partnership with OpenAI in March 2024. The stock was up 1.3% at $213.97 in early trading. Reitzes has a Buy rating and $240 target price on the stock. Write to Adam Clark at
NDTV
28 minutes ago
- NDTV
Renault Triber Facelift Launching Tomorrow With New Logo: Full Details
Renault India is all set to revamp its line-up. While it should have happened much earlier, the brand is doing it rather boldly. The French carmaker will launch the facelifted avatar of its most affordable 7-seater MPV - Renault Triber, in the country tomorrow. The Triber is a practical machine, but was starting to show its age. We expect it to come with rather bold lines with this mid-cycle update. A new teaser of the upcoming Renault Triber has also been released, which showcases a fresh-new Renault logo. Following the Triber, this logo will be seen on all the upcoming models of the brand, including the new Duster, Boreal, Kwid EV, and more. The new logo marks a significant milestone in the company's efforts to transform its brand in India under the 'renault. rethink.' brand transformation. However, the new logo is already part of Renault India marketing campaigns and other assets strategy. Also, the New Visual Identity reflects Renault's transformation into a modern, human-centric, and tech-forward brand. The redesigned logo - a minimalist, interlocked diamond - symbolizes clarity, connection, and continuity, aligning with the brand's global direction and digital-first approach. In fact, the updated logo is already being implemented across all physical touchpoints in India, including dealerships, offices, the manufacturing facility, and the R&D centre. Also Read - Renault Announces Stephane Deblaise As CEO For India Talking of the Triber, it is expected to come with the same powertrain, comprising a 1.0L 3-pot petrol motor, which can be paired to either a 5-speed MT or an AMT. A similar configuration is also available on the Nissan Magnite and belts out a peak power output of 72 Hp along with a rated torque output of 96 Nm.
