AI's power drive is fuelling a green boom
Hyperscale data centres are consuming increasing amounts of electricity and water. In 2024, Google's power use surged 27% to 32 TWh. With consistent 25% annual power growth, Google, Microsoft, and Meta face rising Scope 3 emissions. However, this surge is also accelerating their investments in clean and sustainable energy solutions.
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Tech Wrap July 8: OnePlus Nord series, Google AI Mode, Samsung One UI 8
OnePlus Nord 5 series launched. Google AI Mode in Search launched in India. Samsung to release Android 16-based One UI 8. Apple releases iOS 26 dev beta 3. PUBG confirms user-generated content for PC Tech Wrap July 8 BS Tech New Delhi Listen to This Article OnePlus Nord 5, Nord CE5 and Buds 4 launched in India OnePlus officially introduced its Nord 5 and Nord CE5 smartphones in India on July 8. The Nord 5 comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, while the Nord CE5 (Core Edition) runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex. Both models are equipped with on-device AI capabilities and integrated support for Gemini. Alongside these smartphones, the company also launched the OnePlus Buds 4 wireless earphones. These budget-friendly earbuds offer premium features, such as active noise cancellation. Google has commenced the rollout of its AI-driven search experience, 'AI Mode in Search,' for Indian users. Previously a limited experiment within Search Labs, this functionality is now generally accessible via the Google app without any need for additional sign-ups. According to Google, the expansion follows a 'positive' reception during testing. Samsung has stated that the new Android 16-based One UI 8 will be introduced alongside its upcoming Galaxy smartphones. The announcement highlights a range of enhanced privacy and security measures, including improved protection for on-device AI, threat detection across devices, and quantum-resistant encryption for better network safety. Apple has unveiled the third developer beta of iOS 26 for compatible iPhone models. This build includes enhancements to the Liquid Glass interface and introduces new wallpaper choices. The update has arrived just days before the expected release of the first public beta of iOS 26, which is anticipated later this month. Krafton has revealed that the next PUBG: Battlegrounds update (v36.2) will allow players to create their own custom gameplay experiences. With the introduction of the PUBG UGC Alpha programme, users will be able to design unique modes using custom logic, rules, and world-building elements—marking a shift from traditional battle royale gameplay. Elon Musk announced that Grok 4, the latest version of the AI language model from his startup xAI, will be launched on July 9. He shared the news in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating: 'Grok 4 release livestream on Wednesday at 8pm PT @xAI.' As part of its 9th anniversary celebrations, Pokémon GO developer Niantic has shared a new piece of artwork that offers insight into the game's future direction. Beyond marking the milestone, the illustration hints at new features, debuting Pokémon, and upcoming gameplay mechanics. A report from Eurogamer highlights elements such as Paradox Pokémon, Gigantamax forms, and potential support for remote trading. Two upcoming additions may be on the way for Apple Maps with the iOS 26 update: natural language-based search and thermal control during navigation. As reported by 9to5Mac, these features were found in beta code, indicating a possible release in a future software update. The Destiny franchise is branching into mobile gaming with the launch of its first smartphone-based title, a sci-fi RPG shooter, expected on Android and iOS in August. Chinese developer NetEase Games disclosed the release window alongside a new trailer showcasing missions, PvP, PvE, and other in-game features. Garena has launched registration for 'TEZ Free Fire Max India Cup 2025 (TEZ FFMIC),' bringing the competition back to India after a three-year hiatus following the original game's ban in 2022. This year's event will offer a prize pool of ₹1 crore and will be hosted in multiple stages, giving players a chance to compete and display their gaming skills. The OnePlus Nord 5 comes close to delivering a flagship experience in key areas. Equipped with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor, a crisp 144Hz screen, and a large 6800mAh battery, the phone excels in multitasking, gaming, and battery life. Notably, the flagship AI features from OnePlus have made their way to the Nord line, including AI Call Assistant, the Translate app, and AI Plus Mind. However, the camera—especially in low light and portrait shots—still has room for improvement, where some mid-range rivals now perform better. The OnePlus Nord CE 5 offers solid everyday performance with a vibrant AMOLED display, clean and responsive UI, strong battery life, and helpful built-in AI tools. It gets the basics right, making it a reliable daily driver. However, the plastic back feels less premium, the cameras are average, and the phone tends to heat up under pressure. Audio is loud but limited to a single speaker, and the absence of stereo sound or an alert slider might be a drawback for some. Overall, it's a well-balanced mid-range phone, though users seeking better cameras or design may consider the Nord 5 or other alternatives. The Nothing Headphone 1 impresses with its retro cassette-inspired design and strong performance. Featuring tactile physical controls, the headphones provide a stable user experience. The sound is clean and well-balanced, with customization available via the Nothing X app. Features like spatial audio, head tracking, and solid ANC make them suitable for both casual and serious listeners. Battery life is another strong suit, especially for frequent commuters. Apple has reportedly lost its leading executive in charge of AI models to Meta. Ruoming Pang, who was overseeing Apple's foundation models team, is leaving to join Meta's new superintelligence unit. Pang joined Apple from Alphabet in 2021 and is the latest high-profile AI expert to join Meta's expanding efforts in this domain. Jack Dorsey, former CEO of Twitter, has launched Bitchat, a peer-to-peer messaging app that functions without the internet. Operating solely via Bluetooth, Bitchat eliminates the need for servers, phone numbers, or email addresses. As reported by CNBC, it stands in contrast to centralized apps like WhatsApp, offering no accounts, data collection, or identifiers.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
From Celeb Style to Closet Staples: How Gen Z Is Using AI to Curate Personal Fashion
Gen Z is turning to AI to remix celebrity looks, personalise everyday style, and make smarter wardrobe choices. For a generation fluent in scrolling, saving, and screenshotting, the next frontier of fashion is digital and increasingly, AI-assisted. Gen Z and millennials are embracing artificial intelligence not just to follow trends, but to refine their personal style, remix their wardrobes, and make more mindful fashion choices. Celebrity fashion remains a key influence. From designer campaigns to off-duty looks, high-profile outfits often serve as starting points for everyday inspiration. But for many young people today, it's less about replication and more about reinterpretation, adapting the vibe of a look into something wearable, practical, and uniquely theirs. That's where AI comes in. AI assistants are helping bridge the gap between inspiration and execution. For instance, a simple prompt to Microsoft Copilot like 'brunch outfit inspired by Alia Bhatt" or 'monochrome airport style, budget under ₹3000" can generate personalised suggestions that match the occasion, price range, and even what the user already owns. One of the most interesting shifts AI is enabling is the discovery of personal style. Rather than chasing the next trend cycle, many are feeding in real wardrobe pieces—say, a white shirt, printed pants, or a pair of Kolhapuri sandals and asking Copilot to suggest fresh outfit combinations. A prompt like 'ways to style my cotton co-ord set for work and dinner" might surface minimalist, boho, and Indo-western looks that feel fresh without requiring a new purchase. For those navigating dress codes at work or college, AI also offers practical value. It can help strike the balance between looking polished and staying true to personal style, suggesting outfit variations that meet professional expectations without feeling generic. That could mean styling a blazer with wide-leg trousers one day and pairing it with a cotton sari the next. These AI-generated remixes are also encouraging people to get more out of what they already own. By offering fresh ways to combine pre-owned pieces, AI tools make it easier to reimagine existing wardrobes for different occasions and moods. And when a new purchase is needed, they can help refine the search—suggesting silhouettes, colours, or styles that work well with what's already in rotation. Microsoft Copilot, for instance, can interpret prompts like '5-day packing list for Goa in the monsoon" or 'Zendaya-inspired festive look using pieces I already have." It can yield outfit ideas, smart layering options, and seasonal styling tips aligned with your needs. The tool's ability to integrate with documents, calendars, and stored images makes it even more intuitive, allowing fashion decisions to be made in the flow of everyday life. This move toward AI-assisted styling reflects a broader Gen Z mindset—one that prioritises self-expression, digital ease, and conscious choices. Celebrity looks may still spark inspiration, but shoppers want to remix, repurpose, and personalise that inspiration in ways that feel authentic. The result? Fashion becomes more expressive, more intentional, and more efficient. AI helps decode trends, personalise them, and make them relevant—not just aesthetically, but practically. And as style becomes less about fitting in and more about standing out, AI is helping a new generation own their look, their way.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
AI needs to be smaller, reduce energy footprint: Study
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills The potential of artificial intelligence is immense -- but its equally vast energy consumption needs curbing, with asking shorter questions one way to achieve, said a UNESCO study unveiled Tuesday.A combination of shorter queries and using more specific models and could cut AI energy consumption by up to 90% without sacrificing performance, said UNESCO in a report published to mark the AI for Good global summit in CEO Sam Altman recently revealed that each request sent to its popular generative AI app ChatGPT consumes on average 0.34 Wh of electricity, which is between 10 and 70 times a Google ChatGPT receiving around a billion requests per day that amounts to 310 GWh annually, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of three million people in Ethiopia, for UNESCO calculated that AI energy demand is doubling every 100 days as generative AI tools become embedded in everyday life."The exponential growth in computational power needed to run these models is placing increasing strain on global energy systems, water resources, and critical minerals, raising concerns about environmental sustainability, equitable access, and competition over limited resources," the UNESCO report it was able to achieve a nearly 90 percent reduction in electricity usage by reducing the length of its query, or prompt, as well as by using a smaller AI, without a drop in AI models like ChatGPT are general-purpose models designed to respond on a wide variety of topics, meaning that it must sift through an immense volume of information to formulate and evaluate use of smaller, specialised AI models offers major reductions in electricity needed to produce a did cutting the cutting prompts from 300 to 150 already aware of the energy issue, tech giants all now offer miniature versions with fewer parameters of their respective large language example, Google sells Gemma, Microsoft has Phi-3, and OpenAI has GPT-4o mini. French AI companies have done likewise, for instance, Mistral AI has introduced its model Ministral.
