Nvidia has been talking about sovereign AI for years, but is finding that India’s cultural and economic diversity calls for a different approach.

Unlike in the US, truckloads of GPUs won’t drive the chipmaker’s expansion in India. Instead, the company plans to focus on software first, and deal with computing power  later. It’s betting on a data-first approach, with a localized AI plan customized for the diversity of demographics, cultures, and languages. 

Nvidia is also wooing India’s huge developer base by touting its open-source credentials and devising a localized AI plan that includes smaller language models adapted for the local energy and data center infrastructure. 

“The data that gets created here, when assembled together in an Indian stack, creates population scale stacks that citizens can enjoy and solve many of the mega challenges India faces, be it in education, healthcare, mobility,” said Vishal Dhupar, Nvidia’s managing director in South Asia.

The Indian government has specifically pointed out how it consumes AI differently than countries like the US. For example, farmers don’t need access to large language models (LLMs), and can solve problems with targeted, smaller models that run on low-power chips.

Nvidia’s plan for India’s sovereign IT efforts includes expanding open models such as Nemotrol and development tools to Indian developers. “Open models can supercharge sovereign AI, helping our developers reflect their own language, tradition and culture in everything we do,” Dhupar said.

Nvidia last year made it possible for developers to write CUDA programs using Python, which is popular in India. The code indirectly helps sell more Nvidia GPUs, because  developers writing CUDA code need its graphics chips to execute AI loads.

The company’s Blackwell-class GPUs are being installed in India data centers, although  the nation’s infrastructure isn’t as mature as in the US. But India has room for a post-GPU AI infrastructure environment, especially given power and resource constraints, which is why it is already preparing for a world of low-power chips and edge processing.

India’s IT minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, at last month’s World Economic Forum proposed jumping straight to lower power consumption chips that can run small language models. 

Vaishnaw’s rationale is that the smaller models will solve 95% of Indian users’ problems at a fraction of the cost. Moreover, the nation doesn’t want to fall prey to the AI bubble, in which the collapse of one overvalued AI company could hurt the economy.

Nvidia’s open-source Nemotron models have played a role in the development of some localized models, including the 17-billion-parameter BharatGen, which powers applications in public services, agriculture, security and cultural preservation, the company said.

Nvidia has also contributed to AI in India’s central digital payment system called United Payments Interface (UPI), which has been praised for its speed and efficiency. NPCI, which runs UPI, “is exploring training FiMi, a financial model for India, using the Nvidia Nemotron 3 Nano model and its own datasets,” Nvidia said in a statement.

Nvidia’s AI technology also has ties to the 8-billion parameter model Chariot, a multilingual communications platform, and Sarvam.ai, a multimodal AI platform for India-specific applications.

Beyond that, the company is working closely with India to help train the next generation of developers and elevate emerging startups. For example, it is collaborating with the Indian government’s Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to boost cutting-edge AI research across the nation’s leading academic institutions. 

The company will offer ANRF grantee institutions complimentary access to Nvidia AI Enterprise software and specialized technical mentorship through the Nvidia AI Technology Center. “The collaboration will also include AI bootcamps, workshops and hackathons to strengthen India’s AI research ecosystem,” an Nvidia spokeswoman said.

Yotta is putting 20,000 Nvidia Blackwell Ultra GPUs in its Shakti cloud, which is inline with India’s sovereign AI infrastructure plans. Larsen & Toubro and E2E Networks also announced plans to create new data centers with Nvidia GPUs. 

Nvidia has talked about its sovereign AI plans in Europe, which includes establishing GPU data centers and partnerships with telecom, software and industrial companies. Gartner recently said that European investments in sovereign IaaS could reach $12.6 billion in 2026, growing from $6.9 billion in 2025. 

Source:: Computer World

When it comes to hardware and services revenues, storage is Apple’s secret spell. Not only has iCloud storage become Apple’s most frequently paid-for service, but people are more often purchasing additional storage when acquiring new Apple hardware.

This is good business for the company and all it had to do to build that business was to sell world-class products everybody wants, while managing to remain notably stingy in the quantity of storage it offers inside both its devices and free online storage tier. 

So, what’s my evidence for these claims?

What’s the evidence to justify this?

They’re anecdotal, to some extent. Apple has always offered only 5GB of free iCloud storage, even back when 5GB was still too little but meant a lot more. It has always offered relatively low quantities of storage in its entry-level devices. People do complain about this, but the company still generates industry-leading consumer satisfaction figures despite those limitations. 

There is factual evidence to support these claims:

Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) tells us 70% of US Apple device purchasers pay for iCloud storage. This has been a consistent pattern for years and it really helps Apple generate additional services sales. Services currently generate around $100 billion in revenue for the company at around a 60% to 70% margin. (iCloud is estimated to account for  perhaps $10.4 billion of that.)

The researcher also tells us that 46% of all iPhone buyers upgraded from base storage to higher storage levels in the December 2025 quarter, up slightly on the previous year. (Apple increased the base storage with iPhone 17, likely for Apple Intelligence.) If you look at how the company sets up its pricing tiers, you’ll find how easy it makes additional storage costs appear. Why wouldn’t you spend an extra $100 for more space for your photos? CIRP believes storage tweaking means consumers pay up to 50% more than the base price for their selected iPhone as a result of making added storage decisions.

And don’t underestimate the role of Photos in Apple’s business. The company has worked hard to make the camera system on iPhones world class, even when compared to dedicated digital cameras. That’s attractive to customers, but also means you need a little more storage for all those images on your devices over time. Consumer addiction to taking pictures of friends, family, pets, and what they eat feeds the need for storage on Apple devices, one forgettable memory at a time.

Just as it does when it comes to developing its hardware, Apple takes a “whole widget” approach across its ecosystem. It thinks about how each piece of its vast ecosystem interacts with and can support every other piece. That means someone inside the company likely already has the data on the overall value of storage across the Apple enterprise. In short, storage has become a key profit lever, with Apple-managed storage scarcity stimulating storage demand.

Happy customers don’t mind too much

There’s nothing particularly wrong with that. Critics moaning about Apple’s famed low storage levels would only find something else to complain about if Apple loaded more storage inside its devices. There’s always going to be something that can be improved.

For Apple management, those complaints will be weighed against the company’s industry leading consumer satisfaction rankings. It tells Apple’s leaders that yes, while storage is clearly an issue to many people, it’s not enough of a problem to severely dent the value of the “Apple experience.”

There’s a lot of truth in that. After all, as long as everyone remains happy with the Apple products they own, the storage side-business Apple has managed to put together remains a fortunate revenue driver. It is, after all, still a choice and frugal customers can potentially survive without investing in additional device storage. But people keep paying for the upgrades. 

(In a statement following a successful defense against a 2024 lawsuit, the company said this: “Apple believes in providing our customers with choices. Our users are not required to use iCloud, and many rely on a wide range of third-party alternatives for data storage. In addition, we work hard to make data transfer as easy as possible — whether it’s to iCloud or another service.”)

In the end, Apple provides a tightly integrated ecosystem that delivers experiences that build customer loyalty while also generating strong revenues. Storage revenues help the company deliver both strong shareholder value while supporting high quality, high design tech products and services that provide compelling value to customers, most of whom seem happy with the exchange. If only every profitable business could achieve the same thing.

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolic’s bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe. Also, now on Mastodon.

Source:: Computer World

By Ana-Maria Stanciuc OpenAI is broadening how it helps large organizations put artificial intelligence into real use. The company announced a new initiative, Frontier Alliances, teaming up with four major consulting firms, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), McKinsey & Company, Accenture, and Capgemini, to help enterprises move beyond pilot AI projects and embed intelligent systems deeply into business workflows. […] This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

By Paulo Vargas Gen Z is hunting down old iPods on eBay and Marketplace. They want music without notifications, algorithms, or distraction. The click wheel is their digital detox.
The post Gen Z is fueling an iPod comeback appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source:: Digital Trends

By Ana-Maria Stanciuc In 2026, one of Europe’s most ambitious scientific ventures, Horizon Europe, a seven-year, roughly €93 billion framework dedicated to research and innovation, underwent a quiet but significant transformation.  What had once been an open invitation to researchers across the globe now carries a more guarded tenor.  In critical areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum […] This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

By Hisan Kidwai In 2026, everyone’s scrolling through Instagram’s reels, and the creator economy is booming like never before….
The post Best Time to Post on Instagram for Maximum Reach in 2026 appeared first on Fossbytes.

Source:: Fossbytes

By Adarsh Verma In today’s world, where more and more lives are online, social proof is very important. Things…
The post The Data Behind Social Proof: What Marketers Should Measure appeared first on Fossbytes.

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By Omair Khaliq Sultan This is the kind of deal that doesn’t need much overthinking. If you’ve been wanting a pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones from a brand you already trust, $99.99 is a very comfortable price to jump in. That’s $78.01 off the $178 comp value, and it puts Sony’s WH-CH720N in a range where they make a […] The post A sub-$100 Sony ANC headphone deal is hard to ignore appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source:: Digital Trends

By Deepti Pathak On 18 February 2026, Google introduced the Pixel 10a in India, positioning it as an affordable…
The post Google Pixel 10a Launched in India with Powerful AI Features appeared first on Fossbytes.

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By Veronika Furs A private premiere screening of “Holiguards Saga – The Portal of Force,” the pilot installment of the planned Holiguards Saga franchise, was held on February 16 at ASTOR Film Lounge Berlin. The event took place in a closed format with invited industry guests, partners, and media representatives. The screening was organized as a formal black-tie […] This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

The US Department of Defense is on a collision course with Anthropic, which may prove bad news for the AI company.  According to political website, The Hill, the DoD is currently examining the terms of its relationship.

The issue is that Anthropic is holding an ethical line on the use of its Claude model and wants to ensure that its tools are not used to develop weaponry that fires without human input and that they are not used for mass surveillance of Americans. 

But this has not been met with favor by the Pentagon. “The Department of War’s relationship with Anthropic is being reviewed. Our nation requires that our partners be willing to help our warfighters win in any fight. Ultimately, this is about our troops and the safety of the American people,” chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told The.

And it could get worse for Anthropic. According to Axios, the DoD is considering designating Anthropic a “supply chain risk” which could force other companies to shun Anthropic or lose out on defense contracts too. That would have a major impact on the company’s plans for growth.

Source:: Computer World

By Ana-Maria Stanciuc A growing number of startups are rushing to build software that thinks fast. But one of the hardest parts of teaching machines to improve isn’t raw computing power, it’s human insight at scale. Zurich-based startup Rapidata has just taken a significant step toward fixing that with a €7.2 million seed round aimed at scaling a […] This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

By Moinak Pal Apple’s upcoming smart glasses may include dual cameras, luxury materials and deep AI integration, positioning the device as a mainstream entry into ambient, wearable computing.
The post Apple’s upcoming smart glasses could get dual cameras and a touch of luxury appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source:: Digital Trends

By Pranob Mehrotra Amazfit has launched the T-Rex Ultra 2, a rugged 51mm smartwatch with offline global maps, six-satellite GPS support, and up to 30 days of battery life for extended off-grid adventures.
The post Amazfit’s new T-Rex Ultra 2 is built for your toughest outdoor adventures appeared first on Digital Trends.

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By Hisan Kidwai If you’ve recently travelled abroad, you know the huge checklist of things that need to be…
The post Holafly vs Airalo: Which eSIM Is Better in 2026? appeared first on Fossbytes.

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By Shikhar Mehrotra Google’s Pomelli Photoshoot uses AI to create studio-quality product images from simple photos, now available in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The post Google’s secret AI tool feels like a professional photoshoot powerhouse in your pocket appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source:: Digital Trends

By Varun Mirchandani Meta is shifting Horizon Worlds away from VR and focusing almost entirely on mobile to reach a much larger audience.
The post Metaverse just went mobile first, leaving VR behind appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source:: Digital Trends

By Omair Khaliq Sultan Headphones are one of those purchases you feel immediately. Commute gets quieter, focus gets easier, and travel becomes less tiring. The Sonos Ace are positioned as a premium over-ear option with active noise cancellation, and right now they’re $319.00, down from a $399.00 compared value, saving you $80. If you’ve been curious about Sonos’ take […] The post Sonos’ first headphones are finally priced closer to where they should be appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source:: Digital Trends

By Manisha Priyadarshini A breakthrough lens developed by researchers could slash the cost of thermal cameras, making heat-sensing technology practical for smartphones and cars, where high prices have long kept it out of reach.
The post This lens breakthrough could put utterly cheap thermal cameras in phones and cars appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source:: Digital Trends

Apple has published its official iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 adoption figures on its developer website. While they do show a slightly slower upgrade pace than in past years, it’s far from the dramatic falloff implied by StatCounter earlier this year following a change in how it gathered this information.

What are the latest adoption numbers?

The company says its numbers are based on iPhones and iPads that transacted on the App Store on Feb. 12, 2026. The statistics are more or less in line with those for previous years:

74% of all iPhones introduced in the last four years (since 2022) are running iOS 26.

66% of all iPhones are running iOS 26.

66% of all iPads introduced in the last four years are running iPadOS 26.

57% of all iPads are running iPadOS 26.

How do the numbers compare with previous years?

To compare, here are Apple’s iOS 18 adoption figures at around this time last year:

76% of all iPhones introduced in the last four years (since 2021 at that point) were running iOS 18.

68% of all iPhones were running iOS 18.

63% of all iPads introduced in the last four years were running iPadOS 18.

53% of all iPads were running iPadOS 18.

It is also worth noting that iPadOS adoption has increased, year-on-year. 

Focusing only on iPhones then, in 2024, 76% of all iPhones introduced in the last four years (2020) were running iOS 17. Earlier, by June 2023, iOS 16 had reached 90% of all iPhones introduced in the last four years (since 2019). That was up on the previous year (2022) when iPhones stood at 89% adoption, while in 2021 iOS 14 was installed on 81% of Apple smartphones introduced since 2017.

Why has adoption slowed — and has it really?

In other words, Apple’s adoption figures show a relatively consistent trend. And while adoption does seem to have slowed in comparison to some years, it’s simply not as dramatic as the StatCounter data suggested:

This could simply be a matter of scale, given there are millions more iPhone users than before — and millions more second-user devices that may not run the latest systems.

It might also reflect a change in people’s attitudes toward updates, and quite possibly reflects the fact that Apple is becoming more proactive at ensuring security updates are installed even without major point upgrades. The main thing is that people upgrade eventually. 

Apple has become a lot more iterative in its approach to updates; while it does ship compelling upgrades from time-to-time, it typically teases out big feature improvements along with each major point upgrade. This also means that eventually during the 12-month lifecycle of an OS version, Apple will ship an improvement that will finally motivate an otherwise reticent customer to upgrade. 

Apple Intelligence and Liquid Glass might have dented adoption, at least among those who expected more of the first and want less of the second. But Apple’s latest data suggests the impact of both things is far, far more limited than online social media would lead you to expect (which may sound familiar). Another factor is the rate and cadence at which the company introduces major updates seems slightly extended this year, likely reflecting the company’s wider product introduction plans, about which we’ll learn more in March.

Apple is not Android

So, has adoption of the latest Apple system upgrades slowed? Not significantly, and what deceleration does exist is easily explained by other completely acceptable factors. 

Of course, what’s most important isn’t so much the numbers themselves as the confidence they should give developers that Apple continues to convince hundreds of millions of people to upgrade to new operating systems relatively swiftly. That means developers can focus on the most recent versions rather than spending much energy supporting old ones.

Apple’s platforms are not like others, as you do not sacrifice millions of customers solely by focusing on the current operating system versions. That’s good for developers, good for customers, and if your business happens to be mobile, quite possibly good for you.

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolic’s bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe. Also, now on Mastodon.

Source:: Computer World