Meta, Microsoft plan job cuts, buyouts that may affect up to 23,000 roles

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 24, 2026 | Technology

By Kurt Wagner and Brody Ford

Meta Platforms Inc. and Microsoft Corp. are planning cuts or announcing buyouts that could affect as many as 23,000 jobs, part of an effort to streamline operations and offset heavy spending on artificial intelligence.

Meta told personnel in an internal memo on Thursday that it planned to cut 10 per cent of workers, or roughly 8,000 employees, starting on May 20. The social-media company also said it wouldn’t fill 6,000 open roles.

Earlier in the day, Microsoft issued its own memo offering voluntary buyouts to thousands of its US employees. About 7 per cent of the US workforce will be eligible for the buyouts, according to a person familiar with the planning. The company has never previously done buyouts of this scale, said the person, who requested anonymity to discuss an internal matter.

Microsoft had 125,000 employees in the US as of June 2025. That would make about 8,750 workers eligible for the program.

Big tech companies have been looking for ways to trim their expenses as they pour billions into data centers and other infrastructure to meet demand for artificial intelligence services.

Record Spending

Microsoft is racing to construct data centers around the world and this month announced new AI investments in Japan and Australia. Meta, meanwhile, has projected record capital expenditures this year and has announced several multibillion-dollar deals with AI partners over the past few months. Both companies have instituted several rounds of layoffs in recent years.

Meta alluded to its AI spending in the memo, which was written by Janelle Gale, chief people officer. “We’re doing this as part of our continued effort to run the company more efficiently and to allow us to offset the other investments we’re making,” she wrote in the note, which was reviewed by Bloomberg.

Meta employees have spent much of the year fretting about job cuts, which already hit the Reality Labs division and other teams. Gale said that the company was announcing the layoffs early since details of the plan had already leaked. Reuters first reported on Meta’s planned workforce reductions earlier this month.

“I know this is unwelcome news and confirming this puts everyone in an uneasy state, but we feel this is the best path forward, given the circumstances,” Gale wrote.

Microsoft’s buyout program is being offered to workers whose years of service plus their age totals 70 or more, excluding some senior roles or those on sales incentive plans, according to the memo from Chief People Officer Amy Coleman.

“I’ve never seen the company move with this level of urgency and pace, and I see the intensity and agility you bring every day,” Coleman wrote in the memo, which was reviewed by Bloomberg. “To sustain this pace, we have to stay focused on doing great work, trusting and empowering our managers and simplifying to support everyone.”

Both companies are scheduled to report quarterly earnings on April 29.

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Gemini-powered Siri arrives in 2026: Can Apple catch up to Android AI?

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 23, 2026 | Technology

Apple is set to roll out a revamped Siri powered by Google’s Gemini models later this year. The update, confirmed by Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian at Google Cloud Next 2026 on April 22, builds on an earlier joint announcement by Google and Apple that Gemini would support future Apple Intelligence features.

While the move signals a shift in Apple’s AI strategy, the larger question remains: can this new Siri help Apple catch up with Android in the AI race?

For years, Apple has focused on privacy, on-device processing, and tight ecosystem control. That approach remains, but the inclusion of Google’s models suggests a stronger push towards capability and competitiveness, particularly in areas where rivals have moved faster.

What Gemini-powered Siri is expected to bring

Apple first outlined its AI direction for Siri at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024. The upcoming version is expected to build on that vision and deliver a more integrated experience.

At the core is context awareness. Siri is expected to understand what is on screen, track activity across apps, and suggest relevant actions. This marks a shift from command-based interaction to a more situational model.

Cross-app functionality is another key upgrade. Instead of manually switching between apps, users should be able to issue natural requests that span multiple applications, combining actions into a single workflow.

Voice interaction is also expected to become more conversational. Users may be able to interrupt, refine queries, and engage in a more fluid exchange, similar to current AI systems on Android.

Apple is also expected to expand multimodal capabilities, allowing Siri to process visual inputs alongside text and voice.

Together, these upgrades point towards a system where AI acts as a continuous layer across the device, rather than a set of isolated features.

What Apple Intelligence offers today

Apple Intelligence already includes several AI-driven features:

Writing tools and text summarisation

Notification summaries

Contextual understanding within Apple apps

Integration across services such as Photos, Messages, and Notes

Apple’s approach remains privacy-first. Much of the processing happens on-device or within controlled cloud environments, differentiating it from more cloud-heavy models used by competitors.

There is also flexibility in some cases. Users can route certain queries to external models such as ChatGPT.

However, many advanced capabilities demonstrated by Apple remain:

Limited in scope

Inconsistently available

Part of a phased rollout

This creates a gap between what Apple has shown and what users currently experience.

Where Android stands today

Android already offers a more mature, system-level AI experience, particularly on Pixel devices.

Features such as contextual understanding, real-time summarisation, conversational voice interaction, and cross-app workflows are integrated into daily use rather than appearing as standalone tools.

Long-standing capabilities like call screening, spam filtering, live transcription, and structured summaries have evolved into standard expectations.

Beyond Google, other Android brands are also expanding AI capabilities:

OPPO and OnePlus offer AI Mind Space for capturing and recalling information

Nothing provides Essential Space for idea capture

Samsung supports multiple AI assistants, including Bixby and Perplexity

These layers extend Android’s AI ecosystem beyond Google’s own implementation.

The deeper gap: Execution, not features

At a high level, both platforms are moving towards similar capabilities:

Context-aware assistants

Cross-app workflows

Conversational AI

Multimodal understanding

However, the difference lies in execution.

On Android:

Features are already deployed

They are integrated into everyday workflows

They appear consistently and proactively

On Apple devices

The foundation is in place

The approach is more controlled and privacy-focused

The full experience is still evolving

There is also a philosophical divide. Android tends to be more proactive, surfacing suggestions even without user input. Apple remains more restrained, prioritising control and predictability.

The reality in 2026

Android, led by Google’s Gemini integration and supported by multiple manufacturers, currently offers a more continuous AI experience.

Apple’s implementation is evolving, but remains more measured and privacy-centric.

The partnership with Google reflects a shift. It signals that Apple is willing to rely on external models to strengthen its AI capabilities.

The AI race is no longer about feature count. It is about how seamlessly those features work in everyday use.

What happens next

A Gemini-powered Siri could narrow the gap. But matching Android will require more than improved capabilities.

Apple will need to match:

Consistency across apps and tasks

Frequency of AI interaction in daily use

Depth of ecosystem integration

The challenge is not just Google. It is the broader Android ecosystem that has already embedded AI deeply into user experience.

Siri’s overhaul may bring Apple closer. But catching up will depend on how quickly those capabilities translate into everyday use.

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With Workspace Intelligence, Google adds AI tools to Sheets, Meet, Chrome

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 23, 2026 | Technology

Google has announced a fresh set of updates for its Workspace platform at the Cloud Next 2026 event, focusing on AI and automation. The new features include interactive dashboards in Sheets, automated meeting summaries in Meet and AI-powered task handling through Gemini. These additions aim to simplify everyday work and improve productivity across apps like Sheets, Meet, Chrome and Gemini.

At the centre of these updates is a system called Workspace Intelligence, which the company said is designed to bring together user data, projects and collaborations across apps into a unified view. According to Google, it can analyse relationships between files, emails and workflows to deliver more useful outputs.

Key updates across Workspace apps

One of the major additions is an upgrade to Sheets. Users can now import data from third-party platforms like HubSpot and Salesforce and create interactive dashboards, heat maps and other visual tools directly within Sheets. These are designed to act like small apps built on top of existing data.

Google is also introducing “skills” in Workspace, which allow users to automate repetitive tasks. For example, a skill can review invoices and detect errors by comparing them with records, reducing manual effort. These can be created and shared across teams.

AI in meetings, videos and browsing

Google Meet is getting expanded AI support with its “Take Notes for Me” feature. It can now generate summaries and action points from meetings, even if they are held offline or on other platforms like Zoom or Teams.

In Google Vids, new AI avatars can be used to create videos with custom branding. These avatars can appear in presentations and support multiple languages, making it easier to produce content without traditional video setups.

Google is also adding auto-browsing capabilities in Chrome Enterprise. This allows AI to complete multi-step tasks across websites and apps while keeping enterprise-level security controls in place.

More control and integrations

The company is introducing new tools for developers and businesses, including a Workspace MCP Server that allows AI apps to connect with Workspace data securely. There are also new governance controls to monitor how AI agents access data. For organisations with strict data requirements, Google is adding options to store and process data in specific regions, along with client-side encryption for added security.

Migration and future direction

The company said that migrating from Microsoft 365 to Workspace is now up to five times faster with a new data import service built into the admin console to move emails, files and conversations. It also added that improved interoperability features, such as Office file editing in Gmail and AI-powered tools, will help teams work more smoothly with users who still rely on Microsoft Office apps.

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X introduces Grok AI-powered 'Custom Timelines' for personalised feeds

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 23, 2026 | Technology

X has announced a new feature called Custom Timelines, which allows users to pin specific topics directly to their home feed. The feature uses Grok, X’s AI chatbot, to curate posts based on selected interests. According to the company, the feature gives users more control over what they see on the platform by focusing on topics they care about. It is currently rolling out in early access to Premium subscribers on iOS, with Android support expected soon. The update marks a shift in how content is organised on X, moving towards more personalised and topic-based feeds rather than a single mixed timeline.

What are Custom Timelines?

Custom Timelines let users choose and pin topics to their home tab, making it easier to follow specific interests. The company stated that the feature supports more than 75 topics, allowing users to explore niche areas such as sports, technology or entertainment in a more focused way.

Instead of scrolling through a general feed, users can switch to a timeline dedicated to a single topic. This means posts shown in that timeline will be filtered and prioritised based on the selected interest.

Nikita Bier, head of product at X, said, “This was a huge undertaking across many months, so we’re excited for you to take it for a spin.” The company describes the feature as the result of several months of development.

How it works

The feature is powered by Grok, which analyses posts across the platform and combines that with X’s recommendation system. According to the company, this helps create a personalised timeline tailored to each user’s activity and preferences.

The system is expected to work better for topics that users already interact with, as it can use past behaviour to refine recommendations further. This approach is similar to how algorithm-based feeds work, but with more user control over the subject.

Rollout and availability

For now, Custom Timelines are available only to Premium subscribers on iOS. X has said that support for Android users will be added soon. Custom Timelines is expected to expand to more users over time as X gathers feedback and refines the feature.

The introduction of Custom Timelines comes as X continues to experiment with new ways to organise content and improve user engagement. The platform has been gradually shifting towards AI-driven features, with Grok playing a central role in how content is surfaced.

At the same time, X is making broader changes to its ecosystem, including moving away from some older community features and focusing more on personalised experiences through upcoming XChat app.

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Why smartphone prices are rising across brands, even for older models

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 23, 2026 | Technology

If you are planning to buy a smartphone, you may have noticed a shift — new models are launching at higher prices, while devices released just months ago are now selling at a premium.

This is not a glitch. In many cases, smartphones now cost Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 more than their launch prices within months. At the same time, newer models are debuting at significantly higher prices than their predecessors, with some seeing increases of up to Rs 15,000 across generations.

The trend is visible across brands and price segments, driven largely by rising component costs, supply constraints and broader economic pressures. At the centre of it is a sharp increase in memory costs.

Smartphones are seeing post-launch price hikes

One of the clearest signs of this shift is price increases after launch — something that used to be rare in the smartphone market.

Brands such as OnePlus, Samsung, Vivo and Nothing have begun revising prices upwards after initial launch.

The OnePlus 15R, launched in December 2025 at Rs 47,999, is now listed at Rs 50,499 on the company’s official store. The OnePlus Pad Go 2, launched alongside it, has also risen from Rs 26,999 to Rs 27,999.

Samsung has made similar revisions. The Galaxy M36 5G, launched in June 2025 at Rs 17,499, is now priced at Rs 20,999. Other models such as the Galaxy M06, Galaxy F06 and Galaxy M17 5G have also seen increases.

Vivo’s pricing has moved in the same direction. The Vivo V70, launched in February 2026 at Rs 45,999, is now selling at Rs 49,999, while the Vivo V70 Elite has risen from Rs 51,999 to Rs 55,999.

Even newer players are not holding prices. The Nothing Phone 3a Lite, launched at Rs 20,999, is now listed at Rs 21,999 on Flipkart, while the 256GB variant has gone up from Rs 21,999 to Rs 23,999.

New launches are starting higher

It is not just older models becoming expensive. New smartphones are also launching at higher starting prices.

Samsung’s Galaxy A56 launched in March 2025 at Rs 41,999, while the Galaxy A36 started at Rs 32,999. Their successors — the Galaxy A57 and Galaxy A37 — now start at Rs 56,999 and Rs 41,999, respectively.

These increases are not always matched by major hardware upgrades. For instance, the Galaxy A57 largely adds a newer chip and AI-driven features, while overall hardware changes remain incremental.

There are some exceptions. Apple’s iPhone 17e, launched earlier this year, starts at Rs 64,900 for 256GB storage, compared to Rs 69,900 for the iPhone 16e at the same storage tier. However, the earlier model also offered a lower 128GB variant.

Memory costs are the main driver

At the centre of these pricing changes is a sharp rise in memory costs. Components such as DRAM and NAND have become significantly more expensive.

“The market is facing a clear affordability squeeze, driven by sharp memory-led cost inflation and currency pressures that have forced OEMs to raise prices across key models,” said Prachir Singh, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research.

He added that average price increases have crossed Rs 1,500, with the sub-Rs 15,000 segment most affected due to higher price sensitivity.

The impact is also visible in market performance. India’s smartphone shipments declined 3 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of CY2026, marking the weakest quarter in six years, according to Counterpoint.

Why memory is getting expensive

A key reason behind rising memory prices is the shift towards artificial intelligence.

Memory manufacturers are prioritising high-bandwidth memory (HBM), used in AI infrastructure, as it offers higher margins. This has reduced focus on general-purpose memory used in smartphones and PCs.

According to Nikkei Asia, supply is struggling to keep up with demand and may remain tight until 2027. Major manufacturers — Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron — control about 90 per cent of the global DRAM market and are unable to scale production quickly.

Even with new fabs under construction, meaningful output is expected only from 2027 onwards.

As a result, memory prices in early 2026 are estimated to have risen nearly 90 per cent quarter-on-quarter. Memory now accounts for up to 20 per cent of a low-end smartphone’s cost and could rise to 40 per cent by mid-2026.

Impact is spreading beyond smartphones

The pressure is not limited to smartphones.

Apple has delisted higher memory configurations of some Mac devices, while others are marked as unavailable. This suggests brands are prioritising lower-memory variants due to supply constraints.

Sony has also suspended orders for parts of its memory card lineup, stating that supply is “not expected to meet demand for the foreseeable future”.

What this means for buyers

In the near term, there is little indication that prices will stabilise.

Counterpoint expects the Indian smartphone market to remain under pressure, with a potential double-digit decline in the second quarter of CY2026 and an overall 10 per cent drop for the year.

With memory supply expected to remain tight until at least 2027, pricing pressure is likely to continue.

This means higher launch prices, post-launch increases, and limited availability of higher variants may become the norm, at least in the short term.

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XChat app to go live on April 25 for iPhone, iPad users: Check features

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 23, 2026 | Technology

X is preparing to launch a new standalone messaging app called XChat for iPhone and iPad users. The app is currently available for pre-order on the App Store and is expected to go live on April 25, after an earlier expected release date of April 17. The move signals a shift from X’s existing in-app direct messaging system to a separate, dedicated platform focused on private conversations.

According to the App Store listing, XChat is designed to let users “chat with anyone on X in a private, focused space built for conversation.” The app will not include ads or tracking, and it will offer end-to-end encrypted messaging, which means only the sender and receiver can read the messages.

XChat: Key features

XChat is expected to include several features commonly found in modern messaging apps. One of the main additions is end-to-end encryption, designed to keep conversations secure from third parties.

Users will also be able to edit and delete messages even after sending them. Deleting a message removes it for everyone in the chat, giving users more control over what stays in conversations.

The app will include a screenshot blocking feature, which can prevent others from capturing chats. In addition, users can enable disappearing messages that automatically vanish within five minutes, making it easier to share temporary or sensitive information.

XChat will support large group chats, with up to 481 members initially. It will also allow cross-device calling, expanding its functionality beyond text messaging to include voice and video communication.

The app has been in testing since last year. A preview of XChat shows support for video calls, group chats and privacy-focused features. Nikita Bier, head of product at X, said the app now supports joinable links for group chats. These links can be shared publicly, making it easier for users to invite others. Group chat limits are expected to increase to 500 members soon, with a target of 1,000 members in the coming weeks.

Changes to X Communities

As part of the transition, X plans to discontinue Communities on May 6 due to declining usage. Users are being encouraged to move to XChat by sharing group chat links. The company has said users will have until May 30 to complete the transition.

X says the changes are part of a broader effort to simplify its platform while focusing more on niche communities through new features like Custom Timelines.

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