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MacBook Neo emerges as Apple's most repairable laptop in more than a decade

MacBook Neo emerges as Apple's most repairable laptop in more than a decade

by | Mar 16, 2026 | Technology



Apple’s MacBook Neo, the laptop it announced last week that starts at $499 for students, is the most repairable laptop the company has released since 2012, according to an analysis released Friday by iFixit.

 


iFixit publishes repair guides and sells parts and tools for consumer electronic devices, but also provides ratings for how easy items are to fix and keep running. Laptop makers such as Dell Tech and Lenovo Group have used those ratings to improve the repairability of their products.

 


In the teardown published on Friday, iFixit found that Apple had made key changes from previous laptops, such as attaching the computer’s batteries and keyboard with screws rather than glue or rivets, and making it easy to swap out parts such as the device’s camera and fingerprint sensor.

 
 


Apple is widely believed to be targeting the same education markets with its MacBook Neo that Google targets with its low-cost Chromebooks. Kyle Wiens, iFixit’s chief executive, said Chromebooks are frequently repaired, with some school districts such as those in Oakland, California even tapping student interns to fix them.

 


But Apple’s MacBook Neo still scored only a 6 out of 10 on iFixit’s scale, where other machines such as a recent Lenovo ThinkPad have scored 9s and 10s. Apple, which has prioritised thinner and lighter devices over the past decade, has made its products harder to repair.

 


Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Wiens said one of the reasons is that MacBook Neo’s 8 gigabytes of DRAM are directly soldered to the circuit board of the machine as part of a package with the machine’s main processing chip, which is similar to all of Apple’s Mac designs in recent years but will make MacBook Neos impossible to easily upgrade with more memory.

 


Wiens said that could make it hard for the MacBook Neo to run artificial intelligence applications as they grow in complexity in the coming years, even as Apple has publicly cited the privacy benefits of running those applications on a laptop instead of in the cloud. He said Apple could improve its offerings by including an additional layer of memory chips that users can upgrade.

 


“Apple’s future for privacy-centred AI has to be local models,” Wiens said. “I would argue this is a flaw across Apple’s entire Mac product line.”

 


(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

 

 



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Samsung's Choi says AI revolution is unavoidable, urges preparation

Samsung's Choi says AI revolution is unavoidable, urges preparation

by | Mar 15, 2026 | Technology



The Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution is ‘unavoidable’, and it is going to impact every aspect of human life, and people need to be prepared for this transformation, said Samsung Electronics Mobile Experience Business COO Won-Joon Choi.


This will be different from the previous revolution that happened through the internet and mobile, which impacted human life, said Choi in a media roundtable here recently, after the launch of S26.


“AI is different in the sense that it will impact every area, you name it, medical, law, everything. Everything will change through AI. It’s not just the IT sector. I think we need to be prepared. Not just IT companies, but legal, HR, medical, everything. Everyone needs to be prepared,” he said.

 


Choi also acknowledged the large investments being made by big tech companies into AI research and development.


“I think there can be some adjustments along the way, but at the macro level, we still need to invest. We still need to bring resources. And we still need to do a lot of research. I think it’s still the beginning, in my opinion. It’s not done,” he said.


While replying to a query about whether excessive marketing of AI features is creating a sense of unease among consumers, Choi said that every new technology looks overwhelming at first.


“I think as time goes on and as these AI features get integrated more deeply into the device and UI applications, people will not feel this (AI) is special, and we would not need to even call this AI. I think people will just naturally accept this is something that I can use, something that can help. I think that time will come,” he said.


Choi said Samsung is working on three big areas on AI, which include the democratisation of the technology.


As part of Samsung’s plans to bring AI features to 800 million devices by the end of this year, double from 400 million devices last year.


Samsung has adopted a Hybrid AI model, which is a combination of on-device and on-cloud. Choi said Samsung is open to integrating third-party AI solutions into its devices.


“We announced the partnership with Perplexity in addition to Gemini. At the end of the day, our goal is to provide the best AI technologies or solutions to Galaxy users,” he said.


Samsung is also ensuring that sensitive information is stored on devices, not in the cloud, to ensure privacy and security in the era of AI.


“We want to make sure that when you use Galaxy AI, you have peace of mind,” he said, adding, “At the platform level, at the hardware and software and even the application layer, we try to provide a mechanism so that people know how they are using AI and how all this information is being used. We will be very transparent and build the core hardware functionality.” 
Over Samsung’s future objectives, Choi said the brand is working to expand the support for local languages and is looking to partner with more brands for the newly-launched Agentic AI play.



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India must build SLMs alongside LLMs to ensure linguistic inclusion: PSA

India must build SLMs alongside LLMs to ensure linguistic inclusion: PSA

by | Mar 15, 2026 | Technology



India needs to place special emphasis on developing small language models (SLMs) with multimodal capabilities, alongside indigenous large language models (LLMs), to ensure linguistic inclusion, affordability, energy efficiency and public-sector suitability, the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) has suggested.

 


SLMs, which are more economical to train and run, are focused, domain-oriented models that can be fine-tuned for sector-specific tasks in agriculture, healthcare, education, climate and urban governance, and must therefore be developed in consonance with LLMs, the PSA’s office suggested in a white paper.

 


Further, the development of indigenous LLMs is crucial to build AI systems that are less biased, more trustworthy and remain locally relevant in a globally competitive AI ecosystem, the white paper suggested.

 
 


This can be achieved by allowing the development of indigenous LLMs trained on more diverse data, designed for India’s linguistic and social diversity, and governed through national frameworks, the PSA’s office suggested.

 


“Relying solely on foreign models risks under-representation of Indian languages and cultural contexts. Any biases in these models can cascade across all downstream applications that rely on them. This makes it critical to have a policy focus on these systems,” the PSA’s office suggested in the white paper.

 


At present, the central government has approved proposals from a dozen startups to develop indigenous LLMs and SLMs. These include proposals from Sarvam, which is developing a sovereign 105-billion-parameter LLM, referenced alongside 30-billion-parameter models designed for Indian languages, with a focus on governance, public service and high-stakes deployment.

 


Other proposals include an Indian Institute of Technology Bombay-led consortium, BharatGen, which is developing multilingual and multimodal AI models ranging from 2 billion to 1 trillion parameters.

 


On the other hand, Soket AI is developing a 120-billion-parameter open-source multilingual foundation model tailored for India’s linguistic diversity, while Gan AI is developing a 70-billion-parameter AI model targeting high-performance (“superhuman”) text-to-speech capabilities.



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Meta may cut around 20% of workforce amid rising costs of AI investments

Meta may cut around 20% of workforce amid rising costs of AI investments

by | Mar 14, 2026 | Technology



Meta Platforms, which operates popular media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is considering sweeping job cuts that could affect as much as 20 per cent of its global workforce as it looks to offset the rising cost of its artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions, Reuters reported on Saturday. This would affect around 16,000 employees, based on Meta Platforms’ workforce of about 79,000 as of December 31, according to its latest filing.

 


The company is evaluating large-scale layoffs as it prepares for a future where AI-driven tools could significantly increase productivity and reduce the need for large teams. The potential cuts have not been finalised and no timeline has been set, the report added.

 
 


Senior executives at Meta have recently discussed the possibility of workforce reductions with other leaders inside the company and asked them to start exploring ways to streamline operations.

 


Responding to the report, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone described the claims as “speculative reporting about theoretical approaches”.

 


If the company proceeds with reductions at the scale being discussed, the move would represent Meta’s most significant round of layoffs since the restructuring carried out in 2022 and 2023, a period that Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg had described as the company’s “year of efficiency”.

 


During the earlier restructuring, the company laid off about 11,000 employees in November 2022, followed by another 10,000 job cuts in early 2023, as it sought to reduce costs and reorganise operations.


Why is Meta considering large-scale layoffs?


The latest discussions come as Meta is sharply increasing its spending on generative AI, which has become a central focus for the company over the past year. The tech giant plans to invest as much as $600 billion in building data centres by 2028, a move aimed at strengthening the computing infrastructure needed to train and operate large AI models.

 


The company has also been aggressively recruiting top industry talent, with some compensation packages worth hundreds of millions of dollars over four years, as it builds a specialised “superintelligence” team to accelerate AI development.

 


In addition to hiring AI researchers, Meta has pursued acquisitions and partnerships in the sector. The firm recently acquired Moltbook, a social networking platform designed for AI agents, and is spending at least $2 billion to purchase Chinese AI start-up Manus.

 


Zuckerberg has suggested that advances in AI could lead to substantial efficiency gains within the organisation. Earlier this year, he said projects that once required large teams were increasingly being completed by a single highly skilled individual using AI tools.


How are tech firms reshaping workforces amid AI expansion?


The developments at Meta reflect a shift across the technology sector, where companies are reorganising their workforces while ramping up investment in AI.

 


For instance, Amazon confirmed in January that it would cut around 16,000 jobs, while fintech firm Block, led by Jack Dorsey, recently reduced nearly half of its workforce, citing the growing capabilities of AI systems.

 


Meta’s renewed focus on AI comes after setbacks with earlier versions of its Llama 4 models. The company faced criticism over benchmark results associated with early releases and eventually scrapped the launch of its largest planned version, known as Behemoth. Its AI research team is currently working on a new model called Avocado, though reports suggest its performance is yet to meet expectations.



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Tech Wrap March 13: Google Maps update, Lava Bold 2, YouTube Premium Lite

Tech Wrap March 13: Google Maps update, Lava Bold 2, YouTube Premium Lite

by | Mar 13, 2026 | Technology


 


Google has rolled out new artificial intelligence capabilities in Google Maps powered by its Gemini models, enabling users to ask more detailed and context-aware questions directly in the application. The company said the update introduces a conversational tool called Ask Maps, which helps users search for locations, plan trips and receive recommendations using natural language queries. In addition, navigation in Google Maps is moving to a 3D interface that Google refers to as Immersive Navigation. This feature, however, is currently available only in the US.

 
 
 


Lava has expanded its smartphone lineup in India with the launch of the Lava Bold 2. The new device follows the Lava Bold, which debuted in April last year. The Lava Bold 2 runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7060 processor and packs a 5,000mAh battery. It features a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphone will go on sale from March 19 in Feather White and Midnight Black colour variants.

 

 


Meta is reportedly experimenting with a feature on Instagram that enables clickable links within post captions. As per a report by Engadget, the company confirmed that it is testing caption links, though the feature is currently limited to users subscribed to Meta Verified.

 

 


YouTube has begun introducing background play and offline downloads for subscribers of its Premium Lite plan in India. According to YouTube, the update allows users on the lower-priced plan to download videos for offline viewing and keep listening to a video’s audio even when the phone screen is locked or when switching between apps. The rollout is happening gradually and will reach all Premium Lite subscribers in India in the coming weeks. The subscription costs Rs 89 per month and offers ad-free viewing for most videos on the platform. It is supported across devices such as smartphones, laptops and smart TVs.

 

 


Anthropic has launched a new capability for its AI assistant Claude that allows it to create inline visuals including charts, diagrams, timelines and other interactive elements within conversations. The company said the feature will be available to all Claude users, including those using the free plan.

 

 


Microsoft has unveiled Copilot Health, a feature within its Copilot service aimed at helping users better understand their health data. The tool combines information such as medical records, data from wearable devices and personal health history, and uses AI to analyse it and generate insights. The company said the feature is intended to help people recognise possible health patterns and prepare more effectively for consultations with doctors, rather than replace healthcare professionals.

 

 


Rockstar Games has revealed a Community Series Showcase event for GTA Online that brings bonus in-game rewards, a GTA$1,000,000 login gift and several time-limited activities. The event will run from March 12 to April 1 and will highlight player-created modes that are featured in the Community Series.

 

 


Disney+ has launched a feature named Verts, a vertical video feed designed to help users discover content available on the platform. According to Disney, the feature lets users scroll through short clips from movies and shows on Disney+, making it easier to find something to watch without extensive browsing. The rollout has begun for Disney+ subscribers in the US and is currently available within the Disney+ mobile app. Verts was first revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, marking Disney’s move into short-form vertical video within its streaming service.

 

 


Following the introduction of personality options for Alexa+ in February, Amazon has expanded the feature by adding a new personality called “Sassy”. According to Amazon, the newly added personality delivers an unfiltered style with sharp wit, playful sarcasm and occasional censored profanity. This personality mode is not available when Amazon Kids is enabled, and users must complete additional security checks in the Alexa app to turn it on.

 

 


India’s smartphone market is gradually shifting toward higher-priced devices. Data from market intelligence firm Counterpoint Research shows that the ultra-premium segment (₹45,000+) accounted for 17 per cent of the market share in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2025 — the highest level recorded so far. Demand for flagship devices has also grown, with the iPhone 16 becoming the most shipped smartphone in India for the third consecutive quarter ending December 2025.

 

 


Adobe Inc. Chief Executive Officer Shantanu Narayen will step down from his role leading the creative software company amid investor concerns about the firm’s ability to compete in the AI era. Narayen, who has served as CEO for 18 years, will remain in the role until a successor is appointed, Adobe said Thursday in a statement. The 62-year-old will continue as chairman of the board.

 

 


Apple Inc. is reducing the commission it charges app developers for software sales and in-app purchases in China, in what appears to be a step aimed at addressing regulatory pressure on its digital services. In a statement on Thursday, the company said its commission rate in the mainland China App Store will change from 30 per cent to 25 per cent. The change takes effect on March 15 and applies to apps on both iOS and iPadOS, according to Apple’s developer website. Apple said it is making the adjustment “following discussions with the Chinese regulator.”

 

 


Dan Taylor, vice president of Google Ads, said artificial intelligence is already transforming how people search and creating new opportunities for businesses, but the next stage of development in advertising could come from agentic AI. “While it’s still early days, we think AI agents could be a huge asset for businesses and people across the entire purchase journey – from sparking inspiration to refining options to simplifying decisions,” he said during a virtual media roundtable.



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