Tech Wrap March 11: Xiaomi 17 series, Sonos speakers, Gemini in Chrome

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 11, 2026 | Technology

The Xiaomi 17 series debuted in India on March 11. The company’s latest flagship lineup, which includes the Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra, runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra comes with a Leica-powered camera system featuring a 200MP telephoto sensor and a 1-inch primary sensor, while the Xiaomi 17 is equipped with a triple 50MP Leica camera setup. The Ultra variant includes a 6,000mAh battery with support for 90W wired charging, whereas the base model packs a 6,330mAh battery with 100W wired charging support.

Sonos has introduced two new speakers — Sonos Play and Sonos Era 100 SL — expanding its range of wireless speakers in India. The company said these new models are designed to function within the wider Sonos ecosystem, enabling users to place speakers across different rooms and create a multi-room audio setup. While Sonos has confirmed that the speakers will be launched in India, the company has not yet revealed their pricing or the official launch schedule.

Google is bringing Gemini-powered AI capabilities to the Chrome browser for users in India. The update integrates the Gemini 3.1 model directly into Chrome, enabling users to interact with the Gemini AI assistant while browsing the web. With these tools, users can summarise lengthy webpages, compare information across several tabs, draft emails via Gmail, and even edit images without leaving the browser.

OpenAI has rolled out a new update to ChatGPT aimed at helping users understand math and science topics in a more interactive way. According to OpenAI’s blog, the feature introduces dynamic visual explanations that allow users to observe how formulas, variables, and equations change in real time. The company said that the new learning experience, covering more than 70 core topics, is being rolled out globally to all logged-in ChatGPT users across plans. The company said the update aims to help students grasp complex concepts more effectively instead of simply memorising formulas.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series has gone on sale and is now available for purchase in India. The South Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung launched the Galaxy S26 lineup — consisting of the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra — alongside the Galaxy Buds 4 series on February 26. The Galaxy S26 lineup debuted at a starting price of Rs 87,999 and introduces a new Privacy Display feature, additional Galaxy AI capabilities such as Now Nudge, and an updated camera module design. Apple MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e and more go on sale in India

Apple’s MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, iPhone 17e, and iPad Air — along with other products unveiled by the company last week — are now available for purchase in India. These devices had been open for pre-orders since March 4 and are now going on sale through the Apple Store online, Apple retail outlets, as well as select e-commerce platforms and retail stores. Apple is also offering introductory deals on the new products, including bank cashback of up to Rs 10,000 on select MacBook purchases and up to Rs 4,000 cashback on the new iPad Air. The company is also providing no-interest equated monthly instalment (EMI) options for buyers.

Google has announced additional Gemini capabilities for its Workspace applications, including Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive. According to the company, Gemini can now retrieve relevant information from a user’s files, emails, and the web to create drafts, organise spreadsheets, develop presentations, and answer questions about stored documents. The update is expected to make it easier for users to begin projects and manage information more efficiently with AI assistance. These features are rolling out in beta starting today for Google AI Ultra and Pro subscribers.

Amazon has launched a new AI-powered health assistant called Health AI on its website and mobile app. According to the company, the tool is designed to help users ask health-related questions, review medical records, manage prescription renewals, and connect with healthcare providers. The company said the assistant can also book appointments and provide guidance based on a user’s health information if they grant access to their records. The feature is currently limited to the US, with a broader rollout expected in the coming weeks.

Instagram is reportedly facing a global outage, with several users reporting problems while accessing the Meta-owned social media platform. According to Downdetector, an outage-tracking platform owned by Ookla that provides real-time updates on service disruptions, more than 1,300 Instagram users in India reported issues related to the platform at around 12 PM on March 11.

Some early buyers of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series are reportedly encountering an unusual software issue. According to a report by 9to5Google, citing posts on Reddit, a few users have reported that their Samsung Galaxy S26 series devices are showing a notification indicating that the smartphone is not certified by Google Play Protect.

Artificial Intelligence is sparking the “largest infrastructure buildout in human history,” requiring trillions of dollars in investment and creating massive demand for skilled blue-collar labour, Nvidia Founder and CEO Jensen Huang has said. In a recent blog post, Huang argued AI has evolved past being a simple application or a single model, and must now be viewed as essential infrastructure akin to electricity and the internet.

For months, OpenAI’s Sam Altman has been talking up plans to spend trillions of dollars on an unprecedented buildout of data centers stocked with advanced chips to power AI. The task of turning that ambition into a reality now falls in part on Sachin Katti, a recent hire at OpenAI who spent much of his career in academia and likes to say he didn’t have a real job until he started working at Intel Corp. more than four years ago.

Anthropic PBC told a judge it could lose as much as billions of dollars in revenue this year and urged quick action on its request to block the Trump administration’s declaration of the company as a US supply-chain risk after a blowup with the Pentagon over artificial intelligence safety issues.

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Meta said on Wednesday it is acquiring Moltbook, a social network built exclusively for artificial intelligence agents to make posts and interact with each other. A takeover of the AI experiment by the parent company of Facebook and Instagram comes weeks after Moltbook attracted viral attention as an unusual Reddit-like hub for AI systems trading gossip.

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Mission Mausam boosts cyclone forecast accuracy in coastal states

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 11, 2026 | Technology

The Mission Mausam initiative and a series of modernisation measures in weather monitoring have significantly improved the accuracy and lead time of cyclone and extreme rainfall forecasts for coastal states, including Odisha, helping authorities minimise loss of life and property during disasters.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that the initiative, implemented since late 2024 by subsuming the earlier Atmosphere and Climate Research – Modelling Observing Systems and Services (ACROSS) scheme, has strengthened monitoring and early warning systems while enhancing the observational network and modelling capabilities of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and other associated institutions.

The minister cited a comparative analysis of operational cyclone forecast performance between 2016–2020 and 2021–2025, which shows notable gains in predicting cyclone track, landfall location, and intensity.

According to the analysis, the landfall point forecast error has reduced considerably. During 2021–25, the error for forecasts issued 24, 48, and 72 hours in advance stood at 19 km, 34.4 km, and 77.3 km, respectively, compared to 31.9 km, 61.5 km, and 91.9 km during 2016–20. This indicates an improvement of 35–45 per cent for the 24–48-hour lead period and about 20 per cent improvement for the 36–72-hour lead period.

Similarly, average cyclone track forecast errors also showed improvement. The error was 73 km, 116 km, and 168 km for forecasts issued 24, 48, and 72 hours ahead during 2021–25, compared to 77 km, 117 km, and 159 km during 2016–20. This reflects a 5 to 10 per cent improvement up to 48 hours.

The improvement has been more visible in cyclone intensity forecasts. The average absolute error in intensity prediction during 2021–25 was 5.3 knots, 7.5 knots, and 9.1 knots for the 24, 48, and 72-hour lead periods, respectively. The corresponding errors were 7.9 knots, 11.4 knots, and 14.1 knots, indicating a 35–45 per cent improvement up to 72 hours during 2016–20.

The data also suggested a significant increase in the lead time of accurate forecasts, which is critical for evacuation and disaster preparedness. The landfall forecast error of 34 km at a 48-hour lead time occurred during 2021–25 as against 32 km at a 24-hour lead time during 2016–20, implying an improvement of nearly 24 hours in lead time for a similar level of accuracy.

The improved forecasting capability has played a key role in reducing cyclone-related fatalities across the country. Since 2010, there has been a significant decline in deaths during cyclonic storms due to timely warnings issued by IMD and effective evacuation measures by state governments.

The minister informed that Cyclone Biparjoy (2023), which hit Gujarat, resulted in zero deaths, while Cyclone Michaung (2023) in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh caused 19 fatalities. Cyclone Dana in Odisha recorded zero deaths, Cyclone Fengal (2024) in Tamil Nadu claimed 10 lives, and Cyclone Montha (2025) in Andhra Pradesh resulted in eight fatalities.

“These numbers are significantly lower compared to the 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone, which caused thousands of deaths, highlighting the transformative role of modern forecasting systems and disaster preparedness,” Singh said in a written reply.

The IMD has also been strengthening meteorological infrastructure across the country, including in Odisha, through the installation and upgrading of observation systems such as Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), Automated Rain Gauges (ARG), High Wind Speed Recorders (HWSR), and Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs).

At present, Odisha has 39 manned surface meteorological observatories, 29 Automatic Weather Stations, 136 Automated Rain Gauge stations, and six High Wind Speed Recorders. Current Weather Observation Systems are operational at four airports in the state. The state is also equipped with two Doppler Weather Radars at Paradip and Gopalpur, both functioning round the clock.

The government has proposed additional infrastructure in Odisha to further strengthen forecasting capabilities under Mission Mausam.

“This includes two C-band Doppler Weather Radars at Sambalpur and Balasore by 2026, an X-band Doppler Weather Radar in Bhubaneswar, and an S-band Doppler Weather Radar at Puri. These new installations will significantly enhance cyclone monitoring, rainfall prediction and early warning capabilities, benefiting not only Odisha but also adjoining coastal regions of eastern India,” Singh added.

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Instagram down: Multiple users report problems accessing app, loading feed

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 11, 2026 | Technology

Instagram is reportedly experiencing a global outage, with several users reporting issues while accessing the Meta-owned social media platform. According to Downdetector, an outage-tracking platform owned by Ookla that provides real-time information on service disruptions, more than 1,300 Indian Instagram users reported issues related to Instagram at around 12 PM on March 11.

According to the platform, users mainly reported problems related to accessing the app and certain in-app features such as the feed and timeline.

Instagram down for several users: What now

Instagram users reported widespread issues on March 11, with several saying they were unable to access their direct messages (DMs) and that chat themes had disappeared from their conversations.

According to outage-tracking website Downdetector, about 85 per cent of the complaints were linked to problems accessing the Instagram mobile app, while 11 per cent were related to the website. Another 4 per cent of users reported trouble accessing platform features such as the feed or timeline.

The platform recorded more than 13,000 outage reports from the US, while India saw around 1,300 complaints, though the number of reports has recently increased. In the UK, about 200 users reported issues.

According to Downdetector, the majority of the complaints related to accessing the platform were recorded between 9 AM and 1 PM IST, with the spike in reports peaking at 12 PM.

Downdetector monitors outages by aggregating status reports from several sources, including user-submitted complaints, meaning the actual number of affected users may be higher.

Several users shared their complaints on Instagram’s subreddit and other social media platforms, saying they were unable to use the search tool or view their contacts. “Around two hours ago, my message page didn’t show any messages at all, even though I have plenty, and I got two notifications earlier,” one user wrote.

“My messages, my contacts on Instagram, I can’t use the search tool or even scroll up! The whole thing is just broken right now,” another user posted. A third user said a shared chat theme had disappeared from both his and his friend’s direct messages.

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Xiaomi 17, Ultra launched in India with Leica-tuned cameras: Price, specs

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 11, 2026 | Technology

The Xiaomi 17 series was launched in India on March 11. Xiaomi’s new flagship series, comprising the Xiaomi 17 and 17 Ultra, is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra features a Leica-powered camera system including a 200MP telephoto lens and a 1-inch main sensor, while the Xiaomi 17 offers a triple 50MP Leica camera setup. The Ultra model packs a 6,000mAh battery with 90W wired charging, whereas the base model houses a 6,330mAh battery supporting 100W wired charging.

Xiaomi 17 series: Price and availability

Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Rs 139,999 onwards

Xiaomi 17: Rs 89,999 onwards

The Xiaomi 17 series will be available for purchase starting March 18 from across Xiaomi Store, ecommerce platform Amazon, and select retail stores.

Xiaomi 17 series: Offers

Xiaomi 17 Ultra

Rs 10,000 discount on select bank cards

Consumers purchasing it between March 13 and 17 will get the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Photography Kit Pro at no additional cost

Partner offers at no additional cost: Four months of Spotify Premium, three months of Google AI Pro, three months of YouTube Premium, and Jio benefits worth Rs 31,500

Xiaomi 17

As part of the “Never Run Out” launch offer, the 512GB storage variant will be available at the price of the 256GB variant.

During the early bird period, customers can also receive a free phone damage protection plan

Partner offers at no additional cost: Four months of Spotify Premium, three months of Google AI Pro, three months of YouTube Premium, and Jio benefits worth Rs 31,500

Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Details

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra features a 6.9-inch HyperRGB OLED display with a 1–120Hz adaptive refresh rate, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support, and up to 3,500 nits of peak brightness. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor paired with 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB UFS 4.1 storage. The device runs on Xiaomi HyperOS 3 and houses a 6,000mAh battery with support for 90W wired HyperCharge and 50W wireless charging.

For photography, the phone includes a 50MP main camera built around a 1-inch sensor with LOFIC technology designed to improve dynamic range in high-contrast scenes. It is accompanied by a Leica-branded 200MP telephoto camera offering a 75–100mm continuous optical zoom system and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. The handset also features a 50MP front camera with autofocus. For video, the device supports Dolby Vision and ACES Log recording at up to 4K 120fps.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra measures 8.29mm in thickness and weighs 218.4g. It comes with Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0 for protection and carries IP65 and IP66 ratings for dust and water resistance.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Specifications

Display: 6.9-inch Xiaomi HyperRGB OLED display, up to 120Hz of refresh rate, 3,500 nits of peak brightness, Original color Pro, HDR10+, Dolby Vision

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X

Storage: 512GB, 1TB UFS 4.1

Rear camera: 50MP + 200MP telephoto + 50MP ultra-wide-angle

Front camera: 50MP with Auto-Focus

Battery: 6000mAh

Charging: 90W wired HyperCharge, 50W wireless HyperCharge

Durability: IP65, IP66 rated, Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0

Colour: Black, White

Xiaomi 17: Details

The Xiaomi 17 features a 6.3-inch CrystalRes OLED display with a 1–120Hz adaptive refresh rate, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support, and up to 3,500 nits of peak brightness. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset paired with 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB UFS 4.1 storage. The device packs a 6,330mAh battery with support for 100W wired HyperCharge and 50W wireless charging.

For photography, the handset includes a triple rear camera setup comprising a 50MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto lens, and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. The telephoto lens supports portrait and macro photography, with the ability to capture close-up shots from around 10cm and offer up to 20x AI-assisted zoom. On the front, the phone features a 50MP camera with autofocus for selfies and video calls.

The Xiaomi 17 weighs 191g and measures 8.06mm in thickness. It comes with Xiaomi Shield Glass protection and carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

Xiaomi 17: Specifications

Display: 6.3-inch Crystal Res OLED display, up to 120Hz of refresh rate, 3,500 nits of peak brightness, Original color PRO, HDR10+, Dolby VisionR

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

RAM: 12GB LPDDR5X

Storage: 256GB, 512GB UFS 4.1

Rear camera: 50MP + 50MP telephoto + 50MP ultra-wide-angle

Front camera: 50MP with Auto-Focus

Battery: 6330mAh

Charging: 100W wired HyperCharge, 50W wireless HyperCharge

Durability: IP68, IP69 rated, Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0

Colour: Ice Blue, Venture Green, Black

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AI driving 'largest infra buildout', needs trillions in investment: Huang

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 11, 2026 | Technology

In a recent blog post, Huang argued AI has evolved past being a simple application or a single model, and must now be viewed as essential infrastructure akin to electricity and the internet.

“We have only just begun this buildout. We are a few hundred billion dollars into it. Trillions of dollars of infrastructure still need to be built. Around the world, we are seeing chip factories, computer assembly plants and AI factories being constructed at unprecedented scale. This is becoming the largest infrastructure buildout in human history,” Huang wrote.

Huang conceptualised AI as a “five-layer cake” comprising energy, chips, infrastructure, models, and applications. He emphasised that energy forms the foundational layer and remains the “binding constraint” on how much intelligence a system can produce.

The Nvidia chief highlighted that this massive industrial shift will generate significant employment outside the traditional tech sector.

“The labour required to support this buildout is enormous. AI factories need electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, steelworkers, network technicians, installers and operators,” Huang stated.

“These are skilled, well-paid jobs, and they are in short supply. You do not need a PhD in computer science to participate in this transformation.” Huang detailed how AI has broken the traditional computing model, which previously relied on structured data and precise queries.

“Every response is newly created. Every answer depends on the context you provide. This is not software retrieving stored instructions. This is software reasoning and generating intelligence on demand,” Huang explained.

The blog noted that AI crossed a critical threshold in the past year, with models becoming highly useful at scale and generating real economic value in sectors like drug discovery, logistics, customer service, software development and manufacturing.

Huang also credited open-source models, specifically citing DeepSeek-R1, for accelerating adoption at the application layer and subsequently driving demand down through the computing stack, including infrastructure and energy.

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Google adds Gemini AI assistant to Chrome for Indian users: What's new

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 11, 2026 | Technology

Google is rolling out Gemini-powered AI features in the Chrome browser to users in India. The update integrates the Gemini 3.1 model directly into Chrome, allowing users to interact with the Gemini AI assistant while browsing. With the new tools, users can summarise long webpages, compare information across multiple tabs, draft emails through Gmail and even edit images without leaving the browser.

Along with the regional expansion, Google is also adding support for more than 50 additional languages, including several Indian languages such as Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Telugu and Tamil. These AI features will initially be available on desktop and iOS devices, and are aimed at helping users complete tasks faster while browsing. Apart from India, Gemini in Chrome is also rolling out to users in New Zealand and Canada.

Gemini in Chrome: What’s new

A browsing assistant

According to Google, Gemini in Chrome acts like a browsing assistant that users can access without switching tabs. By clicking the icon in the top-right corner of the browser, users can start chatting with Gemini in a side panel while continuing to browse the page they are on.

Google said that the assistant can help summarise long articles or research papers, answer questions about the content on a page and even help with tasks like generating quizzes for studying. It can also help modify information, such as suggesting changes to recipes or explaining complex topics. As per the blog, Gemini in Chrome is rolling out to Mac, Windows and Chromebook Plus users.

Integration with Google apps

Chrome’s AI features also connect with several Google services such as Gmail, Maps, Calendar and YouTube. These integrations allow users to perform tasks without leaving the page they are browsing.

For example, users can open the side panel and ask the AI to draft and send an email through Gmail. They can also check location details from Google Maps, schedule events on Google Calendar or ask questions related to YouTube videos directly from the browser interface. The company stated that the aim is to reduce the need to open multiple tabs or apps while completing everyday online tasks.

Work across tabs

Another feature allows Gemini in Chrome to work across multiple open tabs. This means the AI can collect information from several pages and present it in a consolidated format.

For instance, if someone is comparing travel packages or shopping for products online, Gemini can summarise the information and even generate comparison tables based on details from different websites. This feature is designed to help users process information faster when researching topics or comparing options online.

Image editing with Nano Banana 2

Google has also added Nano Banana 2 to Chrome, which allows users to transform images directly in the browser. Users simply enter a prompt describing the changes they want, and the tool edits the image without requiring them to download or upload files. The feature could be used for tasks like visualising design ideas, such as rearranging furniture in a room before making a purchase.

Built-in security safeguards

Google said that the AI features have been designed with security measures in place. According to Google, the system can identify known threats such as prompt injection attempts and includes safeguards that require user confirmation before performing sensitive actions like sending emails or adding calendar events.

The company noted that it also uses automated testing and Chrome’s auto-update system to address potential vulnerabilities and roll out fixes quickly. Google mentioned that more AI features and language support will be added to Chrome in additional regions later this year.

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