VARINDIA IT MAGAZINE

Gurgaon Police have uncovered a massive cyber fraud network amounting to ₹125 crore, resulting in the arrest of 21 individuals linked to over 16,000 victims nationwide. The operation was launched after a victim lost ₹97 lakh in a stock market scam on June 26, leading to multiple arrests across the country. Fraudsters used advanced schemes, impersonating law enforcement and officials, to dupe unsuspecting victims. Investigations revealed connections to 16,788 complaints and 672 cases across India, with 40 cases registered in Haryana alone. Gurgaon Police's relentless efforts have brought down culprits involved in extortion, impersonation, and other sophisticated cybercrimes, protecting citizens from growing cyber threats. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDV3diDezYg

Meta will be ending support for  WhatsApp  on old Android phones. More than 10-year-old devices are still running on Android KitKat. Meta has thus decided that handsets still running on that version of the OS or older will no longer have access to WhatsApp starting January 1, 2025. The reason for the discontinued support is WhatsApp's evolving features and functionalities, as Meta looks to implement more demanding features, AI functionalities, etc., requiring more modern hardware. The company stated that older platforms often lack the capabilities required to support new updates, posing security risks and limiting functionality. The discontinuation of support means that WhatsApp will no longer provide updates, bug fixes, or security patches for affected devices. https://varindia.com/news/whatsapp-to-drop-support-for-older-android-devices-on-january-1-2025

Google has introduced the Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking model, a pioneering AI system designed to showcase its reasoning process before delivering solutions. Aimed at competing with cutting-edge AI models, this experimental feature enhances the base Gemini 2.0 Flash model with a new "Thinking Mode," offering advanced reasoning capabilities and improved transparency. Available through Google AI Studio, Vertex AI, and the Gemini API, the Thinking Mode represents a significant leap in AI development. It enables developers to access and experiment with a model that explicitly reveals its thought process while solving problems, making it more reliable for complex tasks. Jeff Dean, Chief Scientist at Google DeepMind , highlighted the model’s potential in a recent post on X (formerly Twitter). Built on the Gemini 2.0 Flash framework, the Thinking Mode is designed to break down problems into smaller, logical steps. A demo video shared by Dean showcases the model solving physics problems,...

As part of an ongoing effort to stay ahead in the competitive landscape of artificial intelligence,  OpenAI  revealed on December 20 that it was testing its new AI models, o3 and o3 mini.  CEO Sam Altman  revealed that o3 mini is expected to be released by the end of January, with the full version of o3 following soon after. These new models aim to enhance the AI's ability to tackle complex problems, outperforming earlier models and attracting more investment and users. The company’s previous generation, the o1 models, launched in September, focused on addressing complex tasks in fields like science, mathematics, and coding. The o1 models were designed to spend more time processing queries and were praised for their ability to reason through complicated problems, offering solutions that previous models struggled to provide. https://varindia.com/news/openai-unveils-new-o3-and-o3-mini-models-set-for-2024-launch

Edtech unicorn  PhysicsWallah  is taking a significant step towards a public listing, with plans for an initial public offering (IPO) in 2025. The company’s board has approved the resolution to convert the business into a public entity, renaming it from PhysicsWallah Private Limited to PhysicsWallah Limited, according to a recent regulatory filing. PhysicsWallah, which has revolutionized affordable education in India, intends to list its equity shares on one or more stock exchanges, though no specific timeline has been set. The company aims to go public in the second half of 2025. https://varindia.com/news/physicswallah-transitions-to-public-entity-in-preparation-for-2025-ipo

After Trump’s announcement, Krishnan took to X formerly known as Twitter to thank the president-elect. “I'm honored to be able to serve our country and ensure continued American leadership in AI working closely with David Sacks,” Krishnan       U.S. President-elect Donald Trump  has appointed Indian-American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author Sriram Krishnan as Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence. Krishnan, who has held leadership roles at Microsoft, Twitter, Yahoo!, Facebook, and Snap, will collaborate with David O. Sacks, the newly designated White House AI and Crypto Czar. Announcing the number of appointments around AI, Trump recently said, “Sriram Krishnan will serve as the Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Working closely with David Sacks, Sriram will focus on ensuring continued American leadership in AI and help shape and coordinate AI policy across g...

This strategic move aligns with Canon's vision to expand its technological footprint while leveraging India's growth trajectory in the electronics and semiconductor domains.     As India intensifies its efforts to become a global semiconductor hub,  Canon  has expressed interest in contributing to the nation’s semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. The company's interest aligns with the Indian government’s push to establish a robust semiconductor ecosystem through its  Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes  and initiatives promoting domestic manufacturing.   Canon’s involvement could be a critical step in bringing advanced chip-making technologies to the country. Canon’s expertise could also contribute to creating a supply chain ecosystem that supports innovation and sustainability. https://varindia.com/news/Canon-Eyes-India%E2%80%99s-Semiconductor-Manufacturing-opportunities

NTT DATA  has underscored India’s strategic importance as a global delivery hub. Speaking on the company’s plans, the Asia-Pacific head emphasized India’s unique position in the IT and digital transformation landscape, citing its unparalleled talent pool, robust infrastructure, and growing technology ecosystem as key enablers. With a significant portion of its workforce based in India, NTT DATA has long relied on the country to drive innovation and deliver world-class solutions to its global clients. India’s combination of skilled professionals, competitive costs, and expertise in emerging technologies such as AI,  machine learning,  cloud computing, and cybersecurity makes it a critical component of the company's global delivery strategy. John Lombard, CEO - Asia-Pacific, NTT Data  said, "India’s IT talent ecosystem is second to none. The country’s ability to adapt to evolving technology trends and deliver at scale is integral to our global operations. We are commit...

India's new PAN 2.0 system, designed to improve taxpayer services, is being exploited by scammers. However, scammers are now targeting individuals with fraudulent schemes around new PAN Cards. Fake emails, purportedly from the  Income Tax Department , are circulating, offering e-PAN card downloads.    The Government of India has issued a public alert regarding a sophisticated scam targeting taxpayers under the guise of a "PAN 2.0 upgrade." The scam involves fraudulent messages, emails, or websites claiming to offer an "upgrade" to PAN (Permanent Account Number) cards, which are essential for financial transactions and tax-related activities in India. Victims are lured with promises of faster processing, added benefits, or compliance with "new government regulations."  Typically, scammers direct individuals to fake websites resembling official government portals or send phishing emails containing malicious links. Upon clicking, users are asked to provid...

In a strategic move to strengthen its foothold in the aviation sector, the  Adani Group  has finalized its acquisition of  Air Works , one of India's largest and oldest Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) organizations, for $47 million. This acquisition marks another milestone for the conglomerate, underscoring its ambitious expansion into the aviation and aerospace domains. The acquisition could also pave the way for future investments in cutting-edge technologies such as predictive maintenance, drones, and AI-driven solutions, further enhancing operational efficiency and service quality. The acquisition aligns with Adani Group’s growing focus on the aviation sector. Already a significant player in airport management, the Group operates some of the busiest airports in India, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur. With Air Works under its wing, the Group aims to establish a comprehensive ecosystem that spans airport operations, aviation services, and now aircraft ma...

Encrypted messaging platform  Telegram  has reached profitability 11 years after its launch, according to its  CEO, Pavel Durov . In a recent update on his Telegram channel, Durov credited the milestone to revenue generated through advertisements and its premium subscription service, introduced as part of the platform’s broader monetization efforts. The premium subscription, priced at $4.99 per month, along with a revenue-sharing model for content creators and a business-tier subscription, contributed significantly to Telegram's financial success. The company also managed to pay off a substantial portion of its $2 billion debt this year. https://varindia.com/news/telegram-finally-turns-profitable-after-11-years