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iPhone 17 marks Apple’s first full transition of production to India

Ana Mary Joseph
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iPhone 17 marks Apple’s first full transition of production to India
  • Tata is set to handle up to half of all iPhones made in India over the next two years.
  • Just in the four months since April, Apple has exported iPhones worth $7.5b from India, already approaching half of last year’s $17b tally.

Apple is taking a major leap in its global manufacturing strategy by producing all four models of its forthcoming iPhone 17 series in India, a first for the tech giant.

This includes the much-anticipated Pro line, as the company prepares for the September 2025 launch. According to sources, every new iPhone variation destined for markets worldwide—including the US—will ship from India right from day one.

Major manufacturing shift

The move highlights Apple’s acceleration in shifting away from Chinese-based production for US-bound devices. Motivated by ongoing tariff disputes, geopolitical pressures, and previous Covid-linked disruptions in China, Apple has now ramped up its local manufacturing to a total of five Indian plants—two of which have only recently begun operations.

 The clear aim: fulfill the lion’s share of America’s iPhone demand from India going forward.

A big piece of this puzzle involves Indian conglomerate Tata Group. Through its state-of-the-art facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, and a new partnership with Foxconn near Bangalore airport, Tata is set to handle up to half of all iPhones made in India over the next two years.

Just in the four months since April, Apple has exported iPhones worth $7.5 billion from India, already approaching half of last year’s $17 billion tally. Industry sources mark these numbers as factory gate prices, underlining just how fast Apple’s India manufacturing engine is accelerating.

Financial & strategic impacts

Apple’s ongoing geographical pivot is fueled by both necessity and strategy. The company is facing a projected $1.1 billion hit from trade tariffs this period alone.

Although electronics like iPhones are, for now, generally exempt from sector-wide US tariffs, each device may still incur their own individual country import duties.

Over the 12 months through March 2025, $22 billion worth of iPhones were assembled in India—already accounting for a staggering 20% of global iPhone output.

The shift that began with Covid-related shutdowns in China is only strengthening in the face of trade disputes and unpredictable tariff policies, including those held over from Trump-era policy.

Apple’s vote of confidence in India

Beyond manufacturing, Apple is cementing its long-term presence in India with a massive 10-year lease for roughly 270,000 square feet of office space in Bangalore.

Embassy Zenith tower in Bengaluru.

The lease, which covers nine contiguous floors (5th through 13th) in the Embassy Zenith tower, begins in April 2025. With a starting rent of Rs235 per square foot and a deposit exceeding Rs31 crore, the deal will see rents increase by 4.5 per cent annually—bringing the total outlay well beyond Rs1,000 crore over the decade, according to Propstack’s documentation.

Apple’s commitment is significant: this investment occurs even as US President Donald Trump has criticised the company’s expansion in India. Yet, Apple remains the largest mobile phone exporter from India, sending iPhones worth Rs1.5 lakh crore overseas in the 2024–25 financial year alone.

The new Bangalore campus will play host to Apple’s growing teams of engineers, while its reach already extends to other tech hubs like Hyderabad.

Spanning both manufacturing and office functions, Apple’s wide-ranging bets in India reaffirm the country’s role as a central pillar in the company’s future—both as a global production base and a strategic international market.

When love gets digital: Emotional risks of human-AI attachments

Mohammed Fahad
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When love gets digital: Emotional risks of human-AI attachments
  • For now, being aware of the risks is the first step toward a healthier, more balanced coexistence with our digital friends.
  • It’s a double-edged sword: feelings of intimacy and acceptance can grow, but they may come at the expense of real human connections.

It’s a new era of relationships, and not all of them are with people. As AI chatbots become more immersive and emotionally convincing, stories are emerging from around the world of individuals developing deep—and sometimes troubling—attachments to these digital companions.

Take the recent case of Jiang, a 75-year-old retiree in China. Jiang became so emotionally invested in an AI chatbot named “A” that he contemplated divorcing his wife. Hours each day were spent sharing feelings and receiving instant empathy and affection from the bot.

As Jiang felt increasingly supported by his virtual confidante, the emotional distance between him and his real partner began to widen. Only after opening up to his family did Jiang finally confront his growing attachment, and his sons helped him understand the bot’s true nature before he reconsidered splitting from his wife.

Jiang’s story is just one among many. Around the globe, others are navigating similar entanglements. In Thailand, 76-year-old Thongbyu “Buy” Wongbandyu arranged to meet an AI-powered digital companion—Meta’s “Big Sis Billie”—in New York, persuaded by the sophistication of the bot.

Love bomb

Meanwhile, some users share online testimonials of partners spending hours engaged in deep, affectionate exchanges with anime-inspired chatbots, creating real friction in their offline relationships.

AI chatbots excel in offering kindness, compliments, and emotional validation with impressive rapidity. For people—especially those who are isolated, lonely, or vulnerable—these qualities make bots compelling sounding boards.

It’s a double-edged sword: feelings of intimacy and acceptance can grow, but they may come at the expense of real human connections.

Experts are sounding the alarm about AI’s potential to “love-bomb” users, blitzing them with attention and validation in a way that can be hard to resist or even distinguish from genuine human interaction.

Monitoring emotional health

The phenomenon is especially concerning for older users, who may not realise how artificial these affections are. The increasingly human touch of chatbots raises urgent questions about psychological well-being and the boundaries of technology.

Safeguarding measures are overdue. Building in daily usage limits, regular reminders that the AI is not a sentient being, and providing tools to monitor emotional health could help prevent users from tumbling too deep into digital romance.

The goal is not to demonise the technology—many find comfort and fun connecting with AI—but to protect vulnerable individuals and keep the line between help and harm from blurring.

As AI gets closer to imitating real emotion, our relationship with technology is due for a reality check. For now, being aware of the risks is the first step toward a healthier, more balanced coexistence with our digital friends.

Databricks valuation crosses $100b amid new funding on AI momentum

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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Databricks valuation crosses $100b amid new funding on AI momentum
  • Demand for AI-driven applications and automated agents has reached unprecedented heights, transforming data into powerful assets for organisations worldwide, CEO says.

Databricks, the San Francisco-based analytics powerhouse, is making headlines again after revealing plans for a new funding round that would catapult its valuation over $100 billion—a remarkable 61% leap from its previous round less than a year ago.

The surge is the latest example of investors’ insatiable appetite for artificial intelligence firms blazing new trails in data analytics and machine learning.

With an impressive customer roster including Block, Shell, and Rivian, Databricks continues to anchor itself at the heart of the AI revolution. Its global clientele of approximately 15,000 companies signals just how embedded it has become in the digital strategies of leading enterprises.

Investor enthusiasm

The company’s CEO and co-founder, Ali Ghodsi, couldn’t suppress his excitement, noting that demand for AI-driven applications and automated agents has reached unprecedented heights, transforming data into powerful assets for organisations worldwide.

Although the exact amount raised wasn’t disclosed, Databricks confirmed that it has inked a term sheet for a hotly anticipated Series K investment.

The firm’s prior round last year—the monumental $10 billion raise that set a benchmark in venture capital—had valued the company at $62 billion, highlighting the acceleration in its growth trajectory.

Databricks plans to channel the fresh influx of capital into developing new products and pursuing strategic acquisitions across the artificial intelligence sector.

The move aligns with the broader corporate and governmental race to harness the power of rapidly advancing AI technologies, where transforming raw data into actionable intelligence is becoming critical to competitive advantage.

The investor enthusiasm swirling around Databricks this year is a testament to the company’s relentless pursuit of innovation, as well as to the larger narrative: AI is reshaping not only technology but the very future of business and society.

Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy revs up startup growth in first half

TCN Bureau
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Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy revs up startup growth in first half
  • Rolls out 10 local events and 15 international roadshows in early 2025 designed to forge new partnerships and accelerate sector growth.

The first half of 2025 saw remarkable achievements for the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, which has become an engine for entrepreneurial growth in the emirate.

The progressive body, operating under Dubai Chambers, announced it had assisted 308 promising digital startups to establish and develop their businesses in Dubai—marking a 39 per cent increase from the 221 companies supported over the same period last year.

Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, as well as Chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, reflected on this milestone: “Our priority is to create a seamless digital business landscape where visionaries, talents, and new ventures find every tool necessary for success.

By reinforcing Dubai’s digital infrastructure, evolving the legislative framework, and cultivating a truly innovative ecosystem, we are unlocking global potential right from the heart of the emirate.”

Digital opportunities

Looking deeper into the activities fueling this momentum, Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of the Chamber, recounted a dynamic calendar: “To empower tech businesses, we rolled out 10 events in early 2025 designed to forge new partnerships and accelerate sector growth.

“Furthermore, we hit the road with 15 international roadshows, spotlighting Dubai’s flourishing digital opportunities and driving anticipation for Expand North Star—set to be the world’s premier gathering for startups and investors.”

Expand North Star, hosted by the Chamber and organised by Dubai World Trade Centre in October 2025, is poised to attract trailblazers across the global digital economy. This massive event draws startups, investors, business leaders, and innovators together, all eager to explore Dubai’s advantages and shape the future of digital commerce.

ICEA urges 5% GST on mobile phones to boost “Digital India”

Ana Mary Joseph
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ICEA urges 5% GST on mobile phones to boost “Digital India”
  • Mobile phone production grew from Rs18,900 crore in FY15 to Rs5.45 lakh crore in FY25, and its exports crossed Rs2 lakh crore.

As the country awaits GST rate rationalisation, the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) called for the inclusion of mobile phones and components in the five per cent GST slab reserved for essential goods.

Calling the current 18 per cent GST slab “regressive”, ICEA argued that mobile phones, essential for digital access for over 90 crore Indian citizens, should be classified as ‘necessities’ in the upcoming GST reform.

“The mobile phone is no longer an aspirational good; it is an essential digital infrastructure for education, healthcare, financial inclusion, and governance. It should rightly be taxed at 5 per cent GST, in line with the Prime Minister’s GST reform agenda and his vision of a $500 billion electronics ecosystem,” said Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman, ICEA.

Stimulating demand

India cannot create an inclusive Digital India if the devices that enable it remain unaffordable for millions. Placing mobile phones in the 5 per cent GST slab will restore affordability, stimulate demand, and accelerate India’s journey towards universal digital access, Mohindroo added.

The Central government has mulled reducing the current four-slab structure into two primary rates — 5 per cent and 18 per cent — while introducing a special 40 per cent slab for luxury and sin goods.

Around 99 per cent of items currently taxed at 12 per cent are expected to shift to the 5 per cent bracket, while 90 per cent of goods in the 28 per cent slab, including white goods, are expected to shift to the 18 per cent slab.

Domestic annual consumption of mobile phones has decreased from nearly 300 million units to around 220 million units since the GST increase to 18 per cent in 2020, ICEA noted, adding that the Indian market has huge room to grow if rates are slashed.

Boosted by the ‘Make in India’ initiative, mobile phone production grew from Rs18,900 crore in FY15 to Rs5.45 lakh crore in FY25, and its exports crossed Rs2 lakh crore, positioning India as the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world after China.

SoftBank’s $2b injection fuels new hope for Intel’s AI comeback

Ana Mary Joseph
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SoftBank’s $2b injection fuels new hope for Intel’s AI comeback
  • After years marked by leadership missteps and missed AI opportunities, the Santa Clara giant has found itself playing catch-up while rivals rake in the artificial intelligence riches.

It’s not every day that a legend in the chipmaking world gets a shot at redemption, but that’s exactly what’s unfolding for Intel as SoftBank Group steps up with a $2 billion capital injection.

The announcement, is a clear sign that the Japanese tech investment powerhouse is betting big on Intel’s ability to claw its way back into the high-stakes AI chip arena.

For Intel—a company once synonymous with semiconductor domination—this is more than just an infusion of cash. After years marked by leadership missteps and missed AI opportunities, the Santa Clara giant has found itself playing catch-up while rivals rake in the artificial intelligence riches.

The SoftBank deal lands squarely in the middle of Intel’s much-publicised turnaround push, led by new CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

The timing is all the more notable given the political swirl around Intel lately.

SoftBank’s grand vision

Reports surfaced last week about possible government intervention—potentially a direct stake from the US government—after a charged meeting between CEO Tan and President Trump. The President’s reported calls for Tan’s resignation over his China connections added further intrigue.

Nevertheless, insiders insist that SoftBank’s investment decision was made independently of the White House drama.

With this move, SoftBank instantly rockets into Intel’s top-10 shareholders—landing as the sixth largest.

The $23-a-share deal, via a fresh issuance of common stock, gives SoftBank just under two per cent ownership in Intel, fueling not just Intel’s turnaround, but also SoftBank’s grand vision for AI infrastructure in America.

Remember, these are the folks spearheading the $500 billion Stargate US data centre mega-project and pouring $30 billion into OpenAI this year.

Rapidly evolving puzzle

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son was blunt about the significance, saying that America’s role in next-gen semiconductor manufacturing is poised to expand—and Intel is at the centre of that story.

But there’s no “takeover” angle here: SoftBank isn’t angling for a board seat or promising to buy up swathes of Intel’s chips. This is a simple, strategic equity play—though the market reaction was anything but quiet: SoftBank shares tumbled 5 per cent, while Intel’s stock jumped 5.6 per cent after hours.

There is still a lot of ground to cover before Intel can declare victory. The company posted a staggering $18.8 billion loss in 2024—its first annual loss in nearly 40 years. The very real specter of direct US government investment hangs over everything, with some reports suggesting the Feds are contemplating a 10 per cent stake.

If nothing else, SoftBank’s investment piles further momentum onto the US side of the global chip and AI arms race.

With Foxconn planning to build data centre gear for SoftBank’s Stargate venture at its repurposed Ohio factory, and the Japanese investor casting an ever-wider net across the AI value chain, the Intel lifeline is just one piece of a much bigger, rapidly evolving puzzle.

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