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Will the weight of Intel CEO’s past let him down?

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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Will the weight of Intel CEO’s past let him down?

  • But the episode had changed the conversation—no longer about Intel’s turnaround or technology roadmap, but about the CEO’s past and where his loyalties lay.
  • Decades of global investments had brought Tan to the top of the American chip industry. Now, those same investments were threatening to pull him down.

Intel’s gleaming headquarters in Santa Clara had been humming with quiet optimism in early 2025. Lip-Bu Tan, the company’s new CEO, was brought in as a seasoned dealmaker with a knack for spotting the future before it arrived.

For decades, he’d built a name—and a fortune—through Walden International, placing bold bets on emerging tech companies around the globe.

Intel’s CEO since March 2025, co-founded and leads Walden International, a venture firm that has poured over $200 million into hundreds of Chinese tech and semiconductor companies—some with alleged ties to the Chinese military. He invested early in SMIC, China’s largest chipmaker, and served on its board from 2001 to 2018.

Others, critics claim, brushed too close to firms with links to the People’s Liberation Army. Tan had even sat on SMIC’s board for nearly two decades. In Silicon Valley, this was seen as the résumé of a man with deep global reach. In Washington, it was starting to look like a liability.

The tension broke on August 7, 2025. Former President Donald Trump, never one to whisper, took to the airwaves and social media: Lip-Bu Tan, he declared, was “highly conflicted” and should resign immediately.

Ties with China

The market recoiled. Intel’s stock slid more than three per cent in hours. Senator Tom Cotton piled on, urging the company’s board to investigate Tan’s past ventures, some of which, Cotton alleged, had defense implications for China.

Inside Intel, employees watched the storm gather. Tan’s decades-old deals, once seen as savvy global strategy, were being reframed as potential threats to national security.

For Tan, this wasn’t just politics—it was personal. The accusations implied not only questionable judgment, but divided loyalties. Within hours, he pushed back, calling the attacks “misinformation” and reaffirming his commitment to US law, ethics, and Intel’s future. The board publicly stood by him. But the damage was already in motion.

But the episode had changed the conversation—no longer about Intel’s turnaround or technology roadmap, but about the CEO’s past and where his loyalties lay.

Decades of global investments had brought Tan to the top of the American chip industry. Now, those same investments were threatening to pull him down.

The question hanging over Intel’s glass towers wasn’t whether Lip-Bu Tan could run the company. It was whether the weight of his past would let him.

What GPT-5 means for business, tech and the future?

Mohammed Fahad
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What GPT-5 means for business, tech and the future?

  • Company showcases “vibe coding” – GPT-5’s ability to generate entire software projects instantly from user prompts.

The AI world experienced a seismic shift this week as OpenAI announced the much-anticipated launch of GPT-5, marking a bold new chapter in the generative AI saga.

The latest evolution of OpenAI’s renowned models now powers ChatGPT for its immense user base – 700 million and counting – signaling not just a technical achievement, but another step in the sweeping transformation of business, tech, and daily life on a global scale.

The major tech players – Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft (the last being OpenAI’s significant supporter) – are all jostling for dominance, buoyed by massive investments. Collectively, they’re poised to spend nearly $400 billion this fiscal year just on AI infrastructure and data centres.

Investor optimism is palpable, with stakes riding high on whether these colossal gambles will translate into equally giant leaps in productivity and enterprise value.

So, what’s the catch with GPT-5, and why is it causing so much buzz?

“PhD-level” expertise

For starters, OpenAI is pivoting hard toward enterprise solutions. While millions of individuals love ChatGPT for everything from daily chats to trivia, the real prize lies in wooing businesses with robust, reliable, and specialised AI.

OpenAI claims GPT-5 is a quantum leap in this direction, handling software development, technical writing, health inquiries, and finance questions with what CEO Sam Altman calls “PhD-level” expertise. The company even showcased “vibe coding” – GPT-5’s ability to generate entire software projects instantly from user prompts.

The implications are dizzying – and yet, not everyone is sold on the leap from GPT-4 to GPT-5. Early testers note improvements, especially in coding and complex problem-solving, but some argue the jump isn’t as dramatic as previous upgrades.

The human-AI gap remains: GPT-5 can’t autonomously learn or reason quite like people do, though it continues to eat away at domains once considered strictly human turf.

Meanwhile, the business of AI isn’t slowing. OpenAI is already exploring new employee compensation through share cash-outs at a mind-boggling $500 billion valuation, up from an already impressive $300 billion mark.

The AI talent war is brutal – think nine-figure signing bonuses for top researchers.

And yet, the broader question lingers. As analyst Noah Smith points out, while consumers are hooked on AI chats and novelty, it’s unclear whether enterprise adoption – the truly big money – has matched the hype or the investment. Will GPT-5’s new capabilities tip the scales?

Musk reignites AI rivalry

Meanwhile, Elon Musk has reignited the AI rivalry with a dramatic statement on X (formerly Twitter) targeting OpenAI’s brand-new GPT-5.

In his trademark provocative style, Musk, the head of Tesla and the driving force behind xAI, brazenly claimed his company’s latest AI model, Grok-4 Heavy, had already surpassed GPT-5’s capabilities “two weeks ago.”

He declared, “Bottom line: Grok-4 Heavy was smarter than GPT-5 two weeks ago and is now significantly better,” turning up the heat just hours after OpenAI’s latest reveal on August 7.

Naturally, Musk didn’t stop at words. He posted a chart—originally shared by another X user—putting Grok-4 Heavy at the top and relegating GPT-5 to a spot somewhere between Grok-4 and Grok-4 Heavy. With this, he didn’t just challenge a competitor—he called down the lightning on the entire AI leader board.

For context, Grok-4, unveiled by xAI in early July, is the company’s state-of-the-art language model, while Grok-4 Heavy takes things further by enabling multi-agent collaboration and more advanced reasoning.

Musk also flooded his timeline with images and videos showing off what Grok-4 Heavy can do, while inviting users to share their own creations. One can’t help but wonder if this is both a flex and an open invitation for a user-powered reality check against OpenAI.

OpenAI, meanwhile, isn’t about to let the spotlight drift. CEO Sam Altman, during a pre-launch press briefing, introduced GPT-5 as a “major step toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).”

Altman painted a vivid picture: “If GPT-3 felt like talking to a high school student, GPT-4 like a college student, then GPT-5 feels like talking to a PhD-level expert.” It’s clear he expects GPT-5 to make a serious splash, especially with its promised leaps in enterprise use, technical projects, and even health and finance queries.

But this rivalry runs deeper than just two AI models jostling for tech-world bragging rights. Musk and Altman have a long, tangled history. Formerly joined at the hip as OpenAI co-founders, they split over vision and values—Musk has since claimed OpenAI lost its way by putting profit before principle.

Not content to critique from the sidelines, he launched xAI as a direct alternative, pledging to build AI that’s both more powerful and more transparent.

The public showdown between Grok-4 Heavy and GPT-5, stoked by Musk’s high-profile antics and Altman’s grand vision, guarantees a spicy chapter in the ongoing AI arms race.

For the rest of us? We get front-row seats to a rivalry that’s almost as fascinating as the technology itself.

Cost of data breaches rise 13% to Rs220m in India

Ana Mary Joseph
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Cost of data breaches rise 13% to Rs220m in India
  • Primary culprits were phishing (18% of incidents), supply chain and vendor compromises (17%), and vulnerability exploitation (13%).

The average cost for organisations suffering data breaches in India surged to an all-time high of Rs220 million (Rs22 crore) in 2025, marking a 13 per cent year-on-year rise, according to fresh findings released by IBM.

The uptick reflects both a growing threat landscape and a wider range of digital vulnerabilities as companies race to embrace new technologies.

One encouraging trend emerges: Indian organisations are detecting and containing breaches more quickly. The average time to identify and contain a breach dropped to 263 days—15 days fewer than last year. Analysts point to swifter incident response investments and sharper cyber threat awareness across sectors as key drivers behind this progress.

Yet, as artificial intelligence powers transformation across industries, security and governance are struggling to keep up. Only 37 per cent of Indian enterprises surveyed had rolled out AI-based access controls, while nearly 60 per cent admitted lacking comprehensive AI governance policies or said their policies were still a work in progress.

A strategic liability

Even among organisations with AI governance in place, adoption of automated governance tools lagged, with just a third making use of this tech.

The primary culprits behind data breaches in India this year were phishing (18 per cent of incidents), supply chain and vendor compromises (17 per cent), and vulnerability exploitation (13 per cent).

IBM’s researchers flagged that global excitement to harness AI is overshadowing investments in security and governance—leaving unregulated systems far more exposed to breaches and costlier clean-ups when attacks occur.

Research sector suffers the steepest

Viswanath Ramaswamy, Vice President for Technology at IBM India & South Asia, underscored the urgency: “India’s rapid adoption of AI promises major gains, but it also raises the stakes around cyber risk. Failing to put proper controls and governance in place isn’t just an IT flaw—it’s a strategic liability. CISOs must weave trust and transparency into AI deployment from the start.”

A fast-growing risk area: shadow AI—the use of unsanctioned AI apps bypassing IT oversight. Shadow AI emerged as one of the three costliest sources of breaches, bumping up damages by Rs17.9 million per incident. Only 42 per cent of Indian organisations said they had policies designed to catch shadow AI and its risks.

The research sector suffered the steepest average breach costs, at Rs289 million, closely trailed by the transportation industry (Rs288 million) and the industrial sector (Rs264 million). As India’s data economy expands and digital platforms embed themselves ever deeper into essential services, the price of lacking AI security and governance will only climb higher.

Mobile phones drive India’s electronics exports up 47% to $12.4b

TCN Bureau
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Mobile phones drive India’s electronics exports up 47% to $12.4b
  • Non-mobile electronics exports—including solar modules, networking equipment, charger adapters, and critical components grow 36% to reach $4.9b.

India’s electronics exports have kicked off FY26 with an energetic surge, soaring 47 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter according to new industry data.

The numbers, compiled by the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), tell the story: exports hit $12.4 billion between April and June, a remarkable leap from $8.43 billion in the first quarter of the previous fiscal.

What’s powering this record-setting growth? Look no further than mobile phones. This segment alone posted a jaw-dropping 55 per cent jump, rising from $4.9 billion to an estimated $7.6 billion in just twelve months.

Meanwhile, non-mobile electronics exports—including solar modules, networking equipment, charger adapters, and critical components—also shined, growing 36 per cent to reach $4.8 billion.

With this momentum in hand, ICEA now projects that India’s electronics exports could finish the fiscal year somewhere in the $46–50 billion range. This is more than just a short-term spike—it reflects the remarkable transformation in India’s manufacturing sector over the last decade. Total production leapt from $31 billion in FY15 to $133 billion for FY25, driven by focused government strategy and a new era of state-industry coordination.

ICEA Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo celebrated the achievements so far but emphasised bigger ambitions ahead. “Congratulations to the mobile phone industry for this outstanding performance—it’s a strategic national achievement. Now comes the real climb towards global competitiveness, sustainability, and deeper value addition,” he said.

Mohindroo also noted promising traction for other sectors such as solar modules, networking devices, and components, but encouraged a sharper focus on accelerating exports for IT hardware, wearables, hearables, and consumer electronics.

Policy played a starring role in this journey. Programs like the Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes have played a catalytic part, incentivising local value addition and unlocking critical investments.

The foundation, according to Mohindroo, sets the stage for the next leap: “We need globally competitive Indian brands and champions across the value chain—from components to finished products. That’s the path to real long-term sovereignty in electronics.”

None of this comes from nowhere. The strong opening to FY26 follows two years of record-breaking expansion, with electronics exports jumping from $29.1 billion in FY24 to $38.6 billion in FY25.

iRocket and SpaceBelt forge $640m deal to launch secure Gulf space network

TCN Bureau
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iRocket and SpaceBelt forge $640m deal to launch secure Gulf space network
  • The ultimate goal is to build a secure, sovereign, and autonomous communications infrastructure stretching across Saudi Arabia and the GCC.

iRocket, the US company behind the reusable Shockwave launch vehicle, has just inked a game-changing multi-year partnership with SpaceBelt KSA, a Saudi-based leader in space logistics and satellite security.

The deal, valued at up to $640 million, puts both companies right at the crossroads of cutting-edge technology and national ambition across the Gulf region.

Under the agreement, iRocket will support up to 30 upcoming satellite launches for SpaceBelt KSA, providing not only their advanced propulsion technology but also mission planning and full integration services.

The ultimate goal? To build a secure, sovereign, and autonomous communications infrastructure stretching across Saudi Arabia and the GCC.

Timing couldn’t be more strategic. Saudi Arabia is doubling down on its Vision 2030 plan—an ambitious roadmap to redefine the Kingdom’s leadership in both space and defense sectors.

A breakthrough moment

For iRocket, this partnership is a breakthrough moment, giving them vital access to the Gulf market and demonstrating a quickly intensifying global demand for launch platforms that can serve both commercial and security purposes.

Asad Malik, iRocket’s CEO, summed up the spirit of the partnership: “This opportunity places us in the driver’s seat for one of the region’s most forward-thinking space projects. Our agreement with SpaceBelt affirms the worldwide trend toward secure, scalable space access, as countries and corporations seek to advance their communications and surveillance capabilities.”

Cliff Beek, CEO of SpaceBelt KSA, noted, “This step is vital to our goal of becoming a regional and global force in secure space operations. Working with iRocket brings us closer to building the Kingdom’s sovereign space-based infrastructure, which is key to supporting defense, business, and diplomatic interests.”

Realising Vision 2030

Highlighting the partnership’s impact on Saudi Arabia’s broader economic and technological ambitions, Eng. Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri, SpaceBelt KSA’s Co-Founder and Chairman, said, “Partnering with top innovators like iRocket will help create high-skilled jobs, attract international interest, and further secure our place as a Gulf leader in space. This is all part of realising Vision 2030 and driving meaningful economic diversification.”

The scope of the deal is broad and future-facing. Beyond simply launching satellites, iRocket’s role covers launch vehicle integration, propulsion systems, and comprehensive mission planning for up to 30 major orbital launches.

It includes several satellite constellation deployments that will form the backbone of a robust, resilient, and autonomous Gulf communications network. Even more, the partnership opens doors for joint technology testing and regional manufacturing, promising knowledge transfer and expanding the Gulf’s space-based capabilities for both government and business needs.

Trump’s new tariffs spare Indian pharma and electronics

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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Trump’s new tariffs spare Indian pharma and electronics
  • US-bound exports made up about 23 per cent of India’s total shipments for both the June quarter of FY26 and Q1 FY25.

US President Donald Trump’s recent decision to slap 50 per cent new tariffs on imports from India sent shockwaves across trade communities—but, for now, it looks like India’s pharmaceutical and electronics shipments have dodged the bullet.

These sectors, including high-volume exports of smartphones and semiconductors, still sit comfortably on the exemption list, keeping over $30 billion in shipments shielded from immediate tariff hikes.

In the latest fiscal year (FY25), India exported $10.5 billion in pharmaceuticals and $14.6 billion in electronics—primarily smartphones—to the United States, together accounting for a significant 29 per cent of all Indian exports bound for the US.

Petroleum products, with shipments worth $4.09 billion, are also currently protected. All told, Indian exports to the US reached an impressive $86.51 billion in FY25, and much of that remains untouched for now.

Spells breathing room

The new tariffs—which Trump signaled would take effect in 21 days—have not yet swept up these key industries. For Indian exporters, that spells breathing room and perhaps even opportunity.

In fact, thanks to these exemptions, shipments to America have picked up since January, driving the share of India’s merchandise exports going to the US over 20 per cent for the first half of 2025.

Industry experts chalk up some of this growth to traders front-loading shipments before the looming tariff increases, as well as the early reprieve secured for smartphones and pharmaceuticals from the 10 per cent baseline duty that kicked in April.

Zooming out, India’s total exports showed only modest growth—less than 2 per cent in Q1 FY26, with a contraction of over 4 per cent in Q4 FY25—according to official Commerce Ministry numbers.

Exports surge

Still, the US market is carrying more weight than ever: US-bound exports made up about 23 per cent of India’s total shipments for both the June quarter of FY26 and Q1 FY25.

The outlook, however, isn’t fully sunny. Trump has floated the possibility of much steeper duties—up to 200 per cent—on foreign-made drugs, and there’s no guarantee that smartphone and electronics exemptions will stick. For now, US-bound Indian exports are in a strong position, but any policy shifts could quickly alter that landscape.

Commerce Ministry data show India shipped $25.52 billion worth of goods to America in Q1 FY26, a whopping 23 per cent increase year-on-year.

Total bilateral trade hit $32.41 billion for the quarter, and surpassed $86 billion for FY25. Indian exporters and policymakers are watching carefully, keenly aware that today’s favoured status could change just as quickly as it began.

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