- 2 hours ago
In this episode of Tech Today, we explore the massive environmental and energy costs of the AI revolution. From data centres straining global grids to Big Tech’s sudden pivot toward nuclear power, we look at the "power drought" that no one is talking about. Plus, we put the brand-new Xiaomi Pad 8 to the test and hunt for the best smartphone value in India.
In this episode:
The AI Energy Equation: Generating one AI image may use as much power as a full smartphone charge. We dive into how Microsoft, Google, and others are racing to secure energy for the future of AI.
Xiaomi Pad 8 Review: Is this the budget tablet that finally replaces your laptop for office work? We look at the productivity features, display, and performance of the latest from Xiaomi.
Smartphone Buying Guide (Under ₹40,000): If you're looking to upgrade, we break down the best picks in the "premium mid-range" segment.
In this episode:
The AI Energy Equation: Generating one AI image may use as much power as a full smartphone charge. We dive into how Microsoft, Google, and others are racing to secure energy for the future of AI.
Xiaomi Pad 8 Review: Is this the budget tablet that finally replaces your laptop for office work? We look at the productivity features, display, and performance of the latest from Xiaomi.
Smartphone Buying Guide (Under ₹40,000): If you're looking to upgrade, we break down the best picks in the "premium mid-range" segment.
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NewsTranscript
00:14Did you know that creating one image using any AI tool, maybe like Dali or Midjourney,
00:20takes up as much energy as charging a phone from 0 to 100%?
00:25And that's just one image.
00:27I'm talking about millions of images being created, texts, codes and videos on a daily basis.
00:34Now we already know there is an energy crisis around the world right now.
00:39So how are AI companies dealing with all of that?
00:42That energy equation in AI is what our big story for this week is.
00:48Also, we have a budget tablet with us, a possible replacement for all of the basic office work that you
00:54want to do.
00:55This is the Xiaomi Pad 8, a full review of this on the show this week.
00:59Plus, for people looking to buy a smartphone in the sub 40,000 category, we have some top choices for
01:06you.
01:06I'm Cyrus and this is the Tech Today Show and let's kick things off with the top tech headlines of
01:11the week.
01:16OpenAI has officially launched GPT 5.4, its most advanced model designed for professional agentic workflows.
01:24This update introduces native computer use capabilities, allowing the AI to operate apps and browsers autonomously via API.
01:32The company believes it is a powerhouse for complex coding and research.
01:37While the Thinking and Pro versions are live for paid users, a new GPT 5.4 Mini is now rolling
01:43out for free tier users.
01:50Mark Zuckerberg is officially pulling the plug on his big VR dream, Verizon Worlds, for Quest headsets by June 2026.
01:59After losing nearly 6.6 lakh crore, Meta is shifting focus from the virtual world to artificial intelligence and smart
02:07glasses.
02:08Reports say that the project failed because management didn't understand what young users actually wanted.
02:14For now, the Metaverse will only exist as a simple mobile app, ending the era of expensive VR headsets.
02:27Anthropic has introduced a game-changing feature called Remote Control for its Claude AI.
02:32Now developers and office-goers can start a task on their office computers and finish it from their phone while
02:39travelling.
02:39You just scan a QR code to link your device securely without leaking any data.
02:45It's perfect for the work-from-anywhere culture, allowing users to monitor complex office work while sitting in a cafe
02:52or a cab.
02:59Apple-owned company Beats has launched the Power Beats 2 Nike Edition in India for Rs. 29,900.
03:06Designed for elite athletes, these buds feature built-in heart rate tracking that syncs directly with the Nike Run Club
03:13app.
03:14With a massive 45-hour battery life and a sweat-proof design, they are built for serious gym lovers.
03:21The special edition features the iconic Nike swoosh on the right butt and is available starting March 20th across Apple's
03:28digital storefronts.
03:35And people looking to buy a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra can get one at just Rs. 6,500 a month
03:42thanks to a new program called Galaxy Forever where you can pay just half the price through no-cost EMIs.
03:49After 12 months, you can choose to return it and upgrade to the next Galaxy or keep it by paying
03:54the remaining amount.
03:55The program works similarly to Apple's upgrade program in the US.
04:08So the headlines right now are dominated by traditional energy crisis, the volatility of oil prices due to the standoff
04:16in the Strait of Hormuz and families struggling with the skyrocketing cost of basic resources.
04:22With the global energy crisis at its most fragile point in decades, it's easy to see why the world is
04:30distracted right now.
04:32But while the spotlight is on the fuel pumps and the heating bills, there is a silent massive surge happening
04:39in the AI world that people are simply not learning enough about.
04:44Let's talk about that.
04:50We spend all day talking about neural networks and LLMs, but we rarely talk about the sheer amount of juice
04:56required to keep those brains humming.
05:01According to a report by the International Energy Agency, data centers, the physical brains of AI, consumed about 415 TWh
05:10of electricity in 2024.
05:12That's roughly 1.5% of the total global consumption.
05:18The United States is currently leading the charge, devouring 45% of that power, followed by China at 25%
05:26and Europe at 15%.
05:28But as we move deeper into 2026, those numbers are starting to look like the good old days.
05:36We are staring down a massive energy equation that simply isn't being highlighted right now, but may come back to
05:43hurt the tech sector, especially the rapid development in AI.
05:51We have to think about building beyond like a independent supply chain of the data center equipment and the energy.
06:25As if the chip shortage wasn't enough to slow things down, the power shortage is here.
06:30In 2026, the primary bottleneck for AI is the physical grid.
06:38In the US, data centers now consume 4.4% of all electricity.
06:43However, in hotspots like Ireland, the number is set to hit 32% by the end of the year.
06:51Dominion Energy, which serves the world's largest concentration of data centers in Northern Virginia,
06:57has reported that the rapid surge in power demand from AI and cloud computing is outstripping the grid's ability to
07:04deliver power,
07:05leading to significant connection delays and infrastructure challenges.
07:13And according to a Goldman Sachs research, AI is expected to drive a 160% increase in data center power
07:20demand by 2030.
07:23While an AI model can be trained in months, it takes nearly a decade to build the high-voltage transmission
07:29lines needed to feed it.
07:31This gridlock is already delaying housing and commercial projects in major cities, creating a socio-economic tension between big tech
07:40and big utility.
07:49So what fuels an AI factory?
07:51Currently, it's a desperate mix.
07:56While wind and solar provide 27% of the global mix, they lack the always-on stability that AI data
08:02centers need.
08:03While companies like Google and Microsoft have stayed committed to 24-7 carbon-free energy goals, the immediate demand has
08:11forced a reliance on natural gas.
08:15As a result, we are seeing a rise in behind-the-meter generation where data centers build their own natural
08:22gas plants on-site to bypass the public grid.
08:25However, 2026 has seen a massive shift towards nuclear power.
08:33From the restart of Three Mile Island, through a power-purchase agreement with Microsoft, to investments in small modular reactors,
08:41the industry is betting on atoms to save the pits.
08:47So, big tech is effectively becoming big energy now.
08:51They are buying up nuclear plants and building private grids just to stay online.
08:56But to really understand the whole scale of this, we need to zoom out and look at the global footprint
09:03right now.
09:04Every time you ask a chatbot a question, you're essentially asking it to take a sip of water.
09:10And globally, that's adding up to a massive drought risk right now.
09:15Here's how.
09:17The math is staggering.
09:19A single chat GPT query requires nearly 10 times as much electricity as a standard Google search.
09:26If you look at the global stage, the IEA projects that by the end of 2030, data center electricity consumption
09:33could go above 1000 TWh.
09:37To put that in perspective, that is equivalent to adding the entire electricity demand of countries like Japan or Germany
09:45to the global grid in just a few years.
09:50New data from University of California, Riverside shows that for every 20 to 50 prompts used, an AI drinks a
09:58500 ml bottle of water for cooling.
10:01By 2027, the global AI water demand is expected to reach 6.6 billion cubic meters exceeding the annual water
10:09use of the entire country of Denmark.
10:14In places like Arizona and West Texas, data centers are now in direct competition with local residents for every drop.
10:24While AI currently accounts for about 2-3% of global power, researchers warn that if scaling continues at this
10:31trajectory, AI infrastructure alone could consume as much energy as any developed nation by 2027.
10:42Compared to the world, India's approach to this power struggle looks balanced at the moment.
10:48As of March 2026, India's data center capacity has crossed 1.5 GW with projections to hit 2 GW by
10:57the end of the year.
10:59We are actually witnessing a construction spree.
11:02Uttar Pradesh alone just announced 8 new data center parks with an investment of 2 lakh crore, while Navi Mumbai
11:08remains the country's digital engine holding 44% of total capacity.
11:16The impact of all this on the Indian power grid is immense.
11:20To put this in perspective, India's total installed power capacity recently reached a milestone of 520.51 GW as of
11:29early 2026.
11:31While the current 1.5 GW used by data centers seems like a drop in the bucket, the trajectory is
11:38the real story.
11:40According to the Ministry of Power, data center electricity demand is projected to reach 13.5 GW by 2031.
11:50We believe India needs more than 10 GW as of now.
11:55If you see the global scenario, there are 100 GW deployed.
11:59And if you see global 100 GW versus India is 1.45, the 1.5% is deployed.
12:08Our current national capacity is growing at record speeds, but data centers are dynamic loads.
12:14They can spike exponentially at any moment, unlike traditional factories, potentially straining local systems during the high demand scenarios.
12:24To counter this, the government recently passed a Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy Act aiming to deploy small
12:32modular reactors specifically to give these AI factories a stable off-grid power source.
12:40The discussion here is about the type of power and who gets to use it.
12:46If AI starts competing with hospitals or homes for electricity, the cool factor of generative AI is going to wear
12:53off real fast.
12:54And completing this is the deep uncertainty of a war.
12:59With geopolitical conflicts disrupting supply chains, we genuinely don't know where the future of non-renewable sources stand right now.
13:09Big tech can no longer rely on cheap legacy energy.
13:13We are right now at a crossroads where the digital world is finally being forced to respect the physical limits
13:20of our planet.
13:21Can we really innovate our way to a green AI future?
13:25Or is the energy crisis the one thing that finally slows down the silicon speedway?
13:31Only time will tell and I'm sure it's not going to be that good.
13:49Okay, let's be honest.
13:51Most of us use our laptops for our daily work like emails, maybe documents, shuffle around a couple of Excel
13:57and maybe Netflix.
13:59And something like that can be done on something as basic as the Xiaomi Pad 8.
14:05But here's the thing, I'm not saying that this can replace your laptop completely.
14:10However, for some of the basic things, I think this can really do the job.
14:14At first glance, the Xiaomi Pad 8 feels premium. Slim profile, clean design and most importantly, it's lightweight and enough
14:22light to carry everywhere.
14:24And the anti-reflective coating works great for outdoor use.
14:27But the real story begins where it really outshines a lot of the tablets in the market when you slip
14:34this one on and that's when it becomes a productivity engine.
14:38Because this is the Xiaomi Focus keyboard and I'll be honest, this surprised me.
14:42The keyboard quality is actually really good, you get a solid key travel, a comfortable layout and yes, it is
14:49backlit when it lights up in the dark automatically which makes a huge difference if you're working late nights.
14:55And this is where Xiaomi is clearly aiming at a laptop-like experience for you.
14:59And for everyday tasks, emails, Google Docs, scripts, even light multitasking, this setup works perfectly.
15:06The trackpad is responsive and even has haptic touch settings.
15:10It's smaller than your regular trackpad but does a good job.
15:14Is it really a full laptop replacement?
15:16I would not say because for people who want to edit timelines, who want to really do hardcore stuff, that
15:24this really doesn't work.
15:25And you also get the Stylus Pro with this one that attaches magnetically and charges as well and the experience
15:31becomes even more versatile.
15:33Jotting down notes, marking documents or just doodling, it's all great on this tablet.
15:40For students, creators or even professionals in meetings, this adds a whole new layer of usability.
15:49Now, display is one department where the Pad 8 really outshines a lot of its competitors in this segment.
15:54Because it's a sharp and vibrant display whether you're watching content or just scrolling through apps.
16:00It's a great experience and the speakers are also good considering the size and they also have Dolby Atmos support.
16:09It's smaller than your conventional laptop screen but big enough for reading texts or documents.
16:15At 800 nits, it's bright enough for some bright rooms and also has 144Hz refresh rate that keeps scrolling smooth.
16:26So, overall, a good display.
16:29The bezels aren't that chunky to disrupt any viewing and this coating that Xiaomi has added really helps if you
16:35are working in bright conditions.
16:37Under the hood, the performance is solid as this device is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 coupled with
16:4212GB of RAM and that's the top variant.
16:46Apps open quickly, multitasking is smooth and for daily use, you won't feel held back.
16:51I mean, it doesn't get you the iPad experience but for someone who is already accustomed to the Android ecosystem,
16:58this one will just help you get through the day.
17:01Yes, it's not as fluid as the iPad but it just works.
17:06Even the cameras are surprisingly good.
17:09Now, you're not buying the tablet for photography, right?
17:12But for video calls, meetings or quick captures, this gets the job done comfortably.
17:17Now, battery life is something that gets a little interesting on this one and honestly, I wasn't really that impressed.
17:24Because with normal everyday use, this tablet lasted me just 2 days and in about 2 hours of watching YouTube,
17:31it lost almost 24% of battery and that's a lot.
17:35Now, that is a lot considering you have tablets in the market that can offer you easily 3 to 4
17:40days of backup.
17:41So, battery optimization isn't really something that is really that efficient on the Pad 8.
17:46And when it comes to charging, that's where I feel that Xiaomi could have done better because this one comes
17:51with a 67-watt charger that is technically slow.
17:55Because in 2026, if other competition tablets are offering about 80-watt charging, so Xiaomi could have done something better,
18:02especially for a tablet that loses out on juice really quickly.
18:07So, verdict time, should you really buy the Pad 8?
18:10I would say absolutely, especially if you're looking for an iPad substitution in the Android ecosystem and that to under
18:1835,000 rupees.
18:20Because this is a very, very strong option and it's not trying to replace your high-end tablets or laptops,
18:27but for everyday work, content and portability, this one delivers.
18:32So, to end, I would say just try to be clear about what you're looking for.
18:36Are you looking for a laptop or a tablet?
18:37Because if you're looking for a portable tablet that you can do your daily work on, then this one with
18:42the keyboard is a fantastic option.
18:45And the keyboard costs an extra 6-7,000 rupees and that is value for money.
19:03If you're looking to buy a smartphone in the 40,000 or sub 40,000 category, you are in the
19:09perfect place.
19:11Because the 40,000 category is like the sweet spot, you're getting almost flagship level features, but you're not having
19:17to pay a bomb.
19:19And that's the best place to be.
19:21And today on the show, I have five solid options for you that will give you bang for the buck
19:26and you don't have to compromise on any department.
19:29And the best part is in the end of the video, I will tell you which one is best for
19:34you.
19:38Let's start with the Motorola Edge 70, a smartphone which I feel does a lot, but suddenly.
19:45At around 30,000 rupees, it immediately feels like you are getting more than what you paid for.
19:50Now this smartphone is slim, it's light and has a curved display which gives a proper premium vibe and the
19:58moment you pick it up, it feels good in the hands.
20:00But what really works here is the balance.
20:03The performance is solid, the cameras are reliable and the battery comfortably lasts a full day.
20:08And then there's the software, it's clean, near Android, no unnecessary clutter which is honestly becoming rare now.
20:16So honestly, the Motorola Edge 70 is the kind of smartphone you would want to buy for the longer run
20:21because it gives you long software support and it's just easy to use.
20:28The next option really stands out in the Indian market because if you want a smartphone that looks something like
20:34this in the hand, then the Nothing 4A Pro is the one to go with.
20:38Because this phone has been recently launched in India and has a unique transparent design, the glyph lights and has
20:45a personality that you will not find anywhere in the market.
20:48And if that's something that you're looking for, then this one is the one to go with.
20:52But beyond the design, Nothing has also nailed the experience.
20:56The UI is clean, it's smooth and feels thoughtfully put together.
21:00Now the phone is really not chasing specs for the sake of it and it's offering you an intuitive and
21:06a seamless experience for daily use.
21:08The camera is decent if you are into photography.
21:11So close to 40,000 rupees if you're looking for a recent device, then the Nothing 4A Pro really makes
21:17sense.
21:18Yes, it's not one of those conventional mainstream brands in India, but Nothing has been doing a decent job in
21:24the recent past.
21:25Then we have the Vivo V60 and I like that this is a smartphone that knows exactly what it gets
21:32to you.
21:33Because this is a camera first phone.
21:35If you enjoy taking portraits, shooting for social media or just want your photos to look instantly good without much
21:42effort,
21:43then Vivo has consistently been strong in this department and the Vivo V60 also continues to offer the same.
21:49The design is sleek, it feels premium in the hand and overall performance is dependable for everyday use.
21:54And if you're looking for a good camera phone between the 35 to 40 segment, then the V60 really stands
21:59out.
21:59Also, it's not trying to be the fastest or the flashiest, but when it comes to camera output, especially portraits,
22:06this is one of the best phones in this segment.
22:11And for all those who want really a safe option, the OnePlus Nord 5 is that phone.
22:17Because this phone doesn't try too hard to stand out, but gets all of the fundamentals right.
22:22It has smooth performance, clean interface with OxygenOS and that familiar OnePlus reliability that a lot of users still trust.
22:34And this one sits comfortably in the sub 40,000 category, but the best part is OnePlus offers that consistency,
22:41which a lot of people like, not only in terms of hardware, but also battery backup.
22:46And a quick heads up that the Nord 6 will be launched in India very soon.
22:49And if you are looking to upgrade, then you can definitely try that option.
22:53And also remember the Nord 5 will go through a price drop.
22:57So you can also buy that if you're okay with the specs.
23:00And to conclude the wild card on this list is the Infinix GT30 Pro.
23:06Now this one is all about performance.
23:08It's clearly aimed at gamers and power users who want the most bang for their buck.
23:14It's priced around 25 to 28,000 rupees is easily the most aggressive phone here in terms of value.
23:19You're getting a high refresh rate display, strong internals and a design that leans into that gaming aesthetic.
23:26Now I understand it might not have the reputation or the polish like some of the other smartphones in this
23:33category.
23:33But if you're looking for raw performance and especially if you're into gaming, then this smartphone is a good option.
23:39So there you have it, a list of the top 5 phones under 40,000 rupees in India which you
23:44can consider right now.
23:45Now remember, the phones that we have given you, well, you can definitely go online research about them and then
23:53make that final buying decision.
23:54For me, I feel the Motorola Edge 70 is really the best on this list but different smartphones offer different
24:01value.
24:02Because remember, the Moto Edge 70 is offering you a premium feel, clean software, dependable performance and solid cameras all
24:09in this one package.
24:10And it's not really extreme in any one area but it's very hard to fault overall.
24:17Having said that, if you're a gamer, the Infinix GT30 Pro makes more sense.
24:20And if the camera is your priority, Vivo V60 is the way to go.
24:23And if you want something stylish, then nothing for a Pro is definitely your pick.
24:26And if you want a good battery and overall a clean experience, the OnePlus is the safest smartphone that you
24:32can buy in this category.
24:34Alright, it's time to say goodbye for this week's show.
24:37As always, please write to us with your suggestions and feedback.
24:41And if you have any tech query, we will be here to help you.
24:45I'll see you next week, right here.
24:47Till then, stay curious and keep watching the Tech Today show.
24:50Take care.
24:56Bye.
24:58Bye.
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