- 17 hours ago
The global RAM crisis, WhatsApp username scare & Tata Sierra EV first look | Tech Today
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:13This week we are starting with a story that's already hitting consumers where it hurts the most, their wallets.
00:19Because a global memory shortage is pushing up the cost of essential components
00:24and companies like Apple have responded by increasing prices on some of their products.
00:28But why is this happening? And could more brands follow? Stick around because that impacts all of you.
00:35Also on the show, WhatsApp has a username feature which the company says has been designed to give users more
00:42privacy
00:42by letting them connect without sharing their phone numbers.
00:45But the rollout has also raised questions including concerns from the Indian government over traceability, misuse and user safety.
00:54We break down what the feature does and why it's creating so much debate.
00:59And finally, we get behind the wheels of the all-new Tata Sierra EV.
01:03From the battery tech to the cabin experience, we take a closer look at all of the tech inside Tata's
01:09latest electric SUV.
01:11Lots to unpack on this week's episode but first, let's get into the headlines of the week.
01:21Meta is changing how it builds businesses using its AI-powered Meta business agent on WhatsApp, shifting to a token
01:28-based model starting from the 1st of August.
01:30Under the new structure, businesses will pay a flat global rate of $2 per 1 million tokens consumed during customer
01:38interactions.
01:38Meta estimates a standard conversation will use around 20,000 to 25,000 tokens, costing roughly 4 to 5 cents.
01:45The change aligns WhatsApp with the standard token-based price models used by major AI developers.
01:55San Francisco's startup Weave Robotics has officially opened pre-orders for Isaac One, a wheeled home robot built to handle
02:03repetitive household chores.
02:04The device features a collapsible body and two robotic arms engineered for tasks like collecting and folding laundry, making beds
02:12and clearing clutter.
02:14Operating autonomously with remote teleoperation backup for complex situations, the robot promises an eight-hour battery life.
02:21It is priced at $8,000 with initial shipments scheduled to begin in California this fall.
02:31The United States Commerce Department has officially lifted export restrictions on Anthropic's next-generation Fable 5 and Mythos 5 artificial
02:39intelligence models.
02:41The decision comes less than three weeks after Washington ordered a temporary suspension over potential national security and cyber-attack
02:48risks.
02:49The reversal follows an agreement by Anthropic to proactively flag malicious activity and coordinate security protocols directly with federal agents.
02:57The startup has already begun restoring access to models globally across 15 countries.
03:09Last week, there was a big scare for Apple fans and many who had been vying to buy an iPad
03:15or a MacBook.
03:16Well, they are concerned now because Apple has increased the prices of its products.
03:21So you now have to pay more for the same product.
03:24Surprisingly, the largest price hike in Apple's history has been caused by something tinier than your fingernail and without which
03:32the world just stops.
03:34It's memory chips, your SSD and RAM.
03:37So in this segment, we are pulling back the curtain on all of this.
03:42We'll show you exactly how big tech's obsession with artificial intelligence has ended up with you paying more for your
03:49next phone or laptop upgrade.
03:51Why your favorite brands are quietly shrinking the specs on their devices and whether you should even buy now or
03:57hold off everything in our big tech story.
04:06For years, technology only moved in one direction.
04:09Cheaper, more storage, same price and sometimes less.
04:18Your dad's first laptop cost more and did less than the one gathering dust in your cupboard right now.
04:25That was the deal.
04:26That deal just broke.
04:28In 2026, the thing driving your bill up isn't the camera sensor.
04:33It isn't the processor as well.
04:35It's the memory.
04:40The little chip that nobody thinks about until it suddenly starts costing as much as the rest of the phone
04:46combined.
04:47Here's the scale of it.
04:51A basic 32 GB memory kit that costs about 6,500 rupees in early last year is now going for
04:58close to 29,000 rupees.
05:00That's not a price hike.
05:02It's nearly a 5x jump in about a year.
05:06And RAM isn't even alone in this.
05:09SSD and storage prices are climbing just as fast because the very same factories make both of these.
05:20AI has turned memory into a strategic choke point.
05:25For years, RAM, if you were to think of it inside the smartphone or the laptop, it was an invisible
05:32component for most.
05:33What we are seeing now in the AI economy, there are three major companies, SK Hynix, Samsung and Micron, who
05:41are providing those memory supplies as such.
05:45There is a finite source of memory supplies which is available.
05:49So what's really happening is your phone is competing with the AI data center and it's simple economics.
05:57The demand for AI data centers is going to increase as we move forward.
06:01And this build out is forcing that chiflation across the board.
06:06And it is going to impact prices from the phones to the laptops to all the other devices you can
06:12think of.
06:14Here's the short version.
06:16AI servers run on special super dense memory called HBM, which is high bandwidth memory.
06:23And manufacturing it eats up roughly three times the factory space of the regular RAM that goes into your phone.
06:31So every chip a factory redirects to an AI server is one less chip available for phones and laptops for
06:38you.
06:40Hyperscalers like Microsoft, Google and Meta are signing supply contracts worth more than $600 billion, locking up capacity years in
06:50advance.
06:50SK Hynix says its entire 2026 production is already sold out.
06:56Micron reportedly stepped back from large parts of the regular consumer RAM business altogether just to chase AI customers instead.
07:04The RAMs that are consumed by AI data centers, they are not just the same RAMs as used in smartphones.
07:12They use something called HBMs or high bandwidth memories.
07:15These are you can simply think of skyscrapers or towers of RAMs that, you know, otherwise go into smartphones.
07:23So they occupy a lot of and consume a lot of bandwidth as well as physical space of factories.
07:30So there is something which we call crowding effect and that is happening in the factories of these RAM companies
07:36right now.
07:37That decision is rippling straight into the price tags you and I actually see.
07:42Apple pushed through hikes of up to 20% across MacBooks and iPads.
07:46Microsoft added up to $150 on to high storage Xbox consoles.
07:52The prices of the PlayStations were increased recently and closer to home,
07:57Dell, HP and ASUS have all confirmed price increases in India
08:01with ASUS warning some models could go up by as much as 45%.
08:07And before you ask if there is a fix for all of this, absolutely not.
08:11Because analysts expect another 40 to 50% jump this quarter alone with prices staying elevated right through 2027.
08:19There is even a lawsuit in the US right now accusing these same three companies of deliberately squeezing supply to
08:25push prices higher.
08:27They deny it, calling it pure AI demand.
08:30And in India, it feels like a very personal problem right now.
08:36Our market runs on value.
08:38The sub 15,000 rupee phone, the sub 35,000 rupee laptop and that's exactly the same segment getting squeezed
08:45the hardest.
08:46Because there is almost no room left to absorb a cost increase without either raising the price or quietly taking
08:54something out of the box.
08:56And brands are choosing option two just as often as option one.
09:01Analysts call it spec shrink.
09:03Hold the price steady but trim what's inside.
09:07It's already showing up in bigger numbers too.
09:102025 was India's best ever year for PC sales, almost 16 million units shipped.
09:17Analysts now expect that number to fall by 7-8% this year.
09:20Not because Indians suddenly stopped wanting laptops, but because for a lot of students, first-time buyers and small businesses,
09:28the price has simply moved out of reach.
09:31So, how is this actually playing out for buyers on the ground in real Indian stores?
09:39The consumer facing risk is real.
09:42What we are already seeing in the market is manufacturers quietly reducing specifications to hold price points rather than transparent
09:52about cost increases.
09:54That kind of shrinkflation tends to erode trust faster than an honest price hike would.
10:02Because customers eventually notice the mismatch between what they are paying and what they are getting.
10:07So, my advice is if you don't absolutely need to upgrade right now, please don't do it.
10:13Considering the market, you need to re-evaluate your upgrade cycle and tell others to do the same.
10:19And try figuring out ways to consolidate right now, like what many are doing in India.
10:28True to form, Indian consumers have already found a workaround for this.
10:33Repair markets across tier 2 and tier 3 towns are buzzing again with customers choosing to upgrade an old machine
10:40rather than buy a new one.
10:42So, here's the verdict.
10:44Plain and simple.
10:45If your phone or laptop still has some life left inside of it, give it another 18-24 months.
10:51Service it, don't replace it and if you absolutely have to buy, buy premium so that you get more out
10:58of your gadget.
10:59Remember, the real villain over here is not the shopkeeper.
11:02It's the big tech right now hogging all of the memory to run their AI clusters.
11:08And realistically, relief probably does not arrive before 27 or 28.
11:13Until then, protect your gadgets and protect your wallet and hope a quick fix can be figured out for this
11:21in the coming months.
11:38Guess what? WhatsApp is getting usernames now just like what you have on Instagram so people can customize their numbers
11:44into usernames.
11:46The internet has been divided right now on the relevance of this because some while praise it for its privacy,
11:52others are questioning the security of this entire thing.
11:55Kunal Shah, the global head of WhatsApp has gone on X and got his own username registered and is urging
12:01other people to rush, get in line and get their own usernames as well.
12:05And amid all of this controversy, Telegram suddenly appears out of nowhere and has gone on X, commented on that
12:11post and taking shots at WhatsApp saying that we introduced this feature back in 2014, which again makes sense, right?
12:20But here's the thing, YouTubers like Ankur Wariku, Patience, Vijay Chaykar Sharma, they've all been saying that there are serious
12:26privacy concerns behind this feature being launched because it could become a festering ground for scammers to basically impersonate other
12:34people and then loot people on WhatsApp through these digital arrest scams.
12:51So what really is this WhatsApp username feature and is it relevant right now? Do people really want it? Does
12:57it really enhance privacy or is it a big security concern for users? We try to break all of this
13:04down in this segment.
13:08Now WhatsApp officially opened early global reservations for WhatsApp usernames, the biggest architectural pivot since the app's inception.
13:16The update is currently rolling out in phases. Once fully active, later this year, users will be able to completely
13:22hide their personal mobile numbers from strangers, group chats and casual acquaintances.
13:27Your behind-the-scenes identity remains tied to your SIM card for verification, but your public shield is now an
13:35alphanumeric handle.
13:36So the big question here is, is MetaReilly just copying this feature from the rivals or is there another big
13:42privacy game here at play?
13:43Because remember, it's just not about the individual privacy feature, it's about the entire tech stack that these applications bring
13:50to the platform.
13:51Yes, privacy on messaging apps is important, other apps are offering it, but what does WhatsApp really bring to the
13:59game with this new update is something that we want to ask.
14:03And not only that, we also want to ask how is WhatsApp stacking up against rivals like Signal and Telegram
14:09after introducing such an important feature, though it's late.
14:15While Telegram pioneered the username model over a decade ago, its system is built entirely on hyper discovery and massive
14:23broadcasting.
14:24It features an open public directory. Anyone can type a random handle into a search bar, find you and drop
14:31into your inbox.
14:32Combine that with the fact that Telegram's standard chats are not end-to-end encrypted by default and you get
14:38what security experts call a double-edged sword,
14:41a playground for open communities but also a paradise for untraceable spammers and phishing bots.
14:48On the absolute opposite end of the spectrum is Signal, the undisputed gold standard of digital privacy.
14:54Signal introduced usernames with a hyper-secure zero-knowledge approach.
14:58There is no public search directory, no way for strangers to stumble upon you and absolutely zero metadata stored on
15:05corporate servers.
15:06For Signal, a username exists for one reason only, an ironclad shield to keep your phone number invisible to the
15:14world.
15:15So where does WhatsApp land here? It's a corporate hybrid.
15:19Meta is deliberately avoiding Telegram's chaotic open discovery model.
15:23There is no public search directory on WhatsApp, meaning nobody can browse for your handle.
15:28But unlike Signal's non-profit, data-free ecosystem, WhatsApp remains a data-rich machine.
15:35While your actual message content stays locked and encrypted, your new username links directly back to the global Meta account's
15:43center,
15:44seamlessly mapping your connections across Facebook and Instagram.
15:49Here's a look at the comparison table for yourself.
16:06While this hybrid model kind of looks like the perfect middle ground for WhatsApp to be in,
16:11because remember, privacy is key for many users,
16:13but you also need the fact that people shouldn't weaponize this in any way,
16:18because WhatsApp right now is a playground for digital arrest scammers who are looting crores, especially in India.
16:26So how does WhatsApp try to balance this approach?
16:28Because yes, the moment user names are released,
16:31there will be people who will try to impersonate your handles and try to loot others.
16:37That's a reality that can happen.
16:38So that's why the focus should therefore be on safeguards, which WhatsApp can design,
16:45that they can do rate limiting, anti-impersonation measures.
16:49They can give users meaningful control over who can contact them,
16:55how the lookup registry works.
16:57All of these are design choices,
17:00and those are completely under control of WhatsApp.
17:06Following a directive from the government to pause its new username feature over fraud and impersonation fears,
17:12WhatsApp has also released a detailed list of frequently asked questions on social media
17:17to directly address public and regulatory anxieties.
17:22First, WhatsApp emphasizes that creating a username is completely optional,
17:27and accounts will still require a valid phone number.
17:29The company also states that it has proactively blocked and held all high-profile names,
17:35including public figures, government entities, celebrities, and verified meta handles,
17:40so they can only be claimed by legitimate owners.
17:45To combat scams, users will not be searchable via public directory.
17:50Instead, they are introducing a username key.
17:53That way, a security code is needed to chat with someone.
17:57A stranger would need to know both your exact username and the specific key to even initiate a message.
18:06The company also clarified that the messaging feature itself is not live yet,
18:11and this current phase is strictly for early name reservations,
18:14while they gather feedback to ensure the rollout complies with local safety standards.
18:20But as a consumer, you cannot rely on corporate promises alone.
18:26And as a consumer and a user of WhatsApp, it is going to be your responsibility alone,
18:31and you cannot depend on these corporates to secure your account completely.
18:36So, you need to be more educated.
18:39You need to make sure that even if user names are announced,
18:42there are certain features that you can use to safeguard your account from scammers.
18:47And the primary weapon in this defense grid is a feature called the username key.
18:52This is a secondary optional four-digit pin that completely alters the rules of digital outreach.
18:58Even if a cyber criminal or a bot guesses your exact username,
19:02they cannot hit send or drop an unsolicited text into your main inbox unless they possess a specific key.
19:08Unverified keyless messages are instantly routed to an isolated requests folder,
19:14keeping your primary interface completely clean.
19:16So, to conclude, I would say this is a feature that, yes, WhatsApp is coming late to the party,
19:22but it is also essential for a network that has almost 3 billion users on it.
19:28Your phone number should be private and to substitute it with a username,
19:31I think it's a good move over here.
19:34However, be very vigilant when you use WhatsApp,
19:37especially when somebody is trying to con you on a digital platform because now you have to be smart
19:43if you are trying to use a privacy feature on a platform like this.
19:53So, this is the newly launched Tata Sierra EV that's been launched in India starting at 18.79 lakh.
19:59Now, on the Tech Today Show, we have this kind of a rule that we have to get you the
20:03absolute best of the technology that every EV offers.
20:07And so many EVs are being launched in India.
20:09We have to make sure that we understand what really drives this car in terms of the technology inside of
20:15this car.
20:15So, let's take a look at the entire tech stack of what this car offers.
20:27The car has been built on Tata's latest Acti.EV Plus architecture,
20:32which is designed around the battery instead of a conventional engine.
20:36That means a flat cabin floor, better weight distribution and improved driving dynamics.
20:42It's available with two battery options, 63kWh and 75kWh,
20:47with both rear-wheel drive and a new four-wheel drive system on select variants.
20:57The larger battery promises a claimed driving range of up to 622km on the MIDC cycle
21:04and when it comes to the charging part, the Sierra supports 120kW DC fast charging,
21:09allowing the battery to charge from 20 to 80% in just 25 minutes as claimed.
21:17It also supports over-the-air software updates, which means you will get new features,
21:22performance improvements, bug fixes and even enhancements,
21:26which can be done through software.
21:28No need to visit the service center.
21:34For connected features, customers can remotely monitor charging status, vehicle health,
21:40live location and several vehicle functions through their smartphones.
21:44And all of that software also comes together inside the one feature you will interact with the most.
21:51So, the big question is, what does the infotainment system offer?
21:56Which primarily is the one thing that you will be watching when you are driving or when the passenger is
22:02also there.
22:03Now, this one comes with this massive dashboard, three displays right here, one for the driver,
22:10one with all the details about your Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
22:13But this one is something new I have seen.
22:15This is for the passenger where it gets an entire entertainment suite.
22:20Now, this is something that you get to see mostly on premium cars,
22:24but the fact that the Sierra EV comes with this technology is something I just love.
22:29And hopefully, if someone is looking to buy this, it will purely be for this kind of an entertainment engine.
22:35The infotainment system supports voice assistance, cloud-connected navigation
22:39and a completely digital user interface designed specifically for electric vehicles.
22:45Owners can schedule charging, precondition the cabin before entering the vehicle
22:49and even monitor battery health.
22:51We are in an era where cars are becoming operating systems.
22:55It also comes with a smart card entry feature where you can just tap the access card on the side
23:01of the door to enter.
23:02Not only that, but it also comes with UPI payment support.
23:06Yes, the card itself is a UPI payment device and you will not need to pull out your phone every
23:12single time to make a payment.
23:14A highlight is the support for Dolby Atmos, making it the first SUV in this segment to offer immersive spatial
23:21audio.
23:22Compatible music can now feel as though it's coming from all around the cabin.
23:26Connected entertainment on this car is a notch above the others.
23:30And this is why.
23:33So, electric vehicles come with standard features I understand,
23:37but there are certain features that make your car stand out.
23:40The one feature on this car is the ability to play multiplayer games.
23:45I am not kidding you, if there are passengers in the rear seat or even on the front,
23:50they can actually connect to the console and play a multiplayer game,
23:54which we haven't seen till now, maybe on a Tesla.
23:57But right now, we are seeing this on a Tata Sierra EV.
24:01Not only that, the safety features that this car comes with are 360 degree camera system.
24:06Not only that, E-DAS also available at level 2.
24:08So, you imagine if safety is something that is absolute paramount,
24:13you definitely are getting a lot on this vehicle.
24:17Even the base variant offers many tech features that don't come as standard on competitors,
24:22but this will also push car makers to add more value for first-time buyers.
24:28Ecosystems are changing, policies are changing,
24:30but one thing is for absolute sure that EVs are here to stay, they are the future.
24:36What will be the real game-changer is that how much of tech you can fit inside a car.
24:42I think that will be the big decider that people will consider
24:44when they are buying their next electric vehicle.
24:47This was the Tata Sierra EV.
24:49We liked it, but we would like to know what you think about this beast
24:52and whether you would want to buy something like this.
24:55And that's a wrap on this week's edition of the Tech Today Show.
24:59There's more coming next week and we will keep tracking all of the updates right here.
25:04If you want to read more about what's happening in the world of tech,
25:07you can also head to our tech section on the India Today website for all of the latest buzz.
25:12I'm Cyrus and I'll catch you next week right here on the Tech Today Show.
25:15Take care.
25:26Take care.
25:29Bye.
Comments