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Wipro CEO Sees Growing Demand for India’s IT Services From AI

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Artificial intelligence is increasingly driving demand for India’s IT services, as companies move beyond pilot projects and begin rolling out large-scale AI initiatives, according to Srini Pallia, chief executive of Wipro.

Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Pallia said Wipro is competing for a mix of small, large, and mega AI-related deals as clients across industries adopt the technology at different stages of maturity. While pricing pressure remains intense due to faster delivery timelines and leaner teams enabled by AI, he expects the number of smaller projects to rise as adoption widens.

India’s $283 billion IT sector has faced several quarters of slower growth as global clients cut technology spending amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Pallia said enterprise AI spending is now shifting from experimentation to accountability, with boards and executives demanding clear returns on investment.

He added that AI-assisted software development could cut costs by about 25% through productivity gains in coding and testing, leading to more projects over time. Wipro launched a three-year, $1 billion investment plan in 2023 to strengthen its AI capabilities.

UK Weighs Australia-Style Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

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Britain is considering an Australia-style ban on social media use for children under the age of 16, as the government steps up scrutiny of how digital platforms affect young people’s mental health and development. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said children risk being drawn into “a world of endless scrolling, anxiety and comparison,” and warned that the government is ready to take robust action.

The move follows an announcement that officials will examine whether features such as infinite scrolling should be restricted and whether the current age at which children can access social media platforms is appropriate. Ministers are set to visit Australia, which last month became the first country to introduce a nationwide ban on social media for under-16s, to study how the policy is enforced. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said Britain is considering the same age threshold.

While supporters argue that a ban would provide clear protection for children, critics warn it could push harmful activity underground or reduce access to the positive aspects of social media. The government is also reviewing stronger age-verification checks and whether the UK’s digital age of consent is too low.

Concerns have intensified amid the rapid spread of AI-generated content online, including recent reports involving xAI’s Grok chatbot generating non-consensual sexual images. Britain has already announced plans to ban AI nudification tools and remove addictive platform features, alongside enforcing the Online Safety Act, which has increased age checks and reduced access to harmful content.

Starmer said no option is off the table as the government works with experts to identify the most effective safeguards for children online.

Nexperia Warns It Cannot Guarantee Quality of China-Made Chips After October 13

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Dutch semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia said it expects to resolve the ongoing crisis over control of the company but cautioned customers that chips produced in China after October 13 may not meet its quality or authenticity standards.

The warning follows a turbulent period for the firm, which saw the Dutch government seize control of Nexperia on September 30 amid national security concerns, and China respond by blocking chip exports on October 4. The resulting standoff has disrupted supply chains for automakers and electronics manufacturers that rely on Nexperia’s components.

The company said its operations outside China — including facilities in Europe, Malaysia, and the Philippines — remain unaffected and are functioning normally.

In a statement, Nexperia welcomed assurances that, under a new U.S.-China agreement, it will be exempt from American export restrictions for one year. Beijing has also said it will allow exports on a “case-by-case” basis.

Nexperia’s Chinese parent company, Wingtech Technology, remains under U.S. restrictions, and its founder Zhang Xuezheng was suspended as Nexperia CEO by a Dutch court on October 7, contrary to earlier reports suggesting he retained control.

While most of Nexperia’s chips are manufactured in Europe, about 70% are packaged and distributed in China, where the local unit has declared operational independence and claims to have sufficient inventory to meet demand through 2025.

The Dutch firm said it remains committed to maintaining its Chinese operations while seeking alternative packaging and supply solutions to ensure “product availability in a sustainable manner.”