Arvind's Newsletter

1.Google (to follow Apple) seeks suppliers to move Pixel production to India.

Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., is reportedly exploring opportunities to establish partnerships with Indian suppliers for the assembly of its Pixel smartphones. This strategic move mirrors Apple Inc.'s approach of diversifying its supply chain beyond China.

Google has commenced initial discussions with several companies in India, including Lava International Ltd., Dixon Technologies India Ltd., and Bharat FIH, the Indian unit of Foxconn Technology Group, Bloomberg reported while citing insiders.

At the same time on another note,Google image generation enables virtual try-on of clothes for shopping

People selling clothes online have always wanted some way for you to see what you’d look like, but the tech was always too expensive and too experimental. Now image generation might actually solve this, and Google is launching something that works without needing to build 3D models of all the clothes, just the standard product shots you already have. Step one is to choose exactly what kind of virtual model you’d like to see wearing the clothes. Step two will be to insert the customer themselves.

2. Pet care is booming in India.
   Indian pet-care is so hot, it’s bagging luxury investors. L-Catterton, the LVMH Group’s private equity arm, has invested $60 million in pet food brand Drools at a valuation of $600 million. This is the biggest deal in India’s burgeoning pet-care industry, dominated by dog and cat food and accessories, and multinational firm Mars Inc. (Pedigree, Whiskas, Royal Canin).

   Apart from Drools, India now has a host of pet-care startups, including retail chain Heads Up For Tails (raised $ 500 million) and Supertails (raised > $16 million). Besides, Indian companies like Himalaya Wellness Company and Emami Ltd (via an investment in Cannis Lupus) sell herbal pet remedies. India’s pet-care industry is expected to grow to $1.2 billion by March 2025.

3.The European Commission announced a plan aimed at de-risking the European Union’s economy from China, bringing it in alignment with the U.S. 

The proposed trade mandate would restrict European exports of sensitive, military-linked technology to “destinations of concern that operate civil-military fusion strategies.” The document doesn’t directly mention China, or other specific countries, but is widely thought to be aimed at it: Beijing and Moscow’s deepening ties at least partly motivated the new trade rules, The New York Times reported. “ We have no interest in economic de-coupling from China,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said after a Tuesday meeting with China’s premier, who referred to the proposed policies as “discriminatory.” Sholz’s comments are unsurprising: More than a million German jobs depend directly on China.

4.The hottest new perk in tech is freedom
How small tech companies are using remote work to compete with the big guys.

It used to be that Big Tech companies like Google, Meta, and Apple led the way when it came to workplace advantages. On top of great pay, they offered freebies like gourmet meals, massages, and on-site laundry. Then, when the pandemic made the office a physical danger, those same companies were among the first to offer the ultimate perk: the ability to work where you wish.

But, as their stock prices have suffered, Big Tech has not only dialed back on many on-site perks, they’ve also called workers back to the office. Facing hard times, they’ve retrenched into what they knew before the pandemic, typically asking workers to come into the office three days a week. Google is even factoring office attendance into performance reviews.

Smaller tech companies have since picked up the mantle of remote work. They are much more likely than their larger peers to allow people to work fully remotely, with 81 percent of those with fewer than 5,000 employees either allowing remote work or only having remote options.

5.EU: Smartphones Must Have User-Replaceable Batteries by 2027

The European Parliament just caused a major headache for smartphone and tablet manufacturers.

Earlier this week, the European Parliament approved new rules covering the design, production, and recycling of all rechargeable batteries sold within the EU.

The new rules stipulate that all electric vehicle, light means of transport (e.g. electric scooters), and rechargeable industrial batteries (above 2kWh) will need to have a compulsory carbon footprint declaration, label, and digital passport.

For "portable batteries" used in devices such as smartphones, tablets, and cameras, consumers must be able to "easily remove and replace them." This will require a drastic design rethink by manufacturers, as most phone and tablet makers currently seal the battery away and require specialist tools and knowledge to access and replace them safely.