e-commerce
Intel unveils 12th gen Intel Core mobile & desktop processors at CES 2022
Mumbai: Intel has unveiled the new 12th gen Intel Core H-series mobile and desktop processors at the ongoing CES 2022 event. The company claims that its new flagship CPU, the Core i9-12900HK is the “fastest mobile processor” and “the world’s best mobile gaming platform.”
The new Core i9-12900HK processor features performance-cores (P-cores) and efficient-cores (E-cores) with the help of the Intel Thread Director. It supports up to 5GHz frequencies and 14 cores (six P-cores and eight E-cores). There is 24MB of L3 cache and while the base power rating is 45W it can go up to 115W. The integrated Intel GPU features 96 execution units. Intel claims up to 28 per cent better performance in games compared to the Core i9-11980HK.
The new 12th gen Intel chip ensures three times faster connectivity, supports Wi-Fi 6E, and Thunderbolt 4 for faster transfer speeds. It is also expected to deliver “desktop-caliber” performance and is meant for gamers, creators, and even engineer professionals. It will start shipping with devices in February 2022, the company said.
Intel has also detailed the upcoming U- and P-series mobile processors. These processors support up to 14 cores, 20 threads, and Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics. While the U-series processors work at 9W to 15W and are designed for thin and light laptops, the P-series processors operate at up to 28W and are also meant for thin performance-centric laptops. The processors will find their way in foldable, two in ones, detachable, and others devices in 2022.
Intel has also introduced 22 new Intel 12th Gen Core desktop processors, ranging from Intel Core i9 chips to Pentium and Celeron. The new 35-Watt and 65-Watt desktop processors can provide scalable power and enhanced performance for gaming, content creation, and other productivity tasks.
Additionally, Intel has updated its IntelEvo platform for laptops. The company has also introduced new versions of the Intel vPro platform (Intel vPro Enterprise, Intel vPro, and Intel Evo Design, Intel vPro Essentials) for businesses.
Intel has previously confirmed that its first-generation Arc GPUs is codenamed ‘Alchemist,’ with subsequent ‘Battlemage,’ ‘Celestial,’ and ‘Druid’ generations following in alphabetical order over the next several years. These will be based on derivatives of the current Xe-HPG (high performance gaming) architecture. The company had previously promised to ship discrete GPUs by 2020, and the Iris Xe Max did begin appearing in laptops in late 2020. At CES 2020, Intel announced the DG1 development kit for OEMs and testers, but gamers have had to wait since then.
Intel Arc is the brand for Intel’s upcoming consumer high-performance graphics product. Intel said it delivers a new choice for the industry, including many all-Intel discrete graphics platforms. Intel Arc GPUs will also feature in new Intel Evo platform laptops for creators, with new 12th gen H-series 45W CPUs and 15-inch or 16-inch screens. The company is hoping to bring strong competition to Nvidia and AMD who have dominated the GPU space for over a decade.
e-commerce
Flipkart rolls out 105 per cent bonus for 20,000 employees
Strong FY25 performance drives payouts even as layoffs and shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: In a year where belts were tightened and rewards loosened, Flipkart seems to be playing both offence and defence trimming roles on one hand while handing out a generous 105 per cent bonus on the other. The Walmart owned e commerce major has rolled out a 105 per cent bonus payout for 2025, covering nearly 20,000 employees, signalling a year of steady operational momentum even as the company navigates restructuring pressures. The payout, communicated internally by chief human resources officer Seema Nair, is tied to performance across key metrics including growth, operational efficiency, financial outcomes and people indicators, a combination that suggests the company is inching closer to its long stated goal of sustainable profitability.
Employees at SD level and below are set to receive their bonuses in March, while payouts for senior leadership, including vice presidents and senior vice presidents, will follow after the close of the performance cycle. The elevated 105 per cent multiplier stands out in a sector where cautious payouts have increasingly become the norm, pointing to what appears to be a relatively strong internal scorecard for FY25.
Yet, the announcement arrives with a noticeable contrast. Earlier this year, Flipkart reduced its workforce by around 300 roles as part of its annual performance review process. While officially framed as performance driven, the juxtaposition of layoffs alongside above target bonuses reflects a more nuanced balancing act, one that prioritises cost discipline while continuing to reward and retain high performing talent.
This dual approach is becoming increasingly common across the technology and e commerce landscape, where companies are navigating an uneven hiring environment while under pressure to deliver profitability. Rewarding top contributors, even amid selective workforce reductions, allows firms to maintain morale and retain critical talent without losing sight of financial prudence.
At the same time, Flipkart is also undergoing leadership shifts that hint at a broader strategic recalibration. Nishant Verman has been appointed senior vice president for corporate development and partnerships, while group chief financial officer Sriram Venkataraman is set to step down. Ravi Iyer will take on expanded responsibilities within the finance function, marking a reshuffle at the top as the company gears up for its next phase.
These changes come amid reports that Flipkart is planning to shift its holding structure back to India, a move widely interpreted as groundwork for a potential public listing. While timelines remain fluid, the combination of stronger financial discipline, leadership restructuring and employee incentivisation suggests a company preparing itself for greater scrutiny and scale.
For employees, the 105 per cent payout offers a welcome boost in what has otherwise been a period of adjustment. For Flipkart, it is a signal that even as it cuts where necessary, it is willing to spend where it counts. In the high stakes game of growth versus profitability, the company appears to be hedging its bets carefully, rewarding performance while reshaping itself for what could be its most defining chapter yet.
