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Google, Intel form coalition to save power
MUMBAI: Google Inc. and Intel Corporation have formed a coalition with technology companies and environment groups for an initiative to help conserve electricity and curb global warming emissions. The computer software giants plan to do so by making the world‘s computers and servers more efficient. Known as The Climate Savers Computing Initiative, the coalition which also includes Microsoft Corp., Dell Inc., Hewlett Packard Co., IBM, Lenovo Group Ltd., intends to increase efficiency of computing gear over the next four years and have set ambitious targets to achieve the same. The companies aim to cut down on electricity consumption by PCs to half by 2010 using existing power-saving technologies. Presently, the average PC wastes about half of the power it consumes. According to estimates, the average server wastes about one-third of total energy consumption. More efficient computing could bring down electricity consumption currently being wasted as heat. Large server centers infact require more power for air conditioning. “Let‘s create a more efficient IT industry by driving up the efficiency of computers,” said Intel‘s Digital Enterprise Group senior vice president Pat Gelsinger. “We think we can have huge savings in terms of carbon footprint and energy costs.” According to officials, the initiative is expected to save more than $5.5 billion in electricity costs by 2010 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change by 54 million tonnes annually. Computer prices could get hiked by about $20 and server prices by $30 but they would be equipped with energy efficient technology. Consumers are expected to recoup the costs through lower electricity bills and rebates from utilities.
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
