Giridhar's Blog

BMW's announcement that heated seat subscriptions were a mistake might seem like a relief to consumers, but the real story is more complex. As the world's most valuable automaker continues to shift its focus toward software-driven vehicles, the boundaries between hardware and software are becoming increasingly blurred. In this post, we'll explore what BMW's misstep tells us about the future of the automotive industry and why software paywalls might be the new norm. Background: The Rise of Software-Driven Vehicles The modern automotive landscape is undergoing seismic changes. Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are being integrated into almost every new vehicle on the market. BMW, like its competitors, is betting big on software to drive this transformation. However, this shift comes with its own set of challenges, including the growing complexity of vehicle systems and the need for continuous software ...

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has just issued a new rule effectively banning code written in China or owned by Chinese firms from vehicles sold in the US. This regulation targets connected vehicles, from infotainment systems to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and by 2029 will cover even connectivity hardware. The Hidden Dependency For years, the auto industry has relied heavily on Chinese suppliers for a vast array of components, including electronic controls and onboard cameras. The majority of these components contain Chinese code, which has become deeply embedded in modern vehicles. Automakers are now facing a massive undertaking to revise their supply chains, audit the code, and remove any components linked to Chinese software. "We've had a blind eye to our dependency on Chinese code for a long time. We're talking about the backbone of our software systems," says Hilary Cain, head of policy at the Alliance for Autom...

The dawn of a new era in hard disk drives (HDDs) is upon us. After years of static performance, Western Digital has made a significant breakthrough in pushing HDDs toward SSD (solid-state drive) territory. This seismic shift in storage technology has the potential to disrupt the entire industry and offer users unprecedented performance and efficiency. The Era of Stagnation Ends In the past decade, the advancements in hard disk drives (HDDs) were meager, with improvements primarily focused on increasing storage capacity rather than enhancing performance. However, the introduction of high-speed serial storage interfaces such as SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) and SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) provided a glimmer of hope. Western Digital, a pioneer in the HDD industry, has now taken this vision to the next level, incorporating innovative technologies to elevate HDD performance to unprecedented heights. Visionary Innovations Western Digital's groundbreaking innovations, backed...

In a significant milestone for the tech giant, Apple has achieved its highest-ever share of the US smartphone market, pushing its sales past a record-breaking level. According to Counterpoint Research, the US smartphone market saw minimal growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, with sales increasing by just 1%. However, Apple managed to buck this trend, securing its best sales quarter to date and widening the gap with its primary competitor, Samsung. Mid-Range Sales Propel Apple Ahead Counterpoint attributes Apple's success in the US market to strong sales of the iPhone 16e and 17 in the mid-range segment, which saw a 27% year-over-year growth. The iPhone 16e, in particular, recorded its highest sales month to date in December, highlighting the increasing popularity of premium devices in the US market. The company's promotional activities at major US carriers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, also contributed to its success. Apple's focus on the mid-range segment ha...

As the world grapples with the exponential growth of AI, a revolutionary concept is about to disrupt the status quo. SpaceX, the pioneering space exploration company founded by Elon Musk, is merging its AI startup, xAI, into its rocket and satellite business. This bold move signifies a significant shift in the company's direction, with a focus on developing orbital data centers for scalable AI compute. Orbital Data Centers: The Future of AI Compute? Orbital data centers, essentially a network of satellites in low Earth orbit, promise to provide an unprecedented level of scalability and efficiency for AI research and development. By harnessing the power of the sun and utilizing advanced computing architectures, these orbital data centers could become the cheapest and most sustainable option for large-scale AI computations. This could have far-reaching implications for various industries, from healthcare and finance to manufacturing and transportation. Raising the Bar for...