[0:00] I might get sued for this, but imagine [0:03] you made a YouTube video about a phone. [0:05] You get it out the box, you test it, but [0:07] you feel like something's off. So, you [0:10] tell your viewers, but then you receive [0:11] a court order. You're legally forced to [0:14] take your video down. You're banned from [0:15] ever saying anything negative about that [0:17] phone again, and so is everyone else. [0:20] And suddenly, it all erupts into what [0:22] can only be described as a war within [0:24] the tech community. That would be crazy, [0:26] right? Right. This is one of the most [0:28] fascinating, alarming situations that [0:31] I've ever seen on my 15 years making [0:33] YouTube videos. And it's also currently [0:35] a very real active legal case. So, the [0:38] YouTubers involved are not allowed to [0:40] comment. But I will. I've got the [0:42] products. I've got the receipts. I've [0:44] consulted the experts and people at the [0:46] very heart of the situation. And if [0:48] anyone wants to sue me, I'd love to see [0:50] them try. [0:54] Quick context. India is the second [0:56] biggest smartphone market on earth with [0:58] over 700 million users. But at least [1:00] twothirds of the phones sold there from [1:02] brands like Xiaomi and Vivo and Oppo are [1:05] Chinese, which has created this massive [1:07] opportunity for someone to come in and [1:09] make a phone in India. Partly for the [1:11] same reason that Brits love their made [1:12] in Britain logo and Americans like to [1:15] buy American. It would help Indians to [1:17] support the economy of the country they [1:18] live in, but also compounded by the fact [1:20] that India and China don't have the best [1:22] relationship. Long story short, lots of [1:24] border clashes and a lack of trust. So [1:26] over the years, a bunch of companies [1:28] have tried. You've had Carbon, you've [1:30] had Microax, you've had Lava, all [1:32] leaning into this national pride, [1:33] plastering their marketing campaigns [1:35] with this promise of made in India. But [1:37] they've all failed to capture any kind [1:39] of meaningful market share. Because [1:40] ultimately, while their products might [1:42] be assembled in India, they're still [1:44] designed in China. And if you're going [1:46] to buy a designed in China phone, then [1:48] you might as well just buy it direct [1:50] from a Chinese company like Xiaomi and [1:52] get it even cheaper. [1:57] Which sets the stage for July 2025 when [2:00] a new brand called AI Plus launches with [2:03] the pitch of delivering India's first [2:05] fully sovereign smartphone. [2:06] >> Expertly engineered and meticulously [2:08] built in India. And they went one step [2:10] further than the rest to say that it [2:11] even [2:12] >> prioritizes your privacy and secures [2:14] stores your data in India. [2:16] >> So any of your data that has to go [2:17] online they're saying will be securely [2:20] stored [2:20] >> in Google Cloud India regions. [2:23] >> This built-in India strategy is [2:24] absolutely central to the entire case. [2:26] So, it's important to stress just how [2:29] much they leaned into it. Like how it [2:31] literally spells out on the boot screen [2:33] of my AI plus phone here, "Your data [2:35] stays safe in India." Or how they said [2:37] their phones are so secure that they [2:39] are, and I quote, "certified for [2:41] government, all amplified by the CEO [2:43] firing shots at other companies for not [2:46] holding themselves to the same [2:47] standards." Referring to other Indian [2:49] brands, he said, "Made in India means [2:51] little if software and updates come from [2:52] abroad." and then referring to the [2:54] abundance of Chinese phones. This [2:56] foreign dominance raises critical [2:57] concerns about data privacy. And if AI [3:00] Plus hadn't already made their stance [3:01] extremely clear, then nothing summarizes [3:04] it better than what I can only describe [3:06] as their comic book strip of an advert. [3:09] It starts with this poor Indian man [3:10] who's woken up to find that someone's [3:12] taken a large loan in his name without [3:14] his consent. [3:17] >> Oh, right. Yeah, it's this Chinese guy. [3:21] Chinese not safe [3:29] >> AI plus smartphone. [3:31] >> I think I've read fortune cookies with [3:33] more nuance, but you get the point. [3:39] So, you might be wondering who is this [3:40] AI plus CEO? This Indian hero who's [3:43] about to show the Chinese who's boss. [3:45] Mav Sheth, a man with a very colored [3:48] history of making phones. He was a sales [3:50] director for OPPO in India. He then [3:51] co-founded and became CEO of Realme. He [3:54] ran that company for 5 years and by the [3:56] time he left in 2023. It was the fourth [3:58] biggest smartphone brand in the country. [4:00] Then he went off to lead Honor in India [4:02] hopped over to Alcatel to do the same [4:04] until finally deciding to build his own [4:06] phones with AI Plus. So two things jump [4:09] out to me. One that with work experience [4:11] like that, I can't think of a single [4:14] person more qualified to start their own [4:16] tech company. Then second is for someone [4:19] who's seemingly so vehemently against [4:21] China, he sure has spent a lot of his [4:24] career working for Chinese companies. [4:27] >> Chinese not safe. [4:29] >> Now to be fair, got to hand the mouth of [4:31] guys flowers. The prices of the products [4:33] that he's launched, they seem really [4:35] reasonable. Amongst other products, [4:36] there were two phones. The Pulse, their [4:38] 4G phone, starting at 4,499 rupees, and [4:42] then the Nova, their 5G phone, starting [4:43] at $7499. Right now, that's equivalent [4:46] to $47 and $79. [4:49] So, like, how wrong can this go? [4:56] Well, the first crack appeared when [4:58] YouTuber Gan Therapy got his hands on [5:00] the phone and posted a video. He [5:01] highlighted that this supposedly brand [5:03] new built-in India software, which the [5:05] brand calls Next Quantum OS, does seem [5:08] to look awfully similar to Realme's [5:10] operating system, which is definitely [5:12] not built in India. doesn't prove [5:14] anything. But it does make me wonder, if [5:16] you were actually building a new Android [5:18] skin from scratch for this brand new [5:20] company you started, why would you not [5:22] make it look different to what's out [5:24] there? Especially when what's out there [5:25] is the company that you used to run and [5:28] are now competing against? And then Gon [5:31] Therapy found three apps on the phone. [5:33] Clean Assistant, Phone Clone, and Mobile [5:35] Butler. Which, by the way, I also have [5:36] on my phone. Clean Assistant, Phone [5:38] Clone, and My Mobile Butler is called [5:40] Phone Manager, presumably because it's [5:42] been updated since. These apps came [5:44] pre-installed. You can't disable them or [5:46] uninstall them. And he asks, "How could [5:49] they keep your data in India if they are [5:52] actually Chinese apps?" Why would he say [5:55] that? Well, because when you pop into [5:56] the privacy policy of Phone Clone, who [5:59] else but a China based company, Sprocom [6:02] Technologies, who's very clearly spelled [6:04] out as the service provider. I screen [6:05] grabbed the entire policy and made it [6:07] public in case you fancy a very long [6:09] read. But the point is, you don't have [6:11] to scroll very far for it to raise some [6:14] eyebrows. We may collect your personal [6:16] information by one, information you [6:18] provide directly to us, two, information [6:20] we obtain automatically during your use [6:22] of this application, and three, [6:24] information we obtain from other [6:26] sources. And then for the other two [6:27] apps, there isn't a privacy policy, but [6:29] we managed to extract the app files, [6:31] ping them off to a very smart Android [6:33] researcher who's chosen to remain [6:34] anonymous. And this is what he said. All [6:36] these three apps are built in China for [6:38] sure. They just change the package name [6:40] to make it look like they are built from [6:42] scratch as part of next quantum OS [6:45] followed by all the screenshots proving [6:47] this fact. Now, does this mean that your [6:49] data is going to be sold to the highest [6:51] bidder and the Chinese triads are about [6:53] to knock on your door and ransom you to [6:55] get it back? Probably not. Most apps [6:58] collect data. But the point is, can this [7:00] app guarantee that not a shred of your [7:03] data leaves India, which is what's being [7:06] promised in no uncertain terms here. [7:08] Well, that feels less certain. Now, I'm [7:11] going to be confronting MV himself about [7:13] these apps. But for now, what you need [7:15] to know is that for saying what he said, [7:17] Yan Therapy received a legal notice from [7:19] the AI Plus company and his video has [7:21] been geollocked, meaning that I can [7:23] still watch it here in the UK. But if we [7:25] VPN over to India, you can see that you [7:27] straight up can't there bear. This is [7:29] already pretty unheard of for a tech [7:30] review. But this isn't the shocking [7:32] part. [7:37] I was curious about this whole Sprocon [7:39] thing. I never heard of the company, but [7:41] I also couldn't help but feel like they [7:42] were part of the bigger picture here. [7:44] So, I had a browse and I don't think [7:46] I've ever seen a load of nonsense quite [7:48] like it. There's pages and pages of [7:50] stuff like connect with mind. Connect [7:54] with mind. Again, I've never read a more [7:56] generic sounding company profile. And [7:58] their company culture connect with mind. [8:01] Well, of course. And then their [8:03] corporate mission is supposedly [8:05] connected intelligent [8:08] intelligental. [8:11] So, what on earth could this China based [8:14] company that can't even spell [8:16] intelligence have to do with our made in [8:18] India smartphone that literally has [8:20] intelligence in its name? I was about to [8:22] quit, but then I stumbled into this [8:23] page. Oh, Sprocom do make phones. And [8:27] while this is not exactly this, it's [8:30] pretty hard to ignore the similarities. [8:32] How aligned the camera module and the [8:34] camera positioning is. How from the side [8:36] and the bottom, these two feel like a [8:38] mirror image. Not to mention how almost [8:40] every spec, including the display, looks [8:43] identical. So, here's what you need to [8:45] understand. There are two ways to get a [8:47] tech product made. You can either [8:49] ideulate it, design it, and own all the [8:51] rights to it yourself, like Apple, for [8:53] example, who then just hands over the [8:55] brief to a contract manufacturer to do [8:57] the building for them, to Apple's exact [8:59] spec. But the other option is to go to [9:01] an ODM or original design manufacturer. [9:05] This is a company who builds the [9:06] products, but has also done the [9:08] designing, the ideation, and often owns [9:11] the rights to their designs, too. And [9:12] so, all you do as a customer is request [9:14] slight variations, get your logo added [9:17] to it, and brand it as your own. And so [9:19] Sprocom, according to an official [9:21] business report, is a Chinese ODM, which [9:25] you know is not in itself unusual, but [9:27] it does cast even more doubt on just how [9:30] much of the imagining and building that [9:33] AI Plus is actually doing themselves. To [9:35] give you an idea, within just half an [9:36] hour of digging, I managed to find four [9:38] other supposed clients of this Sprocom [9:40] company, and all of their phones look [9:43] remarkably similar to ones on Sprocom's [9:45] site. So, when you look at this, how [9:47] much does it look like Sprocom's clients [9:49] are really researching and developing [9:51] themselves? And how much does it look [9:53] like they're largely just taking what [9:54] Sprocom gave them? [10:00] And um I've come to learn something else [10:03] about Sprocom through a conversation [10:05] with someone who's let's just say very [10:07] high up and very involved in the Indian [10:09] supply chain. [10:10] >> Basically, you have different tiers of [10:12] ODMs. So up there you have ODMs in the [10:14] likes of Long Chair. They work with [10:16] brands like OPPO, Vivo, Samsung. Then [10:19] you also have good ODMs. They work with [10:21] brands like nothing or Moto. [10:24] >> Yeah. [10:24] >> And then you have low tier ODMs. And [10:26] those ODMs are known for making very [10:28] very cheap products. This includes ODMs [10:30] like Procom. [10:32] >> There is no R&D involved. The product [10:34] exists. What you do is just you [10:36] customize slightly the back of the phone [10:38] so that it looks a bit different. They [10:40] cut a lot of corners. The way they make [10:42] things very costefficient is having a [10:43] very cheap supply chain. They use a lot [10:45] of like secondhand components. The [10:47] biggest opportunity is when it comes to [10:48] the memory chips. For reference, for 64 [10:51] GB memory, you'll probably get around as [10:53] low as $20 versus $60 if you are buying [10:56] it new. [10:57] >> So people are buying a new product, but [10:59] actually the memory chips inside are [11:00] from used products. [11:02] >> Exactly. [11:03] >> Given that in India specifically, there [11:04] are tons of phones in that lower price [11:06] bracket. Would you say that's probably [11:07] the case with most of them? [11:09] >> No, that's the thing. If you look this [11:11] year, whether it's like OPPO, Vivo, they [11:13] haven't been launching any phones in [11:15] that price point. Those players are the [11:17] ones kind of working with the tier one [11:18] ODMs I mentioned because they don't do [11:20] this type of like more dirty work. [11:22] >> So, my takeaway from this is there's [11:24] actually two layers of dubiousness. On [11:27] top of AI+'s already debatable claims [11:29] about how Indian their products are, [11:31] according to this insider, by buying a [11:33] phone sourced from Sprocom, you're also, [11:36] ironically, getting a lower quality [11:38] product than the Chinese companies that [11:40] AI Plus is trying so hard to separate [11:43] themselves from. [11:48] But if everything we've seen so far has [11:50] felt sus, then AI Plus's wave 2 is where [11:54] this situation just explodes. Because [11:56] now we move into this year, 2026, where [11:58] AI Plus launches their second set of [12:00] products. One of them being the Pulse 2. [12:02] That's actually the one I'm holding [12:03] here. And this time, clearly the [12:04] YouTubers are ready because one of them, [12:06] Techweiser, drops a video titled, "This [12:08] Indian phone is a marketing disaster." [12:10] Now, this video got taken down [12:12] completely. It's part of the evidence [12:13] being used in the court case. I'm [12:15] getting to that, but he accused the [12:17] company of a few things. One of them [12:19] being how it's just a bit strange that [12:20] the CEO has gone on the record to brag [12:22] about the lack of bloatware. First and [12:24] foremost, no bloat wares. [12:26] >> The bloatware still exists. It existed [12:28] on his phone. It exists on my phone. [12:30] It's hidden from the app drawer, so you [12:32] can only tell when you open up this game [12:34] space hub. But this absolutely counts as [12:36] bloatware by my definition. It's [12:39] preloaded. The games are spammy and [12:41] adfilled. Many people will not want [12:43] them, and yet they are still taking up [12:45] storage space. Again, Mardev has his own [12:47] defense for this, but we're getting to [12:49] him. More concerningly than bloatware [12:51] though, Techwise's other claim is that [12:53] you know the Chinese apps that were [12:54] present on the first AI Plus phones that [12:56] caused the entire scandal. Well, he said [12:58] that all of those apps were actually [13:00] still on the new phone. Two of them had [13:03] now been hidden, but just by plugging [13:04] into a laptop and entering a quick [13:06] command, he could reveal them again. And [13:08] then he finished off this video by [13:09] recapping all the companies that [13:10] Mardiff's worked at, explaining that [13:12] each one has deserted customers in some [13:14] way and concludes that the biggest [13:16] reason to not trust this phone or trust [13:19] this entire company is the founder Mard [13:22] of Sheth. 5 days after that, a second [13:25] bombshell drops. This time from another [13:26] channel, Techbar. And he goes even [13:29] harder because as well as the AI Plus [13:31] Pulse 2, one of the other new products [13:32] launched was the Nova Flip. And Techbar [13:35] says that this phone is exactly the same [13:37] phone as the Chinese ZTE Nubia Flip 2. [13:41] He says they have the same battery [13:42] processor, that the camera seems the [13:44] same as a ZTE, and I can see why he'd [13:46] say that. He didn't actually have the [13:48] phone in hand when shooting his video, [13:51] but I do. And in fact, I can tell you [13:54] this is a ZTE phone. I can see all sorts [13:56] of apps and sensors with clearly labeled [13:59] ZTE identifiers. And here's the thing. [14:01] If anyone were to argue that maybe the [14:03] links to China are fairly minor surface [14:05] level on the pulse phones, I don't think [14:07] that can be argued for the flip. The [14:09] compass app ZTE, the AI engine ZTE, the [14:12] fingerprint service ZTE, and we should [14:14] probably at this point just register the [14:16] 20 to 30 and sometimes more permissions [14:19] given to these services. [14:22] Anyway, [14:24] Techbar then goes on to say, "If you [14:26] think it took me a lot of effort to find [14:28] this flip phone example, it's not like [14:30] that." He says, "Look into any of their [14:32] products and you'll find a Chinese [14:33] copy." And credit where credit's due, I [14:36] too found one in about 3 minutes of [14:38] soouththing. Their website has a [14:40] download section here. So, that takes [14:41] you to, I guess, the support page. Need [14:44] help setting up your device? Well, screw [14:46] you because that button doesn't work. [14:48] Good start. In fact, the one link on [14:50] this page that actually does work is a [14:52] link to the app for the kids watch that [14:54] they sell. You click download Lee Fine [14:57] Technology. Lee Fine Technology [15:01] doesn't sound Indian. So, let's search [15:04] that up. Oh, would you look at that? [15:05] Based in Shenzen. And it's not just a [15:08] software thing. Yet again, the hardware [15:10] on the Leifine website looks identical [15:12] to the hardware that AI Plus is selling. [15:14] So, very likely another ODM to add to [15:17] the list. But then the most curious [15:18] example that tech bar gives is the [15:20] wearbuds. The AI plus also launched. [15:22] This watch that contains earphones [15:24] inside of it which MV have said at the [15:26] launch event were also [15:27] >> this is the design which we have [15:28] designed in India patented in India. [15:30] >> Techbar claims this product too is in [15:32] fact clearly just this product made by a [15:35] Chinese company AI power. What on earth [15:37] is happening here? And this is super [15:39] weird. If you go on to the official [15:41] verified Instagram page of this Chinese [15:44] AI power company, they actually posted [15:46] about the AI plus launch event with the [15:48] caption wherebuds watch great [15:50] cooperation with AI plus brand. If this [15:53] product was designed entirely in India, [15:55] why would a Chinese brand, and yes, I [15:58] know they're a Chinese brand because I [16:00] asked them and they told me, say great [16:02] cooperation. And while we're at it, [16:04] doesn't this AI power logo look a little [16:07] familiar? As a matter of fact, I've [16:09] actually cut out the AI Plus logo here, [16:12] and you can watch me live as I show you [16:13] that you can place the AI from AI Plus [16:17] exactly on top of the AI and AI power. [16:20] Does that strike you as two companies [16:21] who have nothing to do with each other? [16:24] How many Chinese partners can this one [16:26] anti-Chinese company have? [16:32] 14 days later, both of these videos [16:35] disappeared from the internet. The Delhi [16:37] High Court in India granted AI plus an [16:39] exparte injunction against the YouTubers [16:42] which means that without hearing them [16:44] first techiser and tech bar were now [16:46] restrained from publishing disparaging [16:49] content about AI plus or M of chef. And [16:52] there's one more wrinkle a third person [16:53] was named John Doe. This is the court's [16:56] way of also saying unnamed future [16:59] critic, which means it's the two [17:00] YouTubers, but also anyone else that is [17:03] banned from and could be charged for [17:06] speaking against AI Plus. This clause [17:08] has already led to legal action against [17:10] at least 10 other YouTube videos. That [17:12] is a drastic response. So, I decided [17:16] it's time to call in the eagle. [17:21] So, could you clarify what exactly an [17:23] exparte case is? Exparte is where you [17:26] are the only side going in front of the [17:29] court. Only one side is presenting their [17:31] case. And you can imagine in an [17:33] adversarial system that relies on both [17:35] parties being there that if you're the [17:37] only one in the court, it's a whole lot [17:39] easier to present your case than it is [17:40] that the other side is contradicting the [17:43] things that you are saying. [17:44] >> Right. That makes sense. But then in [17:47] what kinds of contexts are you expecting [17:49] to see exparte? [17:50] >> For example, a domestic violence [17:52] restraining order. uh often happen [17:55] exparte because there are presumably [17:58] real safety risks if both parties were [18:00] there. So that's an example of something [18:02] where an exparte procedure is used more [18:05] often. [18:06] >> Yeah, that's what's confusing me. This [18:08] isn't that at all. This is a tech review [18:10] where the reviewers have been critical [18:12] to the brand but also the guy behind it [18:14] >> in the context of seeking an order [18:17] preventing the disclosure of tech news [18:21] or a tech news related thing that would [18:23] be basically unheard of. [18:24] >> He explained that expartate at least in [18:26] the US would require you to show [18:28] irreparable harm and that if in this [18:30] context any damages created could be [18:33] solved by just paying someone money i.e. [18:35] financial loss, then that wouldn't count [18:38] as irreparable. [18:40] But that's the US. [18:41] >> I do know that the laws are very [18:42] different between the United States in [18:44] particular and India. In the United [18:46] States, you basically cannot be held [18:48] liable for defamation if what you're [18:50] saying is true. The laws in India are [18:54] much more plaintiff friendly and they [18:56] are much stricter to the point where [18:58] sometimes even saying something that is [19:01] true can give rise to a defamation [19:04] claim. Okay, got it. All right. Thank [19:08] you very much. Appreciate it. So, given [19:11] that I'm not in India, I'm going to give [19:14] you my opinion, which is allowed here. I [19:16] think that if you own a company and [19:18] people are criticizing that company and [19:19] you, then they're entitled to that. If [19:22] you disagree with them, I don't think [19:24] you should be able to go for an [19:26] emergency gag order like this. That [19:27] doesn't mean you sit in silence. I think [19:29] you should just make your own video. [19:30] Explain why and that message will find [19:33] the audience that it needs to. In fact, [19:34] you know what? That's exactly what Carl [19:36] Pay does whenever people roast his [19:38] nothing products. And I rate him for [19:40] that. [19:44] Okay, I feel like we've established how [19:46] the product isn't as Indian as we've [19:47] been led to believe. How this CEO has [19:49] gone to an unprecedented extreme when [19:51] called out for it. But before we take [19:54] this all to the big man himself, I've [19:56] been trying to figure out cuz this is [19:57] very important when you're assessing how [19:59] guilty someone is. Does this company [20:02] deserve our benefit of the doubt? Yeah, [20:05] it's a no from me, Chief. It's just [20:08] interesting how on YouTube these phones [20:09] were getting absolutely cooked, but on [20:11] AI Plus's own website, every single [20:13] phone seems to have a flawless five-star [20:15] review. And then you click into those [20:17] reviews and you realize it's a fivestar [20:19] review no matter what people are saying. [20:21] Some people are literally just filling [20:23] out support forms seemingly with [20:24] questions like, "Where I buy now? Can [20:26] you please guide me?" Yeah, that's a [20:28] glowing five-star review if I've ever [20:30] seen one. And then you realize, oh wait, [20:32] it doesn't even matter if they're [20:33] actually saying it sucks. Like this [20:35] comment here, it's a five-star. A lot of [20:37] the reviews on Flipkart are just as [20:39] organic. The screen quality is great and [20:42] the camera performs well. The display [20:44] looks great and the camera is reliable. [20:47] The display is sharp and the camera is [20:49] solid. It's almost as if some of these [20:51] reviews are generated, but no, surely [20:55] not. Not from the company who has ended [20:57] their official terms and conditions [20:59] section with, "Let me know if you'd also [21:01] like a downloadable version, a version [21:02] for your Shopify website's policy page, [21:04] or tailored clauses for international [21:06] customers or B2B transactions." Oh, you [21:10] guys starting to get the same picture [21:11] that I am about this brand? Or how do [21:13] you remember that borderline racist [21:15] advert with the loan and the Chinese [21:17] man? Does it feel just a little bit [21:19] ironic that with an ad like that, this [21:21] AI Plus site also reads, "You while [21:24] providing your personal information over [21:25] the platform, consent to us and other [21:28] third parties like credit bureaus to [21:31] contact you through SMS, instant [21:33] messaging apps, call and/or email." And [21:35] worse still, if we smack this same link [21:37] into the Wayback Machine, it used to [21:39] specifically spell out personal loans. [21:43] Whoops. I could keep going. A lot of the [21:45] marketing material appears not entirely [21:47] original. They've posted photos claiming [21:49] to be taken on their phones that every [21:51] photographer I have sent them to has [21:53] confidently said is basically not [21:55] possible. But ultimately, I decided we [21:57] have enough questions now that we need [21:59] to take them to the CEO himself. Now, I [22:02] have actually called Mardov once [22:03] already, but what he said was so [22:05] confusing. It felt like he was [22:07] constantly changing his mind as he was [22:08] speaking. So, I've taken everything he [22:10] said. I've distilled it down to the key [22:12] things that I think really matter in [22:14] this case. And now it's time to lay it [22:17] all out in front of him to really [22:19] properly in one go confront him. [22:26] Right. Let's do this. [22:28] >> Yeah. Great. Great setup, huh? [22:30] >> You're getting the full BTS here. [22:32] Yesterday, I think the AI Plus website [22:34] went down. Did that have something to do [22:36] with our conversation? [22:37] >> Yeah, I'm removing everything. I'm [22:39] redoing it. I put up after your [22:41] feedback, I put up about a special team, [22:43] hired a website agency on the weekend. [22:46] >> Well, I noticed when the website was [22:48] launched again, the reviews section was [22:51] gone. I was happy to see that. So, the [22:52] website did suck, but at least he's [22:54] taken the feedback and started actioning [22:56] it pretty quickly between our first and [22:58] second conversation. We were off to a [23:00] good start. One of the main reasons your [23:01] brand exists is you're trying to, you [23:03] know, build things in India from now. A [23:05] part of it from what I understand is [23:06] that you've also expressed a lot of [23:08] concern about Chinese phones. What [23:10] exactly makes these Chinese phones a [23:13] risk in your mind? [23:14] >> Chinese phones are not a risk in my [23:16] mind. [23:16] >> Okay, [23:17] >> let's divide economy and consumers [23:19] first. They are not risk to the [23:21] consumers. I'm talking about the economy [23:23] wherein the revenues and the technology [23:25] transmit the technology knowh how from [23:27] last 10 years intentionally or [23:28] nonintentionally has not been [23:30] transferred to India. [23:31] >> Okay. But then this advert it's implying [23:34] very strongly that Chinese phone not [23:36] safe AI plus this advert is made for a [23:39] consumer right? [23:40] >> Yeah there were 300 Chinese apps which [23:41] are banned in India and it was a app [23:44] which was basically for small loans or [23:47] for a fintech loans and there were a lot [23:49] of suicide cases around it. So if you're [23:50] talking about an particular ad I'm just [23:53] an 8 months old brand. I would have made [23:55] a lot of mistakes and I admit to the lot [23:56] of mistakes which I would have made it. [23:58] So would you say this advert is an [24:00] example of a mistake? [24:01] >> I would not say that that's a complete [24:03] mistake. You stand by the ad. [24:06] >> Yeah. [24:06] >> You stand by it. Yeah. Okay. So he says [24:08] the ad is fine because it's based off a [24:10] bunch of real Chinese apps that did [24:12] cause people to lose money. But still [24:14] for more reasons than one, I don't think [24:16] this is the kind of messaging that [24:17] anyone should be doubling down on. [24:19] Moving past that though, in our first [24:20] interview, we asked Mavv about the three [24:22] Chinese apps that the YouTubers found on [24:24] their phones. Were they real? and he [24:26] said [24:26] >> yes there were but that was not on the [24:29] Indian version that was on the global [24:31] version for Nepal for Indonesia and for [24:33] Sri Lanka and every other countries [24:35] which I'm testing [24:36] >> so you're saying that no one who buys [24:38] one of these phones in India will get [24:40] any of these apps but I need to ask you [24:44] that because I'm holding one of them [24:46] bought in India and I have these apps I [24:48] feel like as soon as I revealed that I [24:50] too was holding the phone Marv kind of [24:53] pivoted [24:54] >> which version are you holding it in That [24:55] is what I have to check. I'm again [24:57] saying you yes I'm not saying no. This [25:00] were probably the initial testing units [25:02] not at all possible. [25:04] >> So specifically in a really concise way [25:06] what are you suggesting has happened [25:08] here? Why do I still have these apps on [25:09] my phone? [25:10] >> See I just have to check the kernel [25:12] source has been picked or not. I do not [25:14] have the device with me. I do not know [25:16] what exactly has happened until unless I [25:17] see the device. [25:18] >> What do you think has happened given [25:20] that I can guarantee you this phone has [25:21] come out of the box. It's been booted up [25:23] and it's been connected to Wi-Fi. [25:25] >> See, I'm again telling you I really need [25:27] to check the software and version five [25:30] you are saying is a December 25 software [25:32] which is from some small account which [25:33] was never a software which was ever [25:35] there. That is the reason I have to [25:36] check what has happened is it been [25:38] tweaked [25:39] >> but you're saying that and you've told [25:41] me this before as well that launch [25:43] devices don't have these Chinese apps on [25:45] them. Is that right? [25:47] >> Yeah. All the current devices which have [25:50] been launched they do not have any [25:51] Chinese apps. Pulse 2 as well. Nova 2. [25:54] >> I'm talking about Ultra which I just [25:56] recently launched. [25:57] >> What about the Pulse 2? Does that have [25:59] Chinese apps? [26:00] >> No, they don't not have 110%. They [26:03] should not have it. [26:03] >> Okay. So, what would you say then if I [26:05] say I've got mountains of evidence of [26:08] your own customers on Flipkart who all [26:11] show images of these apps on their [26:13] phones including [26:16] >> reals, content from all over the place, [26:18] YouTube tutorials. [26:19] >> That's what I'm trying to tell you, [26:21] right? I'm not sure that you know again [26:23] I have not gone through that content [26:25] what you're saying what I said [26:27] guarantees about Nova 2 and Nova ultra I [26:30] definitely guaranteed that right [26:31] >> I want to show you something right now [26:33] so I didn't tell him this but as well as [26:35] the Pulse 2 and the Nova flip phone I [26:38] also have one of the Nova 2Os that he's [26:41] so insistent is completely spro free yes [26:44] I hired someone on Fiverr to buy a lot [26:46] of phones for me but guess what first [26:47] time I booted it up it had all three [26:50] Chinese spro Procom apps installed. Now, [26:53] there was an update and sure enough, [26:54] when I installed it, the apps did [26:56] disappear. But him sitting there acting [26:58] like I'm absolutely crazy for suggesting [27:00] that these apps were on at least some of [27:02] his phones at launch when I've seen them [27:04] across like 30 different sources at this [27:06] point is not the problem that I thought [27:08] I'd be having. Not to mention that even [27:10] with those apps gone on my Nova SPRO [27:13] weather clock, I wonder what SPRO stands [27:16] for. [27:16] >> Can you just do me one favor? If you can [27:18] just tell your person to buy a new [27:20] device in India and open up and check it [27:23] because I also want to understand [27:26] >> is that very real? Yes or no? I'm more [27:29] than willing because I also want to go [27:30] through it. If I made a mistake, I will [27:32] admit it. [27:33] >> But do you understand why that's quite [27:34] hard for me to get behind given that [27:36] this was the predominant message in the [27:38] YouTube videos that have been forced to [27:40] be taken down, right? Is that these [27:42] Chinese apps exist? You're definitely [27:43] aware of this situation. Why is it that [27:46] now you're telling me, "Oh, if this is a [27:48] problem, I'll look into it." [27:49] >> No, I was also telling the same thing to [27:51] them. It was not that it was only about [27:53] the Chinese apps. But at the same time, [27:55] what phone software which you are [27:57] telling me right now, that version was [27:59] never existing, which you are telling me [28:01] right now. It has never been existed. [28:02] I've checked all the records. It has [28:04] never been existed. [28:04] >> What does it mean for software to have [28:06] never existed before? I will spare you [28:08] the full conversation here, but [28:10] basically I spent 15 full minutes trying [28:12] to see if I can get Marv to admit that [28:14] just something is wrong here that needs [28:16] internal investigation. It's blatantly [28:18] obvious to me, but he just kept [28:20] insisting that the software on my phone [28:23] didn't exist. And I still don't [28:25] understand what that means. Of course it [28:27] exists. I'm stuck on it. Now whether or [28:29] not this is the reason for the lack of [28:30] updates, this absurd inconsistency [28:33] between what he seems to think is on the [28:35] phones versus what actually is does line [28:38] up very well with what something that [28:39] the industry insider warned us about [28:41] >> because the biggest issue is also on the [28:43] quality control. They will be okay with [28:45] a certain level of defects. When you [28:46] handle secondhand components, you know, [28:48] when you kind of realize that one [28:49] component or one phone has a defect, you [28:51] cannot trace the initial batch to [28:53] understand where the problem is from and [28:54] how you can fix it. I myself have bought [28:56] one of these phones from Flipkart to [28:58] test it and I'm not seeing any kind of [29:00] software update. They're telling us that [29:02] there should be some sort of March [29:03] software update. I've only got December. [29:05] Could this lack of quality control be [29:07] the reason that some people are not [29:09] getting the software update which should [29:11] get rid of these Chinese apps? [29:13] >> Oh yeah, of course. I mean 100%. [29:15] >> Oh, also do you know how Marv asked me [29:16] to buy another device to check? Well, I [29:20] did. I bought two more on his request. I [29:22] asked our Fiverr contact to get one from [29:23] Flipkart and one from Amazon in India. [29:26] And would you believe it, even those [29:28] phones, both of them bought in India, [29:30] set up in India, had all the Chinese [29:32] apps still there and no update [29:34] available. So, the last thing I'm going [29:36] to say about this Chinese app situation [29:37] is either Marav is incredibly alarmingly [29:40] unaware of the state of his own devices [29:43] or he's gaslighting me and I don't know [29:45] which one is worse. Anyway, in the last [29:47] call, I also brought up the topic of [29:49] bloatware. Now, one of the main selling [29:50] points of this phone, you've talked [29:52] about it in your podcast quite a bit, is [29:53] you're trying to kind of erase bloatware [29:58] free. [29:58] >> When you go into the game space, you do [30:01] see a bunch of preloaded games. And I [30:03] wanted to ask, [30:05] my friend, I I don't think so is there [30:07] the final version anymore. It's not [30:09] there. During the December, we were [30:11] testing multiple hundreds of softwares [30:14] and games on a particular device. you [30:16] will see some bloodware free only as of [30:18] now right and we like to keep that way [30:21] itself there's no gaming app there's no [30:23] nothing [30:24] >> you said to me and tell me if I'm [30:26] understanding this right that on launch [30:28] software all the bloatware is gone [30:30] >> yeah everything has gone out [30:31] >> it's worth mentioning to you that I have [30:33] also found you know all these flip cart [30:36] customers again they also have game [30:38] space and this is on the second [30:40] generation phone [30:42] >> I'm again telling you which version is [30:44] it I want want you to pick up a new [30:46] version. You've been speaking again and [30:48] again. Repetitive. [30:50] >> It's repetitive cuz I don't understand. [30:52] How can he keep denying something that's [30:54] so obviously there? Gamespace, including [30:57] all the bloatware games, exist on my [30:59] Pulse 2 phone. It exists on other [31:01] people's YouTube videos. It even exists [31:03] on my Nova 2 phone, which has had the [31:05] latest update. Anyways, we weren't [31:07] making progress here, so I decided to [31:08] move on. In our first call, Mardav also [31:11] gave a very confusing answer as to what [31:13] it means for his products to be made in [31:15] India. If everything is expertly [31:18] imagined in India, [31:19] >> this product is not just made in India. [31:21] It's confidently imagined [31:23] >> and yet you're saying you're an ODM, [31:26] then is this not imagined in China [31:28] originally? The Pulse Swan was imagined [31:30] in China, just to be clear. [31:31] >> Yeah. [31:32] >> Okay. [31:32] >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And basically, because [31:34] that's when I learned from it. On the [31:36] last call, you talked about how the [31:38] pulse one was imagined in China and that [31:41] you learned from it. Is that right? [31:43] >> I did not say then I what did I say then [31:47] that pulse one is a basic form. You do [31:49] not need to design on it because there [31:51] are ready solutions around it for the [31:52] basic 4G and the basic 5G phones. So for [31:55] me to imagine over there or imagine over [31:56] here is one and the same thing. [31:58] >> I guess I just want you to understand [31:59] that the reason there is so much [32:01] scrutiny in this case is just because of [32:03] how much you leaned into it in that [32:04] launch event. I think going forward from [32:07] the next launch event I think I'll be [32:08] more specific [32:10] >> on what exactly which components are [32:13] buying from which country which no brand [32:15] has done it. I want you to buy my flip [32:17] phone also from India and see [32:20] specifically from day one I have given [32:22] credits to ZT on the boxes. [32:25] >> All right let's talk about ZTE shall we? [32:28] So, I had asked Mardiff about how the [32:30] flip phone resembles a ZT on our last [32:32] call and he confirmed [32:34] >> it is from ZTE only. [32:36] >> This is still pitched as an AI plus [32:38] branded phone. You've got your own name [32:39] for it. You've got your own branding for [32:41] it. If I was an AI plus fan because of, [32:43] you know, what I've learned about the [32:44] company, I would think, oh great, you [32:46] know, a phone that's keeping my data in [32:47] India. [32:48] >> I never deceived AI plus users by saying [32:50] that this is something which I've [32:52] designed in India. This I very [32:53] categorically say that this is the phone [32:55] which also has a ZTE label on the phone [32:57] box. [32:58] >> He thinks it's enough that the thing has [32:59] ZTE on the box. I disagree since this [33:03] tiny footnote is the only reference to [33:05] ZTE on the box. And having sat through [33:07] the entire launch event, I can confirm [33:09] that the name ZTE was not mentioned once [33:12] during it. But now is where I think I [33:14] started to really push his buttons. [33:16] Okay, so near the end now, but I just [33:17] wanted to ask you this AI power company [33:19] that we talked about last time. When did [33:21] you start working with them? [33:22] >> So I would say it would be 2022 end or [33:25] 2023 early where I started interacting [33:27] with them for buying a brand name. Air [33:29] power is a good name to have it. [33:31] >> What I want to clarify then is with [33:33] bbuds for example, did they make the [33:35] product? Did you make the product or was [33:37] it co-developed? [33:38] >> It was co-developed together. Would you [33:40] still count that as like designed in [33:42] India if you're saying you've [33:43] co-developed it with a company where [33:45] >> already I filed a patent for it alone? [33:48] >> That's okay. You can have the patent. I [33:50] believe that but it's just you know the [33:51] co-founders of this company are Chinese. [33:53] The HQ is in [33:54] >> I'm again telling you I have the patent [33:56] not only in India but I have a patent in [33:59] about 60 countries for that. So I have [34:01] the patent with me for the technology [34:03] and I invested in the technology. Hence [34:05] I know that you know basically I was [34:07] able to buy that patent for it. Now, the [34:09] reason I'm pushing so hard is what he's [34:11] saying doesn't make any sense to me. [34:13] He's told us that he started working [34:15] with this company in 2022, 2023, right? [34:18] There are hundreds of pieces of content [34:20] showing that were buds as a brand and [34:23] series of products existed years before [34:25] that. So, is it possible that Marv had [34:28] some input into the design of this [34:30] latest generation of Wearbuds? Perhaps. [34:32] But do I think it's fair for him to then [34:34] claim that his product was designed in [34:36] India? [34:37] >> No. [34:38] No, I don't. The way I see it, this is a [34:40] bit like if I went into Apple. They've [34:42] already been making iPhones for 20 [34:44] years, but just because I potentially [34:46] suggested some things for the iPhone 18, [34:49] I call the iPhone 18 designed by Aaron. [34:52] But now it was time to bring up the [34:53] elephant in the room. When I asked him [34:54] before why did he feel like it was right [34:56] to order those YouTube videos down, he [34:59] said, [34:59] >> "They put up a video, so we reached out [35:01] to them [35:02] >> that can we resolve your queries? We [35:04] reached out to them, but they did not [35:06] respond to it. If you are not able to [35:08] hear my point, let me at least get an [35:10] injunction. We just said that please put [35:12] our viewpoint also. You can put your [35:15] videos back up along with a follow-up [35:17] video that this is what the brand is [35:19] also saying and we open for it. [35:21] >> And as well as this idea of needing to [35:24] hear the brand out first. He also kept [35:26] referring to how the YouTuber's videos [35:27] contained unverified claims. It was [35:30] based on unverified claims having no [35:33] third party validation or any audit [35:36] validation. See we have just launched a [35:38] phone [35:39] >> and I would invest in maybe more than 20 [35:42] to $30 million to just to bring that [35:44] particular phone and if after investing [35:46] an huge amount of money to bring two [35:49] devices back without putting even my [35:51] side of the story I would have been [35:53] completely geoparadized my entire sales [35:57] and the launch. [35:58] >> Okay. So, I can understand the feeling [36:00] of investing tons of money into your [36:02] next big venture. I can understand the [36:04] pain of people criticizing it and then [36:06] the panic that you might feel if they [36:07] don't respond to you when you reach out. [36:09] But what I don't understand is this idea [36:11] that if they're not responding, let me [36:14] at least get an injunction. As if that's [36:16] just a normal thing to do when people [36:18] don't say what you want. Because you got [36:19] to remember, there's a power dynamic [36:21] here. This company is worth tens of [36:23] millions of dollars. They can sue [36:24] YouTubers if they want and create this [36:27] dystopian situation where only their [36:29] side of the story is the allowed truth. [36:31] I've seen firsthand the emotional [36:33] turmoil that this has caused people. And [36:35] so, what creator, especially the smaller [36:37] ones, are going to risk everything to [36:39] challenge a company like this if core [36:41] orders become the precedent? That's just [36:43] not on the freedom for reviews to be [36:45] authentic without fear is crucial. [36:48] Thankfully, and I have no idea if this [36:50] is in response to how hard I pushed back [36:52] or something completely unrelated, [36:54] between our first call and our second, [36:55] MV seemed to have had a change of heart. [36:58] >> I was thinking over this weekend, I [37:00] don't think so that probably I should [37:01] have been so harsh in putting up a case. [37:03] It's a community which I think I should [37:05] respect even more. I did something in [37:07] Jiffy. I think I should uh have not done [37:09] it and probably I think I'm even willing [37:12] to, you know, just take it back. Do you [37:14] feel like it is is reasonable to expect [37:16] any YouTuber, any journalist to have a [37:19] third-party audit and to like approach [37:22] you first before pointing out issues on [37:24] your devices? [37:25] >> I would not uh say that, you know, they [37:28] should approach me first. [37:29] >> Okay. [37:29] >> But if I'm trying to approach them, at [37:31] least be responsive to it. I'm willing [37:34] to see and improve and learn from it. [37:36] >> Okay. [37:36] >> But being nonresponsive made me more, I [37:39] would say, in a jify situation. But my [37:41] actually the fight was not with any of [37:45] the YouTubers. The fight was with an [37:48] agency who was in between trying to then [37:50] manipulate towards creating more [37:52] misunderstandings between brand and [37:54] YouTubers. [37:55] >> So for the record, you don't agree that [37:57] companies should take down or behave in [38:00] the way that you did. [38:01] >> Yeah, I agree. I I completely on records [38:03] I agree that I think I did something in [38:06] haste which I think probably I should [38:07] not have done it against the creators. [38:10] I'm again saying my fight is against the [38:12] agencies. [38:12] >> What he means by agencies, by the way, [38:14] is the agencies that manage YouTubers, [38:16] the ones that companies like AI Plus [38:18] would contact presumably to arrange [38:20] brand deals with creators. So, I'm [38:22] really glad that he said that he's made [38:24] a mistake and he's likely going to try [38:25] and reverse it, but has he convinced me [38:28] that he genuinely sees the error in his [38:30] ways? [38:32] No, he has not. This feels a lot more [38:35] like he's seen the error of what it [38:38] means to get on the wrong side of every [38:40] YouTuber ever, which is, I'm guessing, [38:42] why he's now deflecting to blaming the [38:44] agencies. And this point, he's made [38:46] crystal clear with a follow-up third [38:48] phone call and message to clarify. But [38:51] what's just come to light makes this [38:53] feel, to me, at least like far too [38:55] little too late. Because Techweiser just [38:57] had their first hearing in court. This [38:59] is the first time they got to present [39:01] their side of the story and they claimed [39:02] that the only reason Marv was able to [39:04] get this ex party order is by using [39:07] tricks. So remember I said that one of [39:09] the defendants named was John Doe. Well, [39:11] turns out that Marv named John Doe as [39:13] the main defendant. What that means is [39:16] while you usually have to serve notice [39:17] to a defendant so they have a chance to [39:19] defend themselves by making the main [39:21] defendant not a real person, the court [39:24] accepted that you can't warn them in [39:26] advance. So you put John Doe there only [39:28] so as to to obiate the need and to to [39:31] ensure that nobody appears on day one to [39:33] defend what they've done. And then on [39:34] top of that to cover themselves even [39:36] when they did contact Techiser with the [39:38] legal order they sent it to an email [39:40] address that Techweiser says doesn't [39:43] exist. Even though AI Plus has [39:45] Techiser's real email and has used it [39:47] multiple times before to contact them. [39:49] By sending the court order to this [39:51] supposedly fake email where they knew [39:53] Techweiser wouldn't see it, it meant [39:55] that the YouTuber wouldn't know about [39:56] the court case until it was too late. [39:58] >> He knows who I am. He knows all details. [40:00] He knows my reputation and my [40:02] credibility, but strangely can't find my [40:04] email ID to which he just corresponded 2 [40:06] days before he filed the suit. [40:07] >> And in doing all this, AI Plus in a way [40:10] have created their ideal outcome. [40:12] They've already successfully suppressed [40:14] the negative coverage for weeks. So it [40:16] almost doesn't matter if they lose the [40:18] case when it ends in August or later and [40:20] the videos come back online [40:21] >> because by then the content would have [40:23] been off in this critical juncture [40:25] coinciding with the launch of their [40:26] product. [40:27] >> So now with that context MV now telling [40:29] me that he wants to rescend his core [40:31] order doesn't really mean anything and [40:34] so upon hearing this and seeing the [40:35] evidence the judge has decided that Mav [40:38] has to be summoned into court to answer [40:40] for himself. [40:41] >> Who is the plaintiff in this? [40:42] >> Hello Mr. Madav set I believe has signed [40:45] for the plaintiff. [40:46] >> Please have him here after tomorrow. We [40:48] need some answers permit but this kind [40:49] of a thing we are not going to permit [40:51] let nobody be under this impression that [40:53] they can put full wool over our eyes. We [40:55] want to dispel this notion. [40:56] >> Despite Mav's noble words to me, he [40:58] failed to show up in court meaning that [41:00] the next hearing has been pushed to the [41:02] first week of August. The YouTuber's [41:04] videos are still down while new [41:05] marketing campaigns to promote AI plus [41:07] products are still coming out. The final [41:09] decision awaits, but I know where I sit. [41:12] And by the way, I think there's a decent [41:14] chance that AI Plus or someone tries to [41:16] geollock this video to block it in [41:18] India. If that happens, use a VPN like [41:20] Surf Shark, our sponsor. Get around it [41:22] and just make sure this message is [41:24] heard. Link below for the best deal [41:25] possible on Surf Shark so you're ready. [41:27] And with the code boss, it's less than [41:29] $2 a month.