AI risks spark 30% surge in India cybersecurity spends as enterprises ramp up defences

Corporate India is witnessing a significant surge in cybersecurity spending, up 30% year-on-year, as businesses race to safeguard data and AI systems. Even traditionally less-invested sectors like manufacturing are digitizing aggressively. This trend, driven by AI's expanding attack surface and increasing regulatory pressure from bodies like CERT-In, is making cybersecurity a crucial, ongoing operational expense for enterprises.

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Mark Zuckerberg directed Meta to create a prediction markets app: NYT

Meta is reportedly developing a new app, codenamed 'Arena,' designed to function like prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi. Initially, it will likely use a points system, with the possibility of real-money wagering later. This move taps into the growing popularity of prediction markets, which have seen significant interest during the U.S. presidential election.

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Chevron signs pact with Microsoft for powering its Texas data centre

Chevron and Microsoft have partnered for a 20-year deal to power a Texas data center. The Kilby facility will supply 2.67 gigawatts using GE Vernova and Solar Turbines technology, mitigating grid impact. This collaboration highlights the immense energy needs for AI development, with Chevron leveraging its natural gas resources to meet this growing demand competitively.

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Dealmaking stays strong as startup M&A momentum carries into 2026

Indian startups are experiencing a surge in M&A exits, particularly in consumer, fintech, and ecommerce sectors, signalling a robust recovery in dealmaking. Major acquisitions by L'Oréal and Marico have been the latest in this trend, with strategic buyers increasingly seeking to integrate new capabilities.

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UnitedHealth’s $3 billion AI push has bots calling doctors

The largest US health insurer plans to invest $3 billion in AI over 2026 and 2027. UnitedHealth executives say they’re seeing a 2-to-1 return, as AI automates cumbersome manual processes and makes workers more efficient. Executives say the technology can reduce friction for patients while lowering costs.

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AI, AI Sir! Indian execs back in the classroom for a fresh chapter

Online education companies such as Coursera, Eruditus, upGrad and Simplilearn are reporting a sharp rise in enrolments over the past year $2 trillion a year over the next five years - with generative AI, agentic AI and AI-led business transformation emerging as the most sought-after areas of learning.

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Trump tells Axios he no longer views Anthropic as national security threat

Senior Anthropic technical staff were scheduled to meet with Trump administration ‌officials earlier ⁠this week ⁠to discuss a dispute over foreign access to its most advanced ​AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5. The company last week disabled access ​for all users to those models after Trump ordered Anthropic to block foreign nationals from accessing them.

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Meta AI glasses pilot faces privacy scrutiny

Privacy experts are flagging significant risks with Meta's AI glasses pilot for visually impaired citizens in Gujarat. Concerns centre on potential privacy violations for users and bystanders due to always-on cameras, and challenges under India's data protection law. While the technology promises independence, calls are mounting for stringent safeguards against data misuse and unauthorised access before deployment.

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Architect Labs raises $24 million to take on Broadcom, Marvell custom chip business

The company plans to target chip ​companies to ​help accelerate the design process but also software companies ⁠that could use custom chips to make their ​applications run faster or more efficiently, Architect co-founder Ebrahim ​Hussain said in an interview with Reuters.

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Nobel Prize winner John Jumper quits Google DeepMind after nearly a decade; set to join Anthropic

Nobel laureate John Jumper, a key figure behind the groundbreaking AlphaFold AI, is departing Google DeepMind after nearly nine years. He announced his move to rival AI firm Anthropic on X. Jumper's departure underscores the intense competition for top AI talent as startups like Anthropic vie with tech giants for leading researchers.

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Data centres, AI become IT's next growth bet

India's software services industry is finding new growth in data centers and AI. Companies like HCLTech, TCS, Accenture, and Cognizant are investing heavily in AI platforms and infrastructure. This strategic shift aims to position them as end-to-end partners.

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