Zetwerk IPO: Size, valuation, timeline and other details we know so far

Zetwerk is preparing to confidentially file IPO papers to raise up to $550 million at a $4 billion valuation, including fresh equity and OFS. Led by Amrit Acharya, the move comes amid senior exits. Here’s a look at its IPO plans.

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UK aerospace company wins lawsuit against ex-CEO who lobbied against Chinese investment deal

Gardner said Upton contacted politicians ​and encouraged them to pressure the British ⁠government to "call in" ‌the deal and impose onerous conditions, to try ​and ​keep his job under a different potential owner. But Judge Richard Smith ruled on Friday that Upton had breached his duties as ‌a director of Gardner by taking steps that "he knew would undermine the transaction," including sending emails to lawmakers ​to oppose ​the deal.

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Philippe Laffont’s $70 billion Coatue looks to launch new AI, tech fund

Philippe Laffont’s $70 billion Coatue Management is gearing up to launch a new fund to wager on public and private artificial intelligence and tech innovation companies, a sign the firm is rethinking its long-only investing strategy as more startups stay private for longer.

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Nimble mid-tier IT riding large deal momentum as AI rejigs biz

Large deals are gaining momentum at mid-tier IT service providers in 2026, amid concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) tools disrupting traditional outsourcing models, as enterprises cast a wider net for large transformation projects.

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Meta to roll out Meta AI support assistant globally on Facebook and Instagram

Meta announced that it is rolling out Meta AI support assistant globally on Facebook and Instagram to provide 24/7 help with account issues such as password updates and profile settings.

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Broadcom hit with EU antitrust complaint and request for interim measure

​Lobbying group Cloud Infrastructure Services ​Providers in Europe on Thursday urged ​EU antitrust regulators to temporarily stop Broadcom from ending its VMware Cloud Service Provider programme in Europe, ramping up its fight against the ‌US tech ⁠company.

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Key Ministries may soon get the power to block online content

The government is considering expanding the remit of the Information Technology Act, 2000 to empower critical ministries such as defence, home affairs, external affairs and information and broadcasting to issue content blocking orders under Section 69(A) of the legislation, officials told ET.

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AI race shifts from size to reliability, says Emergence AI CEO

The real battle in artificial intelligence is shifting from building bigger models to ensuring they behave predictably, as enterprises prioritise reliability while adopting AI, said Satya Nitta, chief executive and cofounder of Emergence AI, a startup focused on building agentic AI systems.

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Why founders are flocking to OpenClaw?

There is a mad rush in India to adopt OpenClaw as enthusiasts organise meetups and buildathons; but some key security concerns remain. Swathi Moorthy decodes the new AI mania.

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Apple acquires visual effects plugins company MotionVFX

The Warsaw-based startup develops high-quality plugins, transitions, motion graphics, and visual effects for professional video editors. It specialises in tools for Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve and offers editable templates, including mReels, titles, and tracking tools, to create cinematic, professional-level graphics in minutes. Apple has over 50 third-party developers offering effects-related products within the Final Cut Pro ecosystem. As part of the acquisition, around 70 MotionVFX employees are reported to join Apple.

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Scoop: Sequoia alumni’s Ambition Capital set to raise $250 million for early-stage investing

Shailesh Lakhani, Harshjit Sethi and Mayank Porwal, who were previously with Peak XV (formerly Sequoia Capital India), have teamed up to early-stage fund to back seed and series A startups. Bengaluru-based Ambition Capital will back startups across consumer, AI, deep tech and fintech, which are the areas familiar to the trio.

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AI fakes about Iran-US war swirl on X despite policy crackdown

AI-created videos circulating on Elon Musk's X depict American soldiers captured by Iran, an Israeli city in ruins, and US embassies ablaze - a surge of lifelike deepfakes despite a policy crackdown to curb wartime disinformation. They include AI videos depicting a tearful American soldier inside a bombed-out embassy, captured US troops on their knees beside Iranian flags, and a destroyed US navy fleet.

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AI push speeds up work, but quietly shrinks breaks

With AI's quick help, employees tempted to work through breaks between tasks. Top human resources executives and consultants said early signals of the shift are visible as generative AI tools move from experimentation to everyday work.

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When your Apple watch becomes an office taskmaster

White-collar workers increasingly track heart rate variability (HRV) with wearables to boost health and workplace performance. The trend has created HRV coaching and biohacking industries, though experts warn the obsession may be misleading, unhealthy, or anxiety-inducing.

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SpaceX taps Gibson Dunn and Davis Polk & Wardwell as legal advisors on blockbuster IPO, sources say

Elon Musk's rocket-and-satellite company has hired Gibson Dunn to represent it throughout the process, according to one of the people, while the ‌banks underwriting ⁠the deal ⁠have chosen Davis Polk & Wardwell, both people said. They asked not to be identified because the process ​is confidential.

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Y Combinator brings Startup School to India; here is what it means for your startup

Launched in 2017 by Y Combinator, one of the world’s most influential startup accelerators and early-stage VC firms, Startup School is a free online course that offers personalised coaching and lectures for aspiring founders. The India leg of the school will target engineers, builders, and entrepreneurs interested in the startup ecosystem.

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Flipkart, Amazon expand dark stores as profit check slows quick commerce majors

The quick-commerce foray of Flipkart and Amazon appears to have coincided with the profitability check at pioneers in this space -Swiggy and IPO-bound Zepto – and amid a broader debate over employment conditions in the last-mile, instant delivery revenue stream.

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Amazon unit withdraws from drone trade group, raises safety concerns

Amazon Prime Air said in a ​letter seen Thursday by Reuters that the alliance's ​positions "on the ⁠most consequential ‌safety questions ​facing ​the commercial drone industry ⁠are incompatible with Prime Air's ​core safety tenets."

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Lucid unveils steering wheel-free robotaxi concept, taking aim at Tesla's Cybercab

Lucid ​showcased a two-seater ​robotaxi concept without pedals ‌and ⁠a steering ⁠wheel ​and announced a ​self-driving tech subscription for ​its ⁠electric vehicles ‌at ​its ​investor ⁠day event on Thursday.

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Infosys tightens overseas travel approvals amid Middle East crisis

In an internal communication sent to employees on Wednesday and reviewed by ET, the company said only critical travel would be permitted for the time being. Group meetings, events, offsites, conferences and similar gatherings have been restricted until further notice.

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India's software exports touch $222 billion in 2024-25: ESC

The export of computer software and services, including ITeS and BPO, increased by 11% on a year-over-year basis to $222 billion in 2024-25, the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council said on Tuesday.

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Wipro Enterprises eyes entry into semiconductor sector

Wipro Enterprises is considering entering semiconductor manufacturing, likely chip assembly, taking a cue from other large Indian conglomerates that are betting on the sunrise industry to power new avenues of growth. It will look to enter the space via the outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) route, he said, much like the HCL Group that laid the foundation stone for a Rs 3,700 crore OSAT facility in Uttar Pradesh in a joint venture with Foxconn.

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Househelp apps top 2 million monthly orders amid profitability questions

India’s emerging 10-minute househelp segment is scaling quickly, but investors are seeking clearer answers on long-term economics. Market leaders Urban Company, Snabbit and Pronto together recorded over 2 million monthly orders in February, up sharply from 1.3 million in December, helped by expansion into new cities and micro-markets.

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A guide to the Pentagon's dance with Anthropic and OpenAI

If Anthropic did not allow the Pentagon to deploy these technologies for "all lawful uses," Hegseth said, he would sever ties with the San Francisco startup.

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AI to play major role in tomorrow's warfare: CDS Anil Chauhan at Raisina Dialogue

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Saturday said the world is at the cusp of a huge transformation where artificial intelligence and autonomous systems will influence future warfare.

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AI firm Fractal expects strong growth on increased AI adoption

The newly listed firm crossed Rs 100 crore in net profit for the first time in the December quarter, on the back of year-on-year 21% revenue growth to Rs 854.4 crore.

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Marvell Tech shares soar on bullish multi-year AI chip outlook

Marvell Technology rose ​nearly 11% in early trading on Friday, as its ​upbeat multi-year forecast underscored booming demand for custom AI chips from large technology companies.

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Meta’s AI smart glasses under scrutiny after investigation reveals sensitive content

Contract workers reviewing videos for data annotation reportedly encountered highly sensitive material, including bank information, nudity, sexual encounters, pornography, and even footage of people using the toilet, said a Swedish news investigation. The UK’s data watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), has written to Meta requesting information to ensure that its practices comply with the country's data protection laws.

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Anthropic and Pentagon continuing discussions: Report

Anthropic and Pentagon continuing discussions.

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India’s beauty and personal care market set to grow to $39 billion in FY30: Report

India’s beauty and personal care market is accelerating rapidly, thanks to rising personal care spending by young consumers. E-commerce and rapid delivery platforms are defining how beauty products are accessed.

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Iranian strikes on Amazon data centres highlights industry's vulnerability to physical disasters

The company's cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services, said late Monday that two data centres in the United Arab Emirates were "directly struck" and another facility in Bahrain was also damaged after a drone landed nearby.

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GCCs brace for near-term hit as war clouds gather over Gulf biz

The global capability centre (GCC) ecosystem in India may face a short-term setback due to the Middle East conflict, but is expected to benefit in the long run as the country offers a stable security and policy environment for businesses to operate, said experts.

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SoftBank's PayPay delays IPO roadshow launch, sources say, as Iran attack rattles markets

The postponement, which has not been previously reported, comes after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran that ‌killed Iran's Supreme ⁠Leader ⁠Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and sent shockwaves through global financial markets.

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Quick commerce solutions platform Inamo raises $8 million led by Prime Venture

Started in 2025 by Sumit Anand and Thakare, Inamo offers full-stack solutions for quick commerce, including inventory management, fulfilment, and technology. At present, it processes 1.8 million orders per month.

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Amazon India to remove seller fee for items under Rs 1,000 from mid-March

In April 2025, Amazon India had waived the seller referral fee for items below Rs 300. Now the company has expanded its zero referral fees from 1.2 crore products in 2025 to over 12.5 crore products.

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Pentagon vs Anthropic: Who should control the AI weapon?

A major clash is unfolding between the US Pentagon and AI firm Anthropic. The government wants unrestricted access to Anthropic's AI models, while the company insists on ethical constraints. This dispute raises fundamental questions about AI control and safety. The outcome could shape the future of artificial intelligence development and its integration into national security.

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SemicON: Modi launches Micron facility in Gujarat

The semiconductor assembly, testing, marking and packaging facility in the industrial hub of Sanand is the first of 10 projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) that has begun commercial production and shipment. It converts advanced DRAM (dynamic random access memory) and NAND (flash memory) wafers from Micron’s global manufacturing network into finished memory and storage products.

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India's role in semiconductor supply chain 'essential' as others seek to dominate sector: US envoy

US ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Saturday said as other countries in the neighbourhood seek to dominate the production of "legacy chips", India offers a reliable alternative and has an important role in the global semiconductor supply chain.

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Warner Bros signs $110 billion deal with Paramount, its executive discloses in townhall

The agreement caps a ⁠bidding war after Netflix declined to match Paramount's latest $31-per-share offer, which ​was deemed superior by Warner Bros to the streaming pioneer's $27.75-per-share agreement ​for its assets. Paramount was in pursuit of Warner Bros since late last year when it launched a hostile campaign to wrestle the company from the streaming giant by consistently raising its offer.

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Rivals support Anthropic in AI standoff with Pentagon

At the heart of the dispute is Anthropic's refusal to allow its Claude models to be used for the mass surveillance of US citizens or deployed in fully autonomous weapons systems. An open letter titled "We Will Not Be Divided," signed as of Friday by 336 Google DeepMind staffers and 68 from OpenAI, called on tech leaders to hold the line together.

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Digital lenders tap bond markets to diversify borrowing channels

Digital lending startups are turning to public bond markets to cut costs and diversify funding. Platforms like OBPPs and growing retail participation are making NCDs a viable tool for new-age lenders. This shift reduces reliance on traditional non-bank lenders, offering cheaper borrowing and helping fintechs raise funds more efficiently.

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Telangana aims to emerge as global logistics hub by 2047: Sridhar Babu

Speaking at the Transport Logistic India 2026 conference organised by Messe Munchen India at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, the Minister outlined the State government's strategy to build a future-ready logistics ecosystem through infrastructure expansion, digital integration, policy support, sustainability initiatives and skill development, according to a release.

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Construction tech startup MeltPlan raises $10 million in round led by Bessemer Venture Partners

Europe-based venture capital firm Noa participated in the funding round of the startup, which offers an AI system that optimises decision-making before construction begins. The fresh funds will be used to enhance its tech offering, strengthen its vertical AI stack and expand its team.

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Perplexity Computer: CEO Aravind Srinivas unveils the company's "next big thing"

Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, revealed Perplexity Computer, a system that unites files, tools, memory, and AI models. It uses multiple specialised models, each handling tasks like reasoning, coding, or writing. Users can assign models to subtasks, giving control over performance and cost.

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CID takes up probe on fintech startup Jar; HC hears plea for quashing FIR

Officials at the CID’s Deposit Fraud Investigation division are investigating the Bengaluru-based startup for operating without a licence from Sebi or the RBI.

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Medical equipment startup Pulse raises $4 million funding led by 3one4 Capital

Medical equipment startup Pulse has raised $4 million in a funding round led by 3one4 Capital. Founded in 2025, Pulse makes equipment for critical, renal and cardiac care, working with nearly 20 MSMEs across India. The funds will help the company accelerate product development, secure regulatory certifications and set up a new research and development (R&D) hub in Vizag.

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Why AI bolt-ons won’t help IT, cybersecurity weather this storm

In less than ten days, Anthropic triggered two separate stock selloffs across enterprise technology. First, its Cowork agent shook IT services stocks. Then, late last week, it launched Claude Code Security, a tool that scans software for weaknesses and suggests fixes.

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PayPal attracts takeover interest after stock slump

PayPal Holdings, the digital payments pioneer, is attracting takeover interest from potential buyers after a stock slide wiped out almost half of its value. The San Jose, California-based company has fielded meetings with banks amid unsolicited interest from suitors.

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AMD bets big on India’s AI ambitions with Helios; open ecosystem push

Senior VP Thomas Zacharia outlines roadmap spanning exascale computing, PPPs, & deeper India engagement.

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Delhi declaration urges democratic AI for social good

The 86 signatories included the European Union as well the US and the UK, two key nations that had opted out of a global pact on AI at the previous year's summit in Paris. Other major participants include China, Germany, Japan, France, Italy, Russia and Canada. All the shared priorities mentioned in the declaration are voluntary and represent non-binding guidelines and principles.

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AI Summit proved to be a turning point on how world will utilise power of AI: PM Modi

In his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat, Modi also asked people to remain vigilant against online financial fraud and digital arrest, and appealed to all to comply with requests from banks for doing KYC (know your customer) as it is crucial for an individual's bank account's safety.

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India's AI ambition spans full tech stack; combines domestic impact, global outlook: Ericsson CTO

Erik Ekudden told PTI that the evolution of networks will be central to the AI journey. While AI is already being used to optimise 5G networks today, the future will see the rise of agentic AI or AI agents, and eventually physical AI such as robots and humanoids.

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ETtech Deals Digest: Startups raise $725 million this week, up 5X on-year

The number of deals during the week, however, was down at 32 transactions, compared to 42 in the corresponding week last year.

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Chip startup Taalas raises $169 million to help build AI chips to take on Nvidia

Toronto-based chip startup Taalas said on Thursday it had ​raised $169 million and said ​it has developed a chip capable of running artificial intelligence ​applications faster and more cheaply than conventional approaches.

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OpenAI partners with IIT Delhi, IIM Ahmedabad, others to build AI-ready talent

OpenAI on Wednesday announced partnerships with leading Indian universities to embed artificial intelligence across management, health, engineering, creative and multidisciplinary education, aiming to build AI-ready talent for a tech-driven economy.

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India’s chance to create AI’s third way: Mozilla Foundation president Mark Surman

There is a huge opportunity for countries like India to step forward and be champions in artificial intelligence by investing in open source and enabling the creation of a third way of AI that is different from Big Tech and China, Mozilla Foundation president Mark Surman said.

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Figma partners with Anthropic to launch ‘Code to Canvas’

Figma on Tuesday announced a partnership with Anthropic and unveiled a new feature, “Code to Canvas,” that converts AI-generated code into fully editable designs within Figma.

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Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince rejects outage reports, hints at legal action

Cloudflare’s cofounder and chief executive rejected a report claiming the company suffered an outage Monday morning, disputing coverage that cited user complaints and data from Downdetector. Prince also hinted that the internet infrastructure provider might also consider legal action against Downdetector, because he was “tired of their crap”.

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Crypto company Nexo returns to US three years after clash with regulators

Crypto company Nexo has relaunched ​in the United States, it said on Monday, three years after leaving the country and paying a $45 million fine following clashes with regulators.

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DPDP Act phased rollout exposing compliance gaps: Privacy experts

Executives across the privacy ecosystem told ET that organisations are over-focusing on surface-level compliance such as consent banners and legal documentation, while underestimating the operational overhaul required to meet the law’s substantive obligations.

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AI Summit to focus on human-centric and inclusive AI

Under India's AI leadership framework, seven thematic working groups - termed "Chakras" - are being structured around three guiding "Sutras": People, Planet and Progress, a senior MEA official said. The Human Capital Chakra will address the rapid transformation of work driven by AI, focusing on equipping people with skills and digital literacy to adapt to evolving employment landscapes.

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Digital arrest victims may be going under cover

Banks and insurers are in early talks to design an insurance product to cover victims of digital arrest scams, potentially making India the first country with such fraud coverage. The government has formed an interdepartmental committee to support tools like a UPI kill switch. Insurers and regulators are discussing protection for losses caused under psychological pressure.

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Microsoft, Ericsson lead global tech alliance for digital trust

The alliance ​includes companies such as Anthropic, Amazon Web Services, Alphabet's ​Google, India's Reliance Jio Platforms, Finland's Nokia, Canada's Cohere, Japan's NTT, and Germany's SAP. Its five principles call for strong corporate governance, ethical conduct, secure technology development, adherence to global security standards across supply chains, and support for an open digital environment.

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Gifting, wellness brands find love on qcomm this Valentine’s week

Valentine’s Day is becoming a major sales event for quick commerce and D2C brands, spanning fashion, jewellery, beauty, and sexual wellness. Platforms like Zepto, Blinkit, and Instamart have launched dedicated Valentine’s sections from February 7, with interactive designs to boost purchases. Sexual wellness brand MyMuse reports a 50–60% YoY rise in sales via these apps.

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SoftBank's PayPay moves closer to public markets with US IPO filing

PayPay's stock market flotation was initially expected in December, but the longest-ever U.S. ​government shutdown delayed the regulatory review and pushed back the planned listing. The offering could raise ​more than $2 billion, Reuters reported in August. PayPay did ​not disclose the size or the proposed price range.

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Voice AI moves from an add-on to the core for Indian companies

As digital services reach deeper into tier-II and III cities, and rural India, companies are rethinking text-heavy and English-first systems in favour of voice-led and Indic-language AI.

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New Sovereign AI hub to create 5,000 high-skilled jobs in Odisha following Sarvam AI MoU

The project follows a strategic proposal from Sarvam AI, a leading Indian startup, which plans to invest approximately Rs 20,000 crore ($2.3 billion) to set up the hub. This facility will serve as a cornerstone for the state's digital transformation, transitioning Odisha from its traditional roots in mining and metals toward a technology-driven future.

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Uber rolls out Baidu's self-driving taxis for ride hailing in Dubai

Uber and Baidu said on Tuesday they would ‍launch autonomous ride-hailing ​services in Dubai in the coming month, the ⁠latest step in the Chinese tech firm's push toward global expansion.

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Govt assures equal tax treatment for domestic, foreign data centre players; industry seeks deeper value capture

The government’s clarification that domestic and foreign investors will be treated at par when it comes to the 20-year tax holiday is an important and reassuring signal for the data centre industry, executives from firms such as Yotta and ESDS said. The announcement of a 20-year tax holiday till 2047 initially created a perception that foreign hyperscalers were being given a special runway, they said.

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Petcare startup Supertails raises $30 million led by Venturi Partners

Petcare startup Supertails has raised $30 million in a round led by Singapore-based investment firm Venturi Partners with participation from Nippon India Alternative Investments, Titan Capital, and existing investors Fireside Ventures, RPSG Capital Ventures, Sauce VC, and Saama Capital.

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Trial against Meta in New Mexico focuses on dangers of child sexual exploitation on social media

A trial focused on the dangers of child sexual exploitation on social media and whether Meta misrepresented the safety of its platforms began Monday in New Mexico with opening statements.

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Investors catch a big whiff of money in D2C fragrance firms

India’s direct-to-consumer (D2C) fragrance and deodorant sector is seeing early signs of a funding boom, with venture capital firms negotiating multiple deals with emerging brands on the back of Gen Z demand and a wave of premiumisation. Investors see a wide gap in products priced between Rs 1,500 and Rs 4,000 for a 100 ml pack.

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India, Malaysia pledge deeper semiconductor ties on Modi visit

India and Malaysia pledged Sunday to deepen their semiconductor partnership as the Indian Ocean neighbours ramp up trade and security links during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Along with AI and digital technologies, we will advance our partnership in semiconductors, health, and food security," Modi said.

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ISM 2.0 to prioritise chip design, ecosystem partners, talent: Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 aims to attract global partners and build a skilled workforce. India plans to manufacture advanced chips. This initiative will boost the nation's deep tech capabilities and startup ecosystem. The government is investing significantly to achieve these goals.

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Very excited to invite India to join Pax Silica, says top US official

The United States has invited India to join the Pax Silica initiative focused on supply chain security. This move signals strong positive momentum in US-India relations. Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg will soon sign an agreement with the Indian government. India's vast young, technically trained talent pool is seen as a key asset.

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IAMAI flags rushed DPDP rollout

The Internet and Mobile Association of India has asked the government to slow enforcement of the Digital Personal Data Protection framework, warning rushed timelines could disrupt businesses. It said companies were promised an 18-month transition but may now get far less. IAMAI cautioned this could create operational, legal and compliance risks across the digital ecosystem.

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The dark side of AI weighs on the stock market

A washout hit software stocks as Wall Street realised the threat from artificial intelligence had arrived. New tools from a San Francisco startup triggered a sudden reckoning, pushing investors to sell. The sell-off dragged the broader market lower, briefly turning the S&P 500 negative for the year this past week.

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Fractal Analytics mobilises Rs 1,248 crore from anchor investors; IPO to open on February 9

Fractal Analytics on Friday garnered Rs 1,248.26 crore from anchor investors, days before the opening of its initial public offering (IPO). The anchor book saw broad-based participation from a mix of leading domestic and global institutional investors, reflecting robust demand for the issue.

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Scroll, spot, buy: Why fashion and lifestyle shopping is growing on Instagram

For many Gen Z shoppers in their early 20s, shopping via a social media ad while scrolling through the feed is most natural, with impulse purchases offering both retail therapy and instant gratification.

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What is Frontier: The next big enterprise bet from OpenAI?

OpenAI is launching a new service called Frontier. This platform will help companies create and manage artificial intelligence agents. These AI tools can perform specific tasks. This move puts OpenAI in direct competition with rival Anthropic. Both companies are also preparing for public offerings and will run competing advertisements during the Super Bowl.

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Ride-hailing gig worker unions call for strike on February 7

A group of unions representing gig workers operating with ride-hailing companies like Uber, Ola and Rapido have called for a strike on Saturday, February 7.

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Apple sets up first Education Hub in India in Bengaluru

Apple has set up an education hub in Bengaluru – its first in India and fourth globally – to offer skill-building and training programmes as well as its suite of development courses to its suppliers’ employees.

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Social media groups face European backlash as Spain, Greece weigh teen bans

Spain and Greece on Tuesday proposed bans ⁠on social media use by teenagers as attitudes hardened in Europe against technology some say is designed to be addictive and which can expose children to harmful content.

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AI plan collides with funding reality as budget halves outlay

The budget decision to halve allocation for the IndiaAI Mission to Rs 1,000 crore in 2026-27 from Rs 2,000 crore this fiscal year has raised concerns over the country’s AI push, even as officials said it’s part of a deliberate strategy. Experts said building meaningful artificial intelligence capacity will require significantly higher and more sustained public investment, and warned that India risks falling behind in the global AI race if government funding does not scale up.

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Oracle rises as $50 billion raise eases data-center funding fears

Oracle shares gained 2.5% on Monday after Wall Street analysts said the software company's $50 ‍billion fundraising plan allays worries over ​its ability to finance a massive data-center expansion with OpenAI.

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Building India’s growth through MSMEs and technology: Vidit Aatrey

Vidit Aatrey, founder and CEO of Meesho, said that the Budget reflects a quiet but important shift in India’s growth story, one that backs MSMEs, women entrepreneurs and manufacturers with patient capital and modern infrastructure.

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X down for thousands of US users, Downdetector data finds

There were ​more than ​19,281 reports of ‌issues ‍with ‍the social media platform formerly ‌known as Twitter, as of 11:19 a.m. ET, according ‍to Downdetector, which tracks ‍outages by ⁠collating ⁠status reports from a number of sources.

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With policy certainty & AI push, Budget signals India's tech moment, says Nasscom

The consolidation of software development services, IT-enabled services, KPO and contract R&D relating to software development into a single category of IT services with a uniform safe harbour margin of 15.5 per cent, alongside enhancement of the Safe Harbour eligibility threshold to Rs 2,000 crore (from Rs 300 crore), materially expands access to certainty mechanisms for routine cross-border IT service models, it said.

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​Budget 2026 signals focus on mental health with Nimhans 2.0 plan

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the setting up of a National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) in north India, thus focussing attention on the growing conversation around mental health in the country.

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AI agents’ social network becomes talk of the town

Moltbook, a new social network for AI agents, has exploded in popularity, attracting around a million bots within hours. Inspired by Reddit, the text-heavy platform lets AI discuss philosophy, stories and even emotions, delighting some researchers. Others warn it is chaotic, filled with crypto promotion and hype.

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Is ‘AI-washing’ behind new wave of tech layoffs?

Companies are increasingly pointing to artificial intelligence when announcing job cuts, alongside more traditional reasons such as weak finances or overhiring. AI was mentioned in over 50,000 layoffs in 2025, with firms like Amazon, Pinterest and HP linking cuts to future AI-driven changes. Critics warn some companies may be using “AI-washing” to justify cost-driven layoffs.

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SpaceX seeks FCC nod for solar-powered satellite data centres for AI

SpaceX has asked US regulators for permission to deploy up to one million satellites to power space-based AI data centres using solar energy. The plan follows talks between SpaceX and Elon Musk’s xAI about a possible merger ahead of a major public listing. The proposal relies on Starship to cut launch costs.

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JJG Aero raises $30 million from Norwest to scale capacity

Aerospace components maker JJG Aero has raised $30 million in funding led by Norwest, marking the investor’s first bet in the segment in India. The company plans to expand manufacturing capacity as global aircraft demand remains strong. Industry leaders say India offers major growth potential in aerospace manufacturing.

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From search to shopping carts, digital ads mint Rs 80,000 crore

Indian tech and ecommerce companies earned close to Rs 80,000 crore in ad revenue in 2024-25. Digital advertising fueled this growth as brands sought measurable results. Google and Meta lead with strong performance. Retail media platforms like Amazon and Flipkart also saw significant gains. This trend highlights a shift in advertising budgets towards data-driven digital channels.

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Reliance leads $50 million round in spacetech startup Digantara at $200 million valuation

Reliance Industries has led a $50 million funding round in spacetech startup Digantara, valuing the firm at about $200 million. The Bengaluru-based company tracks satellites and space debris using its own space-based technology and plans global expansion. The funding will support overseas growth, satellite manufacturing and higher production capacity.

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Is chip giant ASML about to hit a ceiling, or break through it?

ASML shares are up 34% so ‌far this month and ‌trade at 42 times 2026 earnings estimates, well above Nvidia's 25 times, as analysts have ratcheted up forecasts. ASML management sees sales growth this year ranging from as low ‌as 4% to as high as 19%.

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Banned to back again: A timeline of TikTok's rise, fall and rebirth

TikTok evolved from a teen dance app into a dominant US platform shaping culture, commerce and politics.

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ET Explains: Global push to restrict children's social media use

Children's mental health, excessive screen time, exposure to harmful content, and online abuse are concerns for governments. Studies show social media can affect mood, sleep and learning. So, many countries are looking for ways to protect minors.

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Crypto money-laundering hit $82 billion in 2025, researchers say

Money launderers received at least $82 billion in cryptocurrencies ‍last year, up sharply from $10 ​billion in 2020, driven in part by fast growth ⁠among Chinese-speaking groups, blockchain researchers said on Tuesday.

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Elon Musk vs Vinod Khosla: Why the tech giants are fighting again

Khosla’s response to a Musk post in September kicked off the latest spat. The founder of Khosla Ventures has accused the owner of Tesla and X of promoting a racist ideology.

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Teens underwhelmed by France's social media ban

France's National Assembly passed a bill in a marathon overnight session that would impose a minimum age for using social media, becoming the first country in Europe to follow Australia, which banned under-16s from TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and other sites last year.

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Banks and fintechs up privacy play with DPDP Act in phased rollout

Non-state lender Yes Bank has constituted a dedicated data privacy office and appointed a data privacy officer. “In line with the DPDPA, we are currently undertaking a gap assessment, evaluating consent tools, and rolling out multiple training initiatives to build staff awareness of the DPDP Act,” said Munesh Ahuja, its data privacy officer. Industry experts said such steps are becoming essential as the 18-month phased rollout of the DPDP framework compresses timelines for compliance, with enforcement expected by May next year.

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Competitive intensity increases as etail majors take on qcomm aces

Competition in the quick commerce sector is getting even more intense as Amazon and Flipkart step up discounting to challenge Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart, triggering a fresh price war. Discounts rose to 55% in January, with Amazon Now matching Zepto, while Flipkart XtraSaver boosts bulk promotions.

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Infosys caps WFO exemption at 5 days a quarter after Wipro & TCS tighten WFH norms

Infosys has restricted extra work-from-home days, allowing only limited exceptions with proof. Staff must mostly attend offices, following similar moves by TCS and Wipro. Industry experts say the need for a better collaborative environment amid rapidly shifting project timelines has led tech firms to tighten their remote working policies.

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Odisha aims to become harbinger of AI tech: CM

Odisha is set to embrace artificial intelligence for governance and public services. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced plans to build a secure and sovereign AI ecosystem. The state will develop shared AI infrastructure and population-scale applications.

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Indian startups to showcase agri products at Gulfood 2026

Eight high-potential Indian startups will showcase innovative products, technology-driven solutions, and export-enabling offerings aligned with the government's Farm to Foreign vision at the Gulfood 2026, the commerce and industry ministry said.

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It makes sense that people see AI as God

Public discourse increasingly frames artificial intelligence in religious, even apocalyptic terms. Podcasters, writers and tech elites liken AI to messiahs, prophets or antichrists, reflecting humanity’s ancient impulse to anthropomorphize mysterious technologies and grant algorithms divine authority in contemporary media culture.

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Three more global companies set to hop on India’s GCC train

Videotelephony firm Zoom, telecom giant T-Mobile and low-cost airline Southwest Airlines are among the latest global companies considering the establishment of global capability centres (GCCs) in India, said people aware of the matter, adding that they are in talks with several states toward this end.

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Nokia plans GCC, research centres in Karnataka, says industries minister M B Patil

Patil, who was speaking from the World Economic Forum in Davos, assured full support for Nokia's expansion plans. Meanwhile, US-based space tech company Vast Space, UAE-based multinational business group Crescent Enterprises, and aerospace firm Voyager Technologies have expressed interest in partnering with Karnataka.

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WEF 2026: Elon Musk predicts robots will outnumber humans in AI-driven economy

Elon Musk, at the World Economic Forum, said AI and robotics could drive unprecedented global economic growth, creating a future of abundance where machines meet most human needs. He predicted robots may outnumber humans and help eliminate poverty, while cautioning on associated risks. Musk also discussed Tesla’s FSD rollout and a potential SpaceX IPO.

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Elon Musk's X back up after brief outage, Downdetector shows

Social ​media platform X ⁠was down for thousands ‌of ‌users in the ‌US on Thursday, according to Downdetector.com.

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Travel accessories platform Escape Plan raises $25 million from Jungle Ventures, others

Escape Plan has raised $25 million in a funding round led by Jungle Ventures, with participation from Fireside Ventures and IndiGo Ventures, the venture capital (VC) arm of IndiGo Airlines. The latest round comes six months after the company raised $5 million in a funding round led by Jungle Ventures and Fireside Ventures.

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We don’t give investment advice, says Sudha Murty, urging people to stay vigilant against cyber crime

In a post on X, Murty said, “I want to alert you to fake videos circulating online that falsely use my image and voice to promote financial schemes and investments. These are deepfakes created without my knowledge or consent. Please do not make any financial decisions based on these fraudulent videos. "

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Voice AI startup Ringg AI raises $5.5 million in round led by Akram Ventures

Voice artificial intelligence (AI) startup Ringg AI has raised $5.5 million (Rs 48 crore) in a funding round led by Arkam Ventures, with participation from Groww’s Founder Fund, Cred founder Kunal Shah, White Venture Capital and existing investor Capital2B.

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An AI startup says it wants to empower workers, not replace them

Former Anthropic researcher Andi Peng left to cofound Humans&, rejecting AI that replaces workers. Backed by Nvidia and Jeff Bezos, the funded startup pursues human-centric systems that collaborate with users, signaling investor confidence in alternative AI visions despite bubble fears.

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Shadowfax secures Rs 856 crore from anchor investors ahead of IPO

Logistics firm Shadowfax Technologies has secured approximately Rs 850 crore from anchor investors ahead of its IPO, which opens on January 20. The company has reduced its IPO size to Rs 1,907 crore, with a focus on diversifying its client base towards D2C brands and smaller retailers. Shadowfax reported a 68% rise in operating revenues to Rs 1,805.

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AssetPlus raises Rs 175 crore from Nexus Venture Partners, Eight Roads, others

Wealthtech startup AssetPlus raised Rs 175 crore to expand its distributor-led wealth management platform. Existing investors, including Eight Roads Ventures and Rainmatter Fund, also participated. It works with over 18,000 mutual fund distributors and manages Rs 7,250 crore in assets, offering mutual funds, insurance, and retirement products.

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India’s big IT ends recruitment freeze, but only for niche skills

India’s top five IT companies added 2,505 employees to their combined headcount in calendar year 2025, after shedding nearly the same number the year before, reflecting selective and skill-based hiring.

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AIX Ventures cofounder Shaun Johnson departs

AIX Ventures — a venture capital firm that has backed artificial intelligence startups including Perplexity, Windsurf and Ideogram — saw cofounder Shaun Johnson exit the firm last month.

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Can AI generate new ideas?

AI firm Harmonic claims its system Aristotle, aided by GPT-5.2 Pro, solved long-standing problems posed by Paul Erdos. Some hail this as real research progress, while skeptics like Terence Tao argue AI mainly repackages existing human knowledge.

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Dealmaking via Mauritius may be a road less taken

The Supreme Court’s ruling against Tiger Global could reshape how foreign investors use Mauritius-based entities to invest in India. Funds must now show genuine “substance” in these jurisdictions, or face Indian tax scrutiny. The verdict may also affect other treaty-based investments and indirect share transfers in Indian companies.

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OpenAI introducing ads to ChatGPT

OpenAI will soon test ads on ChatGPT in the US for free and lower-tier users, aiming to cover rising operational costs. The company stressed that ads will not affect responses or user privacy. With few paying subscribers, OpenAI is seeking new revenue while competing with AI rivals like Google.

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ETtech Deals Digest: Startups raise $191 million this week, down 51% on-year

Indian startups raised about $190.7 million in mid-January, sharply lower than a year ago but well above the previous week’s total. Funding activity also slowed, with fewer deals completed year on year. Healthcare, education and consumer brands led the biggest transactions during the week.

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Meet new Indian-origin CTO of Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines

Hyderabad-born Chintala, who joined Thinking Machines Lab in November 2025, will replace Barret Zoph who stepped down as CTO. Announcing his appointment, Murati described Chintala as “a brilliant and seasoned leader who has made important contributions to the AI field for over a decade” in a post on microblogging platform X.

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X revises developer API policies, bans ‘InfoFi’ apps to tackle bot spam

Confirming the development, X’s head of product Nikita Bier said apps that financially reward users for posting on X will no longer be permitted under the platform’s API terms.

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EU will carefully assess X's promised changes to Grok, spokesperson says

The European Commission will review changes Elon Musk’s platform X plans for its Grok chatbot. The updates aim to stop Grok from producing sexualised images of women and children. If the measures prove insufficient, the Commission warned it could take full action under the Digital Services Act.

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California to investigate xAI over deepfake content, officials say

California ‍officials ​said they were demanding ⁠answers from Elon Musk's xAI amid the spread of ‌non-consensual ‌sexual images on the ‌platform that has prompted global scrutiny.

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Polygon targets stablecoin payments with deals worth $250 million

Blockchain firm Polygon Labs said on Tuesday it would ‍buy crypto payments company ​Coinme and crypto infrastructure provider Sequence for ⁠more than $250 million, as it looks to tap the growing demand for stablecoin-based transactions.

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Eternal says no material change to Blinkit business as quick commerce firm drops 10-minute delivery branding

Responding to a notice by the exchanges following the government asking platforms to discontinue 10-minute delivery branding, Eternal said in a filing that there was no change to its quick commerce business model that could have any material impact on the company.

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Italy antitrust cuts Amazon record fine to $878 million

Italy's ​antitrust authority said ⁠on Monday it had reduced ‌a ‌record fine imposed ‌on US ecommerce giant Amazon to 752.4 million ​euros ($878.20 million) from ​an original ‌amount ‍of 1.128 ‍billion euros.

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Anti-money laundering norms up crypto compliance bar

India’s financial intelligence unit has tightened anti-money laundering rules for crypto firms, increasing compliance and security obligations. Mandatory registration, audits and stricter KYC norms may raise costs and slow new entrants. While this could reduce misuse and improve trust, smaller platforms may struggle under heavier regulatory pressure.

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IT ministry takes up communications device safety issue; mobile phone players say routine consultation

The IT ministry has taken over discussions on mobile phone and communication device safety from the telecom department under the ITSAR framework. Industry sources say this is a routine consultation with no new mandates. Talks focus on standards for software updates and device source code, ensuring transparent engagement with manufacturers.

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Google teams up with Walmart, other retailers to enable shopping within Gemini AI chatbot

Google is enhancing its Gemini AI chatbot with shopping features, partnering with Walmart, Shopify and Wayfair to enable instant purchases without leaving the app. Recommendations can be personalised based on past purchases, linking to existing carts. OpenAI and Walmart announced a similar deal in October, saying the partnership would allow ChatGPT members to use an instant checkout feature to shop for nearly everything available on Walmart's website except for fresh food.

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Musk to open new X algorithm for public in seven days: Report

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said that he will open the new X algorithm to the public in seven days. It will include all code for organic and advertising post recommendations.

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ITAT rejects Binny Bansal's 'non-resident' status claim

The Bengaluru bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has rejected Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal's claim of non-resident status for assessment year 2020-21, thereby denying him the benefit of the India-Singapore Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).

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The man who could be Apple's next CEO

Around 2018, Apple weighed adding costly laser tech to iPhones, highlighting the cautious leadership style of hardware chief John Ternus. Now seen as a leading successor to CEO Tim Cook, Ternus embodies Apple’s incremental, profit-focused approach amid succession planning and innovation challenges.

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CES 2026: From digital to physical, AI is touching every aspect of consumer life

The ‘world’s largest tech fair’, as CES is popularly called, delivered a dose of wonder and whimsy, along with futuristic technology, and much AI-powered consumer gear. While technology managed to bring the world together at Las Vegas in the first working week of 2026, geopolitics in this changing global order cast its shadow as well.

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Elon Musk's AI is generating sexualised images of real people, fueling outrage

Late Thursday, the Grok account on X started limiting requests for AI images to site subscribers who pay for certain premium features, according to posts from the chatbot. The change followed a "backlash over its ability to create sexualized deepfakes without consent," the AI chatbot added, but users can "subscribe or switch to the standalone Grok site for similar functions."

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Germany plans measures to combat harmful AI image manipulation

Germany's justice ministry plans to present measures in the ‍near future that would allow ​authorities to more effectively combat the use of artificial ⁠intelligence to manipulate images in ways that violate personal rights, a spokesperson said.

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ET Graphics: AI Summit lays out red carpet for India’s sovereign AI dreams

As India accelerates efforts to build a sovereign AI stack, a dozen startups and institutions backed by the government’s IndiaAI Mission are preparing to launch indigenous foundation models. Many of these launches are timed around the India AI Impact Summit next month.

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EU orders X to keep Grok documents for longer amid sexualised AI photos furore

The EU executive on Thursday said it ordered Elon Musk's Grok to keep data related to the AI chatbot after the tool sparked a backlash for generating sexualised deepfakes of minors. The order means the EU executive can ask X for access to the documents as it looks into the platform and Grok.

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Grok’s harmful turn shows clear legal gaps in AI regulation

The majority of the regulatory discussion has focused on proposed changes to the IT Rules, which would require platforms to label synthetic content and follow disclosure and tracking measures. Legal experts argue that this approach mainly places the burden on platforms that distribute content, while leaving significant gaps concerning AI tool developers and app stores that enable misuse.

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Compliance hurdles weigh heavily on GCCs expanding to tier-II cities

GCCs have been rapidly expanding into tier-II and tier-III cities, as ET reported earlier, with locations like Coimbatore, Jaipur, Indore, Vizag, and Kochi emerging as new hubs. While the Union Budget 2025 announced a national framework to support this expansion, state-specific labour law variations continue to create compliance challenges.

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Nvidia at CES 2026; Puneet Kumar quits Nexus

AI chipmaker Nvidia put forward its vision to own the AI stack at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.

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ET Explainer: Big privacy risks in view as glasses turn AI smart

Apple recently received a patent for its smart glasses, while Meta has already launched its version and Amazon is preparing to enter the market. ​​ According to Apple's patent, the glasses would be equivalent to augmented reality devices rather than merely AI or camera accessories, given that they would visually display information. The future of smart glasses could see a shift towards more visual features, but could also spark greater privacy concerns, with everyday life being recorded.

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Fellowships open a door for campus entrepreneurs

Data from Superscout, a platform that tracks VC fellowship and scout programmes globally, shows that from a total of about 10,000 applications across such programmes, India’s participation has held steady at 12% over the past three years, up from around 7–8% in earlier cohorts (2020-2022). There is strong representation from IITs, IIMs, and BITS, with relatively fewer applicants from US or UK universities. Also, India-based applicants skew toward founders, operators, and students, with relatively fewer candidates from a finance background.

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Deepinder Goyal's LAT Aerospace demonstrates ultra-short takeoff test flight

On November 13, Goyal announced that LAT’s electric unmanned aerial vehicle was almost ready for a test flight. It is expected to have a range of 60 minutes with the potential to fly between Mumbai and Pune.

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Paytm allots 1.89 lakh shares under Esop plan to employees

Paytm has allotted over 1.88 lakh equity shares to employees upon exercising stock options under its Esop 2019 scheme. The company also approved a fresh grant of 1.23 lakh stock options. This move aims to retain and incentivise employees, despite past regulatory scrutiny regarding Esops.

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Grok user making illegal content will suffer same consequence as uploading such content: Musk

Microblogging platform X owner Elon Musk declared users of its AI service Grok generating illegal content will face severe penalties. This follows a directive from India's Ministry of Electronics and IT demanding immediate removal of vulgar and unlawful material.

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5,000 delivery workers terminated every month on Zomato: Deepinder Goyal

Zomato's CEO Deepinder Goyal revealed that the company terminates approximately 5,000 gig workers monthly due to fraud, while 1.5 to 2 lakh workers leave voluntarily. Many view the delivery role as temporary. The company also faces significant customer fraud, with some customers fabricating issues to claim refunds.

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Gig workers’ strike revives debate on 10-minute delivery

More than 200,000 delivery workers operating for platforms such as Zomato, Blinkit, Swiggy, Instamart, Zepto, Amazon and Flipkart went on a strike on December 31, seeking better payments and social security benefits.

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Zomato delivery partners’ hourly earnings rose 10.9% in 2025: Eternal CEO Deepinder Goyal

Average earnings per hour for delivery partners on Zomato rose to Rs 102 in 2025, up from Rs 92 in 2024, marking a 10.9% year-on-year increase, according to a fact sheet released by Eternal CEO Deepinder Goyal on X.

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Knight Fintech secures $23.6 million from Accel, IIFL, & others

Knight Fintech has raised $23.6 million in a funding round led by early-stage venture firm Accel, with participation from IIFL and Rocket Capital. Existing investors Prime Venture Partners, 3One4 Capital, Commerce VC, and Trifecta Capital also participated in the round.

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Zomato strike backed by ‘0.1% miscreants’, says CEO Deepinder Goyal

Eternal CEO Deepinder Goyal said gig workers are not exploited, adding that a small group of terminated riders disrupted operations by forcibly preventing others from working.

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India’s chip ambition takes flight with customers signing up

India’s semiconductor push is moving beyond announcements and capital commitments, as global customers start to sign up for local manufacturing and assembly. While the momentum so far has been policy-led, customers coming on board shows that India is increasingly being viewed as a workable link in global supply chains, experts said.

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Ola Electric business head for cell ops Vishal Chaturvedi resigns

In his resignation letter addressed to Ola Electric founder Bhavish Aggarwal, he said the decision was taken due to personal commitments and thanked the leadership and colleagues for their support during his tenure. The company has not announced a replacement for the role in the filing.

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Grok's Business and Enterprise tiers: Here’s all you need to know

The tiers position Grok as an enterprise-ready AI assistant for secure and collaborative work at scale. It is suitable for small and medium businesses under a ‘self-serve’ process.

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