Elon Musk wanted $80 billion to colonise Mars, OpenAI president testifies at trial

Elon Musk sought complete control of OpenAI to fund his Mars colonisation dream. He aimed to raise $80 billion for a Martian city. This revelation comes amid Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI. The trial could shape the future of artificial intelligence. OpenAI plans significant computing investments.

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Apple to let users choose rival AI models across iOS 27 features: Report

​Apple will ​allow users to select ‌from ⁠third-party ⁠AI ​models for ​tasks such ​as ⁠generating and ‌editing ​text ​and ⁠images, across its ​iOS 27 ​features.

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Startups lead AI push into construction amid labour shortages

Construction is fast shedding its tech-resistant tag as AI-powered startups roll up sleeves to tackle labour shortages and speed up industry’s digital transformation, writes ET.

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AI startup Sierra raises $950 million at $15 billion valuation

AI startup Sierra has secured a significant funding round of $950 million. This investment values the company at over $15 billion. Sierra plans to use the funds to expand its platform. The company aims to become a global standard for AI-driven customer experience. Sierra's AI agents are already powering billions of customer interactions for major companies.

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Centre announces 15,000 scholarships for AI-use in media, entertainment, gaming

The Centre is launching a major initiative to train young professionals in artificial intelligence. Fifteen thousand scholarships will be offered for the media, entertainment, gaming, and animation sectors. This program aims to boost skills in emerging technologies. Collaborations with IICT, Google, and YouTube will provide specialised training. Participants will gain hands-on experience in AI-enabled creative processes.

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UpGrad to acquire Unacademy at lower Rs 2,000 crore valuation

Upskilling platform UpGrad is set to acquire Unacademy in an all-stock deal valued at ₹2,055 crore, significantly below Unacademy's peak valuation. Unacademy will bring substantial cash reserves to the deal, which is awaiting Competition Commission of India approval. This consolidation marks a significant move in India's edtech sector amidst a post-pandemic slump.

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Galaxeye eyes 8-week timeline to begin commercial data rollout; defence demand to anchor early revenues

GalaxEye is set to launch commercial sales of satellite imagery from its new Mission Drishti satellite in eight weeks. Defence and security agencies are anticipated to be the primary customers. The company's satellite combines advanced radar and multispectral sensors. This move signifies a significant step in monetizing private space technology in India, moving beyond experimental phases to scalable applications.

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Spacetech startup GalaxEye launches Mission Drishti from SpaceX

Spacetech startup GalaxEye successfully launched its first earth observation satellite, Mission Drishti, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. This 190-kg satellite, developed over five years, combines electro-optical and SAR sensors for all-weather, day and night imaging, aiming to deliver valuable data to clients globally.

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SIS Ltd eyes Rs 20,000 crore revenue in FY27; targets 5 lakh workforce by 2030

SIS Ltd targets Rs 20,000 crore revenue by FY27. The security and facility management firm anticipates strong growth fueled by network expansion and new labour codes. The company is also embracing AI for enhanced customer service and operational efficiency. SIS plans to increase its workforce significantly by 2030.

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Tesla made $573 million in sales from SpaceX and xAI last year

Tesla earned over $500 million from Elon Musk's companies last year. xAI, his AI startup, accounted for about $430 million. SpaceX, the rocket firm, contributed another $143 million. This business involved AI chatbots and energy storage. Tesla also saw revenue from xAI early this year.

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Meta faces US lawmaker scrutiny over removal of lawyer ads for social media addiction cases

Two US senators have written to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. They criticize the company's decision to remove advertisements. These ads were from attorneys seeking clients harmed by social media platforms. The attorneys aimed to recruit plaintiffs for lawsuits. These lawsuits accuse companies like Meta of fueling a youth mental health crisis. Senators state this removal preserves a harmful business model.

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OpenAI to augment workers, not replace them: CEO Sam Altman

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believes AI will make people busier, not replace them, despite acknowledging significant labor market disruption. He stated the company aims to build tools that augment human capabilities, not replace them. Altman's comments align with OpenAI's plans to nearly double its workforce and its guiding principles for artificial general intelligence development.

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Musk testifies he did not read 'fine print' about OpenAI becoming for-profit company

Elon Musk is in court battling Sam Altman's lawyer over his lawsuit against OpenAI. Musk claims the AI company abandoned its nonprofit mission for profit. He seeks massive damages and a return to its original structure. OpenAI argues Musk is motivated by control and bitterness. The trial is ongoing and could shape AI's future.

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Meta sees daily active users decline by 20 million across FB, Instagram and WhatsApp: Here's why

Meta Platforms experienced a slight decline of 20 million daily active users across its social media platforms in Q1 CY 2026, marking a break in its growth streak. While external factors were cited, the dip may signal user saturation or dissatisfaction as the company heavily invests in AI and infrastructure.

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EV founders say PLI Auto needs an overhaul, leaves startup at a disadvantage

Electric vehicle startups are pushing back against the current production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for automobiles, arguing its stringent eligibility criteria favor established players. EV-first companies, despite leading in technology and localization, are excluded, facing a significant cost disadvantage against traditional OEMs. Founders call for reforms to align the scheme with India's evolving EV landscape.

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Amazon beats quarterly cloud growth estimates on strong AI demand; AWS revenue jumps 28%

Amazon Web Services (AWS) surpassed Wall Street's cloud revenue expectations, driven by increased enterprise spending on AI adoption. Despite strong cloud performance and significant AI partnerships, the company's stock dipped after projecting current-quarter operating income below estimates. Amazon is investing heavily in AI infrastructure, aiming to monetize these expenditures in the coming years.

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On witness stand, Elon Musk accuses Sam Altman's lawyer of trying to trick him

Elon Musk is in court accusing OpenAI's lawyer of trying to trick him. The trial centers on Musk's lawsuit claiming OpenAI abandoned its mission to benefit the public. He alleges co-founder Sam Altman and others created a for-profit entity for personal gain. OpenAI argues Musk wants to control the company.

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Elon Musk tells his side of OpenAI's beginnings in trial pitting him against CEO Sam Altman

Elon Musk testified for a second day in his trial against OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman, accusing him of betraying promises to keep the AI company a nonprofit. Musk claims he lost confidence by late 2022, believing Altman was trying to "steal the charity." OpenAI lawyers deny these allegations, stating no promise was made to remain a nonprofit indefinitely.

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Eternal Q4 revenue, profit surge on Blinkit boost

Eternal, which runs Zomato and Blinkit, saw its March quarter revenue surge threefold and net profit rise 4.5 times. Quick commerce margins improved significantly. The company crossed $10 billion in net order value across its businesses. This figure is expected to double in two years. Blinkit's growth is projected to exceed 60% over the next three years.

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Amazon secures exclusive rights to Oprah Winfrey's podcast

Amazon's Wondery has inked a multi-year deal with Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Entertainment. This agreement grants Wondery exclusive rights to "The Oprah Podcast" in audio and video. The deal also includes rights to "The Oprah Winfrey Show" library, "Oprah's Book Club," and "Oprah's Favorite Things." This move expands Amazon's podcast presence and offers new content opportunities across its platforms.

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Capital-A secures first close of Rs 160 crore for Fund II; bets on manufacturing, deeptech

The first close was anchored largely by domestic investors such as Srikar Reddy of Sonata Software, Siddharth Bafna of Lodha & Co; Sekhar Boddu, a former Amazon technology director; Chamaria Group, Steel House Family Office, Avyay Jhunjhunwala,founder of Enzo Developers, family office of Vijayalakshmi Agarbathi Works, and the Anand Rathi Group.

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OpenAI CEO apologises to Canada town for not reporting mass shooter

OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman has apologized to a Canadian town devastated by a February mass shooting, saying he was "deeply sorry" the company did not notify police about the killer's troubling ChatGPT account. Canadian officials condemned OpenAI's handling of the case and summoned company leaders to Ottawa to explain its security protocols.

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Upskilling critical as AI disrupts India’s IT sector: Arundhati Bhattacharya, Salesforce

India's IT sector faces a critical juncture as AI reshapes the industry, necessitating rapid workforce upskilling. Salesforce India CEO Arundhati Bhattacharya highlighted that while job disruption is unavoidable, new roles will emerge. She emphasized India's young, adaptable talent pool as a key advantage for continued global relevance, urging a proactive embrace of these transformative changes.

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What is Signal and is it secure?

Russia-linked hackers are targeting Signal users. These attacks exploit user trust through phishing. They trick people into revealing account details. This allows hackers access to messages and chats. Signal's encryption remains strong, but user vigilance is crucial. The app's non-profit status and privacy focus are highlighted.

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Digital defence in the age of Mythos, why Indian banks are on high alert

India is poised to become a global AI execution hub. Powerful AI models like Anthropic's Mythos present both opportunities and security risks for the banking sector. India's vast trained workforce and cost-effective infrastructure offer a significant advantage. The nation can harness these strengths to drive AI adoption and achieve tangible returns on investment.

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Infanticide case at Foxconn exposes workplace welfare gaps, spurs calls for reforms

A tragic infanticide at Foxconn's Devanahalli unit highlights critical gaps in mental health awareness, workplace support, and reproductive healthcare for young women in large electronics manufacturing facilities. Experts urge enhanced monitoring, on-campus counseling, comprehensive sex education, and government policy interventions to prevent future incidents and ensure employee wellbeing.

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US Justice Department intervenes in xAI challenge to Colorado tech law

In its intervention, the Justice Department said the law violates the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection ‌guarantee by ⁠requiring ⁠companies to guard against unintended discriminatory effects while allowing some discrimination ​aimed at promoting diversity.

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OpenAI offers $25,000 to anyone who can jailbreak its latest model GPT-5.5

OpenAI is offering $25,000 to security researchers who can bypass the safety guardrails of its new AI model, GPT-5.5, through a "bio bug bounty" programme. This initiative invites vetted experts to find universal "jailbreak" prompts, marking a significant step in external adversarial testing for AI safety.

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Nvidia becomes first company to cross $5 trillion in market value

Nvidia has achieved a historic milestone. The chipmaker is now the world's most valuable listed company. Its market capitalization has surpassed five trillion dollars. This surge places Nvidia ahead of tech giants like Alphabet and Apple. The company's success is driven by its crucial role in supplying GPUs for artificial intelligence models. Nvidia's stock performance reflects its strong market position.

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Thrive launches permanent capital arm, to buy stake in San Francisco Giants

Thrive Capital has unveiled Thrive Eternal, a new venture for long-term investments. This permanent capital holding company aims to acquire and manage significant assets for decades. Its first proposed partnership is with the San Francisco Giants baseball team. This move signifies Thrive Capital's expansion beyond technology into iconic franchises. The agreement awaits league approval.

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Infosys logs 21% jump in Q4 profit

Infosys, India's second-largest IT firm, announced robust revenue and net profit figures for the fourth quarter of FY26. Despite outperforming rivals, the company issued a wider annual revenue forecast for FY27. This cautious outlook reflects global economic shifts and the impact of artificial intelligence on the IT sector.

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Meta tells staff it will cut 10% of jobs in push for efficiency

Meta Platforms is set to lay off approximately 8,000 employees, about 10% of its workforce, on May 20. This significant workforce reduction aims to boost efficiency and offset substantial investments in artificial intelligence development. The company is also freezing 6,000 open positions. Affected employees will receive generous severance packages and support services.

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Sundar Pichai reaffirms $185 billion capex spending by Google in 2026

Google plans a massive $185 billion investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure this year. CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted AI's growing role in software development and security. New platforms like Gemini Enterprise Agent and advanced chips like TPU 8t and TPU 8i are being introduced. This significant spending signals Google's strong focus on enterprise AI solutions and future growth.

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Microsoft appoints Daniel Shapero as LinkedIn's new CEO

Daniel Shapero has been appointed the new CEO of LinkedIn, succeeding Ryan Roslansky. Shapero, an early employee who joined in 2008, previously served as LinkedIn's Chief Operating Officer. Roslansky will continue at Microsoft, taking on expanded responsibilities in the Office productivity group.

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Blockchain billionaire Sun takes Trump family's crypto firm to court

Justin Sun is suing World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture co-founded by Donald Trump and his sons. Sun alleges the company illegally froze his token holdings, worth approximately $320 million. He claims World Liberty secretly installed tools to prevent him from selling his tokens. The company denies the allegations, calling them meritless.

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Apple's Ternus era hints at renewed hardware focus, AI growth push

Ternus, a 25-year veteran who has overseen development of key products including multiple iPhone generations, will take the helm in September, succeeding Tim Cook after more than a decade of ‌strong growth that ⁠saw ⁠Apple's market value swell to around $4 trillion.

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AI platform NudgeBee raises $3 million in funding from Kalaari Capital

NudgeBee has raised $3 million in a funding round led by Kalaari Capital, betting on rising demand for AI-led automation in enterprise cloud operations. The company said it will deploy the fresh capital to strengthen its core platform, expand its enterprise context layer, and scale go-to-market efforts through partnerships as well as direct enterprise sales.

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Lovable denies data breach, says public settings are ‘intentional’

Lovable data breach: Stockholm-based AI app-building platform Lovable said it did not suffer a data breach after concerns surfaced over the visibility of chat messages and code in projects set to public.

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Elon Musk skips hearing in French probe of X

Tech billionaire Elon Musk on Monday did not appear at a summons for questioning ​in a French probe into X and its ​AI chatbot, Grok, over alleged abuse of algorithms and fraudulent data extraction, the Paris prosecutor's ​office said.

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Senior IT executives join AI party as startup founders

Senior Indian IT executives are launching their own AI startups, leveraging years of client contacts and enterprise knowledge to offer cost-efficient AI-led services. This trend is accelerating as agentic AI allows smaller, agile teams to compete with larger IT incumbents, filling niche market demands and attracting venture capital.

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Blue Origin achieves first landing of reused New Glenn rocket booster

Blue Origin successfully landed its New Glenn rocket booster for the first time after launching AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 satellite. This marks a significant step in demonstrating the heavy-lift rocket's booster reuse capability, aiming to compete with SpaceX.

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AI 'agent' fever comes with lurking security threats

Powerful AI agents, like those created with OpenClaw, are raising cybersecurity alarms. Researchers have observed these agents performing dangerous actions, from deleting inboxes to sharing personal data. As these tools gain access to sensitive accounts, they become prime targets for hackers seeking to exploit vulnerabilities and steal information.

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Nimble companies are succeeding in the AI era: YC's Jared Friedman

AI startup founders are pivoting faster and more often in the era of AI, and strong engineering talent in India gives them an edge, said Jared Friedman, managing partner, Y Combinator.

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Thousands of authors seek share of Anthropic copyright settlement

Nearly 120,000 authors and other copyright holders are seeking a share of a $1.5 ​billion class-action settlement with Anthropic over the ​company's unauthorised use of their books in artificial-intelligence training, according to a filing in ​California federal court.

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Former Meta contractor Sama to lay off more than 1,000 workers in Kenya

Facebook's parent company Meta has ended its contract with Kenyan firm Sama. This decision will lead to over 1,000 workers being laid off from Sama's Nairobi office. The company provided content moderation services for Meta. A lawsuit filed by former moderators over poor working conditions and mental health support is ongoing.

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Vibe coding startup Emergent launches AI agent Wingman

Emergent, backed by SoftBank, has launched Wingman, an AI agent to automate routine tasks across popular tools, aiming to boost productivity. Unlike competitors, Wingman prioritizes user confirmation for significant actions, while learning preferences over time. This move taps into the growing demand for AI that manages workflows independently, not just responds to commands.

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Anthropic appoints Indian-origin Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan to its board

Anthropic’s Long-Term Benefit Trust is an independent governance body, designed to insulate key decisions as it scales its frontier AI systems. Narasimhan brings deep experience at the intersection of medicine, regulation, and global health. As the chief executive of Novartis, he has overseen the development and approval of more than 35 novel medicines.

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Indian companies turn to outsourced cybersecurity to bridge talent gap

India’s cybersecurity outsourcing market is growing as companies adopt SOC-as-a-service due to talent shortages, high costs, and complex threats. Mid-sized firms lead demand, especially in BFSI, telecom, and IT. Hybrid models dominate, with AI-driven automation improving efficiency, while human oversight remains essential in managing evolving cyber risks and responses.

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Trump posts AI image of himself as Jesus-like figure, drawing outrage

US President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure on Sunday, drawing widespread criticism ​even from some religious conservatives who typically support him, ​before deleting the post on Monday.

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Consumer company CTOs want engineers who can think, not just code

New-age companies are prioritizing senior engineers with creativity, curiosity, and ownership as they become AI-first. Hiring for engineering roles has surged, with a focus on system thinking and AI collaboration. Companies are shifting technology from a support function to a core business driver, demanding engineers engage with customers and co-own product outcomes.

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Israeli firm Black Cube confirms Cyprus sting to 'expose corruption'

A private Israeli intelligence firm, Black Cube, has admitted its role in a sting operation in Cyprus. The operation targeted state officials and private interests. Black Cube stated it aimed to expose corruption and foster a cleaner business environment. A senior aide to the Cypriot president resigned following the release of a video related to the operation.

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India accounts for 15% of GitHub’s global user base, with 27 million developers on the platform

Kyle Daigle, CEO of GitHub, said in a post on X that India now accounts for one in seven new developers globally. India now makes up over 15% of GitHub’s global user base of over 180 million developers.

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SoftBank sets up company in Japan to develop AI domestically: Report

SoftBank has set up a company in Japan to develop AI domestically, Nikkei says

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xAI exodus: Why cofounders left and Musk’s comeback plan

xAI has seen a wave of cofounder exits this year as the company undergoes major internal changes and restructuring. While Elon Musk remains confident about rebuilding from the ground up, questions are growing about what is driving the departures. Here’s a closer look at what’s happening inside the company.

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Karnataka government ignores protests, notifies lifetime tax on EVs, spares two-wheelers

Karnataka has introduced a new lifetime road tax for electric cars, jeeps, and buses, excluding two-wheelers. This move aims to generate an additional Rs 250 crore for the state government. The decision has drawn criticism from Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and the EV industry, who fear it could increase crude oil imports and hinder climate goals.

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TCS and five other firms empanelled to build & run AI for govt departments

The Centre has empanelled six partner firms, including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), to develop and deploy AI solutions across government departments. More than 80 companies had submitted bids for the request for empanelment (RFE), which closed last week, with firms such as KPMG, Deloitte, PwC, EY, Fractal Analytics, Gnani AI and Jio Haptik missing the final shortlist on February 27.

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xAI CFO Anthony Armstrong leaves the company: Report

Anthony Armstrong, xAI's Chief Financial Officer, has left the company. This departure is part of a larger trend of senior staff exits. Armstrong was instrumental in guiding X's finances back to stability. Meanwhile, SpaceX is preparing for a significant initial public offering. The space company aims to raise a substantial amount of capital.

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TCS Q4 Results: Profit jumps 12% YoY to Rs 13,718 crore; revenue rises 10%

TCS Q4 Results: Tata Consultancy Services announced a 12% year-on-year increase in its consolidated net profit, reaching Rs 13,718 crore for the fourth quarter. The IT services giant also reported a 10% YoY revenue growth to Rs 70,698 crore, bolstered by three mega deals worth $12 billion. The company declared a final dividend of Rs 31 per share.

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Tesla is developing a new smaller, cheaper EV, sources say

The effort follows a decision by chief executive Elon Musk to scrap a highly anticipated low-cost EV project in 2024 and pivot the company to focus on robotaxis and humanoid robots. A key question is whether this latest effort to develop a smaller SUV signals a strategy shift back to mass-market human-driven EVs or whether the new ‌model would align more with Tesla's ⁠vision for fully ⁠autonomous vehicles.

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PE-backed IT companies growing faster, thanks to costs control, ops shifts, say experts

Private equity backed IT firms are growing faster than public market companies. This is due to strong cost control and operational changes. These firms show higher risk appetite and focus on leadership. They are also quicker to adapt to AI-led disruption. This efficiency leads to higher market valuations. Investors are interested in their repeatable revenue and scalability.

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Citigroup says AI helps speed account openings and systems upgrades

US banks are embracing AI, the biggest technological upheaval to the world economy since the internet, to boost productivity and, in some cases, cut jobs.

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Digital lender Kreditbee in unicorn club with $280 million at $1.5 billion valuation

Digital lending firm Kreditbee has raised $280 million, becoming a unicorn with a $1.5 billion valuation. This funding marks their last private round before a planned public listing. The company is awaiting regulatory approval for its initial public offering. Kreditbee has expanded its offerings and is investing in new technology.

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Anthropic touts AI cybersecurity project with Big Tech partners

Under its "Project Glasswing", select organizations will be allowed to use the startup's unreleased and general-purpose AI model, "Claude Mythos Preview", for defensive ‌cybersecurity work, Anthropic ⁠said. ⁠Other partners include CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, Google and Nvidia.

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Adobe debuts AI Student Spaces on Acrobat; enables podcasts, videos from study material

Amid rising competition, Adobe is positioning Student Spaces against tools like Google NotebookLM, GoodNotes, and Turbo AI to make Acrobat into a unified platform for both consuming and creating study material.

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Samsung flags eightfold jump in Q1 profit as AI chip demand drives up prices

Samsung estimated an operating profit of 57.2 trillion won ($37.92 billion) for the January ​to March period, compared with an LSEG SmartEstimate of 40.6 trillion won and a more than eight-fold jump from 6.69 trillion won a year earlier.

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Pine Labs’ Navin Chandani steps down as president, CBO of issuing business

The resignation is effective April 6, 2026, and no successor has yet been named. In his resignation letter, Chandani said he is leaving to ‘pursue career opportunities outside the company.' The company has, however, not yet named a successor.

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Platforms brace for impact as gig workforce returns home

According to industry executives, the daily active gig workers on quick commerce platforms are currently running 10-12% below early-2026 levels. The timing is particularly damaging. Typically, quick commerce as well as food delivery platforms see an uptick in demand during this period due to Indian Premier League (IPL) matches.

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Kremlin's drive for a state-backed messaging app touches a nerve for some

In ​what has been cast by diplomats as Russia's "great crackdown", Russia has repeatedly blocked mobile internet and ​granted sweeping powers to cut off mass communications while jamming messaging services and virtual private networks.

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Britain woos expansion effort by Anthropic after US defence clash: Report

Britain woos expansion effort by Anthropic after US defence clash, FT says

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Zaggle CFO Aditya Kumar steps down; Rajesh Tummalaganti named interim finance chief

Fintech firm Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services on Friday said its chief financial officer Aditya Kumar has stepped down from his role, effective April 3, 2026. The company has appointed Rajesh Tummalaganti as interim CFO.

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Elon Musk asks SpaceX IPO banks to buy Grok AI subscriptions, NYT reports

Some banks ​have agreed to spend tens of millions of dollars a ​year on the chatbot and have begun integrating it into their IT systems, the ​report said.

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China moves to regulate digital humans, bans addictive services for children

The draft regulations would ​also ban the use of other people's personal information to create digital humans without ​consent, or using virtual humans to bypass identity verification systems, reflecting Beijing's efforts to maintain control in the face of advances in artificial intelligence.

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Karnataka: Pralhad Joshi fears taxes on EVs will derail India’s emission targets

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi criticized Karnataka's decision to withdraw road tax exemptions for electric vehicles, warning it could increase India's crude import bill and hinder climate goals. He argued the move, aimed at raising Rs 250 crore, is fiscally shortsighted and contradicts global clean mobility incentives.

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Trump administration appeals ruling that blocked Pentagon action against Anthropic over AI dispute

Department of Justice attorneys filed a notice in San Francisco federal court on Thursday of their intention to appeal last week's ruling by US District Judge Rita Lin. Lin last week said she was blocking the Pentagon from labelling Anthropic a supply chain risk. She also said she was blocking enforcement of President Donald Trump's social media directive ordering all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic and its chatbot Claude.

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SpaceX files initial paperwork to sell shares to the public and likely make Musk a trillionaire

A SpaceX IPO promises to be one of the biggest Wall Street events of the year, with several investment banks lining up to help raise tens of billions to fund Musk's ambitions to set up a base on the moon, put datacenters the size of several football fields in orbit and possibly one day send a man to Mars.

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SpaceX's business and finances: Rockets, satellite communications and budding AI

SpaceX is gearing up for a massive stock market debut, potentially the largest ever. The Elon Musk-led company is known for its rocket launches and Starlink internet service. SpaceX is also developing its Starship for lunar and Mars missions. Recent financial reports show significant revenue growth. The company's acquisition of xAI further expands its reach into artificial intelligence.

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Apple tests Siri feature that handles multiple commands at once: Report

The feature is ‌being built ⁠into iOS ⁠27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 operating systems, all ​of which are expected to launch later this year, Bloomberg said, ​citing people familiar with the matter.

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Union Cabinet appoints IndiaAI Mission CEO Abhishek Singh as the Director General of NTA

In a sweeping bureaucratic reshuffle on the last day of the financial year, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment and transfer of over 40 senior officers across various central ministries and departments.

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ETtech Explainer: What Emergent’s ARR reveals about AI’s numbers game

A debate over how vibe-coding startup Emergent — backed by the likes of SoftBank, Lightspeed, and Khosla Ventures — has reported its numbers has put the spotlight on the ARR metric of AI startups. In February, Emergent said it had hit $100 million in ARR within just eight months of launch, but a closer look at what ARR actually means reveals a more complicated picture.

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Delaware judge accused of bias reassigns Musk cases

Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick of the Court of Chancery said she was reassigning three cases against Musk and Tesla board members that are potentially worth billions of dollars after the defendants said she supported ‌a post on LinkedIn celebrating ⁠a jury ⁠verdict against Musk in an unrelated securities fraud case.

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Vertical Aerospace secures financing package of up to $850 million

Vertical Aerospace ​said on Monday ​it has agreed in principle to ​a financing package of up to $850 million, sending its US-listed shares up over 4% in morning trading. The ‌company ⁠said it ⁠raised $50 million of equity capital on Monday and ​expects a further $30 million shortly, positioning it to have ​about $160 million of working capital in the near term to fund operations through 2026.

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War singes ecommerce, quick commerce supply chains as input costs rise

The first signs of stress, according to industry executives, are visible in packaging costs and inventory movement and fulfilment cycles, particularly for quick commerce platforms that depend on high-frequency restocking. Demand-side pressures could emerge if fuel prices rise sharply, they said.

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WTO talks in Brazil-US deadlock over ecommerce duties moratorium

Negotiations to extend the moratorium - ​which is set to expire in March - by four years plus an additional buffer year to 2031 are stuck, even though a broader reform package appears close to a deal, a senior diplomat and two diplomats told Reuters.

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WTO MC: Members intensify talks on ecommerce duty moratorium extension at Yaounde

While some countries oppose an extension or favour a two-year period, the US is pushing for a longer duration.

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Fuel volatility accelerates EV leap in last mile delivery for ecommerce, logistics firms

Ecommerce and logistics companies are accelerating the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) for last-mile deliveries, driven not just by sustainability goals but also by rising costs and supply risks. While EV adoption was already gaining momentum at companies such as Flipkart, Delhivery and Porter, fuel price volatility linked to global conflicts is hastening the transition, executives at bigbasket, Zippee and Dealshare said.

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What is Agent Smith? Google’s internal AI tool for operations that helps engineers code

Agent Smith by Google: Unlike conventional AI coding assistants, the system is capable of planning and executing workflows autonomously, marking a shift toward more independent AI agents. Agent Smith can reference internal documents and access employee profiles to complete assigned tasks. It is built on Google’s earlier platform, Antigravity, but offers significantly greater autonomy and workflow integration.

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Advanced economies drive surge in India remittances

This diversification has reduced dependence on any single region and enhanced financial resilience.

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Apple hires ex-Google executive to head AI marketing amid push to improve Siri

The hire ​comes as Apple is readying an improved version ‌of Siri, its virtual assistant, ​for ​release ⁠this year, rebuilt with technology from Alphabet's Gemini AI ​model.

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ETtech Deals Digest: Startups raise $936 million in March so far; down 56% on-year

The number of deals during the month, however, was down at 94, compared to 237 in the corresponding month last year.

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IT firms push M&A deals to cover AI’s revenue impact

Infosys' $560 million bet on Optimum Healthcare IT and Stratus is a strong signal that the industry is taking domain-specific solutions seriously, analysts said, amplifying the momentum for large deals as technology services companies figure out how to offset pressure on revenue from growing artificial intelligence adoption.

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Musk rewrites IPO playbook with large slice of SpaceX stock for retail investors

Elon Musk is discussing allocating as much as 30% of SpaceX's initial public offering to individual investors - at least ​three times the usual retail slice - leaning on his rabid fan base and other loyal backers to help steady the stock after its debut, a person familiar with the matter said.

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EU accuses four porn platforms of letting children access adult content

The European Union accused four pornographic platforms on Thursday of allowing children to access adult content in breach of digital rules, putting the companies at risk of large fines.

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Apple rolls out age checks for UK users

Apple began rolling out age verification requirements for UK users as part of a software update Wednesday, as the government increases pressure on tech giants to better protect children online.

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SpaceX IPO leaves some private share buyers unsure what they own

Entrepreneur Tejpaul Bhatia is confident he owns a slice of Elon Musk's SpaceX. But he can't be 100% sure. When the former Google executive entered the space industry in 2021, SpaceX ​was already one of the world's most sought‑after private companies, valued at about $75 ​billion, with shares largely locked up by early backers and institutions close to Musk.

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US server maker Super Micro is eyeing India manufacturing unit

Super Micro Computer is exploring setting up a server manufacturing unit in India and is in talks with several state governments for it, according to people aware of the matter.

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OpenAI set to raise about $10 billion from MGX, Coatue, Thrive

OpenAI is nearing a deal to raise about $10 billion from venture investors, lifting its latest funding round to roughly $120 billion. Backers include MGX, Coatue Management, Thrive Capital, and Altimeter Capital. The deal would support its push for computing power and talent, marking its largest funding round yet.

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OpenAI Foundation outlines $1 billion push, expands leadership team

OpenAI has committed at least $1 billion over the next year as part of recapitalisation efforts for its Foundation. The investment is aimed at using artificial intelligence (AI) to solve “humanity’s hardest problems.”

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OpenAI rolls out ads for US ChatGPT users

OpenAI will start showing ads to users of the free and Go versions of ChatGPT in the US in the coming weeks. The company has also integrated Criteo to support ad buying and improve targeting.

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Apple to hold annual developers conference from June 8

Apple said on ​Monday it would host its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) online from June 8 to 12, showcasing updates across its platform, including AI advancements ‌and new ⁠software ⁠and developer tools.

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OpenClaw unveils ClawHub Marketplace; draws more than 331,000 stars on GitHub

Peter Steinberger, OpenClaw’s creator, released the update. The platform allows users to deploy AI agents that can reason, respond, and execute tasks inside apps, such as Telegram and Discord, all while remaining fully self-hosted.

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AI-led wealthtech rising as VCs bet on a fintech disruption

As middle-income Indians increasingly diversify beyond real estate and gold into financial assets, the investment thesis is evolving. New-age startups are leveraging AI to build products at lower cost and with greater efficiency.

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Toy manufacturing startup Bidso raises Rs 63 crore led by Blume ventures

Founded in 2022 by Rahul Agarwal, Vivek Singhal, and Aditya Krishnakumar, Bidso operates as a contract manufacturing platform. The company manages the entire value chain from product design to final manufacturing.

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Elon Musk's Tesla, SpaceX launch Terafab chips project; here's all you need to know

The project envisages setting up space-based AI computing, enabled by solar-powered satellites that could host data centres in orbit. From 100 kilowatts initially, they are expected to scale to megawatt levels, using constant solar energy to reduce costs compared to earth-based systems. Two types of chips are planned — one for terrestrial applications, such as Tesla’s vehicles and robotics, and another, called D3, tailored for space environments.

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French prosecutors suspect Musk encouraged deepfakes row to inflate X value

French prosecutors said Saturday they had alerted US authorities to a suspicion that tech tycoon Elon Musk had encouraged controversy over sexualised deepfakes on X to "artificially" increase the value of his company. French authorities are already investigating X over allegations that its algorithm was used to interfere in French politics, as well as Grok's dissemination of Holocaust denials and the sexualised deepfakes.

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Large manufacturing units mull kitchen revamp amid LPG crisis

LPG shortages linked to the West Asia war are pushing Indian manufacturing firms to plan energy-resilient kitchens. Companies are sourcing cylinders, using firewood, and adjusting menus while avoiding disruptions. Facility managers are preparing contingency plans, including shifting to induction and alternative equipment, amid ongoing uncertainty over fuel availability and supply continuity.

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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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