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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