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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