SOFTWARE AUTOMATION
Bigger cheques, fewer winners in India’s AI boom
Indian AI startups raised $1.6 billion in funding during the first nine months of 2026. While AI infrastructure attracted significant investments, application startups faced declining funding and challenges in securing customers. Large transactions constituted most of the total funding, highlighting a disparity in investment distribution.
Sundar Pichai pens welcome note to Mark Zuckerberg, says 'excited to serve Google Cloud customers'
Google CEO Sundar Pichai welcomed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's announcement that three of the company's AI models are now available on Google Cloud's Model Garden. The models feature multimodal capabilities and context windows of up to 1 million tokens, marking a collaboration between the two tech giants.
Rippling steps up AI hiring in India, looks to expand enterprise push
The firm is hiring principal engineers, senior staff engineers and senior directors among others as the lab focuses on developing core components of Rippling’s global AI platform, Parandekar told ET in an exclusive interaction.
Gemini 4 Carbon opens to developers, enterprises with advanced AI capabilities for complex tasks
Google has expanded access to its Gemini 4 Carbon artificial intelligence (AI) model to developers, businesses, scientists and consumers, as it seeks to bring advanced AI capabilities to tasks such as software development, financial research and cybersecurity that require multiple steps and extended reasoning.
Mark Zuckerberg reveals Meta’s Muse AI models are now available on Google Cloud, here's what Sundar Pichai said
Mark Zuckerberg announced that Muse Ember, Muse Spark 1.3, and Muse Wonder are now available on Google Cloud. The announcement received a positive response from Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who expressed his excitement. Muse Ember is designed for cost-efficient repetitive tasks and handles coding and document processing. Muse Wonder focuses on complex software engineering tasks with multi-step workflow capabilities and advanced reasoning.
Adobe MAX 2026: AI Agents Come to Photoshop, Premiere Pro and Illustrator in Major Creative Cloud Overhaul
Adobe has now unveiled a major AI overhaul at MAX 2026, that brings intelligent AI agents to Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator and other Creative Cloud apps. The new tools can execute complex creative tasks, automate repetitive workflows and work with third-party AI assistants, while Adobe expands Firefly and GenStudio with new capabilities for creators and businesses.
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China’s high-tech ports push raises global trade ambitions, sparks security concerns
China is expanding its global maritime influence through AI-powered automated ports, smart shipping technologies and digital infrastructure. While these innovations promise greater efficiency, Western governments fear growing dependence on Chinese systems could create security vulnerabilities, geopolitical leverage and risks to critical global supply chains and international trade networks

AI to boost industrial robotics growth, but manufacturers may benefit less than customers: S&P Global
Artificial intelligence is anticipated to significantly enhance the long-term prospects of industrial robotics and automation. Manufacturers may experience reduced benefits compared to their customers, as equipment utilization increases. Global industrial robot installations have increased markedly, driven by labour shortages and productivity needs. AI improvements are projected to further expand automation capabilities before achieving full autonomy. However, the overall impact on manufacturers' profits remains uncertain due to competitive market dynamics.

Companies need to overhaul cybersecurity as AI accelerates vulnerability attacks: Report
Companies will need to fundamentally overhaul their cybersecurity strategies and increase investments in automated threat detection and vulnerability management as frontier artificial intelligence (AI) makes it easier for cyberattackers to identify and exploit software weaknesses, according to a McKinsey report.

AI gains fail to cool rising staff costs at Indian IT services firms
Although artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are changing the traditional labour-intensive model of IT services, they have yet to bring down employee costs for the country’s top six IT services companies—Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, HCLTech, Wipro, Tech Mahindra and LTM (formerly LTIMindtree).

India flags Chinese-linked AI tools in hacking campaign against financial firms
India's cybersecurity agency named the hacking group behind a wave of AI-driven attacks on financial firms and identified its tools, at least two of them linked to China, adding India to a growing list of countries where

Ripik.ai in talks to raise Rs 150 crore from Gaja Capital
The startup deploys its hardware and software systems at large manufacturing and industrial units, including cement and steel plants, using cameras, sensors and proprietary AI models to monitor equipment, materials and production processes. It counts Accel and Venture Highway (now merged with General Catalyst) among its existing investors.

Central cyber security agency warns banks, NBFCs of AI attacks; I4C reveals how hackers are executing multi-crore frauds
I4C has warned banks, NBFCs and fintech firms about AI-powered cyberattacks that enable hackers to execute fraudulent transactions at machine speed. The agency has flagged multi-crore unauthorised fund transfers, urged financial institutions to strengthen API security and directed them to report cyber incidents to CERT-In and RBI within six hours.

India cybercrime agency warns financial firms on AI attacks
"These attacks are financially motivated and are being carried out with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents leading to machine speed compromise," the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre said in an advisory made public on Wednesday.

India’s IT sector needs a new talent architecture
Growing demand for AI-related services is challenging providers, as they struggle to generate significant revenue. Companies must redesign their workforce models to capture opportunities in an AI-driven market. Existing talent architectures focus on old skill sets and hierarchies, which are becoming less relevant. Investing in specialized roles and capabilities will better align with the new market demands.

Tesla misled South Korean customers about automated-driving tech, consumer group alleges
Tesla has marketed Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software to prospective buyers in South Korea for years, often collecting lump-sum payments of 9.043 million won ($6,726).

Tesla misled South Korean customers about automated-driving tech, consumer group alleges
Tesla is facing a consumer complaint in South Korea over allegedly misleading customers by selling its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software to buyers whose vehicles cannot legally use it. The software, which was sold for a one-time payment of 9.043 million won ($6,726), is compatible with only about 20% of Tesla cars registered in the country, mainly US-made models.

From SBI to Binance, how financial institutions are becoming cyberattack targets
Recent incidents involving cryptocurrency exchange Binance and Indian public sector lender State Bank of India (SBI) have once again put the spotlight on the issue. While Binance reported a security breach involving unauthorised cryptocurrency withdrawals estimated at around $6.3 billion, SBI is investigating a suspected data leak involving nearly 3,900 customer records.

Coders out, VCs in: Investors bet billions on AI-first services
The AI-native services firms’ promise of high margins and rapid growth with fewer people has attracted the interest of VC firms. If Distyl AI raised $175 million at a $1.8 billion valuation a year ago, Wonderful raised $550 million at a $5 billion valuation in September.

AI on the clock as fintechs demand payoff for spends
September-quarter earnings calls of Paytm, Pine Labs, Groww, PB Fintech, Kissht and Mobikwik reveal a shift across payments, stockbroking, lending and insurance. AI is moving beyond chatbots and experiments into decisions affecting the cost of acquiring, serving and retaining customers.

India’s small companies need to see AI as more than an artificial promise
India MSME news: India's micro, small and medium enterprises are exploring the adoption of artificial intelligence to enhance productivity. AI is expected to generate significant economic value for these enterprises in manufacturing and services sectors. Various challenges remain regarding the integration of AI into existing workflows and overcoming cost barriers. Collaborative efforts among industry bodies, technology providers, and the government are essential for facilitating this transition.

ET Product of the Year Awards 2026: Categories recognising products driving market impact
The Economic Times Product of the Year Awards 2026 celebrate cutting-edge innovations that make a substantial difference in the market and attract customer loyalty across diverse industries. Categories feature Enterprise SaaS, FinTech, Cybersecurity, as well as consumer goods such as banking solutions and smartphones. Judging criteria prioritize market presence, adoption rates, creativity, and execution excellence, with an emphasis on quantifiable achievements.

Digital payments firms race to fortify defences as cyberattacks intensify
At Bengaluru-based Cashfree, attempted attacks have been taking place repeatedly over the past three weeks, occurring at least 10 times as frequently as a year ago, chief technology officer Ramkumar Venkatesan told ET. Attackers are increasingly combining multiple vulnerabilities to attack systems, he said.

The next AI advantage for India's developers: Turning code into companies
In India's rapidly growing builder economy, AI is revolutionising software creation, allowing developers to generate code and build prototypes in minutes. But speed is only half the battle-code to deployment is the other half. Through tools like GoDaddy's Developer Platform, the real opportunity is achieving this next half of the challenge seamlessly and turning fast-built applications into viable, long-lasting products and thriving companies.

Honeywell leaning on physical AI to net $1 billion India revenues
The $69 billion building, process, and industrial automation giant, carved out from the Honeywell industrial conglomerate as part of a companywide restructuring, is betting big on physical AI, leveraging its hardware and software experience, Anant Maheshwari, president of strategy and president & CEO of global regions told ET in an interview.

Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu sees a painful rebalancing of jobs in the AI age
Sridhar Vembu expressed concerns regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on computer-based employment. He indicated that AI could allow one person to perform the work of ten. Despite this productivity gain, he mentioned that not everyone would lose their jobs.

Why big IT firms are buying stakes in AI startups
From HCLTech's $150 million investment in Indian AI startup Sarvam to Accenture's investment in Within, an enterprise AI company, IT firms are backing AI companies to access new technology and offer it to their clients.

India Inc wants AI talent to transform manufacturing space
Manufacturing firms are increasingly focusing on integrating artificial intelligence into their operations for efficiency. Companies such as Honeywell Technologies and RPG Group are actively searching for AI and digital leaders. These leaders are expected to bridge the gap between technological advancement and manufacturing processes. Companies are also searching for talent in overseas markets, particularly among Indian-origin executives.
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