TALENT CLOUD
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.
TReDS sees a festive boost; Nykaa’s growth strategy
Happy Friday! Festive inventory demand has lifted invoice financing on TReDS platforms. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
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).
GCCs ramp up hiring for AI, data, cybersecurity professionals; face talent shortage: Report
India's GCCs are directing a greater share of technology recruitment towards specialists who can deploy AI, manage data and secure enterprise systems, according to the India GCC Tech Talent Landscape - Q2 FY27 Report by staffing and workforce solutions provider Quess Corp.
AI, data, cybersecurity lead tech hiring with 30.3% share in September quarter
In India, the demand for roles in AI, data, and cybersecurity within Global Capability Centers (GCCs) has surged, even amid a slight overall hiring decline. AI and data professional roles saw a 14% increase quarter-on-quarter, while cybersecurity positions grew by 12%. Notably, tier-2 cities like Coimbatore achieved a remarkable 30% growth. By 2030, the GCC workforce in India is projected to reach between 2.7 and 2.8 million.
Carl Pei teases Nothing’s first AI-native product; says it 'couldn't have been an app'
Nothing will launch its first AI-native product in December with a focus on productivity. The chief executive, Carl Pei, provided limited details about the product’s functions. It is suggested that the product may help users capture conversations and take notes. Other companies are also exploring wearable AI devices that focus on companionship or productivity.
- Go To Page 1
IT firms turn to acquisitions to boost revenue growth
The contribution rose to $147-148 million in the July-September period, reflecting a full quarter of consolidation. The acquisition has therefore become a significant part of the firm’s reported revenue base.
NTT Data to nearly triple Mangaluru workforce to over 2,500 by 2027
The company entered Mangaluru through its acquisition of local cloud engineering company Niveus Solutions, and is looking to use the city as a base for developing specialised technology capabilities. Its focus areas include healthcare and life sciences, automotive, manufacturing, high technology, AI and data.
Vultr eyes 1 GW India capacity by 2029
Further, the company said it has hired more than 100 people in India over the past three months and plans thousands of additional hires in network engineering and operations by March. It also added that the Chennai workforce could eventually reach 5,000 as the facility becomes operational and services expand.
Saudi Aramco takes 49% stake in AI firm Humain, commits $2.6 billion
Saudi Aramco has announced its acquisition of a 49 percent stake in the AI company Humain. This investment aims to accelerate Humain's growth and advance its AI capabilities both regionally and globally. The Public Investment Fund will retain a 51 percent ownership in Humain. Additionally, Aramco plans to inject approximately 9.9 billion Saudi riyals into the company this year.
How AI is changing pay, career growth and the employee deal in India
As AI changes the skills companies need, the relationship between employers and employees is being renegotiated. Career progression, access to training and the way salaries reward new capabilities are becoming central to retaining talent and preparing the workforce for changing roles.
Microsoft offers voluntary exits to 60,000 employees: What's in it, who qualifies and will India’s 23,000-strong workforce be impacted?
Microsoft has introduced a voluntary exit offer for eligible employees in India, the US, the UK and Canada, covering around 60,000 workers globally. The programme offers financial support and career transition services, but India's share remains unclear. The announcement comes amid US scrutiny of Microsoft's foreign-worker visa practices.
Microsoft announces voluntary exit offer for 60,000 employees in India, 3 other countries
Microsoft has announced a voluntary exit programme for eligible employees in multiple countries, including India. The offer is available to employees at level 70 and below until December 1. Eligible employees will receive severance packages and career transition services as part of the initiative.
Microsoft offers exit packages to India staff amid $20.5 billion AI push
While the company has not given specifics of the number of people who shall be covered through this programme, there are around 60,000 employees eligible globally. The decision will be taken by December 1, 2026 and those opting for it will be given a package similar to a standard severance offer, including one month of base salary for every completed year of service, health insurance and career transition services.
Anthropic IPO: 5 jaw-dropping numbers investors need to know about $1.5 trillion public offer
Anthropic’s planned IPO could test investor appetite for AI amid a potential $1.5 trillion valuation. Revenue growth, substantial losses, $518 billion in infrastructure commitments and reliance on major cloud partners highlight key financial risks investors must assess.
Meta eyes record $95 billion equity raise to fund AI expansion
The Facebook parent has launched public offerings worth about $35 billion in common and preferred stock, and said it also plans to launch a separate at-the-market share sale program worth up to $60 billion.
44% of India’s GCCs now own platforms and AI outcomes: Report
Global Capability Centres in India are transitioning into AI capability hubs, significantly increasing salaries for digital professionals. The focus of GCCs is shifting from execution to innovation and strategic capabilities. Reports indicate that AI talent in India commands a significant wage premium due to higher demand. As GCCs expand their roles, the need for skilled talent in AI and related fields continues to grow.
Cognizant to buy Australia's DyFlex in its 3rd deal of 2026
Cognizant Technology Solutions has signed an agreement to acquire DyFlex Solutions, enhancing its AI and SAP capabilities. This acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals. DyFlex specializes in SAP transformation and is based in Australia and New Zealand. The deal marks Cognizant’s third acquisition in 2026 as it seeks to expand its services.
Bridging the AI production gap: Over 100,000 Indian engineers trained to Build with Gemini
India is seeing a significant shift in its technology workforce towards enterprise AI integration and solutions. The Build with Gemini initiative has trained over 100,000 developers and architects across several major organizations. This transition emphasizes the need for professionals skilled in engineering AI for production. Global System Integrators are crucial in facilitating this workforce transformation. The evolution aims to position India as a key player in AI architecture and engineering.
Eternal’s strong Q2 report; Exits outpace hiring at top IT firms
Happy Thursday! Eternal’s Q2 revenue surged on Blinkit’s growth. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Software majors delete 24,000 jobs across IT and engineering in a year
Over the last one year, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, HCLTech, Wipro, Tech Mahindra and LTIMindtree collectively recorded 92,000 exits, in line with the industry's normal attrition rate of 11-15%. However, with exits outpacing hiring of new employees in the IT and engineering functions in five of the last six months, overall intake over the 12 months fell by 24,422 to 68,000, data from staffing firm Xpheno showed.
Cognizant, Google Cloud expand partnership to drive agentic AI adoption
The group brings together a dedicated global workforce that pairs Google's full-stack, enterprise-ready AI platform with Cognizant's domain, industry and engineering expertise as an AI-builder, according to a release.
Online festive sales fizzle; Snowflake CEO on AI’s impact on software
Happy Monday! Festive ecommerce sales have slowed down this year, we tell you why. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Software majors add more hands in Q2 on deal wins, growth optimism
Data showed the top six had added a net 5,500 to their rolls in the April-June quarter. Employee data of Infosys, the country’s second-largest software exporter, isn’t included in these calculations as the company is due to announce earnings on October 23 and hasn’t shared its latest manpower data.
12,700 tech professional return from US in 9 months
The data sourced from staffing firm Xpheno shows that the numbers have been steadily going up, from 7,200 in 2023 and 9,800 in 2024. The figures track white-collar technology talent moving along the India-US corridor and are not limited to H-1B visa holders.
Bridging continents: The University of Western Australia brings world-class postgraduate programmes to India
In an exciting development, the University of Western Australia is opening new campuses in Mumbai and Chennai, focusing on postgraduate education. This program is designed specifically to equip professionals with crucial skills required for a future shaped by artificial intelligence. The Master of Information Technology allows tech graduates to thrive in changing digital environments, whereas the Master of Business Administration nurtures strategic business leaders.
Microsoft defends foreign hiring after US green card programme suspension
Microsoft has emphasized that a significant majority of its US employees are American amidst immigration crackdowns. It submitted H-1B visa applications primarily for current employees, not new hires, reflecting its workforce strategy. This statement coincides with CEO Satya Nadella receiving the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The Trump administration is investigating multiple tech firms, including Microsoft, for immigration-related issues.
Qubo looks to on-device AI to widen smart home adoption in India: CEO Nikhil Rajpal
The company claimed to have developed AI models that can identify people and detect potential threats on its smart cameras, some priced at around Rs 2,500.
India's AI talent demand outstrips supply by over 3.5 times: Report
Bengaluru is expected to need around 1.4 million AI professionals by 2026, with only 400,000 available currently. This talent gap poses challenges for enterprises and Global Capability Centres as AI adoption grows. Shortages in specialized technology roles have led to salary increases between 30 and 35 percent. Organizations are urged to continuously reskill employees to meet future industry demands.
Load More
