Quantum computing is set to redefine artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and scientific discovery, promising unprecedented speeds and capabilities while also necessitating urgent development of quantum-safe security measures and strategic enterprise readiness, says Sunil Varghese.
Technical disruptions plagued the NEET-PG 2026 examination at two centres in Jaipur, leading to repeated computer shutdowns and widespread protests from candidates. Aspirants raised concerns about the fairness and confidentiality of the test, demanding an impartial inquiry into the technical failures.
Candidates who prefer the paper-based format will be able to register for the final three test dates scheduled in July and August, after which the option will no longer be available in the country.
Adani Enterprises and US-based Jabil have signed a non-binding agreement to establish a 50:50 joint venture in India. This JV will manufacture artificial intelligence and data centre equipment, including AI racks, servers, storage, networking gear, and cooling systems, targeting both Indian and global markets. The collaboration aims to capitalise on India's accelerating data centre demand and the surging global investment in AI compute infrastructure.
Indian-origin tech executive Uday Ruddaraju has been appointed Chief Technology Officer, Compute at OpenAI, a year after leaving Elon Musk's xAI. Ruddaraju, an alumnus of Hyderabad's Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, announced his new role on LinkedIn, highlighting OpenAI's mission to build the world's largest compute footprint for frontier AI.
Six professors from Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University (SRTMU) in Nanded have secured a patent for a 'Handheld Script Translation Device'. This innovation aims to overcome language barriers caused by different writing systems, allowing users to understand scripts they are unfamiliar with, even if they know the language. The device is expected to particularly benefit Marathi readers and researchers by making historical and cultural texts more accessible.
Nandan Nilekani, head of the task force on exam reforms, stated on Tuesday that technology and a systematic approach can solve the issue of question paper leaks. He suggested generating exam papers from a large question bank at the last minute to remove economic incentives for leaks and also proposed moving towards computer-based testing.
Global semiconductor giant AMD projects the overall market for compute infrastructure, driven by artificial intelligence, to reach USD 2 trillion by 2030 from USD 365 billion in 2025. The company unveiled new products and its Helios AI infrastructure, emphasising an open ecosystem and significant performance gains over competitors, with India playing a key role in its global rollout.
Global semiconductor giant AMD projects the overall market for compute infrastructure, driven by artificial intelligence, to reach USD 2 trillion by 2030 from USD 365 billion in 2025. The company unveiled new products and its Helios AI infrastructure, emphasising an open ecosystem and significant performance gains over competitors, with India playing a key role in its global rollout.
AI infrastructure firm AM Intelligence announced plans to invest over USD 20 billion in the next 15 months to significantly expand its data centre capacity, including firm orders for 20,000 NVIDIA Rubin GPUs. This expansion will bring its total capacity to 100 Megawatt initially, with a broader goal of 1 GW of compute-as-a-service capacity globally, establishing it as a major buyer of advanced AI hardware.
Ajinkya Shinde, a native of Latur, Maharashtra, has taken charge of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Jantar Mantar 2.0" protest in Delhi. This follows the detention of CJP's top leaders, including Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka, by Delhi Police on Saturday. Shinde, a former computer engineer and AAP activist, is leading the agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter-list manipulation. The national capital saw a significant crackdown on Saturday, with nearly 500 protesters and leaders detained.
Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has dismissed fears that artificial intelligence will lead to job losses in India's IT services sector, calling such concerns "hogwash" and "disaster marketing." Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026, Nilekani argued that AI will actually increase demand for IT firms as it necessitates complex business transformations and creates new types of jobs, particularly in small businesses.
IIIT Hyderabad and measurement technologies firm Hexagon R&D India have collaborated to establish the Hexagon Digital Twin Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the IIIT Hyderabad campus. This CoE will focus on applied research, education, and industry collaboration in computer vision, spatial computing, and AI-powered digital twins, providing access to advanced imaging technology.
Technopark-based space-tech startup HEX20 has been selected by the UAE Space Agency to develop a spacecraft for an asteroid probe, marking the first time an Indian private company has been chosen for a deep-space mission by the Gulf nation. HEX20 is contributing its expertise in developing the spacecraft bus and software for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, which is scheduled for launch in March 2028 to study asteroid 269 Justitia.
The ministry of education is actively formulating a computer-based testing strategy to transition the crucial NEET medical entrance exam to an online format.
Researchers have discovered a method to externally manipulate a cell's automatic waste clearance process, known as autophagy. This breakthrough, involving the protein LC3, could offer new therapeutic targets for diseases like cancer and Parkinson's, where cellular cleansing mechanisms are often impaired.
Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla stated on Tuesday that investments in artificial intelligence should be driven by potential returns, not by a "fear of missing out." Speaking at the 2026 Bloomberg New Economy Forum, Birla indicated that his group would adopt AI more gradually than previously planned, moving away from an "AI arms race" mentality. He also discussed the varied applications of AI across different business sectors, the challenges of capital allocation, and the impact of geopolitical events on global companies.
NITI Aayog has recommended treating data centres as strategic infrastructure rather than mere investment projects, releasing a report titled 'Data Centre Evaluation Framework to Help States Plan for Sustainable Growth'. The report advocates for common standards, central government guidance, and a structured approach for states to manage data centre growth, considering resource requirements and economic benefits.
Patrice Caine, Chairman and CEO of Thales, highlighted Artificial Intelligence as both a major cybersecurity challenge, accelerating attack speed and autonomy, and a crucial tool for defenders. He also warned about quantum computing's future threat to encrypted data. Thales introduced new AI-powered solutions like Luna 8 and CipherTrust DSPM at its Cyber Summit 2026 to combat these evolving threats.
The Government of Karnataka has called for enhanced collaboration with the BFSI and FinTech sectors to bolster its technology ecosystem and accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions. This initiative, discussed at an Industry Meet, aims to foster partnerships between government, industry, and academia, particularly through programmes like 'Government First', in preparation for the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026.
A computer teacher from a government residential school in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district has been arrested in Rajasthan for allegedly sexually harassing a 14-year-old girl. The arrest followed a complaint lodged by the victim and her mother, leading to a special investigation team being formed.
Delhi Police have busted a major interstate racket involved in forging disability certificates to facilitate admissions under the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category. Nine individuals have been apprehended, and 27 fake certificates were recovered. The network allegedly manipulated Aadhaar addresses using AI tools and involved education consultants and government employees across Uttar Pradesh.
'In India, an MBA from a top college would have better opportunities as compared to an MTech from top colleges,' says rediffGURU Patrick D'souza.
A new study challenges the common belief that menopause is a gradual process, revealing that the female body undergoes abrupt, "physiological cliff"-like changes in various health measures around the time of the last menstrual period. These shifts, observed in over one million women, begin more than a decade before menopause, offering a new window for preventive care.
L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has inaugurated an NVIDIA-powered Engineering Intelligence (EI) lab in Bengaluru, designed to showcase AI-native manufacturing, digital twins, and autonomous systems. The facility offers clients a comprehensive view of the manufacturing journey, from virtual validation to autonomous operations, and plans to expand to the US.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar lauded KEONICS' initiative to provide AI-based KEO computers to rural children, marking the institution's golden jubilee. The KEO computers, developed in Karnataka, aim to bridge the digital divide. Shivakumar also highlighted government efforts to promote IT beyond Bengaluru, enhance industry-oriented skills, and digitise property records, emphasising the state's commitment to technology and skill development.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting Joint CSIR-UGC NET, a national-level examination to determine the eligibility of Indian candidates for various academic and research opportunities at Indian universities and colleges through the computer based test (CBT) mode. These include the junior research fellowship (JRF), appointment as an assistant professor, eligibility for both assistant professor positions and PhD admission and admission to PhD programmes.
L&T Technology Services (LTTS) CEO Amit Chadha announced that artificial intelligence is a net positive for the company, with six key focus areas expected to contribute 80% of revenue in five years. These areas, including digital manufacturing and AI infrastructure, are projected to deliver higher growth and margins, offsetting pricing pressures in traditional IT services. LTTS also inaugurated an NVIDIA-powered AI manufacturing lab in Bengaluru.
A Bihar Police sub-inspector has alleged that his 19-year-old son's death at IIIT Ranchi was a "cold-blooded" murder, not a suicide as claimed by the institute. He has demanded an SIT inquiry, citing inconsistencies like the absence of ligature marks and his son's normal behaviour just hours before his death. The institute has expressed sadness and called for a transparent investigation, while its director has been sent on leave.
The GST Council has approved a proposal allowing pharmaceutical companies to claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) on free samples and goods destroyed or written off due to expiry, effective from the next fiscal year. This move aims to support manufacturing, liquidity, and exports within the sector.
Cisco Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins stated that attempts to slow down AI development are futile. He emphasised that the primary focus should be on enhancing security and defensive measures to match AI's rapid advancement. Robbins also discussed the need for guardrails in AI model releases, the importance of cyber hygiene, and the balancing act between innovation and regulation, particularly for countries like India. He believes AI will not be a net job disruptor but will move people up the value chain.
Hollywood actor Paul Bettany, known for voicing J.A.R.V.I.S. and playing Vision in the MCU, expresses trepidation about the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. He discusses potential dystopian futures and the need for democratised AI, while promoting his new series "VisionQuest" which started streaming on JioHotstar on Tuesday.
India is strategically positioned to develop a robust domestic semiconductor ecosystem, driven by increasing electronics consumption, strong government support through incentives, and a global shift in supply chains. Boston Consulting Group Managing Director Ankush Wadhera highlights India's potential as a safe haven for investments, with the AI boom further fuelling demand for advanced chips. The nation aims to expand its capabilities across the entire semiconductor value chain, attracting significant global and domestic investments.
IBM India and South Asia MD Sandip Patel stated that India is at a defining moment with a unique opportunity to shape exponential technologies like artificial intelligence, emphasizing that "when India builds, it builds for billions," leading to scalable impact. Speaking at the IBM Think 2026 event, Patel highlighted that the AI revolution is still in its early stages, requiring enterprises to redesign their operations around agents, real-time data, automation, hybrid architecture, and trust. He also introduced the concept of "digital swaraj" or sovereignty in the Indian context, stressing the importance of control over operating environments, data, technology, and AI execution. IBM also announced an MoU with MeitY Startup Hub to accelerate India's deep tech innovation and startup ecosystem, providing startups access to IBM's technology expertise and platforms like watsonx and Sovereign Core.
IIT Guwahati researchers have developed SH²RFSSM, a model inspired by how biological neurons communicate.
Anthropic has formally warned investors that its technology may pose "existential risks to humanity" in a long-awaited initial public offering prospectus circulated with a small group of partners in recent days.
Researchers from Goa Institute of Management (GIM) and Goa Business School conducted a study analysing over 1.31 lakh posts on social media platform X using machine learning models. They found that indirect aggression is most common during major social, financial, sporting, and political events in India. The study classified aggression into overt, covert, and non-aggressive forms, noting that overt aggression remained relatively low but peaked during events like India's T20 World Cup loss. The findings have significant implications for online moderation and communication policies.
A Bain & Company report projects the global AI market must reach nearly USD 6 trillion annually by 2031 to sustain massive infrastructure investments. This growth will largely depend on new innovations beyond productivity gains, with a significant gap needing to be filled by emerging revenue streams like autonomous vehicles, physical AI, and new AI-driven products. The report also highlights the surge in hardware and semiconductor industries due to AI compute demand and the importance of AI absorption for Indian companies.
Imran Ahmed Khan, who studied at the Government College of Engineering, Amravati (2002 batch) and is currently employed with Aramco, had this advice to share with today's students.
rediffGURU Dr Nagarajan JSK, a career counsellor with nearly 34 years of experience in teaching, research and career guidance, answers students' questions about engineering and dental admissions, counselling rounds, college preferences and admission prospects.
