New research from the University of Sheffield indicates that greenhouse gas emissions from petrochemical production could increase by 50 per cent by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario. The study, published in Nature Sustainability, provides the first detailed global map of these emissions, identifying key sources and highlighting the challenge of decarbonising the sector.
Researchers at IIT Madras have patented a chemical-free antibacterial surface that physically eliminates harmful bacteria, including "superbugs," without relying on antibiotics or disinfectants. This innovative technology uses specially engineered nanostructures to rupture bacterial cell walls, offering a sustainable solution to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) for biomedical and public health applications.
India now ranks among the world's top three destinations for both AI and STEM talent, holding roughly a 6 per cent share of globally mobile AI talent and a 7 per cent share of STEM talent.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has launched India's first Oracle AI Data Platform Lab and Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Kolkata, in collaboration with Oracle. This facility aims to help enterprises accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence and data-driven transformation by addressing challenges like fragmented data and limited AI scalability. The lab will leverage Oracle's AI Data Platform and TCS plans to expand similar CoEs to four more Indian cities.
Beauty and lifestyle retailer Nykaa has announced a multi-year collaboration with OpenAI to integrate AI-driven shopping experiences through ChatGPT. This partnership will allow users to receive conversational recommendations for beauty and fashion products, with Nykaa fulfilling these queries. Additionally, OpenAI's technologies will be deployed across Nykaa's internal operations to boost productivity.
'When a glacier collapse or a major flood event does occur, the water will simply reclaim its original path, and anything built in that path will be swept away.'
The new Mac mini stays true to its reputation: It is small on the outside but surprisingly powerful on the inside. But is it worth the price tag?
The Odisha Vigilance has arrested Baikuntha Nath Behera, an assistant executive engineer, for possessing disproportionate assets worth crores, including over Rs 2 crore in cash, multiple properties, and gold jewellery. The arrest followed raids that uncovered extensive wealth, with some lockers yet to be opened.
Group Captain Angad Pratap, one of the astronauts for India's Gaganyaan mission, addressed the programme's delays, stating they are inherent in developing human spaceflight. He emphasised the need for patience to ensure the mission's eventual success and detailed his involvement in designing the human-machine interface. ISRO plans uncrewed missions before the crewed launch, now targeted for 2027.
The Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a JVVNL assistant engineer, Navneet Singh Gurjar, and a middleman, Mohammad Shazim, in Tonk for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000. The bribe was demanded to return a removed electricity meter and prevent further action.
AI firm Pramaana Labs, with a significant Indian workforce, has successfully raised $27 million in seed funding led by Khosla Ventures. The company aims to use these funds to advance its unique technology that converts complex knowledge into machine-verifiable truth, addressing the accountability gap in AI across regulated sectors like tax, healthcare, and financial compliance.
'...because that protects their aviation industry.' 'The Boeing 787 is one of the most widely-flown wide-body aircraft in the world, and Airbus is running neck-and-neck with Boeing.' 'Airbus is not going to let an opportunity like this pass.' 'If a software problem with the 787 is confirmed, they will use it to increase their own orders.'
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas presented the company's vision for advanced AI operating systems at COMPUTEX 2026, detailing how Perplexity Computer orchestrates up to 20 AI models for efficient task management. The system uses hybrid agentic inference to balance performance, privacy, and cost by deploying models locally or via data centres based on task complexity, a concept supported by Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan's focus on on-device AI.
A junior engineer and a driver from the Uttar Pradesh State Construction Corporation were arrested for accepting a bribe to clear a contractor's pending payment in Meerut.
The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition seeking mandatory and uniform labelling of ethanol percentage at petrol pumps and a public database on vehicle compatibility with ethanol-blended fuel. The plea also calls for an expert committee to assess the impact of E20 fuel on vehicles, environment, and food security, and a consumer disclosure protocol.
rediffGURU Pradeep Pramanik, a career coach, placement consultant and director at Fast Track Career Consultants, guides aspirants on how to pick the right career stream and college after the IIT-Joint Entrance Exam.
US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, highlighted the evolving US-India space partnership, moving from cooperation to "co-creation" at the Bengaluru Space Expo. He emphasised joint design, funding, and co-authoring the future of human discovery, citing the NISAR satellite and India's participation in the Artemis Accords as key examples of this growing synergy.
The Jammu Municipal Corporation has launched an integrated system combining AI-based road monitoring with cold emulsion pothole patching machines. This initiative aims to ensure timely and scientific repair of damaged roads across the city, leveraging modern technology to identify and fix defects efficiently, especially before the monsoon season. The AI system also detects other civic issues, promoting smart urban governance.
'It could be in IT, it could be in administration, it could be in legal, it could be in technical services, but entry level jobs are rapidly disappearing because AI is taking them over.' 'So, the big question what would happen if the bottom rung of the ladder is removed?'
A BESCOM Assistant Executive Engineer was arrested after an electrical contractor was caught accepting a bribe on his behalf for sanctioning additional power supply.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has issued an interim statement on the probe into the Air India AI171 plane crash that killed 260 people last year, confirming that the investigation is ongoing and the final report will be released after all processes are complete.
In part 3 of a Rediff series exploring new careers for aspiring professionals, Sanjay Salunkhe, founder of Jaro Education highlights how young professionals can adapt to the evolving AI-driven landscape in the creative industry.
Nayagam PP, career counsellor and founder of EduJobs360, explains how traditional engineering choices are being replaced with flexible, future-ready career paths that align with industry requirements.
'... that work is done. The task is to reallocate what has been built, with the courage of a founder and the discipline of an owner.'
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Google Cloud have inaugurated a new Gemini Experience Center (GEC) in Mexico City. This facility, the second in Latin America and ninth globally for TCS, is equipped with over 3,000 AI agents and aims to drive industry-specific AI solutions across various sectors. It will help organisations bridge the gap between AI experimentation and implementation, enhancing innovation and data-driven decision-making in the region.
OpenAI and Anthropic are not simply enabling new software capabilities, they are moving directly into enterprise execution, workflow ownership, and decision orchestration.
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas unveiled the company's vision for AI operating systems at COMPUTEX 2026, highlighting Perplexity Computer's ability to coordinate multiple AI models and balance performance with privacy and cost. He emphasised the growing trend of hybrid AI, combining local device processing with data centre capabilities, and acknowledged Intel's partnership.
Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani predicts that large corporations in India will lose jobs due to automation and AI, while millions of small businesses will drive future employment growth. He advocates for deregulation, simplified business interfaces, and digital platforms to support small entrepreneurs and a gig economy workforce.
The Odisha Vigilance Department has uncovered assets worth crores of rupees, including over Rs 2 crore in cash, multiple properties, and gold, during raids on an assistant executive engineer. The engineer, Baikuntha Nath Behera, is under investigation for disproportionate assets. Separately, a lineman was arrested for accepting a bribe.
The Odisha Vigilance Department has uncovered significant assets, including multiple buildings and plots of land, allegedly belonging to a government engineer, prompting an investigation into disproportionate assets.
Indian rally champions Dean Mascarenhas and co-driver Gagan Karumbaiah are set to compete in their second WRC3 event of the season, Rally del Paraguay. This marks their first gravel rally in the championship, following previous appearances in the Canary Islands and Rome, as they continue to gain international experience.
Semiconductor startup C2i Semiconductors announced it has taped out a smart power stage chip designed for artificial intelligence infrastructure, marking a significant milestone for India's ambitions in domestic semiconductor production.
Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin discusses fellow world champion D Gukesh's recent performance slump, attributing it to a lack of confidence rather than a decline in skill. Sarin expresses hope that the upcoming Chess Olympiad will help Gukesh regain his form. He also shares his views on the increasing role of AI in chess, the evolution towards faster formats, and potential improvements in the chess ecosystem.
Sarvam AI, an Indian full-stack sovereign artificial intelligence company, has achieved unicorn status after raising $234 million in a Series B funding round led by HCLTech and Bessemer Venture Partners, with HCLTech acquiring a 10.46 per cent stake.
Employers want to know that you do not just know how to use AI tools like ChatGPT or automation services. They also want to know that you understand what AI is, says Kumar Rajagopalan, vice president-strategic initiatives and country head- India at Dexian, a leading staffing solutions firm.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced an additional USD 13 billion investment in India, bringing the company's total capital commitment to USD 48 billion by 2030. This significant investment will primarily focus on expanding AI and cloud infrastructure, supporting job creation, boosting e-commerce exports, and digitising small businesses, aligning with India's growing digital economy.
NeoGeoInfo Technologies, a spatial intelligence solutions provider, has secured a Series A investment of approximately USD 20 million from Neev II Fund and Aavishkaar Capital. This funding will fuel the company's R&D, expand its international presence in the Middle East and Americas, and strengthen its team for complex projects.
Cactus Technology Solutions Private Limited has been empanelled by the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) to provide AI and machine learning expertise for government-led digital initiatives.
India is set to launch Bharat Vecto, its first certification tool for assessing the fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions of medium and heavy commercial vehicles, by December, with a full launch targeted for the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in February 2027.
Researchers at IIT Bombay have developed a novel, low-cost, and highly durable catalyst using cobalt, nickel, phosphate, and graphite. This breakthrough material can accelerate both hydrogen and oxygen generation from water, significantly reducing the production cost of green hydrogen by eliminating the need for expensive noble metals like platinum and iridium.
