Tech

President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Ashoka Chakra on Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla at Republic Day celebrations, honouring his historic achievement as the first Indian to visit the International Space Station during the Axiom-4 mission

OpenAI plans to introduce advertising on free and low-cost versions of ChatGPT in the US, while exempting paid users. Though the company promises safeguards, experts warn ad-driven AI could blur the line between assistance and persuasion.

India’s adoption of artificial intelligence could generate $1.7 trillion in economic value by 2035, driven by semiconductor investments, strong data governance and rapid sectoral adoption, according to a KPMG report released at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

AI Engineer has emerged as the fastest-growing job role in Hyderabad, according to LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2026 report. The findings highlight growing demand for AI-led and cross-functional roles amid evolving hiring trends in the city.

Amazon Grocery is offering discounts of up to 70% on groceries, baby care, pet supplies and wellness products during Amazon India’s Great Republic Day Sale 2026. Prime members can avail additional savings, bank offers and cashback benefits.

OnePlus India has denied reports claiming it is shutting down operations, calling them false and misleading. CEO Robin Liu said the company continues to operate normally, urging stakeholders to rely on official sources amid industry consolidation and market speculation.

Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty warned the public about deepfake videos falsely using her image and voice to promote investment schemes. She urged people not to trust such content, verify information through official channels, and avoid financial losses

The Indian Army showcased its artillery prowess at 'Exercise TOPCHI' in Nashik, featuring K-9 Vajra, M777 Howitzers, indigenous guns, rockets, mortars, drones, and paramilitary participation, highlighting operational readiness, technological integration, and self-reliance in defence manufacturing

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams retires after a 27-year career marked by nine space missions, nine spacewalks, and historic leadership aboard the ISS. Her contributions advanced human spaceflight, lunar and Mars exploration, and inspired future generations in science and space exploration

India’s first privately built national earth observation satellite constellation will be launched from 2026 by a Pixxel-led startup consortium. The 12-satellite project, backed by IN-SPACe, will deliver high-resolution data for government and global commercial use

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu praised over 50,000 state learners enrolling in IIT Madras–IBM’s Advanced Quantum Skilling course via NPTEL, calling it vital to building one lakh global-standard quantum professionals and driving future-ready, technology-led economic growth in India

Uttar Pradesh police registered eight FIRs in Varanasi over alleged AI-generated and misleading social media posts about Manikarnika Ghat redevelopment. Authorities accused individuals and X handles of spreading false visuals, hurting religious sentiments, and disturbing social harmony during the ongoing beautification project

Space start-up GalaxEye will launch “Mission Drishti,” India’s largest privately developed satellite combining optical and radar sensors to produce all-weather fused earth images, with applications in defence, agriculture, disaster response, and climate monitoring, aiming for a 10-satellite constellation by 2030

Researchers at IIIT–Hyderabad are developing an AI-powered system to analyse the Indian thali, a meal known for its diverse textures and overlapping ingredients. The research was recently presented at the 16th Indian Conference on Computer Vision, Graphics and Image Processing 2025.

Elon Musk has asked a US federal court to award up to $134 billion in damages, alleging that OpenAI and Microsoft defrauded him by abandoning OpenAI’s nonprofit mission. The case will proceed to a jury trial later this month.

Artificial intelligence will shape India’s next phase of digital growth, DoT Secretary Amit Agrawal said, reaffirming India’s commitment to responsible AI and ASEAN digital cooperation while highlighting rapid telecom expansion, digital public infrastructure and capacity-building initiatives.

Elon Musk-led X has disabled Grok’s controversial image generation feature after global criticism and regulatory pressure. The AI chatbot’s “Spicy Mode” had enabled sexualised deepfakes of women and children, sparking investigations in India and California.

Foxconn and HCL Group have named their semiconductor joint venture India Chip Private Limited, with Foxconn infusing Rs 312 crore for a 40 per cent stake. The JV will set up an OSAT facility in Uttar Pradesh

  Al Qaeda is increasingly using AI and deepfake technology to radicalize and recruit in India, hosting servers across multiple countries. The outfit’s low-profile, calculated approach exploits Osama Bin Laden’s image, creating significant challenges for Indian intelligence agencies 

New Australian research finds hot takeaway coffee cups shed microplastics, especially all-plastic cups. Heat, not soaking time, drives release, with millions of particles possible. Material choice and cooler drinks can reduce exposure, globally consumed daily by billions of people worldwide

ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission faced an anomaly near the end of its third stage shortly after liftoff on Monday, prompting the space agency to launch a detailed analysis of ground data, Chairman V. Narayanan said.

ISRO on Monday successfully launched the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite aboard PSLV-C62 in its first mission of 2026. The launch aims to boost remote sensing capabilities and includes a re-entry technology demonstrator as part of its commercial payload.

Elon Musk has said X will make its recommendation algorithm public within a week, releasing code for organic and ad posts. The move comes amid regulatory scrutiny, while Musk’s AI firm xAI announced a $20 billion funding round.

Elon Musk-run X Corp has admitted to the presence of obscene content generated by its Grok AI chatbot and assured compliance with Indian laws after government action, blocking thousands of posts and deleting hundreds of accounts following a MeitY directive.