Promo Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dak8URtgh_o/

Mumbai, 09^th July 2026: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has entered a collaboration with Google Gemini for the upcoming season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). This deeply integrated content collaboration brings Google Gemini into the fabric of the KBC experience across Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV, serving as an interactive knowledge companion for the audience.

For over two decades, Kaun Banega Crorepati has inspired millions by making knowledge aspirational, accessible and empowering. This collaboration will be seamlessly integrated within the show’s content – from guiding viewers through registrations to supporting their overall general knowledge preparation, Google Gemini will play a meaningful role throughout the journey.

This collaboration also brings the power of Google Gemini directly to audiences through interactive touchpoints. On the Google Gemini app, users can get instant, clear guidance on KBC registration steps and criteria, while interactive challenges to be rolled out soon will help people across households sharpen their general knowledge across diverse topics.

Registrations open. Find out more on Google Gemini – goo.gle/kbc

COMMENTS:

Nachiket Pantvaidya, Chief Content Officer, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI):

“Knowledge has always been at the heart of Kaun Banega Crorepati. For over two decades, KBC has inspired generations through the power of learning and continues to evolve with changing times. Through our collaboration with Google Gemini, we are bringing together the legacy of KBC with the power of Google Gemini’s Artificial Intelligence for households across India. This collaboration adds a new layer of innovation within the content of the show and creates newer ways for audiences to engage with the show.”

Kanika Kalra, Director, Marketing, Google India:

“Kaun Banega Crorepati holds a special place in Indian hearts as a beacon of learning and lifelong curiosity, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Sony Pictures Networks India to bring Google Gemini’s generative AI capabilities into this iconic journey. We hope to serve as an interactive knowledge companion for millions of households, giving viewers and aspirants an engaging, intuitive way to explore new topics, expand their preparation, and satisfy their quest for learning.”

With this collaboration, KBC and Google Gemini are set to enhance how technology and entertainment intersect, creating an experience that is intelligent, relevant and accessible for audiences across the country.

To know more, stay tuned on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.

Honorary Doctorate conferred on grassroots innovator Padma Shri Chintakindi Mallesham; industry leaders across sustainability, technology and manufacturing grace the ceremony

Hyderabad, July 4, 2026 — Anurag University celebrated its 3^rd Annual Convocation today, conferring degrees on 2,789 graduates across its schools of engineering, pharmacy, management, sciences and agriculture. The ceremony brought together graduating students, their families, faculty and a distinguished gathering of industry leaders to mark a defining milestone in the students’ academic journey.

The graduating class of 2,789 included 2,193 students from the Bachelor of Technology programme and 44 scholars who were awarded the Doctor of Philosophy. Degrees were also conferred across the Master of Business Administration (155), Master of Computer Applications (90), Bachelor of Pharmacy (88), Bachelor of Business Administration (74), and a range of postgraduate and doctoral programmes in pharmacy, technology, agriculture and management.

The University conferred an Honorary Doctorate on Padma Shri Chintakindi Mallesham, the renowned grassroots innovator whose weaving innovation — born out of personal sacrifice and hardship has transformed the lives of countless weavers and workers in the handloom industry. In recognizing him, the University celebrated a spirit of innovation rooted in empathy, perseverance and service to society.

Addressing the Class of 2026, Dr.Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, Chairman, Anurag University and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Janagama Constituency  congratulated graduates and emphasized that AI will not take jobs, but those skilled in AI tools will lead the future. He highlighted Anurag’s pioneering role as the first in Telangana to launch B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence (AI) eight years ago, and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to integrating AI across students, curriculum, faculty, and campus. Applauding faculty for Outcome Based Education and parents for their trust, he urged graduates to “Build for the nation, stay rooted and hungry, and define success widely.” The Chairman closed by reminding alumni that excellence is a habit, calling on them to make Telangana and India proud.

The convocation was graced by Chief Guest Mr. Goutham Reddy, Chairman, CII and Executive Director of Re Sustainability Ltd., who addressed the graduating class. Speaking on the relevance of the true engineering spirit in today’s world, Mr. Reddy observed that as Artificial Intelligence disrupts more and more industries, the enduring engineering mindset — the ability to solve real problems with rigour, curiosity and purpose — matters more than ever. He urged graduates to treat AI not as a threat but as a tool, and to anchor their careers in the timeless values of first-principles thinking and continuous learning.

In his address, the Chancellor of Anurag University, Dr. UB Desai, congratulated the graduating class and their families, and reflected on the University’s mission to nurture engineers and professionals who combine technical excellence with responsibility to society. He echoed that the true spirit of engineering — solving problems that matter — remains as relevant as ever in an age being reshaped by AI and encouraged the graduates to carry the values of integrity and innovation into their professional lives.

The ceremony was further distinguished by the presence of senior leaders from across industry who joined as Guests of Honour, including representatives from Mahindra & Mahindra, Dhruva Space, Qualcomm, Cellerite Systems, Aarvee, Deloitte, PwC, PepsiCo, LTIMindtree, Siemens and Karvy Fintech. Their participation underscored the University’s deep and growing engagement with industry and its commitment to preparing graduates for a rapidly evolving workplace.

All the Deans, Heads of the Departments, Directors, Controller of Examinations, Faculty and non-teaching staff were also present on this occasion.

Congratulating the graduates, the University wished them success in their future endeavours and encouraged them to remain lifelong learners and responsible contributors to their communities and to the nation.

Bengaluru, July 03, 2026 – In a significant step toward combining Artificial Intelligence with healthcare and wellness, students from the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at East Point College of Engineering & Technology (EPCET), Bengaluru, have developed an innovative “AI-Powered Nutrition System for Enhanced Dietary Monitoring and Health Promotion” aimed at helping users make healthier and more informed dietary choices. 

Developed by students Anshuman Kumar, Ashirbad Sai, Inderbir Singh, and Vyshnavi V under the guidance of Dr. Manimozhi Iyer, Head of the Department, CSE, the project leverages advanced technologies such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Computer Vision to analyze food images and generate personalized nutritional insights in real time.  

The AI-powered system allows users to upload food images through a mobile application, following which the platform identifies dishes, recognizes ingredients, evaluates food freshness, and provides nutritional breakdowns including calorie count, macronutrient composition, and personalized dietary recommendations. The system also integrates trusted nutritional databases such as Nutritionix and USDA to improve the accuracy of dietary analysis.  

According to the student team, the project was inspired by the growing prevalence of lifestyle-related health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and nutritional imbalance, along with the increasing need for accessible dietary awareness tools. The students aimed to create a smart AI-driven nutrition assistant capable of simplifying nutrition tracking using just food images captured through a mobile device.  

The system was trained and tested on a dataset of more than 10,000 food images covering multiple food categories and regional dishes. During internal evaluation and controlled testing, the solution achieved nearly 90% overall accuracy in identifying food items and generating nutrition insights, while reporting high performance in dish detection, ingredient recognition, and freshness analysis. The prototype was also tested with a limited group of students, faculty members, and volunteers, who appreciated the ease of use and instant nutrition feedback offered by the application. 

Speaking about the project, Dr. Manimozhi Iyer, Head of the Department, CSE, EPCET, said: “The project reflects how emerging technologies like AI and computer vision can be applied to solve everyday healthcare and wellness challenges. It is encouraging to see students develop practical and socially impactful innovations that promote healthier lifestyle choices.”

The students highlighted that while the system has demonstrated promising results at the prototype stage, further real-world validation and clinical testing would be required before deployment for medical or healthcare advisory purposes. The application is currently intended for educational and general wellness use and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.  

The project showcases how Artificial Intelligence, healthcare technology, and personalized wellness solutions can come together to create scalable digital health innovations with real-world relevance. Future enhancements may include multilingual support, advanced dietary recommendations, improved mixed-dish recognition, and expanded AI-based health analytics.

“Last year, Capgemini’s Top 5 Tech Trends notably predicted the rise of AI robotics, a vision that became reality both in the market and at Capgemini with the launch of our AI Robotics & Experiences Lab and current experimentation with Orano,” explains Pascal Brier, Chief Innovation Officer at Capgemini and Member of the Group Executive Committee. “As we look ahead to 2026, AI moves beyond experimentation and enters a phase of maturity. The upcoming year will see AI become the backbone of enterprise architecture, reshape software lifecycle development, and redefine cloud consumption. At the same time, enterprise systems are undergoing a fundamental shift toward intelligent operations, while tech sovereignty emerges as a strategic priority, driving organizations to build resilient interdependence.”

Technologies to watch in 2026:

1)      The year of truth for AI

AI is without doubt the defining technology of the decade, but the pace of investment has outstripped the speed at which organizations have deployed and extracted value from it. Taking stock of where some of their AI experimentations failed to deliver the expected outcomes, business leaders now understand that the issue didn’t come from the technology itself but from the business approach and methodology. Full-scale deployments will take time, and long-term value will not lie in isolated AI use cases but in enterprise-wide implementations. While the true growth phase begins, an AI ecosystem more rooted in operational value and enterprise architecture is emerging, starting with data foundations and infrastructure, and focusing on “Human-AI chemistry”. 2026 will be the moment to move from proof-of-concept to proof-of-impact, ensuring AI drives measurable outcomes, trust, and collaboration at scale, whilst laying the foundations for larger-scale transformation to follow.

Why it matters: The pace of AI development shows no signs of slowing down and the offer available on the market continues to grow. Meanwhile, after years of fragmented pilots, 2026 will be a year of meaningful advancement, where organizations are going to invest in data and AI readiness and more importantly in “Human-AI chemistry” – moving away from the hype to harness the transformative potential of AI.

2)      AI is eating software

Software has eaten the world, and now AI is eating software. AI is reshaping the software development lifecycle across industries, shifting from writing code to expressing intent. After years of automation and DevOps-driven acceleration, AI is increasingly generating and maintaining software parts. From now on, developers will specify outcomes while AI generates and maintains components, shortening delivery cycles and improving quality. But governance and oversight remain critical to prevent hallucinations, security gaps, and silent errors. This new era of “Rebuilding software” across the full value chain aligns with becoming an AI-Native Business, operating on adaptive platforms rather than static ones. This approach opens opportunities to build more adaptive, sovereign systems, reducing reliance on Software as a Service providers and enabling differentiation through tailored products at competitive price points.

Why it matters: In 2026, this shift will increasingly redefine roles, making human supervision and quality control essential for trust and resilience. Organizations will start rebuilding their applications and need to focus on reskilling their software development workforce in the near future. The new currency of expertise will instead lie in systems thinking, AI and agents orchestration, and managing complex, autonomous process and tool chains.

3)      Cloud 3.0: all flavors of cloud

Cloud is entering its next evolution, a phase where hybrid, private, multi-cloud and sovereign architectures are no longer niche, but fundamental to how AI runs at scale, to the point it is becoming the operational backbone for AI and agentic workloads. AI cannot scale and get the right performance on classical public cloud alone, pushing adoption of all other models of cloud. Indeed, agentic systems rely on scalable and low-latency infrastructures, with edge and cloud working as a single intelligent fabric. On top of that, large-scale outages and geopolitical pressures accelerate diversification and resilience strategies. While hybrid platforms will become mainstream, organizations will redesign architectures for performance, portability, sovereignty, and strategic autonomy to secure business continuity.

Why it matters: Cloud 3.0 will increase the possibilities for organizations to tailor their cloud consumption to their various requirements notably in terms of redundancy of assets, criticality and latency. At the same time however, while this may add resilience it could also bring complexity for them to manage, putting pressure on cloud providers to improve interoperability in their multi-vendor strategies. In the Cloud 3.0 era, organizations will need to ensure they are equipped with the right skills, agile governance and adaptive mindset that enable confident operations across diverse cloud environments.

4)      The rise of Intelligent Ops

Enterprise systems are evolving from static systems of record into living engines of intelligent operations – it’s a ‘Copernican Revolution[1]’ where processes become the focus, instead of being bolted-on applications. With the promises of agentic systems, businesses have the opportunity to rethink and redesign their business processes to make them self-improving, adaptable and agile. Companies are now looking to orchestrate entire processes, not isolated steps, to run connected operations that break silos to create integrated value chains and enable organization-wide optimization. AI agents embedded in core processes are starting to monitor activity, optimize execution, resolve exceptions, and orchestrate workflows across finance, supply chain, HR, and customer service. Automation will shift to Human-AI co-steering, where AI proposes and executes while humans supervise and govern. Oversight will become a design principle to ensure trust and resilience. Intelligent operations will enable businesses to move from reactive to proactive, reducing inefficiencies and improving agility. Apps and operations will continuously evolve instead of remaining static, predefined, or manually maintained.

Why it matters: In 2026, organizations will move from pilots to first production levels, from fragmented automation to end-to-end value chains, but success will depend on ensuring the reliability and scalability of AI agents and the effectiveness of the Human-AI chemistry.

5)      The borderless paradox of tech sovereignty

Amid geopolitical uncertainty, tech sovereignty has moved from a policy concept to a strategic priority. Nations and enterprises now seek control over critical technologies in a world that remains deeply interconnected. The result is a new paradox: sovereignty is no longer defined by isolation, but by resilient interdependence. Since full tech autonomy does not exist, organizations will focus on risk mitigation and selective control over key layers. Securing business continuity will become the primary imperative through diversified suppliers and sovereign alternatives. Sovereign and multi-clouds, regional AI models, open platforms and new chip ecosystems are also emerging to offer choice and strategic flexibility.

Why it matters: In 2026, the race for control over the critical stacks of the digital value chain will continue, from semiconductors to data storage all the way through to AI models, while most hyperscalers and large cloud providers are likely to launch sovereign cloud offers. This will have a profound impact on how companies mitigate risks and ensure resilience.

TechnoVision 2026

TechnoVision is a global program from Capgemini articulating a comprehensive view of the world of Technology to help leaders make technology-driven business transformation decisions. It acts as a guide, allowing decision-makers to focus on the emerging technology trends that will make their organizations more effective. Capgemini’s Top 5 Tech Trends report will be published in January 2026 and the TechnoVision guide, designed to help organizations assess their technology environments, will be published in February 2026.

Highlighting the need for collaboration among DISCOMs, technology partners, innovators and academia, the Minister stressed the importance of building consumer trust and addressing misinformation around new technologies. Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal reaffirmed the government’s commitment to accelerating digitalisation, focusing on capacity building, secure data-sharing and interoperability. During the conference, winners of a national innovation challenge showcased AI-driven use cases, while the Minister also launched the STELLAR resource adequacy planning tool developed by the Central Electricity Authority. Additionally, the India Smart Grid Forum released a handbook detailing AI, ML and robotics-based utility solutions to support nationwide adoption of advanced technologies.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Satyendra Rai, Executive Director (Digital Transformation), NMDC Limited, and Dean of Research & Development, IIT Kanpur, in the presence of Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, Project Director, Project Leads, and Officials from NMDC and I-Hub NTIHAC Foundation (C3iHub).

Under the MoU, IIT Kanpur’s C3iHub will support NMDC in cyber risk assessments, vulnerability analysis, security governance, incident response planning, and benchmarking of Security Operations Centre (SOC) models. The partnership will also explore AI/ML-driven solutions, digital twins, predictive maintenance frameworks, and advanced data analytics to enhance operational efficiency across NMDC’s mining ecosystem.

During the MoU signing ceremony, Prof Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, said, “At IIT Kanpur, we have a strong research expertise in the domains of cybersecurity and AI, addressing challenges of national interest. I am confident that this collaboration will not only strengthen cyber resilience across NMDC’s operations but also foster the development of transformative technologies in AI, machine learning, and smart industrial systems in mining applications.”

Both institutions will jointly undertake research, capacity-building programs, and technology pilots, with successful proofs-of-concept evaluated for scalable deployment. The collaboration marks a significant step toward strengthening cyber resilience and accelerating digital transformation in India’s mining sector.

A core innovation is the AI-based technology developed by RUSAL’s Engineering Department for efficient container control, which significantly reduces the time needed to dispatch containers from the terminal for loading with finished products.

This technology centres on creating a virtual twin of the terminal, where high-precision positioning systems and machine vision recognize and track containers. The system records the location and identification numbers of all containers awaiting loading with aluminium.

Prior to the launch of this project, containers were not systematically organized, and their locations were unrecorded, often delaying the finding of required containers and impacting terminal throughput. Locating and preparing a container for loading previously took an average of 30 minutes; the new technology drastically reduces this duration.

In parallel with its logistics innovations, the Russia-headquartered company with global operations, has deployed AI to significantly enhance its quality control processes.

The Company now utilizes artificial intelligence for the microstructure analysis of aluminium ingots. This proprietary technology offers a major time-saving advantage, reducing the required analysis time from several hours to just 15 minutes. This efficiency gain streamlines quality control procedures and minimizes the need for repetitive manual tasks.

RUSAL’s focus on digital logistics and advanced quality analysis showcases the crucial role digitalization plays in promoting the potential and practical applications of artificial intelligence within heavy industry.

By transforming complex, time-consuming processes into highly accurate and rapid digital tasks, RUSAL sets a new benchmark for operational excellence in aluminium production. 

Organised at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, the event served as a strategic platform for global leaders and academic experts, including senior leadership from Sommet Education HQ and the Executive Academic Dean of Les Roches, to collaborate and exchange ideas.

The esteemed gathering explored how luxury hospitality brands can upskill talent, meet evolving guest expectations, and strike the right balance between disruptive technologies like AI and the irreplaceable human touch.

“Luxury hospitality is witnessing the dawn of a new era. While AI can enhance efficiency and predictive personalization, the core essence of hospitality remains deeply human. Our role is to empower organizations with the right learning solutions so their teams can deliver lasting experiences while embracing sustainability and innovation through emotional and social intelligence,’’ said Ms. Daniela Cassini, Global Head of Business Solutions, Training and Talent Development.

Echoing her views and underlining the surging competition for Indian hospitality players, Ms. Natasha Mehta, Regional Head, Asia, Sommet Education Business Solutions, stated, “India’s hospitality sector faces increasing competition from global players. To gain a distinctive edge, brands must invest in talent development that combines technological fluency with cultural sensitivity. Upskilling is the key to fostering hospitality leaders who can not only navigate this dynamic landscape but also set new benchmarks of service excellence.’’

The Asian hospitality industry is recognised for cultural nuances and personalized experiences, and integrating technology without compromising emotional connection opens avenues for new opportunities. This evolution allows brands to enhance guest experiences via AI-driven personalization, adopt sustainable practices that resonate with global travelers, and create innovative service models.

The panel unanimously agreed that personalization and sustainability are no longer optional but are central to reputation management and creating memorable experiences.

“Quality education is the cornerstone for future-ready hospitality. By integrating AI, sustainability principles, and experiential learning into curricula, we nurture professionals who not only understand the technical aspects of emerging technologies but also embrace the cultural and emotional dimensions that define luxury hospitality,’’ said Dr. Ivana Nobilo, Global Executive Academic Dean, Les Roches.

Sommet Education remains committed to enabling global hospitality players to future-proof their workforce through meticulously designed learning solutions and strategic partnerships.

As technology and sustainability continue to shape the sector, the organization continues to facilitate this transition by ingraining the evolving requirements into its learning programs, ensuring organizations and talent remain competitive and knowledge-driven.

The partnership combines technical and clinical expertise to develop innovative healthcare solutions for the growing burden of liver diseases in India, focusing on early diagnosis, accurate detection, and precise monitoring to improve patient outcomes.

As per Government of India guidelines, Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), referred to as NAFLD in the report, is a growing cause of liver disease in India. Prevalence ranges from 9% to 32%, higher among those who are overweight, obese, or have diabetes. NFHS-4 (2015-2016) reports 18-20% of adults are overweight/obese and 3-8% have abnormal blood sugar. MASLD significantly increases cardiovascular risk, with heart disease being the leading cause of death.

Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director – Apollo Hospitals said, “At Apollo, we believe that the future of healthcare lies at the intersection of clinical excellence and cutting-edge technology anchored in patient centricity. Our collaboration with Siemens Healthineers is a transformative step in using AI to redefine non-invasive diagnostics for liver disease. Due to diagnostic challenges and the evolving understanding of the disease, the true prevalence of MASLD may be underestimated that poses a significant public health challenge, requiring increased awareness, early detection, and effective management strategies. AI-driven disease progression models shall play a pivotal role in early detection of fibrosis, allowing timely interventions, cost-effective screening, and improved patient outcomes. This model shall also facilitate precision population health strategies and clinical decision support across care settings. This partnership also reflects Apollo’s pioneering vision to embed intelligent systems across the clinical spectrum that predict faster, more accurate diagnoses and proactive patient management.”

“Liver disease is a growing health concern in India; it’s crucial to prioritize early diagnosis and prevention through advanced diagnostic tools, lifestyle changes, and increased awareness to reverse this trend. We believe that advanced technologies will aid timely and precise diagnosis, leading to better disease management and improving the quality of life for patients. Our joint effort will help address the unmet needs in liver disease diagnosis and treatment, and we look forward to a fruitful partnership”- said Hariharan Subramanian, Managing Director, Siemens Healthcare, Private Limited.

Following the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding, the Master Research Agreement (MRA) was formalized in March 2025, establishing a foundation for collaborative research in diagnostic and interventional ultrasound imaging. The signing ceremony for the MRA Addendum was held on July 23, 2025, in Hyderabad, marking a significant milestone in this partnership.