IIT Madras and ISRO Develop Indigenous Space Chip

IIT Madras and ISRO have jointly created the IRIS chip, an indigenous semiconductor for space and computing applications. Built on the Shakti processor, manufactured in India, it enhances ISRO’s mission efficiency and supports the ‘Make in India’ initiative, reducing reliance on foreign technology.

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Zomato Launches AI Support Platform ‘Nugget’

Zomato introduces ‘Nugget’, an AI-driven customer support tool developed by Zomato Labs. Handling 15 million interactions monthly, it automates 80% of queries, offering businesses worldwide customizable, low-cost support without needing developers. The platform is now available globally, with free access for founders stuck with legacy providers.

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OpenAI Shifts Towards Greater Intellectual Freedom

OpenAI has updated its AI training policy to embrace intellectual freedom, aiming to offer multiple perspectives on controversial topics. This move might be influenced by the new Trump administration and reflects a broader Silicon Valley trend towards less content moderation, focusing on neutrality and free speech in AI responses.

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BlueSkyHunter Launches, Offering Growth and Analytics Tools for Bluesky Users

BlueSkyHunter, launched by Borut Udovic, offers a comprehensive toolset for managing Bluesky presence with analytics, scheduling, and DM automation. It features a dashboard for tracking growth, engagement, and trends. Priced at $15/month with a 14-day trial, it aims to empower creators and businesses on the platform with 31.5 million users.

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Hotstar and JioCinema Merge to Form JioHotstar

Hotstar and JioCinema have merged into JioHotstar, combining content from Disney, Warner Bros, among others. The new platform targets over 500 million users with content in 19 languages. The merger, following Reliance and Disney’s venture, consolidates India’s streaming market, offering various subscription plans and sports rights.

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Sachin Bansal Steps Down from CEO Role at Navi, Will Serve as Executive Chairman

Sachin Bansal resigns as CEO of Navi Technologies and Navi Finserv, appointing Rajiv Naresh and Abhishek Dwivedi as CEOs respectively. Bansal will serve as Executive Chairman. The move follows RBI’s temporary lending halt, aimed at focusing on long-term growth. Both new CEOs were part of Navi’s founding team.

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TikTok Restored on US App Stores

TikTok, CapCut, and Lemon8 are back on U.S. app stores after a ban delay. President Trump extended ByteDance’s deadline to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations, suggesting a U.S. ownership stake as an alternative. This follows legal actions and national security concerns over ByteDance’s Chinese origins.

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IIT to Innovative Agriculture: Khetar’s Rainger Dehydrator Revolutionizes Farming

Monika Tiwari, from a farming background in Madhya Pradesh, founded Khetar in 2022 after studying at IIT Bombay. Her company introduced Rainger, a hybrid solar dehydrator to combat post-harvest losses. Khetar uses a pay-per-use model, charging Rs 6.45 per kg for processing, aimed at reducing agricultural waste while generating additional income through byproducts like aromatic water. The firm has plans to scale up, targeting Rs 4 crore by FY26, and sees S4S Technologies and Raheja Solar Food Processing as competitors.

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Apple Explores Robotics: From Humanoids to Pixar Lamps

Apple is exploring robotics, investigating humanoid and non-humanoid designs, with an emphasis on user interaction over appearance. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo views this as early-stage work, with mass production not expected before 2028. Apple’s research includes non-anthropomorphic robots like a Pixar lamp, targeting smart home applications, amidst industry challenges in hiring and tech.

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