Author: Sai Krishna

Nexteer Expands Brazil Footprint with New Camaçari Facility Supporting BYD Production

CAMAÇARI, Brazil, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nexteer Automotive today announced the opening of its new assembly facility in Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil. The facility, which began production in early October 2026, expands the Company’s manufacturing footprint in South America and strengthens its presence across Brazil, complementing Nexteer’s main plant in Porto Alegre in the south and its Porto Real facility in Rio de Janeiro with this new Camaçari location in the northeast. The new facility supports BYD’s growing vehicle production operations in Brazil.

Located approximately 10 kilometers from BYD’s manufacturing operations in Camaçari, the new facility will assemble Column-Assist Electric Power Steering (CEPS) systems for vehicles produced in Brazil. The investment enhances supply chain responsiveness and operational efficiency while providing localized support for BYD’s vehicle production in the region.

“The opening of our Camaçari facility marks an important milestone in Nexteer’s continued commitment to supporting customers through localized manufacturing and supply,” said Jeferson Oliveira, Country Director – Brazil, Nexteer Automotive. “By locating this facility near BYD’s operations in Camaçari, we can enhance supply chain efficiency, improve responsiveness and strengthen collaboration while delivering the high-quality steering solutions our customers expect.”

The operation will perform final assembly and logistics activities while leveraging components and subassemblies produced through Nexteer’s global manufacturing network. This approach combines the advantages of local production with Nexteer’s worldwide engineering, manufacturing and quality expertise.

“Brazil is an important market for both vehicle production and Nexteer’s long-term growth strategy,” said Alberto Rodriguez, Vice President and EMEASA Divisional President, Nexteer Automotive. “This investment reflects our commitment to supporting customers through localized manufacturing while contributing to the continued development of Brazil’s automotive industry.”

“The development of a localized supplier network is an important component of vehicle production in Brazil,” said Zheng Qiong, Director of Purchasing, BYD Brazil. “Nexteer’s new operation in Camaçari will support our manufacturing activities in the region, and we appreciate their investment and collaboration.”

The Camaçari facility reflects Nexteer’s strategy of aligning its global manufacturing footprint with customer production needs while supporting regional supply chain localization.

ABOUT NEXTEER AUTOMOTIVE 

Nexteer Automotive (HK 1316) is a global leading motion control technology company accelerating mobility to be safe, green and exciting. Our innovative portfolio supports by-wire chassis control, including electric and hydraulic power steering systems, steer-by-wire and rear-wheel steering systems, steering columns and intermediate shafts, driveline systems, software solutions and brake-by-wire. The company solves motion control challenges across all megatrends – including electrification, software/connectivity, ADAS/automated driving and shared mobility – for global and domestic OEMs around the world including BMW, Ford, GM, RNM, Stellantis, Toyota and VW, as well as automakers in India and China including BYD, Xiaomi, ChangAn, Li Auto, Chery, Great Wall, Geely, Xpeng and others. www.nexteer.com 

Link to Nexteer Media Center

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Clarivate Demonstrates Global Demand For AI-native Web Of Science Research Intelligence

More than 100 institutions across 25 countries and regions are using the AI-native research intelligence platform.

LONDON, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CLVT), a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, today announced that more than 100 institutions across 25 countries and regions have adopted Web of Science Research Intelligence, highlighting growing global customer demand since the platform launched in May 2026.

Web of Science Research Intelligence is an AI-native research intelligence platform designed to support institutional decision-making across funding, strategy and impact. It combines trusted, curated Clarivate data with responsible academic AI to help research offices, researchers and library teams secure funding, strengthen collaboration, inform strategy and demonstrate real-world impact.

Bar Veinstein, President, Academia & Government, Clarivate, said: “This important milestone demonstrates that we are addressing an important and growing need across the global research community for trusted, AI-enabled tools that help universities and research organizations make more informed decisions around research funding, strategy and impact.”

Kathleen Smeaton, Director, Collections and Technology, Monash University, Australia said: “Our experience as a Development Partner gave us confidence in Web of Science Research Intelligence’s potential to support research strategy, benchmarking, expert discovery, and institutional performance analysis. Our transition from Development Partner to customer reflects both the strength of the partnership and our belief in the value Web of Science Research Intelligence can deliver to the university.”

Hitoshi Takahashi, Ph.D., University Research Administrator, Research Strategy and Promotion Division, Headquarters for Co-creative Future Sciences, Hiroshima University said: “Web of Science Research Intelligence brings together capabilities we previously had to use separately, making sophisticated analysis accessible to researchers and research support professionals, not just specialist users. The AI can turn a simple question into thoughtful analysis, delivered in natural language, helping us reach deeper insights faster.”

Web of Science Research Intelligence is built on publisher-neutral Web of Science Core Collection data, long recognized as the global standard for bibliometric analysis. It was developed in close partnership with the research community and, by launch, had been shaped by more than 50 development partners and early adopters across 20 countries.

Customer engagement continues to inform the evolution of the platform.

About Clarivate

Clarivate is a leading global provider of transformative intelligence. We offer enriched data, insights & analytics, workflow solutions and expert services in the areas of Academia & Government and Intellectual Property. For more information, please visit www.clarivate.com

Media contact:

Dr Laura Pritsch

Director, External Communications, Academia & Government

newsroom@clarivate.com 

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IIFL Capital’s Maiden Late-Stage Private Equity Fund Announces First Close at ~ ₹500 Crore

• IIFL Capital’s Late-Stage Private Equity Fund targets a final close in excess of ₹1,000 crore within nine months from First Close
• Two transactions have already been committed with a pipeline of seven to eight deals under evaluation

MUMBAI, India, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IIFL Capital Asset Management Limited, the Asset Management arm of IIFL Capital, today announced that the IIFL Late-Stage Private Equity Fund, the maiden fund of its private equity platform, achieved its first close on 15 September 2026 with aggregate capital commitments of ~ ₹500 crore. The Fund invests in scaled-up, profitable Indian enterprises that are preparing to list on the public markets in the near term.

The Fund is targeting a total corpus of ₹1,000 crore, with a greenshoe option of additional ₹1,000 crore. It will remain open for subscription after the first close and aims to reach its final close within the next nine months. A larger corpus allows the Fund to back high-quality companies operating on a scale, in line with its late-stage, pre-IPO strategy.

The Fund is also evaluating a robust pipeline of opportunities, ranging from term sheet negotiations to transactions under diligence. The pipeline is diversified across integrated security-as-a-service, railway and wind energy components, specialty chemicals, defence equipment, IT-enabled services, pre-engineered buildings and consumer technology.

The Fund follows a clear mandate focused on scaled businesses nearing a public listing. The fund looks at sectors that envisage growth rate of 15%-18% per annum. The investee company should be amongst the top three-five players in its category, should have an EBITDA of at least ₹75-100 crore at investment with the intention to pursue IPO within three years. The average deal size is expected to be ₹50-100 crore per transaction.

Commenting on the milestone, Mr. Deepak Mittal, Chief Investment Officer and Head – Private Equity, IIFL Capital Asset Management Limited, said: “The first close marks the point at which this Fund moves from being a proposition to being a portfolio. We are grateful to our investors for their confidence in a volatile global environment. With two high-quality transactions already committed and a live pipeline of seven to eight opportunities, we believe IIFL’s capabilities give us a distinct advantage in backing scaled enterprises on their journey to the public markets.”

The first close comes in the backdrop of India’s primary market revival. After a subdued April-June quarter, July and August 2026 together saw 35 mainboard IPOs, and foreign portfolio investors returned as net buyers, including through IPOs. Real GDP grew 7.8% in Q1 FY27, with gross fixed capital formation up 11.9%, supporting the sectors the Fund is targeting.

About IIFL Capital Asset Management Limited

IIFL Capital Asset Management Limited (formerly IIFL Securities Alternate Asset Management Limited) is the Investment Manager for Alternative Investment Funds sponsored by IIFL Capital Services Limited. It is registered with SEBI as an Alternative Investment Fund manager (IN/AIF3/19-20/0770, IN/AIF2/21-22/088), Investment Adviser (INA000019956) and Portfolio Manager (INP000009445). Registered office: Ground Floor 01, Hubtown Solaris, Saiwadi, N S Phadke Road, Andheri East, Mumbai 400069. Website: assetmanagement.iiflcapital.com

About IIFL Capital Services Ltd

IIFL Capital Services Ltd (formerly known as IIFL Securities Limited) (NSE: IIFLCAPS) (BSE: 542773) is one of the key capital market players in the Indian financial services space. IIFL Capital offers broking services, wealth management, financial products distribution, institutional broking, research and investment banking services.

Disclaimer: This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any units of the IIFL Late-Stage Private Equity Fund or any securities. Investments in alternative investment funds are subject to market and other risks, including loss of capital. Investors should read the Private Placement Memorandum, including the risk factors, before investing. Registration granted by SEBI, enlistment with BSE, and certification from NISM in no way guarantee performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors. Past performance of securities/instruments is not indicative of their future performance.

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Hoymiles Introduces MiS 6-in-1 Microinverter in India at REI Expo 2026 Along with Complete Solar and Storage Solutions

GREATER NOIDA, India, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hoymiles, a global leader in module-level power electronics and energy storage, has introduced its MiS 6-in-1 microinverter (MIS-3680-W) to the Indian market, alongside solutions spanning residential, commercial and industrial (C&I), and utility-scale applications at the REI expo. Hoymiles has demonstrated how its technologies support diverse energy needs, from rooftop solar generation to large-scale storage. Hoymiles Founder and CEO Dr. Yang Bo and Vice President Mr. Guy Rong attended the event, underscoring the company’s long-term commitment to India.

MiS 6-in-1 Microinverter: Smarter, More Flexible Solar for Indian Homes

Designed for Indian rooftops, the MIS-3680-W connects up to six PV modules to a single microinverter, offering flexible configurations and efficient power generation.

With two MPPTs, it supports unbalanced layouts of zero to three modules per input and up to 2,200 W conversion power per channel. Its industry-first dynamic power adjustment technology can shift power utilization between inputs in over-paneling scenarios, capturing more available solar energy when one string is shaded.

Built for demanding outdoor conditions, the microinverter features IP67 protection, dual-sided heat dissipation and a wide 160–295 V AC operating range to help maintain performance amid voltage fluctuations. Through the S-Miles Cloud platform, installers can remotely monitor systems and diagnose faults, reducing unnecessary site visits.

Installation is simplified by the Flex-S3 cable and dual Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. For multi-unit systems, Wi-Fi Mesh technology enables one-touch network configuration and synchronized settings, delivering 70% faster commissioning. The product also comes with a 12-year standard warranty and support from an India-based technical team.

Complete Solutions for Every Scale of Energy

Along with the MiS 6-in-1 microinverter, Hoymiles also presented its five energy solutions: residential solar and storage systems, plug-in storage with AI-powered energy management, liquid-cooled C&I solutions, utility-scale solar and storage, and high-efficiency power conversion systems (PCS) designed for demanding grid conditions.

A Long-Term Partner in India’s Energy Transition

Through partnerships with regional distributors and an expanding sales and service network, Hoymiles continues to strengthen its presence across India. By combining reliable technology, flexible solar generation and integrated storage solutions, the company aims to help customers make better use of clean energy.

As India accelerates its renewable energy transition, Hoymiles remains committed to working with local partners and customers to make energy more accessible, reliable and efficient for all.

MIS-3680-W microinverter

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Supermicro Introduces the NVIDIA Vera CPU Rack, a 256 CPU, 100% Liquid-Cooled Rack-Scale Solution, Complementing the NVIDIA Vera Rubin Platform, for Agentic AI at Scale

• Delivers dedicated 256 NVIDIA Vera CPU capacity for agent sandboxes, complementing NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 with common DCBBS infrastructure with third-generation NVIDIA MGX racks and battery backup units
• Integrates NVIDIA Vera CPUs and BlueField™-4 DPUs with the NVIDIA Open Agent Safety Platform and OpenShell Reference Architecture for secure, high-density agentic AI orchestration and continuous monitoring and policy enforcement
• Leverages Supermicro DCBBS to deliver a complete, integrated data center solution—from liquid-cooled rack architecture and power infrastructure to networking, cooling, and deployment services—enabling customers to build and scale full AI factories for agentic workloads

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Super Micro Computer, Inc (NASDAQ: SMCI), an AI, Enterprise, Storage, and 5G/Edge Total IT Solution Provider featuring Data Center Building Block Solutions® (DCBBS), today announced the NVIDIA Vera CPU rack as the latest addition to the DCBBS portfolio. The NVIDIA Vera CPU rack delivers dense CPU capacity for agentic AI, reinforcement learning (RL) workloads, and data processing, supporting 22.5K sandboxes at liquid-cooled AI factory scale. Complementary to the now shipping Supermicro NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72, the 100% liquid-cooled CPU rack can be used either standalone or alongside NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 in AI factories, providing clusters with high-density CPU compute, designed to address the rapidly escalating requirements of agentic AI.

“As agentic AI transforms data center requirements, Supermicro is extending its DCBBS portfolio with fully integrated infrastructure,” said Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro. “For customers seeking air-cooled deployments, Supermicro’s NVIDIA Vera CPU portfolio includes air-cooled 1U and 2U systems, in addition to rack-scale liquid cooling options. Together with NVIDIA, we help accelerate time to deployment with a common purpose-built architecture for secure, scalable agentic AI.”

To watch a video summary of this release, click here, and for the latest information on Supermicro solutions featuring NVIDIA Vera Rubin, click here.

“As enterprises scale agentic AI and reinforcement learning, supporting thousands of concurrent agent workflows requires a new class of high-density CPU infrastructure,” said Chris Marriott, vice president of enterprise platforms at NVIDIA. “NVIDIA Vera CPUs and BlueField-4 DPUs, integrated with Supermicro’s liquid-cooled DCBBS architecture, give customers the dedicated compute and hardware-based security to scale the execution of agentic workloads across their AI factories.”

Built to power the age of Agentic AI

Agentic AI and RL workloads represent an evolution from linear inference chains to branched, and often looped, execution with many more intermediate steps that depend on CPU availability and performance. GPUs remain the primary engine for generating tokens, code, and queries, while CPU-based sandbox environments execute actions, evaluate results, run tools, and orchestrate workflows. At the scale of modern AI factories, with hundreds or thousands of deployed GPUs, dedicated CPU compute is needed to host thousands or millions of parallel execution environments for agents.

The NVIDIA Vera CPU rack from Supermicro integrates 256 NVIDIA Vera CPUs, delivering 22,528 cores and 45,056 threads and supporting up to 22,500 concurrent agent sandboxes per rack. NVIDIA BlueField-4 DPUs provide high-performance networking and in-silicon security, and Supermicro’s DLC-2 direct liquid cooling stack enables a 100% liquid-cooled rack built for these workloads.

Common Infrastructure with Third-Generation MGX Racks and Battery Backup Units

The Vera CPU rack uses the third-generation NVIDIA MGX design, part of the DLC-2 stack, creating a common infrastructure architecture with Vera Rubin NVL72 that supports standardized deployment. NVIDIA MGX is a modular reference architecture for accelerated computing, helping system builders design future-compatible systems faster, reducing costs, accelerating time to market, and improving ROI. To power the compute racks, customers can choose either a traditional AC feed to compute rack or an 800 VDC sidecar power rack, which enables the use of battery backup units (BBU) in place of a conventional UPS for power loss protection. This approach helps free data center floor space, can improve end-to-end power conversion efficiency, and lowers CapEx and OpEx.

Prioritizing Secure Agentic AI with OpenShell Reference Architecture

The NVIDIA Vera CPU rack from Supermicro natively supports NVIDIA OpenShell Reference Architecture to continuously monitor and govern agent behavior, extending Supermicro’s support for secure AI agents. NVIDIA OpenShell runs on NVIDIA Vera CPUs to apply least-privilege, policy-based controls to agents at runtime, while NVIDIA Sentry runs on NVIDIA BlueField-4 DPUs as an out-of-band monitor that enforces policy, provides attested telemetry, and can quarantine an agent that moves outside its permitted boundaries in milliseconds. Together, these software solutions can help companies retain observability and auditability in production agentic systems without consuming host CPU resources.

An Optional Companion to Vera Rubin NVL72

The Vera CPU rack is designed to work alongside Vera Rubin NVL72 and is equally suited to standalone deployment. For customers building on the Supermicro DCBBS Blueprints for NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72, Supermicro offers an optional design that pairs Vera Rubin NVL72 racks with Vera CPU racks, with a defined network topology built on NVIDIA Spectrum-X™ Ethernet, hot-aisle containment layouts, and redundant in-row coolant distribution units (CDUs) and rear door heat exchangers from the DLC-2 stack. A single Supermicro team supports site survey, design, L11 and L12 integration and testing, on-site deployment, and ongoing support, whether the Vera CPU rack is deployed with Vera Rubin NVL72 or on its own.

Flexible Deployment Beyond NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72

The Vera CPU rack also operates as a standalone CPU platform. Standalone deployments can accelerate agent orchestration and sandboxing, database operations, cluster management, and schedulers such as Slurm and Kubernetes, data analytics, and large-scale software build pipelines.

Availability

The Supermicro NVIDIA Vera CPU rack is available to quote now. Learn more about Supermicro’s NVIDIA Vera CPU rack, and other solutions in the NVIDIA Vera Rubin platform here.

About Super Micro Computer, Inc.

Supermicro (NASDAQ: SMCI) is a global leader in Application-Optimized Total IT Solutions. Founded and operating in San Jose, California, Supermicro is committed to delivering first-to-market innovation for Enterprise, Cloud, AI, and 5G Telco/Edge IT Infrastructure. We are a Total IT Solutions provider with server, AI, storage, IoT, switch systems, software, and support services. Supermicro’s motherboard, power, and chassis design expertise further enables our development and production, enabling next-generation innovation from cloud to edge for our global customers. Our products are designed and manufactured in-house (in the US, Taiwan, and the Netherlands), leveraging global operations for scale and efficiency and optimized to improve TCO and reduce environmental impact (Green Computing). The award-winning portfolio of Server Building Block Solutions® allows customers to optimize for their exact workload and application by selecting from a broad family of systems built from our flexible and reusable building blocks that support a comprehensive set of form factors, processors, memory, GPUs, storage, networking, power, and cooling solutions (air-conditioned, free air cooling or liquid cooling).

Supermicro, Server Building Block Solutions, and We Keep IT Green are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Super Micro Computer, Inc.

All other brands, names, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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CGTN launches News Pal, an AI-powered news companion

BEIJING, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CGTN has launched News Pal, an AI-powered news companion that aggregates and summarizes coverage about China and the world with speed and clarity.

The web-based service, which went live on October, turns real-time reporting from a range of media outlets into concise, insightful briefings, giving readers a clearer, more focused view of current events.

Its summarization feature draws on multiple reports – sometimes dozens – on the same topic, distilling the key points and cutting out repetition to create a clear and thorough digest. This helps users quickly get up to speed on a developing story while also seeing how it’s covered from different perspectives.

News Pal’s chat feature, meanwhile, lets people ask follow-up questions. The system searches available articles, identifies relevant reports and grounds its answers in that content rather than relying solely on a large language model’s internal knowledge. Users can also follow links to the original reports to verify the details.

CGTN has been expanding its use of AI to enhance its news services, from script translation and audio news generation to personalized recommendations and daily briefings. News Pal marks a new step in its use of AI to help audiences worldwide become better informed more easily.

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IIFL Capital’s Maiden Late-Stage Private Equity Fund Announces First Close at ~ ₹500 Crore

• IIFL Capital’s Late-Stage Private Equity Fund targets a final close in excess of ₹1,000 crore within nine months from First Close
• Two transactions have already been committed with a pipeline of seven to eight deals under evaluation

MUMBAI, India, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IIFL Capital Asset Management Limited, the Asset Management arm of IIFL Capital, today announced that the IIFL Late-Stage Private Equity Fund, the maiden fund of its private equity platform, achieved its first close on 15 September 2026 with aggregate capital commitments of ~ ₹500 crore. The Fund invests in scaled-up, profitable Indian enterprises that are preparing to list on the public markets in the near term.

The Fund is targeting a total corpus of ₹1,000 crore, with a greenshoe option of additional ₹1,000 crore. It will remain open for subscription after the first close and aims to reach its final close within the next nine months. A larger corpus allows the Fund to back high-quality companies operating on a scale, in line with its late-stage, pre-IPO strategy.

The Fund is also evaluating a robust pipeline of opportunities, ranging from term sheet negotiations to transactions under diligence. The pipeline is diversified across integrated security-as-a-service, railway and wind energy components, specialty chemicals, defence equipment, IT-enabled services, pre-engineered buildings and consumer technology.

The Fund follows a clear mandate focused on scaled businesses nearing a public listing. The fund looks at sectors that envisage growth rate of 15%-18% per annum. The investee company should be amongst the top three-five players in its category, should have an EBITDA of at least ₹75-100 crore at investment with the intention to pursue IPO within three years. The average deal size is expected to be ₹50-100 crore per transaction.

Commenting on the milestone, Mr. Deepak Mittal, Chief Investment Officer and Head – Private Equity, IIFL Capital Asset Management Limited, said: “The first close marks the point at which this Fund moves from being a proposition to being a portfolio. We are grateful to our investors for their confidence in a volatile global environment. With two high-quality transactions already committed and a live pipeline of seven to eight opportunities, we believe IIFL’s capabilities give us a distinct advantage in backing scaled enterprises on their journey to the public markets.”

The first close comes in the backdrop of India’s primary market revival. After a subdued April-June quarter, July and August 2026 together saw 35 mainboard IPOs, and foreign portfolio investors returned as net buyers, including through IPOs. Real GDP grew 7.8% in Q1 FY27, with gross fixed capital formation up 11.9%, supporting the sectors the Fund is targeting.

About IIFL Capital Asset Management Limited

IIFL Capital Asset Management Limited (formerly IIFL Securities Alternate Asset Management Limited) is the Investment Manager for Alternative Investment Funds sponsored by IIFL Capital Services Limited. It is registered with SEBI as an Alternative Investment Fund manager (IN/AIF3/19-20/0770, IN/AIF2/21-22/088), Investment Adviser (INA000019956) and Portfolio Manager (INP000009445). Registered office: Ground Floor 01, Hubtown Solaris, Saiwadi, N S Phadke Road, Andheri East, Mumbai 400069. Website: assetmanagement.iiflcapital.com

About IIFL Capital Services Ltd

IIFL Capital Services Ltd (formerly known as IIFL Securities Limited) (NSE: IIFLCAPS) (BSE: 542773) is one of the key capital market players in the Indian financial services space. IIFL Capital offers broking services, wealth management, financial products distribution, institutional broking, research and investment banking services.

Disclaimer: This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any units of the IIFL Late-Stage Private Equity Fund or any securities. Investments in alternative investment funds are subject to market and other risks, including loss of capital. Investors should read the Private Placement Memorandum, including the risk factors, before investing. Registration granted by SEBI, enlistment with BSE, and certification from NISM in no way guarantee performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors. Past performance of securities/instruments is not indicative of their future performance.

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Voqalize Says Voice Is Becoming the Default Way People Use Software

Voqalize is infrastructure for making software conversational. Existing applications, websites and AI agents can add a voice interface that listens, sees context, responds and acts, without being rebuilt.

BENGALURU, India, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Voqalize today said it gives existing applications, websites and AI agents a voice interface that can listen, see context, respond and act, without rebuilding the application. The company says teams can have it running in about an hour, either through Plug & Play, where Voqalize manages the AI agent and the voice experience, or through a developer integration into their own backend.

Imagine telling a clothing app: “I’ve got an outdoor wedding in Napa on the 20th. I need something under two hundred that goes with the shoes I bought in the spring.” The app pulls those shoes from your order history and lays out six options beside them. “Not the floral. Show me the second one in the navy.” It swaps the color and puts the shoes next to it. Then it adds: “You sent back a medium from this brand last time, so I picked the large. It arrives on the 17th.” You look it over and tap buy. That is the shift Voqalize is building for: voice not as input, but as an interface to software.

Fast facts

• Apple’s iOS 27, released in September, lets Siri read what’s on a user’s screen and take actions inside apps
• Google reports that roughly one in five Gemini Live conversations now add a camera or screen share, with voice used in 63% of interactions across Gemini’s 1 billion-plus monthly users
• A Censuswide survey of 700 business leaders and consumers for Voices, published Jan. 28, 2026, found that 55% of consumers say voice is their primary AI interface, while only 29% of companies have deployed customer-facing voice AI

Dictation Proved People Will Talk to Their Software

Dictation and notetaking apps are among the fastest-growing categories in consumer AI. Wispr, valued at $2 billion, and Granola, valued at $1.5 billion, have both built large user bases on a simple premise: people would rather talk than type, once the transcription is good enough. Wispr says the habit sticks. After six months, its average user writes 72% of their characters by voice.

The category is already moving past that original pitch. Wispr raised its most recent round on a case for going “beyond dictation.” Granola is expanding from a meeting notetaker into what it describes as a context layer for company AI. Superhuman acquired the notetaker Fathom in September. Talking to software stopped being the hard part. What people do with that voice next, and how directly it’s built into the products they already use, is where the category is headed.

“The next billion people coming online won’t type their way onto the internet. They’ll talk their way on, in whatever mix of languages they speak at home.” Sripathi Krishnan, Co-founder, Voqalize

Voice Is Moving From Typing Substitute to Default Interface

Voqalize’s argument is that voice is moving from a typing substitute into the default way people use an app: a running conversation, not a single dictated sentence, where the app listens, responds and can act on what’s on screen, with the interruptions and mid-task changes of direction that come with a real conversation. That mirrors a broader shift already underway on the phone line, where most current “voice AI” is still built around short, scripted calls that book an appointment or qualify a lead and then hang up. Apple’s iOS 27 and Google’s Gemini Live both point at the same shift: voice agents that can see a screen and act on it rather than just transcribe speech.

How Do You Add a Voice Interface to an Existing App?

An existing application or device connects through Voqalize rather than being rebuilt inside a new platform: Voqalize supplies the two-way voice channel and the ability to read and act on whatever is on screen. Businesses choose how much to hand over. With Plug & Play, Voqalize manages the AI agent and the voice experience. With a developer integration, businesses add Voqalize’s voice capabilities to their own backend while keeping control of their AI agent and workflows.

In some deployments, that voice is paired with a face on screen as well, so the person on the other end has something to talk to, not just a voice in the room. Sripathi Krishnan, the company’s co-founder, has argued that the harder part of that conversation may not be how fluently the agent talks, but how well it listens and knows when to stay quiet. Voqalize also works across Indic languages, because conversations in India often move between languages mid-sentence. A majority of Indian internet users already engage with content in Indic languages. Voice also makes software accessible across languages and across literacy and input constraints.

Building Toward Plug-and-Play Voice, Across Apps and Devices

Today, adding Voqalize to a product means connecting an existing application or device through a single interface, without rebuilding it inside a new platform. Voqalize says its near-term work is on extending that same one-connection model further, so that adding two-way voice to a new app, or to a device beyond the phone and the browser, becomes a plug-and-play step rather than a custom integration. That direction follows a broader move already visible in the industry: voice infrastructure is consolidating around shared frameworks instead of one-off builds, and AI tools are increasingly connecting to each other through standard connectors rather than custom code written for each pairing. Voqalize says it intends to be the layer that makes that same simplicity available for voice specifically, across whatever app or device a company is already building for.

“Soon people will judge an app by how well it understands them, the way you judge a shop by whether the person behind the counter gets what you mean.” Samkeet Jain, Co-founder, Voqalize

Voqalize is available today for teams adding a two-way voice interface to an existing product or AI agent. Early deployments include in-app assistants for mortgage servicing workflows, legal clause review, and authenticated banking support. Voqalize was also named one of the 30 products in YourStory’s Vibecode30 2026, a showcase of emerging AI-native builders in India.

About Voqalize Voqalize is a voice AI platform that makes it easy for businesses to add two-way voice conversations to their applications and AI agents across 60+ Global and Indic languages. With Plug & Play, Voqalize manages the AI agent and voice experience for you. With our developer integration, businesses can add Voqalize’s voice capabilities to their own backend while keeping control of their AI agent and workflows. Go ahead and build your next voice-enabled applications with us on voqalize.com.

Media Contact: Samkeet Jain / +91 8147514179 / Samkeet@voqalize.com 

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EC-Council Expands Technology Risk Capabilities Through Acquisition of Cyber Insurance Academy

The strategic acquisition brings together cybersecurity, AI and insurance expertise, extending EC-Council’s people, process and technology capabilities into the insurance industry.

Acquisition at a Glance

• EC-Council has acquired Cyber Insurance Academy, the credentialing body for the cyber and AI insurance industries.
• Cyber Insurance Academy will continue under its existing brand and leadership as an EC-Council Company.
• The acquisition extends EC-Council’s people, process and technology capabilities into the insurance industry.
• Cyber Insurance Academy will expand beyond cyber insurance into AI risk, emerging technology risk and role-based technology education.
• The flagship Certified Cyber Insurance Specialist designation has been updated as CCIS v2, with new coverage of AI-driven threats, AI governance and AI-related insurance exposures.
• Cyber Insurance Academy’s programs are accredited by CII, ANZIIF, RIBO and NIBA and are continuing education approved in more than 45 U.S. states.

HYDERABAD, India, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EC-Council, creator of the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) credential and a global leader advancing Cybersecurity and Responsible AI through its Adopt. Defend. Govern. (ADG) Framework, today announced the acquisition of Cyber Insurance Academy, the credentialing body for the cyber and AI insurance industries.

The acquisition expands EC-Council’s capabilities into insurance at a time when technology is becoming increasingly embedded in the risks insurers assess, price and manage. Cyber Insurance Academy will continue to operate under its existing brand and leadership as an EC-Council Company, while expanding its portfolio beyond cyber insurance into AI risk, emerging technology risk and practical technology education for the broader insurance community.

For EC-Council, the acquisition supports its broader approach to Cybersecurity and Responsible AI, which brings together people, process and technology to help organizations build capability, manage risk and govern emerging technologies. Cyber Insurance Academy extends that approach into insurance by strengthening the knowledge and capabilities of the professionals responsible for understanding and transferring technology risk.

The acquisition also responds to a gap EC-Council has seen across the industry. The professionals responsible for assessing, pricing, placing, and managing cyber and AI risk, from underwriters and brokers to risk managers and claims professionals, rarely come from a technology background, while those with deep technical expertise seldom work in the language of insurance. Rather than entering insurance from the outside, EC-Council chose to join an organization already closing that gap from within the industry.

“Technology is now embedded across almost every dimension of enterprise risk, and managing that risk requires more than technical controls alone. It requires skilled people, accountable processes and the ability to understand how technology changes exposure,” said Jay Bavisi, Founder & Group CEO, EC-Council. “Cyber Insurance Academy brings deep insurance expertise to that equation. Together, we can help build the technology fluency the insurance industry increasingly needs as cyber, AI and emerging technologies reshape the risk landscape.”

Technology is already changing how insurers approach underwriting, claims, governance and risk management. AI is introducing new questions around accountability, liability and exposure, while autonomous systems, connected technologies and next-generation computing are creating increasingly complex forms of risk.

Cyber Insurance Academy has built its expertise at this intersection of technology and insurance. Its programs are designed for brokers, underwriters, claims professionals and risk managers and are accredited by CII, ANZIIF, RIBO and NIBA, with continuing education approval in more than 45 U.S. states.

The Academy’s programs are developed by people who understand both the technology and the business of insurance, giving professionals the confidence to make sound decisions on technology risk and become true risk experts without needing to become technical experts.

Under EC-Council, cyber insurance will remain the Academy’s core focus while its capabilities expand into three areas: AI risk, emerging technology risk and role-based technology education for insurance professionals.

The expanded portfolio will include education on how AI changes exposures, underwriting, claims and governance across insurance portfolios; emerging risks associated with technologies such as autonomous systems and quantum computing; and practical learning designed to help non-technical professionals understand the technologies behind the risks they place, price and manage.

The aim is not to chase every new technology trend, but to keep the insurance industry a step ahead of the risks it is increasingly being asked to cover.

“Every insurance professional is now a technology risk professional, whether they realize it or not,” said Guy Simkin, Co-Founder and CEO, Cyber Insurance Academy. “Cyber is where we started, not where we stop. With EC-Council, we can take what we have built for cyber insurance to the wider industry, beginning with AI and the emerging risks that will increasingly shape insurance.”

“The technologies influencing insurance risk are evolving rapidly, and the industry needs education that evolves with them,” said Asaf Armoni, Co-Founder, CTO and COO, Cyber Insurance Academy. “EC-Council brings the technical depth and scale that allow us to expand our capabilities while staying focused on what insurance professionals need to make informed decisions.”

The acquisition also provides Cyber Insurance Academy access to EC-Council’s technical expertise, global network and cybersecurity and AI capabilities, while EC-Council gains a dedicated insurance education business with established industry relationships and credentialing expertise.

For learners, this means course material shaped by specialists who study emerging threats first-hand, and a broader catalogue developed faster, as technical content no longer needs to be sourced externally.

As part of this expansion, Cyber Insurance Academy has rebuilt its flagship Certified Cyber Insurance Specialist (CCIS) designation for the AI era. CCIS v2 includes new coverage of AI-driven threats, AI governance and the exposures AI creates across insurance portfolios.

The Academy will deliver its expanded portfolio through self-paced learning, role-based certifications, professional designations and enterprise programs for carriers, brokers and managing general agents seeking to strengthen technology capabilities across their teams.

Cyber Insurance Academy will continue under the leadership of Guy Simkin, Co-Founder and CEO, and Asaf Armoni, Co-Founder, CTO and COO. Its brand, leadership and cyber insurance foundation will remain unchanged, supported by EC-Council’s broader technical and global capabilities.

About Cyber Insurance Academy

The Delaware company, Cyber Insurance Academy, is the credentialing body for the cyber and AI insurance industries is the credentialing body for the cyber and AI insurance industries. Built by the industry, for the industry, it trains brokers, underwriters, claims professionals and risk managers through its flagship Certified Cyber Insurance Specialist (CCIS) designation and is expanding its offering to deliver technology education on AI and emerging risks to the broader insurance community.

Its programs are accredited by CII, ANZIIF, RIBO and NIBA and are continuing education approved in more than 45 U.S. states. Cyber Insurance Academy is an EC-Council Company.

For more information, visit: https://www.cyberinsuranceacademy.com/

About EC-Council 

Founded in 2001, EC-Council is a global cybersecurity and AI organization focused on building the skills, capabilities and systems required for a more secure digital future. 

EC-Council created the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) program and has certified more than 400,000 professionals across 174 countries. Its programs and credentials are used across government, defense, enterprise, and academia worldwide.  

As an ISO/IEC 17024 accredited certification body, EC-Council’s credentials are recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense under DoD Directive 8140 and are held by professionals across the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and leading global organizations. 

As cybersecurity and AI converge, EC-Council is advancing Responsible AI through its proprietary Adopt. Defend. Govern. (ADG) Framework, bringing together people, process and technology to help organizations adopt AI responsibly, defend digital environments and govern emerging technologies with greater accountability. 

The EC-Council ecosystem includes EC-Council, EC-Council University (ECCU), CodeRed, EC-Council Global Services (EGS), EC-Council Academia, and Aware.  

CONTACT: press@eccouncil.org 

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Blokees Exhibits 900+ Products at 2026 China Toy Expo, Continuing to Advance Product Competitiveness

SHANGHAI, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From October 21 to 23, Assembly Character Toys Brand Blokees exhibited more than 900 products at the 2026 China Toy Expo, spanning its two core categories, Blokees Model Kits and BLOKEES WHEELS, and highlighting its expanding product portfolio driven by continuous innovation.

For hero collectors, Blokees exhibited nearly 40 products across HERO5, HERO8, HERO10 and other series, covering global IPs including Ultraman, Kamen Rider, Transformers and Mega Man, as well as original IP Hero Infinity. More than 30 products made their debut, including Mega Man HERO10 Series 1, marking the IP’s first commercialization within the HERO10 series.

For model kit collectors, Blokees exhibited nearly 50 products from Champion, Champion Lite, Fantastic and Legend, covering 13 global IPs including Transformers, Saint Seiya, Naruto, Hatsune Miku and Pokémon, as well as Hero Infinity. Nearly 10 new products made their debut.

Blokees also exhibited DaaLaMode, integrating articulation and outfit customization, and TERRAVENTURE, an animal-themed series based on Jurassic World. Four TERRAVENTURE products made their debut, further expanding the portfolio.

BLOKEES WHEELS featured its C, E and S series, combining assembly, play, collecting and customization. Transformers C05 and CT04 made their debut in full-color prototypes, following their previous appearance as gray prototypes at Wonder Festival and demonstrating their evolution from design concepts to final product forms.

Blokees continues to strengthen its innovation capabilities through R&D. As of June 30, 2026, the company held 559 granted domestic patents, 25 granted overseas patents and 85 domestic invention patents.

Through BFC (Blokees Family Creator), Blokees extends product experiences into creation and sharing. The fourth BFC Creation Contest in 2026 has reached 22 countries and regions, with selected creator works exhibited at the expo.

Guided by “Universally appealing, Stepwise pricing, Globally promoting,” Blokees will continue combining innovative R&D with global IPs to deliver richer products and experiences for players worldwide.

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