Category Archives: Technology

slice UPI credit card:  India’s best UPI credit card for everyday payments

Bengaluru, Dec 09:  slice recently launched its UPI credit card; a card designed for everyday payments. As UPI has become the country’s default mode for digital payments, integrating credit directly into this ecosystem was essential to provide people with greater access, convenience, and flexibility in their everyday spending. It combines the familiarity and convenience of UPI with the benefits of credit, giving users a way to earn rewards, manage liquidity, and access short-term credit.

Why slice introduced it:

Most credit cards in India are optimized for infrequent, high value spends, whereas the average user’s daily transactions happen on UPI. slice introduced the slice UPI credit card to bridge this gap, so that everyday payments, whether small or recurring, also come with the option of credit and rewards. The idea is to enable users to continue paying the way they already do on UPI, but with the added benefit of cashback while maintaining a balance in their savings account.

How it helps customers:

• Users can earn up to 3% cashback on UPI payments with no transaction limits. People can earn rewards even on a Rs.50 payment.
• Because payments are made using credit instead of a savings balance, customers can maintain liquidity and continue earning interest on their deposits.
• For bigger purchases, any transaction above ₹2,000 can be instantly converted into three interest-free EMIs through the slice app. This feature is available on 40 million merchant outlets.
• The card has no annual fees and avoids hidden or complex charges.

Palo Alto Networks Predicts Autonomous AI Agents to Bridge Cyber Skills Gap in 2026

Palo Alto Networks 2026 Predictions: Autonomous AI Agents To Close Cyber Skills Gap

Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), the global cybersecurity leader, today released “6 Predictions for the AI Economy: 2026’s New Rules of Cybersecurity,” forecasting a transformative leap to the AI economy. This new AI-native global economic model, where AI drives productivity and operations, also introduces a seismic shift in risk. In 2026, autonomous AI agents will fundamentally redefine enterprise operations, setting the stage for major changes in identity, the security operations center (SOC), quantum computing, data security and the browser.

Palo Alto Networks forecasted 2025 as the Year of Disruption based on the rise in mega breaches that take entire enterprise networks offline — driven by supply chain vulnerabilities and attackers reaching new levels of speed and sophistication. This has since been proven true, as 84% of the major cyber incidents that Unit 42^® investigated this year have resulted in operational downtime, reputational damage or financial loss. In 2026, we will enter into the Year of the Defender, where AI-driven defenses tip the scale in the defense’s favor, driving down response times, reducing complexity and increasing visibility to quickly respond to cyberattacks. These themes also mirror India’s experience, where hybrid work and rapid GenAI adoption continue to expand the attack surface for both enterprises and critical infrastructure.

While AI adoption is rapidly redefining cybersecurity risk, it also creates the ultimate opportunity for defenders. As attackers utilize AI to scale and accelerate threats across a hybrid workforce—where autonomous agents outnumber humans by 82:1, defenders must counter that speed with intelligent defense. This necessitates a fundamental shift from reactive blocking to a proactive approach that actively manages AI-driven risk while fueling enterprise innovation.

Swapna Bapat, VP and MD, India and SAARC at Palo Alto Networks said, “In 2026, the velocity of innovation is inseparable from the urgency of governance. The immediate threat is not just a theoretical deepfake, but the ‘CEO Doppelgänger’ and the surge in digital identity fraud that is already eroding public trust across our digital economy and financial sector. This is magnified by the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, which has made data trust and accountability an immediate, high-stakes executive priority; breaches of personal data, especially those caused by a rogue AI agent, now carry clear financial penalties up to ₹250 crore. For Indian enterprises to lead globally, security must evolve beyond a compliance checklist. We must adopt unified, AI-native platforms that enforce the principles of the India AI Governance Guidelines, making trust-by-design the foundation for every machine, every application, and every digital identity, ensuring the twin goals of ‘AI for All’ and ‘Safe & Trusted AI’ are met.”

Kunal Ruvala, Senior Vice President & GM, India at Palo Alto Networks, said: “AI-driven deception and data exposure are now frontline risks for Indian enterprises. Deepfakes, contextual data leakage and prompt abuse are creating a new class of insider threat at a scale we have never seen before. At the same time, hybrid work has made the browser the new enterprise workspace, increasing interest in secure enterprise browsing. These shifts are pushing Indian organizations to strengthen identity-first, behavior-based and Zero Trust defenses much earlier in their AI adoption journey.”

1. The New Age of Deception: The Threat of AI Identity: In 2026, identity will become the primary battleground as flawless, real-time AI deepfakes or CEO doppelgängers make forgery indistinguishable from reality. This threat is magnified by autonomous agents and a staggering 82:1 machine-to-human identity ratio, creating a crisis of authenticity where a single forged command triggers a cascade of automated actions. As trust breaks down, identity security must transform from a reactive safeguard into a proactive enabler for the enterprise, securing every human, machine and AI agent.
2. The New Insider Threat: Securing the AI Agent: Enterprise adoption of autonomous AI agents will finally provide the force multiplier needed to solve the 4.8 million-person cyber skills gap and end alert fatigue. This is also an inherent risk, creating a potent new insider threat. These always-on, implicitly trusted agents are given privileged access and the keys to the kingdom, instantly becoming the most valuable target. Adversaries will no longer make humans their primary target; they will look to compromise these powerful agents, turning them into an “autonomous insider.” This forces a shift to autonomy with control, requiring AI firewall governance tools at runtime to stop machine-speed attacks and ensure the AI workforce isn’t turned against its owners.
3. The New Opportunity: Solving the Data Trust Problem: Next year, the new frontier of attack will be data poisoning — invisibly corrupting AI training data at its source. This attack exploits a critical organizational silo between data scientists and security teams to create hidden backdoors and untrustworthy models, igniting a fundamental “crisis of data trust.” As traditional perimeters become irrelevant, the solution must be a unified platform that closes this blind spot, using data security posture management (DSPM) and AI security posture management (AI-SPM) for observability and runtime agents for firewall as code to secure the entire AI data pipeline.
4. The New Gavel: AI Risk and Executive Accountability: The enterprise race for an AI advantage will collide with a new wall of legal reality. By 2026, the massive gap between rapid adoption and mature AI security (with only 6% of organizations having an advanced strategy) will lead to the first major lawsuits holding executives personally liable for rogue AI actions. This “New Gavel” elevates AI from an IT issue to a critical liability issue for the board. The CIO’s role must evolve to that of a strategic enabler — or partner with a new Chief AI Risk Officer using a unified platform to provide verifiable governance that enables innovation safely.
5. The New Countdown: The Quantum Imperative: The “harvest now, decrypt later” threat, accelerated by AI, creates a crisis of retroactive insecurity, as data stolen today becomes a future liability. With the quantum timeline shrinking from a ten-year problem to a three-year one, governments’ mandates will soon force a massive, complex migration to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). This immense operational challenge requires organizations to shift from a one-time upgrade to building long-term crypto agility the ability to adapt cryptographic standards as a new, non-negotiable security foundation.
6. The New Connection: The Browser as the Novel Workspace: As the browser evolves from a tool for information synthesis into an agentic platform that executes tasks, it is becoming the new OS for the enterprise. This trend creates the single largest, unsecured attack surface — an AI front door operating with a unique visibility gap. With GenAI traffic up over 890%, organizations will be forced to adopt a unified, cloud-native security model capable of enforcing consistent zero trust security and data protection at the last possible millisecond inside the browser itself.

Latest version of One UI brings enhanced productivity, privacy and performance across the Galaxy ecosystem

Samsung Electronics today announced the One UI 8.5 beta program, introducing new and easier ways to create, connect and stay safe. One UI 8.5 enables users to do more with less effort, featuring upgrades that enable more seamless actions, device management and enhanced security.

One UI 8.5: What’s New for Content Creation?

One UI 8.5 makes creating and sharing content more intuitive from start to finish. Users can keep generating new images without interruption with the updated Photo Assist. They can edit photos using Photo Assist features continuously, without needing to save each iteration. When finished, they can easily review all the creations in edit history and pick their favorites to keep.

Sharing is smoother too, thanks to enhancements to Quick Share which now recognizes people in photos and proactively suggests sending them directly to those contacts.

How Does One UI 8.5 Improve Device Connectivity?

New cross-device features make managing devices easier, whether users need to manage files, share their network, or communicate with nearby devices. Audio Broadcast enables effortless communication with LE Audio-supported devices nearby using Auracast. In addition to audio from media sources, users can now broadcast their voice using their Galaxy phone’s built-in microphone ideal for group situations like tours or events

Storage Share brings even more fluidity to the Galaxy ecosystem by showing files from other Galaxy devices including tablets and PCs — directly in the My Files app. It also allows users to access their phone’s files from other Samsung devices, including their TV.

How Is My Galaxy Device Staying Protected?

One UI 8.5 strengthens device protection and gives users clearer control over their security settings. Theft Protection keeps phones and their data secure in the case that it is lost or stolen. For additional protection, Failed Authentication Lock automatically locks the screen if there are too many failed attempts to verify identity by fingerprint, PIN or password. Identity check also safeguards more settings than before, adding an extra layer of protection.

Availability

The One UI 8.5 beta program will be first available to Galaxy S25 series users in select markets including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK and the U.S. from December 8. Galaxy users can apply to join the beta program via the Samsung Members app.

HFCL Honoured with Glotel Award 2025 for MahaKumbh Connectivity Project, Setting New Industry Benchmark

HFCL, a leading Indian telecom company specializing in next-generation technologies such as Wi-Fi, optical fiber and 5G has been honored with Global Telecoms (Glotel) Award in the ‘Project Delivery Perfection category for its large-scale, mission-critical connectivity and backhaul deployment at the MahaKumbh 2025. This accolade recognizes excellence in telecom project execution worldwide, celebrating completed projects that demonstrate outstanding business outcomes through innovation, scale, and flawless delivery.

The MahaKumbh 2025 project was a formidable engineering and operational challenge, executed in partnership with India’s largest mobile operator during the world’s largest religious gathering, a 45-day event in Prayagraj that drew over 660 million pilgrims. To support the unprecedented surge in connectivity demand, HFCL deployed carrier-grade Wi-Fi access points, implemented high-capacity wireless backhaul using Unlicensed Band Radios, and integrated an intelligent surveillance backbone. The successful delivery demonstrated HFCL’s ability to engineer mission-critical solutions at national and global scale, underpinned by “Make-in-India” innovation.

The Glotel Awards, renowned as a global benchmark for telecom excellence, celebrate transformative projects that push boundaries in digital infrastructure, connectivity, and network security. This year Glotel Awards brought together leading telecom players from around the globe at London’s historic Plaisterers’ Hall, celebrating innovation and excellence across 24 competitive categories. Indonesian operator Telkomsel emerged as a major winner with three awards, while Huawei and Netcracker each secured multiple recognitions, reflecting the vibrant global energy and diversity of the telecom industry. Other standout winners included Jio Platforms and Samsung Networks. HFCL’s selection among these top international players underscores the global relevance and competitiveness of India’s telecom capabilities and Make-in-India engineering leadership.

Receiving the Award marks a proud milestone for HFCL, amplifying the company’s values of innovation, reliability, and inclusivity. The project not only strengthened India’s digital ecosystem during a critical cultural event but also established a replicable blueprint for future smart cities and large-scale public infrastructure, demonstrating HFCL’s role as a trusted partner to Tier-1 operators and governments.

AEIM Breakthrough: In-House Production of Metrology-Grade Sapphire Probes

AEIM Achieves Breakthrough in In-House Production of Metrology-Grade Sapphire Cubes and Spheres for CMM Probes

Artificial Electronics Intelligent Materials Limited (AEIM), a fast-emerging leader in advanced semiconductor materials, precision components, metrology solutions, and next-generation manufacturing technologies, today announced a major technological breakthrough: the successful in-house production of metrology-grade sapphire cubes and spheres for Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) probe sensors.

This milestone places AEIM among an elite group of companies worldwide capable of manufacturing these ultra-high-precision sapphire components, which have historically presented significant materials-engineering and machining challenges due to sapphire’s extreme hardness and the sub-micron tolerances required.

Sapphire cubes and spheres are mission-critical elements in touch-trigger probes, scanning probes, styli, and precision sensor assemblies. Their unparalleled hardness (9 on the Mohs scale), exceptional wear resistance, thermal stability, and optical uniformity make them the material of choice for applications demanding repeatable, long-term accuracy.

The ability to produce these components internally unlocks substantial new revenue streams for AEIM in the fast-growing global CMM consumables market and creates a strategic springboard into the machine tools and full CMM systems segment.

Key Achievements

• First successful in-house production of metrology-grade sapphire cubes and spheres meeting OEM specifications
• Demonstrated mastery of advanced single-crystal sapphire machining and sub-micron finishing techniques
• Immediate access to the multi-million-dollar global market for CMM probe balls, stylus tips, and sensor components
• Significant strengthening of vertical integration and elimination of dependency on foreign suppliers
• Clear technology foundation for future expansion into complete CMM probe systems and machine manufacturing
• All components produced in AEIM’s ISO-class cleanroom facilities, ensuring world-class consistency and traceability

Mr. Vishaal Nandam, Executive Director of AEIM, commented:

“The in-house production of sapphire cubes and precision spheres represents a transformative leap in our metrology and advanced materials capabilities. This breakthrough gives AEIM the technological and cost advantages needed to compete at the highest levels of the global precision-measurement consumables market and accelerates our strategic roadmap into CMM systems and machine tools.”

With this capability now secured, AEIM is uniquely positioned to serve industries that demand the ultimate in measurement accuracy, including aerospace, automotive, semiconductor fabrication, precision tooling, and advanced manufacturing.

About AEIM Artificial Electronics Intelligent Materials Limited (AEIM) is an innovative Indian technology company specializing in advanced semiconductor materials, ultra-precision components, metrology solutions, and next-generation manufacturing technologies. Driven by a commitment to innovation, quality, and self-reliance, AEIM delivers globally competitive products that redefine the boundaries of precision engineering.

NMDC Signs MoU with IIT Kanpur to Strengthen Cybersecurity and Advance Digital Technologies

Hyderabad, Dec 06: In a landmark step towards strengthening industry-academia collaboration, NMDC, India’s largest iron ore producer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, to facilitate new initiatives in the areas of cybersecurity and promote the adoption of modern digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), across NMDC’s operations.

This MoU was signed by Mr. Satyendra Rai, Executive Director (Digital Transformation), on behalf of NMDC, and Prof. Ashoke De, Dean, R&D, IIT Kanpur in the presence of Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, senior officials from NMDC and representatives from IIT Kanpur.

Through this partnership, NMDC will work with IIT Kanpur across key areas such as cybersecurity risk assessments; policy, governance and compliance support; Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) integration and advancement; security operations and incident response; capacity building and knowledge sharing; and joint research and innovation. 

Additionally, NMDC and IIT Kanpur will jointly conduct training programmes, undertake research activities, run pilot projects, and co-develop proof-of-concept solutions.

Speaking on this collaboration, Shri Amitava Mukherjee, CMD, NMDC, said,

“This MoU brings IIT Kanpur’s advanced research capabilities in NMDC’s extensive operational ecosystem. This collaboration will help us strengthen our digital defences, improve operational intelligence, and build a secure and future-ready technological foundation for NMDC.”

The MoU reflects NMDC’s commitment to becoming a digitally strong and future-ready mining organisation.

India’s Digital Rights at Risk: Experts Warn X v. Union of India Could Redefine Free Speech Online

LG to Showcase “Innovation in Tune With You” at CES 2026

SEOUL, Dec 5: LG Electronics (LG) invites global audiences to join the LG World Premiere press conference on January 5 at 08:00 (PST) at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Under the banner of its CES 2026 theme, “Innovation in Tune With You,” LG will share its vision for elevating daily life through Affectionate Intelligence – delivering harmonized and seamlessly connected customer experiences.

With global media in attendance, LG will unveil a portfolio of AI-powered solutions that combine world-class devices and solutions with advanced AI core technologies. LG is evolving its products into intelligent solutions designed to expand meaningful connectivity between devices, people and spaces. This evolution extends from the home to mobility and urban environments, enabling a more seamless and elevated life journey.

The groundbreaking products revealed and demonstrated during LG World Premiere will be on show throughout CES 2026 at LG’s booth. Along with the latest products and solutions from LG, visitors will be able to explore and enjoy a variety of unique, AI-fueled innovation experiences and immersive, interactive installations aligned with the company’s customer-centered vision and exhibition theme.

TEXMiN & Geotek Launch Drill Core Digitisation Lab at IIT(ISM) Dhanbad

TEXMiN and Geotek (UK) Launch State-of-Art: Drill Core Digitisation Laboratory at IIT(ISM) Dhanbad

New Delhi, Dec 05: In a significant advancement for India’s mineral exploration landscape, the Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation (TEXMiN), IIT(ISM) Dhanbad, in collaboration with Geotek Ltd. (UK), inaugurated the TEXMiN–Geotek Drill Core Digitisation Laboratory today at the Institute Innovation Hub (i2h). The facility was formally inaugurated by Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Government of India, in the august presence of Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad & Chairman, Hub Governing Board, TEXMiN Foundation. This pioneering laboratory represents an important milestone in India’s journey towards technologically enabled, data-driven, and transparent mineral exploration, aligning directly with the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and the expanding India–UK innovation partnership.

The establishment of this state-of-the-art laboratory follows a strategic Memorandum of Understanding between TEXMiN and Geotek. Through this collaboration, both organisations aim to introduce globally accredited, non-destructive, multi-sensor geological core analysis technologies in India. The laboratory will support exploration agencies, PSUs, private mining operators, academic researchers, and startups by providing access to advanced, digitised core logging and analysis infrastructure. By harnessing automated workflows, integrated sensor technologies, and digital datasets, the laboratory will enhance precision, reduce dependency on manual interpretation, and accelerate decision-making in areas essential for India’s future, particularly in critical minerals that power green energy, electric vehicles, defence systems, and advanced manufacturing.

A major technological highlight of the laboratory is Geotek’s BoxScan platform, which has been deployed at TEXMiN to enable comprehensive digital scanning of drill cores and chip boxes. BoxScan combines high-resolution photography, hyperspectral mineral identification, geochemical characterisation using pXRF, magnetic and structural analysis, and depth-linked digital output generation. Its field-deployable design, automated calibration systems, and modular architecture allow a single operator to generate multiple geological datasets simultaneously with exceptional accuracy and repeatability. This capability marks a paradigm shift from traditional exploration practices to real-time, high-fidelity subsurface intelligence that can be used for predictive modelling, resource classification, and exploration automation.

Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad & Project Director, TEXMiN Foundation, stated:

“India is entering a defining phase in the critical minerals landscape, and strengthening our exploration capability is central to this shift. Through this laboratory, we are not just enabling access to high-quality geological intelligence—we are advancing towards data-backed certainty, faster discovery cycles, and globally competitive innovation born in India. This initiative will support our energy ambitions, strategic industries and the future of mineral research in the country.”

Mr. Tom White, Managing Director, Geotek Ltd. (UK), emphasised the global significance of the partnership. He observed,

“For over two decades, Geotek has helped explorers across the world unlock geological value. Our partnership with TEXMiN brings world-class core digitisation to India, enabling faster decisions, reduced risks, and a new standard of exploration excellence. BoxScan at IIT(ISM) is not just equipment; it represents a transformation in how India understands and utilises its mineral wealth.”

Dr. Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner to East and Northeast India, highlighted the broader diplomatic and technological implications. He remarked,

“This collaboration embodies the spirit of the India–UK science and technology partnership. Critical minerals are foundational to future economies, and this initiative reinforces our shared commitment to innovation-led, secure, and sustainable mineral supply chains.”

The inauguration of the TEXMiN–Geotek Drill Core Digitisation Laboratory positions India among the leading nations leveraging digital geology for strategic minerals. It reinforces TEXMiN’s role as a national hub for Mining 4.0 transformation and strengthens India’s preparedness for the material demands of the global clean energy transition. As critical minerals increasingly define geopolitical and industrial futures, this initiative provides India with the scientific infrastructure and technological foresight required to secure its strategic autonomy.

SUNROOOF Launches India’s First Wellness Lighting E-Commerce Platform

Mumbai, Dec 04: India’s wellness technology landscape is rapidly advancing, with lighting now recognized as a crucial contributor to health-focused spaces. SUNROOOF, India’s pioneering wellness lighting brand specializing in scientifically developed daylight solutions, has launched its e-commerce platform to enable access to premium human-centric lighting for residential, commercial, and institutional environments in India & UAE.

The platform enables customers to explore a thoughtfully curated portfolio of daylighting solutions designed to elevate mood, enhance productivity, regulate day-to-day rhythms, and improve overall well-being. With intelligent product recommendations and personalized expert guidance, SUNROOOF ensures that every space, regardless of layout or location, can experience the science-backed benefits of sunlight.

In a remarkable trajectory, SUNROOOF has achieved INR 15 crore revenue within just 12 months and is targeting to achieve INR 50 crore this year, driven by its expansion into larger markets and high-value projects.

“Today, we’re fundamentally changing how customers experience SUNROOOF. Our e-commerce platform eliminates the friction from discovery to purchase you can now explore designs, check if they fit your space with exact measurements, and make an informed decision, all in minutes. Whether you’re a homeowner or architect, every piece of information you need is at your fingertips. We’ve made it incredibly simple: browse designs, pick your size, select your colour, and start your wellness lighting journey with just a ₹5,000 booking. This is about removing barriers and making transformative lighting accessible to everyone,” said Mr. Ishat Jain, Co-Founder, SUNROOOF.

To deliver a seamless digital-to-physical experience, SUNROOOF offers:

•   End-to-end consultations with certified wellness lighting specialists
•   Multiple design and customization options to suit diverse spaces
•   A dedicated point of contact for smooth execution and installation
•   Convenient EMI and secure payment options, including the ability to book with INR 5,000 under the SUNROOOF Easy Payments Plan.

With this launch, SUNROOOF is setting a new benchmark in the wellness technology category turning natural light into a lifestyle essential rather than a luxury.