Tag: AI

TechPulse

Godrej Unveils AI-Powered Wash Care Technology, Targets 40% Growth This Festive Season

Tanisha Cardozo

Godrej Enterprises Group is elevating everyday living with its latest launch in the home appliance category — AI-Powered Turbidity Sensing Technology in its new front load washing machines. The innovation reflects Godrej’s commitment to solving real, everyday consumer challenges through meaningful, intelligent design that prioritizes both performance and sustainability.

As households across India seek smarter, more efficient appliances, Godrej’s new technology addresses a persistent yet often overlooked problem: detergent residue in washed clothes. The AI-based turbidity sensing system automatically detects detergent concentration during rinse cycles and adjusts the wash process to remove up to 50% more detergent residue. The result is improved skin safety and longer-lasting garments, with visibly enhanced fabric texture and color retention.

Developed and manufactured in India, the machines are part of a wider technology suite that includes advanced features such as water level and load sensing, spin speed optimization, foam detection, drum balancing, and automatic tub cleaning reminders. These upgrades not only boost wash quality but also improve operational efficiency, making the machines a practical and future-ready addition to Indian homes.

Maneesh Sharma, Product Group Head of Washing Machines at the Appliances Business of Godrej Enterprises Group, emphasized the importance of this innovation. “Detergent residue is a subtle but significant issue that impacts both fabric health and user comfort. Our AI-powered turbidity sensing tackles this challenge head-on, reflecting our ongoing commitment to meaningful, customer-centric technology.”

Godrej has rolled out this innovation as part of a festive season strategy targeting 40% growth across its washing machine portfolio and a robust 60% growth in the premium front load segment. The rollout is supported by an attractive mix of consumer offers, including extended warranties of up to 4 years, easy EMI options, and cashback deals, further enhancing the value proposition.

The new range of AI-powered front load washing machines starts at an MPR of ₹51,000 and is now available in leading retail outlets and ecommerce platforms across India.

Backed by the brand’s legacy of trust and its ‘Things Made Thoughtfully’ philosophy, Godrej Appliances continues to deliver cutting-edge, environmentally conscious technology that enhances lives and homes across the country.

Human Interest

Google Celebrates 27 Years of Innovation with Nostalgic Birthday Doodle

Tanisha Cardozo

Can you believe Google just celebrated its 27th birthday? On September 27, 2025, the tech giant marked the milestone with a vibrant and nostalgic Google Doodle that lit up its homepage. For millions of users across the United States and around the world, it was a cheerful reminder of how far Google has come—from a scrappy startup in a California garage to one of the most influential companies in the world.

Google’s story reads like the ultimate tech fairy tale. It all began in 1998 when two Stanford PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, launched the search engine out of a garage in Menlo Park. Their mission was simple but ambitious: “To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” Over the last 27 years, that mission has reshaped how we live, learn, work, and connect.

Today, Google is far more than just a search engine. It powers the way we navigate cities with Google Maps, the way we communicate through Gmail, how we stream content on YouTube, and how billions of people interact with Android devices every day. More recently, Google AI has become a focal point of the company’s future vision, bringing new capabilities to everything from personal assistants to real-time language translation.

The Doodle celebrating the 27th anniversary was, as always, fun and user-friendly. It featured a throwback to Google’s first-ever logo from 1998, evoking the early days of dial-up internet and clunky desktop computers. The artwork blended nostalgia with a forward-looking message, encouraging users to explore Google’s newest AI developments—bridging the past with the future.

“These birthday Doodles always feel special,” the company wrote in its announcement. “This Doodle marks Google’s 27th birthday. We’re celebrating by getting nostalgic with our first-ever logo. Search on.”

For many Americans, Google is more than a product—it’s a verb, a tool, and a daily companion. Whether you’re looking up a recipe, navigating a traffic jam, fact-checking during a debate, or planning your next vacation, Google is seamlessly integrated into your routine.

And while the 27th birthday celebration looked back on nearly three decades of progress, it also served as a subtle nod to the road ahead. With artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and sustainability initiatives gaining momentum, the next chapter promises to be just as transformative as the last.

By the time Google hits 30, one thing is certain: the birthday Doodle tradition will be alive and well—still making millions smile as they open their browsers and start their day.

TechPulse

Goa to Launch Centre of Excellence in AI Hospitality with Pacific Link College, Canada

Tanisha Cardozo

In a landmark move that blends technology, tourism, and education, Goa is all set to launch a Centre of Excellence in AI Hospitality in partnership with Pacific Link College, Canada. This pioneering initiative will integrate artificial intelligence into the core of the state’s booming hospitality and tourism sector, enhancing guest experiences while building a skilled workforce equipped for the future.

The project was the focus of high-level meetings held in Goa, where a delegation from Pacific Link College met with Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Shri Rohan Khaunte. The visiting team, led by Shri Tarun Khullar (CEO and Director-Board Member, BCIBN), included Shri Roshan Worth (Head of South Asia), Shri Rick Pasin (Head of Academics), and Shri Aaron DPenha (Campus Director). They presented a detailed proposal outlining their vision to create a world-class institution focused on AI-driven hospitality innovation.

“This collaboration is not just about imagining the future of tourism – we are building it,” said Shri Rohan Khaunte. “The Centre of Excellence will empower Goan youth with the latest in AI training, and put Goa on the map as a lighthouse state for AI-powered tourism experiences.”

The Government of Goa played a key role in coordinating discussions between the Pacific Link College team and stakeholders from the local industry and academic sectors to ensure that the Centre’s goals are aligned with regional training needs and tourism development strategies. During follow-up meetings on September 8, 2025, two potential locations were identified for the Centre’s physical campus.

The Centre of Excellence will have a multi-pronged mission: to skill youth in AI applications specific to hospitality – from automating services to designing personalized guest experiences, to support startups and entrepreneurs developing AI-based travel tech solutions, to co-develop academic curricula with Goan institutions, and to embed AI tools across tourism services in the state.

This initiative is a strategic pillar of Goa’s AI Mission 2027, an ambitious program aimed at embedding artificial intelligence across governance, industry, education, and entrepreneurship. By leveraging AI, Goa hopes to offer smarter, more seamless tourism experiences, attract longer and more meaningful visits, and create new job and investment opportunities in the process.

The Centre of Excellence in AI Hospitality is expected to be operational in the coming months, following the formalization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the completion of necessary infrastructure.

TechPulse

Goa’s First Friday Explores How Location Tech Shapes Our World

Tanisha Cardozo

What do Tesla, Google Maps, and Swiggy have in common? The answer lies in geospatial technology. This was the question that set the stage for the 16th edition of First Friday, a monthly meetup by Goa’s Creative Community, held at FiiRE in Margao. Organised by the Creative Community of Goa in collaboration with the Association of Designers of India – Goa Chapter and supported by the Startup & IT Promotion Cell, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Goa, the session drew creative professionals, entrepreneurs, and innovators into a conversation about the hidden force that powers our everyday world: location.

Architect and entrepreneur Vikrant Karandikar led the session, tracing the journey of geospatial technology from its military origins to its present-day ubiquity in apps and tools that shape modern life. He explained how GPS, healthcare diagnostics, and delivery services all rely on location data to function seamlessly. More than just physical maps, location has become a core driver of decision-making and innovation. Businesses like Airbnb and CouchSurfing have leveraged it to scale, while platforms such as Swiggy and Google Maps thrive on real-time, crowd-sourced updates from their users.

Karandikar also drew examples from urban mobility, pointing to Tesla’s autonomous systems and the ACES model—Autonomous, Connected, Electric, Shared—that is transforming the way we think of transport in cities. On the conservation front, he cited drones monitoring rhino habitats in Karnataka and 3D mapping tools preserving India’s cultural heritage. Even sports are being revolutionised, with smart bats equipped with gyroscopes to analyse swing dynamics and offer instant feedback.

Through vivid examples, he showed how location-aware strategies have been shaping industries for decades, recalling how consumer goods companies once adapted packaging sizes to local markets based on purchasing power. Today, location intelligence goes even deeper, from flood warning systems to GIS-driven architectural design.

The session was not just about technology but also about Goa’s place in this emerging landscape. Addressing the gathering, Shri DS Prashant, CEO of Startup and IT Promotion Cell, reminded the audience that Goa is evolving beyond its reputation as a beach destination into a hub for creativity and premium tech innovation. “Goa is where talent comes together to build products, because it nourishes creativity and offers ample space and freedom one needs to innovate,” he said, urging the community to work towards making Goa India’s Creative Capital.

By the end of the evening, the audience was left with a deeper appreciation for the unseen role of geospatial data in everyday life. From the delivery on your doorstep to the car you choose to ride, from protecting wildlife to responding to natural disasters, location remains the quiet constant behind innovation. First Friday once again lived up to its reputation as a hub where design, technology, and creativity meet to spark new ideas and possibilities for the future.

EduConnect

Infosys Springboard Hosts Batch II of Academic Leadership Programme at Hyderabad Training Centre

Tanisha Cardozo

The Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) and the Goa State Higher Education Council (GSHEC), Government of Goa, recently organized the prestigious Academic Leadership Programme (ALP) at the Infosys Limited training centre in Hyderabad from 8th to 12th September 2025. This fully residential leadership workshop is a significant initiative under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, focusing on strengthening governance and leadership capabilities among faculty members of higher education institutions in Goa.

The ALP is designed to build and enhance the academic leadership skills of 30 faculty members from general and engineering colleges, as well as Goa University. The programme’s comprehensive curriculum was delivered by professional corporate trainers from Infosys Ltd., including Nivas PCS, Simran, and Dimple Bhasin. The training modules covered critical areas such as leveraging the Infosys Springboard platform for effective engagement, enhancing communication and teamwork, decision-making skills, team management, and collaborative learning. Importantly, the programme also introduced participants to emerging technological domains such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP), equipping academic leaders to stay future-ready.

Participants engaged actively through group presentations and evaluations, demonstrating their newly acquired knowledge and leadership competencies. This leadership development initiative is a vital step towards cultivating an empowered academic community in Goa, reinforcing the government’s commitment to higher education excellence.

The programme’s launch was marked by the flag-off of the 30 faculty participants by Prasad Lolayekar, Secretary Education, and Bhushan K. Savaikar, Director of DHE. The successful implementation of this workshop was made possible through the efforts of Dr. Niyan Marchon, Program Director and Professor, along with Vasant Narulkar from the Centralised Training, Internship and Placement Cell of the Directorate of Higher Education, who played key roles in conceptualizing and coordinating this transformative programme.

Following the workshop, these energized faculty members will promote the free online course content available on the Infosys Springboard platform to their peers and students. The platform offers over 20,000 courses spanning topics such as AI, time management, personality development, and many more, further advancing the reach and impact of this leadership initiative.

By integrating academic leadership development with cutting-edge technology and collaborative learning strategies, the Academic Leadership Programme is poised to foster a new generation of academic leaders in Goa, aligned with the vision of NEP 2020 for a robust and future-ready education system.