Tag: AI

Events in Goa

LTIMindtree Partners with IFFI and NFDC to Launch India’s First AI Film Festival and Hackathon in Goa

Tanisha Cardozo

LTIMindtree, a global technology consulting and digital solutions company, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) to launch India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Film Festival and Hackathon. Scheduled to take place from November 20 to 28, 2025, during the 56th edition of IFFI in Goa, the initiative aims to redefine the intersection of art, storytelling, and technology.

Since its inception in 1952, IFFI has stood as India’s premier cinematic platform, bringing together filmmakers and creative professionals from across the globe. With this collaboration, LTIMindtree, NFDC, and IFFI are set to introduce a new era of digital creativity through the integration of AI-powered tools in the cinematic process. The partnership, supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, represents a significant step towards fostering innovation in India’s creative economy.

Under this initiative, LTIMindtree’s BlueVerse CraftStudio and NFDC will create a dedicated ecosystem for AI-driven filmmaking, encouraging creators and technologists to collaborate on innovative projects that push the boundaries of storytelling. The AI Film Festival will feature screenings of AI-generated works across fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental categories, offering audiences a glimpse into how technology is reshaping artistic expression.

Complementing the festival is a 48-hour hackathon designed to challenge participants to build AI-powered storytelling and production tools. Alongside the competition, workshops and masterclasses led by global experts will cover topics such as ethical storytelling, AI in film production, and the role of emerging technologies in shaping creative narratives.

Shekhar Kapur, Festival Director of IFFI and Jury Chair of the IFFI AI Film Festival, highlighted the transformative potential of this collaboration, saying, “Cinema has always reflected the power of human imagination. Today, AI gives us a new lens that expands our ability to dream, design, and express. The IFFI AI Film Festival will be a playground for that evolution.”

Dr. Sujay Sen, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Interactive Services at LTIMindtree, echoed the sentiment, noting, “At LTIMindtree, we believe the future of storytelling lies at the confluence of human creativity and AI. Through this collaboration, we are proud to create a platform that nurtures innovation and brings the magic of AI to India’s creative economy.”

Adding to this, Shri Prakash Magdum, Managing Director of NFDC, said, “As India’s leading platform for cinematic excellence, IFFI has always celebrated emerging voices and technologies. Partnering with LTIMindtree and Shekhar Kapur allows us to extend this creative legacy into the world of AI responsibly, inclusively, and with a vision for global collaboration.”

The festival will also feature participation from international AI film festivals, with opportunities for global cross-credit recognition for creators and innovators. By bringing together cinema and cutting-edge technology, the AI Film Festival and Hackathon aim to position India as a global leader in AI-driven cinematic innovation.

TechPulse

Lenskart Set to Launch AI-Powered Smart Glasses in December, Built on Gemini 2.5

Tanisha Cardozo

Eyewear major Lenskart is preparing to enter the smart wearables market with the launch of its first AI-powered smart glasses by the end of December 2025. According to sources familiar with the development, the device, internally referred to as “B by Lenskart Smartglasses”, will integrate advanced AI-based interactions, health and wellness insights, and even UPI payment functionality. This move represents Lenskart’s most ambitious step yet in repositioning itself as a technology-led lifestyle brand.

The upcoming smart glasses are reportedly built on the Gemini 2.5 platform and are likely powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chipset, a processor designed for lightweight augmented reality and AI-driven camera applications. The product launch could follow shortly after Lenskart’s stock market debut on November 10, signaling a strong synergy between its financial expansion and technological ambitions.

A person familiar with the company’s strategy said that the smart glasses aim to integrate AI and commerce seamlessly into everyday eyewear, making them more than just a vision aid — transforming them into an interactive, connected accessory. Lenskart’s partnership with Qualcomm, announced earlier this year at the Snapdragon for India XR Day, further solidifies its commitment to building AR and AI solutions tailored to Indian consumers.

Over the past year, Lenskart has been actively investing in AI, XR, and computer vision startups to strengthen its in-house technological capabilities. The company’s public issue, launched on October 31 to raise ₹7,278 crore at an estimated valuation of ₹70,000 crore (USD 8 billion), was fully subscribed on the first day.

If the launch proves successful, Lenskart could become one of the first Indian consumer technology brands to commercialize AI-driven eyewear, entering a market currently led by products such as Meta-Ray-Ban Smart Glasses and Amazon Echo Frames. With a focus on affordability, functionality, and design tailored for Indian consumers, Lenskart’s smart glasses could mark a defining moment in the evolution of India’s wearable technology landscape.

Social Media

YouTube Introduces AI ‘Super Resolution’ to Enhance Low-Quality Videos Up to 4K

Tanisha Cardozo

YouTube is bringing artificial intelligence to the heart of its viewing experience with the launch of “Super Resolution”, an advanced AI-powered upscaling feature that enhances low-quality videos automatically.

The new tool, announced through YouTube’s official blog, uses machine learning to generate higher-resolution versions of videos originally uploaded below 1080p. The platform aims to make even older, standard-definition videos appear in HD or up to 4K quality, improving clarity, sharpness, and detail.

When active, viewers will see a “Super Resolution” label in the video settings, allowing them to switch between the AI-enhanced and original versions. Importantly, YouTube confirmed that creators will retain full control over their content—original files and resolutions will remain intact, and opting out of the upscaling feature will be possible.

In its statement, YouTube said:

“We’re starting with videos uploaded below 1080p, upscaling them from SD to HD, with the goal to support resolutions up to 4K in the near future. Creators will retain complete control over their library, as both original files and video resolutions will be kept intact.”

Beyond Super Resolution, YouTube also announced several interface updates: immersive previews on smart TVs, enhanced channel-specific search tools, and new QR code integrations for product-linked videos—making the platform’s ecosystem more interactive and commerce-friendly.

By introducing AI-driven video enhancement, YouTube joins a growing wave of platforms using artificial intelligence to restore and upscale legacy media. The move could redefine how audiences experience older videos while allowing creators to maintain consistent quality across their channels—without the need to reupload or re-edit existing content.

Business

Apple Hits $4 Trillion Market Value as Strong iPhone Sales Offset AI Concerns

Tanisha Cardozo

Apple has officially surpassed a $4 trillion market value, becoming the third Big Tech company in history to achieve this milestone, after Nvidia and Microsoft. The milestone comes amid robust demand for its iPhone 17 lineup and the iPhone Air, which have helped lift shares about 13% since their launch on September 9, marking Apple’s first positive performance for the year.

The iPhone remains a critical revenue driver, accounting for more than half of Apple’s profit. Analysts say the iPhone Air’s slim design positions Apple to compete effectively against rivals like Samsung Electronics, while early sales of the iPhone 17 have outperformed its predecessor by 14% in key markets such as the U.S. and China, according to research firm Counterpoint. Brokerage Evercore ISI expects the strong demand to exceed market expectations for the quarter ending September, with upbeat forecasts anticipated for the December quarter.

Apple shares had faced headwinds earlier in the year due to stiff competition in China and uncertainties related to high U.S. tariffs affecting its major manufacturing hubs in Asia. While Apple has taken a cautious approach to artificial intelligence, including delayed upgrades to Siri and a slower rollout of the Apple Intelligence suite, reports indicate ongoing collaborations with Alphabet’s Gemini AI, Anthropic, and OpenAI.

Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer of Northlight Asset Management, noted, “The lack of a well-understood AI strategy is one of the overhangs for the stock. If Apple can incorporate AI in a way that excites consumers, it would transform the company.”

Apple reported its strongest quarterly results in years during April-June, achieving double-digit growth across key segments and surpassing analyst expectations. Its shares currently trade at 33.2 times projected earnings for the next 12 months, compared to 27.42 for the Nasdaq 100, reflecting the company’s strong valuation. Apple is expected to announce its Q4 results on October 30, which could further impact investor sentiment.

Despite underperforming the Nasdaq 100 this year, Apple’s milestone highlights the enduring appeal of its ecosystem, driven largely by iPhone sales and global brand loyalty.

Business

Amazon to Cut Up to 1,000 Jobs in India Amid Global AI-Driven Restructuring

Tanisha Cardozo

Amazon is preparing to eliminate between 800 and 1,000 positions in India as part of a sweeping global restructuring effort driven by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, The Economic Times reported. The move marks one of the company’s largest workforce reductions in India to date.

According to sources cited by ET, the layoffs will span key corporate functions such as technology, human resources, and finance, with employees reporting to global teams facing the steepest cuts. The India-specific reduction forms part of Amazon’s plan to trim approximately 14,000 corporate roles worldwide, a strategy outlined by Beth Galetti, Senior Vice President of People Experience and Technology.

In a blog post shared with employees, Galetti said the restructuring aims to simplify Amazon’s organizational structure by removing layers of management, reducing bureaucracy, and channeling resources into the company’s “biggest bets” — including artificial intelligence initiatives.

The decision follows CEO Andy Jassy’s June 2025 internal message warning that AI would reshape Amazon’s workforce. “We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs,” Jassy wrote, describing “agentic AI” as a transformative technology that would fundamentally change the way work is carried out across the company.

Amazon has aggressively increased its AI investments, allocating more than $100 billion in 2025 compared to $83 billion in 2024. While the company continues to hire for AI and machine learning roles, overall headcount is expected to decline as automation takes over certain operational and support tasks.

As of June 30, Amazon employed roughly 1.55 million people globally, including about 350,000 in corporate positions. This latest wave of layoffs marks Amazon’s second major downsizing effort in recent years, following the elimination of 27,000 jobs between late 2022 and early 2023.

For affected employees, Amazon plans to offer a 90-day internal transfer window, giving them an opportunity to apply for other roles within the company. Those unable to secure new positions will receive severance pay, outplacement support, and continued health insurance coverage.

Despite Amazon’s strong financial performance, Galetti emphasized that the company must adapt to rapid technological shifts to remain agile and competitive. “As the pace of AI transformation accelerates, we need leaner structures that allow us to move faster and innovate better,” she said.

The move highlights a growing trend in the tech industry — where major corporations are increasingly restructuring around AI and automation, reshaping the global employment landscape even amid record profits.