Tag: Artificial Intelligence

TechPulse

Goa Strengthens AI Commitment at India AI Impact Summit 2026

Tanisha Cardozo

Goa is reinforcing its commitment to emerging technologies and future-ready governance with a strong and strategic presence at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, organised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology at Bharat Mandapam from February 16 to 20, 2026. The summit marks the first major global AI gathering hosted in the Global South and seeks to shape an inclusive, responsible and resilient Artificial Intelligence ecosystem aligned with the vision of People, Planet and Progress.

The Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, is representing the state at the summit, underscoring its strategic ambition to position Goa as an emerging AI-driven innovation hub within India and on the international stage. The event has drawn participation from political leaders, industry heads, startups and global stakeholders, placing Goa’s initiatives in a broader global conversation on ethical and scalable AI.

During the inaugural knowledge-sharing workshop on AI adoption, Shri Heramb Kanekar from the Startup and IT Promotion Cell, DITE&C, outlined Goa’s AI roadmap and reaffirmed the state’s focus on building citizen-centric and responsible AI solutions. Under the Goa AI Mission 2027, the government has introduced initiatives such as the AI for Governance & Social Impact workshop, AI Hackathons and the launch of an AI Chatbot on the Goa Online Portal. These measures reflect a policy direction that views AI not merely as a technological upgrade, but as a transformative tool to improve public service delivery, enhance transparency, empower startups and drive sustainable economic growth.

A major highlight of the summit is the AI Impact Expo at Bharat Mandapam, an expansive experiential showcase spanning over 70,000 square metres across 10 arenas and featuring more than 840 exhibitors. The expo was inaugurated by Narendra Modi on the opening day, drawing significant national and international attention.

Supported by DITE&C, five Goa-based startups are exhibiting at the expo, demonstrating AI applications across diverse sectors. These include DivvyUp and Grow by Shri Gaurish Datta Pangam and Shri Shivam Kamat; Frover Labs Pvt. Ltd. by Shri Siddharth Manjrekar and Shri Sarvesh Patkar; Neural Kissan by Shri Sai Vitthal Rane; Kverty by Shri Mexson Fernandes; and Phosic India Pvt. Ltd. by Shri Dewansh Choudhary. Their participation highlights the depth and diversity of Goa’s growing innovation ecosystem and the state’s commitment to nurturing AI-led entrepreneurship.

While the expo remains open throughout the summit, the final two days will feature Leaders’ Plenary Sessions, roundtables and panel discussions focusing on how AI can serve humanity, foster inclusive growth and support sustainable development. Through forward-looking policy, strategic collaborations and sustained investment in its startup ecosystem, Goa is positioning itself as a responsible and future-ready AI destination.

Delegates, industry leaders, investors and visitors are invited to explore the Goa Pavilion at Stall No. 4F.21 in Hall No. 4 to experience firsthand how Goan innovators are leveraging Artificial Intelligence to create meaningful, inclusive and sustainable impact.

TechPulse

OpenClaw Creator Peter Steinberger Joins OpenAI as Sam Altman Accelerates AI Agent Strategy

Tanisha Cardozo

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that Peter Steinberger, the creator of the viral AI agent OpenClaw, is joining OpenAI as the company sharpens its focus on next-generation autonomous AI systems. Altman confirmed that OpenClaw will continue to operate as an open-source project under a foundation model, with OpenAI providing ongoing support.

OpenClaw, previously known as Clawdbot and Moltbot, was launched just last month by Steinberger and quickly gained momentum across social media and developer communities. Its rapid rise reflects the growing demand for AI agents capable of independently completing tasks, making decisions, and taking actions on behalf of users without constant human oversight. Businesses and consumers alike are increasingly experimenting with AI systems that can handle workflows, research, communication, and operational processes autonomously.

In a post on X, Altman said Steinberger would join OpenAI “to drive the next generation of personal agents,” describing him as “a genius with a lot of amazing ideas about the future of very smart agents interacting with each other to do very useful things for people.” Altman added that intelligent agents are expected to become core to OpenAI’s product offerings in the near future.

Although financial terms were not disclosed, the move underscores the intensifying competition for AI talent across the technology sector. Earlier this year, OpenAI acquired former Apple designer Jony Ive’s AI devices startup io for more than $6 billion. Technology giants including Meta and Google have also been investing billions to attract top AI researchers and developers.

OpenAI, most recently valued at $500 billion, faces mounting competition in the generative AI market, particularly from Anthropic. Anthropic’s Claude models have been gaining traction among enterprise clients, especially with tools such as Claude Code. The company recently introduced Claude Opus 4.6, which it says improves coding capabilities, sustains tasks for longer durations, and delivers higher-quality professional output. Anthropic was reportedly valued at $380 billion in a fundraising round earlier this week.

OpenClaw has also expanded quickly in China, where it can integrate with locally developed language models such as DeepSeek and be configured for use with domestic messaging platforms. Chinese search engine Baidu plans to offer users of its main smartphone application direct access to OpenClaw.

However, some researchers have expressed concerns about the openness of OpenClaw and the potential cybersecurity risks posed by highly customizable AI agents that users can modify extensively. As AI systems become more autonomous and interconnected, the balance between innovation, openness, and security is expected to remain a central issue in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape.

With Steinberger joining OpenAI and OpenClaw continuing as an open-source initiative, the company appears determined to strengthen its leadership in the emerging era of intelligent AI agents capable of operating with greater independence and collaboration.

Fit & Fabulous

Designer Kate Barton Teams Up with IBM and Fiducia AI for Immersive NYFW Presentation

Tanisha Cardozo

At New York Fashion Week, designer Kate Barton unveiled her latest collection with an innovative twist, merging high fashion with cutting-edge artificial intelligence. In collaboration with Fiducia AI and IBM, Barton introduced a multilingual AI agent built with IBM watsonx on IBM Cloud, offering guests an interactive and immersive runway experience.

The activation allows attendees to identify pieces from the collection in real time using a Visual AI lens powered by IBM watsonx. Beyond recognition, the tool answers questions in multiple languages via voice and text and enables photorealistic virtual try-ons, effectively creating what Barton describes as “a portal into the collection’s world” rather than deploying artificial intelligence for novelty alone.

Speaking ahead of the show in an interview with TechCrunch, Barton emphasised that technology has long been part of her creative thinking. She expressed interest in blending the real and the unreal to spark curiosity, explaining that today’s technology expands the world around the clothes and shapes how audiences enter the story behind a collection. For her, the objective was not automation but deeper engagement — creating moments that make viewers pause and look twice.

Ganesh Harinath, Founder and CEO of Fiducia AI, explained that the activation relied on IBM watsonx, IBM Cloud and IBM Cloud Object Storage. He noted that while model tuning was complex, the real challenge lay in orchestrating the system into a seamless, production-grade experience. The collaboration marks Barton’s continued experimentation with AI, following earlier technological integrations in past collections.

The broader fashion industry remains cautiously curious about artificial intelligence. Barton observed that many brands are quietly using AI in operational capacities but hesitate to showcase it publicly due to reputational concerns. She compared the hesitation to the early days of e-commerce, when luxury houses debated whether they should even launch websites — a question that later evolved into how effectively they used them.

Industry voices suggest that while AI adoption is growing, much of its current use remains surface-level, such as chatbots or internal productivity tools. Barton, however, envisions a future where AI enhances prototyping, visualisation and production decisions, while preserving the human craftsmanship that defines fashion. She has made it clear that technology must elevate, not erase, the people behind the work.

According to industry projections shared during the conversation, AI in fashion could become mainstream by 2028, with deeper operational integration by 2030. Leaders within IBM Consulting highlighted how connecting inspiration, product intelligence and real-time engagement can transform AI from a novelty feature into a strategic growth engine.

Yet for Barton, the ultimate goal remains clear. The future of fashion, she argues, is not automated fashion. It is fashion that embraces new tools to heighten craft, deepen storytelling and broaden access — without diminishing the human creativity that makes garments meaningful. At NYFW, that vision stepped confidently onto the runway, offering a glimpse of how art and algorithm might coexist in the next chapter of design.

TechPulse

DITE&C Announces Statewide AI Hackathon to Strengthen Public Service Delivery

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes ||Team Allycaral 

The Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C) has announced the launch of a statewide AI Hackathon as part of the Goa AI Mission 2027, marking a significant step towards integrating Artificial Intelligence into governance and public service delivery across the state.


The AI Hackathon aims to encourage the adoption of ethical and responsible Artificial Intelligence solutions to address real-world governance challenges. The initiative focuses on improving efficiency, transparency and citizen-centric service delivery by leveraging emerging technologies within government systems.

Under the programme, government departments, corporations, autonomous bodies and local authorities have been invited to submit problem statements based on their day-to-day operational challenges. These problem statements will identify areas where AI-based interventions can support automated verification processes, early identification of missing or incorrect information, and timely delivery of benefits to eligible citizens.

Following a detailed scrutiny and evaluation of the submitted problem statements, DITE&C will facilitate the development of AI-powered solutions tailored to the specific needs of departments. Selected solutions will be designed to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen service delivery mechanisms.

The Goa AI Hackathon builds on the success of the Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025, which invited startups and student innovators to address high-impact governance challenges. The initiative received strong participation from across the country, reflecting growing interest in technology-driven public sector innovation.

Through initiatives such as the AI Hackathon, DITE&C continues to advance the vision of a digitally empowered Goa by fostering innovation, encouraging collaboration and integrating emerging technologies to improve public service delivery and governance outcomes.

Travel

MakeMyTrip Introduces Women-Centric Safety and Assurance Signalsin Stayand Bus Bookings

Tanisha Cardozo

MakeMyTrip, India’s leading online travel company, has introduced women-centric safety and assurance signals across accommodation and intercity bus bookings, leveraging artificial intelligence, user-generated content, and partner data to enable more confident travel planning for women.

Insights from platform behaviour indicate that women travellers adopt a more deliberate approach while planning trips. They spend more time reviewing ratings, exploring maps and street views, and examining guest-uploaded photos before confirming bookings. Booking data further reveals that women book 50 percent more stays at least 15 days in advance and show a 16 percent higher preference for premium and branded properties compared to men. This preference becomes more prominent as women travellers move from Tier 1 to Tier 3 cities, where branded accommodations often serve as a key signal of assurance.

Based on these insights, MakeMyTrip now surfaces safety-related cues more prominently when a woman is detected to be planning a stay. Ratings submitted by women are highlighted, while AI-led summaries bring attention to factors such as staff behaviour and location safety during the search process. Women-specific amenity indicators including CCTV, door eye, door chains, and full-length mirrors are also displayed more clearly. Travellers can additionally use the Street View feature to visually assess the surroundings and approach to a property before making a booking decision.

A similar approach has been applied to intercity bus bookings. AI identifies reviews from women-only journeys and filters them based on parameters such as safety, punctuality, and cleanliness, assigning sentiment tags for quicker assessment. For added assurance, when a woman books one side of a double berth, the adjacent berth is automatically restricted to female passengers, reducing mixed proximity—particularly during overnight or long-distance travel.

Commenting on the initiative, Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip, said that women travellers already demonstrate careful and thoughtful planning behaviour. By leveraging rich data and AI, the company aims to simplify this process and enable more informed decision-making.

The initiative is supported by two foundational layers—AI-driven insights drawn from millions of user reviews and behavioural signals, and structured partner data spanning nearly 97,000 accommodation properties and over 3,500 intercity bus operators. Together, these efforts aim to make travel planning clearer, safer, and more reassuring for women across the country.