Efficient Wearable Device Processing

 

Electronic components such as sensors and microcontrollers have become small and inexpensive enough to be integrated into a range of wearable devices, which have potential in areas like health monitoring by collecting and processing data. The information these devices gather can help healthcare professionals detect medical conditions earlier and design treatment plans. While collecting data is largely a solved problem, analyzing it remains challenging because health-related data is complex, making traditional hardcoded algorithms impractical. Machine learning algorithms are often used for their ability to predict and classify patterns.

In wearable devices, low-power microcontrollers struggle to run complex algorithms, quickly hitting resource limits. Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a system called NanoHydra, which allows these processors to run Time Series Classifications efficiently.

Time Series Classification predicts class labels from sequences of time-dependent data, such as ECG signals, brainwave patterns, or accelerometer readings. Traditional deep learning methods like convolutional or recurrent neural networks can handle these tasks but require more memory, energy, and processing power than microcontrollers can provide. NanoHydra reduces computational complexity while maintaining accuracy.

The system builds on methods called ROCKET and HYDRA, which extract features from sensor data using random convolutional kernels. NanoHydra replaces floating-point operations with binary kernels made of +1 and 1 values and substitutes functions like square roots and divisions with arithmetic shifts. This lowers energy use while keeping performance.

The researchers tested NanoHydra on GreenWaves Technologies’ GAP9 microcontroller, a chip with an eight-core cluster designed for parallel processing. By distributing the workload across cores and using SIMD operations to handle multiple data points at once, the system performs efficiently. It can classify a one-second ECG signal in 0.33 milliseconds while using 7.69 microjoules per inference, about 18 times more energy-efficient than previous methods.

NanoHydra maintains accuracy despite low resource use. On the ECG5000 dataset, it reached 94.47 percent classification accuracy, comparable to desktop-class algorithms. The team estimates that a battery-powered wearable using NanoHydra could run continuously for over four years without recharging. With long battery life and strong accuracy, devices using NanoHydra could appeal to users.

BY- Nirosha Gupta ;)

AI For Detecting Hidden Structural Defects

 

Reliability and safety are crucial in industries like semiconductors, energy, automotive, and steel, where tiny cracks or defects can greatly impact performance. Because these flaws are hidden inside materials, non-destructive testing (NDT) has been used to check their condition without causing damage. Still, accurately detecting and mapping internal defects remains very challenging. Signals from physical sensors, like ultrasonic or electromagnetic waves, are often distorted by factors such as geometry, material properties, and real-world conditions. This makes it inherently difficult to pinpoint the location and size of defects accurately.

But what if artificial intelligence (AI) could “see” what humans cannot? Inspired by this idea, a research team in South Korea from Chung-Ang University have developed DiffectNet. This diffusion-enabled conditional target generation network can create high-fidelity, defect-aware ultrasonic images. Their findings were published on 1 November 2025 in Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing.

By overcoming the limitations of traditional methods, AI can elevate the integrity and safety of industrial systems to a new level. The technology represents a fundamental breakthrough, developing generative AI capable of reconstructing hidden cracks inside structures in real time, surpassing the physical limits of conventional approaches.

Accurate AI detection and reconstruction of internal defects can enable accident prevention, even in environments that are difficult or dangerous for humans to access. In power plants, for example, even a tiny crack can trigger catastrophic accidents. AI-based real-time monitoring allows early warnings of potential anomalies, reducing risk.

In semiconductor and advanced manufacturing facilities, AI can virtually reconstruct internal defects without halting equipment, improving quality control while maintaining productivity. The technology can also be applied to real-time monitoring of infrastructure, such as buildings and bridges, supporting smarter and more resilient urban safety management.

These applications illustrate how AI is enabling engineering capabilities once thought impossible. By acting as the “eyes” of structures, AI opens new possibilities for real-time defect reconstruction and prediction in reliability-critical industries, including aerospace, power generation, semiconductor manufacturing, and civil infrastructure.

 BY- Nirosha Gupta

 

 

Ultrasonic Device Pulls Water From Air

 

Communities with little or no reliable drinking water often look to the air as their only source of moisture. Even dry regions hold some humidity, but collecting that water fast enough has been the main barrier. Most atmospheric water-harvesting systems depend on sunlight to heat a material and release the trapped water, which means people may wait hours or days for a cycle.

Researchers at MIT are trying to solve that delay. Instead of waiting for heat, their system uses ultrasonic vibrations to shake water loose from the material that absorbed it. This method recovers water within minutes, making it useful for places that need many collection cycles each day.

The device works by sending high-frequency vibrations into a sorbent—materials that pull moisture from the air. These vibrations match the frequency needed to break the weak bonds that keep water molecules stuck to the surface. Once freed, droplets fall through nozzles into collection containers.

To support use in remote areas, the setup depends on a small power source. A solar cell can provide the needed energy and can also sense when the sorbent is full. This lets the system switch on automatically, release the collected water, and start absorbing again.

The team first assumed the material would absorb moisture at night and release it under heat, but materials that capture water strongly tend to hold onto it for too long. Experience with ultrasound from earlier work led the group to test whether vibrations could break these bonds faster. Tests showed the method to be about 45 times more efficient than solar heating.

At the center of the device is an ultrasonic actuator: a ceramic ring that vibrates when voltage is applied. Around it is a ring with nozzles that guide released droplets. In trials, saturated samples were placed on the actuator and dried within minutes.

Because the approach works with many sorbent materials, it can scale into systems. One option is a window-sized panel that absorbs moisture fast, paired with an actuator powered by short bursts of solar energy. With rapid cycling, such a system could collect more water per day than heat-based designs.

 BY - Nirosha Gupta 

Quantum Processor For Complex Problems

 Quantum computers are built on 300 mm wafers. Teams work together to make quantum chips and test them for the future.

Scaling quantum computers requires treating quantum chips like leading-edge hardware. That means fabricating them to the highest quality standards comparable to those used for production-scale classical computer chips. IBM now reports that its IBM Quantum Loon and IBM Quantum Nighthawk chips, along with all future chips on the IBM Quantum Development Roadmap, are being made using advanced 300 mm semiconductor wafer technology.

IBM quantum processors are built from silicon wafers, much like classical computer chips. Long cylinders of silicon are sliced into thin disks, and engineers use computer software to design electrical circuits. Automated machines then etch, deposit metals, and treat the wafers, producing a grid of chips on each disk. Quantum chips undergo additional custom processing in Yorktown, where multiple chips are layered in a 3D stack and connected to control electronics. Both quantum and classical chips require extremely precise manufacturing and clean-room conditions, since even tiny particles can affect performance.

Quantum chip fabrication differs from classical chips in key ways. Qubits, the building blocks of quantum processors, are highly sensitive and interact in complex ways, requiring new materials, wiring, and assembly methods. The joint Albany-Yorktown team works in tight collaboration, iterating rapidly to design, process, and test chips, including Heron, Nighthawk, and Loon. Wafers are processed on 300 mm tools, sometimes reduced to 200 mm for custom steps, then assembled and tested in dilution refrigerators.

The 300 mm fab allows researchers to explore more designs faster, reducing cycle times and enabling rapid iteration. Success comes not just from the tools but from the tightly integrated team, combining expertise across semiconductor engineering and quantum physics. This collaboration has established IBM’s leadership in quantum computing and laid the foundation for future chips like Kookaburra, Cockatoo, Starling, and Blue Jay. The journey continues, with the team prepared to tackle the next generation of challenges.

BY - Nirosha Gupta 

Magnetic Fields Boost Power In Soft Robots

 Soft robots can move through tight spaces to perform tasks like growing corals in labs or inspecting pipes in chemical plants. Giving them “embodied intelligence,” where sensing, movement, and power work together untethered, is still difficult. Flexible materials let robots bend, but their power sources cannot. Standard batteries can stiffen the body, drain quickly, or fail under strain, keeping robots tethered or short-lived.

Researchers at the National University of Singapore found a way to turn this problem into an advantage. Their study in Science Advances shows that the magnetic fields used to control soft robots can also boost the performance of the batteries inside them.

The team built flexible zinc-manganese dioxide (Zn-MnO₂) batteries in silicone and stacked them vertically inside a manta ray–inspired robot body. Vertical stacking saves space and keeps the robot flexible. The manta ray design allows coordinated movement, sensing, and energy use in a compact layout.

Tests showed that magnetic fields from the robot’s actuators stabilized battery chemistry, reduced dendrite growth, and maintained energy output under bending and stress. With magnetic enhancement, batteries retained 57.3% capacity after 200 cycles, nearly double that of unenhanced batteries. The effect comes from redirecting zinc ions for even deposition and aligning electron spins in the manganese oxide lattice to prevent crystal damage. This dual stabilization offers a way to provide durable onboard power.

To demonstrate the approach, a manta ray robot was built with flexible batteries, magnetic actuators, and a hybrid circuit for sensing and wireless communication. Its fins flap in response to magnetic fields, enabling movement across water surfaces. The same fields that drive motion also enhance battery stability. The robot can swim, turn, follow complex paths, and send data to a digital twin system.

The robot responds to obstacles autonomously. Inertial sensors detect acceleration changes, prompting adjustments in orientation and navigation. Feedback algorithms correct yaw, pitch, and roll caused by waves or contact, while temperature sensors map environmental conditions. Vertical integration of actuation, sensing, and power maximizes space without reducing flexibility, allowing the robot to move, sense, and respond in real time.

Future plans include adding miniature sensors, such as ultrasonic and chemical detectors, and applying magnetic enhancement to other battery types or forms like wearable fibers. The goal is soft robots that operate autonomously in complex or inaccessible spaces, from pipeline inspection to marine monitoring or medical tasks, achieving energy-efficient embodied intelligence inspired by natural designs.

BY : Nirosha Gupta

DigiKey Now Offering Arduino UNO Q

 Arduino UNO Q combines a powerful microprocessor with a dedicated microcontroller for innovative development capabilities

DigiKey, the leading global electronic components and automation products distributor, announces the just-released Arduino UNO Q is available for preorder through the DigiKey website. The cutting-edge new generation of development boards combines a powerful microprocessor with graphic acceleration and a dedicated microcontroller for streamlined product development.

Whether you need a powerful microprocessor, precise microcontroller, or both, the new UNO Q is the perfect platform for your next innovation. It combines a Linux Debian MPU with a real-time MCU in one unit. The MPU delivers Linux-class computing for high-level tasks such as running AI inference, managing multimedia, and handling advanced connectivity. The MCU ensures deterministic real-time control for timing-critical operations like motor actuation, sensor polling, or low-latency signal processing. The dual-brain subsystems are tightly integrated through Arduino’s RPC framework, Bridge, which allows seamless communication between them.

“We’re honored to be one of the first distributors to carry Arduino’s innovative UNO Q,” said Mike Slater, vice president of global business development for DigiKey. “This distribution partnership underscores our commitment to delivering the latest new product introductions (NPIs) to our customers and validates DigiKey’s global market leadership. We look forward to playing a key role in the successful launch of the UNO Q and ensuring its impact is felt throughout the industry.”

The UNO Q comes preloaded with the all-in-one development environment, Arduino App Lab, which unifies Arduino sketches, Python scripts and containerized AI models into fully integrated applications, all managed from a single interface. The Arduino App Lab enables the seamless creation and deployment of projects that combine real-time control with advanced processing, redefining how developers, educators and innovators build applications across embedded systems, Linux and edge AI.

“By partnering with Arduino on the launch and distribution of the UNO Q, we are empowering our broad, global customer base with the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ for all developers,” said David Sandys, senior director of technical enablement & engagement for DigiKey. “The powerful multi-tool will assist in development for educators, makers and startups all the way to enterprise-level customers.”

By : Nirosha Gupta ;)

IIT Bombay and Vertiv have announced a strategic

IIT Bombay and Vertiv have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing cooling solutions for AI-driven computing workloads in data centers, an increasingly critical area as India accelerates its digital and technological progress. This collaboration builds on Vertiv’s existing partnerships across various educational institutes and IITs across the country where we are developing the skilled workforce required for the operation and maintenance of data centers and helping the industry bridge its talent gap. As AI reshapes industries ranging from healthcare and manufacturing to financial services and urban development, the demand for dependable, high-performance computing infrastructure has increased significantly. Managing this surge requires fresh thinking, strong engineering foundations, and ollaborative innovation between industry and academia.

Speaking about the collaboration, Dr. A. S. Prasad, Vice President – Product Management and Engineering, Vertiv, said, “At Vertiv, we design and deliver critical power and cooling infrastructure for some of the world’s largest data centers and telecom networks. With decades of real-world experience keeping mission-critical systems running 24×7 across 130+ countries, we are happy to collaborate closely with Professor M. V. Rane from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay,  one of India’s foremost experts in refrigeration and thermal systems. By combining his IIT Bombay’s deep scientific insights with Vertiv’s global engineering expertise and our real-time learnings from thousands of operating data centers, this collaboration will help prepare the next generation to be better equipped with industry-relevant knowledge. This is how we ensure that tomorrow’s thermal engineers, data center architects, and technology leaders carry both academic excellence and industry intuition in their DNA.

This partnership between Vertiv and IIT Bombay draws on the strengths of both institutions to address emerging challenges and prepare the next generation of engineers for the evolving digital landscape. Formalizing the initiative, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, and Mr. Subhasis Majumdar, Managing Director at Vertiv India, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing India’s technological capabilities in line with the nation’s Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.

The technology being used in the current project collaboration is IIT Bombay’s Rotating Contacting Disk (RCD) system. It has substantially lower air-side pressure drops than conventional pad-type precoolers—reducing fan power and noise while improving Water Utilization Efficiency. It enables higher cycles of concentration and opens up the possibility to use recycled water or even seawater. IIT Bombay’s patented RCD technology, developed under Prof. M V Rane is already licensed for Wastewater Vapourization and CO₂ Scrubbing. It has also been demonstrated as an energy efficient cooling tower with diverse applications, delivering up to 4× energy savings in fan power while delivering better approach.

Commenting on the partnership, Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, said, “Our collaboration with Vertiv enables us to take research from labs to solutions with direct industrial relevance. As AI and high-performance computing systems evolve, there is a pressing need for approaches that are both technically robust and future ready. This initiative provides our students and researchers with an opportunity to work at the intersection of innovation and real-world application. Because when industry brings real-world experience and academia brings fearless curiosity, the result is always greater than the sum of its parts.”

The Vertiv-IIT Bombay partnership is designed to create long-term impact by giving students and researchers hands-on exposure to real engineering challenges, industry mentorship, and deeper engagement with emerging digital infrastructure technologies. Both organizations are aligned in their vision to model how academia and industry can work together to address complex engineering problems while contributing to India’s long-term digital ambitions. Vertiv will also explore new avenues of engagement across power, cooling and infrastructure domains to deepen this collaboration and drive innovation that benefits both the industry and society at large.

By NIROSHA GUPTA

Paytm, India’s payment pioneer, has introduced ‘Gold Coins’

Paytm, India’s payment pioneer, has introduced ‘Gold Coins’ on its app, helping consumers build long-term savings through everyday mobile payments. Through this one-of-a-kind initiative, users earn assured ‘Gold Coins’ on every payment made through the Paytm app, which can be redeemed for digital gold, encouraging responsible financial habits and contributing to a culture of long-term saving and wealth creation.

According to a Morgan Stanley report, Indian households now hold $3.8 trillion worth of gold, accounting for almost 89% of the country’s GDP, showcasing the generational trust on the asset. Paytm is tapping into India’s growing trust in gold with ‘Gold Coins’, giving users an easy way to keep investing even as prices rise.

These coins are rewarded across all mobile payments through the app including, Scan & Pay- based QR payments, money transfers, recharges, bill payments, and any other UPI payment use-cases. Further, users can also earn Paytm Gold Coins when paying with credit cards, debit cards or net banking. Users paying with RuPay credit cards receive double Gold Coins on the Paytm app

Here’s a quick summary of everything you need to know to make the most of the Paytm Gold Coins Program.

Earning Your Coins:

What You Earn: Get 1% in gold coins on every successful Paytm payment.

Earn Double: Get 2% in gold coins when you pay with a credit card or “Credit Card on UPI.”

How to Claim: After each payment, claim your coins by scratching the card on the confirmation screen.

When They Appear: Coins are usually instant but can take up to 24 hours to reflect in your balance.

Redeeming Your Gold:

What You Get: 100 gold coins = ₹1 worth of 24K digital gold.

Minimum to Redeem: You can convert your coins into real digital gold once you have at least 1,500 gold coins.

Important Rules to Know:

Eligibility: All registered Paytm users (18+ Indian citizens) are automatically eligible.

Scratch Card Validity: Unclaimed scratch cards expire 30 days after they are issued.

Coins Validity: Your collected gold coins expire 12 months after you earn them.

Daily Limit: You can earn a maximum of 6,000 gold coins per day.

Monthly Limit: You can earn a maximum of 50,000 gold coins per month.

P2P Transfer Limits: For sending money to others, you can earn coins on up to 10 transactions per day and 100 per month.

Successful Payments Only: No coins are awarded for failed or pending transactions

Turn Your Daily Spends into Digital Gold with Paytm’s Gold Coins Program

Still stuck with a payment app that doesn’t reward you? In a world where digital transactions are the new norm, what if every UPI money transfer or bill payment could bring you closer to a tangible asset? Paytm turns this idea into reality with its gold coins Program, a rewards system that converts your everyday spending into real, 24K digital gold.

This unique loyalty program ingeniously transforms your routine digital payments into a valuable investment. Every time you transact, you earn gold coins that accumulate in your account, ready to be converted into secure digital gold. It’s more than just another rewards scheme—it’s a simple, seamless way to build your assets with the money you’re already spending.

What Are Paytm Gold Coins?

Paytm gold coins are a digital rewards currency earned on transactions within the Paytm app. Unlike standard cashback, which provides a cash-equivalent balance, gold coins have a singular purpose: they are designed exclusively to be redeemed for 24K digital gold, allowing users to build a tangible asset from their everyday spending.

Key Features of the Program:

Conversion Rate: The program operates on a fixed value where 100 gold coins can be redeemed for ₹1 worth of 24K digital gold.

Asset Purity and Security: The redeemed digital gold is 99.99% pure and is securely stored in 100% insured vaults managed by MMTC-PAMP, India’s only internationally accredited refinery.

Automatic Participation: Eligible users earn gold coins automatically on successful transactions without needing to manually enroll or opt into the program.

Post-Redemption Options: Once coins are converted into digital gold, the user owns the asset and has the flexibility to either hold it as a long-term investment or sell it on the Paytm platform at live market rates.

By Advik Gupta 

The expanded B850 Series is engineered for gamers, creators, and PC

 Colorful Technology Company Limited, a leading brand in gaming PC components, gaming laptops, and HiFi audio products, today announced three new additions to its B850 motherboard family: the CVN B850M ARK FROZEN, BATTLE-AX B850M-PLUS S WIFI7, and COLORFIRE B850M-MEOW WIFI7. These new models bring enhanced power delivery, upgraded connectivity, and signature COLORFUL design identities to meet the performance needs of next-generation AMD Ryzen processors.

The expanded B850 Series is engineered for gamers, creators, and PC enthusiasts seeking powerful performance and distinctive visual design. A key highlight of this launch is the much-anticipated COLORFIRE MEOW Series motherboard for AMD Ryzen users, now built on the AMD B850 chipset and refreshed with a new white color scheme, cat-inspired accents, and the playful MEOW aesthetic that defines the series.

Each of the new B850 motherboards delivers robust support for AMD Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 Series processors, high-speed DDR5 memory, and advanced thermal and aesthetic designs unique to their respective product lines.

COLORFIRE B850M-MEOW WIFI7 brings the signature MEOW aesthetic to the B850 lineup with a warm white painted heatsink armor and an iridescent nameplate featuring the minimalist MEOW logo. This model includes a custom BIOS themed after the MEOW series, adding a playful personality to technical system controls.

It features a 10+2+1 (55 A) power phase design, four DDR5 alloy memory slots, and a 5G + Wi-Fi 7 gaming network solution, allowing users to switch effortlessly between casual "cyber cat" computing and high-performance gaming.

Key Features

Custom frost heatsinks with full-cover condenser for improved cooling.

Custom MEOW-themed BIOS UI

10+2+1 enhanced power phase design with 55 A DrMOS and F.C.C ferrite chokes.

One PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slot plus one PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot.

Rear USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C (5 Gbps) and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps) high-speed ports.

Realtek 5G LAN + WiFi 7 with Bluetooth 5.4.

iGame Center lighting control support for radiator, fan, and memory effects.

Rear I/O one-click BIOS upgrade support.

Colorful has unveiled two new motherboards in its CVN series — the B850 “Battle-Ax” and “Meow” models — as part of its growing AM5 product stack. These boards are built around the B850 chipset and are compatible with AM5 socket CPUs from the Ryzen 7000 lineup and likely future Zen-based processors. By introducing these models, Colorful addresses a segment of the market that may not require high-end motherboards but still wants stable AM5 compatibility and modern platform essentials.

The “Battle-Ax” and “Meow” boards represent a tiered approach to AM5 motherboards. Rather than offering only high-end and feature-heavy boards, Colorful provides scaled options so that builders can match motherboard capabilities with system needs — whether a simple desktop, a budget gaming rig, or a capable mid-range build. Key differentiators likely include power delivery robustness, connectivity (USB, PCIe, storage), and design/style orientation, giving flexibility to choose what matters most for your build.

COLORFUL has expanded its AMD B850 motherboard lineup with three new models aimed at supporting “next-generation AMD Ryzen processors.” Hard to say if this is indeed a hint of what’s to come or simply something lost in translation, but the three models introduced today include CVN B850M ARK FROZEN, BATTLE-AX B850M-PLUS S WIFI7, and COLORFIRE B850M-MEOW WIFI7, each with different aesthetic approach and feature set.

The COLORFIRE B850M-MEOW WIFI7 extends the feline-themed MEOW lineup to the B850 platform, adopting a white color scheme with cat-inspired elements and a custom BIOS user interface. This micro-ATX motherboard uses a 10+2+1 stage VRM rated at 55A per stage, along with 5GbE LAN and Wi-Fi 7 for connectivity. The model also supports PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0 M.2 storage, along with system lighting control through iGame Center, while offering one-click BIOS updates via the rear I/O.

The second model is the COLORFUL CVN B850M ARK FROZEN, positioned for users requiring stronger overclocking capability – it featuring a more robust 14+2+1 stage VRM with 80A DrMOS power, along with a hardware clock generator for base clock (BCLK) overclocking. It offers memory overclocking support up to DDR5-8400 speeds, and includes three M.2 slots plus four SATA ports for storage expansion. Connectivity is provided through 2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4, complemented by a front USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port with 30W power delivery.

Finally, the COLORFUL BATTLE-AX B850M-PLUS S WIFI7 introduces a revised black heatsink design with a layered, angular appearance, but are otherwise the same as the COLORFIRE MEOW model: this means it gets the same 55A 10+2+1 stage VRM, PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0 M.2 support, 5GbE LAN and Wi-Fi 7 with Bluetooth 5.4 for connectivity. Like the other models, it supports lighting adjustments through iGame Center and provides a one-click BIOS update on the rear I/O.

Pokdepinion: Another motherboard with external clock generator – I suppose this is where AMD motherboard development are heading next.

By Advik Gupta

 

 

Fujitsu will continue to expand the Japan Edition of SAP Fioneer

The platform is enhanced with Fujitsu's unique developments, including functions, templates, and external data linkage capabilities that address specific Japanese market processes and legal regulations. As a first step, the platform will primarily feature common functions and business processes, such as language settings, along with capabilities specifically for automobile insurance, a high-demand area for both agency-based and online insurance.

Fujitsu will continue to expand the Japan Edition of SAP Fioneer Cloud for Insurance to support various types of insurance, including automobile insurance. This expansion will drive product, channel, and process transformation, as well as strengthen governance within the Japanese insurance industry

Through the provision of financial industry-focused initiatives with Uvance, Fujitsu will help to enhance the operations of financial institutions and advance the realization of a more prosperous society.

1. This platform offers add-on functionalities, including product templates aligned with Japanese insurance structures, standard business processes from quotation to renewal management, legal compliance, and custom applications, including those for grade-based systems and various surcharges/discounts in automobile insurance.

2. Providing additional add-on functionalities like integrated front-end screens for insurance companies and agencies as well as data creation for external linkage.

Improve maintainability

1. Standardized functions required by the Japanese insurance industry to minimize the need for individual customization.

2. Local support in Japan offered by Fujitsu to ensure meticulous service delivery.

The rise of the digitally native generation, in addition to the emergence of fintech, has seen the Japanese insurance industry undergo a transformation. Adapting to the evolving times, Fujitsu, the digital transformation company, has partnered with SAP Fioneer, the financial services software provider.

Customer expectations are becoming more demanding, not just in Japan, but the whole world. To ensure that they are positioned for sustainable success, insurers need to address critical challenges hindering the ability to cater to customer demands. They must accelerate digital transformation to enhance compliance and operational efficiency. In doing so, they will be able to tackle challenges like outdated and opaque legacy systems and a shortage of skilled IT professionals.

Under the new collaboration, Fujitsu and SAP Fioneer will collaborate on product planning, development, and marketing. This also includes the development of the Japan Edition of SAP Fioneer Cloud for Insurance, an end-to-end cloud-based platform that packages core insurance services and combines localised business content with global industry best practices.

Masaru Yagi, corporate executive officer, EVP, vice head of global customer success, Fujitsu Limited comments: “We are excited to start a partnership with SAP Fioneer. The collaboration marks a pivotal moment in our efforts to drive digital transformation (DX) for our financial customers.

“By merging SAP Fioneer’s cutting-edge financial services solutions with Fujitsu’s unparalleled expertise and quality in system development for the financial sector, we are poised to deliver groundbreaking and efficient solutions like never before. Through this partnership, we will closely collaborate with SAP Fioneer from product planning to development and marketing, and advance DX in the financial industry.”

The Japan Edition of SAP Fioneer Cloud for Insurance

With the Japan Edition of SAP Fioneer Cloud for Insurance that Fujitsu plans to provide, customers will be able to standardise core insurance operations and systems. This includes:

By Advik Gupta

Streamlined data management and collection is another prerequisite for AI

Last month, Kyndryl released a report highlighting a significant rise in pressure for business leaders to prove positive return on investment in relation to AI, as AI expenditure was found to be up 33pc compared to last year.

The second edition of the Kyndryl Readiness Report – which gathered responses from 3,700 senior leaders across 21 countries – found that 61pc of business leaders are feeling more pressure to prove their AI investments compared to a year ago, with more than half (54pc) reporting positive returns.

While the report found that overall AI readiness has increased since last year’s survey – with 36pc reporting complete readiness – 62pc said that their AI projects haven’t advanced beyond the pilot stage.

Momentum.io: The AI Driving Sales Execution

One of the AI-driven tools making this possible is Momentum.io. Both Kyle and Nate are power users.

Instead of relying on manual tracking, Momentum automates deal intelligence, risk alerts, and CRM data entry—allowing Ramp’s revenue teams to focus on execution instead of admin work and becoming the data pipeline for the go-to-market and revenue teams and leadership.

Let’s break down exactly how it works in action.

1. AI-Driven Deal Risk Alerts: Saving Deals Before They’re Lost

Sales leaders always want to catch at-risk deals before they slip away. However, manually tracking buyer engagement signals across sales calls, emails, and meetings in a fast-paced sales cycle isn’t scalable.

Ramp solved this problem with Momentum’s AI-powered risk alerts.

“We really want to catch those deals before we lose them. So now, if a buyer is disengaged—camera off, vague objections, noncommittal language—Momentum automatically pings the manager in Slack to step in before it’s too late.”

We at Empower AI want agencies to solve problems sooner, not later. So we've built accelerators that reduce time to value, minimize technical debt, and accelerate mission outcomes. Empower AI has designed accelerators tailored to specific agency needs, including:

Predictive IT. This leverages historical and real-time data, machine learning and predictive analytics to proactively forecast and resolve issues before they happen

Agentic AI. Going beyond rules-based automation, this uses a large language model (LLM) to automate complex tasks, adapt to dynamic environments, and optimize outcomes using real-time data and predefined objectives.

GovQuery. Using a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) LLM, this on-demand data search capability results in precise, contextual answers with citations within government-controlled systems

AI Readiness. With multiple tool sets that prepare an agency’s infrastructure, data, and workflows for AI models, along with training, Empower AI ensures agencies are prepared to benefit from AI

Unlike standalone AI tools, Empower AI’s accelerator approach integrates seamlessly into an agency’s current technology environment, ensuring maximum adoption and usability.

Streamlined data management and collection is another prerequisite for AI in IT operations, according to Ari Silverman, director of platform automation and enterprise architecture at OCC, an equity derivatives clearing organization in Chicago. Silverman's team uses LogicMonitor as an AIOps monitoring tool, primarily for predictive analytics and automated capacity planning and management.

"You have to be able to connect to all your different systems and pull data from all those systems into one central location for it be analyzed," he said. This pooled and synthesized information enables a team to better identify correlations between application performance and the IT infrastructure that drives it.

By - Aaradhay Sharma

Kaspersky Industrial CyberSecurity (KICS), a native Extended Detection and Response (XDR) platform

This update expands cross-platform Extended Detection and Response capabilities, streamlines security settings management and provides deeper understanding of network activity. These enhancements enable faster threat detection, easier configuration control, and greater operational efficiency.

Recent findings from Kaspersky ICS CERT reveal that malicious objects were blocked on 20.5% of ICS computers in the second half of 2025. This figure underscores a quite high volume of cybersecurity threats facing industrial environments today and highlights the urgent need for organizations to implement comprehensive protection strategies to safeguard their critical assets and processes. In response to the increasing demand for enhanced cybersecurity, Kaspersky has upgraded its flagship solution for industrial environments.

The company offers a distinctive ecosystem that seamlessly integrates dedicated OT-grade technologies, expert knowledge and invaluable expertise. At the core of this ecosystem lies Kaspersky Industrial CyberSecurity (KICS), a native Extended Detection and Response (XDR) platform designed for critical infrastructure protection. Developed to comprehensively secure the industrial automation and control systems it consists of KICS for Nodes that is aimed at endpoints of distributed control systems and KICS for Networks that monitors automation system network security.

New hardware models now available[1]

KESR Model 1-GA: Tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, this entry-level model delivers reliable performance at an attractive price point, making it an ideal choice for growing organizations seeking cost-effective solutions.

KESR Model 2-GL: Offering the perfect balance between price and performance, this model is suitable for both medium and large enterprises aiming to optimize their network infrastructure without compromise.

DNS conditional forwarder

This feature allows DNS requests to be forwarded to different servers based on specific conditions. This capability streamlines management of geographically distributed networks, reduces response times and ensures faster access to critical services across multiple locations.

Troubleshooting tools for routing protocols

Now companies can simplify network management with centralized troubleshooting for BGP and OSPF protocols. They can specify detailed debug parameters with filters, significantly easing the debugging process. This advancement reduces reliance on direct remote console access, enabling quicker diagnosis and resolution of routing issues.

#  Scheduled active polling and automated network topology visualization

KICS provides a topology map that displays real-time information about asset connections and manages security state changes for devices without installed agents, such as computers and switches. Active polling tasks now support scheduling, to automate the creation of this map and keep connection data, asset attributes and security settings up to date. Each scheduled run is supplemented with a detailed report, including query results and any identified issues.

# Increased capabilities to detect anomalies in digital substations

KICS for Networks now supports the import of SCD (substation configuration description) files[2] to analyze configurations, the extraction of asset attributes, and the review of IEC 61850 settings. It also provides a report of identified errors and misconfigurations. By monitoring substation networks based on reference configurations it enables the detection of unauthorized network connections, anomalous activity, and failures or errors in IEC 61850 communications. This indicates improper operation or equipment misconfigurations.

To keep your OT computers protected from various threats, Kaspersky experts recommend:

Conducting regular security assessments of OT systems to identify and eliminate possible cyber security issues.

Establishing continuous vulnerability assessment and triage as a basement for effective vulnerability management process. Dedicated solutions like Kaspersky Industrial CyberSecurity may become an efficient assistant and a source of unique actionable information, not fully available in public.

Performing timely updates for the key components of the enterprise’s OT network; applying security fixes and patches or implementing compensating measures as soon as it is technically possible is crucial for preventing a major incident that might cost millions due to the interruption of the production process.

Using EDR solutions such as Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response for timely detection of sophisticated threats, investigation, and effective remediation of incidents.

Improving the response to new and advanced malicious techniques by building and strengthening your teams’ incident prevention, detection, and response skills. Dedicated OT security trainings for IT security teams and OT personnel is one of the key measures helping to achieve this.

By - Aaradhay Sharma

Employee misuse of AI tools compounds these risks

 Artificial intelligence is now an imperative part of our life, shaping all sectors and avenues. Be it finance, healthcare, communications or manufacturing, AI is an integral part of everything. Like anything else, it hinges on a critical factor: trust. For global enterprises shaping commerce, building confidence in AI is paramount not just ethically but also to define adoption, reputation, and long-term value.

Comprehensive transparency

It is difficult to trust what you don’t understand, which is why AI has a perception of a black-box nature. Algorithms that influence decisions are Latin to the consumer as long as organizations don’t explain them in clear and comprehensible terms. Clarity on how conclusions are reached is important and is easily achieved when enterprises give the AI users clear vision into its working. This means transparent documentation on data sources, model design, and the limitations of responsible AI systems.

The AI revolution is a trust revolution. AI, including generative AI and AI agents, is one of the most transformative technologies of our time — on the scale of mobile and the internet. It has the potential to drive organizational success, elevate creativity, amplify productivity, reshape industries, and enhance the human experience. When done right, it’s about amplifying our potential, increasing efficiencies, and accelerating the velocity of wise decision-making.

AI can now help us do everything from writing emails to hailing a rideshare. And the platforms we are building for customers and partners expand AI use cases even further. But the transformative power of AI extends far beyond efficiency and convenience gains.

A few years back, Amazon was trying to build an experimental AI-based recruiting engine that would review job applicants’ resumes and rate them on a scale of 1 to 5. The e-commerce company later abandoned the tool when it discovered that it was not assessing candidates in a gender-neutral manner. It was clearly biased against female candidates. The incident shows the significance of trust in successfully implementing AI.

To build trustworthy AI, enterprises should maintain an equilibrium between driving innovation and protecting their valuable information. They need detailed data governance, security measures, and ethical guidelines. This balancing act becomes vital as organizations build advanced AI systems that process sensitive information and provide recommendations that affect core operations.

This article explores how businesses can build AI systems that earn trust. We identify common pitfalls associated with AI, such as biased algorithms and insecure models. We also talk about practical steps to ensure transparency, security, and compliance while implementing AI.

Why Trust in AI Systems Matters for Enterprise Success?

Trust forms the foundation of effective AI implementation in enterprise environments. AI systems trained on flawed, incomplete, or biased training data produce compromised outputs that may lead to regulatory backlash or customer distrust. Often, AI models work like a "black box"; they make decisions through complex processes that developers find difficult to understand. This trust gap drives skepticism: in KPMG's "Trust in Artificial Intelligence" survey, 61% of respondents expressed ambivalence or unwillingness to trust AI.

Common Risks with AI and Enterprise Data

AI's integration with enterprise data creates a complex risk profile that organizations must handle with care. Business operations now depend more on AI, making technical and operational vulnerabilities bigger problems.

1. Bias and Discrimination

AI learns from its training data; systems trained on biased or unrepresentative data could exacerbate existing prejudices. These biases reflect the non-objective view of programmers baked into machine learning algorithms. The problem runs deeper than most realize. Biased AI affects real people through skewed hiring decisions, healthcare diagnostics that work better for some groups than others, and predictive policing tools that unfairly target systematically marginalized communities.

In one of their recent publications, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has rightly pointed out that addressing AI bias requires more than just technical solutions. We need to consider the broader societal context in which these systems operate.

2. Data Security Breaches

Enterprise AI systems introduce new attack vectors that hackers can exploit. Bad actors now manipulate AI tools to clone voices, create fake identities, and craft convincing phishing emails—all designed to scam, hack, or compromise security.

“Despite AI's rapid adoption, only 24% of these initiatives have adequate security measures, leaving sensitive data and AI models vulnerable to tampering.”

Employee misuse of AI tools compounds these risks. Most workplace usage of major AI tools happens through personal accounts rather than company-approved channels. Samsung learned this lesson the hard way when it banned ChatGPT and other AI tools after its employees accidentally leaked confidential source code through public prompts.

3. Disinformation

AI systems sometimes generate convincing yet false information—what experts call hallucinations. These range from minor factual errors to entirely fabricated information that seems plausible but has no basis in reality.

"The World Economic Forum's 2024 Global Risks Report shows that experts from academia, business, government, and other organizations see AI-powered misinformation as the biggest short-term global risk that will widen existing societal and political divides.”

Generative AI, in particular, creates massive amounts of convincing content quickly and cost-effectively, bringing new challenges. In most cases, average people often can't tell the difference between AI-generated content and human-created work. AI also creates deepfakes—realistic manipulated media that can fake people's actions or statements. These tools enable targeted disinformation campaigns that sway public opinion and damage trust in real information sources.

By Advik Gupta

 

Biodegradable Battery For Wearables

Imagine a battery can bend, stretch, and break down safely after use. It could power wearables and medical devices while cutting down electronic waste.

Battery waste from wearable devices and medical implants is a growing problem, creating an urgent need for sustainable alternatives. Researchers at McGill University’s Trottier Institute for Sustainability in Engineering and Design have developed a new eco-friendly battery that could power these devices while safely decomposing in the environment.

The battery is made from citric acids, gelatin, and biodegradable metals, replacing heavy-metal electrodes commonly used in conventional batteries. Magnesium and molybdenum, often used in biodegradable battery concepts, degrade more easily than heavy metals but typically show lower performance. Previous magnesium-based designs faced a barrier layer on the metal that reduced voltage and battery life. To overcome this, the team used naturally occurring citric and lactic acids mixed with gelatin, preventing the reaction-blocking layer and improving both output and longevity.

To make the battery flexible, the acids were suspended in gelatin, creating a soft, stretchable electrolyte. The battery was then cut in a kirigami pattern, a geometric design that allows materials to expand and twist without tearing. This structure enables the battery to stretch up to 80 percent without losing performance.

In testing, the battery powered a pressure sensor, delivering about 1.3 volts—slightly below a standard AA battery but sufficient for wearable electronics. The design is suited for soft wearables, implantable medical devices, and flexible IoT sensors.

The researchers are now seeking industry partners to advance the technology, with goals to miniaturize the battery for implants, enhance performance, and integrate it with fully biodegradable circuits. The work addresses the growing problem of electronic waste by providing a sustainable alternative to traditional batteries, offering both functionality and environmental benefits.

BY: Nirosha Gupta ;)

PORTIQ takes versatility further with OTG functionality

Elegant HUB with a USB plug and four USB 3.0 connectors. A sensational gadget that will expand the capabilities of your laptop or smartphone (to connect the HUB to the phone you need an OTG adapter) with completely new functions. It will allow you to connect to them, inter alia, flash drives or external drives, as well as charge the equipment at express speed and use a projector or TV screen. Perfect for people who have all ports on their computer full.

USB for everyone! - HUB extends the number of USB connectors on your computer by as many as 4 additional ports ! With this amount, you can connect everything you want to it, and probably some more will remain.

Feel the power of USB 3.0 - 4 USB 3.0 connectors guaranteeing lightning-fast data transmission at the level of 5 Gbps . More than 10 times faster than its predecessor.

Highest efficiency - Each connector is controlled by a separate chip that manages its functions . This solution is a guarantee of the highest efficiency of the accessory, regardless of the number of devices connected to it.

The new technologies were showcased at a special event hosted in Berlin. Highlights include the newly designed ThinkPad™ P16 Gen 3 mobile workstation featuring the latest Intel® Core™ Ultra 200HX series processors with up to 24 cores and an integrated NPU for fast and efficient AI processing, and the ThinkVision™ P40WD-40 curved ultrawide display engineered for a superior professional visual experience. Lenovo also highlighted, as part of their latest docking solutions, the new ThinkPad Thunderbolt™ 5 Smart Dock 7500, featuring increased speed and power to elevate workspaces, as well as other additions to the ThinkPad Smart Dock portfolio. Together, these products form a cohesive power-user ecosystem to supercharge workflows.

Other new product highlights include the ThinkPad P1 Gen 8, ThinkPad P16v Gen 3, and the ThinkPad P16s i Gen 4, and ThinkPad P14s i Gen 6 mobile workstations, and a striking new look for the ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition, available soon in a stylish Glacier White color.

MULTIX is a compact and practical option featuring three USB 2.0 ports, RJ45 100Mbps support, and plug-and-play setup. Its plastic body and lightweight design make it an ideal everyday companion for professionals on the move.

PLUGGO features USB 3.0 (480Mbps) data transfer, overcurrent and short-circuit protection, and Type-C to USB 3.0 connectivity. With a sleek metallic body and plug-and-play functionality, it offers safety and speed in one.

PORTIQ takes versatility further with OTG functionality, USB 3.0 (480Mbps) transfer speeds, instant and overcurrent protection, and multi-OS support — including Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. Its handy, lightweight build makes it perfect for both smartphones and laptops.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Yogesh Agrawal, CMD & Co-Founder, Consistent Infosystems, said, “At Consistent, our goal is to make technology that adds real value to people’s lives. This new USB hub range represents our commitment to delivering performance, reliability, and ease of use — empowering users to connect and work effortlessly across devices.”

With this launch, Consistent Infosystems further strengthens its leadership in the IT hardware and accessories segment, offering innovative connectivity solutions designed to enhance efficiency and simplify digital workflows for professionals, businesses, and everyday users alike.

By - Aaradhay Sharma

The arrests mark a significant escalation in the government’s scrutiny of India’s online gaming industry

Kaspersky reports that in 2025, cybercriminals continued to use seasonal shopping periods to distribute phishing pages and fraudulent promotions aimed at collecting personal and payment information. Gaming platforms also remained a prominent target throughout the year, a press release said.

Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) reports that from January through October 2025 it blocked 6,394,854 phishing attempts impersonating online stores, banks and payment systems, with 48.2% targeting online shoppers. Over the same period, the company identified more than 20 million attempted attacks on gaming platforms, including 18.56 million abusing Discord. Black Friday-related spam remained a major driver: in the first two weeks of November, Kaspersky detected 146,535 spam emails mentioning seasonal sales, including 2,572 tied to Single’s Day. Many reused templates from previous years and impersonated Amazon, Walmart and Alibaba. Phishing abusing entertainment platforms also surged, with 801,148 Netflix-themed and 576,873 Spotify-related attempts recorded in 2025.

Threats extended beyond e-commerce to gaming systems such as Steam, PlayStation and Xbox, with 2,054,336 phishing attempts detected. Malware disguised as gaming software also rose significantly to 20,188,897 attempted infections, with Discord representing 18,556,566 detections, more than 14 times higher than in 2024.

Technical Breakdown: How Attacks Unfold

Phishing and financial scams were among the most impactful threats observed. Kaspersky’s telemetry shows that 48.2% of shopping-related attacks targeted online shoppers, a notable increase from last year.

These campaigns involve convincing fake websites that mimic well-known stores, payment pages, and even banking interfaces.

Attackers use cloned designs, realistic-looking spam emails, and enticing Black Friday discounts to trick users into giving up personal credentials or payment information.

Amazon-themed phishing attacks peaked at over 600,000 attempts, while other major brands like Alibaba, eBay, and Walmart also saw thousands of impersonation campaigns.

In addition to retail platforms, cybercriminals targeted subscription-based services such as Netflix and Spotify, exploiting their popularity during sales periods.

Staggering Attack Numbers Revealed

Between January and October 2025, Kaspersky identified nearly 4 million phishing attacks targeting users of online stores, payment systems, and banks. The findings paint a concerning picture of the current threat landscape:

48.21% of financial phishing attacks targeted online shoppers, up significantly from 37.5% in 2024.

Over 146,000 Black Friday-themed spam messages were blocked in just the first two weeks of November.

More than 2 million phishing attacks specifically targeted online gaming platforms.

Approximately 1.09 million banking Trojan attacks were recorded during the 2025 Black Friday season.

Gaming platform attacks surged to over 20 million attempts, with Discord-disguised attacks increasing 14-fold year-over-year.

The arrests mark a significant escalation in the government’s scrutiny of India’s online gaming industry, which has been under the scanner for alleged tax evasion, dubious payment flows, and compliance failures. Both WinZO and Gameskraft have previously faced regulatory challenges, including GST disputes and questions over the legality of their gaming formats.

The ED is expected to summon additional executives and financial partners as the investigation widens. Meanwhile, the arrests have sent shockwaves across the booming real-money gaming sector, raising concerns about tighter regulations and increased enforcement action in the months ahead.

By - Aaradhay Sharma

A Smarter CRM Experience with Location Intelligence

In a major milestone for India’s digital technology landscape, MapmyIndia Mappls, a leader in geospatial and mapping solutions, has partnered with Zoho, one of India’s most successful software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies, to integrate advanced location intelligence tools directly into Zoho CRM.

This collaboration marks the creation of the first fully indigenous CRM-geospatial integration, aimed at empowering Indian businesses with smart, privacy-respecting, location-aware decision-making tools. It reflects a growing trend of homegrown technological self-reliance aligned with the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.

A Smarter CRM Experience with Location Intelligence

As part of this partnership, Zoho CRM users can now access MapmyIndia’s proprietary tools, including,

Address Capture: For automatically verifying and geo-locating customer addresses

Nearby Lead Finder: To identify new sales prospects in proximity to existing customers

Location Visualisation: Enables users to view customer spread on maps

Sales Route Optimisation: Helps field teams plan the most efficient sales routes

With this integration, Zoho CRM users can now capture verified addresses, visualize customer locations, discover potential leads in nearby areas, and optimise sales routes — all powered by MapmyIndia’s indigenous mapping platform, which has been digitally mapping India since 1995. This collaboration empowers businesses to operate more efficiently, serve customers better, and make informed, location-aware decisions — using technology rooted in India’s soil. This exemplifies the growing strength of India’s technology ecosystem — where Swadeshi innovation not only serves the business interests but also strongly aligns with national interests by creating a showcase of the quality, precision, and reliability indigenous technology, projecting India’s economic and innovative prowess to the world.

Both companies indicated that the integration is now available to Zoho CRM users across India. They expect the collaboration to encourage more partnerships between Indian technology providers that aim to develop software and services within the country.

“MapmyIndia Mappls Address Capture and Nearby Lead Finder capabilities will help Zoho CRM users across India to work smarter and sell better, while keeping all data and innovation safe within India,” says Rakesh Verma, Co-Founder, Managing Director & Group Chairman, MapmyIndia Mappls.

By - Aaradhay Sharma