Mint Techcetra

Artificial intelligence is no longer just an experiment for enterprises. In this special episode of Techcetra, in partnership with  @salesforce , we decode how businesses are moving beyond AI pilots and embracing production-grade, enterprise AI. Recorded on the sidelines of the Agentforce World Tour India, host Leslie D'Monte speaks with Arun Kumar Parameswaran, EVP & MD, Salesforce South Asia, and Mankiran Chowhan, Managing Director, Salesforce India, about the biggest mindset shifts among Indian businesses, the rise of agentic AI, and why trust, governance and measurable ROI matter more than ever. Watch the latest episode of Techcetra, in partnership with Salesforce. #Techcetra #Salesforce #Agentforce #AgenticAI #EnterpriseAI #FutureOfWork #ArtificialIntelligence #DigitalTransformation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial intelligence is no longer just an experiment for enterprises. In this special episode of Techcetra, in partnership with  @salesforce , we decode how businesses are moving beyond AI pilots and embracing production-grade, enterprise AI. Recorded on the sidelines of the Agentforce World Tour India, host Leslie D'Monte speaks with Arun Kumar Parameswaran, EVP & MD, Salesforce South Asia, and Mankiran Chowhan, Managing Director, Salesforce India, about the biggest mindset shifts among Indian businesses, the rise of agentic AI, and why trust, governance and measurable ROI matter more than ever. Watch the latest episode of Techcetra, in partnership with Salesforce. #Techcetra #Salesforce #Agentforce #AgenticAI #EnterpriseAI #FutureOfWork #ArtificialIntelligence #DigitalTransformation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The real challenge is converting enterprise data into real-time, accurate, meaningful context" In this episode of Mint Techcetra, Nelson John speaks with Sriram Raghavan, General Manager, IBM Software, India, and Software Innovation Lab, about how agentic AI is driving the next major evolution in enterprise data management. From data silos and real-time context to hybrid architectures and governance, the discussion examines what organisations need to do to build AI-ready data foundations. The conversation also explores the expanding definition of digital sovereignty and why openness, flexibility, and control are becoming key considerations as enterprises modernise their data and AI environments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial Intelligence is evolving faster than ever — and Agentic AI could completely redefine how businesses operate, how people work, and even whether traditional degrees remain relevant.In this special Techcetra episode in partnership with  @salesforce  , Leslie D'Monte, Consulting Editor at Mint speaks with Murali Karthik, VP & Head of Enterprise Digital & Technology at Air India. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial Intelligence is evolving faster than ever — and Agentic AI could completely redefine how businesses operate, how people work, and even whether traditional degrees remain relevant. In this special Techcetra episode in partnership with Salesforce, Leslie D'Monte, Consulting Editor at Mint speaks with Arundhati Bhattacharya, President and CEO, Salesforce South Asia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial Intelligence is evolving faster than ever — and Agentic AI could completely redefine how businesses operate, how people work, and even whether traditional degrees remain relevant. In this special Techcetra episode in partnership with Salesforce, Mint's Abhishek Singh speaks with Vala Afshar, Chief Digital Evangelist at Salesforce, about the rise of AI agents, digital labour, autonomous businesses, and the future of jobs in the AI era. From generative AI to agentic AI, this conversation explores: • Will AI replace jobs or create new ones? • Why universities must adapt faster • The rise of digital labour and AI teammates • How Salesforce is deploying AI agents at scale • Why businesses need an “AI-first” strategy • The future of autonomous vehicles, robotics & physical AI • AI hallucinations, trust layers & enterprise safeguards • Why optimism matters in the AI revolution Vala Afshar also explains how Agentic AI differs from Generative AI, why reskilling will define the next decade, and why companies that fail to adopt AI risk being left behind. Featuring insights on Salesforce Agentforce, AI transformation, workforce disruption, autonomous systems, digital twins, robotics, and the next wave of enterprise AI innovation. #AI #AgenticAI #Salesforce #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #Techcetra #Mint #GenerativeAI #DigitalLabour #Automation #ValaAfshar #AIJobs #AutonomousAI #Agentforce #FutureTech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We live in a world where data moves faster than borders, but the real question is no longer just who owns the data; it's who controls the future built on it. In this episode of Mint Techcetra, host Nelson John is joined by Gaurav Agarwal, Vice President, Technology at IBM India & South Asia, to unpack why digital sovereignty has evolved from a regulatory checkbox into a strategic business advantage. From the rise of AI and agentic systems to the growing importance of hybrid cloud, this conversation explores how enterprises can maintain control over their data, infrastructure, and decision-making while continuing to innovate at scale. The episode breaks down the difference between data residency and true sovereignty, the role of AI governance in building trust, and how leaders can rethink their approach to stay competitive in a rapidly transforming digital economy. The key takeaway: digital sovereignty isn't about building walls, it's about building confidence to innovate, scale, and lead in a data-driven world.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India is stepping into its biggest tech transformation yet. From powerful conversations at the Indian Impact Summit to insights from leading voices in AI, this episode explores how India is positioning itself in the global Artificial Intelligence race. We break down the surge in AI investments, the growing role of big players like Reliance and Adani, and what global giants like Qualcomm Ventures see in India's tech future. But the big question remains  are Indian IT firms like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro ready for the AI era? Is India moving beyond its traditional outsourcing model toward true AI innovation and deep-tech leadership? This episode dives into the future of Indian IT, AI startups, enterprise tech, policy shifts, and the billion-dollar race shaping India's digital economy. If you're curious about Artificial Intelligence in India, the future of Indian IT companies, AI investments, and India's place in the global AI revolution  this conversation gives you clarity, context, and the bigger picture. To hear the full breakdown of our top picks. Tune in to the episode now.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India's energy sector is undergoing one of its most defining transitions — and AI is now at the heart of it. In this Mint Techcetra episode, host Nelson John speaks with Manish Malik, Executive Director (Information Systems) at Indian Oil Corporation Limited, and Rishi Aurora, Managing Partner, IBM Consulting India & South Asia, to decode what digital sovereignty really means for the sector that fuels the nation at scale. They explore how sovereign AI, hybrid cloud, and secure digital infrastructure are reshaping operations across refineries, pipelines, and critical energy systems, while giving enterprises greater control over data, technology, and mission‑critical workflows. The conversation also highlights the growing significance of strong industry partnerships in enabling secure, compliant, and future‑ready transformation across the energy value chain. From real examples inside IOCL to a clear, actionable blueprint for energy leaders, this episode dives into how India can build an energy ecosystem that is smarter, safer, and truly self‑reliant — and why this shift matters now more than ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Mint Techcetra podcast, our host Shouvik Das and Leslie D'Monte talk about the two most significant developments shaping the future of technology and regulation in India.The conversation begins with a critical look at the IT Rules 2026, where new amendments have introduced the world's strictest content removal timelines. We discuss the practical challenges platforms face with the two hour takedown mandate for deepfakes and non-consensual imagery, and whether a seven day grievance redressal period is enough to ensure true accountability.We then shift focus to the upcoming India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. With global tech leaders like Sam Altman, Jensen Huang, and Satya Nadella in attendance, we explore India's strategic pivot toward Small Language Models (SLMs). Instead of chasing trillion-parameter foundational models, India is betting on indic languages, frugal innovation, and expanding its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to become a global hub for AI applications.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Instead of arguing about Tier-1 or Tier-2, the real question is whether AI will actually benefit 1.44 crore people.” In this episode of Mint Techcetra, we begin with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw pushing back against the IMF's ‘second-tier AI' label for India, and ask whether this whole idea of ranking countries into AI tiers is even useful anymore. From Stanford's AI rankings to India's growing ecosystem of foundational models, local language datasets, voice AI, chips, and data centre infrastructure, we discuss why India is often called an applications hub and whether that makes it any less of an AI innovator. Is the world judging India by the right parameters, or is the tier debate just a distraction from what's actually being built? The conversation then moves from national ambition to workplace reality, as we unpack findings from the Randstad Workmonitor 2026. Why do employees believe AI is boosting productivity and shareholder value but not necessarily their own outcomes? Why are many workers turning to AI for advice instead of their managers, even while claiming they have strong manager relationships? From the growing “AI reality gap” to questions around trust, reskilling, and execution, this episode connects India's AI with what it means on the ground and whether this transition is really inclusive, or just efficient. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Mint Techcetra, host Nelson John sits down with Madhu Kurup, Vice President of Engineering at Indeed, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming India's hiring ecosystem. Madhu unpacks the growing role of AI in improving job matching, supporting recruiters, and empowering job seekers through greater efficiency and productivity. While AI continues to reshape recruitment at scale, he emphasizes that human judgment and connection remain irreplaceable in the hiring process.The conversation delves into Indeed's tools, such as Career Scout and Talent Scout, examining how they enhance discovery, career pathing, and candidate–employer alignment. Madhu also shares practical advice for job seekers on optimising their Indeed profiles to stand out in an AI-driven job market.Looking ahead, he offers insights into the future of AI-led hiring in India and concludes with a personal hiring anecdote that reinforces why technology works best when complemented by human insight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  “This is not really a question of morality; it's about respecting the laws of the land.”In this episode, hosts Leslie D'Monte and Shouvik Das break down why Elon Musk's Grok found itself in trouble across nations like India, Malaysia, and the European Union. We examine the controversy surrounding its "Spicy Mode" within India's legal framework, debating whether platforms or users should be held responsible when AI-generated content crosses the line into obscenity.The episode also moves to the Las Vegas strip for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026. While CES is traditionally known for showcasing life-changing robots that can handle your laundry, cooking, or cleaning, but two particular innovations caught our eye this year. First is Lenovo's AI glass concept, a pair of smart glasses weighing just 40 grams, making them as light as, or even lighter than, many standard spectacles. They promise a full-fledged augmented reality experience, capable of rolling text in front of your eyes and providing real-time language translation, all while lasting up to eight hours on a single charge. We also highlight the Napster holographic display and the Lumen glasses designed to assist the visually impaired.To hear the full breakdown of our top picks. Tune in to the episode now.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Mint Techcetra, host Nelson John explores the evolving role of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India with Santhosh Rao, Partner and Executive Director at IBM Consulting, India & South Asia. The conversation delves into how AI and digital transformation are reshaping enterprise operations, accelerating value creation, and enabling GCCs to become Global Value Centres (GVCs). From IBM's journey with AI to the rise of AI-first and agentic models, the episode also looks ahead to 2026, examining the opportunities, challenges, and critical skills professionals will need in this rapidly evolving tech landscape. Santhosh also shares some great examples of the work IBM is doing with its clients across key industries.  Tune in for an insightful discussion at the intersection of technology, business strategy, and global innovation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A year ago, AI was still moving faster than everyone else, outpacing companies, governments, and just about anyone trying to keep up. By the end of 2025, that finally started to change. In this episode, our host Leslie D'Monte and Shouvik Das recap 2025 - the year AI stopped being just a breakthrough story and became a governance story. As generative models gave way to agentic systems, and as frameworks like India's DPDP Act came into sharper focus, AI entered a new phase, one where rules, guardrails, and accountability mattered as much as capability. The conversation looks at how 2025 forced a reset. Enterprises rushed to deploy GenAI and agents, only to encounter hallucinations, broken integrations, and the limitations of legacy systems. At the same time, the question shifted from what AI can do to where it should actually be used. A big part of the episode zooms out to India's approach. Instead of heavy regulation, the focus has been on setting boundaries about content labeling, competition oversight, and applying existing laws while still pushing investments in GPUs, data centres, and Indic language models. The goal isn't dominance; it's relevance. And then there's the bigger test: can AI work outside the bubble? In a country where most people don't live in metros or use cutting-edge devices, success looks less like chatbots and more like IVRs, public services, healthcare tools, and systems that disappear into daily life. By the end, the takeaway is simple: 2025 wasn't about AI replacing humans or reaching artificial general intelligence. It was about learning where AI fits, where it fails, and how human judgment, guardrails, and local context still matter more than raw capability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Mint Techcetra, host Nelson John discusses India's newly released National Quantum Roadmap with Dr. Amith Singhee, Director, IBM Research Indiaand CTO, IBM India, and South Asia.They explore India's ambition to become a global leader in quantum computing by 2035, the roadmap's key priorities including talent development, industry investment, and translating fundamental science breakthroughs into real-world applications. Dr. Singhee explains the potential implications of quantum computing in various sectors, and IBM's role in expanding access to quantum systems across academia, startups, and industry in India. Tune in to understand how India plans to navigate the future of quantum technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DHRUV64 is India's first homegrown 64-bit dual-core microprocessor, and it quietly says a lot about where the country's chip ambitions are headed. In this episode, our host Lesli D'Monte and Shouvik Das talk about what DHRUV64 means for India and why it matters for infrastructure and industry and how it fits into the push to reduce dependence on imported chips.From there, the conversation moves to consumer tech experiments, starting with Samsung's tri-fold phone, a device that clearly wants to be a tablet when opened up. We talk about what Samsung is really testing with this form factor, whether folding phones are solving a real problem, and where they sit in a world where people already juggle phones, tablets, and laptops. That leads into AI tools making their way into everyday use, including ChatGPT's Image 1.5 generator, how it stacks up against Google's recent image models, and why image generation has suddenly become such a crowded and competitive space.We wrap with the Foundation Model Transparency Index, which puts data behind a growing concern in AI. As models become more powerful and more widely used, the index shows how little most companies still disclose about training data, risks, and design choices, raising uncomfortable questions about trust, regulation, and accountability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If AI is the brain, memory and storage are the nervous system.” In this Mint Techcetra episode, host Nelson John sits down with Anand Ramamoorthy, Managing Director, Micron India, to flip the spotlight from models to the memory and storage backbone powering AI. They discuss why memory & storage — not just processors — decide how fast, efficiently and intelligently AI can think, learn and scale, and how Micron is building that capability in India.Anand shares Micron India's rapid journey - a 4,000+ workforce across Bangalore and Hyderabad, 600+ patents and disclosures, and homegrown DRAM engineering that produced multiple first-silicon passes with no respins. Tune in for candid takes on edge-to-cloud product strategy, skilling, R&D vs. manufacturing, and what the next five years mean for India's semiconductor ambition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of Mint Techcetra, our host Leslie D'Monte and Shouvik Das talked about ISRO's trusted workhorse, the PSLV, which is now set to become a private "rocket taxi" for India, marking a major milestone in the commercialization of the country's space sector. The PSLV, known for its exceptional reliability over 32 years with more than 62 launches, including the Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan missions, is being manufactured privately by a consortium of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This shift allows ISRO to focus on core research and high-profile missions while private players handle commercial launches. The private PSLV is designed to cater to small satellite launches up to 500 kilograms in low Earth orbit, providing an on-demand space taxi service that eliminates the long waiting times associated with larger rideshare rockets like SpaceX's Falcon 9. This opens up new revenue streams and opportunities in India's growing $8 billion space economy, expected to reach $44 billion by 2033.Alongside this, the episode also touched upon the advances in AI with Google's Nano Banana, praised for its speed and improved accuracy in image generation, but raising concerns about misuse, such as fake ID creation. In the en,d we talked about a Chinese robot that walked 100 kilometres only to ask for new shoes a reminder that robots are still far from human-level dexterity, with significant progress yet to be made before true artificial general intelligence is reached. To catch the full insights on these tech turns from space taxis to AI antics and robotics, listen to the entire episode. If you have any questions, we'd love to answer them on the podcast. We're also open to any suggestions on how we can make it even better because we want to have a fun time with all of you. Reach out to us on our social handles. We can't wait to hear from you! Leslie D'Monte - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-d-monte-4985993/ Shouvik Das - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shouvik-das-77a4bbba/?originalSubdomain=in HT Smartcast  -  https://www.linkedin.com/company/ht-smartcast/posts/?feedView=all Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the first episode of the new season of Mint Techcetra, your host Leslie D'Monte brings over his old tech friend Shouvik Das to talk about the Cloudflare outage that quietly took big chunks of the internet offline and stalled everything from trading desks to the everyday apps we barely think about. They also dig into the recent data leak that exposed the details of nearly seventy-five million people in India and what it says about how casually platforms collect our information and how easily it slips out into the world. The conversation moves into the DPDP Act, now officially in force,  and what it actually changes for anyone using a phone or app in India. Clear consent, under-18 safeguards, what platforms can and can't do with your information, and why companies will have to stop burying rules in walls of legal text and because privacy and AI are now inseparable, the episode also touches on India's early AI governance approach and how it tries to guide innovation without strangling it. It's a breakdown of outages, leaks, and new rules landing all at once and what that mix means for anyone living their life online.   If you have any questions, we'd love to answer them on the podcast. We're also open to any suggestions on how we can make it even better because we want to have a fun time with all of you. Reach out to us on our social handles. We can't wait to hear from you! Leslie D'Monte - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-d-monte-4985993/ Shouvik Das - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shouvik-das-77a4bbba/?originalSubdomain=in HT Smartcast  -  https://www.linkedin.com/company/ht-smartcast/posts/?feedView=all Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join host Nelson John in a riveting episode of Mint Techcetra as he explores the future of AI infrastructure with IBM's business leader for IBMZ and LinuxONE, Suresh Jayanthi. They discuss the critical aspects of building a robust, secure, and sustainable IT infrastructure crucial for AI adoption. Learn about the types of enterprise systems, the latest innovations like on-chip AI accelerators, and quantum-safe technologies. Discover how IBM's solutions are helping enterprises, especially in India's BFSI sector, to scale their operations while maintaining high security and reliability. Get insights into how to make AI systems more efficient and sustainable, and understand why now is the perfect time to invest in AI-ready infrastructure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Mint Techcetra, host Kartik is joined by Suja Chandy, Managing Director of Zafin India and Global Chief Sustainability Officer, for a conversation on how Zafin is modernising the future of banking. Discover how India has become a strategic growth hub for Zafin, playing a pivotal role in supporting the development of advanced solutions such as Zafin IO, Deal Manager and much more. Learn how Zafin's consultative, platform-led approach helps banks reimagine relationship-based pricing, accelerate innovation, and deliver hyper-personalised propositions at scale. Suja also shares how Zafin India fosters a purpose-driven culture with career acceleration programs, deep expertise in product, design, and consulting, and a strong commitment to sustainability and inclusion. Whether you are in banking, fintech, or technology leadership, this episode provides an inside look at how Zafin is empowering banks to compete, grow, and create lasting value in the age of AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India is going digital at a record speed, but without intelligent information management, the transformation won't be complete.In this episode of Mint Techcetra, host Nelson John is joined by Arvind Subramanian, EVP & MD of Iron Mountain India, and Manish Yadav, Senior Principal Consultant at TechCircle, for an in-depth look at how intelligent information management is driving India's digital leap forward.They unpack the complex challenges of moving from paper-heavy processes to secure, AI-enabled digital platforms like Iron Mountain InSight® DXP. Learn why digitising India's 30 million tonnes of paper records is more than just a technical task; it's a strategic necessity impacting compliance, operational speed, and customer satisfaction. The discussion explores how sectors such as BFSI, healthcare, and public services are using cloud, AI, and machine learning to unlock new efficiencies, meet regulatory demands, and deliver superior user experiences. Plus, get insights into India's growing digital maturity, the critical need for structured governance, and what the next phase of predictive records management will look like. If you want to understand the intersection of technology, strategy, and India's digital future, this is an episode you can't afford to miss. Visit www.ironmountain.com/en-in to learn more about Iron Mountain in India. If you want to understand the intersection of technology, strategy, and India's digital future, this is an episode you can't  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode is a little different. Our co-host Leslie D'Monte, who's been making AI, science, and all the complicated technology easier to understand for you, is stepping down from Mint and from this podcast. A journalist who started with crime reporting. Filed stories on typewriters. Watched the Indian tech industry grow from floppy disks and getting your first email address cost ₹15,000 to AI that can build itself. He takes us through the days of Express Computer, Chip Magazine, ZDNet, the early internet in India, and that one time he walked into a basement lab in Boston to talk to a scientist building a robotic exoskeleton for human brains. Sounds interesting? It is. listen more about the time when NASSCOM was just finding its feet, IBM servers were big deal, and people were still wrapping their heads around something called HTML. GUIs and browsers had just arrived, JavaScript was going mainstream, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In this episode of Mint Techcetra, we speak with Anubrata Biswas, MD & CEO of Airtel Payments Bank, about the growing role of digital banking in India and why having a Safe Second Account is a necessity.As digital payments surge, so do the risks. Anubrata unpacks how evolving user behaviour and rising fraud have redefined what people expect from a bank and how Airtel Payments Bank is responding with mobile-first, secure, and accessible solutions. No paperwork. No hidden conditions. Just simple, smart, and safe banking. He also shares how the bank anticipated this shift early on, building safety features like Sleep Mode and Fraud Alarm long before fraud became a concern. Whether it's a gig worker in the city or a homemaker using UPI, this conversation explores how the Safe Second Account is designed to protect your primary bank account while making everyday money management effortless. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Mint Techcetra, host Nelson John is joined by Siddhesh Naik, Country Leader – Data & AI Software at IBM India & South Asia, to unpack the rise of Agentic AI, a powerful shift from traditional automation to intelligent, decision-making systems. As Indian enterprises hit a digital inflexion point, Siddhesh explains what Agentic AI means, why it matters now, and how businesses can adopt it at scale. From high-ROI use cases in banking and manufacturing to IBM's role in enabling secure and strategic AI deployment, this conversation offers actionable insights for leaders ready to move beyond AI pilots. Whether you're a CXO, tech professional, or curious listener, this episode reveals how Agentic AI is shaping the next chapter of enterprise innovation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"We're not just innovating for India, we're innovating from India for the world.”In this episode of Mint Techcetra, we sit down with Girish Raghavan, Vice President of GE HealthCare Technology, India and Global CTO for Women's Health and X-Ray, to explore how artificial intelligence is changing the way healthcare is delivered from hospital beds to rural clinics. With over three decades of experience and leadership at GE HealthCare's largest R&D centre, Girish shares why India's clinical diversity, talent ecosystem, and policy support are turning it into a global testbed for healthcare innovation.From AI-assisted ultrasounds and faster diagnostics to predictive insights that help clinicians intervene earlier, this conversation unpacks the real-world impact of AI in the medical field. We discuss why AI isn't replacing doctors but giving them superpowers and how trust, data, and design play a critical role in this transition. Tune in to hear how India is building healthcare technologies not just for today, but for the future of care everywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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“Nvidia is doing in AI what Apple did with the iPhone—it's built an ecosystem that people don't want to leave.” That's where we start this week. Nvidia has crossed $4 trillion in market value, overtaking names like Microsoft and Apple. But does that valuation make sense? In this episode, we break down why Nvidia's chips have become the backbone of modern computing and why some still question how long this lead will last. We also get into Samsung's latest foldable phones. They're slimmer than ever, but are they actually useful or just a flashy engineering trick? We unpack whether slimmer really means better and finally, a quick look at Jack Dorsey's new messaging app that works without the internet. Can a Bluetooth-based chat app really offer anything meaningful in a world ruled by WhatsApp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"AI is not here to take your job, it's here to take the grind out of it." In this episode of Mint Techcetra, Chander Damodaran - Global CTO ‪@Brillio‬ talks about what it really means to build for the future in a world where customers expect everything instantly. From spatial computing and VR to hybrid cloud and micro-personalised experiences, Brillio's Chander breaks down how enterprises can design for speed without losing the human touch. He explains how different industries, from banking to healthcare, are rethinking the customer journey, and why it's no longer about standard solutions, but about personas and precision. We also get into how Brillio is training its teams for this shift from re-skilling developers to building internal AI marketplaces, and keeping it all ethical, especially in regulated industries like finance and healthcare. If you're trying to understand how modern enterprises are using tech to move fast and smart, this is where you get the expert insights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Mint Techcetra, brought to you by HT Smartcast, host Karthik explores how enterprises in India are scaling smart and staying secure in the age of AI. Joining him is Mr. Venkat Sitaram, Senior Director and Country Head for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at Dell Technologies India. Together, they discuss Dell's collaboration with NVIDIA on the Dell AI Factory initiative, the performance advantages of PowerEdge R770 servers, and the growing importance of cyber resilience. Discover how Dell's end-to-end infrastructure solutions are helping Indian businesses modernise IT, embrace edge computing, and ensure data security in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. Subscribe for more insights on technology and business transformation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"You can only become a product nation if you invest in R&D. Otherwise, you stay a service economy.” In today's episode of Mint Techcetra, we talk about what India's $12 billion R&D push could actually mean beyond just numbers and press releases. We look at why India's tech sector has lagged in deep research, what it will take to build serious intellectual property here, and whether this new funding will finally shift the dial. We also get into the growing unease around AI. Sam Altman says people trust ChatGPT too much. But who decides how much trust is too much? Is it on the user, the platform, or the regulators who still haven't shown up? and finally, we look into Microsoft's 9,000 job cuts, and ask the harder question: is AI really replacing humans, or is it just a convenient scapegoat for bigger structural shifts? It's a packed episode of policy, people, platforms, and how all three are clashing in real time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If India can rival SpaceX and send a person to the International Space Station, why can't we have better roads back home?” In today's episode of Mint Techcetra, we start with Group Captain Shukla's journey to the International Space Station. The first Indian to do so in over four decades and why this moment goes beyond national pride. It marks a key milestone ahead of the Gaganyaan mission and India's ambitions to build its own space station by 2035. Then we get into Sam Altman's World ID, the iris-scanning, crypto-incentivised identity system that's being pitched as a solution to bots and fake accounts. But here's the thing: it's already banned in India and several other countries. Why? Because when you mix biometric scans, private companies, and vague promises about data privacy, things get murky fast. We also talk about the latest round of copyright lawsuits against tech companies. Meta and Anthropic just won theirs but only because, as the judge said, the lawyers arguing against them didn't get the case right. That doesn't mean scraping and using copyrighted books is now fair game. So yes, it's a packed episode. One astronaut, one crypto-powered ID system, and a copyright battle that's far from over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Are we entitled to have our jobs for a lifetime in the AI age?" That's the question this week's episode of Techcetra opens with, as Shouvik Das and Leslie D'Monte talks about the growing instability in Big Tech employment. They examine the troubling pattern of layoffs at firms like Microsoft and Google. Is AI genuinely reshaping work, or simply replacing people under the guise of innovation? They explore how job cuts are disproportionately affecting Indian professionals in the U.S., the emotional toll of sudden unemployment, and whether private companies are doing enough to retrain talent instead of replacing it. The episode also rockets literally into another domain of innovation. With Honda testing a reusable rocket, the hosts discuss what this signals in a SpaceX-dominated world, and how India's own players like Skyroot and Agnikul are pushing frugal innovation in aerospace. While reusability remains a nascent ambition, the bigger question raised is about India's underwhelming R&D budgets even in tech giants like TCS and how that gap might hold back long-term progress in both tech and space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of Mint Techcetra, host Shouvik Das is joined by Leslie D'Monte to break down Apple's WWDC announcements — from its new ‘Liquid Glass' interface and renamed all its OS platforms to match the calendar year — iOS 26, macOS 26, and so on. But while the stage was set for an AI reveal, the company mostly sidestepped it. Instead, Apple dropped research papers questioning the intelligence of large language models, signaling a slower, more guarded approach to AI. Whether that's caution or clever branding is still up for debate. ChatGPT crashes for a few hours, the internet loses its mind OpenAI's flagship tool, ChatGPT, went offline for several hours — and what followed was a small digital meltdown. For something that didn't exist in the mainstream two years ago, ChatGPT has quietly embedded itself into everything from writing workflows to late-night Googling. The outage didn't just highlight OpenAI's growing reach — it raised questions about just how much we've come to rely on AI assistants. Android 16 changes nothing, and maybe that's the point Google's Android 16 beta quietly rolled out with almost no visible changes — and that might be by design. The UI stays the same, the upgrades are tucked into accessibility and security layers, and the overall experience remains consistent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you blame the tech company for building a technology that willfully at fault for creating a bot, which performed the way it did? and one that's becoming harder to answer. As chatbots like Character.AI start mimicking human intimacy (minus the actual feelings), who's really responsible when things go wrong? The bot? The builder? Or the blurred line between product and service under liability law? In today's episode, we talked about all this and more. Do let us know what you feel about which side of the conversation is right on our social media handles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, we're speaking about how the job of video editors is on the line and how the job of cinematographers might be next. The kind of videos that Google Flow is now able to generate, and the kind of visuals OpenAI's Sora claims it can produce, are almost unprecedented for a machine. Routine jobs like simple video editing have already been automated for some time. "The question now is how high up the creative chain will this go?" And just when you think this is about efficiency, it starts getting uncomfortable. In a controlled test by Palisade Research, a model was instructed to shut down midway but it refused. Another test by Anthropic saw a model being told it would be replaced and asked to train its successor. The result? It blackmailed the human supervisor by threatening to leak personal information, including an alleged extramarital affair, unless it was allowed to stay operational. And then there's Apple, now reportedly planning to rename its operating systems like iOS and macOS to align with calendar years, just like Android did a while ago. Is it a big deal? Maybe not. "Renaming software is easier than renaming roads", but it does hint at something deeper especially with Apple's AI efforts still trailing. With WWDC just around the corner, there's growing chatter around how far behind Apple feels in the larger consumer tech space, and whether this rebrand is meant to shift focus without doing much under the hood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why listen? Our host Shouvik Das was on the ground at the most talked-about tech event of the year—Google I/O 2025—and brings you exclusive insights from Sundar Pichai's closed-door session with global journalists. From the reimagination of Search to the rollout of AI Overviews, Gemini 2.5, and AI agentic systems, this episode breaks down how Google is moving forward with its own unique take on AI. With a massive $13.5 billion R&D spend in just one quarter, Google is clearly not just reacting—it's building for the long haul. In this episode, we also unpack why “all about Google has been about AI” for over two decades. Despite the noise, Google's foundation in AI is deep, deliberate, and far from new. Pichai's message was clear: “We've never built AI just for ourselves—we've built it for everyone to use.” Tune in to hear how Google is evolving its products, redefining Search, and staying firmly in the AI race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Mint Techcetra! In this episode, host Karthik dives deep into the journey and innovative solutions of Zafin with COO and Co-founder Anugopal Venugopalan. Spanning over two decades, Zafin has evolved into a global leader in SaaS-based banking transformation, empowering banks to modernise their product and pricing capabilities.   Explore how Zafin leverages AI, data unification, and platform-driven innovation to reshape banking operations. Learn about cutting-edge solutions like Zafin IO and Zafin Data Fabric, which enable banks to decouple innovation from legacy cores.   Mr. Venugopalan also shares insights on the changing needs of banking customers and how strategic partnerships with Microsoft and others enhance Zafin's ecosystem. Don't miss this engaging conversation on the future of banking, AI-driven transformation, and the power of modern financial technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Mint Techcetra, in collaboration with Dell Technologies, host Karthik dives into the impact of AI on cybersecurity with Mr. Ripu Bajwa from Dell Technologies. Learn how businesses are adapting to AI-driven threats, the importance of a proactive security approach, zero trust principles, and how AI is both a tool for defences and a weapon for attackers. Discover insights on building resilient cybersecurity frameworks to protect data and enhance organisational agility. Stay informed on cybersecurity trends and strategies with expert advice from a seasoned leader in the IT industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) broadcasting — a new technology that could turn your smartphone into a live TV receiver, no internet required. India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is running pilot tests to explore whether phones can double as broadcast receivers. The potential is massive: it could bring entertainment and emergency alerts to over 80 million TV-dark homes. But questions remain about reliability in poor weather, hardware pricing, and whether telecom operators — who make big money off mobile data — are ready to support it. Next: dumb phones are making a comeback. We talk about the Light Phone 3 and why users are opting for distraction-free devices that do little more than call, text, and maybe play music. Some see it as a response to smartphone fatigue. Others think it's a more conscious way to re-engage with life. But the conversation also tackles the practical side — from using cash over UPI to finding your way through a city without Google Maps. And finally, we get into India's AI patent push. According to a new Nasscom report, India has seen a sharp rise in AI-related patent filings over the past 15 years — with machine learning dominating the charts and generative AI catching up fast. While the country now ranks among the global top five in AI filings, the grant rate remains low at just 0.37%, raising questions about R&D quality and long-term innovation depth. All that — plus a little CD nostalgia and public-service broadcasting potential — in this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Humans vs Robots: Why Are We Even Competing? From Beijing's robotic half-marathon to AI drones clocking 95.8 kmph, humanoids are getting faster and smarter—but let's not jump the gun. This week, Leslie and Shouvik breaks down why it's way too early to celebrate humans beating robots in races. From Atlas to Sophia to autonomous drone leagues, machines are learning balance, navigating terrain, and gearing up for real-world action. But do we even need to pit them against humans? What's the point of this uneven battle anyway? Teaching Teachers About AI: Delhi's rolling out teacher training programs in AI—but is it just for the optics? We dive into the gaps in our education system, why simply layering AI on outdated curricula won't help, and how the real overhaul needs to begin with rethinking everything: exams, teaching styles, even the role of degrees. As hosts puts it, if teachers haven't upgraded their own “hard disks,” no tech layer is going to help. Ray-Ban Meta in India: They've finally arrived in India, but will Ray-Ban's Meta smart glasses really replace smartphones? We're not convinced. From battery life to privacy to the actual usefulness of having a talking, data-streaming screen on your face, we debate whether this is just another smartwatch moment—or if AR glasses will actually stick. And yes, at some point, you've still got to take them off and look at nature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices