FORWARD DEPLOYED ENGINEERS
AI application experts in high demand as companies pursue efficiency, customer focus
Indian companies now prioritize engineers applying AI to solve customer issues. Demand for agentic and forward-deployed AI engineers has significantly increased. Firms are leveraging AI for both customer-facing solutions and internal process improvements. Companies are also developing workforce capabilities in digital and AI technologies. This shift reflects a growing need for talent bridging technology and business impact.
Sarvam lines up full-stack AI strategy to take on OpenAI, Anthropic
Sarvam is building a complete AI stack to challenge global leaders. Their large language models will offer Indian language support at lower prices. The company is also developing cyber capabilities and defense solutions for enterprises. Sarvam plans to establish data centers and forge strategic partnerships across India. This Indian AI firm aims for self-sufficiency while leveraging global advancements.
ET Family Business Awards: Serum Institute, Mankind, Varun Beverages among winners in the limelight
Several Indian family businesses received awards for their significant contributions. Serum Institute of India was honored for philanthropic leadership and saving millions of lives. Mankind Pharma was recognized as a Make in India champion for its growth. Allcargo Logistics won for excellence in digital transformation across its global operations. Inox Air Products and Balkrishna Tyres were also celebrated for their achievements.
China sets up high-altitude drone hub in Tibet to boost border operations
China launched a drone research center near Mount Everest in Tibet. This facility will develop unmanned aerial vehicles for high-altitude operations. The center aims to bolster border patrols and logistics in challenging terrain. It also supports China's technological competition with the United States. The initiative addresses regional needs and fosters new interdisciplinary strengths.
Kargil: Mirage 2000, MiG-21s deployed under Op Safed Sagar turned tide of war in India's favour
Operation Safed Sagar utilized precision bombs, striking intruders at high altitudes. Mirage 2000 jets delivered a decisive blow, hastening enemy withdrawal from strategic heights. MiG-21s and MiG-27s also supported air operations during the Kargil conflict. Helicopters provided crucial casualty evacuation and transport aircraft supplied forward airfields. The IAF's role turned the tide of the war in India's favor.
ET Prime Special Series: Multibagger or IBC - Part 69: Can new businesses bridge the gap before EVs reshape the core?
This old auto ancillary manufacturer has integrated plants, a long operating history, and stable group ownership. FY26 brought higher revenue, more exports, and a new source of engineering income. Yet the financial mix contains a warning. Profitability in the established business fell even as its revenue increased. The newer engineering activity accounted for a large part of segment profit, while a planned EV-linked business is at a nascent stage. The question: Can diversification become repeatable operating profit rather than an occasional boost?
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Coforge Q1 Results: Profit soars 63% to Rs 519 crore driven by Encora acquisition, AI-led services demand
Coforge reported a remarkable 63.3 percent increase in profits for the June quarter, driven by the recent acquisition of Encora and a surge in demand for artificial intelligence solutions. Additionally, revenue soared by 49.2 percent, reaching an impressive Rs 5,527.7 crore. The company has also secured new orders amounting to USD 691 million for the quarter, projecting a stellar performance for the upcoming year.
AI blows up IT playbook: Lines between AI labs and IT services firms start to blur
The enterprise services business they have dominated for decades is beginning to see a new breed of rival. OpenAI and Anthropic are no longer just building artificial intelligence models. They are moving into enterprise implementation, consulting and workflow redesign, armed with an army of Forward Deployment Engineers (FDE). And, another set of ‘AI-native services firms’ is adding to the competition.
Stock picks of the week: 6 stocks with consistent score improvement and upside potential of up to 26%
The US-Iran war continues to create uncertainty for markets across the globe. But more so in India, due to the high correlation between energy costs and inflation and, subsequently, consumption. Adding to the uncertainty, at least in some sectors, is the renewal of the tariff war. Our selected stocks for today depict a strong upward trajectory in their overall average score which is based on five key pillars: Earnings, fundamentals, relative valuation, risk, and price momentum. This implies that there has been a significant improvement in their market outlook in the given time frame.
JEE’s computer-based testing model offers blueprint for NEET reform
Recent protests underscore the urgent necessity for comprehensive examination reforms and tackling the issue of paper leaks. Transitioning NEET-UG to a Computer-Based Testing format is among the essential changes proposed. To alleviate student pressure, normalisation methods and limiting attempts could make a significant difference. It’s crucial for both the National Medical Commission and the Health Ministry to implement these vital reforms.
AMD says its newest AI server is in full production, will ship in months
The Helios servers will contain AMD's latest MI455X AI accelerator with its new Venice central processor, both of which are made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. During Su's keynote address at an event in San Francisco, OpenAI's top computing executive joined Su to say that the ChatGPT creator plans to start using the Helios racks later this year.
Bharat Forge, Flying Whales ink MoU to manufacture heavy-lift airships in India
Bharat Forge Limited and Flying Whales will jointly develop advanced airships. This partnership aims to build indigenous capabilities for India's defence needs. The LCA60T airship will transport sixty tonnes of cargo with vertical take-off. These airships offer new possibilities for military logistics and disaster response. The collaboration will create high-technology employment and export opportunities.
Bharat Forge, FLYING WHALES partner to build heavy-lift airships in India
Bharat Forge and Flying Whales will jointly develop heavy-lift airships in India. This collaboration aims to boost defense and strategic applications for the nation. The LCA60T platform will be manufactured, integrating advanced technology and engineering expertise. This initiative supports India's Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat visions. The partnership will create a new industrial ecosystem and strategic mobility for India.
These large-caps have ‘strong buy’ & ‘buy’ recos and an upside potential of up to 25%
Whether in business or the stock market, be ready for volatility. In today’s world, it can come for any reason and from anywhere. Also be ready to see underperformance in your portfolio. This could be sparked by sudden selling in some part of the emerging market purely because of a technical readjustment. And it could take place for the simple reason that, going forward, currency markets are going to see some adjustment. So, besides being cautious and selective, also be volatility-ready for quite some time.
The Project-Driven Organization
In an era when adaptability and innovation are paramount, organizations are recognizing the pivotal role of projects in driving success. In fact, we’ve already arrived at a moment when projects, not operations, are the primary engines of value creation. That shift has been underway for years, but it was catalyzed by the Covid pandemic, which compelled companies to set up new digital infrastructures, reconfigure supply chains, and offer new services at an unprecedented pace. This new project-centered reality will require leaders to fundamentally shift how they think about leadership and organizational design. They’ll have to break down silos, actively sponsor strategic initiatives, empower teams to make decisions, and ensure that resources and support are aligned with project priorities. To do that, they’ll need to pull eight key levers, which in combination will enable them to make the transition from a static, operations-centric model to a dynamic, project-powered one.
Why People Create AI “Workslop”—and How to Stop It
With the rise of gen AI tools, offices have had to contend with a new scourge: “workslop” or low-effort, AI-generated work that looks plausibly polished, but ends up wasting time and effort as it offloads cognitive work onto the recipient. Workslop can have a corrosive effect on office dynamics. But why do people create it and send it to their colleagues, especially if it can lead to bosses, coworkers, and subordinates thinking less of them? New research suggests that the recipe for workslop is surprisingly simple and under the control of management: It’s the result of unclear AI mandates and overwhelmed teams. Leaders are issuing vague directives for employees to start using extremely powerful tools, while many of those employees are overburdened, psychologically depleted, and operating in environments where it doesn’t feel safe to admit uncertainty or ask for help. Addressing this problem first requires understanding pressures at both the top and bottom of organizations.
China building massive naval ship that could displace US rival as world's biggest? Here's what we know so far
China is building a new naval replenishment ship which could be the world's largest. Satellite images suggest this vessel is larger than existing Chinese Type 901 support ships. This development enhances the People's Liberation Army Navy's long-range deployment capabilities significantly. The new ship may surpass the US Navy's largest logistics vessels in size. This construction reflects China's expanding blue-water navy ambitions and support network.
After record $29 billion selloff, FIIs buying India again. Chris Wood explains why
After a record $29 billion foreign selloff, FIIs have turned net buyers of Indian equities in July. Jefferies' Christopher Wood says the earlier outflows were driven by the AI-led rally in Korea and Taiwan, adding that sustained inflows will depend on the AI trade cooling or Indian valuations becoming more attractive.
AI adoption rises, but 93% of finance professionals question AI-generated insights: Report
Even as finance teams increasingly adopt artificial intelligence (AI) to improve business decision-making, 93 per cent of finance professionals remain concerned about the integrity and verifiability of AI-generated insights, according to a joint report by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ).
Wipro clients moving from AI experimentation to execution: Rishad Premji
Wipro's Rishad Premji noted clients are embedding AI into core business processes. This technological shift occurs as the IT sector focuses on cost optimization. AI is creating new opportunities for innovation and accelerating demand for data services. Wipro is deploying AI internally, reducing financial closing cycles significantly. The company is also scaling new AI-focused roles for its workforce.
AI startup UnifyApps eyes $120 million from EQT as valuation set to triple
The investment, which comes less than a year after the New York and Gurgaon-based startup raised $50 million from WestBridge Capital, is expected to value the company at $700-750 million, marking a more than threefold jump from its $200 million valuation in October 2025.
Tax project delay hurt Q1 results, AI-led deflation behind us, says LTM’s Lambu
Financial services and technology, which together account for 57% of revenue for India’s sixth largest IT service firm, each grew more than 3% sequentially in the first quarter. With this, Lambu said, LTM expects the artificial intelligence-led revenue deflation to be behind the firm.
ET Most Innovative AI Product Awards 2026: Why AI platforms, infrastructure and developer tools are critical to Enterprise AI success
ET Most Innovative AI Product Awards 2026 brings the technology behind successful AI products into focus. As enterprise AI adoption accelerates, AI platforms, infrastructure, developer tools, cybersecurity and responsible AI are becoming key to how products perform, scale and earn business trust. What AI innovations win out may be determined by the invisible products users never see.
ETtech Q&A | TCS sees better Q2 show on stressed sectors’ turnaround
Macroeconomic uncertainties due to the West Asia conflict have led to project deferrals in key verticals at Tata Consultancy Services, which reported flat sequential growth and a 13.9% rise on year in rupee terms. India's largest software services firm expects the second quarter to be better with some stressed sectors returning to positivity and a growing AI deal pipeline of $2.6 billion, chief executive K Krithivasan and chief operating officer Aarthi Subramanian told Himanshi Lohchab in an interview. Edited excerpts:
Tata Consultancy Services plans up to 8,900 AI deployment engineers, seeks AI acquisitions
Tata Consultancy Services is building a large team of forward-deployed engineers. The company is also actively seeking artificial intelligence acquisitions. This strategy aims to create new business opportunities rather than disrupt outsourcing. TCS believes deep client knowledge is key to integrating and deploying AI systems. The firm is investing significantly in talent development and AI accessibility.
Google to plant its AI flag in India: What it means for the country
In a major shift for India's AI ecosystem, Google Cloud is bringing its latest Gemini AI models to infrastructure located within the country, allowing enterprises to keep both their data and AI processing in India. The move is driven by growing demand for digital sovereignty and marks India's emergence as a strategic hub in Google's global AI strategy. For Indian businesses, it offers greater regulatory confidence, lower latency and faster access to advanced AI capabilities while ensuring sensitive workloads remain within the country's borders.
In a big sovereignty push, Google Cloud to host its latest AI models in India: Global chief Thomas Kurian
Google Cloud, which has an annual revenue run rate nearing $80 billion, is establishing a specialised hub of “forward deployed engineers” in India to service customers locally and in Asia, said Kurian, 60. During his ongoing visit to India, he’ll be meeting partners to explore plans for manufacturing AI servers. Edited excerpts.
Microsoft, AWS deploy engineer armies to help crack AI
AWS and Microsoft want to embed thousands of their own engineers at client companies to help them capitalize on artificial intelligence, which has yet to prove its profitability in the business world. Microsoft and AWS, both of which supply servers and software to a myriad of businesses worldwide, are betting that their engineers will deliver results faster and better than clients' in-house teams.
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