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Top tech and startup stories to start your day with

Marcus Chen
Managing Editor · Friday, November 13, 2026 at 1:56 AM · 5 min read
Top tech and startup stories to start your day with  — Bangalore Technology news

Benchmarks Nifty 25,299.35 44.3 FEATURED FUNDS ★★★★ ★ Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Direct-Growth 5Y Return 19.13 % Invest Now FEATURED FUNDS ★★★★ ★ UTI Aggressive Hybrid Fund Regular Plan-Growth 5Y Return 10.01 % Invest Now Enter search text: Business News › Tech › Newsletters › Morning Dispatch › MeitY flags physical AI data; US data centre woes may help India Prev Explore other editions Next Morning Dispatch MeitY flags physical AI data; US data centre woes may help India Want this newsletter delivered to your inbox? SUBSCRIBE I agree to receive newsletters and marketing communications via e-mail Thank you for subscribing to Morning Dispatch We'll soon meet in your inbox. Happy Friday! MeitY is examining how home services platforms collect household data to train physical AI models.This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch. Also in the letter: ■ Infy cofounder on hiring slowdown ■ Ola Electric Q2 revenue falls ■ Astrobase to invest Rs 800 cr in Andhra MeitY examines data collection by home services platforms for physical AI training The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has taken note of the practice of collecting first-person video and sensor data from gig workers to train physical AI models. What's the news: The ministry convened a consultation with representatives from Snabbit, Pronto, Urban Company, among other tech and robotics companies on Thursday to discuss concerns around data collection, privacy and sovereignty, three people in the know told ET. The meeting was chaired by MeitY secretary S Krishnan. What triggered it: The meeting was triggered by a home services platform equipping domestic workers with head-mounted cameras to record everyday household tasks, with the footage used to train physical AI models, one person briefed on the discussions said. MeitY sought information on standard operating procedures for collecting, processing and storing such data, including safeguards for obtaining workers’ consent and protecting the privacy of others captured in recordings. Who is doing it: Among major instant househelp platforms, Pronto has begun in-home video recording through its Verified service, while Urban Company and Snabbit have decided against adopting the practice. Some senior executives in attendance raised concerns over collecting data in India and selling it to overseas physical AI developers, arguing it “did not put the country in a favourable light.” Investors reassess US data centre bets after 'Blue Tsunami'; some look at India The “Blue Tsunami” in the US midterms has triggered investor anxiety over potential moratoriums on data centres, threatening massive AI infrastructure buildouts, with incoming Democratic administrations in several states expected to adopt a hard line. Why investors are worried: “There’s a lot of turbulence and uncertainty over the future of our data centre projects in the US,” one Indian executive at a global construction firm told ET. “Pausing or placing moratoriums on such facilities was one of the core issues that the Democrats ran on, so we’re expecting that regulation will get tighter.” Other markets in focus: Alexander Tanenbaum, partner at corporate law firm Torys LLP, said some of his clients are looking at data centre development in the Nordic countries including Sweden and Finland. They’ve also seen a move towards Canada because of access to power, including renewable power, stable political system, cold climate, and skilled workforce. India emerges as an option: A lot of those things, barring climate, apply to India as well, Tanenbaum added. “Our clients are historically comfortable investing in India and there’s a perception that India has a very skilled, tech-friendly workforce,” he said. “So, to the extent that India is able to put together a political recipe that allows for this investment, global investors will likely be amenable to putting money into the country.” AI-led hiring slowdown is temporary; jobs demand to surge in 3-5 years: Gopalakrishnan S ‘Kris’ Gopalakrishnan, cofounder, Infosys The current slowdown in hiring at technology services companies is a temporary consequence of the industry’s transition towards artificial intelligence-led offerings, Infosys cofounder S ‘Kris’ Gopalakrishnan said. He predicted a sharp increase in demand for AI-skilled talent over the next three to five years. IT workforce under pressure: Across India’s top IT majors, combined headcount fell nearly 3% to around 798,000 in October 2026 from 822,000 a year earlier, ET reported recently. Tata Consultancy Services last year announced the retrenchment of more than 12,000 employees. AI skills in demand: “As progress happens…as new tools are introduced, the transition will see some challenges because those are the people who have to change their job, or their work, they will get impacted. (But) The students who are coming out today will have to have the new skills of AI,” Gopalakrishnan said. Growth outlook: Despite concerns over AI-led disruption, Gopalakrishnan expects the more than $300 billion Indian IT and software services industry to continue expanding after the ongoing transition. He pointed to the steady growth of global capability centres, which now employ around 2 million people. Ola Electric Q2 revenue slumps 39% to Rs 421 crore, losses narrow Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO and founder, Ola Electric Electric two-wheeler maker Ola Electric saw its revenue from operations contract for the September quarter as vehicle registrations continued to slide. Financials: Revenue from operations: Rs 421 crore, down 39% from Rs 690 crore a year earlier Net loss: Rs 362 crore, down from Rs 418 crore a year ago. Cell business revenue: Fell to Rs 3 crore Turtlemint Q2 net loss narrows 67% to Rs 26 crore, revenue rises 35% Anand Prabhudesai (left) and Dhirendra Mahyavanshi, founders, Turtlemint. Insurance distribution platform Turtlemint reported a sharp reduction in losses in the September quarter, driven by higher insurance sales, growing renewal income and stable corporate costs. By the numbers: Revenue: Rose 35% YoY to Rs 342.19 crore from Rs 252.84 crore. Net loss: Narrowed 67% to Rs 25.83 crore from Rs 78.45 crore. Total expenses: Increased 25% to Rs 375.21 crore from Rs 299.77 crore. Adjusted operating loss: Narrowed to Rs 21 crore from Rs 35 crore. Other Top Stories By Our Reporters Devakumar Thammisetty and Neeraj Khandelwal, cofounders, Astrobase Astrobase to invest Rs 800 crore: The space techonology firm will invest Rs 800 crore in Andhra Pradesh to expand its rocket testing facility at Thimmasamudram in Sri Sathya Sai district to about 360 acres from the existing 22 acres. The project is expected to generate around 500 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs, the company said. Desible.ai raises Rs 32 crore: The startup, building automation tools for banks, NBFCs (non-banking financial companies), and insurers, has raised Rs 32 crore in a round led by Prime Venture Partners. The company will use the fresh capital to strengthen its AI capabilities and compliance infrastructure, expand sales and marketing operations, and improve product development. Global Picks We Are Reading ■ Jensen Huang is gone. Will the AI industry pay the price? ( FT ) ■ How AI visionary Jensen Huang was undone by his own bad decisions ( BBC ) ■ Meet Colette Kress, Nvidia’s New Interim CEO ( Wired ) Prev Explore other editions Next Updated On Nov 13, 2026, 08:03 AM IST Want this newsletter delivered to your inbox? SUBSCRIBE I agree to receive newsletters and marketing communications via e-mail Thank you for subscribing to Morning Dispatch We'll soon meet in your inbox. Enter search text:

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