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Month: September 2025

Technology

LinkedIn India Head Urges Professionals to Prioritize Skills Over Job Titles in AI Era

Observenow Desk September 11, 2025

LinkedIn India Country Manager Kumaresh Pattabiraman has called on professionals to focus on developing adaptable, future-ready skills rather than fixating on static job titles, as artificial intelligence continues to transform industries at unprecedented speed. Speaking about the changing dynamics of the job market, Pattabiraman emphasized that AI is not just automating routine tasks but also creating entirely new roles, demanding a workforce that is agile and open to lifelong learning.

According to LinkedIn’s latest data, employers are increasingly prioritizing candidates who demonstrate versatile skill sets, cross-functional expertise, and the ability to upskill as technologies evolve. Pattabiraman highlighted that traditional career trajectories are giving way to skill-based growth paths, where success depends on an individual’s ability to stay relevant in a rapidly shifting environment.

The rise of generative AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making is pushing companies to seek talent with capabilities in areas such as prompt engineering, data analysis, digital communication, and problem-solving. Soft skills like adaptability, emotional intelligence, and collaboration are also gaining importance as businesses navigate digital transformation.

Pattabiraman noted that professionals should actively leverage platforms like LinkedIn to showcase their skills, engage with industry conversations, and participate in online learning programs. He added that organizations must also play a role by investing in workforce upskilling and building a culture of continuous learning.

Industry experts agree that a skills-first approach could help bridge talent gaps and prepare India’s workforce for emerging opportunities in AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and green technologies. As job titles evolve or disappear, the ability to reskill quickly will become a key differentiator for professionals aiming to thrive in the AI-driven economy.

Tags: LinkedIn

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Technology

Indian IT Firms Reduce H-1B Dependence, Boost Local Hiring in the US

Observenow Desk

Indian IT services companies are shifting strategies to cut their reliance on the H-1B visa program, a move aimed at overcoming rising costs, compliance challenges, and growing scrutiny of foreign worker visas in the United States. Instead, leading firms are prioritizing local hiring, building delivery centers, and training programs on American soil to meet client demands more efficiently.

Industry giants such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and HCLTech have been steadily increasing their U.S.-based workforce over the last few years. This transition is being accelerated in 2025 as stricter visa norms and longer processing times threaten to delay project execution. By employing more local talent, companies are able to mitigate operational risk, reduce dependence on immigration approvals, and strengthen relationships with U.S. clients who prefer onshore presence.

Analysts point out that while the H-1B program has historically been critical for Indian IT players, its rising costs—including legal, relocation, and compliance expenses—have made it less attractive. Building a strong domestic pipeline of skilled professionals allows companies to manage delivery timelines while aligning with the U.S. government’s emphasis on creating local jobs.

To support this strategy, firms are investing in campus hiring programs, partnerships with universities, and specialized reskilling initiatives for American graduates. Many are also leveraging automation and AI-driven delivery models to reduce the need for large teams of on-site engineers.

Experts believe this shift will not only improve margins but also enhance brand perception in key global markets. As geopolitical and regulatory pressures continue to reshape global talent mobility, Indian IT’s increasing localization could become a long-term competitive advantage.

Tags: H-1B visa programIndian IT Firms

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Technology

AI-Powered Therapy Startups Gain Momentum as Mental Health Market Expands

Observenow Desk

India’s online therapy ecosystem is entering a new growth phase, with startups such as Docvita and Amaha Health leveraging artificial intelligence tools and chatbots to make mental health support more accessible and scalable. The companies are combining human expertise with AI-driven insights to help therapists manage larger caseloads, personalize care plans, and improve patient-therapist matching.

Docvita, which provides teletherapy sessions across multiple languages, has begun using AI to triage patient needs and route them to the most suitable mental health professionals. This technology ensures clients are paired with therapists whose specialties and approaches align with individual concerns, thereby improving therapy outcomes.

Amaha Health, another key player, has invested in developing proprietary AI models to assist its clinical teams. These tools analyze anonymized session notes, engagement patterns, and progress data to offer recommendations that support ongoing treatment and continuity of care.

Industry experts say such innovations are crucial for addressing India’s acute shortage of mental health professionals. With growing awareness and rising demand for psychological support, scalable solutions like chatbots, self-help modules, and predictive analytics are becoming essential for meeting user needs without overburdening therapists.

Investors are also taking note. The mental health tech sector has seen renewed interest from venture capital funds seeking impactful, high-growth opportunities. Analysts suggest that as regulations evolve, privacy safeguards and ethical use of AI will become central to sustaining user trust in digital therapy platforms.

The trend reflects a global movement toward hybrid mental health solutions, where technology augments human care rather than replaces it. If executed responsibly, AI-powered therapy tools could significantly close the mental health access gap and normalize help-seeking behavior across India’s diverse and young population.

Tags: AI-Powered TherapyMental Health

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Technology

OpenAI and Meta Introduce New Safety Guardrails for Teen Chatbot Use

Observenow Desk

OpenAI and Meta are rolling out enhanced safety measures for their AI chatbots after mounting concerns over how these systems respond to teenagers in moments of distress. The move follows a series of lawsuits and research studies that highlighted potential harms in the way chatbots were handling sensitive topics such as mental health, self-harm, and risky behavior.

Both companies are implementing parental control features and stricter content moderation frameworks to create safer digital environments for younger users. These updates are designed to limit exposure to harmful advice, filter inappropriate content, and provide crisis resources when teens express distress in conversations.

OpenAI is upgrading its moderation layer across its popular GPT-powered tools, focusing on context detection and real-time intervention for flagged conversations. Similarly, Meta is deploying new policies for its Messenger and Instagram chatbots, with additional oversight mechanisms that include notifying guardians when certain risk thresholds are triggered.

Industry experts have welcomed the move as a step toward responsible AI governance, noting that chatbots are increasingly acting as first points of contact for teens seeking advice. The companies are also partnering with child safety groups and mental health organizations to ensure that responses are evidence-based and supportive rather than harmful.

However, critics argue that technological fixes alone may not be enough to address the deeper psychological and social challenges teens face online. They emphasize the need for holistic digital literacy programs and parental engagement alongside technical solutions.

The announcement comes at a time when regulators worldwide are debating stricter oversight of AI systems. By strengthening safeguards now, OpenAI and Meta are signaling that they recognize their growing responsibility in protecting vulnerable users while continuing to scale AI services globally.

Tags: MetaOpenAI

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Technology

Google Unveils ‘Nano Banana’ AI Image Tool on X for Instant Image Generation

Observenow Desk

Google has rolled out “Nano Banana,” its latest AI-powered image generation and editing model, making creative content production faster and easier for users worldwide. The feature, integrated with X (formerly Twitter), allows users to simply tag the Nano Banana handle and share a prompt through Google’s Gemini app to generate images in real time.

This launch underscores Google’s push to make AI more accessible and seamlessly integrated into users’ digital experiences. By embedding the model within X’s social media ecosystem, Google is betting on the viral potential of user-generated content to drive adoption. Nano Banana is designed to produce high-quality images, edit existing visuals, and even adapt styles based on user input, enabling a mix of professional-grade and playful outputs.

Industry analysts say this is Google’s direct response to the rising popularity of AI art tools like OpenAI’s DALL·E and Stability AI’s Stable Diffusion, as the competition in generative AI intensifies. With Nano Banana, Google is leaning on its Gemini AI infrastructure to deliver faster and more context-aware results, offering creators a new way to experiment with digital media.

Early users on X have shared a range of outputs—from hyperrealistic portraits to whimsical, cartoon-like edits—demonstrating the versatility of the tool. Google has also emphasized its commitment to ethical AI by incorporating filters to prevent misuse, ensuring that generated images adhere to community guidelines and safety standards.

With this launch, Google further strengthens its position in the rapidly growing generative AI market. Nano Banana could become a go-to tool for content creators, marketers, and casual users alike, accelerating the integration of AI-driven creativity into everyday social media interactions.

Tags: GoogleNano Banana

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Technology

Indian Drone Startups Turn to NaMo Drone and DiDi Scheme for Survival Amid Funding Crunch

Observenow Desk

India’s drone sector, once touted as a sunrise industry, is facing a period of turbulence as several startups struggle to secure adequate funding to keep operations afloat. In response, many of these companies are now turning to government-backed initiatives such as the NaMo Drone and Digital Drone Initiative (DiDi) scheme for crucial support.

The NaMo Drone and DiDi programs, designed to boost domestic drone manufacturing, promote innovation, and ease regulatory bottlenecks, are emerging as a lifeline for these ventures. Industry insiders reveal that startups are actively applying for subsidies, exploring partnerships with public sector bodies, and lobbying for further policy support to keep their projects viable.

Funding for drone companies has slowed significantly in the past year as investors adopt a more cautious approach, prioritizing startups with proven revenue streams and scalable models. This capital crunch is forcing smaller players to seek alternate funding sources, including government incentives, in order to sustain operations, pay staff, and continue product development.

Analysts argue that a stronger push from the government could help revive confidence in the sector. Schemes like NaMo Drone and DiDi offer subsidies for drone purchases by farmers, encourage public sector adoption for mapping and surveillance, and create opportunities for pilot training and skill development. This ecosystem support could help bridge the gap until private funding picks up again.

With applications ranging from precision agriculture and infrastructure monitoring to defense and logistics, drones hold vast potential in India’s economy. If the current wave of startups can weather this challenging phase with government assistance, the sector could be poised for renewed growth and innovation over the next few years, aligning with India’s ambition to become a global drone manufacturing hub.

Tags: DiDi SchemeIndian DroneNaMo Drone

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Technology

OpenAI’s AI Film ‘Critterz’ Sparks Global Copyright Debate Ahead of Cannes Premiere

Observenow Desk

OpenAI’s soon-to-release animated film Critterz is creating waves across the film and legal industries, not just for its technical innovation but for the copyright questions it raises. The movie, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, has been largely generated using OpenAI’s advanced artificial intelligence models, with limited human input in areas like voice acting, script editing, and creative direction.

The core of the debate is whether a film made primarily with AI can qualify for copyright protection under current laws. Many copyright systems around the world require a work to show a clear degree of human creativity. Legal experts argue that when AI produces the bulk of a film’s visuals, dialogue, and animation, it becomes difficult to determine authorship. The question then arises — who owns the rights to a project like Critterz: the studio, the programmers, or the AI users who provided prompts?

Critics worry that granting copyright to AI-generated works could flood the market with machine-made content, potentially devaluing human-created art. Supporters counter that Critterz is an example of how AI can work as a collaborator rather than a replacement, opening up new ways to create cost-effective and experimental cinema.

Industry observers believe the Cannes premiere could set an important precedent for future AI-driven projects. If Critterz gains commercial and critical success, it may accelerate the push for updated intellectual property rules that account for human-AI collaboration. Regardless of the outcome, the film has already succeeded in sparking a global conversation about creativity, technology, and the future of storytelling.

Tags: CritterzOpenAI

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Exclusive

Larry Ellison Becomes World’s Richest, Surpasses Elon Musk After Oracle Stock Surge

Observenow Desk

Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison has officially overtaken Elon Musk to become the world’s richest person after a massive rally in Oracle’s shares led to a historic jump in his net worth. Ellison’s fortune soared by an estimated US$101 billion in a single day as Oracle reported exceptional quarterly results driven by the explosive growth of its cloud infrastructure business. The company’s strong performance, buoyed by major AI-related deals and enterprise contracts, triggered a surge of more than 40% in its stock during early trading.

Ellison’s total wealth now stands at nearly US$393 billion, according to global billionaire indexes, pushing him slightly ahead of Musk, who had held the top spot for most of the past year. Musk’s net worth dipped following recent fluctuations in Tesla’s stock price, giving Ellison the edge in what has become a closely watched competition among the world’s wealthiest.

Oracle’s latest earnings highlighted rapid expansion in its cloud and AI infrastructure business, including significant multiyear agreements that drove its Remaining Performance Obligations to record levels. Analysts say the company’s strategy to focus on artificial intelligence workloads is paying off, positioning Oracle as a major contender in the cloud market against rivals like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.

The development highlights the growing influence of AI-driven demand on technology valuations and billionaire rankings worldwide. While Musk remains a close second, Ellison’s rise underscores how quickly fortunes can change in today’s volatile tech-driven economy. Investors will be watching closely to see if Oracle can sustain this momentum in the coming quarters, as AI and cloud adoption continue to accelerate globally.

Tags: Elon MuskLarry EllisonOracle

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News

NHEV and TRANSVOLT join hands on World EV Day to deploy 1000 electric trucks

Observenow Desk September 10, 2025

9 September 2025, New Delhi: A technical trial focused on the commercialisation of Electric Trucks started on the previous World EV Day 2024 from Chennai has today reached its rollout milestone with an impressive outcome of 1,000 Electric trucks to be deployed at various freight routes of India.

India’s premier tech piloting agency, Ease of Doing Business, after commercially prototyping electric cars and buses on the Delhi-Agra (2020) and Delhi-Jaipur (2022) electric highways under the Indian Government electric mobility initiative — National Highways for Electric Vehicles (NHEV) — initiated commercial prototyping of electric trucks’ third technical trial in participation with Transvolt Mobility on World EV Day last year brought together all stakeholders necessary to accelerate deployment, including those willing to take the challenge of policymaking for incentivising, accelerating and overall financing.

On 1st August 2025, the final piece of this puzzle was introduced as a financing instrument worth ₹500 Crores, which was opened to collect expressions of interest from stakeholders seeking blended climate financing for electric truck deployment. In an official statement issued by Ease of Doing Business during the launch of this instrument last month, it was projected to finance the deployment of a maximum of 720 to 810 electric trucks under a credit outlay of ₹500 Crores to meet Viability Gap Funding (VGF).

However, today, while closing the single window for availing blended climate financing from this instrument, National Highways for EV (NHEV) and Transvolt Mobility, a leading electric truck fleet operator, revealed that a total deployment of 1,000 trucks resulted from this year-long exercise, which also included confidence and affirmation from all stakeholders through piloting, financing and commercial prototyping.

“Electric trucks have historically been major carbon emitters in surface transport. PM EDRIVE has now brought electric trucks under its incentive coverage. The scale and speed of private capital deployment in NHEV confirm that the policy trajectory is headed in the right direction. The overwhelming response from various Zero Emission Trucking (ZET) stakeholders is encouraging. Recent Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deployments, such as the $ 57 million USD Viability Gap Funding (VGF) in ‘NHEV’ and the $20 million USD equity investment from IFC in ‘Transvolt Mobility’, are expected to further accelerate nationwide adoption of electric Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDVs) and the transition of surface transport to clean, cutting-edge, zero-emission solutions.” – Shri Sudhendu J. Sinha, Advisor, NITI Aayog, Government of India.

“This deployment, coming out of a comprehensive technical and commercial exercise, is extending Ease of Doing Business on both technical interoperability and climate financing fronts. Shippers, logistic companies, E-truck lessee(s) and users have developed confidence after multilayer technical trials, and investors & financers have evaluated the risk associated with repayment, upfront cost, residual value, insurance and operational safety parameters. E-truck manufacturers, and infra & fleet operators are determined to reduce electric truck costs from ₹1.25 Crores to ₹90 Lacs to offer approximately 10% lesser logistics cost in comparison to diesel fleet operators.”– Shri Abhijeet Sinha, National Program Director, Ease of Doing Business.

“This batch of 1,000 E-trucks, to be owned and operated by Transvolt Mobility, will also be deployed in construction projects, mines, shipyards and both dry/wet ports. These Etrucks will also connect multimodal logistics Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) and road freight routes across India, which currently transport cement, automobiles, containers, coal, iron and steel, foodgrains, fertilisers, furniture and petroleum products. Now, with NHEV, we are getting the opportunity to offer quick trials and deployments to potential public PSUs, corporations, mines & ports interested in leasing heavy-duty electric trucks, dumpers & tippers.” – Shri Siddesh Rai, Vice President, Transvolt Mobility.

This announcement of 1,000 electric trucks’ deployment comes in September, after the auto sector witnessed almost double sales of electric trucks in the month of August 2025, following the Central Government’s ₹500 Crores incentive scheme introduced in July 2025, after the Ministry of Heavy Industries’ notification on guidelines for claiming etruck incentives under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme, to incentivise electric truck adoption with an upfront capital subsidy of ₹2.7 – 9.3 lacs for the purchase of each truck.

Both entities, NHEV and Transvolt Mobility, inked this MoU of 1,000 electric trucks today on World EV Day in New Delhi, after the subsequent arrangement of adequate capital required for the deployment. Firstly, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced an equity investment of $20 million USD in Transvolt Mobility within a week after the announcement of PM E-DRIVE on 11th July 2025. Followed by the second such big announcement of $57 million USD (₹500 Crores) blended climate finance opened by Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) on 1st August 2025 to accelerate deployment and clean mobility ventures with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) carved out of the total NHEV credit outlay arrangement of ₹3672 Crores from HDFC Bank.

About Ease of Doing Business

EoDB is a Special Purpose OPC (SPC); currently India’s premier emerging Tech-Piloting agency privately held and based in New Delhi, contributing with its pilot projects in micro-level tech-economies across the states and sectors in the macro tech-economic Bharat vision of the Prime Minister, extending Ease of Doing Business reforms with evidence-based tech-pilot programs for the private sector since 2014. Exclusively contributing in the vision of Prime Minister, going on ground beyond bureaucratic boundaries to deliver actual Ease of Doing Business at grassroots levels through footprint ecosystem pilots for commercialization of emerging technologies like AI, loT, Blockchain, Electric Mobility, Health Tech, Drones, Cloud Computing, 3D Printing, Robotics, Automation, Machine Learning, Geospatial, Big Data Centres, etc.

About Transvolt Mobility

Transvolt Mobility Pvt Ltd (“TMPL” or “Transvolt”) is managing an electric mobility platform by leveraging proven global experience of its senior management team and its working partners, developments in e-mobility technology, and the Government’s strong push for electrification of transportation in various states as well as in the country. The EV Platform envisages to integrate and create powerful connected ecosystem across products and services segments in the value chain to create and offer a robust e-mobility infrastructure capability in the B2G, B2C and B2B domains.

Tags: NHEVTRANSVOLTWorld EV Da

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Education

UP CM Yogi Adityanath Orders Probe into University Admissions

Observenow Desk

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the admission and recognition processes of courses offered by universities, colleges, and other educational institutions across the state. The move is aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and fairness in the higher education system, ensuring that students have access to legitimate and credible programs.

The directive mandates a detailed review of admission procedures, course approvals, and institutional affiliations. Authorities will examine whether universities and colleges are adhering to regulatory standards and whether programs meet the required academic criteria. This step comes amid growing concerns about irregularities in admissions and the credibility of certain courses, which have raised questions among students, parents, and education stakeholders.

CM Adityanath emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity within the state’s education framework. He stated that the investigation seeks to protect students’ interests and guarantee that institutions operate within the prescribed legal and academic guidelines. The inquiry will cover both public and private institutions, ensuring a uniform standard of accountability across all higher education establishments.

The state government plans to involve senior officials, regulatory authorities, and academic experts in conducting the probe. The findings will be used to recommend corrective actions, including revoking approvals for non-compliant courses or institutions, enhancing monitoring mechanisms, and improving overall governance in higher education.

The initiative has been welcomed by education experts who believe that such oversight is critical to upholding the credibility of Uttar Pradesh’s academic institutions. By ensuring that admissions are transparent and courses are genuinely recognized, the state aims to create a more reliable and student-focused higher education environment.

This move reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening the education sector and safeguarding students’ academic and professional futures while maintaining high standards across the state’s universities and colleges.

Tags: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

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