Category technology

Bangalore, Jan 9: MathWorks, the leading developer of mathematical computing software, today predicted a major shift in the global connectivity landscape, with 2026 expected to be the first year when satellite and 5G networks will start functioning as a unified system, rather than parallel infrastructures. The company said it expects hybrid satellite-5G connectivity to move from pilot projects into real-world deployment with 3GPP Release 17 and 18, enabling deeper integration of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) and Terrestrial Networks (TN). This convergence is expected to unlock a new generation of resilient, globally accessible communication services, reshaping applications in mobility, public safety, IoT, and remote connectivity.

The 3GPP Release 17 standard provides a baseline for NTN-TN interoperability, specifying reliability and latency parameters. Release 18 expands support for NTN-IoT and higher frequency bands, which are critical for scalable, high-throughput architectures.

“2026 is going to mark the moment when satellite links start behaving like a natural extension of existing 5G networks,” said Mike McLernon, Principal Technical Marketing Engineer, MathWorks. “For engineers, this means building systems that can operate seamlessly across sky and ground with critical simulation-led design.”

India is a key market poised to accelerate NTN-TN adoption. With operators exploring space-based coverage for rural regions and emergency communications, the country is expected to play a central role in bringing hybrid connectivity to scale.

This shift will introduce new design challenges for telecom R&D teams, ranging from satellite-cell handovers and multi-band transceiver design to high-mobility user scenarios and real-time coordination between ground and space systems. As telcos race to deliver direct-to-device satellite services, hybrid networks will demand more complex testing, simulation, and system-level validation.

“NTNs will not be replacing TNs; rather, they will be augmenting them, forming a hybrid ecosystem that will define the next generation of global wireless connectivity,” said McLernon. “A major technical focus for wireless engineers is to ensure reliable transitions between satellite and terrestrial links.”

Interoperability between NTNs and TNs is paramount, as handover management and resource coordination will ultimately determine the success of the overall system design. For the RF community, the emergence of NTN-TN networks also signals a growing need for flexible, multi-band transceivers and robust channel modeling across variable propagation environments.

Tokyo, Japan, Jan 8: transcosmos and Priv Tech, Inc. today announced the joint release of Privacy Consulting Services, launching in December 2025. This service helps companies leverage data while complying with privacy regulations applicable to digital marketing in Japan and abroad.

This offering supports clients in revising their privacy policies—essential for deploying Conversion APIs (CAPI), which are key to maximizing advertising performance—while mitigating risks in data utilization. By creating an environment that enables companies to fully harness marketing data, they can enhance targeting accuracy and improve return on investment (ROI). Combining transcosmos’s expertise in executing marketing solutions with Priv Tech’s strength in privacy technologies—the company’s key competitive advantage—the two companies provide comprehensive support across privacy protection, advertising, and technology. This collaboration empowers clients to promote data utilization and boost performance effectively.

• Complex regulations and challenges in data utilization

With the tightening of privacy regulations—including the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, the Telecommunications Business Act, GDPR, and CCPA—traditional policies are no longer sufficient to meet privacy protection requirements in today’s digital marketing landscape. At the same time, increasing targeting accuracy and maximizing ad performance requires accelerating AI learning processes across platforms. This makes it critical to prepare and utilize first-party data, such as conversion (CV) and event data transmitted via CAPI. However, revising privacy policies to comply with increasingly complex regulations has become a major bottleneck for many businesses seeking to deploy CAPI and fully utilize data.

• End-to-end services in collaboration with Priv Tech

To help businesses overcome these challenges, transcosmos partnered with Priv Tech—a leading company with a proven track record in data protection and privacy-enhancing technologies. By combining expertise in privacy technologies, advertising and marketing, and technology deployment—the areas that the two companies specialize in—transcosmos and Priv Tech deliver end-to-end support—from building privacy protection systems to deploying technologies such as CAPI—helping businesses clear hurdles.

• Service menu examples

– Support for revising privacy policies to comply with new regulations
– Support for revising privacy policies to comply with the Japanese privacy acts
– Development of cookie policies (site scan and template creation)
– Deployment of a consent management platform
– Compliance support for the Telecommunications Business Act

• Expected outcomes

– Increased customer trust and enhanced brand value
– Effective use of marketing data and higher ROI
– Prevention of privacy risks and online backlash
– Competitive edge built on privacy protection

transcosmos remains committed to helping businesses achieve sustainable growth by delivering optimal solutions to address client challenges.

As artificial intelligence evolves beyond passive automation, agentic AI platforms are emerging as the next foundational layer for digital businesses. These systems do not just execute tasks; they observe, decide, and act autonomously across workflows, channels, and tools. From marketing and personalization to operations and developer productivity, agentic AI is redefining how software delivers outcomes rather than features. As enterprises prepare for this shift, here are five agentic AI platforms that are expected to shape adoption and innovation in 2026:

1. Adsocial.ai
   AdSocial.ai is a visual personalisation platform for D2C brands, designed to help brands deliver truly individualized experiences at scale. Brands using its AI-agent–led visual personalisation have reported 40–60% improvements in conversion funnels and up to 2X revenue growth. The platform uses multimodal AI agents to translate customer signals into adaptive visual experiences across digital touchpoints in real time. By shifting brands away from campaign-heavy execution to autonomous, agent-driven workflows, AdSocial.ai enables scalable, customer-led personalisation without added operational complexity.
   
2. Fundamento.ai
   Fundamento.ai focuses on building autonomous financial and decision-support agents designed to assist businesses with planning, forecasting, and strategic analysis. Its agentic systems continuously ingest internal and external data to surface insights, flag anomalies, and recommend actions in near real time. Rather than static dashboards, Fundamento.ai emphasizes AI-driven decision loops that evolve with business conditions. This makes it especially useful for finance, strategy, and leadership teams navigating complex environments.
   
3. Jeeva.ai
   Jeeva.ai is developing agentic AI solutions centered on revenue operations and go-to-market efficiency. Its AI agents assist sales and growth teams by autonomously qualifying leads, prioritizing accounts, and recommending next-best actions across the pipeline. By reducing manual CRM work and fragmented decision-making, Jeeva.ai helps teams focus on high-impact interactions. The platform reflects a broader shift toward AI agents acting as active collaborators rather than background tools.
   
4. Pype.ai
   Pype.ai is building agent-driven systems aimed at automating and orchestrating complex workflows across data, analytics, and business operations. Its agents are designed to independently manage multi-step processes, adapt to changing inputs, and coordinate between systems without constant human intervention. This approach reduces operational friction in environments where speed and accuracy are critical. Pype.ai is particularly relevant for organizations scaling data-heavy or process-intensive functions.
   
5. Composio
   Composio provides an agent infrastructure layer that allows developers to connect AI agents with hundreds of tools, APIs, and SaaS products. Instead of building brittle integrations, teams can deploy agents that autonomously execute actions across software ecosystems. This enables faster development of real-world, action-oriented AI applications. As agentic systems become more prevalent, Composio is emerging as a critical backbone for reliable agent-to-tool orchestration.

As agentic AI moves from experimentation to enterprise adoption, platforms like Adsocial.ai, Fundamento.ai, and others highlight a clear shift toward outcome-driven software. In 2026, the competitive advantage will not come from who uses AI, but from who deploys intelligent agents that can reason, act, and continuously improve at scale.

LAS VEGAS, Jan 8: This week At CES 2026, HP Inc. debuted new technologies that position personal fulfilment as the next frontier for driving business growth.

Knowledge workers worldwide are feeling under pressure; just 20% have a healthy relationship with work. But given the right tools and technology, the likelihood of workers having a healthy work relationship more than doubles – and increases five-fold when the workforce sees their company investing in them. In an era marked by disruption and change, HP recognizes a growing fulfilment deficit in the workforce and is committed to empowering organizations to transform this challenge into an opportunity for innovation and resilience.

Innovations Designed for the Future of Work

As businesses navigate unprecedented challenges, HP remains steadfast in its commitment to pioneering solutions that foster professional fulfilment and accelerate business growth, ensuring that the future of work is both human-centered and technology-driven.

New products and solutions include:

• Designing for the future of work means creating solutions that move, connect, and adapt to any workspace. HP’s newest form factor, the HP EliteBoard G1a, is the world’s first full AI PC built into a keyboard and a CES 2026 Innovation Award Honoree.
• Built for leaders shaping the future of work, HP introduced its HP EliteBook X G2 Series, the next generation of premium business laptops built for the AI era and a CES 2026 Innovation Award Honoree.
• Bringing passion-ready experiences so consumers can work smarter, look sharper, and lead better, HP unveiled new updates to the full HP OmniBook consumer portfolio – including the new HP OmniBook Ultra 14 and HP OmniStudioX.
• Delivering AI-powered productivity right at the printer, HP introduced the first integration of Microsoft Copilot into HP Office Print devices with HP for Microsoft 365 Copilot, providing document summarization, translation, and smart organization to help businesses work faster, smarter, and more securely.
• Keep hybrid work running smoothly and strengthen IT’s ability to maintain business continuity across distributed environments with enhancements to the company’s Workforce Experience Platform (WXP) employee device management features.
• Pair your new HP PC with intuitive, ergonomic, and sustainable peripherals for every workspace, including a stylish pink version of the HP Tilt Ergonomic Mouse 720M, a new compact USB-C HP 65W GaN Wall Charger, lightweight and durable HP Protective Series laptop sleeves, and more.
• When it’s time to clock out, get your game on. HP is redefining how gamers play, create, and perform, unifying its OMEN and HyperX brands under one master gaming brand – HyperX – and engineering the world’s most powerful gaming laptop with fully internal cooling, the HyperX OMEN MAX 16.
• To understand your PC’s origin story, HP developed HP Digital Passport, a CES 2026 Innovation Award Honoree, giving customers one place to access PC essentials: from getting started, discovering unique product features and their device’s sustainability story, to finding support options as their needs evolve.

Future of Work Accelerator 2026: Applications Open Soon

As part of HP’s commitment to business growth and professional fulfillment, the Future of Work Accelerator expands access to technology and skills for disconnected communities. Since 2022, the Accelerator has served 35 nonprofits across 13 countries, reaching 11.3 million people. The Accelerator provides USD $100,000 in funding, USD $100,000 worth of HP hardware and solutions, and a six-month training and mentorship program to participating organizations.

In 2026, the Accelerator is returning to the U.S., where it was piloted, and will be open to both nonprofits and for-profits for the first time, with a focus on AI and the Future of Work. Applications open on January 12, and the deadline to apply is February 6.

Acer today unveiled a comprehensive new range of Veriton desktop computers for businesses, including all-in-ones (AIOs), a large tower, and an AI mini workstation, designed to enhance productivity and creativity across modern workplaces.

Acer Veriton RA100 AI Mini Workstation: For Prosumers, Creators, and Gamers

The Acer Veriton RA100 AI Mini Workstation (VRA100) is a Copilot+ PC powered by AMD Ryzen™ AI Max+ 395 processors, delivering advanced AI performance and immersive AI experiences on Windows 11. Equipped with AMD Radeon™ 8060S Graphics, 50 NPU TOPS, and 60 TFLOPS, it supports up to 120 billion parameters, making it ideal for local AI models, generative AI, 3D design, and content creation.

With 128 GB LPDDR5X memory and up to 4 TB M.2 2280 SSD storage, the RA100 ensures smooth multitasking and reliable performance for product designers, engineers, AI developers, animators, and creators handling complex 3D models and real-time renderings.

The workstation features adaptive performance modes — Silent, Balanced, and Performance — allowing users to optimize cooling, noise, and power for office tasks, light gaming, or AI computing. Connectivity is seamless with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth® 5.4, and RJ45 Ethernet, while a Kensington lock slot ensures device security in shared environments.

Acer Veriton Vero 4000 & 6000 Series All-in-One Desktops: Modern Workplaces, Enhanced Productivity

The Veriton Vero 4000 (VVZ4734G/VVZ4734GT) and Veriton Vero 6000 (VVZ6734G/VVZ6734GT) AIO desktops combine AI-driven performance, robust security, and efficient manageability in a sleek, eco-conscious design.

Powered by Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 2 processors, with up to 64 GB DDR5 memory and 2 TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage, the AIOs offer seamless multitasking. The Vero 6000 additionally features Intel vPro, enabling advanced security and remote management for IT teams.

Both models sport 23.8-inch Full HD, 144 Hz touch displays, with ergo stands and VESA mount support for flexible setups. Collaboration is enhanced via a 5.0 MP infrared webcam with privacy shutter, built-in stereo speakers, and Acer PurifiedVoice software.

Tested to MIL-STD 810H standards and certified with EPEAT Gold, TCO, and Energy Star 9.0, these devices also emphasize sustainability, using post-consumer recycled materials and 100% recyclable packaging. Security is reinforced with TPM 2.0 and a Kensington lock.

Acer Veriton 2000 Large Tower: High-Performance Desktop for Creators and SMBs

The Veriton 2000 Large Tower (VK2730G) is engineered for AI-assisted content creation and everyday productivity. Powered by Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 2 processors and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080 GPUs, it delivers 1,801 AI TOPS, enabling smooth AI tasks, modeling, rendering, and editing.

With scalable memory (up to 64 GB DDR5) and storage (up to 2 TB M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD), it handles large media files efficiently. The tower supports Acer Sense, an intuitive app for device management, diagnostics, and performance tracking with minimal IT intervention. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth® 5.4, and RJ45 Ethernet, while energy efficiency is ensured through Energy Star compliance and EPEAT Bronze registration.

 Acer Veriton 2000 All-in-One: SMBs and Hybrid Workspaces

Designed for SMBs, field teams, and office operations, the Veriton 2000 AIO (VZ2515G) features Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 processors, up to 64 GB DDR5 memory, and 1 TB SSD storage, delivering responsive performance for everyday business tasks.

The 23.8-inch Full HD display supports VESA mounting and tilt adjustment for flexible office or kiosk setups. Security is ensured via TPM 2.0 and a Kensington lock, while Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth® 5.2, and RJ45 offer stable and fast connectivity. Windows 11 Pro provides advanced protection against emerging cybersecurity threats, making it ideal for hybrid work environments.

Acer’s new Veriton lineup is designed to cater to diverse business needs, from AI-powered creativity and high-performance computing to eco-conscious, collaborative office solutions, ensuring productivity, efficiency, and sustainability for modern workplaces.

Delhi, India, Jan 07: Hexnode, the enterprise software division of Mitsogo, announced the release of Hexnode XDR, its extended detection and response platform, reinforcing its commitment to helping Indian organisations strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

Indian organisations continue to see a sharp rise in cyber threat volumes as they scale operations across cloud platforms and diverse endpoint environments. Recent research indicates that over 265 million cyberattack attempts were recorded in India, underscoring the sustained pressure on security teams to detect and respond to threats effectively.

“You can’t expect an enterprise to stay resilient if IT and security aren’t aligned. That separation has been a long-standing weak spot. Hexnode XDR bridges the divide by unifying endpoint data, deeper context, and powerful response tools. The result? IT teams can finally anticipate threats and act with certainty,” said Apu Pavithran, CEO and Founder of Hexnode.

Security Simplified for IT Admins

Hexnode XDR reimagines the XDR experience with usability at its core. Its clean, structured dashboard unifies endpoints, alerts and vulnerabilities into a single view, simplifying how IT teams assess and respond to threats.

Key Features Include:

• Unified Incident Visibility: Real-time overview of threats, alerts, and vulnerable devices, helping IT admins assess their security posture quickly. 
• Automated Correlation: Collect and analyze signals across endpoints to uncover malicious activity, supported by severity levels, device impact, and threat lifecycle logs.
• Contextualized Alerts: Alerts enriched with device and policy insights for focused response decisions.
• One-Click Remediation: Instant coordinated response to kill processes, quarantine or delete files, and isolate devices for swift threat containment.
• Complete Audit Trail: Searchable and exportable logs of threats, actions and system events, preserving full traceability for efficient analysis and compliance.

By emphasizing clarity and automation, Hexnode XDR helps IT teams respond to threats faster and with greater certainty.

Unified Security and Endpoint Management Under One Ecosystem

Hexnode XDR integrates seamlessly with Hexnode UEM, creating a single connected environment for endpoint management and security. This unified approach reduces tool sprawl and shortens response time.

Integration Highlights:

• Effortless Setup: Extends protection from existing Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) environments with minimal configuration.
• Centralized Control: Manage devices, monitor threats, and enforce policies from one intuitive interface.
• Real-Time Feedback Loop: XDR insights flow directly into Hexnode UEM for consistent device and security visibility.
• Familiar Workflows: Built on the same design principles as Hexnode UEM to ensure quick adoption.
• Future-Ready Scalability: Scales with workforce growth, cloud adoption, and hybrid work models.

This synergy enables organizations to manage, secure, and respond all within a single, cohesive platform.

Built for What’s Next

Hexnode XDR is engineered to evolve into a fully advanced XDR platform that adapts to growing enterprise security demands.

Upcoming features include:

• Broader Endpoint Coverage: Support for macOS, Linux and mobile devices alongside Windows.
• Third-Party UEM Integration: Compatibility with external UEMs, allowing organizations to leverage Hexnode XDR without replacing existing tools.
• Actionable Security Prompts: Suggests timely security actions, enables one-click setup through pre-filled UEM policies, and tracks impact to refine future recommendations.
• Hexnode Genie AI support: An intelligence layer that powers guided troubleshooting and quick chat-based responses to admin queries. 
• Intelligent Threat Response: Automated threat remediation and technician assignment for faster containment.
• Application Vulnerability Insights: Visibility into system and user-installed apps, with alerts to help IT teams identify risky software.

Hexnode XDR equips organizations of all sizes, offering simplified threat management for SMBs and full-scale orchestration through UEM integration for enterprises.

India ITME Society Hosts 3rd Technical Awards 2025, Celebrating Innovation in Textile Engineering

Mumbai, Jan, o7: The India International Textile Machinery Exhibitions Society (India ITME Society) marked a milestone in the textile engineering sector with the 3rd edition of ITME Technical Awards 2025, held at a high-level industry gathering in Mumbai. The event brought together senior industry leaders, policymakers, academicians, and technologists, including Ms. Roop Rashi Mahapatra, IA & AS, CEO of Khadi & Village Industries Commission, Government of India, highlighting the national focus on innovation, skills, and advanced manufacturing in textiles.

Mr. Ketan Sanghvi, Chairman & Member of the Steering Committee, India ITME Society, said,

“The applications we received this year clearly reflect the bright future of India’s textile engineering industry. Young innovators are leading the way with fresh ideas, strong passion, and a start-up mindset. At India ITME Society, we are proud to offer a platform that helps these innovative minds turn their dreams into reality.”

Ms. Roop Rashi Mahapatra emphasized,

“Khadi and traditional industries should not be seen through a philanthropic lens. They are powerful engines of growth. When tradition is combined with modern technology and design, it creates sustainable livelihoods, stronger enterprises, and inclusive development across the value chain.”

Other industry leaders shared their insights:

• Mr. Neeraj Jain, Joint MD, Vardhman Textiles: “With rapid shifts in cotton sourcing, fabric innovation, and global demand, the textile industry needs sharper technical insights.”

• Mr. Edward Menezes, Executive Chairman, Rossari Biotech: “True success comes from vision, consistency, and belief in the power of design, alongside industry support.”

• Ms. Swati Pandey, VCMD, Maharashtra Airport Development Company: “Technology alone will not take us to the next level. Innovation, new thinking, and courage to break old patterns are key. AI has become the third partner in our journey, helping industry move faster and smarter.”

The India ITME Technical Awards 2025, supported by the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India, and powered by SBI, recognized individuals, companies, and students for their outstanding contributions to textile engineering, innovation, sustainability, and technical excellence. The awards aim to encourage continuous improvement, adoption of advanced technologies, and knowledge sharing across the textile value chain.

The Esteemed Jury included technocrats and leaders such as:

• Mr. Uday Gill, ITMF Board Member

• Mr. Hemant Sharma, President, Reliance Industries Ltd.

• Mr. Updeep Singh, CEO (Odisha), Welspun Group

• Dr. Ajit Khare, Professor, NIFT

• Dr. Pratima Goyal, HOD, Textile & Fashion Technology, Nirmala Niketan

• And many more senior industry experts and academics

Award Winners – ITME Technical Awards 2025

• Textile Engineering & Technology Champion – Processing & Finishing: Yamuna Machine Works

• Cutting-Edge Textile Engineering Technology: Yamuna Machine Works

• Women Leadership in Textile Engineering: Ms. Amoli Shah, Prashant Gamatex Pvt. Ltd.

• Best Eco-Design (Post-Graduation Student): Mr. Sourav Banerjee

• Textile & Allied Sectors Champion: Zydex Industries Pvt. Ltd.

• Sustainability-Centric Organization: Zydex Industries Pvt. Ltd.

• Best CSR Initiative – Textile Engineering Company: Prashant Gamatex Pvt. Ltd.

• Best Eco-Design (Undergraduate Student): Ms. Bhagyashri Khade

• Textile Accessories Champion: Maksteel Wire Healds Pvt. Ltd.

• Successful Technology Transfer & “Make in India” Initiative: Rieter India Pvt. Ltd.

• Best CSR Initiative – Regional Association: Jodhpur Handicrafts Exporters Association

• Best Eco-Design (Undergraduate Runner-Up): Mr. Manal Kadale

The evening concluded with industry interactions and networking, reinforcing India ITME Society’s role as a pivotal platform for dialogue, collaboration, and progress within India’s textile engineering ecosystem.

AI, Innovation, Inclusivity, and Personalised Learning Take Center Stage as Education Prepares for 2026

The year 2025 witnessed transformative shifts in the education sector, with institutions across India and globally embracing innovation, adaptability, and future-ready skills. From universities and management institutes to cutting-edge education platforms, leaders reflected on milestones achieved and outlined their vision for 2026. A strong emphasis emerged on Artificial Intelligence (AI), experiential learning, inclusivity, and global collaboration as key drivers shaping the next chapter of education.

“This year marked our Platinum Jubilee, celebrating 70 years of outstanding technical education, with the Honourable President of India gracing the occasion and the 35th convocation held in the presence of the ISRO Chairman. The growing focus on data-driven insights has redefined curricula, encouraging learners to blend computational skills with critical thinking and ethical responsibility. Looking ahead, BIT Mesra will continue to foster a holistic and inclusive ecosystem,” said Prof. Sudip Das, Registrar, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra.

Reinforcing this shift from rote memorization to critical thinking, Mr. Harish Sanduja, Director – Schools and IT, Seth Anandram Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions, said:

“The introduction of new NCERT textbooks with a reduced curriculum has marked a structural shift in Indian school education. The focus is now on competency-based learning, critical thinking, and skill development. The Kaushal Bodh curriculum for CBSE classes 6 to 8 aligns with the NEP vision, covering modules such as AI, Design Thinking, Financial Literacy, IT, Travel and Tourism, Beauty and Wellness, Handicrafts, and more.”

These changes at both school and university levels signal a larger transformation in the education ecosystem. Institutions are no longer treating reforms as isolated initiatives but as part of a broader movement toward adaptability and relevance. Emphasis on skill-based curricula, integration of emerging technologies, and redefinition of educator roles reflects a sector preparing for a rapidly changing global economy.

“Education is no longer confined to classrooms. It is driven by adaptability, digital integration, and purpose-led learning. Students have embraced resilience and lifelong learning, while educators have adopted innovative, learner-centric approaches. Moving into 2026, the focus must remain on building future-ready skills, ethical leadership, and inclusive growth,” said Prof. (Dr.) Daviender Narang, Director, Jaipuria Institute of Management.

Educators are also optimistic about the Government of India’s decision to establish the Higher Education Council of India (HECI), expected to unify and streamline the regulatory framework for universities and colleges. By replacing legacy bodies such as UGC, AICTE, and NCTE, HECI aims to reduce duplication, enhance transparency, and create a more agile system.

“Management education in India has undergone a paradigmatic shift. AI has evolved from a buzzword to a core strategic tool, requiring students and educators to embrace digital competency alongside ethical leadership. Adaptability is now essential. As we look toward 2026, our focus shifts to purpose-driven innovation, global mobility, and leveraging the HECI framework to elevate Indian higher education,” said Dr. Tapan Kumar Nayak, Director, Jaipuria School of Business, Ghaziabad.

The hospitality education sector has similarly undergone transformation, adapting to technological advancements, sustainability imperatives, and changing industry expectations.

“2025 was a year of crucial transformation in hospitality education, driven by technology and industry demands. AI adoption has redefined how students are prepared, balancing human-centered skills with digital proficiency. In 2026, we expect continued emphasis on sustainability, digital transformation, and personalized experiences, fostering a global community of hospitality leaders,” said Ms. Anouck Weiss, Chief Communication Officer, Sommet Education.

Echoing this view, Mr. Kunal Vasudeva, MD & Co-Founder, Indian School of Hospitality, added:

“Students now demand learning that is relevant, organic, and aligned with their lives. They behave like CEOs of their own education. Institutions that fail to adapt in 2026 and 2027 risk being left behind.”

Cross-border collaboration has also emerged as a critical trend, with institutions seeking international partnerships to provide students with global exposure and diverse perspectives through research, exchange programs, and digital platforms.

“2025 brought challenges and opportunities for the education sector. AI, personalised learning, global collaboration, and navigating visa norms became key priorities. Resilience, adaptability, and inclusivity emerged as essential for success. In 2026, AI will be at the heart of educational transformation, alongside a focus on cross-border collaboration,” said Mr. Sundar Kumarasamy, CEO & Founder, Excelerate, and Co-Founder, V-Empower Ventures.

Similarly, Mr. Bob Chopra, Founder & CEO, IvySchool.ai, observed:

“2025 marked a new era in AI, coding, and computer science education. Students embraced experiential learning, moving beyond rote methods to problem-solving and interdisciplinary applications. Generative AI tools, project-based coding challenges, and computational thinking became integral. In 2026, we aim to empower students to be future-ready leaders, coding creatively, using AI responsibly, and contributing meaningfully to the digital world.”

Together, these perspectives highlight a sector in transition, redefining the role of educators and institutions. As 2026 approaches, education is poised to move beyond conventional boundaries, ensuring learners are academically prepared and equipped with the skills and leadership capabilities to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Taipei, Taiwan, Jan 7: Following the unveiling of the new Intel® Core™ Ultra Series 3 processors (formerly Panther Lake) at CES, AAEON’s UP brand (stock code: 6579) has announced its development timeline for the UP Xtreme PTL Edge, an AI Mini PC leveraging the platform.

Expected to enter mass production during the latter part of Q1, the UP Xtreme PTL Edge will be available with either the Intel® Core™ Ultra X7 358H or Intel® Core™ Ultra 5 Processor 338H from the new series, featuring an integrated Intel® Arc™ GPU with up to 12 Xe3 Cores and Intel NPU 5.0 for up to 180 TOPs of AI performance in total.

Its SoC is not the only substantial change provided by the UP Xtreme PTL Edge when compared to previous UP Mini PCs. The device’s I/O provides a number of more advanced connectivity options, including two USB 4.0 (Type-C) alongside two USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A) and a pair of 2.5GbE LAN ports. Alongside these, the UP Xtreme PTL Edge will also include the 40-pin GPIO the brand’s customer base of industrial developers will be familiar with, as well as two COM ports for RS-232/422/485.

Additional improvements can be found in the system’s display options, which offer two HDMI 2.1 ports and two DP 2.1 via its USB Type-C ports for four simultaneous 8K display outputs. Compounding this selection is the enhanced graphics media display features and acceleration for video analytics offered by the system’s integrated GPU and NPU.

For storage, the UP Xtreme PTL Edge offers two M.2 2280 M-Key slots, while additional expansion for Wi-Fi comes in the form of an M.2 2230 E-Key slot. Meanwhile, the system can support up to 128GB of dual-channel DDR5 (up to 7200 MT/s) via two SODIMM slots.

With respect to OS compatibility, the UP Xtreme PTL Edge supports both Windows® 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC and Linux Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

GURUGRAM, India, Jan 06: Samsung Electronics today unveiled its “Companion to AI Living” vision at The First Look, its CES® 2026 event held in the Latour Ballroom at the Wynn Las Vegas. The focus of the event was on AI as Samsung’s philosophy, a foundation that connects the company’s R&D product development, operations and user experience.

TM Roh, CEO and Head of Samsung’s Device eXperience (DX) Division, opened The First Look by describing the company’s AI leadership and how due to its vast, AI-enabled, connected ecosystem, Samsung can provide users with a true AI companion experience in their daily life. This approach gives users a chance to access more than just the basics from their technology and instead, provides opportunities to find more meaningful moments everywhere.

“Samsung is building a more unified, more personal experience across mobile, visual display, home appliances and services,” said CEO TM Roh. “With our global connected ecosystem, and by embedding AI across categories, Samsung is leading the way to offer more meaningful everyday AI experiences.”

Entertainment Companion: Extending the Experience Beyond Simple Viewing

SW Yong, President and Head of the Visual Display (VD) Business at Samsung Electronics, and Sukhmani Mohta, Chief Marketing and Partnerships Officer, VD Business at Samsung Electronics America, took the stage to describe how Samsung’s displays are combining hardware excellence and visual intelligence to provide a true entertainment companion. Drawing from twenty years of leading the TV industry, Samsung has built a full AI TV lineup that provides an entirely new way for users to interact with their TV.

The center of the display lineup is the 130-inch Micro RGB, which represents a monumental leap in scale and picture quality. The 130-inch Micro RGB marks a new era of color, featuring the widest and most detailed spectrum ever seen in Samsung TVs while its Timeless Frame design minimizes distractions and allows the picture to take center stage with understated elegance. A micro-sized RGB light source drives the unprecedented picture quality, with each microscopic red, green and blue diode shining independently to produce color in its purest, most natural form. Micro RGB AI Engine Pro enables precise control of RGB colors and creates overwhelmingly vivid picture quality in every scene.

Elevating this next-level viewing experience, Vision AI Companion (VAC)1 uses AI technology to work alongside users as a full entertainment companion to enhance viewing, dining and mood, anywhere in the home. With it, users can receive guidance on what to watch, what to eat and what music to listen to, enhancing the overall TV experience in a way that extends far beyond simple viewing.

Samsung also offers intuitive modes to personalize the viewing experience. For soccer fans, AI Soccer Mode Pro delivers a more exciting gameday experience through AI-driven picture and sound tuning to stadium-level quality. AI Sound Controller Pro lets you raise or lower the volume of the crowd, commentary, or background music, providing a personalized listening experience for TV shows and movies. Users can simply make verbal requests, and any TV equipped with VAC — which includes Micro LED, Micro RGB, OLED, Neo QLED, Mini LED and UHD TV — contextually carries out those requests.

Across different types of programming, VAC also boosts the overall lifestyle experience. It allows users to find recipes for meals they see on TV by simply asking and uses the most up-to-date information to make recommendations that align with health and fitness goals. VAC offers multi-device functionality, as well, sending recommended recipes directly to other devices like the newly-unveiled The Movingstyle, designed to move easily throughout the home and kitchen appliances, for a multi-device experience achieved through complete ecosystem integration.

Samsung has led the global soundbar market for 11 consecutive years. This year, it is introducing two new WiFi speakers, the Music Studio 5 and 7, to further expand its integrated ecosystem. These models support a wider range of sound system combinations, enhance audiovisual quality and improve the aesthetics of any space. Each model shares a timeless, dot design concept by renowned designer Erwan Bouroullec, inspired by a universal symbol in music and art and grounded in Samsung’s signature design language.

Samsung also unveiled a host of new products that blend beautifully with users’ homes and aesthetics.  The new, ultra-thin OLED S95H features a refined bezel that gives it art gallery elegance, and Samsung’s new portable projector, The Freestyle+, is powered by VAC and allows users to view content on walls and ceilings, as well as uneven surfaces like corners and curtains.

The 2026 TV lineup supports HDR10+ ADVANCED, delivering enhanced brightness, genre-based optimization, intelligent motion smoothing, advanced local tone mapping and improved gaming experience.

As HDR10+ adoption grows among major OTT providers, Samsung will be the first to launch HDR10+ ADVANCED in its 2026 TV lineup. Samsung also features Eclipsa Audio, the company’s new spatial sound system, introduced across all 2026 TVs.

Samsung also unveiled its most advanced Odyssey gaming monitor lineup yet, introducing five new models that push the boundaries of resolution, refresh rate and immersive visual performance. Led by Samsung’s first 6K 3D Odyssey G9, the 2026 lineup debuts world-first display technologies for gamers and creators, including the next-generation Odyssey G6 and three new Odyssey G8 models.

At the center of all these display innovations is the most powerful Tizen OS yet. Users can now enjoy seven years of Tizen OS upgrades, ensuring that TVs continue to evolve long after they have entered the home.

Home Companion: Connected Smart Appliances That Guide You Through Your Day

Cheolgi Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Digital Appliances (DA) Division at Samsung Electronics, and Elizabeth Anderson, Head of Integrated Marketing, DA at Samsung Electronics America (SEA) outlined Samsung’s vision to evolve from providing home appliances to true home companions that work to eliminate the stress of daily chores. Cheolgi Kim also announced that as of December 2025, SmartThings now serves more than 430 million users, empowering Samsung with a significant scale and depth of insight that sets it apart from other brands.

This insight comes to life with the Family Hub. The AI-enabled refrigerator is the centerpiece of the home and now, with an upgrade to AI Vision built with Google Gemini, it redefines living for an AI future. With this update, AI Vision unlocks existing limitations in recognizing food items, seamlessly tracking what is placed into and taken out of the refrigerator, making meal planning and food management simpler than ever. The Family Hub has won 10 CES Innovation Awards so far, and Samsung’s AI-enabled fridges have received the award for the past three years.

Through a gamified feature called “What’s for Today?”, select refrigerators provide recipe recommendations based on what is in the refrigerator or also random recommendations, reducing the stress caused by choosing what to cook. When selected, recipes show up through SmartThings Food, where users receive a step-by-step guide to help them get started instantly. The selected recipe can also be sent to connected cooking appliances to begin the process seamlessly. Video to Recipe adds even more simplicity, providing users with recommended cooking videos and converting those videos into easy-to-follow steps, allowing users to follow along while they cook without pausing the video or backtracking.

Samsung also unveiled FoodNote, a new, weekly report that recaps users’ food intake patterns, from most-used ingredients and recipe recommendations, and which items it’s time to restock. Additionally, Now Brief includes more widgets on the Family Hub screen and with Voice ID, can distinguish between family members and display content relevant to each individual. Ultimately, these features come together to provide various helpful insights and information throughout the week.

In the laundry room, the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo removes the need to transfer loads of laundry, solving a major pain point for households. This year’s model comes with enhanced features, like a faster super speed cycle and enhanced drying performance. Moreover, Samsung’s new Bespoke AI AirDresser is here to solve another common problem with your clothes. It features Auto Wrinkle Care, which blasts strong air and steam jets to smooth out shirts. All users have to do is hang their shirt and wait, reducing the burden in busy mornings.

Around the house, the Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam Ultra, powered by a Qualcomm Dragonwing™ processor, features an Active Stereo 3D Sensor to recognize liquids like coffee, juice, or even transparent liquids like water. While its camera helps with navigation, it also allows the robot vacuum to serve as a monitoring device for when users are away from home, notifying them about their pets and whether there is any suspicious activity. Plus, with a smarter Bixby, users can speak conversationally to their robot vacuum to carry out tasks with ease. For the deep level of connectivity and integration that forms the backbone of a holistic, AI-powered experience, Samsung’s Bespoke AI appliances have received a CES Innovation Award.

Additional benefits include a first-of-its-kind partnership with Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB) to help unlock real, meaningful savings to the smart home experience. HSB President and CEO Greg M. Barats joined the presentation to discuss the partnership, explaining the potential benefits of having smart appliances connected to SmartThings to reduce insurance premiums. This is the best of the AI era — increased protections and reduced costs for users. After a successful pilot run in the U.S. in 2025, the collaboration is expanding to more states across the U.S., as well as to leading home insurance carriers in other global regions.

Care Companion: Shifting From Reactive to Proactive Care

Finally, Praveen Raja, Vice President and Head of Digital Health at Samsung Research America (SRA), introduced Samsung’s long-term vision for intelligent care enabled by Samsung’s integrated device ecosystem, redefining care from a reactive need to a proactive opportunity. With AI, phones, appliances, wearables and other connected devices will help users prevent potential health concerns before they occur.

For example, Samsung aims to provide personalized health coaching, offering effective exercise and sleep coaching to help decrease risk for major chronic diseases and also suggesting appropriate recipes based on ingredients available in connected refrigerators. Additionally, if any abnormal signs or patterns are detected, it will alert users while allowing their health metrics to be shared with providers via the Xealth platform and facilitating virtual professional consultations.

Recognizing the importance of preventative health, Samsung is also expanding its capabilities in dementia detection through research partnerships, with wearable devices registering subtle changes to mobility, speech and engagement that can be indicative of long-term cognitive changes.

Samsung Knox and Knox Matrix serve as the foundation of this hyper-personalized ecosystem, safeguarding user data at every turn. As AI is constantly evolving, so are Knox and Knox Matrix. To maintain security despite constant changes, Samsung’s security systems are consistently identifying AI risks by advancing to protect data in AI training processes and approving models through red team analysis.