Actor Soha Ali Khan, speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on Monday, highlighted the growing risks women face in the rapidly evolving digital world and stressed that strong ethical safeguards in artificial intelligence are now crucial. Khan, a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) advocate, spoke during the session titled “Reimagining Gender in Technology – Designing safer digital futures and advancing ethical AI for inclusive platforms.” She discussed how technology has transformed opportunities for women across India.

“I’ve witnessed this transformation firsthand. Young women are building businesses online, and girls are sharing their entrepreneurial journeys on digital platforms,” she said, underscoring how these tools empower women to become entrepreneurs and storytellers. Khan also noted that digital literacy initiatives and online tools have opened new avenues for learning and self-expression. “AI is extraordinary. It improves healthcare access, expands education, and helps close maternal health gaps. From digital literacy programs to young girls becoming confident storytellers, these tools are truly empowering,” she said.

However, Soha warned that the digital space reflects existing social inequalities. “The digital world is not neutral; it mirrors the society that creates it. AI is now accelerating these dynamics,” she said. While AI offers numerous benefits, she pointed out its potential for misuse. “AI makes it faster, cheaper, and easier than ever to impersonate someone, create deep fakes, manipulate images, and misuse personal data. Unfortunately, many women are left without the knowledge to defend themselves,” she added.

Khan emphasized that the challenge goes beyond technology. “This is not just a tech issue—it’s a mental health issue, a public health issue, and a human rights issue. Ethical AI is not optional; it is mandatory,” she said. She further defined ethical AI as encompassing safety by design, privacy by default, clear accountability, meaningful consent, and robust reporting mechanisms.

Andrea Wojnar of UNFPA, who also spoke at the session, stressed that AI systems often lack accountability and are biased. “AI is unequal and biased,” she said, adding that it reshapes both risks and opportunities. “AI will influence safety, but trust is also an economic factor. When women and girls feel unsafe online, participation drops, limiting the potential of the digital economy,” Wojnar explained. She added that when users don’t trust AI-enabled services, adoption slows and reputational risks increase, preventing the digital economy from reaching its full potential.

The India AI Impact Summit is being held from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and technology experts. The summit marks one of the first major AI events hosted in the Global South. Top figures expected include Sundar Pichai of Google, Sam Altman of OpenAI, Dario Amodei of Anthropic, and researchers Yann LeCun and Arthur Mensch. Indian business leaders such as Mukesh Ambani, N Chandrasekaran, Salil Parekh, Nikesh Arora, and Shantanu Narayen are also slated to attend.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X.

The two-day U.S.–India Space Business Forum concluded on 11 February in Bengaluru, marking a significant step forward in bilateral space collaboration. Organized by the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai with support from the U.S.–India Strategic Partnership Forum, the gathering brought together more than 200 representatives from government bodies and leading industry players. As the centrepiece of the first-ever U.S. Trade Mission to India focused solely on commercial space, the forum hosted 23 senior executives from 14 major American space firms. They engaged directly with Indian stakeholders to identify areas of mutual cooperation.

Bengaluru, widely recognised as India’s Silicon Valley and a key aerospace hub, provided a fitting venue. With institutions such as ISRO and emerging private players like Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos, the city set the stage for discussions on collaborative ventures. Deliberations covered satellite production, launch capabilities, space-based analytics, and Earth observation systems. Regulatory policies, investment avenues, and technology sharing were also examined, aligning with India’s self-reliance goals under initiatives such as Make in India.

U.S. participants highlighted advanced technologies from companies including SpaceX affiliates, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing, focusing on reusable launch systems and small satellite networks. Indian representatives showcased achievements like the PSLV program and the forthcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. Public-private partnerships were a central theme. Discussions explored U.S.–India collaboration on large-scale initiatives such as the Bharatiya Antriksha Station and commercial lunar exploration, with potential to generate substantial trade value.

The forum reflected deepening strategic convergence between the two nations. With India’s space economy expected to reach 44 billion dollars by 2033 and the U.S. seeking dependable global partners, commitments were discussed for joint development in propulsion technologies and space situational awareness. More than 150 bilateral meetings took place during networking sessions, leading to preliminary agreements. Conversations spanned advanced technologies including hypersonic re-entry systems and AI-enabled mission design, supporting broader defence-space integration.

Officials from NASA’s commercial division, ISRO, IN-SPACe, and the U.S. Commercial Service outlined efforts to simplify visa norms and streamline export regulations, building upon the 2023 bilateral agreement on space situational awareness. Sustainability featured prominently, with discussions on orbital debris management, environmentally friendly propulsion, and responsible use of low Earth orbit resources. Participants advocated creating a joint regulatory framework for commercial space operations.

Industry leaders commended the open dialogue. A U.S. executive observed that India’s agility complements American scale, while Indian voices stressed the importance of technology localisation to strengthen national security. Talent collaboration was another focus. Given Bengaluru’s strong engineering ecosystem, proposals included joint training programs and internships to address expertise gaps in orbital dynamics and quantum sensing technologies.

The forum also addressed obstacles such as spectrum allocation, insurance challenges for mega-constellations, and geopolitical uncertainties in the Indo-Pacific region, highlighting the need for resilient supply chains. As proceedings concluded, USISPF announced plans to establish a working group to monitor progress, potentially leading to a structured 2026 roadmap similar to cooperation models seen in defence sectors. The U.S.–India Space Business Forum has positioned itself as a catalyst for expanded cooperation, signalling a future in which commercial space strengthens both economic growth and strategic stability for the two democracies.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.

Tony Wu and Jimmy Ba, two of the original co-founders of Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence venture xAI, have stepped down from the company less than three years after helping to launch it. The pair announced their departures in separate posts on social media, expressing gratitude to Musk but offering no detailed explanation for their decisions or insight into their future plans. Their exits mark the latest developments in a broader wave of departures from xAI. With Wu and Ba leaving, the company is now left with only half of its original 12 co-founders, highlighting significant leadership turnover at a time when competition in the AI industry is intensifying.

According to a report by the Financial Times, Ba’s resignation came amid internal tensions within xAI’s technical team. The report suggested there had been pressure to significantly enhance the performance of the company’s AI models, as Musk seeks to narrow the gap with leading competitors such as OpenAI and Anthropic. However, Ba did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the reported tensions.

The leadership changes arrive just days after Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, announced plans to acquire xAI in a deal that would create a combined entity valued at approximately 1.25 trillion dollars. The merged company is expected to pursue a public listing later this year, with ambitions that include financing large-scale projects such as deploying data centers in space.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Elon Musk announced that SpaceX is now prioritizing the creation of a “self-growing city” on the Moon, aiming to achieve it within the next decade. While SpaceX still plans to pursue Musk’s long-term goal of a Mars city in five to seven years, he emphasized on X (formerly Twitter) that “the overriding priority is securing the future of civilization, and the Moon is faster.”

This aligns with a recent Wall Street Journal report that SpaceX told investors it would focus on lunar missions first, targeting an uncrewed Moon landing in March 2027, and delay crewed Mars missions. Last year, Musk had aimed for an uncrewed Mars mission by the end of 2026. The U.S. faces stiff competition from China in returning humans to the Moon, which hasn’t been visited since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Musk also revealed SpaceX’s acquisition of his AI company xAI, valuing SpaceX at $1 trillion and xAI at $250 billion. Supporters view the move as a way to advance space-based data centers, which Musk believes are more energy-efficient amid growing AI demands. SpaceX is planning a public offering later this year, potentially raising $50 billion, which could be the largest IPO ever. Musk noted that NASA will contribute less than 5% of SpaceX’s revenue this year, with most income coming from its commercial Starlink system. SpaceX holds a $4 billion NASA contract under the Artemis program to land astronauts on the Moon using Starship.

Alongside SpaceX, Musk is also steering Tesla in a new direction. After helping build the global electric vehicle market, Tesla plans to spend $20 billion this year focusing on autonomous driving and robotics. To accelerate this shift, Tesla will discontinue two car models at its California factory to make room for producing Optimus humanoid robots.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

With decisions delegated, chatbots replacing friends, and nature sidelined, Silicon Valley is shaping a life stripped of real connection. Escape is possible—but it will require a united effort.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Google has revealed plans for a significant increase in its AI investments in Singapore, featuring the launch of Majulah AI – a collection of training and innovation initiatives aimed at developing an AI-ready workforce. Daniel Martin speaks with Ben King, Managing Director of Google Singapore, about how these efforts will help Singapore achieve its goal of becoming an AI leader and accelerate AI adoption across the nation.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly making inroads into healthcare, offering tools that can answer medical queries, forecast risks, and support personalized health choices. But a new Singapore-based startup is challenging the notion that a single global AI model can safely cater to everyone. With structured screenings and national healthcare systems already in place, is there room for another AI health platform in Singapore? Hairianto Diman and Susan Ng explore this question with Hari V Krishnan, Co-founder and CEO of Genie Health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

This year, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) flagged three students for academic misconduct, alleging that they relied on generative AI tools in their assignments. What boundaries should govern AI usage, at what point does it become misconduct, and is it time to rethink how assignments are structured and evaluated? Steven Chia and Otelli Edwards discuss these questions with Associate Professor Ben Leong, director of the AI Centre for Educational Technologies at NUS, and Jeremy Soo, co-founder of Nex AI.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.