Dubai will host the 25th Airport Show at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 12 to 14, drawing global aviation industry leaders, suppliers and innovators to one of the sector’s most influential business platforms. The three-day event is expected to attract more than 150 exhibitors from over 30 countries and over 7,000 professionals, including 120 hosted buyers, making it a pivotal gathering for decision-makers shaping […]
The gathering brought together senior executives from global technology firms, domestic start-ups, academic leaders and policymakers, signalling a concerted push by New Delhi to position the country as both a major market and a development hub for AI. Modi framed the technology as central to economic growth, public service delivery and national competitiveness, arguing that India’s digital public infrastructure and vast talent pool provide a foundation for leadership in the field.
Speaking at the event, Modi said AI must be “inclusive and responsible”, emphasising applications in healthcare, agriculture, education and governance. He pointed to platforms such as Aadhaar, the Unified Payments Interface and the CoWIN vaccination system as examples of large-scale digital architecture that could integrate advanced analytics and machine learning.
The summit’s optics were carefully managed to reflect global engagement. Executives from leading US technology companies shared stages with founders of domestic firms working on generative AI models, language tools and enterprise software. Representatives from multilateral bodies and research institutions discussed governance frameworks, data protection and the need for cross-border collaboration.
Yet the conference also exposed tensions between ambition and execution. Several sessions ran behind schedule, and some industry participants privately expressed concern over policy uncertainty, particularly around data localisation, cross-border data flows and regulatory oversight. Draft frameworks on AI ethics and safety remain under consultation, and companies are awaiting clarity on compliance requirements.
The event unfolded against a backdrop of intensifying global competition. The United States continues to dominate foundational AI research and chip design, while China has invested heavily in domestic models and semiconductor capacity. The European Union has advanced comprehensive legislation through its AI Act, seeking to set global standards on risk and accountability.
India’s approach has been more incremental. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has outlined plans to support compute infrastructure, encourage domestic large language models and expand skilling initiatives. Budget allocations for semiconductor manufacturing and design-linked incentives aim to reduce dependence on imports, although fabrication plants remain years away from full-scale production.
Industry analysts note that India’s strength lies in its software services sector and a large base of engineers. According to data from industry bodies, the country produces hundreds of thousands of engineering graduates annually, many of whom work in IT and business process outsourcing. Major domestic firms have announced internal AI integration plans, embedding generative tools into consulting, customer support and software development workflows.
At the same time, structural constraints are evident. High-performance computing resources are limited compared with those available in the US and China, and advanced chips are largely imported. Electricity reliability, data centre capacity and high-speed connectivity vary across regions. Venture capital funding for deep-tech ventures has fluctuated amid global market volatility.
Civil society groups and some academics used the summit to call for stronger safeguards. They warned that rapid deployment of AI systems without robust oversight could exacerbate misinformation, bias and privacy violations. India’s data protection law, enacted last year, sets out obligations for companies handling personal data, but implementing rules and enforcement mechanisms are still being developed.
Opposition figures have questioned whether headline events translate into durable policy outcomes. They argue that sustained investment in research universities, independent regulators and judicial capacity will be essential to manage the societal impact of AI. Some economists have also cautioned that automation could disrupt segments of the services workforce, requiring targeted reskilling programmes.
Global investors, however, continue to view India as a growth market. International cloud providers have expanded data centre footprints in cities such as Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai. Partnerships between domestic start-ups and multinational firms aim to build AI systems tailored to local languages and contexts, addressing a market of more than a billion people with diverse linguistic needs.
Modi’s messaging emphasised sovereignty alongside collaboration. He has repeatedly advocated for a global framework on AI governance that reflects the priorities of emerging economies, not solely those of advanced industrial nations. At the summit, he called for shared principles that balance innovation with ethical safeguards, while ensuring access for developing countries.
Diplomatically, the conference reinforced India’s profile as a convening power in technology policy, following its presidency of the G20 and engagement in forums on digital public goods. Whether that translates into tangible influence over global AI standards will depend on sustained coordination with like-minded partners and domestic regulatory coherence.
Mayo Clinic Platform is positioning the Gulf as a proving ground for a new generation of data-driven healthcare, with its chief operating officer Maneesh Goyal outlining plans to expand the organisation’s digital ecosystem and deploy two flagship offerings, Orchestrate and Insights, across the region. Speaking on the sidelines of World Health Expo Dubai 2026, Goyal said the future of medicine will be shaped less by individual hospitals […]
By T N Ashok At the center of Bharat Mandapam, the chiselled, lotus-shaped convention complex that has become the theatre for India’s global ambitions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood for a “family photo” that looked less like a diplomatic formality and more like a merger of Silicon Valley and the Westphalian order. To his left […]
The article India Positions Itself As The AI World’s Third Pole Under PM Modi’s Active Leadership appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
AD Ports Group has increased its global network to 36 ports and terminals with the addition of Aqaba Multipurpose Port in Jordan, marking another step in the Abu Dhabi-based operator’s overseas expansion strategy. Ahmed Al Mutawa, Regional Chief Executive Officer of AD Ports Group, said the company’s footprint now stretches across the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and Europe, covering the UAE, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Spain, […]
Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence firm Origen has raised $50 million from Bluefive Capital, marking one of the larger disclosed growth investments in the emirate’s emerging AI ecosystem and signalling fresh momentum for technology ventures anchored in the Gulf. The funding, confirmed by both companies, will be directed towards expanding Origen’s operations, deepening research and development capabilities, and accelerating commercial deployments across the Middle East and other target […]
OpenAI has announced a sweeping expansion of its global education strategy by forging deep partnerships with a group of India’s most influential higher education institutions to embed artificial intelligence tools, training and research into campus life and academic workflows. The initiative, unveiled in New Delhi this week, aims for institutional transformation by offering enterprise-grade AI access and structured integration support across disciplines including engineering, management, health sciences and creative industries.
The programme brings together six premier universities — Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies and Pearl Academy — under a coordinated effort to build AI fluency and responsible usage skills for students, faculty and staff. The roll-out will provide secure access to ChatGPT Edu, detailed onboarding programmes, faculty training and discipline-specific implementation guidance aligned with institutional policies.
This shift marks a deliberate departure from ad-hoc access to consumer AI tools toward embedding artificial intelligence as an academic backbone to teaching, research, evaluation and campus operations. OpenAI’s Head of Education for India and Asia Pacific, Raghav Gupta, said the collaboration reflects a broader need to close the gap between what AI tools are capable of and how they are actually used. He referenced projections that by 2030 a significant portion of core skills relied upon by workers globally will be redefined by AI, underscoring the urgency for deep institutional readiness.
At IIT Delhi, the partnership will focus on engineering-led innovation and applied research, integrating AI capabilities into project-based learning, coding, simulations and prototype development. The institute also plans OpenAI-supported hackathons and ‘Industry Days’ designed to link student innovation with India’s manufacturing and deep-technology ecosystem. IIM Ahmedabad intends to embed AI fluency into core management education — spanning strategy, finance, operations and public policy — with scope for certification pathways backed by the collaboration.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi is positioning AI as a tool for medical education and clinical training, exploring applications in clinical documentation, simulation-based learning and evidence synthesis. Officials at the institute said prioritising safe, ethical deployment of AI in clinical settings will be critical to maintaining educational and professional standards. Manipal Academy of Higher Education will pursue multidisciplinary AI literacy across engineering, health sciences and business programmes, while UPES and Pearl Academy will tailor integration to applied innovation and creative workflow environments respectively.
OpenAI’s strategy extends beyond campuses to partnerships with major education technology platforms, including upGrad, PhysicsWallah and HCL GUVI. These collaborations aim to launch structured courses on AI fundamentals and practical ChatGPT applications targeting students and early-career professionals who are not formally enrolled in partner institutions. The move reflects a growing industry recognition that AI skills must be scaled across the broader learner base, not just within elite universities.
Experts in education and technology policy see this initiative as part of a larger global trend where leading artificial intelligence firms are moving from consumer-oriented models toward institutional engagement that shapes long-term adoption and usage norms. By embedding AI literacy into the frameworks of higher education, these alliances could influence curriculum design, research priorities and the preparation of graduates for an AI-driven economy.
Industry analysts note that India’s higher education system represents one of the world’s largest talent markets, with millions of students entering the workforce each year. Integrating advanced AI tools into academic settings could enhance learning outcomes, deepen research capacity and create new pathways for innovation across sectors. However, some critics caution that rapid adoption must be matched with robust ethical and governance frameworks to address concerns around data privacy, academic integrity and equitable access to technology.
While OpenAI estimates that this phase of the initiative will directly benefit over 100,000 students, educators and administrators across its core partner institutions over the coming year, independent observers emphasise that the broader impact will depend on how well universities and ed-tech partners can operationalise the technology within existing academic structures. They point to the need for ongoing investment in faculty development, infrastructure and policy frameworks that ensure AI augments rather than disrupts pedagogical goals.
Washington has begun withdrawing military forces from Syria, marking a strategic recalibration as the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa asserts control over security operations and the campaign against extremist groups. Officials in the Trump administration confirmed that the reduction in troop levels reflects a reassessment of the United States’ role in a country where American forces have operated for nearly a decade. The deployment, initially aimed at […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dell Technologies and Ooredoo have unveiled a strategic collaboration aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence deployment across the Middle East, with a focus on delivering AI-as-a-Service through Ooredoo’s Sovereign AI Cloud platform. The partnership brings together Dell’s infrastructure and AI solutions portfolio with Ooredoo’s regional data centre footprint and telecom capabilities, positioning the companies to serve governments, enterprises and regulated sectors seeking advanced AI […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Multidisciplinary consultancy Khatib & Alami has formalised an agreement with Ajman University to establish an endowed academic chair in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, marking a strategic partnership aimed at advancing research, innovation and industry collaboration in the United Arab Emirates. The agreement, signed in Dubai, will see Khatib & Alami fund a dedicated academic position focused on developing applied research in AI […]
Dubai Holding has teamed up with Nord Anglia Education to develop a series of premium international schools across its master-planned communities, starting with a purpose-built campus in Dubai Production City that will deliver a British curriculum to families in surrounding neighbourhoods. The agreement positions Dubai Holding as the developer of the physical infrastructure while Nord Anglia Education, a global schools operator headquartered in London, will run and […]
An Iraqi-Emirati consortium is advancing plans for a $700 million subsea and terrestrial data cable connecting the United Arab Emirates to Turkey through Iraq, signalling intensifying competition among Gulf states to dominate regional digital infrastructure. One of the project’s backers confirmed that the system would run from the UAE across Iraqi territory before linking into Turkey’s networks, providing a new high-capacity route between the Gulf and […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai China’s Belt and Road Initiative recorded $213.5 billion in engagement during 2025, the highest annual level since its launch more than a decade ago, as a wave of construction contracts and energy investments reshaped the geographic balance of the programme and propelled the Middle East into the top ranks of recipients. Data compiled in the China Belt and Road Initiative Investment Report […]
Krea, a San Francisco-based technology startup, has locked in a total of $83 million in funding aimed at building a unified generative AI platform for designers, artists and creative teams grappling with a fragmented ecosystem of AI tools. The venture round, which includes a $47 million Series B led by Bain Capital Ventures, now values the company at about $500 million and underscores growing investor confidence in […]
Mac users have long faced a stubborn reality: many of the world’s most popular games are built for Windows, leaving Apple Silicon machines underused in a global industry worth more than $180 billion. A new application from Mist Studio, called GameHub, is seeking to narrow that gap by combining several compatibility technologies into a single interface designed to make Windows titles playable on macOS with far less […]
Ford Motor is developing a new universal electric vehicle architecture through a tightly held internal programme designed to cut costs, boost range and stem heavy losses in its battery-powered division, according to executives and industry analysts familiar with the effort. The initiative, led by a small “skunkworks” team operating with a high degree of autonomy, centres on a flexible platform intended to underpin multiple vehicle types. Senior […]
Ripple has ranked ahead of Bitcoin and Ethereum in a global survey measuring emotional connection between consumers and cryptocurrency brands, underscoring how perception and trust are emerging as competitive factors in a volatile digital asset market. The San Francisco-based blockchain company placed fourth overall in MBLM’s Brand Intimacy Study for cryptocurrency projects, outperforming both Bitcoin and Ethereum in the latest assessment of how strongly users feel bonded […]
eToro Group Ltd delivered a stronger-than-expected set of financial results for the full year and fourth quarter of 2025, reporting record yearly profits and bolstering its multi-asset trading platform even as the cryptocurrency market faced sustained volatility. The trading and investment platform posted a net contribution of $868 million for the full year, up about 10 per cent on 2024, and net income under generally accepted accounting principles climbed […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi-based Global South Utilities has inaugurated a 5 megawatt-peak grid-connected solar photovoltaic plant in Berbera, marking a significant step in Somaliland’s efforts to diversify its energy mix and curb dependence on diesel generation. The project, developed under a public-private partnership model, is accompanied by the launch of the Green Berbera initiative aimed at accelerating renewable energy adoption and sustainable infrastructure in the […]
Abu Dhabi University has surpassed 5,000 research papers indexed in Scopus, marking a significant milestone in its academic development and signalling the institution’s expanding footprint in global scholarship. The university confirmed that the achievement was recorded through its Office of Research and Sponsored Programmes, which oversees research strategy, funding partnerships and publication performance. Scopus, operated by Elsevier, is among the world’s largest abstract and citation databases of […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai SHIFT has entered a strategic partnership with Amber Connect to roll out an advanced telematics platform across its fleet operations in the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant push towards data-driven mobility management in the region. Under the agreement, SHIFT will integrate Amber Connect’s real-time vehicle tracking and analytics system into its operational infrastructure, enabling comprehensive monitoring of vehicle performance, driver behaviour and […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai’s education landscape is set for a major expansion as Dubai Holding Investments and global operator Nord Anglia Education announced a strategic partnership to develop and operate a network of premium K-12 schools across the emirate, responding to surging demand driven by population growth and an expanding expatriate community — a move that adds momentum to the broader Gulf private education boom while […]
China is set to eliminate import tariffs on goods from 53 African nations from 1 May 2026, a sweeping policy shift that extends duty-free access to almost the entire continent and aims to deepen trade ties and economic cooperation between Beijing and Africa. The government announcement confirms that the move will apply to all tariff lines for countries with which China has formal diplomatic relations, excluding only […]
This milestone reflects not just a vast user base but also a distinct pattern of adoption: students in India now represent the largest single demographic of ChatGPT users worldwide, according to Altman, who highlighted the role younger generations are playing in embedding generative AI into daily workflows for learning and productivity.
The 100 million figure forms a significant share of ChatGPT’s global weekly active user count, which stood at about 800 million as of October 2025 and is widely projected to edge closer to 900 million as platforms refine their offerings and expand reach. OpenAI’s decision to open an office in New Delhi in August 2025 and tailor pricing, including a lower-cost subscription tier later made free for a year, is seen as part of a strategy to deepen engagement in what many technology firms regard as a key growth market.
Altman underscored India’s demographic advantages, including a population exceeding one billion internet users and a large proportion of English speakers outside native English-speaking countries — factors that have made the country fertile ground for generative AI adoption. Many students have turned to ChatGPT for support with research, coding, examination preparation and language practice, reflecting a broader trend of digital tools being woven into educational routines.
Despite this surge, translating sheer user numbers into sustained economic returns poses challenges for AI firms. India’s price-sensitive market and uneven internet access complicate monetisation, causing some companies to adjust their strategies to balance affordability with revenue generation. OpenAI’s tailored pricing and promotional offers have helped lower entry barriers, but broader monetisation across emerging markets may require further innovation in business models.
The competitive landscape in India’s AI space is intensifying. Alphabet’s Google has made inroads with its Gemini AI suite, aggressively targeting younger users through free one-year subscriptions and partnerships with telecom firms to broaden adoption among students and professionals. These efforts are part of a broader contest among technology giants to capture share in a market that has vast potential due to its size and digital engagement.
The presence of global tech leaders and politicians at the New Delhi summit highlights the geopolitical and economic significance of India’s AI trajectory. Policy discussions span topics from responsible AI governance and equitable access to scaling infrastructure and boosting domestic innovation capacity. Indian policymakers, alongside industry executives, are advocating approaches that leverage technology to enhance education, public services and economic participation, while grappling with concerns over job displacement and digital divides.
Altman has outlined priorities for fostering inclusive AI growth in India, emphasising the need for practical digital literacy, robust computing infrastructure and frameworks that ensure ethical deployment. Such an approach, he argues, will empower users to harness AI’s potential effectively rather than just expanding access to tools.
The prominence of India’s student base on ChatGPT has broader implications for how AI products are developed and tailored. Feedback from a large and diverse user community helps shape feature enhancements and localisation efforts, influencing global development roadmaps. For companies like OpenAI, this dynamic underscores a strategic shift from traditional markets in Europe and North America toward regions where usage patterns reflect unique demographic and cultural needs.
