Episode-005 AI and Tech Related News as on 22/09/2025 18:55 PM

Tech News Roundup — 22 September 2025

1. Big changes in GST for TVs → Price drops

• The Indian government has cut GST on televisions larger than 32-inches, effective 22 September 2025. (The Times of India)

• Major brands like Sony, LG, Panasonic are passing on the savings: some TV models now cheaper by up to ₹85,000. (The Times of India)

• This is clearly timed for the festive shopping season (Navaratri etc.), so expect strong demand and perhaps further price cuts / deals. (The Times of India)

Why it matters:
Consumers get big discounts; manufacturers / retailers will adjust inventory, possibly pushing more premium large-screen sets. Also, could drive growth in TV‐sales ahead of competitors from other display tech (OLED, etc.).

2. AI / Browser Tech: Perplexity expands Comet in India

• Perplexity has made its AI browser Comet available to its Pro users in India from today. (The Economic Times)

• Comet offers AI-powered browsing features (summaries, more intelligent search etc.). Being available regionally means more users can access new styles of search / browsing that go beyond the traditional web model. (The Economic Times)

3. Visa / Immigration Policy Shakes for Indian IT

• The US has introduced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications under Trump’s administration. (Reuters)

• Indian IT firms, which have long used H-1B visas to send staff / rotate talent to the US, are being forced to rethink their models. More offshore work, more hiring inside the US or focusing on automation & AI. (Reuters)

• Indian industry body NASSCOM warns of possible disruptions to business continuity and innovation. (Reuters)

4. Innovations: 3D bioprinting, quantum-safe wallet, and materials design

• At Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, a workshop showcased 3D bioprinting / 3D cell culture tech, with live demos (bone tissue etc.). Helpful for organ regeneration, drug testing etc. (The Times of India)

• A new tool called SCIGEN (from MIT) helps AI-based generative models design materials with exotic quantum properties (like quantum spin liquids) by enforcing design rules. (MIT News)

• Security / blockchain innovation: Krown Technologies + Quantum eMotion completed a quantum-safe hot wallet (“Qastle Hot Wallet”) powered by quantum random number generation (QRNG). (InvestorNews)

5. Defence & Media Tech Deals in India

• The East Tech 2025 exhibition in Ranchi aims towards ₹1,000 crore defence procurement. Focus is on indigenous / Make-in-India technologies, startups, improved supply-chains. (The Times of India)

• Maharashtra government approved the AVGC-XR Policy 2025, with ₹3,268 crore allocated to build high-tech media parks etc., in Nagpur, Mumbai, Pune etc. A big push for animation, gaming, extended reality, comics. (The Times of India)

6. Upcoming / Noteworthy US / Global Moves

• MediaTek is launching a new flagship chipset on 22 September 2025, likely to be Dimensity 9500. Rumour: built on 3nm node, high performance, possibly beating or matching Qualcomm’s upcoming offerings. (Android Central)

• OpenAI is introducing compute-intensive AI features, with some reserved for Pro users, and others carrying additional cost, to offset infrastructure burdens. (MLQ)

• Oracle is reportedly in talks with Meta for a large-scale cloud infrastructure deal (worth ~US$20 billion) to support Meta’s AI model training needs. If it happens, big impact on the cloud / infrastructure sector. (MLQ)

7. Clean Tech & Skills / Expos

• TERI (Energy & Resources Institute) released a paper on Emerging Energy Technologies & Workforce Transformation in India, analyzing tech trends & skill gaps needed for clean energy transitions. (Global Agriculture)

• The India Bioenergy & Tech Expo (IBET) 2025 will be held 24-26 September in Delhi; focus on bioenergy, green hydrogen, sustainable fuels etc. (Media Infoline)

Analysis & Trends: What these point to

• Shift towards local manufacturing & domestic capability: The government policies (GST cuts, AVGC-XR parks, defence procurement) indicate a push for “Make in India” and reducing dependence on imports or external supply chains.

• AI is being monetised & stratified: Tools and companies are distinguishing between free users and premium/Pro users for access to advanced features. Raises questions about equity, but also about sustainable business models.

• Global policy / regulation pressure: Visa / immigration changes; trade / chip policy (see China banning some Nvidia chips) may force shifts in how tech companies organise globally. (Financial Times)

• Intersection of clean tech and workforce planning: As India (and others) try to reach sustainability goals, there’s increasing attention on not just the tech innovation but also the skills, employment, and policy frameworks needed.

• Security is front and centre: From quantum-safe wallets to enforcing design constraints in materials generation to avoid misuse, we see more attention to making tech resilient, trustworthy, safe.