Latest news with #AI-led
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Google flags off its first APAC Google Safety Engineering Centre in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Tech giant Google unveiled its first Google Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC) in the Asia Pacific region and its fourth globally after Munich, Dublin and Malaga in Spain, at Hyderabad on Wednesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Google said GSEC India will not just address the rapidly evolving threat landscape of India, which faces projected cybercrime losses of up to Rs 20,000 crore by 2025, but will also serve as a global hub of safety innovation by taking a comprehensive and proactive approach by combining AI-powered threat detection, ecosystem collaboration and forward looking policy measures. GSEC India will operationalise Google's safety charter for India's AI-led transformation and serve as the operational heart where strategic commitments will transform into tangible solutions, it added. The facility will operationalise advanced AI and large language models (LLMs) to power real-time scam alerts on Android via Gemini Nano, strengthen Google Play Protect, and enhance fraud detection across Google Pay, Search, and Gmail. It will also tackle AI-driven deception through adversarial testing, AI-assisted red teaming, and tools like SynthID to watermark AI-generated content, Google said, adding that it will focus on ecosystem collaboration and intelligence sharing via platforms like the Global Signals Exchange (GSE). GSEC India will also support education and user awareness initiatives tailored to India's scale and linguistic diversity, and will advance research in areas like Post-Quantum Cryptography through partnerships such as its work with IIT-Madras. "The India GSEC represents a unique convergence of Google's global safety expertise, bringing together teams focused on privacy and security engineering, and advanced cybersecurity capabilities under one strategic umbrella to address India's distinct digital landscape," it said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "GSEC India will operationalise the three foundational pillars of Google's Safety Charter—keeping end users safe from online fraud and scams, strengthening cybersecurity for government and enterprise infrastructure, and building AI responsibly—while serving as a regional hub for developing solutions across the broader APAC region, Google added. Inaugurating the GSEC, Telangana chief minister Anumula Revanth Reddy said it marks a pivotal moment in Telangana's journey to become a global cybersecurity innovation hub. 'This first-of-its-kind facility in the APAC region affirms Hyderabad's crucial role in developing privacy, safety and cyber-defence solutions for the next billion users, placing Telangana at the forefront of global digital safety efforts,' he said. The CM said with Telangana's GSDP projected to reach Rs 16.5 lakh crore and IT/ITeS exports rising to Ra 2.7 lakh crore, supporting over 9.5 lakh high skill jobs, the GSEC's presence will attract top tier safety engineering talent and foster collaboration with academic institutions to tackle India's unique cybersecurity challenges while creating thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities, Reddy added. IT & industries minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu said GSEC India demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in building a secure digital infrastructure for the country and will have a transformative impact on strengthening Telangana's position as a premier destination for cutting-edge technology research and development. "It demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in building a secure digital infrastructure for our nation. This center will serve as a catalyst for innovation in cybersecurity, responsible AI development, and digital safety—areas critical to India's vision of becoming a global technology leader," he said. Heather Adkins, vice president of Engineering, Google Security, said GSEC India will serve as a global lighthouse for Google's digital safety and security efforts. "At Google, safety is built into everything we do, grounded in our 'secure by design, secure by default' philosophy. AI represents an inflection point for digital security - a force multiplier that narrows the gap between defenders and attackers, even eliminating it entirely in some cases . With GSEC India, we're situating these capabilities in India to serve its unique landscape and also be a lighthouse for our global security efforts,' she said. Google India country manager and VP Preeti Lobana stressed on the importance of the centre in building trust in how users and enterprises access the digital landscape and for India's digital engine to keep growing.
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Mint Primer: AI's twin impact: Better security, worse dangers
AI and generative AI are proving to be double-edged swords, boosting cyber defences while also enabling threats like deepfakes, voice cloning and even attacks by autonomous AI agents. With over two-thirds of Indian firms hit by such threats last year, how do we keep up? What sets AI-powered cyberthreats apart? AI-powered cyberthreats supercharge traditional attacks, making phishing, malware, and impersonation faster, stealthier, and more convincing. GenAI tools create deepfakes, polymorphic malware that mutates constantly, and generate personalized phishing emails. AI bots test stolen credentials, bypass CAPTCHAs that detect bots using puzzles, and scan networks for vulnerabilities. Tools like ChatGPT are used to send 100,000 spam emails for just $1,250. Symantec researchers have shown how AI agents like OpenAI's Operator can run a phishing attack via email with little human intervention. Also read: Artificial intelligence may cause mass unemployment, says Geoffrey Hinton; 'Godfather of AI' reveals 'safe' jobs How big is this threat for India? Nearly 72% of Indian firms faced AI-driven cyberattacks in the past year, reveals an IDC–Fortinet report. Key threats include insider risks, zero-day exploits (attacks before developers can fix software bugs, offering zero defence on day one), phishing, ransomware, and supply chain attacks. These threats are rising fast—70% saw cases double, 12% saw a threefold surge. These attacks are harder to detect. The fallout is costly: 56% suffered financial losses, 20% lost over $500,000, the report noted. Data theft (60%), trust erosion (50%), regulatory fines (46%), and operational disruptions (42%) are the other top business impacts. The threats are evolving. Are we? Only 14% of firms feel equipped to handle AI-driven threats, while 21% can't track them at all, notes IDC. Skills and tool gaps persist, mainly in detecting adaptive threats and using GenAI in red teaming (when ethical hackers mimic real attackers to test a firm's cyber defences). Other gaps include lean security teams, and few chief information security officers. Also read: Google flags over 500 million scam messages monthly as cybercrime soars in India What about laws on AI-led cybercrime? Most countries are addressing AI-related cybercrime using existing laws and evolving AI frameworks. In India, efforts rely on the IT Act, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, cyber forensics labs, global ties, and the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre under the Union home ministry, which oversees a cybercrime portal logging 6,000 daily cases. The draft Digital India Act may tackle AI misuse. While several states are forming AI task forces, a national AI cybersecurity framework may also be needed. Also read: Israeli startup Coralogix to invest bulk of $115 million fundraise in India How to build cyber defence for AI threats? Evolving AI threats call for AI-savvy governance, regular training, and simulations. Firms must adopt an 'AI vs AI" defence, train staff on phishing and deepfakes, enforce Zero Trust (every access request must be verified) and multi-factor authentication, and conduct GenAI red-team drills. Airtel, for instance, now uses AI to block spam and scam links in real time; Darktrace uses self-learning AI to detect threats without prior data. Cyber insurance must also cover reputational and regulatory risks.
Fibre2Fashion
4 days ago
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Canada's Roots' Q1 FY25 sales climb 6.7%, net loss narrows to $5.85 mn
Canadian premium outdoor-lifestyle brand Roots has posted total sales of Ca$40 million (~$29.6 million) in the first quarter (Q1) of fiscal 2025 (FY25), ended May 3, an increase of 6.7 per cent year-over-year (YoY). Meanwhile, direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales rose 10.2 per cent to Ca$34.6 million (~$25.6 million), driven by a 14.1 per cent increase in comparable sales fuelled by enhanced product curation and improved customer experience. The gross profit of the company climbed to Ca$24.6 million, with the overall gross margin expanding 250 basis points (bps) to 61.5 per cent. DTC gross margin rose to 62.9 per cent, reflecting better product costing and reduced discounting, partly offset by foreign exchange pressures and increased freight costs. Roots has reported Q1 FY25 sales of Ca$40 million (~$29.6 million), up 6.7 per cent YoY, with DTC sales rising 10.2 per cent to Ca$34.6 million (~$25.6 million). The gross margin improved to 61.5 per cent, net loss narrowed to Ca$7.9 million (~$5.85 million) and inventory rose 14.5 per cent. Executives cited strong brand momentum, and AI-led operational improvements driving continued growth. Wholesale and partner-operated (P&O) sales dropped to Ca$5.4 million, as international partners adjusted inventory levels. However, this decline was partially offset by robust growth in China's Tmall e-commerce channel and other lines of business within the segment, Roots said in a press release. The company reported a net loss of Ca$7.9 million (~$5.85 million) or Ca$0.20 per share, improving from a loss of Ca$8.9 million or Ca$0.22 per share in Q1 FY24. Excluding the impact of share-based compensation, the net loss was Ca$7.4 million. Adjusted EBITDA amounted to a loss of Ca$7.1 million, an improvement of 10.7 per cent YoY when excluding the compensation impact. Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased to Ca$33.3 million, up 4.1 per cent YoY, primarily due to higher marketing investments and a Ca$0.5 million unfavourable revaluation of share-based compensation instruments. Excluding this, the increase was 2.6 per cent. The company's inventory rose 14.5 per cent to Ca$40.5 million, reflecting restocking of core collections and increased in-transit goods. Free cash flow was negative at Ca$21.8 million, mainly due to inventory investments and occupancy cost timing. Net debt stood at Ca$29.6 million, improving from Ca$31.7 million. As of May 3, 2025, the leverage ratio was 1.3x, with Ca$40.6 million drawn under credit facilities and total liquidity of Ca$65.9 million. 'Our first-quarter results, marking the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth in sales, gross margin, and adjusted EBITDA, speaks to the growing resonance of the Roots brand and the discipline with which we are executing our strategic priorities,' said Meghan Roach, president and chief executive officer (CEO) at Roots . 'From elevated marketing to improved product availability and AI-operational enhancements, we drove meaningful gains across key performance metrics. As we begin 2025, I am proud of how our team continues to innovate and deliver value, while navigating consumer preferences and the evolving retail landscape.' 'Our first quarter results reflect our ongoing commitment to balance top-line growth with cost discipline to improve long-term profitability and operating leverage,' said Leon Wu, chief financial officer (CFO) at Roots . 'With a strong balance sheet, we are well-positioned to opportunistically respond to shifting market conditions while sustaining our current momentum.' Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
Economic Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
AstraZeneca signs AI research deal with China's CSPC for chronic diseases
AstraZeneca has signed an AI-led research agreement with China's CSPC Pharmaceutical Group worth up to $5.3 billion, which would help the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker develop therapies for chronic conditions, it said on Friday. The deal marks the latest effort by AstraZeneca to revive its business in China, its second-biggest market, where it has faced several challenges including the arrest of its China president last year and potential fines related to imports. Under Friday's agreement, the two companies will collaborate to discover and develop pre-clinical candidates, including a small molecule oral therapy for immunological diseases, with CSPC conducting AI-driven research in Shijiazhuang City. "This strategic research collaboration underscores our commitment to innovation to tackle chronic diseases which impact over two billion people globally," AstraZeneca executive Sharon Barr said in a statement. Friday's agreement follows AstraZeneca's announcement in March that it will invest $2.5 billion in a R&D hub in Beijing, and it also marks further investment in AI following collaborations with Immunai, and Tempus AI. AstraZeneca will pay CSPC an upfront fee of $110 million. The Hong Kong-listed firm is also eligible to receive up to $1.62 billion for reaching development milestones and $3.6 billion linked to sales-related milestones, the groups said in separate statements. They signed a licensing deal last October in which AstraZeneca agreed to pay up to $1.92 billion to CSPC to develop a candidate which would boost its cardiovascular pipeline. AstraZeneca and CSPC both have wide-ranging pipeline portfolios, including cancer treatments and those targeting cardiovascular diseases. However, about 80% of CSPC's total revenue comes from its finished drug segment, according Morningstar analysts. The Chinese group said last month it was in negotiations with third parties on new licensing and collaboration. Friday's agreement also gives AstraZeneca the rights to exercise options for exclusive licenses for candidates identified as part of the collaboration.
Business Recorder
13-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
AstraZeneca signs AI research deal with China's CSPC for chronic diseases
AstraZeneca has signed an AI-led research agreement with China's CSPC Pharmaceutical Group worth up to $5.3 billion, which would help the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker develop therapies for chronic conditions, it said on Friday. The deal marks the latest effort by AstraZeneca to revive its business in China, its second-biggest market, where it has faced several challenges including the arrest of its China president last year and potential fines related to imports. Under Friday's agreement, the two companies will collaborate to discover and develop pre-clinical candidates, including a small molecule oral therapy for immunological diseases, with CSPC conducting AI-driven research in Shijiazhuang City. 'This strategic research collaboration underscores our commitment to innovation to tackle chronic diseases which impact over two billion people globally,' AstraZeneca executive Sharon Barr said in a statement. Friday's agreement follows AstraZeneca's announcement in March that it will invest $2.5 billion in a R&D hub in Beijing, and it also marks further investment in AI following collaborations with Immunai, and Tempus AI. AstraZeneca will pay CSPC an upfront fee of $110 million. The Hong Kong-listed firm is also eligible to receive up to $1.62 billion for reaching development milestones and $3.6 billion linked to sales-related milestones, the groups said in separate statements. They signed a licensing deal last October in which AstraZeneca agreed to pay up to $1.92 billion to CSPC to develop a candidate which would boost its cardiovascular pipeline. AstraZeneca and CSPC both have wide-ranging pipeline portfolios, including cancer treatments and those targeting cardiovascular diseases. However, about 80% of CSPC's total revenue comes from its finished drug segment, according Morningstar analysts. The Chinese group said last month it was in negotiations with third parties on new licensing and collaboration. Friday's agreement also gives AstraZeneca the rights to exercise options for exclusive licenses for candidates identified as part of the collaboration.
