5005: Ashwini Vaishnaw’s $100B mission for AI summit; Indian IT not lagging in AI, says Rishad Premji; and PhonePe: Revenue gains, Profit pains

As WEF wraps up in Davos, Moneycontrol gets you the latest despatches from the event - find interviews with Infosys CEO Salil Parekh, Paolo Dal Cin (global lead for cybersecurity at Accenture) and Karnataka IB Minister MB Patil. In other news - the pressure continued on Indian stocks and the Rupee, local family run jewellery stores are feeling a liquidity squeeze, learn about the sweat and blood that went into making of the India-EU trade deal and how Ixigo was an unlikely gainer from IndiGo’s crisis. Also inside: an interview with Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu. Tune in!

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we bring you the biggest startup and technology stories shaping the day. Juspay becomes 2026’s first unicorn after a $50 million funding round, signalling renewed momentum in fintech. Infosys outlines its plan to hire 20,000 fresh graduates in FY27, even as AI reshapes IT services. Accenture announces a new physical AI security lab in Bengaluru. And from Kumbakonam, we report on Zoho’s expansion plans and the launch of its AI-native ERP platform.

As one of India’s largest employers, the micro small and medium enterprises have a big impact. They have a significant share in India’s exports and play a vital role in global supply chains. While domestic MSMEs are striving to rise to their full potential, global uncertainty makes this actualization a challenge. On this episode of Unusual Suspects, host Gaurav Choudhury is joined by Easwaran Subramanian, Partner, Deloitte India to discuss how Budget 2026 can address the needs of India’s MSME sector. Tune in for ideas ranging from AI-assisted collateral free lending to creating economies of scope via globally competitive clusters and much more.

Moneycontrol gets an exclusive scoop from US President Donald Trump, Ashwinin Vaishnaw upbeat about strong investor sentiment for India-led AI, investors keenly monitor progress on India-EU trade talks, newly listed startups face shareholder scrutiny and Eternal’s earnings deliver a twist few investors were prepared for. Catch all this and more news in the latest edition of Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we track the biggest startup and tech stories shaping the day. From Davos, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw speaks on India–US trade talks, AI investments, online gaming rules and India’s ambitions in semiconductors and artificial intelligence. We also bring you voices from top IT leaders on how AI is changing business models and hiring. Plus, a deep dive into PhonePe’s IPO numbers and why newly listed tech firms are facing shareholder resistance on ESOP plans.

After a year of long-pending reforms – from an overhaul of GST to new labour codes – the industry is looking forward to a 2026 spurred by the same momentum. Days ahead of the Budget which will be presented amid global trade turbulence and geopolitical tensions, Indian companies hope for a policy boost to exports through structural reforms to the customs duty framework. In this conversation with Rajat Bose, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, host Gaurav Choudhury examines the current trade realities and interventions that can mobilise the space. Tune in to Unusual Suspects for insights into what to expect and what to look for in the Budget 2026-27.

Google DeepMind chief executive Demis Hassabis speaks to Moneycontrol exclusively about his thoughts on India’s foundational AI models. US President  Trump’s Davos address keeps markets in the red, Indian markets show prolonged weakness. In other news we track the India-EU trade deal, Deepinder Goyal’s resignation and Apple’s next move in India. Also find an exclusive interview with Jahangir Aziz, Head of Emerging Markets at JPMorgan as he weighs in on tariffs and trade policy. Tune in!

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we track a surprise leadership change at Eternal as Deepinder Goyal steps down and Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa prepares to take charge, even as the company reports strong financials. We also bring you key takeaways from Davos on why India should focus on applied AI, insights from Meta and Google DeepMind on the country’s AI future, TCS’s ambitious data centre plans targeting hyperscalers, and Apple’s steady move towards launching Apple Pay in India.

In this edition of Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks, we have reports straight from the World Economic Forum at Davos. Find an exclusive with HCL Tech’s CEO C Vijayakumar and learn about the top Indian business leaders who are meeting with US President Trump at the annual event held to shape global agendas. Also Inside: India’s rethink on Chinese capital curbs, IT sector’s profit margins drag, markets react to US threat to Greenland, and Nitin Nabin takes the baton from JP Nadda. Tune in for all this and more news from the day. 

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we track the biggest stories shaping startups and technology. From Davos, seven Indian business leaders, including N Chandrasekaran, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Salil Parekh, and Srini Pallia, are set to attend a reception hosted by US President Donald Trump. We also bring you how global CEOs at Davos are pitching India as a key hub for telecom, AI, and infrastructure, with Ericsson, Siemens, and Cerebras calling the country central to future growth. Plus, SEBI clears the path for PhonePe’s IPO that could value the fintech major at $15 billion, setting up one of India’s biggest listings, and AI startup Emergent raises $70 million from Khosla Ventures and SoftBank.