New tech on the block: Streaming, Gen AI, telecom, Fintech, EdTech, security, biotech & 3D printing

The Tech Panda takes a look at recent tech launches.

Streaming: BSNL launches BiTV for Mobile users in partnership with OTTplay

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), in collaboration with OTTplay, introduced BSNL Intertainment—an innovative Internet TV service. This service provides BSNL mobile users all over India with free access to over 450+ live TV channels, including premium channels.

With BSNL Intertainment, BSNL customers can access OTTs like Bhaktiflix, Shortfundly, Kanccha Lannka, STAGE, OM TV, Playflix, Fancode, Distro, Hubhopper and Runn Tv along with 450+ live TV channels, blockbuster movies, and web series.

BSNL CMD Robert J Ravi I T S, stated, “With BiTV, through our partners, BSNL is giving every customer the power to access entertainment on the go, ‘anytime, anywhere’, free of cost, irrespective of the plan they are on. BiTV is a testament to BSNL’s commitment to digital inclusion and BSNL will be one of the first telecom service provider to revolutionize through this groundbreaking service.”

Features

• Unlimited Entertainment – Apart from live TV, enjoy movies, web series, and documentaries in multiple languages, all at no cost.
• Seamless Streaming – Powered by BSNL’s secure mobile internet, BiTV ensures uninterrupted streaming with exceptional video quality
• Ultimate Combo – BSNL users now enjoy high-speed internet plus a complete entertainment package.

Gen AI: Cloudflare + Adobe Launch First Tool to Track Image Manipulations at Scale

Cloudflare in collaboration with Adobe-led Content Authenticity Initiative, launched a new, one-click tool to track the entire digital journey of an image, across the Cloudflare network (~20% of the Internet). Media companies, publishers and creators can now easily label images with a digital “nutrition label” to ensure proper credit and attribution, and consumers can easily identify image manipulations and AI content.

“The future of the Internet depends on trust and authenticity,” said Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO, Cloudflare. “By integrating Content Credentials across our global network, we can help media and news organizations to verify authenticity and maintain ownership of their work, wherever it moves online. This isn’t just about securing individual images—it’s about giving publishers the tools they need to preserve trust and remain relevant in the age of AI.”

The Why

It’s easier than ever to create convincing fake photos, and the consequences can be massive, as we’ve seen just recently during the LA fires. The ability to confirm if an image was taken on a cell phone, or created using an AI tool, can provide critical context. This is a big step toward transparency when it comes to digital images, and in giving publishers and media companies ownership of their content in the age of AI.

Features

The tool adds a digital fingerprint or “nutrition label” — known as content credentials, a cross-industry technical specification by C2PA — directly to an image, that includes how an image was created, by whom, edits and resizes.

As end users view an image (across different devices, screen sizes, low bandwidth, change file format, etc), transformations and resizes happen that typically would cause this digital nutrition label to disappear – but this is the first time this metadata (including all changes and transformations) will follow an image across a content delivery network.

Telecom: Zoom Phone brings AI-first modern telephony to Chennai

Zoom Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZM) announced the availability of its industry-leading Zoom Phone service in Chennai, marking its official rollout in the Tamil Nadu Telecom Circle.

“We are excited to bring Zoom Phone to Chennai, one of India’s most vibrant technology business hubs. The city’s thriving ecosystem of local and global enterprises will benefit from the simplicity, scalability, and AI-first capabilities that Zoom Phone delivers,” said Velchamy Sankarlingam, president of product and engineering at Zoom. “India is a critical market for us, and the availability of Zoom Phone in Chennai reflects our commitment to delivering local solutions with global standards.”

Features

• Offers businesses in Chennai unrivaled simplicity and modern functionality, empowering dynamic workstyles and hybrid teams.
• Supports inbound and outbound calling through the public switched telephone network (PSTN), enabling enterprises to replace PBX solutions while consolidating communication needs on a single platform.
• Enhanced by Zoom AI Companion, the company’s generative AI assistant, which is included at no additional cost with the paid services in Zoom accounts, delivers Zoom Phone capabilities such as post-call summaries, voicemail prioritization, and voicemail task extraction to help boost productivity and streamline workflows.
• Integrates with Zoom Workplace, leading business applications, and hardware providers, offering robust security, scalability, and a user-friendly interface tailored to the needs of local companies and multinational corporations.

Fintech: A Next-Gen Document Management Solution for International Trade

LeRemitt, a fintech platform focused on simplifying cross-border payments for MSME goods and services exporters, launched LeDoc, an Al-powered platform for designed to streamline trade documentation and compliance management through intelligent storage, enhanced security, seamless sharing and real-time collaboration. LeDoc is the latest addition to LeRemitt’s Global Trade Verse, an integrated cross-border platform that leverages technology and industry expertise to simplify global trade.

Dr. Jacob Crasta, Founder & Chairman, of CM Envirosystems Pvt. Ltd ex-president KASSIA, FKCCI and ASSOCHAM -South said, “LeDoc is set to transform the documentation and compliance handling process for exporters. With documentation and compliance accounting for a significant time today, this platform will streamline the backend of exporters. Indian exporters contribute largely to the economy and India’s overall exports of goods and services in 2024 is estimated to cross USD 814 billion, an increase of 5.58 percent, according to a report by the economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), 31 Dec 2024. This kind of technological intervention will help our overall exports and thus grow the economy. Karnataka contributes to 6.2%within overall Indian merchandize exports.”

Features

• Smart Secure Storage: Centralized and indexed storage for all trade documents, ensuring enhanced security and easy retrieval.
• Real-Time Communication: Seamless collaboration on a single platform, eliminating data leakage risks associated with traditional communication channels.
• Seamless Sharing: OTP-enabled timed access for secure document sharing with stakeholders.
• Industry-Specific Workflows: Automated workflows tailored to specific export industries, improving efficiency and accuracy.
• AI-Enabled Features: Advanced search capabilities and data-driven insights for better decision-making.
• Access Control: User-based and group-based access controls for enhanced security and compliance.
• Blockchain-Enabled Document Tracking: Every document is assigned a unique identifier, ensuring precise, real-time tracking and a permanent audit trail for exporters.
• Compliance management: The platform supports Shipping bill validations and report generations for regulatory compliances

EdTech: An innovative platform designed to empower teachers

Navneet Education Limited launched Navneet AI, an innovative platform designed to empower teachers with easy access to knowledge and resources. Leveraging Navneet’s extensive catalogue of educational materials, Navneet AI’s tools will help teachers deliver lessons more effectively by offering an interactive, user-friendly platform to create quizzes, homework, PPTs, Flashcards, summaries, and more.

“Our goal with Navneet AI is to make learning resources more accessible and adaptable to the needs of today’s educators,” said Devish Gala, Director – Branding, Marketing and Sales at Navneet Education Limited. “By integrating digital technology with trusted content, we support teachers in their mission to inspire young minds. Navneet AI represents our commitment to staying current with technological advancements and catering to evolving educational demands.”

Features

• Navneet AI is based on 50,000+ Navneet resources and delivers interactive output to make classes more engaging and effective.  
• It operates on a multi-agent architecture, where each specialized agent plays a key role in shaping the output. These include the Curriculum Alignment Agent, Content Structuring Agent, Visual Design Agent, Assessment Creation Agent, Quality Verification Agent, and others, working together to ensure accuracy, clarity, and effectiveness in educational content.

Security: SF Shield to Redefine Digital Commerce Logistics with AI-Powered Security

Shadowfax, Indian provider of e-commerce express parcel and value-added solutions, unveiled SF Shield, a technology initiative designed to revolutionize logistics security and operational efficiency. SF Shield serves as a multi-layered security framework that combines two major innovations—Track & Trace Solution and SF Eye to enhance visibility, security, and control across logistics operations.

Vaibhav Khandelwal, Co-Founder & CTO at Shadowfax, said, “At Shadowfax, technology is at the core of our mission to transform digital commerce logistics. SF Shield is more than just an upgrade—it’s a fundamental shift in how security and efficiency are embedded into last-mile operations. By leveraging AI-powered tracking and intelligent automation, we are not just preventing risks but redefining the future of logistics security.”

Features

• SF Shield integrates stream-based geospatial algorithms and neural network-based AI for video and image processing, enabling real-time detection of anomalous patterns.
• Given the high level of oversight required for gig workers, SF Shield provides a robust tracking mechanism that minimizes discrepancies and enhances operational transparency.
• The Track and Trace Solution is an in-house surveillance network that seamlessly integrates with Shadowfax’s proprietary order management system.
• With over 20 million scans performed daily, real-time alerts are triggered for issues such as misorting, mishandling, or loss prevention.
• Shadowfax has deployed high-definition bullet cameras, capturing more than 4 million images and videos at critical points throughout the operational journey.
• The underlying AI engine processes video footage of each scan to verify that the correct user is scanning the package and placing it in the appropriate bin, further reducing errors and ensuring compliance.
• Doorstep scanning quality checks, combined with geo-location data and real-time frequency tracking, provide complete shipment visibility, strengthening security and operational efficiency.

• SF Eye plays a crucial role in maintaining security and service quality within the gig workforce. It ensures strict verification protocols, preventing fraudulent activities and ensuring that only verified riders handle shipments. By continuously monitoring rider performance and compliance, it helps maintain high customer experience standards while enhancing overall operational reliability.

Biotech: PathCrisp for Early Detection of Antibiotic Resistance

Bengaluru-based biotechnology startup CrisprBits Private Limited, has developed PathCrisp, a platform for CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics for early detection of antibiotic resistance in hospital-acquired infections.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health challenge, requiring early and accurate detection of resistance markers in hospital-acquired infections, particularly in ICU settings.

Dr. Reety Arora, Principal Scientist at CrisprBits and corresponding author of the study, said, “With the growing need for rapid AMR detection, PathCrisp emerges as a reliable molecular diagnostic tool for clinical applications  PathCrisp offers a fast and accurate alternative to traditional methods, leveraging CRISPR-Cas technology for unparalleled precision and instrument-light adaptability making it well suited for point of care diagnostics. The test provides an end-to-end solution, delivering results within two hours. It operates at a constant temperature, eliminating the need for a thermocycler, and works directly on various samples, including bacterial cultures.”

“The rising burden of carbapenem-resistant infections is driving up healthcare costs, prolonging hospital stays, and increasing ICU admissions and mortality. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as bacterial culture and PCR-based testing, can take 24–72 hours, delaying critical treatment decisions. In this scenario, a rapid and highly accurate test like PathCrisp, developed by CrisprBits, can enable direct detection from clinical samples without expensive equipment or prolonged culture processes, ensuring early recognition and targeted therapy. It is an exciting development with the potential to change clinical practice.” says Dr. Ramakrishna Prasad, Global Medical Director, Swasti & Co-Chair, WONCA SouthAsia Region – Research, a leading medical expert in infectious disease in Bangalore.

Features

• Can detect carbapenem resistance in bacterial samples from patients. In a study, the PathCrisp platform was used to test the presence or absence of NDM in DNA isolated from 49 clinical bacterial samples. The data showed 100% concordance with other techniques used as the gold standard (PCR-Sanger sequencing) for the same.
• Future R&D efforts will focus on adapting PathCrisp for low-resource settings by developing lyophilized reagents for room-temperature stability. Additionally, smart engineering approaches will be explored to create a multiplexed version, expanding its diagnostic capabilities.

Gen AI: Jarvis GPT, a Powerful Fusion of Vision AI & LLM for Smart Retail Analytics

Staqu, a leading innovator in AI-driven video analytics, launched Jarvis GPT, an advanced AI model designed to transform the retail industry with real-time customer insights, store monitoring, and predictive analytics. Leveraging the power of generative AI, Jarvis GPT empowers retailers to make data-driven decisions, optimize store performance, and enhance the customer shopping experience.

“In today’s dynamic retail environment, staying ahead of customer expectations while optimizing operations is a constant challenge,” said Atul Rai, Co-founder and CEO of Staqu Technologies. “Retailers need intelligent solutions that can turn vast amounts of raw data into actionable insights. Jarvis GPT bridges this gap by leveraging AI-powered video analytics to decode customer behaviour, optimize store layouts, and improve overall operational efficiency. By providing real-time intelligence, Jarvis GPT enables businesses to enhance productivity, anticipate market trends, and foster deeper customer relationships. This is not just about adopting new technology; it’s about shaping the future of intelligent retail.”

Features

• The platform enables retailers to:
• Track footfall trends: Get instant reports on the number of male and female visitors across store locations over specific time frames.
• Optimize store performance: Monitor customer dwell time and product engagement to improve store layout and inventory placement.
• Enhance security: Detect suspicious activities and prevent loss with AI-driven video surveillance.
• Seamless Reporting: Generate instant analytics reports and receive them directly on WhatsApp for quick decision-making.

3D Printing: India’s First 3D-Printed G+1 Villa

Godrej Properties Ltd. (GPL), Indian real estate developers, unveiled India’s first 3D-printed G+1 villa at Godrej Eden Estate, Maan Hinjewadi, Pune in association with Tvasta Engineering. The villa, constructed using additive manufacturing techniques, demonstrates the potential of 3D printing in revolutionizing home construction. The project, which commenced in June 2024, was successfully completed in just four months, underscoring the speed and efficiency of 3D printing in construction. By employing computer-generated designs, the structure was built layer by layer with specialized materials, significantly reducing construction time, material waste, and labour costs, while ensuring precision and durability. This architectural innovation blends modern aesthetics with sustainable design, introducing elements that redefine contemporary living spaces.

Vikas Singhal, Chief Operating Officer, Godrej Properties, said, “At Godrej Properties, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation, and sustainability in real estate. The unveiling of India’s first 3D-printed villa at Godrej Eden Estate is a testament to our vision of pioneering futuristic, efficient, and eco-friendly construction methods. 3D printing has the potential to transform homebuilding by making it faster, more precise, significantly more sustainable, and incorporates energy-efficient features that reduce the project’s environmental impact. We are proud to introduce this technology to the Indian real estate sector and look forward to exploring its further applications in the future.”

Features

• The villa’s organic and fluid form, shaped using advanced algorithms, enhances both structural integrity and visual appeal.
• A striking architectural feature that maximizes natural light, reduces energy consumption, and creates an expansive, open feel.
• Replacing conventional straight staircases, this sculptural element adds an artistic and dynamic touch to the home’s interior.
• Inspired by nature, the villa’s flowing lines seamlessly integrate with its surroundings, fostering a sense of harmony and well-being.
• A signature of 3D-printed architecture, the layered exterior pattern showcases the precision of the technology, lending the structure a unique and futuristic aesthetic.

AI: Advanced AI Modules to Automate Hiring & Boost Recruiter Productivity

Recruiterflow, AI-first RecOps (Recruiting Operations) Platform, launched AI modules designed to automate workflows, enhance intelligence, and optimize decision-making for staffing and recruiting agencies. It has integrated AI-powered features in its Recruiting Operations (RecOps) platform to transform how agencies engage with candidates, analyze data and drive revenue growth.

Amritanshu Anand, Co-Founder of Recruiterflow, said, “Recruitment is a complex process. Recruiters and staffing agencies often find themselves bogged down by manual tasks. With the launch of these new AI modules, we’re taking a significant step towards eliminating manual effort and creating a seamless recruitment process. The results speak for themselves. Firms using AIRA, our AI-powered RecOps assistant, have already saved an average of 5+ hours per recruiter per week. We look forward to continuing to improve these tools and introduce new AI-driven solutions to ensure staffing agencies can operate with maximum efficiency.”

Features

• Offers a seamless blend of decision-making and intelligence through its CRM, ATS, reporting, sourcing, and automation features.
• One of the AI modules includes a conversational AI-powered RecOps Assistant (AIRA) to allow instant retrieval of candidate and client data, including their past conversations, providing actionable insights about the candidate’s profile and client history.
• Serving a dual purpose, AIRA also automates content creation, including job descriptions and personalized communications.
• AI-powered personalized outreach improves candidate and client communication, leading to higher candidate response and engagement.
• Recruiterflow BI is an advanced, AI-powered reporting and analytics feature. The tool generates reports and provides predictive insights into sales data, revenue impact, and performance trends, allowing staffing agencies to optimize operations and make informed decisions.
• AI-generated content, including reports, emails, and job descriptions, can be easily customized to align with existing workflows.

Recruiterflow’s AI features have already delivered measurable improvements for agencies across the US, UK, and Canada. Early adopters saw a 37% increase in recruiter productivity using AI-powered job descriptions and outreach, with firms saving an average of over five hours per recruiter per week through AI-driven data retrieval. Agencies leveraging AI-powered outreach saw a 22% boost in candidate response rates.