
NIIT Learning Systems named Databricks APJ Training Partner of the Year
Databricks, the leading Data and AI company, combines Apache Spark with Delta Lake to break down traditional data silos and deliver a unified platform for data engineering, machine learning, and data science at scale. Its global Partner Ecosystem, over 6,000 strong plays a pivotal role in delivering premier data and AI solutions. Each year, Databricks recognizes these collaborative efforts through the Databricks Partner Awards presented at the Data + AI Summit across 56 categories to honor outstanding partner achievements.
NIIT earned the Databricks APJ Training Partner of the Year award for exceptional delivery of the core Databricks curriculum and leveraging a robust team of instructors specializing in Generative AI to serve customers across the APJ region. As an early and vital partner, NIIT played a key role in developing the Databricks Certified Instructor network, aligning with evolving customer demands to ensure high quality, impactful training.
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Hindustan Times
21 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
AI Impact Summit will be held at Bharat Mandapam during Feb 19–20
The AI Impact Summit, which India will host next year, is scheduled for February 19–20 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The two-day event is expected to draw heads of State and top executives from major technology companies, with names like Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai on the list. However, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is not expected to attend, HT has learnt, with the company likely to be represented by its chief technology officer instead. Bharat Mandapam. (PTI File Photo) 'Just as the Paris summit was called the AI Action Summit, the India edition is being branded the AI Impact Summit, signalling a shift from 'action' to 'impact,'' said a person aware of the preparations at the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY). 'The idea is to acknowledge the impact AI has had over the past decade, draw lessons from it, and then outline the action points for the year ahead.' The person cited above also explained the symbolism of the AI Summit logo, which centres on the overarching theme of People, Planet, Progress - the three 'sutras.' In the design, the globe represents the Planet, an orange curve at the upper right signifies People, and a green curve below it denotes Progress. Encircling the globe on the left are seven green dots, symbolising the Summit's smaller themes, or 'Chakras,' namely Human Capital, Inclusion, Safe and Trusted AI, Resilience, Science, Democratizing AI Resources, and Social Good. These Chakras are further ringed by 14 orange dots, representing the 14 official events to be organised by the government in India. Held in the run-up to the Summit and based on the seven smaller themes, these 14 events will shape the joint declaration that participating heads of state will sign. 'The India AI Mission plans to invite a select group of domestic and international participants to discuss the seven themes in 14 sittings, similar to the format used at the G20 Summit, and identify elements that could be incorporated into the declaration. It will be a townhall setting and rules,' the person said. Besides this, the government has said it is open to proposals from anyone wishing to contribute to the conversation around AI, inviting them to bring their topics under the Summit's umbrella. In the lead-up to the event, it plans to host 250 pre-events across locations in India and abroad and has issued a call for proposals on the AI Summit website. Organisers of these pre-events can hold panel discussions, submit reports on their deliberations, and suggest inputs for inclusion in the Summit's joint declaration, subject to government review. Approved proposals can receive up to ₹2,00,000 for domestic events and ₹5,00,000 for international ones, with funds disbursed only after the event's completion and submission of required reports and invoices. 'The government will enable the hosting of these side-events across the country under the umbrella of the seven themes and enable citizen participation across the country. We don't want it to become a Delhi thing,' said the person quoted above. 'We are hoping these 250 meetings are enabled by private entities, NGOs, academicians, and individuals." India will revise the previous declaration from France, aligning it with the current themes and incorporating inputs from the 14 meetings as well as public contributions, added the person aware of the matter. What will the two days - February 19 and 20 - look like? The Summit will feature not only government participation but also active involvement from the private sector and citizens, with all three components woven into the programme. Leaders will convene in the summit hall to negotiate and finalise the joint declaration, while also holding multilateral and bilateral meetings on-site. Citizen engagement will take place through a large-scale expo showcasing the impact of AI, featuring not just Indian tech players but also participants from across the Global South. The expo will showcase not only large language models (LLMs) but also small language models (SLMs) and sector-specific AI solutions, allowing visitors to discover innovations from other countries and consider their applicability at home. The Summit will also host research symposiums highlighting the latest advancements in the field. It remains unclear which country will host the next AI Summit, though several nations, including Switzerland, have expressed interest.


Hindustan Times
21 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
AI Impact Summit to be held at Bharat Mandapam during Feb 19–20
The AI Impact Summit, which India will host next year, is scheduled for February 19–20 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The two-day event is expected to draw heads of State and top executives from major technology companies, with names like Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai on the list. However, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is not expected to attend, HT has learnt, with the company likely to be represented by its chief technology officer instead. Bharat Mandapam. (PTI File Photo) 'Just as the Paris summit was called the AI Action Summit, the India edition is being branded the AI Impact Summit, signalling a shift from 'action' to 'impact,'' said a person aware of the preparations at the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY). 'The idea is to acknowledge the impact AI has had over the past decade, draw lessons from it, and then outline the action points for the year ahead.' The person cited above also explained the symbolism of the AI Summit logo, which centres on the overarching theme of People, Planet, Progress - the three 'sutras.' In the design, the globe represents the Planet, an orange curve at the upper right signifies People, and a green curve below it denotes Progress. Encircling the globe on the left are seven green dots, symbolising the Summit's smaller themes, or 'Chakras,' namely Human Capital, Inclusion, Safe and Trusted AI, Resilience, Science, Democratizing AI Resources, and Social Good. These Chakras are further ringed by 14 orange dots, representing the 14 official events to be organised by the government in India. Held in the run-up to the Summit and based on the seven smaller themes, these 14 events will shape the joint declaration that participating heads of state will sign. 'The India AI Mission plans to invite a select group of domestic and international participants to discuss the seven themes in 14 sittings, similar to the format used at the G20 Summit, and identify elements that could be incorporated into the declaration. It will be a townhall setting and rules,' the person said. Besides this, the government has said it is open to proposals from anyone wishing to contribute to the conversation around AI, inviting them to bring their topics under the Summit's umbrella. In the lead-up to the event, it plans to host 250 pre-events across locations in India and abroad and has issued a call for proposals on the AI Summit website. Organisers of these pre-events can hold panel discussions, submit reports on their deliberations, and suggest inputs for inclusion in the Summit's joint declaration, subject to government review. Approved proposals can receive up to ₹2,00,000 for domestic events and ₹5,00,000 for international ones, with funds disbursed only after the event's completion and submission of required reports and invoices. 'The government will enable the hosting of these side-events across the country under the umbrella of the seven themes and enable citizen participation across the country. We don't want it to become a Delhi thing,' said the person quoted above. 'We are hoping these 250 meetings are enabled by private entities, NGOs, academicians, and individuals." India will revise the previous declaration from France, aligning it with the current themes and incorporating inputs from the 14 meetings as well as public contributions, added the person aware of the matter. What will the two days - February 19 and 20 - look like? The Summit will feature not only government participation but also active involvement from the private sector and citizens, with all three components woven into the programme. Leaders will convene in the summit hall to negotiate and finalise the joint declaration, while also holding multilateral and bilateral meetings on-site. Citizen engagement will take place through a large-scale expo showcasing the impact of AI, featuring not just Indian tech players but also participants from across the Global South. The expo will showcase not only large language models (LLMs) but also small language models (SLMs) and sector-specific AI solutions, allowing visitors to discover innovations from other countries and consider their applicability at home. The Summit will also host research symposiums highlighting the latest advancements in the field. It remains unclear which country will host the next AI Summit, though several nations, including Switzerland, have expressed interest.
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First Post
2 days ago
- First Post
Trump's tech hiring ban: India's chance to redefine global innovation
By doubling down on its strengths—its people, its problems, its potential—India can turn exclusion into empowerment read more US President Donald Trump has urged American tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Apple to stop hiring foreign workers, including those from India, and focus instead on creating jobs in the United States. His words sent ripples across the global tech landscape. At an AI Summit held in Washington on Wednesday, Trump said that American companies should now put national interests first in the fast-growing field of artificial intelligence. Although there has been no official policy announcement, this adds to the growing uncertainty for Indian professionals, as India plays a key role in the global operations of U.S. tech firms. Recent reports indicate that major U.S. tech firms are lobbying against strict hiring bans. For many, it felt like a betrayal—a nation that has long powered global innovation now faces exclusion. But what if this moment is India's chance to rewrite its story? Rather than a setback, Trump's directive could ignite India's ascent as a self-reliant tech superpower, proving it can innovate not just for the West but for the world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump's remarks tap into a broader narrative of economic nationalism, one that paints foreign talent—particularly India's vast pool of engineers—as a drain on American jobs. This is no small matter. U.S. tech companies have been establishing engineering hubs in cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad for decades, and India is a vital part of their global operations. Yet Trump's statement, aimed at boosting U.S. AI dominance, signals a pivot toward insularity. One of the directives outlines a nationwide strategy to accelerate the development of AI by relaxing regulations and enticing businesses to construct data centres and other essential infrastructure within the United States. Companies that receive federal funding to develop AI tools are subject to new regulations under the second order. Helping U.S.-made AI products compete internationally is the main goal of the third executive order. Together, they underscore a vision where global talent takes a back seat. India's tech sector risks disruption. American firms have leaned on Indian engineers for cost-efficient, high-skill labour, building software and cloud systems that power the world. A hiring freeze could shrink opportunities for Indian professionals, particularly those eyeing U.S. careers via H-1B visas. It might also chill investments in India's tech hubs, where companies like Google and Microsoft have sprawling campuses. The Brookings Institution notes that over half of top U.S. AI researchers are foreign-born, many from India. Curtailing this pipeline could slow innovation in the U.S., but it also threatens India's role as a global tech engine. The fear is real: a brain drain reversed, with talent staying home but lacking the platforms to thrive. Yet this challenge masks a profound opportunity. India can seize this moment to pivot from being the world's back office to its innovation hub. India should harness its engineers graduating annually—a massive talent pool. Instead of coding for Western giants, these minds can build indigenous platforms tailored to India's needs. Take agriculture, where AI could optimise crop yields for small farmers battling climate shifts. (Update: The Indian government recently announced a new AI mission focusing on agriculture, healthcare, and language models.) In healthcare, homegrown AI tools could diagnose diseases in rural clinics, bridging gaps where doctors are scarce. By focusing inward, India can solve local problems while creating globally competitive tech. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India's digital infrastructure—think Aadhaar and UPI—already sets a global standard for scale and efficiency. Government backing could fuel AI hardware innovation. By investing in research hubs and easing startup regulations, India can nurture ecosystems where talent stays and thrives. Imagine an AI model trained on India's diverse languages, powering education or governance solutions exportable to Africa or Southeast Asia. Trump's push could catalyse this shift, forcing India to prioritise self-reliance over outsourcing. The other side has weight: global collaboration has driven tech's golden age. U.S. firms warn that restricting foreign talent could hamstring innovation, given America's own tech talent shortage. Indian professionals in the U.S. fear uncertainty, and companies reliant on government contracts may hesitate to defy Trump's rhetoric. But India's talent doesn't need Western validation to shine—it can build its own Silicon Valleys. Trump's call is a wake-up call for India. The country stands at a crossroads, with a chance to redefine global innovation. By doubling down on its strengths—its people, its problems, its potential—India can turn exclusion into empowerment. The world is watching. It's time for India to code its own future. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The writer is a columnist. His articles have appeared in various publications like The Independent, The Globe and Mail, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, etc. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.