Latest news with #SangeetaGupta
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Business Standard
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Global capability centres not packing bags just yet for small-town India
The Indian government wants global capability centres (GCCs) to look beyond Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai, and expand into Tier-II and Tier-III cities. But that shift won't happen anytime soon, say industry executives, citing weak infrastructure, inadequate talent availability, and an ecosystem that's still developing. That ecosystem will only solidify once service companies build a critical mass in cities like Ahmedabad, Indore, Mysuru, Coimbatore, Mohali, or Bhubaneswar, followed by an influx of startups. While firms such as Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Cognizant, and Wipro have set up delivery centres in these cities over the years, the startup landscape remains early-stage. As announced in the Union Budget, the government is likely to soon roll out a framework to guide states in establishing GCCs, especially in smaller cities. The guidelines will include suggestions for improving talent availability, infrastructure, by-law reforms, and industry collaboration mechanisms. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka already have policies and processes that can help firms set up technology (tech) centres in different parts of the state. 'GCCs exist not in silos but in an ecosystem,' said Sangeeta Gupta, senior vice-president and chief strategy officer at Nasscom. 'You need to get service companies in, you need to energise the startup ecosystem, and only then do GCCs make sense. They can't exist in isolation.' That holds for engineering talent considering a return to their hometowns in smaller cities. Without a strong company presence, switching jobs for better opportunities may still require moving back to the metros. Arindam Sen, partner and GCC sector leader — tech, media and entertainment, and telecommunications at EY, said that while states are promoting smaller cities, they're also expanding their major ones, making companies hesitant to commit elsewhere. 'Most still aren't biting the bullet, apart from a handful of cities. Connectivity is another issue — double- or triple-hop flights or long layovers are common. Smaller cities need much stronger promotion,' he said. As GCCs have become the backbone in India's services sector, the government is turning its focus to them to create thousands of jobs in areas like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, data analytics, natural language processing, and generative AI. This comes as hiring slows across traditional information technology (IT) firms due to a tepid growth environment. Unlike traditional business process outsourcing outfits, which handle select functions like payroll or general ledger, GCCs typically run end-to-end processes, manage platforms, and drive product development and engineering. Many are now leading their parent companies' AI-first transitions. 'The existing hubs are getting oversaturated with strained infrastructure, limited talent, and high attrition. And costs are climbing, not just in compensation but in real estate and operations too. It's only a matter of time before the newer locations start taking off,' said Lalit Ahuja, co-founder and chief executive officer of ANSR, in a conversation with Business Standard. India has around 1,760 GCCs, according to Nasscom data, with a growing emphasis on high-value services and engineering research and development (R&D). That number is projected to hit 3,000. More than 500 of these centres are already armed with AI capabilities and a global AI charter, up from 210 in 2023. While many existing GCCs are arms of Fortune 500 companies, the next wave is expected to come from Forbes 2000 firms — smaller, cost-sensitive players for whom Tier-II and Tier-III cities could be ideal. 'The challenge is infrastructure — real estate, tech parks, connectivity, hotels. There are public-private partnership initiatives and financial incentives underway, such as capital expenditure subsidies or hiring sons of the soil. Universities are also being supported to produce more GCC-ready talent. There's growing visibility, awareness, and interest,' Ahuja added. Of the 1,760 GCCs as of last year, only 13 per cent had a Tier-II presence, according to consulting firm Zinnov. A few examples include Bosch, which has a unit in Coimbatore alongside its Bengaluru base; Oracle in Lucknow; and British International Telecom in Pune as well as in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Gurugram. Ashish Grover, former chief information officer of Chilean e-commerce firm Grupo Falabella, believes that smaller GCCs with limited staff needs are better suited to thrive in Tier-II cities. 'With remote work and AI, it's more about getting the right set of people rather than quantity.' Still, hiring at scale remains a hurdle, which keeps cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Gurugram firmly in the lead. The talent demographic in smaller cities often skews towards professionals in their late 30s and 40s who settled there after the pandemic and aren't as open to frequent job changes. 'Will companies move to smaller cities just for the incentives if the talent isn't there? The answer is no,' said Nitika Goel, chief marketing and strategy officer at Zinnov. 'The Karnataka government is investing in Grade A infrastructure in Mysuru to make GCCs more accessible. They're also investing in airports and building roads that cut travel time to Bengaluru to two hours. The quality of life is better, and the costs of living are lower. They've set up centres of excellence too. Even if talent isn't readily accessible now, the right incentives can develop that.' The Centre is taking a three-pronged approach to address the talent gap. First, it's looking at the pipeline by understanding what qualifications and expertise companies need. Second, it's working with states to bring on board approvals and incentives for setting up GCCs. And third, it's involving the IT ministry to help states and GCCs curate talent and integrate R&D into their operations. 'The challenge is the talent maturity, especially in emerging tech. Tier-II cities still don't offer the depth. A hybrid model could work, where low-end transaction and processing tasks are handled from these cities to start with,' said Shalini Pillay, partner and India leader — GCC at KPMG.
Gulf Today
01-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Nearly 88% global firms now have dedicated AI budgets, says report
Nearly 88 per cent of global enterprises now have dedicated budgets for Artificial Intelligence (AI), with nearly two-thirds of them spending over 15 per cent of their overall tech budgets on AI projects, a new report said on Monday. This major investment push marks a clear shift from early experimentation with Generative AI to building intelligent, goal-oriented systems known as AI agents, according to data compiled by Nasscom. Titled 'Enterprise Experiments with AI Agents - 2025 Global Trends,' the report provides a comprehensive look at how companies across the globe are preparing for the next phase of AI adoption. Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Nasscom, said that enterprises are at a crucial turning point. 'AI agents represent the next evolution of enterprise AI - one that requires philosophical shifts in how we view work, intelligence, and autonomy,' she said. However, she also emphasised that scaling AI systems responsibly would require strong trust, data readiness, and continuous human oversight. Based on responses from over 100 companies across 8-9 global regions and more than 10 industries, the study shows how enterprises are moving beyond passive data analysis to more active AI systems that can perform tasks and make decisions with human oversight. The report shows that businesses are strengthening their AI foundation through investments in GenAI tools, data infrastructure, and flexible processes. Many companies have already formed specialised AI teams and are working with advanced platforms, upgrading their tech setups to support the deployment of AI agents. However, despite high awareness of Generative AI, only half of the surveyed companies are fine-tuning large language models (LLMs) or foundation models for their own needs. One of the biggest highlights of the report is the growing interest in Agentic AI - systems designed to act independently while still being monitored by humans. About 62 per cent of companies are experimenting with such AI agents, mainly for internal tasks such as IT operations, HR, and finance. External uses, like customer service, are still limited, with only 31 per cent of enterprises using Agentic AI in those areas. However, looking ahead, 88 per cent of companies plan to set aside budgets specifically for Agentic AI systems in 2025. The report also reveals that most companies are being cautious. Around 77 per cent are designing Agentic AI systems with a 'human-in-the-loop' model to ensure oversight and adaptability. Only 46 per cent are testing fully autonomous agents. Manufacturing companies appear to be ahead in adoption, using AI for robotics, quality control, and other operational areas. When it comes to benefits, companies believe AI agents can help in making faster decisions and responding better to market changes, the report said. AI TOOL TO DETECT CANCER: Meanwhile, in a significant achievement for identifying neuro-degenerative diseases early, a team of US researchers has developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that helps clinicians detect brain activity patterns linked to nine types of dementia using a single and widely available scan. The tool, StateViewer, not only helped in early detection but also provided accurate diagnosis - it identified the dementia type in 88 per cent of cases, including Alzheimer's disease. It also enabled clinicians to interpret brain scans nearly twice as fast and with up to three times greater accuracy than standard workflows, according to the research, published online in the journal Neurology. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic trained and tested the AI on more than 3,600 scans, including images from patients with dementia and people without cognitive impairment. Currently, diagnosing dementia requires cognitive tests, blood draws, imaging, and clinical interviews, and yet, distinguishing conditions such as Alzheimer's, Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal dementia remains a challenge. 'Every patient who walks into my clinic carries a unique story shaped by the brain's complexity,' said David Jones, a Mayo Clinic neurologist. 'StateViewer reflects that commitment -- a step toward earlier understanding, more precise treatment, and, one day, changing the course of these diseases,' added Jones, director of the Mayo Clinic Neurology Artificial Intelligence Programme. The tool analyses a fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan, which shows how the brain uses glucose for energy. It then compares the scan to a large database of scans from people with confirmed dementia diagnoses and identifies patterns that match specific types, or combinations, of dementia. While Alzheimer's affects memory and processing regions, Lewy body dementia involves areas tied to attention and movement. Frontotemporal dementia alters regions responsible for language and behaviour. Indo-Asian News Service
Entrepreneur
01-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Majority of Enterprises have Dedicated AI Budgets with 62% Experimenting with Agentic AI: Nasscom
Nearly 62 per cent of global enterprises are currently experimenting with such AI agents, ranging from proof-of-concepts to scaled pilots. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. 88 per cent of enterprises now have dedicated AI budgets, with two-thirds of them allocating over 15 per cent of their tech budgets specifically toward AI initiatives, according to Nasscom's latest report titled 'Enterprise Experiments with AI Agents – 2025 Global Trends.' At a time when AI is shifting from passive analytics to active agents of execution, the report captures the foundational shifts underway within the enterprise ecosystem. The study draws on responses from over 100 global enterprises across 8 -9 major regions and over 10 industries, offering a landscape view into how businesses are transitioning from early-stage Generative AI applications toward more goal-oriented, human-plus-AI agentic systems. This shift is reflected in the emergence of specialized AI teams, greater focus on GenAI platforms and tooling, and infrastructure readiness. However, while awareness of GenAI is high, actual use of advanced models remains limited. Only about half of surveyed enterprises are fine-tuning large language models (LLMs) or foundation models for their own applications. Crucially, the move toward agentic AI is gaining traction. Nearly 62 per cent of global enterprises are currently experimenting with such AI agents, ranging from proof-of-concepts to scaled pilots. However, the nature of these experiments is still largely internal, focused on task-level automation with human oversight, with 76 per cent of enterprises positioning their own IT operations as "client zero." External-facing use cases, such as customer service, are still limited, with only 31 per cent of companies indicating active usage in those areas. Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Nasscom, said, "We are at the tipping point of the AI maturity curve where enterprises are no longer just experimenting with AI, but actively reimagining their architecture, workflows, and teams to build agentic systems. AI agents represent the next evolution of enterprise AI one that requires philosophical shifts in how we view work, intelligence, and autonomy. But to scale responsibly, trust, data readiness, and human oversight will be non-negotiable." Despite growing confidence, the study reveals that deployment remains largely incremental. A significant 77 per cent of enterprises are adopting agentic AI systems with a "human-in-the-loop" design, reflecting an awareness of the need for constant oversight, adaptability, and contextual judgment. While 46 per cent report experimenting with autonomous agents, IT operations, customer service, and internal HR and finance functions are leading experimentation grounds. Manufacturing enterprises are moving faster than services in adoption, with AI-powered robotics, quality control, and process agents showing strong traction. The business case for agentic AI appears strongest in real-time decision-making and operational agility. More than half the enterprises see such systems as critical enablers for translating information into intelligence and rapidly responding to shifting market dynamics. Only 39 per cent believe that agentic systems will meaningfully free up human bandwidth for higher-order work, suggesting that, at present, these systems may augment rather than replace existing workflows. Data remains the cornerstone of AI efficacy. With 68 per cent of companies focusing on strengthening data governance and management, and 62 per cent working on integrating structured and unstructured data flows, enterprises are laying the groundwork for scalable, reliable agentic solutions. However, the path forward is marked by both technical and structural headwinds. Data privacy, risks of self-learning systems, and the absence of cohesive regulatory frameworks continue to be cited as top adoption barriers.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Enterprises embrace the agentic AI shift, but adoption remains cautious amid risk, talent, and ROI concerns
Nasscom today released its latest research report, 'Enterprise Experiments with AI Agents – 2025 Global Trends,' offering a first-of-its-kind comprehensive lens into how global enterprises are experimenting with and investing in AI agents. At a time when AI is shifting from passive analytics to active agents of execution, the report captures the foundational shifts underway within the enterprise ecosystem. The study draws on responses from over 100 global enterprises across 8 -9 major regions and over 10 industries, offering a landscape view into how businesses are transitioning from early stage Generative AI applications toward more goal-oriented, human-plus-AI agentic systems. Enterprises are strengthening their tech core from AI spend and talent, GenAI capabilities, data foundations, and process flexibility to build and deploy AI agents. The study underscores that 88% of enterprises now have dedicated AI budgets, with two-thirds of them allocating over 15% of their tech budgets specifically toward AI initiatives. This shift is reflected in the emergence of specialized AI teams, greater focus on GenAI platforms and tooling, and infrastructure readiness. However, while awareness of GenAI is high, actual use of advanced models remains limited. Only about half of surveyed enterprises are fine-tuning large language models (LLMs) or foundation models for their own applications. Crucially, the move toward Agentic AI is gaining traction. Nearly 62% of global enterprises are currently experimenting with such AI agents, ranging from proof-of-concepts to scaled pilots. However, the nature of these experiments is still largely internal, focused on task-level automation with human oversight, with 76% of enterprises positioning their own IT operations as 'client zero.' External-facing use cases, such as customer service, are still limited, with only 31% of companies indicating active usage in those areas. Yet, a significant 88% of enterprises indicate intent to dedicate specific AI budgets toward agentic systems in 2025, suggesting strong optimism but cautious execution. Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Nasscom, said, 'We are at the tipping point of the AI maturity curve where enterprises are no longer just experimenting with AI, but actively reimagining their architecture, workflows, and teams to build agentic systems. AI agents represent the next evolution of enterprise AI one that requires philosophical shifts in how we view work, intelligence, and autonomy. But to scale responsibly, trust, data readiness, and human oversight will be non-negotiable.' Despite growing confidence, the study reveals that deployment remains largely incremental. A significant 77% of enterprises are adopting agentic AI systems with a 'human-in-the-loop' design, reflecting an awareness of the need for constant oversight, adaptability, and contextual judgment. While 46% report experimenting with autonomous agents. IT operations, customer service, and internal HR and finance functions are leading experimentation grounds. Manufacturing enterprises are moving faster than services in adoption, with AI-powered robotics, quality control, and process agents showing strong traction. The business case for Agentic AI appears strongest in real-time decision-making and operational agility. More than half the enterprises see such systems as critical enablers for translating information into intelligence and rapidly responding to shifting market dynamics. Only 39% believe that agentic systems will meaningfully free up human bandwidth for higher-order work, suggesting that, at present, these systems may augment rather than replace existing workflows. Data remains the cornerstone of AI efficacy. With 68% of companies focusing on strengthening data governance and management, and 62% working on integrating structured and unstructured data flows, enterprises are laying the groundwork for scalable, reliable agentic solutions. However, the path forward is marked by both technical and structural headwinds. Data privacy, risks of self-learning systems, and the absence of cohesive regulatory frameworks continue to be cited as top adoption barriers. While most enterprises still rely on adapted legacy risk frameworks, only 43% enterprises have initiated focused AI risk protocols, including observability tools and hardware-level audits. Interestingly, only 44% of companies expressed concern about the cultural and mindset shifts required to build effective human + AI systems or the perceived limitations in ROI from such deployments. While just 27% of global enterprises identified the lack of AI talent as a major constraint. However, success will not be defined by autonomy alone. Enterprises need to prioritize human-AI collaboration, ensure process adaptability, and embed trust at the core of their systems to lead in the age of intelligent agents.
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Business Standard
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Sebi issues Rs 5.35 crore demand notice to OPG securities in NSE case
Sebi has sent notices to stock broker OPG Securities and its directors asking them to pay Rs 5.35 crore, in a case of unfair access to secondary market servers in connection with the NSE co-location issue, and warned of attachment of assets as well as bank accounts if they fail to make the payment within 15 days. The demand notices came after the entities failed to pay the fine imposed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in April 2025. In three separate recovery notices issued on Monday, the regulator directed OPG Securities and its directors -- Sanjay Gupta, Sangeeta Gupta, and Om Prakash Gupta -- to pay dues totalling Rs 5.35 crore within 15 days. This included a penalty amount and an interest. In the event of non-payment of dues, the market regulator said it will recover the amount by attaching and selling their moveable and immovable properties. Besides, they face attachment of bank accounts and arrest. In its order passed in April, Sebi levied a fine of Rs 5 crore on OPG Securities and its directors jointly for engaging in unfair trade practices. Additionally, Sebi imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh each on OPG Securities and Sanjay Gupta for non-compliance with the regulator's code of conduct and hampering the investigation, respectively. "Noticee 1 (OPG Securities) gained an unfair advantage by repeatedly accessing the Secondary POP Server, thereby making unlawful gain. Regardless of the quantum of such unlawful gain, it is evident that the manner in which Noticee 1 connected to the secondary server constituted an unfair practice, which was recurrent in nature. This amounts to a serious violation," Sebi had stated. Furthermore, the regulator had highlighted that OPG Securities failed to uphold standards of integrity, due skill, care, and diligence in its business operations, while also neglecting to ensure compliance with statutory requirements. Since the Guptas were directors of OPG Securities during the period of violation, they were deemed vicariously liable for the company's actions, it had added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
