Google Gemini AI Features In Gmail: Google is introducing new Gemini AI features to Gmail to help users manage their inboxes better and decide what to do next. These updates also include AI-generated summaries of long email threads, making it easier to catch up on conversations. The rollout will happen in phases, and some features will be enabled by default. This means users who don’t want the AI tools will need to turn them off manually. At first, the new features will be available only in the US and in English, with support for more languages and regions coming later. Google says Gmail now has over 3 billion users worldwide. Adding further, one key feature is “Suggested Replies.” This feature uses the context of emails to create one-tap responses. It is an improved version of Google’s earlier “Smart Replies” tool. The tech giant is also enhancing its proofreading feature, which helps fix grammar and make emails clearer and shorter. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Earlier, Gemini in Gmail already allowed users to search emails, draft messages using prompts, improve writing, and create personalized replies. Google is also testing a new AI-powered Inbox for a small group of users. This feature will summarise emails automatically and create a to-do list, with a wider rollout expected in the coming months. How To Turn Off Gemini AI Features In Gmail Step 1: Open Gmail on the web and click the Settings (gear) icon in the top-right corner. Step 2: Select “See all settings” to access the full settings menu. Step 3: Under the General tab, scroll down to the Smart Features section. Step 4: Uncheck the option that says “Turn on smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet”. Step 5: Turn off all sliders under “Google Workspace smart features”. It is important to note that the disabling these AI features will also turn off autocorrect, spell check, desktop notifications, package tracking, and email categories like Primary, Promotions, and Social. 

WhatsApp New Features: WhatsApp has rolled out several new updates to make group chats more organised and expressive. Since many users depend on group chats for planning events, running communities, and staying in touch, the app has now refined how people communicate in shared conversations. The biggest update is the introduction of member tags. This feature lets users add custom labels to their names within a group. For example, someone can appear as “Anna’s Dad” in a school group, “Secretary” in a society group, or “Striker” in a football chat. These labels are visible only inside that group.  Users can choose different tags for different groups. WhatsApp said the feature will be available gradually to users worldwide. WhatsApp is also adding new ways to express yourself. With text stickers, users can now turn any word or phrase into a sticker by typing it into the sticker search bar. These stickers can be saved directly to the sticker pack without sending them first. This makes it quicker to reuse favourite expressions without depending only on emojis or GIFs. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Group planning is also getting simpler. WhatsApp now allows custom event reminders inside group chats. Users can set early alerts while creating events. This helps reduce missed calls, late arrivals, or forgotten plans. The reminders work for both physical meetups and online events. These updates add to WhatsApp’s existing group features. Users can already share files up to 2GB, send HD photos and videos, share screens during calls, and start voice chats without making a formal call. WhatsApp says these changes are part of its effort to improve the group chat experience across devices. As group conversations play a bigger role in daily life, the app is clearly aiming to make chats more organised, clearer, and more user-friendly.

In the infinite world of Technological updates and features, a new technology is being developed by Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) broadcast technology, it will allow television and multimedia content to be sent directly to mobile phones without using mobile data or cellular networks. Instead of relying on 4G or 5G, D2M will work like traditional TV broadcasting, enabling users to watch live channels even without an internet connection. With this technology, it is expected to be useful during emergencies, reduce network congestion, and expand access to free-to-air public broadcasts. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source

WhatsApp Update: In its latest announcement, the widely used messaging platform WhatsApp has introduced a set of new features focused on improving interaction and organisation in group chats. WhatsApp said the updates aim to help users communicate more clearly and manage group conversations more easily. One of the key updates is the introduction of member tags. This feature allows users to add a short label to their name within a group, explaining their role or identity in that specific chat. These tags are customisable for each group. WhatsApp said that member tags are designed to give context, especially in large or active groups where participants may not know each other well. The company added that the feature is being rolled out gradually to users. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source

Seoul: Samsung Electronics on Thursday reported a record-breaking operating profit for the fourth quarter, touching the 20 trillion-won ($13.8 billion) mark for the first time, driven by a supercycle in the chip industry. The fourth-quarter operating profit marked a more than 200 percent rise from a year earlier, the company said in a preliminary earnings report. If confirmed, it would mark the first time for the company’s quarterly earnings to reach the 20 trillion-won level, reports Yonhap news agency. Sales increased 22.7 percent to 93 trillion won. It was also the first time for the quarterly sales to surpass the 90 trillion-won mark. The data for net profit was not available. The operating profit was 1.8 percent higher than the average estimate, according to a survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. Samsung Electronics did not disclose a detailed earnings breakdown for its individual business divisions. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source The company will release its final earnings report later this month. Analysts said the increased earnings apparently came amid improved profitability at the Device Solutions (DS) division, which covers the company’s core semiconductor business. According to Korea Investment & Securities Co., global prices of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and NAND flash jumped about 40 percent in the fourth quarter from the previous three-month period. Market observers estimate the operating profit of the DS division at around 16 trillion to 17 trillion won. The projection represents a sharp rise from just 7 trillion won posted in the third quarter. Analysts said Samsung’s non-memory business is also likely to have narrowed its operating losses, leading to an overall improvement in the division’s performance. Samsung’s mobile business is estimated to have posted an operating profit in the 2 trillion-won range, while the home appliance business likely suffered an operating loss of 100 billion won, according to market watchers. For the entire year of 2025, Samsung Electronics estimated its annual operating earnings at 43.53 trillion won, up 33 percent from a year earlier. Annual sales increased 10.6 percent to 332.77 trillion won. Data for net profit was not available as well. For 2026, analysts said Samsung Electronics is anticipated to maintain its robust performance, backed by its expanded high bandwidth memory (HBM) capacity. “This year, Samsung Electronics is expected to post an annual operating profit of 123 trillion won, driven by a sharp rise in DRAM prices and increased HBM shipments,” said Kim Dong-won, a researcher at KB Securities Co.

Oppo Reno15 Series: Oppo India has launched its premium Reno15 Series with three models: Reno15 Pro, Reno15 Pro Mini, and Reno15. The new phones feature advanced cameras, smart AI features, and sleek designs inspired by nature. The standout feature is the first-ever HoloFusion Technology with compact, durable builds. Both Reno15 Pro and Pro Mini offer a powerful 200MP main camera paired with a 50MP 3.5x optical zoom lens, offering up to 120x digital zoom. These are enhanced by PureTone Imaging Technology and latest AI photo editing tools. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source

The spacebar is the longest and most noticeable key on a laptop or computer keyboard. While it may seem like a simple design, experts say practical and historical reasons explain its large size. Typing spaces between words is one of the most frequent actions when writing. Studies on typing patterns show that the spacebar is pressed more often than any other key. Making it larger increases the chance of hitting it correctly without looking at the keyboard, helping users type faster and more comfortably. Easy Access for Both Thumbs Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Unlike most keys, the spacebar is designed to be pressed using either thumb. A wider key allows both left- and right-handed users to access it easily. Since thumbs rest naturally near the bottom of the keyboard, a large spacebar improves typing flow during long hours of use, as there is only one spacebar key on the keyboard. Roots in Typewriter History The large spacebar dates back to mechanical typewriters. Early typewriters required more force to give space between characters. A bigger bar made it easier to press and ensured proper spacing between words. When computer keyboards replaced typewriters, the familiar layout was largely retained to help users adapt quickly. (Also Read: Is Your Phone Spying On You And Recording Your Private Conversations? Here’s The FACT CHECK) Improves Typing Accuracy A smaller spacebar would increase errors, especially for fast typists. Missing a space can make text harder to read and require frequent corrections. The large size helps reduce mistakes, improving overall typing accuracy and efficiency. Supports Keyboard Balance and Design The spacebar also plays a role in keyboard structure. It sits across multiple support points and ensures the key is pressed evenly when hit from different angles. This design prevents wobbling and improves durability, especially on laptops where keys are compact. Even with the rise of touchscreen devices and voice typing, keyboards remain essential for work and communication. Laptop manufacturers continue to prioritise the spacebar’s size because it suits both casual users and professionals. Extra Functions of Spacebar Like other large keys such as Enter or Shift, the spacebar also performs more than one task. It is used for media control, pausing and resuming video or music playback in many media programs, and navigation, such as paging down in web browsers. In short, the spacebar’s large size evolved from history and efficiency. Its design helps users type faster with fewer errors, making it a key part of modern computing.

Elon Musk’s xAI Funding Round: Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, has announced that it has secured $20 billion in fresh funding. Big names such as Nvidia, Valor Equity Partners, and the Qatar Investment Authority are among the investors. The Series E funding round crossed the company’s original $15 billion target. The money will be used to expand computing infrastructure and set up some of the world’s largest GPU clusters. However, the company did not reveal how much money each investor put in or whether the funds came as debt or equity. Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI also mentioned that the funding round saw participation from other firms, including StepStone Group, Fidelity Management & Research, MGX, Baron Capital Group, and Cisco Systems’ investment arm. xAI Planned For Roughly $7.5 Billion Of Equity Add Zee News as a Preferred Source xAI had earlier planned to raise about $7.5 billion through equity and up to $12.5 billion in debt to buy Nvidia processors. The debt was to be placed in a special purpose vehicle, with the chips rented out for five years so investors could recover their money, according to reports. The AI startup said the new funding will help it expand its infrastructure, speed up the development and rollout of AI products for billions of users, and support research linked to its goal of “understanding the universe.” Reports also said xAI has already raised around $10 billion in equity and debt in 2025 but has been spending nearly $1 billion every month. Elon Musk earlier confirmed that the company is expanding its data centre capacity in Memphis to nearly 2 gigawatts. https://t.co/RzNuclNfsR — xAI (@xai) January 6, 2026 World’s Largest Data Centre For AI Training One gigawatt of power is enough to supply electricity to around 7,50,000 homes in the US. Musk has earlier spoken about plans to build the world’s largest data centre for AI training. He had said that Colossus 2 would eventually use about 5,50,000 Nvidia chips, a project expected to cost tens of billions of dollars. (Also Read: Realme Pad 3 Launched In India With MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Chipset; Check Display, Camera, Battery, Price And Other Specs) Meanwhile, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) took action against X Corp, accusing the platform of failing to stop the creation and spread of obscene, nude, and indecent content. The government on Friday directed X Corp to send an action taken report (ATR) “towards immediate compliance for prevention of hosting, generation, publication or transmission, sharing or uploading of obscene, nude, indecent and explicit content through the misuse of Al-based services like ‘Grok’ and xAl’s other services”. X Corp said that it continues to take action against illegal content on its social media platform, including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), and is working with local governments and law enforcement agencies. (With IANS Input)

Realme Pad 3 Price In India: Chinese smartphone manufacturer Realme has expanded its product lineup with the launch of Realme Pad 3 Android tablet in India. The tablet comes with AI productivity tools such as AI Recording Summary, Circle to Search, and AI-assisted note refinement. It is offered in three storage variants, including 8GB + 128GB Wi-Fi, 8GB + 128GB 5G, and 8GB + 256GB 5G. The tablet runs on the Android 16 operating system, topped with Realme UI 7.0. On the software front, Realme has equipped the Pad 3 with AI tools aimed at students and professionals. Notably, the last tablet launched by the brand was the Realme Pad 2 Lite in September 2024. Realme Pad 3 Specifications Add Zee News as a Preferred Source The tablet comes with an 11.61-inch LCD display offering a sharp 2800×2000 pixel resolution, a smooth 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and up to 550 nits of peak brightness. It is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM for reliable performance. The tablet packs quad speakers that deliver a full and immersive audio experience for movies, gaming, and online classes. It is backed by a massive 12,200mAh battery with 45W fast charging support. Designed for smart learning and everyday productivity, the #realmePad3 starts at ₹24,999* First Sale on 16th Jan, 12 PM *T&C Apply pic.twitter.com/vMBdIorg6v — realme (@realmeIndia) January 6, 2026 On the photography front, the Realme Pad 3 features an 8MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera, along with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security. Weighing 578 grams, the tablet isn’t particularly light, but it feels well-balanced when held in hand. (Also Read: Realme 16 Pro+, Realme 16 Pro Launched In India With 200-Megapixel Camera; Check Display, Battery, Sale Date, Price And Other Specs) Realme Pad 3 Price In India And Availability The tablet is priced at Rs 26,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage Wi-Fi variant, while the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage 5G model costs Rs 29,999. The top-end 8GB RAM and 256GB storage 5G variant is priced at Rs 31,999. Consumers can also avail bank offers worth up to Rs 2,000. The tablet will go on sale starting January 16 at 12 PM through Realme’s official website, Flipkart, and offline retail stores across the country. 

7 Agentic AI Trends to Watch in 2026Image by Author The agentic AI field is moving from experimental prototypes to production-ready autonomous systems. Industry analysts project the market will surge from $7.8 billion today to over \$52 billion by 2030, while Gartner predicts that 40% of enterprise applications will embed AI agents by the end of 2026, up from less than 5% in 2025. This growth isn’t only about deploying more agents. It’s about different architectures, protocols, and business models that are reshaping how we build and deploy AI systems. For machine learning practitioners and technical leaders, 2026 is an inflection point where early architectural decisions will determine which organizations successfully scale agentic systems and which get stuck in perpetual pilot purgatory. This article explores the trends that will define this year, from the maturation of foundational design patterns to emerging governance frameworks and new business ecosystems built around autonomous agents. The Foundation — Essential Concepts Shaping Agentic AI Before we explore emerging trends, you’ll want to understand the foundational concepts that underpin all advanced agentic systems. We have published comprehensive guides covering these building blocks: These resources provide the essential knowledge base that every machine learning practitioner needs before tackling the advanced trends explored below. If you’re new to agentic AI or want to strengthen your fundamentals, we recommend reviewing these articles first. They establish the common language and core concepts that the following trends build upon. Think of them as prerequisite courses before advancing to the cutting edge of what’s emerging in 2026. Seven Emerging Trends Defining 2026 1. Multi-Agent Orchestration: The “Microservices Moment” for AI The agentic AI field is going through its microservices revolution. Just as monolithic applications gave way to distributed service architectures, single all-purpose agents are being replaced by orchestrated teams of specialized agents. Gartner reported a staggering 1,445% surge in multi-agent system inquiries from Q1 2024 to Q2 2025, signaling a shift in how systems are designed. Rather than deploying one large LLM to handle everything, leading organizations are implementing “puppeteer” orchestrators that coordinate specialist agents. A researcher agent gathers information, a coder agent implements solutions, an analyst agent validates results. This pattern mirrors how human teams operate, with each agent fine-tuned for specific capabilities rather than being a jack-of-all-trades. Here’s where things get interesting from an engineering perspective: inter-agent communication protocols, state management across agent boundaries, conflict resolution mechanisms, and orchestration logic become core challenges that didn’t exist in single-agent systems. You’re building distributed systems, but with AI agents instead of microservices. 2. Protocol Standardization: MCP and A2A Creating the Agent Internet Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Google’s Agent-to-Agent Protocol (A2A) are establishing the HTTP-equivalent standards for agentic AI. These foundational protocols enable interoperability and composability. MCP, which saw broad adoption throughout 2025, standardizes how agents connect to external tools, databases, and APIs. This transforms what was previously custom integration work into plug-and-play connectivity. A2A goes further, defining how agents from different vendors and platforms communicate with each other. This enables cross-platform agent collaboration that wasn’t possible before. The impact parallels the early web: just as HTTP enabled any browser to access any server, these protocols enable any agent to use any tool or collaborate with any other agent. For practitioners, this means shifting from building monolithic, proprietary agent systems to composing agents from standardized components. The economic implications are equally significant. A marketplace of interoperable agent tools and services becomes viable, much like the API economy that emerged after web services standardization. 3. The Enterprise Scaling Gap: From Experimentation to Production While nearly two-thirds of organizations are experimenting with AI agents, fewer than one in four have successfully scaled them to production. This gap is 2026’s central business challenge. McKinsey research reveals that high-performing organizations are three times more likely to scale agents than their peers, but success requires more than just technical excellence. The key differentiator isn’t the sophistication of the AI models. It’s the willingness to redesign workflows rather than simply layering agents onto legacy processes. Top deployment areas include: IT operations and knowledge management Customer service automation Software engineering assistance Supply chain optimization However, organizations that treat agents as productivity add-ons rather than transformation drivers consistently fail to scale. The successful pattern involves identifying high-value processes, redesigning them with agent-first thinking, establishing clear success metrics, and building organizational muscle for continuous agent improvement. This isn’t a technology problem. It’s a change management challenge that will separate leaders from laggards in 2026. 4. Governance and Security as Competitive Differentiators Here’s a paradox: most Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) express deep concern about AI agent risks, yet only a handful have implemented mature safeguards. Organizations are deploying agents faster than they can secure them. This governance gap is creating competitive advantage for organizations that solve it first. The challenge stems from agents’ autonomy. Unlike traditional software that executes predefined logic, agents make runtime decisions, access sensitive data, and take actions with real business consequences. Leading organizations are implementing “bounded autonomy” architectures with clear operational limits, escalation paths to humans for high-stakes decisions, and comprehensive audit trails of agent actions. More sophisticated approaches include deploying “governance agents” that monitor other AI systems for policy violations and “security agents” that detect anomalous agent behavior. The shift happening in 2026 is from viewing governance as compliance overhead to recognizing it as an enabler. Mature governance frameworks increase organizational confidence to deploy agents in higher-value scenarios, creating a virtuous cycle of trust and capability expansion. 5. Human-in-the-Loop Evolving from Limitation to Strategic Architecture The narrative around human-in-the-loop (HITL) is shifting. Rather than viewing human oversight as acknowledging AI limitations, leading organizations are designing “Enterprise Agentic Automation” that combines dynamic AI execution with deterministic guardrails and human judgment at key decision points. Here’s the insight driving this trend: full automation isn’t always the optimal goal. Hybrid human-agent systems often produce better outcomes than either alone, especially for decisions with significant business, ethical, or safety consequences. Effective HITL architectures are moving beyond simple approval