NEWS YOU CAN’T MISS

AI Could End a 9,000-Year-Old Disease

AI is stepping in to fight one of the world’s oldest, most deadliest diseases: tuberculosis (TB).

TB is a bacterial infection that attacks the lungs and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs - it claims about 3,500 lives every day. It’s most common in poorer countries, where diagnosis is slow and difficult.

Traditionally, doctors rely on sputum tests - patients cough up mucus that is sent to a lab for analysis. These labs are few, so results can take weeks - there’s also a critical shortage of radiologists, the doctors who read chest x-rays.

Now, this process is changing:

• Across Africa and Asia, small, mobile x-ray machines powered by AI are transforming TB detection.

• A health worker can roll one of these machines into a remote village, take an x-ray, and within seconds, produce a diagnosis.

• No radiologist needs to be on-site, and the machines can even run on battery packs in places without electricity.

The results have been positive: In Mali, one program using AI-powered x-rays cut unnecessary lab tests by 50%. In Nigeria and Chad, AI screenings are catching TB cases that doctors would have missed entirely.

One of the leaders behind this shift is India-based Qure.ai, whose AI tools are now used in over 100 countries. Their AI helps doctors detect up to 40% more TB cases than traditional methods, while being almost 20% cheaper.

Trust a Ring With Your Thoughts?

Good news for everyone who’s like me and talks to themselves a lot. 😎

A new US startup called Sandbar has released the “Stream Ring”: a smart ring you can whisper your thoughts into.

Here’s how it works: lift your hand, talk to the ring, and it uses AI to turn your words into neat notes on your phone. It can even talk back to you in your own voice (a little creepy, right? 😬). The idea is to help you capture all those random thoughts, ideas, and to-dos - the ones that usually vanish somewhere between the commute and the shower.

Some people see it as the most practical use of an AI companion yet, but others aren’t convinced their thoughts would stay private. Would you use it?

Meet Roshni Malhotra, Chairperson of HCL Technologies

Celebrating this week’s Woman in Tech 🥳: Meet Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCL Technologies - one of India’s largest and most powerful tech companies, with a valuation of almost $50B.

When she became chairperson in 2020, she made history as the first woman to lead a listed IT company in India. Today, she’s also India’s richest woman, with a net worth of more than $40B.

Born in India, Roshni studied Communications at Northwestern University and earned her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. She began her career in media, producing stories for CNN America and Sky News UK.

After joining HCL Corporation in 2008, Roshni rose quickly through the ranks. She played a central role in expanding its presence in North America, while strengthening its focus on AI and digital consulting. Under her leadership, HCL surpassed $12B in revenue and deepened its partnerships with Fortune 500 clients.

Her vision extends beyond the boardroom: Roshni has helped build world-class universities and schools that provide free education to talented students from rural India. In 2018, she founded The Habitats Trust, dedicated to protecting India’s endangered species and natural habitats.

At 44, Roshni Nadar Malhotra has become one of India’s most influential business leaders, steering a global tech giant while channeling its success into education and environmental change.

AI Around the World

In the US and Europe, intelligence officials warn that foreign spies are using dating apps and fake profiles to approach tech workers in attempts to steal sensitive company or government data. Investigators say some agents build long-term personal relationships to gain trust before trying to access private networks or confidential information.

In Sweden, the police may soon be allowed to use AI images of child abuse to catch predators online. The new proposal would let officers pose as minors or share fake AI material to infiltrate secret forums. The government says it’s vital for tackling digital crimes, but critics feel it crosses an ethical line. The law could take effect in 2027.