Tesla launches Model Y in India at premium price, opens first showroom in Mumbai

Tesla has officially launched its Model Y electric SUV in India, pricing it at $69,766 (about ₹60 lakh)— significantly higher than in key global markets due to India’s import duties. The vehicles will be imported from China, with retail sales beginning at a new showroom in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex.

Balthazar raises €1.85 million to launch the first AI-powered operating system for deep tech R&D labs

Amsterdam-based startup Balthazar has raised €1.85 million to develop an AI-powered operating system tailored for deep tech research labs. The platform will automate experiment tracking, data collection, and workflow management, aiming to improve reproducibility and accelerate hardware and scientific innovation.

Agility’s Digit humanoid lands first official job in logistics

Agility Robotics has recently entered a multi-year partnership with GXO Logistics to deploy its Digit humanoid robot in warehouse operations. This marks one of the first commercial jobs for a humanoid robot, signaling a major step forward in real-world deployment of robotics in logistics and supply chain management.

Together invests $2.6 million to propel Gibran’s ‘scale free’ AI

Together, the VC firm founded by software entrepreneurs Girish Mathrubootham and Manav Garg, has led a $2.6 million seed investment in Gibran, an AI research startup building adaptive, nature-inspired AI systems, particularly a class of software that have what are known as ‘scale free’ characteristics. The funding, will help Gibran to expand its research team, accelerate platform development, and surface early applications in domains such as drug discovery and education.

Gibran’s technology aims to go beyond traditional automation by designing AI that evolves, learns, and collaborates creatively with humans rather than simply replacing them. The venture was founded just this year by Govind Balakrishnan, Srikant Chakravarti, Suzanne Sadedin, and Edgar Duéñez-Guzmán.

Based in Bengaluru and the US, Gibran is developing what it describes as “scale-free” AI architectures inspired by biological and natural systems. The platform is designed to continuously learn from users, acting as a lifelong creative collaborator — whether in science, design, or education — rather than operating as a static, task-based tool.

Together Fund’s investment will fund research into new models that can adapt and evolve with their users, supporting Gibran’s expansion into areas where labeled data is scarce and creative or scientific discovery is critical. Gibran aims to shape next-generation AI systems that prioritize human flourishing, creativity, and ethical autonomy as they grow from concept to real-world impact.

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For today's episode of The Climate on Monday, I thought I’d bring you a brief conversation with some of the key people at The Sustainability Mafia, or SusMafia, about their upcoming SusCrunch 2025 event for anyone who’s a stakeholder in India’s efforts to hit net zero.

Joining me on this episode are three dynamic leaders from SusMafia — Anirudh Gupta, Saksham Bansal, and Rajat Kukreja — to discuss SusCrunch 2025, a climate collaborative summit, happening in Bengaluru.

SusCrunch 2025, organized by SusMafia, is envisioned as more than just another conference. It’s a founder-led gathering designed to accelerate climate solutions by connecting some 400 decision-makers—founders, investors, corporates, and ecosystem leaders — in an action-focused, no-panels, all-collaboration format.

Hosted at the Bangalore Creative Circus, on the 19th, the event promises a blend of hands-on sessions, giving-oriented networking, and the launch of the India Climate Opportunity Map, a resource spotlighting 25 high-potential startup white spaces rooted in real market gaps and founder insights.

Whether you’re a climate entrepreneur, investor, or simply passionate about sustainable innovation, this episode offers a glimpse into the conversations and collaborations shaping the future of climate tech in India.

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Robot performs first realistic gallbladder surgery autonomously

A Johns Hopkins University team has developed a robot that autonomously completed a complex phase of gallbladder removal with 100 percent accuracy.

Trained on surgical videos and powered by advanced machine learning, the SRT-H robot adapted in real time to unpredictable scenarios, responded to voice commands, and made surgical decisions like a human trainee.

Quantum machine learning enhances semiconductor manufacturing

Australian researchers at CSIRO have, for the first time, applied quantum machine learning (QML) to semiconductor fabrication, improving the modeling of Ohmic contact resistance—a critical factor in chip performance.

Their Quantum Kernel-Aligned Regressor (QKAR) outperformed classical machine learning on small, complex datasets, suggesting QML could reduce manufacturing costs and improve device quality as quantum technologies mature, potentially revolutionizing the semiconductor industry.

EU SUPREME consortium to industrialize superconducting quantum chips

The EU-backed SUPREME project, coordinated by Finland’s VTT, will industrialize superconducting quantum chip fabrication over six years. Bringing together 23 partners from eight EU countries, the consortium will develop stable, high-yield processes and validate core technologies like Josephson junctions and 3D qubit integration.

Transmutation offers promise, hurdles for nuclear waste reprocessing

A process called partitioning and transmutation (P&T) could convert long-lived radioactive waste into shorter-lived or stable elements, reducing nuclear waste hazards, IEEE Spectrum reports. The process involves separating transuranic elements and bombarding them with neutrons in special reactors. However, industrial-scale transmutation remains decades away due to technical, economic, and regulatory challenges.

MIT develops ultra-efficient 5G chip for IoT expansion

MIT researchers have created a new, ultra-efficient 5G receiver chip that could significantly expand the reach of the Internet of Things (IoT). The chip uses a novel capacitor network for passive filtering, drastically reducing power consumption and improving resistance to interference.

Its compact design enables low-cost, low-power IoT devices to connect over 5G networks, paving the way for widespread deployment in health monitors, smart cameras, and industrial sensors.

Indonesian startup captures coolants to fight global warming

Recoolit, an Indonesian climate startup, tackles the overlooked issue of refrigerant emissions — super-pollutants far more potent than CO₂ — by capturing and destroying AC and fridge coolants.

Technicians are incentivized to recover and send these gases for safe destruction, with Recoolit selling carbon credits based on verified destruction. The company partners with Google to scale operations, addressing a growing climate threat as demand for cooling rises in developing countries.

Skleo Health raises €3M to expand rapid eye screenings in Germany

Skleo Health, a German healthtech startup, has secured €3 million to scale its AI-driven, six-minute eye screening service nationwide. The technology provides fast, accessible eye health assessments, aiming to detect diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy early. The funding will help expand the screening network across clinics and pharmacies, improving preventative care and reducing strain on ophthalmology specialists in Germany.

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