Bengaluru just hosted a masterclass in what the future of AI could look like — and it wasn’t just corporate talk. Samsung R&D Institute India-Bangalore wrapped up the second edition of Samsung ennovateX 2026, pulling together researchers, startups, and industry leaders under one roof to explore where artificial intelligence is really headed.
What Was Samsung’ ennovateX 2026 All About?
Centered on the theme “AI for Living,” the conference dug into how frontier AI is reshaping everyday interactions with technology. Over 300 technology and business leaders, researchers, and innovators gathered for keynotes, panel discussions, emerging-tech tutorials, and two flagship competitions — the AX Start-up Pitch and the AX Hackathon.
Mohan Rao, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director of SRI-B, framed it well in his opening remarks — the goal, he said, is building AI that feels personal, context-aware, and genuinely useful in daily life, not just impressive in a lab.
Big Names, Bigger Ideas
The event featured voices from across the AI ecosystem, including Google Asia Pacific’s Harsh Dhand, Tejas Networks CTO Dr. Kumar Sivarajan, and IISc Bengaluru’s Prof. Navkanta Bhat. The standout moment was the Grand Panel Discussion, “AI 2030: Possibilities and Challenges,” where investors and academics debated where responsible AI development is really going over the next decade.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Event | Samsung ennovateX 2026 |
| Organizer | Samsung R&D Institute India-Bangalore |
| Theme | “AI for Living” |
| Attendees | 300+ leaders, researchers, innovators |
| AX Start-up Pitch Winner | Camb.AI |
| AX Start-up Pitch Runner-up | H2Loop |
| AX Hackathon Winner | Students of VIT Vellore |
| AX Hackathon Runner-up | Students of NIT Rourkela |
Startups and Students Take the Spotlight
Innovation wasn’t just discussed — it was celebrated. Over 50 AI startups pitched their solutions at the AX Start-up Pitch, with Camb.AI taking the top spot and H2Loop finishing as runner-up. Meanwhile, the AX Hackathon put developers to the test, and students from VIT Vellore walked away as winners, with NIT Rourkela close behind.
Why This Matters for India’s AI Ecosystem
Events like ennovateX reinforce India’s growing role as a serious player in deep-tech innovation. By connecting academia, startups, and industry veterans, Samsung is positioning Bengaluru as a genuine hub for AI research — not just consumption.
Artificial intelligence itself continues to evolve rapidly across industries — you can explore its foundational concepts on Wikipedia’s overview of AI via Wikipedia. For more coverage on emerging tech and innovation stories like this, check out TechnoSports.
