Gaming
NBA takes a shot at AI with AWS as its official cloud partner
MUMBAI: From slam dunks to cloud chunks, basketball is getting a digital makeover. The National Basketball Association (NBA) has inked a multi-year deal with Amazon Web Services (AWS), making the tech giant its official cloud and cloud AI partner across the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, Basketball Africa League and NBA 2K League.
The partnership will tip off with the launch of NBA Inside the Game powered by AWS, a basketball intelligence platform designed to crunch billions of data points and spin them into real-time insights, snappy stats and interactive fan experiences. Think play-by-play breakdowns, AI-driven analysis, and content that takes fans closer to the action than ever before whether on the NBA App, NBA.com, or social channels.
“Partnering with AWS provides us with an opportunity to elevate the live game experience through innovation and offer fans a deeper understanding of the game of basketball for years to come,” said NBA executive vice president and head of media operations and technology Ken DeGennaro. “AWS has a proven track record of delivering unique statistical insights and offering transformative experiences that will resonate with NBA fans around the world.”
For AWS, it’s a chance to show off how its AI infrastructure and cloud firepower can change the game. “At AWS, we’re excited by the NBA’s vision to push the boundaries of what’s possible in sports. This partnership will showcase how cloud and AI can reimagine the game of basketball from generating new insights to creating experiences that bring fans closer to the game they love,” said AWS vice president of professional services & agentic AI, Francessca Vasquez.
The deal not only strengthens AWS’s growing sports tech portfolio but also positions the NBA as a pioneer in using AI and cloud-driven storytelling to keep fans dunking into data and drama. With this courtship, the game won’t just be played on hardwood—it’ll be streamed, simulated, and supercharged in the cloud.
Gaming
IICT signs three MoUs to boost AVGC-XR and esports
Partnerships with Zenfluencers, Yologram and Eruditio at Chennai Gaming Show 2026 strengthen education, XR innovation and nationwide talent outreach.
MUMBAI: IICT has just levelled up the game in a big way. The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies signed three strategic Memorandums of Understanding on 17 April 2026 at the CII Summit FX – India Gaming Show in Chennai, forging alliances with The Zenfluencers, Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. and Eruditio Consultants to accelerate India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem.
The tie-ups combine IICT’s strengths in education, skilling and research with specialist expertise across esports, immersive technologies and large-scale outreach.
- With The Zenfluencers, IICT will roll out globally benchmarked esports programmes, including joint certification courses, industry workshops, tournaments and masterclasses, creating clear career pathways across the full esports value chain.
- The partnership with Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. focuses on gaming, immersive storytelling and extended reality (XR), delivering industry-aligned curriculum, faculty mentorship, student showcases and collaborative research in immersive AI and virtual production.
- Collaboration with Eruditio Consultants targets awareness, accessibility and career alignment, with nationwide counsellor training, institutional engagement and structured guidance frameworks to reach students beyond Tier-1 cities.
IICT CEO Vishwas Deoskar said, “As the AVGC-XR sector evolves at a rapid pace, strong collaborations between industry and academia are essential. These partnerships will create meaningful impact across education, innovation and outreach.”
Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. founder Aditya Mani added, “AI-driven creator worlds are transforming games into engines of culture, commerce and careers. Together we aim to empower a generation to build immersive futures.”
Eruditio Consultants founder Indrajit Ghosh noted, “This is not just about awareness, it is about building a structured ecosystem that connects aspiration with opportunity.”
The Zenfluencers CEO Atharva Gupta said, “This MoU is a big unlock moment for the esports ecosystem in India. We’re building a structured pipeline for talent across the full stack.”
By bringing together academia, industry leaders and ecosystem players, IICT is creating scalable models that blend cutting-edge skills with real-world relevance. In a sector racing toward the future, these three partnerships ensure India’s next generation of creative technologists won’t just keep up, they’ll set the pace.
