Leading Architects Deliberate Artificial Intelligence, Emerging Technologies & the Future of Architecture

CHANDIGARH, India, Aug. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Aimed at transforming industry–academia engagement from dialogue into tangible collaboration, the 4th International Conference on Trends in Architecture and Construction (ICTAC 2026) was inaugurated today at Chandigarh University, bringing leading architects, academicians, researchers, industry professionals and scholars onto a single platform to deliberate on the future of architecture and construction.

The conference set the stage for new industry partnerships, architecture and research consultancy, professional knowledge exchange and stronger industry exposure for future architects. Organised by the University Institute of Architecture (UIA), Chandigarh University, the two-day hybrid conference is being held on August 20 and 21, 2026 at Chandigarh University.

The inaugural day brought together eminent voices from the field of architectural education, research and professional practice, including Prof. Jayshree Deshpande, Director of the Council of Architecture – Training & Research Centre (COA-TRC) as Chief Guest, Yatin Pandya, Founder & Principal Architect, Footprints EARTH, Ahmedabad, Manmohan Khanna, Founder & Principal Architect, KMA Architecture and Chairman-IIA, Chandigarh Chapter as Guest of Honours, Prof. (Dr.) Vikas Rai Bhatnagar, Group Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr R Jagdeesh Kannan, Pro Vice Chancellor-Academic Affairs, Chandigarh University among other dignitaries.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Jayashree Deshpande, Director of the Council of Architecture – Training & Research Centre (COA-TRC) said, “AI and other emerging technologies are a blessing because they can help us to think and design better. Architecture today deals with projects which are immense in scale, and it is not possible for an architect to do everything single-handedly. We must therefore learn to collaborate with engineers, planners, policymakers, consultants and specialists and technology can enable us to work together more effectively.”

Deshpande added, “We are entering an extraordinary phase of technological change, with artificial intelligence, digital twins, generative design, robotics and data-driven planning transforming the way we conceive, design and construct our buildings and cities. But technology should remain a means and not become the mission. Technology must be used to improve the quality of human life, to create spaces, cities and communities that are stronger, more resilient, inclusive and connected. Technology is smart, but the human should be wiser. If we learn to use technology properly, we can create wise cities that are technologically advanced but emotionally connected. This is particularly important as we work towards the vision of Viksit Bharat. Our young professionals should engage with the various initiatives of the Government of India and utilize the opportunities available to contribute to the development of the country. Ultimately, our responsibility as architects is not simply to create iconic buildings, but to create places where people feel safe, included, inspired and at home. If technology can help us achieve that, then it has truly served society and contributed to the larger vision of a Viksit Bharat.”

Yatin Pandya, Founder & Principal Architect, Footprints EARTH, Ahmedabad said, “Architecture is not merely about buildings or forms; it is about the experience, emotion and impact we create. Trends may come and go, but what is truly appropriate and meaningful can remain timeless. As architects, we must observe, understand and foresee the implications of even the smallest design decisions, because our responsibility extends beyond an individual client to the larger community and the future of our planet.”

Manmohan Khanna, Founder & Principal Architect, KMA Architecture said, “Chandigarh University has the potential to become one of the leading institutions in the country and the world and the students here are fortunate to be part of that journey. Students are our future and together we must work towards building the finest professionals for the country.”

A key thrust of ICTAC 2026 is its emphasis on creating concrete mechanisms for sustained industry–academia engagement. The inaugural day also featured the opening of the Heritage Exhibition – ‘Pehchan 2.0’, placing India’s architectural heritage within the wider discourse on identity, conservation and contemporary architectural practice.

The programme further witnessed the unveiling of the ICTAC Inaugural Board and the release of the Abstract Book, followed by paper presentations. The research presentations provided scholars and participants with a platform to share emerging ideas, studies and perspectives in architecture and construction.

The second day of the conference will feature the Industry Colloquium, comprising plenary sessions and high-level panel discussions with distinguished experts from academia, government and industry. A major highlight will be the signing of an MoU between UIA and Walia Creative Architects, creating a formal avenue for closer engagement between academic and professional practice.

About Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.

Website address: https://www.cuchd.in/

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HONG KONG, GUANGZHOU and SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chinese mobility technology and service provider OnTime (9680.HK) announced its first-half 2026 financial results on August 19, achieving record highs in revenue, gross profit and order volume. The company posted a 156.3% jump in gross profit, topping RMB 500 million, with gross margin expanding to 12.4% and net losses narrowing 45.2% year-on-year. 

For the first half of 2026, OnTime generated revenue of RMB 4.035 billion, a 140.7% increase from the same period last year. Total orders rose 150.6% to 184 million, propelling daily orders past the one-million mark for the first time.

Beyond its core mobility services — which continued to deliver robust revenue growth — OnTime’s technology services segment saw revenue soar 274.4%, with a gross margin of 22.7%, reflecting strong momentum, improved profitability and a more favorable business mix. According to company disclosures, the tech services division expanded into embodied AI in the first half of 2026, a move expected to broaden the company’s prospects in AI and make the segment a key driver of future growth.

Revenue Doubles to RMB 4.035 Billion; Gross Profit Tops RMB 500 Million and Losses Narrow 45.2%

OnTime’s first-half revenue reached RMB 4.035 billion, with year-on-year growth accelerating sharply — up 79 percentage points from the same period in 2025.

The company said it has adopted AI tools and automation across its R&D and operational workflows to improve efficiency, with the benefits of operating leverage beginning to be reflected in its financial performance.

Gross profit surged 156.3% to RMB 501 million, outpacing revenue growth for the period. The company’s gross margin has improved consistently — climbing from 5.1% for full-year 2024 to 11.7% in the first half of 2025, and further to 12.4% in the first half of 2026. Meanwhile, net losses narrowed by 45.2% compared with a year earlier.

Mobility Services Orders Surge 150.6%; Robotaxi Expansion Accelerates

Mobility services and technology services are jointly driving the company’s revenue gains.

OnTime’s core mobility services — including both ride-hailing and Robotaxi — generated RMB 3.92 billion in first-half revenue, up 139.5% year-on-year. Growth was fueled by a 149.2% increase in gross transaction value to RMB 5.064 billion and a 150.6% jump in total orders to 184 million.

Daily orders reached 1.015 million, up 150.7% year-on-year — a critical industry milestone that places OnTime in the “million-daily-orders club,” a benchmark widely recognized as an indicator of scale in China’s ride-hailing market.

During the period, OnTime’s mobility services gross margin improved to 12.1%, driven primarily by greater scale and operational efficiencies that lowered per-order costs.

Robotaxi, a strategic priority for OnTime, has seen significant growth since the start of 2026. The company now operates more than 550 Robotaxi vehicles across key areas including Guangzhou’s Nansha and Science City districts, Shenzhen’s Bao’an and Nanshan districts, and the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone.

OnTime’s “Robotaxi+” industrial ecosystem continues to expand. In March, autonomous driving developer Pony.ai deployed its next-generation Robotaxi vehicles into OnTime’s fleet. In April, OnTime partnered with chipmaker Black Sesame Technologies to co-develop production-ready Robotaxi solutions alongside other ecosystem partners. Most recently in August, OnTime’s Robotaxi services were integrated into Alipay and Tencent’s mobility platforms, accelerating the development of a Robotaxi service network combining its own platform with third-party platforms.

AI-Powered Tech Services Revenue Tops RMB 100 Million; Gross Margin Hits 22.7%

OnTime’s technology services segment — which generates revenue primarily from AI-driven data solutions — surpassed RMB 100 million in first-half revenue for the first time, up 274.4% year-on-year, making it the company’s fastest-growing business line. The segment delivered a gross margin of 22.7%.

According to previously disclosed results, technology services revenue grew 175.8% year-on-year in H1 2024, 207.0% in H1 2025 and 274.4% in H1 2026, demonstrating a clear acceleration in the segment’s growth.

OnTime began building its AI data services business in 2023, leveraging real-world mobility scenarios captured from its ride-hailing platform to develop autonomous driving data solutions. The company offers end-to-end data services — from raw data collection to standardized dataset delivery — with data assets spanning perception data, behavioral data, synthetic data and multimodal training datasets.

According to company filings, OnTime is accelerating the commercialization of its technology services business. The filings also note that its AI data capabilities currently serve autonomous driving data needs and are now extending into emerging fields such as embodied AI and large model training.

In June 2026, OnTime launched a dedicated embodied AI data platform, formally expanding its service scope into this high-growth segment. A month later, the company listed its data assets on the Automotive Industry Trusted Data Space — a China-based data-sharing initiative — further establishing compliant, standardized channels for the exchange of data assets.

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SOURCE Ontime

What began as a solo AI experiment has grown into a team production system that turns diverse ideas into playable games faster.

SINGAPORE and LOS ANGELES, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Elseland today unveiled 20 new original games created with AI across every stage of production. The collection will join the growing catalog on Elseland’s open world game platform and spans match 3, puzzle, arcade, action, hypercasual and interactive narrative genres. It demonstrates how AI game development can help teams explore more ideas and move from concept to playable experience faster.

The titles mark an important step in Elseland’s evolution from a founder led experiment into a team operation built for continuous AI game production. By developing multiple genres in parallel, the team can test concepts earlier, refine gameplay faster and turn more original ideas into complete playable games.

From a Solo Experiment to an AI Game Production System

Elseland’s AI game development journey began in April, when founder Phil Liu started exploring how far one person could take the creation of a 3D open world with AI.

Over the following months, that individual experiment evolved into a team production system supported by specialized AI agents. Under the team’s creative direction, AI is used throughout visual creation, 3D modeling, gameplay logic, level design, balancing and narrative development.

The system allows the team to test concepts earlier, explore several creative directions at once and refine playable builds more efficiently. Instead of using AI for only one part of development, Elseland connects it across the full production process.

The 20 new games represent the clearest demonstration of this capability to date. They show how a single AI production framework can support different visual styles, gameplay systems and narrative formats.

Twenty New Games Across Multiple Genres

The collection highlights the range of games that Elseland can produce through its AI based workflow.

Match 3 and visual world building

Candy Kingdom takes players into a colorful 3D confectionery world created through AI assisted modeling. The game combines match 3 mechanics with storytelling, character skins and environmental exploration.

Spatial and logic puzzles

The collection includes 3D Sudoku and an animal themed sliding puzzle inspired by Klotski. Both games reinterpret familiar logic challenges through new visual styles and spatial interactions.

Social and casual experiences

Capybara Poker Lounge introduces a relaxed card game experience centered on playful characters, humor and a distinctive social setting.

Arcade, action and hypercasual games

The lineup also features runners, action titles and arcade experiences designed for immediate play, short sessions and replayability.

Interactive stories and role playing

A narrative game reverses the familiar cat and mouse chase by placing the mouse in pursuit of the cat. Another title explores AI powered tabletop role playing, allowing the adventure to develop in response to player choices.

Together, these titles show how AI can support not only faster production, but also broader creative experimentation across genres.

An Open World Universe Filled with Playable Experiences

Elseland is an open world game universe where players can explore, discover and instantly enter a growing variety of games.

Players can move through different environments, encounter minigames and switch between experiences whenever they choose. A visit to Elseland might begin with a puzzle, continue with an arcade challenge and lead into a story driven adventure.

By connecting different types of games within one universe, Elseland aims to make discovering a new experience part of the experience itself.

Over time, the platform also plans to introduce more opportunities for creators to test ideas, remix gameplay mechanics and build character driven worlds for others to explore.

The Next Step for Elseland

Following the release of these 20 new games, Elseland plans to introduce a larger AI powered 3D world connecting characters, minigames and explorable locations.

The environment will allow players to discover experiences through places, quests and encounters rather than selecting every game from a conventional menu. This will move Elseland closer to its long term vision of a continuously expanding universe shaped by new games, characters and stories.

“Elseland began with a simple question: how far can one person take game creation with AI?” said Phil Liu, founder of Elseland. “What started as a 3D open world experiment has grown into a team production system. AI helps us explore more ideas and shorten the distance between an idea and something people can actually play. It gives creators more freedom to focus on what makes a game original, engaging and fun.”

To explore Elseland and play the latest games, visit elseland.ai or follow Elseland on X at @Elselandai.

About Elseland

Elseland is an open world online game platform where players can explore, discover and instantly play free online games, minigames and interactive worlds. Its growing catalog spans puzzle, arcade, action, strategy, simulation and story games. Elseland also uses AI across game development to create new mechanics, characters and playable experiences more efficiently.

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SOURCE Elseland