When celebrated entrepreneurs like Dilip Piramal make a shocking choice to sell their decades-long legacy, what does that narrative reveal for Indian-run family businesses?

For the most part, it spotlights the hidden challenges of automatically assuming the family throne. While traditionally, Indian family founders have had the outdated view that their kids would one day take over the business, modern times now suggest otherwise, arguing that resorting to the next generation is a risky move. That’s why for one expert, he believes in the power of intentional succession planning to sustain the business instead.

“Succession is not inheritance; it’s a strategic choice that shapes the future of an enterprise. Preserving legacy isn’t about keeping a surname at the helm—it’s about choosing leaders best equipped to drive progress. Competence over convention is the only way to ensure resilience in the face of generational change,” Ankit Shrivasta said, Founder & Managing Partner of Enventure, a U.S.–India private equity firm supporting founder-led businesses in generational planning.

Piramal is the chairman of the renowned luggage company, VIP Industries, but recently announced his decision to sell 32% stake to private investors completely separate from the family tree. Leaving a reputable brand behind, Piramal’s instance is a common trend too often seen amongst everyday Indian families.

Yet, Piramal’s instance in mind, what is the obsession with presumed jobs in typical Indian households?

For a long time, Indian family culture has involved high parental expectations, where kids were raised on the idea that a well-rounded education is nonnegotiable and perfectionism is the only way to a stable life. As part of the Asian values, the younger generation has been required to fulfill familial responsibilities with a strong discipline at the forefront.

That same concept is most prominent in families who own businesses, given there is an unspoken rule that kids born into the company should be the next natural successor to lead the way. In taking ownership, the kids will inevitably succeed in life and thus, meet the longtime parental beliefs.

But as expert Shrivastava explains, kids are no longer prepared nor willing to take reign, and it is time to shift to a more purposeful business mindset. With a thoughtful succession plan, business owners will ultimately find long-term stability without compromising their vision or identity.

On the other hand, there are negative implications when owners only look from within.

“When the next generation lacks interest or preparation, defaulting to tradition can lead to stalled growth, governance gaps, and lost market value,” Shrivastava explained.

Furthermore, the desire to pursue untraditional careers is growing amongst the Indian community. Famous actors like Priyanka Chopra and Karan Brar are real-time examples, who both exemplify that success can be achieved through the arts or other fields, rather than through conventional industries like medicine, or in this case—the entrepreneurial sector. As a result, ambition is no longer limited to corporate life nor family ties.

And in the case of Piramal, he highlights too well what happens when a family entity is dependent on the next in line. As a father himself, he was suddenly forced into a bold decision after his daughters expressed reluctance in taking the torch.

The hard truth of it is, legacy is not defined by blood, and Indian family dynamics are quickly becoming a harmful mentality for business owners. Even in the strongest dynasties, a downfall soon awaits if there is no proper succession plan in place.

For all those Indian family business founders, how will you take your business to the next step? Are you in the majority expecting your kid to take ownership? Do you have a succession plan inclusive of all potential successors? These are the important questions that will determine what the future of your dream ultimately holds.

Photo: Ben Rossett

A new capability within ChatGPT is quietly entering the market. It’s called ChatGPT Agent, and it’s here to stay. But fret not—here is everything you need to know about it, and what you can expect in this new wave of technology.

Have you ever wanted someone else to book your appointments for you? Or handle creating your work presentation from start to finish? How about someone to code your company’s website? If so, that is where OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT Agent comes in—a new AI feature launched earlier this July. Designed to act as a personal assistant, this latest invention is intended to not just assist and respond to text, but complete far more complex, human-dependent tasks.

“This isn't just another chatbot. It's an AI that takes real actions. It can book flights with your credit card. It can read your confidential files and make decisions without asking permission,” CEO of Iterate.ai, Jon Nordmark explained.

The one-of-a-kind agent is regarded as a convenient resource that takes artificial intelligence to an entire new level. While its counterpart ChatGPT provides solely text-based interactions, the agent model goes far beyond this skillset by performing tasks autonomously. With its ability to leverage the web and analyze personal data, ChatGPT Agent can handle multi-step projects based on the elaborate requests initially handed to them.

While both innovative and forward-looking for the AI industry, experts urgently warn about the broader implications ChatGPT Agent will pose for businesses and individuals consuming the new system. 

Like Nordmarks argues, a link to deeply private information is one factor that will become everyone’s risk.

“This may sound extreme, but if your calendar shows a 3PM break, your location pings near a Starbucks, and your expense log shows a $4.25 charge, the agent puts it together. When agents get access to calendars, messages, receipts, apps, and location history, they don’t see you sipping—they infer it with startling precision,” he advised.

Regardless, for businesses that heavily depend on AI to ease workflow, the agent could be the next biggest advantage for garnering operational success. Features like its detailed research skills, analytical mindset, and access into files make it undeniably hard to not partake.

Still, the concerns are heavy, and as businesses proceed, adopting the agent must come with utmost caution.

“As leaders, we need to think twice before encouraging employees to use memory-hoarding agents—ones that act without human judgment—inside shared-cloud environments,” Nordmark added.

Much more than the privacy uncertainties, questions around the agent’s accuracy are also circling many. Given the tool can take on concrete actions on behalf of its user, results can likely lead to irreversible consequences, such as accidental deleting of important files, overpurchasing items, or emailing the wrong person.

At the same time, folks who actively use the agent are vulnerable to manipulation. For instance, malicious actors could disrupt the system with an unintended prompt, making it easy for the agent to work against the user’s request.

Looking ahead, the widespread demand for large language models like ChatGPT Agent is only rising. And in a world where autonomy is soon to be challenged and authentic effort starts to diminish, overall society can expect a number of losses far beyond the obvious, such as a weakened job market and a lack of human dignity.

If the goal is to alleviate work for people, perhaps ChatGPT Agent is the answer. But if the goal is to advance business with sincerity, maybe the solution lies in a shift in mindset, where labor begins with responsible action and trustful collaboration.

To put it simply, ChatGPT Agent has rightful and meaningful intentions. But as the newest capability begins to roll out, businesses and its partners must remain vigilant during a time when modern technology is at a harmful rate. 

The time to choose is now. Will you follow it or opt for integrity?

Photo: Zac Wolff

Oxford-based electric vehicle specialist  Everrati has revealed a new version of the Porsche 911 (964), rebuilt as a high-performance electric car. The car keeps the wide body style of the original 1990s model but replaces the petrol engine with a modern electric powertrain that produces 500 brake horsepower and 500Nm of torque.

The car can accelerate from 0 to 62 miles per hour in under four seconds and has a driving range of more than 150 miles on a single charge. Despite the addition of electric components, it is lighter than the original thanks to the use of carbon fibre for the body panels. This helps maintain the performance and handling characteristics that have long defined the classic 911.

Everrati is one of a growing number of companies working to reimagine historic vehicles for the electric age. These projects combine classic design with zero-emission technology, responding to shifting attitudes among car enthusiasts and regulators alike. As more cities consider restrictions on combustion engines and concerns about sustainability continue to rise, electric transformations are being seen as a viable way to extend the lifespan of vintage cars.

Rather than restoring these cars simply for display or investment, Everrati aims to keep them on the road. Justin Lunny, the company’s founder and CEO, explains the motivation: “We believe that it is the very DNA of a car that makes it iconic and that such cars must be preserved for future generations – not be placed in a museum, but to drive.” His comments speak to a broader movement in the collector and enthusiast world, where preserving a vehicle's emotional and cultural value now includes consideration of its environmental footprint.

Electrifying classics also challenges the traditional view of what it means to own a heritage car. Where authenticity once focused on matching numbers and original engines, a new standard is emerging: one that values driving experience, innovation, and relevance. For some enthusiasts, the engine note of a flat-six Porsche is irreplaceable. For others, the chance to drive a classic in a cleaner, quieter, and more efficient way is equally compelling.

The transformation from petrol to electric involves more than just swapping out the engine. It requires sophisticated engineering, careful calibration of performance characteristics, and attention to the original vehicle's balance and handling. Everrati’s team brings together experience from mainstream car manufacturing, motorsport, aerospace, and EV technology to meet these challenges.

The use of advanced materials such as carbon fibre plays a key role in managing the trade-offs that come with battery-powered transformations. Batteries tend to add significant weight, which can affect both acceleration and handling. By replacing steel panels with lighter composites, the company helps offset this weight gain and keep the car agile and responsive.

The market for electrified classics remains niche for now, with high costs putting many transformations beyond the reach of average drivers. However, as electric technology becomes more affordable and accessible, and as attitudes toward sustainability continue to shift, the ideas behind projects like Everrati’s may influence mainstream automotive production. Manufacturers are already exploring modular vehicle platforms that can support upgrades and longer lifespans, moving away from the traditional model of disposable cars.

Electric restomods also encourage a new way of thinking about vehicle ownership. Rather than discarding an older car when technology evolves, owners may increasingly look for ways to retrofit and adapt. This could lead to a future where classic cars are not just symbols of the past, but also active participants in a cleaner, more flexible transport landscape.

While Everrati’s wide body 911 remains a high-end offering, it represents more than a nostalgic tribute. It is part of a growing effort to blend tradition with innovation and to find new paths forward for the vehicles people love most. In doing so, it raises an important question for the automotive world: what if the cars of the past still have a role in shaping the future?

Photo By: Everrati