India Observers

  India’s technology sector is experiencing significant transformation, with a focus on  artificial intelligence (AI)  driving growth. Companies like BMW are strengthening their partnerships with Indian IT and engineering services firms, positioning India to capture a larger share of the global digital services trade valued at $4 trillion. Global firms are increasingly turning to India to develop their AI capabilities, leading to a surge in hiring. India’s market share in global capability centers stands at over 50%, reflecting its growing importance in the tech landscape. Indian workers are increasingly engaged in more complex and high-value tasks such as engineering research and development. For example, Canadian insurer Sun Life Financial relied on its Indian office to develop AI tools. Partnerships between Indian firms and global companies are driving innovation in AI, with collaborations expected to create more than a million jobs in data science and AI by 2026. Indi...

  upGrad, an online education platform in India, is addressing the country’s rich etymological heritage by prioritizing territorial dialects in its learning system. With over 40% of its user base from Level 2 cities and past, upGrad aims to convert challenges into opportunities by ensuring that dialect boundaries don’t hinder quality instruction. By recognizing the phonetic inclinations of learners from different locations,  upGrad  creates a comprehensive learning environment where everyone feels engaged to pursue their educational goals. Asheesh Sharma, President of Certifications and Bootcamps at upGrad, emphasizes the importance of selecting regional dialects for the platform, such as Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Bengali. This approach not only enhances accessibility but also cultivates a sense of belonging and support for learners from different phonetic  backgrounds . In addition to dialect localization, upGrad is expanding its course offerings to cater t...

  At the  Munich Security Conference , 20 tech giants formed the “Tech Cord” alliance to combat AI fraud in global elections by 2024. The alliance focuses on AI or special algorithms to combat false information, and it is neither politically biased nor designed to limit freedom of expression. As India prepares for the  2024 elections , there is growing concern that AI is being used for fraud. The problem is that AI propagates fake news and lies that can corrupt people’s choices. Deepfakes, which are fake videos, audio, and images, can be easily created and mislead people. Deep faking is inexpensive and easy to create misleading results, and it can also mislead viewers, suggest false actions or information, and spread misinformation. The  Tech Cord  Agreement aims to develop intelligent software to detect and prevent fake news during the 2024 elections. The tech companies involved promise to be open about how their AI works, allowing everyone to check if it is do...

  Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella spoke to developers in Bengaluru, highlighting the potential of AI and natural language processing to make computers understand humans. He believes that advancements in AI and natural language processing are close to achieving this vision, as AI can now spot patterns and predict things, improving lives and society. Nadella emphasized the importance of new technology platforms for India’s economic growth, suggesting that AI could contribute to 10% of India’s GDP growth. He praised India’s growing number of developers, predicting that by 2027, India will have more  AI developers  than the US. Microsoft aims to help Indian organizations benefit from AI by providing various AI tools and technologies. Nadella also discussed Microsoft’s plan to train two million people in India in AI skills by 2025 through the ADVANT(I)GE India initiative, aiming to work with governments, prioritize diversity, and ensure AI’s advantages reach everyone, leading to m...

  The 76th Army Day in India is celebrated with a grand parade in Lucknow, marking the second year in a row the event has moved out of Delhi. Army Chief General Manoj Pande will review the parade and present bravery awards. The parade will feature impressive displays, such as a motorcycle show by the Army Service Corps, skydiving by the Paratroopers, and a helicopter flypast. A unique addition this year is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to pick the ‘Best Marching Contingent’. Cameras will record each movement, and AI software will analyze them for precision under human supervision. The  Indian Army  and the Indian Government are also focused on modern technology. The parade, led by Major General Salil Seth, includes six marching units from different regiments and a military band with brass and pipe bands. Units like the 50th Parachute Brigade and the Sikh Light Infantry will march. The day honors soldiers for their sacrifices and is now celebrated in different pa...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Smart India Hackathon. He talked about India's future in technology and innovation, especially focusing on the next 25 years, which he calls 'Amrit Kaal'. PM Modi emphasized the significance of technology in our daily lives and stressed the need for India to become self-reliant. India should not have to rely on importing technology from other countries.  This is crucial because, in some areas, especially in defense, we currently depend a lot on technology from other countries. We are confident that India, with its large talent pool, can provide cost-effective and high-quality solutions to many global problems. An interesting point he raised was about the challenges of cyber fraud, especially with new technologies like deepfake videos . These videos, made using advanced AI, look very real and can be misleading.  PM Modi warned everyone to be careful and scrutinize these videos closely. He mentioned that India is working on creating ...

VideoVerse, originally known as Toch.ai, is a platform that's changing how we handle video content. They specialize in transforming lengthy videos into short, engaging clips using advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, computer vision, and machine learning.  Imagine having a cricket match's best moments or a film's highlights crafted in no time – that's what VideoVerse does. The big news is that VideoVerse has raised $45 million in a funding round led by Bluestone Equity Partners, a major player focusing on sports, media, and entertainment.  This isn't the first time VideoVerse has attracted significant investment. Just last year, they raised $46.8 million, and before that, $12 million. It's clear that big investors see a bright future in this company. Flipkart’s co-founder Binny Bansal was one of the investors in VideoVerse's Series B funding round. In April 2022, VideoVerse raised $46.8 million in this round, which was led by A91 Partners and...

Ola's CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal, has unveiled a new AI model called 'Krutrim' through his venture, Krutrim Si Designs. This AI is being celebrated as 'India's own AI model.' Now, what's special about Krutrim?  It's designed to understand and create content in 20 Indian languages. That's right, from Hindi to Kannada, Marathi, Odiya, and Telugu, Krutrim can handle them all. This is a big deal because it's even better than GPT-4, a famous AI model (used for ChatGPT) when it comes to supporting our Bharatiya languages. Krutrim comes in two versions. The first one, the base model, will be available to everyone from next month. Then, there's Krutrim Pro, a more advanced version for complex tasks, which will be out early next year. What makes Krutrim stand out?  Firstly, it's trained on a huge amount of data – over 2 trillion 'tokens,' these are small units of language. This training helps it understand and use our languages more effectively...

  ‘Incubators,’ India’s first AI platform for startups, emerges as a significant stride in the country’s entrepreneurial landscape. This online platform aims to simplify the process of finding suitable incubators or accelerators for  startup  founders, fostering a more interconnected and efficient startup ecosystem. What is ‘Incubators’ and its Purpose? ‘Incubators’ serves as an extensive online library providing detailed information about various incubators and accelerators in India. These organizations play a crucial role in supporting startups, especially in their early stages, by offering resources such as funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The primary objective of ‘Incubators’ is to streamline the search for the right support for entrepreneurs navigating the startup journey. How Will ‘Incubators’ Help Start-up Founders? This platform is a game-changer for startup founders, offering a centralized resource to save time and effort. Entrepreneurs can acce...

  Google takes a firm stance against scammers attempting to exploit the popularity of its new AI chatbot, Bard, by filing a legal case. Dishonest individuals sought to deceive users by posing as Google and offering fake downloads of Bard. The unsuspecting victims, thinking they were accessing the innovative AI tool, instead downloaded harmful software capable of stealing social media information. In a parallel to selling fake tickets for a popular cricket match, these scammers capitalized on the excitement surrounding  Bard , setting up fake social media pages and ads to appear legitimate. Google’s legal action aims to protect its reputation and hold the tricksters accountable for their deceptive tactics. Much like navigating a crowded market, users in the digital realm must remain vigilant. If an offer seems too good to be true, such as early access to a highly anticipated AI tool, it likely is. Conducting thorough research, checking official websites, and avoiding hasty down...

  Australia has paved the way for the introduction of AI apps like ChatGPT in schools from 2024, aligning with the findings of a UNESCO global study that called for the regulation of technology in education. The decision follows the endorsement of a national framework governing the use of AI in schools, with collaboration between education ministers and state and territory education systems. While some advocate for the use of  ChatGPT  as a learning tool, concerns about privacy and plagiarism have prompted temporary limitations on its use in public schools in various states and territories. The national framework, set to be released in the coming weeks, includes a $1 million investment in an educational technology firm. The debate surrounding the use of AI in education centers on striking a balance between leveraging its advantages, such as personalized learning and intelligent tutoring systems, and addressing concerns about privacy, potential over-reliance on AI, and the...

  Microsoft and G42, a tech company based in Abu Dhabi, have joined forces to enhance the   United Arab Emirates (UAE)   technological landscape. This collaboration aims to provide the UAE’s public sector and industries with cutting-edge cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities while prioritizing responsible innovation and data security. By partnering with Microsoft, the UAE is positioning itself as a hub for technology in the Middle East, fostering economic growth, job creation, and the development of a thriving tech ecosystem. Furthermore, the partnership between Microsoft and G42 in the UAE holds the potential to positively impact the ASEAN region, including India. It may lead to the transfer of advanced technology and knowledge, spurring economic growth and cross-border collaborations. The UAE’s success as a tech hub could attract investments and partnerships from neighboring countries, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship while fostering coo...

  Ayurveda, the ancient holistic healing system, is embracing   modern technology   through AI to revolutionize herb identification. This move is aimed at ensuring the production of Ayurvedic products with consistent quality and efficacy. By using AI-powered solutions, Ayurvedic producers can accurately identify herbs through image recognition, chemical analysis, and natural language processing, leading to enhanced wellness and product transparency. The integration of AI in Ayurveda comes at a time when the Indian Ayurveda market is predicted to witness significant growth. AI technology enables the identification of herbs with higher accuracy, leading to time and cost savings for manufacturers. It also promotes customization and innovation in product formulations, providing individualized care and improving overall health and well-being. The marriage of AI and Ayurveda holds great potential in transforming how Ayurvedic products are produced, ensuring better patient outco...

  OpenAI, the tech company, has expanded the availability of its viral chatbot,   ChatGPT , to Android users in the United States, India, Bangladesh, and Brazil. Following its successful launch on Apple’s iOS platform, the ChatGPT app is now accessible on the Google Play Store for Android users. This AI-powered chatbot offers conversational answers to user queries through a simple interface, with voice input capabilities using OpenAI’s Whisper speech recognition system. OpenAI’s decision to expand to Android aims to democratize access to advanced AI tools for a broader audience, considering the significant market share of Android in mobile devices. The company plans to make ChatGPT available in more countries in the coming weeks, catering to a diverse global audience. The app is free to download and allows users to sync chat history across devices, providing convenient access to previous conversations even offline. The ChatGPT app for Android offers various useful features, in...

  OpenAI has developed   ChatGPT 4 , a powerful AI language model with a visual analysis feature. Jonathan Mosen, a blind man, tested this feature and found it incredibly helpful in identifying items in his hotel room bathroom, like shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel, along with their details. However, OpenAI is concerned about potential misuse of the feature, especially for facial recognition, which could raise privacy issues. The technology can identify public figures with Wikipedia pages, but it is not as advanced as specialized facial recognition tools available on the internet. OpenAI aims to have open conversations with the public to address concerns and is willing to make adjustments based on people’s preferences. The company also worries about the possibility of the visual analysis feature generating false information, similar to AI text models producing misleading results. They acknowledge that inappropriate assessments of people’s faces could lead to problems. Henc...