Robot waiters, cleaners and AI companions—technology is all around us and its domain is increasing by the day. OpenAI’s ChatGPT is infringing on people’s jobs like customer support and graphic designing. While AI may be having its moment, several sectors remain firmly in the domain of human expertise.  
 
Education: Despite the integration of digital technology into classrooms, human interaction remains indispensable in the education sector. Learning thrives on continuous and personalised feedback between educators and students. Each student possesses particular needs, making a teacher’s interpersonal skills and adaptability pivotal in the process.

Law: Legal experts, including lawyers and judges, apply the law to unique situations, making judgments that require a deep understanding of human values and ethics. AI can assist in legal research, but cannot replace a person’s expertise in legal decision-making.

Information Technology (IT) and Data Services: IT professionals specialising in security and quality assurance, including computer research scientists, and information security and risk analysts, possess the ability to think critically, understand context, and make informed decisions, which goes beyond AI’s capabilities. For example, cybersecurity analysts safeguard organisations by monitoring for suspicious activities and developing strategies to protect sensitive data. AI can assist in identifying known threats, but cybersecurity analysts rely on intuition to detect new attacks.

Public Relations (PR): The essence of successful public relations revolves around utilising one’s professional network. While AI can analyse big data to shape PR strategies, a professional’s creativity and skills in managing people are traits that technology cannot replicate.

Human Resources (HR): HR specialists handle complex matters, such as employee relations, conflict resolution and talent acquisition. These roles require a deep understanding of human behaviour and organisational dynamics. It is more likely that people will use AI to complement their decision-making processes rather than replace them.

Strategy Formulations: Machine learning technologies facilitate the gathering of consumer insights, analysis of purchasing trends, and identification of new market opportunities. While AI can collect data, formulating comprehensive strategies remains a task best suited for experienced professionals.

Business: Leadership roles demand substantial hands-on experience and strong interpersonal skills, making them resistant to algorithmic automation. Nevertheless, big data and AI are poised to become integral in identifying long-term trends, predicting successful business strategies, and analysing future opportunities. Aspiring leaders should prioritise staying current with emerging technologies as part of their professional development plan.
 

WASHINGTON: Google will confront a threat to its dominant search engine beginning Tuesday when federal regulators launch an attempt to dismantle its internet empire in the biggest US antitrust trial in a quarter century.

Over the next 10 weeks, federal lawyers and state attorneys general will try to prove Google rigged the market in its favour by locking its search engine in as the default choice in a plethora of places and devices. US District Judge Amit Mehta likely won't issue a ruling until early next year. If he decides Google broke the law, another trial will decide what steps should be taken to rein in the Mountain View, California-based company.

Top executives at Google and its corporate parent Alphabet Inc., as well as those from other powerful technology companies, are expected to testify. Among them is likely to be Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, who succeeded Google co-founder Larry Page four years ago. Court documents also suggest that Eddy Cue, a high-ranking Apple executive, might be called to the stand.

The Justice Department filed its antitrust lawsuit against Google nearly three years ago during the Trump administration, charging that the company has used its internet search dominance to gain an unfair advantage against competitors. Government lawyers allege that Google protects its franchise through a form of payola, shelling out billions of dollars annually to be the default search engine on the iPhone and on web browsers such as Apple's Safari and Mozilla's Firefox.

Regulators also charge that Google has illegally rigged the market in its favour by requiring its search engine to be bundled with its Android software for smartphones if the device manufacturers want full access to the Android app store.

Google counters that it faces a wide range of competition despite commanding about 90% of the internet search market. Its rivals, Google argues, range from search engines such as Microsoft's Bing to websites like Amazon and Yelp, where consumers can post questions about what to buy or where to go.

From Google's perspective, perpetual improvements to its search engine explain why people almost reflexively keep coming back to it, a habit that long ago made "Googling" synonymous with looking things up on the internet.

The trial begins just a couple weeks after the 25th anniversary of the first investment in the company — a $100,000 check written by Sun Microsystems co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim that enabled Page and Sergey Brin to set up shop in a Silicon Valley garage.

Today, Google's corporate parent, Alphabet, is worth $1.7 trillion and employs 182,000 people, with most of the money coming from $224 billion in annual ad sales flowing through a network of digital services anchored by a search engine that fields billions of queries a day.

The Justice Department's antitrust case echoes the one it filed against Microsoft in 1998. Regulators then accused Microsoft of forcing computer makers that relied on its dominant Windows operating system to also feature Microsoft's Internet Explorer — just as the internet was starting to go mainstream. That bundling practice crushed competition from the once-popular browser Netscape.

Several members of the Justice Department's team in the Google case — including lead Justice Department litigator Kenneth Dintzer — also worked on the Microsoft investigation.

Google could be hobbled if the trial ends in concessions that undercut its power. One possibility is that the company could be forced to stop paying Apple and other companies to make Google the default search engine on smartphones and computers.

Or the legal battle could cause Google to lose focus. That's what happened to Microsoft after its antitrust showdown with the Justice Department. Distracted, the software giant struggled to adapt to the impact of internet searches and smartphones. Google capitalized on that distraction to leap from its startup roots into an imposing powerhouse.

As Google turns 25, Chief Executive Sundar Pichai has called artificial intelligence “the biggest technological shift” of our lifetimes, and said integrating it into various products will be the “most important way” for Google to deliver its mission. The world’s most popular search engine was started by Stanford graduates Sergei Brin and Larry Page with a mission to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”.

“Over time, AI will be the biggest technological shift we see in our lifetimes,” Pichai writes in a new blog post. “It’s bigger than the shift from desktop computing to mobile, and it may be bigger than the internet itself. It’s a fundamental rewiring of technology and an incredible accelerant of human ingenuity.”

Machine learning – the provision of massive amounts of computing power and data to software systems to create brain-like networks to transcend limitations of human intelligence and memory – is set to revolutionize all sectors of human endeavor – from predicting stock price movements to creating art.

Interestingly, one of the key businesses AI is expected to threaten is Google’s cash cow – search.

Currently, finding the answer to any question involves two steps: one - running a search on an engine like Google, and two - going to the individual websites thrown up in the search and locating the answer manually.

However, several AI engines – notably OpenAI’s ChatGPT – promise to drastically simplify the above process by reducing it to a single step process: Ask the question on chat, and get the answer immediately, without going to any third-party websites. The function of going to third party websites, analyzing the information there, filtering, processing and evaluating it, and figuring out whether it is relevant to your doubt, is done by the AI engine, instead of the person making the query.

However, search is just one of the areas that will be massively disrupted.

Sophisticated and highly capable learning models will make most of the current human ‘jobs’ and sources of livelihood redundant.

For example, already AI is able to design creative posters without the help of humans, seems well on its way to putt poster artists out of work. Similarly, it is able to more accurately diagnose diseases than many, if not most, doctors, and come up with better legal strategies than what many lawyers can think of currently.

And it’s not just the white-collar professions that are under threat. AI, within the next five years, is also expected to become smart and accessible enough to be able to replace many blue-collar workers, such as truck and cab drivers, waiters and janitors.

Back to Google, Pichai said one of the first things he wanted to do, when he became the CEO of the Mountain View, California-based company, was that Google should pivot to be an “AI-first company”.

“Google has been investing in AI since almost the beginning. We were one of the first to use machine learning in our products, starting in the early 2000s, for spelling corrections, improving the quality of ads, and showing suggestions and recommendations.”

He said one of his most powerful experiences with AI was witnessing, 11 years ago, a demo of how Google's research team had used machine learning and neural networks to crack what human programmers had found impossible to automate – image recognition.

“It was the first moment I thought to myself: this is really going to change everything!”

Pichai pointed out that Google has contributed several innovations that have enabled AI to scaler higher peaks.

“We invented Tensor Processing Units, or TPUs — which provided dramatic performance improvements of 30X to 80X for machine learning over other hardware at the time…we released our landmark Transformer paper in 2017, which created the neural network architecture that’s the foundation for most of the generative AI and large language models today,” he said.

He said Google is deploying generative AI in products such as its new Search Generative Experience (SGE) and the “Help Me Write” feature in Gmail.

At the same time, Pichai said, Google is also aware of the possible risks from the misuse of such technology.

“We understand that AI, like any early technology, poses complexities and risks,” he said. “Our development and use of AI must address these risks, and help to develop the technology responsibly…For example, just last week we introduced SynthID, a tool for watermarking and identifying AI-generated images, which will help address an important issue around transparency.”

With the rise of popular paid streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, most people have access to a wide range of premium content. But did you know there’s also a plethora of free apps that let you access international shows and movies at no cost? Here are some.

1. Plex
This app is compatible with nearly any media device. In addition to free movies and TV, it allows users to stream web shows, news and podcasts. It gives access to a collection of over 20,000 on-demand movies, including those from major Hollywood production companies like Warner Bros. and MGM. Streaming over 130 channels, it also gives you a full TV viewing experience. You can also create playlists with all your favourite movies and TV shows. The only drawback is the mandatory account-linking before streaming begins. Once linked, one has the option to upgrade to Plex pass, which allows to download the movie, skip the intro and more.

2. Crunchyroll
It is a must-have for anime enthusiasts, offering a wide range of Japanese anime movies and TV series, including classics and new releases. While Crunchyroll is free, a premium service is available for
`79 per month, offering benefits like early access to new shows, an ad-free experience, support for multiple screens, and offline downloads. It’s accessible on Android, iOS, Xbox, PlayStation, Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

3. Rakuten Viki
It stands as the top destination for streaming K-dramas, catering to an international audience craving for both classic and contemporary content. This platform offers the added convenience of English subtitles and a variety of other languages, including Spanish and French. What distinguishes Viki is its extensive content library, not limited to Korean shows and movies, but also encompassing Chinese, Taiwanese and Japanese entertainment. It comes with a downside though—frequent advertisements, which may be a drawback for users averse to pop-ups.

4. The Roku Channel
Known primarily for its streaming devices, the American company, Roku, offers its movie channel packed with free content. It has over 350 live channels, streaming everything from movies to news. Importantly, one doesn’t need a Roku device to access it. It is available on Android, iOS, streaming boxes and smart TVs.

5. Mzzalo
It provides a vast selection of Indian movies and web series, streaming in high-definition quality, along with live TV access. This global platform offers recent and vintage films, games, TV shows, celebrity moments, user-generated sports content and music videos, and is available on both iOS and Android.

6. Pikashow
Android-compatible, it can only be downloaded from the official website in APK format. It grants quick access to your favourite web series, movies and regional films. Once installed, it presents a well-organised platform where you can choose from Bollywood, Hollywood or live TV content. While it offers diverse entertainment options, users should expect occasional ads during viewing.

Citroen, the over-100-year-old French automobile brand, is the latest entrant in the mid-size SUV market in India, one of the hotly-contested segments in the car market. Though the industry standard in this segment is 5-seater vehicles, Citroen hopes to go one-up over the others with their C3 Aircross, which boasts a 5+2-seater version.

The company calls it 5+2 and not 7 because two seats on the third row can be folded and moved, thereby giving more space inside the vehicle. This is one of the most obvious highlights of the C3 Aircross. But we went to Mahabalipuram, Chennai, to look under the car’s hood, then inside it, and beyond to bring you all its details that aren’t as readily apparent. Read on…

Looks
The C3 Aircross has a very attractive body and shares much with its older sibling, the C3, but is longer and bigger. In fact, the iconic silhouette and imposing stance of the Aircross lends it the aggression of an SUV, while at the same time, the smooth, uninterrupted curves across the shoulders make it strikingly sophisticated like a sedan.

Elements like Dual-LED DRLs and 3D-effect rear tail lamps, too, add to its elegant design. Also noteworthy are the front grille – what perhaps differentiates Aircross from its smaller sibling at first glance, the plastic claddings that scale up its size and the 17-inch alloy wheels.

Insides
The main focus of the C3 Aircross, it seems, is space. More space means that it can accommodate seven passengers, two more than other vehicles in the mid-SUV segment. However, it does come at the expense of a few features. But ‘minimalism’ is the name of the game they have employed.
But that is not to say that the vehicle is without its flourishes. While boasting a non-frills experience, Aircross brings their A-game with a 26-centimetre HD touchscreen infotainment system and a 17.78-centimetre colour digital information cluster. This is further bolstered with access to 35 smart features with next-gen MyCitroen Connect.

The seats, too, are very comfortable, with the second row having slight variations depending on whether you seat five or seven passengers. In the former variant, there is a central armrest. What perhaps makes up for this deficit in the 7-seater variant is the fact that the seats can be reclined far enough to ensure comfortable journeys, no matter how long. The class-leading wheelbase of 2,671mm, ample leg room and headroom, too, add to the comforts.

The AC controls are manual. The roof-mounted blower ensures that even those seated on the third row also get their due share of the cooling wind. The boot space is 444 litres in the five-seater variant and 511 litres in the 5+2 variant (when two seats are folded).

Switches to the wind window glasses for the back row are placed on the console between the front seats. This is part of the many cost-cutting measures. Some other features that are absent in the C3 Aircross: Provision for a wireless charger, a sunroof, a 360-degree camera, ventilated seats, etc. Also, only two airbags are provided as of now. This will be changed as and when the rule of six airbags comes into force next year. 

Engine
The C3 Aircross is a very smooth and cool performer. It is powered by a 110hp 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The company informs that the automatic model will be rolled out within six months. The electric C3 Aircross is also on the anvil.

For now, the vehicle boasts a fuel economy of 18.5kmpl, a 20-centimetre clearance, hill hold assist, precise steering, tireless engine-gearbox combo, comfortable suspension, well-cushioned seats, high-speed stability, etc. All these help one drive the vehicle in that quintessential ‘SUV spirit’.

While the engine is a very peppy one, an automatic gear box would have made it more enjoyable. In any case, the C3 Aircross performs very well, even on off-road conditions. It gets 200mm of ground clearance, an approach angle of 20.5 degrees, and departure angle of 25 degrees, which really helps.

Verdict
The C3 Aircross is a capable car, but not rich in features. It rides on utility and practicality. The car’s tuned steering and advanced Citroen suspension are designed to absorb every undulation so that we can enjoy  adventures with utmost ease. Whatever be the road condition, the C3 Aircross offers exceptional travel comfort. With price control efforts very evident, we expect to be priced as the ‘affordable midsize SUV’. The C3 Aircross is set for launch in September-October.

New releases

New Mercedes-Benz GLC
Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz India has launched the second generation of its mid-size luxury SUV, the New GLC. With numerous feature enhancements now offered as standard, new efficient engines, the latest generation NTG-7 telematics, and superior driving dynamics; the new GLC promises to continue its success story in India, making it both a highly desirable and practical luxury SUV. The New GLC comes with a powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a second-generation integrated starter generator (ISG) and 48-volt mild hybrid system. It is also the first Mercedes-Benz SUV to get the latest generation of MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system. The luxury SUV will be offered with 2 powertrains: GLC 300 4MATIC (Petrol) and Diesel GLC 220d 4MATIC (Diesel). The GLC 300 is priced at Rs 73.5 lakh and GLC 220d at Rs 74.5 lakh (Prices all-India ex-showroom)

Mahindra Thar.e
Mahindra Electric Automobiles Limited (MEAL) has unveiled ‘Vision Thar.e’, an electric evolution of its legendary off-roader. It is a daring, distinct design transformation that continues to embody the spirit of Mahindra’s authentic SUV. The Thar.e boldly strides into the future on the INGLO-born electric platform, equipped with a cutting-edge high-performance AWD electric powertrain. Incorporating 50 per cent recycled PET and recyclable uncoated plastics, Thar.e’s construction showcases a sincere commitment to environmental stewardship. Featuring adaptable, modular, and swappable components, Thar.e also reflects an innovative approach to electric SUV construction.

The writer is a freelance auto expert who hosts TV shows and anchors the YouTube channel ‘CARKADUVA’

Imagine you are on a relaxing long drive, rain tapping on your car’s roof, while you are enjoying your favourite number. Suddenly, something intrudes, breaking the vibe—yet another advertisement. Annoying, isn’t it? Check out these ad-free music player apps that not only provide a seamless listening experience but also some amazing add-on features.

Jango Radio: It is a free online song streaming service boasting an extensive catalogue of over 20 million tracks spanning diverse genres. Its standout feature is its personalised internet radio, which offers a comprehensive selection of tracks, from K-pop to punk, allowing users to tailor stations to their moods and preferences. It offers an audio quality of up to 320 kbps and includes a sharing feature for users to spread their musical discoveries.
Available on: Android and iOS

Musicolet: This offline music app is ideal for those who want to disconnect while enjoying their favourite tracks. It allows users to organise their downloaded songs, create playlists and edit tags for multiple files simultaneously. The app features a powerful equaliser with a bass boost and surround sound options to enhance the listening experience. It also allows you to set a timer that mutes it after a certain period.
Available on: Android\

AIMP: The app excels in offline playback and supports various file formats, including MP3, WAV, OGG, and FLAC. AIMP offers audio conversion to various formats and includes a recorder capable of capturing sound from diverse sources with which you can make your own recordings. The app also features sound normalisation, a 20-band equaliser, sound effects, and the ability to bookmark favourite numbers for quick access. Besides, it offers internet radio with global stations.
Available on: Android and iOS                                  

BlackPlayer: This free song app supports a broad range of formats, including MP3, WAV and FLAC, ensuring compatibility with various music files. 

A unique feature is its customisation option, allowing users to personalise background display themes or skin. The app’s advanced five-band equaliser, along with built-in bass boost, virtualiser and reverb support, enhances the audio experience.
Available on: Android

Poweramp: Known for its robust audio engine, it delivers high-quality sound output, and is compatible with major audio file formats. Key features include an advanced equaliser, crossfade and ad-free playback for seamless transition between tracks. Customisation enthusiasts can tailor the user interface and presets, and lyric support enhances engagement. 

It assists casting to Chromecast-enabled devices and has been localised into 30 languages. The ReplayGain function automatically adjusts volume and ensures consistent sound levels across tracks. The app offers a 15-day free trial followed by a one-time fee for premium access. 
Available on: Android

Theraface Pro

This innovative device allows for a relaxing facial massage to reduce tension and relax muscles using the tech behind Theragun’s percussive therapy. Now adopted for the face, it also adds LED light therapy for rejuvenation and skin-toning micro-current. Theraface Pro also aims to reduce wrinkles and boost circulation as well. therabody.com

Fujifilm X-S20

Fujifilm’s X-S20 is suitable for those looking for a portable, compact, lightweight camera that shoots excellent images and movies. The X-S20 can accommodate extensive all-day shooting when you’re traveling and can record 6.2 K/30 P ultra smooth and clear video. It works great for live-streaming as well as generating high-quality stills and for vlogging.fujifilm.com

Singer 1969 Timer

Singer’s new Flytrack 1969 Timer is a visual delight featuring a flyback system and an in-house movement (AGH 6363). With a new 40 mm stainless steel case, revised displays, and metal band, the watch is sure to become iconic in the years to come. Limited production of 50 pieces in 2023.
singerreimagined.com

Is there a shiny new gadget you’d like to tell us about? Mail ashokpandian@gmail.com

BENGALURU: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is focusing on developing the next-generation technology application and defence systems. “Anti-drone technology is the hot topic in the Indian defence market” according to DRDO. The organisation plans on exporting them to several countries in the near future. 

The Drone Detect, Deter and Destroy system (D4S) is the first indigenously developed anti-drone system that was inducted into the Indian Armed Forces. 

Speaking at the Digital Innovation Alliance (DIA) -G20 event in Bengaluru on Saturday, BK Das, distinguished scientist and Director of General Electronics and Communication Systems at DRDO said, “It has the capability to detect rogue drones and instantly jam micro drones called soft kill. D4S can also use a laser to destroy the drone called a hard-kill.” 

The anti-drone tech can detect and jam micro-drones at a distance of up to 3 km and can lase a target 1-1.25 km. D4S was also displayed at the Aero India 2023 in February. 

Das added that India has massive potential for export and will soon make a consortium of countries to export its products. Calling DRDO “the backbone of armed forces in the country”, he said the organisation is striving to build an ecosystem for indigenously developed systems while also making them ready for exports. 

All eyes to the radars 

Speaking about DRDO’s most exported items, Das said “Radars have become huge objects of desire for several countries and India has exported many of these systems that earlier we imported. We have requests from African countries, some from the far east and even from countries such as Brazil and South America,” he said. 

Currently, India exports seven different types of radars which include, lightweight radar, surveillance radars- battlefield and 3D radars for the navy, tactical control radars and weapon locating radars. 

The scientist also talked about future exports of products such as Electronic Warfare systems (EW), BrahMos- medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile, Tapas UAV-a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle, BHARANI MK1, and several others. 

Aiming to reduce the number of imports, Das said DRDO will focus on “increasing the list of 411 negative import products” by making more products in India. “Despite it being a challenge, DRDO is committed,” said Das. 

BENGALURU: Retailers see Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Computer Vision (CV) as tools to augment and maximise their workforce, rather than to replace employees.

A new survey released by Honeywell on Monday reveals that nearly six in 10 retailers plan to adopt AI, ML and CV technologies over the next year to enhance the shopping experience offered within stores and online.

The research also indicates that retailers see this new technology as complementing and enhancing their workforce and not eliminating jobs.

Honeywell’s AI in Retail survey involved nearly 1,000 retail directors, and 38% of those surveyed are using these latest technologies for select use cases or regions, 35% are using them on a larger scale, about 24% are in a pilot phase or in discussions, and only 3% said they were not using these technologies at all.

Nearly half (48%) of respondents identified AI, ML and CV as the top technologies expected to have a significant impact on the retail industry over the next three to five years.

“In today’s retail environment, there is greater attention on the customer experience along with an increased need to innovate in a hyper-competitive environment,” said George Koutsaftes, president and CEO of Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions.

“New technologies like AI, ML and CV have the potential to enable retailers to deliver personalised experiences, optimise operations, improve inventory management and prevent fraud – all of which enhance customer satisfaction and can lead to increased sales and profitability," he said.

Budget restrictions (39%), Difficulty in demonstrating business value (29%) and lack of internal expertise to maintain the technology (21%) are three primary barriers to widespread adoption.

“The importance of attracting and keeping customers and employees has never been greater,” said Koutsaftes. “As AI continues to evolve, expect an exciting future where innovative technologies unlock new levels of efficiency, engagement and satisfaction in retail.”

Effectively managing your finances begins with tracking your expenses. If you think this is a chore, try these apps, which facilitate on-the-go money management. They categorise outlays, offer insights into spending behaviours, and provide ease and control over spending.

Money Manager: Designed for expense categorisation on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis, the app provides a comprehensive overview of your financial habits. Just input income, expenditure and savings to trace your financial journey. Furthermore, you can save transaction receipts, aided by a calendar interface that allows you to review all transactions in one place. It incorporates a bookkeeping system too, simplifying the management of your savings, insurance, loans and assets.

You can visualise your financial progress through informative asset graphs that present trends over time. With support for multiple currencies, the app enhances convenience and adaptability, catering to a global user base. You can set budgets, while a dedicated tab keeps you updated on your assets and liabilities.

Available on: Android and iOS

Goodbudget: It offers data synchronisation across multiple devices, enabling partners to share and stay updated on household finances. The app facilitates tracking individual expenses, along with scheduled transactions and envelope-based fund allocation for all your budgeting categories—rent, groceries, eating out, date night, etc. It also tracks cash flow with the help of an income vs spending report. It encourages fiscal discipline by carrying over unused funds as a reward for self-control.

Available on: Android and iOS

Monefy: This app helps you break down your expenses in different categories like transport, food or health. Visual aids like pie charts for expense analysis help with gaining insights. You can add transaction in a flash, just tap on any category icon around the chart, enter the amount, hit “add” and you are done. Monefy also backs up personal finance data to Google Drive and Dropbox. It has built-in tools like recurring payment reminders.

Available on: Android and iOS

Money Lover: It allows you to track your expenses over time and manage your monthly or annual budget. With features like expense categorisation, budget planning, bill reminders and income tracking, the app empowers users achieve financial stability. Money Lover offers intuitive charts and reports for insight into spending patterns, aids in setting savings goals. It also supports multi-currency transactions for travellers. With secure cloud sync, data is safely backed up and accessible across devices.

Available on: Android and iOS

Axio: The all-in-one financial companion helps you track expenses via SMS, and receive due date reminders for bills and credit card payments. Axio simplifies bill-splitting, and records travel and movie bookings to track you expenditure. It also transfers money using BHIM UPI and locates nearby ATMs. It offers manual expense entry, customisable categories and secure backups. One can also export expense reports in PDF format, check balances and apply for small loans.
Available on: Android 

The media frenzy surrounding ChatGPT and other large language model artificial intelligence systems spans a range of themes, from the prosaic – large language models could replace conventional web search – to the concerning – AI will eliminate many jobs – and the overwrought – AI poses an extinction-level threat to humanity. All of these themes have a common denominator: large language models herald artificial intelligence that will supersede humanity.

But large language models, for all their complexity, are actually really dumb. And despite the name “artificial intelligence,” they’re completely dependent on human knowledge and labour. They can’t reliably generate new knowledge, of course, but there’s more to it than that.

ChatGPT can’t learn, improve or even stay up to date without humans giving it new content and telling it how to interpret that content, not to mention programming the model and building, maintaining and powering its hardware. To understand why, you first have to understand how ChatGPT and similar models work, and the role humans play in making them work.

How ChatGPT works

Large language models like ChatGPT work, broadly, by predicting what characters, words and sentences should follow one another in sequence based on training data sets. In the case of ChatGPT, the training data set contains immense quantities of public text scraped from the internet.

Imagine I trained a language model on the following set of sentences:

Bears are large, furry animals. Bears have claws. Bears are secretly robots. Bears have noses. Bears are secretly robots. Bears sometimes eat fish. Bears are secretly robots.

The model would be more inclined to tell me that bears are secretly robots than anything else because that sequence of words appears most frequently in its training data set. This is obviously a problem for models trained on fallible and inconsistent data sets – which is all of them, even academic literature.

People write lots of different things about quantum physics, Joe Biden, healthy eating or the Jan. 6 insurrection, some more valid than others. How is the model supposed to know what to say about something, when people say lots of different things?

The need for feedback

This is where feedback comes in. If you use ChatGPT, you’ll notice that you have the option to rate responses as good or bad. If you rate them as bad, you’ll be asked to provide an example of what a good answer would contain. ChatGPT and other large language models learn what answers, what predicted sequences of text, are good and bad through feedback from users, the development team and contractors hired to label the output.

ChatGPT cannot compare, analyze or evaluate arguments or information on its own. It can only generate sequences of text similar to those that other people have used when comparing, analyzing or evaluating, preferring ones similar to those it has been told are good answers in the past.

Thus, when the model gives you a good answer, it’s drawing on a large amount of human labour that’s already gone into telling it what is and isn’t a good answer. There are many, many human workers hidden behind the screen, and they will always be needed if the model is to continue improving or to expand its content coverage.

A recent investigation published by journalists in Time magazine revealed that hundreds of Kenyan workers spent thousands of hours reading and labelling racist, sexist and disturbing writing, including graphic descriptions of sexual violence, from the darkest depths of the internet to teach ChatGPT not to copy such content. They were paid no more than US$2 an hour, and many understandably reported experiencing psychological distress due to this work.

What ChatGPT can’t do

The importance of feedback can be seen directly in ChatGPT’s tendency to “hallucinate”; that is, confidently provide inaccurate answers. ChatGPT can’t give good answers on a topic without training, even if good information about that topic is widely available on the internet. You can try this out yourself by asking ChatGPT about more and less obscure things. I’ve found it particularly effective to ask ChatGPT to summarize the plots of different fictional works because, it seems, the model has been more rigorously trained on nonfiction than fiction.

In my own testing, ChatGPT summarized the plot of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” a very famous novel, with only a few mistakes. But its summaries of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” and of Ursula K. Le Guin’s “The Left Hand of Darkness” – both slightly more niche but far from obscure – come close to playing Mad Libs with the character and place names. It doesn’t matter how good these works’ respective Wikipedia pages are. The model needs feedback, not just content.

Because large language models don’t actually understand or evaluate information, they depend on humans to do it for them. They are parasitic on human knowledge and labour. When new sources are added into their training data sets, they need new training on whether and how to build sentences based on those sources.

They can’t evaluate whether news reports are accurate or not. They can’t assess arguments or weigh trade-offs. They can’t even read an encyclopedia page and only make statements consistent with it, or accurately summarize the plot of a movie. They rely on human beings to do all these things for them.

Then they paraphrase and remix what humans have said, and rely on yet more human beings to tell them whether they’ve paraphrased and remixed well. If the common wisdom on some topic changes – for example, whether salt is bad for your heart or whether early breast cancer screenings are useful – they will need to be extensively retrained to incorporate the new consensus.

Many people behind the curtain

In short, far from being the harbingers of totally independent AI, large language models illustrate the total dependence of many AI systems, not only on their designers and maintainers but on their users. So if ChatGPT gives you a good or useful answer about something, remember to thank the thousands or millions of hidden people who wrote the words it crunched and who taught it what were good and bad answers.

By John P.Nelson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Ethics and Societal Implications of Artificial Intelligence, Georgia Institute of Technology

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.

Scrolling through social media these days, one cannot miss instances of hate, from homophobia to casteism, threats to slander, it comes in all forms. But women face an overwhelming share of that hate. In an attempt to curb this problem and to provide a safe space for women on the internet, Aparna Acharekar co-founded the women-only social app Coto (short for come together).

“The idea came from women facing harassment. We noticed that the more a woman expressed her thoughts online, the more hate she got. This was especially true for women influencers and celebrities. Not just here in India. We have data that shows this pattern across the world. We wanted to create a space where women would be able to ask questions and express themselves without inhibitions,” shares Acharekar, who has over two decades of experience in content creation. 

The internet provides people with the luxury of anonymity. But some take advantage of this luxury to masquerade themselves in many ways. So, how does coto ensure no one abuses the app? “We have various ways of verifying users. We use reliable and effective social recognition systems to ensure someone isn’t falsifying their identity. We also used two-factor authentication and if someone wishes to, they can opt to enter their Aadhaar details (other government ID data for people in other countries). We have taken ample steps to ensure that only women and transwomen get access to our app,” she explains. 

coto has been live since January 2023 and surprisingly the app hasn’t recorded any instance of hate or abuse, largely due to its content moderation practices. “First, there is an AI-level moderation, which picks derogatory works or inappropriate words. Inappropriate words or context, in our case, are very different than what you find on other social media. On a women-only app, when somebody uses the word breast or vagina, those words are not flagged off as inappropriate. Secondly, communities moderate their content and their members. So community members can report to, and escalate to admins of every community, pretty much like on a WhatsApp group. So if there is anything that is not contextual to the community or may be harmful to the community, the creators themselves moderate it. The platform does not unless their complaint has escalated,” she says. 

coto comes with an identity – to create a space for women online. So, what are their plans to ensure the identity remains intact and doesn’t eventually lose itself, something that has plagued other social media apps over the years? “We believe social media should be decentralized. Women who come to Coto and set up their communities are given Coto tokens/gains. It essentially means that a large part of the platform will be owned by the community creators and members.” Regarding plans of expanding, Acharekar elaborates, “Presently our largest user base is in India and Egypt. But the application is available globally. We are soon planning on launching in Indonesia.”

The co-founder of a social media app, Aparna Acharekar speaks about preserving freedom of expression for women, preventing online hate and maintaining the app’s women-only identity to ensure it doesn’t share the fate that befell Twitter

As the world moves from black to brown to green fuel, the industry that is at the heart of this transformative shift is automobiles—moving from the roar of internal combustion engines to the quiet power of electric vehicles (EVs). A major obstacle, however, faced by the EV sector is the inadequate charging infrastructure. To address this, car manufacturers and various third-party entities in India are establishing a cross-compatible network of charging stations.

While many EV users typically charge their vehicles at home, access to charging stations becomes crucial when embarking on longer journeys. Although Google Maps makes finding these spots as easy as locating a restaurant, here are a few more apps designed to find nearby charging stations:

1. First-party apps
Most EV manufacturers such as Ather, Ola Electric, and Tata Motors offer dedicated apps that provide information like battery life, how far it’s likely to take you, and how to locate nearby charging stations. These, however, typically only display points operated by the manufacturer and their partners, and limit other vehicles from using them.

2.Third-party apps

EV Plugs: It is a network aggregator with a database of over a thousand charging points. This app compiles information from major operators like Tata Power, Magenta Mobility, and EESL. Users can input their vehicle type and the app identifies compatible charging points nearby. It is suitable for both two-wheeler and four-wheeler EVs.

Recharge India: This EV charging app help find the best route to the nearest charging station. The app facilitates community engagement by allowing users to submit information related to new charging stations via a form, which then directs them to their default email app for sharing details with the Recharge India Support Forum, contributing to the expansion of the database.

ElectricPe: It is yet another aggregator app that caters to both two-wheeler and four-wheeler EV users. Besides identifying nearby charging stations, it offers monthly energy/charging subscription plans. The app also provides pricing, connector types, and the option to purchase chargers directly through the app. You can even earn cashback and rewards at every charging session.

GLIDA: With a simple sign-up and registration process on this app, users gain access to a seamless journey. Once registered, a user can locate nearby charging stations. Highlighted features include easy account registration via OTP, a comprehensive charging history display, and versatile payment methods.

Jio-bp pulse: This not only navigates the user to the nearest Jio-bp pulse station with fast chargers, but also shows compatible connector types, real-time slot availability, and estimated charging times. The charging stations also have a cafe for quick personal recharge. Users can make cashless payments.                                                                                                

Remote work has its own challenges. It requires specific tools to boost productivity and ensure timely project completion. Fortunately, various apps are designed to streamline workflows and manage tasks effectively. Here are five such apps for remote work delegation:

1. Trello: It is a collaboration and work management app that stands out for its Japanese-inspired Kanban-style system. Its intuitive interface lets you create boards for projects, add lists for categories, and individual cards for tasks. Real-time collaboration allows smooth team communication. Trello’s flexibility makes it suitable both for small teams and large organisations. With features like task prioritisation and description, real-time updates and deadlines, it makes the system operate smoothly. Its drag-and-drop interface, integration with third-party apps, and workflow automation, too, simplify task organisation.
Availability: Android and iOS devices   

Free, premium subscription

2. Asana: It is a project management app that caters to delegation and collaboration needs. Its progress tracking and reporting features, along with task organisation and communication tools give you the ability to monitor your team’s productivity. With Asana, you can create tasks, set deadlines, and assign them to members. The app has a timeline view and a workflow builder for project planning and scheduling. It also integrates with tools like Google Drive and Slack, adding to its versatility.
Availability: Android and iOS devices
Free, premium subscription

3. Slack: It’s more than just a communications app. On Slack, users can create channels to organise team discussions. The direct messaging feature allows for one-on-one correspondence, facilitating work allotment. Real-time notifications keep one updated. The app’s voice and video calls, search function for finding messages and files, and custom slash commands to tailor the app ensure efficient task delegation.
Availability: Android and iOS devices
Free, premium subscription

4. Basecamp: It combines Slack’s communication approach with Asana’s project management functionality. Users can create to-do lists, assign work, insert notes, files, and upcoming deadlines and monitor progress. The app includes dedicated message boards for collaboration and discussions. It also offers features like document storage, built-in real-time group chats known as ‘Campfires’, and support for multiple cloud file systems, along with document collaboration capabilities.
Availability: Android and iOS devices
In-app purchases ($15 per month)

5. Todoist: It breaks a task into smaller sub-tasks, useful for smaller teams. The app enables users to create tasks, delegate and colour code them, and set due dates. Collaboration features allow task sharing with others. It integrates with apps like Google Calendar, ensuring synchronisation of work with third-party schedules. It also includes reminders and notifications for upcoming deadlines, recurring tasks/due dates, and task automation options.
Availability: Android and iOS devices
Free, premium subscription

One of the first uncrewed missions under the 'Gaganyaan' is likely to take place later this month or the next, said Minister of State for the Department of Space Jitendra Singh in Parliament on Thursday. 

The first uncrewed mission has been approved after the success of two first test vehicle demonstration that happened earlier this year.

Gaganyaan is the maiden human space flight mission of India. India would become the fourth nation to launch its own crewed spacecraft, after the Soviet Union (later Russia), the United States, and China.

The minister said that crew module integration is completed, as has static tests of all crew escape system motors and ground testing of the crew module propulsion system.

Training of the astronaut crew is nearing completion and a second crew module sub-assembly identified for uncrewed mission is completed and delivered by the industry, he added.

Launchpad augmentation works are underway, while ISRO and the Indian Navy have commenced training to recover the vehicle from the sea at Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam.

The Gaganyaan mission include the development of many critical technologies including a human-rated launch vehicle for carrying the crew safely to space, a life support system to provide earth like environment to the crew in space, crew emergency escape provision an evolving crew management aspects for training, recovery and rehabilitation of crew.

The minister said various labs have started delivering human-centric products, and the same are being tested.

The first crewed mission of Gaganyaan has been scheduled for late 2024 or early 2025.

The mission will comprise an orbital module, itself consisiting of a crew module and a service module. The crew module, which is a pressurized module, acts as living quarters for the crew. The orbital module will be positioned in ~400 km circular orbit around Earth for 1 to 3 days and the crew module will return back to the designated location in the sea.

The major issue faced till now has been the COVID pandemic which led to the inevitable delay in the supply of raw materials, he added.

In the digital age, it’s common to feel overwhelmed or concerned about one’s online presence. Whether it’s the potential privacy breach, the looming threat of identity theft by hackers, the exploitation of personal information by data brokers, or the addictive social media, the threat to one’s online identity is only increasing by the day. This is why the idea of removing oneself from the virtual world or at least limiting exposure to it is gaining traction.

Achieving online anonymity, however, can be challenging. From deleting social media accounts to addressing personal data stored by search engines, erasing your digital footprint requires a comprehensive approach. Here is a step-by-step guide to doing it.

Deleting Multiple Accounts
Instead of individually navigating through complex menus on platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, there’s a tool called Redact that simplifies the process. Available as an app for Android, it allows you to sign in and mark all your social media account data for deletion. Shopping platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, too, have detailed insights into our preferences, shopping habits, and personal information such as addresses. You can either delete your profile or use Account Killer, a website that provides easy instructions to remove accounts from various such websites.

Bid Farewell to Email
Aside from social media, it’s crucial to find any active email or online accounts associated with you. Safeguard any important data by exporting it before deactivating or deleting these accounts. Services like Google Takeout provide a secure way to save your Gmail data offline. Remember to also delete accounts on professional platforms like LinkedIn and any other websites where you provide your personal information.

Taking Control
While you may not have direct control over how Google’s search engine displays information about you, there are measures you can take to ensure that the content shown is updated and appropriate. If a web page has been recently overhauled by its owner, but the changes aren’t reflected in search results, the platform provides a tool to request the removal of outdated content. If you find personal information or objectionable content about yourself on one or more Google services, you can request its removal by submitting an appeal to the platform where the content appears. Google, however, evaluates factors like accuracy, relevance and public interest to determine if your application will be honoured.

Seeking Professional Assistance
Even after Google removes your information from search results, your content may be still present on various websites. Third-party data deletion services ensure a more comprehensive and efficient removal process. Consider providers like Deleteme, Kanary and OneRep to assist you.

Moving Forward
If you choose to re-establish your online presence in the future, take proactive steps to protect your data. Secure your iOS and Android devices by adjusting permissions and privacy settings. When you browse the Web, you can enhance your online security by utilising a virtual private network, such as the one provided by Google One.

SAN FRANCISCO: Four US leaders in artificial intelligence (AI) announced Wednesday the formation of an industry group devoted to addressing risks that cutting-edge versions of the technology may pose.

Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI said the newly created Frontier Model Forum will draw on the expertise of its members to minimize AI risks and support industry standards.

The companies pledged to share best practices with each other, lawmakers and researchers.

"Frontier" models refer to nascent, large-scale machine-learning platforms that take AI to new levels of sophistication -- and also have capabilities that could be dangerous.

"Companies creating AI technology have a responsibility to ensure that it is safe, secure, and remains under human control," Microsoft president Brad Smith said in a statement.

"This initiative is a vital step to bring the tech sector together in advancing AI responsibly and tackling the challenges so that it benefits all of humanity."

US President Joe Biden evoked AI's "enormous" risks and promises at a White House meeting last week with tech leaders who committed to guarding against everything from cyberattacks to fraud as the sector grows.

Standing alongside top representatives from Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft and OpenAI, Biden said the companies had made commitments to "guide responsible innovation" as AI spreads ever deeper into personal and business life.

Ahead of the meeting, the seven AI giants committed to a series of self-regulated safeguards that the White House said would "underscore three principles that must be fundamental to the future of AI: safety, security and trust."

In their pledge, the companies agreed to develop "robust technical mechanisms," such as watermarking systems, to ensure users know when content is from AI and not humans.

Core objectives of the Frontier Model Forum include minimizing risks and enabling independent safety evaluations of AI platforms, the companies involved said in a release.

The Forum will also support the development of applications intended to take on challenges such as climate change, cancer prevention and cyber threats, according to its creators. Others pursuing AI breakthroughs were invited to join the group.

"Advanced AI technologies have the potential to profoundly benefit society, and the ability to achieve this potential requires oversight and governance," said OpenAI vice president of global affairs Anna Makanju.

"It is vital that AI companies -– especially those working on the most powerful models –- align on common ground and advance thoughtful and adaptable safety practices."

BENGALURU: ISRO on Tuesday successfully performed the fifth orbit-raising manoeuvre (Earth-bound perigee firing) of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) here.

"The spacecraft is expected to attain an orbit of 127609 km X 236 km. The achieved orbit will be confirmed after the observations," the national space agency headquartered here said.

"The next firing, the TransLunar Injection (TLI) is planned for August 1, 2023 between 12 midnight and 1 am IST," added ISRO, which had launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon on July 14.

An ISRO official told PTI that following the TLI, the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft would escape from orbiting the Earth and follow a path that would take it to the vicinity of the Moon.

In other words, the spacecraft would begin its journey towards the Moon on August 1, after leaving the Earth's orbit following the TLI manoeuvre, which would place it on "lunar transfer trajectory".

ISRO has said it would attempt soft-landing of the lander on the Moon's surface on August 23.

LONDON: Elon Musk has unveiled a new black and white 'X' logo to replace Twitter's famous blue bird as he follows through with a major rebranding of the social media platform he bought for USD 44 billion last year.

Musk replaced his own Twitter icon with a white X on a black background and posted a picture on Monday of the design projected on Twitter's San Francisco headquarters.

pic.twitter.com/IwcbqMnQtA

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 23, 2023

The X started appearing on the top of the desktop version of Twitter on Monday, but the bird was still dominant across the phone app.

Musk had asked fans for logo ideas and chose one, which he described as minimalist Art Deco, saying it certainly will be refined. "And soon we shall bid adieu to the twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds," Musk tweeted Sunday.

And soon we shall bid adieu to the twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 23, 2023

The X.com web domain now redirects users to Twitter.com, Musk said.

In response to questions about what tweets would be called when the rebranding is done, Musk said they would be called Xs.

Musk, CEO of Tesla, has long been fascinated with the letter. The billionaire is also CEO of rocket company Space Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly known as SpaceX. And in 1999, he founded a startup called X.com, an online financial services company now known as PayPal.

He calls his son with the singer Grimes, whose actual name is a collection of letters and symbols, 'X.'

Musk’s Twitter purchase and rebranding are part of his strategy to create what he’s dubbed an ' everything app 'similar to China’s WeChat, which combines video chats, messaging, streaming and payments.

Linda Yaccarino, the longtime NBC Universal executive Musk tapped to be Twitter CEO in May, posted the new logo and weighed in on the change, writing on Twitter that X would be “the future state of unlimited interactivity , centered in audio, video, messaging, payments/banking ,creating a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities.”

Experts, however, predicted the new name will confuse much of Twitter’s audience, which has already been souring on the social media platform following a raft of Musk’s other changes. The site also faces new competition from Threads, the new app by Facebook and Instagram parent Meta that directly targets Twitter users.

Ever since Metaverse started Threads, their own version of Twitter, it has been on the news for various reasons. From being the fastest social media platform to gain 10 million users in the shortest time to Twitter CEO sueing Threads, the app has been in the spotlight a lot lately. 

The microblogging platform is in the news again, but this time for the interaction between Mark Zuckerberg, Ceo of Metaverse, and Jack Dorsey, the former head of Twitter. 

Recently, Dorsey opened an account on Threads, according to media reports. Soon after he joined the platform, Zuckerberg sent him a follow request him.

Taking to Twitter, Dorsey posted a screenshot where one can see Mr Zuckerberg's follow request to him. "Too soon b," he wrote in the caption of the post. 

Too soon b pic.twitter.com/uhD8ZkvdxB

— jack (@jack) July 16, 2023

Since being shared, his post has amassed over 1.4 million views and 18,000 likes, NDTV reported.