Page 134 - Technology

Course5 Intelligence raises $28 mn to boost investments in generative AI

Analytics and AI solutions company Course5 Intelligence on Thursday said it had raised $28 mn for targeted acquisitions and ramp up its investments in deep learning, computer vision, natural language

Cabinet approves PLI Scheme 2.0 for IT Hardware with Rs 17,000 cr budget

The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the Production Linked Incentive Scheme 2.0 for IT Hardware with a budgetary outlay of Rs 17,000 crore. Electronics manufacturing in India has witnessed consistent growth with a 17 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the last 8 years to cross a major benchmark in production -- USD 105 billion (about Rs 9 lakh crore) -- this year. "For IT PLI, the budgetary outlay is Rs 17,000 crore. The tenure of the programme is 6 years," Union Minister for IT and Telecom Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters after the cabinet meeting. PLI Scheme 2.0 for IT hardware covers laptops, tablets, all-in-one PCs, servers and ultra-small form factor devices. The minister said the scheme is expected to lead to incremental production of Rs 3.35 lakh crore, incremental investment of Rs 2,430 crore and create incremental direct employment for 75,000 people during the scheme period. The government in February 2021 approved the PLI

Here's why you should let go of the habit of treating AI as humans

The most harrowing was the report of a young Belgian man who was said to have taken his own life after prolonged conversations with an AI chatbot

Google to delete all personal accounts that have been inactive for 2 years

Google's internal analysis shows that abandoned accounts are at least 10x less likely than active accounts to have 2-step-verification set up

Apple unveils tools for cognitive, vision accessibility in its products

Assistive Access feature uses innovations in design to distill apps and experiences to their essential features in order to lighten cognitive load

OnMobile Global launches SaaS-based gamification platform 'Gamize'

The company said that the platform also uses methods via gamification to help customers increase users through referrals which helps keep customer acquisition costs lower

Centre, state govts working towards taking technology to farmers: Tomar

Highlighting the importance of technology in the farm sector, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday said the Centre and various state governments are working towards taking technology to small farmers. Speaking after inaugurating EEI Golden Jubilee auditorium at Extension Education Institute (EEI) here, he said, "It is also needed today as to how do we link technology in agriculture sector in a big way." While big farmers in the country have access to resources, including technology and Krishi Vignan Kendras, it is the responsibility of the Central and state governments to reach the small farmers who do not have access to technology and others. "That's why the Central and state governments are working towards how digitalisation of agriculture can be increased and how to reach common farmers through digital activities," he said and added that the need of the hour is to see how every useful technology reaches the farmers. Tomar, who cited the examples of PM-Kisan

Kerala to distribute 12,000 robotic kits to school students: V Sivankutty

Kerala will distribute 12,000 robotic kits to school students under govt's Little KITEs scheme, which provides intense training in five areas, state Education and Labour Minister V. Sivankutty said

Important for India to have its own AI framework: Digital India Corpn's MD

Abhishek Singh, MD and CEO of Digital India Corporation on Monday emphasised the need for India to have its own framework on Artificial Intelligence (AI) that provides solutions to the diverse nature of the country. Though many countries have legislative interventions, there is no law in India to regulate AI, he claimed. "We are thinking in this direction. As and when the Digital India Act is passed, there would be provisions for enforcing guidelines," Singh said virtually addressing the first CeRAI (Centre for Responsible AI) workshop on responsible AI for India held at the IIT Madras here. The guidelines on AI would not limit innovation but allow innovation and creativity to prosper while offering ethical and responsible solutions to the users, he said. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has its own committee on AI that proposes a draft for Indian standards equivalent to ISO standards. "TRAI came out with a consultative paper expressing concerns on the risks of AI. We are looki

Apax Funds buys $450 mn minority stake in travel tech company IBS Software

Global travel and logistics SaaS company IBS Software on Monday said Apax Funds will buy a minority stake in the company for USD 450 million. Post the latest transaction, IBS Software's Founder and Executive Chairman V K Mathews will remain the majority shareholder. "Funds advised by Apax Partners LLP (Apax) announced today that they have reached a definitive agreement to invest approximately USD 450 million to acquire a significant minority stake in IBS Software, a leading provider of modern Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions to the global travel and logistics industry, from Blackstone, the world's largest alternative asset manager," a company press release here said. Founded in 1997 in Thiruvananthapuram, IBS Software provides SaaS solutions that power operations in aviation, tour and cruise, hospitality and logistics companies across the globe, with a team of 4,000 professionals. Apax Partners LLP is a leading global private equity advisory firm, which for 50 years has raise

New AI-based technology to programme robots to locate lost objects

Researchers have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) based technology to programme robots to help people locate essential objects such as medicines, glasses, phones and other items they have lost. The researchers want to initially use the technology to help people with dementia, and in future anyone who needs to search for something they have misplaced. "The long-term impact of this is really exciting," said Ali Ayub, a post-doctoral fellow at the the University of Waterloo in Canada. "A user can be involved not just with a companion robot but a personalised companion robot that can give them more independence," Ayub said. Dementia restricts brain function, causing confusion, memory loss and disability. Many people with the condition repeatedly forget the location of everyday objects, which diminishes their quality of life and places additional burden on caregivers. The researchers believe that a companion robot with an episodic memory of its own could be a game-changer i

e-con Systems raises Rs 100 crore from GR22 Holdings for overseas expansion

Embedded vision technology firm e-con Systems has secured Rs 100 crore investment from GR22 Holdings for expansion of business overseas, the company said on Monday. The company aims to consolidate its position as a world leader in embedded vision products and solutions and increase its revenue three-fold in the next four years to around Rs 800 crore (USD 100 million) and go for public listing, e-con Systems, Co-Founder & Vice President, Hari Shankkar said. "We have received equity investment of Rs 100 crore from GR22 Holdings. We have a presence overseas but with this funding we will be scaling up our offices in the US, Europe, Japan and South Korea," Shankkar said. He said the fund will be utilized for e-con System's growth plans, including investment in building facilities for imaging, autonomous mobile robots, autonomous shopping, and cellular and molecular imaging core laboratory. "We will hire local talents overseas. At present we have around 550 people and by the time we go .

Apple's satellite SOS feature now available in Australia, New Zealand

Apple on Monday announced that its safety service Emergency SOS via satellite is now available to customers in Australia and New Zealand

PM Modi wants us to start building R&D around 6G technology: Cisco COO

As 5G roll-out picks up pace in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is already laying out the blueprint for 6G and has asked global networking giant Cisco to begin research and development (R&D) around the next-gen telecommunication technology to further empower millions, according to the company's Chief Operating Officer (COO) Maria Martinez.

Leveraging tech for projects in line with PM Gati Shakti vision: MoHUA

Over the last few years, technology has played a key role in improving project implementation, and leveraging new-age technologies for collaborating data among various projects is also in line with the prime minister's Gati Shakti vision, a top official said on Friday. Manoj Joshi, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), made the remarks at the knowledge-sharing conference 'Leveraging Technology in Project Implementation' here which was led by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC). During the inaugural session, Joshi said, over the last few years, technology has played a key role in improving project implementation, by construction and infrastructure agencies. "Leveraging new-age technologies for collaborating data among various projects is also in line with the prime minister's vision of Gati Shakti master plan, and is going to help the upcoming projects in the country," he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the NCRTC. The ...

Most digitally adept MSME retail owners between 18-30 yrs of age: Report

Under the first edition of PayNearby's 'MSME Digital Index 2023', the report showcased the consumption of technology by MSMEs at the last mile

India uses technology to empower, not to show dominance, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed the 1998 nuclear tests in Pokhran as one of the most glorious days in India's history, and asserted that technology for the country is not about showing its dominance but a tool to speed up its development. Addressing an event on the National Technology Day, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Pokhran tests, Modi said his government has used technology as a source of empowerment and to ensure social justice. The prime minister said the Pokhran nuclear tests carried out under the leadership of the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee not only helped India prove its scientific capabilities but also gave a boost to its stature at the global level. "To say in Atal ji's words: We have never stopped on our journey and never surrendered to any challenge that has come our way," Modi said, addressing the gathering of scientists and researchers from across the country. On the occasion of the National Technology Day, the prime minister l

PM launches projects worth Rs 5,800 cr projects on National Technology Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the programme marking National Technology Day 2023 in the national capital

National technology day 2023: History, significance, quotes and more

National Technology Day is observed every year on May 11, PM Modi inaugurated multiple projects on marking the 25th National Technology Day.

Google I/O 23: Bard AI in 180 countries to Pixel Fold, updates from keynote

On the hardware side of things, Google announced a foray into new form factors with the global unveiling of Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet