Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister of Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship, unveiled AI for India 2.0. This new programme is a free online training course with a strong AI component. The programme is accredited by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and IIT Madras and was created jointly by Skill India and GUVI.
GUVI is an education technology business founded by IIT Madras and IIM Ahmedabad with an emphasis on individualized learning. It provides online training, skill development, and employment opportunities. It imparts technical knowledge in many regional tongues.
Notably learners can access the new course in nine different Indian languages. To join up for the free course, people need only visit GUVI’s official website. Learners will be questioned on their understanding of Java, coding, cyber security, and other topics when they sign for the same. However, individuals who are interested in learning might enroll in this course to have a deeper understanding of AI programming.
An IIT Madras-incubated firm called GUVI has launched this course with the aim of educating rural youngsters about cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence. Leading academic institutions and business leaders will provide their experience as a part of the programme as a result of the partnership between Skill India and GUVI.
Pradhan said during the inaugural event that technology shouldn’t be restricted to one language and called for courses to be offered in more Indian languages. He saw this programme as an effort to break down the language barrier in technology education and prepare the nation’s children, particularly those in rural areas, for the future.
The government intends to increase the course’s appeal by making it a free online resource. The NCVET and IIT Madras accreditations will be used to ensure the course’s quality and applicability.
A man from Kerala was defrauded with ₹40,000 in a newly reported incident of a scam using artificial intelligence-based deepfaking. Radhakrishnan, the victim and a Kozhikode resident, reportedly received a video call from an unknown number.
When he answered the call, he recognised one of his former coworkers from Andhra Pradesh in the video caller’s appearance. The caller even offered the names of a few of those they knew in an effort to win his trust.
The victim continued the video call since she believed it to be a legitimate call. A few minutes into the call, though, the caller asked the victim for ₹40,000 in order to provide immediate support for a relative who was hospitalized.
The victim agreed to assist since he wanted to aid his friend and sent the money online. A short while later, the same guy requested ₹35,000, nevertheless. The victim, however, developed suspicion this time. He then got in touch with his old friend to double-check. He knew at that point that the call had been a scam and was not genuine. The fraud was then reported to the police by the victim.
The police launched an inquiry after receiving the complaint, and they were able to trace the transaction to a private bank in Maharashtra. Later, the account was frozen by the bank authorities.
The Kerala Police Cyber Cell claims that this is the first instance of cheating in Kerala where scammers have faked films using artificial intelligence. The scammers use images from social media to make bogus videos. They can use social media to find other information, such as names of friends in common.
Police have also issued a warning against the use of deep fakes powered by AI in online fraud. People have been advised to confirm the legitimacy of such inquiries. In order to prevent fraud, the police have also requested that citizens immediately report any instances of cheating to them by calling the helpline number 1930.
A new fundraising round for Hugging Face is projected to value the thriving AI company at $4 billion, according to numerous sources with knowledge of the situation.
According to two sources, the Series D investment round should bring in at least $200 million, with Ashton Kutcher’s venture capital firm, Sound Ventures, presently in charge of the investor scrum. However, co-founder and CEO Clément Delangue is looking around as the business has received several proposals this week, according to four additional sources.
Another source stated that Delangue would likely select a preferred offer by Friday but cautioned that the situation was still in flux and that the specific figures might change.
Other sources claimed that Hugging Face might try to raise additional funds, up to $300 million, while current investors might yet make a last-minute offer to acquire the round. One source also mentioned that DFJ and GV, the venture capital group funded by Alphabet, were reportedly considering the financing.
Hugging Face raised $100 million in a Series C investment headed by Lux Capital a little more than a year ago. Coatue and Sequoia were new investors in that round and joined A.Capital Ventures and Addition. The company had reached a $2 billion valuation in that round despite having lessthan $10 million in revenue in 2021.
According to a pact that will examine the application of generative AI in news, the Associated Press is licensing a portion of its collection of news items to OpenAI. The businesses announced the agreement on Thursday. As part of the agreement, the news publisher would have access to OpenAI‘s technology and product experience. The deal’s financial terms were not made public.
Additionally, AP remained silent about how it planned to incorporate OpenAI’s technology into its journalistic operations. The publication already automates corporate earnings reports, sports event recaps, and certain live event transcriptions.
Its vast collection of news articles will assist in supplying the enormous amounts of data necessary to train AI systems like ChatGPT, which have astounded customers and businesses with their capacity to organize vacations, sum up legal documents, and write computer code.
“The AP feedback, along with access to their high-quality, factual text archive, will help to improve the capabilities and usefulness of OpenAI’s systems,” said Brad Lightcap, chief operating officer.
Despite AI benefits, news outlets have been sluggish to implement the technology due to worries about its propensity to provide inaccurate material as well as difficulties differentiating content created by humans from that created by computer programmes.
Some media sites already produce material using generative AI. The New York Times created a Valentine’s Day message-generator this year using ChatGPT, and BuzzFeed had previously revealed that AI would power personality quizzes on its website.
Power TV launched the first AI news presenter in South India as artificial intelligence news presenters began to appear in the Indian TV news market. The AI presenter was given the name Soundarya by the management, and on Tuesday, the first news programme starring her debuted.
In the opening episode, Soundarya greeted the audience by stating, “Hello everyone. Every business is being affected by AI, and now it has reached the TV news sector as well. A few of my AI news presenter colleagues began to provide the news on some of the channels in northern India. I am Soundarya, the first robotic anchor for Power TV in south India.” The station will test out a variety of newscasts with the new AI presenter Soundarya.
A few other television networks in the nation have also developed their own AI-powered newsreaders. The first AI news presenter in the state, Lisa, debuted recently on the Odia station OTV. After impressing many viewers with her excellent news presentation in both English and Odia, Lisa went viral online.
Sana, the first AI news presenter in the nation, was introduced in March by the India Today group for their Hindi channel Aaj Tak. The AI news presenters still have a long way to go before they completely replace the human news presenters, but AI enthusiasts are calling it an intriguing breakthrough in Indian TV journalism.
In order to help individuals learn more quickly, Google has announced NotebookLM, a new personalized AI-based note-taking tool. The new tool is presently a beta version from Google Labs and was first shown at the Google I/O event in May of this year under the name Project Tailwind. The tool can generate summaries, answer questions related to notes, and generate new ideas based on them.
According to Google, it wants to rethink what note-taking software may resemble if it were created from the ground up using a potent language model. At the moment, the new AI is only accessible through Google Docs, but the search engine giant pledges to eventually include new formats. Additionally, users in the US can only use NotebookLM by joining a Google Labs waiting list.
In a blog post announcing the revamped notes app, Google stated that “NotebookLM is an experimental product aimed to harness the strength and promise of language models combined with your existing material to achieve key insights, faster. Consider it a virtual research assistant that, based on the sources you choose, may explain difficult concepts, summarize information, and generate new connections.”
With NotebookLM, Google hopes to eliminate or at least lessen the biggest issue with artificial intelligence systems like Bard and ChatGPT, hallucination, the phenomenon where a large language model (LLM) confidently generates incorrect information and answers a question with it.
Google believes that its ‘source-grounding’ method efficiently builds a customized AI that is aware of the facts relevant to you. Source-grounding enables the language model to look up information in your sources and notes. Google cautions users against simply relying on its app and implores them to compare the AI’s answers with the original source material.
About 59 more nations and territories, including Brazil and the 27 member states of the European Economic Area (EEA), now have access to Bard.
Nine Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, and Urdu, along with more than 40 other languages are now supported by Google’s AI chatbot Bard. Arabic, Chinese, German, and Spanish are examples of some of the foreign languages.
Additionally, Google is introducing new capabilities like the option to add photos to prompts, hear Bard’s responses spoken aloud, and modify Bard’s response length.
Users who want to hear a word pronounced correctly or listen to a poem or play can benefit from the additional features. To hear Bard’s responses, just type a prompt and click the sound icon. Bard’s responses can be modified by users to five distinct alternatives, including simple, long, short, professional, and casual. This functionality is currently available in English and will soon be available in more languages.
At an exclusive media conference, Amar Subramanya, vice president of engineering at Google, explained to reporters the limitations of Bard, saying that “when the model is asked complex questions, from a factual perspective, it can, in some cases, not be accurate.”
Additionally, Google is expanding the number of languages in which you can pin and rename chats with Bard. Now, users will have choices to pin, rename, and pick up recent conversations on the sidebar when they start a chat.
In the ever-evolving world of logistics, businesses are increasingly turning to third-party logistics (3PL) providers to streamline their supply chains and improve efficiency. With the dawn of artificial intelligence (AI) in logistics, the role of 3PL service providers has become even more critical in optimizing operations. However, selecting the right 3PL provider can be a daunting task. This article will explore key factors to consider when choosing a third party logistics provider aligned with AI in logistics, ensuring a successful partnership leveraging technology’s benefits.
Expertise and Technology Integration
The first factor to consider is the 3PL service provider’s expertise and ability to integrate AI technology into their operations. Look for providers with experience implementing AI solutions, such as predictive analytics, machine learning, and automation. A technologically advanced 3PL can harness the power of AI to optimize routing, improve demand forecasting, and enhance overall supply chain visibility.
Scalability and Flexibility
As your business grows, partnering with a 3PL service provider with scalability and flexibility is crucial. Consider their capacity to handle increasing volumes and their ability to adapt to market dynamics. An AI-driven 3PL can efficiently scale operations, adjust the capacities of 3PL warehouses, and optimize transportation routes to meet your evolving needs.
Data Security and Transparency
In the age of AI and data-driven decision-making, data security is paramount. Evaluate the 3PL service provider’s data security protocols and measures to protect your sensitive information. Additionally, transparency in data sharing is essential for seamless collaboration. Look for a provider that offers real-time visibility into inventory levels, shipment status, and other critical data through AI-enabled tracking systems.
Operational Efficiency and Performance Metrics
An effective 3PL partner should demonstrate strong operational efficiency and provide measurable performance metrics. AI-driven 3PL logistics solutions can optimize warehouse layouts, reduce order processing times, and enhance inventory management. Assess the provider’s track record in meeting key performance indicators (KPIs) such as on-time delivery, order accuracy, and customer satisfaction.
Network Coverage and Global Reach
Consider the 3PL service provider’s network coverage and global reach, primarily if your business operates across multiple regions or countries. An extensive network of distribution centers, transportation networks, and customs expertise ensures smooth operations and efficient delivery. AI-powered logistics platforms can optimize global supply chains by analyzing data from various sources and providing real-time insights.
Collaborative Approach and Customer Service
Effective communication and cooperation are paramount for a successful partnership with a 3PL service provider. Evaluate their responsiveness, willingness to understand your business goals, and ability to provide customized solutions. An AI-enabled platform can facilitate collaboration through data sharing, advanced analytics, and automated reporting, ensuring effective decision-making and proactive problem-solving.
Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility
As environmental concerns grow, businesses are increasingly focusing on sustainability. Assess the 3PL service provider’s commitment to sustainability practices, such as energy-efficient operations, waste reduction, and eco-friendly transportation options. AI-powered logistics systems can optimize routes to minimize fuel consumption and emissions, contributing to a greener supply chain.
Cost Efficiency and Value-added Services
While cost efficiency is essential, it should not be the determining factor. Look for a 3PL logistics company that offers value-added services beyond essential logistics functions. These may include reverse logistics, order customization, packaging solutions, or inventory optimization. AI-driven systems can identify cost-saving opportunities, improve resource allocation, and enhance operational efficiency.
Conclusion
In today’s AI-driven logistics landscape, selecting the right 3PL provider is crucial for optimizing supply chain operations. Consider factors such as expertise in AI integration, scalability, data security, operational efficiency, global reach, collaboration, sustainability, cost efficiency, and value-added services. By aligning your requirements with a technologically advanced and forward-thinking 3PL service provider, you can unlock the full potential of AI in logistics and achieve a seamless, efficient, and sustainable supply chain.
Shell Global has announced Shell.AI Hackathon 2023 for Sustainable and Affordable Energy in cooperation with Udacity, IIT Madras, and Ortec. The Hackathon brings together brilliant minds that are passionate about artificial intelligence and digital solutions to tackle real energy problems and help build a lower-carbon world where everyone can afford energy.
Agricultural waste can be used to generate energy. There is a wide range of waste-to-energy technologies which reduce the amount of agricultural waste, provide a local energy source that can power communities and industries, and can potentially lead to a reduction in methane and CO2 emissions.
In this hackathon, participants will have a chance to design a sustainable and efficient agricultural waste collection network, by predicting the waste generation potential in a given geography. They will be working with cutting-edge remote sensing data on local vegetation. The challenge will allow participants to showcase their technical prowess and creativity, as well as contribute to solutions that can help create a lower-emissions world.
In Level 1, conducted from 30ᵗʰ June to 10ᵗʰ September, the participants are invited to design a sustainable and efficient agricultural waste collection network. 20 Participants with top scores in the private leaderboard will be shortlisted for Level 2.
In Level 2, conducted from 22ⁿᵈ September to 1ˢᵗ October, the shortlisted teams will submit their pitches. The judges will then select the top finalists per edition. In the Level 3, from 12ᵗʰ October, top finalists will pitch their solution live during Changemakers of Tomorrow at Shell Technology Centre Bangalore. The winners will be announced during the event.
Veed.io has introduced 50+ AI Avatars for camera-shy and lean teams. These avatars which are seamless, lip-syncing virtual spokespeople for their business that can be generated in seconds. Users can now select a digital spokesperson for their brand in just a few clicks.
With 50 diverse Premium Stock Avatars and 75+ languages and dialects to choose from, users can easily create localized, multilingual videos. These professional-looking videos can be created within budget without any need of expensive third-party companies.
Besides, there is no need to get in front of a camera yourself. Instead of memorizing lines and practicing script in front of a mirror, users can let one of 50+ AI Premium Avatars do the work for them.
Veed.io is a one-stop shop where people can record, edit, collaborate, host, and share videos. It is an intuitive, in-browser platform that allows one to access all resources quickly and easily. Artificial intelligence avatars are perfect for learning and development videos, sales videos, marketing video, internal videos, and training videos.
Users need to Sign up or log in to Veed.io to use the feature. All they need to do after signing in is create a new project, select the desired avatar, choose the language for it to speak in, and type the text that they want the avatar to speak. Users can preview the video before saving. As of now, Veed.io’s AI Avatars are available with Business and Enterprise accounts.