In a lighthearted display of his passion for cricket, Google CEO Sundar Pichai participated in the company’s 2024 ugly sweater contest, donning a festive sweater decorated with cricket bats, balls, and Christmas trees. This playful gesture not only highlighted Pichai’s enduring love for the sport but also gave employees a fun glimpse into his personality. The sweater, which blended the holiday spirit with cricket-themed motifs, stood out among the creative designs at the annual event, bringing some holiday cheer to the workplace. Pichai’s participation in the contest has been warmly…
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China’s DeepSeek-V3 AI Model Rivals OpenAI, Signaling a New Era in AI Competition
China has unveiled its DeepSeek-V3 AI model, a cutting-edge advancement that positions the country as a formidable player in the global AI race. This new model directly competes with OpenAI’s powerful technologies, boasting exceptional capabilities in natural language processing and multimodal functionality. The DeepSeek-V3 is designed to understand and generate human-like text while also integrating other forms of data such as images and videos, marking a significant leap in AI’s potential. Its advancements come at a time when the global AI landscape is increasingly dominated by players like OpenAI and…
Read MoreMeta Appoints Joel Kaplan as New Head of Global Policy Amid Growing Challenges
Meta has appointed Joel Kaplan, the former Deputy Chief of Staff under President George W. Bush, as its new head of global policy. Kaplan takes over the position from Nick Clegg, who had previously led the company’s policy initiatives. This significant leadership shift comes at a critical time as Meta faces increasing regulatory pressures and growing challenges across its global operations. Kaplan, who brings years of experience in government and policy, is expected to play a key role in helping the company navigate the complex landscape of privacy concerns, misinformation,…
Read MoreGCCs Set to Offer Higher Pay Hikes Than IT Companies in FY26
Global Capability Centers (GCCs) are projected to offer higher pay hikes than IT companies in FY26, driven by their rapid expansion and the growing demand for skilled professionals. As businesses increasingly rely on GCCs for critical services, the sector’s growth is pushing these centres to offer competitive compensation to attract and retain top talent. With the IT industry already facing challenges in meeting the demand for specialized skills, GCCs are stepping up to the plate. These centres are becoming key players in the job market, offering more attractive financial incentives…
Read MoreBlinkit Launches 10-Minute Basic Life Support (BLS) Ambulance Service in Gurugram
Blinkit, a leading delivery platform, has rolled out a new 10-minute Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance service in Gurugram, aimed at significantly improving emergency medical response times. This new service is designed to provide prompt medical assistance during emergencies, ensuring that help arrives within just 10 minutes of booking. The BLS ambulances, which are equipped with essential life-saving equipment and staffed by trained medical professionals, will offer immediate medical support such as oxygen supply, cardiac monitoring, and other critical care during transit to a hospital. The service is part of…
Read MoreU.S. Mulls Restrictions on Chinese-Made Drones Over Security Concerns
The U.S. Commerce Department is considering new regulations that could impose restrictions or a potential ban on the sale of Chinese-made drones due to national security concerns. The move comes in response to recent sightings of unidentified drones in New Jersey and New York, which have raised fears that these devices could be exploited by China and Russia to access and manipulate sensitive U.S. data. The potential restrictions are part of an ongoing effort by the U.S. government to safeguard its airspace and digital infrastructure from foreign espionage. With drones…
Read MoreDigilocker Outage Disrupts Fintech User Onboarding
A technical outage in the Digilocker system has disrupted the onboarding process for several fintech companies, causing delays in verifying users’ documents. The issue, which affected the digital platform used for secure storage and sharing of documents, has caused significant setbacks in the customer acquisition process for fintech firms that rely on Digilocker for KYC (Know Your Customer) verification. This disruption has drawn attention to the vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure and the dependence of many industries on government-backed digital services. Several fintech companies have expressed frustration, with some users experiencing…
Read MoreApple Agrees to $95 Million Settlement Over Siri Eavesdropping Lawsuit
Tech giant Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit alleging its voice assistant, Siri, improperly recorded users’ conversations without their consent. The settlement comes in response to claims that Siri’s inadvertent activation led to unauthorized audio recordings, raising concerns about privacy violations. The lawsuit accused Apple of collecting, storing, and sharing voice data from users without explicit permission, breaching privacy rights. Plaintiffs argued that these recordings were sometimes analysed by third-party contractors to improve Siri’s functionality, further heightening privacy concerns. Apple denied any wrongdoing but opted…
Read MoreOpenAI Misses Deadline for Tool Allowing Creators to Opt-Out of AI Training: Report
OpenAI has missed its deadline for releasing a tool that would allow content creators to opt-out of having their work used for AI training. The much-anticipated feature, designed to give creators more control over how their content is used by AI models, was initially promised for 2024. However, according to reports, the company has not yet delivered the tool, raising concerns among creators about the use of their intellectual property without consent. The opt-out tool is seen as a crucial development in addressing the growing debate over the ethical use…
Read MoreAI in 2024: Key Insights and the Road Ahead for CXOs
As 2024 comes to a close, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across industries has reshaped business operations, sparked innovation, and driven digital transformation. With AI moving from a buzzword to a strategic cornerstone, it is clear that CXOs are taking a leading role in driving its impact. Here’s a recap of AI’s influence in 2024 and a look ahead at what lies in store for the future. Key Highlights from AI in 2024: AI Becomes Integral to Business Strategy: AI has firmly embedded itself into business strategies, proving its…
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