Author: Adarsh

UPI set a new record by processing more than 15 billion transactions in India for the first time in September 2024. Adarsh explores what this means for the future of our digital economy… India’s digital economy has been undergoing a transformation for quite some time now. The Unified Payment Interface (UPI) was introduced in 2016 and its growth and adoption has been so rapid that it set a new record of 15 billion monthly transactions in September. It was expected sooner than later as the number had touched 14.9 billion in August. Another record was broken as the average daily…

Along with the Earth’s magnetic and energy fields, there is a third energy field and Adarsh tells you all about the discovery… It was first hypothesised in the late ’60s but it took until 2024 to prove it beyond any doubt! In 1968, it was noticed that an elusive field of energy was probably pushing particles from the Earth’s poles into space. While the field is invisible and relatively weak, it plays a major part in the evolution of the Earth’s atmosphere and how it continues to support life. The discovery of this ambipolar field is groundbreaking as it offers…

Organisations in India’s education sector are experiencing over 8,000 attacks per week which is more than double the global average… In recent weeks and months, India has been experiencing a surge of cyberattacks and this is indeed cause for alarm. Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. – an American-Israeli multinational provider of software and hardware products – who specialize in cybersecurity recently released a report that has brought some alarming numbers to light! According to their latest Threat Intelligence Report, which features data from the last 6 months, Indian organizations are facing an average of 3,244 attacks per week – which…

As Kerala bans sharing study material on WhatsApp, Adarsh looks at the pros and cons of the decision… Recently, the Kerala Directorate of Higher Secondary Education announced that it has banned the sharing of study material through WhatsApp and other social media platforms. The reasoning behind this is that learning should be classroom-centric and not diluted by external digital sources. To ensure this rule is implemented and followed, Higher Secondary Academic Joint Director Suresh Kumar revealed that regional deputy directors have been tasked with conducting regular inspections in schools across Kerala. Reason Behind the Decision Due to the closure of…

Adarsh explains how Meta’s latest project aims to revolutionize mixed reality with lightweight glasses… Code-name Puffin! It is believed to be Meta’s secret project to revolutionize Mixed Reality. The plan is to come up with a more compact solution to the current bulky headset which is used in Virtual Reality (VR). Image Courtesy: about.meta.com Previously, the rumours doing the rounds were based on what a couple of Meta employees had spoken off the record. But now, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth has confirmed during a recent Q&A on his Instagram that the company is working on an alternative mixed reality device.…

According to a leaked presentation by a marketing company, your phones are always listening to you! Remember all times that you’ve talked about a brand or a product or a service with your friends, only for an ad for that product or service to pop up on your phone shortly after? The coincidence can feel unsettling, almost as if your phone is listening in. Well, as it turns out, your phone is indeed listening to you. That’s what marketing company Cox Media Group (CMG) has claimed in a pitch deck about targeted advertising to potential clients. In the presentation, CMG…

As Google announces exciting new features that will be available across all android devices, Adarsh takes you through all five… Your android device is about to get a lot cooler! Because Google has announced five new features that will take your phone’s ability to the next level. It was earlier expected that these features would only be available on the Google Pixel lineup, but it has since been confirmed that all five of these features will be available on all android devices. Rollout of the features has already begun and is expected to reach all android users within the next…

As the world’s first ‘legally binding’ pact on use of Artificial Intelligence is signed in Lithuania, Adarsh explains the significance… September 2024 marked a crucial turning point for the regulation of Artificial Intelligence as several countries signed the first-ever binding international treaty on AI. Labelled the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law (CETS No. 225), the treaty saw the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Israel and six other countries join the pact. https://twitter.com/coe/status/1831633786305695812 Named after the Lithuanian capital where the convention was held, the Vilnius Convention…

As Gemini Live gets unveiled, Adarsh gives you a rundown on Google’s all new voice-based AI assistant… As Google themselves put it, we’re in the Gemini era now. Designed as a response to ChatGPT, Gemini is a family of AI models and now at long last, they have launched the audio extension of Gemini, called Gemini Live. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixZAvDCysNw Google claims that it is “like having a sidekick in your pocket” as you can talk to Gemini like it were a human being. You can even interrupt it mid-conversation! Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, is very excited about the…

Advancements in Assistive Technology is helping differently-abled athletes compete at the highest level like never before… 7 Gold medals, 13 Silver medals and 9 Bronze medals! That’s 29 medals in total! More than India had ever won previously at a single Paralympics. The monumental feat helped India finish 18th in the recently concluded event in Paris. This is the 13th edition of the event where India is participating. From 10 participants in 1968, we’ve gone up to 84 in 2024. And from just a single medal in the London edition in 2012, we’ve managed29 in just 12 years. And Assistive…