ITV

Category: Technology

  • Kapture CX aims to double its revenue in FY25

    Kapture CX aims to double its revenue in FY25

    Mumbai: Kapture CX, a leading SaaS-embedded customer experience platform plans to double its revenue with a 100 per cent growth projected in the ongoing fiscal on the back of a solid FY 24.

    Incepted in 2011, Kapture CX continues to capitalize on building the future of customer support automation by leveraging the capacity of AI, ML, and other emerging technologies in the market. This unprecedented growth comes after the platform’s successful $8 million fund-raise from Cactus Venture Partners and India Alternatives. This capital-raised marked a significant milestone in its nascent journey and has been allocated for bolstering growth, expanding the current team, and securing large enterprises across the BFSI, retail, consumer durables, and travel industries.

    Currently, Kapture CX serves over 1,000 enterprise clients across 18 countries, spanning from marquee companies like TATA 1MG, Namma Yatri, Bigbasket, Wow Skin Science, and Unicommerce.

    These businesses use Kapture’s platform to support more than 250 million customers globally. In FY 24, Kapture introduced proprietary large language models (LLMs) to enhance customer support by resolving queries, analyzing sentiments, and automating resolutions. Our self-serve technology now automates 70 per cent of workflows for our clients, significantly reducing their operational costs.

    “Having become a key stakeholder in the global customer experience ecosystem, we’re witnessing continued traction across multiple verticals and live on SAP and Google Marketplace to expand our integration and accessibility capabilities. In a move to strengthen our reach and go-to-market strategy, we have formed strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Hitachi. Additionally, we’re also experiencing significant inbound interest and have partnerships with large systems integrators (SIs) in the pipeline,” said Kapture CX CRO Gaurav Juneja.

    Kapture exhibits the commitment to catalyse innovation and introduced its revolutionary voice bot, leveraging the power of GenAI, natural language processing, and advanced audio technologies to precisely interpret and efficiently respond to all customer queries and transform customer interactions. The platform continues to develop forward and bold-looking LLMs to enhance customer support by resolving queries, analysing sentiments, and automating resolutions, which has automated 70% of workflows, and significantly reduced operational costs.

    Building on this momentum, he further added, “We have always been at the forefront of using advanced technologies, from image processing, advanced sentiment analysis to Auto QA and NPS modules. Thanks to our technological stalwartness, we were able to land another notable achievement by enabling India’s largest grocery store to reduce their TAT to 2 minutes, and increase customer satisfaction (CSAT) by 20 per cent.”      

    The customer experience platform is poised to shape the future of customer support automation by bringing forth empathetic and proactive customer service, and maintaining a strong focus on high customer satisfaction, and lower operating expenses by showcasing an increased emphasis on innovation. Underpinned by its vision to become the leading player in the customer support arena, Kapture will continue to develop robust partnerships to promote and enhance the overall customer experience.

  • Blockchain in telecom: Paving the way for secure, trustworthy data

    Blockchain in telecom: Paving the way for secure, trustworthy data

    Mumbai: Blockchain technology, renowned for its secure and decentralized nature, is making significant inroads into various industries, including telecommunications. The telecom industry, which constantly handles vast amounts of sensitive data, is poised for a transformation with the advent of Dhiway’s CORD blockchain. This cutting-edge solution from the Bangalore-based company promises to enhance trust and security in digital ecosystems, revolutionizing how telecom operators manage and exchange data within their networks.

    Delving deeper, Indiantelevision.com caught up with Dhiway co-founder & vice-president engineering Amar Tumballi.

    Edited Excerpts:

    On the business challenges that are being addressed by adopting blockchain/DLT in the telecom sector

    The telecommunication sector, a complex ecosystem of stakeholders, participants, service providers, and consumers, is at a crucial juncture. Designing applications and services around trustworthy data is a critical challenge. These data streams must be harmonised and have semantic interoperability and continuous assurance, making the adoption of blockchain a significant step forward.

    The adoption of blockchain in the telecommunication sector heralds a new era of possibilities. It paves the way for innovative businesses, such as caller identification services, leveraging reusable digital identifiers for IoT applications and services. The availability of secure, trustworthy data mitigates cybersecurity risks from data breaches and empowers a paradigm shift in application and service designs, including AI models and algorithms.

    Some immediate successes have been managing unsolicited commercial messages (or SPAM), infrastructure, and roaming profiles.

    On the ways in which CIOs and CSOs plan for the adoption of blockchain technology

    C-suite leaders lead initiatives that balance risk and rewards while devising an innovation-focused IT strategy. To effectively adopt blockchain technology, the technology stack must support strong collaboration and interoperability between services and functions. It is also important to adopt industry-leading best practices in infrastructure security and data governance to mitigate the risks associated with cybersecurity incidents. Lastly, shifting investments to a “blockchain-complete” solutions array would help build the momentum and technical capability within the businesses to benefit from the value of decentralised processes and infrastructure.

    On the necessary features and capabilities to evaluate in a blockchain implementation decision-making strategy

    A key driver in evaluating blockchain implementation is a fine-grained understanding of the use case and the business objectives that must be met. An agreement among the project stakeholders and sponsors on this topic can help drive the success of the pilot and production deployments.

    Blockchains enable a foundational digital infrastructure for the business – where the features of immutability and transparency provide the necessary attributes for provenance and authenticity. Organisations looking at digital transformation strategies and adopting blockchain technology must evaluate whether the codebase is available under a suitable open-source license and whether the project on which the enterprise product is based shows a vibrant community of participants. It is also important to ascertain whether some lighthouse deployments can support the choice of such blockchain frameworks. Token-less blockchain frameworks such as CORD allow enterprises to avoid the drama associated with tokens and crypto regulations while putting together a resilient infrastructure that is decentralized, secure, and extensible for many present and emerging use cases.

    On the role that large public cloud vendors play in shaping the adoption of blockchain technology in telcos

    Highly scalable, resilient, and large public clouds have enabled enterprises with the necessary tooling and infrastructure to quickly deploy, manage, and administer nodes that comprise the blockchain ecosystem. Elasticity, security, and high availability, including, in some cases, across cloud vendors, have enabled massively scaled blockchain deployments to service many use cases. In many cases, the availability of securely configured cloud infrastructure for federal/government usage has helped acquire necessary certifications, making these blockchain deployments suitable for government usage. Public cloud infrastructure brings developer-friendly standards-based tools, storage and computing resources, and redundancy, which makes it an attractive option for blockchains like CORD.

    On the regulatory issues that can be addressed through blockchain adoption

    Today’s dynamic digital economy is built around data – production, exchange, processing, and transformation of data drives applications and businesses. Quite naturally, the regulatory approach towards data governance is focused on data rights, consent-based exchange of data, anonymized and aggregation of data, and audit-readiness. Blockchain implementation can address multiple issues around data governance, including the very important one of enabling the logging of consent-based data exchange and abstracting the actual data through reusable digital identifiers.

    While blockchain-based systems enable friction-free transactions across trust boundaries, they also allow a more transparent application of governance mechanisms relevant to the jurisdictional boundaries where the services are available. So, regulatory and governance issues around data privacy, data security, and data access are also addressed in a scalable manner in blockchain infrastructure.

  • Uno Minda launches Uno Star 2.0 app in the Indian market

    Uno Minda launches Uno Star 2.0 app in the Indian market

    Mumbai: The automotive industry in India is currently witnessing a paradigm shift, which has changed how consumers purchase automotive components. The boom in digital marketplaces especially, has given rise to direct selling in the aftermarket industry, thereby creating a customer-brand relationship based on trust. This has also encouraged the industry players to develop and roll out their platforms, providing consumers greater convenience and accessibility.

    Keeping the same in mind, Uno Minda, a leading tier 1 supplier of proprietary automotive solutions to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), has recently announced the launch of the Uno Star 2.0 application in the Indian market. The application supports 11 languages that consist of Hindi, English, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, and Oriya for better penetration in the local market.

    But that’s not all. Uno Star application comes with a unique loyalty program where the buyers are introduced to a 5 Tier Based Reward System consisting of Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond tiers. All the Tier-based customers will be eligible to spin the wheel post reaching that tier.

    Uno Minda Ltd. – head of distribution Parth Vora expressed his enthusiasm about the launch, stating “Loyalty programs mostly offer similar rewards and benefits to all the customers without understanding their preferences, which leads to a lack of differentiation and personalization. To offer those special services, Uno Minda has taken this step. With its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction, the UNO Star App will revolutionize the way the automotive industry approaches these programs. This initiative  reflects our dedication to offering a more tailored and satisfying automotive experience for our customers and partners, setting a new standard in industry loyalty initiatives.”

    UNO Star app has a user-friendly registration process, offering various categories for seamless onboarding, including Retailers, Mechanics, Authorised service centers, and distributors.

    For registration, mechanics need to provide important documents such as Aadhar cards and PAN cards. For others, submission of documents like GSTN Certificate, Business PAN Card, Composite Certificate, Retailer Bill, Distributor Invoice, Authorized Retailer Certificate, and Udyog Aadhar for a secure and reliable registration process, is needed.  

    The Uno Star App also offers a comprehensive rewards system, allowing users to redeem points through various mediums including Bank Transfers,  Bank Gift Card, and Gift Voucher. 

  • Synology introduces AI for customer service

    Synology introduces AI for customer service

    Mumbai: Synology is transforming global customer service by integrating AI into the entire process, significantly enhancing the efficiency and quality of support provided.

    “Synology provides comprehensive technical support, encompassing product usage inquiries, critical troubleshooting, and advisory for complex deployments,” said Vincent Tsai, Director of Technical Service. “With the introduction of the new support AI, our goal is to substantially reduce response times for basic inquiries, thus enabling our technical support engineers to concentrate on addressing complex cases that demand immediate attention.”

    Leveraging a Retrieval-Augmented Generation architecture, Synology’s support AI has access to anonymised technical materials and troubleshooting insight gained from Synology’s experience serving millions of customers worldwide. Further alignment and reinforcement learning processes ensure the response is high-quality, helpful, and self-improving.

    With the introduction of Synology’s first-generation support AI, customers can anticipate a significantly faster support response time, improved by up to 20 times, leading to a more optimized service experience.

  • Vishal Bhadani joins Netskope as channel lead for India

    Vishal Bhadani joins Netskope as channel lead for India

    Mumbai – Netskope has appointed Vishal Bhadani as channel sales director for India. He joins Netskope to manage the company’s existing network of channel partners and distributors in the country, as well as to expand and deepen Netskope’s partnerships, as the company continues to fully rely on channel and alliances to grow its Indian footprint.

    Based in Bangalore, Bhadani is an experienced sales and channel leader with 23 years of experience in enterprise tech, both in India and the Middle-East. He started his career at Sify, before joining Wipro for twelve years, where he held the roles of National Manager of the Enterprise Security business, Regional Head of ITS Business and Operations, and finally Regional Head for System Integration & Maintenance Services sales for the Gulf region. Before joining Netskope, Bhadani spent seven years at Lenovo, most recently as Cyber Security & Software Lead for India, managing sales, and channel and alliances for the practice.

    Working for both major Global System Integrators and OEMs has equipped Bhadani with a holistic view of the industry, and knowledge on establishing and leveraging relationships with diverse stakeholders. Combined with his cybersecurity expertise, his experience and network will help strengthen Netskope’s channel and alliances ecosystem in India, including supporting, training and growing key partners to ultimately improve services to customers and end users.

    “After more than 20 years working with the channel community, I understand the challenges and opportunities that this market presents, and wanted to put this experience to use and continue to contribute to the cybersecurity industry at the same time,” said Bhadani about his choice to join Netskope. “I was looking for a visionary company really shaping the industry, which I believe Netskope is doing as a leader in Security Service Edge and Secure Access Service Edge. This role is the opportunity for me to build and maintain long-term partnerships with players who, like us, believe SSE and SASE are relevant answers to the challenges posed by the transformation of workplaces and the evolution of the cyber threat landscape.”

    “Our success in India is entirely due to our channel partners and distributors, and it was important for us to have a highly experienced leader like Vishal to refine our existing partnerships, and continue to expand our local footprint,” said Netskope Country Manager for India and SAARC Ajay Gupta. “His knowledge of the cybersecurity market in India, and experience setting up and growing practices will be a great advantage for us, and I’m glad to be welcoming his high profile to our team.”

  • Whilter.AI unveils expansion plans and projects revenue growth of Rs 7 cr by FY 24-25 end

    Whilter.AI unveils expansion plans and projects revenue growth of Rs 7 cr by FY 24-25 end

    Mumbai: Whilter.ai, a createch company in the GenAI space, announces its expansion plans and revenue growth, setting the stage for the next evolution of b2c communication. Whilter.AI is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of technology to deliver customise solutions for its clients. Currently scaling video communications as a service, the company aims to make the pricing very affordable, add more language support, and soon move towards a self-serve platform for brands and producers.

    With several successful projects under its belt, Whilter.ai has garnered acknowledgment and praise for its impeccable work. Collaborations with prominent brands across industries have resulted in remarkable engagement rate upliftment and conversions, catching the eyes of industry leaders. Since its inception, Whilter.AI has onboarded clients such as RoyalEnfield, W for Women, Domino’s, Aditya Birla Capital, and MotoGP to name a few.

    “At Whilter.AI, our goal is to enable businesses to enhance customer engagement and uplift conversion rate (multifold) through hyper-personalized videos. As the global digital video advertising market is projected to skyrocket from $53.2 billion in 2021 to $712.6 billion by 2031, driven by a compelling CAGR of 29.6 per cent, this data shows that consumers and brands increasingly valuing personalized experiences.” said Whilter.ai co-founder Pankaj K Arora.

    Speaking on this Whilter.ai co-founder Prashant Yadav said, “We’re enthusiastic about our upcoming expansion plans as they reflect our commitment to offering practical and effective solutions in personalized video creation. Our primary focus remains on advancing our solutions to ensure it delivers not just creative content, but also scalable and efficient solutions for our clients. We aim to extend the reach of our platform, enabling more businesses to leverage the power of personalized video in their marketing strategies.”

    The market for personalised video creation is witnessing unprecedented growth, fueled by the increasing demand for hyper-personalization in digital advertising. According to recent studies, the global digital video advertising market is projected to skyrocket from $53.2 billion in 2021 to $712.6 billion by 2031, driven by a compelling CAGR of 29.6 per cent. Consumers are increasingly valuing personalized experiences, with 73 per cent citing customer experience as a key factor in their purchasing decisions. Whilter.AI is at the forefront of this trend, catering to early adopters across various industries, including healthcare, BFSI, fashion, and more.

    Whilter.AI has identified the US and European markets as key targets for expansion. With strategic initiatives underway, the company aims to penetrate these markets and establish a strong presence, offering its solutions to a global audience.

    CMOs recognize the importance of engaging personalized visuals, but scaling video production is often time-consuming and expensive, posing a significant deterrent. To address this issue, Whilter.AI plans to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, making its solutions more accessible and effective. By focusing on real-time delivery and affordability, the company aims to promote widespread adoption across various industries and use cases.

    Whilter.AI’s client roster includes leading brands from diverse sectors, including healthcare, fashion, automobiles, airlines, and more. The company’s marketing strategy involves a combination of direct engagement and partnerships with industry-leading companies, leveraging joint GTM initiatives and product integrations to reach new clients and markets.

  • Illumio and Netskope announce zero trust partnership

    Illumio and Netskope announce zero trust partnership

    Mumbai – Illumio, Inc., the Zero Trust Segmentation company, and      Netskope, a leader in Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), today announced a Zero Trust partnership that brings together the power of Zero Trust Segmentation (ZTS) and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) to protect against breaches and build cyber resilience. The new partnership combines Illumio ZTS with Netskope ZTNA Next via the Netskope Cloud Exchange (CE) platform to enable network and security teams to create Zero Trust policies that consistently secure access at an organization’s perimeter and within its hybrid, multi-cloud infrastructure.

    In its recommended Zero Trust Architecture, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), prescribes three primary Zero Trust enforcement points: identity, network access, and workload segmentation, with Zero Trust Network Access implemented at the organization’s boundary, and Zero Trust Segmentation implemented at the destination workloads. Together, Illumio ZTS and Netskope ZTNA Next share context to ensure consistent Zero Trust security at the perimeter and within an organization’s network to reduce the risk from cyberattacks. Key benefits include:

    1   Full visibility across hybrid environments: By combining application-to-application and risk-based visibility from Illumio ZTS with the user-to-application-based visibility in Netskope ZTNA Next, organizations gain a consistent, real-time view of user-to-application and application-to-application traffic, enabling them to better understand risk end-to-end.

    2   Protection for end users from non-compliant workloads: Combined visibility between platforms enables security teams to define Netskope policy to block access between users and potentially compromised workloads, or workloads in segmented environments, increasing resilience across the organization.

    3   Dynamic ZTNA policy: Netskope’s security policies are automatically updated based on metadata from Illumio, eliminating the need to rewrite rules as workload attributes change, ensuring users and critical applications are always protected and allowing organizations to scale their Zero Trust architecture.

    With ransomware attacks on the rise and IBM data showing the cost of breaches increasing to $4.45 million, organisations are turning towards Zero Trust solutions to strengthen resilience. ZTNA is already widely adopted with Gartner seeing “strong adoption among large organizations and midmarket organizations.” Adoption of microsegmentation is also expected to rise rapidly; Gartner predicts that “by 2026, 60 percent of enterprises working toward Zero Trust architecture will use more than one deployment form of microsegmentation, up from less than 5% in 2023.”

    “Businesses today are under pressure to ensure that the right people have the right access to the right online resources, and that requires applying zero trust principles to every interaction with those resources. Our partnership with Illumio ensures that the Netskope One platform learns additional, needed context around private workload posture to help inform and reinforce the security with which private applications and workloads are accessed,” said Netskope VP of Technology Alliances David Willis.

    “Organizations need their Zero Trust technologies to share context so that they have the same view of the environment they’re protecting and can update policies accordingly,” said Illumio chief product officer Mario Espinoza. “That’s exactly what the Illumio and Netskope integration does – Illumio provides Netskope with the needed context to prevent remote users from accessing compromised workloads, while also protecting potentially non-compliant internal workloads from remote access, stopping breaches from spreading. Essentially, we are making it easier than ever for organizations to implement Zero Trust across their hybrid environments to strengthen resilience.”

  • ZEUX Innovation redefines design leadership with groundbreaking workshop series

    ZEUX Innovation redefines design leadership with groundbreaking workshop series

    Mumbai: ZEUX Innovation, a UX design and innovation firm, sets a new benchmark with the launch of its Design Leadership Workshop series for design professionals seeking to elevate their leadership skills and impact. Headquartered in Mumbai, ZEUX operates with an outcome-based focus and approach, creating frictionless digital experiences across sectors. Through its Design Leadership Workshops, the firm aims to cultivate design leadership and innovation, empowering participants with the skills and mindset to transition from executing design tasks to leading strategic initiatives.

    The workshops are a call to action for UX Designers, creative directors, design managers, product designers, and founders who face challenges in clearly defining design problems, thinking strategically within the design ecosystem, communicating design ideas effectively, and embracing disruption to drive innovation. ZEUX’s initiative seeks to address these common struggles, providing professionals with the tools and insights needed to navigate and lead in the ever-evolving landscape of design.

    Led by  ZEUX Innovation co-founder Saurabh Gupta and an expert in UX design and innovation, the workshops are generating a strong interest. An alumnus of the National Institute of Design, Saurabh has trained more than 8,000 people across the globe. With over twenty years of experience, he conducts workshops to develop design leadership and innovation, introducing participants to his ABCD framework: Articulating the problem, Big-picture thinking, Clear communication, and Delivering disruption. Leveraging his long track record of providing successful UX solutions for both startups and Fortune 500 businesses, he is a renowned mentor for aspiring leaders owing to his experience in effortlessly integrating design and innovation into company culture.

    The workshops maintain a limited capacity of 26 participants per session to ensure an interactive and immersive experience. This approach attracted design professionals from diverse backgrounds, including UX, Product, and Visual Design, as well as, founders and project leaders seeking to enhance their design leadership capabilities.

    Reflecting on the success of the UX design workshops, Saurabh Gupta expressed “We are thrilled by the overwhelming success of our Design Leadership Workshop. It underscores the growing demand for strategic design leadership skills in today’s competitive landscape. Our commitment to fostering design excellence and innovation remains unwavering. We are expanding our workshop series to meet the needs of design professionals seeking to drive meaningful change through design.”

    These workshops have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, who commended the sessions for their insightful content and practical applicability.  The attendees found immense value in the program’s practical framework and fresh perspectives on problem definition in design, strategic thinking, communication clarity enhancement, and leveraging disruption for innovation and growth.

    In response to participant requests for a more comprehensive program, ZEUX is also exploring the possibility of introducing a multi-day residential certificate program. This extended format would enable a deeper exploration of key concepts and foster stronger connections among participants.

    Sharing his experience, Capgemini a UX design manager Sandesh Mandlik, expressed gratitude for the exceptional workshop, highlighting its enlightening presentation and the blend of theory and practical exercises. Karthik Chaganty, a senior design specialist at Dream 11, found the curriculum inspiring, with relevant lectures and engaging activities driving home the concepts. Nandini Bhosale, UI/UX designer, TCS, shared that as a young designer, hearing Saurabh decode the mindset and perspective required for leadership was invaluable. She noted that the workshop advanced her career by 2-3 years. Khushboo Shah, founder of Studio Juxta, found the sessions insightful, covering overlooked UX aspects with simplified topics, and expressed excitement to implement the knowledge gained in their design process. Overall, the workshop provided a comprehensive and immersive learning experience, leaving attendees eager to apply their learnings.

    ZEUX Innovation remains steadfast in its dedication to fostering design excellence and innovation. With plans to deliver unique and practical content in an engaging format, ZEUX aims to further solidify its position as a leader in equipping designers with the skills and perspectives necessary for driving meaningful change through design.

  • Rs 30 Cr to be invested in deeptech hardware and software startups under Velocity Fast Track Startup Funding Program

    Rs 30 Cr to be invested in deeptech hardware and software startups under Velocity Fast Track Startup Funding Program

    Mumbai: SanchiConnect, a deeptech enablement network in partnership with YourNest Venture Capital has announced a scale-up accelerator specifically tailored for deeptech hardware and software startups with core IP. This collaborative initiative aims to provide selected startups with essential resources, mentorship, and funding to catalyse their growth. Applications for the accelerator program will open on 21 May and close on 9 June. Roadshows will be conducted across five major cities in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, and Delhi, across deeptech hubs such as IIT Bombay (SINE), the Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Nasscom, T-Hub, and CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), offering startups the opportunity to engage directly with program organisers and mentors.

    The accelerator program will offer upfront funding of $500k to 5-8 promising startups, followed by an intensive 60-day program focusing on go-to-market and international collaborations. This program will culminate in a demo day, providing startups with a platform to showcase their innovations to potential investors and stakeholders from around the world.

    Commenting on the accelerator program, YourNest executive director and fund manager Girish Shivani said –  ” At YourNest, our commitment to nurturing DeepTech startups has been the focus of our thesis since inception. And in 2020, we pioneered the concept of fast-track funding with our unique SOAR program in the midst of the pandemic. This initiative now moves to the next level with our partnership with SanchiConnect in this Accelerator Program and underscores our commitment to catalysing India’s DeepTech startup ecosystem. By providing startups with faster funding we aim to spur their growth and contribute to the advancement of technology-led innovation. We look forward to working closely with the selected startups and accelerating their journey towards success.”

    “I am incredibly excited about the launch of our Accelerator Program in partnership with YourNest. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our mission to empower deeptech startups and foster innovation in emerging technologies. Through this program, we aim to provide startups with the necessary resources, mentorship, and funding to accelerate their growth trajectory and make a meaningful impact in their respective industries.” said SanchiConnect CEO Dr Sunil Shekhawat.

    Startups selected to participate in the program will benefit from personalised mentorship sessions with successful founders and domain experts. These sessions will offer valuable insights and guidance to help startups navigate challenges and capitalise on opportunities, thereby accelerating their path to success.

    The program will focus on a wide array of cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence/machine learning, augmented/virtual/mixed reality, autonomous systems, developer tools, electric vehicle/battery/charging systems, electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM), genomics, hardware, industrial IoT, materials technology, quantum compute, robotics, enterprise SaaS and wearables.

    Early-stage startups based in India, focusing on deeptech hardware or software with core IP, and showing promising signs of commercialization or generating revenue are encouraged to apply. The program is open to startups across various sectors such as agritech, adtech, biotech, consumer/retail, energy, martech, manufacturing, foodtech, green energy, mobility/transportation, spacetech, health tech/medtech, media/entertainment, enterprise tech, and telecom.

  • AI: The human aspect

    AI: The human aspect

    Everyone is talking about AI; how it can lead to better solutions and cost-effective ones at that. While we have seen some marvelous results of the magic that AI can perform across automated and non-automated functions, there is one troubling aspect about the deployment of this new genie in our hands.

    This one aspect is the following fact: no one technology has ever threatened the livelihoods of human resources as this one. Earlier this month we had a top IT industry figure calling out the fact that all call-center resources could be redundant in the future as Chatbots would reach an almost ‘human-like’ level in intelligent responses very soon. This would lead to imminent huge numbers of lay-offs. Earlier in the year, we had the whole Hollywood crew and actors up in arms against what big studios planned to do with AI, at cost to all writers and small actors. The latter won, albeit in an elongated stand-off.

    The case for cost-cutting is simple and understandable. In advertising, for example, expensive and expansive shoots can sometimes be done away with by a simple sleight of hand using AI. A lot of tools are available nowadays which help put up backgrounds, locations etc., in any image or even create fresh images. We can now do things in layouts and copy which were hard to do earlier. Communication thus can look and read well and nice and good.

    The moot point though simply is this: Till now, tech had almost always emerged as a means of democratisation. You see people across social strata using phones as a means to enhance convenience, value and ROI. The PC, likewise, was a big equalizer. AI on the other hand, at least right now, is seen as a threat. It is seen as a device in the hands of big capital to replace the lower rungs of real human intelligence. Unlike the phone or the PC, AI is being looked at as a cost-reduction tool. This is not wrong in itself; it is just that this should not be the only aim. Tech cannot and should not have a side-effect like this.

    Where does this leave a country like India which had driven into the IT boom globally with great expertise at low cost as a key USP? Would replacing people with bots help out in a more tech-equal world? Yes, we can surely look at ourselves as innovators in creating newer algorithms and creating more wonders to get to the next big frontiers of AI; but that is a case of sharpening the axe continuously.

    Technology is something that needs to help humankind, if not all animal-kind, as a whole. For it to be treated as a tool which capitalists wield to their own interests, would be to diminish the ideals that science and tech have stood for. We must see how AI can better help what humans can do and not replace what humans can do. This, or any other technology, should never emerge as something that widens the economic divide between the top and the bottom. In fact, all tech should bridge these increasing gaps in an ideal world.

    PS: One joke doing the rounds is that one would have rather thought that AI took over (from humans) manual labor like cleaning and washing rather than pleasurable work like painting and creating.

    The article has been authored by GOZOOP Group president Mohit Ahuja.