ITV

Category: Technology

  • Truecaller and government of Karnataka collaborate to promote safety in digital communication

    Truecaller and government of Karnataka collaborate to promote safety in digital communication

    Mumbai: Truecaller, the leading global communications and caller ID platform collaborates with the department of electronics and information technology (DeIT), government of Karnataka to combat the growing incidents of cybercrime, impersonation, and fraud, and promote user safety in digital communication. Forged in the presence of Priyank Kharge, minister for information technology & bio technology and rural development & panchayat raj on the advent of Safer Internet Day, this initiative aims to empower citizens’ cyber safety awareness and skills. Collaboration launched in presence of minister for IT & bio technology, Priyank Kharge, Rishit Jhunjhunwala, chief product officer & MD India, Pragya, director of public affairs at Truecaller.

    As a part of this collaboration, Truecaller will carry out a series of initiatives to create awareness and build the capacity of citizens across the state to navigate the internet safely, and protect themselves from online harms, especially phone-based frauds and scams.

    Speaking on the collaboration, Priyank Kharge, minister for information technology & bio technology and rural development & panchayat raj said, “This partnership underscores the government of Karnataka’s commitment to prioritising the safety of our citizens in the digital ecosystem. Cybercrimes and fraud in digital communication are growing at a rapid pace with advancing technology thus exposing vulnerable citizens to high risk. The Government is taking proactive steps to increase awareness and promote safety in digital communications. Bengaluru is synonymous with innovation and is recognised as a thriving tech hub. We take pride in adopting a collaborative approach to enhancing citizen’s online safety here,” the Minister added.

    Sharing his thoughts on the initiative, Truecaller India chief product officer and managing director, Rishit Jhunjhunwala, said, “We are delighted to collaborate with the government of Karnataka to enhance digital safety in communication, empowering citizens to make the most of opportunities available to them in the digital world. Over the past year, our government directory services feature has assisted over 31.2 million users in identifying verified calls from spam and fraud, while also helping them easily access helplines and key government numbers on the platform. At Truecaller, we are consistently working towards improving fraud prevention and are confident that this collaboration will assist citizens of Karnataka in staying one step ahead of fraudsters.”

    To date, Truecaller has conducted cyber safety training for over 1.6 million citizens in collaboration with Delhi Police, Assam Police, and state governments of Delhi, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan. 

  • IAB Tech Lab launches Accountability Platform transparent personal data use in addressability

    IAB Tech Lab launches Accountability Platform transparent personal data use in addressability

    Mumbai: IAB Tech Lab, the global digital advertising technical standards-setting body, has announced the launch of the Accountability Platform, a technical audit framework designed to help businesses deliver greater transparency in using personal data for addressability.

    The platform – which will be open for a public comment period till 27 February 2024 – is essential in establishing a consistent standard for the data structures and reporting mechanisms companies across the digital advertising supply chain deploy to address consumer privacy preferences.

    “Compliance without assessment is a promise unfulfilled. The goal of the Accountability Platform is not only for companies to be able to say they are adhering to the privacy choices of consumers but to be able to prove it through a normalized set of compliance data usable for self-assessment, and third-party assessment,” said IAB Tech Lab CEO Anthony Katsur. “Without consistent and widely accepted accountability measures in place concerning the disclosure of consumer privacy preferences in digital advertising, there is a risk that organizations may only fulfil their obligations superficially, leaving room for non-compliance or unethical practices.”

    Katsur continued, “The ability to assess an organization’s compliance against consumer privacy laws is a requirement reflected in current US and European privacy laws. Consumers exercise their rights under privacy laws which industry participants pass through signals in the digital advertising supply chain. The Accountability Platform assesses the integrity and consistency of that signal around consumer privacy preferences, playing an essential role in demonstrating greater transparency and respect for individuals’ privacy preferences.”

    Companies that pass and receive data to support personalised advertising can leverage the Accountability Platform to audit that their business partners are honoring consumer-provided consent signals throughout the supply chain. This includes brands and publishers, supply-side and buy-side technology companies, identity resolution technology providers, other third-party data providers, processors, and data collaboration solutions (aka clean rooms).

    The Accountability Platform is designed to provide consistent technical audit opportunities to support the industry in audit obligations, investigations, and other checks and balances endeavors. Further, it demonstrates who’s involved in data sharing and their conformity to the preferences and restrictions set by users and the digital properties they visit.

    This is achieved through common logging practices, pairwise sender/receiver transaction information, randomisation of data submission to prevent bad actors from gaming the system to avoid scrutiny, and a standard interface to submit and retrieve records for analysis.

    IAB Tech Lab calls for industry-wide adoption of this technical standard to enable true auditability and consistency across the supply chain.

  • Entropik survey: AI insights gain momentum, marketers see huge opportunity

    Entropik survey: AI insights gain momentum, marketers see huge opportunity

    Mumbai: Entropik, a human Insights AI company, announced the launch of its first edition of the annual industry report on Insights AI. The survey highlights the growing popularity of Insights AI, with 76 per cent of participants viewing it as an opportunity to reshape the market research industry through hyper-personalisation. Insights AI, a set of AI technologies – Emotion AI, Behavior AI, and Generative AI – apart from analyzing data, helps marketers understand the subconscious human emotions that can shape consumer decisions. The report’s findings are drawn from a diverse pool of 100 product, UX, and market research heads.

    Insights AI integration helps brands by offering unparalleled depth and precision in understanding consumer motivations, preferences, and experiences. The survey revealed that nearly 58 per cent of respondents are familiar with the term “Insights AI” in research, and notably, 20 per cent of participants expressed a belief that traditional research methods have become ineffective in contemporary times.

    This inaugural edition delves deep into Insights AI to user research and consumer research across various industries and offers an understanding of its evolution, applications, and future trends.

    One of the findings underscores that Insights AI has significantly reduced the time for receiving insights, achieving a six-fold improvement compared to traditional methods. The report further emphasizes the broad impact of Insights AI across industries, particularly in the e-commerce, BFSI, and OTT sectors.

    Key Findings:

    Insights AI in User Research:

    1   29.1 per cent see AI as a tool for enhancing the e-commerce user experience through personalised product recommendations

    2   47 per cent of respondents identify a lack of AI expertise as a major hurdle in the BFSI sector, while 35.2 per cent cite regulatory compliance concerns

    3   34.7 per cent cite data privacy and security concerns

    4   26 per cent identify a lack of awareness and understanding of AI technology

    5   13 per cent consider cost and financial resources to be the biggest barriers to adopting Insights AI

    Insights AI in Consumer Research:

    1   In the OTT sector, 27 per cent believe that predictive content curation is a significant benefit offered by AI, while 23 per cent see its potential in addressing content fatigue and providing personalised recommendations

    2   60 per cent of respondents believe that consumer packaged goods will be the most impacted industry by Insights AI

    3   Surprisingly, only 20 per cent of industry leaders have adopted Insights AI-based tools in their businesses, revealing a potential growth area for the technology

    Speaking about the report, Entropik co-founder & CEO Ranjan Kumar said, “Our 1st Annual Industry Report is not just a compilation of data; it is a strategic guide for businesses navigating the complexities of user research and consumer research in the age of AI. This report underscores our unwavering commitment to research, innovation, and democratizing access to AI knowledge. It’s not just about the trends, it’s about the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ – empowering businesses to harness the power of AI for real-world impact. The valuable insights gathered from marketers reflect not only the current pulse of our industry but also inspire us to continue pioneering solutions that drive progress.”

    The report also ventures into the future with a dedicated chapter on “Trends to Watch Out for in 2024.” The predominant upcoming trends in Insights AI encompass Prescriptive Analytics, Moderated Interviews with Emotional Awareness, and Synthetic Users with Emotional Awareness. The section also addresses challenges and considerations, offering businesses a strategic roadmap to effectively leverage Insights AI.

    Summarising the report’s significance, Entropik emphasizes that Insights AI research has the power to influence and change consumer behavior, improve brand loyalty, and facilitate the repositioning of products and services by creating contextual cues.

    Link to the report  –

    Embed link: https://www.entropik.io/resource-hub/ebook/insights-ai-report-2024-for-consumer-user-research

  • Affle reports robust performance for Q3 & 9M FY2024

    Affle reports robust performance for Q3 & 9M FY2024

    Mumbai: Affle (India) Ltd, a consumer intelligence driven global technology company,  today announced results for the third quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2023.

    Q3 FY2024 highlights (y-o-y):

    ▪ Revenue from operations of Rs. 498.7 crore, an increase of 32.6 per cent y-o-y  

    ▪ EBITDA at Rs. 96.7 crore, an increase of 20.3 per cent y-o-y  

    ▪ PAT at Rs. 76.8 crore, an increase of 11.4 per cent y-o-y

    Q3 FY2024 highlights (q-o-q):

    ▪ Revenue from operations up by 15.6 per cent q-o-q  

    ▪ EBITDA up by 10.9 per cent q-o-q

    ▪ PAT up by 15.0 per cent q-o-q

    9M FY2024 highlights (y-o-y):

    ▪ Revenue from operations of Rs. 1,336.6 crore, an increase of 24.0 per cent y-o-y  ▪ EBITDA at Rs. 262.0 crore, an increase of 18.4 per cent y-o-y  

    ▪ PAT at Rs. 209.8 crore, an increase of 15.1 per cent y-o-y

    Affle reported a robust performance for Q3 FY2024 with a consolidated revenue from operations of Rs 498.7 crore, an increase of 32.6 per cent y-o-y from revenue of Rs. 376.1 crore in Q3 last year and revenue up by 15.6 per cent q-o-q. EBITDA stood at Rs. 96.7 crore, up by 20.3 per cent y-o-y and 10.9 per cent q-o-q. EBITDA margin was at 19.4 per cent in Q3 FY2024. PAT stood at Rs. 76.8 crore, up by 11.4 per cent y-o-y and 15.0 per cent q-o-q.  

    For 9M FY2024, consolidated revenue from operations stood at Rs. 1,336.6 crore, an increase of 24.0 per cent y-o-y. EBITDA was at Rs. 262.0 crore, an increase of 18.4 per cent y-o-y and EBITDA margin stood at 19.6 per cent.  PAT increased by 15.1 per cent y-o-y to Rs. 209.8 crore.

    The CPCU business noted strong momentum to deliver 8.4 crore converted users in Q3 FY2024, an increase of 23.6 per cent y-o-y and taking the total converted users delivered in 9M FY2024 to 22.4 crore. The  CPCU revenue stood at Rs. 477.4 crore in Q3 FY2024, an increase of 38.2 per cent y-o-y and 19.2 per cent q-o-q. The top industry verticals for the company continued to be resilient, helping it register a robust growth anchored on the CPCU business model.

    Commenting on the results, Affle MD and CEO Anuj Khanna Sohum said:  

    “In Q3 FY2024, we have further raised our performance bar having achieved our highest quarterly revenue run-rate, highest EBITDA, PAT and consumer conversions till date. We continue to witness a robust market opportunity as advertisers steadily accelerate their digital spending, resulting in a  broad-based growth in our CPCU business, coming across our top industry verticals globally.  

    This quarter underscored the success of our realigned strategies & teams, consistent efforts to enhance platform & product capabilities, relentless focus on R&D and deeper ecosystem-level partnerships.

    Our commitment remains steadfast in paving the way towards advanced digital technologies through responsible integration of Gen AI across conversion-driven marketing. In line to this, we filed 15 new patents in India during the quarter. We continue to expand the breadth of our tech IP assets and are investing in Gen AI powered innovations to go beyond the mere adoption of AI for cost efficiencies, but rather fortify our competitive moat and drive long-term revenue growth.

    We remain focused on delivering greater strategic value for all our stakeholders and are excited  about the future possibilities to drive sustainable business impact with next-gen technologies.”

  • QX Lab AI has introduced Ask QX GenAI platform

    QX Lab AI has introduced Ask QX GenAI platform

    Mumbai : QX Lab AI, an artificial general intelligence (AGI) company has introduced Ask QX, the hybrid generative AI platform to make AI more accessible for the Indian masses. The first to have a node-based architecture, Ask QX is available in more than 100 languages, out of which 12 are Indian. It is a one-stop shop that aims to empower Indians across the country and beyond, to seamlessly engage with GenAI every day in their preferred language.

    The 12 Indian languages that the web platform and app are available in include Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi & Assamese. Apart from English, Ask QX is also available in Arabic, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Sinhala amongst a host of other global languages. This is a testament to QX Lab AI’s futuristic vision and deep understanding of rich linguistic tapestry in India and neighboring markets like the Middle East and Sri Lanka.

    With immediate availability of text and audio formats, and forthcoming functionalities of image and video within the first quarter of 2024, QX Lab AI is the pioneer in bringing a functional GenAI platform for Bharat. Ask QX has already amassed a user base of more than 8 million users at the time of the platform launch.

    Ask QX is India’s answer to large language models which are currently available for native English-speaking users only. It has neurologically trained algorithms in more than 100 languages and is built on a hybrid model i.e, 30 per cent large language model (LLM) and 70 per cent neural network architecture, setting a new benchmark in language comprehension and user interaction. The capabilities of the platform cater to diverse user needs including neural-based services and will gradually include all features like text to image, text to code, text to video, for business to consumer (B2C), business to business (B2B), and business to institution (B2I) cohorts with use cases in diverse sectors like healthcare, education and legal services among others.

    Ask QX offers a range of subscription models tailored to different user segments. The B2C paid version, featuring the cutting-edge neural network based version, will be competitively priced and significantly lower than other platforms available, while the free version will provide access to the Ask QX gen AI neural engine.

    Ask QX’s neural architecture offers unprecedented scalability for the product. This infrastructure not only reduces overall computational power costs but also amps up platform security, creating a protective shield against potential data breaches. QX Lab AI has trained 372 billion parameters which is around 6 trillion tokens.

    Highlighting the groundbreaking role Ask QX is set to play in the India ecosystem, renowned data center leader Yotta Infrastructure Solutions LLP signed a memorandum of understanding with QX Lab AI for an India infrastructure partnership.

    This move underscores QX Lab AI’s commitment to advancing AI technology and infrastructure on a global scale. Yotta Infrastructure is on track to achieve a milestone in technology procurement, with their orders for Nvidia AI chips projected to reach $1 billion.

    QX Lab AI co-founder & CEO Tilakraj Parmar said, “We are delighted to introduce Ask QX, the world’s pioneering hybrid Gen AI platform featuring multilingual capabilities. This innovative platform is strategically designed to democratise access to AI for the Indian populace, seamlessly integrating artificial intelligence into their daily lives to enhance overall value. Conceived after eight years of dedicated effort and meticulous development, Ask QX boasts unparalleled language proficiency and accuracy across multiple Indian languages. Our vision for Ask QX is to bridge the existing gap, ensuring that the transformative potential of AI is accessible to all, not limited to a privileged few. The launch of Ask QX marks the initiation of a significant movement toward inclusive and accessible AI advancement in India.”

    QX Lab AI said, co- founder & chief strategy officer Arjun Prasad, said, “We envisioned QX Lab AI and Ask QX with the goal to provide equitable AI access to the masses. We wanted to develop a product that would cater to users in every corner of India, in a language of their choice. Moreover, we did not want to simply announce a product, but have a fully functional platform ready at launch. Our strategic approach focuses on not just promising, but delivering tangible results. The debut of Ask QX in more than 100 languages, reaching 8 million users already, stands as a testament to our unwavering dedication to creating a substantial impact, empowering individuals, businesses, and communities. We have strategically forged partnerships across both the public and private sectors in India, which we will be announcing soon, and are excited about bridging the AI gap between India and Bharat.”

    Highlighting the importance of technology,  QX Lab AI, co- founder & chief scientist Tathagat Prakash, said, “Ask QX is the world’s first Gen AI platform to access and leverage an astounding neural network architecture along with advanced security measures and stringent compliance protocols. The unique node-based infrastructure and data residence within India, not only enhance security but also operate more cost-effectively, showcasing our commitment to offering subscription models tailored to different user segments.

    The B2C paid version, offers a featuring the cutting-edge neural network based version, is competitively priced and significantly lower than other platforms available, while the free version provides access to the Ask QX gen AI neural engine. Our dedication to precision and reliability underscores our promise to deliver an AI ecosystem that can be trusted by users.” he added.

    At the launch event in Dubai, musical maestro A.R. Rahman also launched his meta humans project, which is a global musical band consisting of six dynamic virtual musicians that represent people and cultures around the world. Grammy, Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe winning music composer, A.R. Rahman will provide content and creative direction to this band, whose members will be represented by Synthetic Avatars. They will blend the real and virtual worlds together using state-of-the-art technologies, including visual effects and motion capture. It aspires to integrate cultures and remove boundaries and divisiveness, promoting humanity as one. This project is supported by The HBAR Foundation, a leading web3 ecosystem fund, and other technology partners, who will be announced soon.

    QX Lab AI already has a clear roadmap in place for launching two more innovative products in video and image. These products will harness deep learning algorithms for intelligently analyzing and processing data to generate accurate responses in mere microseconds. This will pave the way for businesses, creator communities and individuals to unleash the power of GenAI and become more agile and hyper-productive.

    Ask QX is now available for use in India and can be accessed through a variety of platforms, including web and mobile applications on the Play Store. The IOS version will follow soon, on the app store.

    To experience the power of Ask QX, visit https://qxlabai.com/

  • Google CEO Sundar announced Pichai Bard Advanced AI chatbot

    Google CEO Sundar announced Pichai Bard Advanced AI chatbot

    Mumbai: In a much-anticipated move, finally Sundar Pichai announced the powerful AI chatbot tool ‘ Google Bard Advanced ‘. The tech world is considering this move to challenge Microsoft Copilot Pro.

    The CEO also confirmed a subscription-based model for a powerful AI chatbot. It will be available to consumers on a subscription basis.

    While speaking on the development, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said, ‘ Bard is now powered by Gemini Pro, and it’s much more capable at things like understanding, summarising, reasoning, coding, planning. It is now in over 40 languages and over 230 countries around the world. Looking ahead we will be rolling out a more advanced version for subscribers powered by Gemini Ultra.’

     

  • Zoom lays off 2 per cent of its workforce

    Zoom lays off 2 per cent of its workforce

    Mumbai – Zoom Video Communications, a renowned tech company decided to lay off 150 people which is around 2 per cent of its workforce. According to media reports Zoom Company confirmed the layoff of its workplace. In the last February Zoom terminated or cancelled 1300 positions which is 15 per cent of its total workforce. Lay off news reported initially by Bloomberg.

    Company decided to restructure its hiring requirements and plan to hire people in future for critical functioning. Many other companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Salesforce had been laid off recently for reworking their internal strategies. The reason for the layoff is not into the public domain but a company spokesperson emphasising as a regular internal strategic decision.

  • Ericsson and IIT Kharagpur partner for joint research in AI and edge compute

    Ericsson and IIT Kharagpur partner for joint research in AI and edge compute

    Mumbai : Ericsson and Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) announced a long-term co-operation for joint research in the area of AI, compute and radio. As part of this collaboration, two milestone agreements were inked between both the organisations which will allow researchers from both organisations to collaborate towards developing novel AI and distributed compute technology towards 6G research. A symposium on radio and network research was organised at GS Sanyal School of Telecommunications (GSSST) where leaders from Ericsson Research and IIT Kharagpur participated to discuss the developments and advancements for the future of networks and communication.

    AI and compute research is instrumental to Ericsson’s 6G networks as the compute offload needs to be managed dynamically at the edge and the policies would primarily be driven by AI. These themes of research are well aligned with IIT Kharagpur and both organizations view this partnership as a way to push the boundaries of fundamental and applied research in the radio domain.

    IIT Kharagpur director Virendra Kumar Tewari, states, “ In the commitment towards digital India and making India the hub of technological innovation, this collaboration with Ericsson will be effective for next-generation technology significantly. 6G networks integrated with artificial intelligence will enable AI-powered applications to run faster and more efficiently. In the 6G era, IIT Kharagpur aims to contribute to radio access technology and network, core network, RF & device technologies, VLSI design, neuromorphic signal processing, services and applications. The institute also looks forward to participating in telecommunications standardisation process, developing test beds, prototype development and Commercialisation along with training and manpower development. This collaborative research partnership in fundamental areas as well as translational research will be transformational for our Future Network Platforms.”

    Elaborating on the partnership between IIT Kharagpur and Ericsson, Ericsson Research, head Dr Magnus Frodigh states, “ This collaboration strengthens our R&D commitments in India and is pivotal to radio, compute and AI research. We are excited to partner with IIT Kharagpur and look forward to collaborative research in fundamental areas as well as translational research for our future network platforms”. Dr Frodigh also presented Ericsson’s vision on 6G which aims to blend the physical and digital worlds enabling us to improve the quality of life by incorporating widespread sensor-based communications between humans and machines through digital twins.

    Ericsson India managing director Nitin Bansal states, “ Ericsson is well poised to lead 6G innovation and we are making significant R&D investments in India in line with our commitment to the country. Given our 5G and technology leadership, our research initiatives are geared to provide affordable network platforms for ubiquitous connectivity all across the country”.

    The speakers and panellists of the conference included Prof. Suvra Sekhar Das (Head, GSSST), Prof. Debarati Sen, Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti, Prof. Soumyajit Dey and many other faculty members from IIT Kharagpur; Dr Magnus Frodigh, head of Ericsson Research, Dr Mikael Hook, head of radio research and Dr Mikael Prytz, head of network research.

    Some of the key initiatives finalized by both the organisations include:

    Compute offload and resource optimisation at edge compute: The project aims to explore resource optimisation, dynamic observability and sustainable distributed and Edge computing technologies.

    RL based beamforming for JCAS: safe, causal, and verifiable: The project aims to explore causal AI methods for joint communication and sensing (JCAS).

  • Sony India Expands the family of professional BRAVIA displays

    Sony India Expands the family of professional BRAVIA displays

    Mumbai: Sony India’s family of professional BRAVIA displays is growing with the introduction of the essential EZ20L series, which rounds out a full portfolio suited for commercial environments. With an extensive set of choices to meet a variety of requirements and budgets, Sony’s professional BRAVIA displays now support high-end, mid-range, standard, and entry-level uses.

    The EZ20L 4K series, ideal for corporate and retail applications, will offer sizes ranging from 43 to 75 inches. They are built upon the robust usability, installation flexibility, picture quality, and sustainability common to all of Sony’s professional BRAVIA display products. As the introductory offering in the lineup, the EZ20L models will provide basic professional features including simplified pro-settings for streamlined setup and maintenance, as well as RS-232C support, standard IP control, 16/7 operation, and 350 nits of brightness for high visibility indoors.

    The EZ20L lineup consists of: FW-75EZ20L (75-inch), FW-65EZ20L (65-inch), FW-55EZ20L (55-inch), FW-50EZ20L (50-inch) and FW-43EZ20L (43-inch)

    Sony India deputy, managing director Nakashima Tomohiro, said, “Customer demand is what drives our development and expansion, and in this case, our users sought a more accessible and budget-conscious display optimised for corporate, education, and retail environments. With the addition of the essential EZ20L series, our complete range of options now supports the exacting requirements of various businesses and spaces and takes advantage of the quality and feature set inherent to Sony’s professional displays,”

    Additional highlights of the EZ20L series include a free, pre-installed BRAVIA Signage app, administrative functionality to turn off inputs, built-in mirroring directly from a user’s device, a slim bezel, flexible installation options, a wide viewing angle, a powerful 4K processor X1™, 4K X-Reality™ PRO for upscaling content, as well as sustainability features including the use of recycled plastic materials, more environmentally friendly packaging, and power-saving mode.

    With the launch of EZ20L Series, Sony India officially announced the partnership of professional display solutions business with Zeetaminds, a digital signage software solutions provider based in Chennai. They offer both cloud-based and on premise-based signage solutions for customers in India and abroad.

    Zeetaminds co-founder Balaji Kamineni, said, “Zeetaminds is delighted to partner with Sony professional displays, our digital signage software seamlessly integrates with pro BRAVIA models. Doing business with Sony means integrity at the highest level, a value we hold of utmost importance,”

    Sony’s latest lineup of 4K HDR professional BRAVIA displays

    These new additions to the professional BRAVIA portfolio augment Sony’s recently announced BZ50L, BZ40L, BZ35L, and BZ30L lineup of 14 fully featured 4K HDR displays, which serve as a step-up from the EZ20L models. Each series has a set of common benefits including exceptional image quality, a wide viewing angle, helpful professional features, and a powerful system on a chip (SoC) platform, as well as differentiators that cover a wide range of needs and price points. Included in the family of displays is the distinctive BZ40L series, which features a Deep Black Non-Glare Coating that offers both high haze and low reflection, while maintaining deep blacks and high contrast.

    The flagship 98-inch BZ50L with Sony XR processing and unrivaled picture quality boasts 780 nits of brightness in a larger-sized display. The high brightness, non-glare BZ40L series (55 to 85 inches) with 4K HDR X1 processing achieves 700 nits at a high 47 per cent haze with anti-reflection (except for the FW-85BZ40L, which achieves 650 nits at 58 per cent haze), without loss of contrast. The enhanced BZ35L series (55 to 75 inches) features increased storage, 550 nits of robust brightness, and an X1 processor. The complete BZ30L series offers a full range of sizes (43 to 85 inches), 4K HDR X1 processing and 440 nits of brightness.

    Price and availability:

    The EZ20L 4K series is available via Sony authorised distributors in India. The new series features a 3-year standard warranty and can be purchased through Sony authorized distributors.

     

    Model best buy.  ( in Rs ) availability date
    FW-75EZ20L (75-inch) 275,000/- available now
    FW-65EZ20L (65-inch)  175,000/- available now
    FW-55EZ20L (55-inch) 125,000/- available now
    FW-50EZ20L (50-inch) 110,000/- available now
    FW-43EZ20L (43-inch) 90,000/-  available now
  • Interim Budget 2024: Glimpses into technological boom!

    Interim Budget 2024: Glimpses into technological boom!

    Mumbai: With the unveiling of the Interim Budget 2024 by union minister of finance Nirmala Sitharaman, a wave of anticipation and excitement sweeps across industries. The budget unfolds a roadmap for India’s economic trajectory, emphasising technology, innovation, and skill development.

    Following are some of the key highlights and reactions from industry leaders, shedding light on the potential impacts on technological advancements.

    Beyond Key founder and CEO Piyush Goel

    In 2024, a transformative surge in technology is predicted, propelled by India’s unwavering commitment to skill development and innovation, as articulated by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Skill India Mission has actively educated 1.4 crore youths, imparting essential skills and upskilling 54 lakh youths, alongside establishing 3,000 new ITIs. The academic arena has witnessed remarkable growth with the establishment of seven IITs, sixteen IITs, seven IIMs, 15 AIIMSs, and 390 universities, fostering a strong atmosphere for technological advancement. Furthermore, the fiscal budget 2024 allocates resources to increase the number of airports, rail infrastructure, and other infrastructure, undoubtedly impacting mass lives. Artificial Intelligence (AI) would become a pivotal force, and stronger funding to harness its benefits is poised to elevate the technological landscape. Corporate sectors also stand to benefit from the decreased corporate tax of 22 per cent, fostering a greater favorable commercial enterprise environment and selling economic growth through accelerated investments and expansion opportunities. The budget’s strategic investments underscore India’s steadfast determination to a dynamic and tech-driven future.

    AdCounty Media CFO Abbhinav R Jain

    The Interim budget marks a significant move towards India’s digitisation. In the budget 2023-24, the government announced an outlay of 4795.24 crore for its Digital India program which ensured universal access to high-speed internet and digital literacy initiatives. This year, in a bid to bolster R&D in sunrise domains, Honourable FM, Nirmala Sitharaman, announced a corpus of one lakh crore with a 50-year interest-free loan. Dubbing this period as the golden era for innovation and entrepreneurship, she went on to say that the corpus will provide long-term financing or refinancing with long tenures and low or nil rates. The budget, undeniably, is leaving no stone unturned to bridge the gap between youth and technology to realise the aim of a fully developed India (“Viksit Bharat”) by 2047.

    Tagglabs founder Hariom Seth

    An innovative landmark statement was made by Nirmala Sitharaman, who announced A corpus of 1 lakh crore rupees 50-year interest-free loan with low or nill interest rates to encourage and scale up research and innovation. This marks a landmark in the history of tech startups and companies, providing a one-of-a-kind chance to explore distant shores and leave an indelible mark on the ‘Make in India’ dream.

    The provision of a corpus of 1 lakh crore rupees as 50-year interest-free loans with low or no interest rates is a significant move that can greatly benefit companies. This initiative increases liquidity, allowing companies to invest in research, development, and innovation without the burden of immediate repayment. It also mitigates financial risk associated with borrowing due to the long tenure of the loan and the low or nil interest rates. Furthermore, it encourages innovation as companies can focus more on creating innovative products and solutions with easier access to funds. The overall cost of the loan decreases due to lower interest rates, leading to savings that can be used for other business activities.

    Lastly, timely repayment of such loans can enhance a company’s credit profile, making it easier to secure future funding. However, while these benefits can provide a significant boost to companies, it’s also important for them to manage these funds wisely to avoid potential financial challenges.

    DashLoc CEO and co-founder Sumit Singh

    The budget has clearly exhibited that the government is extending full-fledged support towards adoption of technology across sectors. The special mention that deeptech in defence section gained in the speech truly indicates that the government is going to support emerging technologies in crucial sectors too. Alongside, it is a matter of pride that STEM courses have seen aggressive enrolment from women. We can expect a quality and skilled workforce in India that will keep the wheel running towards striking progress.

    Almonds AI co-founder & CEO Abhinav Jain

    Government’s forward-looking budget aligns remarkably well with the impetus required for the AI and technology sectors. The focus on digital infrastructure lays a robust foundation for innovation, and the commitment to skill development among youth mirrors the mission to empower the next generation with AI capabilities. The support for electric vehicles and clean energy initiatives resonate with the Green Loyalty Program, reinforcing belief in sustainable technological advancement. This budget not only catalyzes a tech-driven economy but also heralds a golden era for companies like ours at the intersection of AI and market technology. We are eager to contribute to this transformative journey and commend the government’s vision for a tech-empowered, inclusive growth trajectory.

    Superbot co-founder & director Sarvagya Mishra

    It’s encouraging that the government recognizes the importance of addressing skill development to meet the demand for a high-quality workforce in the emerging technology sector, crucial for India’s ambitious goal of a $5 trillion economy. All the initiatives mentioned in the Interim budget speech like establishment of more IITs, IIITs, STEM courses etc., are cementing the foundation of the growing India, which is youth. Commendably, the government’s embrace of deeptech in critical sectors like defense underscores our country’s progressive stance. Given that R&D is a capital-intensive step for businesses in deeptech, blockchain, machine learning, and generative AI, increased allocation towards MUDRA schemes and the announcement of a one-lakh crore corpus with 50-year interest-free support will undoubtedly fuel technological growth.

    NeuralGarage co-founder & CEO Mandar Natekar

    The interim budget presented today shall provide an impetus to an ecosystem of startups, technology companies and aspirants, providing them with ample opportunities to set-up, enhance technological offerings and bolster innovation. These are positive sentiments that will further strengthen India’s technology landscape through research and innovation. A corpus of Rupees One Lakh Crore will be established with a fifty-year interest-free loan. The corpus will provide long-term financing or refinancing with long tenors and low or nil interest rates. The private sector will witness a steep growth with innovation being at the forefront. Further, the government has extended tax benefits for start-ups to 31 March 2025 and withdrawn some outstanding direct tax demands. Deeptech and GenAI have the potential to revolutionize a variety of sectors. Ethical practices and its usage will lead to Indian brands and artists being recognised from local to global markets creating a seamless experience and put India on the global map for technological prowess.

    Yatiken Software Solutions founder and CEO Alok Kashyap

    In line with the government’s ambitious vision of technology contributing 20-25 per cent to the GDP by 2025, this forward-looking budget charts a promising course for the IT sector. The allocation for EV infrastructure development is particularly noteworthy as it opens avenues for software development in EV systems, IoT integration, and data analytics. The one-lakh crore corpus for long-term financing is another indispensable boon for the IT industry, fostering innovation and research. Moreover, the Skill India Mission’s initiatives and tax benefits for startups provide a robust foundation for skill development and entrepreneurial growth.

    icogz MD Amit Tripathi

    The budget allocated Rs 8,000 crore for the national mission on quantum technologies and applications, which aims to boost research and innovation in quantum computing, communication, cryptography, and artificial intelligence. This is as per expected lines and what I had predicted in my pre budget expectations.

    The budget also proposed to set up a Data Centre Economic Zone to attract investments and create employment opportunities in the data centre industry, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23 per cent by 2025. Again on expected lines.

    The budget increased the tax deduction at source (TDS) on e-commerce transactions from one per cent to two per cent, which may affect the profitability and cash flow of e-commerce platforms and sellers.

    E-Factor Experiences Ltd MD Samit Garg

    The emphasis on digital transformation across sectors could encourage the adoption of advanced technologies in event management, like virtual reality, augmented reality, and AI, enhancing the audience experience. More investment in R&D would result in more availability of local resources, thereby pushing the costs down and making the solutions more affordable.