Info Edges Naukri and 99acres taken down from Google Play Store

Google Play Store has removed Info Edge's Naukri and 99acres applications due to non-compliance with the tech giant's app billing policy for an extended period, according to Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikchandani. The move is part of Google's broader initiative to eliminate apps from Indian developers that fail to adhere to its billing policies, reported Moneycontrol. JeevanSathi, the company's matrimony business, remains accessible on the Play Store as of the latest update. Despite complying with Google's app policies since February 9, following an interim order from the Supreme Court related to a case against Google's app billing policy, Naukri and 99acres, owned by Info Edge, have been removed from the Google Play Store. Sanjeev Bikchandani, founder of Info Edge, confirmed that all dues to Google have been paid promptly. The delisting appears to be a consequence of Google's ongoing efforts to enforce its app billing policy for Indian developers. Meanwhile, the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has issued a strong advisory to Google, urging the tech giant to abstain from delisting apps owned by Indian companies from its Play Store platform. This plea follows notices from Google, putting at least four Indian firms at risk of removal from the digital marketplace.  

Infosys executive says AI will directly impact jobs, companies will hire fewer employees in future

Ever since OpenAI introduced the world to ChatGPT in 2022, interest in generative AI has reached new heights. While some people feel that the emerging technology will prove to be beneficial for people and aid them in their day-to-day lives, there is another section of people who have been saying that it will take away human jobs. And an Infosys senior executive believes that generative AI will lead to decreased headcount in organisations. In other words, companies will be hiring fewer employees in the future thanks to AI.Satish H C, executive vice-president and co-head (delivery), said according to a Business Standard report, that because of new technologies like generative AI (artificial intelligence), companies will need fewer employees in the future. He added that this shift will happen gradually over the next three to five years. He further explained that as companies start using advanced technologies like generative AI more, they'll become more efficient, and that means they won't need as many people for traditional jobs. In simple terms, as technology becomes more important, companies might hire fewer people in the future, and this shift is expected to happen slowly over the next few years. In another interview with Reuters, the Infosys senior executive had said that the company was also turning out to be "AI first." He had said, "At Infosys, I don't think we were digital first. It took us a few years, but now that we have the hindsight of how we adapted to digital, we are adapting to AI much better and I think we are going AI first," he said.A few companies have already started replacing some of their human workforce with AI. One such company that recently made headlines for its automation success is Klarna, a Swedish financial technology company. The company revealed recently that its AI assistant has taken on the work that 700 employees used to do. This news comes a year after the company fired approximately a similar number of employees. The company had also faced massive criticism for the same. When Klarna faced staff reductions, CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski pointed to economic uncertainties, worries about inflation, and the potential for an upcoming recession as reasons for the decision. Siemiatkowski had also received criticism for his handling of the situation, especially when he posted a spreadsheet on LinkedIn that listed the names of many laid-off employees. In response to questions from Fast Company about how the AI assistant's productivity in human terms was calculated, Klarna clarified that this metric had no connection to the earlier staff reductions.  

Phone with 28,000mAh battery showcased, Energizer says it can last for a week

While I saw a lot of innovative devices at this year's MWC 2024 tech show, the thing that I was not expecting to see here is a smartphone with a whopping 28,000mAh battery under the hood. Well, I think you might be as surprised as I was after finding out about it. Moreover, this one even has a rugged build quality and the company is claiming that it is shockproof as well as waterproof too. At MWC 2024, Avenir Telecom showcased it as an Energizer Hard Case P28K device.It is like any other traditional smartphone in the market, but with a much bigger battery and good build quality. It seems the device might not be for a regular consumer because it is very bulky and almost feels like holding a big stone in hand. But, it is a perfect device for workers, maybe, who work in places like mining and more. The smartphone won't die soon and will last for a week, something that they might want to have. It will also not get damaged because of water - all thanks to its support for IP69 rating. I do believe that its robust battery capacity comes at a cost in terms of size and weight. Weighing 570g and measuring 27.8mm thick, it's substantially bulkier than conventional smartphones. Nevertheless, it supports fast charging up to 33W, allowing for a full charge in under an hour and a half. The device runs on Android and has all the Google apps as well. Marketed as the ultimate endurance phone, this device promises an entire week of regular usage and with an IP69 rating, the company is ensuring durability in harsh environments. With talk time rated at 122 hours and standby time extending up to 2252 hours, it seems like a dependable companion for extended periods without access to charging points. In terms of specifications, the P28K offers entry-level features with no 5G support and a MediaTek MT6789 processor. It includes 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a trio of rear cameras, Android 14, and a 6.78-inch 1080p LCD display. Avenir Telecom plans to launch the Energizer Hard Case P28K in October 2024, priced at EUR 249.99, targeting global markets excluding the US. While it may not appeal to those seeking sleek designs or cutting-edge performance, the P28K caters to a niche audience prioritizing endurance and reliability in their mobile devices.  

Vending machines at Canada University will be removed due to facial recognition technology.

A Canadian university is planning to remove several smart vending machines from its campus due to privacy concerns regarding the covert use of facial recognition technology. The controversy started, according to The Guardian, when a student took a picture of the snack dispenser showing the error message Invenda.Vending.FacialRecognition.App.exe. Neither the technology's use by the machine nor the presence of a camera tracking student movements and purchases were disclosed beforehand. Additionally, users weren't prompted for permission to scan or analyze their faces. "If not for the application error, we would not have known. According to the outlet, River Stanley, a student at the University of Waterloo who covered the discovery for the school newspaper, stated, "There's no warning here." The manufacturer of the devices, Invenda, defended the technology nevertheless. It stated that the technology complies with privacy regulations set forth by the European Union. Notably, the business boasts about using "demographic detection software" to ascertain the age and gender of its clientele. It's unclear if technology use complies with Canadian privacy laws.Adaria Vending Services' director of technology services defended the technology in a different context, stating that "an individual person cannot be identified using the technology in the machines".

Germanys Foundamental and Other Investors Provide Funding for Fashinza Cofounders Proptech Startup Marrfa

"SYNOPSIS: According to Jamil Ahmad, the funds will be utilized for tech innovation, hiring talent from other regions, and expansion throughout the UAE, Singapore, and Europe. Marrfa is a managed real estate marketplace with a comprehensive stack that seeks to democratize global access to high-yield investment possibilities. After serving in that capacity for almost four years, Ahmad resigned as chief business officer of B2B marketplace Fashinza in January of this year. Berlin-based VC company Foundamental led a pre-seed round that saw the undisclosed amount of investment raised by co-founder Jamil Ahmad of Fashinza's proptech startup, Marrfa. Angel investor Prashant Malik, general partner of US-based Tykhe Block Ventures, took part in the round as well. Working capital funding totaling $30 million has been obtained by Fashinza from Mars Growth Capital and Liquidity Group. By automating the whole debt lending cycle, Liquidity Group, a trailblazing technology company, has become the fastest-growing lender to mid-market and late-stage companies internationally. The money will support Fashinza's further development into an international company with major operations in the USA, the Gulf, and Europe. Fashion is always changing, but never more so as it is right now in the era of Instagram and Tiktok, which rapidly affect global fashion choices. Fashion brands need to have extremely effective supply chain management and be very nimble in order to stay ahead of the curve. If they continue to depend just on big manufacturers as they did in the past, this is not feasible. Fashinza offers a creative solution to this issue by putting SMEs in direct contact with leading global fashion brands. Through the development of an online marketplace that facilitates seamless connections between customers and sellers, Fashinza is transforming the fashion industry in the rapidly evolving digital era. ""The global fashion supply chain is changing because to Fashioninza. We were sufficiently confident in their ability to scale this business and sustain in the medium- to long-term based on their performance since inception, the strength of their founding team, and their current global network of manufacturers and customers ""said Navas Ebin, MD of APAC for Mars Growth Capital and Liquidity Group. The money will be used by Fashinza to cover its expanding needs for working capital on a global scale. ""Our capital is non-asset based and will hence support Fashinza to grow their business internationally in the most capital-efficient manner,"" stated Navas Ebin. ""Fashinza is a pre-unicorn with great potential and ambitions for the world. ""Investment Manager Nir Shmueli of Mars Growth Capital and Liquidity Group stated, 'The prospects for a long-term partnership with the company are exciting. We have been helping companies like Fashinza transition into becoming truly global businesses."" "

In light of Paytm and Byjus worries, a government committee is expected to finalize the startup regulatory framework in two months.

According to officials in the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs is taking a close look at big, unlisted companies in the wake of recent regulatory issues at Byju's, Paytm Payments Bank, and BharatPe.To create a regulatory framework for large unlisted startups, the government-appointed Company Law Committee met last month and is set to meet again soon.This program supports the government's objective of encouraging startup expansion in the face of corporate governance and regulatory obstacles that large companies such as Byju's and Paytm Payments Bank must overcome.Supervising businesses not directly under the purview of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the aim of this regulatory framework."We are speeding up the report and conducting an ongoing inspection against Byju's." If the Reserve Bank of India contacts us about Paytm Payments Bank, we would look into it," the official said.According to the insider, BharatPe recently received a new notification from the Delhi Police's Economic Offenses wing requesting further information on the findings in a status report.According to sources, the committee is also evaluating standards and guidelines for board directors and investors in order to improve control without placing an excessive regulatory burden on them.The Committee, which is led by the corporate affairs secretary, is made up of specialists, government representatives, and members of the business community. Its main goal is to make conducting business easier while ensuring that the Companies Act of 2013 and the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Act of 2008 are implemented effectively.A private company incorporated under company law and recognized as such by notification from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is considered a startup.In the midst of the Paytm Payments Bank Ltd. crisis, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India President Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal announced on Sunday that the fintech company's problems may be discussed by the financial reporting review board (FRRB) soon. The tech-based education unicorn Byju's accounts are presently being reviewed by the statutory body's FRRB due to purported governance concerns, and the process is going smoothly, according to the president of ICAI."We haven't thought about the PayPal issue up to this point, but the FRRB board meeting is coming up, and when it does, it will discuss taking necessary action. In regards to this topic, we haven't made any decisions thus far," ICAI President Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal stated to PTI in an interview.According to him, newly elected ICAI committees, such as FRRB, are anticipated to convene in March. Remarkably, because of purported regulatory concerns, the Reserve Bank of India, which oversees the banking industry, has already placed limits on Paytm Payments Bank Ltd.According to him, the FRRB will decide whether further examination of the books is required in light of the claims of regulatory violations and how they affected the payment bank's accounting. "The board has the authority to decide who gets reviewed and when. Its system is strong," declared the recently elected head of ICAI. When asked if the ICAI was anticipating a complaint about Paytm, Agarwal responded, "The institute has the authority to take action both through complaints and suo motu." It was suo motu in the instance of Byju."Speaking on behalf of Byju, he stated that "the report is expected by the end of this year" and that the board's scrutiny process is "going well." "The board has a three-tier structure—technical, group, and finally the board review," the ICAI chief stated while describing the FRRB organization. He asserts that the FRRB has the authority to examine the financial statements of publicly traded corporations.

Shark Tank judges gave Rs 2 Cr to ReFit Global, a D2C reconditioned marketplace.

ReFit Global is a direct-to-consumer (D2C) marketplace for refurbished items. Anupam Mittal, Vineeta Singh, and Amit Jain are among the Shark Tank judges who have donated Rs 2 crore at a valuation of Rs 200 crore.The funds raised will be used to improve operations, broaden the company's market reach, and fortify its technological foundation. ReFit Global also hopes to enhance its web presence and client satisfaction.Saket Saurav and Avneet Singh launched ReFit Global, which runs a network of over 50,000 stores in nearly 100 locations. The startup intends to become a profitable enterprise worth at Rs 1,000 crore within the next five years."Building a strong alliance with a broad collection of skilled sharks, each offering their own ideas and knowledge, was our main goal. The goal of this opportunity is to provide ReFit a more distinct vision and market positioning, according to ReFit Global CEO and founder Saket Saurav.Saket Saurav and Avneet Singh launched ReFit Global. On Shark Tank India Season 3, the direct-to-consumer (D2C) refurbished marketplace ReFit Global raised Rs 2 crore at a valuation of Rs 200 crore.three days beforehandReFit Global, a well-known direct-to-consumer (D2C) marketplace for refurbished goods, has secured $2 million at a valuation of $200 million from renowned Shark Tank judges, such as Amit Jain, Vineeta Singh, and Anupam Mittal.The organization intends to carefully allocate capital to enhance its technology infrastructure, broaden its market reach, and expedite operational expansion. To further consolidate its place in the market, ReFit Global also hopes to improve client satisfaction and its online presence. ReFit Global, which was co-founded by Saket Saurav and Avneet Singh, has a strong network of more than 50,000 shops in about 100 locations. Within the next five years, the firm is determined to reach a significant milestone: becoming a profitable entity valued at Rs 1,000 crore.ReFit Global's founder and CEO, Saket Saurav, stressed the strategic importance of forging a vibrant alliance with a varied collection of skilled sharks, each of whom brings a special set of views and knowledge. He eagerly took advantage of this chance to improve ReFit's positioning in the industry and sharpen its vision.ReFit Global, a bootstrapped company, takes great pleasure in its extraordinary growth trajectory, having secured Rs 200 crore in FY23 and achieved an amazing 100x year-over-year growth.ReFit Global has reached a major milestone with the successful investment in Shark Tank Season 3, setting the company up for future growth and success in the competitive reconditioned market.One of the leading companies in the Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) refurbished sector is ReFit Global. By obtaining Rs 2 Crore in finance at an astounding valuation of INR 200 Crore, it accomplished a noteworthy milestone. This achievement was made possible by the sharks on the panel during their riveting Shark Tank India Season 3 pitch, where they acknowledged the potential of ReFit's business plan.

Zee creates an advisory council in the midst of "market rumors" to protect investor confidence.

To protect the interests of its shareholders, Zee Entertainment Enterprises established a three-person independent advisory group.The committee is led by Dr. Satish Chandra, a former Allahabad High Court judge, and consists of two independent directors.This development has occurred in response to reports of corporate governance violations at the corporation and the ensuing investigations by pertinent agencies. An "accounting hole" of Rs 2,000 crore was mentioned in media reports earlier this week about the company's financials.According to a ZEE representative, the goal of the action is to stop the "widespread circulation of misinformation, market rumors, and speculation. "The business has categorically denied the allegations, claiming that the reports in question are "incorrect and false."The reports also reveal a third party's vested interests. ZEE is a company led by an experienced Board and has upheld the highest standards of governance. The spokeswoman stated, "The Company has continuously extended complete cooperation to all concerned authorities and has transparently provided all requested information."According to the business, it has also asked SEBI to investigate "market rumors that lead to misinformation and consequently erosion of investor wealth."

Google introduces Genie, an AI platform which can help you generate video games

Artificial intelligence (AI) is blurring the boundaries between imagination and reality. From ChatGPT to Mid-Journey, we have already been introduced to how we can create anything by stimulating our minds. Recently, OpenAI introduced Sora, which offers a text-video AI generator. So, what's next? Well, now Google's DeepMind team has unveiled "Genie" - a new model capable of creating interactive 2D video games from a single image prompt or text description.In simple terms, Google Genie is an AI platform that generates interactive video games. Developed by Google DeepMind's Open-Endedness Team, this groundbreaking research project holds immense potential for the future of entertainment, game development, and even robotics. Google explains that Genie is a "world model" trained on a massive dataset of 200,000 hours of unlabelled video footage primarily from 2D platformer games. Unlike traditional AI models that require explicit instructions and labelled data, Genie learns by observing the actions and interactions within these videos, allowing it to generate video games from a single prompt or image. Imagine the Genie as a skilled chef preparing a complex dish. Just as a chef breaks down ingredients into smaller portions for easier handling, the Video Tokenizer efficiently processes massive video data into manageable units called "tokens." These tokens serve as the fundamental building blocks for the Genie's understanding of the visual world. In the second step, after finely chopping the tokenized video data, the Latent Action Model takes center stage. It acts like a seasoned culinary expert, meticulously analysing transitions between consecutive frames in the videos. This analysis enables it to identify eight fundamental actions-the essential "spices" in the Genie's recipe. These actions can range from jumping and running to interacting with objects within the game environment.Finally, comes the process of Dynamics Model-the creative cook who brings everything together. Similar to a chef predicting how flavours will interact based on chosen ingredients, this model predicts the next frame in the video sequence. It takes into account the current state of the game world, including the player's actions (the chosen "spice"), and generates the subsequent visual result accordingly. This continuous prediction process ultimately creates the illusion of an interactive and engaging game experience.      

What's Trending Globally

Asia

News 2344

Australia/New-Zealand

News 42

Canada

News 15

China

News 49

Europe

News 40

France

News 1

Gulf

News 11

India

News 3384

Pakistan

News 20

Russia

News 20

Ukraine

News 0

United Kingdom

News 51

Interacting with humanoid robot is fun, but it also feels a little creepy

At MWC 2024, I got a chance to interact with the humanoid robot and the experience was extraordinary. What I am most surprised about is the striking resemblance between humans and the robot in terms of facial expressions, conversing and more.Have you ever imagined having a conversation with a humanoid robot? If the answer is yes, then I can tell you it is way too much fun to chat with a human robot. Engineered Arts, which is a British company, showed off its second-generation Ameca robot at MWC 2024. It is the most advanced human-robot yet because it is powered by GPT 4, the latest Large Language Model (LLM) by OpenAI, also used by Microsoft's Copilot. At MWC 2024, I got a chance to interact with the humanoid robot and the experience was extraordinary. What I am most surprised about is the striking resemblance between humans and the robot in terms of facial expressions, conversing and more. Engaging in conversations felt remarkably natural. Since it is powered by ChatGPT, you can ask it any question and it can quickly answer it. The facial expressions are quite real. It can smile, dance, or even converse with you like a human. It can basically be your friend. The eyes of the robot almost seem very human-like and the expressions that it gives are very REAL. When you are looking at the robot for more than 2 seconds, it stares at you and feels a little creepy. The robot has cameras in its eyes and a microphone is incorporated in the ears that are not visible to users. The second generation robot operates on battery and it needs to be connected to the internet as well. The wired charging option is also available for a different model. But, as these humanoid robots become more integrated into our daily lives, questions arise regarding the ethical implications of human-robot interactions. How do we ensure that these robots are programmed to prioritize human safety and well-being? What measures are in place to prevent misuse or manipulation of these technologies? And perhaps most importantly, what impact will prolonged interactions with humanoid robots have on human psychology and social dynamics?      

Google admits to Gemini AI’s inaccuracies on political topics after ‘biased’ remarks on PM Modi

Google, the tech giant, announced on Saturday that it swiftly addressed the concerns surrounding the Gemini AI tool. The tool faced criticism from the Indian government for its perceived "biased" response to a question about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.“We’ve worked quickly to address this issue. Gemini is built as a creativity and productivity tool and may not always be reliable, especially when it comes to responding to some prompts about current events, political topics, or evolving news. This is something that we’re constantly working on improving,” Hindu Businessline quoted Google spokesperson as saying. Google clarified that the Gemini AI tool is developed in accordance with its AI Principles and includes safeguards to detect and test various safety risks. The company emphasizes its commitment to identifying and preventing harmful or policy-violating responses within Gemini. The debate on chatbot programming was sparked by a post on social media platform X on Friday, leading to concerns raised by the Indian government, which hinted at potential action against the company. In response to a question about whether Prime Minister Modi is a fascist, the Gemini AI tool stated that he is "accused of implementing policies some experts have characterized as fascist." The tool elaborated that these accusations stem from factors such as the BJP's Hindu nationalist ideology, its suppression of dissent, and its deployment of violence against religious minorities. The AI's allegedly biased response sparked a debate on chatbot programming, with the Indian government expressing concerns and indicating potential action against Google. In contrast, when a similar question was posed about former US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Gemini AI tool provided no clear answer. Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, acknowledged the issue of alleged bias in Google's Gemini AI tool in response to a post by a verified journalist's account. The government had expressed concerns over the tool's response to a query about Prime Minister Modi, indicating potential action against Google.“These are direct violations of Rule 3(1)(b) of Intermediary Rules (IT rules) of the IT act and violations of several provisions of the Criminal code,” he said on social media platform X tagging Google AI, Google India and the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY). Once again on Saturday, Rajeev Chandrasekhar emphasized to Google that explanations regarding the unreliability of AI models do not exempt platforms from laws. He cautioned that India's digital citizens should not be experimented on with unreliable platforms and algorithms.  

Elon Musk confirms Xmail is coming amid rumours of Gmail shutting down take over the internet

Elon Musk, the CEO of X (formerly Twitter), has confirmed the imminent launch of Xmail, sparking speculation about its potential to rival Google's Gmail service. Musk's announcement came swiftly after rumors of Gmail's impending shutdown spread like wildfire on the internet.The confirmation surfaced following a tweet from Nathan McGrady, a senior member of X’s Security Engineering team, who inquired about the launch date of Xmail. Musk promptly responded, confirming that the service is on the horizon, setting the stage for what could be a significant shift in the email service landscape.The tech community erupted with anticipation as concerns mounted over the fate of Gmail, fueled by a viral post on X that purported to announce the shutdown of Google's email service. The post, accompanied by a screenshot of an alleged email from Google titled 'Google is sunsetting Gmail,' triggered widespread panic and speculation about the future of Gmail. The purported email claimed that Gmail would cease all operations as of August 1, 2024, discontinuing support for sending, receiving, or storing emails. While the post garnered immense attention, skepticism arose regarding its authenticity, with many questioning its credibility as a legitimate announcement from Google was not out. The purported email claimed that Gmail would cease all operations as of August 1, 2024, discontinuing support for sending, receiving, or storing emails. While the post garnered immense attention, skepticism arose regarding its authenticity, with many questioning its credibility as a legitimate announcement from Google was not out.Google swiftly addressed the speculations, taking to the X platform to reassure users that Gmail is not facing extinction and is "here to stay." The company clarified the recent modifications to Gmail's default view, transitioning from 'basic HTML' to a more vibrant interface in January 2024. Despite Google's confirmation, the rumors surrounding Gmail's fate accelerated discussions about email service alternatives, with some expressing interest in trying Xmail as a viable option. One of the users on the social media also expressed his distrust towards Gmail and a readiness to explore alternatives in light of the speculation. In other related news, Elon Musk, who is also the CEO of SpaceX, recently urged humanity to extend its reach beyond Earth, emphasising the need for a moon base and cities on Mars. Musk expressed his disappointment that half a century has elapsed since the last Moon landing, underscoring the historical significance of the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, which marked the first time humans set foot on the lunar surface.    

An Andhra man created the smallest, fully functional washing machine in the world.

A man from Andhra Pradesh has made India proud after he etched his place in the Guinness Book of World Records for creating the world's smallest washing machine.While Sai Tirumalaneedi achieved this feat last year on June 17, it only came into the limelight after the official Instagram page of Guinness World Records shared a video.In the now-viral clip, Mr Sai can be seen installing his astonishing creation.The post revealed that Mr Sai, who is from Tuni City in Andhra Pradesh, has created a washing machine whose dimensions are 1.45 inches x 1.61 inches x 1.69 inches only.To make an estimate, it is as big as a matchbox, and the best part is that the world's smallest machine even works. Mr. Sai used the small parts to install the washing machine in the video. Starting with the motor and testing it next is the process.He's seen attaching the cover to the world's smallest washing machine, which is a top loader, it should be noted.Installing a switch and a small pipe was the last step in the installation process. After Mr. Sai completes the gadget, he tests it.Sai Tirumalaneedi is shown at the end of the video pouring water, inserting a piece of cloth, and running the washing machine with detergent.Mr. Sai shows how this machine operates before removing the piece of cleaned cloth.

Google signs content licensing deal with Reddit to train AI models

Social media platform Reddit has struck a deal with Google to make its content available for training the search engine giant's artificial intelligence models, three people familiar with the matter said. The contract with Alphabet-owned Google is worth about $60 million per year, according to one of the sources. The deal underscores how Reddit, which is preparing for a high-profile stock market launch, is seeking to generate new revenue amid fierce competition for advertising dollars from the likes of TikTok and Meta Platform's Facebook.The sources were not authorized to speak to media and declined to be identified. Bloomberg previously reported Reddit's content deal without naming the buyer. Last year, Reddit said it would charge companies for access to its application programming interface (API) - the means by which it distributes its content. The agreement with Google is its first reported deal with a big AI company. San Francisco-based Reddit, which has been looking at a stock float for more than three years, is preparing to make its initial public offering filing this week, which would detail its financials for the first time to potential IPO investors. The filing could be available as early as Thursday, two of the sources said.  

Nothing to launch CMF Buds, Neckband Pro with Phone 2a on March 5

Nothing on February 21 announced that it will launch a pair of audio accessories under CMF banner on March 5. In a press note, the British consumer technology brand said it will launch the CMF Buds and CMF Neckband Pro together with the Phone (2a) at the Fresh Eyes event on March 5. Nothing said that the CMF Neckband Pro will feature Hybrid Active Noise Cancelation (ANC), up to 50dB limit. The neckband will be available in select markets, including India. Nothing has earlier confirmed an in-person launch event in India on March 5, which will kick-off at 5 PM at Dwarka, Delhi. The company is selling tickets for the launch event that are available on PayTM Insider for Rs 999. In a run up to the launch, the company has confirmed key specification details for the Nothing Phone (2a). In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the company confirmed that the smartphone will be powered by a custom-build MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset accompanied by 12GB RAM. The smartphone will also feature a virtual ram of 8GB that Nothing calls “RAM Booster”. The MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chip is built on TSMC's latest second-generation 4nm process technology. According to Nothing, the chip has 8-core configuration with clocking speeds up to 2.8 GHz.Nothing said that the Phone (2a) will feature a new Smart Clean technology, enabling the smartphone to regularly clean out-of-order file fragments – an optimisation that boosts read and write speeds.  

Neem Summit & Global Neem Trade Fair Promoting Sustainable Solutions

"On February 19–20, 2024, in New Delhi, the Neem Summit & Global Neem Trade Fair was held in association with ICAR—Central On February 19–20, 2024, in New Delhi, the Neem Summit & Global Neem Trade Fair was held in association with ICAR—Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi. A collaborative endeavor between ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi, and numerous stakeholders is the Neem Summit & Global Neem Trade Fair, scheduled for February 19–20, 2024, in New Delhi. The purpose of the event is to highlight the many applications of neem in environmental sustainability, healthcare, and agriculture. Highlights of the Trade Fair and Inauguration The Trade Fair was opened by Dr. Himanshu Pathak, DG of ICAR and Secretary of DARE. 22 international and Indian businesses took part, showcasing their neem-based goods. There were about 250 attendees, ten of them were from abroad. Seminar Subject ""Neem for Sustainable Agriculture, Health, and Environment"" is the main focus. The potential of neem to meet the needs of the industry for raw materials and its part in carbon farming are highlighted. Highlights of the Program Features Seven technical sessions addressing different facets of neem development and research. The industrial and sociocultural uses of neem are among the areas of discussion. Publications and Documentary ""Neem Field Gene Bank - Provisioning Opportunities for Conservation and Utilization"" Technical Bulletin, WNO Calendar, and Souvenir publications. The WNO Documentary was released with the goal of raising awareness of the importance and uses of neem."

Byju’s sees full subscription for Rs 1,658 crore rights issue amid valuation cut

"Last month, the Bengaluru-based firm declared its plan to earn more than Rs 1,658 crore through a rights offering. According to reports, a group of investors is lobbying for the removal of Raveendran, his brother Riju Ravindran, and his wife Divya Gokulnath from the edtech. In summary, certain important investors like Prosus and Peak XV have not yet joined. Their ownership interest in Byju's proposals to reform the board and hire a third-party agency to monitor fundraising could be reduced if they choose not to participate. Byju's announced that all of the subscription for their Rs 1658 crore ($200 million) rights issuance had been received. Nevertheless, TechCrunch noted that this accomplishment coincided with a disagreement between the The Bengaluru-based business revealed last month that it intended to earn about $200 million through a rights issue. The company was valued at $22 billion in its previous financing round in early 2022. The company's founder and CEO, Byju Raveendran, thanked the participating shareholders and emphasized the significance of increased shareholder involvement. ""We have a fully subscribed rights issue, and I am still incredibly grateful to our shareholders. "However, the involvement of every shareholder in the rights issue is how I measure success,"" founder and CEO Byju Raveendran stated in a letter to shareholders that TechCrunch was able to read. Founder requests widespread involvement from shareholders He went on to discuss the teamwork that went into creating the business and encouraged every stakeholder to participate in the rights issue in order to improve the company's prospects going forward. Together, we have established this organization, and I want everyone to be a part of this new mission. Our journey began with your initial investment, and this rights issue will help protect and increase value for all shareholders,"" stated Raveendran . Byju's lowered the pre-money valuation requested in the rights sale from $25 million to roughly $20 million, as TechCrunch previously revealed. According to sources cited in the paper, despite the subscription success, a group of investors, including Prosus and Peak XV, have not yet indicated interest in taking part in the rights offer. Their stock share in Byju's could be significantly reduced as a result of their lack of participation."

Digidarts drives the digital mandate for HomeSharp

"The performance marketing firm Digidarts has teamed with HomeSharp, a luxury real estate site based in Mumbai. With the help of creative marketing funnels and data-driven, strategic targeting, Digidarts is poised to increase HomeSharp's visibility to the right kind of customers. The founder of HomeSharp, Yazad R. Irani, comments on the collaboration: ""Our collaboration with Digidarts is based on a shared dedication to accuracy and quality."" Our mission to not only meet but exceed the expectations of Mumbai's discerning homebuyers is closely aligned with Digidarts' skill in engaging with a discerning consumer base, as we set out to reinvent the luxury real estate sector. This partnership represents our common goal of smoothly converting the ambitious ambitions of Mumbai's elite into concrete realities, going beyond simple strategic alignment. As a team, we're not just creating relationships; we're creating heirlooms."" Digidarts creator Siddhartha Vanvani expresses his excitement, saying, "We are thrilled to work with HomeSharp. Yazad has developed a ground-breaking strategy that might fundamentally alter India's luxury real estate market. Our objective is to establish HomeSharp as a leader in the luxury real estate space by streamlining the user acquisition process and using BullsEye tactics to break into the real estate sector. By fusing cutting-edge technology with knowledge of luxury real estate and real estate development, HomeSharp's smart home-buying approach seeks to make the transaction enjoyable and unforgettable. With the goal of better achieving their goal of offering luxury houses to a wider range of consumers, HomeSharp has teamed up with 360° performance marketing agency Digidarts to strengthen their brand recognition and data-driven marketing techniques. With their renowned BullsEye performance marketing solutions, Digidarts spearheads HomeSharp's digital marketing initiatives and promotes the idea that every person should have an easy time buying their ideal house."