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Google partners with Tamil Nadu to develop AI ecosystem with Chenn.AI

Google partners with Tamil Nadu to develop AI ecosystem with Chenn.AI

by | Sep 1, 2024 | Technology


Google on Saturday exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government to drive technological advancement and foster innovation in the state. (Photo: Reuters)

4 min read Last Updated : Sep 01 2024 | 4:50 PM IST


It is time for Chenn.AI in Google’s artificial intelligence roadmap now. The global major has signed a deal with the government of Tamil Nadu to develop the AI ecosystem in the state.


With this partnership, the company aims to skill 2 million youth in AI via Naan Mudhalvan, collaborate with startups, and enable micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the rural economy with advanced technology. On Sunday, Tamil Nadu secured Rs 400 crore investment from US-based Ohmium International to set up a manufacturing facility in the state. The chief minister is currently on a visit to the United States seeking investments for Tamil Nadu.


The Google deal comes after Alphabet—Google’s parent company—lined up its plans to manufacture Pixel smartphones in Tamil Nadu in a tie-up with Foxconn. This will be done at an erstwhile Nokia campus in Sriperumbudur, located 40 km southwest of Chennai. Apart from smartphones, the US tech giant is also going to start manufacturing drones in the state through its subsidiary Wing LLC.

Google on Saturday exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government to drive technological advancement and foster innovation in the state.


The MoU exchange took place at Google’s Mountain View office in the presence of Chief Minister M K Stalin and Industries Minister TRB Rajaa. Amit Zavery, vice president and head of platform of Google Cloud, and Nanda Ramachandran, vice president, Pixel Business Unit, Google, were also present.


Under the MoU, Google will work with Guidance, the Tamil Nadu government’s nodal agency for investment promotion and facilitation, to support the development of a robust AI ecosystem. This includes providing access to advanced technologies and resources, with an emphasis on empowering individuals, businesses, and government entities to leverage AI for inclusive growth and progress.


“We are happy to collaborate with Google on advanced manufacturing, including the recently announced Made in India Pixel 8 phone being manufactured in Tamil Nadu. The MoU signed today will explore key artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives under the Tamil Nadu AI Labs. Our partnership with Google is a significant step forward towards establishing Tamil Nadu as a thriving AI and advanced electronics manufacturing hub. We are not just adopting technology; we are harnessing its power to propel our state into the future,” Rajaa said.


“The chief minister’s visionary ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ programme, which is India’s largest upskilling initiative, aims to equip the youth of Tamil Nadu with future-ready AI skills and spark innovation across key sectors such as startups, mobility, healthcare, and other real-world challenges. The state is committed to equipping 2 million youth with cutting-edge AI skills to prepare them for the future. We look forward to exploring initiatives with Google under this programme,” he added.


“We’re thrilled to partner with the Tamil Nadu government on their journey towards an AI-powered future. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to fostering inclusive growth and technological progress through AI. We look forward to working together to build a thriving AI ecosystem in Tamil Nadu—one that not only drives innovation and creates opportunities but also empowers individuals with the skills they need to succeed in the digital age,” Zavery added.


Google and the government of Tamil Nadu are exploring collaborations regarding the manufacturing of Pixel 8 phones. The Made in India Pixel 8 devices are being manufactured in Tamil Nadu through local partnerships. Google will collaborate with the government to upskill Tamil Nadu’s workforce with AI capabilities and explore AI learning initiatives under the flagship ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ upskilling platform.


Programmes will also seek to enhance digital education to build a future-ready workforce.


Startups and Innovation: Google will work alongside Tamil Nadu’s startup ecosystem to offer mentorship and networking with Google experts and industry leaders, with AI-focused events designed to solve local challenges and foster innovation and problem-solving within the community. The Google for Startups programme will provide eligible venture capital-funded AI startups with cloud credits, technical training, and business support to accelerate their growth.


Enabling MSMEs and Rural Economy: To empower Tamil Nadu’s MSMEs, Google and Google Cloud’s partners will collaborate with the government to help leverage Google Cloud’s AI on open networks marketplace. These efforts will enable streamlined access, automate processes, enhance decision-making, and promote innovation through technology adoption. Google is committed to developing AI in a way that maximises the positive benefits to society while addressing the challenges, guided by our AI principles. We prioritise fundamental research to create solutions for the world’s most pressing issues and believe that collaboration across diverse communities is the key to accelerating progress with tangible impact while ensuring the ethical development and deployment of these transformative technologies.

First Published: Sep 01 2024 | 4:50 PM IST



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Google partners with Tamil Nadu to boost AI ecosystem, tech upskilling

Google partners with Tamil Nadu to boost AI ecosystem, tech upskilling

by | Aug 31, 2024 | Technology


4 min read Last Updated : Aug 31 2024 | 8:12 PM IST


Google on Saturday exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government  to drive technological advancement and foster innovation in the state.


The collaboration will focus on initiatives in key areas such as AI start-up enablement, skilling, and industrial ecosystem enablement, including MSMEs, to create impactful, scalable AI solutions. The MoU exchange took place in Google’s Mountain View office, in the presence of state Chief Minister M K Stalin and Industries Minister TRB Rajaa. Amit Zavery, Vice President and Head of Platform of Google Cloud, and Nanda Ramachandran, Vice President, Pixel Business Unit, Google, were also present.


Under the MoU, Google will work with Guidance, the Tamil Nadu government’s nodal agency for investment promotion and facilitation, to support the development of a robust AI ecosystem. This includes providing access to advanced technologies and resources, with an emphasis on empowering individuals, businesses, and government entities to leverage AI for inclusive growth and progress.


“We are happy to collaborate with Google on advanced manufacturing, including the recently announced Made in India Pixel 8 phone being manufactured in Tamil Nadu. The MoU signed today will explore key Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives under the Tamil Nadu AI Labs. Our partnership with Google is a significant step forward towards establishing Tamil Nadu as a thriving AI and advanced electronics manufacturing hub. We are not just adopting technology; we are harnessing its power to propel our state into the future,” Rajaa said.


“Chief Minister’s visionary ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ programme, which is India’s largest upskilling initiative, aims to equip the youth of Tamil Nadu with future-ready AI skills and spark innovation across key sectors such as startups, mobility, healthcare, and other real-world challenges. The state is committed to equipping 2 million youth with cutting-edge AI skills to prepare them for the future. We look forward to exploring initiatives with Google under this programme,” he added.


“We’re thrilled to partner with the Tamil Nadu Government on their journey towards an AI-powered future. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to fostering inclusive growth and technological progress through AI. We look forward to working together to build a thriving AI ecosystem in Tamil Nadu — one that not only drives innovation and creates opportunities but also empowers individuals with the skills they need to succeed in the digital age,” Zavery added.


Google and the Government of Tamil Nadu are exploring collaborations regarding the manufacturing of Pixel 8 phones. The Made in India Pixel 8 devices are being manufactured in Tamil Nadu through local partnerships. Google will collaborate with the government to upskill Tamil Nadu’s workforce with AI capabilities and explore AI learning initiatives under the flagship ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ upskilling platform.


Programmes will also seek to enhance digital education to build a future-ready workforce.


Startups and Innovation: Google will work alongside Tamil Nadu’s startup ecosystem to offer mentorship and networking with Google experts and industry leaders, with AI-focused events designed to solve local challenges and foster innovation and problem-solving within the community. The Google for Startups programme will provide eligible VC-funded AI startups with cloud credits, technical training, and business support to accelerate their growth.


Enabling MSMEs and Rural Economy: To empower Tamil Nadu’s MSMEs, Google and Google Cloud’s partners will collaborate with the government to help leverage Google Cloud’s AI on open networks marketplace. These efforts will enable streamlined access, automate processes, enhance decision-making, and promote innovation through technology adoption. Google is committed to developing AI in a way that maximises the positive benefits to society while addressing the challenges, guided by our AI principles. We prioritise fundamental research to create solutions for the world’s most pressing issues and believe that collaboration across diverse communities is the key to accelerating progress with tangible impact while ensuring the ethical development and deployment of these transformative technologies.

First Published: Aug 31 2024 | 8:12 PM IST



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Global tech leaders eye Rs 10,000 cr AI tender as India expands AI mission

Global tech leaders eye Rs 10,000 cr AI tender as India expands AI mission

by | Aug 31, 2024 | Technology


3 min read Last Updated : Aug 31 2024 | 10:44 AM IST


Leading technology companies, including Nvidia, Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Palo Alto Networks, have shown significant interest in the Indian government’s Rs 10,000 crore tender for procuring graphics processing units (GPUs). This tender is a key part of India’s ambitious Artificial Intelligence (AI) Mission, reported The Economic Times.


At a pre-bid meeting held on Thursday, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) described the level of interest as “exceptional.” The ministry plans to extend the deadline for bid submissions by two weeks, following the release of clarifications to the bidders.


MeitY Additional Secretary Abhishek Singh mentioned that the meeting generated around 500 suggestions regarding the tender. Representatives from other major companies, such as Yotta, L&T, E2E, Tata Communications, and Vigyanlabs, were also present.


To qualify for bidding under the Request for Empanelment (RFE) guidelines, companies must either present a purchase order for 1,000 GPUs or prove they have a stock of 1,000 GPUs. Several international GPU manufacturers, cloud service providers, and data centre operators raised concerns during the meeting, leading MeitY to consider extending the current September 6 deadline to address these issues.


Singh noted the high level of enthusiasm for the India AI Mission, adding that the ministry received a substantial response to the RFE. As is customary with government tenders, companies will have two weeks from the publication date of clarifications to submit their bids. The deadline for submitting suggestions is Saturday, August 31, at 5 pm.


One of the main concerns discussed was the RFE’s perceived favouritism towards larger corporations, especially regarding the teraFLOPS computing power specifications (one teraFLOPS equals one trillion floating-point operations per second). Singh emphasised that the RFE is fair to both large and small players, ensuring equal opportunities.


Suggestions were also made to create a separate category for startups and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) without prior experience, allowing them to participate in the tender. Participants also recommended including low-range GPUs, suitable for smaller workloads, under the India AI Mission to cater to diverse needs.


According to the RFE’s scoring criteria, companies with an average annual turnover of Rs 100 crore to Rs 150 crore over the last three years will receive five marks. Companies with a turnover of Rs 150 crore to Rs 200 crore will receive 15 marks, while those with a turnover of Rs 200 crore or more will receive 25 marks. Some attendees suggested that smaller companies might need to collaborate to meet these financial requirements.


Singh explained that these financial requirements align with General Financial Rules, ensuring that only companies with sufficient financial strength and capability can take on such complex projects.


Sunil Gupta, CEO of Yotta Data Services, praised the RFE, calling it a visionary step for AI/GPU cloud service providers.


Gupta pointed out Yotta’s recent purchase of 16,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs, with 4,000 already operational, as an example of the significant investment required to build India’s AI ecosystem.


He also highlighted that the empanelment framework aims to encourage collaboration among various stakeholders in the AI ecosystem, including data centres, cloud providers, managed service providers, and system integrators.


“ This will help grow the AI ecosystem in India by making GPU capacity available in India in a cost-effective manner,” Gupta added.a

First Published: Aug 31 2024 | 10:39 AM IST



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Intel mulls options including split between design, foundary to stem losses

Intel mulls options including split between design, foundary to stem losses

by | Aug 30, 2024 | Technology


Pat Gelsinger, CEO, Intel

4 min read Last Updated : Aug 30 2024 | 11:02 PM IST


By Dinesh Nair, Ian King and Ryan Gould


Intel Corp. is working with investment bankers to help navigate the most difficult period in its 56-year history, according to people familiar with the matter.

 


The company is discussing various scenarios, including a split of its product-design and manufacturing businesses, as well as which factory projects might potentially be scrapped, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private.


Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Intel’s longtime bankers, have been providing advice on the possibilities, which could also include potential M&A, the people said. The discussions have only grown more urgent since the Santa Clara, California-based company delivered a grim earnings report this month, which sent the shares plunging to their lowest level since 2013.


The various options are expected to be presented during a board meeting in September, the people said.


Intel shares rose as much as 6.5% after trading opened in New York. They have declined 60% this year, compared with a 20% gain for the Philadelphia Stock Exchange Semiconductor Index, a chip-industry benchmark. 


No major move is imminent and discussions are still in early stages, the people cautioned. A representative for Intel declined to comment, while Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.


A potential separation or sale of Intel’s foundry division, which is aimed at manufacturing chips for outside customers, would be an about-face for Chief Executive Officer Pat Gelsinger. Gelsinger has viewed the business as key to restoring Intel’s standing among chipmakers and had hoped it would eventually compete with the likes of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., which pioneered the foundry industry.


But it’s more likely that Intel takes a less dramatic step before it reaches that point, such as holding off on some of its expansion plans, the people said. The company has already done project financing deals with Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and Apollo Global Management.


Intel’s Gelsinger is running out of time to pull off a much-needed turnaround. He’s been attempting to expand the chipmaker’s factory network at the same time that sales are shrinking — a money-losing proposition. The company suffered a net loss of $1.61 billion last quarter, and analysts are predicting more red ink for the next year.


“Expect big capex cuts from Intel over the next 12 months,” said Amir Anvarzadeh, market strategist at Asymmetric Advisors. “Intel’s model is effectively broken. It’s fighting fires on too many fronts.”


Gelsinger, an Intel veteran who left the company for more than a decade, took the helm in 2021 and promised to restore the company’s technological edge. Under previous CEOs, the chip pioneer had lost market share and its long-vaunted reputation for innovation. 


But his comeback plan proved overly ambitious, and the company has had to scale back. When it reported earnings earlier this month, Intel announced plans to cut about 15,000 jobs and slash capital spending. The company even suspended its long-prized dividend.


“It’s been a difficult few weeks,” Gelsinger told investors at the Deutsche Bank Technology Conference on Thursday. The company tried to lay out a “clear view” of its next steps during its earnings report, he said. “Obviously the market didn’t respond positively. We understand that.”


Adding to the upheaval, director Lip-Bu Tan abruptly stepped down from the board last week. The semiconductor veteran, who was brought in two years ago to help with the comeback effort, cited scheduling commitments. But his departure removed one of the few directors with industry knowledge and experience.


Gelsinger’s comeback plan hinged on recasting Intel into two groups: one that designs chips and another that manufactures them. The production arm would then be free to seek business from other companies.


But the biggest client of Intel’s factory network is still Intel. Until the foundry business has more outside customers, it’s going to be challenged financially. It reported operating losses of $2.8 billion in its most recent quarter and is now on course to have a worse year than projected.


With a market value of $86 billion, Intel has fallen out of the top 10 largest chipmakers in the world ranked by that measure. It’s the second-worst performer on the Philadelphia chip index this year and suffers in comparisons with the stratospheric gains of Nvidia Corp., a company that’s on course to post double Intel’s revenue in 2024.


As recently as 2021, Intel was three times the size of Nvidia by revenue.

First Published: Aug 30 2024 | 11:02 PM IST



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Tech wrap Aug 30: Apple iPhone 16 series, Gmail Q&A, WhatsApp Passkey, more

Tech wrap Aug 30: Apple iPhone 16 series, Gmail Q&A, WhatsApp Passkey, more

by | Aug 30, 2024 | Technology


4 min read Last Updated : Aug 30 2024 | 8:03 PM IST


The iPhone 16 series is set to showcase Apple’s latest advancements in artificial intelligence. However, the complete suite of AI features may not be available immediately upon the new iPhones’ launch. Initial functionalities, such as text writing aid and summarization tools, are expected to debut in October. More sophisticated features, including image generation capabilities, might be introduced later, potentially in late 2024 or early 2025.


Google has begun rolling out its new Gmail Q&A feature for Android users and plans to extend it to iOS soon. This feature builds on the previously launched Gemini AI chatbot available on the Gmail web interface. It allows users to search for specific details in their emails, view only unread messages, filter by sender, or get summaries of emails on specific topics.


The latest addition to the Call of Duty: Black Ops franchise, COD: Black Ops 6, will be released in India on October 26. The game is currently available for pre-order, offering benefits like early access and additional in-game content. Revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 in June, COD: Black Ops 6 will also be accessible on Xbox Game Pass starting from its release date.


Google has introduced a new feature enabling users to transfer their playlists from YouTube Music to Apple Music. A support document from Google explains that users can now share their playlists with other music streaming services, with Apple Music being the current platform supported. Earlier, Apple announced that Apple Music subscribers can also migrate their playlists to YouTube Music.


With the upcoming iPhone 16 series, Apple is expected to launch several new features, including a dedicated “Capture Button” for the camera. This physical button is designed to enhance control over camera functions through touch gestures, providing a more intuitive imaging experience.


Instagram has introduced Creator Lab in India at a Mumbai event, offering educational resources specifically for content creators. During the event, Instagram, owned by Meta, also announced three new features aimed at increasing user engagement, focusing on Stories, Notes, and Chats.


Following the rollout of multi-account support on a single device, Meta’s WhatsApp is working on new features to manage contacts across different accounts. Reports from WABetaInfo indicate that the latest Android beta version includes enhanced privacy options for synchronizing contacts between accounts and linked devices.


WhatsApp is reportedly preparing to introduce a new feature aimed at boosting user privacy. The upcoming update may include passkey authentication for account verification, login, and encrypting chat backups. Passkeys will utilize biometric data, such as facial recognition and fingerprints, as an alternative to traditional passwords.


The ASUS Vivobook S15 stands out as one of the first consumer laptops featuring the updated Windows on ARM experience, driven by Qualcomm’s X Elite. This laptop offers unique advantages over its non-Qualcomm counterparts, including longer battery life, impressive performance, and a suite of exclusive artificial intelligence tools for enhanced daily use.


Reports indicate that Apple and Nvidia are in talks to invest in OpenAI in a new funding round that could value the ChatGPT creator at over $100 billion.


NASA announced that the uncrewed Boeing Starliner capsule will not undock before September 6, following a review process.


Elon Musk and Tesla Inc. have successfully dismissed a lawsuit that claimed they inflated the price of Dogecoin into a $258 billion “pyramid scheme.”


OpenAI revealed that its ChatGPT now has over 200 million weekly active users, doubling its numbers from the same period last year.


Amazon’s updated Alexa, set to release in October ahead of the U.S. holiday season, will be primarily powered by Anthropic’s Claude AI models, according to sources familiar with the matter.

First Published: Aug 30 2024 | 8:03 PM IST



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Technology may drive fulfillment of every citizen's aspirations: RBI Guv

Technology may drive fulfillment of every citizen's aspirations: RBI Guv

by | Aug 30, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : Aug 30 2024 | 6:56 PM IST


India is on the brink of a transformation, with technology expected to drive the fulfillment of every citizen’s aspirations, said Shaktikanta Das, governor, the Reserve Bank of India, on Friday. He said that from mobile banking and digital payments to AI-driven lending and blockchain innovations, the fintech ecosystem is continually evolving to meet the diverse needs of India’s expanding economy.


“Our priority should be to build an environment where financial services are seamlessly integrated into the lives of our 1.4 billion people. India now stands on the cusp of a transformation, where technology will be the engine to meet the aspirations of every citizen,” he said while speaking at the Global Fintech Fest.


He said that collaboration between policymakers, regulators, and innovators has been the cornerstone of India’s fintech journey. Success stories like Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker are the direct outcomes of these collaborative efforts. New initiatives, such as the Account Aggregator framework, Unified Lending Interface (ULI), and Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN), are poised to transform credit access, especially for small businesses and individuals.


He said that the RBI’s regulatory frameworks have enabled new and innovative businesses to grow in a structured and sustainable manner, reflecting the commitment to fostering innovation with prudence.


Das further said that digital technologies have played a crucial role in advancing financial inclusion, enhancing efficiency, and delivering real-time services nationwide. Today, India is a global leader in digital payments, a success driven by the synergy of proactive policymaking, innovation, and technological progress.


“The approach is rooted in collaboration and regulations are finalised only after extensive consultations with experts and stakeholders,” he said. Over the past year, officials and teams from various departments of the RBI have participated in approximately 750 bilateral interactions and held around 50 structured meetings with fintech players.


“Our approach is collaborative. Regulations are finally issued after wide-ranging consultations with experts and stakeholders. As I said two days ago in this forum, over the last one year, the officials and teams from various departments of the Reserve Bank have engaged in about 750 interactions bilaterally and held about 50 structured meetings with fintech players,” he said.

First Published: Aug 30 2024 | 6:56 PM IST



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