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Tamil Nadu CM visits San Francisco, inks pact with Microchip, Nokia, PayPal

Tamil Nadu CM visits San Francisco, inks pact with Microchip, Nokia, PayPal

by | Aug 30, 2024 | Technology


Tamil Nadu govt inks Rs 900 cr deals with Microchip, Nokia, PayPal during Stalin’s US visit | Photo: Stalin’s X account


The Tamil Nadu government has inked pacts with leading companies including Nokia, PayPal, Yield Engineering Systems, Microchip, Infinx, and Applied Materials for an investment commitment of Rs 900 crore and employment of 4,100 people in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai, the government said on Friday.


Six companies signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and officials during the investors’ meeting in San Francisco, an official release here said.


The chief minister, who is leading a high-level official delegation, is currently on a tour to the US till September 14 to attract investments into Tamil Nadu, as part of an ambitious goal to transform the state into a $1 trillion economy by 2030. He left for the US on August 27. He participated in a meeting with potential investors in San Francisco on Thursday.


An MoU was signed with Nokia, represented by Chief Strategy and Technology Officer Nishant Batra and President – Fixed Network Business Group Sandy Motley, for a new Nokia R&D Center, their Largest Fixed Network test bed in the world, for innovations in 10G, 25G, 50G, and 100G PON, Fixed Wireless Access, and MDU solutions, to be set up at SIPCOT, Siruseri, Chengalpattu at a cost of Rs 450 crore, generating 100 jobs.


The Finnish multinational telecommunications, information technology and consumer electronics company is one of the Fortune 500 companies.


An agreement has also been signed with the American multinational financial technology company supporting online money transfers PayPal, represented by Srini Venkatesan and Zi-Yang David Fan, for an Advanced Development Centre focused on AI, to be set up at Chennai, generating 1,000 jobs.


The government also inked a pact with Yield Engineering Systems, headquartered in Fremont, California, represented by Ramakanth Alapati and Prabhat Mishra, for a product development & manufacturing facility for semiconductor equipment to be set up at Sulur, Coimbatore, at a cost of Rs 150 crore, generating 300 jobs.


The TN government also signed an MoU with Microchip, headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, represented by Patrick Johnson and Bruce Weyer, for an R&D Centre in semiconductor technology to be set up at Semmancherry, Chennai, at a cost of Rs 250 crore, generating 1,500 jobs.


Globally, Microchip has many manufacturing facilities in countries like the USA, China, Thailand, South Korea etc. The company is one of the Fortune 500 companies. Microchip has been operating in Chennai since 2012, the release said.


A pact was inked with Infinx healthcare technology company, headquartered in San Jose, California, represented by Radhika Tandon, for a Technology and Global Delivery Centre to be set up at ELCOT Vadapalanji, Madurai, at a cost of Rs 50 crore, generating 700 jobs.


Another MoU was signed with Applied Materials, said to be the world’s number one semiconductor and display equipment company, represented by Prabu Raja and Satheesh Kuppurao, for an Advanced AI-Enabled Technology Development Centre for Semiconductor Manufacturing & Equipment to be set up at Taramani, Chennai, generating 500 jobs.


The firm’s corporate headquarters is in Santa Clara, California.


Industries Minister T R B Rajaa and senior government officials were present during the signing of the agreements.


Speaking at the investors’ conference, the chief minister said that Tamil Nadu has one of the fastest growing economies in the world today. With more than 39,000 factories and 2.6 million industrial workers, Tamil Nadu is one of the leading industrial states in India, he said.


Tamil Nadu has a large share in India’s GDP and is the number one state in exports in the country in electronics, motor vehicle and spares and Textiles sectors. The state topped the Export Readiness Index too, Stalin said.


“Our aspirational goal is to make Tamil Nadu a USD 1 trillion economy by 2030. To achieve this, we are focusing on attracting capital-intensive and employment-generating industries. Such a two-pronged approach is now yielding positive results,” he said.


Numerous American companies have set up their projects in Tamil Nadu and negotiations are on with several other companies. “We welcome your further investments… We can grow only through mutual friendship,” a release quoting Stalin emphasised while requesting the companies that already have a presence to further expand their businesses.


“The first day in San Francisco has set a promising tone for the days to follow! Secured investments exceeding Rs 900 crore for Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Chengalpattu, paving the way for 4,100 new jobs in multiple sectors,” the Chief Minister said in a post on social media platform X.


“With two more weeks ahead, we continue to intensify this momentum and attract more investors to Tamil Nadu, propelling our march towards a trillion dollar economy,” Stalin further said.

In another post he said, “An invigorating evening at the investors’ conclave where we had dynamic discussions, inviting global investors to Tamil Nadu, the land of boundless potential and vast opportunities. Let’s chase our dream with steadfast determination.”

The chief minister will address the Tamil community on August 31. He will be holding discussions with representatives from the US-based companies at Chicago on September 2 and urge them to invest in Tamil Nadu.


During his trip, he will also be meeting the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. The CM will return to Chennai on September 14.



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Jio Brain to AI-Cloud welcome offer: Key tech announcements from RIL AGM

Jio Brain to AI-Cloud welcome offer: Key tech announcements from RIL AGM

by | Aug 30, 2024 | Technology


Mukesh Amabani at Reliance AGM

3 min read Last Updated : Aug 30 2024 | 6:41 PM IST


At the 47th annual general meeting (AGM) of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani outlined the company’s plans to evolve into a technology leader. The announcements covered advancements in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital streaming. Here is a summary of the key developments revealed at the AGM 2024.


Jio Brain


Jio Brain is a suite of AI-powered tools and platforms designed to enhance AI adoption within the company. These tools aim to improve decision-making, increase prediction accuracy, and deepen understanding of customer needs. Jio plans to develop an AI service platform that will be available for other enterprises as the capabilities of Jio Brain advance.


National AI Infrastructure


Mukesh Ambani announced that Reliance is establishing a “national AI infrastructure” aligned with Jio’s vision of “AI Everywhere For Everyone.” This includes the development of gigawatt-scale AI-ready data centres in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and the creation of multiple AI inference facilities across India. The goal is to make AI applications more affordable and accessible, with plans to collaborate with global technology companies to provide low-cost AI inference.


Jio AI-Cloud and Connected Intelligence


Ambani introduced the Jio AI-Cloud Welcome offer, which will provide up to 100GB of cloud storage at no additional cost to Jio users starting this Diwali. Jio AI-Cloud aims to offer affordable cloud storage solutions and is part of the company’s broader vision of delivering AI services through its cloud platform, known as Connected Intelligence.


JioPhonecall AI


Jio unveiled the JioPhonecall AI service, which records phone calls and stores them in the cloud. The service uses AI to offer call transcription, summaries, and translations. Users can add a dedicated phone number to an ongoing call to activate transcription.


Jio TvOS


Jio introduced a home-grown operating system for the Jio Set-Top Box, called Jio TvOS. The new system supports Ultra HD 4K video playback, Dolby Vision HDR, and Dolby Atmos surround sound. It integrates the Hello Jio voice assistant, which now uses AI to enhance natural language understanding and can launch and access third-party apps like Netflix.


The Jio TvOS also features the Jio App Store, which provides apps for the Jio Set-Top Box and other Jio Home devices.


Jio Home App


The Jio Home app is designed to act as a control centre for all Jio Home smart devices, including the Jio Set-Top Box and Jio Home Broadband. It includes features for managing smart home devices, malware detection, and guest Wi-Fi management.


JioTV+


JioTV+ is a unified platform offering access to over 860 live TV channels and content from streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar. Users will not need to switch between apps, as the platform integrates content from all these services. JioTV+ will also provide personalised content suggestions based on user history, a Catch-up TV feature to review missed content from up to seven days, and a Play-Pause feature to resume live TV from where the user left off. Additionally, the platform includes a faster channel switching experience.

First Published: Aug 30 2024 | 6:41 PM IST



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Sunita Williams assures mother of safe return amid extended space mission

Sunita Williams assures mother of safe return amid extended space mission

by | Aug 30, 2024 | Technology


During this extended period aboard the ISS, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore continue to contribute to the various scientific experiments | Photo: Nasa

2 min read Last Updated : Aug 30 2024 | 5:24 PM IST


Stranded in space, Indian-origin US astronaut Sunita Williams has reached out to her mother to reassure her of a safe return to Earth amid continued delays caused by technical glitches. Williams told her mother, Bonnie Pandya, not to worry and expressed confidence in her safe return.


In a recent conversation, Williams conveyed her optimism despite the prolonged mission. Speaking to News Nation, Bonnie shared, “She [Sunita] told me not to worry about her. Everything’s going to be fine.”


When asked about her concerns regarding the extended duration of her daughter’s stay in space, Bonnie said, “I’ve been an astronaut mum for 20 years, and this is her third flight.” She added, “Even though there are some issues, we don’t feel that there’s a major problem. They just want to ensure that they’re safe coming back. That’s why they’ve decided to keep them up there a bit longer.”


Unexpected delays


Sunita Williams and fellow Nasa astronaut Butch Wilmore were launched to the International Space Station in June this year aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Originally planned as a week-long mission, their stay has been extended by several months due to repeated helium leaks and other technical challenges affecting the Starliner capsule.


NASA addressed the situation in an official statement: “Wilmore and Williams will continue their work formally as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew through February 2025. They will fly home aboard a Dragon spacecraft with two other crew members assigned to the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission. Starliner is expected to depart from the space station and make a safe, controlled autonomous re-entry and landing in early September.”


Prioritising safety


In an interview with TMZ, Bonnie expressed her trust in Nasa’s cautionary measures. “Honestly, I’m relieved they didn’t rush her return,” she said. “There have already been two shuttle accidents, and I wouldn’t want that to happen to my daughter — or anyone else, for that matter. So, I believe it’s better to be safe than sorry.”


Meanwhile, Williams’ husband, Daniele Williams, shared insights into her current state of mind. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, he said that Sunita is in her “happy place” despite the unforeseen extension of her mission.


Continued contributions


During this extended period aboard the ISS, Williams and Wilmore continue to contribute to the various scientific experiments and maintenance tasks critical to ongoing space research and exploration efforts. 

First Published: Aug 30 2024 | 5:24 PM IST



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Amazon turns to Anthropic's Claude for conversational AI-powered Alexa

Amazon turns to Anthropic's Claude for conversational AI-powered Alexa

by | Aug 30, 2024 | Technology


Anthropic Claude 3 model (Image: Anthropic)


Amazon’s revamped Alexa due for release in October ahead of the U.S. holiday season will be powered primarily by Anthropic’s Claude artificial intelligence models, rather than its own AI, five people familiar with the matter told Reuters.


Amazon plans to charge $5 to $10 a month for its new “Remarkable” version of Alexa as it will use powerful generative AI to answer complex queries, while still offering the “Classic” voice assistant for free, Reuters reported in June.


But initial versions of the new Alexa using in-house software simply struggled for words, sometimes taking six or seven seconds to acknowledge a prompt and reply, one of the people said.


That’s why Amazon turned to Claude, an AI chatbot developed by startup Anthropic, as it performed better than the online retail giant’s own AI models, the people said.


Reuters based this story upon interviews with five people with direct knowledge of the Alexa strategy. All declined to be named as they are not authorized to discuss non-public matters.


Alexa, accessed mainly through Amazon televisions and Echo devices, can set timers, play music, act as a central hub for smart home controls and answer one-off questions.


But Amazon’s attempts to convince users to shop through Alexa to generate more revenue have been mostly unsuccessful and the division remains unprofitable.


As a result, senior management has stressed that 2024 is a critical year for Alexa to finally demonstrate it can generate meaningful sales – and the revamped paid version is seen as a way both to do that and keep pace with rivals.


“Amazon uses many different technologies to power Alexa,” a company spokeswoman said in a statement in response to detailed Reuters questions for this story.


“When it comes to machine learning models, we start with those built by Amazon, but we have used, and will continue to use, a variety of different models – including (Amazon AI model) Titan and future Amazon models, as well as those from partners – to build the best experience for customers,” the spokeswoman said.


Anthropic, in which Amazon owns a minority stake, declined to comment for this story.


AI PARTNERSHIPS


Amazon has typically eschewed relying on technology it hasn’t developed in-house so it can ensure it has full control of the user experience, data collection and direct relationships with customers.


But it would not be alone in turning to a partner to improve AI products. Microsoft and Apple, for example, have both struck partnerships with OpenAI to use its ChatGPT to power some of their products.


The release of the Remarkable Alexa, as it is known internally, is expected in October, with a preview of the new service coming during Amazon’s annual devices and services event typically held in September, the people said.


Amazon has not yet said, however, when it plans to hold its showcase event, which will be the first major public appearance of its new devices chief, Panos Panay, who was hired last year to replace long-time executive David Limp.


The wide release in late 2022 of ChatGPT, which gives full-sentence answers almost instantaneously to complicated queries, set off a frenzy of investing and corporate maneuvering to develop better AI software for a variety of functions, including image, video and voice services.


By comparison, Amazon’s decade-old Alexa appeared outmoded, Amazon workers have told Reuters.


While Amazon has a mantra of “working backwards from the customer” to come up with new services, some of the people said that within the Alexa group, the emphasis since last year has instead been on keeping up with competitors in the AI race.


Amazon workers also have expressed skepticism that customers would be willing to pay $60 to $120 per year for a service that’s free today – on top of the $139 many already pay for their Prime memberships.


ALEXA UPGRADES


As envisioned, the paid version of Alexa would carry on conversations with a user that build on prior questions and answers, the people with knowledge of the Alexa strategy said.


The upgraded Alexa is designed to allow users to seek shopping advice such as which clothes to buy for a vacation and to aggregate news stories, the people said. And it is meant to carry out more complicated requests, such as ordering food or drafting emails all from a single prompt.


Amazon hopes the new Alexa will also be a supercharged home automation hub, remembering customer preferences so that, say, morning alarms are set, or the television knows to record favorite shows even when a user forgets to, they said.


The company’s plans for Alexa, however, could be delayed or altered if the technology fails to meet certain internal benchmarks, the people said, without giving further details.


Bank of America analyst Justin Post estimated in June that there are roughly 100 million active Alexa users and that about 10% of those might opt for the paid version of Alexa. Assuming the low end of the monthly price range, that would bring in at least $600 million in annual sales.


Amazon says it has sold 500 million Alexa-enabled devices but does not disclose how many active users there are.


Announcing a deal to invest $4 billion in Anthropic in September last year, Amazon said its customers would gain early access to its technology. Reuters could not determine if Amazon would have to pay Anthropic additionally for the use of Claude in Alexa.


Amazon declined to discuss the details of its agreements with the startup. Alphabet’s Google has also invested at least $2 billion in Anthropic.


The retailer, along with Google, is facing a formal probe from the UK’s antitrust regulator over the Anthropic deal and its impact on competition. It announced an initial investigation in August and said it has 40 working days to decide whether to move it to a more heightened stage of scrutiny.


The Washington Post earlier reported the October time frame for release of the new Alexa.

First Published: Aug 30 2024 | 4:55 PM IST



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ASUS Vivobook S15 (Qualcomm) review: Not a regular laptop, in a good way

ASUS Vivobook S15 (Qualcomm) review: Not a regular laptop, in a good way

by | Aug 30, 2024 | Technology


6 min read Last Updated : Aug 30 2024 | 3:35 PM IST


The ASUS Vivobook S15 is among the first-generation consumer laptops based on the revamped Windows on ARM experience, powered by the Qualcomm X Elite. This model offers more than its non-Qualcomm counterparts, distinguishing itself as a unique Windows laptop. Key features include extended battery life, swift performance, and a range of exclusive artificial intelligence tools to enhance everyday use. However, the Qualcomm-powered ASUS Vivobook S15 may not be suitable for everyone.


Design


The ASUS Vivobook S15 stands out with its eye-catching all-aluminium chassis, featuring a minimal yet shiny ‘ASUS Vivobook’ branding. Although the branding is subtle and may go unnoticed, it reflects light at certain angles, adding a distinctive touch to the otherwise plain top surface. The laptop feels premium in both touch and appearance, with a sleek design and a thickness of just 14.7mm. This slim profile, combined with its lightweight construction, makes it a portable 15-inch laptops available.


The Vivobook S15 offers a full-sized keyboard with a dedicated number pad and a spacious trackpad. However, the number pad is somewhat cramped, with narrower keys placed close to the main keyboard, potentially affecting comfort during extended use. Despite the premium aluminium body, the display is framed by a textured black plastic bezel, slightly detracting from its overall luxurious feel.


The laptop is stable and secure, with a non-slip bottom ensuring it stays firmly in place. The dual hinge mechanism is compact, allowing the top half to lay completely flat while maintaining firm support at any angle.


Display and Audio


The ASUS Vivobook S15 sports a 15-inch 3K OLED display. The OLED panel delivers deeper blacks and more vibrant colours with impressive contrast. Though a glossy panel, the display delivers good legibility in bright outdoor conditions. Glare is minimal at almost any viewing angle, and the 120Hz refresh rate offers smooth, fluid scrolling.


However, at this premium price point, the absence of a touchscreen is noticeable. Additionally, the display lacks support for HDR content on platforms like YouTube or streaming services, which could be a drawback for some users.


ASUS has included intriguing customisation features through its MyASUS app. One notable feature is Target mode, which keeps the active window brightly lit while dimming the rest of the screen to conserve battery. This is useful for working on a single app or window, though less effective in split-screen scenarios. To address this, ASUS includes an Adaptive Edge Brightness setting, which subtly dims the edges of the display while keeping the working area well lit.


The laptop features a bottom-firing dual-speaker system co-engineered with Harman Kardon. The sound output is clear and punchy but falls short in terms of loudness. ASUS addresses this with a Volume Booster option in the MyASUS app, which raises the volume without significant distortion. For an optimal audio experience, especially when watching content or gaming, external speakers or headphones are recommended. The laptop also supports Dolby Atmos surround sound and includes a dedicated headphone jack.


AI Tools


The introduction of the Copilot+ PC platform highlighted several exclusive AI-powered tools, some of which are already available on the ASUS Vivobook S15. Notable features include Live Captions and Cocreator.


Live Captions provides real-time audio transcription for media content and video calls. This feature works well with YouTube videos in Hindi and English and is compatible with third-party video call apps like Google Meet. While English captions are generally accurate, the feature occasionally struggles with Hindi. Live Captions can also transcribe audio input via the built-in microphone, though this functionality is less reliable.


Cocreator in Paint, rebranded as Restyle in the Photos app, is more than a general AI image generator. It utilises multiple inputs to create images, combining sketches with text prompts to generate outputs that can be refined. Restyle in the Photos app allows users to type prompts describing desired changes to existing images, generating outputs particularly effective for images with faces but less so for landscapes.


ASUS has also introduced its own AI tool, StoryCube, which organises media files into searchable sections and can generate highlight videos from existing images, though the output is relatively basic.


Windows Optimisation


Microsoft’s push with the new Copilot+ PC platform is evident in the Windows on ARM experience. Common applications like Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and popular web browsers such as Chrome and Firefox are well-optimised. Media editing tools like Photoshop and Lightroom, along with content streaming platforms such as VLC and Netflix, are also supported. For non-native applications, Microsoft emulates x86 versions, though results can be mixed.


Testing the Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and Assetto Corsa video game revealed that while the laptop handled most tasks smoothly, there were occasional issues with app emulation and game performance.


Performance


Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip and 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, the ASUS Vivobook S15 excels in handling general workloads with ease. It operates quietly even under extended multitasking, with Fan Speed Profiles including Full Speed and Performance modes. The laptop’s seamless experience is enhanced by the convenience of closing the display to pause work and reopening it to resume.


For gaming, the Vivobook S15 can run AAA titles originally designed for Windows on x86, with variable experiences depending on the game. Testing Witcher 3 showed smooth performance with occasional glitches and longer loading times. The laptop did not overheat even after running demanding games for nearly an hour.


Battery


The 70Wh battery of the Vivobook S15 is a standout feature, offering impressive endurance. After charging to 85 per cent in the morning, it powered through an eight-hour workday with 37 per cent charge remaining. Standby time is equally impressive, with minimal battery depletion during downtime. Battery life may vary based on specific usage and settings.


Verdict


The ASUS Vivobook S15 and the Copilot+ PC platform present a promising vision for the future. While excelling in battery life, thermal efficiency, and AI processing capabilities, optimisation for some key apps and software is still needed. Priced at Rs 1,24,990, the ASUS Vivobook S15 is a promising Windows laptop for users who rely on applications with native versions on the Windows on ARM platform.

First Published: Aug 30 2024 | 3:35 PM IST



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