We are now partners in biz transformation for firms: Google Cloud India MD

We are now partners in biz transformation for firms: Google Cloud India MD


Glance will be the first app to offer this agent to its 235 million Android users across the country, equipping India’s youth with the skills they need to thrive in the digital economy | Photo: Shutterstock


India is among the fastest-growing markets for Google in the cloud services segment, a senior executive has said, adding that the tech giant is looking to partner companies in their business transformation through its offerings.


Google Cloud India is seeing an “increased adoption” of its offerings across segments from the public sector to small and medium businesses and from startups and digital-native companies, Google Cloud India Vice President and Country Managing Director Bikram Singh Bedi told PTI.

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“If you look at cloud services as a segment, India is one of the fastest-growing countries for Google. If you look at the kind of customers that we’re working with across segments — public sector, SMB, smaller companies, medium-sized companies, large enterprises, startups, digital native companies… across the board…we’re working with multiple stakeholders who are essentially using Google Cloud services and then over a period of time, this usage has been incrementally growing,” Bedi said.

 


Cloud has moved from being one of the technologies to be used into the centre stage now.


“The early adopters will always be companies who are perhaps more agile…think of digital-native companies, startups…Just to give a little bit of perspective, 90 per cent of Gen AI unicorns now use Google Cloud. And 60 per cent of all Gen AI-funded companies use Google. And this is up from last year, so you’re seeing this increased adoption that is coming across the board in that whole digital native space,” he said.


Google Cloud recently announced a plan to bring together the power of Beckn-enabled open networks’ and Gemini (Google’s GenAI chatbot) by way of an open-source Gemini Agent Framework available to Indian businesses and users.


This framework, powered by Google’s AI model Gemini enables users to search and discover listings from electronics to seeds, from jobs to educational courses, and make transactions seamlessly across key sectors like agriculture and skilling.


Users will be able to access this extensive information from a single interface, using their voice on any network-compliant app in the language of their choice. Farmers can now have access to a wealth of knowledge from best practices to market linkages, and even formal credit, all in one place.


“Glance will be the first app to offer this agent to its 235 million Android users across the country, equipping India’s youth with the skills they need to thrive in the digital economy.


“To help export the unique and transformative architecture of India’s DPI stack to enable other nations to build their digital infrastructure, Google Cloud is collaborating with the EkStep Foundation to create ‘DPI in a box’, a plug-and-play model based on open network, identity, digital credentials, and other Digital Public Goods,” Google said in a release earlier this month.


The tech titan lined up a slew of AI-powered innovations announced Indian language capabilities for Gemini Live, and unveiled new updates for Google Lens, Google Maps, Google Cloud as well as Google Pay at the tenth edition of the ‘Google for India’ event in New Delhi.


“Google Cloud is committed to partnering with Indian businesses and innovators to harness the transformative power of AI. Through initiatives like our open-source Gemini Agent Framework and collaborations on ‘DPI in a box’, we are not only advancing India’s digital landscape but also creating a blueprint for digital inclusion,” according to Bedi.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Oct 06 2024 | 11:35 AM IST



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Scammers creating 1,000 phishing domains a day, celebs deepfake videos

Scammers creating 1,000 phishing domains a day, celebs deepfake videos



Scammers are registering over 1,000 phishing domains every day and creating deepfake videos of prominent Indian personalities such as Mukesh Ambani, Virat Kohli, etc to promote dubious gamings apps, cyber security firm CloudSEK said on Friday.


The deepfake videos use manipulated footage of famous news anchors to create fake news videos of prominent personalities to endorse dubious apps, the CloudSEK report said.

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“Scammers are not only using deepfake videos to lure people to download the dubious app but have also created a fake Play Store to appear genuine. Research shows over 1000 phishing domains are being created every day to cheat netizens of over seven countries,” the report said.

 


The cyber security firm said that by leveraging its deepfake detection technology research team has identified a series of deceptive campaigns targeting users in India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and beyond for promoting a fake gaming app.


“Prominent figures such as Mukesh Ambani, Virat Kohli, Anant Ambani, Neeraj Chopra, and international icons like Christiano Ronaldo, James Donaldson (Mr. Beast), Deadpool aka Ryan Reynolds, and Pakistani actress Hania Aamir are shown promoting the app,” the report said.


The videos lure users by promising substantial financial rewards through minimal investments, claiming users can multiply their money simply by playing the game.


“Virat Kohli has been one of the most frequently targeted figures for similar deepfakes in South Asia. The videos often start with manipulated footage of respected news anchors, including Shweta Singh (Aaj Tak), Arnab Goswami (Republic TV), and Sudhir Chaudhary. These fake broadcasts claim that the mobile application has been helping people from all walks of life earn money easily,” the report said.


According to the report, scamsters initially targeted the European Union population in early September 2024 and later expanded to India and various other regions, including Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and Southeast Asia.


CloudSEK also announced that it has made its deep fake detection technology free for everyone that will help them in identifying deepfake videos.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Oct 04 2024 | 11:08 PM IST



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Meta unveils AI tool that can generate, edit videos based on text prompts

Meta unveils AI tool that can generate, edit videos based on text prompts



By Kurt Wagner




Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. debuted a new artificial intelligence tool that can generate or edit videos based on a simple text prompt, elevating competition with rivals like OpenAI and Google in the race to develop the world’s most advanced AI technology.

 

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Meta’s product, Movie Gen, can create a new video up to 16 seconds long based on a text prompt. It can also use such prompts to generate audio for or edit an existing video, or even use a photo to create a customized video featuring a real person.

 

 


Movie Gen is only available for some internal employees and a handful of outside partners, including some filmmakers, though the social media company — which also owns Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger — plans to build the product into its existing apps sometime next year.

 


Executives are still discussing how best to implement this integration, but the aim is for Movie Gen to encourage more people to create or edit video posts, said Connor Hayes, a Meta vice president focused on generative AI products. It will be “fun to use, helpful for creators, good for overall engagement in the apps, but we don’t have a concrete product plan of what it will look like at this point,” he said. 

 


The social networking leader is one of many major tech companies pushing into AI models focused on generating videos, which are more complicated and expensive to build than those that return AI-generated text. Microsoft Corp.-backed OpenAI has its own video generation tool, called Sora, that debuted earlier this year and can create videos up to a minute in length, though that technology isn’t available to the public yet. DeepMind, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.’s Google, also has a video generation tool, called Veo, which was unveiled earlier this year. 

 


Meta is waiting to roll out Movie Gen for several reasons, including the technology’s efficiency. It currently takes “tens of minutes” to generate a video based on a text prompt — too long for general consumers, who are likely to use this on their phone, Hayes said. 

 


But Meta is also “sorting out a bunch of really important problems around safety and responsibility,” Hayes said, including how to handle personalized videos so that a user can’t create an inappropriate or unflattering video featuring another person without their consent. “That’s going to be probably the most important problem to solve before we would make the personalization capability available to folks broadly.”This type of technology has been used in the past to create misleading so-called deepfakes of famous people, including US President Joe Biden and pop star Taylor Swift, though Meta executives have said they’re working on ways to “watermark” these creations so that people can tell they’re AI-generated.

 


Meta has made AI advancements a key priority for the entire company, and Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly talked about AI as a driver of user and revenue growth. In the short term, Zuckerberg has credited AI for helping improve the company’s content algorithms by showing people more relevant posts and advertisements. Eventually, Zuckerberg has said he believes AI will play an even larger role in powering its apps and other futuristic wearables Meta is producing, like smart glasses.

 


©2024 Bloomberg L.P.

First Published: Oct 04 2024 | 8:51 PM IST



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Tech wrap Oct 4: India-made iPhone 16 Pros, Lava Agni 3, WhatsApp, and more

Tech wrap Oct 4: India-made iPhone 16 Pros, Lava Agni 3, WhatsApp, and more



Apple has confirmed that it is now manufacturing the entire iPhone 16 lineup, including the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, in India as of October 4. The company also announced plans to enhance its retail presence by opening four new stores in Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai. This expansion follows the opening of stores in Saket, Delhi, and BKC, Mumbai, in April 2023. However, Apple has not specified a timeline for the launch of these new stores.

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Lava has launched the Agni 3 smartphone, which features a dual-display design and a customizable Action Key reminiscent of the iPhone. This key can be programmed by users to carry out various tasks. Another highlight is the secondary 1.74-inch AMOLED display on the back, which allows users to view quick notifications, preview images from the main camera, and more.


WhatsApp is rolling out several new features, including the ability to like status updates, make private mentions, and reshare statuses. Users can now tag other WhatsApp accounts in their status updates, enabling those mentioned to repost the status on their own accounts. Each status can include mentions of up to five individuals, and users can privately tag someone without revealing their names. Notifications will be sent to those who are mentioned.


Apple has released its first update for iOS 18, known as iOS 18.0.1. While it does not include the anticipated artificial intelligence features, this update focuses on performance enhancements and addresses several issues, including a problem with the iPhone 16 series experiencing an unresponsive touchscreen in certain situations. Additionally, Apple has resolved security concerns related to the microphone and the new Passwords app.


Samsung India has introduced festive offers for its sixth-generation Galaxy Z series, which includes the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. The promotions feature bank cashback, upgrade bonuses on exchange deals, and up to 24 months of no-cost EMI options. Additionally, the Galaxy Z Assurance plan is available at a discounted price of Rs 999 as part of these festive offers. Customers can take advantage of these deals both online and in retail stores.


OpenAI has unveiled a new workspace interface called Canvas for its ChatGPT AI chatbot. This interface appears in a separate section next to the main conversation, enabling users to highlight specific sections or request ChatGPT to focus on particular tasks while assisting with writing or coding.


Samsung Galaxy smartphone users may have to wait longer for the Android 15 update. During its Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) 2024, the South Korean tech giant announced that the Android 15-based One UI 7 interface will not be publicly released until 2025.


Sony is reportedly introducing support for Google’s Find My Device network for its headphones and earbuds. This upcoming software update will simplify locating the WF-1000XM5 earbuds and WH-1000XM5 headphones.


Google is launching product advertisements within its AI Overviews. When users perform a search, the AI summaries will now display the answer alongside relevant products available for purchase. These advertised products will appear under a “sponsored” header. According to Google spokesperson Craig Ewer, ads will only be shown if the search query has a “commercial angle.”


Apple’s upcoming iPhone SE may be the first model to incorporate the company’s own 5G modem, potentially replacing Qualcomm’s modem for connectivity, according to a report by 9to5Mac. The report also outlines other specifications for the next iPhone SE, including details about the camera and display.


With an expanding library of exclusive titles and long-awaited support for retro gaming emulators, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has something to offer every gamer.


The iPhone 16 continues Apple’s tradition of iterative improvements, with AI enhancements still on the horizon that may unlock its full potential once available.


Google’s India Managing Director, Roma Datta Chobey, has highlighted that hardware is a significant focus for the company in India as it celebrates 20 years of its presence in the country.


Apple announced on Friday that it will open four new stores in India, located in Pune, Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai. Additionally, the company is set to launch its first-ever “made in India” iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max series devices later this month.


On Friday, Google announced that it would cease linking to news articles from New Zealand and terminate its agreements with local news organisations if the government moves forward with a law requiring tech companies to pay a fair price for content featured on their platforms.

On Friday, Google announced that it would stop linking to news content from New Zealand and withdraw its support for local media outlets if the government enacts a law mandating that tech companies pay for articles displayed on their platforms.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE goes on sale with introductory offers


The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE smartphone is now available for purchase in India. This fan edition smartphone, powered by the Samsung Exynos 2400e chip, boasts a full suite of Samsung Galaxy AI experience. The 2024 model features a design inspired by its flagship counterpart, and boasts several enhancements, including a larger display and a high-capacity battery.

First Published: Oct 04 2024 | 8:03 PM IST



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Samsung Galaxy S24 FE goes on sale with introductory offers: Check details

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE goes on sale with introductory offers: Check details


Samsung‘s latest Galaxy S24 FE smartphone is now available for purchase in India. Equipped with the Samsung Exynos 2400e chip, this fan edition model of the flagship Galaxy S24 boasts a comprehensive Galaxy AI experience. Like its predecessor, the smartphone features a design inspired by its flagship counterpart, but it includes several notable enhancements, such as a larger display and a high-capacity battery.


Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Price and variants

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  • 8GB RAM + 128GB storage: Rs 59,999

  • 8GB RAM + 256GB storage: Rs 65,999


Colours: Blue, Graphite, and Mint


Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Introductory offers

 

As part of the introductory offers, the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant of the Galaxy S24 FE is available for Rs 59,999, reduced from its original price of Rs 65,999. Additionally, customers can take advantage of the Samsung Care+ package, valued at Rs 4,799, for a discounted price of Rs 999. This introductory offer is valid until October 12.


There is also an option for a no-interest equated monthly instalment (no-cost EMI) plan of up to 12 months through Samsung Finance Plus.


Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Details


The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE features a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. For photography, the smartphone is equipped with a 50MP primary camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS), along with a 12MP ultra-wide camera and an 8MP telephoto camera.


The device is powered by the Exynos 2400e chip, which is part of the same series that powers the Galaxy S24 flagship smartphone. The AI-driven features include Google’s Circle to Search, Live Translate for translations during phone calls, an Interpreter for real-time translation during in-person conversations, and writing assistance with Composer and Note Assist. Additionally, Samsung provides various Galaxy AI tools for image editing, such as generative editing for removing or rearranging elements in an image, Portrait Studio for thematic edits, and Instant Slow-mo for videos.


Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Specifications


  • Display: 6.7-inch FHD+, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz refresh rate, Vision Booster technology

  • Processor: Exynos 2400e

  • RAM: 8GB

  • Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB

  • Rear Camera: 50MP primary (with OIS) + 12MP ultra-wide + 8MP telephoto

  • Front Camera: 10MP

  • Battery: 4,700mAh

  • Charging: 25W wired, wireless charging support

  • Protection: IP68

First Published: Oct 04 2024 | 5:24 PM IST



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Google to stop linking to NZ news content if law on pay for content passes

Google to stop linking to NZ news content if law on pay for content passes


Minister for Media and Communications Paul Goldsmith told The Associated Press in a written statement on Friday that he was still consulting on the next version of the bill. Photo: Bloomberg


Google said Friday it will stop linking to New Zealand news content and will reverse its support of local media outlets if the government passes a law forcing tech companies to pay for articles displayed on their platforms.


The vow to sever Google traffic to New Zealand news sites made in a blog post by the search giant on Friday echoes strategies the firm deployed as Australia and Canada prepared to enact similar laws in recent years.

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It followed a surprise announcement by New Zealand’s government in July that lawmakers would advance a bill forcing tech platforms to strike deals for sharing revenue generated from news content with the media outlets producing it.

 


The government, led by centre-right National, had opposed the law in 2023 when introduced by the previous administration.


But the loss of more than 200 newsroom jobs earlier this year in a national media industry that totalled 1,600 reporters at the 2018 census and has likely shrunk since prompted the current government to reconsider forcing tech companies to pay publishers for displaying content.


The law aims to stanch the flow offshore of advertising revenue derived from New Zealand news products.


Google New Zealand Country Director Caroline Rainsford wrote Friday that the firm would change its involvement in the country’s media landscape if it passed.


Specifically, we’d be forced to stop linking to news content on Google Search, Google News, or Discover surfaces in New Zealand and discontinue our current commercial agreements and ecosystem support with New Zealand news publishers, she wrote.


Google’s licensing program in New Zealand contributed millions of dollars per year to almost 50 local publications, she added.


The News Publishers’ Association, a New Zealand sector group, said in a written statement Friday that Google’s pledge amounted to threats and reflected the kind of pressure that it has been applying to the government and news outlets, Public Affairs Director Andrew Holden said.


The government should be able to make laws to strengthen democracy in this country without being subjected to this kind of corporate bullying, he said.


Australia was the first country to attempt to force tech firms including Google and Meta to the bargaining table with news outlets through a law passed in 2021. At first, the tech giants imposed news blackouts for Australians on their platforms, but both eventually somewhat relented, striking deals reportedly worth 200 million Australian dollars ($137 million) a year, paid to Australian outlets for use of their content.


But Belinda Barnet, a media expert at Swinburne University in Melbourne, said Meta has refused to renew its contracts with Australian news media while Google is renegotiating its initial agreements.


As Canada prepared to pass similar digital news bargaining laws in 2023, Google and Meta again vowed to cease their support for the country’s media. Last November, however, Google promised to contribute 100 million Canadian dollars ($74 million) indexed to inflation in financial support annually for news businesses across the country.


Colin Peacock, an analyst who hosts the Mediawatch program on RNZ, New Zealand’s public radio broadcaster, said Google doesn’t want headlines around the world that say another country has pushed back by enacting such a law.


While Google pointed Friday to its support of local outlets, Peacock said one of its funding recipients the publisher of a small newspaper had told a parliamentary committee this year that the amount he received was a pittance and not enough to hire a single graduate reporter.


Minister for Media and Communications Paul Goldsmith told The Associated Press in a written statement on Friday that he was still consulting on the next version of the bill.


My officials and I have met with Google on a number of occasions to discuss their concerns, and will continue to do so, he said.


Goldsmith said in July that he planned to pass the law by the end of the year.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Oct 04 2024 | 4:51 PM IST



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