Realme 12 Pro+ vs Redmi 13 Pro+: A Comparison of the Latest Mid-Range Rivals |
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Samsung partners with IIT Kanpur for industry-ready student initiatives: All the details |
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Samsung R&D Institute, Noida (SRI-Noida), and The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) have established a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in key growth areas.
The partnership involves joint research projects encompassing IIT Kanpur students, faculty, and Samsung engineers, focusing on sectors such as health, visual frameworks, B2B security, Generative AI and Cloud technologies.The collaboration aims to contribute to the practical industry readiness of students.
Beyond research projects, the MoU aims to enhance the skills of Samsung engineers in pivotal technology domains like AI, Cloud, and other emerging technologies. The signing ceremony involved key figures, including Kyungyun Roo (Managing Director, SRI-Noida), Prof. Tarun Gupta (Dean, Research and Development, IIT Kanpur), and Prof. S. Ganesh (Director, IIT Kanpur).
On this new collaboration, Kyungyun Roo emphasised the dedication to merging academic excellence with industrial innovation. He anticipates a dynamic exchange of ideas, knowledge, and talent, contributing to projects and the growth of both Samsung and IIT Kanpur.
Prof. S. Ganesh, Director of IIT Kanpur, highlighted the combination of academic excellence from IIT Kanpur and Samsung’s industry expertise. The collaboration aims to create an environment conducive to projects, offering opportunities for students and researchers.
Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean of Research and Development at IIT Kanpur, underscored the commitment to providing students and researchers with opportunities beyond academics, contributing significantly to advancements and the academic landscape.
The collaborative efforts extend to joint research projects where IIT Kanpur students and faculty will address real-world industry challenges aligned with market needs. This partnership also encourages the publication of joint research papers. As part of upskilling opportunities for Samsung engineers, IIT Kanpur will conduct specialized training programs, granting access to the institute’s expertise, and ultimately enhancing the skills and knowledge of Samsung engineers through degree programs, certifications, and tailored courses. The MoU signifies a commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry, fostering advancements, and contributing to mutual growth.
The partnership involves joint research projects encompassing IIT Kanpur students, faculty, and Samsung engineers, focusing on sectors such as health, visual frameworks, B2B security, Generative AI and Cloud technologies.The collaboration aims to contribute to the practical industry readiness of students.
Beyond research projects, the MoU aims to enhance the skills of Samsung engineers in pivotal technology domains like AI, Cloud, and other emerging technologies. The signing ceremony involved key figures, including Kyungyun Roo (Managing Director, SRI-Noida), Prof. Tarun Gupta (Dean, Research and Development, IIT Kanpur), and Prof. S. Ganesh (Director, IIT Kanpur).
On this new collaboration, Kyungyun Roo emphasised the dedication to merging academic excellence with industrial innovation. He anticipates a dynamic exchange of ideas, knowledge, and talent, contributing to projects and the growth of both Samsung and IIT Kanpur.
Prof. S. Ganesh, Director of IIT Kanpur, highlighted the combination of academic excellence from IIT Kanpur and Samsung’s industry expertise. The collaboration aims to create an environment conducive to projects, offering opportunities for students and researchers.
Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean of Research and Development at IIT Kanpur, underscored the commitment to providing students and researchers with opportunities beyond academics, contributing significantly to advancements and the academic landscape.
The collaborative efforts extend to joint research projects where IIT Kanpur students and faculty will address real-world industry challenges aligned with market needs. This partnership also encourages the publication of joint research papers. As part of upskilling opportunities for Samsung engineers, IIT Kanpur will conduct specialized training programs, granting access to the institute’s expertise, and ultimately enhancing the skills and knowledge of Samsung engineers through degree programs, certifications, and tailored courses. The MoU signifies a commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry, fostering advancements, and contributing to mutual growth.
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Samsung says Galaxy AI coming to 100 million mobile devices this year
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Samsung recently launched its flagship Galaxy S24 series of smartphones with several AI-powered features. These features, which collectively come under the Galaxy AI umbrella, will be coming to 100 million mobile devices worldwide this year, the South Korean company has announced.
“This year, we have changed the industry paradigm by integrating the power of AI with [the] Galaxy S24 series.We believe mobiles will become the primary access point for AI technology as people already use their smartphones for just about everything, making it the perfect vessel,” said TM Roh, president and head of MX business, Samsung Electronics.
“With [the] Galaxy S24 series, we strongly believe in revolutionising user experience through Galaxy AI. Samsung is the leader in the mobile industry with over 1 billion Galaxy customers. By using customer insights accumulated over decades, years of innovation to optimise AI for mobiles and open collaboration with industry leaders, we have come up with Galaxy AI, which will become the ‘global standard for mobile AI,” Roh, who was in India recently, added.
Samsung Galaxy S24 on-device, in-cloud AI features
The Samsung Galaxy S24 series takes a Hybrid approach when it comes to optimising the AI user experience. While some features work on-device, others are processed in the cloud. Samsung also says that its R&D centres in Noida and Bengaluru played a major role in the development of Galaxy AI.
“From commercialisation of language AI and optimization of AI for mobile to framework development, both Noida and Bengaluru centres made great contributions. This helped us provide customers with practical and useful AI experiences,” the company said.
As per the South Korean tech giant, the expansion of Galaxy AI to approximately 100 million mobile devices will also amplify mobile AI usage. Furthermore, Galaxy S24 series smartphones will be the first Samsung devices to get seven years of Android OS upgrades and seven years of security updates.
Those interested can purchase the smartphones from January 31 in India.
“This year, we have changed the industry paradigm by integrating the power of AI with [the] Galaxy S24 series.We believe mobiles will become the primary access point for AI technology as people already use their smartphones for just about everything, making it the perfect vessel,” said TM Roh, president and head of MX business, Samsung Electronics.
“With [the] Galaxy S24 series, we strongly believe in revolutionising user experience through Galaxy AI. Samsung is the leader in the mobile industry with over 1 billion Galaxy customers. By using customer insights accumulated over decades, years of innovation to optimise AI for mobiles and open collaboration with industry leaders, we have come up with Galaxy AI, which will become the ‘global standard for mobile AI,” Roh, who was in India recently, added.
Samsung Galaxy S24 on-device, in-cloud AI features
The Samsung Galaxy S24 series takes a Hybrid approach when it comes to optimising the AI user experience. While some features work on-device, others are processed in the cloud. Samsung also says that its R&D centres in Noida and Bengaluru played a major role in the development of Galaxy AI.
“From commercialisation of language AI and optimization of AI for mobile to framework development, both Noida and Bengaluru centres made great contributions. This helped us provide customers with practical and useful AI experiences,” the company said.
As per the South Korean tech giant, the expansion of Galaxy AI to approximately 100 million mobile devices will also amplify mobile AI usage. Furthermore, Galaxy S24 series smartphones will be the first Samsung devices to get seven years of Android OS upgrades and seven years of security updates.
Those interested can purchase the smartphones from January 31 in India.
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Opera One AI-powered Browser for iPhone Users |
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To comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple recently announced that it will allow competition among browsers on iPhones. Opera is planning to offer iPhone users an AI-powered alternative to Safari to take advantage of the Cupertino-based tech giant’s latest decision.
Opera has been active in browser AI since early 2023. Last year, the company introduced its Aria browser AI to its products and redesigned its flagship desktop browser as the AI-centric Opera One.In 2024, Opera aims to further enhance this innovation.
Opera has been active in browser AI since early 2023. Last year, the company introduced its Aria browser AI to its products and redesigned its flagship desktop browser as the AI-centric Opera One.In 2024, Opera aims to further enhance this innovation.
Opera One AI browser on iPhones: Availability
The company took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), to announce that the new browser that complies with the DMA from March 2024, will be introduced in the coming months. With this AI-powered browser, Opera will be able to deliver a unique AI-centric browsing experience for iPhone and iPad users.
Opera also said that it’s looking forward to showcasing the new Opera One (focusing on AI) for iOS. Apart from this, Opera will soon announce a major investment in a key AI infrastructure project in Europe to support the development of the new browser.
What Opera has to say about Apple’s new browser rules
In a blog post, Opera has welcomed Apple’s decision to allow alternative browsers to compete for iOS users as a result of the requirements of the European Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The company has also encouraged Apple to extend these freedoms to iOS users globally.
Jørgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile at Opera, expressed his excitement about the new possibilities for alternative browser engines and praised Apple’s move towards increased interoperability with iPhone and iOS features.
Arnesen said: “As the foremost European browser developer, we welcome the shifts brought about by the DMA, which seek to promote competition and provide iOS users with a broader range of browser options. Our commitment to this vision is reflected in the upcoming release of the AI-centric Opera One for iOS.
Additionally, we are pleased to note that Apple will be introducing a browser choice screen for iOS, simplifying the process for users to set their preferred browser as the default on their mobile devices.”
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Xiaomi 15 Series Tipped to Run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC
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Xiaomi 14 series with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and HyperOS operating system was launched in Chinese markets in October last year. They are yet to make their India debut, but ahead of it, rumours about the next-generation flagship smartphones from Xiaomi have already started surfacing online. The Xiaomi 15 series is tipped to be powered by next-generation Qualcomm flagship processor. The Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Pro are said to go official in September.
Tipster Smart Pikachu (translated from Chinese) on Weibo claimed that the Xiaomi 15 series will be equipped with Qualcomm’s unannounced Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC. The displays of the purported devices are said to offer a 1.5K resolution. The Xiaomi 14 series was the first handset to feature Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC.
Previous leaks suggested that mass production of the Xiaomi 15 lineup will kick off in September. The regular model is expected to retain a flat display and have the same screen size as the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 13. The Xiaomi 15 Pro is rumoured to come with a slightly curved 2K display with 0.6 mm narrow bezels. Since there’s no official announcement from Xiaomi about the 15 series yet, these details should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Xiaomi’s 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro were launched in China in October. The price of Xiaomi 14 Pro starts at CNY 4,999 (roughly Rs. 56,500) for the 12GB + 256GB RAM and storage model whereas the Xiaomi 14 is priced at CNY 3,999 (roughly Rs. 50,000) for the 8GB + 256GB RAM and storage variant. There is no official word yet on their debut in markets outside China.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC powers Xiaomi’s 14 series. They run on Xiaomi’s HyperOS interface and feature up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. They also have an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. The Xiaomi 14 series has LTPO OLED displays with up to 2K resolution and 120Hz dynamic refresh rate. They have a Leica-tuned triple rear camera setup as well.
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Financial Sextortion: The Highest-Growing Cybercrime Targeting Young Teens |
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Cybercrimes have been affecting users in more ways than we can think. While there are several forms of cybercrime currently circulating in the market, there’s one cybercrime that appears to have outgrown other forms significantly.
Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) has revealed in research that “financial sextortion” is growing on a large scale in several countries in the world, especially in the United States, Canada and Australia.According to the report, this form of cybercrime is being conducted by a non-organised group in West Africa called “Yahoo Boys”.
Financial sextortion reports have increased exponentially
FBI has reported that they’ve received a jump of around 1000% in financial sextortion reports over the last 18 months. NCMEC has also reported an increase of 7200% between 2021 and 2022. The FBI’s director has coined this jump as a “global crisis that demands everyone’s attention”.
How financial sextortion takes place
Before getting to the financial sextortion, let’s understand what sextortion is. Sextortion, according to the FBI, is a form of crime that involves kids, adults and young teens which forces them to send explicit images and videos online.
This becomes a financial crime when scammers start threatening their victims asking them to pay some ransom to prevent them from widely distributing the photos or videos. More often than not, these scammers ask for money repeatedly through several modes of payment like gift cards, peer-to-peer transfers, cryptocurrency, etc.
How scammers target their victims
Scammers create fake social media profiles and target high schools, sports teams, and universities with follow requests, pretending to be attractive peers or potential romantic partners.
They use advanced social engineering tactics to coerce their victims into sending compromising photos, often by directing them to Snapchat or Wizz, where they exploit the platform features to give a false sense of security and authenticity.
They use screenshots of the victim’s Instagram followers and following lists, draft messages to the victim’s friends or family and other extreme threats to blackmail the victim into paying a ransom, usually in the form of gift cards, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer payment apps.
They also use artificial intelligence tools to generate nude photos of the victim from a clothed photo or to create more convincing catfish profiles with face-swapping and voice-changing software.
They sometimes force the victim to act as an accomplice, money mule, or account creator for their criminal network.
According to the research report, Instagram, Snapchat and Wizz are among the most affected social media platforms by financial sextortion.
What parents can do about it to keep kids safe online
Open conversations: It is advisable to initiate open discussions with your children about online risks, emphasising the importance of not sharing intimate photos with anyone, especially strangers. Assure them that they can come to you for help if they encounter such situations.
Understand Instagram’s risks: It is important to educate children about potential risks on Instagram, including criminal accounts pretending to be peers. Warn them that accepting follow requests from unknown individuals exposes their Followers & Following lists, providing leverage for extortion scams.
Snapchat misconceptions: Clarify misconceptions about Snapchat by explaining that photos can be saved or screenshotted. Dispel the belief that content sent on Snapchat disappears completely. Highlight the possibility of criminals using pre-recorded videos to deceive users.
Wizz App warning: Make sure your children are aware of the risks associated with the Wizz app, as advised by schools, parent advocacy networks, law enforcement, and watchdog organisations.
Community involvement: Raise awareness in your community, schools, sports teams and youth groups about the dangers of sextortion. Encourage open discussions to destigmatise conversations about sextortion, fostering an environment where experiences can be shared without judgment.
Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) has revealed in research that “financial sextortion” is growing on a large scale in several countries in the world, especially in the United States, Canada and Australia.According to the report, this form of cybercrime is being conducted by a non-organised group in West Africa called “Yahoo Boys”.
Financial sextortion reports have increased exponentially
FBI has reported that they’ve received a jump of around 1000% in financial sextortion reports over the last 18 months. NCMEC has also reported an increase of 7200% between 2021 and 2022. The FBI’s director has coined this jump as a “global crisis that demands everyone’s attention”.
How financial sextortion takes place
Before getting to the financial sextortion, let’s understand what sextortion is. Sextortion, according to the FBI, is a form of crime that involves kids, adults and young teens which forces them to send explicit images and videos online.
This becomes a financial crime when scammers start threatening their victims asking them to pay some ransom to prevent them from widely distributing the photos or videos. More often than not, these scammers ask for money repeatedly through several modes of payment like gift cards, peer-to-peer transfers, cryptocurrency, etc.
How scammers target their victims
Scammers create fake social media profiles and target high schools, sports teams, and universities with follow requests, pretending to be attractive peers or potential romantic partners.
They use advanced social engineering tactics to coerce their victims into sending compromising photos, often by directing them to Snapchat or Wizz, where they exploit the platform features to give a false sense of security and authenticity.
They use screenshots of the victim’s Instagram followers and following lists, draft messages to the victim’s friends or family and other extreme threats to blackmail the victim into paying a ransom, usually in the form of gift cards, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer payment apps.
They also use artificial intelligence tools to generate nude photos of the victim from a clothed photo or to create more convincing catfish profiles with face-swapping and voice-changing software.
They sometimes force the victim to act as an accomplice, money mule, or account creator for their criminal network.
According to the research report, Instagram, Snapchat and Wizz are among the most affected social media platforms by financial sextortion.
What parents can do about it to keep kids safe online
Open conversations: It is advisable to initiate open discussions with your children about online risks, emphasising the importance of not sharing intimate photos with anyone, especially strangers. Assure them that they can come to you for help if they encounter such situations.
Understand Instagram’s risks: It is important to educate children about potential risks on Instagram, including criminal accounts pretending to be peers. Warn them that accepting follow requests from unknown individuals exposes their Followers & Following lists, providing leverage for extortion scams.
Snapchat misconceptions: Clarify misconceptions about Snapchat by explaining that photos can be saved or screenshotted. Dispel the belief that content sent on Snapchat disappears completely. Highlight the possibility of criminals using pre-recorded videos to deceive users.
Wizz App warning: Make sure your children are aware of the risks associated with the Wizz app, as advised by schools, parent advocacy networks, law enforcement, and watchdog organisations.
Community involvement: Raise awareness in your community, schools, sports teams and youth groups about the dangers of sextortion. Encourage open discussions to destigmatise conversations about sextortion, fostering an environment where experiences can be shared without judgment.
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Tecno Spark 20 series with 256GB storage, 50MP camera to launch on January 30
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Tecno is set to expand its product portfolio in India with the launch of a new smartphone in its Spark series. The company has confirmed that the Tecno Spark 20 series will be launched in India on January 30. The Chinese smartphone maker is also promoting the upcoming models with the slogan “Stop At Nothing”.
In December 2023, Tecno launched the Spark 20 and Spark 20 Pro smartphones in select markets.Tecno has already teased the Spark 20 on e-commerce site Amazon as well its official social media handles.
The teasers show that the smartphone will be available in four colour options — Neon Gold, Gravity Black, Cyber White and Magic Skin 2.0 (Blue) variants — that are available outside India.
In December 2023, Tecno launched the Spark 20 and Spark 20 Pro smartphones in select markets.Tecno has already teased the Spark 20 on e-commerce site Amazon as well its official social media handles.
The teasers show that the smartphone will be available in four colour options — Neon Gold, Gravity Black, Cyber White and Magic Skin 2.0 (Blue) variants — that are available outside India.
Another X post shared by the company confirms that it has roped in Deepika Padukone to promote its smartphones.
The teasers also reveal the design of the Tecno Spark 20 which will be available on Amazon and other offline retail stores. The company hasn’t revealed the price of the Spark 20 models but has shared a few key details about the smartphones.
Tecno Spark 20: Confirmed specs
The company has confirmed that the Tecno Spark 20 smartphone will feature a sleek design and will pack up to 256GB of storage. The upcoming smartphones are set to be backed up with a combination of 8GB RAM and 8GB virtual RAM.
For photography, the smartphone will also house a 32MP front camera and a 50MP rear camera.
Apart from this, the Tecno Spark 20 will also include a complimentary OTT Play premium subscription which is priced at Rs 5604. This offer will allow Spark 20 users to access 23 OTT platforms for free.
More specs of the upcoming smartphone is expected to be revealed during the launch.
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Google Messages Integrates Bard AI: Privacy Concerns Raised |
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Google Messages is reportedly getting Bard integration, providing generative AI capabilities to the company’s instant messaging app. The Google-owned chatbot is expected to help users “write messages, translate languages, identify images and explore interests”, however, if a report is to be believed, the app will also access users’ private messages and message history.
As per a report by Forbes, Bard will analyse the private content of messages “to understand the context of your conversations, your tone, and your interests.”
The report mentioned that the AI chatbot will also analyse the sentiment of users’ messages “to tailor its responses to your mood and vibe” as well as “message history with different contacts to understand your relationship dynamics… to personalise responses based on who you’re talking to”, raising privacy concerns.
Google’s ‘advice’ for using Bard
The development comes around the same time when a tipster claimed that the beta code of the Google Messages app suggests that before using Bard, the app will flash a condition that the AI chatbot will have access to users’ conversations and other relevant info as well as location, among other data to provide better answers.
As per a report by Forbes, Bard will analyse the private content of messages “to understand the context of your conversations, your tone, and your interests.”
The report mentioned that the AI chatbot will also analyse the sentiment of users’ messages “to tailor its responses to your mood and vibe” as well as “message history with different contacts to understand your relationship dynamics… to personalise responses based on who you’re talking to”, raising privacy concerns.
Google’s ‘advice’ for using Bard
The development comes around the same time when a tipster claimed that the beta code of the Google Messages app suggests that before using Bard, the app will flash a condition that the AI chatbot will have access to users’ conversations and other relevant info as well as location, among other data to provide better answers.
These terms and conditions are similar to the privacy notice it shared in November last year.
“Google collects your Bard conversations, related product usage information, info about your location, and your feedback. Google uses this data, consistent with our Privacy Policy, to provide, improve, and develop Google products and services and machine learning technologies, including Google’s enterprise products such as Google Cloud,” the company said.
Google also says that if a user is 18 or older, then by default Google stores their Bard activity with their Google Account for up to 18 months, which can be changed to 3 or 36 months.
“Info about your location, including the general area from your device, IP address, or Home or Work addresses in your Google Account, is also stored with your Bard activity,” it added.
Google advises users that they should not enter any confidential information during Bard conversations.
“Please don’t enter confidential information in your Bard conversations or any data you wouldn’t want a reviewer to see or Google to use to improve our products, services, and machine-learning technologies,” it added.
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Paytm announces cashback to devotees travelling to Ayodhya: Here’s how to avail the offer
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Paytm has announced a cashback offer for devotees travelling to visit Ram Mandir in Ayodhya through flight and bus. Travellers can get up to 100% cashback on their bus and flight bookings to Ayodhya.
How to avail up to 100% cashback on Paytm
Those travelling to Ayodhya can use promo code ‘BUSAYODHYA’ for bus bookings and ‘FLYAYODHYA’ for flight bookings to participate.The company says that every tenth user becomes eligible for this cashback offer. Bus travellers can receive cashback of up to Rs 1,000, while those booking flight tickets stand a chance to win up to Rs 5,000 in cashback.
Additionally, users can leverage the ‘Free Cancellation’ option in case of a change in plans and get a 100% refund in their source account without providing a reason, the company said. Paytm is also offering a live bus tracking service that will allow users to share the real-time location of their booked bus with their contacts.
“Being at the forefront of mobile payments and QR technology, we are delighted to introduce this exclusive offer for devotees travelling to Ayodhya. Through our exclusive offers, including 100% cashback on bus and flight bookings, our goal is to help users with seamless travel to Ayodhya,” a Paytm spokesperson said in a statement.
Contributions to Ram Mandir Trust in Ayodhya on Paytm
Last week, Paytm announced that its app can be used to make contributions at Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Ayodhya. The contributions for the trust went live on the Paytm app on the day of Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Temple, allowing users to make digital contributions. Devotees across India can make contributions from the ‘Devotion’ section on the Paytm App.
How to contribute to Ram Mandir Trust via Paytm app
How to avail up to 100% cashback on Paytm
Those travelling to Ayodhya can use promo code ‘BUSAYODHYA’ for bus bookings and ‘FLYAYODHYA’ for flight bookings to participate.The company says that every tenth user becomes eligible for this cashback offer. Bus travellers can receive cashback of up to Rs 1,000, while those booking flight tickets stand a chance to win up to Rs 5,000 in cashback.
Additionally, users can leverage the ‘Free Cancellation’ option in case of a change in plans and get a 100% refund in their source account without providing a reason, the company said. Paytm is also offering a live bus tracking service that will allow users to share the real-time location of their booked bus with their contacts.
“Being at the forefront of mobile payments and QR technology, we are delighted to introduce this exclusive offer for devotees travelling to Ayodhya. Through our exclusive offers, including 100% cashback on bus and flight bookings, our goal is to help users with seamless travel to Ayodhya,” a Paytm spokesperson said in a statement.
Contributions to Ram Mandir Trust in Ayodhya on Paytm
Last week, Paytm announced that its app can be used to make contributions at Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Ayodhya. The contributions for the trust went live on the Paytm app on the day of Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Temple, allowing users to make digital contributions. Devotees across India can make contributions from the ‘Devotion’ section on the Paytm App.
How to contribute to Ram Mandir Trust via Paytm app
- Go to the Paytm app, and click ‘View all’ from Bill Payments by BBPS
- Go to ‘Devotion’ from other services section
- Select devotional place as ‘Shri Ram Janmbhooi Teerth Kshetra
- Add your email id, and click on ‘Proceed’
- Enter the amount you wish to donate, and click on ‘next’
- Click on ‘Proceed to pay’ using your preferred payment mode
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AI Tax Assist from H&R Block stuffs a chatbot into your tax prep package
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Like a spoonful of mustard or mayonnaise — or perhaps you prefer sriracha? — it seems no software recipe is complete these days without a dollop of generative AI. The groundbreaking technology plays games better than you, writes songs for you … heck, it can even be your girlfriend (to each their own). And now it can help you with life’s most vexing challenge: taxes.
In mid-December, H&R Block quietly announced AI Tax Assist, a generative AI tool powered by Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service. The new offering leverages the tax giant’s decades of experience in tax prep and leans on its stable of more than 60,000 tax pros to answer your thorniest questions about U.S. and state tax laws: Can I deduct this new laptop? Is this a personal expense or a business one? How many roads must a man walk down, before travel is officially part of his job?
We see AI as one of the defining technologies of our time.
Sarah Bird, Responsible AI, Microsoft
In a press preview on Thursday, January 25, in New York City, H&R Block announced another new tool designed to simplify importing last year’s tax returns from the competition. And it offered TechRadar the opportunity to try out the new AI assistant software and talk about the future of tax prep.
“We see AI as one of the defining technologies of our time … but only if we do it responsibility,” explained Sarah Bird, who serves as global lead for responsible AI at Microsoft. (Bird was virtual at the event, a result of possible exposure to Covid.) Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service lets developers easily build generative AI experiences, using a set of prebuilt and curated models from OpenAI, Meta and beyond. Her team helps companies like H&R Block ensure that their tools use the highest quality training data, guide you with clever prompts, and so on. “It’s really a best practices implementation in terms of responsible AI,” she said.
H&R Block notes that the tech will not file or even fill out your forms; it merely answers questions. But if you’re hesitant to even ask AI for tax advice, you have good reason. The tech is notorious for hallucinations, where it simply invents the answers to questions if it can’t find the right answer. Some experts worry that problem may never be solved. “This isn’t fixable,” Emily Bender, a linguistics professor at UW’s Computational Linguistics Laboratory, told the Associated Press last fall. “It’s inherent in the mismatch between the technology and the proposed use cases.”
One answer to the problem is starting with the right training data. If the AI has reliable, trustworthy sources of data to pore through, it can find the right answer, saving you from hunting through the Kafka-esque bowels of the IRS to find the instruction form for Schedule B or whatever. And off-the-shelf large language models (LLMs) simply don’t have that data, explained Aditya Thadani, VP of Artificial Intelligence Platforms for H&R Block. Ask ChatGPT 4 a question, he noted, and you risk missing out on what’s new: The cut-off date for that LLM’s data sources is April of 2023.
“The IRS has released a number of changes since then,” he told attendees at the H&R Block event. “They’re making changes well into December and January, well into the tax season. We’re making sure you get all that information.”
To try out the new system, TechRadar sat down with some sample data and asked a few test prompts: Am I missing any deductions? Can I deduct a car as a business expense? And so on. The chatbot offered reasonable prompts: A few paragraphs of information culled from H&R Block’s deep catalog of data, links to find more information, and so on. The company says it can answer tax theory questions, clarify tax terms, and give guidance on specific tax rules. And crucial to the entire experience: Live, human beings — CPAs even! — are always just a click away.
“When we are not absolutely sure? Don’t guess. Give a response that we are actually confident in,” Thadani said. And if you don’t get the response you are looking for from the AI, you can get it from the tax pro.”
Privacy matters: Who will see your data?
It’s hard to discuss any emerging technology without touching on privacy, and both Microsoft and H&R Block are very aware of the risks. After all, a person’s tax returns are highly personal and confidential – one reason they became such a hot-button in the US presidential elections. Should a company be allowed to train an LLM on your data?
“We’re sitting on a lot of really personal, private information,” Thadani admitted. “As much as we want to use that to answer questions effectively, we have to continue to find the balance.” So the assistant won’t remember you. It won’t ingest your tax forms to answer the questions you pose. And by design, other people won’t benefit from your questions down the road.
The new software also taps into one of the quirks of our modern software assistants. We don’t necessarily talk to them like adults. We’ve been trained to ask Alexa or the Google Assistant halting half-words and phrases. Meanwhile, chatbots can converse in natural language. H&R Block’s tool works fine in either space, Bird explained.
“It’s incredibly enabling because it allows people to speak in words they’re comfortable with,” she said. There’s the real power of technology in a nutshell: “Make a complex thing more accessible to people because the technology meets them where they’re at.”
Now if it could only help us deduct a few holiday pounds from the waistline.
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