Car models crowd in as EVs spark in India
India's electric vehicle market is expanding rapidly with government support and increasing consumer awareness. Tata Motors leads the market with a range of popular models, while MG Motor India, Mahindra & Mahindra, and BYD are also prominent players. Key Points
Economic TimesUltra rich chase Rs 1 crore-plus supercars on luxury drive
Carmakers such as Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Toyota rolled out eight new models with eight-figure price tags in 2023, taking the number of such models in the country to 31, according to data collated by Jato Dynamics. The data does not include models from super-luxury carmakers such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin. Carmakers said increased wealth creation, particularly among younger people, is driving the increasing demand for top-end vehicles, or TEVs. Key Points
Economic TimesThe great AI debate: Open-source vs proprietary models in global showdown
The development and regulation of AI technologies, such as chatbots, GPTs, and search engines, are causing concern and debate. Geopolitical tensions arise as open-source AI models from China compete with proprietary models from the US and EU. Data privacy laws, consumer data protection, and standardized definitions and regulations for AI are seen as essential. Key Points
Economic TimesMaruti Suzuki announces price hike across models to offset inflation
Maruti Suzuki has announced a 0.45% price hike across its models due to increased cost pressure from inflation and increased commodity prices. The hike will take effect from January 16, 2024. The weighted average increase across models is around 0.45%. Other automakers, including Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Honda Cars India, and luxury car dealer Audi, have also hiked prices this month Key Points
Economic TimesYour email address that you used to login to ChatGPT may be at risk
A research team led by Rui Zhu, a Ph.D. candidate at Indiana University Bloomington, uncovered a potential privacy risk associated with OpenAI's powerful language model, GPT-3.5 Turbo. Key Points
India Today
These Clues Hint at the True Nature of OpenAI’s Shadowy Q* Project
Reports of a mysterious breakthrough called Q* at OpenAI sparked anxious rumors. AI experts say it’s probably just a conventional attempt to make ChatGPT a little smarter. Key Points
WIREDAmazon sets new team to trains ambitious AI model codenamed 'Olympus' -sources
Amazon (AMZN.O) is investing millions in training an ambitious large language model (LLMs), hoping it could rival top models from OpenAI and Alphabet (GOOGL.O), two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Key Points
ReutersGlobal declarations about AI regulation may need a hubris check
Heady announcements on artificial intelligence have come thick and fast lately, with the UK’s Bletchley Park back in the arc-lights. But this field is far too complex for easy rule-making. Key Points
mintWorld Powers Say They Want to Contain AI. They’re Also Racing to Advance It
The US, China, and others signed a declaration coordinated by the UK warning AI could be “catastrophic.” Yet none seem to be suggesting development of the technology should slow down. Key Points
WIREDAlibaba upgrades AI model Tongyi Qianwen, releases industry-specific models
Chinese technology giant Alibaba (9988.HK) said on Tuesday it has updated its artificial intelligence (AI) model Tongyi Qianwen and released a suite of industry-specific AI models amid an intensifying AI race among tech companies. Key Points
Reuters
Climate Risk Is Becoming Uninsurable. Better Forecasting Can Help.
Households and businesses are being priced out of insurance just as the effects of climate change start to bite. A new generation of mathematical modelers might be able to help defuse this looming crisis. Key Points
mintHyundai makes six airbags standard across all models
Hyundai Motor India on Tuesday said all its models in the country would now come with six airbags as standard. The automaker also announced that it has decided for voluntary participation in the recently introduced Bharat NCAP with three models to begin with, and more models to follow. PTI Key Points
The Tribune IndiaAI Hurricane Predictions Are Storming the World of Weather Forecasting
This year’s hurricane season provides a test run for the idea that machine-learning algorithms can improve weather forecasts. So far, the AI models are making good calls. Key Points
WIREDYeh dil maange more: Companies now focus on ‘all things premium’
The number of car models available in the sub Rs 10 lakh category more than halved to 27 in the June quarter from 57 in FY19. models priced over Rs 10 lakh almost doubled to 50. Of the half a dozen or so passenger vehicles unveiled this fiscal year, only the Maruti Suzuki Fronx and the Hyundai Exter have variants priced below Rs 10 lakh. The Maruti Suzuki Jimny and the new Kia Seltos as well as the forthcoming Citroen C3 Aircross and the Honda Elevate are all tagged upward of Rs 10 lakh. Key Points
Economic TimesAI industry leaders create forum to regulate big machine learnings models
OpenAI, Microsoft (MSFT.O), Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google and Anthropic are launching a forum to regulate the development of large machine learnings models, the industry leaders of artificial intelligence said on Wednesday. Key Points
Reuters/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/IQAKNQH5N5IBJPUI3QM2U7C3O4.jpg)
Meta opens AI model to commercial use, throwing nascent market into flux
Meta (META.O) is releasing a commercial version of its open-source artificial intelligence model Llama, the company said on Tuesday, giving start-ups and other businesses a powerful free-of-charge alternative to pricey proprietary models sold by OpenAI and Google. Key Points
ReutersCos boost incentives for SUVs, minivans to stimulate demand
The SUV segment, too, saw similar incentive increases from ₹32,296 to ₹42,215 for the same period. Body styles such as the micro-car and mini-MPV segment maintained its incentive levels at ₹38,997 and ₹17,665, respectively. Hatchbacks and sedans saw a marginal rise for the quarter ended June 2023, according to Jato Dynamics data. Key Points
Economic TimesGovt working on incentives to push electric cooking
“We do not have (much) gas reserves in our country, so we need to preserve gas and switch to electricity and this has to come from renewable sources. We are developing some models where affordability is the biggest issue to be tackled,” he said. Key Points
FinancialexpressHow to make AI lightweight and accessible to all
Lightweight AI models are designed to be smaller and more efficient than their heavyweight counterparts. They can be deployed on low-power devices such as smartphones, tablets and IoT devices, which have limited processing power and memory. The goal is to make AI more accessible and affordable, particularly in developing countries, where people may not have access to high-end devices or the internet. Key Points
The Economic TimesCar sales seen zipping past demand woes to hit record as FY23 sales expected at 3.9 M units vs 3.07 M in F
Manufacturers are trying to balance supply and demand given that customers can't buy the models they want and there are discounts on others. This has led to the estimate of PV sales this month being cut to 310,000 units from 350,000 earlier. Key Points
Economic Times
Car sales seen zipping past demand woes to hit record
Manufacturers are trying to balance supply and demand given that customers can't buy the models they want and there are discounts on others. This has led to the estimate of PV sales this month being cut to 310,000 units from 350,000 earlier. Key Points
Economic TimesAI Chatbots Got Big—and Their Ethical Red Flags Got Bigger
Researchers have spent years warning that text-generation algorithms can spew bias and falsehoods. Tech giants are rushing them into products anyway. Key Points
WIREDMeta Releases Llama 3.2—and Gives Its AI a Voice
Meta’s AI assistants can now talk and see the world. The company is also releasing the multimodal Llama 3.2, a free model with visual skills. Key Points
WIREDElon Musk Gave Himself No Choice but to Open Source His Chatbot Grok
Earlier this month Elon Musk sued OpenAI for keeping its technology secret. Today he promised to give away his own “truth-seeking” chatbot Grok for free. Key Points
WIREDBaidu CEO warns China's rush to develop AI models risks wasting resources
The head of one of China's leading AI firms, Baidu (9888.HK), warned on Wednesday that the fervor rushing to develop large language models in China could lead to a waste of resources, saying firms needed to focus their efforts on developing practical applications. Key Points
Reuters
Exclusive | New AI law to secure rights of news publishers: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Global AI regulation discussions intensify as companies seek fair compensation for AI data training from publishers. EU leads with strict guidelines under AI Act. OpenAI claims fair use, NYT advocates for accountability in copyright law. Key Points
Economic TimesWith slew of new launches, Auto Inc set for a happy new year
India's passenger vehicle market, valued at ₹4.5 lakh crore, has been outpacing volume growth and the trend is likely to continue with the spate of new models led by EVs, which enjoy a superior realisation. Carmakers will likely clock ₹25,000-30,000 crore of incremental revenue from new model sales, according to analyst estimates. Key Points
Economic TimesTata Motors expects passenger car sales to beat all records next year
Unlike rivals which introduced new models in last two years that drove sales, Tata Motors relied on introduction of new powertrains like CNG and electric, and special edition models. The Punch small SUV, launched in August 2021, was the last brand to be added to PV portfolio. Even mid-cycle model refreshes kicked in only at the fag end of the year with the facelifts of the Nexon, Nexon.ev, Harrier and Safari. The new Nexon and Nexon.ev, launched recently have got combined bookings in excess of 100,000 units - 85,000 for the fossil fuel version and rest for the electrified one, said Chandra. Key Points
Economic TimesMeta will allow users to generate music from text using ‘AudioCraft family of models’
Meta's parent company, Facebook, has unveiled a new generative AI tool called AudioCraft, which allows users to create high-quality audio and music using text prompts. The tool includes audio models MusicGen, AudioGen, and EnCodec, which can generate music and audio from text prompts. Key Points
mintMaruti expects sales momentum to continue; hopes to deliver more cars to customers this festive season
Despite a robust demand for its models, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) foresees muted growth for the remainder of the fiscal year, said Senior Executive Officer (Marketing and Sales), Shashank Srivastava. With the semiconductor shortage subsiding, the carmaker hopes to achieve higher production and reduce wait times for models like Ertiga, Brezza, and XL6. Key Points
Economic Times
iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus could get 3 massive upgrades: 48-megapixel camera, and more
The leaks so far suggest that the iPhone 15 and its Plus model will get three massive upgrades compared to their predecessors. Here is everything we know so far. Key Points
India TodayChina's cloud computing sector sees massive AI model price cuts by Alibaba and Baidu: Here's why
Alibaba and Baidu drastically cut prices on their large-language models, intensifying China's cloud computing price war. Alibaba's reductions reached 97 percent, and Baidu made its models free for businesses, pressuring profit margins and sparking competition among cloud providers. Key Points
mintMaruti offers dealerships support to drive small car sales in fast lane
The automaker will fund the interest cost on dealers working capital for holding these models, if the cars remain unsold beyond 30 days. Dealers will also earn incentives if they meet the sales targets set by the company. Key Points
Economic TimesDatabricks strikes $1.3 bln deal for generative AI startup MosaicML
Databricks said on Monday it had agreed to acquire artificial intelligence (AI) startup MosaicML in a mostly stock deal valued at $1.3 billion, marking Databricks' latest efforts to build an ecosystem for enterprises to use open-source AI models. Key Points
ReutersApple to drop support for these iPad models with launch of iPadOS 17, check list
Apple is set to unveil iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 at its WWDC event on June 5. Reports suggest that following the launch, the upcoming iPadOS 17 will no longer support certain older iPad models. Key Points
India Today
View: India’s EV revolution is driven from the bottom up
India's urban landscape is rapidly evolving, especially in its bustling cities. A decade ago, the iconic auto-rickshaws were predominantly diesel-powered, with electric versions being a rare novelty. Fast forward to today, and Delhi leads the charge in transitioning to battery-powered three-wheelers, capturing 54% of the market. This shift is driven by the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of electric models, prompting even Uber's CEO to explore the trend. The financial allure of electric vehicles extends beyond three-wheelers, with manufacturers now eyeing the two-wheeler market. This shift, if replicated, could significantly impact India's oil demand, especially in the face of rising fuel prices. Key Points
Economic TimesReliance's Hanooman: An AI model backed by Mukesh Ambani speeds toward a March India rollout
BharatGPT, a consortium backed by Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd., is set to launch Hanooman, a ChatGPT-style service, in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology universities. It aims to overcome computational constraints, offer speech-to-text capabilities, and become a transformative AI technology in India. Key Points
Economic TimesIndia's Hero MotoCorp to increase prices of specific two-wheeler models
Indian two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp on Friday said it would increase prices of specific models of motorcycles and scooters by around 1.5% from July 3, as it combats price positioning, input costs and business imperatives. Key Points
ReutersChina orders recall of 1.1M Teslas to fix accelerator pedal problem that raises crash risk
The State Administration for Market Regulation said in a notice Friday that the recall involves imported Model S, X and 3 models as well as the Chinese-made models Y and 3. The models were produced between January 12, 2019 and April 24, 2023, but it wasn't clear from the notice whether those dates applied only to the Chinese-made vehicles. Key Points
Economic TimesMaruti Suzuki remains vulnerable to supply side this fiscal: Official
Maruti Suzuki's largest carmaker, which could not produce around 1.7 lakh units last fiscal due to semiconductor shortage, is also coming up with measures to reduce the usage of certain kinds of chips in its cars. Key Points
mint
Apple rolls out iOS 16.4.1 and iPadOS 16.4.1 with critical bug fixes. Details
Apple iPhone 8 and later models are compatible with iOS 16.4.1 update. Key Points
mint