The guardrails erected in Hollywood in respect of consent and compensation come at a timely juncture for India. Going forward, performers, talent managers and producers in India would be better equipped at delineating the exact purposes and duration for which digital replicas may be deployed
It will soon be a decade since these transactions took place but there is no sign of the issue attaining closure. There are lessons in it for future cases
Ramlila Maidan Farm Mahapanchayat: Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s success in getting permission for a mahapanchayat in Delhi even as its splinter outfit, the SKM (Non-Political) languishes at the Shambhu border, has created unease in the farm movement. GoI has played a smart political hand, but will the two groups resolve differences for the sake of their common goals like legal guarantee for MSP?
It’s not a governmental commitment to invest the money but India’s industrial priorities in areas where the EFTA countries’ strengths lie, such as green hydrogen, renewable energy and infrastructure, provide enough avenues if the intent is there
While the near-term positives are already priced into valuations, there are some challenges from weak domestic consumption and slow exports
While shares of India-focused drug companies re-rated, growth in domestic pharma market is returning to pre COVID levels
RBI data show that in Q3 2023-24, companies with annualised sales of Rs 25-500 crore saw their operating profits shrink year-on-year, in the aggregate
The laughable screw-ups in the Gemini chatbot’s image-generation — racially diverse Nazi soldiers? — offered a salutary glimpse of an Orwellian dystopia. And in so doing, they also highlighted vital questions of opacity, trust, range of application, and truth that deserve more attention as we contemplate where AI will lead
In today's edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: EFTA model and its replication for future deals, surging cotton price adds to woes, IIP contradicts GDP data, Maldives’ growing closeness with China explained, and more
During an electoral bond’s 15-day life cycle, it can be used to conveniently move large amounts of anonymous money, settle shady transactions without leaving a money trail, and even channel money routed through shell companies to political parties. Riddled with such opportunities for money laundering, this allowed for a ready secondary market for electoral bonds. A fit case for investigation by central agencies exists
The space value chain needs targeted reforms for its upstream, downstream and auxiliary segments. Strategic policies that can be offered range from production-linked and service-linked incentives to GST- and customs duty exemptions, creating ‘space’ infrastructure, and regulations that boost private sector participation
The best economic data show that, on average, people are working fewer hours than ever. Working hours have declined the most in countries with higher GDPs because it takes fewer hours of work to earn a comfortable living. Most people have about 40 hours of free time a week. All those streaming platforms are doing a roaring trade for a reason. But it mustn't be forgotten that it is hard work that helps economies, companies and individuals pull away from the competition
A recent incident of a University College London lecturer being barred from teaching a research module after Chinese students complained that it was “provocative” has kicked off a debate on academic ideals and commercial pragmatism. Overseas students in the UK pay on average 2.4 times more tuition fees than domestic counterparts, providing a critical revenue stream that any administrator would be loath to jeopardise
The traditional trade channel’s growth uptrend slipped in the December quarter, despite the year ago period having seen a decline
The question of whether Xi-ism is killing Deng-ism is growing
March is the traditional low season for the global logistics industry and also the time when ship operators, importers and freight forwarders sit down to discuss long-term contracts. With multiple international crises including wars and economic uncertainty, companies are having a tough time deciding how much long-term capacity and revenue targets to lock in
Despite continued expansion of renewable and battery capacity, Texas recorded surprisingly strong electricity prices last summer and futures have also soared over the past six months. The reason? A massive expansion in power consumption offsetting the new generating capacity. Assuming the AI revolution is in its infancy, we are about to witness a marked increase in demand for electricity, and gas will play a part in meeting that
Muizzu is reaching out to a number of nations beside China. Diversifying foreign partnerships was one of his electoral promises. Muizzu follows a succession of leaders who have tilted towards either India or China by turn. It is really hard to put all the actions of former Presidents Solih, Yameen and Nasheed squarely in pro-India or pro-China boxes. Muizzu might pursue a similar policy straddling the India-China divide
The textile industry utilisation levels remain a concern globally and hence, any spurt in cotton prices would certainly tell on industry profit margins
The investment rider in the FTA with the European Free Trade Association is unique and signals a change in India’s approach to such negotiations
The outlook for equities, fixed income and gold in the upcoming fiscal year call for a mix of caution, being bold and building a hedge
Inflation continues to be persistent both in India and in the US, but the reasons are different
If the IIP numbers are right, the production of consumer durables in January 2024 was lower than six years ago
The existential question is not about AI as much as the degree of autonomy granted to weapons. Algorithms may make good decisions and minimise death. But the code may also fail or, more diabolically, be programmed to maximise suffering. Automation will accelerate military decisions so much that humans may have no time to evaluate a situation, and in the extreme stress either make fatal mistakes or surrender to the algorithm
Even a brief shutdown of TikTok would be cataclysmic to its value. There is strong loyalty toward TikTok from its user base, which runs to 170 million in the US alone. For years, China has blocked American tech companies from having access to its citizens. The US is under no obligation to allow China access to Americans, particularly amid heightened tensions and attendant fears of disinformation and manipulation
