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In today’s newsletter: 

• AI advisory outrage: Govt clarifies
• New milestone for ONDC, again 
• Placement tests get tougher

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The Indian government's recent advisories have become a familiar sight, tackling issues like deepfakes and misinformation. 

• However, none have caused quite the stir as the March 1st missive on artificial intelligence (AI)

The Indian government's requirement for platforms to seek permission before launching AI products sparked criticism from the industry, prompting clarifications from ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

• Vaishnaw defended the advisory but clarified that its provisions will not apply to AI platforms in healthcare and agriculture

• Chandrasekhar further clarified that startups are exempt from the advisory

However, it will apply to social media platforms, according to Vaishnaw, and to other "significant platforms," as defined by Chandrasekhar.

The March 1 missive demands that platforms seek "explicit permission of the government" before deploying AI products in testing. 

• Additionally, it requires platforms to incorporate a unique identifier on AI-generated content to trace the first originator of misinformation

Industry leaders expressed concerns, labelling the advisory as regressive and a potential impediment to innovation.

"We don't have extremely powerful AI at a product level yet. Therefore, regulating something like that doesn't make sense,” said Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-founder of analytics platform Fractal.

The controversy surrounding Google delisting apps from prominent Indian companies gained momentum over the weekend. 

• Today, affected companies held meetings with Minister Vaishnaw in person and Chandrasekhar virtually

Sources said that Vaishnaw assured affected companies of government support, while Chandrasekhar pledged that the IT Ministry would engage with Google for "a sustainable and long-term solution."

A lot is happening within the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

ONDC's transaction volume, a crucial metric for measuring the growth of a business, increased by 15% to over 7.5 million in February compared to the previous month.

• The interoperable network clocked 6.5 million transactions in January

Within this number lies a trove of interesting data showcasing the widespread adoption of ONDC. 

• Out of the total 7.5 million transactions, 3.8 million were attributed to the ride-hailing category via the Namma Yatri platform, while the remaining 3.7 million were retail purchases

The network is looking to achieve a monthly run rate of up to 8 million transactions by the end of FY24, sources told us.

ONDC is a unique government initiative with the potential for multi-dimensional benefits if successful. 

• The government hopes to increase e-commerce penetration in the country to 25% in the next couple of years, generating a gross merchandise value of $48 billion

Over the past year-and-a-half, several new-age companies like Paytm, Ola, PhonePe, Meesho, Magicpin, and Shiprocket have joined ONDC, aiming to break the dominance of a few players like Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato, and Swiggy in the country's online retail market.

Find out more

2023 wasn't the smoothest ride for aspiring software engineers, and the outlook for 2024 might raise a few eyebrows. 

• After a significant slowdown in hiring last year, tech companies are back, but with a different set of expectations

Companies are seeking candidates with strong communication skills, advanced coding abilities (including hand-written code), and top scores. 

• Some are even considering psychometric tests

The tightening selection process means only the top talents will secure positions. 

• This can be daunting, especially considering the recent decline in headcount at leading IT companies

In an era of rapid technological evolution, companies are setting their sights on candidates with proficiency in niche skills. 

• Artificial intelligence steals the spotlight as the hottest skill in demand, followed by a hunger for expertise in data science, machine learning, big data, cyber-security, full stack, and DevOps

Find out more

Tech hub Bengaluru is facing an unprecedented water shortage, with gated communities bearing the brunt of the crisis. 

• This issue has arisen due to private tankers refusing to supply water following the state government's decision to take control of the water distribution

While the state government claims the move aims to ensure a steady water supply across the city, gated communities are facing difficulty obtaining water, even when willing to pay for it. 

• In many areas, RWAs have banned car washing and temporarily shut down swimming pools in response to the shortage

Dig deeper

• JPMorgan Chase's AI-powered cashflow management tool slashed manual work by nearly 90% for some corporate clients, moving the bank closer to monetizing the service.
  
  
• To counter rising data centre costs and chip shortages, China is subsidising AI startups through city-backed "computing vouchers" to level the playing field against tech giants. 

Ever wonder who's pulling the strings in the ever-evolving world of tech? 

• Big Technology Podcast pulls back the curtain and introduces you to the masterminds behind the scenes

Join host Alex Kantrowitz as he sits down with industry titans, from founders and CEOs to tech's brightest minds, for insightful conversations that break down complex concepts into clear, digestible bites.

Check it out on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

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