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In today’s newsletter: 

• Indian Govt looks to tap startups, IITs for safe AI 
• Domestic E2W sales post 36% jump in 2023
• Relief for e-comm firms as truckers end strike

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As the use of artificial intelligence (AI) explodes across our daily lives, governments worldwide have become increasingly aware of its potential harms. 

• Deepfakes, AI-generated misinformation, and other threats have prompted policymakers to develop interventions aimed at mitigating these risks

However, beyond simply addressing the harms, a critical question arises: how can we ensure that AI continues to evolve and improve in a positive direction? 

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is seeking partnerships with leading Indian engineering and technology institutions, including IITs and IIITs, as well as startups, to develop responsible AI tools that can mitigate bias and protect user data.

• Under the IndiaAI programme, MeitY is offering grants to institutions developing responsible AI tools

Some of the tools that MeitY wants these institutions and startups to build are:

• Machine unlearning, which helps correct inaccuracies, biases and outdated information

• AI ethical certifications, which are processes that verify that AI systems follow established ethical principles

The ministry is currently accepting proposals from interested institutions and startups.

• An expert committee will evaluate these proposals and make decisions in this regard

Find out more

The Indian electric two-wheeler (E2W) industry soared in 2023, with overall retail sales surpassing 8 lakh units and achieving a significant year-on-year growth of 36%.

Driven by a surge in consumer demand, a mindset shift towards electric vehicles, and competitive pricing from various players, 2023 saw a remarkable rise in EV sales, even amidst a reduction in FAME II subsidies. 

• This robust growth, despite the lowered consumer incentives (from 40% to 15% in June 2023), signifies a maturing EV market and its promising future

While 2023 was a year of significant momentum for EV makers, with many players capturing valuable market share, December witnessed a typical seasonal dip in sales, reaching 75,336 units. 

The electric two-wheeler industry is set for a transformative year in 2024, with traditional ICE (internal combustion engine) players gearing up to either enter the segment or significantly expand their presence.

• Ola Electric dominated the EV 2W segment in December 2023 with a 40% market share, followed by TVS Motors and Bajaj

Industry experts predict that the dynamics of market share will undergo a shift as more players focus on standardisation and the development of battery infrastructure in 2024.

Go deeper

If you’re in the northern and western parts of India and were notified that your online order was delayed, we’ve got updates for you. 

Truck drivers' associations called off their two-day strike late last night, bringing relief to e-commerce companies. 

• The strike was a protest against the stringent new laws on hit-and-run cases

• The law stipulated a punishment of up to 10 years in prison or a fine of Rs 7 lakh for violators

Following discussions with the associations, the Home Ministry assured them that the new law would not be passed without considering the drivers' concerns. 

As the strike entered its second day, the operations of several e-commerce companies were already disrupted.

“Expect a 1-2 day delay in customer delivery as of now. Trucks were stuck since January 1 in many states. The disruption is very real. And if the strike was not controlled immediately, it would have been severe – and then bringing it back into order takes a long time,” an e-commerce executive told us. 

Truck blockades on highways, impacting inter-city transport, triggered a domino effect.

The protest by lakhs of truckers led to widespread panic buying of fuel, causing congestion at petrol pumps.

• As a result, last-mile delivery partners, who rely on bikes, were unable to fill their tanks, impacting e-commerce operations

Although the strike has officially ended, executives at e-commerce companies expect a backlog due to the intensity of the protests.

Dig deeper

• Nobel Prize-winning economist Christopher Pissarides warns youth against prioritising STEM studies, arguing "empathetic" and creative skills will flourish in an AI-dominated future where IT workers risk automating themselves out of a job.
  
  
• Samsung is betting big on AI to drive sales in 2024, with its next flagship phone likely to showcase "Galaxy AI" at a January 17 launch event in San Jose.
  

The one and only Steamboat Willie, Mickey Mouse's original avatar, slipped out of Disney's copyright clutches on January 1, waltzing into the public domain.

• And the internet wasted no time turning the squeaky clean mascot into a dubstep maestro, an NFT sensation, and even the star of a horror film titled Mickey's Mouse Trap

Video games are getting in on the action too, with Nightmare Forge's eerie game Infestation 88 and Fumi's noirish thriller "Mouse," featuring a gangster mouse wreaking havoc.

Find out more  

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