SocialCops, the New Delhi–based data intelligence company, was selected among hundreds of candidates as one of the World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers. With this selection, SocialCops joins an elite community of companies from around the world that are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. Past winners include Airbnb, Google, Kickstarter, Mozilla, Palantir Technologies, Spotify, Twitter and Wikimedia.
SocialCops was founded in 2013 by Prukalpa Sankar and Varun Banka to enable leaders to use data intelligence to confront critical global challenges. Since then, their technology platform has been used in scenarios as diverse as driving rapid village development, tracking national welfare schemes, and optimizing marketing campaign locations. Their work spans different sectors with partners such as the United Nations, Government of India and Unilever. In 2017 alone, their data intelligence platform processed 11 billion data points and touched the lives of 1 of 25 people in India through their projects and partners.
The World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers community are early-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations. “We welcome SocialCops in this diverse group of technology pioneers,” says Fulvia Montresor, Head of Technology Pioneers at the World Economic Forum. “SocialCops and its fellow pioneers are front and centre in shaping the ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution and we believe they will be transforming society and industry in a positive way in the years to come.”
Following its selection as Technology Pioneer, Prukalpa Sankar, co-founder of SocialCops, will be participating in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions. This meeting, also dubbed “Summer Davos”, will be held in Tianjin, China, from September 18-20. Many Pioneers will also attend the Annual Meeting in Davos, in January 2019, and continue to contribute to Forum initiatives in the course of the next two years.
“We are honoured to be acknowledged as a Pioneer by the World Economic Forum and join a cohort of global game changers like Palantir & Airbnb”, said SocialCops Co-Founder, Prukalpa Sankar. “When we founded SocialCops, we wanted to democratize data and make it possible for millions of organizations in the world to derive the kind of value from data that only financial institutions and Silicon Valley giants are capable of deriving today. Organizations at different stages of their data journey can use our platform to drive decisions both big and small. We want to use this award as an opportunity to keep engaging with global stakeholders in government and society, as well as in business, to help adopt data-driven systems and increase their impact.”
The Technology Pioneers were selected by a selection committee of more than 60 academics, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and corporate executives. The committee based its decisions on criteria including innovation, potential impact and leadership.
This year’s cohort is the most diverse ever, both geographically and in terms of gender. 25% are female-led, and a majority (54%) come from regions outside the United States and Silicon Valley, with each continent represented, barring Antarctica. There is also a wide variety in the technologies the pioneers focus on — the focus technologies include artificial intelligence, big data and internet of things (IoT), biotechnology, blockchain, autonomous vehicles, cyber security, vertical farming and other agricultural advances, decentralised microgrids and robotics. The full list of Technology Pioneers can be found here.
More than one in five adults work for companies that are deploying artificial intelligence (AI)—and while these employees generally view AI positively, they also have concerns about its potential effects on their privacy, job security, and economic equality. In fact, AI users are both more optimistic about AI’s benefits and more wary of its risks than nonusers. Those are the central findings of a survey of more than 7,000 people conducted in Canada, China, France, Germany, Spain, the UK, and the US by BCG GAMMA and Ipsos, a market research firm.
AI Is Not Coming—It’s Already Here
AI adoption varies widely among countries. In China, 31% of survey respondents say they work in organizations that already use AI, followed by North America (26% in Canada, 24% in the US) and then Europe (20% in the UK; 18% in Spain, 16% in France, and 15% in Germany).
Adoption also varies by sector, but to a lesser extent. A quarter of the workers in manufacturing say that AI is deployed at their companies, compared with 20% in construction, 19% in retail, and 18% in services. The average rate across private sector organizations stands at 20%, whereas 25% of public sector respondents say that AI-enabled tools and applications are already in their workplace.
People Have a Positive View of Increasing Use of AI-Enabled Tools
The vast majority of employees—especially those who already have access to AI—expect it to have positive implications for their organization and for themselves.
In workplaces that use AI-powered tools, more than two-thirds of the employees surveyed say the tools have already had a positive impact on their efficiency (75% cite improvements in their effectiveness, 75% in their results, and 74% in how their work is structured). They also note that AI has had a positive impact on the appeal of their work (70%), on their level of well-being at work (69%), and on the training courses made available to them (67%). A large majority of respondents, regardless of gender, age, or occupation, mention these positive effects.
Workers who have already experienced the benefits of AI tools are even more enthusiastic than others with regard to the likely the impact of AI over the next five years. More than eight in ten think that it will positively affect their organization (84% say it will have a positive impact on their organization’s business growth, and 81% say it will improve the structure of work). More than three in four also expect positive benefits for themselves (77% with regard their level of well-being at work, and 76% with regard to their professional development).
Although people who don’t already have access to tools enabled by AI are less enthusiastic, they remain largely positive about the idea. The same applies to countries, depending on where they stand on the path to AI revolution.
The most advanced countries, such as China, Canada, and the US—but also Spain—view the probable impact of AI most positively. Other European countries are more cautious, but still see it positively for the most part.
Big Efforts Needed to Get Everybody on Board
Despite their generally positive opinions about AI’s impact and outlook, people do have serious concerns that companies must address. Fears and concerns don’t simply disappear when people become familiar with AI-enabled tools; indeed, more than three in four people are worried that using AI at work may result in more supervisory control and surveillance in their workplace (82% of people in organizations already using AI think so). This concern is especially high in China (84%).
More than two-thirds of surveyed workers fear that AI will eventually lead to job losses due to a reduced workload (the percentage among employees who already use AI is 76%). Many (65% overall, and 71% in places already using AI) are also afraid that AI will dehumanize work, resulting in reduced social cohesion, and foresee AI-related ethical problems with regard to the protection of personal data (64% overall, and 71% where AI is already in place).
To this point, organizations implementing AI tools have not discussed these concerns in depth—which is all the more reason that they should do so now. Only 40% of the employees interviewed say that their managers have discussed the organization’s development of AI and its digital transformation with them (only 32% where no applications of AI are available yet).
A substantial majority (79%) of employees in workplaces where AI is already familiar expect their managers to make statements and decisions about it. Others have lower expectations, largely because they are unaware of how important AI has become as a strategic issue in most organizations.
This explains why less than one person in three believes that the development of AI will revolutionize their workplace, and why 42% think that it will impact only certain companies and certain business sectors, rather than the entire economy.
Sylvain Duranton, global leader of BCG GAMMA, warns against adopting a complacent, business-as-usual attitude toward AI. “Underestimating the size of the AI phenomenon and being unprepared for the digital transformation could leave organizations at great risk. Individuals and managers need to get ready for the AI revolution—which is already here—and to take full advantage of it for survival and growth. Otherwise, they risk being crushed by the power of the wave,” he says.
Methodology: Ipsos carried out the study for BCG among 7,077 people in the active population, including a minimum of 1,000 people in each of the seven countries surveyed (Canada, China, France, Germany, Spain, the UK, and the US,). In each country, Ipsos interviewed a representative sample (quota method) of the national active adult (18 and over) population. Ipsos conducted the online survey between May 18 and June 6, 2018.
Western Digital unveiled the SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.1, a low-profile USB flash drive ideal for people who want to add more photos, videos, games and audio files to their notebooks, tablets, TVs, gaming consoles and car audio systems. The drive, available in capacity up to 256GB, gives customers the flexibility to keep more content at their fingertips – approximately, 14,000 photos, 10 hours of full HD video and 16,000 songs.
The new SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.1 high speed flash drive is compact in design allowing users to plug and leave it in, making it simpler to add extra, high-speed storage to their device! Just by plugging it in the user can instant storage for their devices. SanDisk Ultra Fit™ USB 3.1 Flash Drive enables write speeds up to 15x faster than a standard USB 2.0 drives1
With this flash drive, a full-length movie can be moved in less than 30 seconds2 plus it includes SanDisk SecureAccess software for password protection and 128-bit AES encryption software making it easy to password-protect critical files3. The user just needs to drag and drop files into the vault, and they'll be encrypted to keep the private files private.
The drive comes with a RescuePRO Deluxe data recovery software download offer4. This software allows recovery of files that have been accidentally deleted (download required). It is also backward-compatible, so it can be plugged into any USB 3.0 or 2.0 port.
Perfect companion for people who need an always available extra storage on their devices for media and more, SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.1 Flash Drive features a five-year limited warranty and comes in 16GB/32GB/ 64GB/ 128GB/ 256GB* capacities with up to 130MB/s1 read speed.
Pricing and Availability
SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.1 Flash Drive will be available exclusively on Amazon.in until July 20, 2018 and across all retail outlets post that. The price points are as follows:
16 GB - INR 800
32 GB - INR 899
64 GB - INR 1649
128 GB -INR 3099
256 GB -INR 7590
The 5G networks may be as much as 10 times more efficient than 4G networks. With this new level of network capability, communications service providers (CSPs) can secure future market opportunities with manufacturers of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the fields of driver safety and data processing and management, according to Gartner, Inc.
AV systems and sensors will generate unprecedented amounts of data. This will allow automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to extract valuable data insights while limiting the associated provisioning costs. "CSPs have an opportunity to become strategic partners for OEMs by applying 5G capabilities to address AV OEM data growth," said Jonathan Davenport, senior research analyst at Gartner.
By 2025, AVs will upload over 1 terabyte (TB) of vehicle and sensor data per month to the cloud. This is up from 30 gigabytes (GB) from advanced connected cars in 2018. "To seize the opportunity, CSPs need to make sure 5G is included in the design of future vehicles, in the fields of safety and connectivity, where the biggest chances lie," said Mr. Davenport.
5G will also provide passengers of AVs with high-quality infotainment services. "As a result, 5G networks make CSPs an important partner for enhanced vehicle systems, be it for safety, data analytics or entertainment," added Mr. Davenport.
Remote Control Increases Safety
Further opportunities for 5G technology to expand and enhance AV safety systems exist. This is fostered by regulators' examination of the safety performance of AVs.
Recent incidents involving AVs have sparked negative press and underscored the importance of public safety in self-driving cars. These events have also highlighted the challenges facing the industry to develop autonomous driving systems that can guarantee a safety performance above that of human drivers.
"AVs periodically face a set of conditions they cannot immediately navigate, which results in the need for a vehicle-human handover," explained Mr. Davenport. "This handover deactivates the autonomous mode and hands over control to a human driver — but such a handover is not always possible. One potential solution for these scenarios where a handover to the human driver fails is to use remote pilots. Human pilots can be the recipient of a planned remote handover or help recover an AV that has become stuck."
The safe execution of human-led remote control of AVs would require the reliability and low latency that 5G networks could provide. Once initiated, the technology would allow human technicians in remote facilities to assess live video feeds and vehicle diagnostics from the AV, and take over driving control virtually.
As the regulatory environment for AVs continues to evolve, regulators will likely begin to require remote control capabilities from AV OEMs or operators to improve safe operation on public roads. California-based startup Phantom Auto is developing remote control solutions for AVs using cellular connectivity. Similarly, Swedish truck and bus OEM Scania has conducted tests with Ericsson of 5G remote control capabilities for its public buses.
CSPs Must Act Immediately
5G is not a technology that can be fully deployed right now, and Gartner expects that it will generate only limited benefits for AVs in the next five years. "By design, AVs cannot rely on mobile networks such as 5G for core functionality, but must utilize multiple technologies to meet performance and safety design objectives," added Mr. Davenport. "Nevertheless, 5G networks will play a crucial role in handling the massive amounts of data generated by AVs and their users for all kinds of purposes, including safety, connectivity and entertainment."
CSPs must act now to secure future market opportunities by ensuring that 5G is part of the AV design process. OEMs will need comprehensive end-to-end data solutions to streamline their management of data connectivity, storage and analytics.
"In addition to offering solutions, CSPs have to build support for their 5G technologies and establish them as the de facto communication standard. This would be best achieved by supporting standards committees and working with local governments to facilitate the development of advanced use cases, such as metropolitan traffic management," concluded Davenport.
According to new research from Avast, the global leader in digital security products, almost one fourth (23%) of consumers in India are unconcerned about cryptomining malware infecting their personal and smart home devices. Among this group, a 39% mistakenly believe that cryptomining malware cannot affect them as they don’t own or mine cryptocurrencies themselves.
The research was carried out to better understand public perceptions and knowledge of cryptomining - the malicious process of covertly mining cryptocoins using malware planted on an individual’s device. Two-thirds (66%) of Indian consumers said they have heard of malware or infected websites mining cryptocurrencies. The findings suggest that Indian consumers adopt an apathetic attitude towards malicious cryptomining and knowledge of the threat is low. This is despite 77% of respondents admitting that they are familiar with digital currencies.
Over the past 12 months, coin-mining malware has evolved in sophistication and breadth. What was once a cyber threat directed towards PCs has fast become a major risk to smartphones and the complex ecosystem of IoT devices.
In order to be effective and profitable, cryptomining requires large amount of computer power. And since the costs involved in mining are high and the CPU power of PCs and smartphones low, cybercriminals are attempting to hijack networks of connected devices known as botnets to maximise profit. For victims, this can mean higher energy bills, lost productivity, poor device performance and shorter device lifespans. A compromised machine can also increase the risk of personal data theft.
“We are seeing a significant increase in cybercriminals recruiting Internet of Things (IoT) devices and smartphones to botnets with the intention to mine cryptocoins. The malware can run surreptitiously in the background on any smart device - it doesn’t matter if the victim owns a cryptocurrency or not. At Avast, our goal is to dispel the myths associated with malicious cryptomining and educate people about the risks to personal data and device performance,” said Martin Hron, Security Researcher at Avast.
“Typically, PC users can tell whether their computer is part of a botnet as it tends to respond slower than usual, heat up or distribute suspicious traffic. With IoT devices like a smart fridge or personal assistant, the symptoms are not so obvious. Users need security solutions that monitor traffic and behaviour and alert them when something is wrong.”
There have been a few cases where websites have offered visitors the choice between viewing ads or mining cryptocurrencies in the background. Half of users in the India said they would choose cryptomining for an ad-free online experience.
PC and smartphone users can implement a free antivirus solution like Avast Free Antivirus for desktop computers or Avast Mobile Security for Android devices. Avast will also launch Smart Home Security later this year which is based on Avast’s IoT security platform Smart Life and provides consumers with AI-based protection and visibility into activity on their home network.
Avast conducted the survey in April 2018. Over 1,020 PC users were polled. Almost one-fifth (19%) own or invest in cryptocoins and 37% are planning to invest in cryptocoins.
Oakter Smart Home, India’s leading internet connected home appliances company, today announced its plans to invest $2 million in research & development. The company is a leading developer and seller of AI powered connected home appliances in India, and plans to further expand its technological capabilities by instituting a research centre in Noida, and hiring over 30 system engineers to develop the next generation AI for edge-computing inside home products.
Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO of Oakter Smart Home said, “India has the best talent in software and hardware technology, and we shall harness young minds in developing the next generation of AI based hardware technology. Our vision is to develop world class AI based hardware products for India specific needs, and an investment of $2 million will be deployed to set up a world-class R&D centre, & recruit talent.”
According to a recent report, India’s connected appliances market alone is expected to cross Rs 30,000 crore by 2022, and Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad & Bengaluru account for a combined market share of over 50% currently.
Amazon & Google have recently launched a range of smart speakers with inbuilt voice assistant software called Alexa & Google Home respectively. These speakers together with Oakter smart switch and smart universal remote are used to control devices like Lights, Fan, AC & TV with voice commands. Example of commands which are supported are: “Alexa, switch on lights” , “Alexa, change channel to ESPN”. The smart speakers by both Google and Amazon currently only supports voice commands in English language. The initial target for this technology is urban centers like Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Also, Embassy group recently unveiled their project in north Bengaluru called Embassy edge, where Amazon and Oakter have collaborated to voice control of complete apartment complex. The company is also working with several luxury hotel chains to provide voice control. Globally hotel industry is seeing rapid adoption of voice control technology not only for controlling electrical appliances in hotel room, but also for services like concierge, room dining and housekeeping. Oakter Smart Home is working together with hoteliers to bring this technology for Indian hotels to keep up with global trends.
LIC Housing Finance (LIC HFL), India’s leading housing finance company is organizing ‘NIMMA MANE 2018’, a mega property fair spread over three days starting from June 22nd to 24th, 2018 at RBNMS Ground in Bangalore. The event will have over 42 prestigious builders & developers participating and more than 100 projects showcased.
Vinay Sah, Managing Director and CEO, LIC HFL will be inaugurating the event at 5:00 PM on June 22nd. The Expo will showcase wide range of plots, flats & villas, both in affordable and luxury segments.
LIC Housing Finance Ltd. has always been offering products that are customized to suit the needs of borrowers. This will be a good platform for the prospective customers who can look forward to value deals and discounts from the participating builders. The major attraction for customers in the expo is they can get loans sanctioned on the spot from LIC Housing Finance with NO PROCESSING FEES. This will help them identify properties according to their eligibility and budget.
LIC HFL team of experts will be available at the venue to provide guidance regarding the technical aspects of loan eligibility, which will help buyers make informed decisions. A footfall of around 8,000 is expected during the three day event.
The Southern Central Region of LIC HFL comprises of the state of Karnataka which holds around 11 % of the loan book of the Company with 25 marketing offices and 2 back offices. For the year ended 31st March 2018, the region disbursed about Rs. 5686 crores.
LIC Housing Finance Ltd, under its loan scheme Griha Siddhi, offers maximum tenure of 30 years for all its housing loan products, with rates of interest starts as low as 8.40%. For the first time, home borrowers can avail additional benefits under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS).
