Samsung Ushers In Mobile AI Era, Launches Galaxy S24 Series In India; Pre-book Now For Exciting Offers

·       Customers pre-booking Galaxy S24 Ultra & Galaxy S24+ will get a pre-booking benefits worth INR 22,000

·       Customers pre-booking Galaxy S24 will get a pre-booking benefits worth INR 15,000

·       Customers pre-booking Galaxy S24 series during “Samsung Live” event on 18th Jan’24 at 12:00 pm on https://www.samsung.com/in/live-offers/ will get an additional exclusive gift of a Wireless Charger Duo worth INR 4999.

Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today opened pre-bookings for its latest Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 smartphones, ushering in a new era of mobile AI. Galaxy S24 series enables barrier-free communication, maximizes creative freedom with Galaxy’s ProVisual Engine, and sets a new standard for search that will change how Galaxy users discover the world around them.

Barrier-free communication

Galaxy S24 series enhances and redefines the phone’s most fundamental role: communication with Live Translate, two-way, real-time voice and text translations of phone calls within the native app. With Interpreter, live conversations can be instantly translated on a split-screen view. It even works without cellular data or Wi-Fi. For messages and other apps, Chat Assist can help perfect conversational tones to ensure communication sounds as it was intended. AI built into Samsung Keyboard can also translate messages in real-time in 13 languages, including Hindi. In the car, Android Auto will automatically summarize incoming messages and suggest relevant replies and actions.

The Note Assist in Samsung Notes, features AI-generated summaries, template creation that streamlines notes with pre-made formats, and cover creation to make notes easy to spot with a brief preview. For voice recordings, even when there are multiple speakers, Transcript Assist uses AI and Speech-to-Text technology to transcribe summarize and even translate recordings.

Galaxy S24 marks a milestone in the history of search as the first phone to debut intuitive, gesture-driven Circle to Search with Google. Users can circle, highlight, scribble on, or tap anything on Galaxy S24’s screen to see helpful, high-quality search results. For certain searches, generative AI-powered overviews can provide helpful information and context pulled together from across the web.

Creative Freedom

Galaxy S24 series’ ProVisual Engine is a comprehensive suite of AI-powered tools that transform image capturing abilities and maximize creative freedom. The Quad Tele System on Galaxy S24 Ultra now comes with a new 5x optical zoom lens that works with the 50MP sensor to enable optical-quality performance at zoom levels from 2x, 3x, 5x to 10x, thanks to Adaptive Pixel Sensor. Images also show crystal clear results at 100x with enhanced digital zoom.

With upgraded Nightography capabilities, photos and videos shot on Galaxy S24 Space Zoom are brilliant in any conditions, even when zoomed in. Galaxy S24 Ultra’s larger pixel size, now 1.4 ?m, is 60% bigger, helping capture more light in dim conditions. Wider optical image stabilizer (OIS) angles and enhanced hand-shake compensation help reduce blur. Both front and rear cameras are equipped with Dedicated ISP Block for noise reduction.

Galaxy AI editing tools on Galaxy S24 series enable simple edits like erase, re-compose, and remaster.  Edit Suggestion uses Galaxy AI to suggest perfectly suitable tweaks for each photo, while Generative Edit can fill in parts of an image background with generative AI. Anytime Galaxy S24 deploys generative AI to amplify an image, a watermark will appear on the image and in metadata.

The new Instant Slow-mo can generate additional frames based on movements to smoothly slow down action-packed moments for a more detailed look. Super HDR reveals lifelike previews before the shutter is ever pressed.

Intelligent & Powerful Experience

Galaxy S24 Ultra is equipped with Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy that delivers remarkable NPU improvement for incredibly efficient AI processing. In all three Galaxy S24 models, 1-120 Hz adaptive refresh rates improve performance efficiency.

Galaxy S24 Ultra comes a1.9 times larger vapor chamber, improving device surface temperature while also maximizing sustained performance power. Ray tracing enables life-like visuals with superior shadow and reflection effect. Galaxy S24 reaches 2600nit peak brightness, making it the brightest Galaxy smartphone ever.

Corning® Gorilla® Armor on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is optically enhanced for superior durability. It delivers dramatically reduced reflection by up to 75% in a wide range of lighting conditions, ensuring a smooth, comfortable viewing experience.

Galaxy S24+ comes with a 6.7-inch and Galaxy S24 has a 6.2-inch display. Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 6.8-inch flatter display, optimized not just for viewing but also for productivity. Galaxy S24+ now supports the same level of QHD+ found on Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Galaxy S24 Ultra is the first-ever Galaxy phone to feature a titanium frame, enhancing device durability and longevity. Galaxy S24 Ultra’s significantly thinner body enables better on-the-go experience with more comfortable grip. On Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24, a streamlined One-mass design satisfies a more aesthetic standard with seamless connection between the device’s rear cover and side frame.

Advanced Security and Privacy

Galaxy S24 is secured by Samsung Knox for safeguarding critical information and protection against vulnerabilities with end-to-end secure hardware, real-time threat detection and collaborative protection. Galaxy S24 users have full controllability over how much they allow their data to enhance AI experiences, through Advanced Intelligence settings, which can disable online processing of data for AI features. 

Galaxy S24 is also protected with Samsung’s expansive list of innovative security and privacy features including Knox Vault, Security & Privacy Dashboard, Auto Blocker, Secure Wi-Fi, Private Share, Maintenance Mode and more.

Sustainability

Galaxy S24 series continues Samsung’s commitment to extending the product lifecycle, offering seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates to help users reliably experience the optimized performance of their Galaxy devices for even longer.

For the first time, Galaxy S24 features components made with recycled cobalt and rare earth elements. Galaxy S24 is also the first Galaxy S series to be designed with recycled steel and Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU).

Price and Availability

Pre-book for Galaxy S24 series starts from January 18 across all leading online and offline retail stores. Consumers can also pre-book on Samsung Live at https://www.samsung.com/in/live-offers/ starting today.

Consumers buying Galaxy S24 Ultra through samsung.com will get the option of choosing from three exclusive colours - Titanium Blue, Titanium Green & Titanium Orange. Those buying Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus from samsung.com will get the option of two exclusive colour - Sapphire Blue & Jade Green.

Prebook Offers

Customers pre-booking Galaxy S24 Ultra & Galaxy S24+ will get benefits worth INR 22,000 and those pre-booking Galaxy S24 will get benefits worth INR 15,000.

Galaxy S24 Series Live Commerce Offer

Customers pre-booking Galaxy S24 Series during “Samsung Live” event starting 12 pm on January 18 will get additional exclusive gift of a Wireless Charger Duo worth INR 4999. The URL to pre-book the devices during live commerce are https://www.samsung.com/in/live-offers.

Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Launches Its First Pure EV

 

* Punch.ev, powered by acti.ev

*Available at an introductory starting price of INR 10.99 Lakh~

Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd (TPEM), a subsidiary of Tata Motors and the pioneer of India's EV revolution, today launched its first pure EV - the Punch.ev. First product based on its recently introduced, advanced Pure EV architecture – acti.ev, the Punch.ev transcends the ordinary with its cutting-edge technology, eco consciousness and cost-effective offering. Available in three distinct personas - Smart, Adventure and Empowered, the Punch.ev is a versatile and multi-talented Electric Vehicle, elegantly packaged in a stunning, classical SUV design. Starting at an introductory price of INR 10.99 Lakh, the Punch.ev will be available at all Tata Motors showrooms authorized for EV sales and Tata.ev stores across the country.

The Punch.ev is a pioneering addition to TATA.ev's portfolio, embodying the transformative shift in the needs and lifestyle of the contemporary customer. It combines the reliability of the Punch brand with the latest advancements in electric vehicle technology, offering an exceptional driving experience with zero emissions.

Commenting on the launch of the Punch.ev, Mr. Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited & Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited. said, “Today marks a historic milestone in India's EV journey as Tata.ev propels the nation into a new era of sustainable mobility with the launch of Punch.ev. Our unwavering mission to accelerate EV adoption has transformed the landscape, overcoming barriers with innovative solutions. From the launch of the game-changing Nexon.ev and Tiago.ev to our constant work of creating a robust charging infrastructure, we've reshaped perceptions. Now with the launch of the Punch.ev, an SUV that goes beyond every day, we are taking our commitment to an all-new level by delivering a versatile EV that aligns with the evolving customer needs. It aims to catapult the Indian EV market, and leapfrog India into an era of pure EVs.

Witnessing a 100-fold growth in four years, since inception, EVs are now mainstream. As a testament to Tata's commitment to democratizing EVs, the Punch.ev is set to redefine standards, creating a paradigm shift beyond the needs of today and tomorrow. As we welcome a new era of e-mobility, the Punch.ev will surely emerge as a beacon of innovation and progress. With exclusive stores, collaborative charging initiatives, and a cutting-edge manufacturing ecosystem, we're committed to shaping a future where sustainability, community, and technology converge."

Punch.ev in brief

Keeping various customer use cases in mind, the Punch.ev comes with two battery pack options - 25 kWh - offering an MIDC range of 315 km, and a 35 kWh option, which offers an MIDC range of 421 km. These battery pack options are complemented with two e-Drive options, a 60kW Permanent Magnet Synchronous AC Motor, producing 114Nm and a 90kW Permanent Magnet Synchronous AC Motor with 190Nm of torque, resulting in a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of 9.5 sec and an electronically limited top speed of 140km/h. The battery pack and motor of the Punch.ev are IP67 rated for protection from dust and water, with a warranty of 8 years or 1,60,000 km (whichever is earlier), offering complete peace of mind.

Additionally, the Punch.ev Long Range (LR) is available with the option of a 3.3kW and a 7.2 kW AC fast charger that can be installed either at home or at the workplace. With DC Fast Charging capability, it can be fast charged from 10% to 80% in 56 minutes from any 50 kW DC fast charger.

Unmissable EV Identity with tech in design: Led by the new digital design approach, the Punch.ev at its core, stands for being Innovative, Tech-Forward and Aspirational. Positioning EV modernity with an iconic look, the car is digitally enhanced by smart lighting systems.

A smart charging indicator useful to indicate the SOC levels while the vehicle is charging

Bi-functional LEDs coupled with the central position lamp – lighting up its surroundings

Welcome and Goodbye signature, adding a greeting element when one unlocks or locks their car

In-cabin experience:

Digital First - Advancing the overall digitized interactive experience to offer a high-tech in-cabin feel, the Punch.ev seamlessly brings together features from 2-3 segments above.

Integrating two screens — a 26cm high-definition infotainment by HARMAN display alongside a 26cm digital cockpit

An illuminated logo at the center of the 2 - spoke steering wheel enhances the digital ambiance

The Phygital control panel embodies a harmonious fusion of physical and touch controls, meticulously designed for optimal ergo-aesthetic satisfaction

Convenience is further elevated with wireless Android AutoTM and Apple CarPlay TM functionalities accompanied with a gadget-like experience of the Arcade.ev – an app suite with 17 apps for gaming, music and media

The Punch.ev also offers connectivity with multiple voice assistants, including the Native “Hey Tata” assistant with 200+ commands in 6 languages, Alexa, Siri for Apple users and Google Assistant for Android users

The connected car experience is elevated further with the ZConnect Connected Car Technology with smartwatch connectivity offered as standard.

Plush feature upgrade - With distinctive features such as wireless charging, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers and auto-dimming IRVM, the Punch.ev is designed to provide an enriched driving experience. Fast Charging is effortlessly facilitated through the 45W type-C USB port, ensuring constant power for personal gadgets. Prioritizing comfort and well-being, the Punch.ev also features bolstered ventilated leatherette seats, an electric sunroof, mood lights and an Air purifier with AQI display. Additionally, the Punch.ev comes with Paddle Shifters, which enables the 4-level Multi-Mode Regeneration and over-the-air software upgrade capabilities.

acti.ev Architecture – A solid underpin for a class apart product.

The Punch.ev is the first product from Tata Motors to be based on the all-new made-in-India Pure EV architecture acti.ev, which stands for Advanced Connected Tech-Intelligent Electric Vehicle. The acti.ev architecture is based on the key pillars of Performance, Technology, Modularity, and Space Efficiency and consists of four layers – Powertrain, Chassis, Electrical Architecture and Cloud Architecture

Uncompromised safety: With 6 Airbags, Electronic Stability Program, ISOFIX, Roll-over mitigation, Brake Disc Wiping, Hydraulic fading compensation available as standard across all personas, the Punch.ev is one of the safest cars available on Indian roads. This safe haven on wheels additionally offers its passengers with added features like SOS Calling with E-Call & B-Call, Electronic parking brake with Auto Hold and a 360 surround view camera system with blind spot monitor in its high-end trims.

Beyond and Better: Practical yet Performance oriented

The Punch.ev embodies the essential attributes of a true electric SUV, featuring 16-inch LRR tyres, 190mm ground clearance (unladen), 350mm water wading capability and an impressive approach, departure and ramp-over angles. With its 90-degree opening doors, a flat 2nd-row floor, 366 litres of boot space, 14 litres of added space in the frunk along with 32 cabin cubby holes for smart storage, the Punch.ev also scores mighty high on convenience.

To know more about the Punch.ev, please refer to the accompanied product note or visit Tata.ev’s website.

Photo Caption: Senior Leadership of Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd with the Punch.ev in Empowered Oxide. In the image, (L-R) Mr. Shailesh Chandra, MD, TPEM and TMPV, Mr. Anand Kulkarni, Chief Products Officer, Head of HV Programs and Customer Service, TPEM, and Mr. Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, TPEM.

Professionals In India Aim To Reclaim Their Careers With 88% Considering A New Job In 2024

* Job search intensity on LinkedIn has increased by 9% in 2023 compared to 2022

* Competition is tough and professionals are finding it hard to match their skills to the job they want with 72% changing their job search approach

* LinkedIn’s latest Jobs on the Rise list highlights the fastest-growing roles, offering valuable insights for professionals in the new year

Professionals are no longer being cautious about career moves in the face of economic uncertainty. New research from LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, has revealed that nearly 9 in 10 (88%) of professionals in India are considering a new job in 2024, up by 4% YoY compared to 2023.

This signals a shift in attitudes where professionals are no longer willing to stick it out, instead, they’re taking ownership of their careers and want to make up for lost time by focusing on productivity and career growth. LinkedIn data shows that job search activity on its platform has increased by 9% in 2023 YoY, compared to 2022.

The desire for better work-life balance (42%) and need for higher wages (37%) in a challenging economic environment are the biggest motivators for changing jobs. They are also willing to explore new career paths with almost 8 in 10 (79%) Indian professionals saying they are looking for opportunities outside of their industry or role.

Professionals are finding it hard to match their skills to the jobs they want

While professionals are bullish, they are finding it hard to keep up with the rapid change in skills required to do some jobs largely driven by the rapid developments in AI. Nearly half (45%) of professionals said they do not know how to match their skills to the job they want, making the job search process more difficult. LinkedIn data shows that skills for jobs have changed by 30% since 2015 in India. Professionals are also finding job hunting tough with 55% saying that looking for a job is frustrating and 59% saying they rarely hear back from recruiters.

Professionals are changing their job search approach to stand out

Amidst tough competition, professionals are altering their job search approach to stand out from the crowd. 72% of professionals said they have changed their job search approach, such as experimenting with new formats such as video and digital resumes. They are also keen on using AI with around 81% of professionals saying it can help make their job hunt more efficient and productive.

They are also taking control of their career by investing in building their professional brand and tapping connections that can help them increase their chances of landing a job. 79% of professionals are posting more content on LinkedIn and 83% are becoming more active in growing their professional network.

Nirajita Banerjee, Career Expert and Sr. Managing Editor for LinkedIn India says, “As Indian professionals take charge of their careers in 2024, it’s going to get increasingly competitive with more professionals entering the job market. To be successful in their job hunt, it's essential for professionals to stand out by dedicating time to spruce up their profiles, highlighting their skills, and staying informed about industry developments. This will help increase their chances of finding the job they want and develop skills needed to build a career with staying power.”

LinkedIn has also unlocked free LinkedIn Learning Courses such as A Career Strategist's Guide to Getting a Job; Navigating Your Career Through Restructuring, Layoffs, and Furloughs, and Recession-Proof Career Strategies to help professionals. These courses are available from 17 Jan 2024 until 1 July 2024.

Jobs on the Rise - the fastest growing roles and trends defining the future of work

LinkedIn’s latest Jobs on the Rise list provides new insights into the fastest-growing jobs over the past five years, uncovering the trends defining the future of work and where the long-term opportunities are. In India, Closing Manager, Influencer Marketing Specialist, and Design Specialist are the top three fastest growing jobs in 2024, with growth rates above 79%. The ‘Top 15’ fastest-growing jobs in India, can be found in the Appendix below.

LinkedIn introduces new features to help professionals stand out in their job hunt

To help professionals stay ahead and stand out, LinkedIn is also rolling out two new job features that give professionals more agency in their job search: Job Collections and New Preferences Features. Designed for professionals who want to explore new career paths or expand their horizons, LinkedIn will now show collections of personalised and relevant jobs across a variety of industries, specialties, and companies, such as pro sports jobs, remote jobs, or jobs at startups, all while highlighting where this is a match to preferences you share from location to employment type.

For Premium subscribers looking to supercharge their career, LinkedIn has recently introduced features such as Top Choice to signal to recruiters that they have strong interest in a role they posted. This can help increase their visibility – they are 43% more likely to receive a message back from a recruiter when using Top Choice. Subscribers can also hone their search and save time by narrowing the People search to see those who are Actively Hiring in or outside their network, and filtering by Jobs to see where they’d be a Top Applicant. LinkedIn has also started to roll out an AI-powered experience that will help make the job search faster, easier, and smarter for professionals.

LinkedIn Career Expert Tips on taking greater control over the job hunt in 2024:

Create a standout profile: Be sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date to stand out to recruiters. Be sure to include a short summary of your background and highlight your key skills. You can also let recruiters and your network know you’re open to new opportunities by enabling the “Open to Work” feature on your profile. And pro tip, you can use new AI-powered Premium tools to help you get started in crafting the Headline and About sections of your Profile.

Tend to your network, even when you’re not job seeking: Tapping the right connections is a great way to get your foot in the door, so be sure to build and nurture your network often. Reaching out to your connections and engaging with their posts on LinkedIn from time to time can help you foster stronger relationships that might even lead to potential job opportunities. The same goes for hiring managers.

Know where to look and go where there’s growth: LinkedIn has the inside scoop on the hottest jobs right now and the skills you need to get them – spoiler alert AI is still the talk of the town. The annual Jobs on the Rise list is packed with actionable info for job seekers, including the skills (and LinkedIn Learning courses to build them), top hiring locations and remote/hybrid availability for each role, making your job search more productive and efficient.

Find the right job: Tap LinkedIn’s new Job Collections feature to explore collections of relevant jobs across a variety of industries, specialties, and companies to expand your horizons. Super linear career paths are now a thing of the past. Collections can help you embrace creative career pivots and create inspiration for roles you might not have previously thought about.

Make your search more productive: Looking for a new job can be time consuming and stressful, but tools like Preferences on LinkedIn now make it easy for you to select and manage your preferences in one place, so that you can tend to these seeds and ensure the best possible chances for growth and an ideal job match. And once these preferences are set, we’ll highlight them in green to help you quickly evaluate the most fruitful opportunities. Want to save even more time? Premium subscribers can also narrow their People search to see those who are Actively Hiring in or outside their network, and filter by Jobs to see where they’d be a Top Applicant.

Appendix: LinkedIn’s Jobs On The Rise list for India:

Closing Manager

Influencer Marketing Specialist

Design Specialist

Drone Pilot

Recruiter

Sales Development Representative

Demand Generation Associate

Customs Officer

Growth Manager

Investor Relations Manager

Political Analyst

Delivery Consultant

Client Advisor

Creative Strategist

Chief Revenue Officer

Methodology

Consumer research: This research was conducted by Censuswide, with 1097 professionals in full-time or part-time employment across India between 24 November 2023 to 12 December 2023. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles. Censuswide are members of the British Polling Council.

Job search intensity: Job Search Intensity is calculated monthly using the average number of job applications per applicant, based on job applications submitted by members in the same country as the job posting. A yearly average is calculated for both 2022 and 2023, which is then used to examine the year-over-year results to estimate trends in job search intensity.

Jobs on the Rise: LinkedIn Economic Graph researchers examined millions of jobs started by LinkedIn members from January 1, 2019 to July 31, 2023 to calculate a growth rate for each job title. To be ranked, a job title needed to see consistent growth across our membership base, as well as have grown to a meaningful size by 2023. Identical job titles across different seniority levels were grouped and ranked together. Internships, volunteer positions, interim roles and student roles were excluded, and jobs where hiring was dominated by a small handful of companies in each country were also excluded. Additional data points for each of the job titles are based on LinkedIn profiles of members holding the title and/or open jobs for that title in the country.

About LinkedIn

LinkedIn connects the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful and transforms the way companies hire, learn, market, and sell. Our vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce through the ongoing development of the world’s first Economic Graph. LinkedIn has 1 billion members and offices around the globe. www.linkedin.com / mobile.linkedin.com

Quest Global Wins Great Place To Work Certification In India For Third Consecutive Year

Quest Global, one of the world’s leading engineering services firms, has been Certified as a Great Place To Work® in India for the third consecutive year. This prestigious Certification reflects Quest Global’s commitment to the overall well-being of its people and fostering a culture of high-trust and high-performance.

In the 2024 evaluation, Quest Global received an impressive 79% Trust Index™ overall score. This reflects the organization's commitment to fostering an exceptional culture, where the credibility of management, respect for people, workplace fairness, pride, and camaraderie are not just metrics but lived experiences.

Great Place To Work Certification™ is the gold standard that organizations around the globe aspire to accomplish. This recognition is a testament to the company's unwavering dedication to creating an environment that goes beyond work tasks – one where employees thrive, feel respected, and actively contribute to the company's success.

Commenting on the momentous occasion, Sonia Kutty, Vice President, Global Human Resources, Quest Global, said, “Winning Great Place To Work Certification for the third consecutive year fills us with immense pride. It is a great recognition of our efforts to create an inclusive work environment. Our employees are at the core of all our operations and as we continue to reinforce our focus on our people’s professional as well as personal growth, today we are not just aiming for organizational success. Our vision is to build Quest Global as a centenary organization, thriving and evolving for generations to come.”

Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture. In India, the institute partners with more than 1,800 organizations across 20+ industries annually to help them build a High-Trust, High-Performance Culture designed to deliver sustained business results. The institute’s research shows great workplaces are characterized by outstanding leadership, consistent employee experience, and sustainable financial performance. These organizations can deliver the same experience to all their employees irrespective of their role, gender, tenure, or level.

About Quest Global

Founded in 1997, Quest Global is one of the world’s leading engineering research and development (ER&D) services companies. Quest Global believes engineering has the unique opportunity to solve the problems of today that stand in the way of tomorrow. For more than 25 years, we have strived to be the most trusted partner for the world’s hardest engineering problems. As a global organization headquartered in Singapore, the team at Quest Global live and work in 17 countries, with 67 global delivery centers and offices, driven by 17,800+ extraordinary people who make the impossible possible every day. Quest Global delivers world-class end-to-end engineering solutions by leveraging our deep industry knowledge and digital expertise. By bringing together technologies and industries, alongside the contributions of diverse individuals and their areas of expertise, we are able to solve problems better, faster. This multi-dimensional approach enables us to solve the most critical and large-scale challenges across the aerospace & defence, automotive, energy, hi-tech, med-tech & healthcare, rail, communications, and semiconductor industries.

E-Cigarettes Not A Gateway To Smoking, Helps Reduce Tobacco Usage In Population

* E-Cigarette use has fallen from 14% in 2022 to 10% in 2023, among high school students in US, while cigarette use remained at an all-time low, reveals CDC & FDA Survey

A recent study conducted by National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) suggests that e-cigarettes are not a gateway to smoking. In another survey, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) & the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed that e-cigarette usage among high school students in the US has fallen from 14% in 2022 to 10% in 2023, while the youth smoking rates are at an all-time low of 1.6%. The stagnant smoking rates in the US are not in line with the theory that ENDS are a gateway to cigarettes but are helping flatten the trend.

The NIHR study compared the time course of use & sales of electronic cigarettes, with that of smoking rates and cigarette sales in countries, with similar smoking trajectories, but differing current e-cigarette regulations. The study also found some evidence that these products compete against cigarettes. And so may be speeding up the demise of smoking.  Data from the UK & US was compared with Australia, where sales of nicotine containing e-cigarettes are banned. The decline in smokers in Australia has been slower than in the UK, and slower than in both the UK & the US among young people. The fall in cigarette sales has also accelerated faster in the UK than in Australia.

In another survey by the CDC & FDA called National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS 2023), it was found that e-cigarette use among U.S. high school students dropped significantly to 10 per cent this year from 14 per cent in 2022- and the cigarette use among youth are at an all-time low. The survey further revealed that about 10% students surveyed reported using a tobacco product during 2022-2023. Overall current tobacco use dropped among high school students, from 16.5% to 12.6%, while about 580,000 fewer high schoolers reported currently using e-cigarettes.

In the past, however the World Health Organization (WHO) has claimed that e-cigarette users who never smoked cigarettes have a higher chance of starting the habit later in life. A Q&A posted on WHO’s website on 25th May 2022 states that, 'Nicotine is highly addictive and some evidence suggest that never-smoker minors who use Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) can double their chance of starting to smoke tobacco cigarettes later in life.' – which does not reflect in the findings of the NIHR study or the NYTS 2023.

Sharing his perspective, David T Sweanor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, said, 'These findings are important given the global burden of tobacco related diseases and deaths. Research today supports the argument that e-cigarettes do not promote smoking. It is essential to make policies on accurate & empirical evidence. They must prioritise science-based policies to mitigate risks & have a realistic impact towards tobacco control- as seen across multiple countries such as seen across Sweden, New Zealand & UK.'

India, with over 100 million smokers and the 2nd highest cancer burden in Asia, must identify the gaps in the present tobacco control policy and take inspiration from global economies who have not only controlled the harm from tobacco but reduced their spending on non communicable diseases (NCDs) over the years.

Ecom Express Launches India’s First AI-Based Address Correction Platform Bulls.ai

Ecom Express Limited, a tech-driven logistics solutions provider, announces the launch of Bulls.ai to simplify address related challenges for delivery of e-commerce parcels across India, especially for the small towns and cities. The unique platform leverages the deeper data of nearly 2 billion parcels delivered by Ecom Express since its inception. 

To enhance last-mile logistics, Ecom Express addresses common issues faced by the logistics and e-commerce sector. With 80% of addresses relying on landmarks up to 1.5 km away, geolocating becomes a hurdle, causing an average deviation of about 500 m between the written address and the doorstep. The newly launched Bulls.ai solution improves operational accuracy by correcting, standardizing, and predicting geo-coordinates for addresses across length and breadth of vast topology of India, not just in metro and tier-1 cities but also into hinterlands of tier-2 cities and beyond where the address quality becomes inferior. 

The solution revolutionizes the potential of Indian e-commerce and for online seller brands by its ability to boost delivery quality by up to 60%, enhance operational efficiency and reduce logistics cost by up to 30%.  

Amit Choudhary, Chief Product and Technology Officer, Ecom Express stated “As a part of our continued journey of technology and AI-driven logistics services, Bulls.ai fills the address-piece of the puzzle, which is a fundamental capability required in large-scale e-commerce logistics. We are proud of this development.” 

Dr. Manjeet Dahiya,Vice President and Head of Data Sciences, Ecom Express said, “Bulls.ai is a foundational large-language model for resolving and understanding postal addresses in India, which is a key for driving automated e-commerce logistics. The model is trained on already available billions of addresses data where Ecom Express has delivered and continues to evolve further.” 

This launch reaffirms Ecom Express's commitment to leveraging technology for superior logistics services and ensuring an unparalleled customer experience. The company's investment in modern generative AI, like Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT), highlights its focus on staying at the forefront of technological advancements. 

As a first, the company is planning to open the API to its customers to validate their user addresses. Know more about this at the link and express your interest. The companies will get auto access to the platform if they’re customers with Ecom Express when it opens up its Bulls.ai API. Access Ecom Express using the web link. 

For more information, visit: https://ecomexpress.in/  

Capri Global Capital Plans To Develop An Insurance Platform To Maximize The Corporate Agency License From IRDAI

Capri Global Capital Limited (CGCL) received a composite Corporate Agency license from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) in December 2023 to distribute life, general, and health insurance products. 

CGCL is planning to leverage technology to revolutionize the way insurance products and services are delivered to customers. The Company is planning to use data analytics, artificial intelligence, and blockchain to deliver insurance solutions. This will enable CGCL to automate claims processing and customer support services, thereby reducing the cost of operations while improving customer satisfaction. Hence, the key goal of the Insurtech platform will be to create an ecosystem of insurers who can offer coverage in a more affordable, customer-friendly way. This in turn will assist the Company to immensely contribute to the ‘Insuring India by 2047’ mission of IRDAI. 

The Company’s basic motto is to offer a customer-centric approach to insurance. CGCL will provide a wide range of insurance products and services through website, app, and call centers. Moreover, the platform will adopt a customer-friendly payment policy too that will allow customers to pay in several ways, including through digital wallets, credit cards, net banking, and debit cards. 

With this tech-centric focus, CGCL aims to leverage its robust active client base of 270K as of Sep’23 to cross-sell insurance products. In H1 FY’24, CGCL disbursed total loans amounting to Rs. 62 Bn and added 107K live clients. Further, the Company has on behalf of the partner Banks originated Car Loan of Rs. 44 Bn i.e. 39K new clients. The rapidly increasing client relationships offer CGCL a captive base to improve insurance penetration and help CGCL strengthen its fee income and deliver better returns to its stakeholders. The Company expects to generate a net fee income of Rs. 200 Mn from insurance cross-sell in FY’25.