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To Enhance user experience and streamline accessibility, Microsoft is currently testing a feature in Windows 11 that would automatically launch its AI-powered Copilot when the operating system starts, particularly on widescreen devices. This development was shared as part of the latest Dev Channel preview of Windows 11, allowing testers to provide valuable feedback before the feature’s widespread release.

While Microsoft hasn’t precisely defined what qualifies as a “widescreen” device, it alludes to the launch of Copilot “when you’re using a wider screen.” This terminology could encompass ultrawide displays, indicating a move towards optimizing the Copilot experience for users with expansive screens.

Microsoft clarified that the initial testing phase targets devices with a minimum diagonal screen size of 27 inches, a pixel width of 1920 pixels, and is limited to primary display screens in multi-monitor setups. This careful selection aims to ensure a smooth and effective rollout.

Notably, Microsoft has introduced a dedicated Copilot key on Windows PC keyboards, intended to simplify the engagement with the Copilot in Windows experience. This key, alongside the traditional Windows key, becomes an integral part of PC keyboards. When activated, the Copilot key seamlessly invokes the Copilot in Windows experience, providing users with a convenient and efficient means of incorporating Copilot into their daily routines.

Yusuf Mehdi, Executive Vice President and Consumer Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft, highlighted the significance of this development, stating in a blog post, “The Copilot key joins the Windows key as a core part of the PC keyboard, and when pressed, the new key will invoke the Copilot in Windows experience to make it seamless to engage Copilot in your day-to-day.”

As Microsoft continues to innovate and refine its offerings, this move underscores the company’s commitment to providing users with intuitive and integrated tools that seamlessly adapt to their computing needs. The introduction of a dedicated Copilot key and the automatic launch feature aligns with Microsoft’s broader strategy to enhance accessibility and user-friendly interactions within the Windows ecosystem.

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Microsoft’s substantial $13 billion investment in OpenAI is now under scrutiny by the European Union (EU) for a possible merger investigation. The European Commission is examining whether Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI falls within the scope of the EU’s merger rules. If conditions warrant, regulators may launch a formal probe to determine the permissibility of the arrangement. This move by the EU follows a similar action by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority.

Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI, which has amounted to $13 billion, has significantly benefited the software giant. Integration of OpenAI’s products into Microsoft’s core businesses has positioned the company as the leading player in AI among major tech firms, surpassing rivals such as Alphabet Inc.’s Google.

The recent events at OpenAI, including the temporary removal and subsequent reinstatement of Sam Altman as chief, revealed the deep interconnection between Microsoft and OpenAI. Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, played a direct role in negotiating and advocating for Altman’s return to OpenAI, demonstrating the close ties between the two entities.

In addition to investigating the Microsoft-OpenAI investment, the EU’s antitrust enforcers have called for feedback on competitive issues related to generative artificial intelligence and virtual worlds. The commission is keen on understanding potential competition concerns and monitoring AI partnerships to ensure they do not distort market dynamics.

The EU highlighted the significant growth in venture capital investment in AI within the region, estimated at over €7.2 billion in 2023. Moreover, the virtual worlds market in Europe is estimated to have surpassed €11 billion in 2023. The exponential growth in these industries is expected to have a profound impact on how businesses compete.

As regulatory bodies closely examine the tech landscape, Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI becomes a focal point in assessing potential antitrust implications within the rapidly evolving AI and virtual worlds sectors.

Feedback Call on AI and Virtual Worlds Competition Issues

The EU’s competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, emphasized the invitation for businesses and experts to provide insights into competition issues in generative artificial intelligence and virtual worlds. The commission is committed to preventing any undue distortion of market dynamics while fostering an environment that encourages innovation and fair competition.

This investigation reflects the EU’s proactive approach to addressing emerging challenges in the tech industry and ensuring a competitive landscape that benefits consumers and promotes innovation.

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A fresh Android malware threat named ‘Xamalicious’ has emerged, affecting around 338,300 devices through malicious apps found on the Google Play Store. Researchers from McAfee discovered the malware in 14 apps, with three of them accumulating over 100,000 installs each before removal from the Play Store. Although removed from the store, users who inadvertently installed these apps since mid-2020 may still have active infections on their devices and are urged to delete them immediately.

The affected apps include:

Essential Horoscope for Android (100,000 installs)

3D Skin Editor for PE Minecraft (100,000 installs)

Logo Maker Pro (100,000 installs)

Auto Click Repeater (10,000 installs)

Count Easy Calorie Calculator (10,000 installs)

Dots: One Line Connector (10,000 installs)

Sound Volume Extender (5,000 installs)

In addition to the Play Store, another set of 12 malicious apps carrying the Xamalicious threat circulates on unauthorized third-party app stores, affecting users through APK file downloads.

Xamalicious, categorized as an Android backdoor, stands out for being.NET framework-based and integrated into apps developed using the open-source Xamarin framework. This uniqueness poses challenges for cybersecurity experts analyzing its code. Upon installation, Xamalicious requests access to the Accessibility Service, enabling it to perform privileged operations such as executing navigation gestures, hiding on-screen elements, and obtaining additional permissions.

Post-installation, the malware communicates with a Command and Control (C2) server to retrieve the second-stage DLL payload (‘cache.bin’). This retrieval depends on specific criteria, including geographical location, network conditions, device configuration, and root status.

Android users are strongly advised to check their devices for potential Xamalicious infections, even after uninstalling the implicated apps. Utilizing a reliable antivirus software for manual clean-up and conducting regular device scans is recommended to ensure protection against such malware threats.

Note: Users are encouraged to be cautious and vigilant when downloading apps, even from official stores, and consider employing security measures to safeguard their devices.

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At the annual Techfest hosted by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, ISRO Chairman S Somanath revealed a strategic initiative to deploy 50 satellites over the next half-decade, significantly bolstering India’s geo-intelligence capabilities. The forthcoming satellite constellation will feature a diverse range of orbits, facilitating comprehensive troop movement tracking and high-resolution imaging across extensive territories.

Somanath emphasized the necessity of expanding India’s satellite fleet to ten times its current size for the nation to realize its ambition of becoming a formidable global player. In his address, he highlighted the importance of enhancing satellite capabilities to detect changes promptly, advocating for the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and a data-driven approach to streamline data analysis. This shift aims to minimize data downloads and prioritize the extraction of essential information.

The proposed satellite deployment signifies a crucial step forward in India’s pursuit of technological advancement and national strength. By harnessing the power of cutting-edge satellite technology, ISRO aims to contribute significantly to the nation’s security and strategic intelligence capabilities in the years to come.

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Researchers have introduced a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) tool called “Life2vec,” capable of forecasting an individual’s personality traits and predicting their lifespan. Using transformer models similar to those behind ChatGPT, Life2vec analyzes sequences of life events, such as health history, education, employment, and income, providing highly accurate predictions surpassing existing models.

AI Advancement: Life2vec, developed on transformer models, demonstrates exceptional accuracy in predicting personality traits and lifespans. It utilizes extensive life event data from the entire population of Denmark.

Remarkable Predictive Capabilities: The tool showcases unparalleled accuracy in foreseeing future events, emphasizing lifespan predictions, based on a dataset encompassing diverse life experiences.

Cautionary Approach: Despite its advanced capabilities, researchers stress that Life2vec is a foundation for future work rather than a tool for real-world predictions on specific individuals. Its specificity to the Danish population warrants caution in direct application.

Human-Centered Perspective: Professor Tina Eliassi-Rad from Northeastern University highlights the importance of recognizing the tool’s limitations. She suggests involving social scientists in AI development to maintain a human-centered perspective amid vast datasets.

Comprehensive Reflection of Human Life: Life2vec’s strength lies in its comprehensive reflection of human life, considering various factors such as income, education, and health. It adapts the transformer model approach from language to sequences of human life events.

Predictive Elements: Life2vec predicts intricate aspects, including the probability of mortality. The visual representation shows a cylinder progressing from low to high probabilities of death, with outcomes influenced by unexpected events.

Ethical Considerations: While celebrating its unprecedented predictive capabilities, researchers urge a careful and ethical approach to the tool’s application. Life2vec opens new avenues for understanding human life but requires cautious and responsible implementation.

As Life2vec marks a significant leap in AI capabilities, researchers emphasize its potential as a stepping stone for future developments, urging ethical considerations and responsible use in unlocking insights for improved outcomes based on insightful data analysis.

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New Delhi – With a resolute commitment to environmental sustainability, the World Environment Council’s President Prof. Ganesh Channa today is announcing the launch of its second global campaign for the “Environment Protection Bank” program, approved by the United Nations. Set to commence on 1st Jan 2024, this initiative is poised to make significant strides in instilling a sense of environmental responsibility in the hearts of students in schools and colleges across the globe.

The “Environment Protection Bank” program is a pioneering effort designed to empower educational institutions to become active contributors to environmental conservation. Endorsed by the United Nations, the program introduces a unique approach to fostering sustainability by encouraging schools and colleges to adopt eco-friendly practices and initiatives.

Key Objectives of the Campaign:

Global Participation: The campaign invites educational institutions worldwide to participate in this transformative program, fostering a united front in the global fight for environmental protection.

Hands-On Learning: The “Environment Protection Bank” program emphasizes practical, hands-on learning experiences to enable students to actively engage with environmental issues and solutions.

UN-Approved Curriculum: Leveraging the expertise of the World Environment Council and UN guidelines, the program integrates an UN-approved curriculum focused on environmental conservation and sustainable practices.

Incentivized Eco-Actions: Schools and colleges participating in the program will be encouraged to undertake eco-friendly initiatives, with tangible incentives provided through the “Environment Protection Bank.”

Youth Empowerment: The program aims to empower the youth to be ambassadors of environmental change, fostering a generation that is not only aware of environmental challenges but actively works towards solutions.

Why “Environment Protection Bank”?

The concept of an “Environment Protection Bank” is rooted in the idea that every positive action for the environment is an investment in our shared future. By fostering a culture of environmental responsibility within educational institutions, the program aims to create a ripple effect, influencing broader communities and societies.

How Schools and Colleges Can Participate:

Educational institutions interested in joining this global movement can register for the campaign on the World Environment Council’s official website. Detailed information about the program, curriculum, and participation guidelines is available to ensure a seamless and impactful integration of the “Environment Protection Bank” in schools and colleges worldwide.

The World Environment Council invites schools, colleges, educators, and students to join hands in this collective effort to build a sustainable future for our planet.

For more information and to register for the campaign, please visit World Environment Council’s official website: www.wec.org.in or contact +91-8130305369 Email id: worldenvironmentcouncil@gmail.com. Together, let’s bank on a greener future!

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New Delhi : The Sahitya Akademi has declared the winners of its annual Sahitya Akademi Award for 2023, spanning 24 languages. This year, the accolades encompass nine poetry collections, six novels, five short story compilations, three essays, and one literary study. Rajasekaran, a Tamil author, clinched the award for his novel “Neervazhi Padooum,” while Patanjali Sastry, a Telugu writer, secured recognition for his short story collection. EV Ramakrishnan, a Malayalam litterateur, was honored for his literary study, “Malayala Novelinte Deshakalangal.”

The distinguished poets acknowledged in this year’s awards include Vijay Verma in Dogri, Vinod Joshi in Gujarati, and Ashutosh Parida in Odia. For outstanding short story collections, the recognized authors are Pranavjyoti Deka in Assamese, Nandeswar Daimary in Bodo, and Taraceen Baskey in Santali.

Sahitya Akademi will confer the award for Hindi novels upon Sanjeev for “Mujhe Pahachaano” and for English novels upon Neelam Saran Gour for “Requiem in Raga Janki.”

The awards, presented as a casket comprising an engraved copper plaque, a shawl, and a cash prize of one lakh rupees, are scheduled to be conferred at the award presentation ceremony on March 12th of the following year. These honors pertain to books initially published in the five years immediately preceding the award year, covering the period from January 2017 to December 31, 2021.

Sahitya Akademi Award Winners List 2023
LanguageName of the Book (Genre)Awardee’s Name
AssameseMon Mora Tora (Short Stories)Jintu Gitartha
BengaliMathrakha (Short Stories)Hamiruddin Middya
BodoSom, Jiu, Arw.. . (Poetry)Mainaosri Daimary
DogriAhlada (Plays)Dheeraj Bismil
EnglishLords of the Deccan: Southern India from the Chalukyas to the Cholas (Historical)Anirudh Kanisetti
GujaratiGet Together (Short Stories)Sagar Shah
HindiChandpur Ki Chanda {Novel)Atul Kumar Rai
KannadaPhoo Mattu Ithara Kathegalu (Short Stories)Manjunayak Challur
KashmiriLalli Nilvath Tchali Na Zanh (Poetry)Nighat Nasreen
KonkaniShots (Short Stories)Tanvi Kamat Bambolkar
MalayalamAcnante Alamara (Poetry)Ganesh Puthur
MarathiSwatahala Swataviruddh Ubhe Kartana (Poetry)Vishakha Vishwanath
NepaliGhat-Pratighatka Udgarharu (Poetry)Naina Adhikari
PunjabiChitt Da Jugraphia (Poetry)Sandeep
RajasthaniAntas Ro Olmo (Poetry)Devilal Mahiya
SantaliDusi (Short Stories)Bapi Tudu
SindhiGlamour (Short Stories)Monika J. Panjwani
TamilThirukarthiyat (Short Stories)Ram Thangam
TeluguVivechani (Criticism)Johny Takkedasila
UrduZahan Zaad (Short Stories)Tauseef Bareitvi
Sahitya Akademi Bal Sakhitya Award Winners List 2023
LanguageName of the Book (Genre)Awardee’s Name
AssamesePowalmoni Aru Chichingar Duhxahaxik Abhijan (Novel)Rothindranath Goswami
BengaliEroplaner Khata (Novel)Shyamalkanti Das
BodoGosainiwjwn Nwjwr (Short Stories)Pratima Nandi Narzaree
DogriKanjan (Poetry)Baiwan Singh Jamoria
EnglishGrandparents’ Bag of Stories (Stories)Sudha Murty
GujaratiHun Myaun, Tun Choon Choon (Poetry & Stories)Rakshabahen Prahladrao Dave
HindiKotuk App (Short Stories)Suryanath Singh
KannadaSurakki Gate (Novel)Vijayashree Haladi
KonkaniJaann (Novel)Tukaram Rama Shet
MaithiliOl Katra, Jhol Katra (Poetry)Akshay Anand ‘Sunny’
MalayalamPerumazhayathe Kunjithalukal (Novel)Priya A.S.
MarathiChhand Del Aanand (Poetry)Eknath Avhad
NepaliBal Ekanki Natakharu (Play)Madhusudan Bisht
OdiaJejenka Gapa Ganthili (Short Stories)Jugal Kishore Sarangi
PunjabiSachi Di Kahani (Short Stories)Gurmeet Karyalvi
RajasthaniTabran RI Duniyan (Memoir)Kiran Badal
SanskritManavi (Novel)Radhavallabh Tripathy
SantaliNene-Pete (Short Stories)Dholan Rahi
SindhiVanganmal Ji Shaadi (Poetry)Mansing Majhi
TamilAadhanin Bommai (Novel)Udhayasankar
TeluguVajra a Vaana (Short Stories)D.K. Chaduvula Babu
UrduMamta Ki Dor (Short Stories)Late Mateen Achalpuri (Posthumous)
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OpenAI, the group behind powerful AI technology, has stopped ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, from using its technology. This decision came after it was found out that ByteDance used OpenAI’s technology secretly to create its own AI model named “Project Seed.”

Using someone else’s AI tech without permission is not cool in the AI world, and it’s against the rules set by OpenAI. The rules clearly say that the results from OpenAI’s model cannot be used to make AI models that compete with OpenAI’s own products and services. Microsoft supports OpenAI, and since ByteDance is getting access through Microsoft, they have to follow the same rules.

ByteDance, which is already under close watch because of its links to the Chinese government and concerns about TikTok, will face more scrutiny now. This new information makes things even more complicated for ByteDance in the United States.

OpenAI has said that ByteDance didn’t follow the rules, so they’ve suspended ByteDance’s account. A spokesperson from OpenAI mentioned, “While ByteDance’s use of our API was minimal, we have suspended their account while we further investigate. If we find out that they didn’t follow the rules, we’ll ask them to fix it or close their account.”

In June, ByteDance entered the AI competition in China by testing their own AI chatbot. They wanted to be like ChatGPT, an AI language model from OpenAI. This move put ByteDance in direct competition with other big tech companies like Alibaba and Baidu, all wanting to be the best in China’s growing AI market.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi used a AI tool called ‘Bhashini’ to translate his speech during an event in Varanasi. The AI-driven language translation system allows people to communicate in their own language while conversing with speakers of different Indian languages.

Expressing his optimism about the technology, PM Modi remarked, “This was my first experience. As usual, I speak in Hindi and AI will translate it to Tamil.” He addressed the audience at the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, highlighting the significance of the bond between Tamil Nadu and Varanasi as “unique.”

“This is a new beginning, and hopefully, it makes it easier for me to reach you,” the Prime Minister added, emphasizing the potential of AI to connect with a wider audience.

The innovative AI tool, ‘Bhashini,’ facilitated seamless real-time translation, enabling effective communication between speakers of different Indian languages. PM Modi praised the people of Kashi, expressing confidence that they would wholeheartedly embrace the visitors from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the month-long Kashi Tamil Sangamam.

The event, hosting around 1,400 dignitaries from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, promises a cultural extravaganza, featuring exchange programs and an exhibition showcasing the rich tapestry of art, music, handloom, handicrafts, cuisines, and other distinctive products from both Tamil Nadu and Varanasi.

As India celebrates this technological milestone, the use of ‘Bhashini’ marks a significant step towards bridging linguistic barriers, fostering unity, and promoting cultural exchange on a national scale. PM Modi’s embrace of AI for language translation opens doors to enhanced communication and understanding among diverse linguistic communities within the country.

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