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Kelly directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology's recently created US AI Safety Institute, a group of top computer scientists and ethicists tasked with studying and addressing AI risks, particularly in relation to areas of national security, civil rights, and general public safety. It's expected to introduce testing standards for AI developers to make sure their systems are safe. Kelly, part of Business Insider's 2024 AI Power List, helped shape President Joe Biden's technology policy and assisted in drafting his executive order last year that focused on issues related to AI safety. Before that, Kelly was a special assistant to the president of the National Economic Council, where she led efforts in technology policy, including in AI. Kelly previously held executive positions at Capital One Investing and United Income, a fintech startup acquired by Capital One.See Business Insider's full <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://businessinsider.com/ai-power-list-2024">AI Power List</a>

Elizabeth Kelly, US AI Safety Institute director, sets AI safety standards

Defence Research and Development Organisation (<keyword id="19948662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="DRDO" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="DRDO" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="DRDO">DRDO</keyword>) will collaborate with <keyword id="19906424" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Institute-of-Technology" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Institute of Technology" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian Institute of Technology">Indian Institute of Technology</keyword> (<keyword id="19906425" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iit" source="keywords">IIT</keyword>) Bhubaneswar for artificial intelligence (AI) driven surveillance and other projects, officials said. A meeting was held between DRDO and <keyword id="19971391" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IIT-Bhubaneswar" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="IIT Bhubaneswar" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="IIT Bhubaneswar">IIT Bhubaneswar</keyword> officials here on Tuesday. Binay Das, director general (DG) of Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS) cluster, DRDO, and many senior scientists and officials of both institutions were present in the meeting. During the meeting, nine sanctioned projects of the ECS Cluster of DRDO were handed over to IIT Bhubaneswar while another 7 projects are in process to be sanctioned with Rs 18 crore funding. IIT Bhubaneswar will work on the sanctioned projects, which would be beneficial in electronics warfare, <keyword id="21571619" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-driven-surveillance" source="keywords">AI-driven surveillance</keyword>, power systems, radar systems etc, officials said. S R Samantaray, head of the School of Electrical sciences of IIT said the collaboration of IIT Bhubaneswar and DRDO will contribute to the emerging research and development need of defence applications, creating a platform for 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat'. This form of collaboration will enhance the sustainability of defence research programmes and will be part of the eco-system for nation building, he said. Speaking on the occasion, Binay Das advised researchers and faculty members associated with various DRDO-sanctioned projects to work systematically with proper review and risk management systems to complete the projects in time and come up with unique solutions. He said that DRDO is going through a transformation from technology chasers to become technology enablers and trendsetters. "The goal is now to move beyond attaining self-reliance to setting standards for the Indian armed forces, for others across the globe, to emulate. In this context, this collaboration, and the further opportunity to set up a Centre of Excellence at IIT Bhubaneswar would prove crucial," he added. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/aadhar-housing-finance-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/109919298.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/aadhar-housing-finance-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/109919298.cms" target="_blank">Aadhar Housing Finance IPO – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/top-selling-cars-in-india-in-april-2024-tata-punch-continues-to-dominate/slidelist/109909744.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/top-selling-cars-in-india-in-april-2024-tata-punch-continues-to-dominate/slidelist/109909744.cms" target="_blank">Top-selling cars in India in April 2024 – Tata Punch continues to dominate</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/worldwide-tablet-shipments-grow-in-q1-2024-after-two-years-of-decline/articleshow/109876390.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/worldwide-tablet-shipments-grow-in-q1-2024-after-two-years-of-decline/articleshow/109876390.cms" target="_blank">Worldwide tablet shipments grow in Q1 2024 after two years of decline</a>

DRDO to collaborate with IIT Bhubaneswar for AI-driven surveillance, other projects

New Delhi [India], August 12 (ANI): <keyword id="19953789" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IIT-Madras" source="keywords">IIT Madras</keyword> has been ranked the <keyword id="19925221" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="best" source="keywords">best</keyword> <keyword id="22759867" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="higher-educational-institution" source="keywords">higher educational institution</keyword> in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> followed by IISc Bengaluru and IIT Bombay in an overall category in the ranking conducted by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) and National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). The announcement was made on Monday by the Ministry of Education at an event at the Bharat Mandapam in the national capital that was presided by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Indian Institute of Technology Madras was ranked first in the <keyword id="22759868" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NIRF-rankings" source="keywords">NIRF rankings</keyword> 2024 and it is the 6th time that it has bagged the top spot in NIRF ranking. IIT-Madras has also been ranked as the best engineering college for the past nine years. In the management category, IIM-Ahmedabad and Bangalore and Calcutta are among the top five. Indian Institute of Science (Bengaluru) ranked as the best university in the country followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University Delhi and Jamia Millia Islamia. Delhi University's Hindu College ranked as the best college in the country followed by Miranda House College and St. Stephen's College. The Chennai-based institute retained the No 1 position in categories "overall and engineering" The NIRF rankings lists was released for 13 different categories, including universities, colleges, research institutions, engineering, management, pharmacy, medical, dental, law, architecture and planning, agriculture and allied sectors, and innovation. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has been accepted by the MoE and launched by Honourable Minister for Education on 29th September 2015. This framework outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country/ The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has been accepted by the MoE and launched by Honourable Minister for Education on September 29, 2015. This framework outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country. This year, as many as higher 10885 education institutions participated in the NIRF.(ANI)

IIT Madras ranked best higher educational institution in India

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 8th edition of the International Telecommunication Union - World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (<keyword id="23549707" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ITU-WTSA" source="keywords">ITU-WTSA</keyword>) at <keyword id="19950568" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Mandapam" source="keywords">Bharat Mandapam</keyword> here in the national capital today. This is the first time the ITU-WTSA will be hosted in India and the Asia-Pacific. Prime Minister will also inaugurate the 8th edition of the <keyword id="21058244" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="India-Mobile-Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="India Mobile Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="India Mobile Congress">India Mobile Congress</keyword> (IMC), with the theme, "The future is now." Prime Minister Modi took to X to announce both events, saying, "At 10 AM tomorrow, 15th October, the International Telecommunication Union - World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly and the India Mobile Congress 2024 will be inaugurated. These forums are important ones, bringing together leading stakeholders from across the sector." Aa per a statement by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the event will be facilitating interactions with various industry leaders, policy-makers and tech experts from over one ninety countries. It is a pivotal global event that will bring together more than 3,000 industry leaders, policy-makers and tech experts from over 190 countries, representing telecom, digital, and ICT sectors. The ITU-WTSA event will also facilitate discussion on the standards set for new age technologies such as 6G, AI, IoT, Big Data, cybersecurity, etc. "Hosting this event in India will provide the country an opportunity to play a key role in shaping the global telecom agenda and to set the course for future technologies. Indian startups and research institutions are set to gain critical insights into developing Intellectual Property Rights and Standard Essential Patents," the PMO said. India Mobile Congress 2024 will be showcasing the telecom ecosystem, with leading telecom companies highlighting advancements in Quantum technology and Circular Economy along with spotlight on 6G, 5G use-case showcase, cloud &amp; edge computing, IoT, semiconductors, cybersecurity, green tech, satcom and electronics manufacturing. India Mobile Congress is Asia's largest <keyword id="21099140" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-technology" source="keywords">digital technology</keyword> forum, and has become a well-known platform across the globe for showcasing innovative solutions, services and state-of-the-art use cases for industry, government, academics, start-ups and other key stakeholders in the technology and telecom ecosystem. The IMC will feature over 400 exhibitors, 900 startups, with participation from over 120 countries. The event also aims to showcase more than 900 technology use case scenarios, host more than 100 sessions and discussion with over 600 global and Indian speakers.

PM Modi to inaugurate 8th ITU's telecom standard meet, India Mobile Congress in Delhi today

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Bantval Jayant Baliga is this year's winner of the Millennium Technology Prize.</li><li>He won the award for inventing the IGBT, a device that has helped lower carbon emissions.</li></ul>Just a few years after Bantval Jayant Baliga started working at General Electric in the 1970s, word of a discovery he made went all the way to CEO <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-neutron-jack-fired-thousands-made-trump-broke-capitalism-2022-5">Jack Welch</a>.As an electrical engineer at the time, the now 76-year-old Baliga had developed the beginnings of what's known as an insulated-gate bipolar transistor, or IGBT. It promised to make electrical devices a whole lot more efficient. Greater efficiency would mean bigger cost savings.So once Welch, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jack-welch-leadership-lesson-2018-3">towering leader of the American conglomerate</a>, caught wind of an idea with the potential to reduce his costs, he was ready to be pitched. "In half an hour, I convinced him this is a great idea," Baliga tells Business Insider.Since then, his invention of the IGBT semiconductor device has made its way into the wider world of electronics, delivering electrical efficiency and helping reduce carbon emissions in everything from medical devices and consumer appliances to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/plug-in-hybrid-prices-soaring-demand-electric-cars-2024-9">hybrid electric vehicles.</a>In 2016, it helped earn him a place in the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Now he's become the latest recipient of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://millenniumprize.org/">Millennium Technology Prize</a> — a 1 million euro ($1.1 million) award presided over by the president of Finland that spotlights innovations beneficial to society."It's like a capstone for my career," he says.<div type="image" title="Professor Bantval Jayant Baliga." height="5063" width="3375" msid="113064831" hostid="261" sizebytes="1094492"></div>Baliga's career started as an undergraduate student at the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras, where — like so many others of his time — he became enthralled with the legendary lectures delivered by physicist <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/20-physicists-revolutionized-understanding-world-2016-9">Richard Feynman</a> in California in the 1960s."It was not in my curriculum, but in our bookstore," he said. "I used to read when other students were going to the movies. It just inspired me."From there, a doctorate in electrical engineering in the US led to an initial role at General Electric, where he spent his time working in the world of transistors and thyristors at a time when the semiconductor industry was "already considered very mature," Baliga recalls.<h2 id="62aab9d7-0dc2-4e6c-954f-52618818ea5d">Fast track</h2>Though that meant a big breakthrough would be tough to come by, he was full of ideas that could have a huge impact, particularly on how electrical efficiency could be improved in the full roster of products his employer was working on. After his pitch to Welch, Baliga was given the rare opportunity to fast-track a nascent idea from a research phase straight into manufacturing on a production line in California.Concern about global warming then was far less acute. However, it later became clear that reducing the electrical consumption of devices with IGBTs — found in everything from CAT scanners and microwaves to refrigeration and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/riding-japans-bullet-trains-between-tokyo-kyoto-2023-7">Japan's bullet trains</a> — would have a huge positive downstream impact on carbon emissions.<div type="image" title="bullet train" height="2125" width="3200" msid="113064833" hostid="261" sizebytes="182966"></div>By Baliga's own calculations, IGBTs have helped reduce global carbon emissions by more than 82 gigatons, or 180 trillion points, between 1990 and 2020 through reduced electrical energy and fuel consumption."Two-thirds of the electricity in the world is used to run motors in consumer and industrial applications," says Professor Päivi Törmä, chair of the International Selection Committee of the Millennium Technology Prize. "Professor Baliga's innovation has allowed us to develop societies with electricity efficiently, while dramatically reducing energy consumption."Baliga, who has worked as a professor at North Carolina State University since his time at General Electric, knows there's more work to be done to ensure the world of electronics and semiconductors reduces electricity consumption.In particular, Baliga sees the world of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/ais-rapid-growth-threatens-energy-industry-economy-and-climate-1033552538">artificial intelligence</a>, which has seen a huge burst of growth in recent years, consuming a lot of power.<h2 id="31e59015-9f9b-47b1-8ffd-63be68e7b785">Staying true</h2>In July, for instance, Google revealed that its <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.gstatic.com/gumdrop/sustainability/google-2024-environmental-report.pdf">total greenhouse gas emissions had increased</a> 48% since 2019, something it put down to "increased data center energy consumption and supply chain emissions." Baliga and his team, then, are working on new inventions to improve "power delivery for AI servers."As he looks back on half a century of work, he recalls that his award-winning invention would not have come to be had he not stayed true to a note he made in his application to attend university in the US: "Develop a technology that would benefit mankind.""That's a naive idea for a young 21-year-old, but it actually came true so how about that," Baliga says. "So my encouragement for young people: be ambitious but do something that is socially beneficial as well."The Millennium Technology Prize will be presented to Professor Baliga on October 30 in a ceremony in Finland that also marks its 20th anniversary. Past winning innovations range from DNA sequencing that helped to develop COVID-19 vaccines, to ethical stem-cell research and versatile, affordable smart technology.

Meet the professor who just won the Millennium Technology Prize — and $1.1 million

India remains highly dependent on imports for minerals critical to accelerating its <keyword id="19951336" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="energy-transition" source="keywords">energy transition</keyword>, with a full reliance on shipping in lithium, cobalt and nickel, according to a report released Monday. The report, published by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), said that India's demand for <keyword id="19978839" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="critical-minerals" source="keywords">critical minerals</keyword> is expected to more than double by 2030, while domestic mining operations may take over a decade to start producing. It stresses that India needs a carefully crafted import strategy to mitigate potential trade risks while balancing international relationships to secure these essential minerals. IEEFA's report examines five critical minerals (and their compounds) - cobalt, copper, graphite, lithium and nickel - from the perspectives of import dependency, trade dynamics, domestic availability, and global price fluctuations. The findings show that India remains largely import-dependent for these minerals and their compounds, with 100 per cent import reliance for minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. "India should strive to de-risk its critical minerals sourcing by identifying new international resources and expediting <keyword id="20681115" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="domestic-production" source="keywords">domestic production</keyword>. A concerted effort to partner with and foster bilateral relations with <keyword id="23713985" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mineral-rich-nations" source="keywords">mineral-rich nations</keyword> should be a priority for India," said the report's co-author Charith Konda, Energy Specialist, IEEFA. "The country can also explore investment opportunities in resource-rich, friendly nations, such as Australia and Chile, as well as African countries like Ghana and South Africa," he added. The report said India depends heavily on China for synthetic graphite and natural graphite and it should explore cooperation initiatives with countries like Mozambique, Madagascar, Brazil and Tanzania which are some of the highest graphite producing countries. "As part of the Global South cooperation initiatives, these countries could be favourable partners for India for <keyword id="23713984" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="graphite-trading" source="keywords">graphite trading</keyword>," said the report's co-author Kaira Rakheja, Energy Analyst, IEEFA. India is also highly import-dependent for copper cathodes and nickel sulphates from just two countries - Japan and Belgium. The report suggests India could look at the US, the fifth largest producer of copper in the world, to diversify its suppliers and enhance <keyword id="23714709" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supply-security" source="keywords">supply security</keyword>. For minerals like lithium oxide and nickel oxide, the dependency is low on one country, but overall imports largely come from Russia and China, both countries with potential trade risks. "Developing domestic lithium refining capacity will help India integrate with the global lithium supply chain," said Rakheja. The report also notes the significant efforts that the Indian government is making to improve domestic production of critical minerals with the auctions by the Ministry of Mines and the planned Critical Minerals Mission. "The critical minerals mining block auctions can serve as an opportunity for India to focus on building refining and processing capabilities to emerge as a global value-adding hub," said Rakheja. "Government support in the form of viability gap funding and technology development will help promote such auctions and ultimately the domestic production of critical minerals. "A stable supply of critical minerals is imperative for India to achieve its <keyword id="19895602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-energy" source="keywords">renewable energy</keyword> goals," Konda said. India has committed to achieving 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil fuel-based electricity installed capacity by 2030. Currently, the country's renewable energy installed capacity stands at 201 GW, with solar energy accounting for 91 GW. According to another study, the fast-developing South Asian nation needs to install around 7,000 GW of renewable energy capacity to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.

Energy transition: India remains highly dependent on imports of critical minerals, says report

Tucked beneath a 48-story San Francisco skyscraper, at the far end of the parking lot on the first subbasement level, is a door with a keypad lock. An unimposing sign reads "Utility Meter Room." Behind the door is a tangled clot of pipes: yellow, blue, and orange, each one as wide as a 100-pound barbell plate. The pipes — along with thousands more just like them, winding their way under more than 600 American cities, campuses, hospitals, and airports — are more than a blast from our industrial past. They're a steampunk vision of the future.I've come to 345 California Center, a postmodern hexagon that towers over San Francisco's financial district, to get a look at the hottest new idea for how to break the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/san-francisco-doom-loop-fix-american-city-housing-transit-2023-7">urban doom loop</a> — the post-pandemic, remote-work apocalypse that is hollowing out America's cities. And when I say "hottest," I don't mean it metaphorically. It's like a sauna down here. Because the Utility Meter Room doesn't run on a self-contained, industrial-sized boiler, like most big buildings. Instead, it's drawing a feed of blistering, high-pressure, vaporized water from a century-old loop of steam pipes that runs beneath the city's streets. The steam loops are a relic of the 19th century, as forgotten as the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/41/steenson.php">pneumatic tubes</a> that used to shoot mail all over American cities. But unlike the pneumatic tubes, the steam loops are still there — and they can provide enough heat to keep a building like 345 California Center nice and toasty, even on the coldest of days.The steam loops are part of an antiquated system known as "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/recycling-waste-heat-abundant-sustainable-energy-source-2023-7">district energy</a>." It was basically a shared-services model: a utility would make steam at a central location and then pipe it out to every building in the city. Nobody had to provide their own heat — it was way more convenient, and cheaper, to get it from a common source. But then cities began to abandon district energy. Buildings, businesses, and homes started making their own hot water in boilers fueled by coal, then oil, then natural gas. Sometimes it was cheaper, and maybe it was more convenient. But it also set the planet on fire. More heating meant more greenhouse gases, and more <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-change-global-warming-extreme-heat-inflation-global-economy-impact-2024-3">global warming</a>. Which brings me back to our steampunk future. Today, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/companies-brag-green-but-offices-have-long-way-to-go-2022-4">cities are starting to price the looming climate catastrophe</a> into their energy costs. Starting this year, commercial buildings in New York City will be slapped with steep fines if they're emitting too much carbon. Boston and Washington have similar "decarbonization" laws in place, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kqed.org/science/1992085/san-francisco-will-continue-enforcing-gas-ban-in-new-buildings-despite-berkeleys-repeal-of-similar-rules">San Francisco isn't allowing natural gas</a> in any new construction. That means businesses need to find a cleaner, cheaper source of heat. And those ancient steam loops beneath the streets are starting to seem like a ready-made solution."The real benefit of a district-energy system, especially in cities, is the distribution system," says Kevin Hagerty, the CEO of Vicinity Energy. "If a city wants to decarbonize, and they have a district-energy system, it's much easier. They don't have to change things on a building-by-building basis."<div type="image" title="An orange upright pipe vents steam into the night sky in front of a building with stone arches and gaslamp-type lights, and parked cars on an urban street" height="2946" width="3927" msid="110505068" hostid="261"></div>In July, Vicinity is installing what will be the nation's first zero-carbon urban steam loop. Drawing electricity from the increasingly decarbonized New England grid, powered by solar and offshore wind, the utility will use the energy to boil water and then deliver steam directly to Boston office buildings and restaurants and storefronts through the city's antiquated maze of pipes. It's a remnant of the Industrial Revolution being used to forestall a lethal climate evolution.District energy could also be a godsend to businesses struggling to survive the current landscape of empty offices and boarded-up shops. By taking steam right out of the street beneath them, commercial landlords can pay less for their utilities and avoid carbon fines — which means they can lower their rents and hold on to tenants who might otherwise bail. District-energy loops also eliminate the need for boilers and other cumbersome building infrastructure, freeing up space for tenant-grabbing amenities like gyms, roof-decks, and golf simulators. (Yep. That's a real thing.)The other choice? Spend thousands to upgrade a building's energy systems — cash that landlords don't have on hand, and an expense they can't pass along to tenants. "If you're a building owner, district energy allows you to pay a small premium on your service to get that type of steam," says Blake Ellis, a principal at the engineering firm Burns &amp; McDonnell. "Then you don't have that big capital outlay you probably don't want right now." Especially if, as in many downtowns, your building is only 70% occupied.About a third of the cost of running a commercial building is energy. And according to one major study, a building as energy-efficient as 345 California Center can charge 20% more for rent than a comparable, inefficient building. Every dollar saved in energy costs, the study found, equates to 3.5% higher rent. And it's a lot easier to be energy efficient if all you have to do is plug into a carbon-free steam loop. "This building is 40 years old," Tim Danz, the chief engineer for 345 Cal, tells me. "But we're using the latest technology to manage our energy." He points to the gnarl of pipes that shoots the steam up to the 36th floor, where it's used to cook a water supply large enough to heat the entire building. Having a boiler, Danz explains, "would be another system we would have to provide care and feeding for." District energy, by contrast, is just there for the taking, right beneath our feet.The most convincing evidence that steam loops make economic sense comes from who's getting into the district-energy game. Vicinity, the nation's biggest clean-steam provider, is owned by Antin Infrastructure Partners, a leading private-equity firm. Cordia, an energy provider operating in 10 cities, is partially owned by the private-equity giant KKR. Everyone needs heat — which makes it a highly bankable investment. "These private-equity funds come in and find areas where they can put capital into a business and get a nice steady rate of return," Hagerty says. "Decarbonizing takes capital, and private equity is a great source of capital." In the long run, of course, private equity may decide to do what it always does and load up these new energy businesses with massive amounts of debt before dismantling them for parts. But for now, the big money sees big profits to be made from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-build-infrastructure-transportation-housing-regulation-environment-2023-11">America's forgotten infrastructure</a>. Outside of places like airports and college campuses, the idea of district energy fell out of favor long ago. We let the systems go fallow — but fortunately, all the accumulated infrastructure we buried on top of the old steam loops made it impossible to dig their little-used pipes out of the ground. So the whole thing was still down there, waiting, when COVID drove millions of city dwellers to head for the countryside. Now, by drawing heat from their old steam loops, America's cities have an opportunity to jump-start all the downtown commerce that was crippled by the pandemic. And it could happen all over the place! Dozens and dozens of cities have steam loops they can use, from New York and Chicago to Miami to San Diego and Portland and Milwaukee. What's more, lots of companies these days are looking for greener buildings, both to save money and to burnish their environmental bona fides. From AI startups to biotech companies, steampunk-heated buildings could become the cool new place to be. "Forward-minded companies want to be in a building that doesn't have any on-site fossil-fuel combustion," says Costa Samaras, the director of the Scott Institute for Energy and Innovation at Carnegie Mellon. "The best, greenest buildings will be net-zero buildings. They'll be considered a premium asset. The challenge is, are we going to get enough premium assets in time?" Meaning: Can we use steam loops to fix the urban doom loop before the climate doom loop dooms us all?<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/adam-rogers">Adam Rogers</a> is a senior correspondent at Business Insider.

The steampunk technology that could save America's cities

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Severe weather degrades the accuracy of navigation systems and hampers military operations.</li><li>Climate change has made weather patterns more erratic and harder to forecast.</li></ul>More extreme weather is scrambling the high-tech systems that have given the US military its edge.For example, severe weather can degrade navigation systems such as GPS and sensors on precision-guided munitions. Heavy rain ground aircraft and drones, intense heat exhausts troops, dust storms gum up tank engines, and storms damage ships at sea. Smoke and sandstorms blind aerial drones. Commanders and troops need to have a good idea of what the weather will be like the next day or the next month — forecasts that are getting fouled by the growing unpredictability of weather patterns."Reliably forecasting extreme weather's frequency and intensity to inform strategy is perhaps the most important challenge for the US and allied militaries to adapt to or mitigate a changing climate, because it is imperative that operations and campaigns are feasible meteorologically," warned James Regens in a recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/rusi-journal/extreme-weather-risk-military-operations-changing-climate">essay</a> for the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank.Unexpected weather has always frustrated the best-laid plans of commanders. Had rain not turned the ground muddy the night before the battle, Napoleon might have been able to move up his artillery and win at <a target="_blank" href="https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/bams/74/3/1520-0477_1993_074_0413_ghetws_2_0_co_2.xml">Waterloo</a>. Surprise dust storms crippled helicopters in the daring American operation to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.asomf.org/operation-eagle-claw/">rescue hostages from Iran</a> in 1980. And rain and rough seas almost caused the D-Day landings in June 1944 to be cancelled. But in military meteorology's finest hour, sharp-eyed Allied weathermen were able to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rmets.org/metmatters/how-weather-forecast-made-history-d-day-landings">forecast a break</a> in the storms that the Germans didn't foresee, which allowed the invasion to achieve tactical surprise.However, these mishaps reflect weather, which is a short-term phenomenon. Climate refers to long-term patterns, including the probability of severe weather. While climate change has become a highly politicized issue, there is general agreement among scientists that the Earth's climate is getting warmer.<div type="image" title="An Iraqi C-130E Hercules photographed during a 2006 sand storm." height="1500" width="2000" msid="110248465" hostid="261" sizebytes="35410"></div>This doesn't mean the weather will be hotter everywhere all the time, but it does indicate that severe weather events — heat, rain, even snow — will be more intense when they happen. One example is California in 2024, which went from years of drought to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/19/weather/california-storm-rain-flooding-tuesday/index.html">"atmospheric rivers"</a> that dumped massive amounts of rain that caused mudslides and damaged homes and roads.This can be catastrophic for farmers and people living in flood zones. But it's equally bad for militaries, especially those with advanced capabilities such as the US armed forces, which rely on delicate and interconnected systems that can be degraded by weather.For example, meteorological information is key to the position, navigation and timing (PNT) systems that enable many guided weapons and communications networks to function and coordinate. "Precision fires, aircraft flight operations, surface warship maneuver, ballistic missile trajectories and satellite launch windows to support intelligence collection and communications systems all depend on reliable PNT solutions grounded in meteorological projections," wrote Regens, an intelligence expert and founding partner of Antiphon Solutions, an Oklahoma-based analytics firm.This puts a premium on developing models and technologies that can offer accurate short- and long-term weather forecasts, and do so even as scientific understanding of the impact of global climate change evolves. The strategic implications are profound. For example, knowing the rate at which <a target="_blank" href="https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3353265/arctic-heating-up-literally-and-as-scene-of-strategic-competition/">Arctic ice is melting</a> — creating new shipping channels and uncovering mineral riches — is of great interest to many nations.Arctic warming creates a "significant homeland defense and national security challenge for US and allied decision-making for North America and NATO's northern flank in Europe," Regens told Business Insider. "Add to this mix the humanitarian missions the US military does in response to floods, monsoons, and other weather problems, and the Pentagon and NATO need to recognize the risk extreme weather in a changing climate poses to military operations."However, Regens points to another problem: getting timely weather forecasts to those who need them. "Military forecasting works fine as long as units have secure network access to near-real time numerically predictive weather information for planning and executing missions," Regens told Business Insider.The problem is that tactical units on the front lines, or in remote areas, often lack the connectivity to receive weather reports. "NOAA [the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration], the private sector and universities are actively working to improve global weather models," Regens said. "The missing link is compressing this capability into a tactical package for warfighters.""This requires a major effort to meet the requirements of tactically disaggregated, independently operating units for immediate reliable data," said Regens. "Otherwise, they are going to have limited success firing highly lethal and expensive munitions at significant ranges." Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twitter.com/@mipeck1">Twitter</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mipeck/">LinkedIn</a>.

Extreme weather blunts the US military's technological edge 

<keyword id="19970108" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vacancies" source="keywords">Vacancies</keyword> in <keyword id="20591266" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="teaching-positions" source="keywords">teaching positions</keyword> in <keyword id="20132275" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="state-universities" source="keywords">state universities</keyword> have emerged as a major hurdle in the implementation of the National Education Policy (<keyword id="19904633" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nep" source="keywords">NEP</keyword>) 2020, University Grants Commission (<keyword id="19932586" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ugc" source="keywords">UGC</keyword>) chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar said here on Friday. The <keyword id="20963740" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UGC-chairman" source="keywords">UGC chairman</keyword> was here to attend a day-long conference of vice-chancellors of Northeastern and Eastern regions on 'Implementation of NEP 2020', hosted by Guwahati-based Pragjyotishpur University. Addressing a press conference, Kumar said, "Across the country, a major problem in state universities is vacancies in teaching positions. In some state universities, 50 to 80 per cent of teaching positions are vacant," urging universities to expedite the filling of these positions. He said implementation of NEP is a "journey", which cannot happen overnight, and state governments have been enthusiastically participating in implementing it. Kumar stressed that it is also essential for the universities to formulate an institutional development plan and their own roadmap for the future. With approximately 130 vice-chancellors and other academics participating, discussions at the conference focused on transforming <keyword id="19896809" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="higher-education" source="keywords">higher education</keyword> institutions to empower students in contributing to national development. Key topics include providing holistic education, integrating skill development with degree programs, and utilising digital technology to reach students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds. "We will be discussing how the NEP is being implemented and challenges colleges and universities are facing, so that we can collectively find solutions," he said. Kumar requested the universities to open more off-campus centres to make education accessible and equitable, while stating that UGC was also laying thrust on training teachers in the higher education sector. Highlighting the need to expose students to different parts of the country, he said the Northeastern region is home to many indigenous knowledge systems, whether it be a festival celebrated based on astronomical calculation, bamboo engineering or shifting cultivation. "These are parts of Indian knowledge system and there is a need to expose students to this from different parts of the country," he said. Kumar added that UGC is also working on promoting education in own language, especially with the country having numerous native languages. On implementation of NEP in this region, Kumar said the UGC is in regular touch with state higher education councils and VCs. "We are very happy to inform that state governments are very enthusiastically participating in implementing NEP. Implementation is a journey," he added. He reiterated that achieving the target of a Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of 50 per cent by 2035 requires sustained effort and cannot be achieved overnight. Among initiatives under NEP is the provision of biannual admissions to help students who fail to enroll during July-August to take admission in January-February. Universities with required infrastructure have been requested to implement it to maximise resource utilisation, Kumar said, adding that 90 varsities have also started biannual admissions for online programmes. The UGC chairman also said stress is being laid on strengthening research ecosystem in the universities and bring more young people into it. Though directly UGC funded-research has stopped now, funds for research projects are available through other agencies, like National Research Foundation and other schemes, he added. With focus on online education, internet connectivity and electrification has also received a boost across the country, with common service centres also set up for students in remote areas to access Net, Kumar added.

Vacancies in teaching positions major problem in NEP implementation: UGC chairman

<ul><li>Earlier this week, <keyword id="6368201" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mastercard" source="Orion">Mastercard</keyword> launched a new payment system - ‘smile to pay’.</li><li>Users can make a payment by showing their face or palm, instead of swiping a card.</li><li>Third-party authentication and data usage raise security concerns over new payment system.</li></ul>Mastercard recently launched a new facial recognition payment system that lets shoppers make payments with their face or hand gestures. This new payment system is being rolled out to biometric payment systems including fingerprint scanning and facial recognition. The new payment system from Mastercard is known as ‘smile to pay.’ It is aimed to reduce transaction times, shorten queues in shops, increase security and improve hygiene by going cardless. Currently, this feature is live in Brazil and Sao Paulo. The company says it plans to roll it out globally later this year. With this new tech company aims to change the way we pay but it also raises concerns relating to data storage, customer privacy and crime risks. To use facial recognition-based payments, Mastercard’s biometric checkout system will provide biometric authentication with third-party companies. The company has already partnered with Payface, NEC, Fujitsu, Aurus, PopID and PayByFace. According to <a href="https://www.siliconrepublic.com/business/mastercard-facial-recognition-biometric-payments">reports</a>, customers have to install a third-party app that will take their pictures and payment information. All the information will be stored on third-party servers. While checkout, the customer's face will be matched with the stored data to make a payment. Where does concern lie? When a third-party app is involved, privacy protection concern is a major issue. We can assume while giving authentication to a third party, customers will require to give consent. But the question arises, will customers know what they are agreeing to? In the end, Mastercard and biometric service providers will decide how they are going to use data and who can access it. Accuracy and Bias Earlier, the accuracy of facial recognition has been challenged. According to the <a href="https://www.csis.org/blogs/technology-policy-blog/how-accurate-are-facial-recognition-systems-%E2%80%93-and-why-does-it-matter">National Institute of Standards and Technology</a>, the best facial authentication algorithms have a 0.08% chance of error. Till now, we don’t know how accurate is Mastercard’s ‘smile to pay’ feature. According to<a href="https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2019/NIST.IR.8280.pdf#page=5"> a NIST study</a>, out of 189 facial recognition, the majority of them were biased meaning they were less accurate on people among ethnic minorities and racial groups. Mastercard has not revealed to which extent it has overcome these challenges. Also, there are no future plans disclosed by Mastercard to deal with situations if technology misidentifies a person. For example, if person A is recognised as person B, then money would be debited from the wrong person. Mastercard <a href="https://www.mastercard.com/news/ap/en/newsroom/press-releases/en/2020/april/mastercard-study-shows-consumers-moving-to-contactless-payments-for-everyday-purchases/">study</a> shows that 74% of people are in favour of using the facial recognition payment system. But we can see the report doesn't have any foolproof evidence to support the survey. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/this-new-tech-can-detect-lies-within-minutes-by-analyzing-involuntary-eye-movement/articleshow/91827841.cms">This new tech can detect lies within minutes by analyzing involuntary eye movement</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/hero-electric-scooter-catches-fire-in-odisha-no-casualties-or-injuries-were-reported/articleshow/91828426.cms">Hero Electric scooter catches fire in Odisha, no casualties or injuries were reported</a>

Mastercard’s newly launched face recognition payment system is already raising accuracy concerns

In a keynote address at the Indo-Singapore Judicial Conference, <keyword id="19941896" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chief-Justice-of-India" source="keywords">Chief Justice of India</keyword> DY Chandrachud emphasised the crucial role of <keyword id="19901571" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="technology" source="keywords">technology</keyword>, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), in reshaping <keyword id="21291398" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="legal-research" source="keywords">legal research</keyword> and the judiciary while stressing the imperative of <keyword id="20773416" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ethical-considerations" source="keywords">ethical considerations</keyword> in its integration. Chandrachud commenced his address by lauding the conference's revolutionary focus on technology and its potential to catalyse crucial dialogues at the crossroads of technology and the judiciary. He acknowledged the profound impact of judicial dialogues in fostering cross-cultural exchange and mutual learning among diverse legal systems. Highlighting the deep-rooted ties between India and Singapore, Chandrachud commended both nations for their commitment to upholding the rule of law and promoting access to justice. "Judicial dialogues indeed play a vital role in fostering cross-cultural exchange and mutual learning among different legal systems. India and Singapore share not only deep social, cultural, and economic ties but also a commitment to upholding the rule of law and promoting access to justice. As two dynamic and rapidly evolving nations, both India and Singapore recognise the transformative potential of technology in modernising their respective judicial systems," said the CJI. He lauded Singapore's emergence as a global technology and innovation hub, citing its adoption of cutting-edge initiatives such as online dispute resolution platforms and electronic filing systems. "Singapore has positioned itself as a global hub for technology and innovation. With its strategic location, business-friendly environment, and robust legal framework, Singapore has attracted top talent and investment in the tech sector... Additionally, the Singapore International Commercial Court leverages technology to facilitate international dispute resolution, offering efficient and cost-effective solutions for resolving cross-border commercial disputes," he further said. The CJI praised India's strides in leveraging technology to modernise its judiciary, particularly through initiatives like the e-Courts project. "India boasts a vibrant tech ecosystem and a rich legal heritage. With a population of over a billion people and a rapidly growing economy, India presents enormous opportunities in adopting technology within the <keyword id="20199889" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="judicial-system" source="keywords">judicial system</keyword>. The e-Courts project, for instance, aims to computerise court processes, digitise case records, and establish online case management systems across all levels of the judiciary. By reducing administrative burdens and automating routine tasks, e- Courts enhance the speed and efficiency of legal proceedings, ultimately improving access to justice for all citizens," Chandrachud said. The Chief Justice then turned his attention to the transformative potential of AI in legal research, describing it as a "game-changer" that empowers legal professionals with unmatched efficiency and accuracy. He elucidated specific instances where AI, notably ChatGPT, had been utilised in court adjudication, citing examples from Colombia and India. "Additionally, the Supreme Court of India introduced live transcription services, an initiative aimed at enhancing accessibility to legal information. This initiative has been particularly impactful in addressing linguistic diversity, as live transcription services translate judicial proceedings into 18 regional languages and Hindi, ensuring that legal information is accessible to citizens across India using AI termed as the Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software. This not only saves time and resources but also improves access to justice by reducing delays and backlogs in the court system," he said, "In 2023, Justice Juan Manuel Padilla, a Colombian judge, utilised the ChatGPT to deliver a judgment in a case involving insurance claims for an autistic child," Chandrachud elaborated, underscoring the complementary role of AI in augmenting judicial reasoning rather than supplanting it. Similarly, he recounted how the Punjab and Haryana High Court in India sought insights from ChatGPT in a bail petition. However, Chandrachud cautioned against overlooking the ethical, legal, and practical considerations associated with <keyword id="20230984" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-integration" source="keywords">AI integration</keyword> into court proceedings. "These instances show that we cannot avoid the question of using AI in court adjudication. The integration of AI in modern processes including court proceedings raises complex ethical, legal, and practical considerations that demand a thorough examination. The use of AI in court adjudication presents both opportunities and challenges that warrant nuanced deliberation," he asserted. He noted the importance of transparency, accountability, and fairness in AI utilisation, highlighting concerns about potential errors and biases inherent in AI systems. "The full realisation of AI's potential hinges on global collaboration and cooperation," Chandrachud said, urging stakeholders to prioritise robust auditing mechanisms and capacity building. In his concluding remarks, the CJI noted that the advancement of technology and AI is inevitable. "It holds the potential to significantly change professions and make service delivery more accessible to people. In the field of law, this translates to the potential for AI to expedite and streamline justice delivery. The era of maintaining the status quo is behind us; it is time to embrace evolution within our profession and explore how we can harness the processing power of technology to its fullest within our institutions," he said. Aiming to explore the intersection of technology and the legal system, particularly focusing on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in judiciary, the Supreme Court organised a two-day conference on Technology and Dialogue between the Supreme Courts of India and Singapore on Saturday and Sunday. Alongside judges, jurists, Chief Justice of Singapore Justice Sundaresh Menon also engaged in panel discussions covering a wide array of topics. (ANI) SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/telecom-companies-may-hike-tariffs-by-up-to-17-after-the-general-elections-as-per-analysts/articleshow/109240274.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/telecom-companies-may-hike-tariffs-by-up-to-17-after-the-general-elections-as-per-analysts/articleshow/109240274.cms" target="_blank">Telecom companies may hike tariffs by up to 17% after the general elections, predict analysts</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ather-rizta-vs-tvs-iqube-which-family-scooter-should-you-buy/articleshow/109233645.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ather-rizta-vs-tvs-iqube-which-family-scooter-should-you-buy/articleshow/109233645.cms" target="_blank">Ather Rizta vs TVS iQube – Which family scooter should you buy?</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/playstation-5-is-now-available-at-a-discount-of-10000-for-a-limited-period/articleshow/109183034.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/playstation-5-is-now-available-at-a-discount-of-10000-for-a-limited-period/articleshow/109183034.cms" target="_blank">PlayStation 5 is now available at a discount of ₹10,000 for a limited period</a>

CJI DY Chandrachud advocates for ethical AI integration in legal research

Centre University of Jammu (CUJ) on Wednesday announced that its <keyword id="21857333" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Radio-Sonde" source="keywords">Radio-Sonde</keyword>, a crucial tool for <keyword id="21857334" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="atmospheric-data-collection" source="keywords">atmospheric data collection</keyword>, was launched successfully from its <keyword id="19915124" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ISRO" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="ISRO" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="ISRO">ISRO</keyword> centre in <keyword id="19918866" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Samba" source="keywords">Samba</keyword> district of Jammu and Kashmir. The launch, a part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the <keyword id="20058612" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Remote-Sensing-Centre" source="keywords">National Remote Sensing Centre</keyword> (NRSC), ISRO and CUJ, aims to enhance the understanding of atmospheric conditions and climate change, contributing valuable data to both national and global meteorological research, a varsity spokesperson said. Using hydrogen-filled balloons, the scientists record atmospheric pressure, temperature, wind direction, and speed from 12 kilometres above earth's surface and the data is transmitted to the ground via radio signals. The spokesperson said this is only the third testing facility of its kind established by ISRO at CUJ. CUJ vice chancellor Prof Sanjeev Jain said the milestone event marks a significant achievement in the university's ongoing commitment to advancing space science research and technology. "Today's successful launch of the Radio-Sonde exemplifies our commitment to enhancing innovation and research in space sciences. This entire Radio-Sonde system is fully developed indigenously by ISRO under the 'Make in India' vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "This initiative not only strengthens our research capabilities but also positions our institution at the forefront of atmospheric studies," Jain said. The centre launched the weather balloon in the afternoon, convenor of the centre Prof Vinay Kumar said. It will provide a unique set of data as the convection layer is fully developed by this time, he said. Other centres and institutions are collecting data only in the morning and evening hours, Kumar said, adding that the balloon will ascend upwards at a rate of five metres per second up to a maximum height of 40 km. The Satish Dhawan Centre for Space Sciences, a premier facility within the university, has been instrumental in providing the state-of-the-art infrastructure and resources for such pioneering projects, the spokesperson said. He said the launch of Radio-Sonde is expected to pave the way for future research endeavours and collaborations in the field of space and atmospheric sciences. "The data collected from Radio-Sonde will be analysed and utilised for various research projects, ultimately contributing to the broader field of space sciences," he said.

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