Category Archives: artificial intelligence

artificial intelligence, business, consumer electronics, technology

Amazon reveals range of new Kindle, Ring and Echo devices powered by AI

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Online juggernaut Amazon has unveiled its next generation of Kindle, Ring, and Echo devices, among other gadgets, all powered by artificial intelligence and connected to Alexa+, its AI-infused personal assistant that made its debut in February.

The line-up, announced at a presentation and showcase in New York on Tuesday, includes new cameras for its Ring video monitoring device featuring an AI facial recognition system. This new feature allows users to register friends and family and receive notifications about who is at the front door.

Amazon also introduced four new Echo devices revamped with Alexa+. These smart speakers provide personalized insights, such as alerts if the user left the front door unlocked after midnight.

In addition, the Seattle-based company revealed a series of Alexa+-infused Fire TVs. These TVs enable more personalized searches, like finding a specific scene in a movie or getting commentary about the previous day’s football game.

The presentation marked the first major product event for Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in 2023 to lead the company’s devices and services teams. Panay brings with him a 19-year career at Microsoft, where he served as chief product officer.

Speaking to an audience of several hundred journalists and bloggers, Mr. Panay emphasized how Alexa+ and artificial intelligence are enabling technology to work seamlessly in the background. “Products creating subtle shifts in all our behaviour, driven by AI, integrated into the hardware,” he said. “And flowing natural through the products themselves. Whether it’s a camera catching what you missed; your Fire TV updating you on a game; or your Kindle remembering exactly where you left off.”
https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/amazon-reveals-range-of-new-kindle-ring-and-echo-devices-powered-by-ai-1813170.html

artificial intelligence, child safety, family, privacy, technology

OpenAI adds parental controls to ChatGPT: How they work

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**OpenAI Adds Parental Controls to ChatGPT: How They Work**
*By Mudit Dube | Sep 29, 2025, 04:42 PM*

OpenAI has introduced new parental controls for its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, designed to give parents more oversight and control over their children’s usage. The latest update enables parents to link their accounts with their teens’ and implement various restrictions such as quiet hours and content filters.

### Enhanced Parental Controls
With this update, parents can connect their accounts to their teen’s ChatGPT profile, allowing them to manage settings like quiet hours, disable voice mode and image generation, and restrict memory usage and model training. Notably, these controls can only be adjusted by parents—not by teens themselves—ensuring the settings remain enforced as needed.

### Stronger Protections for Teens
Teen accounts linked to parents automatically receive enhanced safeguards aimed at reducing exposure to graphic content, viral challenges, romantic or violent roleplay, and extreme beauty ideals. While parents have the option to disable these protections, teens cannot opt out independently.

### Self-Harm Detection and Alerts
OpenAI has incorporated a self-harm notification system that alerts parents if ChatGPT detects signs suggesting their teen may be considering self-harm. In critical situations where there is an imminent threat, emergency services or law enforcement may be involved to ensure the teen’s safety.

### Additional Resources and Future Plans
To support families, OpenAI has launched a dedicated parent resource page offering information on how ChatGPT works, setup guides for parental controls, and ideas for encouraging positive use in schoolwork, creativity, and family activities. This page will be expanded over time with expert advice and tips for facilitating healthy conversations.

Looking ahead, OpenAI is developing an age prediction system that will automatically apply teen-appropriate settings for users under 18, further enhancing safety and customization.

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These new parental control features mark an important step in ensuring a safer and more manageable ChatGPT experience for young users while giving parents peace of mind.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/openai-rolls-out-parental-controls-for-chatgpt/story

artificial intelligence, company, consumer electronics, products, technology

Amazon’s hardware event on September 30: What to expect

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**Amazon’s Hardware Event on September 30: What to Expect**

*By Dwaipayan Roy | September 28, 2025, 03:12 PM*

Amazon has officially announced its fall hardware event, scheduled for September 30. The tech giant is expected to unveil a variety of new products, including updated Echo speakers, a color version of the Kindle Scribe, and revamped TVs. This event marks one of the first major product showcases under Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in 2023 after leading Microsoft’s Surface division.

### New Echo Speakers Likely

The invitation for Amazon’s event prominently features the familiar blue Echo ring, hinting at new Echo hardware announcements. The standard Echo speaker hasn’t been updated since 2020, so a refresh is well overdue. Additionally, there are rumors about an upgrade to the Echo Studio, which was last refreshed in 2023.

If you’re planning to purchase an Echo speaker, it might be worth waiting a week to see what Amazon has in store.

### Kindle Updates: Color Kindle Scribe and Smaller Kindle

One of the teaser images for the event strongly hints at a color Kindle logo, accompanied by a cryptic mention of the “stroke of a pen.” This has sparked speculation about a color version of the Kindle Scribe — Amazon’s E Ink tablet that supports stylus input.

There are also rumors about a smaller Kindle model, possibly called the Kindle Petit Color, which is expected to deliver improved color performance compared to last year’s Colorsoft Kindle.

### Tech Advancements: Vega OS and Alexa Plus

The event invitation also features what appears to be a TV, fueling speculation about new Fire TV hardware. However, the bigger highlight might be the anticipated unveiling of Vega OS — a new operating system Amazon has been developing as a potential replacement for the Android-based Fire TV platform.

If these rumors hold true, this event will offer the public its first real glimpse of Vega OS running on TVs.

Additionally, Amazon may share updates on Alexa Plus, its next-generation AI assistant designed to compete with Google Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

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Stay tuned for Amazon’s hardware event on September 30 for all the latest announcements and product launches.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/everything-we-know-about-amazon-s-upcoming-hardware-event/story

academia, artificial intelligence, business, education, technology

Most B-school faculty in India lack AI expertise: Survey

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**Most B-school Faculty in India Lack AI Expertise: Survey**

*By Dwaipayan Roy | Sep 28, 2025, 04:49 PM*

A recent survey conducted by MBAUniverse.com has revealed that while Indian business schools are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the majority of faculty members still lack the necessary expertise to effectively utilize these tools.

The study surveyed 235 educators from prestigious institutions such as IIMs, IITs, ISB, XLRI, and SPJIMR. It found that only 7% of these educators consider themselves expert users of AI tools.

### Growing Acceptance of AI in Academia

Despite the low level of expertise, the survey highlighted a positive shift in attitudes towards AI. About 51% of faculty members expressed confidence in the positive impact of AI adoption on business school students. More than half anticipate an increased role for AI in teaching, curriculum design, and research over the next year. This shows a growing acceptance and readiness for deeper integration of AI into academic processes.

### Application Areas: Transformative Potential of AI in Management Education

According to the survey, faculty are primarily using AI for research and teaching purposes. However, AI’s role in curriculum development is also steadily increasing. Administrative tasks and student assessment are emerging areas for AI application, indicating opportunities for structured support and capacity-building programs.

This highlights AI’s potential to transform multiple aspects of management education beyond just classroom teaching.

### Faculty Perceptions and Tool Preferences

The survey also explored faculty perceptions regarding AI’s impact on student learning, skill development, and classroom engagement. It assessed the tools, training, and policy guidance educators consider most important for responsible AI adoption.

Notably, ChatGPT emerged as the most relevant AI tool for teaching-related activities among faculty members.

### Challenges and Concerns in AI Adoption

While many faculty members viewed AI’s impact on student learning positively, 21% felt it was too early to determine its effects. Meanwhile, 18% perceived an unfavorable impact, and nearly 10% reported no significant changes.

The main challenges cited in using generative AI for research included ethical concerns, followed by issues related to inaccuracies, unreliable outputs, and a lack of regulatory policies.

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The survey underscores the urgent need for capacity building and policy frameworks to equip business school faculty with the skills and guidelines necessary to harness AI’s full potential responsibly and effectively.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/ai-adoption-among-indian-b-school-faculty-what-we-know/story

artificial intelligence, business, consumer electronics, software development, technology

Apple is using ChatGPT-like app to test new Siri features

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**Apple is Using ChatGPT-like App to Test New Siri Features**

*By Akash Pandey | Sep 27, 2025, 01:21 PM*

Apple is reportedly testing a ChatGPT-style app, internally known as “Veritas,” as part of its ambitious plan to revamp Siri, according to Bloomberg. The tech giant aims to enhance its voice assistant’s capabilities to handle more complex tasks and provide a more intuitive user experience.

### Internal Testing with Veritas

The Veritas app—named after the Latin word for “truth”—is being developed by Apple’s AI division to experiment with new Siri features. Among its capabilities, Veritas can search through personal data such as songs and emails, as well as perform in-app actions like editing photos.

Much like other popular AI chatbots, Veritas allows users to manage multiple conversations simultaneously, reference previous chats, and engage in extended back-and-forth exchanges. This multi-turn conversational ability marks a significant upgrade from current voice assistant functionalities.

### Introducing the New ‘Linwood’ System

In addition to testing new features, Veritas is also being used to evaluate a new underlying system called “Linwood.” This innovative system combines Apple’s in-house large language models with third-party AI models to create a more powerful and responsive assistant.

Currently, Apple does not plan to release the Veritas app publicly. However, its development highlights the company’s serious commitment to advancing artificial intelligence technologies.

### Delayed Launch for New Siri

Apple initially aimed to launch the revamped Siri in spring 2025. However, technical challenges have delayed the release. Some features reportedly experienced failure rates of up to one-third during internal testing.

The updated Siri is now expected to debut as early as March 2026. Once released, it is anticipated to perform tasks beyond the current assistant’s scope, such as interacting with on-screen content and facilitating smoother navigation across Apple devices.

### Leadership Changes Amid AI Overhaul

Apple’s AI division has seen significant leadership shifts amid this overhaul. John Giannandrea, who previously led the company’s AI efforts, was sidelined earlier this year. Additionally, Robby Walker—former head of Siri—is set to leave Apple in October.

Walker’s newly formed AKI (Answers, Knowledge, and Information) team is now spearheading the effort to integrate AI-driven search into the next-generation Siri, signaling a fresh direction for Apple’s voice assistant strategy.

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Apple’s continued investment in AI and voice assistant technology reflects CEO Tim Cook’s push for the company to excel in this rapidly evolving field. With innovations like Veritas and Linwood, Apple hopes to redefine how users interact with their devices in the near future.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/apple-using-chatgpt-style-app-to-test-next-gen-siri/story

artificial intelligence, education, technology, training

IIT Delhi Opens Registration For Second Batch Of Certificate Programme In Applied Data Science & AI

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IIT Delhi Launches Second Batch of Certificate Programme in Applied Data Science & Artificial Intelligence

The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has announced the second batch of its Certificate Programme in Applied Data Science & Artificial Intelligence: From Fundamentals to Deployment. This comprehensive programme is designed to equip learners with the skills to write production-grade Python code, engineer and analyze data, build and validate machine learning (ML) and deep learning models, and deploy responsible AI solutions using MLOps. The course culminates in an industry-relevant capstone project, ensuring practical, hands-on experience.

Programme Highlights

Offered under IIT Delhi’s Continuing Education Programme (CEP), this six-month course provides a strong foundation in ML and AI principles and their real-world applications. These technologies are becoming increasingly central across sectors such as healthcare, finance, retail, manufacturing, education, transportation, and entertainment.

Key aspects of the programme include:

  • Hands-on Python programming and data manipulation
  • Exploratory data analysis, regression, classification, clustering, and dimensionality reduction
  • Advanced techniques in deep learning, reinforcement learning, and natural language processing (NLP)
  • Model deployment using Docker and cloud platforms
  • MLOps practices and application of responsible AI principles
  • Industry-grounded projects and a culminating capstone project

Curriculum and Learning Format

The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to guide learners from fundamental concepts to advanced applications, including:

  • Python programming, data manipulation, and exploratory data analysis
  • Machine learning techniques such as regression, classification, clustering, and dimensionality reduction
  • Deep learning, reinforcement learning, and natural language processing
  • Model deployment, cloud computing, and MLOps strategies
  • Application of responsible AI principles through hands-on projects and capstone

The programme employs a Direct-to-Device (D2D) delivery model comprising:

  • 72 hours of live, interactive online lectures
  • 40-hour industry-relevant capstone project
  • Practical tutorials and asynchronous learning modules
  • Optional short campus immersion at IIT Delhi for in-person experience

Upon successful completion, participants will earn e-Certificates from CEP, IIT Delhi, subject to fulfilling all programme requirements.

What the Faculty Says

“At IIT Delhi, we’ve built this program around doing, not just knowing,” said Prof. Ankur Gupta of the Centre for Applied Research in Electronics during the programme’s unveiling. “After practicing Python, deep learning, and current machine learning techniques, learners use MLOps and responsible AI principles to deploy their models in production. The capstone, industry examples, and mentoring ensure participants graduate with deployable solutions and the confidence to leverage data science effectively across industries.”

Who Should Apply?

This programme is ideal for:

  • Aspiring data scientists and AI enthusiasts
  • Technology and analytics professionals seeking to upskill or pivot careers
  • Engineers and technologists implementing AI solutions in industry settings
  • Students and researchers aiming to deepen their expertise in applied AI and data science

The Growing Demand for AI Skills

According to McKinsey’s The Data-Driven Enterprise of 2025, data will be ubiquitous across business processes by 2030, requiring leaders to adopt a ‘data and AI first’ approach. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights that 86% of employers expect AI to transform their operations by 2030. However, 63% of these employers cite skill gaps as a major barrier to adoption. Additionally, approximately 39% of current skill sets are projected to become obsolete within five years, underscoring the urgent need for upskilling.

This certificate programme by IIT Delhi offers a timely opportunity for professionals and learners to bridge this gap and prepare for the future of AI-driven industries.

https://www.freepressjournal.in/education/iit-delhi-opens-registration-for-second-batch-of-certificate-programme-in-applied-data-science-ai

art, artificial intelligence, design, software development, technology

Google rolls out experimental AI tool to visualize your ideas

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**Google Rolls Out Experimental AI Tool to Visualize Your Ideas**

*By Dwaipayan Roy | Sep 24, 2025, 01:35 PM*

Google has unveiled a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool called **Mixboard**, an experimental platform currently available in public beta in the United States. Designed to help users create moodboards and explore design ideas, Mixboard is part of Google’s Google Labs initiative and leverages the powerful Gemini 2.5 Flash AI model for enhanced functionality.

Mixboard offers a simple and intuitive interface that enables users to start projects using pre-populated board templates or text prompts. The tool is similar to platforms like FigJam and Adobe’s Firefly Boards, marking Google’s interesting foray into design-based applications.

Users can easily add their own images or generate visuals by providing descriptions such as “show me cups, bowls, and plates in Memphis style” or “plan an autumn party in my living room.” This versatility makes Mixboard suitable for various purposes, from home decoration ideas and event planning to creating collections of entertaining images.

One of Mixboard’s standout features is the ability to edit boards using natural language prompts. Users can adjust or combine images simply by describing their desired changes. Additionally, uploaded images can serve as references to generate new visuals. With one-click options, users can quickly regenerate images or create similar designs, streamlining the creative process.

Google’s Mixboard represents an exciting step forward in integrating AI with creative workflows, offering a fresh way to visualize and bring ideas to life.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/google-launches-ai-tool-mixboard-for-creating-moodboards/story