General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - December 2018

Dec 2018

May 17, 2024

NASA Appoints New Chief for Artificial Intelligence

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established on July 29, 1958, with the signing of the National Aeronautics and Space Act, and it began operations on October 1, 1958. NASA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, which serves as its operational centre for space missions and research. In May 2024, NASA appointed David Salvagnini as its first Chief Artificial Intelligence (AI) Officer, expanding his role from Chief Data Officer. Bill Nelson, NASA's chief, emphasized Salvagnini's leadership in ensuring responsible AI usage for the benefit of humanity. Salvagnini will oversee AI implementation strategy, promote innovation, and manage AI tools and training.
Salvagnini joined NASA in June 2023 after over 20 years of leadership in technology for the intelligence community. Before NASA, he was the chief architect and director of a group at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

May 16, 2024

Soket AI Labs Launches Pragna-1B AI model in Collaboration with Google Cloud

Indian Artificial Intelligence (AI) research firm Soket AI Labs, in collaboration with Google Cloud services, announced the launch of an open-source multilingual foundation model, 'Pragna-1B'.
The model will provide AI services in Indian vernacular languages including Hindi, English, Bengali, and Gujarati.
Tailored specifically for vernacular languages, Pragna-1B offers balanced language representation and enables faster and more efficient tokenization suited for organisations seeking optimised operations and enhanced functionality.

TCS Unveils Global AI Centre of Excellence in France

In a significant move, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) announced the creation of a Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre of Excellence in the French capital, Paris. The announcement was made during the prestigious "Choose France Summit" hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, underscoring TCS's commitment to the French market and the global AI landscape.
The new AI centre will be based in the upcoming TCS PacePort in the La Défense area of Paris, set to be inaugurated in June 2024. This state-of-the-art facility will become the seventh addition to TCS' global Pace network, joining the ranks of innovation hubs in cities like Amsterdam, London, New York, Pittsburgh, Toronto, and Tokyo.
The TCS AI Centre of Excellence in Paris will leverage the company's global ecosystem of startups, academia, and research organizations to bring the best of global AI capabilities to French companies. This collaborative approach aims to tap into France's deep talent pool in design and engineering, fostering the development of advanced human-centric AI technologies.

May 15, 2024

Google Launches AI-Powered Scam Protection at I/O 2024

At the Google I/O 2024 developer conference, Google showed off a new and useful tool that will help protect Android users from phone scams. This feature, which is powered by AI, is meant to make things safer by finding and warning users of possible scams over the phone.
Gemini Nano: Enhancing Call Security
Gemini Nano is the core of this new feature. It is a small version of Google's advanced language model that was made just for Android devices. Gemini Nano works offline and listens to call conversations in real-time, looking for trends and words that are often used in scam conversations. When it finds possible scams, it warns users right away, giving them time to end dangerous calls.

NASA and JAXA Forge Ahead with XRISM Despite Instrument Glitch

NASA and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) decided to operate an instrument on the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) satellite as-is for at least the next year and a half, despite encountering an issue affecting one of its instruments. This decision showcases the agencies' determination to push forward with this groundbreaking X-ray astronomy mission.
Launched in September 2023, XRISM carries two instruments developed in collaboration with NASA, designed to conduct cutting-edge X-ray astronomy observations. Despite the challenges posed by the instrument issue, the spacecraft has commenced its prime science mission, underscoring the resilience of this international collaboration.

May 14, 2024

NASA Announces Plans to Build First Railway System on Moon

As the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) readies to return astronauts to the moon, it has announced its plans to build a levitating robot train on the lunar surface. In a blog post, the American space agency provided details about the project called "Flexible Levitation on a Track (FLOAT)", which aims to provide a "robotic transport system" to support future lunar activities of astronauts visiting the moon. The transport system will be critical to the daily operation of a sustainable lunar base in the 2030s.

Infosys Receives ISO 42001:2023 Certification for Responsible AI Management

Infosys, a global leader in digital services and consulting, was awarded the ISO 42001:2023 certification by TUV India, for its Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS). This certification highlights Infosys' commitment to implementing responsible AI practices and adhering to regulatory standards.
Infosys' AIMS framework, part of the Topaz Responsible AI Suite, focuses on fostering responsible AI practices. The suite includes 10+ offerings built around the Scan, Shield, and Steer framework, aimed at monitoring and protecting AI models and systems.
The certification underscores Infosys' dedication to enhancing accountability and mitigating risks associated with AI initiatives. By adhering to global standards, Infosys aims to embed strong AI management practices across its diverse pursuits, including client projects, internal adoption, and product development.
TUV India commended Infosys for setting a new benchmark in AI innovation and emphasizes Infosys' proactive approach in implementing robust systems. This certification reflects Infosys' commitment to excellence in AI management and ethical deployment of AI solutions.

May 11, 2024

DoT Organises Telecom Design Collaboration Sprint to Drive Deep-tech Innovation in Telecom Sector...

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) organised the first-of-its-kind Telecom Design Collaboration Sprint to foster deep-tech innovation among start-ups and academic institutions.
Through this initiative, DoT aims to drive the growth of the digital ecosystem by facilitating collaboration and innovation among a range of stakeholders. The event, which was held in Bangalore, brought together 15 leading start-ups, MSMEs, and academic institutions including IIT Madras, C-DOT, and IIT Delhi.

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