AI will diversify human thinking, not replace it: Tata Communications study

A new study by Tata Communications on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace finds that AI will diversify human thinking, rather than replace it. Carried out in collaboration with UC Berkeley professor Ken Goldberg, the study is based on inputs from 120 global business leaders like Tony Blair, Executive Chair of the Institute of Global Change and former UK Prime Minister, who said that "AI will allow us to do what it is that we are uniquely meant to do: focus on high-level thinking, strategy, and paving the way for innovation."

According to the study, 90% leaders agreed that cognitive diversity is important for management and 93% believe AI will enhance decision making. Three out of four expect AI to create new roles for their employees.

Ken Goldberg, UC Berkeley professor and co-author of the report, said “The prevalent narrative around AI has focussed on a ‘Singularity’ – a hypothetical time when artificial intelligence will surpass humans. But there is a growing interest in ‘Multiplicity’, where AI helps groups of machines and humans collaborate to innovate and solve problems. This survey of leading executives reveals that Multiplicity, the positive and inclusive vision of AI, is gaining traction.”

The study further found that AI could enhance cognitive diversity within groups, which could yield better outputs, while helping employees become more nimble and agile.

Co-author Vinod Kumar, CEO and Managing Director at Tata Communications, said, “AI is now being viewed as a new category of intelligence that can complement existing categories of emotional, social, spatial, and creative intelligence. What is transformational about Multiplicity is that it can enhance cognitive diversity, combining categories of intelligence in new ways to benefit all workers and businesses.”

-GoITWay

Google Finally Added a Dark Mode to YouTube on Android

Android 9 Pie  has been out for a month, and while the addition of things like digital wellness controls and handy app actions have made Google’s mobile OS friendlier to use, I can’t help but think one of Android 9's most glaring omissions is the lack of an OS-wide dark mode.

Dark mode UIs help prevent you from being blinded when checking your phone at night, and if you have a phone with an AMOLED screen, they may even help extend the device’s battery life. That’s why a lot of big third-party apps like Twitter, Twitch, and Discord come with dark-themed UIs, with even a handful of Google-made apps like Google Weather offering a blacked-out interface.

But in a strange turn of events, when Google decided to add a dark theme to YouTube, desktop YouTube got it first, with YouTube for iOS following not far behind. And then for months, there was nothing.

Now, all of a sudden, it seems YouTube for Android has finally gotten the call in version 13.35.51 with a dark theme toggle that should help save your eyes at night.

Unfortunately, YouTube’s dark theme on Android uses a very dark grey background instead of pure black, which would be the best option for extending battery life, because when you display pure black on AMOLED screens, the device can literally turn those pixels off to save power.

On the bright side, the dark theme setting is super easy to turn on. All you have to do is tap your profile icon in the top right, select the “Settings” option, and then simply tap the toggle to enable YouTube’s dark theme. The only bit of trouble I had with the whole process was getting the dark theme toggle to actually show up, which was quickly fixed by force closing YouTube a few times after I updated the app.

But the real hope, now that YouTube finally has a dark mode across the board, is that Google starts to do this for other major apps or even Android itself. After all, Windows 10 has a dark mode, the beta version macOS Mojave has a dark mode. It’s time for Android to get with the program.

GOITWAY.

Windows users, Microsoft is bringing some good news in October

With too many surprises and launches occurring at IFA 2018 in Berlin, Germany, Microsoft too caught the audience by surprise by officially announcing that the previously codenamed Redstone 5 is now the “Windows 10 October Update”. Notably, it is the name of its next major update for Windows 10. It has been publicly testing the update through its Windows Insider program.

The update will be rolled out in October this year and will introduce a number of new features inter alia new cloud clipboard to sync across machines, an updated snipping tool. There will also be a new dark File Explorer, performance information in the Xbox Game bar and an improved version of Microsoft Edge, additionally.
Also, the Windows 10 users will be able to see previews on search. This means that the users will get quick answers to their questions by simply jumping between two or more search results.
With the update, one will be able to name tile folders on Windows 10 devices. The option to name the folder will appear once the folder with numerous tiles is expanded.

The company, however, has not revealed exact date for the roll out in October. But it is expected to release new features as the date comes near by. Presently, the tech firm Microsoft is working on next Windows 10 update which is codenamed as ‘19H1’ and is likely to arrive in April 2019.
To recall, Microsoft has added new features to its Notepad app for windows. During the update, the tech giant announced ‘Fast Sign-in’, a faster way to sign into shared PCs and the advanced biometric sign-in feature for Windows 10.

-GoITWay

This state will adopt Alibaba's cloud-computing frameworks

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Alibaba Cloud to adopt cloud computing frameworks within the government model.
The MoU envisages leveraging Alibaba's Cloud and Smart City technologies for sustainable farming, integrated traffic management, smart city management, small and medium enterprises and skill development programmes.

The MoU was signed by APEDB Chief Executive Officer J. Krishna Kishore and Vivek Gupta, Director - Business Development, Alibaba Cloud India, in the presence of Dr. Alex Li, General Manager, Alibaba Cloud India, and N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
The APEDB promotes sustainable economic growth through trade, investments, partnerships and collaborations.
Alibaba Cloud, the cloud-computing arm of Alibaba Group, provides cloud-computing services to businesses of all sizes globally.
According to a statement, this MoU is a result of ongoing discussion that took place at World Economic Forum 2018, Davos between Simon Hu, Senior Vice President of Alibaba Group and President of Alibaba Cloud, and the Chief Minister.

The APEDB and Alibaba Cloud also recently concluded a multi-stakeholder workshop between Alibaba Cloud and key government departments.
"The government is ensuring that SMEs in Andhra Pradesh are integrated with global value chains. This MoU with Alibaba Cloud helps to foster greater economic growth through tech-empowered SMEs," said Kishore.
The Alibaba Cloud team also visited the state's Real Time Governance Command Control Center at the Secretariat. Li noted that Andhra Pradesh is a pioneer in adopting and implementing latest technologies in its governance model.

"We are pleased to collaborate with a progressive state such as Andhra Pradesh and we are confident to leverage the Alibaba Cloud's ET City Brain Solution for furthering the state's digital transformation and deploying advanced ICT technologies," he said.
The group is likely to extend co-operation in real-time governance functions such as traffic management, cyber surveillance, disaster management and sustainable farming, among others.
Vivek Gupta, Director - Business Development, Alibaba Cloud India, said that they would leverage Alibaba Cloud's platform to help facilitate Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state to establish online presence, provide global market access and enable the businesses to double their incomes.

-GoITWay

Google Maps’ new feature will simplify your ‘Commute’

Google Maps looking forward to introduce a new feature going forward and may replace the Driving and Transit tabs with a new tab called 'Commute'. On tapping the 'Commute' option, Google Maps will prompt users with two choices--'To work' and 'To home', according to a report by Android Police. The user interface of Google Maps would reportedly show a suggested route for the respective chosen option whether 'To home' or 'To work'. To opt for alternative routes, Google Maps will provide an option at the bottom of Maps interface from where users can choose.

The commute options can be found under the Google Maps menu along with satellite image, terrain and other options. However, note that this feature is limited and is available for select users only. Google is expected to roll out the 'Commute' feature to the public going forward.
Google had recently today announced new features for Google Maps app and Maps Go app in India as it marked the tenth anniversary for Google Maps in the country. Google Maps vice president Gayathri Rajan claimed that India is now the fastest growing country for Google Maps. Google has teamed up with Red Bus to offer inter-city bus schedules on the native Google Maps app. Users will now get information about the bus they have booked or about to book on RedBus on Google Maps itself.

Also, Google has also upgraded its Maps Go app with turn-by-turn navigation and a new home screen with shortcuts for public transport. Google Maps Go will also provide alerts about the progress of the journey and about the destination in both Hindi and English. With these features, the lighter Maps Go version will become more useful for low-end Android phone users and Google claims to offer a good experience on slower 2G internet speeds as well.

-GoITWay