
Google's AI Mode now available to all Indian users without Labs access
has officially launched its
AI Mode
feature to all users in India, removing the need for Labs enrollment and making the advanced
AI search experience
available directly in
Google Search
and the Google app. The rollout began today and will continue over the coming days, with the feature accessible in English through a new dedicated tab in the search interface.
The expansion follows initial Labs experiment launched in June 2024. Google says users have embraced AI Mode's ability to handle complex, multi-layered questions that would traditionally require multiple searches. The feature, powered by a custom version of
Gemini 2.5
, allows users to ask queries 2-3 times longer than typical searches, particularly for exploratory questions and complex tasks like product comparisons, trip planning, and detailed how-to guides.
Advanced AI search experience brings voice, visual, and text capabilities to Indian users
AI Mode's
multimodal capabilities
enable users to search using text, voice, or images. The integration of
Google Lens
allows users to photograph objects and receive comprehensive responses with step-by-step instructions. The system employs a "query fan-out technique" that breaks complex questions into subtopics and processes multiple queries simultaneously, enabling deeper web exploration.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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The advanced reasoning system combines with Google's information systems, including the Knowledge Graph, real-time sources, and shopping data for billions of products. This integration provides users with fresh, relevant content while maintaining links to original web sources.
Google reports that
AI Overviews
, the foundation for AI Mode, now serves over 1.5 billion users monthly and has driven a 10% increase in usage for supported query types in major markets. The company views AI Mode as an evolution of this success, expanding capabilities with more sophisticated reasoning and multimodal functionality.
The feature addresses India's preference for voice and visual searches, with Google noting that more users employ Google Lens in India than anywhere else globally. All features from the Labs version remain available, including follow-up questions for deeper exploration.
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Time of India
4 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trade unions, farmer bodies to go on general strike on Wed; may disrupt banking, other services
Banking, postal and other services are likely to face disruption on Wednesday as more than 25 crore workers affiliated with central and sectoral trade unions have announced to go on strike across the country to protest against new labour codes and privatisation, and press for demands such as minimum wage of Rs 26,000 and old pension scheme, according to union leaders. The general strike is expected to disrupt services in sectors like banking, insurance, postal, coal mining, highway and construction, a trade union official said. The Central Trade Unions such as CITU, INTUC and AITUC are pressing for doing away with the four labour codes, contractualisation, and privatisation of PSUs, increasing minimum wages to Rs 26,000 per month, as well as the demands of farmer organisations for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops based on Swaminathan Commission's formula of C2 plus 50 per cent and loan waiver. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo Sectoral organisations such as the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and NREGA Sangharsh Morcha have extended their support to the nationwide strike. RSS-aligned Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), however, will not participate in the general strike, calling it a politically-motivated protest. Live Events A R Sindhu, National Secretary of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) said around 25 crore workers, including workers in organised and unorganised sectors, are likely to take part in the general strike. "Protests will be held in industrial areas, services like banking, postal services, and public sector companies are likely to be closed," Sindhu told PTI. "Not all unorganised sector workers may be able to join the protest, but they will also be mobilised, and roadblocks and 'rail roko' (stopping railways) would also be done," she said. Sindhu said workers in the country are facing a grave situation. "In Delhi, how many workers earn over Rs 10,000 in a month? Even in the public sector, over 70 per cent of employees are contractual," she said. "Casualisation and unemployment are high. Farming is not viable anymore, so the poor people are forced to come to the cities to work. Wages have also been falling in real terms," she said. "Workers are not being criminalised for organising... Right to unionise is the basis of democracy," she said. She also called the strike another step forward in consolidating the emerging unity of workers and farmers. "We had joint action during the Farmers' Protests as well, this will be further consolidation of workers and farmers for future action," she said. Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which had led the 2020-21 farmers' protests, will hold protest rallies at the tehsil level across India on July 9 independently as well as in coordination with the trade unions and agricultural workers unions. SKM has urged farmers to intensify the struggle on demands, including enacting a law for MSP at C2 plus 50 per cent, with guaranteed procurement for all crops, comprehensive loan waiver to free the peasantry from the debt trap and end rampant peasant suicides across India, withdrawal of National Policy Framework on Agriculture Marketing. The SKM has also opposed bilateral and free trade agreements hurting agriculture, industry and services, privatisation of electricity, and "indiscriminate acquisition of land violating the Land Acquisition Act 2013. The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha has called for MGNREGA workers across the length and breadth of the country to participate in the general strike. Their demands include wages of Rs. 800 per day, resumption of MGNREGA in West Bengal, scrapping NMMS and ABPS, among other things. This is the 22nd General Strike since the advent of neo-liberal policies in India in 1991, as per the unions. The general strike was initially called for May 20 but was rescheduled following the Pahalgam terror strike and subsequent Operation Sindoor. The ten trade unions are INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC. A forum of 10 trade unions has given a 17-point charter of demand. It includes withdrawal of fixed-term employment and scrapping of Agnipath scheme, 8-hour workday, restoration of non-contributory Old Pension Scheme and a minimum monthly penion of Rs 9,000 for the EPFO subscribers, among others. The forum has alleged that the economic policies are resulting into more unemployment, rising prices of essential commodities, depression in wages, cut in social sector spending in education, health, basic civic amenities, and all these are leading to more inequalities and miseries for poor, people of lower income group as well as the middle class. The four labour codes that have been passed by the Parliament are meant to suppress and cripple the trade union movement, increase working hours, snatch workers' right to collective bargaining, right to strike, and decriminalise violation of labour laws by employers, the forum has stated. They also demand implementation of the recommendation of Indian Labour Conference to give worker status to scheme workers-Anganwadi, Asha and Midday meal, Asha Kiran etc and ESIC coverage to them. The charter also suggests that here is an urgent need to form a Climate Resilience Fund to cover the risks and damages caused due to extreme climate conditions including heat wave, floods, cyclones, unseasonal rains and so on. Besides, unions have demanded for immediate halt to the privatisation of Indian Railways, road transport, coal mines and other non-coal mines, Port and Dock, Defence, Electricity, Postal, Telecom, Banks and Insurance sector etc. PTI


Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
India's apparel, footwear exports to gain as US hikes tariffs on rival nations: Exporters
India's export sectors such as apparel and footwear are expected to gain a competitive edge in the US market following Washington's decision to impose higher tariffs on over a dozen countries, including Bangladesh and Thailand, exporters said. On Monday the Donald Trump administration announced a 25 per cent tariffs on Japan, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Tunisia; 30 per cent on South Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina; 32 per cent on Indonesia; 35 per cent on Bangladesh, Serbia; 36 per cent Cambodia, Thailand; and 40 per cent tariffs on Laos and Myanmar. These duties will come into effect from August 1. Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions and subtitles off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Baghdad: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo Bangladesh is the third biggest exporter of apparel (not knitted or crocheted) to the US with a market share of 13.15 per cent in 2024. India's exports to the US in this sector was USD 2.5 billion but it is not among the top three, according to an analysis by economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). Live Events In apparel knitted and crocheted, Cambodia with about 6 per cent share is ahead of India (5.09 per cent). "India faces stiff competition from Bangladesh and Vietnam in the US garment market. High duties on Bangladesh will help enhance competitiveness of Indian products in the US market," an exporter said. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President SC Ralhan said that sectors like leather and apparel may get competitive advantage from India's competitor countries. A Mumbai-based exporter said that the elevated duties on Thailand can lead to gains in exports of rubber and its articles. Thailand is the top exporter of rubber to the US with a share of 15.16 per cent while India is at fourth spot with 2.93 per cent share of US imports. "We will get greater advantage in the leather segment also," the export added.


Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
Bharat Bandh Strike Protest: Why banks, buses and post offices may not run as usual tomorrow
On Wednesday, India will see what might be one of its biggest general strikes in years. Over 25 crore workers plan to stop work across banks, insurance, post, coal, construction and public transport. They're not just making noise — they're making a point. The strike, called Bharat Bandh , comes from a coalition of 10 major trade unions and their allies. They're furious with what they call the government's 'anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate policies.' Amarjeet Kaur of the All India Trade Union Congress put it bluntly: 'More than 25 crore workers are expected to join. Farmers and rural workers will also support the protest.' Bharat Bandh Strike: Where you'll feel It Expect queues at banks, delayed cheques, and slower loan clearances. If you're waiting for post, that might take a bit longer too. Coal miners, steel workers, factory staff, highway builders — many are joining in. State buses could run late or stop altogether if drivers and conductors walk out. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Undo Harbhajan Singh Sidhu from Hind Mazdoor Sabha warned that banking, postal, coal mining, factories and state transport would feel the brunt. Bengaluru, India's tech capital, is likely to be hit hard. With its heavy public sector presence, services could stall in pockets of the city. Many companies are already telling staff to work from home if they can. Live Events Bharat Bandh Protest: Schools, offices and power The Karnataka government hasn't declared a holiday for schools or colleges. Most private offices will stay open, but lower attendance is likely if buses stay off roads. App-based cabs and city buses should run, but delays are possible. Power cuts aren't expected but small local disruptions could happen as 27 lakh electricity workers back the protest. Bharat Bandh Protest: What's pushing workers to strike So what's behind this? In short: new labour codes and a list of old grievances. The unions say they handed Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya a 17-point charter ages ago. They claim the response was silence. At the heart of the matter are four new labour codes that unions believe will weaken job protections, stretch working hours, make strikes harder, and cripple collective bargaining. They accuse the government of putting corporate interests first. The forum's statement sums it up: 'The government has abandoned the welfare state status of the country and is working in the interest of foreign and Indian corporates.' They're angry that India hasn't held its annual labour conference in a decade. They hate that retired staff are being rehired instead of young people, especially in the Railways, NMDC Ltd, steel, and education. With two-thirds of India under 35 and youth unemployment sky-high, that stings. They're also fuming about rising prices and falling social spending on basics like healthcare and education. Bharat Bandh: Farmers and rural workers add weight Backing them are the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and other farm unions. They'll drum up support in rural belts, saying the same economic policies are pushing up prices and gutting welfare schemes. What are the demands for the Bharat Bandh? Their demands aren't small. They want the four labour codes scrapped. They want permanent jobs, not casual contracts. They want better wages for MGNREGA workers and similar schemes in cities. They want more spending on public health and schools. And they want the government to fill vacant posts with new hires, not retirees. Bharat Bandh News: Past strikes and state pushback This isn't new. Similar strikes rattled India on 26 November 2020, 28-29 March 2022, and 16 February 2023. Each time, the demands have stayed the same: protect workers, stop privatisation, keep the public sector strong. Some states are trying to stop it. In Tamil Nadu, the chief secretary has warned government staff not to join in or face disciplinary action under conduct rules. Banks and post might run slow. Coal, factories and transport could stutter. Schools will likely open, but if transport stalls, classrooms may sit half empty. Power blackouts are unlikely but not impossible. The bigger takeaway? India's workers and farmers are sending a loud message. They feel ignored and they're using the only power they believe they have left — the power to stop work. If you're in a big city, plan your day with this in mind. If you're a commuter, check twice before stepping out. This is about jobs, wages and how the country treats the people who keep it running. Watch this space.