Baidu in China working on AI that will let humans understand animals
When asked about when this product might be ready, a Baidu spokesperson said, 'There has been a lot of interest in the filing of our patent application. Currently, it is still in the research phase.'advertisementBaidu is not the only one working on this idea. Around the world, other scientists are also trying to use AI to study how animals communicate. For example, Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative) is studying how sperm whales talk to each other using sounds. Another group called the Earth Species Project is also working to decode animal communication using technology. That project is supported by big names, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.After news of Baidu's new animal translation patent came out, many folks on Chinese social media started talking. Some were excited, while others weren't so sure about the whole idea. A Weibo user wrote, 'While it sounds impressive, we'll need to see how it performs in real-world applications.'
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Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
India among Bosch's most dynamic growth markets; focus remains on cost-effective investments: Stefan Hartung
Edited excerpts: Q1. Bosch has announced a €6 billion target for software and AI revenues by early 2030. What are the top AI-powered products or platforms that will help achieve this, and what's the timeline for their mass adoption? A: There are so many different software initiatives we have. In the future, there will be virtually no product that is software-free. Everything will include advanced software. The challenge is that pure software businesses are difficult because many car platforms today can't run these kinds of software—but that's changing. OEMs are now adopting software-defined vehicle strategies. One of our key offerings is a Vehicle Motion Management software package. It integrates damping, braking, steering, and linear acceleration to offer a holistic driving feel. You can adjust the car for sportiness, comfort, or safety—like an anti-seasickness mode for children or a safe mode for younger drivers. These are the kinds of software-driven features we expect to see more of going forward. Q2. Bosch recently announced a €250 million fund for AI and energy startups. Is this about building in-house AI strength or a broader acquisition strategy? A: We love collaborating with startups. Sometimes, we do acquire them—but that's rare. What's more important is working with them and investing in ones we find interesting. They bring a different culture and expertise. In India too, there's a vibrant startup scene and some young people prefer startups over big companies like Google. If we buy these startups, the original people may leave. So, we focus on collaboration, and it's a lot of fun. We have an initiative called Open BOSCH, where we give them business and help with sales, which is a big challenge for startups. Q3. Can you share some examples of startups Bosch is working with? A: I've seen many investments, but I don't want to name a specific one. There are many—also in India. We work with Chinese, Singaporean, American, and European startups. We're currently operating our fifth fund — and it's going well. There is an independent investment team handling this fund that takes its own decisions. Q4. Has Bosch been late to the automotive AI party or are you right on time? A: Actually, we started very early, aiming straight for full autonomous driving. But we realised it's an expensive business—you need fleets and billions in investment. So we reset our focus to assisted driving. At the same time, AI technologies like language models and sensor fusion emerged, giving us powerful new tools. Meanwhile, China adopted Level 2 ADAS at scale, and we stayed active in that market. Now, we're seeing our strategy pay off. In India, full autonomy is challenging due to road conditions, but assisted driving will be helpful. Q5. What made mass adoption of ADAS systems possible in China? A: I would say three factors--Generative AI and fusion tech changed everything and Chinese consumers quickly adapted to smart features and screen-based interfaces. Moreover, China's infrastructure is excellent—making it ideal for automotive innovation. We're now seeing similar trends in India. Tata, Mahindra, and others are introducing smarter vehicles. People are spending more, and this will lead to wider adoption of ESP systems and assisted driving modes. Q6. Given India's cost-sensitive market, how will advanced driving features be adopted by the mass market? A: It has to be mass market—otherwise it won't work. If it remains a luxury, it won't scale. The goal is to provide affordable and valuable features. Yes, you need extra sensors and computing, so there's a cost. But by integrating systems, like using the infotainment processor for ADAS too, we can reduce cost. It's all about balancing functionality and price. Q7. Bosch has strong investments in China. How do you manage geopolitical tensions and regulatory restrictions related to AI and data sharing? A: We operate independently across regions. We support global collaboration, but regulations sometimes don't allow cross-border data use. So, we have separate, capable teams in India, China, Europe, and the US. India has a huge, talented software team, including a dedicated AI unit in Bengaluru. They are among our best. Q8. What percentage of Bosch's global AI work is being driven out of India? A: I can't give a specific percentage, but we have very large teams in India—over 20,000 software professionals. Many global algorithms and platforms are developed by these teams, who are also deeply integrated with Germany and US operations. They're highly skilled in AI development, tooling, and coding automation, and they even work on software beyond automotive—like medical and business applications. Q9. Do you have any new high-tech or AI-focused manufacturing investments plans for India? A: Yes. India is evolving in electric powertrains and software applications. Our Bengaluru campus has shifted from manufacturing to software and system engineering. India is now one of our most dynamic growth markets, and we're pushing investments here, while remaining frugal and focused on volume-driven growth. Q10. Bosch recently had layoffs. Were they related to AI transformation? A: No, the layoffs were more about structural shifts in powertrain manufacturing. The global market is plateauing around 90 million cars per year, and production has shifted from Europe to China. Also, electric powertrains need 10 times fewer hours than diesel engines. Even though software needs more people, AI tools improve efficiency. So, the need for adjustment is ongoing and will continue. Q11. How is Bosch's business outlook for 2025? A: It's a very challenging year. India is doing well. The US began strong but faces uncertainty. Europe is still finding its way. The global car market is stagnating, and consumer and construction sectors are weak. The year is not over, but every sector is facing challenges. Q12. What is your perspective on the rare earths supply issue? A: It must be politically resolved. Rare earths are essential and not replaceable. Everyone needs them. It's a balancing act between regulation and demand, and we hope it gets solved in the coming months.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Foxconn feels the China squeeze in India
Synopsis Fokskon is recalling Chinese engineers from its Indian iPhone plants. This move may affect operations. Indian electronics firms worry about machinery access. China's potential equipment curbs could hinder expansion plans. Smaller companies may face challenges due to reliance on Chinese equipment. The industry hopes for continued government support amid geopolitical tensions. Some experts believe the impact will be minimal.
Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
Spies & shields: Telcos must get battle-ready soon
Last September, US officials unearthed Salt Typhoon, a Chinese group that had quietly broken into routers and switches at major telcos including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, snooping into calls and exfiltrating sensitive data of millions of users. Given the rising tide of attacks on telecom and computer networks worldwide, India is taking no chances. The government is set to tag customer databases, routing systems, customer relationship management systems, submarine cable line equipment, and satellite services tools as critical telecom infrastructure or CTI, two people aware of the plans said. This would subject them to greater disclosures and compel them to prepare better as nation states put their weight behind cyber warfare. Read more: Backhaul spectrum clash: Telcos face off against tech giants over India's internet backbone 'CTI was introduced under the Telecom Act, 2023, but what constitutes CTI is undefined. The government would first notify a few elements from the mobile services, satellites, submarine cable infrastructure, and internet services as CTI. A committee will review the same every six months based on the feedback," one of the two officials said on the condition of anonymity. Guards up The goal of labelling CTI is to reduce risks of data leaks, improve response to cyber threats, and build greater trust in digital services. Once notified, telcos must declare their network architecture, details of vulnerability, threat or risk analysis and cyber crisis management plan. They will also have to share security audits and compliance reports under CTI Rules, 2024. Telcos must also keep records of where the equipment has come from, and share with the government when requested. Queries emailed to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents private telecom operators, remained unanswered. 'It is critical to notify these elements to start compliance. Without a clear notification, entities will not be able to scope their risk assessments or allocate budgets for testing and certification," said Harsh Walia, partner at Khaitan & Co. 'Such regulatory clarity will prevent the need for multiple audits (and associated costs) and avoid any instance of inadvertent non‑compliance," Walia said. Read more: India's satcom vs telecom fight just refuses to die He added that there have been existing requirements such as network inspections, cybersecurity obligations, and equipment certification standards but those were implemented without a formally defined or statutorily recognized category of CTI. Example Mobile services (2G, 3G and 4G) have an element called Home Location Register (HLR), a database of subscribers like their phone number, location, and services. It will be part of CTI, the first official said. Telcos will have share its details with the government, the first official explained. In modern networks such as 5G, unified data management (UDM) manages subscriber records and will be notified CTI. Similarly, in satellite services, the system and application of the Operations and Management Control (OMC) that keeps track of and controls the satellite network's performance and health has been identified to be notified as CTI to ensure secure and reliable operations, the official said, domain name servers and corresponding IP addresses are also being tagged as CTI. CERT-In twin 'A new security audit portal will be soon notified for telecom operators to declare key details of the notified CTI," the second official said, adding that a Telecom Computer Security Incident Response Team (TCSIRT) framework will also be implemented for telecom cyber security incidence reporting and analysis. Just like CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) is the national- cyber security agency under the ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY), TCSIRT deals with threats related to telecom networks, infrastructure, and service providers. The body was notified by the government in 2023. 'A space has been identified in National Communication Academy (NCA) Ghaziabad to set up TCSIRT. Hardware and tools will soon be procured for security incidence analysis and staff for the same will also be posted exclusively," the second official added. Pressing need 'There is a need to identify CTI, especially the programmable parts or software that can be controlled from other geographies. The same should be under control of Indian companies, and soon, there should be a plan to replace key critical equipment with the domestic ones," said Rakesh Bhatnagar, director general of VoICE (Voice of Indian Commtech Enterprises), which counts local telecom companies such as Tejas Networks, HFCL and STL as members. Read more: Push for faster WiFi for next gen gadgets faces spectrum interference concerns In November 2024, DoT notified the Critical Telecommunication Infrastructure Rules, 2024 under the Telecom Act. As per the rules, each telecom entity should comply with the requirements relating to filing details about the CTI through the portal and designate a chief telecommunication security officer (CTSO) responsible for all security and related obligations. Compliance The operators will also have to ensure that all CTI hardware and software undergo mandatory testing by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre, National Centre for Communication Security and submit the reports to the government. Further, the government will also have to carry out periodic security audits, comply with incident response procedures and prepare detailed compliance reports, comply with government orders and provide access to authorized government personnel to inspect the hardware, software and data related to the CTI. On the compliance burden on telecom operators, Walia of Khaitan & Co said, 'the CTI Rules definitely enhance the compliance obligations and resultantly, increase compliance burden. This entails mapping complex infrastructure to determine what qualifies as CTI, which is especially challenging for pan‑India operators with thousands of cell‑sites and switching centres." Due to the certification requirements, there might be deployment delays and potential revenue impact for new services. Smaller service providers may struggle with the capital expenditure and operating expenditure impact due to the requirements stemming from the CTI Rules, he added.
