Latest news with #English-only
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ring cameras and doorbells now use AI to provide specific descriptions of motion activity
Amazon-owned Ring announced on Wednesday that it's introducing a new AI-powered feature to its doorbells and cameras, which offers users specific text descriptions of current motion activity. Now, when users receive real-time notifications about happenings at their property, the updates will be more descriptive. For instance, 'A person is walking up the steps with a black dog,' or 'Two individuals are looking into a white car parked in the driveway.' The feature aims to improve upon the vague notifications that were previously available. Now, users will be able to know exactly what is happening and can quickly decide whether it requires immediate attention. It should be noted that the AI only describes the first few seconds of the motion-activated video clip. The feature is being rolled out today as an English-only beta for Ring Home Premium subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. Users can choose to disable the feature by going to settings in the Ring app. According to a blog post by Jamie Siminoff, Ring's founder and now Amazon's VP of home security, the company plans to introduce additional AI features. One of these combines several motion events happening in and around a home into a single alert. Ring also intends to implement a 'custom anomaly alert' that allows users to define what constitutes an anomaly for their property, enabling the camera to notify them when such an event occurs. Additionally, Siminoff mentioned that Ring will 'learn your routine,' so it can inform users when something is out of the ordinary. This may be unsettling for some users, especially considering Ring's past privacy concerns. 'We are just starting to scratch the surface of AI. I feel like we are back to the very early days of Ring again—I see unlimited potential for new experiences we can invent for our neighbors,' Siminoff wrote. This announcement follows the recent launch of Ring's AI-powered search feature, which enables users to locate specific moments within video recordings.
Montreal Gazette
17-06-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Quebec sees sharp rise in federal language complaints amid Canada-wide surge
By Canadians aren't staying quiet about language rights. Across the country, there were 1,163 language complaints, compared to 847 during the previous period — a 37 per cent jump, according to the 2024-25 annual report of the Commissioner of Official Languages, published Tuesday. Despite the surge, the total number of complaints remains below the 10-year average. And it's far lower than the 5,409 complaints filed in 2021-22, when thousands of Canadians lodged formal grievances about an English-only speech in Montreal by Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau. The number of federal language complaints filed in Quebec jumped by 21 per cent over the past year, newly released figures show — part of a nationwide increase. Quebecers filed 211 complaints in 2024-25, up from 175 the previous year, the report said. Seventy per cent of the Quebec complaints were about language used in public services, while issues related to language of work came in second at 27 per cent. The complaints allege that federal institutions infringed on rights regarding English or French. Canadians can ask the commissioner to investigate federal government institutions, airport authorities, Crown corporations such as Via Rail and some private companies, including Air Canada and Canadian National Railway. Raymond Théberge, the Commissioner of Official Languages, is scheduled to discuss the figures at a news conference on Tuesday. This story will be updated.
NDTV
17-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Bengaluru Shop Owner Claims "Torture" By Man Over Signboard In English
Bengaluru: A new incident highlighting the ongoing language row in Karnataka has come to light, where an elderly man clashed with a shop owner over the compliance of the state government's rules for a commercial signboard. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media. In the 44-second clip, the woman, a shop owner, accused an elderly man of "torture" over an English-only commercial signboard. The man confronted her, demanding to change the signboard to comply with Kannada language rules. While the woman insisted that a text in Kannada is already written on the board, the man argued that the Kannada text must cover at least 60 per cent of it. He was then seen filming the signboard, saying that he would file a complaint. The woman, in the video, questioned the elderly man over his request, asking him who he was to tell her about the signboard rules. To this, he said he is a "public citizen from Karnataka". The woman then argued, "This is India". The Kannada Language Comprehensive Development (Amendment) Act, 2024 requires that 60 per cent of all commercial, industrial, institutional, and public signboards in Karnataka be in Kannada. The Kannada text must occupy the upper half of the board, with the remaining 40 per cent allowed in any other language.
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
'Difficult but helpless': Uber responds on Karnataka government's ban on bike taxis
Ride-hailing giant Uber has officially suspended its bike taxi operations across Karnataka starting June 16, following a directive from the Karnataka High Court that upheld the state government's decision to ban such services until a regulatory framework is in place. In a statement, Uber said the decision to halt the service was difficult but necessary, expressing concern over the wide-ranging impact on both commuters and drivers. "This will negatively impact the many thousands of riders who rely on bike taxis for their daily mobility needs, as well as the many thousands of drivers who depend on the service for their livelihood,' the company stated. Also Read - Karnataka BJP to hold state-wide protest on June 17 over Bengaluru stampede, demands resignations of CM and Deputy CM Uber's move follows a broader crackdown by the Karnataka government on unregulated bike taxi services. Aggregators had been offering low-cost two-wheeler rides without formal approval under the Motor Vehicles Act, prompting the state transport department to clamp down on operations citing safety, insurance, and licensing issues. Uber said it remains committed to working with the state government to develop a robust and progressive policy for bike taxi services. 'We will continue engaging with the Government of Karnataka to help shape a progressive policy framework that enables safe, accessible, and affordable mobility options for everyone,' the company added. Also Read - 'This is Kannada land': Bengaluru senior confronts shop owner over English-only signboard. Video The suspension comes amid growing tension between tech-driven transport aggregators and regulatory authorities. While companies like Uber and Rapido have consistently argued that bike taxis offer an affordable last-mile connectivity solution in congested cities like Bengaluru, state officials have maintained that unregulated services pose risks to passengers and violate transport norms. Commuters, especially in urban areas like Bengaluru, are expected to feel the pinch, as bike taxis have been a preferred option for beating traffic and reaching destinations quickly and cheaply. Many drivers, too, now face uncertainty, with their primary source of income temporarily taken away.
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
'You're a parcel now': Rapido's workaround sparks laughter online after Karnataka bans bike taxis
With the Karnataka government's ban on bike taxi services taking effect from June 16, app-based aggregators like Uber and Rapido have withdrawn the option to book two-wheeler rides on their platforms. However, the ban appears to have prompted a clever workaround. On Sunday, users noticed a new feature popping up on the Rapido and Uber apps—services labelled "Bike Parcel" or "Moto Courier"—seemingly a delivery service, but one that has sparked considerable chatter online. Also Read - 'This is Kannada land': Bengaluru senior confronts shop owner over English-only signboard. Video Several social media users speculated that the move was a creative loophole to continue bike taxi operations under a different name. One user shared a screenshot of the app with the caption, 'Since Karnataka HC has banned bike taxis, Rapido is offering you to become a parcel and get delivered.' Another joked, 'Karnataka HC: bans bike taxis. Rapido: Fine. You're not a passenger, you're a parcel now. Me: Sitting sideways like a courier bag—'Bhaiya, handle with care likhna mat bhoolna.'" The internet was quick to respond with a mix of humour and admiration for the ingenuity of these services. One tweet read, 'Rapido bikers rocked, government shocked,' while another joked, 'Imagine texting your boss, 'I'm on the way sir, here's your courier tracking number.'' Some even called on others to find more "creative loopholes" to bring bike taxis back unofficially. Despite the light-hearted commentary online, the ban is a serious policy move. The Karnataka High Court recently upheld the state government's directive to suspend bike taxi services until comprehensive regulations are in place to govern their operation. Also Read - Bengaluru Rapido driver slaps woman after argument in Jayanagar, caught on camera In an official statement, Rapido said: 'While we deeply believe in the value bike taxis bring to daily commuters, we respect the law and will fully abide by the directive. We remain committed to the communities we serve and hopeful for a future where convenient, affordable mobility is accessible to all.'
