Latest news with #Popli
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Can AI offer the comfort of a therapist?
One evening, feeling overwhelmed, 24-year-old Delhi resident Nisha Popli typed, 'You're my psychiatrist now,' into ChatGPT. Since then, she's relied on the AI tool to process her thoughts and seek mental support. 'I started using it in late 2024, especially after I paused therapy due to costs. It's been a steady support for six months now,' says Popli. Similarly, a 30-year-old Mumbai lawyer, who uses ChatGPT for various tasks like checking recipes and drafting emails, turned to it for emotional support. 'The insights and help were surprisingly valuable. I chose ChatGPT because it's already a part of my routine.' With AI tools and apps available 24/7, many are turning to them for emotional support. 'More people are increasingly turning to AI tools for mental health support, tackling everything from general issues like dating and parenting to more specific concerns, such as sharing symptoms and seeking diagnoses,' says Dr Arti Shroff, a clinical psychologist. But what drives individuals to explore AI-generated solutions for mental health? WHY USERS ARE USING AI Therapy is expensive 'As someone who values independence, I found therapy financially difficult to sustain,' shares Popli, adding, 'That's when I turned to ChatGPT. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Illinois: Gov Will Cover Your Cost To Install Solar If You Live In These Zips SunValue Learn More Undo I needed a safe, judgment-free space to talk, vent, and process my thoughts. Surprisingly, this AI offered just that — with warmth, logic, and empathy. It felt like a quiet hand to hold.' People feel shy about in-person visits Dr Santosh Bangar, senior consultant psychiatrist, says, 'Many people often feel shy or hesitant about seeking in-person therapy. As a result, they turn to AI tools to express their feelings and sorrows, finding it easier to open up to chatbots. These tools are also useful in situations where accessing traditional therapy is difficult.' Nobody to talk to Kolkata-based Hena Ahmed, a user of the mental health app Headspace, says she started using it after experiencing loneliness. 'I've been using Headspace for about a month now. The AI tool in the app helps me with personalised suggestions on which mindfulness practices I should follow and which calming techniques can help me overcome my loneliness. I was feeling quite alone after undergoing surgery recently and extremely stressed while trying to manage everything. It was responsive and, to a certain extent, quite helpful,' she shares. Users see changes in themselves Mumbai-based 30-year-old corporate lawyer says, 'ChatGPT offers quick solutions and acts as a reliable sounding board for my concerns. I appreciate the voice feature for instant responses. It helps create mental health plans, provides scenarios, and suggests approaches for tackling challenges effectively.' 'My panic attacks have become rare, my overthinking has reduced, and emotionally, I feel more grounded. AI didn't fix me, but it walked with me through tough days—and that's healing in itself,' expresses Popli. CAN AI REPLACE A THERAPIST? Dr Arti expresses, 'AI cannot replace a therapist. Often, AI can lead to incorrect diagnoses since it lacks the ability to assess you in person. In-person interactions provide valuable non-verbal cues that help therapists understand a person's personality and traits.' Echoing similar thoughts, Dr Santosh Bangar, senior consultant psychiatrist, says, 'AI can support mental health by offering helpful tools, but it shouldn't replace a therapist. Chatbots can aid healing, but for serious issues like depression, anxiety, or panic attacks, professional guidance remains essential for safe and effective treatment.' DO CHATBOTS EXPERIENCE STRESS? Researchers found that AI chatbots like ChatGPT-4 can show signs of stress, or 'state anxiety', when responding to trauma-related prompts. Using a recognised psychological tool, they measured how emotionally charged language affects AI, raising ethical questions about its design, especially for use in mental health settings. In another development, researchers at Dartmouth College are working to legitimise the use of AI in mental health care through Therabot, a chatbot designed to provide safe and reliable therapy. Early trials show positive results, with further studies planned to compare its performance with traditional therapy, highlighting AI's growing potential to support mental wellbeing. ARE USERS CONCERNED ABOUT DATA PRIVACY? While some users are reluctant to check whether the data they share during chats is secure, others cautiously approach it. Ahmed says she hasn't considered privacy: 'I haven't looked into the data security part, though. Moving forward, I'd like to check the terms and policies related to it.' In contrast, another user, Nisha, shares: 'I don't share sensitive identity data, and I'm cautious. I'd love to see more transparency in how AI tools safeguard emotional data.' The Mumbai-based lawyer adds, 'Aside from ChatGPT, we share data across other platforms. Our data is already prevalent online, whether through social media or email, so it doesn't concern me significantly.' Experts say most people aren't fully aware of security risks. There's a gap between what users assume is private and what these tools do. Pratim Mukherjee, senior director of engineering at McAfee, explains, 'Many mental health AI apps collect more than what you type—they track patterns, tone, usage, and emotional responses. This data may not stay private. Depending on the terms, your chat history could help train future versions or be shared externally. These tools may feel personal, but they gather data.' Even when users feel anonymous, these tools collect data like IP addresses, device type, and usage patterns. They store messages and uploads, which, when combined, can reveal personal patterns. This data can be used to create profiles for targeted content, ads, or even scams Pratim Mukherjee, senior director of engineering, McAfee Tips for protecting privacy with AI tools/apps - Understand the data the app collects and how it's used - Look for a clear privacy policy, opt-out options, and data deletion features - Avoid sharing location data or limit it to app usage only - Read reviews, check the developer, and avoid apps with vague promises What to watch for in mental health AI apps - Lack of transparency in data collection, storage, or sharing practices - Inability to delete your data - Requests for unnecessary permissions - Absence of independent security checks - Lack of clear information on how sensitive mental health data is used One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Hans India
24-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Covid situation constantly monitored, no need to panic: Health experts
New Delhi: With mounting cases of Covid-19 bringing fresh fears of the pandemic, which claimed millions of lives globally, experts at the Indian Medical Association and Delhi Medical Association on Saturday said that the cases are being constantly monitored and that there is no need to panic. According to the data from the Ministry of Health, India has reported 257 active Covid-19 cases as of May 19. Kerala (69), Maharashtra (44), and Tamil Nadu (34) are recording the highest daily case counts. Delhi recorded 23 new cases. As per the latest reports, two have tested positive for Covid in Gurugram, one each in Faridabad and Noida. "With Covid-19 cases being reported in different parts of India, there is no need to panic. What we recommend is enhanced surveillance and continued public awareness," Dr. Dinesh Goel, Paediatrician and President, of IMA Janak Puri, told IANS. He urged people to follow simple precautions like using masks 'in crowded areas and maintaining hygiene'. Dr. Amarjeet Singh Popli, from the Delhi Medical Association (DMA), also called for precautions while not panicking. 'There is no need to panic over the recent increase in Covid-19 cases. The situation is under constant monitoring by health authorities and the Delhi Medical Association,' Popli told IANS. The current rise is linked to Omicron and descendants of its subvariant JN.1, which 'are being closely observed', the expert noted. As per the latest data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), set up under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 -- descendants of JN.1 Covid variant in the country – are responsible for the rise in SARS-CoV-2 cases in the country. Data from the INSACOG, a consortium of 64 laboratories to monitor genomic variations of Covid virus, showed one case of NB.1.8.1 and four instances of the LF.7 type. While NB.1.8.1 was identified in April in Tamil Nadu, four cases of LF.7 were detected in Gujarat in May. Currently, both LF.7 and NB.1.8 have been classified as Variants Under Monitoring (VUM) by the World Health Organization (WHO). VUM is a term used to signal to public health authorities that a SARS-CoV-2 variant may require prioritised attention and monitoring. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has issued an advisory asking all hospitals to prepare for the availability of beds, oxygen, medicines, and vaccines. Popli urged the public to take basic precautions, such as wearing masks in crowded places and maintaining hygiene. 'With responsible behaviour, we can all stay safe."
Economic Times
26-04-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
ProcMart just levelled up: This Noida start-up expands empire with latest packaging facility grab
ProcMart says the acquisition, its first manufacturing investment, enhances its capabilities in the packaging segment, reducing dependence on third-party vendors. ProcMart, a B2B marketplace specialising in indirect procurement solutions, has recently acquired a corrugated box manufacturing facility in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. This strategic move aims to strengthen the packaging capabilities of the Noida-based start-up and increase its in-house production capacity. ProcMart says that the acquisition, its first manufacturing investment, enhances its capabilities in the packaging segment, reducing dependence on third-party ProcMart doesn't own any packaging production facilities but has contract manufacturing partnerships in Faridabad, Baddi, and Rudrapur. The recent acquisition in Aurangabad will be its first owned production facility for packaging. 'Backward integration into packaging production enables direct control over quality and timelines. This facility establishes our blueprint for vertical integration across other product categories and positions ProcMart as a comprehensive procurement partner,' says Anish Popli, Founder and CEO, in 2015 by Popli, an alumnus of IIM Lucknow and NIT Trichy, ProcMart connects buyers and sellers, enabling easy procurement of various products, including consumer goods, durables, automotive, oil and gas, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. Over the years, the company has expanded its presence to 25 Indian cities and ventured into international markets, including Indonesia and Malaysia. Production capacity The newly acquired plant in Aurangabad has a production capacity of 1,000 tonnes per month, and ProcMart intends to scale up to 2,500 tonnes through additional investments. The expansion has the potential to add up to $150 million in its annual sales. Before the acquisition, ProcMart's contract manufacturing facilities had a combined production capacity of 4,500 tonnes. The company anticipates substantial growth following this expansion—100% year-over-year growth in the first two years and 50-60% growth in subsequent years. Sustainability initiativesThe acquisition supports ProcMart's sustainability goals by utilising biofuel-powered boilers, reflecting the company's commitment to eco-friendly practices and helping clients achieve carbon neutrality through responsible procurement solutions. The acquisition aligns with ProcMart's sustainability initiatives through its use of biofuel-powered boilers, supporting eco-friendly operations and helping clients achieve carbon neutrality goals via responsible procurement practices. Why this acquisitionThe Aurangabad facility acquisition supports ProcMart's vision of becoming a comprehensive procurement solution for enterprises, expanding its presence across major Indian industrial hubs. It advances ProcMart's presence in sustainable packaging and biofuels, complementing its $30 billion MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) segment solutions. The Aurangabad plant's strategic location enables ProcMart to cater directly to clients in the Aurangabad-Pune-Mumbai corridor and Maharashtra, which will reduce delivery times and lower logistics costs. The acquisition supports ProcMart's sustainability goals with biofuel-powered boilers, reflecting its commitment to eco-friendly practices and helping Fortune 500 clients achieve carbon neutrality through responsible procurement. 'There are about 32-33 clients that we are serving from the Aurangabad area. So, it has become a very strategic location. The other thing that we like about this facility is that it has a scope of further growth. Its sustainable set-up, including biofuel-powered boilers, aligns with our eco-friendly initiatives,' says Popli. ProcMart serves a prominent client base, including 50% of Fortune 500 companies, while prioritising sustainability. The manufacturing expansion enables end-to-end packaging solutions with strict quality control and environmental standards; future plans include deeper penetration in key sectors like MRO, biofuels, utility services, and non-specialty chemicals. Fundraise In April 2024, ProcMart secured $30 million in Series B funding, led by Fundamentum Partnership, a venture capital firm co-founded by Nandan Nilekani and Sanjeev Aggarwal, along with Edelweiss Discovery Fund. ProcMart's funding has reached $43 million, riding on the additional investments from Paramark Ventures, Sixth Sense Ventures, and company serves a diverse range of clients across sectors, including FMCG, auto, pharma, metals & power, healthcare, and consumer durables. HUL, Colgate, Nestlé, Britannia, PepsiCo, Mondelēz International, and Cargill are among some of its clients. The company is targeting Rs 3,000 crore in revenue by FY28. It is also planning to expand to more markets in Southeast Asia and FY24, the company reported Rs 621 crore in revenue compared to Rs 206 crore in FY23. It posted a profit of Rs 0.91 crore in FY24 compared to Rs 2.39 crore in FY23. On the decline in profit, Popli says, 'To drive growth and boost sales, the company increased its focus on manpower and opened warehouses across multiple cities for faster delivery and better supply chain. By strengthening its team and operational capabilities, the company aimed to accelerate expansion and leverage new opportunities.'The long list of clientele illustrates ProcMart's growth narrative. Forvia, a French global automotive supplier, is one of them. 'With Forvia's rapid growth in India, we were on the lookout for a pan-India supplier who can stand with us in our mission to deliver a premium customer satisfaction experience to our customer. We are proud to have ProcMart as our partner in this mission,' says Nillanjan Roy, Group Indirect Purchasing Director at Forvia. Expert view The B2B marketplace sector is booming, driven by digitisation and efficiency gains. 'The B2B marketplace has seen exceptional growth and is expected to reach more than $60 billion in coming few years. The key reason for growth has been driven by technological solutions implemented by the platforms helping customers to get better rates and manage inventory better, helping them improve their working capital,' says Shravan Shetty, MD, Primus B2B marketplaces becoming crucial for companies to connect, source products, and expand globally, ProcMart, as per experts, is well-positioned to benefit.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
ProcMart just levelled up: This Noida start-up expands empire with latest packaging facility grab
ProcMart, a B2B marketplace specialising in indirect procurement solutions, has recently acquired a corrugated box manufacturing facility in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. This strategic move aims to strengthen the packaging capabilities of the Noida-based start-up and increase its in-house production capacity. ProcMart says that the acquisition, its first manufacturing investment, enhances its capabilities in the packaging segment, reducing dependence on third-party vendors. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India pulled the plug on IWT when Pakistanis are fighting over water What makes this India-Pakistan standoff more dangerous than past ones The problem of Pakistan couldn't have come at a worse time for D-St Notably, ProcMart doesn't own any packaging production facilities but has contract manufacturing partnerships in Faridabad, Baddi, and Rudrapur. The recent acquisition in Aurangabad will be its first owned production facility for packaging. 'Backward integration into packaging production enables direct control over quality and timelines. This facility establishes our blueprint for vertical integration across other product categories and positions ProcMart as a comprehensive procurement partner,' says Anish Popli , Founder and CEO, ProcMart. Founded in 2015 by Popli, an alumnus of IIM Lucknow and NIT Trichy, ProcMart connects buyers and sellers, enabling easy procurement of various products, including consumer goods, durables, automotive, oil and gas, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. Over the years, the company has expanded its presence to 25 Indian cities and ventured into international markets, including Indonesia and Malaysia. Production capacity Live Events The newly acquired plant in Aurangabad has a production capacity of 1,000 tonnes per month, and ProcMart intends to scale up to 2,500 tonnes through additional investments. The expansion has the potential to add up to $150 million in its annual sales. Before the acquisition, ProcMart's contract manufacturing facilities had a combined production capacity of 4,500 tonnes. The company anticipates substantial growth following this expansion—100% year-over-year growth in the first two years and 50-60% growth in subsequent years. Anish Popli, Founder and CEO, ProcMart Sustainability initiatives The acquisition supports ProcMart's sustainability goals by utilising biofuel-powered boilers, reflecting the company's commitment to eco-friendly practices and helping clients achieve carbon neutrality through responsible procurement solutions. The acquisition aligns with ProcMart's sustainability initiatives through its use of biofuel-powered boilers, supporting eco-friendly operations and helping clients achieve carbon neutrality goals via responsible procurement practices. Why this acquisition The Aurangabad facility acquisition supports ProcMart's vision of becoming a comprehensive procurement solution for enterprises, expanding its presence across major Indian industrial hubs. It advances ProcMart's presence in sustainable packaging and biofuels, complementing its $30 billion MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) segment solutions. The Aurangabad plant's strategic location enables ProcMart to cater directly to clients in the Aurangabad-Pune-Mumbai corridor and Maharashtra, which will reduce delivery times and lower logistics costs. The acquisition supports ProcMart's sustainability goals with biofuel-powered boilers, reflecting its commitment to eco-friendly practices and helping Fortune 500 clients achieve carbon neutrality through responsible procurement. 'There are about 32-33 clients that we are serving from the Aurangabad area. So, it has become a very strategic location. The other thing that we like about this facility is that it has a scope of further growth. Its sustainable set-up, including biofuel-powered boilers, aligns with our eco-friendly initiatives,' says Popli. ProcMart serves a prominent client base, including 50% of Fortune 500 companies, while prioritising sustainability. The manufacturing expansion enables end-to-end packaging solutions with strict quality control and environmental standards; future plans include deeper penetration in key sectors like MRO, biofuels, utility services, and non-specialty chemicals. Fundraise In April 2024, ProcMart secured $30 million in Series B funding, led by Fundamentum Partnership, a venture capital firm co-founded by Nandan Nilekani and Sanjeev Aggarwal, along with Edelweiss Discovery Fund. ProcMart's funding has reached $43 million, riding on the additional investments from Paramark Ventures, Sixth Sense Ventures , and IndiaMART. The company serves a diverse range of clients across sectors, including FMCG, auto, pharma, metals & power, healthcare, and consumer durables. HUL, Colgate, Nestlé, Britannia, PepsiCo, Mondelēz International, and Cargill are among some of its clients. The company is targeting Rs 3,000 crore in revenue by FY28. It is also planning to expand to more markets in Southeast Asia and Africa. In FY24, the company reported Rs 621 crore in revenue compared to Rs 206 crore in FY23. It posted a profit of Rs 0.91 crore in FY24 compared to Rs 2.39 crore in FY23. On the decline in profit, Popli says, 'To drive growth and boost sales, the company increased its focus on manpower and opened warehouses across multiple cities for faster delivery and better supply chain. By strengthening its team and operational capabilities, the company aimed to accelerate expansion and leverage new opportunities.' The long list of clientele illustrates ProcMart's growth narrative. Forvia, a French global automotive supplier, is one of them. 'With Forvia's rapid growth in India, we were on the lookout for a pan-India supplier who can stand with us in our mission to deliver a premium customer satisfaction experience to our customer. We are proud to have ProcMart as our partner in this mission,' says Nillanjan Roy, Group Indirect Purchasing Director at Forvia. Expert view The B2B marketplace sector is booming, driven by digitisation and efficiency gains. 'The B2B marketplace has seen exceptional growth and is expected to reach more than $60 billion by XX . The key reason for growth has been driven by technological solutions implemented by the platforms helping customers to get better rates and manage inventory better, helping them improve their working capital,' says Shravan Shetty, MD, Primus Partners. With B2B marketplaces becoming crucial for companies to connect, source products, and expand globally, ProcMart, as per experts, is well-positioned to benefit.
Reuters
18-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Independent directors exit India's Gensol after co-founders probed
April 18 (Reuters) - Two independent directors at embattled Gensol Engineering ( opens new tab resigned, the company said on Thursday, marking the third exit this week after regulators accused its co-founders of misusing funds, including using money meant for an EV affiliate to buy a luxury apartment. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) this week barred Anmol Jaggi and his brother Puneet from the stock market and ordered a forensic audit of solar firm Gensol, which procured electric vehicles for BluSmart. The popular ride-hailing service, seen as a rival to Uber (UBER.N), opens new tab, was co-founded by Anmol, who also serves as Gensol's managing director. Gensol on Thursday said, opens new tab in that Harsh Singh and Kuljit Singh Popli have resigned as independent directors with immediate effect. This follows the resignation, opens new tab of Arun Menon, another independent director at Gensol. Popli in his resignation letter said, "... the way things have unfolded and come to light, I am not in a position to continue as (an) Independent Director." "I was hopeful that the company that has grown so fast and had been enjoying good reputation and good will, will continue to grow... and governance issues as brought out will be addressed. However that has not happened," Popli added. BluSmart also said on Thursday it has suspended its operations with a decision to "temporarily close bookings" on its app. Gensol, Anmol Singh Jaggi and Puneet Singh Jaggi did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment on SEBI's accusations.
