Month: May 2023

MakeMyTrip collaborates with Microsoft to reshape the travel booking landscape with generative AI

Posted on by City Today News (City today.media)

Lays the groundwork to make the platform inclusive and accessible for all of Bharat

Bangalore, May 9, 2023: In a landmark move, MakeMyTrip has collaborated with Microsoft to make travel planning more inclusive and accessible by introducing voice assisted booking in Indian languages. The new, in-platform tech stack powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service and Azure Cognitive Services, will converse with the user to offer personalized travel recommendations based on their preferences; curate holiday packages based on variable inputs like occasion, budget, activity preferences, time of travel, etc., and even help book these holiday packages. It opens the online travel ecosystem for every strata and demographic across the country. Currently, the beta version of this integration has been introduced in English and Hindi for flights and holidays customers.

The next stage of voice assisted booking flow will cover other transport offerings. The feature has been embedded into the landing page of the platform and can be activated with a single click.

“We have pioneered offerings at the intersection of e-commerce, travel, and technology, and are proud to introduce a feature that breaks down the barriers of language, literacy, inability to navigate complex app environments, physical impairments, etc,” said, Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder & Group CEO, MakeMyTrip. “This Generative AI integration through our collaboration with Microsoft involves simple visual cues and voice commands in native Indian languages that will alter the landscape of travel bookings hereon forth.”

MakeMyTrip’s latest offering uses the power of AI and Machine Learning to make travel-related solutions all pervasive, no matter the use case or scenario. Microsoft’s large language models and Indic language speech models, coupled with MakeMyTrip’s natural language understanding capability and travel domain content creates the base for users to interact with the platform in any Indian language.

Sanjay Mohan, Group Chief Technology Officer, MakeMyTrip said, “We are delighted to introduce revolutionary changes to our platform that align with our philosophy of leveraging tech to solve real consumer problems. The new update will elevate the user experience and make our platform more inclusive, accessible, and easy to navigate. The beta phase will offer us learnings to further fine-tune all use cases before rolling it out to users at scale. As such, we’ll do a very controlled roll-out of this feature with a subset of our customers.”

Sangeeta Bavi, Executive Director, Digital Natives, Microsoft India, said, “MakeMyTrip is a pioneer in the travel industry, and we are honored to work together to define the next frontiers of AI driven innovation and customer engagement in the online travel industry. Bringing together MakeMyTrip’s expertise with Microsoft’s AI capabilities, including Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, our collaboration will help make travel more inclusive and accessible for travelers across India, with trust and security at the core.”

The intuitive interface powered by Azure OpenAI Service’s GPT technology, will analyse specific user requirements and sift through thousands of options, to recommend, customize and book holiday packages, transforming what has been a time-consuming process into a quick and hassle-free experience. It will also summarize hotel reviews, extracting unique traveller impressions, that is cohort specific – whether a solo traveller, business traveller, couple, family, etc. This will elevate the hotel booking experience by offering personalized and relevant information to the user without having to scroll through multiple reviews.

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Get Ready for a Summer of Explorations with Sony BBC Earth’s Exciting May premieres

Posted on by City Today News (City today.media)

National, May 09, 2023:
Sony BBC Earth, with an exciting new line-up of shows, brings in a chance to journey through new destinations and experience new cultures and cuisines for its viewers. The channel has something in store for everyone, from mouthwatering food adventures with renowned chef Rick Stein to adrenaline-pumping experiences in Lonely Planet’s Year of Adventure. Viewers can sit back and enjoy an array of fascinating experiences from the comfort of their homes with a mix of travel, food, and lifestyle shows.

The month kickstarted on a high note with Rick Stein’s Spain and Rick Stein’s Taste of Shanghai. Viewers got a chance to join Rick Stein through the length and breadth of Spain to discover the authentic soul of Spanish cooking along with getting a virtual tour to the culinary adventures of Shanghai. The upcoming line-up comprise of Lonely Planet shows – ‘Lonely Planet Stressbuster’, ‘Lonely Planet:1000 Ultimate Experiences’ and ‘Lonely Planet: Year Of Adventure’. Lonely Planet Stressbuster explores unique ways to rejuvenate, revitalize, and reconnect across Asia. Whereas ‘Lonely Planet:1000 Ultimate Experiences’ takes viewers on a trip around the world to experience the most awe-inspiring ancient sites, the best lip-smacking street food, and more. To cap off the Lonely Planet programming, Year Of Adventure sees adventurer Ben Fogle tackling a series of challenges in the US, Europe, and Australia, showcasing some of the most extraordinary and unexpected places on the planet.

Apart from this, the channel is premiering ‘New York: America’s Busiest City’ which explores the intricate logistics, engineering, and technology that keeps New York City’s commercial, economic, and cultural heart pumping.

So, get ready to mark your calendars and tune in to Sony BBC Earth this May for an unforgettable viewing experience.

Travel the world from the comfort of your couch with a line-up of exciting shows from 12 PM and 8 PM, join Lonely Planet Stressbuster, Lonely Planet: 1000 Ultimate Experiences, and Lonely Planet: Year of Adventure series starting on May 15th, while at 2 PM and 10 PM, and finally, at 10 PM, experience the hustle and bustle of America’s busiest city with “New York: America’s Busiest City” starting on May 29th.

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World Thalassemia Day: Experts Share Insights About the Challenges for Thalassemia Patients in India

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Bengaluru, 5th May 2023 –Thalassemia is a genetic condition affecting millions worldwide. Every year, over 10,000 new cases of thalassemia are diagnosed in India, making the country the Thalassemia capital of the world. Despite its prevalence, there is a lack of awareness about this condition and its treatment options. This hereditary disease affects many children in their infancy, and parents who are usually asymptomatic are carriers of this disease and have a 25% chance of passing it to their children.
Dr. Joseph John, Professor & Head of the Department of Clinical Hematology, Haemato-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana – “One of the most significant challenges facing thalassemia patients is the availability of safe and timely blood transfusions. Patients with thalassemia require frequent blood transfusions, and it has been estimated that the annual requirement of packed red cells is about 2 million units in India alone. While patient organizations and regional blood banks have made significant efforts to fulfill this requirement, the demand for safe blood far outstrips the supply. This leaves many families struggling month after month to obtain the necessary blood for their children.”
Dr. Sunil Bhatt, Director and Clinical Lead, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, Narayana Health, Bengaluru – Although the overwhelming burden of thalassemia has become a huge concern for the Indian population, there is hope. Patients suffering from thalassemia can be cured with a stem cell transplant, ideally at an early age. The need for transplants in children is, therefore, extremely high. Thalassemia patients are mostly children who undergo painful blood transfusions for several years. Blood transfusions have its challenges and risks for the patients. A successful blood stem cell transplant depends on a perfect HLA tissue match. Only 30% of patients who need transplants have a fully HLA-matched donor in their family; the rest depend on an unrelated donor. As per the theme for thalassemia day 2023: Be Aware. Share. Care. It is high time to raise awareness about the disease and the treatment options.”
Individuals with thalassemia and their families face significant challenges accessing quality healthcare and treatment. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach that involves increasing awareness about thalassemia and its treatment options, improving the availability of safe blood and specialized care, and making curative treatments like stem cell transplantation more accessible to patients who need it.
Patrick Paul, CEO, DKMS BMST Foundation India, informs, “We aim to support underprivileged blood cancer and other blood disorders, such as Thalassemia patients in India, for which we have initiated the DKMS-BMST Thalassemia programme. Under this programme, DKMS-BMST collaborates with local NGOs and transplant centers to organize camps where pediatric thalassemia patients and their siblings travel from afar places, sometimes from very remote places in India, to give buccal swab samples for HLA typing. Samples from the camps are analyzed in the DKMS laboratory based out of Germany, and clinical matching reports are provided. In cases where there is no matching sibling for a sick child, we also support unrelated donor searches for patients.”
Successful patient stories under the DKMS-BMST Thalassemia Programme:
Yashika: 12-year-old Yashika was diagnosed with Beta Thalassemia at the age of 3 months and was receiving regular blood transfusions. Her father is a tailor with a very low income. They had to struggle to cover the costs of her transfusions and treatment. Yahiska’s treating hospital Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, organized a free HLA typing camp with the support of DKMS-BMST. Her younger sister Priya became a match, and Yashika underwent a successful stem cell transplant in November 2022. Today, Yashika leads a normal life and goes to school like any other child. They thank Dr. Josheph John, CMC Ludhiana, and DKMS for their support.
Tejas: 14-year-old Tejas has endured much suffering since he was diagnosed with Thalassemia in 2008. He had been receiving painful blood transfusions, but his condition was not improving. His only hope for survival was a stem cell transplant from an HLA-matched donor. He was referred to Mazumdar Shaw Medical Hospital at Narayana Health City in Bangalore to meet Dr. Sunil Bhat’s team, who specializes in stem cell transplants. Tejas’ father was an electrician who was the family’s sole breadwinner. He had already exhausted their resources paying off his son’s medical bills. Fortunately, Dr. Sunil Bhat reached out to DKMS-BMST, who supported the family with free HLA typing under their Thalassemia programme, through which he found a matching donor with his sibling. He underwent a successful stem cell transplant in September 2021 and recovered well. His family thanks Dr. Sunil Bhat and DKMS-BMST for helping Tejas to get a second chance at life

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C20 Summit on Technology and Security for One World to be inaugurated at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, on May 13, 2023

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COIMBATORE / May 8, 2023: The C20 Summit on Technology and Security for One World is going to be held at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, on May 12-14, 2023, hosted by an official Engagement Groups of the C20: Technology, Security and Transparency.

Several key dignitaries would be present during the inaugural ceremony. These include Shri RN Ravi, Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu; Ltd Gen Dr. Rajesh Pant, National Cyber Security Coordinator, PMO, India; Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, Vice Chairman, Mata Amritanandamayi Math and Troika Member C20; Vijay Nambiar, Sherpa C20 and Former UN Secretary Generals Special Advisor; Vilas Dhar, President and Trustee of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation; Micha Weis, Strategic financial cyber-leader and advisor for the Israeli Ministry of Finance; Bharati Ghosh, National Spokesperson of BJP & Member of National Executive Committee of BJP; Dr. Venkat Rangan, Vice Chancellor of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. Virtual Participation includes Sonya Kilkenny, Member of Parliament, Victorian Government, Australia; and Ah Mafuthan, Troika member C20, Indonesia.
World-renowned spiritual leader and humanitarian Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma) is the Chair of C20. Amma said “Amma sees the world as a flower. Each country is a petal of the flower. The foundation of all positive change is true education. Along with knowledge about the world, we have to understand ourselves. Only then will our education be complete. Technology has truly revolutionized human life, but its negative aspects raise alarming concerns about the future of human kind.” Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri “The C20 Working Group on Technology, Security and Transparency is focused on access and affordability of innovative technologies for social impact, and the value the CSOs provide towards fostering consistency, accountability, and scale for technology development and diffusion. It is imperative that Civil Society Organizations have their voices represented, along with the private and governmental sectors. We are looking forward to this Summit to launch key initiatives that are essential for CSOs and NGOs to learn about key technology that help their business for additional impact to help society.”

Dr. Vint Cerf, Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist, Google and co-founder of the internet and Nguyen Anh Tuan, CEO of the Boston Global Forum, and will address the delegates virtually.
Marco Teixeira, United Nations Representative on Drugs and Crime for South Asia; Marcele Frossard, Policy advisor, National Campaign for the Right to Education, Brazil; Dhayalan Matthew Chetty, Impact Area Manager, e-Government at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa; and Lindy Wafula, Village Ventures Kenya will also be speaking at the Summit.
Across two days of the Summit, hundreds of delegates from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the technology landscape will participate in policy meetings, discussions, and workshops to formulate policies on the access and use of technology, enhanced security, and improved transparency for advancing societal wellbeing. The sessions would focus on four key areas, namely, Technology for Empowerment, Artificial Intelligence and Data for Society; Transparency, Trust & Disinformation; and Security, Safety and Resilience. The participants would identify the gaps in these areas and brainstorm innovative solutions which will directly impact the policy recommendations to be launched at the C20 Summit in July 2023.

Mr. Vijay Nambiar, Sherpa C20 said “Technology impacts all areas of society and each of the engagement groups of the C20. From education, healthcare, youth, women, environmental and sustainability issues, technology plays a key role for all of the population. Given the emergence of AI, cybersecurity, disinformation and the need for transparency, the C20 Summit on Technology and Security for One World, will be an important meeting of minds to develop policy for now and the future.”

Said Dr. Krishnashree Achuthan, National Coordinator of C20 Summit on Technology, Security and Transparency and Dean, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham: “Technology has a huge role to play in society’s progress and prosperity, but over-reliance on it can lead to detrimental behavior, especially amongst children and youth. The C20 Working Group on Technology, Security and Transparency is focused on access and affordability of innovative technologies for social impact, and the value the CSOs provide towards fostering consistency, accountability, and scale for technology development and diffusion. The Working Group is deliberating issues like the security of susceptible communities, especially women, children, and the disabled, and the responsible use of Internet and media.
The Summit is aimed at furthering the civil society narrative to long-term solutions for building societies that are technology-empowered, secure, and held accountable by their transparency to their citizens.”

Organizations participating in the Summit include well-known names like Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), Synergia Foundation, Women 20, Youth 20, Think Tank 20, ICANN, Genworks and many more.

The G20 (Group of 20) is a forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union. It works to address major issues related to the global economy. C20 provides a platform for Civil Society Organizations (CSO) around the world to voice people’s aspirations to the world leaders in G20.

More information about the Summit is available at https://tech4world.org/agenda and further information on this engagement group and the C20 can be found at https://c20.amma.org/tst-wg/

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AR (Augmented Reality) is a reality for the Congress

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D.K Shiva Kumar’s Campaign for Congress with Augmented Reality
Developed by 4Point2 Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Bengaluru: 4point2 Technologies Pvt. Ltd, a leading tech company, is proud to announce the development of an innovative augmented realityhomes technology that is revolutionizing the way voters engage with political campaigns. This technology is currently being used in the Congress campaign by D.K Shiva Kumar for the ongoing Karnataka elections. It is
providing an immersive and interactive way for communicating the candidates’ messages.

One of the features of this technology is the life-like holographic speech, which allows D. K. Shiva Kumar to speak to IT professionals & other
corporate sectors at their offices or visit their apartment flats for door-todoor campaigns. In this way it is easy to break the barriers of traditional campaigning methods where these sectors where not touched upon due to
its accessibility. For the first time, D.K. Shivakumar and other Congress candidates will reach out to these segments in their offices and homes.

This technology can be used by all 224 constituency candidates, supporters,and followers.

The technology also includes a feature where the Congress Guarantee Card given to households by the congress party can be scanned. Through the AR
Technology, Mr. D.K. Shivakumar appears to talk about the Congress
guarantee card benefits, providing links for voters to register for each of those benefits. This feature is designed to provide voters with a
comprehensive understanding of Congress’s vision for Karnataka and its promises to voters.
In addition to these features, voters can take photos with D.K. Shivakumar and share them on social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, with the campaign hashtags and messages. To
know more about our App visit: nammacongress.com

“The Bengaluru based 4point2 Technologies Pvt. Ltd. has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge technologies. With this innovative technology, Congress has been able to engage voters in an unprecedented
manner,” according to Mr. K. Shiva Kumar, Founder, Chairman & MD of the company.

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