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Budget 2018 – How Are The Startups Affected?

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Budget 2018,#Budget2018,How Are The Startups Affected?,Startup Stories,2018 Best Motivational Stories,Inspirational Stories 2018,Budget 2018 Highlights,India Union Budget 2018 Highlights,Union Budget 2018 Affected Startups,Indian Startup Ecosystem,Budget for Startups,How to Budget 2018 Impact Startups
The current NDA government have been very supportive of the Indian Startup Ecosystem. When it comes to the budget for the year 2018, the one thing that really affects startups is the direct and indirect taxations proposed by the government for the current year. The Union Budget 2018 created quite a bit of unrest in the startup community regarding reforms in Angel Tax and use of cryptocurrencies. Here is how the Union Budget of 2018 will affect the startup ecosystem.
Some of the biggest proposals revealed during the Budget was the plan to create a new regulatory regime for venture capital funds and angel investors. Not just that, a national programme for artificial intelligence for furthering the growth of technology has also been introduced. Jaitley also revealed a proposal that outlined a plan to set up five lakh Wi-Fi hotspots in rural areas and aims at increasing the usage of hybrid instruments to attract venture capital investment.
However, the complete exclusion of Angel Tax in the policy announcements clipped the wings of early-stage startups, most of which depend on capital from angel investors for the initial boost. Speaking about the venture capital firms and angel investment, Arun Jaitley said, “Venture capital funds and angel investors need an innovative and special developmental and regulatory regime for their growth.
Jaitley also highlighted the government’s initiatives and added the government will be taking extra measures to strengthen the environment for their growth and “successful operation” of alternative investment funds (AIF) in India. Cryptocurrencies, however, will not be one of those alternate means.
In the Budget, Jaitley clarified that although cryptocurrencies such as bitcoins are still illegal in India, the government would take a look at the blockchain technologies. Along with blockchain, the finance minister also singled out emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI,) internet of things (IoT) and 3D printing. For this purpose, policy think tank, NITI Aayog will be working on creating a national programme that will stoke research and result in applications in these areas.
The government raised the ceiling for the 25% corporate tax bracket up from Rs. 50 crores earlier to Rs. 250 crores annual turnover. Meanwhile, the announcement of connecting rural India with 5 lakh Wifi hotspots will facilitate the growth of a host of internet enabled services including ecommerce, online education, health tech and others.
In order to improve the women employment rate, the EPF and Miscellaneous provision act will also be amended to reduce women contribution to 8% for the first 3 years of their employment. This reform can help in bringing more women contribution to the formal sector and ensure better gender diversity in the business sector.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical research startups will also get a boost with the Rs. 12,000 crores investment made to bring health closer to home.
However, multiple startup experts agree the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates for startups need to be reduced and they should also be allowed to file tax returns on an annual basis. While the startup community has welcomed a majority of these reforms, they are also seeking for clarity for many of these proposals.
Speaking about the reforms and the budget in general, the Chief Executive Officer of Paytm Payments Bank said, “We welcome the budget initiatives for promoting financial inclusion through higher penetration of banking services, increased health insurance coverage under National Health Protection Scheme and easy access to credit. The increased outlay in infrastructure including wifi spots will extend benefits of the internet and technology-enabled services to masses. Additionally, development and digitization of agricultural markets will bring farmers into the formal economy. We look forward to leveraging these initiatives to provide digital payments, banking and other financial services to rural India.”

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Microsoft Adds AI-Powered ‘Rewrite’ Tool to Notepad for Enhanced Text Editing!

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Microsoft Adds AI-Powered ‘Rewrite’ Tool to Notepad for Enhanced Text Editing!

Microsoft is transforming its classic Notepad app by introducing Rewrite, a new AI-powered feature aimed at helping users improve and personalize their writing effortlessly. Originally launched in 1983 as a basic text editor, Notepad now offers advanced capabilities powered by Microsoft’s GPT model. The Rewrite feature allows users to rephrase sentences, adjust tone, or modify the length of their text, making Notepad more than just a tool for jotting down notes. This feature is currently in preview mode and available through the Windows Insider Program.

What Does Rewrite Offer?

The Rewrite feature provides a suite of options to enhance text with ease. With just a few clicks, users can:

  • Make a sentence more formal
  • Condense a paragraph
  • Expand it with additional detail

The tool also enables adjustments to the tone, offering options like friendly, casual, professional, or formal to better fit the writing context.

How to Use Rewrite

Using Rewrite is simple:

  1. Highlight the text you wish to modify.
  2. Right-click to access the Rewrite menu or select the Rewrite button in the toolbar.
  3. For quicker access, use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + I) to open up Rewrite options directly.

Notepad then generates three alternative versions of the selected text, allowing users to choose the best fit with a single click.

Availability and Access

Currently, the Rewrite feature is in preview mode for Windows Insiders on Windows 11, specifically available in the Canary and Dev Channels. In regions like the United States, UK, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy, Windows 11 users in the Insider Program can access this feature immediately. In other regions, including Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, Rewrite is accessible to Microsoft 365 subscribers on Personal, Family, and Copilot Pro plans.

AI Credits System

Subscribers receive a set number of AI credits per month (50 for basic users and 60 for Microsoft 365 subscribers), with the option to increase credits through Copilot Pro. This credit system allows users to manage their usage of AI features effectively.

Built-In Safety and Privacy

To ensure safe usage, Microsoft has incorporated content filters that prevent the AI from generating harmful or offensive outputs. Users can report any issues with generated text, allowing Microsoft to improve the feature’s accuracy. Additionally, Rewrite requests are processed securely online; Microsoft does not store user text or generated results, prioritizing user privacy.

Enhancing User Experience

With Rewrite, Microsoft aims to make advanced text editing accessible to everyday users, offering a convenient AI-powered way to enhance and customize writing with just a few clicks. Notepad’s upgrade demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to integrating AI into its core apps, transforming one of Windows’ oldest tools into a modern assistant for effective and polished writing.

Comparison with Previous Features

This update follows previous enhancements made to Notepad, such as spellcheck and autocorrect introduced earlier this year. The addition of AI capabilities marks a significant evolution in how users interact with this long-standing application.

Conclusion

The introduction of the Rewrite tool in Notepad signifies Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to modernize its applications by integrating cutting-edge AI technology. By providing users with powerful editing tools within a familiar interface, Microsoft not only enhances productivity but also empowers individuals to express themselves more effectively.

As this feature continues to develop and expand its availability, it will be interesting to see how it impacts user engagement with Notepad and whether it sets new standards for text editing across digital platforms. With ongoing innovations in AI-driven tools, Microsoft is well-positioned to lead in enhancing user experiences across its software offerings.

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iOS 18.2 Drops Sketch Style from Image Playground Feature!

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iOS 18.2 Drops Sketch Style from Image Playground Feature!

Apple has recently launched its second wave of Apple Intelligence, the iOS 18.2 beta. This version serves as a replica of the stable version, allowing selected users to test and experience all the upcoming features. Among the anticipated updates, iOS 18.2 will introduce several new Apple Intelligence features, including ChatGPT integration in Siri and new AI-powered image editing tools. One of the most awaited tools is Image Playground, which was initially introduced at WWDC 2024 as a key feature that would generate images in three styles: animation, illustration, and sketch. However, it appears that Apple is taking a step back, as the new iOS 18.2 beta version does not include the sketch style.

Changes in Image Playground

In the latest iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 betas, the Image Playground app now includes only animation and illustration styles, raising questions about whether the sketch style might eventually be added back. Apple has recently edited the app’s description to remove any mention of Sketch, which was previously highlighted as a highly detailed and academic style that creates beautiful drawings on plain backgrounds.

Previous Features

Originally, Image Playground was designed to provide users with three distinct styles for image generation:

  • Animation: Offers a whimsical, 3D cartoon look with expressive characters and cinematic environments.
  • Illustration: Defined by strong outlines, simple shapes, and bold colors, providing uplifting and playful compositions.
  • Sketch: Intended to produce highly detailed drawings on stark backgrounds.

The removal of the Sketch option has led to speculation about Apple’s future plans for this feature.

What is an Image Playground?

Image Playground is a brand-new app designed to help users create images from their ideas. Much like ChatGPT, users can generate images by entering a prompt with suggested categories like themes, locations, and costumes to spark inspiration. The app focuses on stylized content, so the images won’t be realistic and can be generated in animation or illustration styles.

Functionality

Users can incorporate likenesses of friends and family by selecting images directly from their Photos app. While Image Playground works as a standalone app, it can also be integrated with apps like Notes and Messages and even added to third-party applications.

The application is geared toward both casual and professional users alike, providing a more dynamic approach to photo and image editing directly on their iPhones.

iOS 18.2 Launch and Features

The official launch of iOS 18.2 is confirmed for the first week of December. Apple will start rolling out the features to eligible devices, including iPhone 15 Pro models and iPhone 16 series. The iOS 18.2 update promises a range of exciting features designed to enhance both productivity and personalization for iPhone users.

Notable Additions

  1. Built-in ChatGPT: Offering on-demand AI assistance directly within iOS.
  2. Genmoji: Allows users to create custom AI-powered emojis, providing a fun way to express themselves with unique icons beyond standard emoji options.

Conclusion 

The removal of the Sketch style from Image Playground in iOS 18.2 beta raises questions about Apple’s commitment to offering diverse creative tools within its ecosystem. While users will still have access to animation and illustration styles for image generation, the absence of sketch functionality may limit creative expression for some.

As Apple prepares for the official release of iOS 18.2 in December, it remains to be seen whether the sketch option will be reinstated or if additional styles will be introduced in future updates. The ongoing evolution of Image Playground reflects Apple’s broader strategy to integrate advanced AI capabilities into its products while enhancing user engagement through innovative features.

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Google Developing ‘AI Replies’ for Pixel’s Call Screen Feature!

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Google Developing 'AI Replies' for Pixel's Call Screen Feature

Google is set to enhance its Pixel phones’ Call Screen feature with a new AI-powered capability, according to recent reports. This upgrade, referred to as AI Replies, is designed to generate smart responses based on the caller’s actual input, marking a significant step forward from the current standard responses. While still under development, this feature is not yet available on the latest version of the Phone app on Pixel devices, though it is expected to be introduced in the future.

What is a Call Screen?

The Call Screen feature on Google Pixel phones allows the Google Assistant to screen incoming calls on behalf of the user, asking the caller to specify the reason for the call. Currently available in select regions (excluding India), Call Screen can be used on all Pixel devices.

Current Functionality

Last year, Google introduced contextual replies to the feature, allowing users to respond to calls without answering. For instance, if the caller indicated they were calling to book a doctor’s appointment, users could choose to confirm or decline the appointment, with the assistant conveying the user’s response to the caller. However, this feature was limited in scope, offering only a small range of responses and unable to handle complex caller replies.

The Next Step: AI Replies

An APK teardown by Android Authority has revealed Google’s ongoing work to make Call Screen responses more flexible and relevant with AI Replies. This feature would enable the assistant to use AI processing to analyze a caller’s response, allowing it to suggest context-specific replies that better address the caller’s statements. Based on details from the teardown, AI Replies is described as “Call Assist suggests new AI-powered smart replies based on the caller’s Call Screen responses.”

Technical Insights

Reports from 9to5Google have uncovered references to AI Replies within the Pixel Phone app’s code, where it appears to be internally codenamed “dobby.” Another code reference indicates that the feature will likely be powered by “dobby LLM,” believed to be associated with Gemini Nano—an AI model already integrated into some Pixel 9 series devices. However, it’s also possible Google could employ an alternative large language model for this feature.

Anticipated User Experience

Once launched, users could expect a more dynamic interaction with callers. For example, if a caller provides specific information about their reason for calling, such as confirming an appointment or asking about availability, AI Replies would generate tailored responses instead of relying on generic options.

Example Scenario

Imagine receiving a call from a restaurant confirming your reservation. Instead of simply choosing “Confirm” or “Cancel,” AI Replies could suggest more nuanced responses like “Yes, I’ll be there at 7 PM” or “Please change my reservation to 8 PM,” making interactions feel more natural and engaging.

Future Prospects and Release Timeline

While no official timeline has been announced for the release of AI Replies in Call Screen, Google’s development suggests an intent to bring a more adaptive and personalized experience to Pixel users in managing calls. The feature is expected to be optional, allowing users to choose between general suggested responses and AI-generated ones.

Broader Context of AI Integration

The anticipated rollout of AI Replies aligns with Google’s broader strategy of integrating artificial intelligence into its products and services. As competition intensifies among tech giants like Microsoft and Apple in leveraging AI for communication tools, features like these could significantly enhance user engagement and satisfaction.

Conclusion

Google’s development of AI Replies for its Pixel phones’ Call Screen feature represents an exciting advancement in how users interact with phone calls. By moving beyond static responses and incorporating intelligent suggestions based on real-time interactions, Google aims to streamline communication and improve user experience.

As this feature progresses toward launch, it will be interesting to see how it impacts call management for Pixel users and whether it sets new standards for AI integration in mobile communication tools. With ongoing innovations in artificial intelligence, features like AI Replies could redefine how we handle phone calls in our daily lives.

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