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Green Startups Set To Change The World

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earth day, green technologies, startup, world environment day, roti bank, smart air filters, bakeys, startupstories, startup stories india, startup stories, green startups india, ecofriendly ventures, environmental conservationm, startups changing the world, environmental startups, green startups 2017, green tech startups

Environmental issues are the burning topic of the World today and for valid reasons. With the ever growing population and pollution, the environment faces new threats on a daily basis. But entrepreneurs throughout the world have taken up the mantle to make a difference.
This world environment day let’s take a look at some of the startups taking the green route to success!

1.  Fourth Partner Energy Solutions Pvt., Ltd.
It aims to make clean energy accessible for all by building and developing decentralized rooftop solar power assets in India. They not only keep a track of units of energy generated but also CO2 emission reduced and water saved per day on their website. Starting in 2010, they have completed over 400 installations across the Country and have offices in Hyderabad, Pune, Gurgaon, Chennai, Rajkot, and Jaipur.

2.  Pastiwala
This Vadodara-based startup is the first of its kind organized waste paper collector in India. They have 25 three wheelers, 10 four wheelers, 20 big trucks (as part of Sort India Transport,) to support their tasks. They seek to collect paper from both industries and households, recycle the same to be reused later instead of cutting down trees. So far their website boasts of more than 26 lakh trees conserved, saving up to 3, 40, 000 trees saved per year.

3.  Husk Power Systems
Based in Bihar India, this startup strives to provide power to the communities it serves by creating fuel from rice husks using a biomass gasifier. In a period of 4 years, they have installed 84 mini plants across 300 villages, providing electricity to over 200,000 people. Along with providing clean electricity, they have also helped in the reduction of kerosene usage. According to their website, 42,000 liters of kerosene and 18,000 liters of diesel per year is saved, significantly cutting down air pollution and improving health conditions.

4.  The Living Greens
Quitting a comfortable job in Walmart, Prateek Tiwari founded The Living Green in 2013, with the aim to provide fresh and organic herbs directly from a balcony or rooftop. These vegetable gardens can be grown without soil in specially designed containers that also allow a healthy growth of plants. They also offer assistance and maintenance services. The Living Greens have expanded their services from Jaipur to franchises in Delhi, Indore, and Jodhpur and plan to open much more in other cities as well.

5.  Banyan Nation
Always wanting to solve the real world problem, CEO Mani Vajipey founded waste management startup Banyan Nation to recycle plastic. Plastic is arguably the most destructive innovation whose single use nature has made it an ecological poison. This startup aims to recycle plastic by using processes to deliver higher quality plastic pellets with longer life spans.

If you know of any startup working for environmental causes or are part of a startup working for a green society let us know in the comments below or write to us at [email protected]

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Meta Faces Another Copyright Lawsuit Over AI Training Practices

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Meta Faces Another Copyright Lawsuit Over AI Training Practices

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing fresh legal challenges over allegations that it used copyrighted materials without permission to train its artificial intelligence models, including its LLaMA series. This lawsuit adds to the growing scrutiny of AI companies’ data sourcing methods.

The Allegations

Authors such as Sarah Silverman and Michael Chabon claim Meta trained its AI models on datasets containing their copyrighted works without authorization. Plaintiffs argue this constitutes copyright infringement, while Meta defends its actions under the “fair use” doctrine, asserting that the training process is transformative and legally permissible.

Internal Discussions Raise Concerns

Court documents reveal internal chats among Meta employees discussing the use of copyrighted materials. One researcher suggested acquiring books without permission, stating, “ask forgiveness, not for permission.” These discussions highlight potential awareness within Meta of the legal risks involved.

Fair Use Debate

Meta maintains that its use of copyrighted texts to train LLaMA models is transformative and falls under fair use. The company compares this practice to Google’s precedent in Authors Guild v. Google, where copying books for search tools was deemed fair use. However, critics argue that training AI for commercial purposes does not meet fair use criteria.

Broader Implications

This lawsuit reflects wider concerns about how AI developers source training data, often relying on publicly accessible yet potentially copyrighted materials. As litigation against companies like Meta, OpenAI, and Google increases, clearer regulations may be necessary to balance innovation with intellectual property rights.

The outcome of this case could significantly impact both AI development practices and copyright enforcement in the tech industry.

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Flipkart Partners with NCERT to Boost Textbook Accessibility

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Flipkart has joined hands with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to enhance the accessibility of NCERT textbooks for students across India, particularly those in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. This strategic partnership aims to bridge the gap in access to quality education by leveraging Flipkart’s extensive reach and logistics network.

Key Benefits of the Partnership

  • Enhanced Accessibility: With this collaboration, students in remote areas can now order NCERT textbooks online and have them delivered directly to their doorstep. This initiative is particularly beneficial for families in regions where physical bookstores may be limited or non-existent.
  • Affordability: Flipkart’s platform will offer competitive prices on NCERT textbooks, making them more affordable for students and parents. Discounts and promotions may also be available, further reducing the financial burden on families.
  • Convenience: The partnership provides a seamless online shopping experience for parents and students alike. With an easy-to-navigate platform, users can quickly find and purchase the textbooks they need without the hassle of traveling to physical stores.

Alignment with Government Initiatives

This initiative aligns with the Indian government’s vision of promoting digital learning and making education more inclusive. By providing easy access to essential textbooks, Flipkart and NCERT are working together to empower students and contribute to the nation’s educational growth. This partnership supports the government’s broader goals of enhancing educational resources through technology and ensuring that quality learning materials are available to all students, regardless of their location.

Additional Context

The partnership comes at a time when there is a growing emphasis on digital education in India, especially following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The shift towards online learning has highlighted the need for accessible educational resources. By collaborating with NCERT, Flipkart is not only expanding its product offerings but also playing a vital role in supporting educational equity across the country.

Authorized Sellers

Flipkart will work with authorized sellers designated by NCERT to ensure that students can easily purchase authentic NCERT textbooks through its platform. This collaboration guarantees that all textbooks are genuine and meet the quality standards set by NCERT.

Conclusion

The partnership between Flipkart and NCERT represents a significant step towards improving textbook accessibility for students in India. By leveraging technology and e-commerce capabilities, this collaboration aims to make quality educational resources more widely available, particularly in underserved regions. As both organizations work together to enhance educational outcomes, they are contributing to a more equitable learning environment that empowers students across the nation.

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OpenAI Expands ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode to Web Users!

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OpenAI Expands ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode to Web Users!

OpenAI has introduced its Advanced Voice mode for ChatGPT on the web, extending the feature that was previously available only on iOS and Android apps. This announcement, made via a post on X (formerly Twitter), signifies a significant expansion of the conversational capabilities of ChatGPT to desktop users.

Enhancing User Interaction

The Advanced Voice mode aims to make interactions with ChatGPT more natural and conversational. The feature is being rolled out this week to subscribers of ChatGPT Plus, Enterprise, Teams, and Edu. Free-tier users will have to wait a few weeks to access the feature as part of a limited monthly preview.

How to Use Advanced Voice Mode on the Web

Activating the voice feature on the web is straightforward. Users simply need to click the Voice icon in the prompt window’s bottom-right corner and grant their browser permission to access their microphone. Once activated, a blue orb at the center of the screen indicates that voice chat is active.

The voice feature offers nine output voices with unique tones and personalities. OpenAI has introduced five new voices—Arbor, Maple, Sol, Spruce, and Vale—in addition to existing options like Breeze, Juniper, Cove, and Ember. These voices are designed to create a lifelike and engaging dialogue experience, each with distinct emotional tones and the ability to emphasize certain words for more natural interaction.

For instance:

  • Arbor is described as “easygoing and versatile.”
  • Ember conveys a “confident and optimistic” tone.

This nature-inspired naming reflects OpenAI’s focus on making AI interactions feel smoother and more relatable.

Usage Limits for Subscribers

While paying users gain early access to this feature, there are daily usage limits in place. Plus and Teams subscribers will receive notifications when they have 15 minutes of voice usage left for the day. Free users will receive limited monthly access to test the feature.

Kevin Weil, OpenAI’s Chief Product Officer, noted that these measures are necessary to manage resource availability as the feature scales up.

A Controversial Missing Voice

One notable absence is the previously available “Sky” voice, which was removed following legal and ethical controversies. Critics alleged that Sky bore a striking resemblance to Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson’s voice, leading to backlash and a lawsuit against OpenAI. Johansson’s legal representatives claimed that the company lacked permission to use a voice that closely mimicked her own. In response, OpenAI suspended this feature in May 2024.

OpenAI stated that any resemblance was unintentional, but internal comments referencing the film Her, where Johansson voiced an AI assistant, added fuel to the controversy. The company has since refrained from including voices that could lead to similar disputes.

What’s Next for Advanced Voice Mode

With this introduction of Advanced Voice mode on the web, OpenAI is taking another step toward making AI interactions feel more personal and accessible. The feature promises to transform user experiences by combining natural dialogue capabilities with versatile voice options.

As the rollout continues, OpenAI is expected to refine this feature further, eventually extending it to all ChatGPT users while addressing concerns around voice replication and ethical usage.

Future Enhancements

OpenAI plans ongoing improvements based on user feedback and technological advancements. The goal is not only to enhance user experience but also to ensure compliance with legal standards regarding voice replication.

In summary, with Advanced Voice mode now available on web platforms, OpenAI reinforces its commitment to creating engaging AI experiences that cater to diverse user preferences while navigating complex ethical landscapes associated with voice technology.

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