Hello,

The way AI is built is about to change.

That’s what OpenAI’s co-founder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever thinks as he predicts that pre-training is bound to end soon. Next-generation models, he predicted, are going to “be agentic in a real way.” 

He also said future AI systems will be able to work things out step-by-step in a way that is more comparable to thinking, unlike today’s AI, which mostly pattern-matches based on what a model has seen before.

OpenAI, meanwhile, wants payback. The ChatGPT maker published a blog post featuring Elon Musk’s old emails in which he pushed for the AI startup to be a for-profit. The move comes in response to Musk moving the court to stop OpenAI from moving to a for-profit business. 

The published emails also revealed Musk sought to be OpenAI’s CEO and outlined a plan where he would “unequivocally have initial control of the company” but said that would be temporary. The two other OpenAI co-founders objected, saying he would hold too much power.

ICYMI: Why OpenAI whistleblower, Suchir Balaji, who resorted to suicide, was critiquing ChatGPT.

While many folks on Instagram are having a light-hearted moment enjoying AI-generated spoofs of Bollywood movies, investors are serious about where to put the big bucks.

 Software firm Databricks, which helps enterprises process and analyse their data using AI, is nearing a deal that could become one of the largest venture capital funding rounds in history. It’s close to raising $9.5 billion.

If finalised, it would far surpass OpenAI’s $6.6-billion funding round—the largest-ever venture capital round in history.

Talk about scoring big bucks.

In today’s newsletter, we will talk about 

• A peek into Indian entrepreneurs’ reading list
• Amit Trivedi on balancing creativity with business
• This bar offers cocktails ‘ASPER’ seasons

Here’s your trivia for today: What is considered the oldest library in the world?

Books

Inside Indian entrepreneurs’ reading list

As the Indian startup ecosystem continues to innovate and disrupt the tech infrastructure, entrepreneurs and investors keep going back to business manuals and handbooks that have helped forge their decision-making skills to keep pace. 

YS Life dives into the personal libraries of some of the most notable Indian entrepreneurs and investors to uncover the books that have shaped their thought processes in 2024. 

Page turner:

• Kaivalya Vohra: Co-founder, Zepto: Atomic Habits by James Clear reminded me that progress is about compounding those tiny 1% improvements every day—whether it’s improving customer experiences or team efficiency.
• Kunal Bahl: Co-founder, Snapdeal and Titan Capital: I loved Poor Charlie’s Almanack’s (check the spelling of the title) (by Charlie Munger) multidisciplinary approach, emphasis on mental models, and focus on integrity and lifelong learning.
• Priyanka Gill: Co-founder, Good Glamm Group: The Hard Thing About Hard Things is like a trusted mentor for navigating the realities of running a business. It addresses the gritty, complex challenges of entrepreneurship with unfiltered honesty.

Upbeat

Amit Trivedi on balancing creativity with business

Earlier this year, the playback singer and composer Amit Trivedi announced his latest album—Azaad Collab—which features 22 music artists across 13 tracks. Amit has collaborated with the likes of Sunidhi Chauhan, Armaan Malik, Jubin Nautiyal, and Neeti Mohan, among others, to celebrate diverse voices in the Indian music industry. 

“It is a freedom of expression, of creating something that I resonate with, and like putting out there, without anybody telling me what to make and how to make it,” he reflects. 

Passion for music:

• “There is nothing called struggle, you just flow and you need to love what you’re doing, and be very passionate and dedicated to it…Things just flow and fall into place, that’s what happened to me,” Amit says. 
• Deadlines in particular are spoilsports for creativity. “Creativity is very fluid, it’s not stuck to a particular time limit…But as far as films are concerned, they have release dates set way in advance. We have to work according to those dates…”
• Music-composing is art, at the end of the day, Amit says. Having said that, to also keep creating tracks that are ‘commercial’ and resonate with the masses, it is important to find a balance. 

Wine and Food

This bar offers cocktails ‘ASPER’ seasons

It’s not just Gurugram’s skyline that vies for attention; its cocktail-forward restaurants and bars, too, are making noise for the right reasons. The newest kid to join the block is ASPER, set in the millennium city’s popular hotspot, The Kitchens, in DLF Phase 3. 

Highlights:

• Dolce and Banana cocktail is a spin on the fashion brand D&G. This whisky-based drink from the ‘Spring’ section, with the addition of banana cordial, cinnamon, tincture, and lime juice, bursts with tropical flavours.
• If you are an out-and-out chai fan, there’s a drink called Between the Sheets. The masala tea-infused gin cocktail includes tender coconut water and pandan leaf, creating an earthy taste on your palate.  
• Among the small plates, Shrooms and Burrata, Yam Koobideh Kebob paired with fresh pita, labneh, and fresh chilli sauce, and the Tamarind Caramel Pork Belly with crispy garlic chips on the side left an impression. 

News & updates

• Fake news: The BBC has filed a complaint with the US tech giant Apple over AI-generated fake news that was shared on iPhones and attributed to the broadcaster. One of the group notifications by Apple Intelligence suggested that the BBC News website had published an article claiming that Luigi Mangione, who was arrested in the US over the murder of a healthcare executive, had committed suicide.
• Mainstream: MicroStrategy, the preferred high beta play on the price of bitcoin, will join the Nasdaq 100 index, a move that could further increase demand for the controversial stock that has been on a torrid run this year, alongside the price of the cryptocurrency.
• Social media ban: A US appeals court rejected an emergency bid by TikTok to temporarily block a law that would require its Chinese parent company ByteDance to divest of the short-video app by January 19 or face a ban on the app.

What is considered the oldest library in the world?

Answer: The Royal Library of Ebla, located near Mardikh, Syria. It is estimated to date back to 2500-2250 BC. 

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The gaming landscape has undergone a revolutionary transformation in recent years, with cross-platform gaming emerging as a crucial force that unites diverse gaming ecosystems. Once boxed into distinct platforms—consoles, PCs, and mobile devices—gaming now allows players to seamlessly connect, compete and collaborate across devices of their liking. This evolution not only enhances player experiences but also reshapes the gaming industry‘s dynamics. 

The rise of cross-platform gaming 

Cross-platform gaming refers to the ability of players on different devices to interact within the same game environment.

Historically, gamers were restricted to playing with others who shared their platform, often leading to fragmented communities. This changed with technological advancements, developer cooperation, and increasing demand for inclusive gaming experiences. Pioneers like Fortnite, Minecraft and Call of Duty: Warzone have championed cross-platform play, enabling players across consoles, PCs and mobile devices to interact. This model has since inspired countless developers to adopt similar frameworks, recognising its potential to expand player bases and encourage community engagement. 

Technology behind the transition 

The transition to cross-platform gaming required overcoming technical and logistical challenges. Platforms like NVIDIA GeForce Now, Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Google Stadia allow games to be played on any device with minimal hardware requirements.

By streaming games directly from servers, cloud gaming breaks the dependency on specific hardware. Tools like Unreal Engine and Unity facilitate the development of games compatible with multiple platforms, streamlining cross-platform support. Services like Epic Games’ account system let players carry progress, purchases, and customizations across devices, enhancing continuity. Unified server ecosystems allow for real-time interaction between players, irrespective of their devices. 

Benefits of cross-platform gaming 

Cross-platform gaming offers numerous benefits that are reshaping the gaming experience for players worldwide. By removing device barriers, it drives inclusive communities where collaboration, competition and richer interactions thrive. It democratises gaming by enhancing accessibility, allowing mobile gamers to engage with high-end franchises traditionally dominated by consoles and PCs. Unified player bases reduce content gaps, ensuring the longevity and profitability of games over time. Furthermore, cross-platform gaming provides unparalleled flexibility, enabling players to switch devices without losing progress, ensuring uninterrupted and seamless experiences.

These advantages collectively highlight the transformative impact of cross-platform gaming on the industry. 

Challenges and criticisms 

While cross-platform gaming has gained immense popularity, it is not without its challenges and criticisms. Technical imbalances often arise, as PC gamers with superior hardware, peripherals and frame rates hold a competitive edge over console or mobile players, raising concerns about fairness. Security risks are another significant hurdle, with larger, unified player bases becoming more attractive targets for hackers, intensifying cybersecurity challenges.  

Additionally, platform rivalries have historically slowed progress, as companies like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo hesitated to embrace cross-platform gaming due to fears of losing their competitive edge—though recent years have seen a shift in this stance.  

Lastly, the development process itself is complex, demanding significant investment, time and expertise to ensure seamless compatibility across diverse platforms, adding to the industry’s challenges. 

Cross-platform gaming in the Indian context 

India’s gaming ecosystem, dominated by mobile gamers due to affordable smartphones and internet access, is also experiencing the cross-platform revolution. Games like Garena Free Fire and Call of Duty: Mobile are popular among Indian gamers, with increasing demand for seamless experiences between mobile and other devices. In the financial year 2022, the gaming market was valued at $2.6 billion and is projected to reach $8.6 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 27%.

This growth is not confined to metropolitan areas; Tier II and Tier III cities are significantly contributing to this expansion. As the country’s gaming market grows, cross-platform gaming is poised to play a pivotal role in uniting players across socio-economic and geographic boundaries. 

Future of cross-platform gaming 

As technology advances, the integration of metaverse concepts and blockchain-based gaming is expected to further blur platform boundaries. Imagine an ecosystem where a player’s in-game assets, progress, and identity are universally accessible, independent of the platform. Cross-platform gaming is not merely a trend but a reflection of the industry’s commitment to inclusivity, accessibility and innovation. It bridges gaps, encourages collaboration and ensures gaming remains a universal language of entertainment. As gamers continue to demand seamless, device-agnostic experiences, cross-platform gaming will undoubtedly become the standard, shaping the future of interactive entertainment.

(Jaya Chahar is Founder and CEO of Trade Fantasy Game.) 

Vadodara-based electric vehicle maker Wardwizard Innovations & Mobility expects 30-35% of sales volume to come from electric three-wheelers going forward. 

The company also said it is aiming to close the current financial year with up to 42,000 units in sales.

Wardwizard Innovations & Mobility has expanded its product portfolio under the Joy-e-rik and Joy-e-bike business with two new launches in the passenger segment and two for the commercial segment. It has also unveiled a high-speed electric two-wheeler.

“Three-wheeler sales, we are expecting, to contribute 30-35% in our overall vehicle sales,” Akhtar Khatri, Director for Sales and Strategy, told reporters during a media interaction. 

The company is looking to sell 35,000-40,000 two-wheelers, besides 2,000 three-wheelers, this fiscal, while the target for the next financial year (FY26) is to sell 50,000 units of electric two-wheelers and 10,000 electric three-wheelers. 

Wardwizard also said the current production capacity stands at 1.20 lakh units per annum for e-two-wheelers and 60,000 units annually for e-three-wheelers. 

The high-speed electric scooter Nemo, priced at Rs 99,000 (ex-showroom) is designed for urban roads, offers three drive modes—eco, sport, and hyper. It is equipped with a 72V, 40Ah lithium-ion (NMC) battery with Smart BMS for extended life and performance, the company said. 

The company claimed that Nemo offers a running cost as low as 17 paisa per km. 

The company also announced the booking of the e-scooter and has offered an introductory price of Rs 98,000 till next month. 

The passenger segment e-three-wheeler Joy-e-rick, which comes at a starting price of Rs 3.85 lakh (ex-showroom), comes equipped with a 10.24 kw Lithium-ion battery, a top speed of 50 km and a range of 150 km on a full charge, as per the company. 

The passenger e-rickshaw Joy Bandhu is powered by a 48V BLDC motor and delivers a peak power of 1.59 kW, while the 7.2 kW lead-acid battery pack provides a range of 100-120 km per charge. Its price range starts at Rs 1.34 lakh (ex-showroom), Wardwizard Innovations & Mobility said.

The e-three-wheeler for the cargo segment has been priced at Rs 4.24 lakh (ex-showroom) and the e-rickshaw (for the cargo segment) at Rs 1.30 lakh (ex-showroom), respectively, it said.

“Our new models, under both business verticals, mark a significant milestone in our commitment to advancing India’s transition to green and eco-friendly mobility,” said Chairman and Managing Director Yatin Gupte.