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India must solve problems in a unique manner; then we can solve similar problems globally: Ashok Jhunjhunwala

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“We need to solve our problems in a unique manner. If we do (so), we can solve similar problems globally,” said Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Institute Professor, IIT Madras.

Speaking at Tamil Nadu Story 2024, YourStory’s flagship event in the state, Jhunjhunwala emphasised the need to focus on large-scale national problems and solve them uniquely.

To illustrate this, he cited the challenges of improving the efficiency of heating and cooling systems in homes and industries, which account for a significant portion of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

“India has the lowest telephony and internet connection costs. No one else is doing it,” he said, highlighting India’s innovative approach to making technology affordable.

He also discussed future innovations such as autonomous public transportation and personalised energy-efficient buildings.

India’s progress over the years

India has undergone significant changes in the past three decades. From a time when basic amenities and technological infrastructure were scarce, India has now emerged as a global leader in various sectors, including IT services, space technology, and pharmaceuticals.

“Despite this progress, many households still struggle with outdated systems and infrastructure, posing challenges and opportunities for technological leadership,” Jhunjhunwala said.

After studying at the University of Maine, USA, Jhunjhunwala returned to in India in 1981.

He said, “When I came to India, 50% of the graduates were engineers,” underlining the educational challenges of that time.

He vividly remembered the struggles to make telephones accessible to everyone, reducing their cost from Rs 40,000 to Rs 10,000—a feat achieved in the 1990s.

This revolution in telecommunications was a turning point in India’s growth story, said Jhunjhunwala.

Leveraging young talent and education

Jhunjhunwala also pointed out the significant improvements in education over the years.

“Even in the 1980s, there were a lot of problems in education. But let’s look at the positives,” he said.

Today, India is producing millions of engineering graduates annually. However, he stressed the need for education to focus on practical application rather than just theoretical knowledge.

“Many youngsters focus on publishing papers rather than solving practical problems,” he remarked, urging a shift towards real-world applications.

The professor also highlighted the importance of collaboration between academia and industry.

“We brought together academia and industry around 2000-2005 to clean up the certified roster,” he said.

This collaboration led to the incubation of startups that are now integral to India’s growth story.

“We did not take money from the government or the industry; we actually borrowed money from the bank,” Jhunjhunwala stated, reflecting the self-sustaining model that many startups adopted.

Addressing the issue of brain drain, Jhunjhunwala noted, “Today, less than 10% of IIT graduates go abroad.”

He also pointed out that many top talents from Tier II and III cities prefer to work in India, contributing to the nation’s growth.

“People who are going abroad are not necessarily the brightest. Many prefer to work here,” he added, suggesting that India has ample talent to drive technological and economic progress.





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BrowserStack launches AI-driven Low Code Automation tool

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Software testing platform BrowserStack has rolled out Low Code Automation, a solution to simplify test automation for quality assurance teams, developers, and non-technical users. 

The newly launched solution will address challenges faced by software teams, including manual testing delays and complex automation frameworks, BrowserStack said in a statement. 

While traditional test automation requires coding expertise by often limiting non-technical testers to contribute, this tool allows user—irrespective of their technical background—to create and manage AI-driven automated tests without writing code. Users can also use BrowserStack’s cloud infrastructure for reliable test execution.

“(The AI-powered Low-Code Automation (LCA) simplifies the process of building and maintaining test automation suites compared to traditional tools like Selenium. It reduces the steep learning curve and complexity often associated with automation projects, leading to a quicker return on investment (ROI),” Chintan Doshi, Director of Product Management at BrowserStack, told YourStory

To support development teams worldwide, Low Code Automation speeds up testing cycles, boosts product quality, and enhances user experience by reducing technical barriers. 

“Citizen testers—such as business analysts, product managers, and customer support teams—can easily add validations and create automated tests with the test recorder, without requiring coding skills. This reduces their dependency on developers and QAs and empowers them to actively contribute to testing efforts,” Doshi explained.

Founded in 2011 by Ritesh Arora and Nakul Aggarwal, BrowserStack provides a cloud-based platform for developers to test websites and mobile apps across devices, operating systems, and browsers on demand.

With headquarters in San Francisco and Mumbai, the company has expanded its product line to include over 15 products, of which 10 were launched in the past 18 months.

In August, the Accel-backed firm acquired Berlin-based Bird Eats Bug, an advanced bug-reporting tool. The acquisition aims to address the existing gaps in bug reporting and streamline fragmented testing workflows.





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Flipkart’s delivery arm Instakart reports widening losses, lower revenue in FY24

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Flipkart’s delivery service arm Instakart’s FY24 losses increased multifold to Rs 1718.4 crore, from Rs 324.6 crore in the previous year, hurt by higher expenses and marginally lower revenues. 

The company, which is in the logistics, warehouse, courier and allied services business, clocked an operating revenue of Rs 12,115.3 crore in FY24, 5% lower than Rs 12,787.4 crore it posted a year ago, according to filings made with Toefler. 

During the period, the company’s total expenses increased 6% to Rs 14,149.4 crore, mainly driven by employee benefit and other expenses. 

Logistics services accounted for the majority (about 78%) of Instakart’s total operating revenues, with Rs 9,429.8 crore, marginally lower than what it collected in the previous year.

Warehousing services, which accounted for about 10% of total operating revenues, witnessed a 28.4% drop in revenue, while collection services, which accounted for 12%, remained stable. 

Just a week ago, Flipkart Internet reported a 21% rise in FY24 revenue at Rs 17,907.3 crore helped by rising income from its advertising services.

Flipkart India Ltd, which is Flipkart’s business-to-business (B2B) arm, reported a 26.4% rise in revenue from operations at Rs 70,541.9 crore in FY24. 





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Google Cloud to boost support for early-stage AI startups with new programmes, partnerships

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Google has rolled out a range of programmes and partnerships to accelerate the growth of AI startups In India. The initiatives, announced at an AI Startups Summit in Bengaluru, will support early-stage AI founders in building, scaling, and expanding their customer base through the utilisation of Google Cloud services.

 

The tech giant recently introduced Emerging ISV Partner Springboard—a 12-week programme designed to fuel growth for AI startups. Participants will benefit from hands-on support in creating go-to-market assets, consultations with Google AI experts for product refinement, guidance on technical architecture best practices, and streamlined onboarding to Google Cloud Marketplace. 

“Google is committed to empowering AI startups to drive innovation and growth. These initiatives demonstrate our dedication to providing critical support and resources to early-stage founders, helping them build and scale successful AI-powered businesses,” said Manish Gupta, Senior Director, Research, Google DeepMind. 

During a fireside chat at the Global Google Cloud Summit, Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian applauded startups leveraging AI and cloud technology

“At Google Cloud, our mission is to support these pioneers by providing the essential tools, resources, and mentorship they need to thrive. Through strategic partnerships, tailored programs, and advanced infrastructure, we are committed to enabling businesses to scale their impact and drive the next wave of digital transformation,” said Kurian. 

Early-stage founders will receive enhanced support through the Google for Startups Cloud Program, which will offer $200,000 in Google Cloud credits over two years. AI-based startups will receive even greater support, receiving $350,000 in credits to address the demanding computational needs of advanced AI development, the company said in a statement. 

In addition, Google has collaborated with Y Combinator to provide exclusive access to NVIDIA H100 GPUs and Google Cloud TPUs, along with cloud credits, support, and mentorship for its Summer 2024 group of AI-focused startups.

Furthermore, the tech giant is also joining forces with early-stage accelerators and incubators such as 500, StartX, and Berkeley Skydeck to provide early-stage founders with a special package, including Google Cloud credits, expert advice, and technical workshops

Earlier, the California-headquartered firm also announced the launch of Startup School: GenAI, a four-week training programme designed to help startups leverage AI.





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