<p>India's Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran has delivered a blunt warning to India's youth: the edge that software engineers and MBA graduates once enjoyed is no longer guaranteed. Speaking on an ANI podcast, Nageswaran said the era of white-collar dominance is fading and called on Indians to radically change how they view trade professions such as plumbing, carpentry, welding, and electrical work.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“The globalising world gave a certain advantage for your software, computer science, or MBA education, but that era is over,” Nageswaran said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The CEA took direct aim at India's deep-rooted cultural bias against manual trades. “If you are a welder, a plumber, an electrician, and a carpenter etc. India doesn't consider it a diploma; we call it a diploma. We kind of made it unacceptable, unrespectable, and unfashionable. That needs to change,” he said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Nageswaran contrasted India's attitude with that of countries that have achieved sustained economic success. He pointed to Switzerland, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and China as nations that place high social respectability on trade skills, treating them as central to economic development rather than as secondary choices for those who could not secure a degree.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>His core argument was that trade skills carry a unique resilience against automation. “These are the areas where, in fact, the technological advance cannot take away your employability. So you should equip yourself with trade skills,” he said. “It's about trade skills. It's about soft skills which AI cannot easily replace, where human presence is required.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>To illustrate his point, Nageswaran used the example of a chef. “You are actually sitting on a gold mine as a chef. You cannot be replaced by AI,” he said. “You have learned the skill that cannot be replicated by technology. So you are going to be a most respected professional in the years to come.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The remarks come at a time when India's job market is undergoing rapid disruption from artificial intelligence, with several entry-level white-collar roles in IT, finance, and back-office operations facing consolidation or elimination. Nageswaran's comments signal a shift in how India's top economic policymakers are thinking about employment, skills, and the future of work in an AI-driven economy.</p>

India's Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran says the era of MBA and software education advantage is over and urges youth to embrace trade skills AI cannot replace.

India's Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran has delivered a blunt warning to India's youth: the edge that software engineers and MBA graduates once enjoyed is no longer guaranteed. Speaking on an ANI podcast, Nageswaran said the era of white-collar dominance is fading and called on Indians to radically change how they view trade professions such as plumbing, carpentry, welding, and electrical work. “The globalising world gave a certain advantage for your software, computer science, or MBA education, but that era is over,” Nageswaran said. The CEA took direct aim at India's deep-rooted cultural bias against manual trades. “If you are a welder, a plumber, an electrician, and a carpenter etc. India doesn't consider it a diploma; we call it a diploma. We kind of made it unacceptable, unrespectable, and unfashionable. That needs to change,” he said. Nageswaran contrasted India's attitude with that of countries that have achieved sustained economic success. He pointed to Switzerland, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and China as nations that place high social respectability on trade skills, treating them as central to economic development rather than as secondary choices for those who could not secure a degree. His core argument was that trade skills carry a unique resilience against automation. “These are the areas where, in fact, the technological advance cannot take away your employability. So you should equip yourself with trade skills,” he said. “It's about trade skills. It's about soft skills which AI cannot easily replace, where human presence is required.” To illustrate his point, Nageswaran used the example of a chef. “You are actually sitting on a gold mine as a chef. You cannot be replaced by AI,” he said. “You have learned the skill that cannot be replicated by technology. So you are going to be a most respected professional in the years to come.” The remarks come at a time when India's job market is undergoing rapid disruption from artificial intelligence, with several entry-level white-collar roles in IT, finance, and back-office operations facing consolidation or elimination. Nageswaran's comments signal a shift in how India's top economic policymakers are thinking about employment, skills, and the future of work in an AI-driven economy.

<p>India's Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran said on an ANI podcast that the globalisation-driven advantage of software and MBA education is over and urged Indians to respect and embrace trade skills that artificial intelligence cannot replace.</p>

'Respect plumber, carpenter': India's economic advisor says MBA and Software job era is over in AI world

<p>As artificial intelligence companies race to build larger models and more powerful data centres, another challenge is moving into focus: climate impact. Anthropic, one of the world's leading AI startups, has joined Frontier, a carbon removal initiative that funds technologies designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The move makes Anthropic the first pure AI company to join the group and comes alongside a new $915 million funding commitment that pushes Frontier's total pledged funding to $1.8 billion.</p><p>The announcement is attracting attention because AI companies are facing increasing scrutiny over their energy consumption, data centre expansion and environmental footprint.</p><h2><strong>Why Anthropic's decision matters</strong></h2><p>Anthropic's membership is significant for one reason in particular. The company behind the Claude AI assistant has largely stayed away from major climate-related commitments until now. Unlike some large technology firms, Anthropic has not yet released a public sustainability report. The company has previously supported an "all of the above" energy strategy, a position often associated with using a broad mix of energy sources rather than relying exclusively on renewable power. Its decision to join Frontier therefore represents its first major climate-focused initiative. For observers of the AI industry, it may signal a shift in how AI companies approach environmental concerns as demand for computing power continues to grow.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>What Frontier actually does</strong></h2><p>Frontier was launched by technology companies including Google, Stripe and Shopify to help scale the carbon removal industry.</p><p>Its role is relatively simple. The organisation identifies and evaluates companies developing carbon removal technologies and then signs long-term contracts to purchase carbon removal credits from projects it believes can succeed. Those credits allow participating companies to offset some of their emissions while supporting the development of technologies that could help reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. Since launching in 2022, Frontier has committed nearly $700 million across more than 50 projects and contracted the removal of around 1.8 million tonnes of carbon. The organisation has supported a range of technologies, including direct air capture, enhanced rock weathering, bio-oil and ocean-based carbon removal methods.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Why carbon removal is becoming more important</strong></h2><p>Climate scientists have repeatedly argued that cutting emissions alone may not be enough. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, carbon dioxide removal technologies are likely to play a role in achieving global net-zero emissions targets. The challenge is that the industry remains relatively small and expensive. Many companies want to reduce their carbon footprint but struggle to find reliable large-scale carbon removal providers.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>That is where Frontier hopes to make a difference. The organisation acts as a shared platform that helps companies support emerging carbon removal technologies while reducing investment risks.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Frontier is becoming more selective</strong></h2><p>Alongside the new funding commitments, Frontier announced changes to its strategy. Rather than backing a large number of smaller projects, the organisation plans to focus on fewer projects with the potential to remove at least one billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually in the future. New contracts are expected to run for eight to ten years. Frontier also said future projects will face stricter requirements, including demonstrating a path towards government support or subsidy programmes. The growing AI and climate debate. Anthropic's decision arrives during a broader debate about artificial intelligence and sustainability. AI systems require enormous computing resources, which in turn demand significant amounts of electricity and water. Technology companies including Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta are investing billions of dollars in data centres to support growing AI demand. As those investments increase, pressure is also growing for companies to explain how they plan to manage their environmental impact. For Anthropic, joining Frontier may be only a first step. But it reflects a reality that many AI companies can no longer ignore: the future of artificial intelligence may depend not only on computing power, but also on how sustainably that power is produced and used.</p>

Anthropic has joined Frontier, becoming the first AI startup to back the carbon removal initiative. The move comes as AI companies face growing scrutiny over energy use, emissions and the environmental impact of rapidly expanding data centre infrastructure.

As artificial intelligence companies race to build larger models and more powerful data centres, another challenge is moving into focus: climate impact. Anthropic, one of the world's leading AI startups, has joined Frontier, a carbon removal initiative that funds technologies designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The move makes Anthropic the first pure AI company to join the group and comes alongside a new $915 million funding commitment that pushes Frontier's total pledged funding to $1.8 billion. The announcement is attracting attention because AI companies are facing increasing scrutiny over their energy consumption, data centre expansion and environmental footprint. Why Anthropic's decision matters Anthropic's membership is significant for one reason in particular. The company behind the Claude AI assistant has largely stayed away from major climate-related commitments until now. Unlike some large technology firms, Anthropic has not yet released a public sustainability report. The company has previously supported an "all of the above" energy strategy, a position often associated with using a broad mix of energy sources rather than relying exclusively on renewable power. Its decision to join Frontier therefore represents its first major climate-focused initiative. For observers of the AI industry, it may signal a shift in how AI companies approach environmental concerns as demand for computing power continues to grow. What Frontier actually does Frontier was launched by technology companies including Google, Stripe and Shopify to help scale the carbon removal industry. Its role is relatively simple. The organisation identifies and evaluates companies developing carbon removal technologies and then signs long-term contracts to purchase carbon removal credits from projects it believes can succeed. Those credits allow participating companies to offset some of their emissions while supporting the development of technologies that could help reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. Since launching in 2022, Frontier has committed nearly $700 million across more than 50 projects and contracted the removal of around 1.8 million tonnes of carbon. The organisation has supported a range of technologies, including direct air capture, enhanced rock weathering, bio-oil and ocean-based carbon removal methods. Why carbon removal is becoming more important Climate scientists have repeatedly argued that cutting emissions alone may not be enough. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, carbon dioxide removal technologies are likely to play a role in achieving global net-zero emissions targets. The challenge is that the industry remains relatively small and expensive. Many companies want to reduce their carbon footprint but struggle to find reliable large-scale carbon removal providers. That is where Frontier hopes to make a difference. The organisation acts as a shared platform that helps companies support emerging carbon removal technologies while reducing investment risks. Frontier is becoming more selective Alongside the new funding commitments, Frontier announced changes to its strategy. Rather than backing a large number of smaller projects, the organisation plans to focus on fewer projects with the potential to remove at least one billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually in the future. New contracts are expected to run for eight to ten years. Frontier also said future projects will face stricter requirements, including demonstrating a path towards government support or subsidy programmes. The growing AI and climate debate. Anthropic's decision arrives during a broader debate about artificial intelligence and sustainability. AI systems require enormous computing resources, which in turn demand significant amounts of electricity and water. Technology companies including Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta are investing billions of dollars in data centres to support growing AI demand. As those investments increase, pressure is also growing for companies to explain how they plan to manage their environmental impact. For Anthropic, joining Frontier may be only a first step. But it reflects a reality that many AI companies can no longer ignore: the future of artificial intelligence may depend not only on computing power, but also on how sustainably that power is produced and used.

<p>Anthropic has joined Frontier, becoming the first AI startup to back the carbon removal initiative. The move comes as AI companies face growing scrutiny over energy use, emissions and the environmental impact of rapidly expanding data centre infrastructure.</p>

Anthropic becomes first AI company to join Frontier's carbon removal effort as industry's energy demands rise

<p>Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, is racing against time to secure $9.3 billion in new debt and equity funding, but it’s not just about the money; it’s about the staggering pace at which the company is burning through it.&nbsp;</p><p>Even before the funds hit the bank, xAI’s plans to spend over half of the new capital in just the next three months underscore the dire financial realities of the AI industry.</p><p>xAI, which is responsible for the development of the AI-powered chatbot Grok, projects it will burn through about $13 billion in 2025, or over $1 billion per month, just to maintain its operations.&nbsp;</p><p>This excessive cash burn is emblematic of the immense financial demands that all AI companies are facing as they build the necessary infrastructure—from massive server farms to expensive specialised chips—to train next-generation AI models.</p><p>Musk’s startup, which only launched in 2023, is struggling to generate revenue at the same rate as some of its larger competitors. While ChatGPT creator OpenAI is on track to generate $12.7 billion in revenue this year, xAI’s revenues are expected to be just $500 million, with hopes of crossing the $2 billion mark in 2026. With such a cash burn rate and low revenue streams, xAI’s ability to secure financing remains crucial to its survival.</p><p>The AI industry’s financial burden is not unique to xAI. The costs associated with developing advanced AI models, from the infrastructure and compute power to the data storage and model training, are placing extreme financial pressure on all players in the space.&nbsp;</p><p>Venture capital (VC) firms are investing billions of dollars into AI, but there’s growing concern about the ability of these companies to reach profitability. As the industry grows, investors are increasingly asking questions about AI companies’ ability to survive the cash burn and find paths to sustainable profits.</p><h2><strong>The struggle for profitability</strong></h2><p>xAI is not an isolated case. Across the industry, many AI startups are burning through cash at an accelerated rate. According to a recent report by Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), AI startups now burn through capital twice as fast as their counterparts from previous years.&nbsp;</p><p>While this rapid scaling may promise massive returns in the future, it also increases the risk of financial instability, especially when revenue growth does not keep up with the mounting operational costs.</p><p>AI startups, particularly those involved in generative AI (GenAI), face a unique set of financial challenges. Unlike traditional software companies, where development costs are incurred once and can scale infinitely, AI companies must contend with ongoing operational costs for computing power, data storage, and continuous model updates.&nbsp;</p><p>This creates a structural margin crisis where each increase in workload consumes more money than it generates in revenue. Essentially, AI companies need to make massive investments in infrastructure while finding ways to monetise their technology without hitting margins that are too thin.</p><h2><strong>The “ZombieCorn” phenomenon</strong></h2><p>This rapid cash burn without profitability has given rise to the term ZombieCorn, describing startups with unicorn valuations but little to no revenue growth or clear exit strategies.&nbsp;</p><p>These companies are often trapped in an endless cycle of fundraising just to stay afloat, without any viable path to sustainable growth. As more and more AI startups join the ranks of these ZombieCorn companies, the spectre of a “dot-com bubble 2.0” looms large over the industry.</p><p>The situation is particularly grim for companies with high valuations but no profits. While there are still mega-rounds of funding for certain AI companies, the vast majority of AI startups are struggling to find capital.&nbsp;</p><p>As SVB's report highlights, AI-focused funds now account for a disproportionate share of venture capital, attracting about 40 per cent of the capital raised in 2024, despite constituting only 15 per cent of all VC funds.&nbsp;</p><p>This market concentration means that smaller companies are being squeezed out, while those with high valuations, like xAI, must contend with the pressures of rapid cash burn and intense competition for limited funding.</p><h2><strong>AI’s margin stack crisis</strong></h2><p>The financial troubles of startups like xAI are part of a broader trend in the AI industry, often referred to as the AI margin stacking problem. This issue refers to the compounding costs at each layer of the AI technology stack, which erode profit margins despite high demand for AI solutions.&nbsp;</p><p>From the data centres that host AI models to the algorithms that process information and the interfaces that deliver results, each component of the AI stack comes with its own set of expenses that gradually eat into profitability.</p><p>Take OpenAI as a case study. Despite projected revenues of $12.7 billion by 2025, the company is still facing enormous losses, with internal projections suggesting it will lose more than $20 billion by 2027.&nbsp;</p><p>The cost of training and running AI models like ChatGPT continues to increase, forcing firms to find new ways to optimise their operations and reduce infrastructure expenses. While OpenAI’s model is expected to become more profitable in the long term, particularly as emerging AI products begin to drive sales, the near-term financial pressures are hard to ignore.</p><p>The AI industry's margin crisis has far-reaching implications for investors. As AI startups continue to burn capital at unprecedented rates, venture capital firms are becoming more selective about where they place their money.&nbsp;</p><p>Investors now care as much about margin trajectory as they do about total addressable market (TAM) and growth rates. With valuations of AI companies being compressed due to these margin concerns, founders must increasingly focus on long-term sustainability, cost optimisation, and careful management of their financials.</p><h2><strong>Can AI become profitable?</strong></h2><p>Despite these significant financial challenges, the AI industry’s potential remains undeniable. AI is transforming industries, from healthcare and finance to marketing and entertainment, with the promise of increasing productivity and creating new value.&nbsp;</p><p>However, for many startups, the road to profitability is still long and uncertain. The question is not whether the AI market will grow but who will be able to survive long enough to benefit from it.</p><p>For now, the financial pressure on AI startups remains intense, with only the most disciplined and well-managed companies likely to survive the turbulent years ahead.</p>

Even before the funds hit the bank, xAI’s plans to spend over half of the new capital in just the next three months underscore the dire financial realities of the AI industry.

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, is racing against time to secure $9.3 billion in new debt and equity funding, but it’s not just about the money; it’s about the staggering pace at which the company is burning through it. Even before the funds hit the bank, xAI’s plans to spend over half of the new capital in just the next three months underscore the dire financial realities of the AI industry. xAI, which is responsible for the development of the AI-powered chatbot Grok, projects it will burn through about $13 billion in 2025, or over $1 billion per month, just to maintain its operations. This excessive cash burn is emblematic of the immense financial demands that all AI companies are facing as they build the necessary infrastructure—from massive server farms to expensive specialised chips—to train next-generation AI models. Musk’s startup, which only launched in 2023, is struggling to generate revenue at the same rate as some of its larger competitors. While ChatGPT creator OpenAI is on track to generate $12.7 billion in revenue this year, xAI’s revenues are expected to be just $500 million, with hopes of crossing the $2 billion mark in 2026. With such a cash burn rate and low revenue streams, xAI’s ability to secure financing remains crucial to its survival. The AI industry’s financial burden is not unique to xAI. The costs associated with developing advanced AI models, from the infrastructure and compute power to the data storage and model training, are placing extreme financial pressure on all players in the space. Venture capital (VC) firms are investing billions of dollars into AI, but there’s growing concern about the ability of these companies to reach profitability. As the industry grows, investors are increasingly asking questions about AI companies’ ability to survive the cash burn and find paths to sustainable profits. The struggle for profitability xAI is not an isolated case. Across the industry, many AI startups are burning through cash at an accelerated rate. According to a recent report by Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), AI startups now burn through capital twice as fast as their counterparts from previous years. While this rapid scaling may promise massive returns in the future, it also increases the risk of financial instability, especially when revenue growth does not keep up with the mounting operational costs. AI startups, particularly those involved in generative AI (GenAI), face a unique set of financial challenges. Unlike traditional software companies, where development costs are incurred once and can scale infinitely, AI companies must contend with ongoing operational costs for computing power, data storage, and continuous model updates. This creates a structural margin crisis where each increase in workload consumes more money than it generates in revenue. Essentially, AI companies need to make massive investments in infrastructure while finding ways to monetise their technology without hitting margins that are too thin. The “ZombieCorn” phenomenon This rapid cash burn without profitability has given rise to the term ZombieCorn, describing startups with unicorn valuations but little to no revenue growth or clear exit strategies. These companies are often trapped in an endless cycle of fundraising just to stay afloat, without any viable path to sustainable growth. As more and more AI startups join the ranks of these ZombieCorn companies, the spectre of a “dot-com bubble 2.0” looms large over the industry. The situation is particularly grim for companies with high valuations but no profits. While there are still mega-rounds of funding for certain AI companies, the vast majority of AI startups are struggling to find capital. As SVB's report highlights, AI-focused funds now account for a disproportionate share of venture capital, attracting about 40 per cent of the capital raised in 2024, despite constituting only 15 per cent of all VC funds. This market concentration means that smaller companies are being squeezed out, while those with high valuations, like xAI, must contend with the pressures of rapid cash burn and intense competition for limited funding. AI’s margin stack crisis The financial troubles of startups like xAI are part of a broader trend in the AI industry, often referred to as the AI margin stacking problem. This issue refers to the compounding costs at each layer of the AI technology stack, which erode profit margins despite high demand for AI solutions. From the data centres that host AI models to the algorithms that process information and the interfaces that deliver results, each component of the AI stack comes with its own set of expenses that gradually eat into profitability. Take OpenAI as a case study. Despite projected revenues of $12.7 billion by 2025, the company is still facing enormous losses, with internal projections suggesting it will lose more than $20 billion by 2027. The cost of training and running AI models like ChatGPT continues to increase, forcing firms to find new ways to optimise their operations and reduce infrastructure expenses. While OpenAI’s model is expected to become more profitable in the long term, particularly as emerging AI products begin to drive sales, the near-term financial pressures are hard to ignore. The AI industry's margin crisis has far-reaching implications for investors. As AI startups continue to burn capital at unprecedented rates, venture capital firms are becoming more selective about where they place their money. Investors now care as much about margin trajectory as they do about total addressable market (TAM) and growth rates. With valuations of AI companies being compressed due to these margin concerns, founders must increasingly focus on long-term sustainability, cost optimisation, and careful management of their financials. Can AI become profitable? Despite these significant financial challenges, the AI industry’s potential remains undeniable. AI is transforming industries, from healthcare and finance to marketing and entertainment, with the promise of increasing productivity and creating new value. However, for many startups, the road to profitability is still long and uncertain. The question is not whether the AI market will grow but who will be able to survive long enough to benefit from it. For now, the financial pressure on AI startups remains intense, with only the most disciplined and well-managed companies likely to survive the turbulent years ahead.

<p>Even before the funds hit the bank, xAI’s plans to spend over half of the new capital in just the next three months underscore the dire financial realities of the AI industry.</p>

xAI's $1 billion cash burn a month highlights the growing AI startup cash burn crisis

<p class="MsoNormal">According to a study undertaken by venture capital firm Accel, the United Kingdom has the most generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) startup companies in Europe and Israel.<o:p></o:p></p>

<h2 class="MsoNormal"><b>Startup distribution across Europe<o:p></o:p></b></h2>

<p class="MsoNormal">Accel's examination of 221 GenAI startups revealed that the UK was home to 30 per cent of these innovative companies. Germany comes in second with 14 per cent, closely followed by Israel with 13 per cent. France and the Netherlands are also big contributors, accounting for 11 per cent and 6 per cent of GenAI startups, respectively.<o:p></o:p></p>

<h2 class="MsoNormal"><b>Factors driving UK's leadership<o:p></o:p></b></h2>

<p class="MsoNormal">Several reasons contribute to the United Kingdom's leadership in GenAI technology. Its best universities, notably the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London, and Oxford University, are known for developing outstanding AI talent. The development of DeepMind in 2010, a pioneering AI startup acquired by Google, cemented the UK's standing as an AI innovation engine. Furthermore, significant investments from big US technology businesses have aided the establishment of GenAI startups in the country.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Accel stated that, despite the UK leading in the number of GenAI startups, French businesses have raised the most funding in recent years. Mistral, a Paris-based startup that is widely regarded as a European competitor to OpenAI, raised 600 million euros ($644 million) in its most recent fundraising round, putting the business's value at 5.8 billion euros.<o:p></o:p></p>

<h2 class="MsoNormal"><b>Funding trends and outlook<o:p></o:p></b></h2>

<p class="MsoNormal">Global GenAI startups raised more than $25 billion in funding in 2023, with that figure likely to rise to around $45 billion this year, according to Accel. The survey also revealed that many GenAI founders have previously worked for tech titans such as Alphabet, Apple, Amazon, DeepMind, Meta, or Microsoft, highlighting the industry's close ties to major tech ecosystems.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">"When looking deeper at these companies' roots, we begin to see where the main GenAI talent hubs exist in the region and the common paths founders take," said Harry Nelis, an Accel partner. He said that more than one-third of GenAI business founders have academic credentials, demonstrating the industry's reliance on academic research and knowledge.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><i>(With inputs from Agencies)</i><o:p></o:p></p>


According to a study undertaken by venture capital firm Accel, the United Kingdom has the most generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) startup companies in Europe and Israel.

According to a study undertaken by venture capital firm Accel, the United Kingdom has the most generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) startup companies in Europe and Israel. Startup distribution across Europe Accel's examination of 221 GenAI startups revealed that the UK was home to 30 per cent of these innovative companies. Germany comes in second with 14 per cent, closely followed by Israel with 13 per cent. France and the Netherlands are also big contributors, accounting for 11 per cent and 6 per cent of GenAI startups, respectively. Factors driving UK's leadership Several reasons contribute to the United Kingdom's leadership in GenAI technology. Its best universities, notably the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London, and Oxford University, are known for developing outstanding AI talent. The development of DeepMind in 2010, a pioneering AI startup acquired by Google, cemented the UK's standing as an AI innovation engine. Furthermore, significant investments from big US technology businesses have aided the establishment of GenAI startups in the country. Accel stated that, despite the UK leading in the number of GenAI startups, French businesses have raised the most funding in recent years. Mistral, a Paris-based startup that is widely regarded as a European competitor to OpenAI, raised 600 million euros ($644 million) in its most recent fundraising round, putting the business's value at 5.8 billion euros. Funding trends and outlook Global GenAI startups raised more than $25 billion in funding in 2023, with that figure likely to rise to around $45 billion this year, according to Accel. The survey also revealed that many GenAI founders have previously worked for tech titans such as Alphabet, Apple, Amazon, DeepMind, Meta, or Microsoft, highlighting the industry's close ties to major tech ecosystems. "When looking deeper at these companies' roots, we begin to see where the main GenAI talent hubs exist in the region and the common paths founders take," said Harry Nelis, an Accel partner. He said that more than one-third of GenAI business founders have academic credentials, demonstrating the industry's reliance on academic research and knowledge. (With inputs from Agencies)

UK leads Europe and Israel in generative AI startup landscape

<p>Suchana Seth, the 39-year-old CEO of a Bengaluru tech startup, has been arrested for the alleged murder of her four-year-old son.&nbsp;The unfolding details reveal a gruesome crime that took place in a Goa hotel, involving bloodstains, a resourceful cab driver, and alert hotel staff, according to police.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Seth checked into a service apartment in north Goa's Candolim on January 6 with her son. Two days later, she checked out alone, carrying a large bag, later revealed to contain the body of her child. The motive behind the murder remains unclear.</p>

<h2><strong>Demand for a long-distance cab</strong></h2>

<p>The alert hotel staff grew suspicious when Seth insisted on booking a cab for a nearly 600 km journey to Bengaluru, a distance easily covered by air in under 90 minutes. Despite suggestions to take a flight, she opted for a lengthy road trip.</p>

<p>The arrest unfolded when hotel staff at Sol Banyan Grande, Goa, noticed bloodstains while cleaning the room. They contacted the police, initiating a chain of events that led&nbsp;to Seth's arrest.</p>

<p>To arrest Seth, the police followed a strategic plan. They spoke to the cab driver in Konkani to prevent alerting her and directed him to a police station. The driver, showing remarkable composure, cooperated with the authorities. Upon inspecting the luggage, the child's body was found.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-is-suchana-seth-bengaluru-ceo-arrested-for-murdering-her-four-year-old-son-in-goa-678223">Also read |&nbsp;Who is Suchana Seth? Bengaluru CEO arrested for 'murdering' her four-year-old son in Goa</a></p>

<h2><strong>Estranged relationships and legal implications</strong></h2>

<p>Investigations revealed that Seth's relationship with her estranged husband, currently in the final stages of divorce, was strained. The father, away in Indonesia during the tragedy, has been summoned back for questioning.&nbsp;Seth hinted at dissatisfaction due to a court order, details of which remain undisclosed and subject to verification.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gujarat Global Summit 2024: Event begins Jan 10, 133 countries, 50 US firms to participate</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gujarat-global-summit-2024-event-begins-jan-10-133-countries-50-us-firms-to-participate-678214/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The child's body is undergoing a post-mortem at a Karnataka government hospital to determine the cause of death. The police are collecting CCTV footage from the hotel, and a forensics team is actively gathering evidence to piece together the&nbsp;puzzle.</p>

<p>Suchana Seth, the founder and CEO of Mindful AI Lab, an artificial intelligence start-up, is a 2017/18 Fellow at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Centre. Specialising in plasma physics and astrophysics, she holds a Master's degree from the University of Calcutta.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Suchana Seth, the 39-year-old CEO of a Bengaluru tech startup, has been arrested for the alleged murder of her four-year-old son. The unfolding details reveal a gruesome crime that took place in a Goa hotel, involving bloodstains, a resourceful cab driver, and alert hotel staff, according to police.

Suchana Seth, the 39-year-old CEO of a Bengaluru tech startup, has been arrested for the alleged murder of her four-year-old son. The unfolding details reveal a gruesome crime that took place in a Goa hotel, involving bloodstains, a resourceful cab driver, and alert hotel staff, according to police. Seth checked into a service apartment in north Goa's Candolim on January 6 with her son. Two days later, she checked out alone, carrying a large bag, later revealed to contain the body of her child. The motive behind the murder remains unclear. Demand for a long-distance cab The alert hotel staff grew suspicious when Seth insisted on booking a cab for a nearly 600 km journey to Bengaluru, a distance easily covered by air in under 90 minutes. Despite suggestions to take a flight, she opted for a lengthy road trip. The arrest unfolded when hotel staff at Sol Banyan Grande, Goa, noticed bloodstains while cleaning the room. They contacted the police, initiating a chain of events that led to Seth's arrest. To arrest Seth, the police followed a strategic plan. They spoke to the cab driver in Konkani to prevent alerting her and directed him to a police station. The driver, showing remarkable composure, cooperated with the authorities. Upon inspecting the luggage, the child's body was found. Also read | Who is Suchana Seth? Bengaluru CEO arrested for 'murdering' her four-year-old son in Goa Estranged relationships and legal implications Investigations revealed that Seth's relationship with her estranged husband, currently in the final stages of divorce, was strained. The father, away in Indonesia during the tragedy, has been summoned back for questioning. Seth hinted at dissatisfaction due to a court order, details of which remain undisclosed and subject to verification. Also watch | Gujarat Global Summit 2024: Event begins Jan 10, 133 countries, 50 US firms to participate The child's body is undergoing a post-mortem at a Karnataka government hospital to determine the cause of death. The police are collecting CCTV footage from the hotel, and a forensics team is actively gathering evidence to piece together the puzzle. Suchana Seth, the founder and CEO of Mindful AI Lab, an artificial intelligence start-up, is a 2017/18 Fellow at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Centre. Specialising in plasma physics and astrophysics, she holds a Master's degree from the University of Calcutta. (With inputs from agencies)

Suchana Seth son murder case: This is how alert hotel staff, a clever cab driver led to her arrest

<p>The majestic woolly mammoth went extinct over 4,000 years ago,&nbsp;however, they continue to captivate the imaginations of biologists and enthusiasts to date.&nbsp;</p>

<p>What if modern science manages to pull them back to Earth using Artificial Intelligence and elephant behaviour?</p>

<p>Fueling this fascination is a daring ambition by the US biotech startup Colossal, known as the "de-extinction company," which has set its sights on bringing back the woolly mammoth through genetic engineering.</p>

<p>The plan is to create a hybrid of the Asian elephant and the mammoth, which will be introduced to the Arctic tundra. While the project has received substantial financial backing, it has also attracted both curiosity and scientific scepticism.</p>

<h2><strong>Lots of challenges to overcome</strong></h2>

<p>To achieve success, Colossal must overcome numerous challenges, including crafting the animal's genetic sequence, successfully fertilising an egg, and then nurturing the hybrid.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the real test lies beyond birth, as scientists grapple with the question of how these creatures will thrive in the wild—a puzzle that may take a lifetime or more to solve.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To address this, Colossal is seeking guidance from other animals, specifically a group of elephants in Botswana.</p>

<h2><strong>Startup joins hands with an elephant&nbsp;organisation</strong></h2>

<p>The startup has joined forces with Elephant Havens, a wildlife foundation situated in the Okavango Delta, devoted to caring for orphaned elephants.</p>

<p>Elephant Havens, founded in 2017, will collaborate extensively with Colossal to gather data using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse the elephants' behaviour, coupled with genomic data for each elephant.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;This World | Will artificial intelligence be the end of humanity?</strong></p>

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<p>“We’ll be able to mix the art of the elephant handlers with the science of today,” said Matt James, chief animal officer at Colossal.</p>

<p>Colossal aims to combine the expertise of Elephant Havens with AI modelling and genetic data to deepen their understanding of elephant behaviour. This knowledge will be instrumental in the eventual rewilding of the woolly mammoth hybrids.</p>

<h2><strong>How crucial is AI in the de-extinction process?</strong></h2>

<p>AI plays a crucial role in this animal research endeavour. Colossal's founder, Ben Lamm, acknowledges, “Some of these technologies we take for granted in corporate America or in defence could be directly applied and have a meaningful impact on conservation,” he said. “These tools aren’t in the hands of the people that really need them,” he added.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ai-nuclear-weapon-of-software-wion-speaks-to-deepai-founder-kevin-baragona-602187"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;AI is the 'nuclear weapon of software'</strong></a></p>

<p>In the 'spirit of collaboration and contribution to wildlife conservation', Colossal plans to share its scientific breakthroughs with partners working on conservation efforts. By offering their technologies and expertise for free, they claim to make a meaningful difference in elephant conservation within the next five to ten years.</p>

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The majestic woolly mammoth went extinct over 4,000 years ago, however, they continue to captivate the imaginations of biologists and enthusiasts to date. What if modern science manages to pull them back to Earth using Artificial Intelligence and elephant behaviour?

The majestic woolly mammoth went extinct over 4,000 years ago, however, they continue to captivate the imaginations of biologists and enthusiasts to date. What if modern science manages to pull them back to Earth using Artificial Intelligence and elephant behaviour? Fueling this fascination is a daring ambition by the US biotech startup Colossal, known as the "de-extinction company," which has set its sights on bringing back the woolly mammoth through genetic engineering. The plan is to create a hybrid of the Asian elephant and the mammoth, which will be introduced to the Arctic tundra. While the project has received substantial financial backing, it has also attracted both curiosity and scientific scepticism. Lots of challenges to overcome To achieve success, Colossal must overcome numerous challenges, including crafting the animal's genetic sequence, successfully fertilising an egg, and then nurturing the hybrid. However, the real test lies beyond birth, as scientists grapple with the question of how these creatures will thrive in the wild—a puzzle that may take a lifetime or more to solve. To address this, Colossal is seeking guidance from other animals, specifically a group of elephants in Botswana. Startup joins hands with an elephant organisation The startup has joined forces with Elephant Havens, a wildlife foundation situated in the Okavango Delta, devoted to caring for orphaned elephants. Elephant Havens, founded in 2017, will collaborate extensively with Colossal to gather data using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse the elephants' behaviour, coupled with genomic data for each elephant. Watch: This World | Will artificial intelligence be the end of humanity? × “We’ll be able to mix the art of the elephant handlers with the science of today,” said Matt James, chief animal officer at Colossal. Colossal aims to combine the expertise of Elephant Havens with AI modelling and genetic data to deepen their understanding of elephant behaviour. This knowledge will be instrumental in the eventual rewilding of the woolly mammoth hybrids. How crucial is AI in the de-extinction process? AI plays a crucial role in this animal research endeavour. Colossal's founder, Ben Lamm, acknowledges, “Some of these technologies we take for granted in corporate America or in defence could be directly applied and have a meaningful impact on conservation,” he said. “These tools aren’t in the hands of the people that really need them,” he added. Also read: AI is the 'nuclear weapon of software' In the 'spirit of collaboration and contribution to wildlife conservation', Colossal plans to share its scientific breakthroughs with partners working on conservation efforts. By offering their technologies and expertise for free, they claim to make a meaningful difference in elephant conservation within the next five to ten years. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Woolly mammoth went extinct 4,000 years ago. Here's how a US startup plans to revive them

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Suchana Seth son murder case: This is how alert hotel staff, a clever cab driver led to her arrest

Woolly mammoth went extinct 4,000 years ago. Here's how a US startup plans to revive them