TECHNOLOGY

Beijing: A team of Chinese researchers has developed a new AI-powered tool named DeepRare that can rapidly and accurately diagnose rare and complex diseases, surpassing the performance of experienced doctors. According to a study published on February 18 in the journal Nature, DeepRare achieved 79% overall success in identifying diseases across 6,401 test cases, outperforming five senior doctors who correctly diagnosed only 66% of cases. How DeepRare Works DeepRare employs a large language model integrated into an agent-based framework. It leverages over 40 AI agents and tools to analyze medical notes, match symptoms to diseases, search relevant literature, and interpret genetic sequencing data. The tool generates a ranked list of potential diagnoses using verified medical references...

New Delhi: India has emerged as OpenAI’s second-largest market after the United States, with over 100 million weekly active users. A striking trend is the popularity of ChatGPT among young Indians: nearly 50% of queries come from users aged 18–24, and 80% of all queries are from users under 30. Coding and Professional Guidance Lead Usage Indian users are asking three times more coding-related questions than the global average. In addition, 35% of messages sent to ChatGPT are for professional guidance, compared to 30% worldwide. Other queries include general information (20%) and assistance with writing or content creation (20%**). Codex: India’s Favorite Coding Assistant OpenAI’s coding assistant, Codex, is particularly popular in India. The usage of Codex in India is three tim...

New Delhi: With the scorching heat arriving, it’s time to switch on your air conditioner. But many homeowners leave the service entirely in the technician’s hands, risking incomplete maintenance or unnecessary charges. By focusing on just five key aspects, you can ensure your AC performs optimally and lasts longer. 1. Clean Filters and Cooling Coils For window ACs, ensure the unit is removed and thoroughly cleaned. For split ACs, check that the air filters and indoor cooling coils have been properly cleaned. Dirt buildup can reduce cooling efficiency and may require repeated technician visits. 2. Check Gas Pressure and Leaks Technicians sometimes suggest gas refills without properly checking the pressure or leaks. Always ask for a pressure check, and if gas is low, fix the leak...

New Delhi/Bengaluru: While Galgotias University faced controversy for claiming a Chinese robot dog as its own, Bengaluru-based startup General Autonomy introduced India’s first homegrown robot dog, PARAM, at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, winning admiration for its fully indigenous design. Unlike imported robots assembled locally, PARAM was entirely designed and built by Indian engineers from scratch. The startup emphasized this in a social media post: “Enough nonsense! Presenting PARAM: India’s most powerful indigenous robot dog. Not assembled, not bought—built in India, by Indians. For our country, our century, our world.” Features That Stand Out PARAM is a four-legged autonomous robot capable of navigating complex environments. Demonstration videos shared by the company show ...

New Delhi: Google has taken major steps to safeguard users by blocking over 1.75 million apps from being published on the Google Play Store in 2025. These apps posed significant risks, including financial fraud, malware, and privacy breaches. Using AI-powered security tools, the company also banned more than 80,000 developer accounts involved in repeated policy violations. Stronger Privacy Protections According to Google’s annual security report, the company prevented over 255,000 apps from accessing users’ sensitive data. Google has strengthened its privacy policies and introduced tools such as Play Policy Insights in Android Studio and the Data Safety section on Google Play. These measures help developers request sensitive permissions less frequently and prioritize user-centric des...

New Delhi: Many people diligently update their phones and laptops but overlook software updates for their Smart TVs. While TV updates don’t arrive as frequently as mobile or laptop updates, installing them is crucial. Missing these updates can lead to poor picture or sound quality, unreliable WiFi connectivity, and various software bugs that spoil the viewing experience. Here are five key benefits of keeping your Smart TV updated: 1. Access to New Features Leading brands like Samsung and LG often include new features with software updates. For instance, Samsung added HDR10+ support to its QLED and NeoQLED TVs via updates. Installing these updates lets users enjoy the latest features without buying a new television. 2. Fixing Old Issues Updates also address long-standing bugs...

New Delhi: At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak playfully remarked on Delhi’s traffic, opening his speech with, “AI can do many things, but it cannot fix Delhi’s traffic.” While lighthearted, his comment underscored the larger point: AI has enormous potential to bring transformative change in society, even if it cannot solve every local problem. Sunak praised India’s readiness to become a global AI leader, citing its talent pool and robust digital infrastructure. He noted that while Western countries approach AI with caution and concern, India demonstrates enthusiasm and confidence in its AI ecosystem. He highlighted that India ranked third in the Stanford Global AI Vibrancy Report, reflecting a highly active AI environment. Leadership in AI Is Abo...

New Delhi: At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Microsoft President and Vice Chairman Brad Smith highlighted India as a key hub for the future of artificial intelligence. He announced that Microsoft plans to invest $50 billion by the end of this decade to expand AI across the Global South, with India being a primary focus. Smith emphasized that infrastructure alone is not enough to drive AI adoption. “Data centers and basic facilities like computing, connectivity, and electricity are essential, but equally important is providing skills and training to people,” he said. According to him, AI must be effective in every language to address local challenges and serve humanity meaningfully. He added, “To make AI truly useful for the Global South, we need widespread training so that populati...

New Delhi: Realme has launched its budget smartphone, the Realme P4 Lite 4G, in India with a starting price of ₹9,999. The device will be available for purchase on Realme’s official website and Flipkart, with the first sale starting on 24 February 2026. Early buyers can avail of ₹2,000 discounts through bank offers and coupons, bringing the effective price down to ₹7,999 for the base variant. The phone comes with a massive 6300mAh battery, supports 6W reverse charging, and features a 6.67-inch HD+ IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720×1600 pixels and peak brightness of 450 nits. It runs on Android 15 with Realme UI 6.0, powered by a UNISOC T7250 processor, and offers up to 12GB virtual RAM. Storage options include 64GB and 128GB, expandable via microSD card up to 2TB. Photography is ...

New Delhi: At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held in Delhi, leaders from Adobe and Accenture expressed strong confidence in India’s AI potential. Adobe CEO and Chairman Shantanu Narayen highlighted that India, with its vast population and rapid digital adoption, could become the world’s largest base of AI users. He emphasized India’s potential global leadership in data security and combating deepfakes. Speaking at the summit, Narayen said, “India’s AI journey will not be limited to creating models alone. The country has the opportunity to lead globally on issues of data, privacy, security, and trust. In the AI era, the biggest question is not just technology, but how data is used, how privacy is protected, and how systems earn people’s trust.” He also pointed to content authenticity as...