But despite the removal of what many feel to be both a core capability and function of any internet chatbot, large numbers of people continue to talk to the “characters” of Character.AI—a term the platform uses loosely, even encompassing things like AI assistants, which answer queries just as ChatGPT might, but with humanoid names and faces. There’s extensive guidance for character creation—essentially teaching users to do the work of training bots themselves—and the terms of service makes it clear that everything on both the training side and the chatting side is the intellectual property of those who input it, leaving the platform itself as a mere middleman, though not a particularly transparent one. Even if Character.AI might want you to get emotionally attached to its coding bots (your fellow “pair programmer”) or its grammar bots (your “English teacher”), it’s the characters you’ve heard of, real or fictional, that have sparked the most interest across the social web. “Billie Eilish” currently has six times the amount of interaction of “Joe Biden”; both of them eclipse “Alan Turing.” “Remember: Everything Characters say is made up!” reads a cheerful message atop every chat, and which evokes memories of Historical Figures, the supposedly -educational app that went viral earlier this year when users’ chats with, well, historical figures spit out utter nonsense (and not even interesting nonsense). Character.AI is already proving a complex space, from fans’ relationships with the companies that own characters to fandom’s wide range of opinions about AI to what it means to directly interact with a character you love. But the app’s fictional characters have also garnered a fair amount of attention from fandom, where the idea of chatting with your actual favorite character might hold more affective appeal than chatting with a fake English teacher. The #characterai tag on Tumblr is awash with screenshots from the platform, many of them also tagged “self-insert” or “x reader,” a subgenre of fan fiction in which you engage with known characters (often—but not always—romantically and/or sexually) via the second-person narration of an unnamed “reader,” sometimes written as Y/N, or “your name.” X reader fic is regularly invoked in discussions of Character.AI and fandom, as is chat-based roleplaying, which fans have been engaging in for decades. But these parallels only resemble what’s happening here on the surface—and for fandom, Character.AI is already proving a complex, sometimes thorny space, from fans’ relationships with the companies that own the characters to fandom’s wide range of opinions about AI to what it means to directly interact with a character you love. “Chatbots have existed in the context of fandom for the past 10 years, and gained more traction around five years ago,” says Nicolle Lamerichs, a senior lecturer in creative business at the University of Applied Sciences, Utrecht. “Often these chatbots were initiated by companies to market to fans specifically, and allow for more interaction with their brand.” Most of these pre-programmed bots offered a limited number of responses and interactions, like Disney’s Facebook Messenger–based Zootopia chatbot, or Marvel’s Conversable, also via Facebook as well as X (previously known as Twitter), which let you DM Marvel characters. But the rise of generative AI has utterly altered the top-down, corporate-sanctioned way fans were previously able to chat with characters. “These tools have become democratized,” Lamerichs says. “This is leading to new types of fanworks and fan interaction, which is very interesting to observe.” This democratizing element opens up complicated questions about copyright and AI, but right now, like most questions about copyright and AI, there are no clear answers. “We’re still very much in the vocabulary-building phase,” says Meredith Rose, senior policy counsel at Public Knowledge, a consumer advocacy organization that focuses on tech issues. “You have copyright specialists who now have to learn specifically about the tech that underlies this stuff—and because things like fair use determinations, which are crucial to AI discussions, are very, very fact-specific, you have copyright experts who need to understand all the intermediate steps that go on under the hood in a generative AI platform, and that kind of learning takes a lot of time.”

By Market Capitalisation.Net Sales.Net Profit.Total Assets.Excise.Other Income.Raw Materials.Power & Fuel.Employee Cost.PBDIT.Interest.Tax.EPS.Investments.Sundry Debtors.Cash/Bank.Inventory.Debt.Contingent Liabilities. Screen Crit AbrasivesAerospace & DefenceAgricultureAir ConditionersAirlinesAluminium & Aluminium ProductsAmusement Parks/Recreation/ClubAquacultureAuto AncillariesAuto Ancillaries – Air Conditioning PartsAuto Ancillaries – Auto, Truck & Motorcycle PartsAuto Ancillaries – Axle shaftsAuto Ancillaries – BearingsAuto Ancillaries – BrakesAuto Ancillaries – Bus BodyAuto Ancillaries – Castings/ForgingsAuto Ancillaries – ClutchesAuto Ancillaries – Diesel EnginesAuto Ancillaries – Engine PartsAuto Ancillaries – GearsAuto Ancillaries – Head lamps & lightsAuto Ancillaries – OthersAuto Ancillaries – PistonsAuto Ancillaries – Seating covers & partsAuto Ancillaries – Sheet MetalsAuto Ancillaries – Shock absorbersAuto Ancillaries – Spare Parts & AccessoriesAuto Ancillaries – SpringsAuto Ancillaries – Tyres & Rubber ProductsAuto Ancillaries – WheelsAuto AncillaryAutomobile – 2 & 3 WheelersAutomobile – Auto & Truck ManufacturersAutomobile – Dealers & DistributorsAutomobile – LCVS/ HVCSAutomobile – Passenger CarsAutomobile – TractorsAutomobile – Trucks/LCVsBank – PrivateBank – PublicBatteriesBeveragesBiotechnology & Medical ResearchBPO/ITeSBreweries & DistilleriesCable & D2HCablesCarbon BlackCementCement & Construction MaterialsCeramics/Marble/Granite/SanitarywareChemicalsCigarettes/TobaccoCoalCommodity ChemicalsCompressors / PumpsComputer PeripheralsConstruction – InfrastructureConstruction – Real EstateConstruction – Residential & Commercial ComplexesConsumer FoodContainers & PackagingCourier ServicesCyclesDefenceDetergents & SoapsDiamond & JewelleryDiversifiedDiversified ChemicalsDomestic AppliancesDyes & PigmentsEducational InstitutionsElectric EquipmentElectric Equipment – Boilers / TurbinesElectric Equipment – SwitchgearsElectric Equipment – TransformersElectrodes & Electrical EquipmentsElectrodes & Welding EquipmentElectronic GoodsElectronics – ComponentsEngineeringEngineering – ConstructionEngineering – Industrial EquipmentsETFFastenersFerro ManganeseFertilizersFilm Production, Distribution & EntertainmentFinance – HousingFinance – InvestmentFinance – NBFCFinance – OthersFinance – Stock BrokingFinance Term LendingFish/Poultry & Meat ProductsFood & Drug RetailingFood ProcessingFootwearGas DistributionGlass & Glass ProductsGoldGold ETFGround Freight & Logistics ServicesHospital & Healthcare ServicesHotel, Resort & RestaurantsHousehold & Personal ProductsInfrastructureIron & SteelIT – EducationIT – NetworkingIT Services & ConsultingLabs & Life Sciences ServicesLaminates/DecorativesLeatherLeisure ServicesLife & Health InsuranceLogisticsLPGLubricantsMediaMedical Equipment/Supplies/AccessoriesMetals & MiningMetals – Castings/ForgingsMetals – Non FerrousMisc. Commercial ServicesMiscellaneousMultiline Insurance & BrokersOil Exploration and ProductionOnline Servicesother agriculture productsOther Construction MaterialsOthers-Industrial Gases & FuelsOthers-ManufacturingPackaging – FilmsPackaging – Packaging MaterialsPackaging – PolyfilmsPackaging – Sacks and BagsPackaging Materials-Containers & PackagingPackaging Materials-Plastic ProductsPaintsPaper & Forest ProductsPaper & Paper ProductsPesticides & AgrochemicalsPharmaceuticals & DrugsPhotographic ProductsPlastic ProductsPlastic Products – OthersPlastics – Moulded Articles and FurnituresPlastics – Pet Bottels, Jars & ContainersPlastics – Self Adhesive TapesPlastics – ThermoplasticsPlastics – Tubes/Pipes/Hoses & FittingsPortsPower Generation/DistributionPrinting & PublishingPrinting & StationeryPrinting And PublishingRailways WagonsRatingsReal Estate OperationsReal Estate Rental, Development & OperationsRefineriesRefractoriesReinsuranceRenewablesRetailingRubber ProductsShip BuildingShippingSoftwareSolvent ExtractionSpeciality ChemicalsSpeciality RetailersSpecialty Mining & MetalsSugarTea/CoffeeTelecommunication – EquipmentTelecommunication – Service ProviderTelecommunications ServicesTextile – MachineryTextile – SpinningTextilesTextiles & ApparelTradingTransmission Towers / EquipmentsTransport InfrastructureTravel ServicesTV Broadcasting & Software ProductionVegetable Oils & ProductsWatches & AccessoriesWood & Wood Products Screen Code

To push profitability, Chingari is spending less than 1 Cr a month on user acquisition; the startup is also focussing on streamlining its workforce Inc42 reported earlier that Chingari was seen building an adult entertainment app with salacious ads and promos In FY22, it reported a net loss of INR 139.4 Cr, a jump of 225.7% from INR 42.8 Cr in FY21 Short-video sharing platform Chingari has turned operationally profitable, Chingari CEO and cofounder Sumit Ghosh claimed.  “We are finally profitable and will do business with our monthly revenues from now on. Not burning VC cash anymore or need to raise to sustain the business. We still have a few million USD left in the bank, which we have kept aside for the rainy days,” Ghosh claimed on Twitter. The announcement comes at a time when Chingari has laid off more than 50% of its workforce in the second round of layoffs within two months. The layoffs impacted employees from product, customer support, design and marketing teams. Navigating the Path to Profitability In the startup’s early stages, he stated that the primary objective was rapid growth, regardless of cost. The startup invested heavily in acquiring users through inorganic means without giving much thought to revenue generation or a sustainable business model, he said. He was of the view that money would follow if Chingari was able to show growth.  “In 2022 Markets turned, mid of 2022 even though we were growing at 500K downloads a day, no VC would take a bite as there was no clear monetisation plan. I realised this won’t lead us anywhere, reduced all inorganic media buys, focused on quality user acquisition, users who can be monetised,” Ghosh added. At present, the startup is allocating less than INR 1 Cr per month for user acquisition, with a Customer Lifetime Value (LTV) to Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) ratio of 4:1. Chingari kicked in monetisation strategy in May 2023 and anticipates improved financial metrics soon. According to Ghosh, profits generated each month will be reinvested to fuel further growth. “When we raised funds, specially around GARI launch, we had raised lots of capital. We thought oh now we will become a big company, we need to hire professional people across the board, this was our biggest mistake, along with the good guys, we actually hired a bunch of corporate bozos who just came, did nothing, gave corporate Gyan and warmed chairs all day and left,” Ghosh said in his recent Twitter post. Ghosh added that the Bengaluru-based startup eventually fired them due to low delivery, while the startup overspent on this talent pool. He also acknowledged that building a D2C business and figuring out a viable business model is difficult in India as the companies have to pay Google or Facebook to acquire users, Google or Apple 30% tax on all the store billed payments, pay a GST on the income from users, among other expenses. Last week, the startup laid off more than 50% of its workforce after firing 20% of its workforce in June. Chingari now has an employee base of 50-60 only following the latest round of layoffs.  While it is cutting costs on employee expenses and finding more avenues to profitability, it recently became a digital partner of the UK-based Southall FC, an eighth-division football club. Chingari will offer a range of digital services to help enhance the club’s online presence and fan engagement. Chingari In Troubled Waters Founded in 2018 by Sumit Ghosh, Aditya Kothari, Biswatma Nayak and Deepak Salvi, Chingari rose to prominence after the Indian government banned Tiktok and other Chinese apps in 2020, citing security concerns. Earlier this year, its cofounder, Kothari, exited the startup. At the beginning of this year, Chingari received an undisclosed amount of equity funding from Aptos Labs, the company behind the launch of Layer 1 blockchain Aptos. Last year, the short video startup secured $15 Mn in a funding round led by Republic Capital. In October 2021, it introduced a crypto token named $GARI and a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace. $GARI is the native token of Chingari and enables short-form video creators to monetise their content on the blockchain. As per CoinMarketCap, GARI was trading at a value of $0.01393 on Monday (August 28th), 98.67% down from its highest value of $1.05 in January 2022.  This year, Chingari forayed into 18+ content with paid live one-on-one calls between creators and users to improve engagement and increase app downloads. In an extensive investigation, Inc42 also found a series of recruitment posts for creators with promises of big payouts, in addition to several social media ads and videos featuring salacious promises. The creators on the platform were found encouraging users to make 1-on-1 calls, and most users tend to accept them upon receiving an in-app gift. While it could be one of the ways to monetise the platform, the moral and ethical questions arise if Chingari can take this route. In FY22, the startup reported a net loss of INR 139.4 Cr, a jump of 225.7% from INR 42.8 Cr in FY21. Meanwhile, the total income rose 137X to INR 49.4 Cr from INR 36 Lakh in FY21.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is not too prolific on social media. He has a Twitter (now known as X) account but he isn’t one of those who posts daily on social media. Which is why it came as a surprise when an Instagram account under his name was spotted. A report by 9to5Mac reveals that the account — which is followed by senior Apple executives — is actually a fake one. The account does look ‘real’ and till now has just two posts. One was made on August 20 — World Photography Day — and shared two images clicked by the iPhone. The second post is related to an ad campaign by Apple. The fake account is followed by two senior Apple vice presidents — Lisa Jackson and Alan Dye. A few other Apple employees also follow the fake account, reveals the report. Not too active on social media As mentioned above, Cook doesn’t have too many social media accounts. He does have an account on Weibo — the Chinese social media platform but apart from that Cook doesn’t do too much social media. While Apple does have official accounts on TikTok, and Instagram, the company CEO has refrained from making personal accounts on any of those platforms. Meanwhile, we can expect Cook to soon share a few posts on X in the next month. Apple is expected to reveal the new iPhones sometime in September. Traditionally, Cook does make a few posts. One on the event day and then after the iPhones are announced. He also generally posts on the day the iPhones are expected to go on sale. Otherwise, Cook’s posts are far and few in between and are focused on Apple. Cook doesn’t use his X account for anything personal but his posts are about important Apple announcements, or images clicked by iPhones or when he wishes people on some festive occasions.

Better.com CEO Vishal Garg is known most for his infamous Zoom call in 2021 during which he fired over 900 employees. During the brutal call, he reportedly accused at least 250 terminated employees of stealing from the digital mortgage company by over-reporting their working hours. Garg is said to have later admitted to his remaining staffers that he had “blundered the execution” of the job cuts. But despite that since 2021, Better.com has laid off over 90% of its workforce. In 2022, Better.com merged with SPAC Aurora Acquisition Corp. The combined entity is called Better Home & Finance Holding Company. The company recently made its public debut Thursday on Nasdaq Capital Market. On the occasion, Garg spoke to TechCrunch. He answered a number of questions including that infamous Zoom call.What Vishal Garg saidWhile answering a question on how he has worked to rebuild trust within, and outside, the company, Garg replied. “A lot of leadership training. I think I was very mission-centric, customer centric, and really, really focused on what it took to drive growth. And I think I’ve learned now that in order for our customers to be delighted, our teammates also have to feel delight. So I’ve worked really, really hard to change the way that I show up to the team every day, and to be more empathetic and to treat them with the same level of kindness that I showed our customers.”“And then the second thing is we’ve continued to innovate on our mission, which is to make homeownership more affordable and more accessible, and ultimately the 1,000 people that are at Better.com today are driven not just by me but really by our mission, which is to make homeownership more affordable and more accessible,” he added.

Connect with Mr. Ramakrishnan M https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramakrishnanm/ Mr. Kapil (KK) https://www.linkedin.com/in/kapil-kumar-kk-9bb5452a/ 9953031985 🎉 Welcome to CROSSROADTIMES – Your Gateway to Success and Inspiration! 🌟 🎙️ Join us for an electrifying episode featuring Mr. Ramakrishnan M, a Venture Capitalist, Director of Growpital, and an astute investor at Zypp. Hosted by the dynamic Mr. Kapil Kumar, a serial entrepreneur, growth expert, and investor, this episode is a treasure trove of investment wisdom and entrepreneurial insights. 🚀 In this podcast, Mr. Ramakrishnan shares his extraordinary journey from the corporate world to the realm of entrepreneurship and investment. Discover how he navigated challenges and built a successful career in the startup ecosystem. Get ready to gain valuable insights into the art of smart investing, nurturing startups, and building a thriving portfolio. 💼 Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned investor, or simply curious about the world of investment, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. 🎧 Don’t miss out! Hit that ‘Subscribe’ button and stay tuned for more engaging conversations with industry leaders, hosted by the remarkable Mr. Kapil Kumar. Timecodes:- 🎙️ 00:00 Introduction 📈 01:02 Mr. Ram’s Journey into Investment 🌾 04:45 The Fascination with Farming for Investors 🤖 09:27 AI’s Impact on Agriculture 💡 12:30 Top 5 Agricultural Challenges 😄 14:57 Hilarious Moments Working with Farmers 💰 17:40 Parameters for Startup Funding 🚀 25:00 Validating Your Business Idea 💎 28:20 Navigating Startup Valuations 🦈 31:00 Ram’s Take on Shark Tank ☕ 32:34 Chai or Beer: The Ultimate Choice 📊 36:00 Deciphering Pitch Decks from an Investor’s Lens #InvestmentInsights #AgricultureTech #StartupFunding #BusinessValuation #SharkTankIndia #PitchDeckTips #IndianStartups #AgricultureChallenges #StartupEcosystem About Crossroadtimes :- We believe in empowering you with the knowledge and strategies to unleash your full potential. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a go-getter looking for inspiration, or an industry expert seeking valuable tips, this channel is your ultimate resource. 🎥 Each video is carefully crafted to provide you with actionable advice, thought-provoking discussions, and real-life experiences that will elevate your business and personal life. 🔔 Hit that subscribe button and ring the notification bell so you never miss a moment of our content. Join our vibrant community of like-minded individuals and be part of a journey that leads to success, fulfillment, and continuous growth. 🌟 Let’s thrive together, overcome challenges, and celebrate achievements as we navigate the path to greatness. Are you ready to embrace the limitless possibilities? Subscribe now #CROSSROADTIMES and let’s unlock your potential together! 🚀✨ ——————————————————————————— ✅ Follow Crossroad Times Social media Handles :- Facebook :- @crossroadtimes https://www.facebook.com/crossroadtimes Instagram :- @crossroadtimes https://www.instagram.com/crossroadtimes/ Linked.in :- @crossroadtimes https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossroadtimes/ Twitter :- @crossroadtimes Tweets by CrossRoadTimes 🎉 Calling all Achievers and Visionaries! 🌟 If you have a remarkable success story to share, an inspiring journey that the world needs to hear, or valuable insights that can ignite growth, we want to hear from you! 📩 Contact our passionate podcast team at crossroadtimes@gmail.com and let’s create magic together! 🎙️ Whether you’re an accomplished entrepreneur, an industry trailblazer, or someone who’s overcome significant challenges, we’re eager to showcase your achievements and inspire our global audience. More :- WWW.CROSSROADTIMES.COM source

One of the crucial mistakes made by healthcare startups is failing to comprehend the complexity of the industry Further, many healthcare startups rely heavily on venture funding while innovating endlessly, without a clear path to profitability Entrepreneurs must understand the intricacies of the industry, collaborate with stakeholders and prioritise user needs and market research In recent years, the healthcare industry has witnessed an explosion of startups promising innovative solutions to revolutionise patient care, improve accessibility, and reduce costs. However, amid the buzz and excitement, many of these ventures failed to achieve their goals. The reasons behind the downfall of these healthcare startups are multifaceted, but a critical analysis reveals common mistakes that can serve as valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Typical Mistakes Healthcare Startups Make While technology has the potential to transform healthcare, some startups have fallen into the trap of developing solutions solely for the sake of innovation, rather than addressing the needs of patients, providers and payers.  Ignoring user-centric design principles and failing to conduct comprehensive market research often results in products and services that fail to gain traction or align with existing workflows, hindering adoption and scalability. Healthcare startups also fail to comprehend the complexity of the industry and neglect establishing partnerships with established healthcare providers, regulatory bodies and medical professionals. Ignoring the valuable insights these stakeholders bring to the table often leads to a disconnect between the startup’s vision and the realities of healthcare delivery, resulting in unsustainable business models. Further, many healthcare startups rely heavily on venture funding while innovating endlessly, without a clear path to profitability. Such startups struggle to identify and implement viable revenue models and are at a high risk of capitulating. Sustainable business models should consider factors such as reimbursement mechanisms, pricing structures and strategic partnerships to ensure long-term viability. Healthcare is also a highly regulated industry and startups must navigate the complex legal frameworks to ensure compliance with privacy, security and data protection regulations. Neglecting these crucial aspects can lead to significant setbacks, loss of trust and even legal ramifications. Further, ethical considerations, such as maintaining patient confidentiality, respecting consent and ensuring equitable access, must be ingrained in the startup’s core values. Bouncing Back From Failure The rise and fall of healthtech startups can be put down to any number of mistakes, but the lessons derived from these failures are invaluable. Entrepreneurs and investors must understand the intricacies of the healthcare industry, collaborate with established stakeholders and prioritise user needs and market research. By doing so, they can foster a culture of innovation and build startups that truly transform healthcare, benefiting patients, providers, and the industry. The future of healthcare entrepreneurship depends on our ability to acknowledge past failures and embrace a more informed, collaborative and user-centric approach to building and scaling startups in the healthcare landscape.

In a recent development, India’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has issued a high-severity warning to Google Chrome users regarding multiple vulnerabilities found in specific versions of the popular web browser. This advisory is crucial for anyone using Google Chrome as it highlights potential risks associated with these specific browser versions.What’s the warningThe advisory states that “Multiple vulnerabilities have been reported in Google Chrome which could be exploited by an attacker to execute arbitrary code and gain access to sensitive information on the targeted system.” This is a serious matter that demands immediate attention to protect users’ data and systems from potential breaches.These vulnerabilities, classified as high-severity, are attributed by CERT-In to several factors, including ‘use after free’ scenarios in prompts, Web Payments API, SwiftShader, Vulkan, Video, and WebRTC. Additionally, a heap buffer overflow in Video and an integer overflow in PDF have also contributed to the issue. The concerning part is that a remote attacker could potentially exploit these vulnerabilities by luring unsuspecting victims to visit maliciously crafted web pages.Here is a list of the vulnerabilities highlighted by CERT-In: CVE-2023-4427 CVE-2023-4428 CVE-2023-4429 CVE-2023-4430 CVE-2023-4431 Affected Versions: Google Chrome versions prior to 116.0.5845.110/.111 for Windows Google Chrome versions prior to 116.0.5845.110 for Mac and Linux What can users do?To safeguard your system and data, CERT-In strongly recommends that users immediately apply the latest available security patches for Google Chrome. On a positive note, Google has already released the latest version of Chrome, which includes fixes for these vulnerabilities.

Elon Musk‘s social media platform ‘X’, previously known as Twitter, has announced a few updates focusing on video and media uploads.Longer videosAs a Premium subscriber, users can enjoy extended video options such as up to 2 hours of 1080p quality or 3 hours of 720p quality content. They can also access the media studio at http://studio.x.com, download videos from their timeline to their camera roll, and enable or disable video download for their own posts. Moreover, popular videos will now feature automatic captioning to enhance accessibility. With AirPlay support, users can stream videos from X platform to your TV, and multitask by using other apps while watching videos in picture-in-picture mode.Video playback controlsUsers can enjoy better control over video playback with features like adjustable playback speed, double-tap for fast-forwarding, and jumping back. Mobile users will experience improved quality in live broadcasts, while Android and iOS versions provide an immersive video player experience. Users can now speak and co-host in Spaces directly from the web version, and the platform now supports millions of participants in Spaces sessions.X: The Super appX aims to become a “super app” like WeChat, offering digital payments and other services. The company is applying for “money transmitter licence” in the US and has focused on growing video content on the platform, with vertical video now accounting for over 10% of time spent on the platform. Tucker Carlson recently launched a new show on the platform and the platform plans on selling ads and sponsorships alongside videos from Carlson and other content creators.Musk has launched a revenue sharing program for creators with large audiences, offering payment to those with more than 5 million tweet impressions per month for the last 3 months. To be eligible, users must have a Stripe account for payment and be subscribed to Twitter Blue. Last month, Musk announced that the first block of payments for creators would be $5 million.