The company has successfully tested a reusable rocket launch vehicle, which attained an altitude of 3 kms The launch was conducted on August 21 at a foreign location, and the results of the flight were evaluated by the company in the wee hours of August 23 DroneAcharya plans to increase the altitude to 10 kms and payload by 3X to collect atmospheric and meteorological data Close on the heels of Chandrayaan-3’s historic landing on the Moon, drone manufacturer DroneAcharya on Wednesday (August 23) also announced its foray into the spacetech industry. In a press statement, the company said it successfully tested a reusable rocket launch vehicle, which attained an ‘altitude of 3 kms over the ground surface’.  Speaking with Inc42, DroneAcharya’s founder and managing director Prateek Srivastava said that the launch was conducted on August 21 at a foreign location. The results of the flight were evaluated by the company in the wee hours of August 23.  “This spacetech initiative by DroneAcharya directly compliments our existing drone tech solutions as the former correlates with the macro solutions of overall climatic studies while the latter deals with drone-based Imagery and on-ground situational studies,” said Srivastava. Equipped within the launch vehicle were an air pressure sensor, a heat sensor, an internal combustion sensor, an air friction sensor, and a miniature parachute for onboard equipment recovery. The company claimed that it successfully landed the vehicle with the help of a parachute and was able to recover all vital sensors and equipment.  As per the company, the objective of the test was to determine the burn rate of the solid propellant fuel between attaining an altitude of 3 kms and returning to the ground in ‘operational condition’. Srivastava also told Inc42 that the company has been experimenting with the project for the past three months and ran simulations and trials before the test launch. He added that the company took help from a couple of ISRO employees, who helped formulate the test launch.  The space launch vehicle, as per the founder, is 3 ft to 3.5 ft tall and uses a solid-fuel propellant with different sensors in its cavity. Going forward, DroneAcharya plans to increase the altitude to 10 kms and payload by 3X to collect atmospheric and meteorological data. It is eyeing the nano/ micro category of reusable rocket launch vehicles.  This could enable the company to tap into wider applications including suborbital testing, aerodynamic designs, as well as aerospace system and parabolic testing. DroneAcharya is also looking to find use cases for the product to leverage data for climate and environmental studies. “Our aim is CubeSats and NanoSats and we would like to have our own constellation for civilian, aircraft and defence purposes,” Srivastava said.  The company wants to build a constellation of satellites high up in the sky and is targeting the B2C and B2G segments.  Elaborating on a use case, he said that the vehicle could find usage in the meteorological department which has to send a balloon every day (along with sensors) in the sky to measure atmospheric parameters. Srivastava says that he wants to change this with a reusable launch vehicle, which can safely land on the ground with all sensors intact.  The company claims that the launch vehicle was completely made from scratch in India and was ‘not expensive’ as against common perception. “Everything was made in India be it the body, the cylinder or the sensors. Even coding was done in Pune to ensure it was entirely a Made In India product,” Srivastava said.  Lately, DroneAcharya has been scaling up its drone operations. In May, Srivastava said that the IPO helped the company secure ‘expansion funding’, allowing it to ‘think more audaciously when the opportunities present themselves’. Founded by Srivastava in 2017, DroneAcharya offers an array of drone solutions and training programmes to its customers.  The drone manufacturer continues to post healthy numbers. The Pune-based startup’s profits jumped 742% year-on-year (YoY) to INR 3.42 Cr in the financial year 2022-23 (FY23) against an operating revenue of INR 18.57 Cr. Shares of DroneAcharya closed 1.91% down at INR 156.40 on the BSE SME platform on Wednesday (August 23).

Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi launched the A2+ entry-level smartphone in May. The smartphone sports an HD+ display and is powered by a MediaTek chipset. At launch, Redmi offered the A2+ smartphone in a single 4GB+64GB variant which was priced at Rs 8,499. The Chinese smartphone maker has now introduced a new model of the smartphone that offers more storage, 128GB. The company took to X (previously Twitter) to announce the new storage variant for the Redmi A2+ smartphone. Apart from the increased storage, the latest model also offers similar features to the phone that was launched earlier this year. Redmi A2+ new storage variant: Price and availability The 4GB RAM+128GB storage variant of the Redmi A2+ is also priced at Rs 8,499. The latest model will be available via Amazon, MI.com, and Xiaomi retail partners.Redmi A2+: Key specsRedmi A2+ sports a 6.52-inch HD+ display that supports 720×1600 pixel resolution. The smartphone’s display also offers a 60Hz refresh rate and up to 400 nits of peak brightness. The smartphone is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio G26 chipset paired with up to 4GB of RAM.Redmi A2+ now offers two storage variants — 64GB and 128GB internal storage options. Users can also expand the storage of the smartphone with a microSD card.This smartphone runs Android 13 Go Edition and offers dual SIM support. The Redmi A2+ also houses a single 8MP rear camera setup and a 5MP front shooter for selfies and video calls.Redmi A2+ packs a 5000mAh battery that comes with 10W charging support. The smartphone is also equipped with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Believe it or not, in the last couple of years, Gold saw growth, but only by a tiny 1.3%, a rather disappointing number. The hope was for more—you know? While investors were optimistic, the outcomes fell far short of the mark—diminished demand in China and the Federal Reserve’s ‘bulldog’ approach to rate hikes, along with a muscular U.S. dollar, all played a role. And here’s what’s surprising: despite a subpar year, many analysts see a brighter 2023. Hope springs eternal! photo credit: Annie Spratt / Unsplash A Glint of Optimism in 2023? Excited whispers surround gold’s predicted value growth in 2023. On the other hand, the eternal kerfuffle of increased federal interest rates, U.S. Treasuries’ rising values, the unfathomable strong U.S. dollar and China’s iffy demand cast long shadows—you know? Still, even amidst doubt, gold stands firm in volatile times where “buy-and-hold” is the trump card to deal with riskier investments. The Golden Confusion—Is Gold Truly an Inflation Hedge? If you’re wondering just how much gold can save us from inflation, some may say that it’s a 100% foolproof option. But is it really? Here lie the facts; gold is tangible—a finite asset that should hold its value even if your crisp green bills lose theirs. Sounds great, right? However, let’s take a closer look. Rewind to America’s significant inflation period beginning in 1973; gold magnificently stood as an inflation hedge with an annualized return of 35%, outshining the bleak 8.8% inflation rate. But this golden era was short-lived. By 1984, as inflation steadied at 6.5%, gold saw a yearly value decrease of 10% and a persistent negative return even during 1988-1991’s mild inflation. So, to recap, the rule of thumb about gold being a constant inflation hedge? Not so accurate after all. Experienced investors bring in a more nuanced approach; they know that it’s not simply about inflation—other factors play a part as well. Understanding Gold’s Underperformance In the face of 2022’s peak inflation of 9.1%, one might expect the gold price to surge. But did they? Nope, they rose a meager 1.3%. The sly foxes who affected this were the aggressive interest rates hike by the Federal Reserve and the rising values of U.S. Treasuries (which, believe it or not, has a negative impact on gold and bonds). Add to this the U.S. dollar flexing its muscles throughout most of the year, and you have the journey of gold in 2022. And with that, my dear investors, here’s the long story short: dive into the world of precious metal investment—but make sure you’ve done your homework. Do not rely solely on predictions. Consider all factors, keep an eye on those market trends, and make your moves carefully.

YouTube testing feature that will allow users to search for a song by humming it. This feature, which is not new in the smartphone space, is a handy way to find a song on a phone when all you know about it is its tune.According to a support page, Google announced that testing this functionality on YouTube as part of an experiment — new tools and features (sometimes also called “betas” or “experiments”) are usually available for a short period of time and only for a small group of people. “We’re experimenting with the ability for folks to search for a song on YouTube by humming or recording a song that’s currently being played,” the company said.How to search a song on YouTubeIf you are a YouTube Premium subscriber and are experimenting with the feature, you can toggle from YouTube voice search to the new song search feature. Then hum or record the song you are searching for 3+ seconds in order for the song to be identified. Once the song is identified, YouTube will redirect you to relevant official music content, user- generated videos and/or Shorts featuring the searched song in the YouTube app. Google said that this experiment is being rolled out to a small percentage of people globally who watch YouTube on Android devices.Channel shelf in Subscriptions feedGoogle also announced that it is testing a channel shelf in the Subscriptions feed for multiple uploads.“We’re starting to test bundling multiple uploads from a single creator within a short amount of time into a shelf in the Subscriptions feed,” the company said.The reasons for experimenting with this include to provide “a way to make it easier for viewers to find the content they are looking for, to put less pressure on creators to upload multiple times a day and to make it simpler for viewers to engage with the content in the shelf and/or navigate to other content while scrolling in their feed.” This feature is being tested with a small percentage of viewers as of now.

WhatsApp has announced a feature that will allow users to create groups on the instant messaging app without having to name them first. Currently, if one wants to create a group, he/ she has to name it before the participants can start messaging each other.Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the update on his Instagram channel and Facebook handle. This feature is rolling out globally over the next few weeks. “Making it simpler to start WhatsApp groups by naming them based on who’s in the chat when you don’t feel like coming up with another name,” Zuckerberg said. The feature will let users create a group, even if they have not decided on a name or topic yet and need to create it quickly.Use casesThe feature will be handy in situations when users need to create a group in a hurry. It must be noted that unnamed groups of up to six participants will now be dynamically named based on who is in a group.WhatsApp also said that the feature is built with privacy in mind and the group name will display differently for each participant. This name will be based on how they have contacts saved in their phone. This means that if you are added into a group with people who do not have your contact saved, your phone number will appear within the group name.WhatsApp privacy initiativeMeanwhile, WhatsApp unveiled its latest privacy initiative in Mumbai by an immersive 3D anamorphic installation at the Gateway of India that highlights WhatsApp’s multiple layers of protection and privacy controls. This is the first ever 3D anamorphic installation at the Gateway of India “and will transform the landmark into a digital experience showing how WhatsApp’s privacy layers work together to a create safe space for private messaging while using creative storytelling and hyperlocal symbols that are synonymous with the city of Mumbai like the kaali-peeli taxi, red post box, iconic street lamps and of course the pigeons at the Gateway of India.”The installation highlights features like end-to-end encryption, two step verification, silence unknown callers, disappearing messages.

ATEL will set up an electric vehicle (EV) charging super hub in Samalkha in New Delhi which will integrate 200 charging points ATEL is already working with Evera to operate its super hub in Okhla. The companies aim to set up EV stations across the country Evera, which recently raised $7 Mn, is an all-electric cab service provider catering to customers across B2C and B2B segments Adani TotalEnergies E-Mobility Limited (ATEL) has partnered with electric cab aggregator Evera to set up an electric vehicle (EV) charging super hub at Samalkha in New Delhi, which will feature an integration of 200 charging points. The two companies are also aiming to bridge the existing EV infrastructure gaps in the country by setting up AC and DC charging stations on key highways, workplaces, and other locations. Suresh P. Manglani, CEO and ED of Adani Total Gas Limited, said that the company is already working with Evera to operate its cluster hub at Okhla in Delhi. The upcoming hub is located in close proximity to the Delhi International Airport to further support Evera’s electric cab service. “The hub will include commissioning of approximately 200 EV charging points, which will be a combination of AC and DC chargers,” Manglani added. ATEL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Total Gas Limited, provides a wide range of charging points to B2C and B2B customers as a Charge Point Operator (CPO).  ATEL said it will also let other cab aggregators and individual EV owners use its upcoming EV charging station at Samalkha, which will increase cross-utilisation and improve the EV ecosystem in New Delhi.  ATEL and Evera will then replicate this pan-India on a revenue-sharing model. “This association will foster a user-friendly experience for Evera cab drivers as well as all electric vehicle owners by eliminating anxiety to travel farther distances. We are developing this with the aim to realise a sinewed mobility infrastructure that is green, climate-conscious, and sustainable,” said Nimish Trivedi, cofounder and CEO of Evera, commenting on the collaboration.  Founded in 2019 by Trivedi, Rajeev Tiwari, and Vikas Bansal, Evera is an all-electric cab service provider catering to customers across B2C and B2B segments. The startup recently raised $7 Mn in multiple tranches as part of its Pre-Series A funding round, led by Germany-based IEG Investment Banking Group, Singapore’s Westova Global, and Thailand-based Direct Capital. Prakriti E-Mobility is Evera’s parent entity. The startup competes with the likes of BluSmart, Lithium, and other cab aggregators like Ola and Uber. It must be noted that Evera and ATEL’s partnership comes at a time when EV infrastructure in India has struggled to keep pace with the rise in the number of EVs. As per government data, India had 6,586 public charging stations as of March this year while the total number of registered  EVs stood at 21.7 Lakh. Meanwhile, an increasing number of private players as well as EV manufacturers are entering the EV charging space to boost the infrastructure in collaboration with discoms or other big energy players. As per recent data from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, about 9,000 petrol pumps in the country now provide EV charging facilities.

With the new generation of MacBooks, Apple started including the infamous notch right in the middle of the display. However, it merely housed the updated 1080p webcam and nothing mode. But, that’s set to change soon or at least with the coming MacBook laptops as the company has been granted a new patent that suggests Face ID in MacBook devices. Apple Insider spotted this patent and as per the patent application which refers to “Light Recognition Module for Determining a User of a Computing Device.” The patent application talks about installing a light recognition setup in a laptop in a display notch. The idea itself makes things clear that Apple is planning to put that notch on modern MacBook devices by adding a so-called “Light Recognition Module”. The idea of this, as per the application is that it will help users protect the data. How this Light Recognition Module will workAs explained in the patent, the module will come equipped with a light emitter that emits a pattern of light to detect a pattern caused by light reflection from the object in the view. Which in this case will be the user who is using the laptop. Irrespective of the sentence, the patent application has used this to explain, that the entire setup looks familiar with Apple’s Face ID technology on iPhone. Apple implementing Face ID in MacBooks is not new news for us. Back in 2020, a hint appeared in the form of PearkCamera in the beta of macOS Big Sur. However, it never made it to the stable release. Since then, several other instances of Face ID in Mac have surfaced. This is another one of them. While the idea is fascinating, we are not sure whether it is going to make the cut into a final product. Nor have we have any confirmation about Apple actually implementing this in recent years.

The relationship between a CEO and the board of directors is pivotal to an organization’s success. CEOs must navigate this dynamic relationship with transparency, collaboration, and a shared vision for the company’s growth. In this article, we will delve deeper into each of the strategies outlined earlier to provide a comprehensive understanding of how to build and maintain effective CEO-board relationships. 1. Clear Communication Open and transparent communication lies at the heart of a successful CEO-board relationship. Regular updates and interactions ensure that the board is well-informed about company performance, strategic initiatives, and any challenges that may arise. CEOs should create an environment where board members feel comfortable expressing their opinions and asking questions. By fostering a culture of clear communication, CEOs can build trust and ensure that everyone is on the same page. 2. Shared Vision For a CEO and the board to work harmoniously, a shared vision is imperative. This shared understanding of the company’s goals, values, and long-term strategy creates a sense of unity among all stakeholders. CEOs should actively engage the board in discussions about the company’s mission and direction, seeking input and feedback to refine and solidify the vision. This alignment sets the stage for cohesive decision-making and focused efforts towards shared objectives. 3. Role Clarity To avoid confusion and promote efficient governance, the roles and responsibilities of both the CEO and the board should be clearly defined. A well-defined division of tasks minimizes overlap and ambiguity, allowing for streamlined decision-making processes. Moreover, understanding their respective roles helps the CEO and the board members to leverage each other’s strengths and expertise more effectively. 4. Respectful Collaboration Respectful collaboration entails valuing the insights and experiences of both the CEO and the board. Engaging in discussions that encourage diverse viewpoints leads to well-informed decisions. It’s essential for CEOs to foster an environment where dissenting opinions are welcomed, and healthy debates are encouraged. By embracing constructive discourse, CEOs and the board can arrive at well-rounded conclusions that consider various angles. 5. Board Diversity Advocating for board diversity goes beyond fulfilling quotas; it’s about enriching the decision-making process with a range of perspectives. CEOs should actively seek out individuals from diverse backgrounds, industries, and experiences to join the board. This diversity introduces fresh ideas and innovative approaches that can lead to better solutions. A varied board composition ensures that blind spots are minimized, and the company benefits from a broader spectrum of knowledge. 6. Proactive Reporting Regular updates and reports are the backbone of transparency between the CEO and the board. CEOs should provide comprehensive information on key performance indicators, financial metrics, and progress towards strategic goals. These reports should not only focus on successes but also address challenges and setbacks. By presenting an honest and complete picture of the company’s performance, CEOs empower the board to make informed decisions. 7. Managing Expectations Setting clear and realistic expectations is vital for avoiding misunderstandings and fostering a cohesive relationship. CEOs should engage the board in conversations about their expectations for the CEO’s performance and the board’s responsibilities. Addressing any disparities in expectations early on prevents potential conflicts down the line. This mutual understanding ensures that everyone is aligned towards common objectives. 8. Board Development CEOs play a crucial role in supporting the development of the board. This involves providing opportunities for training, education, and skill enhancement. Workshops, seminars, and exposure to industry trends help board members stay updated and relevant. A well-informed board is better equipped to provide strategic insights and guide the company towards growth. 9. Handling Challenges Transparently Challenges are inevitable in any organization, and how CEOs handle them significantly impacts the CEO-board relationship. When difficulties arise, CEOs should approach the board with honesty and transparency. Openly discussing challenges not only builds trust but also allows the board to contribute to problem-solving. Through shared solutions, the CEO-board partnership can weather storms more effectively. 10. Strategic Planning Sessions Engaging in strategic planning sessions is an opportunity for CEOs and the board to collaboratively shape the company’s future. These sessions delve into long-term objectives, potential risks, and emerging opportunities. By jointly identifying areas of concern and growth potential, CEOs and the board strengthen their alignment and solidify their commitment to the company’s success. Conclusion Effective CEO-board relationships are the backbone of an organization’s success. Clear communication, shared visions, and role clarity form the foundation of trust and collaboration. By embracing respectful collaboration, advocating for diversity, and engaging in proactive reporting, CEOs and the board can navigate challenges and drive growth. Through strategic planning sessions, managing expectations, and addressing challenges transparently, CEOs and the board cultivate a robust partnership that directly contributes to the organization’s prosperity. In an ever-evolving business landscape, the significance of a strong CEO-board relationship cannot be overstated, and organizations that invest in nurturing this relationship are poised for enduring success.

Last winter, the unveiling of OpenAI’s alarmingly sophisticated chatbot sent educators into a tailspin. Generative AI, it was feared, would enable rampant cheating and plagiarism, and even make high school English obsolete. Universities debated updating plagiarism policies. Some school districts outright banned ChatGPT from their networks. Now, a new school year presents new challenges—and, for some, new opportunities. Nearly a year into the generative AI hype, early alarm among educators has given way to pragmatism. Many students have clued into the technology’s tendency to “hallucinate,” or fabricate information. David Banks, the chancellor of New York City Public Schools, wrote that the district was now “determined to embrace” generative AI—despite having banned it from school networks last year. Many teachers are now focusing on assignments that require critical thinking, using AI to spark new conversations in the classroom, and becoming wary of tools that claim to be able to catch AI cheats. Institutions and educators now also find themselves in the uneasy position of not just grappling with a technology that they didn’t ask for, but also reckoning with something that could radically reshape their jobs and the world in which their students will grow up. Lisa Parry, a K–12 school principal and AP English Language and Composition teacher in rural Arlington, South Dakota, says she’s “cautiously embracing” generative AI this school year. She’s still worried about how ChatGPT, which is not blocked on school networks, might enable cheating. But she also points out that plagiarism has always been a concern for teachers, which is why, each year, she has her students write their first few assignments in class so she can get a sense of their abilities. This year, Parry plans to have her English students use ChatGPT as “a search engine on steroids” to help brainstorm essay topics. “ChatGPT has great power to do good, and it has power to undermine what we’re trying to do here academically,” she says. “But I don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.” Parry’s thinking is in line with an idea that ChatGPT might do for writing and research what a calculator did for math: aid students in the most tedious portions of work, and allow them to achieve more. But educators are also grappling with the technology before anyone really understands which jobs or tasks it may automate—or before there’s consensus on how it might best be used. “We are taught different technologies as they emerge,” says Lalitha Vasudevan, a professor of technology and education at Teachers College at Columbia University. “But we actually have no idea how they’re going to play out.” Cheat Codes The race to weed out cheaters—generative AI or not—continues. Turnitin, the popular plagiarism checker, has developed an AI detection tool that highlights which portions of a piece of writing may have been generated by AI. Between April and July, Turnitin reviewed more than 65 million submissions, and found that 10.3 percent of those submissions contained AI writing in potentially more than 20 percent of their work, with about 3.3 percent of submissions being flagged as potentially 80 percent AI-generated. But such systems are not foolproof: Turnitin says there’s about a 4 percent false positive rate on its detector in determining whether a sentence was written by AI. Because of those false positives, Turnitin also recommends educators have conversations with students rather than failing them or accusing them of cheating. “It’s just supposed to be information for the educator to decide what they want to do with it,” says Annie Chechitelli, Turnitin’s chief product officer. “It is not perfect.”