During the opening of the National Judicial Museum, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud asked an AI lawyer whether the death penalty is constitutional in India. The AI confirmed it, saying the death penalty is allowed but only for the most serious crimes. This marks an important moment in the growing use of AI in India’s legal system.
Sharan Hegde, co-founder of The 1% Club, announced a 15% workforce reduction, citing mistakes made during rapid expansion and the role of AI in improving efficiency. The layoffs mainly affected content, research, and marketing jobs. Even with these cuts, the company is still profitable, making $8 million in annual revenue. AI tools like Perplexity AI have helped improve workflows and cut down on unnecessary tasks. Hegde assured the employees impacted by the layoffs that they received severance and support in finding new jobs.
India is one of the fastest-growing markets for Microsoft Copilot, with one of the strongest research and development teams in the world. Microsoft points to the country’s diverse workforce, including engineers, social scientists, and creatives, who are helping shape Copilot’s development. The launch of Copilot and Copilot Daily aims to change the way humans interact with computers, with Microsoft stressing AI’s role in boosting productivity across industries.
BSNL has started a trial service that lets users make calls without a SIM card or mobile network. This is made possible by a technology called Direct-to-Device (D2D), which uses satellites 36,000 km above the Earth. The service is expected to be especially useful during emergencies and natural disasters, offering satellite connectivity as an alternative when regular mobile networks are down.
Freshworks is laying off 660 employees, about 13% of its workforce, as part of a global restructuring aimed at improving efficiency and aligning with key business goals. The changes, which should be completed by December 2024, will cost the company between $11 million and $13 million. The company plans to focus on Employee Experience (EX), AI, and Customer Experience (CX), offering severance and career support to affected employees.
Ichnos Glenmark Innovation (IGI) announced a 75% response rate for its experimental cancer drug ISB 2001 in a Phase 1 clinical trial for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. The drug showed good safety results, with no dose-limiting side effects. Full results will be shared at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in December 2024.
Three labourers lost their lives after a bridge under construction for the bullet train project collapsed in Anand, Gujarat. The fire department managed to rescue two workers, but one died later in the hospital. An investigation is underway to figure out what caused the collapse. The bridge is part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, designed to connect the two cities with high-speed rail.
Andhra Pradesh’s capital city, Amaravati, is adopting the Netherlands' gravity canal system for flood control. The initiative, announced by the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA), aims to prevent flooding by constructing gravity canal reservoirs. This project is part of a larger infrastructure upgrade, with the World Bank contributing Rs 15,000 crore, contingent on effective flood prevention measures. The CRDA is also inviting fresh tenders for various development projects.
NASA has issued a warning about asteroid 2024 UT7, which is 190 feet wide and will pass dangerously close to Earth today. Traveling at speeds of nearly 30,000 km/h, the asteroid will come within 1 million kilometers of Earth. Although it's not considered a "potentially hazardous asteroid," its close distance and high speed make it a priority for observation. NASA tracks such objects through its NEO Observations Program to monitor any potential risks.
The Andhra Pradesh Assembly will share the complete budget for FY25 on November 11. This comes after two temporary budgets for the current year. The new budget could be over ₹3 lakh crore and will focus on important welfare programs promised by the NDA government.