 DIMAPUR, (MExN): The Department of Psychology, Nagaland University (Kohima Campus), hosted a two-day national seminar on the theme ‘Digital Living and Mental Health: Risks, Repercussions and Responsibilities’ from April 29 to 30. During the inaugural programme, chaired by Dr. Lovika P Shikhu (Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology), the Convenor’s address was delivered by Dr. Imlisongla Longkumer, Head, Department of Psychology. Vice-Chancellor Prof Jagadish K Patnaik, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, appreciated the context and relevance of the seminar theme and dwelt on the importance of reflecting on issues arising from digital advancement. He highlighted that ICT and media are highly beneficial and have made connectivity immensely convenient; however, their negative impact on the well-being of individuals is also inevitable. Prof B Kilangla Jamir, Dean, School of Social Sciences, Nagaland University, emphasized the mindful usage of technology and the content we consume. The President of the Psychologists’ Association of North East India (PANEI), Pallabita Barooah Chowdhury, delivered her address in alignment with the seminar’s theme and asserted the need for interventions to combat the risks and repercussions of digital living. A special song was presented by R Lalrinmawii, JRF, Department of Psychology, Mizoram University. The Pro Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University (Kohima Campus), Prof N Venuh, addressed the gathering and stated that the seminar is the need of the hour. He also urged participants to take up the challenge of addressing the negative effects of social media.The keynote address was delivered by Dr Urmi Nanda Biswas, Head, Department of Psychology, University of Delhi. She stated that the accessibility and affordability of internet services have driven collective well-being to an all-time low. She also highlighted the paradox of digital living, noting its impact on national and global productivity due to digital burnout. The inaugural programme concluded with a special presentation by the second-semester students of the Department of Psychology, Nagaland University (Kohima Campus). ‘Digital Living and Mental Health’ | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
Architect Creates App to Show Which Pub Gardens are Sunny – Using Shadow Simulations From Buildings (2026-04-17T11:56:00+05:30)
 Mo Dawod with his Sunseekr map app SWNS In cloudy old England, an architect has created his own phone app that displays which pubs are currently in the sunshine. Mo Dawod was out in London in April last year when he decided that he wanted an iced coffee in the sunshine, but there was no way to know which cafes would be blanketed in shade. So, later that night, he created his own mobile map using publicly available data, such as a building’s height and footprint, to create a shadow simulation for pubs, restaurants, and cafes. What started as a simple ‘hack’ for himself quickly turned into the number one app in the UK—called Sunseekr—and Mo has since quit his day job in architecture to pursue it full time. “I decided to share it with the community to see if anyone was also struggling like me and would be interested,” said the 34-year-old. “People went crazy. It went so viral on Reddit that night. “I was astonished and shocked. After that I decided to make it as an app.” “The app went number one in the UK in the lifestyle category four days after it became real. It was so surreal that all this happened from me just wanting to have an iced coffee.” Mo, who is originally from Egypt, next looked at how to monetize his invention so he could pay his bills while operating the Sunseekr app—now with over 250,000 users .  Sunseekr app screen – SWNS Last summer, he managed to get a sponsorship from Aperol, who used his map to create their own version showing where people could drink an aperitivo of Aperol Spritz in the sunshine. With the app becoming less popular in the winter months, the founder decided to use the time to work on leveling-up the experience with new elements. Venues now have a chance to be more featured, uploading pictures of their venue, mapping the garden, and pushing themselves on the explore page for £350 a year. It uses a moon emoji if the location is in the shade, and a sun if it’s not. The app can also notify you when your favorite spot is getting sun beamed, displays closing and opening times, and offers the ability to leave comments and reviews. “When I built this app it was more of a hack for the problem I had. Now I am trying to take it to the next level. I have rebuilt the whole app for summer 2026. “It has been for me such a crazy journey. It was so unexpected. I never thought I would be running such a platform. I am so happy that I managed to put this together.” Sunseekr was also launched in other countries such as Germany and Spain. “We reworked the app from the ground up to map the actual outdoor areas and show people, hour by hour, how much sun you will be having.”  Sunseekr / SWNS The company is now asking the community to help map more pubs because they don’t have the manpower to go and map every single venue in the country. Architect Creates App to Show Which Pub Gardens are Sunny – Using Shadow Simulations From Buildings |
New cyber centre opens in UK (2026-04-16T11:48:00+05:30)
 (Image: NDA)The UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority group has launched a specialised cyber facility in Cumbria to accelerate collaboration across nuclear operators and the supply chain, on the adoption of innovative technologies such as AI and robotics and enhancing their collective ability to successfully defend against cyber threats. It said the Group Cyberspace Collaboration Centre (GCCC) provides a space for experts in cyber, digital and engineering to come together and share knowledge and learning on how best to adopt new technologies and defend against evolving threats. Representatives from government, the nuclear sector, regulators and the supply chain attended the official opening which showcased the capability of the centre. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said the GCCC was a multi-functional space for partners to explore how new technologies can support mission delivery and facilitate security operations, cyber exercising and training. "The GCCC is further enhancing our collective ability to keep us safe, secure, resilient and sustainable in cyberspace," said NDA Group CEO David Peattie. "Enabling us to work together more closely means we can defend as one, benefitting the collective security of the individual organisations we serve. "When it comes to security, we are never complacent, and we continually invest in our expertise and our technology to further strengthen our capability."  (Image: NDA) The NDA group - which includes Sellafield, Nuclear Restoration Services, Nuclear Waste Services and Nuclear Transport Solutions - has invested in group-wide cyber services and capabilities to ensure systems are better protected and more resilient and delivering a strong, consistent approach to common cyber security threats. The GCCC is part of the group's growing portfolio of digital and cyber capability including a joint Cyber Security Operations facility, which opened in Warrington in August. It is part of a constellation of related leading cyber and digital capabilities, including the Cyber Lab classroom at Energus, the Sellafield Engineering Centre of Excellence, and the Robotics and AI Collaboration centre (RAICo1). Warren Cain, Superintending Inspector at the Office for Nuclear Regulation, said: "All nuclear sites must have strong cyber security systems in place to protect important information and assets from cyber threats. Cyber security is a key regulatory priority for the Office for Nuclear Regulation, and we welcome the NDA's commitment to strengthen their cyber defences with this new specialist facility." New cyber centre opens in UK |
Coupang unveils $1.17 billion compensation plan over data breach (2026-04-16T11:48:00+05:30)
 IANS Photo Seoul, December 29 (IANS): E-commerce giant Coupang announced a compensation plan worth more than 1.68 trillion won ($1.17 billion) on Monday following a massive personal data breach. The compensation plan comes a day after Coupang founder Kim Bom-suk issued his first public apology since the incident, which affected nearly two-thirds of South Korea's population, reports Yonhap news agency. Under the plan, the U.S.-listed company will provide 50,000 won worth of discounts and coupons to each of 33.7 million customers, including paid Coupang Wow members, regular users and former customers who have closed their accounts, the company said in a press release. Compensation payments will be made gradually starting Jan. 15, it added. "Taking this incident as a turning point, Coupang will wholeheartedly embrace customer-centric principles and fulfill its responsibilities to the very end, transforming into a company that customers can trust," Coupang's interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Harold Rogers said in the release. The per-person compensation consists of 5,000 won for Coupang's e-commerce platform, 5,000 won for food delivery service Coupang Eats, 20,000 won for Coupang's travel products and 20,000 won for R.LUX luxury beauty and fashion products. Last week, Coupang said it had identified a former employee responsible for the data leak through forensic evidence, recovered the equipment used in the hacking and received a confession from the suspect. The company claimed that data from only about 3,000 accounts was actually saved and later deleted by the suspect. The government, however, has dismissed Coupang's findings as a "unilateral claim," noting that a joint public-private investigation into the incident has yet to release any conclusions. On November 29, Coupang confirmed that the personal information of 33.7 million customer accounts had been exposed, far exceeding the 4,500 accounts initially reported to authorities on Nov. 20. Given that active users of Coupang's product commerce division, including its delivery service, reached 24.7 million in the third quarter, the scale of the breach suggests that nearly the entire user base may have been affected.The company said the compromised data included users' names, phone numbers, email addresses and delivery addresses. Coupang unveils $1.17 billion compensation plan over data breach | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
India’s internet users cross 1.02 billion: TRAI (2026-04-10T13:04:00+05:30)
 (AI image/IANS) New Delhi, (IANS) India’s telecom sector continued its growth momentum in the December 2025 quarter, with internet subscribers crossing the 1.02 billion mark and overall telephone connections rising sharply, according to the latest performance report released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Tuesday. The TRAI released its Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report for the quarter ending December 31, 2025. The report showed steady growth in internet users, telephone subscribers, revenues and average earnings of telecom companies. The total number of internet subscribers increased from 1,017.81 million at the end of September 2025 to 1,028.61 million by the end of December 2025, registering a quarterly growth of 1.06 per cent. Out of the total internet users, 983.29 million were wireless subscribers, while 45.32 million were wired users. The broadband subscriber base crossed the 1 billion mark and stood at 1,007.35 million -- reflecting steady demand for high-speed data services. The total number of telephone subscribers in the country saw a strong jump during the quarter. It increased from 1,228.94 million in September to 1,306.14 million in December, marking a quarterly growth of 6.28 per cent and a year-on-year growth of 9.77 per cent. Overall tele-density in India improved from 86.65 per cent to 91.74 per cent during the same period. Wireless subscribers, including mobile and fixed wireless access (FWA) users, rose by 76.45 million during the quarter to reach 1,258.77 million. Wireless tele-density also increased from 83.36 per cent to 88.41 per cent. The mobile subscriber base alone grew to 1,244.20 million. Telecom companies also reported improved financial performance. Gross Revenue (GR) of the telecom sector stood at Rs 1,02,475 crore in the December quarter, while Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) was Rs 84,270 crore. Both figures recorded quarterly as well as year-on-year growth. Monthly Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) for wireless services increased to Rs 194.57 from Rs 190.99 in the previous quarter -- reflecting improved earnings per subscriber. In the broadcasting sector, 920 private satellite TV channels have been permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.As of December 31, 2025, 335 of these were pay TV channels, while the remaining were free-to-air channels. India’s internet users cross 1.02 billion: TRAI | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
A mandatory leap: Why AI is fast becoming part of ‘Industrial DNA’ for manufacturing (2026-03-26T12:19:00+05:30)
 Posted by Harry Baldock , Interview: We spoke with Liu Chao, CEO of the Huawei’s Manufacturing & Key Enterprise Account business unit, about the seismic impact AI is having for the manufacturing industry At Mobile World Congress 2026, AI finally appeared to be coming of age. From myriads of commercial AI agents to early demonstrations of physical AI, it was clear that AI was finally becoming For Huawei’s Liu Chao, the era of treating AI as a high-tech accessory is over for the manufacturing sector. “AI is now more than tools,” said Liu in an interview with Total Telecom. “It can be a unique distinguisher for manufacturers to set themselves apart from their competitors[…] AI is now becoming an important paradigm shift in innovation and in leadership.” ““This shift is being driven not only by the growing maturity of AI, but also by the urgent need for manufacturers to strengthen their competitiveness. Established leaders in traditional manufacturing sectors, such as automotive, are facing increasing pressure as more players actively embrace advance technologies. Given the precision and high standards required in manufacturing, industrial players place a strong emphasis on proven reliability and predictable outcomes. This means they tend to wait for new technologies have demonstrated clear value and stability. For Liu, this urge to wait is a “trap”. “Adoption of AI is not optional. It’s a mandatory choice you have to make. The question is not whether to do it or not, but how to do it,” he said. Bridging the expertise gap Perhaps the biggest hurdle to adoption, Liu explained, is the lack of cross-discipline expertise. Industrial experts are typically not AI experts, and vice versa, “I think one of the key priorities for manufacturers adopting AI is deepening their understanding of the technology and its evolving trends,” said Liu. “This also means strengthening capabilities in data and digital infrastructure, while developing more talent with AI and IT expertise – both of which are essential to fully unlock the value of AI.” For AI adoption to scale across industry, both manufacturers and tech companies need to cultivate multidisciplinary talent that combines both industrial and digital expertise. “We need AI experts who have the knowledge and background in the manufacturing sector,” he said. It is only with this shared expertise, Liu argues, that the industry will be able to develop AI models tailored to the manufacturing sector’s specific needs. “General models like OpenAI answer questions based on public information. But when it comes to the data about a specific company, industry, or process, these models are not good at giving very specific answers,” said Liu. “In manufacturing companies, the data about operation management, production processes, and research and development is proprietary and private. So, they need specialised solutions.” Practical first steps: Pilot projects and infrastructure foundations With this in mind, what does early AI adoption look like for manufacturing companies? For Liu, initial focus should be not on overall transformation, but on addressing specific challenges. “When a manufacturing company comes to us and says they want to begin using AI, we first discuss their pain points in their business,” Liu said, noting that identifying the right use cases can generate early value. “We have to find some typical cases where AI can be applied and give a quick win to our customers,” Liu said. These early projects often act as pilot programmes that help organisations build internal experience and refine their data strategies. “In the first stage we identify scenarios as the first batch of AI adoption pilots,” Liu explained. “Then in the next step we review their more confidential or private data in production or R&D and help them standardise it, ready for use in AI models.” Automotive taking a lead One manufacturing industry leading the pack when it comes to AI adoption is the automotive industry. “Each year in China, 50% of new cars are connected to the internet and are electric vehicles. The changes in the market are very fast. These days, auto manufacturers are launching their new car models almost as frequently as mobile phone makers are launching phones,” he said, adding that “autonomous driving and smart cockpit capabilities are all enabled by AI models.” The most advanced carmakers are using AI across product development, factory operations, and quality inspection. This is allowing customers to enjoy a far greater level of personalisation as part of a C-to-M (Consumer-to-Manufacturer) framework. “It is an end-to-end process that allows full customisation by the consumers,” explains Liu. “It’s how auto manufacturers in China are trying to win in such fierce competition.” “In the assembly line, a fully assembled car is built every minute,” Liu continued. “When the customer chooses a specific configuration – say, for example, a yellow safety belt – you have to make sure that yellow belt arrives at exactly the right point in the assembly process. That needs AI-enabled scheduling with the data flowing from the order side directly to the production.” Networks come first Of course, a strong foundation of digital infrastructure is a critical requirement in this journey. “The precondition is that you have very solid network connections and very good hardware,” Liu said. “Without this, putting AI into action is incredibly difficult.” For Liu, the pace of change means manufacturers must continue learning and adapting as AI technologies evolve.“You cannot wait for the latest technology for fear of being left behind because AI is changing so quickly,” he said. “You have to learn throughout the process of adoption.” A mandatory leap: Why AI is fast becoming part of ‘Industrial DNA’ for manufacturing |
Singing, slaying and going viral: how KPop Demon Hunters rocked the internet – and the Oscars (2026-03-20T11:22:00+05:30)
Jennifer Stokes, Adelaide UniversityK-pop stars Huntr/x are carb-loading, pre-show, on a private jet, when their snacking is rudely interrupted by demons. Rumi, Zoey and Mira break into song, maintaining the tempo as they defeat the demons, drop to earth, and land in a packed stadium concert to tell the screaming audience that’s “how it’s done, done, done”. This electrifying sequence launches viewers into the world of KPop Demon Hunters. Released in June 2025, engaging action and a catchy soundtrack rapidly led this work to become Netflix’s most watched film of all time. This week, the film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, and another for Best Original Song with its identity-embracing anthem Golden. With content that celebrates Korean pop aesthetics and connects with diverse fandoms, KPop Demon Hunters was arguably destined for success. It’s a fine example of a film that is made for, driven by – and which reflects upon – our digitally-run attention economy. A wholesome story of self-acceptanceKPop Demon Hunters is a slickly animated musical and supernatural fantasy. The demon-slaying girl group Huntr/x protect humanity, using K-pop songs and physical strength to keep evil in the netherworld. The demons decide the best way to defeat Huntr/x is by establishing a rival K-pop band – the Saja Boys. Through their catchy songs, the Saja Boys capture the public’s attention to feed to the uber-demon Gwi-ma (meaning “evil ghost” in Korean) – positioning the demons for world domination. Huntr/x must use the power of K-pop – and learn to embrace their true selves – to save the world. The theme of battling conflicting internal identities resonates on multiple levels – for young people struggling to make meaning in today’s messy world, and for an Asian diaspora who may have never seen themselves reflected in such a cultural juggernaut. Ear worms to draw people inKPop Demon Hunters has dominated global charts since its release. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation and distributed via Netflix, the film was viewed more than 569 million times in eight months. It then made the leap to sing-along screenings around the world. The fast-paced story is propelled by a catchy soundtrack, which fuses Korean lyrics with Western pop elements. The fictional K-pop group Huntr/x became the first girl group to top the Billboard Hot 100 since Destiny’s Child’s Bootylicious in 2001. Frozen’s Let it Go only ever got to number five. Golden won a Golden Globe, and also became the first K-pop song to win a Grammy. A movie for the K–pop generationThe film itself is unashamedly pop. When the Saja Boys first perform onscreen, the girls can’t help but join the crowd in wiggling their shoulders. “It is annoyingly catchy,” Rumi concedes. Gen-Z language is embedded throughout the film, such as when Rumi reflects on her journey to become “the Queen” she’s meant to be. When Mira croons, “fit check for my napalm era”, she is both checking her outfit and prepping for an explosive battle. The word play here adds several layers of meaning. Those watching the music charts in the film closely will also spot an in-joke when they see a Huntr/x song rise above real-world group Twice (members of which were vocalists for several Huntr/x songs). The narrative both analyses internet culture and strongly connects with its potential, exhibiting attributes shown to increase viral success. The film’s high energy, fun tone and often celebratory sequences make it very shareable; fans were quick to create TikTok dances, memes and gifs. Its critical and commercial success is also grounded in deliberate cultural policy in the form of hallyu (aka the Korean wave). This cultural export strategy was first implemented by the South Korean government in the late 1990s to exert soft power through cultural products that draw positive attention to – and drive economic interest in – the country. KPop Demon Hunters’ visuals are grounded in Korean cultural references, from the traditional gat hats worn by the demon boy band, to the humour of the tiger-magpie duo Derpy and Sussie – motifs based on hojakdo folk art, which presented an early form of social critique through a bumbling aristocratic tiger and a wise common-folk magpie. From Buffy the Vampire Slayer, to the Sailor Moon anime and manga, to Wednesday, supernatural fantasy texts often depict young women fighting monsters as metaphors for contemporary moral dilemmas. So what are the metaphors here? The film’s literal “demonisation” of pop music isn’t subtle. Yet it acts as meta-textual commentary, actively countering narratives that frame pop culture as inherently negative or destructive. It also highlights the outsized power of celebrities and influencers in the world today, and how they can leverage our attention for their own ends. The Saja Boys play with the notion of influencer as “idol” – in both the celebrity and religious sense – causing viewers to reflect on what celebrities sacrifice for fame, and how it’s a misjudgement to see them as more than human. The Korean word saja has a dual meaning of both lion and Grim Reaper, subtly emphasising the risks of idolisation. For generations raised in the shadows of influencers, the film raises important moral questions. At a time when studios are increasingly leaning on safe options such as adaptations, franchises and sequels, KPop Demon Hunters gave us an original, clever story that caters to online cultures and underrepresented groups, while exploring a range of contemporary anxieties. That, indeed, is how “it’s done, done, done”. Jennifer Stokes, Associate Professor, Teaching and Learning Innovation, Adelaide University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. |
75 pc of consumers, 97 pc of doctors in India trust AI for healthcare: Report (2026-03-16T13:36:00+05:30)
 New Delhi, March 6 (IANS): About 75 per cent of consumers and 97 per cent of primary care providers (PCPs) in India are ready to embrace artificial intelligence (AI)-powered healthcare solutions for tasks such as disease prediction, risk assessment, and diagnosis, a new report said on Thursday. The report by, ZS -- a leading management consulting and technology solutions firm -- showed how India is on the brink of a healthcare transformation, driven by unprecedented levels of trust in AI. It highlights that over 60 per cent of Indians are open to adopting virtual care models for services ranging from routine consultations to chronic disease management -- marking a pivotal shift toward digital-first healthcare. Further, more than 63 per cent of Indians show a strong interest in using AI-powered health apps for various healthcare needs including awareness, triage, and adherence. The report also stressed challenges and barriers such as accessibility; increasing pressure on healthcare systems due to ageing populations; overburdened providers and workforce shortages; infrastructure gaps and fragmented care delivery. Regulatory frameworks for data privacy and ethical AI usage also raise significant concerns. “There is a substantial opportunity for healthcare providers and technology companies to capitalise on the high digital health adoption rate. Leveraging data, AI, and technology can transform healthcare by closing care gaps, enhancing patient empowerment, and enabling healthcare providers to deliver flexible care models,” said the report. It recommended stakeholders collaborate to create integrated solutions that align with consumer preferences and relieve strained healthcare systems.The report surveyed more than 12,000 consumers and 1,500 healthcare professionals across India, the US, the UK, China, Brazil, and Japan to reveal critical insights into the current market challenges and future opportunities shaping the global healthcare landscape. 75 pc of consumers, 97 pc of doctors in India trust AI for healthcare: Report | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
Karisma Kapoor 'honoured' to be a part of a round table attended by Queen of Jordan (2026-02-27T13:42:00+05:30)
 (Source Instagram) Mumbai, (IANS) Actress Karisma Kapoor took to her social media account to share a glimpse from her recent exclusive roundtable attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, further describing the experience as an ‘honour and privilege’. Karisma took to her social media account to post a group photograph from the private gathering, which saw a select group of successful women from different walks of life for a discussion on women’s empowerment, leadership. In the picture shared by Karisma, the actress is seen dressed in a soft yellow traditional ensemble, standing alongside Queen Rania Al Abdullah. Sharing the image, Karisma wrote, “It was an honour and privilege to be part of a private roundtable in the esteemed presence of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah alongside such inspiring women engaging in heartfelt dialogue on women’s empowerment, leadership and the future.” She added, “Moments like these are a powerful reminder that when women come together with purpose, honesty and vision they don’t just shape conversations they help shape the future for the next generation. Grateful to have been part of something so meaningful.” Talking about Karisma Kapoor's Bollywood journey, the actress made her Bollywood debut with “Prem Qaidi” in 1991 and went on to become one of the leading stars of the 90s era of Bollywood. She delivered several hits including “Raja Hindustani”, “Dil To Pagal Hai”, “Biwi No.1”, “Hero No.1”, “Coolie No.1”, “Saajan Chale Sasural” and “Judwaa”. Apart from commercial projects, Karisma also earned immense critical acclaim for her powerpack performances in “Fiza”, “Zubeidaa” and “Shakti: The Power”. She had also won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for “Dil To Pagal Hai”.On the personal front, Karisma married now late businessman Sanjay Kapur in 2003, post which she took a quick sabbatical from work. The couple has two children, daughter Samaira and son Kiaan. After a decade of marriage, Karisma and Sanjay went seperate ways and were granted divorce in 2016. Karisma Kapoor 'honoured' to be a part of a round table attended by Queen of Jordan | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
Focus apps claim to improve your productivity. Do they actually work? (2026-02-27T13:42:00+05:30)
Dwain Allan, University of CanterburyIt’s hardly a revelation that we’re living in an era of distraction and smartphone addiction. Our phones interrupt us, hijack our attention, and tempt us into scrolling. Even when we aren’t interacting with them, their mere presence makes it difficult to concentrate. To address this, app developers have responded with a vast ocean of productivity and focus apps, each promising to tame the chaos with timers, app blocking, habit reminders, and rewards designed to help you stay focused and be productive. To understand whether these apps are worth our while, we first need to consider why staying focused is so difficult in the first place. Why is it so hard to stay focused?By and large, a lack of focus boils down to difficulties with self-regulation, the ability to monitor and manage thoughts, emotions and behaviours for goal pursuit. In short, when a task feels boring, stressful, or tedious, it creates an unpleasant feeling. We then search for relief, and for most of us that comes by way of our smartphone, which has become our go-to coping device, even if it derails the work we need to do. There’s been much talk that our capacity to focus has dwindled in recent years, though this is not supported by the scientific literature. The research does, however, suggest that certain technology habits (especially multitasking and constant digital interruptions) are associated with greater distractibility for some people. In other words, while our ability to focus may not be declining, the modern world places far greater demands on it. The rise of focus appsTo cope with these demands, a new generation of focus apps has burst onto the productivity scene. These apps use gamification (the application of game design elements in non-game settings) and cute characters to encourage focused work. Chief among these is Focus Friend, which briefly took over ChatGPT as the most downloaded app during its first month on the App Store in August this year. The app works by encouraging you to set a focus timer. During that session, a virtual bean character quietly knits in the background. If you pick up your phone and open apps you have pre-selected as off limits, the knitting unravels and the bean looks upset. If you stay on task, you earn digital rewards such as socks, scarves, and room decorations for your bean. Beyond the usual gamification tricks, this app also uses several psychological principles. First, it uses incentives by giving you immediate, tangible rewards – knitted items and room upgrades when you complete a focus session. Next, it leverages reward substitution by getting you to do one potentially unpleasant thing (deep work) to earn something immediately enjoyable (seeing the bean’s world improve). The app also stimulates commitment and consistency. Simply starting the timer functions like a small promise to yourself, and once that’s made, we tend to want to behave consistently by maintaining streaks and avoiding behaviour that would break that session. Over time, decorating the bean’s room activates the IKEA effect. That is, we place more value on things we help build, so the more you customise and invest in the space, the more motivated you become to protect it by continuing to focus. Do focus apps actually help?The research examining the effectiveness of focus apps is thin. One study examined a range of apps for reducing mobile phone use and found that gamified focus apps, while scoring high on user sentiment, were rarely used and were less effective than simpler strategies such as switching the phone to grayscale mode. While no peer-reviewed studies exist specifically on Focus Friend, its high App Store ratings plus the slew of articles from enthusiastic users, suggest people enjoy using it. However, enjoyment alone does not correlate with increased focus or productivity. How to use focus apps wiselyDo you have an automatic and uncontrollable urge to check your phone when working? If so, you could try to use a focus app. Practical steps include scheduling specific focus sessions in which to use the app and selecting a clearly defined task. Also, when you feel the urge to check your phone mid-session, take note of the feeling and remind yourself that discomfort is part of getting important things done. Finally, after a week of use, review your experience to see whether the app actually helped you make progress. Ask: “is this serving me, or am I serving it?” Be sure to watch for pitfalls. Apps such as Focus Friend don’t assess the quality of your work, so you could spend focused time on low-value tasks. It’s also fairly easy to trick the app using your phone settings. Perhaps most importantly, remember that while a focus app can help you resist checking your phone, it can’t resolve the inner forces that pull you into distraction. The key to better focus might be diagnosis, not download – that is, learning to notice what you feel, choosing how you want to respond, and making the commitment to staying focused on what matters. Dwain Allan, Lecturer, School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing, University of Canterbury This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. |
News sites are locking out the Internet Archive to stop AI crawling. Is the ‘open web’ closing? (2026-02-26T11:26:00+05:30)
Tai Neilson, Macquarie UniversityWhen the World Wide Web went live in the early 1990s, its founders hoped it would be a space for anyone to share information and collaborate. But today, the free and open web is shrinking. The Internet Archive has been recording the history of the internet and making it available to the public through its Wayback Machine since 1996. Now, some of the world’s biggest news outlets are blocking the archive’s access to their pages. Major publishers – including The Guardian, The New York Times, the Financial Times, and USA Today – have confirmed they’re ending the Internet Archive’s access to their content. While publishers say they support the archive’s preservation mission, they argue unrestricted access creates unintended consequences, exposing journalism to AI crawlers and members of the public trying to skirt their paywalls. Yet, publishers don’t simply want to lock out AI crawlers. Rather, they want to sell their content to data-hungry tech companies. Their back catalogues of news, books and other media have become a hot commodity as data to train AI systems. Robot readersGenerative AI systems such as ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini require access to large archives of content (such as media content, books, art and academic research) for training and to answer user prompts. Publishers claim technology companies have accessed a lot of this content for free and without the consent of copyright owners. Some began taking tech companies to court, claiming they had stolen their intellectual property. High-profile examples include The New York Times’ case against ChatGPT’s parent company OpenAI and News Corp’s lawsuit against Perplexity AI. Old news, new moneyIn response, some tech companies have struck deals to pay for access to publishers’ content. NewsCorp’s contract with OpenAI is reportedly worth more than US$250 million over five years. Similar deals have been struck between academic publishers and tech companies. Publishing houses such as Taylor & Francis and Elsevier have come under scrutiny in the past for locking publicly funded research behind commercial paywalls. Now, Taylor & Francis has signed a US$10 million nonexclusive deal with Microsoft granting the company access to over 3,000 journals. Publishers are also using technology to stop unwanted AI bots accessing their content, including the crawlers used by the Internet Archive to record internet history. News publishers have referred to the Internet Archive as a “back door” to their catalogues, allowing unscrupulous tech companies to continue scraping their content. The Wayback Machine has also been used by members of the public to avoid newspaper paywalls. Understandably, media outlets want readers to pay for news. News is a business, and its advertising revenue model has come under increasing pressure from the same tech companies using news content for AI training and retrieval. But this comes at the expense of public access to credible information. When newspapers first started moving their content online and making it free to the public in the late 1990s, they contributed to the ethos of sharing and collaboration on the early web. In hindsight, however, one commentator called free access the “original sin” of online news. The public became accustomed to getting their digital editions for free, and as online business models shifted, many mid- and small-sized news companies struggled to fund their operations. The opposite approach – placing all commercial news behind paywalls – has its own problems. As news publishers move to subscription-only models, people have to juggle multiple expensive subscriptions or limit their news appetite. Otherwise, they’re left with whatever news remains online for free or is served up by social media algorithms. The result is a more closed, commercial internet. This isn’t the first time that the Internet Archive has been in the crosshairs of publishers, as the organisation was previously sued and found to be in breach of copyright through its Open Library project. The past and future of the internetThe Wayback Machine has served as a public record of the web for more than three decades, used by researchers, educators, journalists and amateur internet historians. Blocking its access to international newspapers of note will leave significant holes in the public record of the internet. Today, you can use the Wayback Machine to see The New York Times’ front page from June 1997: the first time the Internet Archive crawled the newspaper’s website. In another 30 years, internet researchers and curious members of the public won’t have access to today’s front page, even if the Internet Archive is still around. Today’s websites become tomorrow’s historical records. Without the preservation efforts of not-for-profit organisations like The Internet Archive, we risk losing vital records. Despite the actions of commercial publishers and emerging challenges of AI, not-for-profit organisations such as the Internet Archive and Wikipedia aim to keep the dream of an open, collaborative and transparent internet alive. Tai Neilson, Senior Lecturer in Media, Macquarie University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. |
S. Korea becomes 1st nation to enact comprehensive law on safe AI usage (2026-02-20T12:23:00+05:30)
 IANS Photo Seoul, (IANS): South Korea on Thursday formally enacted a comprehensive law governing the safe use of artificial intelligence (AI) models, becoming the first country globally in doing so, establishing a regulatory framework against misinformation and other hazardous effects involving the emerging field. The Basic Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Establishment of a Foundation for Trustworthiness, or the AI Basic Act, officially took effect Thursday, according to the science ministry, reports Yonhap news agency. It marked the first governmental adoption of comprehensive guidelines on the use of AI globally. The act centres on requiring companies and AI developers to take greater responsibility for addressing deepfake content and misinformation that can be generated by AI models, granting the government the authority to impose fines or launch probes into violations. In detail, the act introduces the concept of "high-risk AI," referring to AI models used to generate content that can significantly affect users' daily lives or their safety, including applications in the employment process, loan reviews and medical advice. Entities harnessing such high-risk AI models are required to inform users that their services are based on AI and are responsible for ensuring safety. Content generated by AI models is required to carry watermarks indicating its AI-generated nature. "Applying watermarks to AI-generated content is the minimum safeguard to prevent side effects from the abuse of AI technology, such as deepfake content," a ministry official said. Global companies offering AI services in South Korea meeting any of the following criteria -- global annual revenue of 1 trillion won ($681 million) or more, domestic sales of 10 billion won or higher, or at least 1 million daily users in the country -- are required to designate a local representative. Currently, OpenAI and Google fall under the criteria. Violations of the act may be subject to fines of up to 30 million won, and the government plans to enforce a one-year grace period in imposing penalties to help the private sector adjust to the new rules.The act also includes measures for the government to promote the AI industry, with the science minister required to present a policy blueprint every three years. S. Korea becomes 1st nation to enact comprehensive law on safe AI usage | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
India tops global index in AI skills penetration, hiring (2026-02-17T14:02:00+05:30)
 (IANS photo) New York, (IANS) India, which is hosting the International Artificial Intelligence Summit next week, ranks at the top in diffusion of AI skills and AI hiring in an international ranking of countries harnessing the power of AI. India comes second in economic competitiveness in the 2026 Global Vibrancy Index (GVI) produced by Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centred AI. Only the US has a better score in this category. Overall, in the GVI, India now ranks behind only the United States and China. Within the subcategory of talent within the competitiveness criteria of the GVI, India overtakes the US, propelled by its performance in the AI Skills Penetration and AI Hiring Ratio headers. India is also second in the “AI-Related Social Media Conversations Net Sentiment”, “AI GitHub Projects” and “AI GitHub Projects Stars” sub-categories. GitHubs are used for integrating projects and making components easily accessible. The Institute attributed India’s rankings to renewed major initiatives to strengthen its position in the global AI ecosystem. “This focus illustrates how nations worldwide continue to treat AI as a strategic national priority,” the institution at the heart of Silicon Valley added. India, which ranked seventh in the first GVI released in 2017, overtook countries like Japan, Germany, Singapore and Britain in the latest version, propelled by progress in research and development. India is set to host the India AI Impact Summit from February 16-20 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Being hosted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the IndiaAI Mission, the summit will bring together governments, industry leaders, researchers, startups, students and citizens from across the world. It is envisioned as a pivotal global platform to shape a future-oriented agenda for inclusive, responsible and impactful AI and aims to move beyond high-level discussions and deliver tangible outcomes that can support economic growth, social development and sustainable use of AI.The Summit will be structured around three core pillars -- People, Planet, and Progress -- with discussions focusing on employment and skilling, sustainable and energy-efficient AI, and economic as well as social development. Seven thematic working groups, co-chaired by representatives from the Global North and Global South, will present concrete deliverables, including proposals for AI Commons, trusted AI tools, shared compute infrastructure, and sector-specific compendiums of AI use cases. India tops global index in AI skills penetration, hiring | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |