Aamir Khollam, Author at Exhibit Tech

“Digital Payments Is The Future” Says Paytm CPO Shreyas Srinivasan Addressing UPI Lite

UPI payments have become a conventionally important part of our banking experience. UPI has enabled the country’s people to carry out transactions easily. However, the UPI payment system does come without its cons. One of which is a cluttered bank passbook containing even the littlest transactions like buying a bottle of water or even a piece of chewing gum. Another restriction is the cap on the number of transactions one user can make in a day. To solve the issues related to small UPI transactions, the Reserve Bank of India launched UPI Lite to facilitate faster and easier transactions in September 2022.

Homegrown Paytm Payments Bank was the first digital payments platform to offer UPI Lite with the service crossing 2 million users with over half a million daily transactions recorded in a short amount of time. There are no second thoughts about UPI Lite being a runaway hit, so, what exactly is it? I was lucky enough to get a briefing about UPI Lite from Paytm’s Chief Product officer followed by an interaction where we discussed the challenges and future of digital payments in India. Firstly, here’s everything you need to know about UPI Lite –

What is UPI Lite?

UPI Lite is a digital account designed to make low-value transactions easier and quicker. It comes with a maximum balance limit of 2000. The maximum balance limit can be added to the account twice daily enabling transactions up to 4000 in a day. The maximum value allowed per transaction is Rs 200. It can be regarded as a compressed version of UPI that is designed for low-value transactions from Re 1 to Rs 200.

UPI lite comes with its own sets of advantages above the standard UPI system. Transactions made using UPI Lite do not clutter users’ bank passbooks. The statement only comprises of top-up transactions done during UPI Lite decluttering the passbook. Another main advantage is having no cap on the number of transactions made. Whereas, users are also not required to enter their 4 or 6-digit pins using UPI Lite. During my briefing session, Paytm CPO Shreyas Srinivasan emphasised on banking industry evolving to become a technological industry and UPI Lite seems to lessen the gap between the two. Here’s Exhibit’s exclusive conversation with Paytm CPO Shreyas Srinivasan –

EX: Firstly, congratulations on the success of UPI Lite. Being a spearhead in digital payment technology in India, what challenges does Paytm face on a daily basis?

Shreyas: I think on a daily basis, our challenges are customer challenges. We work hard to make sure our customers don’t face any challenges but since we have millions and millions of people using our payment systems we have issues like failed transactions, soundbox not playing when a transaction is made and similar are some of the issues we grapple with every day. New users who are new to mobile and digital payments not knowing how to activate UPI is also one of the challenges we work on every day.

EX: What is your goal with the UPI Lite service in a country that is as financially diverse as India?

Shreyas: I think more than UPI Lite, our overall motivation is to make sure 100% success rates on all our transactions. I think everything we do is a movement in that direction, UPI Lite increases success rate along with all the work we’ve put in making Paytm banks the first digitally native bank which supports millions of transactions is towards that goal. Every time you want to pay, it should be a successful transaction.

EX: What do you think is the future of digital payments in India?

Shreyas: I think it is the future! I think digital payment is the future, we’ve seen digital payments bring millions of people into the mainstream economy. Users who did not previously have a banking profile or banking history were previously forgotten on the edge of the mainstream economy. We’ve seen millions of them come to the forefront because of digital payments. Tools we’ve built like the soundboxes have now enabled small merchants to become savvy and accept digital payments. Be it a small merchant selling coconut by the street or any merchant selling things on the highway, all of them are now accepting digital payments. Paytm’s mission and vision are to bring 500 million users into the mainstream economy and we’re enabling them with the form of digital payments.

EX: We think digital payments are also bringing the country together…

Shreyas: YES! Trust improves trade and trade improves GDP. In fact, a lot of progress of a country is built on trust and this is the first time that users can see the person they’re paying along with their banks while making a digital payment. I think it really is building a fabric of trust when it comes to payments in the country which definitely brings the country together and makes our growth possible at a faster rate.

Apple’s folding iPhone may automatically shut to protect itself from drops

While every other major tech player like Samsung, Motorola and OPPO has already launched its foldable devices, Apple has been working on its version of the same for quite a while. However, it is expected that the wait for a foldable iPhone or iPad by Apple will be coming to an end as soon as 2025. Apple has been hard at work with the next-gen iPhone and iPad lineup with foldable capabilities and a recent patent for a new technology hints that the company is aiming to bring only the best product to the market. Reports suggest that the new technology patented could protect foldable iPhones and iPad from getting damaged even when dropped from a height.

New technology for foldable iPhone/iPad

Patently Apple was the first portal to spot the patent filed by Apple from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) which hints at new safety features for the screens of the iPhone and iPad units in the future. The patent is titled ‘Self-Retracting Display Device And Techniques For Protecting Screen Using Drop Detection’. This refers to a motorised folding device mechanism that could either partially or fully close a foldable device before it hits the ground in the event of a drop.

This is a crucial development in the foldable device arena as rollable and foldable displays are made out of ultra-thin glass which is vulnerable to falls. The new technology could help solve a major issue in foldable devices and protect them from unexpected drops.

The patent application read “Mobile devices with foldable and rollable displays can use a sensor to detect vertical acceleration (e.g., acceleration with respect to the ground) to determine if the mobile device has been dropped. If the sensor detects that the mobile device has been dropped… the foldable device can retract at least partially to afford protection from the fragile display from striking the ground”

Redmi Note 12 Turbo to be powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2

Qualcomm recently launched the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset which is the company’s most powerful premium midrange offering to date. It is equipped with Quantum AI Engine that boosts its performance making the processor much faster than its predecessor. Now, Redmi has confirmed that its upcoming Redmi Note 12 Turbo which is all set to launch on March 23 will feature this latest chipset. On the other hand, Realme has also confirmed that Realme GT Neo 5 SE will feature the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset.

Redmi Note 12 Turbo specifications

While there have been confirmations from Xiaomi about it, the Redmi Note 12 Turbo is expected to feature a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It is tipped to feature a triple camera setup on the back with a 50MP primary lens coupled with 8MP and 2MP lenses. However, the details about the selfie camera are still unknown. So far, the only confirmed specification of the Redmi Note 12 Turbo is the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 SoC which will reportedly be paired with 12Gb RAM and 512Gb storage for the maxed-out variant. It is expected to house a massive 5500mAh battery with fast charging support of up to 67W and feature Android 13. The Redmi Note 12 Turbo is rumoured to launch in the global market as the POCO F5.

Whereas, the new Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 comes with its own set of impressive features. Qualcomm claims that its newly launched mobile platform is equipped with superior CPU and GPU performance. It is capable of fast gaming, better low-light photography along with 4K HDR video performance. It also comes with AI-enhanced capabilities which are staple in today’s mobile computing chipsets. It sports an 18-bit Triple ISP which allows users to capture images in mega low light mode. This mode clicks 30 pictures and combines them into a single frame for a brighter and clearer output in low-light images.

Everything You Need To Know About GPT-4

It has not even been six months since the launch of ChatGPT which proved to be the stepping stone of the AI race. If you thought ChatGPT with its capabilities of writing codes, essays, and much more along with having conversations with the users was stuff from the future, just wait till we tell you about GPT-4!

Microsoft-backed OpenAI has started rolling out GPT-4 which is a powerful AI model and the successor to the juggernaut which was ChatGPT. However, GPT-4 is widely different from ChatGPT as it is a ‘multimodal’ capable of generating content from both image and text prompts. However, if you’re someone with no clue about the latest language model by OpenAI then we have you covered. Read on –

What is GPT-4?

In simple terms, GPT-4 is OpenAI’s next generation of larger language model systems (LLM). A large language model as the name suggests is a system that tries to predict the next word in a sentence and adds its inputs to it by studying large datasets. Thus, ChatGPT is able to write down essays or have conversations with users in a manner that makes sense and is not disjointed. Studying large datasets allows the AI to identify conversational or written patterns and act on them. GPT-4 is the latest model in the series and is expected to bring massive improvements over the previous GPT 3 and 3.5 models.

So what really is the difference between GPT-4 and 3.5? While GPT 3.5 only takes text prompts, the latest version of the LLM can also use images as inputs. GPT-4 can recognize objects in an image input and analyze them. Whereas, while GPT-3.5 is limited to about 3,000 words per response, GPT-4 is miles ahead with the ability to register input over 25,000 words. Reports suggest that GPT-4 is 82% less likely to deny requests for content not allowed on the portal than its predecessor. The new LLM also scores 40% higher on factuality tests. However, one of the most interesting aspects of GPT-4 is its ability to allow developers to decide their AI’s style of tone and volubility.

What is GPT-4 capable of?

OpenAI in its announcement revealed that GPT-4 is capable of scoring 90% of test-takers for the US Union Bar Exam, which is a certification test for lawyers. It is trained to be much safer than ChatGPT and reliable thanks to its factual prowess. The demo presented by OpenAI showcased that users can take a photo of a hand-drawn mock-up of a website and GPT-4 can create a real one for you. “It’s a system that can make dreams, thoughts, and ideas flourish in text in front of you,” an OpenAI employee said in the company’s video announcement.

At the time of writing, OpenAI is yet to make GPT-4’s visual input capabilities available through any platform. However, one way to test out GPT-4’s text-input capability is through a subscription to ChatGPT plus for $20. It will be interesting to see how GPT-4 changes the landscape of the AI war and whether it will be as monumental as ChatGPT.

Meet the new Samsung Galaxy A series – A 54 5G & A34 5G

Samsung has been striking the right chords lately with the launch of its much anticipated S23 series which brought the best of Android to users around the world. Be it the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or the competitive cameras, there are no boxes the S23 series doesn’t tick effectively. However, as we come down the Samsung chain of devices things start to get a little diversified when it comes to performance, design and much more. This is where the new Samsung A series comes into the picture with two of its new devices the Samsung A54 and A34. While these devices belong to the A series, they’re considerably different from one another perhaps even catering to two different consumer categories.

We have been testing the waters with these two devices for a while now and here is what we think about the Samsung A54 5G and A34 5G –

Starting off with A54 5G

While this device is smaller than the A34 at 6’4 inches it packs more power with Samsung’s 5nm Exynos processor as compared to A34’s MediaTek Dimensity 1080. Talking about the design, the highlight of this phone’s aesthetic appeal has to be its glass panel which is furthermore complimented by the matte-black-like side finish for the black variant. It has a hole punch display that inches the phone towards the premium-looking Samsung devices. And the eye candy factor only enhances furthermore when the device is turned on and we have a look at that display. It flaunts a massive 5000 mAh battery which can be juiced up with 25W charging support, however, you do not get a charging brick in the box and get a type-C to type-C cable.

It features a beautiful Super AMOLED display at full HD+ that is a treat to watch content on. There is no beating Samsung when it comes to displays and the company carries its legacy with flying colours. The display comes with HDR10+ certification as one would expect and delivers punchy colours and an immersive experience. The device comes with an IP67 rating making it resistant to water and dust considerably. Talking about the cameras, we’ve got a triple camera setup with a 50MP OIS primary lens coupled with 12MP and 5MP lenses for ultrawide and macro shots. On the front, we have a 32MP selfie camera. Overall, the camera setup here neither underwhelms nor overwhelms. It is a pretty standard setup capable of clicking some usable shots. Check out some of the camera samples of the A54 below –

Besides the standard pack and parcel of the device, let’s talk about what I think about this new offering by Samsung. The device is pretty much a standard affair when it comes to performance. It does heat up often and more than the A34 at times keeping true to the Exynos fashion. However, no lags were witnessed during my testing of the device. While do not see straight-up ads on the A54, it is definitely loaded with a bunch of bloat apps that can thankfully be removed. It has a 5000 mAh battery that can support only 25W battery charging leading to longer charging times. The device is expected to be placed in the 35-45K price category which puts it in the premium-midrange category where currently the OnePlus 11R stands tall. However, Samsung A54’s classy design, display, and reliable performance will surely attract many towards the device. Both the A54 and A34 come with an under-display fingerprint sensor which is not snappy but is definitely reliable.

Now, on to the second new A series device launched by Samsung, the A34.

A controversial opinion but the A34 feels like a better proposition for the average user out there. Talking about the specifications, the A34 comes with a larger 6.6-inch AMOLED FHD+ display. It doesn’t have the premium feeling glass panel like the A54 but the plastic back is no less aesthetically pleasing. It’s equipped with Dimensity 1080 and while the chipset falls short in the geek bench arena when compared to the A54 but does not come with the heating issues witnessed in the latter device. The A34 comes with an iP67 rating making it dust and waterproof. It sports a similar 5000 mAh battery and 25W wired charging support. Similar to the A54, the A34 also comes with a triple camera set up however, the primary lens here is a 48MP OIS camera tagged along with 8MP and 5MP lenses. The selfie lens also sees a downgrade to 13MP. Check out some of the camera samples from the A34 below –

The one and only deciding factor for me between the A54 and A34 is that notch. The Samsung A34 while expectedly priced in the 30-35K range, comes with an outdated waterdrop notch. There is a lot to love in both the A54 and A34 devices but unfortunately, their competitors offer a lot at the same price point which cannot be ignored. In conclusion, Samsung has basically delivered two standard devices with standard performances that deliver just above the average! While the devices stand in the same A-series lineup, they’re vastly different from each other allowing users to have a wide range of choices.

So should you buy the new galaxy A54 or A34? The answer is rather subjective. If you’re looking for a Samsung phone that is not in the premium price range like the S23 series then the A series is definitely one for you to go for.

Google announces AI features in Gmail, Docs, and more

It looks like AI has finally reached a point in our lives where we cannot escape it. After OpenAI became the inception of what can only be called the AI revolution, many tech giants have made it their primary goal to get on the AI bandwagon and excel. Google has now announced a suite of upcoming AI features for various Workspace apps which includes Google Docs, Gmail, Sheets, and Slides. Check out every AI implementation in Google apps below –

Google goes AI

The new features introduce a revamped way to generate, summarize, and brainstorm text with AI in Google Docs. This is somewhat if not entirely similar to how people use OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Users can also generate full emails in Gmail based on users’ bullet points. AI imagery and the ability to generate audio and visual presentations in Slides will also be present in the new Google AI services. The quick response to the changing AI landscape around the world by Google does hint towards the company’s ambition to catch up to all the competitors currently thriving in the sector.

Reports suggest that Google had declared ‘Code Red’ back in December when senior management of the company asked staff to add AI tools to almost all end-user products. While Google is making waves in the world of AI, the company’s approach to announcing the new services can only be described as hasty. While Google has already announced a plethora of new features, as of now, only AI writing tools in Docs and Gmail will be making their way to a group of ‘Trusted Testers’ in the US. Here are all the AI features coming to Google in the near future as per Google’s recent blog post –

draft, reply, summarize, and prioritize your Gmail
brainstorm, proofread, write, and rewrite in Docs
bring your creative vision to life with auto-generated images, audio, and video in Slides
go from raw data to insights and analysis via auto-completion, formula generation, and contextual categorization in Sheets
generate new backgrounds and capture notes in Meet
enable workflows for getting things done in Chat

Poco X5 5G First Impression – A Value Offering

What happens when consumers in a country are well caught up with tech and understanding the nitty-gritty of smartphone devices? You get smartphone companies fighting each other in offering the best specifications at a competitive price. Ultimately, it’s the end-buyer who benefits from the tech giants competing in the market. The OnePlus 11 and 11R are shining examples of similar phenomena and trickling it down to the midrange to budget section we see a bigger plethora of choices that confuse us.

This is where this new offering by POCO, The POCO X5 5G comes into the picture. Entering at an oversaturated price point between the 15 to 25K range, the POCO X5 5G only further confuses the buyers even more. But that’s what we’re here for! We have been using the POCO X5 5G for a day and here are my first impressions of the device!

Display

The POCO X5 5G features a vivid 6’67-inch FHD+ super AMOLED display which gives users an immersive experience. The display produces some punchy colours without straining the eyes during longer-watching sessions. It features what POCO calls a sunlight display which features high brightness. The 2400 x 1080 FHD+ display gets pretty bright at 1200 nits. It features a 120Hz of refresh rate which gives it that smooth hyperrealistic feel. Overall the display is eye candy!

Design

The back design is pretty much similar to the staple POCO design with its branding up top. It’s a plastic back panel that does not scream premium but can be protected using the in-box transparent cover. It features a 3.5mm headphone jack on top and a USB-C type port at the bottom and the standard volume rockers and lock screen buttons on the side. It features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that is snappy. It is a lightweight device weighing just 189 Grams and 7.8mm in thickness.

Performance and battery

When it comes to midrange performance, the Snapdragon 695 is a no-brainer chip for companies to go to. This 7nm chipset has proven its prowess in several midrange devices and shines once again in the POCO X5 5G. As the model name suggests, it is a 5G device consisting of 7 5G bands which are more than enough for the current scenario of 5G availability. The X5 I am using is an 8GB/256GB variant out of which 36GB is occupied by the system. The battery here is 5000mAh which can be juiced up with a 33W charger provided in the box. During my testing, the device juiced up from 33% to 100% in about an hour and fifteen mins which is not bad. It features LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage which is pretty standard for a midrange device.

Camera

The POCO X5 5G comes with a triple camera setup consisting of a 48MP primary lens coupled with an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera. The selfie camera is clocked at 13MP. Here are some camera samples –

Conclusion

The Poco X5 5G is a capable device that ticks many boxes and does so effectively. The Snapdragon 695 coupled with a smooth 120Hz display and a capable camera setup makes this device an easy choice for many midrange consumers out there. At 20,999 for the 8/256Gb variant, the POCO X5 5G is one of the best options in the market right now.

Make way for GPT-4: The next-gen large language model

It was only back in November 2022 when OpenAI released ChatGPT which quickly became a hit registering 100 million users in just two months since its launch. ChatGPT is a trained chatbot capable of interacting conversationally with users. The conversational AI became the rage on the internet with various companies jumping on the trend and releasing their own versions of a similar AI. Now, OpenAI is ready to release the next generation large language model (LLM), GPT-4 as soon as next week. Interestingly, while ChatGPT is restricted to answering user questions in a text format, the next generation of the language model might have the ability to generate AI-powered videos, images, and more!

GPT-4 on the way

The fourth generation of the LLM, GPT-4 is likely to be released next week by OpenAI. This time around, multimodality, video processing, ability to produce AI-generated videos from simple text prompts are among some of the new features. It will reportedly be more powerful than GPT-3.5 which currently powers ChatGPT. Besides multimodality, GPT-4 may also solve ChatGPT’s current issues regarding sluggish response time to user queries.

Reportedly, OpenAi might also be working on a mobile app powered by GPT-4. As of now, even ChatGPT is a web-based model having no mobile application. It is highly likely that GPT-4 will make its way to Bing search eventually, however, both Microsoft and OpenAI have not hinted towards it as of now.

On the other hand, the Bing search engine with ChatGPT capabilities has now surpassed 100 million daily active users. The integration of ChatGPT features has allowed the company to grow Bing search usage within a month like never before. Reports suggest that roughly one-third of daily Bing preview users are using the AI chat on a daily basis. The AI race only seems to gear up right now as even Discord has updated its bots with ChatGPt-like features.

How technology is changing work

Nothing’s better than putting in a day of honest work! However, won’t it be better if technology helps make it easier?

Technology has been changing the way we work for decades, but the pace of technological advancement has accelerated in recent years, bringing about a range of new opportunities and challenges for the workforce. Thanks to the rise of remote working, a big chunk of people now work from the comforts of their homes. But it doesn’t end there as thanks to artificial intelligence, automation and virtual reality, technology is changing the very nature of work and the way we approach it. Check out some of the ways technology has been changing the way we work –

Remote Work

Remote work may have started off as a compulsion during the pandemic times, but it definitely unlocked a whole new meaning of working. With the rise of collaboration tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, many workers can now work from anywhere with an internet connection. This has the potential to increase work-life balance and reduce commuting times, but it also requires new skills to communicate and collaborate effectively in a remote environment.

Automation

One of the most significant impacts of technology on the workplace is automation. Automation has been used in manufacturing for decades, but advances in technology are now enabling automation in a range of industries, from healthcare and finance to retail and transportation. This has the potential to significantly increase efficiency and productivity, but it also raises concerns about job displacement and the need for new skills.

Gig Economy

Another way technology is changing the workplace is through the rise of the gig economy. Platforms like Uber, Airbnb, and Upwork are enabling individuals to work on a freelance basis, offering their skills and services on demand. This has created new opportunities for people who may not have had access to traditional employment, but on the flip side, it has also raised questions about worker protection and job security.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also changing the way we work. AI can analyze data faster and more accurately than humans, enabling businesses to make better decisions and improve efficiency. However, it also raises concerns about the ethical implications of using AI to make decisions about people, and the potential for AI to replace human workers in certain industries. The headlines about tech companies undergoing major layoffs are undoubtedly scary while algorithms take over their job positions. It is too soon to judge whether artificial intelligence will ultimately be a boon or a curse to the workforce and humanity as a whole.

VR and AR

Finally, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) is beginning to be used in the workplace, offering new ways to train employees, visualize data, and collaborate remotely. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we work, but it also requires significant investment and training to be used effectively.

In conclusion, technology is changing the way we work in a range of ways. While these changes offer new opportunities and benefits, they also raise important questions about the future of work, including job displacement, worker protections, and the need for new skills and training. As technology continues to evolve, it will be essential for businesses, policymakers, and individuals to stay informed and adapt to these changes in order to thrive in the new digital economy.

AI can now generate images based on people’s brain activity!

AI has been the talk of the town lately thanks to ChatGPT bringing it to the forefront. AI is now capable of generating human-like conversations which in itself is a trip, but that’s not all as the technology is helping automate various tasks in day-to-day life. Sure, there is a flip side to this AI development as concerns about it replacing many human jobs stand strong. However, its jaw-dropping abilities in the current scenario are worth acknowledging. Just when humanity was catching up to AI being able to have casual conversations with real people, researchers have now revealed that the technology can generate images based on people’s brain activity!

AI images from brain activity

Sounds like science fiction, but researchers have successfully trained an artificial intelligence system to recreate images people have looked at based entirely on brain scans. Researchers Shinji Nishimoto and Yu Takagi from Japan’s Osaka University have recreated Hi-Res images from scans of brain activity. The study held at Osaka University suggests that AI algorithm processed information gathered in different regions of the brain that are responsible for perceiving images. The system interpreted information from the occipital and temporal lobes of the brain via fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans of the brain.

When people look at any image, the temporal lobes register information about its content, whereas the occipital lobes record layouts and perspective. All of this information was recorded using an fMRI that can detect the changing blood flow to the active regions of the brain. The recorded information can then be converted into an imitation of the image according to the researchers. The study was backed by an online data set provided by the University of Minnesota which consisted of brain scans of four people who each viewed over 10,000 pictures.

While this is a big achievement in the world of AI and the technology shows a lot of promise, it still has some limitations. The AI can only recreate images or objects included in its training material which includes data from only four people. Broadening the module will require it to include individual brain scans which is a time-consuming process. As of now, this technology will not be widely accessible anytime soon.