"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."

- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

#Facebook

Positive Reads

Chatbot Inspired by Abraham Lincoln and Other Personalities in Works, Set to Redefine Conversational Technology

Meta, the parent company of social media giant Facebook, is reportedly working on an AI chatbot based on Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. According to a report by The Financial Times, Meta's AI division is planning to launch multiple chatbots for Facebook based on various personalities, including a surfer personality to help with travel queries. While it is not yet clear which platforms the chatbots will be rolled out on, previous rumors have suggested Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp as likely recipients. Meta refers to these chatbots as "personas," which are characters of a person. The new chatbots are expected to collect a lot of personal data, including interests and hobbies, which could be a minefield for personalized advertising. The report suggests that the chatbots could be launched as early as September. This is not the first time Meta has attempted to enter the AI chatbot market. Last year, the company released BlenderBot 3, which did not perform well. Recently, Meta launched its AI model, Llama 2, in partnership with Microsoft. However, if a platform has more than 700 million monthly active users, a license from Meta is required to use the model. The development of the Abraham Lincoln chatbot highlights the growing importance of AI in the tech industry and its potential to revolutionize the way we interact with technology.

3 Aug 2023
Positive Reads

FAANG-tastic Five: Meet the Companies Revolutionizing the Tech Industry and Reshaping Our World

FAANG is an acronym that refers to some of the largest and most successful technology companies in the world: Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google (now Alphabet Inc.). These companies have become household names, and their products and services have had a profound impact on our daily lives. Each of the FAANG companies has its own unique focus and business model. Facebook is a social media platform that connects users with friends and family, while Amazon is an e-commerce giant that has revolutionized the way we shop. Apple is a technology company that produces innovative products such as iPhones and Macs, while Netflix is a streaming service that has disrupted the traditional entertainment industry. Google/Alphabet Inc. is a search engine and technology giant that has diversified into a variety of sectors such as self-driving cars and healthcare. Together, the FAANG companies have a combined market capitalization of over $7 trillion, and they have been at the forefront of the digital revolution. However, they have also faced criticism for their dominance and impact on privacy, competition, and society at large. As technology continues to shape our world, the FAANG companies are likely to remain major players in the global economy, and their innovations are likely to continue to shape the way we live and work for years to come.

6 Jul 2023
Positive Reads

Five Tips That Will Help You Become Popular

Everyone desires to be popular and loved by others. Be it Whatsapp or Facebook, one tends to gauge one’s popularity by the number of likes his/her post garners. Well, it’s easy to become popular on social media, but when one has to communicate face to face with a person, s/he often sinks in self-doubt. How to overcome this situation? Here are a few simple steps that will make you impressive and attractive to others. Keep the mood upbeat Just like laughter, moods are also contagious. Just staying upbeat changes the ambiance as moods are transmitted from one person to another in a subtle way without even our realizing it. So if you are cheerful and optimistic, people around you will also become upbeat and this helps to pep up the emotional rapport. Ask lots of questions It has been proved by neuroscientists that when people talk about themselves, their brain releases the same pleasure chemicals as those which are triggered at the sight of food or money. Therefore, do not shy away from asking questions. Ask questions that might be of interest to the other person so that s/he gets many opportunities to talk. This will also help to build a close and harmonious  relationship Share a secret Self-disclosure can help build a friendship. When you divulge something personal, you are showing your faith and trust in the other person, which in turn builds up his/her self confidence. This lays down the foundation for a meaningful relationship. Talk positively about others When you talk about others, listeners unconsciously tend to associate you with the qualities you are narrating. So when you say optimistic, gratifying and pleasant things about friends and colleagues, you will be seen as a nice person and people will be drawn towards you. Find things in common There is something called the ‘similarity-attraction’ effect which scientists have come up with. It means we easily tend to like people who share common interests with us. So try to find things common in the other person and start a discussion. Just follow these simple tips while communicating with people and see your popularity soaring.

30 Oct 2019
Positive Reads

Star Citizens

Gaurav Munjal: The Man Who Revolutionised the Indian EdTech Industry

Gaurav Munjal is an Indian entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Unacademy, an online learning platform that provides educational content to students in India. Munjal was born and raised in Rajasthan, India, and completed his education atat NMIMS, Mumbai.    Munjal began his career as a software engineer intern at Directi, an internet products company. In 2013, Munjal co-founded Flatchat, a mobile app that helps people find accommodation, which was eventually acquired by CommonFloor in 2014.   After the acquisition, Munjal continued to work with CommonFloor for a short time before launching Unacademy in 2015. The platform started as a YouTube channel where educators could upload free educational videos for students preparing for competitive exams, such as the UPSC and CAT exams. However, as the platform gained popularity, Munjal and his team decided to expand and create a full-fledged online learning platform.   Under Munjal's leadership, Unacademy has become one of the fastest-growing edtech startups in India. The platform has over 50,000 educators teaching more than 250,000 live classes every month. In addition, Unacademy has raised over $1.5 billion in funding from top investors such as SoftBank, Facebook, and Sequoia Capital.   Munjal is also an active social media user, and he frequently shares his insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and education on Twitter and LinkedIn. His dedication to providing accessible education to millions of students in India has made him a role model for many aspiring entrepreneurs in the country.

23 Feb 2023
Star Citizens

Thanks to This Rajasthan Cop, Children Are Now Holding Pencils Instead of Begging Bowls

A cop in Rajasthan’s Churu district was appalled at the sight of children begging in the vicinity of the police station. When he inquired about them, he realized that they had no parents or relatives. He even went to nearby slums to confirm if they were telling the truth. He felt sorry for the children and decided to help them. The cop Dharamveer Jakhar soon opened a school called ‘Apni  Pathshala’ as he believed that education is the only way out for these neglected children. He hopes that someday these young children will join the mainstream and contribute to nation-building. An Uphill Task Dharamveer set up a school called ‘Apni Pathshala’ for homeless children. It was not easy for Dharamveer to convince the kids to come to school. He soon found that if the needs of the children are met, they would give up begging and come to school. He, therefore, provided them with dress, food, shoes and study materials free of cost. The cost of running the school is around 1.5 lakhs per month. While he didn’t get much help from the government, donations from people and campaigns organized by Facebook groups and other social media portals help him in running the school. Apni Pathshala The school ‘Apni Pathshala’ was set up in 2015. After four years of dedicated efforts, the school now has 450 children. Dharamveer got around 200 students admitted to government schools. He and his team are in constant touch with all students so that they continue their education uninterruptedly. Dharamveer believes that the joint efforts of police, society and the education department can change the lives of countless kids who are out there begging as they don’t have a purpose in life. To give them a direction in life, he wishes that the government start special schools for them with separate staff to attend to them. His own efforts will go a long way in changing the lives of hundreds of kids for the better.

20 Nov 2019
Star Citizens

Good News

The First ‘Go Green’ Wedding in Kerala Gets Huge Recognition

As people all over the country are gradually getting aware of the hazards of plastic, many citizens are switching over to eco-friendly ways of organizing events. The green concept is gaining popularity these days as more and more people are shunning plastic and thermocol and adopting natural products for decoration, cutlery, return gifts etc. The Green Wedding  Kerala recently hosted a totally ‘green wedding’ which overwhelmed the guests who also got the message to be eco-friendly. Dhishan, the founder of Daksh Events organized his neighbour’s wedding in a unique and environment-friendly way. It was a challenge to decorate the stage without using oasis foam to pin the flowers. They instead used banana stem. Plastic cutlery was replaced by plates made from the leaves of areca nut trees. Glasses were made of clay. Water was served in kooja pots. The used plates were collected in baskets made of straw. Catering employees wore T-shirts that said ‘Say no to plastic’ slogan printed on them. Huge Recognition While the bride, the groom and their families were very impressed by the unique arrangement,  the greatest recognition for Dhishan came when District Collector S Shanavas shared the event’s picture on his Facebook page. The guests were given vegetable plant seeds and a bag inscribed with ‘Say no to plastic’ message as return gifts. Apart from being easy on the pocket, the green wedding also gave an immense sense of satisfaction to the host and the organizers.  

5 Dec 2019
Good News

An Artist With No Hands Shows That He Has a Large Heart

Pranav Balasubramaniam was born without hands but that didn’t diminish his zest for life. As a child growing up in Kerala, he always strived to do what others did and most of the time, he achieved it even with his disability. Inspired by the paintings made by his elder brother, Pranav too learned to paint and won many admirers. Recently, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was overwhelmed by Pranav’s kind gesture of donating the prize money that he had won in a reality show to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. Positive Energy Pranav’s exuberant nature made him try new things. He learned to paint with his foot and soon started earning by selling his paintings. He would donate this money for a good cause. He was devastated at the havoc caused by floods in Kerala last year and wanted to help. Therefore, on his 21st birthday he met the chief minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan and donated the prize money of Rs 5,000 that he won in a reality show towards the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. Proud Parents Pranav was accompanied by his father Balasubramaniam and mother Swarnakumari, whom he introduced to Pinarayi as his virtual hands. The young artist has completed his BCom course from Government College, Chittur, Palakkad. He is currently attending PSC coaching classes. He praised the state government for its policies for the differently-abled people. Pinarayi Vijayan assured him that he would be given a job after he completes his studies. The chief minister was touched by the young man’s kind gesture and termed the contribution as immense. He obliged when Pranav requested for a selfie and was surprised when Pranav deftly took the selfie with his foot. He went on to share details of interaction with Pranav on his Facebook page. Image Source: LifeBeyondNumbers

15 Nov 2019
Good News

Global Inspirations

A Library Asked for a Few Helping Hands and Was Amazed by the Response

A library in Oklahoma asked for a few helping hands on social media to move children’s books to a new location down the street and was overwhelmed by the huge turnout. More than 650 volunteers including kids, adults and seniors arrived at the place and formed a human chain between the two buildings. One by one, they enthusiastically passed the books down the line and the work was accomplished within 45 minutes. The Norman Public Library The Norman Public Library in Oklahoma serves three surrounding counties. It had decided to shift children’s books from the old brick building to a new location situated quarter of a mile from it. They planned to make this a community event that could bring book lovers together and therefore, posted about the moving event on Facebook asking for a few volunteers. They were delighted to see more than 650 people arrive for the event. Human Chain The volunteers formed a human chain between the two libraries and joyfully passed the books down the line. All the books were shifted in a matter of 45 minutes. Kids just loved the experience and many said that they can’t wait for the new library to open. In the end, kids were overjoyed when they got to arrange a book each on the new library shelf which would forever be its home. Books are a source of great joy. The love for books brought people of a community together and they derived immense happiness from being a part of this community event involving books.

19 Nov 2019
Global Inspirations

This Story of the Compassionate Act of a Waiter Will Touch Your Heart

Lisa Meilander was enjoying a Saturday night dinner with her family in a Pennsylvania restaurant when she was touched by the kind act of a young waiter. An elderly gentleman was seated across her table and she noticed that their waiter Dylan Tetil dropped to one knee to take the order of the elderly man. The senior citizen had trouble communicating his order as he forgot his hearing aids. He went on to explain how he lost his hearing ability during the war. After a while, he apologized for talking so much and that he was living alone to which the young waiter said that he enjoyed listening. The waiter helped him figure out what to order and left with it to the kitchen. During his break, Dylan sat with the elderly gentleman as he ate. The gentleman became very emotional and broke down as he narrated incidents about the war. It was a very touching sight and Lisa Meilander captured these pictures, posted them on Facebook and wrote about the compassionate gesture of the waiter. Lisa Meilander was amazed to see that the pictures have gone viral and it had garnered almost 2 lakh ‘likes’ in two days. This moment rekindled her faith in young people’s values. As she was leaving the restaurant, the two of them were conversing and people seated nearby couldn’t help smiling. It was a touching sight and the fact that it became viral on social media proves that we all are moved by such acts of kindness and compassion. Image Courtesy: Yahoo News Australia

25 Aug 2019
Global Inspirations

Facebook To Detect Users With Suicidal Intent

Facebook has developed a pattern recognition software that helps to detect user with suicidal intent. The tests have been proved successful in the US and the company aims to expand the software to other countries in a bid to curb the increasing suicide rates among users. The world’s largest social media company started the tests in the US in March. The posts of Facebook posts and comments were scanned for phrases that could be signals of an impending suicide. Officials at Facebook informed that the software searches for certain phrases that could be clues, such as the questions “Are you ok?” and “Can I help?” If the software detects a potential suicide, it sends alerts to a team of Facebook workers who are specialized in handling such reports. The system then tries to help the user by providing a telephone helpline. Sometimes, Facebook workers also contact local authorities and urge them to intervene. Facebook’s vice president for product management, Guy Rosen, said after the completion of successful tests in the United States, the company plans to roll out the software outside the US. Facebook said it has hired employees who are specialists and are available at any hour to call authorities in local languages.  Rosen added “Speed really matters. We have to get help to people in real time.” 

30 Nov 2017
Global Inspirations

Archives