Xiaomi launches open-source voice model for cars, home devices
Empower your mind, elevate your skills
Security purposes - A 24/7 sound monitoring and alert system for unusual ambient sound.
Language and pronunciation - The AI model offers real-time pronunciation feedback inside cars for learning any language during a commute.
Chinese major Xiaomi released an open-source voice model called MiDashengLM-7B on Monday, which is already functional in smart home systems and cars in China.According to a report by Bloomberg News, the new MiDashengLM-7B foundational model is integrated with Alibaba Group's open-source Qwen2.5-Omni-7B model.The report further added that the AI model has been trained on publicly available data and is released under the permissive Apache 2.0 licence.The Apache 2.0 license is a free software license that allows users to use, modify, and distribute the software for any purpose, including commercial use, with relatively few restrictions.Xiaomi's MiDashengLM-7B caters to not just speech inputs but also understands ambient sounds, background music, and environmental noise.Another report by India Today says that the model is set to release 30 smart features across its product lineup.Xiaomi claims that the model can take up to 20 times more requests compared to similar models in this space.According to a report by Reuters, the company plans to invest at least $6.93 billion in chip design over at least 10 years starting from 2021.The development reaffirms Xiaomi's focus on technological innovation, especially on artificial intelligence (AI).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Chinese engineers' ..., the 'important angle' Microsoft reportedly missed while revealing SharePoint hack
Microsoft announced last month that Chinese state-sponsored hackers exploited vulnerabilities in its SharePoint collaboration software to breach hundreds of companies and government agencies, including the National Nuclear Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security. However, the tech giant omitted a crucial detail: China-based engineers have been maintaining the very software that was compromised, as reported by ProPublica. According to screenshots viewed by ProPublica, Microsoft's internal work-tracking system showed China-based employees recently fixing bugs for SharePoint "OnPrem" — the exact version targeted in the cyberattacks. The revelation raises serious questions about potential security risks when foreign personnel maintain critical US government systems. Microsoft's China team has 'years' of SharePoint access ProPublica's investigation revealed that Microsoft's China-based engineering team has been responsible for maintaining SharePoint software for years, supervised by a US-based engineer. The company stated that work is "already underway to shift this work to another location" following the security breach. The timing proves particularly concerning given that Microsoft's analysis showed Chinese hackers were exploiting SharePoint weaknesses as early as July 7. Despite Microsoft releasing a patch on July 8, hackers successfully bypassed the initial fix, forcing the company to issue additional "more robust protections." Government systems potentially exposed to foreign oversight Cybersecurity experts warn that allowing China-based personnel to perform technical support on US government systems creates major security vulnerabilities. Chinese laws grant officials broad authority to collect data, making it difficult for citizens or companies to resist direct requests from security forces. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has identified China as the "most active and persistent cyber threat" to US government and critical infrastructure networks. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency confirmed that the SharePoint vulnerabilities enable hackers to "fully access SharePoint content" and execute malicious code. This latest revelation follows ProPublica's previous reporting that Microsoft has relied on foreign workers, including China-based engineers, to maintain Defense Department cloud systems for over a decade. In response, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a review of tech companies' use of foreign-based engineers, while senators from both parties have demanded more information about Microsoft's practices.
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Watch: Robot walks into Rolex store in New York, leaves people stunned
A humanoid robot named KOID, developed by a Chinese firm, caused a stir on Fifth Avenue by interacting with people and even trying on a Rolex watch. This PR stunt, promoting a new AI ETF, sparked fascination and fear among onlookers. The event ignited discussions about the increasing role of AI and robotics in society. On an otherwise regular day on Fifth Avenue, New Yorkers encountered a scene that looked straight out of a sci-fi film: a humanoid robot casually strolling past storefronts, waving to pedestrians, and even walking into a Rolex boutique to try on a watch. Meet KOID, a humanoid robot developed by a Chinese robotics firm. Retailing at approximately $100,000 or INR 800,000 the robot quickly drew crowds and viral curiosity, not just for its realistic movements, but for the human-like way it interacted with the world around it. The unusual scene was part of a marketing campaign by a company promoting their new Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF. The American partner of the company documented robot's outing on Instagram, including a now-viral clip where the robot steps into a Rolex store and is assisted by a sales representative while trying on a Rolex GMT-Master II with a blue bezel and black dial. The gesture, so mundane for a human, looked uncannily natural on the robot, prompting both fascination and alarm. Fascination meets fear The spectacle quickly became a social media sensation, with NewYorkers Live capturing on-the-ground reactions. A young girl described the robot as 'cool' but cautiously added, 'as long as they don't take over the world.' Others were more apprehensive. One man said he found it 'scary' and wouldn't want it near his children. There were also humorous takes, one passerby joked, 'Is the robot getting paid as much as I am?' Of course, the inevitable Terminator comparisons surfaced too. 'It's giving Judgment Day,' someone quipped, referencing the Hollywood franchise where machines rebel against their creators. But not all reactions were dystopian. One observer pointed out the positive possibilities, likening KOID to other helpful machines we already rely on - trucks, elevators, even smartphones. 'It's still just a machine,' he said. 'If it helps reduce our daily burden, why not?' The bigger picture While the PR stunt succeeded in going viral, it also opened up larger conversations about the growing presence of AI and robotics in everyday life. With humanoid robots getting eerily close to human dexterity and social intelligence, how we choose to integrate or regulate their role remains a question for both policymakers and the public. But for now, robot's walk down Fifth Avenue stands as a surreal reminder that the future is not coming. It's already here, wearing a Rolex.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
3 hours ago
- First Post
Despite chatter, PM Modi unlikely to attend China's World War II victory parade, 5 reasons
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unlikely to attend China's World War II Victory Day parade as gaps outweigh recent signs of a thaw in India-China relations read more Despite some speculation and suggestions, it appears increasingly unlikely that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend China's World War II Victory Day parade scheduled for early September in Beijing. While bilateral relations between India and China have experienced a tentative thaw, multiple diplomatic, strategic and domestic considerations stand in the way of such a high-profile appearance. 1. Improved ties, but not enough yet India and China have indeed shown signs of recalibration in their strained ties. Recent months have seen a flurry of diplomatic engagement, including visits by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to China. In response, Beijing's resumption of pilgrimages to Tibet and New Delhi restoring visa services for Chinese nationals signal a cautious detente. However, caution is the key word against overinterpreting these developments. Ivan Lidarev, a visiting fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies in Singapore, points out to South China Morning Post that while ties have improved, they have not reached a point where Prime Minister Modi's participation in a Chinese military event would be politically or diplomatically appropriate. Such a visit would be viewed as more than ceremonial—it would symbolise a radical diplomatic shift that current circumstances do not support. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 2. Trade tensions and mistrust still simmer Bilateral trade between the two Asian giants surpassed $127 billion last year, but the economic relationship remains uneven and frequently contentious. India continues to express concern over what it sees as 'trade weaponisation' by China—ranging from export curbs on key inputs like rare earth magnets and fertilisers to trans-shipment and dumping practices that hurt Indian industries, the BBC reports. China's restriction on rare earth exports in particular has alarmed Indian manufacturing sectors, which rely heavily on these materials for automobiles, appliances and clean energy technologies. As former diplomat Phunchok Stobdan points out to BBC, such moves by Beijing are viewed in New Delhi as economic coercion aimed at pressuring India strategically. These unresolved frictions diminish the feasibility of Modi endorsing a military celebration that could be seen as legitimising China's broader geopolitical posture. 3. Why endorsement of China's military narrative is a red line The nature of China's World War II Victory Day parade—commemorating its triumph over Japan—is itself diplomatically charged. For India, a Quad partner with Japan, Australia and United States, attending such an event could be interpreted as aligning with China's historical and strategic worldview. This would carry particular weight in China's case, given its border claims over Indian territory and continued strategic cooperation with Pakistan. During Operation Sindoor in May, China's active help to Pakistan, which used Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets in the military clash with India, has only deepened suspicions in New Delhi. This does not align with India's approach either diplomatically or militarily. 4. Domestic interests prevail For Prime Minister Modi, India's domestic interests rank way incomparably above attendance at a Chinese state parade. Complicating matters further is the fluid state of global diplomacy, particularly with United States under President Donald Trump's second term. Trump's erratic overtures—such as his self-proclaimed mediation during the India-Pakistan clash and overt friendliness toward the Pakistani military—have left India feeling vulnerable and recalibrating its strategic autonomy. Prime Minister Modi's foreign policy in recent years has sought to balance ties with major powers, maintaining India's traditional non-alignment while leveraging partnerships where necessary. Appearing at a parade also attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and possibly key Pakistani leaders could be interpreted as aligning with a China-Russia axis—something India is unlikely to embrace when its Quad ties and economic negotiations with the West remain critical. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 5. A calculated distance While the SCO summit in Tianjin at the end of August may offer a more acceptable venue for diplomatic engagement, a front-row seat at a military parade in Beijing is another matter entirely. Attending it would risk misinterpreting India's strategic intent and strain ties with critical partners like Japan and US. For now, Prime Minister Modi is more likely to reaffirm India's independent stance through measured diplomatic gestures. The global order is still in the flux under the impact of US President Donald Trump-induced trade and tariff wars. Trump's off the cuff remarks on serious issues of diplomacy, geostrategy and global economy have further complicated the international order. Each country is trying to readjust its policies with the US and the rest of the top powers. India-China ties too are going through a phase of recalibration. PM Modi's speculated visit, if becomes a reality, would give a finality in India's shift in its China policy, but the government has not given any such concrete signal yet.
