
Sam Altman says ‘25-year-olds in Mumbai or Bengaluru have never had more power,' shares bold vision for the future on Nikhil Kamath's podcast
A Future Built on Ideas, Not Just Resources
Why Family and Community Still Matter
When Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath asked Sam Altman to imagine the life of a 25-year-old in Mumbai or Bengaluru, the OpenAI chief did not hesitate. For Altman, this is not just a good time to be starting out — it may be the best moment in history.Speaking on Kamath's WTF podcast, Altman painted an optimistic picture of what artificial intelligence means for young Indians entering the workforce. 'I think this is probably the most exciting time to be starting out one's career, maybe ever,' he said, according to the show's transcript.Altman believes today's 25-year-old can achieve what once took decades of experience or large teams. Whether in programming, media creation, or entrepreneurship, tools like OpenAI's latest GPT-5 can act as a co-founder, strategist, and operations team rolled into one.'You could use GPT-5 to help you write the software for a product, handle customer support, draft marketing plans, even review legal documents,' he explained. 'All of these things that once required a lot of expertise, you now have AI to help you do.'For India specifically, Altman sees huge potential. 'If there is one large society in the world that seems most enthusiastic to transform with AI right now, it's India,' he told Kamath, praising the entrepreneurial energy and rapid adoption of AI-driven tools. He added that Indian user feedback has already shaped OpenAI's products.Altman stressed that the AI era is an 'open canvas,' where constraints are fewer than ever before and creativity becomes the main differentiator. For young founders, that means the ability to launch ambitious projects with minimal resources. For those seeking jobs, it opens pathways into industries like science, software development, and emerging media, where AI accelerates what individuals can produce.The conversation took a personal turn when Kamath asked Altman about parenthood. Describing it as 'the coolest, most amazing, most emotionally overwhelming experience,' Altman said starting a family has been more fulfilling than he imagined.He also shared a broader societal view: in a post-AGI world, family and community should regain importance. 'It's a problem for society that those things have been in retreat,' he said, expressing hope that with more abundance and time, people will turn back to what makes them happiest.Altman's message to a hypothetical 25-year-old in Mumbai or Bengaluru was clear: the world is in a rare moment where technology amplifies individual capability to unprecedented levels. With AI as a partner, opportunities are no longer limited by geography or resources — they're limited only by the boldness of one's ideas.

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Indian Express
a few seconds ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on ‘Axis of Resistance', EU, Equator Prize 2025 and more (Week 123)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on International Relations to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Which of the following European countries is/are not a part of the European Union? 1. Liechtenstein 2. Germany 3. Switzerland 4. France 5. Norway Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 4 only (c) 5 only (d) 1, 3 and 5 Explanation — In a bid to soften the impact of steep US tariffs on Indian exports, the Commerce and Industry Ministry is pushing for export diversification and has fast-tracked EU trade negotiations by holding monthly talks with the 27-member bloc, a government official said. — This is significant since the EU is among India's largest export destinations. Duty elimination under a trade deal for goods such as textiles, footwear, and gems and jewellery could boost India's labour-intensive sectors and help offset export declines to the US due to high tariffs and expected demand slowdowns. — The EU countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. — Several European countries are not part of the EU. These include Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican City, and Andorra. Furthermore, Brexit has resulted in the United Kingdom's departure from the EU. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. With reference to the Equator Prize 2025, consider the following statements: 1. It is announced by UNICEF every year. 2. It is presented to honour nature-based solutions led by Indigenous Peoples and local communities that promote sustainable development and ecological resilience. 3. There is no winner from India in 2025. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — On the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through its Equator Initiative, proudly announces the ten winners of the Equator Prize 2025. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. — This renowned award is given each year to recognise nature-based solutions driven by Indigenous Peoples and local communities that promote sustainable development and ecological resilience. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — This year's winners, from Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Peru, and Tanzania, demonstrate the potential of nature-based solutions spearheaded by people on the front lines of climate change. — From India, the Bibifathima Swa Sahaya Sangha (Bibifathima Self Help Group) is a women-led initiative that assists over 5,000 farmers in 30 villages through millet-based multi-cropping, seed banks, and solar-powered processing. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. (Source: According to a new assessment conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) through satellite, which of the following regions has 98.5 per cent of cropland that is either damaged or inaccessible? (a) South Sudan (b) Southern Ukraine (c) Eretria (d) Gaza Strip Explanation — As famine looms in the Gaza Strip, a new assessment conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) through satellite imagery reveals a staggering reality: 98.5 percent of cropland in the Gaza Strip is either damaged, inaccessible, or both. — This means that only 1.5 percent of Gaza's agriculture, or 232 hectares, is currently accessible for cultivation, down from 4.6 percent (688 hectares) in April 2025, in a region with over 2 million inhabitants. — The combination of extremely limited cropland availability, the impact of an ongoing conflict, severe restrictions on the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid, and widespread destruction of critical infrastructure – including irrigation systems, roads, equipment, storage facilities, and markets – has resulted in catastrophic food security conditions throughout Gaza. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. (Source: Which of the following countries, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has launched a new initiative to improve food security, boost rural livelihoods, and help Afghan communities better withstand climate and economic shocks? (a) United Kingdom (b) United States (c) Russia (d) India Explanation — The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the UK government have announced a new effort to promote food security, boost rural livelihoods, and assist Afghan people in better coping with climate and economic shocks. — Over the next ten months, the FAO's Resilient Agriculture Livelihoods (ReAL) project will impact over 151 000 people (21 572 households) in 15 provinces across Afghanistan's eight regions. The project will prioritise small-scale farmers, livestock keepers, and landless labourers, with a special focus on widows and women-headed households. — The project is generously sponsored by the UK as part of the 'Promoting Resilient and Equitable Recovery of Agriculture and Livelihoods in Afghan Communities' (PREVALE) program. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. (Source: The 'Scarborough Shoal' was recently in the news. It is a disputed territory primarily between: (a) China and Vietnam (b) China and the Philippines (c) Malaysia and Indonesia (d) Indonesia and Brunei Explanation — China's military said it monitored and 'drove away' a U.S. destroyer that sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the busy waterway of the South China Sea, while the U.S. Navy said its action was in line with international law. — The first documented US military operation in at least six years within the shoal's waters occurred the day after the Philippines accused Chinese boats of 'dangerous manoeuvres and unlawful interference' during a supply mission around the atoll. — Scarborough Shoal is a disputed region, principally between China and the Philippines. The shoal is situated in the South China Sea and is claimed by both countries. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. Consider the following international organisations/forum 1. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation 2. Quadrilateral Security Dialogue 3. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 4. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Which of the above groupings include India as a member? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Explanation — Prime Minister Narendra Modi was likely to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders' meet in Tianjin, China. The grouping includes nine member nations, including India, China, Pakistan and Russia. — Scholars in China have also questioned India's commitments in both the SCO and BRICS (including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), stating that PM Modi attended just three of the last ten SCO leaders' meetings. — They have also pointed to the June meeting in Qingdao for the SCO Defence Ministers, where Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, and refused to sign the SCO joint statement. — India being a member of the SCO and the US-led QUAD security dialogue (with Australia and Japan). — India is not a part of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Operation 'Midnight Hammer' is: (a) a covert Russian operation during the Cold War to tunnel under Alaska. (b) a joint military offensive by Brazil and Argentina during the Falklands War. (c) a cyberwarfare campaign by Israel during the war with Iran. (d) a United States led attack on nuclear facilities in Iran. Explanation — 'Operation Midnight Hammer' is the codename given to the US's precision strikes on three of Iran's nuclear facilities, which marked a dramatic escalation in the Middle East and plunged US-Iran relations to their lowest point since the Iranian Revolution. — The covert operation involved over 125 aircraft and deception tactics, and the fleet included seven B-2 stealth bombers, the press briefing revealed. The US strike targeted three of Iran's most sensitive nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Consider the following pairs: 1. 'axis of evil' — refers to Iran, Iraq and North Korea 2. 'axis of resistance' — refers to a coalition of Iranian-backed groups Which of the above given pairs is/are correctly matched? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — A coalition of Iranian-backed groups is known as the 'axis of resistance'. Hezbollah, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and the Houthis are some of the major groups in the alliance. — The roots of the 'axis of resistance' go back to the Iranian Revolution of 1979, which paved the way for radical Shia Muslim clerics to come to power. To expand its political and military influence in a region where most powers — such as US-ally Saudi Arabia — are Sunni-majority nations, Iran's new regime began to support non-state actors. Another reason for this was to deter threats from Israel and the US — Iran has seen Israel's creation in 1948 as a means for the US (and the West) to influence the region for its strategic interests. — The coalition's name is said to be inspired by former US President George W Bush's use of the term 'axis of evil' — referring to Iran, Iraq and North Korea — in his 2002 State of the Union address. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 121) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 123) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 123) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 123) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 123) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 122) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.


Mint
26 minutes ago
- Mint
Fired by Elon Musk, ex-Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal launches AI startup, Deep Research API
Former Chief Executive Officer of Twitter (now known as X), Parag Agrawal, in a social media post announced that he has launched a new artificial intelligence (AI) venture named 'Deep Research API' in efforts to take over ChatGPT in the world AI development race. In the post, Agrawal said that the first goal of the venture is to 'outperform' both humans and all leading models including GPT-5 from Open AI. He also called the target two of the hardest benchmarks to beat in the industry. "We launched our Deep Research API - it's the first to outperform both humans and all leading models including GPT-5 on two of the hardest benchmarks," said Agrawal in his post on LinkedIn. The former Twitter boss also highlighted that his company is already powering millions of research tasks on a daily basis for ambitious startups and public enterprise companies. Parag Agrawal is the founder of the AI startup, Parallel Web Systems Inc., which is based in Palo Alto, California, United States. He said that the company offers automation facilities which companies use to carry out traditionally-human workflows with 'exceeding human-level accuracy. "We already power millions of research tasks every day, across ambitious startups and public enterprises," said Agrawal in his post. Parag Agrawal is well-known in the industry for serving as the CEO of the social media giant, Twitter. Elon Musk fired Agrawal after taking over the company in 2022. Agrawal started out his career as a Researcher at Microsoft in 2006, and after a few months, he shifted to the same position at Yahoo. In 2009, he again returned to Microsoft Corp.; however, after a brief run with the company, he joined the US-based telecom giant, AT&T. In October 2011, Agrawal finally joined Twitter as a Distinguished Software Engineer and after serving for over six years, he became the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the global giant. After spending over four years as the company's CTO, Parag Agrawal was promoted to the CEO role in November 2021. According to his LinkedIn profile, Parag Agrawal was from the Atomic Energy Central School in India, and later finished his graduation from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay with a Bachelor's in Technology in Computer Science and Engineering. Agrawal in 2005 finished his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Computer Science from the Stanford University in United States.


Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Young Delhi techie considers quitting Rs 30 LPA job even without another offer: 'Sick leave just means WFH'
A young professional employed in the technology sector within Delhi NCR recently shared his emotional ordeal on Reddit, highlighting how his seemingly lucrative career has taken a toll on his mental well-being. Despite drawing an impressive annual package of close to 30 lakh rupees and working for more than a year in backend development, the employee revealed that the reality behind his paycheck is far from rewarding. Instead of satisfaction, he finds himself burdened with frequent headaches and a persistent sense of exhaustion that refuses to leave. Independence Day 2025 Modi signals new push for tech independence with local chips Before Trump, British used tariffs to kill Indian textile Bank of Azad Hind: When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose gave India its own currency The Weight of Expectations According to his account, the issues began on the very first day of his employment and have steadily worsened with time. What started as occasional nervousness grew into overwhelming anxiety, manifesting into continuous health problems. He explained that he now lives with recurring headaches and an unshakable feeling of burnout at an age when he expected to be full of energy and passion for his work. The demands of the job, combined with a relentless schedule, have left him unable to maintain work-life balance or prioritise well-being. Pressure and Rigid Work Culture Shedding light on the work environment, he described it as excessively harsh and demanding. Employees, he said, are often compelled to stay engaged even during major Indian festivals to meet business requirements. Sick leave rarely means rest, as it usually turns into working from home despite illness. "Sick leave usually just means 'work from home while sick.'" No hybrid policy—it's 5 days a week in a highly toxic environment..." he wrote. Unlike companies that allow flexibility, his workplace enforces a rigid five-day, in-office schedule, further deepening the sense of suffocation. He emphasized that his concern was not with the salary but with the long-term impact on his health and future, which he believes are at serious risk if he continues in such conditions. The Dilemma of Quitting Although the thought of resignation crosses his mind frequently, the fear of leaving without an alternative plan holds him back. Moving from a secure, high-paying role to no income feels daunting, even if he currently has no major financial obligations. What troubles him further is the state of the job market, where even candidates with greater experience are struggling to secure offers. This uncertainty has made him reluctant to take the leap, despite the daily toll on his mind and body. Mixed Voices from the Community Responses to his post reflected a spectrum of opinions. Some urged him to prioritize his health over money, reminding him that taking a break now could save him from bigger issues later. Others advised caution, suggesting that he avoid rash decisions and instead attempt internal transfers or wait until he secures a new role before stepping away. Several readers pointed out that his experience mirrors that of countless other tech workers in the NCR region, where toxic corporate cultures and unrealistic expectations erode mental health. Many condemned practices, like expecting employees to work during festivals or while unwell, urging companies to rethink their policies. Alongside criticism, practical suggestions were offered too—such as expanding job searches beyond NCR and focusing on his well-being before chasing professional opportunities.