Latest news with #Balakrishnan
Business Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
US tariffs risks turning global trade into ‘arm-wrestling match': Vivian Balakrishnan
[COLORADO] Global trade risks becoming a 'bilateral arm-wrestling match' following US President Donald Trump's approach of slapping tariffs on its partners, according to Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. Such an imposition may trigger a strong temptation from the other side to impose reciprocal tariffs. 'Instead of a rules-based global system that promotes trade, you now have a system where every trade agreement becomes a bilateral arm-wrestling match,' he said in a fireside chat during the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado on Wednesday (Jul 16). 'You end up in an escalatory spiral.' Dr Balakrishnan's comments come as Trump said he would notify more than 150 countries of how much levies Washington would place on their exports, with 10 per cent being the minimum. Singapore has yet to receive a letter from Trump, he added. Singapore is heavily reliant on global trade and its exports are often seen as a bellwether for the health of Asian economies. The Republic this week reported faster-than-expected growth in the second quarter on strong manufacturing and services exports as businesses seek to front-run higher US tariffs. The 10 per cent tariff imposed by the US 'does not quite compute', said Dr Balakrishnan, given that the US and Singapore have run a free trade agreement since 2004, with America running a trade surplus against the nation. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong will be visiting the US this month for trade talks that are expected to include discussions on pharmaceutical supply chains. BLOOMBERG
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Best of BS Opinion: Skilling, scaling, and reclaiming innovations
There's something oddly sacred about midnight snacking. That stolen moment when the world has quieted down and your fridge becomes your temple. Half a pizza slice, a couple of salami slices, some leftover noodles, maybe a spoonful of peanut butter straight from the jar. It's not just food, it's a ritual of piecing together what the day left unfinished. Today's writeups feel a lot like it, unconnected at first, but ultimately comforting in their messiness. They speak to a nation trying to make sense of its scattered ingredients, ideas, ambitions, gaps, and goals, under the flickering light of change. Let's dive in. Take the Union finance minister's renewed push for global capability centres (GCCs). On paper, it's a promising late-night snack, a Budget idea reheated with tax breaks and support for small-town talent hubs. But as our first editorial notes, India's business environment still needs prep: power outages, regulatory half-measures, and a skilling system that doesn't quite match industry appetite. Without fixing the kitchen, no amount of garnish will make the dish work. If that sounds familiar, our second editorial's deep dive into the lagging AI regulation offers a similar flavour. While the European Union has plated up a full-course meal with its AI Act, India is still figuring out the recipe. The country's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, though a start, doesn't quite address the global buffet of challenges: Data scraping, model misuse, or even the basic seasoning of transparency. As Big Tech feasts unchecked, India risks showing up at the innovation dinner party with an empty tiffin. Then there's our urban sprawl. Amit Kapoor writes how our cities, instead of cooking up dynamism, are just boiling over. With traffic jams, heat islands, and scattered planning, India's metros resemble overstuffed thalis — crowded, but offering little nourishment. To regain productivity, Balakrishnan calls for a smarter recipe: integrated governance, resilient design, and real data-driven plans. Meanwhile, Naushad Forbes turns the spotlight to R&D, where India has long survived on snacks even as others have enjoyed feasts. The new Rs 1 trillion RDI scheme could change that, but only if funds go directly to firms that can digest them, those with hungry, growing R&D teams and the stamina for mid-stage research. Without focus, we risk spreading the chutney too thin. And finally, Vivek Banerji's Insight Edge: Crafting Breakthroughs in a World of Information Overload, reviewed by Ajit Balakrishnan, is like the healthy snack you didn't know you needed. The author argues that in this data-glutted world, insight, not information, is the real nourishment. Forget endless dashboards. What we need is curiosity, empathy, and a refusal to pretend we always know the answer. Sounds a lot like the way we rummage the fridge, hoping to find meaning — or at least cold pizza. Stay tuned!
Techday NZ
6 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
AI in education & recruitment must support, not replace, humans
Leaders across education and recruitment are highlighting the importance of human engagement and ethical judgement in the age of artificial intelligence, coinciding with this year's AI Appreciation Day. Their remarks reflect an urgent global conversation about maintaining a balance between technological advancement and the core values of human agency within vital sectors such as education and employment. Mr Siva Balakrishnan, Founder and CEO of Vserve, marked the occasion by addressing AI's transformative impact on education. He asserted, "On AI Appreciation Day 2025, we celebrate AI's power to transform education while safeguarding human agency. AI should elevate educators' creativity and judgment, not replace them." Mr Balakrishnan advocated for a harmonious integration, stating, "By blending smart automation with empathetic teaching, we can use AI to scale learning without diminishing our human essence. Our goal must be to empower people to direct technology, ensuring classrooms where technology amplifies human insight and values." His comments reinforce a growing belief among education technologists and pedagogical experts that AI, while capable of automating administrative tasks and personalising learning, must be deployed so as to augment, rather than overshadow, the crucial role of teachers. The focus, Mr Balakrishnan emphasised, remains on cultivating environments where human insight, compassion, and ethical decision-making are amplified by technology rather than replaced by it. Echoing these sentiments, Mr Praveen Joshi, Managing Director and Founding Member of RSK Business Solutions, underscored the imperative of protecting individual autonomy as automation expands its influence. "In an age where AI transforms education and automation becomes pervasive, safeguarding human agency is vital. Technology must support, not supplant our ability to choose, create, and connect," he explained. "As machines reshape learning, it is up to us to ensure they amplify our humanity rather than diminish it, keeping compassion, creativity, and ethical judgement at the forefront." Industry analysts note that as education systems worldwide increasingly turn to artificial intelligence for adaptive learning and efficiency improvements, debates persist regarding transparency, accountability, and the preservation of essential human qualities. The comments by Mr Balakrishnan and Mr Joshi stress a need for critical policy development to ensure that schools and institutions use AI responsibly, setting boundaries that preserve educators' unique abilities and responsibilities. On the recruitment front, Joel Delmaire, AI leader and Chief Product Officer at Jobadder, has gathered perspectives from leading Australian recruiters considering the disruptive role AI is playing in their industry. Delmaire's discussions with sector professionals sought to illuminate both the opportunities and challenges AI presents for talent acquisition and workforce management, as recruiters and employers increasingly turn to automation for candidate screening, shortlisting, and engagement. Recruiters contacted for Delmaire's report were broadly optimistic about AI's role in streamlining repetitive tasks, such as parsing CVs, scheduling interviews, and improving the match between candidate skills and job requirements. However, several stressed that AI, if left unchecked, risks inadvertently introducing bias or missing out on the intangible qualities - such as emotional intelligence, adaptability, and teamwork - that human recruiters are best placed to detect. There is a growing call for ongoing human oversight and regular audits of AI-powered recruitment tools, to ensure fairness and uphold the principles of diversity and inclusion. As sectors including education and recruitment undergo rapid evolution under AI's influence, the voices of industry leaders and practitioners emphasise the importance of keeping human values at the centre of technological progress. Their perspectives reinforce that AI's greatest potential may not lie in replacing human roles, but in serving as a powerful ally - supporting creativity, upholding ethical standards, and ensuring that core human skills continue to define excellence in both classrooms and workplaces.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Abandoned well recharged; Paduvampalli panchayat can now save Rs 90,000 every two months
Photo by P Sreedharan COIMBATORE: An abandoned open well at Rayarpalayam near Sulur has been recharged after nearly five decades through collaborative efforts. People no longer need to depend on two 1,000-foot-deep borewells, as the revived open well now provides sufficient water supply at just 100 feet. The well has become a significant electricity saver for both the Paduvampalli panchayat panchayat administration and the farmers in the area. The open well is situated in the Rayarpalayam Rangasamuthiram lake. The lake is being desilted by Kousika Neerkarangal, an NGO, in collaboration with Pioneer Fertilizers which extended its corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding. According to the NGO, the lake is among the 1,230 water bodies recharged through the Athikadavu-Avinashi project. Due to depleted groundwater in the locality, the open well had dried up and was subsequently used as a garbage disposal pit for almost three decades. Paduvampalli village had previously installed two 1,000-foot borewells to supply water to the public. Balakrishnan, secretary of the agriculture wing at Kousika Neerkarangal, said, 'The lake has received water from the Athikadavu-Avinashi project. As a result, the well has been naturally recharged over the last eight months. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo The 120-foot well maintains a minimum water level of 50 feet.' 'Previously, the panchayat had installed two 7.5 HP pump sets that ran continuously to supply approximately 90,000 litre of water to around 1,500 people. The daily electricity consumption was approximately 264 units, costing the panchayat roughly Rs 1.2 lakh every two months. After desilting the well and installing new motor, starter, and pipelines connected to village tanks, the electricity bill has reduced by approximately Rs 30,000 every two months,' he added. According to Shanmugavadivel, a local farmer, the total dissolved solids (TDS) levels in the borewell were comparatively high and impacted crop yields. He said, 'My well was also recharged because of the Athikadavu-Avinashi project. Earlier, the borewell water was tasteless and salty, resulting in lower crop yields. In the last six months, after using the well water, I have noticed an improvement in crop yields and crop quality. The water department collected and tested samples, confirming that TDS levels in the borewell were higher than in the well.' The NGO will hand over the operations of the well to the panchayat on Wednesday for regular water supply to the village.
Business Wire
14-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Power Integrations Names Jennifer Lloyd as Its Next CEO
SAN JOSÉ, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Power Integrations (Nasdaq: POWI), the leader in high-voltage integrated circuits for energy-efficient power conversion, today announced that Jennifer A. Lloyd, PhD will be the company's next chief executive officer, succeeding Balu Balakrishnan, who has served as CEO since 2002. A former member of Power Integrations' board of directors, Dr. Lloyd has been reappointed to the company's board. Both appointments are effective July 21. Since 1997, Dr. Lloyd has served in a succession of increasingly senior engineering and business roles at Analog Devices, Inc., a global semiconductor leader. She has led multiple $1B+ businesses spanning various technologies and end markets. Most recently, she was corporate vice president leading the company's multi-market power business unit, responsible for product, strategy and P&L with leadership of a large global team. Prior roles included leadership of Analog's precision franchise and its healthcare and consumer unit. Dr. Lloyd holds doctoral, master's and bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Author of numerous technical papers and recipient of eight U.S. patents, she has also been active in the IEEE community, having served on the technical program committee for the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), the Custom Integrated Circuits Conference (CICC) and the VLSI Symposia (VLSI). Mr. Balakrishnan plans to serve as executive chairman of Power Integrations' board of directors for approximately six months to ensure a smooth leadership transition; he is expected to remain a non-executive member of the board thereafter. Bala Iyer will remain in the role of lead independent director. Commented Mr. Balakrishnan: 'We are thrilled that Jen Lloyd will be our next CEO. Throughout her distinguished career at Analog Devices, she has proven her ability to drive innovation, deliver new products to the market and achieve profitable growth. Her deep knowledge of power products and technologies and her familiarity with our company will allow her to hit the ground running. I am confident that she is the right leader to take Power Integrations to the next level.' Dr. Lloyd added: 'I am delighted to join Power Integrations as CEO. Power Integrations has a unique franchise in high-voltage semiconductors, with strong intellectual property spanning process, design and packaging, as well as strong system-level expertise and a brand that is respected across the power-electronics industry. The company has tremendous growth opportunities in markets like automotive, datacenter, renewable energy, grid modernization and many more. I am excited to lead the team into what I know will be a bright future.' About Power Integrations Power Integrations, Inc. is a leading innovator in semiconductor technologies for high-voltage power-conversion. The company's products are key building blocks in the clean-power ecosystem, enabling the generation of renewable energy as well as the efficient transmission and consumption of power in applications ranging from milliwatts to megawatts. For more information please visit Power Integrations and the Power Integrations logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Power Integrations, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
