Latest news with #Becker
India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
AI was supposed to speed up coders, new study says it did the opposite
Contrary to popular belief, new research has found that using AI tools can actually slow down experienced software developers, especially when working in codebases they already know well. The study, conducted by the nonprofit research group METR, revealed that seasoned open-source developers took 19 per cent longer to complete tasks when using Cursor, a widely used AI-powered coding assistant. As per the study, the result was based on a randomised controlled trial, which involved contributors working on their own open-source projects. advertisementBefore the trial began, developers believed AI would significantly increase their speed, which is estimated at a 24 per cent improvement in task completion time. Even after finishing their tasks, many still believed the AI had helped them work faster, estimating a 20 per cent improvement. But the real data showed otherwise.'We found that when developers use AI tools, they take 19 per cent longer than without, AI makes them slower,' the researchers wrote. The lead authors of the study, Joel Becker and Nate Rush, admitted the results came as a surprise. Rush had initially predicted 'a 2x speed up, somewhat obviously.' But the study told a different story. The findings challenge the widespread notion that AI tools automatically make human coders more efficient, a belief that has attracted billions of dollars in investment and sparked predictions that AI could soon replace many junior engineering studies have shown strong productivity gains with AI. One found that AI helped developers complete 56 per cent more code, while another claimed a 26 per cent boost in task volume. But the METR study suggests that those gains don't apply to all situations, especially where developers already have deep familiarity with the of streamlining work, the AI often made suggestions that were only 'directionally correct,' said Becker. 'When we watched the videos, we found that the AIs made some suggestions about their work, and the suggestions were often directionally correct, but not exactly what's needed.'As a result, developers spent additional time reviewing and correcting AI-generated code, which ultimately slowed them down. However, the researchers do not believe this slowdown would apply to all coding scenarios, such as those involving junior developers or unfamiliar the results, both the study's authors and most participants continue to use Cursor. Becker suggested that while the tool may not speed up work, it can still make development feel easier and more enjoyable.'Developers have goals other than completing the task as soon as possible,' he said. 'So they're going with this less effortful route.'The authors also emphasised that their findings should not be over-generalised. The slowdown only reflects a snapshot of AI's capabilities as of early 2025, and further improvements in prompting, training, and tool design could lead to different outcomes in AI systems continue to evolve, METR plans to repeat such studies to better understand how AI might accelerate, or hinder, human productivity in real-world development settings.- Ends
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
He's a realist: Boris Becker on Novak Djokovic's chase for elusive 25th Major title
Novak Djokovic's wait for Major title No 25 continued after he suffered third straight semifinal loss at a Grand Slam event this year. Despite looking the part on his way to the semi-finals beating the likes of Dan Evans, Alex de Minaur and Flavio Cobolli before he was defeated by eventual champion Janik Sinner. Just like he suffered a defeat at the hands of the Italian in the French Open prior to the Wimbledon, Djokovic went down 3-6, 3-6, 4-6. As Djokovic has been made to wait till the US Open for his 25th title, his former coach Boris Becker has weighed in with his thoughts about the elusive number. Speaking on the podcast 'Becker Petkovic', the former World No 1 was asked if Djokovic could win another Grand Slam. 'That's the big question now, because to win a Grand Slam, he probably has to beat both [Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner],' Becker said. 'That's how it was with Wimbledon, and he said Wimbledon was the tournament where he had his best chance of winning a Grand Slam. As a reminder, he has already won the tournament seven times. He's now reached the semifinals of Wimbledon 14 times, just imagine. That's so absurd, it's an insane number,' Becker who coached Djokovic not too long ago said. With Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz showing leading the way, Becker questioned if the 38-year-old Djokovic could match his young rivals. 'He also has to realise, yes, he did injure himself a bit on match point against [Flavio] Cobolli, but at 38, you get injured more easily,' he said. 'Against [Jannik] Sinner, in the first two sets, I think he was relatively fit. Sinner, of course, was the better player, because for me, Sinner is Djokovic 2.0; he's another version of Djokovic, 15 years younger. Novak knows that, too,' Becker added. Given these factors Becker wasn't sure how 'realistic' it is for Djokovic to chase Major title No 25. 'I'm glad he reached the semifinals; he played a great tournament, but is that enough for him?' he asked. 'He's still playing tennis because he wants to win 25 Grand Slams, to become the sole record holder. But it must be said that on their good days, Sinner and Alcaraz are better than Djokovic is on his good days. That frustrates him, but he's a realist. The question is, how realistic are the chances he'll win another Grand Slam now, because time is running out for him.'
India Today
16-07-2025
- India Today
Prisoners not getting costly food doesn't violate fundamental rights: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said prisoners, including disabled ones, not being provided "preferred or costly food items" in jails was not a violation of fundamental rights.A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution extends to all prisoners. However, it did not confer a right to demand personalised or luxurious food non-supply of preferred or costly food items cannot ipso facto be treated as a violation of fundamental State's obligation is to ensure that every inmate, including those with disabilities, receives adequate, nutritious, and medically appropriate food, subject to medical certification," the bench said. The top court called prisons correctional institutions and not extensions of civil society's non-supply of non-essential or indulgent items does not amount to a constitutional or human rights violation unless it results in demonstrable harm to health or dignity, it added."Prisons are often regarded as the 'tail-end' of the criminal justice system – historically designed for rigid discipline, harsh conditions, and minimal liberties. While modern pioneological principles advocate rehabilitation over retribution, the current prison infrastructure and operational systems in India remain grossly inadequate – especially when it comes to meeting the needs of prisoners with disabilities," the verdict apex court's observations came on an appeal filed by advocate L Muruganantham, suffering from Becker muscular dystrophy, against an order of the Madras High Court which ordered him Rupees 5 lakh imprisonment was the result of a land dispute his family was embroiled in with another claimed to have not received medical and adequate protein-rich food, such as eggs, chicken and nuts, on a daily basis during apex court said in the present case, though the deficiencies in prison facilities may not be directly attributable to the respondent authorities, they highlight the urgent need for prison reforms, particularly the implementation of disability-sensitive infrastructure and court was conscious of the systemic neglect in prison infrastructure, especially in relation to the needs of prisoners with disabilities."Persons with disabilities must be provided healthcare equivalent to that available in the general community. This includes access to physiotherapy, speech therapy, psychiatric care, and assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, or crutches. Prison authorities are under a duty to coordinate with public healthcare systems to ensure uninterrupted care. Logistical or financial limitations cannot be cited to justify a withdrawal of this obligation," it top court found most state prison manuals to be "outdated" besides being "uninformed" by developments in disability law and rights-based frequently conflate sensory or physical disabilities with mental illness or cognitive decline, thereby eroding the distinct legal right to reasonable accommodation. This conflation promotes harmful stereotypes and obstructs disabled inmates from claiming their lawful entitlements," it apex court said the state had a constitutional and moral obligation to uphold the rights of prisoners with disabilities and this includes not only ensuring non-discriminatory treatment but also enabling their effective rehabilitation and reintegration into society.- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Supreme Court
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Elon Musk's Mars plan is a dangerous illusion, warns astrophysicist Adam Becker
Elon Musk's long-standing dream to colonize Mars has come under sharp criticism from renowned astrophysicist and author Adam Becker, who calls it "the stupidest thing" one could pursue. In a recent interview and in his new book More Everything Forever, Becker argues that efforts by billionaires like Musk and Jeff Bezos to settle Mars are nothing more than 'sci-fi fantasies' detached from scientific and ethical realities. Despite Musk's framing of Mars as a backup plan for humanity in the event of a global catastrophe, Becker insists that even a damaged Earth would remain far more habitable than the red planet. He believes these grandiose space ambitions are more about escaping fears than solving real problems. Elon Musk's Mars vision: 'Stupidest thing' says Becker Becker takes a blunt stance on Musk's idea of Mars as a 'lifeboat' for humanity. 'We could get hit with an asteroid, detonate every nuclear weapon, or see the worst-case scenario for climate change, and Earth would still be more habitable than Mars,' he told Rolling Stone. He cites the planet's lack of breathable air, radiation exposure, and extreme conditions as insurmountable barriers. His critique also targets the illusion that technology alone can make Mars livable. 'Any cursory examination of facts about Mars makes it clear, it's not a place for humans,' Becker asserts. Childhood wonder meets scientific reality Once a strong believer in space colonization, Becker admits that his views changed as he studied the harsh truths of space environments. 'As I got older, I realized, 'Oh, that's not happening.' We're not going to go to space, and certainly not to make things better,' he told The Harvard Gazette. He accuses tech billionaires of pouring resources into escapist dreams instead of addressing problems on Earth. According to him, their space crusades reflect deep-seated fears rather than rational strategy. Scientists warn of risks in billionaire space ambitions Becker isn't the only critic. Fellow astrophysicist Lawrence Krauss has also denounced Musk's Mars plan, calling it 'logistically ludicrous' and 'scientifically and politically dangerous.' Despite these warnings, Musk remains committed to his goal of building a Mars colony with at least one million people, positioning SpaceX as the spearhead of this vision. Yet experts argue that such ambitions, if rushed or poorly planned, could have disastrous consequences both scientifically and socially.
Business Insider
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Kepler Capital Sticks to Their Sell Rating for Fortum Corporation (0HAH)
Kepler Capital analyst Ingo Becker maintained a Sell rating on Fortum Corporation on July 14 and set a price target of €12.00. The company's shares closed last Monday at €15.77. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Make smarter investment decisions with TipRanks' Smart Investor Picks, delivered to your inbox every week. According to TipRanks, Becker is a 5-star analyst with an average return of 7.2% and a 59.73% success rate. Becker covers the Utilities sector, focusing on stocks such as Fortum Corporation, Centrica, and Centrica. Currently, the analyst consensus on Fortum Corporation is a Strong Sell with an average price target of €13.12, representing a -16.78% downside. In a report released on July 9, Citi also maintained a Sell rating on the stock with a €13.00 price target. Based on Fortum Corporation's latest earnings release for the quarter ending March 30, the company reported a quarterly revenue of €1.64 billion and a net profit of €363 million. In comparison, last year the company earned a revenue of €2.02 billion and had a net profit of €471 million
