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Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Unseeing warning signs: choosing fatal outcomes?
The writer is a chemical engineer with interest in Society, Politics & Economy. Contact him at: Listen to article Jinnah saw a macabre future for his founded refuge for some Muslims of India; not only has it come to pass, worse still lies ahead. No words can describe the suffering dumped on Pakistan not by outsiders but by choosing of her own people under the cover of messianic mantra "country is saved, better days ahead" — authors of past failures claiming to fix it. This noble idea began in 1948; undeterred by adverse outcomes, still the same creed of authors pretending this time problem will go away. There are no mere coincidences in this world. Predicting outcomes of choices is not rocket science; even in infants cause-and-effect reasoning emerges by age of 27 weeks (Leslie et al., 1987), yet complex forecasting demands deliberate analysis (Salcedo et al., 2008). Human actions, once created carve their own paths of consequences (intended or unintended), and can neither be recreated because past cannot be undone, nor can it be erased. Outcomes, however, can be immediate or delayed — always preceded by warning signs. If created reality is to be remedied, then it demands new actions that enact new outcomes. Thus, cycle continues until death ends our existence on this planet. At individual level, we can trace our decisions' trajectories and warning signs until consequences strike. At national level, stakes multiply exponentially. Legislation and policy choices demand debate, negotiation and compromise, with consequences lasting generations for country and its citizens. This parallel becomes profound as PakRaj nexus (British Loyalist Feudal-Military-Bureaucracy) unjustifiably captured Pakistan after Jinnah's death. Reality behind their smokescreen has been pushing country deeper into bund-gali, marked with decades of institutional and governance failures, incompetence, corruption and a very weak judiciary, unable to uphold constitution or safeguard rights. Our devastating story can be quantified through global rankings, and these brutal metrics are purposely and brazenly rejected – not in an exercise of logic but an aura of power. Socio-developmental indicators signal a crisis leaning towards collapse: Bottom-tier placement, in Knowledge, Development, Sustainable Goals and Gender Gap Index. Nearly half the population lives in poverty, and multidimensional poverty grips a third. Pakistan's global brand and passport outlook is pitiful. Ironically, our current mantra to prosperity via digital/IT sector, is through pitfalls, as we are labeled "weak performer" due to crippling gaps in education, innovation, ICT and research (Knowledge Index: 120/141). Huawei's Digitization Index (68/77) brands us a "starter". With education spending below 2% of GDP, this "better days ahead" story will crumble. Most alarming for Pakistan is the status evaluated by Fragile States Index (FSI). Since 2006, FSI has tracked stability using 12 indicators (1 = stable, 10 = unstable) across 4 dimensions. Our 2024 placement (27/179) reveals interlocking vulnerabilities: Cohesion Dimension: Security Apparatus 7.9: Precarious security, evident in daily terrorist attacks (Balochistan and KP). Factionalised Elites 9.3: Wealth concentrated in elite hands, citizens left impoverished. Group Grievance 9.0: Marginalised communities — Baloch, Saraiki, Shia, Mohajirs — fueling grievances and wearing down cohesion. Economic Dimension: Economic Decline 8.0: Low GDP growth rates, population expansion (2.7%), youth unemployment, investment dwindles, debt reaches Rs7.6 trillion (BTI-2024 rank 112/137, very weak country). Uneven Development 5.0: Resources are monopolised by PakRaj while public lacks basic health, education and economic opportunities. Brain Drain 5.5: Elite controls gainful employment, middle classes stagnate, masses stuck in menial jobs while skilled manpower leaves country. Political Dimension: State Legitimacy 8.0: Severely eroded by disputed elections, contradictory court rulings and rushed legislation. Public Services 7.6: Crumbling infrastructure, strained public services, limited social safety net. Human Rights 7.8: Marked by enforced disappearances, media suppression, judicial decay. (BTI labels Pakistan "hardline autocracy" – Political Transformation Index at 99/137). Social Dimension: Demographic Pressure 7.8: Unchecked population growth (2.7%, region's highest), rapid urban migration, especially into Karachi, threatening civic breakdown. IDPs and Refugees 7.3: Refugees still burden state, while flood-affected citizens remain unsettled. External Intervention 8.4: After last year shocking violence, it worsened this year; so far 502 strikes leaving 737 dead and 991 injured (PICSS 2025), while in June alone, there were 78 incidents – 100 killed and 189 wounded. Unfortunately, grievances are climbing "escalation ladder" toward broader armed conflict in restive provinces — fertile ground for exploitation by India and others. Once again, existential threat comes from within, not outside, weirdly reminiscent of East Pakistan (1971). Why? Because State (Legislature, Government, Judiciary) is once more failing its people, particularly in troubled regions, where security operations persist. Relabeling and empowerment of existing security apparatus, apparently, is an admission that use of force isn't working. Yet, it has been made clear that restive areas will be coerced into submission. Gaza — a grim reminder of where such policies lead. What's needed are methodical efforts by state to remedy root causes through establishment of national commissions for healing past wounds and charting a new future for Jinnah's Pakistan — based on Truth, Justice, Equity and Reconciliation (as done in South Africa, Brazil, Canada, Morocco). Sadly, state remains unresponsive. GoP's commission on disappearances formed under pressure of court in March 2011, remained ineffective. PakRaj rule cannot be questioned for now! They borrowed legitimacy from Jinnah (only his words and portrait remain) having rejected his 1948 reforms: feudal dismantling, military restraint, meritocracy in bureaucracy, and visions for education, industrialisation, poverty alleviation and empowerment of middle classes. Still valid today! Meanwhile, country's poor ranking in governance and corruption never becomes a core national issue — neither for the nexus nor for political parties. Why? No one self-incriminates. It pains me to cite FSI, but decades of misrule have branded Pakistan a global "fragile state", like a warning on a cigarette pack. Signs are clear; data is unequivocal. Still, future choices remain ours. Without course correction, slow-burn fatal breakdowns loom — further ruin of Iqbal's dream and Jinnah's Pakistan. Our perils, as individuals or a nation, are captured in an axiom: Jaisa karoge, waisa bharoge. Is any other outcome possible?
Mint
4 days ago
- Mint
Job alert! Apple is hiring for its Answers team working on ChatGPT-style AI: Who all can apply?
Apple is quietly ramping up its artificial intelligence efforts with a hiring push for a new internal group called the Answers, Knowledge, and Information (AKI) team. Formed earlier this year, the team is working on building what's being described as an 'answer engine', a system designed to give more helpful, context-aware responses to user queries, much like ChatGPT. The AKI team sits at the centre of Apple's renewed focus on AI across its ecosystem, especially within Siri, Safari, and Spotlight. It is led by Robby Walker, a senior director who now reports directly to Apple's AI chief, John Giannandrea. Walker previously headed Siri development but was moved to AKI after delays in rolling out more advanced AI features to the voice assistant. Several other former Siri team members have also joined AKI to help push this new direction forward. Job listings on Apple's careers site show over a dozen open positions across the US and China for the AKI team, signalling the vision to expand its AI capabilities. One of the headline roles is for a Staff Machine Learning Engineer, focused on improving Siri's ability to answer personal, user-specific questions using information from private documents, with privacy safeguards built in. According to the job description, this role involves designing and refining large language models (LLMs), running experiments to test and improve performance, and building the data pipelines to support it all. The team is especially looking for someone who can work on fine-tuning models using reinforcement learning techniques. To be considered, candidates should have: At least eight years of experience in machine learning or NLP Strong coding skills in languages like Python, Go, or C/C++ Hands-on experience with tools like PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX, or XGBoost A bachelor's degree in Computer Science The job also involves working closely with other product and engineering teams to bring these AI features into Apple's broader software stack. While Apple has not said much publicly about what the AKI team is building, it is clear the company is preparing to bring more intelligent and personalised AI experiences to its devices, in its own way, and on its own timeline.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Apple could be working on a ChatGPT-like product as it tries to catch up with rivals in AI
Apple, the pioneering company behind the iPhone and Mac, has missed the bus on the artificial intelligence boom, but it now seems to be trying to catch up by developing a ChatGPT-like product internally, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported Monday. Dubbed 'Answer Engine,' the chatbot can respond to questions using information from across the web. It could be a standalone app or enhance search capabilities in Siri, Safari, and other Apple products. Internally, the development of this ChatGPT-like bot is being led by a newly formed team reportedly called Answers, Knowledge, and Information. In fact, Apple is currently advertising job openings for this team, specifically seeking candidates with experience in search algorithms and engine development. Apple has so far struggled to make a dent in the AI space. Though it did launch Apple Intelligence, the company itself admitted to several missteps and stated that delayed features such as the integration of ChatGPT into Siri, a more personalised, AI-powered update to the voice assistant. The AI features Apple has rolled out, including text message summaries, are basic and not every helpful. While Apple tries to catch up with the rivals in the AI, it lost at least four prominent AI researchers to Meta's 'Superintelligence' team. The blow came in when Meta successfully lure away Apple's head of AI division Ruoming Pang, with a compensation package reportedly valued at more than $200 million. In a recent call with investors, Apple CEO Tim Cook has already signaled the company was 'open to M&A that accelerates [Apple's] roadmap.' Investors have been putting pressure on Apple to look at external partnerships or M&A and bring AI talent to Cupertino. Some investors are hoping that Apple should acquire AI darling Perplexity, a fast-growing AI search startup founded by Indian-origin computer scientist Arvind Srinivas to revamp Siri. Despite a slow AI rollout, Apple continues to a big player in the Silicon Valley. The company recently posted its strongest revenue growth since 2021, reporting $94 billion in quarterly revenue and beat analyst expectations, driven by strong iPhone sales and booming services revenue. However, the market reaction was mixed, with analysts citing concerns over long-term issues including tariffs and AI.
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos designates part of DLSU-Laguna as 'innovation ecozone'
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has designated a parcel of land within the De La Salle University Science and Technology Complex in Biñan, Laguna as a Knowledge, Innovation, Science and Technology (KIST) Ecozone under Proclamation No. 985. According to a palace statement released on Saturday, the 50,000-square-meter parcel of land will be known as the De La Salle University Innovation Hub. It is located at Leandro V. Locsin Campus, Laguna Blvd., Barangay Malamig, City of Biñan, Laguna. The newly designated ecozone is subject to compliance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 7916 or the 'Special Economic Zone Act of 1995' as amended by Republic Act No. 8748, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and relevant PEZA Board Resolutions, including Resolution No. 23-113 (s. 2023), and previous supporting resolutions. The Palace said that the creation of KIST Ecozone aims to harness the potential of academic institutions in advancing research, skills development, commercialization of R&D, and techno-entrepreneurship, particularly within state universities and colleges. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed the proclamation on July 30. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
New Indian Express
30-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Blackstone-sponsored Knowledge Realty Trust's Rs 4,800-crore IPO opens on August 5
MUMBAI: Blackstone and Sattva Developers-sponsored Knowledge Realty Trust has said its scaled-down IPO will open on August 5 and close on August 7. It was scaled down from Rs 6,200 crore to Rs 4,800 crore after the pre-IPO fundraise of Rs 1,400 crore. Knowledge Realty Trust, the second largest office real estate investment trust (REIT) in Asia and the largest in the country, is sponsored by Blackstone and Sattva Developers. The company had initially planned to mop up Rs 6,200 crore when it had filed the draft offer document with Sebi in March this year. Up to 75% of the offer is reserved for institutional investors, and the remainder for non-institutional investors, the management said here Wednesday. Knowledge Realty plans to make its market debut on August 18. After listing, Knowledge will be the largest office REIT in the country based on gross asset value of Rs 61,999 crore and the fifth listed REIT after Embassy Office Parks, Mindspace Business Parks, Brookfield India Real Estate Trust, and Nexus Select Trust. Knowledge has a portfolio of 29 grade A office assets with 46.3 million sqft leasable area spread across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, Kolkata and Pune and plans to enter Chennai and Ahmedabad.
