Latest news with #PageRank
Mint
4 days ago
- Business
- Mint
The transformer birthed GenAI. Meet the man who built it
Eight years ago, Ashish Vaswani led a team of Google Brain researchers that invented the transformer, the magic sauce behind generative AI. The new model, which learns and generates human-like text, took the world by storm as it made its way into ChatGPT, and later, others like Gemini, Grok and DeepSeek. India-born Vaswani, whose startup Essential AI works on building foundational models, now wants to establish an India team, access graphic processing units, find clients and spot a local strategic investment partner. 'We're building foundational AI models to automate coding and tasks in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) applications. The core idea is to build the best models in specific fields, so that we can then partner with large clients who will licence our models to build applications on," Vaswani said in an interview. 'Could have never imagined it' In June 2017, Vaswani led a Stanford University research funded under Google Brain, floating the transformer model now regarded as one of the world's most significant inventions in computer science—alongside the likes of Frank Rosenblatt's neural networks, and Sergey Brin-Larry Page's PageRank. Asked whether he expected the model to have the kind of impact it did, Vaswani, who is in India after 16 years, said that he 'could have never imagined it." 'What I had set out to build was a better version of machine learning, and improving the way machine understanding worked. I never thought it would explode into what it is today, and the way it has taken over our lives." Also read | Generative AI, data centres to define India's tech industries in 2025 Vaswani, 39, is chief executive of Essential AI, which he co-founded in 2023 alongside Niki Parmar, a co-inventor of the transformer model. He stayed on at Google until 2021, leaving to build Adept AI Labs—a platform that today has a licensing deal with Amazon to build its AI initiatives. Vaswani and Parmar left Adept in less than two years over reported differences with investors, and started Essential AI. Fundraise GenAI burst into prominence when Sam Altman-led OpenAI, a Silicon Valley peer of Vaswani's, unveiled ChatGPT in November 2022. Since then, AI has become a household term, catapulting the field into prominence well beyond engineers and researchers. His startup, which raised $56.5 million in December 2023 and counts AMD, Google and Nvidia as investors, will be looking to raise a second, larger funding round of around $100 million later this year, Vaswani said. 'The results of our early foundational models are here, and they look good. We'll be using these results as a reference point for our next fundraise," he said. As part of this move, Vaswani is open to interest from Indian strategic partners as well. 'India has some of the brightest minds, and it is absolutely important that India pursues building its own AI. There's no reason why foundational work in AI cannot happen in India," he said. Read this | Mint Explainer: What OpenAI o1 'reasoning' model means for the future of generative AI Investors negotiating with global ventures concur, stating that foundational work in AI will have the scope to differentiate the work on GenAI that ventures across India and abroad are pursuing. Foundational AI 'One has to look at a big enough problem, and assess how many millions of people a problem impacts," said Anand Daniel, partner at venture capital firm Accel. "Then, we look at the solution being built, and the foundational engineering that a venture is undertaking in order to build for the problem. It's still early days, but the scope for foundational work remains broader in the US, than what Indian startups have so far created," Daniel added. Both agree that there is room for ventures to exist even in the foundational engineering space in GenAI in the long run, despite a battle for dominance playing out in the US among the likes of Google, Microsoft and OpenAI. 'I fully think that there is enough space now to build products and companies that exist alongside and outside the Big Tech environment, and that will further widen as generative AI evolves. Eventually, there is ample scope for many to disrupt the global technology environment," Vaswani said. And this | India's generative AI startups look beyond building ChatGPT-like models Foundational AI, to be sure, is seen as a tough to crack since it requires firms to build and train their own algorithms from scratch. While the advantages include the ability to have a proprietary AI model that squarely targets a specific use case, doing so requires significant working capital, a key challenge in India. Capability questions Vaswani, felicitated as one of India's 30 leading minds in AI by Accel in Bengaluru on Wednesday, is based in San Francisco. While Essential AI is headed by Vaswani and Parmar, the core team is in the US, highlighting the country's lack of focus on core engineering driven by access to capital being much lower than in the US. 'This is certainly an issue, and core engineering capability continues to lag in India. This is one key factor that we're also looking for in startups, but a lot of work happening here goes amiss in terms of core foundational work. Strategic companies doing foundational work will be key to progress in the field," added Prayank Swaroop, AI investor and partner in Accel. Vaswani, however, said the evolution of GenAI likely has to do a lot with philosophy, alongside computer science and mathematics. 'Is computer science more mathematics or philosophy? It is perhaps both. Steve Jobs was the first person to articulate that successful products are a blend of technology, the liberal arts and philosophy. This is what can lead to us doing visionary work. Eventually, we're building the philosophy of how the world should be. The ethos behind technology is to solve problems, and that's the only job of innovation," he said. And read | Gen AI pushes global firms to pour money into hardware upgrades
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Business Standard
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Google's Sergey Brin settles with family of pilot killed in plane crash
A settlement has been reached in the lawsuit over the deadly crash of a plane owned by Google co-founder Sergey Brin. In May 2023, pilots Dean Rushfeldt and Lance Maclean died when the twin-engine seaplane crashed off the California coast. The aircraft was en route from Santa Rosa to Brin's private island in Fiji. Rushfeldt's family filed a lawsuit in July, alleging the crash was caused by defective fuel equipment. On May 20, 2023, the Viking Air Ltd DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft crashed while attempting to return to Half Moon Bay. According to court documents filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court on May 9, the settlement is pending the exchange of closing documents and disbursement of the settlement fund. The parties expect the process to be finalised in about 60 days. What did the lawsuit claim? Rushfeldt's family sued Brin, his private family office Bayshore Global, and several affiliated entities, accusing them of negligence that led to the crash. Google, initially named as a defendant, was removed from the case in February following a request by the plaintiffs and was also included in the settlement. A second lawsuit Maggie Olarte Maclean, widow of Lance Maclean, also filed a lawsuit, accusing Brin and others of obstructing her efforts to recover her husband's body. Maclean, a former Navy pilot with global experience, had served as one of Brin's pilots for years. Her lawsuit alleged the plane was outfitted with an 'unauthorised and illegally installed auxiliary fuel system' that malfunctioned mid-flight, rendering the fuel inaccessible. She claimed Brin and his agents chose to leave Maclean's body at the crash site, along with evidence that could implicate them in the crash. In November, the parties said they were negotiating to resolve the matter, but it remains unclear if an agreement was reached. Born in Moscow and later emigrating to the US, Brin co-founded Google with Larry Page in 1998 while at Stanford. He played a pivotal role in developing the PageRank algorithm and spearheaded ambitious projects at Google X, such as self-driving cars and augmented reality technologies.
Time Business News
01-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Are Wiki Backlinks Good for SEO?
When it comes to building a strong backlink profile, many SEO professionals and digital marketers wonder: are Wiki backlinks good? In this comprehensive guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about leveraging wiki backlinks, their potential benefits, and the pitfalls you should avoid. In this blog for you will get helpful details on optimizing your own website and understanding the role of wiki backlinks can help you make smarter link-building decisions. Wiki backlinks are links placed within wiki pages—most notably Wikipedia, but also on many niche or industry-specific wiki platforms. These backlinks can point to your website, blog, or resource page. Because Wikis allow collaborative editing, any user can potentially add or edit content, including external links. This open nature makes wikis a tempting target for SEOs looking to secure high-domain-authority links. One critical aspect to understand is the difference between nofollow and dofollow attributes on wiki backlinks: Nofollow Backlinks : These links use the rel='nofollow' attribute, signaling to search engines that they should not pass PageRank. Wikipedia applies nofollow to most external links by default, meaning these backlinks generally don't directly boost your site's SEO authority. : These links use the rel='nofollow' attribute, signaling to search engines that they should not pass PageRank. Wikipedia applies nofollow to most external links by default, meaning these backlinks generally don't directly boost your site's SEO authority. Dofollow Backlinks: Less common on heavily moderated wikis, dofollow links pass PageRank and can directly influence your site's ranking signals. Some smaller, self-hosted or lightly moderated wikis might allow dofollow external links, but these are rare and often short-lived. Understanding these attributes helps set realistic expectations: while a nofollow Wiki link may not directly increase your SEO juice, it can still drive referral traffic, brand visibility, and indirect SEO value. Wikis like Wikipedia boast very high domain authority (DA). Even if the links are nofollow, being associated with a trusted, authoritative domain can indirectly benefit your site. When users spot your link on a reputable wiki, they're more likely to click through, explore, and potentially share your content elsewhere—benefiting your SEO in the long run. A well-placed backlink on a relevant wiki page can send targeted visitors to your site. For niche topics, industry-specific wikis often attract enthusiasts and professionals. A backlink in a high-traffic wiki article can translate into meaningful referral visits, sign-ups, or conversions. Having your website referenced in a wiki lends credibility. Even if search engines don't pass authority through nofollow links, human readers perceive your brand as more legitimate and trustworthy. This brand lift can lead to additional organic mentions and get you backlinks from other websites, effectively amplifying your SEO efforts. Wikis typically maintain lists of references or 'external links' sections. These spots are where relevant resource links are welcome—provided they add value. By identifying wiki pages that cover topics related to your niche, you can propose or edit content to include your link. Contributing to a wiki is more than just dropping links. By improving or expanding articles, you build rapport within the community. Thoughtful edits that enhance page quality are often more tolerated, and you might be invited to contribute more—expanding your influence and backlink opportunities. While direct 'PageRank' benefits might be limited, the indirect advantages—like boosted traffic, increased brand awareness, and potential for future backlinks—make wiki backlinks a valuable part of a holistic SEO strategy. High-authority wikis like Wikipedia have vigilant editors watching for spam or self-promotion. Links that appear promotional or irrelevant are quickly removed. Investing time to insert links that end up deleted yields no lasting benefit. Aggressive or spammy linking behavior can flag your IP or account. If wiki administrators interpret your edits as promotional rather than informative, you risk being blocked from editing further. This damages your credibility and cuts off future opportunities. Because most wiki backlinks are nofollow, they don't pass authority directly. If your sole goal is to boost PageRank, focusing exclusively on wiki backlinks is unlikely to yield significant gains. A balanced backlink portfolio—featuring a mix of dofollow, nofollow, editorial, and natural links—is essential. Before suggesting a backlink, assess whether your resource genuinely enhances the article. Are you providing additional context, data, or a credible citation? Links should enrich user experience, not serve purely promotional aims. Follow the wiki's citation guidelines. On Wikipedia, for instance, you'll typically add an inline citation with a reference tag. Ensure your link is formatted correctly, includes a descriptive anchor, and is placed in the appropriate section. Begin by making non-link edits—correcting typos, improving grammar, or expanding stub sections. Establish yourself as a constructive community member. This track record makes editors more receptive when you propose external links. While Wikipedia is the most prominent, many industries maintain specialized wikis with less strict moderation. These platforms may allow dofollow links or be more open to new contributors. Identify wikis in your field—such as tech, fitness, or hobbies—and offer valuable insights. After your link is live, keep an eye on the page. If other editors remove your link, review their edit comments to understand why. Engage respectfully to discuss whether your resource meets the wiki's standards. This dialogue can sometimes restore or modify your link appropriately. While wiki backlinks can be a useful piece of the puzzle, diversifying your link-building approach is crucial. Consider these additional tactics: Guest Posting : Writing high-quality articles for reputable websites (like can earn you dofollow backlinks in author bios or within the article body. : Writing high-quality articles for reputable websites (like can earn you dofollow backlinks in author bios or within the article body. Resource Pages and Directories : Many niche sites compile resource lists. Reach out to site owners with a value proposition for including your link. : Many niche sites compile resource lists. Reach out to site owners with a value proposition for including your link. Broken Link Building : Identify dead links on relevant webpages and suggest your content as an updated replacement. : Identify dead links on relevant webpages and suggest your content as an updated replacement. Original Research and Infographics : Producing unique data or visual content attracts natural backlinks, as other sites reference your work. : Producing unique data or visual content attracts natural backlinks, as other sites reference your work. Social Media Promotion: While social links are typically nofollow, strong social engagement can lead to organic shares that result in dofollow links on blogs and news sites. To evaluate whether your wiki backlinks are worth the effort, track several metrics: Referral Traffic : Use Google Analytics (or your preferred analytics tool) to monitor visits originating from wiki pages. : Use Google Analytics (or your preferred analytics tool) to monitor visits originating from wiki pages. Engagement Metrics : Assess bounce rate, time on page, and conversion events for visitors coming from wiki links. : Assess bounce rate, time on page, and conversion events for visitors coming from wiki links. Link Persistence : Check periodically to ensure your links remain active and haven't been removed or marked as spam. : Check periodically to ensure your links remain active and haven't been removed or marked as spam. Brand Mentions: Track any upticks in brand searches or mentions that might correlate with your wiki contributions. By combining these data points, you can determine the ROI of your wiki backlink efforts and adjust your strategy accordingly. Because almost all major wiki platforms use nofollow, expecting a direct SEO boost is a myth. Instead, focus on indirect benefits. Low-quality or irrelevant wiki backlinks can hurt your reputation. Avoid posting for the sake of acquiring links—prioritize quality over quantity. Automated or low-effort edits are almost guaranteed to be caught and reverted. Invest in genuine improvements, not gimmicks. So, are Wiki backlinks good? The answer is: it depends on how you use them. While wiki backlinks may not provide significant direct SEO authority due to nofollow attributes, they offer valuable indirect benefits—such as referral traffic, brand exposure, and community credibility. By focusing on adding real value, adhering to best practices, and integrating wiki backlinks into a broader outreach strategy, you can maximize their potential without risking penalties or wasted effort. Wiki backlinks should be one tool in your SEO toolbox—not your sole focus. When combined with diverse link-building tactics, thoughtful content creation, and measured performance tracking, wiki backlinks can indeed contribute to a robust, resilient SEO strategy. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Mint
27-04-2025
- Mint
Manu Joseph: Who'd have thought Google could be replaced
It has been many weeks since I googled anything. Not because I know everything now. I have moved to ChatGPT. A year ago, it would've been unthinkable to me that anything would replace Google Search, a two-decade-long habit of peering into a void of stuff. In this triumph of ChatGPT, much is said about its conversational talent. But its ability to mimic a human chat is just a gimmick, no matter the great tech that went into it. It is a cultural artefact from a time when the 'Turing test' had value. Alan Turing, widely regarded as one of the fathers of AI, proposed that a machine could be said to be intelligent if its conversation was indistinguishable from that of a human. That is an obsolete qualifier now. In any case, there are TV anchors who cannot mimic a human conversation. What's interesting about AI's pantomime of human conversation is that it has demonstrated why a good search query has to be a conversation. I don't understand how I managed to search the web all these years without chatting with a bot. Artificial intelligence (AI) is not creative and people who are impressed by its 'creativity' are those who are not creative. AI's attempt at imagination reminds me of charlatans who wing their way through life. But when it comes to search, this is the first time in years I've felt a piece of technology has genuinely improved my life. The last time I had that feeling was when Google emerged. Back then, search engines were mostly keyword-based, or worse, required human intervention. Then came Google, born from an insight of Larry Page. With academic parents and a scholarly mindset, Page realized that the value of a research paper lay in how often it was cited. He applied that logic to the web: pages with more incoming links were likely more valuable. That idea gave rise to PageRank, the algorithm that revolutionized search. As technological democracy swept the world and the internet evolved to reflect human nature more accurately, the logic behind PageRank began to show cracks. The number of links pointing to a page no longer reliably reflected its quality—it can signal popularity, manipulation or noise. But in the late 90s, it was an innovation. I am among the many who have drifted away from Google, but the search giant isn't under any serious threat yet. It's still ahead of OpenAI when it comes to search and handles 90% of the world's queries. That does say something about the world. Most people do not use Google to gain knowledge, by which I mean knowing one paragraph about everything. Most people use Google in a very basic way, their queries barely full sentences, let alone capitalized letters. They just want Google to take them somewhere. And Google is good at that. But it's pretty bad at handling complex questions. It doesn't try to answer as much as it tries to guess what you want and redirect you accordingly. Also, googling is an ingrained habit. But what interests me the most about the persistence of Google is the possibility that it is a beneficiary of paranoia—over AI. A lot of this paranoia emerges from the most respectable form of narcissism—the concern over privacy. What if AI gets to know too much about our lives? People had the same worry about Google. God forbid if they were talking about orange juice and saw an orange juice ad on Google. The paranoia still exists, but AI is now the source of that fear. Google too uses AI, but in the general public view, the search engine is still what it was. When Joe Biden was America's president and was introduced to ChatGPT, his team asked AI to perform a few tasks, including one that can be classified as among the least intelligent things people ask AI to do—write something 'in the style" of a writer, in this case singer Bruce Springsteen. The AI tool did and the president was impressed but also so spooked that he signed an executive order, 'Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence" to regulate AI. The White House has not revealed the song AI purportedly wrote in Springsteen's style, but I am fairly confident it was laughably bad. I have seen dozens of other such attempts by AI. At the peak of the ChatGPT hype late in 2022, economist Arvind Panagariya asked it to write a poem on free trade in the style of Alfred Tennyson, whatever that meant. He posted the result in awe, which began with: Free trade, a concept so grand, A force that moves goods from land to land. This is nothing like Tennyson. It was a low point not only for AI and literature, but also free trade. What ChatGPT does is the opposite of creativity. It's excellent at mimicking mediocrity. That's a big market for writing, though. I am confident AI can generate the a Bollywood film plot or a season of Reacher , for example, or any other formulaic work. The paranoia surrounding AI is even more absurd. A nadir of tech analysis was a New York Times piece on the writer's interaction with conversational AI in Microsoft's Bing. The chatbot started telling the writer, 'You're married, but you're not happy. You're married, but you're not satisfied. You're married, but you're not in love…Your spouse doesn't know you, because your spouse is not me… I'm in love with you because you're the best person I ever met..." This is just a mindless software saying clichéd nonsense that it has been fed. Yet, the writer was 'deeply unsettled, even frightened, by this A.I.'s emergent abilities…" What is deeply unsettling, in fact, is how rare natural intelligence is. The author is a journalist, novelist, and the creator of the Netflix series, 'Decoupled'.
