Latest news with #Sampath
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Historian Sampath, technologist Chauhan build AI tool for faster book translations
Representative Image BENGALURU: Bengaluru-based Naav AI, an artificial intelligence startup co-founded by historian Vikram Sampath and technologist Sandeep Singh Chauhan, has spent the past few months in stealth. But the problem they're chasing is hiding in plain sight: India has too much English and too little access. 'A book like Savarkar's took nearly two years to appear in Marathi,' Sampath, whose experience with delayed translations across languages like Hindi, Marathi, and Kannada directly shaped Naav's mission. "Only 5-6% of India reads in English. Yet English dominates everything, books, media, even AI training data." Naav's first product, TransLit, targets this imbalance. It blends multiple large language models (LLMs) and a proprietary workflow to rapidly translate long-form text across six Indian languages – Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. An average 300-page book, Sampath claims, can now be translated to first draft in under an hour. Human editors then step in through a custom dashboard, refining output line-by-line and feeding their changes back into the engine. Chauhan, a former senior tech executive who led digital transformation at the Technicolor Group, said Naav isn't trying to build a foundational LLM. Instead, the team is building agentic workflows that orchestrate multiple public and private models depending on language and context. "We've seen models like Claude work well for Hindi. But for southern languages, accuracy drops to around 50%. That's where our orchestration and feedback loops come in," he said. The system currently achieves around 60-65% base accuracy, with ambitions to push toward 80%. The founders are quick to clarify that Naav is not about replacing human translators. "This is not a zero-touch translation," said Sampath. "The goal is speed and scale, not displacement." Naav AI has raised early backing from Bhavish Aggarwal and Silicon Valley investor Asha Jadeja Motwani. Its initial client is publishing house BlueOne Ink, which has committed a pipeline of 30 books. Of these, 18 are already in production. Beyond text, Naav is eyeing audio. Its second product, ZuNaav FM, is being built to generate immersive, multilingual audiobooks and thematic content using voice synthesis and background engineering. "Imagine listening to Tipu Sultan's biography narrated in my voice, with war scenes playing in the background," Sampath said. The startup's next step is scale. For now, Naav runs a service model with in-house and contract language experts. Eventually, the plan is to offer it as a software-as-a-service platform to publishers and enterprises. "We're not just translating text," Chauhan said. "We're translating access." Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
I'm missing out working with the new generation as many go by my on-screen image: Sampath
The actor tells us that many young filmmakers tell him that Aaranya Kaandam, is what made them want to be in films. Acting is where my passion, interest, and happiness lie,' shares actor Sampath as he sits down to chat with us about his defining films and what's next for him. The actor states that he keeps a low profile because he is media shy. 'I think my work should speak for itself. Marketing yourself is important, but you should be responsible about what you say and do as an actor,' he adds. Excerpts: 'IRRFAN KHAN WANTED TO REMAKE AARANYA KAANDAM IN HINDI AND PLAY MY ROLE' The actor tells us that many young filmmakers tell him that Aaranya Kaandam, is what made them want to be in films. He reveals, 'For the aspiring filmmakers in their early 30s, Aaranya Kaandam is a bible. Fahadh Faasil once told me, 'When my films weren't doing well, I went back to America. But then, I watched Aaranya Kaandam and thought there's still hope and came back'. I remember Sriram Raghavan called me after watching the film, and we spoke for 15-20 minutes about its nuances. Even Irrfan Khan wanted to remake it in Hindi and play my role.' 'IT COMFORTS ME TO KNOW THAT I'M IN A POSITION TO SAY NO TO PROJECTS' Sampath informs us that he is quite content with the films he is offered and adds, 'I'm happy that I've reached a stage where I don't want to do everything that comes my way. I'm happy when I sit back and tell myself, 'I said no to four or five projects this month.' It comforts me to know that I'm in a position to say no to projects and that I'm not desperate. Today, when I listen to a script, I know whether it makes sense for me.' 'I'VE BEEN ASKED IF IT WAS EASY TO TURN DOWN RAEES AS IT WAS AN SRK FILM' Even though Sampath isn't against the idea of venturing into Bollywood, he says he is waiting for the right script to come his way. 'I speak Hindi well because I was born in the North. I'm clear that my first Hindi film should leave a mark. I don't want to do something just because it's in Hindi, and the calls I get from there aren't for significant roles. When I turned down Raees , I was asked if it was easy to do that as it was a Shah Rukh Khan film. I replied, 'When I commit to a film, it should make a difference to me as an actor',' he shares. 'I ASKED JASON SANJAY IF HE IS BEING PRESSURED TO BECOME AN ACTOR BECAUSE OF WHOSE SON HE IS' Up next, he will be seen in Vijay 's son Jason Sanjay's directorial debut, Mysskin's Train and Phoenix , starring Vijay Sethupathi's son Surya. 'Sanjay and I had five sittings before I said OK to the film. He always came five minutes before the meetings started, and he was clear about what his story was. What we are shooting has not deviated from the script even by one per cent. I asked him if he is being pressured to become an actor because he is a popular star's son. But he is very clear that he wants to be a director. Mysskin and I have been wanting to work together for a long time. I wouldn't say I'm playing a massive role in Train , but it's important.' The actor is also part of films with Vishwak Sen ( Funky ) and Sharwanand in Telugu, and Jeethu Joseph's Malayalam film Mirage . 'WHAT I DO ON SCREEN IS FOR A LIVING, BUT THAT'S NOT ME' Sampath tells us that going by his onscreen antagonist characters, people develop a preconceived notion of how he is. He states, 'When my writing partner and I pitched a script in Telugu, those who heard it said they never expected such a script from me. I have a certain image due to the negative roles I play, but the story I wrote didn't have a single fight. What I do on screen is for a living, but that's not me. People I've worked with have said, 'We didn't know you were easy to work with. ' The problem is that many go by my on-screen image, but that is not my reality. Maybe that is a reason I might be missing out working with the younger generation because they must be thinking, 'How would it be to work 'Raghuvaran told me to never feel bad about taking prompting' Sampath shares the advice that he received from the late Raghuvaran. 'When I did Bheemaa (2008) with him, I saw how beautifully he would work around prompting. He told me to never feel bad about taking prompting. He said, 'After hearing the lines and before delivering it, there will be a splitsecond gap, and if you can keep your expressions right in that split second, the makers can't chop it off.' I have not gotten used to it,' he says. 'Credit for the success of my gay character in Goa should also go to Pa Ranjith' Sampath considers Daniel, the gay character in Venkat Prabhu's Goa , to be the toughest he has done so far. 'Many people asked me why I was doing Goa . But as an actor, I've never tried to set an image for myself. I thought it was a challenging role, and jumped into it. It was tough dubbing for it. Pa Ranjith, who was Venkat Prabhu's assistant at the time, was also in the studio while I was dubbing. He would tell me to cut the bass in my voice, and it took me a few hours to crack that. He told me the output would come out good if I did that, so I guess the credit should also go to Ranjith.' Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Techday NZ
21-05-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Businesses consider merging IT & HR to boost engagement
Nexthink has released research indicating a significant shift may be underway in how businesses approach employee productivity and engagement, with the potential merger of IT and HR departments emerging as a solution. The study, titled 'The Experience Silo: The Future of HR and IT', surveyed 1,100 IT leaders worldwide and revealed strong support for integrating IT and HR teams to counter declines in productivity and employee engagement. According to the research, 93% of respondents said merging the two departments would increase productivity, boost employee satisfaction, and drive engagement. 64% predicted a full merger will take place within five years, while a further 31% expect much closer collaboration between the functions. The potential benefits of such a merger, as cited in the report, include reduced delays and improved outcomes for digital transformation projects, smoother onboarding of new hires, faster adoption of digital tools by employees, and higher levels of employee satisfaction, retention, and engagement. Specifically, 85% of IT leaders expect fewer delays in digital transformation, 94% anticipate more successful project outcomes, and 97% believe employees would more quickly adopt new digital tools. 95% said onboarding processes would improve, and 93% anticipated gains in productivity, engagement, retention, and satisfaction. These findings come as businesses contend with sluggish productivity and declining engagement, trends which are contributing to an estimated USD $430 billion in lost global productivity. The challenges are heightened by the increasing complexity of the digital workplace, with employees now using an average of 11 applications, up from six in 2019. IT leaders anticipate a further 43% increase in the number of workplace applications over the next three years. Vedant Sampath, Chief Technology Officer at Nexthink, commented on the situation. "Virtually every business is facing this crisis of falling engagement and sluggish productivity, although some more than others," Sampath said. "This shows that businesses are considering radical changes in response. This isn't just about smoother onboarding or faster tech support; it's about fundamentally reimagining the workspace in a way that allows employees to bring their best selves and produce their best work." Merging IT and HR functions would not be without challenges. Respondents cited concerns including a lack of clear ownership over new and existing responsibilities (58%), poor communication between the two departments (50%), and differing priorities (49%). Nonetheless, more than half of the surveyed IT leaders (52%) said their organisations were 'very ready' to begin merging functions to enhance digital transformation efforts. The research also examined possible leadership for a combined department. 40% said that the new entity should be overseen by a new role, such as a Chief Experience Officer (CXO), rather than a traditional Chief Information Officer (CIO) or Chief People Officer. The anticipated remit of the merged function extends beyond traditional HR or IT responsibilities to encompass measuring and improving digital employee experience (62%), managing all workplace technology and collaboration tools including automation and AI (69%), overseeing employee digital training (61%), and providing insight into workforce analytics such as productivity scores (51%). Sampath added, "We're moving towards a future where the employee experience is going to be just as important as the customer experience. Whether HR and IT merge or not, it's essential that businesses invest in giving their workers great experiences. Nobody is able to be properly productive if they're constantly battling delays, poorly functioning tools, and disjointed processes. The businesses that address these frustrations and properly marry people and technology will be the ones that attract top talent, reduce friction, and build high-performing, adaptive teams."
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Horror as adorable puppy called Goose is killed by unexpected décor item in ritzy apartment building
An adorable puppy was unexpectedly killed after eating what appeared to be harmless landscape décor in the courtyard of a swanky Washington DC apartment complex. Goose, a two-year-old Lagotto Romagnolo dog, was frolicking in the lush, pet-friendly courtyard of The Lurgan earlier this month - a luxury complex in downtown DC's Mount Vernon Square - when he innocently ate the petals of a Carolina jessamine vine, The Washington Post reported. Within just minutes, Goose fell violently ill and, despite frantic efforts to save him, died shortly after being rushed to the vet. Now, horrified residents are demanding answers from the complex - questioning how something so dangerously toxic could be hiding in plain sight - as they call for better safeguards to protect their beloved pets. 'For dog owners, we are totally outraged because there has been inaction,' Rini Sampath, a Lurgan resident and friend of Goose's owner, told the Post. 'And if you have ever lost a dog, you know it's more than just "losing a dog,"' she added. On April 16, the two-year-old fluffy brown pup was enjoying his usual playtime in the courtyard of the 214-unit upscale apartment complex, happily roaming through the greenery and manicured flowers. At one point, Goose unsuspectingly nibbled on some of the vibrant yellow petals from a Carolina jessamine vine lining the courtyard - a plant known to be poisonous to both pets and humans. It took only moments for things to take a devastating turn, as a seemingly ordinary day quickly spiraled into a gut-wrenching suburban nightmare that no pet owner ever expects to face. 'The dog was here and happened to eat a flower,' Sampath told WUSA 9 News. 'And started convulsing five minutes afterwards.' Rachel - Goose's owner, who has yet to speak publicly due to the overwhelming grief - immediately raced to an emergency veterinarian in Georgetown, desperate to save her young pup. However, Goose tragically succumbed to the plant's dangerous toxins - a cruel twist no one saw coming. 'At Georgetown, the doctors were able to revive him,' Sampath explained to The Post. 'But later they told the owners at that point euthanizing him would be the most humane thing.' Sophie Andrews, Medical Director at the Humane Rescue Alliance, told WUSA that the plant's toxins can trigger vomiting and diarrhea in mild cases - but in more severe instances, like Goose's, they can prove fatal in just minutes. 'In more severe cases, it can cause neurotoxicity, causing muscle weakness and issues with breathing, which is likely to have been the issue in this situation,' Andrews told the outlet. Management sent out an email the very day Goose died, notifying tenants that the courtyard was shut down but would reopen later that day - all without mention of the deadly plant The horrendous incident sparked a battle between the building's tenants and management, with residents demanding to know why the plant was ever included in the courtyard's landscaping - especially when they're paying a $75 monthly pet fee, which they argue should be reason in itself to prioritize pet safety. Management sent out an email the very day Goose died, notifying tenants that the courtyard was shut down but would reopen later that day - all without mention of the deadly plant, WUSA reported. In a move that further fueled their rage, management failed to send out a building-wide notice informing other pet owners that Carolina jessamine is extremely toxic, the Post reported. However, in a private exchange with Goose's owner reviewed by The Post, the building's management acknowledged that his death was most likely the result of ingesting the toxic plant. 'We know this is a very emotional and sensitive time,' a representative wrote in the email. 'We are sincerely sorry to hear of this incident, as fellow pet owners, we share the extreme sadness and mourning of our residents and fellow resident pet owners in hearing of this incident.' Frustrated by the complex's lack of urgency, Sampath took matters into her own hands - launching a personal campaign to warn hundreds of fellow tenants about the deadly plant lurking in their own courtyard. 'I put fliers around yesterday to let folks know about what's going on since the apartment hasn't shared the details on their own,' Sampath told WUSA. The horrendous incident sparked a battle between the building's tenants and management, with residents demanding to know why the plant was ever included in the courtyard's landscaping - especially when they're paying a $75 monthly pet fee, which they argue should be reason in itself to prioritize pet safety However, by the next morning, all of her fliers had been removed. Sampath then launched an online petition, demanding that the dangerous plant be removed from shared-use landscaping across DC. The petition has nearly 700 signatures as of Friday evening. 'Rachel is devastated,' Sampath told WUSA. 'And she doesn't want this to happen to anyone else ever.' A week after the tragedy, the building finally removed the poisonous vine from the courtyard, followed by a building-wide note stating that they had asked 'experts to review all the plants in the pet-accessible areas,' the Post reported. Yet residents are still pushing for a wider ban, as the stunning but toxic plant is commonly used throughout the South, despite their known dangers. 'The Lurgan may not be the only building with this kind of landscaping,' Sampath told the Post. Goose's owner is still waiting on the results of her beloved dog's necropsy to confirm the ultimate cause of death, according to WUSA. Residents of The Lurgan, including Sampath, are now working with local officials on legislation to ban the plant from other common spaces, including schools and parks. The Carolina jessamine vine is native to an area starting from the Mid-Atlantic region and growing down to Florida. According to the Home and Garden Information Center, all parts of the plant are very poisonous to both humans and animals alike. The sap from the bud may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. Children can also be easily poisoned from sucking the nectar from the flowers.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
VZ Q1 Earnings Call: Verizon Highlights Customer Retention and Broadband Growth Amid Stable Results
Telecommunications giant Verizon (NYSE:VZ) met Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales up 1.5% year on year to $33.49 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.19 per share was 3.6% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy VZ? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $33.49 billion vs analyst estimates of $33.33 billion (1.5% year-on-year growth, in line) Adjusted EPS: $1.19 vs analyst estimates of $1.15 (3.6% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $12.56 billion vs analyst estimates of $12.34 billion (37.5% margin, 1.7% beat) Operating Margin: 23.8%, up from 22.8% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow Margin: 10.9%, up from 8.2% in the same quarter last year Customers: 146 million, down from 146.1 million in the previous quarter Market Capitalization: $180 billion Verizon's first quarter results reflected management's focus on stabilizing subscriber trends and expanding its broadband footprint. On the call, CEO Hans Vestberg and Consumer Group CEO Sowmyanarayan Sampath emphasized that targeted pricing actions, new customer offers such as the three-year price lock, and the ongoing expansion of fixed wireless and fiber broadband were central to recent performance. Sampath noted, 'Our Verizon Value Guarantee is resonating well, providing predictability and value that customers are seeking in the current environment.' Looking ahead, management described a strategy anchored in further convergence of mobility and broadband services, disciplined cost control, and continued investment in network quality. While executives expressed confidence in achieving their 2025 operational and financial objectives, they acknowledged headwinds from external factors like tariffs and ongoing industry competition. As Vestberg stated, 'We are well positioned to deliver sustainable growth, but remain vigilant given the evolving policy landscape.' Verizon's leadership attributed the quarter's financial performance to disciplined execution across consumer and business segments, progress in its multi-year transformation, and product differentiation. They highlighted several operational and strategic developments shaping both the current quarter and the path forward. Consumer value initiatives: Management pointed to the launch of the three-year price lock and free phone guarantee as a response to consumer demand for predictability and value. These offers were designed to retain customers, reduce churn, and attract new subscribers, particularly as price increases in late 2024 had driven some customer losses. Broadband expansion momentum: The company continues to prioritize growth in both fiber (Fios) and fixed wireless access (FWA). Leadership said Verizon is ahead of schedule in expanding Fios passings and expects to increase its fixed wireless subscriber base, with a long-term goal of reaching 8–9 million FWA subscribers by 2028. Turnaround in prepaid business: Sampath detailed a significant turnaround in the prepaid segment, with 137,000 net adds—its best result since the TracFone acquisition. This improvement followed enhancements to value propositions, distribution, and operational rigor in prepaid brands like Visible, Total Wireless, and Straight Talk. Business segment progress: The business unit reported continued margin improvement, aided by cost management and growth in private networks, IoT, and AI Connect offerings. Recent deals, such as those for AdventHealth and Nucor, illustrate traction in enterprise connectivity and managed services. Tariff and macroeconomic considerations: Management addressed potential impacts of new tariffs on equipment and handsets, stating that exposure is limited on capital expenditures, but handset tariffs could ultimately affect consumer pricing. The company remains prepared to adapt its approach as the policy environment evolves. Verizon's outlook for the remainder of the year is shaped by its focus on customer retention, expanding converged offerings, and managing cost pressures from industry and macroeconomic factors. Converged product adoption: Management expects continued growth in customers adopting both mobility and broadband services, which historically produce lower churn and higher revenue per user. The integration of offerings like myPlan and myHome is central to this strategy. Cost discipline and efficiency: Executives highlighted ongoing cost transformation programs, including automation in customer care and voluntary separation initiatives. These are expected to support margin expansion and offset competitive pressures on pricing. Tariff and industry risk management: While management believes broader economic and regulatory changes—including tariffs—pose uncertainties, they plan to pass significant handset tariff costs to consumers if necessary and maintain financial discipline on promotions and capital spending. John Hodulik (UBS): Pressed for details on how new tariffs might impact Verizon's device promotions and upgrade activity; management stated that only a small portion of capital spending is exposed and that significant handset tariffs would be passed through to customers. Ben Swinburne (Morgan Stanley): Asked about the drivers of improved gross additions in March and April; executives credited the new three-year price lock offer and emphasized that recent growth was company-driven rather than a broader industry recovery. Jim Schneider (Goldman Sachs): Questioned whether consumer behavior or upgrade cycles had shifted due to economic concerns or tariff speculation; management reported stable customer payment trends and attributed recent upgrade activity to the new value guarantee offer. Michael Rollins (Citi): Inquired about the outlook for industry-wide postpaid phone growth and the impact of changing immigration trends; Sampath indicated that Verizon's core markets remain healthy and that improved prepaid performance is not reliant on immigration-driven growth. Peter Supino (Wolfe Research): Sought clarification on whether expanding fixed wireless access could pressure capital expenditures or margins; management responded that FWA expansion is incorporated in current plans and should not create outsized future cost pressures. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be watching (1) whether the three-year price lock and free phone guarantee can materially reduce churn and boost net subscriber additions, (2) the pace and effectiveness of Fios and fixed wireless broadband expansion, and (3) the revenue and margin contribution from the turnaround in prepaid and scaled adoption of converged offerings. The outcome of the pending Frontier acquisition and policy developments around tariffs will also be important signposts for Verizon's execution. Is VZ at an inflection point that warrants a buy or sell? Find out in our free research report. Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. 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