Latest news with #SimonSays'
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
The Storytelling CIO and the Invisible Engine of AI
At the 7th edition of the ETCIO Annual Conclave, an exclusive leadership summit that brought together India's foremost technology decision-makers, a deceptively simple game of 'Simon Says' opened the afternoon session, offering an unexpected yet powerful cue about attention, perception, and the evolving role of the speaker, Ameen Haque, founder of Storywallahs, stood before a crowd of India's top technology executives. But this wasn't just icebreaking. 'Over a game of simple 'Simon Says',' Haque later explained, 'it was thought-provoking for CIOs, moving you to a place of alertness.' It was a miniature neuroscience experiment: Proof that the brain responds more to visual stimuli than verbal ones. This insight, Haque iterates, holds the key to modern tech leadership. 'We forget facts,' he said, 'but the human brain remembers stories.' That's the paradox CIOs are navigating now. It is to narrate ideas at the intersection of tech and business clearly and quickly to stakeholders who may not understand the language of IT. 'How does one tell a story in the business context,' Haque asked aloud, 'tell it fast and simplify for the non-IT folks?' CIOs Confront the Real Test of AI The question is timely. Across India's boardrooms, digital transformation is in full tilt. Generative AI has emerged not merely as a tool but as a turning point—what Rakesh Bhardwaj, Global CIO at Lupin, calls 'a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.' Bhardwaj says, 'The bold experiments everyone is doing are paying off. GenAI has come as a hope where we can pole vault. Now we are in the game of translating volatility to opportunity. AI-led autonomy to human centricity.' Yet while India's adoption of AI technologies has outpaced global averages, the real question is not just about uptake—but impact. 'Who's really extracting the value?' Bhardwaj's rhetorical question remains. Ashok Jade, Global CIO of Kirloskar Brothers, knows this challenge all too well. Working within the constraints of a legacy manufacturing enterprise, he sees AI as more than an efficiency engine. 'What if AI could open a new line of business?' he asked. Imagine a future where an AI agent helps a customer select an industrial pump online, surpassing today's three-tiered architecture. 'Moving ahead, can a pump be sold as a service?' he posed. 'Can a digital factory be taken to the customer, consequently?' That tension—between operational safety and technological speed—finds vivid expression in the mobility sector. Manikandan Thangarathnam of Uber India explains, 'Today, Uber operates in 70 countries, drivers uploading vehicle documents—how quickly can we look at allowing them to drive?' But in mobility, haste comes at a price. 'The margin of error is too low; We cannot let a customer drive unsafely,' he said. The key he believes is, 'Understand the scale, depth, and complexity before applying the tech for the problem.' But innovation at Uber hasn't slowed. 'This is the era of transformation in mobility,' Thangarathnam said. 'We can solve traffic in India by more people in lesser vehicles. Lower cost, higher predictability—that's what customers want in shared mobility. So even if it takes four years to solve the problem, it remains evergreen.' If the optimism sounds radical, so does the provocation. Hitesh Sachdev, Head of Innovation & Startups at ICICI Bank, half-jokingly asked, 'Will AI be the CEO of the company?' In some ways, that future doesn't feel entirely far-fetched. The workforce, meanwhile, is undergoing its own metamorphosis. In a rapid-fire round, executives offered one-word answers to a daunting question: How are you rethinking talent in the era of AI? 'Upskilling,' 'Business-first,' and, to applause, 'The person knowing AI will take your job, not AI itself.' Despite concerns of automation replacing roles—over 300,000 jobs and counting—there is also a 2.8% productivity uptick. That trade-off defines the moment. The Invisible Engine: Making AI Work Across Business Some of the biggest wins, however, come from redefining how organizations make decisions and execute at scale. Kenny Kesar, Global CIO at Wipro, explains, 'We asked: How do we move from scattered innovation to systemic?' The $11 billion company transitioned from viewing AI as an external pilot to an internal imperative. 'We moved from AI-as-a-thing to AI-in-everything,' he said. Wipro's AI-infused go-to-market tools now include deal intelligence systems and proposal copilots, built on a platform called AI Fabric. 'True transformation happens when AI is the invisible engine.' The metaphor sticks. 'AI is a convex lens in the hands of visionary leadership,' Kesar added, explaining how Wipro deployed 70 enterprise-wide AI use cases and instituted MLOps to scale further. The next frontier? Equipping 235,000 employees with AI skills. In a room full of CIOs, the storytelling wasn't just about technology. It was about re-imagining what leadership looks like in the age of algorithms. And, as Haque suggested, the most powerful shift isn't technical at all. 'Some of the best tech leaders,' he said simply, 'are good storytellers.' The rest, after all, is just data.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
5 brain games that improve memory and focus in seniors
There's a quiet beauty in watching someone age gracefully — with sharp wit, calm focus, and a memory that still dances with stories from the past. While ageing does bring changes to the brain, science says it doesn't have to mean forgetfulness or mental fog. Certain games — thoughtfully chosen — can train the brain, much like exercise strengthens the body. Not all brain games are made equal, though. Some claim to improve memory and focus , but have no real science behind them. The key is to choose games that actively engage different parts of the brain, create new neural connections, and spark joy while doing so. Here are 5 such brain-boosting games that go beyond the usual crosswords and Sudoku — ones that hold real promise for memory and attention, especially in older adults. Jigsaw puzzles Jigsaw puzzles are seen as simple pastime activities, perfect for killing time. When a senior works on a jigsaw puzzle, the brain is doing something remarkable — using visual-spatial reasoning, activating short-term memory, and requiring problem-solving. Regular engagement with puzzles improved cognitive performance, particularly in the elderly. Jigsaw puzzles also promote something subtle yet important — patience. And with patience comes the ability to focus for longer periods. It's not just about putting pieces together — it's about building a mental picture and holding it in the mind, a direct workout for memory. Story recall games Memory games that involve repeating words or phrases are enough. The truth: While repetition helps, it's contextual memory that truly sharpens the brain — the kind used in story recall games. These games involve listening to a short, engaging story and then answering questions about the sequence, characters, or outcome. This trains episodic memory — the ability to recall events and their context — which often declines with age. Story-based memory tasks activate both language and memory centres of the brain. Plus, if the stories spark emotion or nostalgia, retention improves dramatically. It's a mental gym session with a personal touch. 'Spot the difference' challenges These games are for kids and offer little cognitive value for adults. When two similar images are placed side by side with tiny differences, identifying those differences lights up the brain's frontal lobe — the same part responsible for attention and decision-making. For seniors, especially those experiencing early cognitive decline, these challenges help train selective attention and detail orientation. And here's something beautiful — these games often evoke laughter and curiosity. A little fun goes a long way in keeping the brain young. Pattern replication games Games like 'Simon Says' or colour-sequence memorisation are old-school fun with no real brain benefit. These kinds of games actually train working memory — the mental scratchpad that holds information for immediate use. For seniors, working memory often becomes fragile, but studies show that it can be strengthened with regular training. A classic pattern-replication game requires observing a sequence (such as lights or sounds) and repeating it correctly. The longer the sequence, the more the brain stretches to hold and recall. According to a 2017 report in Neuropsychology Review, repeated engagement in such games enhances cognitive flexibility and short-term memory in ageing adults. They may seem simple, but their impact is quietly powerful. 5 Ancient Indian tips to improve intelligence and brain power Music-based memory games Listening to music is calming, but doesn't do much for brain health. The truth: While music does soothe the mind, interacting with it — like recalling lyrics, completing musical patterns, or tapping along in rhythm — becomes a full-brain activity. In fact, music engages more areas of the brain than almost any other activity, including those responsible for memory, emotion, and motor skills. Music-based memory games can involve guessing songs from a few notes, completing a melody, or remembering the sequence of instruments. Studies, such as one from The Gerontologist (2019), have shown that older adults who participated in rhythm-based cognitive activities displayed improved attention and memory recall. Plus, there's nostalgia. A familiar tune can unlock memories lost in time — making music games not only therapeutic but heartwarming.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Youth workforce initiative hosts event with games and prizes
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Friday, the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester teamed up with the Hive Youth Workforce to host an exciting afternoon filled with games and prizes. The goal of the Hive initiative is to prepare Monroe County youth to become part of the skilled workforce through programming focused on career development, mentorship, and access to opportunity. 'Simon Says' which featured five rounds of the popular game, gave Monroe County teens a chance to see first-hand what the Hive has to offer. 'The purpose of this event is to share the resources and to get in front of the community to let them know all the different organizations that are part of the Hive that are available to the community, and the students who are part of the Hive already, to let them know there are other organizations that you can access as well,' Coordinator of Career Readiness Allen Pinkins said. The winners of Friday's games won cash prizes, gift cards to Foot Locker and Amazon, and other mystery prizes. All attendees were also treated to a free lunch, provided by Big Boys Eatery. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
