Latest news with #ASI
Time of India
6 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Rs12 lakh allocated for Kundrandar temple: Union minister
Pudukottai: A sum of 12 lakh has been allocated for the maintenance of the ancient Kundrandar temple in Pudukottai district, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said in response to a query raised by Trichy MP Durai Vaiko. The temple, a rock-cut cave temple, is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Responding to a series of queries by Durai Vaiko to the Union ministry of culture and tourism,Shekhawat confirmed the allocation and outlined the conservation measures being undertaken. In his reply dated July 21, the minister stated that "maintenance and conservation works are taken up periodically based on the requirement priority and resources available considering provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958, and also conservation policy. " He had also mentioned that an annual conservation plan (ACP) has been drawn up for the temple. As part of this, 12 lakh has been earmarked for the current financial year. Durai Vaiko had raised concerns over the 'neglect' of the temple for more than two decades and questioned whether the maintenance work had been stopped. In a response to the broader monitoring measures, the minister said that Tamil Nadu is home to 412 monuments under ASI's jurisdiction. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Crypto CFDs May Suit Your Portfolio IC Markets Learn More Undo "The said temple is being regularly maintained and conserved. The officers of ASI conduct periodic inspections to monitor the status of conservation, maintenance, and any necessary repair works of these protected monuments and areas. These efforts ensure the proper upkeep and protection of heritage structures within the state," he added.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
₹12 lakh allocated for conservation plan of Kundrandar Temple in Pudukkottai district
An annual conservation plan has been drawn up at an estimate of ₹12 lakh for the maintenance and conservation of the Kundrandar Temple in Pudukottai district for the current financial year. This has been disclosed by Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in reply to a question raised by the Tiruchi Lok Sabha Member Durai Vaiko in the Parliament. The temple, also referred to as Kunnandarkovil, is situated about 35 km from Pudukottai. Vaiko had asked whether it was true that conservation and maintenance works at the temple had been halted or remained unattended for over 25 years and whether there was any plan to resume and complete the restoration and maintenance works at the site. in his reply, said the rock-cut Shiva temple, with its mandapam depicting wheels in the front, was a monument of national importance under the maintenance of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). 'Regular maintenance and conservation works are taken up periodically based on the requirement, priority and resources available... Maintenance and conservation of the maintenance are regular process of work and the ACP for the said monument is made for an amount of ₹12 lakh for this financial year,' the Minister said. The 412 protected monuments and areas under the jurisdiction of the ASI in Tamil Nadu, including the temple, were regularly maintained and conserved, he maintained. The officers of ASI conduct periodic inspections to monitor the status of conservation, maintenance and necessary repair works of these protected monuments and areas. These efforts ensure the proper upkeep and protection of heritage structures in the State, he added.
Forbes
17 hours ago
- Science
- Forbes
Audacious Idea That America Is Going To Have An Unnerving Sputnik Moment When It Comes To Attaining AGI And AI Superintelligence
Will the United States attain AGI and ASI first, before any other country, and does it really matter ... More which country is first? In today's column, I examine the provocative chatter that the United States might experience a said-to-be Sputnik moment when it comes to attaining artificial general intelligence (AGI) and artificial superintelligence (ASI). How so? The audacious idea postulates that rather than America being the first to achieve AGI and ASI, some other country manages to beat us to the punch. It is a seemingly unimaginable proposition. You see, the United States is indisputably a world leader in AI and known for the development of leading-edge advances in AI. It is nearly inconceivable that the U.S. won't arrive at AGI and ASI first. But is that wishful thinking rather than real-world thinking? Let's talk about it. This analysis of an innovative AI breakthrough is part of my ongoing Forbes column coverage on the latest in AI, including identifying and explaining various impactful AI complexities (see the link here). Heading Toward AGI And ASI First, some fundamentals are required to set the stage for this weighty discussion. There is a great deal of research going on to further advance AI. The general goal is to either reach artificial general intelligence (AGI) or maybe even the outstretched possibility of achieving artificial superintelligence (ASI). AGI is AI that is considered on par with human intellect and can seemingly match our intelligence. ASI is AI that has gone beyond human intellect and would be superior in many, if not all, feasible ways. The idea is that ASI would be able to run circles around humans by outthinking us at every turn. For more details on the nature of conventional AI versus AGI and ASI, see my analysis at the link here. We have not yet attained AGI. In fact, it is unknown whether we will reach AGI, or that maybe AGI will be achievable in decades or perhaps centuries from now. The AGI attainment dates that are floating around are wildly varying and wildly unsubstantiated by any credible evidence or ironclad logic. ASI is even more beyond the pale when it comes to where we are currently with conventional AI. The Saga Of Sputnik 1 There is immense speculation going on about AGI and ASI regarding which country will be the first to achieve the vaunted pinnacle of AI. One fiery comment that's floating around is that this could turn out to be another semblance of the infamous Sputnik crisis. You might be somewhat familiar with the unnerving exploits of Sputnik that occurred in the 1950s and 1960s, and beyond. I'll provide a quick recap for ease of recollection and then tie the historical reference to our modern times. In October 1957, the Soviet Union launched a small spacecraft known as Sputnik 1 that traveled in a low Earth orbit. A radio signal was then beamed from this orbiting spacecraft. People across the globe could hear the beeping sounds on their radios as retransmitted by amateur radio operators. This made enormous history as it was the first-ever artificial Earth satellite. At the time, this frightening action triggered the American Sputnik crisis. Worries were that the Soviet Union could end up controlling outer space. The Russians could potentially launch military weapons that orbited the planet and would readily threaten the United States and other countries of the world. The action also suggested that the scientific prowess showcased by the Soviet Union was superior to that of America. How much farther behind might the U.S. really be? The sky was the limit, or maybe not, and extended to the heavens far above. This served as a mighty impetus to spur the Space Race. Indeed, a few years later, President John F. Kennedy made his famous speech in 1962 that called for the United States to land on the Moon before the end of the decade. The oft quoted line was this: 'We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.' Will AI Be The Sputnik 2 Let's tie the Sputnik saga with the ongoing efforts to attain pinnacle AI. There is heated debate in dark backrooms that maybe the United States won't be the first to arrive at AGI and ASI. Some other country might get there first. Lots of big-name countries are vying for that prized position. Smaller countries are doing so too. An eclectic race is avidly underway. Suppose the U.S. isn't first? It would be reminiscent of the Sputnik 1 circumstance. Perhaps such an instance would cheekily be labeled as a kind of Sputnik 2 phenomenon (as an aside, there really was a Sputnik 2 in terms of a second spacecraft launched in November 1957 by the Soviet Union and was the first to put an animal in space, the dog named Laika). America could end up as a second fiddle in the AI race. The idea seems absurd at face value. The United States undeniably has many of the top AI makers, along with amazing academic institutions that are globally recognized as AI leaders, and gobs of first-class AI researchers. Billions upon billions of dollars are flowing into the AI race by American companies and via U.S. federal, state, and local governmental agencies. Any notion of the United States not landing on AGI and ASI before any other country would seem utterly ludicrous and summarily rejected. The Logical Suppositions Whoa, comes the retort, you can't blindly assume that the United States will necessarily be the first to attain AGI and ASI. That is a haughty assumption. It belies the intense efforts taking place beyond the United States. This begs the question as to why America would not be the first to reach that desired goal. I will go ahead and give you a rundown on some of the most compelling reasons that have been expressed on this dicey matter. They consist of these five primary contentions: Let's briefly unpack each of those. Unknown Path To AGI And ASI First, no one anywhere can say for sure how AGI and ASI can be achieved. The whole endeavor is pretty much a shot in the dark. There isn't a pristine map that lays out the steps involved. Furthermore, it is conceivable that AGI and ASI will not be attained at all, i.e., no one will achieve the pinnacle AI. The United States is in the same boat as everyone else, namely, trying all sorts of clever ways to move toward AGI and ASI. No guarantees are to be had. All countries might come up blank on the AGI and ASI pursuit. Thus, no matter how much money or brainpower is employed, the end result might consist nicely of more advanced AI, but not the total package of true pinnacle AI. Marching To The Same Tune A second point is that perhaps a birds of a feather mindset could undermine the United States. Here's what that entails. Some have criticized that, by-and-large, we are using the same methods and similar AI internal structures across the board to reach AGI and ASI, see my analysis at the link here and the link here. If that's the case, our all-alike AI approach could be akin to putting all our eggs into one basket. The true path to pinnacle AI might be something outside of that presumed avenue. Unwilling To Take Risky Chances Another somewhat related consideration is that with the vast investments going into AI efforts, this might be making us more risk-averse. The logic is this. You would find it difficult to take in bucko bucks and not be pursuing AGI and ASI like others are. The investors won't be happy that you are trying some oddball angle. If you don't succeed but have followed the same approach as others, you can hold your head high and proclaim that everyone was caught off guard. On the other hand, if you opt for a risky path that no one else chooses to pursue, you'll have little headspace cover when it comes to explaining why your zany method didn't arrive at AGI and ASI. You will be fully exposed and readily vulnerable to reputational attack. Stealing AI To Reach The Pinnacle Here's a twist for you. Theft might come into play. It is suggested that maybe another country will steal our budding AI and manage to undertake the final steps to AGI and ASI before we do. In other words, suppose we have gotten down to the 90% mark and are struggling to get the final 10% done. Some other country that isn't anywhere near AGI and ASI decides to take a shortcut by stealing the AI that we have. Next, they manage to get the remaining 10% undertaken under their own auspices. Of course, they tout to the world that they did the pinnacle AI by themselves, entirely from A to Z. For more details on the chances of stealing AI, see my coverage at the link here. Discovery By Luck Or Chance One of the most intriguing reasons for the U.S. not being the first to achieve pinnacle AI is that perhaps there is some out-of-the-blue discovery that needs to be made. The ardent belief is that there is a missing piece that nobody has identified yet. No one knows what that piece is. There isn't any definition of it. It is the classical dilemma of not knowing what we don't know. The kicker is this. Suppose that discovering the missing piece is going to be based mainly on luck rather than skill. Assume that there is no inherent advantage in having the biggest AI labs and the biggest AI budgets. AGI and ASI might hinge on a completely left-field discovery that could happen anywhere and at any time. I've pointed out that this particular theory or conjecture has given rise to the credence that AGI and ASI might be achieved on a solo basis, see my discussion at the link here. Yes, instead of vast teams arriving at pinnacle AI, some enterprising individual in their pajamas and in their basement arrives there first. If you believe in this fanciful missing piece concept, it seems plausible that a solo developer with incredible luck might discover it. The solo developer might be in the tiniest of countries, and ergo, bring AGI and ASI to that country before any other country figures it out. Presumably, unbelievable fame and fortune await that solo developer. Being First Does Matter Those above-described handful of mainstay reasons are on the minds of many. Please know that additional reasons are being bandied around. It's a hot topic and raises the heat when emphatically discussed. A smarmy viewpoint about this dire handwringing conundrum is that being first is perhaps overrated. If the U.S. doesn't get to AGI and ASI before some other country, maybe it's not such a big deal, and we are making an undue fuss. A preoccupation with being first can be a bad thing. Go with the flow. However things perchance go, they go. The counterargument to this offhandness is that we all pretty much acknowledge that AGI and ASI have supremely dual-use consequences, doing grand good for the world but also potentially grand bad for the world. The first to get to pinnacle AI might unleash quite a vicious storm upon the globe and muscle themselves into a geo-economic position of a disconcerting nature (see my analysis at the link here, along with why the United Nations also is trying to have a role in the AGI/ASI arrival, see the link here). The planetary and humankind existential stakes underlying AGI and ASI are huge. Whichever country gets there first is, in fact, an important consideration. Humanity And The Future A final thought to ruminate on. Some have likened the attainment of AGI and ASI to the likes of achieving atomic energy and the atomic bomb. Historically, the case can be made that getting there first did make a difference. We now know that being first was significant, and we also know that what happens after the first attainment is an ongoing struggle and vitally crucial too. Thinking further ahead in terms of pinnacle AI, the question arises whether some or all other countries of the world will eventually possess and/or control AGI and ASI. That's another substantive topic worthy of keen chatter. Per the wise words of Albert Einstein, we earnestly need to keep this pointed remark in mind: 'The solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind.'
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Business Standard
a day ago
- General
- Business Standard
610 antiquities retrieved from six countries in five years, says govt
A total of 610 antiquities were retrieved from the US, the UK and four other countries over the last five years, the government informed Parliament on Monday. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared this information in a written reply to a question on whether the government has conducted any survey or study regarding theft of Indian artefacts in the last five years; and details of the total number of artefacts recovered, still missing and unaccounted for over the same period. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains up-to-date data of theft cases in respect of protected monuments, sites and museums under its jurisdiction, he said. On retrieval of antiquities from abroad, according to the data shared by him, in 2020, three artefacts were brought back from Australia and five from the UK. In 2021, 157 antiquities were brought back from the US and one each from Canada and the UK. In 2023 and 2024, the figures stood at 105 (the US) and 297 (the US) respectively. For the US, the total number of retrieved antiquities for 2020-24 stood at 559, and for Australia, the corresponding figures stood at 34. The total number spanning the six countries -- the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Italy and Thailand -- for 2020-24 stands at 610. In response to another query, Shekhawat said, a total of 655 antiquities have been retrieved from foreign countries since 1976. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Committed to releasing Keezhadi findings, but ASI officer report lacks details: Union Min Shekhawat
CHENNAI: Stating that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) does not reject reports on excavations but incorporates views for accuracy, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, on Monday reiterated that the report of archaeologist K Amarnath Ramakrishna lacked several details. Replying to questions from DMK MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Shekhawat said there is no practice of rejecting a report and that the organisation is fully committed to releasing the findings of Keezhadi after due scientific process. To a question on the rationale behind the repeated transfer of the lead archaeologist within nine months and its impact on excavation continuity, the union minister said the allocation of works to archaeological officers is a routine administrative matter.
