India leads AI‑forward payroll market innovation globally: Report (2025-12-19T11:09:00+05:30)

IANS Photo New Delhi, (IANS): India is emerging as one of the most AI‑forward markets in payroll transformation, with 35 per cent of businesses identifying artificial intelligence adoption as the primary enabler of HR and payroll innovation, a report said on Tuesday. The number of businesses in India that identified AI as the driver in payroll innovation over the next two to three years was the highest across the Asia‑Pacific region, the report from ADP India said. Meanwhile, 68 per cent of organisations reported integrating AI to streamline workflows and reduce reliance on manual processes. The report, however, noted that only 12 per cent of Indian organisations have payroll functions fully equipped for future demands, highlighting a readiness gap that must be closed to sustain growth and resilience. "India’s workforce is entering a decisive phase of transformation as organisations adapt to diverse geographies, generations and employment models," the report said. Rahul Goyal, Managing Director of ADP India and Southeast Asia, said that "skills are becoming the new currency, automation is reshaping how work gets done, and employees are expecting work experience that supports both productivity and personal well‑being". The report outlined key HR and payroll trends set to define workplace strategies in 2026, including automation as a scale enabler, workforce management gains with biometric tools, a redefined employee value proposition with wellbeing initiatives, and digital, transparent pay systems. Organisations are expected to invest more in biometric systems, secure mobile attendance tools and geolocation-enabled solutions to ensure reliable records, it is forecast. Meanwhile, integrated scheduling tools will help reduce roster inconsistencies, minimise shift gaps and improve resource planning. Real-time dashboards will enable leaders to track attendance patterns, overtime usage, and absenteeism, transforming operational data into strategic insights."Interactive payslips, digital pay wallets, and earned wage access solutions will gain traction. Skills-based pay models are expected to grow steadily, particularly in technology, GICs, and other specialised service sectors," the report noted. India leads AI‑forward payroll market innovation globally: Report | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Indian origin wellness institute plans a million-participant meditation event, eyes Guinness record (2025-12-18T12:36:00+05:30)

(Source: IANS/Xinhua) Washington, December 18 (IANS) Around one million participants from across the world are planning to join a meditation session on December 21, organised by the Heartfulness Institute, an initiative that promotes peace and harmony through collective meditation, and is expected to set a new Guinness World Record. Speaking to IANS, James Joseph, Executive Vice President of HTC Global Services and a senior trainer for Heartfulness Meditation, said the event will coincide with World Meditation Day and feature a live, guided session. "On December 21, we are having a world meditation day, and there will be a live meditation at 9:30 a.m. in the US," Joseph said. "We are expecting about a million people from around the world to participate in this event." He said the collective effort is intended to create a shared moment of calm amid heightened global tensions. "The main purpose of this event is to bring up a level of peace and harmony in the entire world through 1 million people meditating," Joseph told IANS. The Heartfulness Institute, a global meditation movement with roots in India, is organising the programme. According to Joseph, the session will be guided by Daaji, the organisation's global guide, who is based in India. "This is being organised by the Heartfulness Institute, which is headed by Daji, who currently resides in India," he said. "He is the global guide for Heartfulness meditation, and he'll be the one who will be presiding over this meditation." Joseph described Daaji as the current leader of a meditative tradition that blends ancient practices with modern accessibility. "Daaji is currently the representative for what we call the heartfulness, tradition, or the … which is an ancient form of Raji yoga," he said, adding that "a modernised version is today known as Heartfulness." He noted that the movement today has a significant global footprint. Daaji, Joseph said, leads "this organisation of about 10 million meditators across the world who have either experience or who are practising meditation." The December 21 meditation is expected to see participation from across continents. "There are about 160 countries, people from 160 countries are going to enthusiastically participate in this meditation," Joseph said. Participation in the event is free and open to all, he said, adding that interested parties can register via a QR code provided by the organisers. "There are no fees involved. It is absolutely free," he noted. Reflecting on the broader significance of the initiative, Joseph underscored India's role in shaping global wellness traditions. "The greatest contribution that India has made is in the field of yoga and meditation," he said, calling the December 21 event "a great opportunity for us to contribute and be part of that movement." He said meditation offers a path toward collective transformation. "Meditation is the best way to transform minds, transform hearts to bring peace to humanity," Joseph told IANS, adding that participants would be joining "one million souls, one million hearts meditating together." World Meditation Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly and is observed annually on December 21, aligning with the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, a time traditionally associated with reflection and inner calm.Heartfulness is rooted in the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, a global spiritual organisation headquartered in India, and has expanded worldwide through meditation centres, trained practitioners and digital platforms, with its leadership and guiding philosophy continuing to be anchored in India. Indian origin wellness institute plans a million-participant meditation event, eyes Guinness record | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

‘Digital doppelgangers’ are helping scientists tackle everyday problems – and showing what makes us human (2025-12-17T11:23:00+05:30)

Alicia (Lucy) Cameron, CSIRO and Sarah Vivienne Bentley, CSIRO As rising seas lap at its shore, Tuvalu faces an existential threat. In an effort to preserve the tiny island nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, its government has been building a “digital twin” of the entire country. Digital twins are exactly what they sound like – a virtual double or replica of a physical, real-world entity. Scientists have been creating digital twins of everything from molecules, to infrastructure, and even entire planets. It’s also now possible to construct a digital twin of an individual person. In other words, a “digital doppelganger”. A doppelganger is someone who looks spookily like you but isn’t. The word originated in German, and literally means a “double walker”. A number of industries are now using digital doppelgangers for a range of reasons. These include enhancing athletic performance, offering more personalised healthcare and improving workplace safety. But although there are benefits to this technology, there are significant risks associated with its development. Having digital doppelgangers also forces us to reflect on which of our human attributes can’t be digitally replicated. Modelling complex systems The development of digital twins has been enabled by advances in environmental sensors, camera vision, augmented reality and virtual reality, as well as machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). A digital twin allows us to build and test things in cyberspace – cheaply and without risk – before deploying in the real world. For example, we can build and stress-test infrastructure such as bridges or water supply pipes under a variety of conditions. Once built, we can use digital models to maintain the infrastructure proactively and prevent disastrous and costly structural breakdowns. This technology is a game-changer for planning and engineering, not only saving billions of dollars, but also supporting sustainability efforts. Of course, replicating individual humans requires much more complex modelling than when building digital twins of bridges or buildings. For a start, humans don’t live in a structured world, but rather inhabit complex social and physical environments. We are variable, moody and motivated by any number of factors, from hunger to tiredness, love to anger. We can change our past patterns with conscious thought, as well as act spontaneously and with creativity, challenging the status quo if needed. Because of this, creating perfect digital twins of humans is incredibly challenging – if not impossible. Nevertheless, digital doppelgangers are still useful for a number of purposes. The digital patient Clinicians increasingly use scans to create virtual models of the human body, with which to plan operations or create artificial body parts. By adding extra biometric information (for example, blood chemistry, biomechanics and physiological responses), digital models can also mirror real-world bodies, live and in real time. Creating digital patients can optimise treatment responses in a move away from one-size-treats-all healthcare. This means drugs, dosages and rehabilitation plans can be personalised, as well as being thoroughly tested before being applied to real people. Digital patients can also increase the accessibility of medical expertise to people living in remote locations. And what’s more, using multiple digital humans means some clinical trials can now be performed virtually. Scaled up further, this technology allows for societal-level simulations with which to better manage public health events, such as air pollution, pandemics or tsunamis. The digital athlete Imagine being able to train against a digital replica of an upcoming opponent. Sports scientists are increasingly working with digital athletes to trial and optimise strength and conditioning regimes, as well as test competitive play. This helps to increase the chances of winning as well as prevent injuries. Researchers at Griffith University have been pioneers in this space, creating models of real athletes. They have also trialled wearable sensors in patches or smart clothing that can measure a range of biomarkers: blood pressure and chemistry, temperature, and sweat composition. CSIRO and the Australian Sports Commission have also used digital humans to improve the performance of divers, swimmers and rowers. The digital worker As well as building virtual replicas of sports people, scientists at CSIRO have also being building virtual simulations of employees in various workplaces, including offices and construction sites. This is helping them analyse movements, workflows and productivity – with the broader aim of preventing workplace injuries. For example, scientists can use a model of a digital worker to assess how heavy items are lifted in order to better understand how this puts strain on different parts of the body. With 6.1 million Australians impacted by musculoskeletal conditions, preventing workplace injuries can not only improve lives, but save the economy billions of dollars. Responsible development of digital doppelgangers Building a digital doppelgangers requires a lot of very personal data. This can include scans, voice and video recordings, or performance and health data. Personal data can also be harvested from an array of other sources. These include as cars, mobile phones, and internet-connected smart devices. The creation of data-hungry digital replicas is forcing us to redefine legal rights. Think copyright, deepfakes and identity theft or online scams. The power of this technology is inspiring. But ensuring a future in which we live happily alongside our digital doppelgangers will require governments, technology developers and end-users to think hard about issues of consent, ethical data management and the potential for misuse of this technology. Alicia (Lucy) Cameron, Principal Research Consultant & Team Leader, Data61, CSIRO and Sarah Vivienne Bentley, Research Scientist, Responsible Innovation, Data61, CSIRO This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

A month at sea with no technology taught me how to steal my life back from my phone (2025-12-16T13:40:00+05:30)

The time we invest in our digital lives is time we don’t get back. But, it’s not impossible to knock your digital-dependance - and the holidays are the best time to start. SHUTTERSTOCK Robert Hassan, The University of Melbourne A survey this year revealed that Australians, on average, spend 10.2 hours a day with interactive digital technologies. And this figure goes up every year. This is time we don’t get back. And our analogue lives, which include everything not digital, shrink in direct proportion. I recently decided to spend four weeks at sea without access to my phone or the internet, and here’s what I learnt about myself, and the digital rat race I was caught in. Cold turkey Until a year or so ago, I was a 10.2 hours a day person. Over the years, dependence on technology and stress had destroyed any semblance of balance in my life – between work and home, or pleasure and obligation. I wanted to quit, or cut down, at least. Tech “detox” apps such as the time-limiting Screen Time were useless. Even with these, I was still “on”, and just a click away from unblocking Instagram. So I thought: what about going cold turkey? No screen time at all, 24/7. Was that possible, and what would it feel like? My commute to work passed the Footscray docks, where container-ships come and go. Passing one day, I wondered if it was possible to go on one of those ships and travel from Melbourne to … somewhere? Turns out it was. You can book a cabin online and just go. And in what was probably an impulse, I went. For about four weeks I had no devices, as I sailed solo from West Melbourne to Singapore. I wanted to experiment, to see what it felt like to take a digital detox, and whether I could change my habits when I returned home. What I learnt Cold turkey withdrawal is difficult. Even in prison, many inmates have access of some kind of device. The time on that ship taught me there is a whole other side to life, the non-digital side, that gets pushed aside by the ubiquitous screen. Real life contains people, conversations, flesh and textures that are not glass or plastic. It also contains whole worlds that exist inside your head, and these can be summoned when we have the time, and devote a bit of effort to it. These are worlds of memory and imagination. Worlds of reflection and thought. Worlds you see differently to the pallid glare of a screen. I took four books with me and read them in a way I hadn’t before: slower, deeper and with more contemplation. The words were finite (and therefore precious). I’d never spent time like this in my whole life, and was inspired to write about it in detail. Of course, we all have our own commitments and can’t always do something like this. But away from the screen, I learned a lot about our digital world and about myself, and have tried to adapt these lessons to “normal” life. Since I’ve been back, it feels like some sense of balance has been restored. Part of this came from seeing the smartphone as a slightly alien thing (which it is). And instead of being something that always prompts me, I flipped the power dynamic around, to make it something I choose to use - and choose when to use. Meaning sometimes it’s OK to leave it at home, or switch it off. If you can persist with these little changes, you might find even when you have your phone in your pocket, you can go hours without thinking about it. Hours spent doing precious, finite, analogue things. How to get started You could begin by deleting most of your apps. You’ll be surprised by how many you won’t miss. Then, slowly flip the power dynamic between you and your device around. Put it in a drawer once a week - for a morning, then for a day - increasing this over time. If this sounds a bit like commercial digital detox self-care, then so be it. But this is minus the self-care gurus and websites. Forget those. No one (and no app) is really going to help you take back your agency. You need to do it yourself, or organise it with friends. Perhaps try seeing who can go the furthest. After a few weeks, you might reflect on how it feels: what’s the texture of the analogue world you got back? Because, more likely than not, you will get it back. For some, it might be a quieter and more subjective pre-digital world they half remember. For others, it might be something quite new, which maybe feels a bit like freedom. Robert Hassan, Professor, School of Culture and Communication, The University of Melbourne This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

UCO Bank holds MSME, retail and agriculture carnival in Nagaon (2025-12-11T10:54:00+05:30)

UCO Bank organised a Resource, MSME, Retail and Agriculture Carnival at Hotel Rishiraj in Nagaon as part of its nationwide outreach campaign on December 9. NAGAON, (MExN): UCO Bank on Monday organised a Resource, MSME, Retail and Agriculture Carnival at Hotel Rishiraj in Nagaon as part of its nationwide outreach campaign. Chinmay Kumar Sahu, Deputy General Manager from the bank’s Head Office in Kolkata, attended the programme as the chief guest. Branch managers from Nagaon and nearby areas, along with existing and prospective customers, participated in the event aimed at extending loan support to eligible individuals and businesses to promote entrepreneurship and local economic growth. Zonal Manager Narendra Pratap Singh inaugurated the programme with a welcome address, thanking the chief guest and customers for their participation. He said UCO Bank remained committed to serving customers across the Jorhat Zone and highlighted the importance of cyber-security awareness. Singh briefed attendees on the bank’s achievements and vision, stating that the bank is dedicated to the socio-economic development of Assam. Under the ongoing campaign for the 2025–26 financial year, the Jorhat Zone has sanctioned loans worth over Rs 485 crore to 7,150 beneficiaries, he added. Deputy Zonal Head Hassan Ejaz Hashmi outlined features of UCO Home Loan, UCO Car Loan, UCO Property Loan and UCO Education Loan. Amit Kumar, Head of the MSME Hub, highlighted new MSME financing schemes including UCO Unnati, UCO Vahan, UCO Yuva Shakti, UCO Nari Samman and UCO Abhinandan. He said strengthening the MSME sector was essential as it generates significant employment and contributes to the nation’s economic and social progress. Addressing the gathering, Deputy General Manager Chinmay Kumar Sahu apprised customers of the bank’s performance in 2025–26, noting deposits of over Rs 3.05 lakh crore, advances exceeding Rs 2.30 lakh crore and total business of more than ₹5.36 lakh crore. He said UCO Bank is conducting similar Resource, MSME, Retail and Agriculture Carnivals across the country and is offering a wide range of loan and deposit products at competitive rates. Sahu said customer growth remained central to the bank’s growth and several UCO Bank loan products were available at interest rates lower than many competitors. He added that the bank had a strong presence in the Northeast and that all major banking products were now accessible through both branch and digital channels. Customers may apply online for various loans, including home, car, personal, education and loans against term deposits, he said, adding that the bank’s mobile app enjoys strong user ratings.Among those present were Pranjal Bora, Senior Manager and Branch Manager of UCO Bank Nagaon Branch; Assistant Branch Manager Bidyut Bikash Gogoi; Advance-in-Charge Priyanka Gupta; LBO and Digital Nodal Officer Akansha Baruah; and other staff. Also present were Anand Kumar Gupta, Branch Manager of Lanka Branch; Soumar Jyoti Deori, Branch Manager of Haiborgaon Branch; and Simanta Savapondit, Assistant Branch Head. UCO Bank holds MSME, retail and agriculture carnival in Nagaon | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Expensive data and poor internet access: South Africa fails to measure up against Brazil (2025-12-10T12:21:00+05:30)

Ashraf Patel, University of South Africa Emerging middle-power countries like South Africa, India and Brazil face growing inequalities. At the same time, everyday lives are becoming more and more digital – from paying bills and reading news to contacting companies and services. Ways need to be found to include everyone in the online world, regardless of how much money they have. Ashraf Patel is an information and communications technology policy specialist who has been researching the G20 for several years. In his chapter from a new open access book, G20 in Brazil and South Africa: Priorities, Agendas and Voices of the Global South, he discusses how South Africa compares with Brazil on the digital economy. What are the key areas of the digital economy? The G20’s Digital Economy working group covers discussions around digital access, equality, artificial intelligence governance, safety, innovation and sustainability. It also looks at how the digital space can be regulated so it does not cause harm to society. In the last two or three years it has gained a lot of traction with nations that are trying to deal with inequalities in the digital economy. For example, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) is causing consternation in all sectors, especially around jobs and labour, ethics, and the massive amounts of energy it uses. These are huge themes that were discussed in the G20. How is South Africa measuring up on digital access compared with Brazil? South Africa has had 31 years of democracy and has generally had suboptimal outcomes. For instance South Africa has one of the highest data costs in Africa. There’s also a lack of broadband in public spaces. This is despite the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa and the Competition Commission promoting competition to keep prices affordable. Brazil is a developing country, but has far exceeded South Africa in meeting digital access. South Africa’s broadband rollouts for ordinary people, clinics, rural areas and schools are weak compared to many medium and lower income countries. This means that connectivity and digital inequality are two major barriers. When people don’t have access or affordability or digital literacy, they can’t use e-government services. A major part of the problem is that South Africa is trapped between jobless growth, de-industrialisation and inequality. Academic Dani Rodrik looked at inequality, unemployment, skills development and the unequal globe and came up with this trilemma. In South Africa, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) digital economy aspects are about automation, big data, AI and the Internet of Things. But very few nations, except those in the north and China, have mastered these four. For this reason, no more than 10 countries dominate production, patents, research and development, and are able to commercialise these. The rest of the planet are mainly consumers. If countries don’t have properly managed digital economy policies, systems and skills development in place, they won’t be able to participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This will cause disruptions in society and the labour market. In the area of digital economy development, Brazil does far better than South Africa, India, Kenya and other developing countries. This is mainly because it’s had a very progressive Labour government, the Partido dos Trabalhadores (Workers’ Party) that has governed Brazil for two periods totalling 15 years. From early on they invested in social development. They funded expansion of infrastructure and services and very strong education programmes. Brazil has led into the first generation of telecentres in the favelas (shack settlements). The telecentres are public facilities that offer access to computers, internet and digital training programmes for women, youth and low income communities. Brazil’s National Broadband Plan uses satellites to expand internet to rural areas. They also have world class science and technology institutions and very good regulatory systems. All of these come together under this social agenda and they have solid leadership. So I would argue that there is no comparison – Brazil far exceeds South Africa in all aspects of the digital economy. But fortunately, Brazil has made many knowledge resources available. It’s up to South African institutions, universities and government regulators to take that knowledge and implement it. That is how South Africa can make a dent in digital inequality. What progress was made under South Africa’s G20 presidency to boost the digital economy? The country’s presidency was caught up in global geopolitics and opposition from the Trump administration in the US. The G20’s specific working groups therefore faced great difficulties. For example, the Digital Economy working group could not agree on the final statements because the US delegation opposed any talk of equality, diversity, gender and climate. These are huge themes in the digital economy. But the final declaration from the leadership summit was generally watered down to accommodate US concerns. Nevertheless, the South African G20 presidency came up with some good statements on how AI and digital tools can support the growth of small and medium businesses. Africa is grappling with the rapid growth of fintech – digital tools, apps and platforms that make it easier to provide financial services such as payments, loans, savings, insurance and investments. In Nigeria and Kenya, new digital financial systems have expanded faster than regulations could keep up. The result has been chaotic state interventions. In contrast, the BRICS Digital Industrialisation initiatives set out an appropriate model for global south countries. (They set out ways for the global south countries to support each other by sharing skills and technologies rather just allowing unregulated market expansion.) Was the South African G20 presidency worthwhile? The G20 was an expensive exercise for South Africa. It cost well over a billion rand (US$58.3 million). And I argue that it hardly created impact on themes or dialogues related to social society and civil society. The absence of public engagement and mobilisation on issues like the debt crisis, cost-of-living pressures and AI exclusion and bias were the “sore thumbs” (most obvious weaknesses) of South Africa’s G20 year. In conclusion, South Africa’s G20 presidency was strong on symbolism and media coverage and marketing, but weak on concrete outcomes and agreements. Ashraf Patel, Senior Research Associate: Digital Economy, University of South Africa This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Prajakta Koli on digital creation: There’s no roadmap, it’s a rollercoaster (2025-12-10T11:03:00+05:30)

Photo : IANS/mostlysane/insta) Mumbai, December 9 (IANS) Actor-content creator Prajakta Koli feels the digital space is far from slowing down, instead, she says it has transformed into a wider, faster and more unpredictable universe than when she began almost a decade ago. Asked if content creators have a shelf life considering social media is more influencer-dominated than the content creation, Prajakta told IANS: “I don’t think so. And I also don’t agree that it has reduced. It has evolved. It’s very different. When we started 10–11 years ago, it was all about long-form content. Attention spans have reduced and mediums have increased.” She pointed out how attention spans have shrunk and platforms have multiplied, creating a different kind of demand. Citing the digital boom triggered in 2017, she noted that the ecosystem only expanded from there. “And thanks to the digital boom that happened in India in 2017, we’ve now reached a point where there is so much more work. So, we actually have more creators than we’ve ever had,” she said. “That’s also why India is the biggest digital economy in the world right now, and everybody is looking at us and wants to work with us.” Calling the creator journey unpredictable, she added that the industry doesn’t come with a blueprint “I don’t think there’s a shelf life because again, this is only my opinion. I don't think any of us really have a roadmap for this. It’s also very unpredictable. It’s a rollercoaster. Once you realise that videos are going on, you feel like your life is set. Then the fourth video is over. There’s no pattern, there’s no rhythm to this madness. It’s something you kind of wing on your own.” For her, adapting has been key.She added: “That’s why, for me, understanding when things are working, when things are not working, and then pivoting to newer things was very important in the past decade.” Prajakta Koli on digital creation: There’s no roadmap, it’s a rollercoaster | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

India can help tackle digital inequality, build an inclusive AI future for world: UNDP (2025-12-05T12:58:00+05:30)

IANS Photo New Delhi, (IANS): India is well-positioned to tackle digital inequality and shape an inclusive transition in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the world, said a new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report released on Tuesday. While AI is advancing at a historic pace, strong digital ecosystems in some countries and limited connectivity, skills, and infrastructure in others are widening gaps. The report, focussed on the Asia Pacific region, warned that without deliberate action, AI could widen gaps in income, opportunity, and governance, reversing years of progress in reducing global inequality. However, it showed that India’s digital public infrastructure, expanding AI research ecosystem, and large technology workforce provide a strong foundation to scale AI for public value. “India’s digital strengths give it a head start in building an AI future that works for everyone. AI is already strengthening public health, improving climate resilience, and supporting better services. The real test is ensuring these gains reach every community,” said Dr Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative, UNDP India. “The choices we make now will determine whether AI narrows gaps or widens them. India can lead by ensuring its benefits reach rural communities, women, and young people, not only those already connected,” she added. The report highlighted India as a country that can demonstrate how AI can be scaled safely and inclusively. India is already applying AI to strengthen major public systems. Aadhaar, the world’s largest biometric ID system with over 1.3 billion residents, is the biggest example. It has been increasingly paired with AI to reduce fraud, improve targeting, and ensure benefits reach the right households. The country's health sector is also seeing increasing AI adaptation, especially in chest X-ray interpretation in tuberculosis screening, and to tackle climate change, to predict floods and other weather conditions. AI is also being applied in India's agriculture sector to help authorities identify climate-vulnerable districts and guide climate-smart agriculture, as well as strengthen biodiversity with AI-enabled species identification and real-time alerts. AI’s long-term impact will depend on choices made now -- especially investments in digital governance, inclusion, and safeguards, the report said. It called "for India to continue leading on people-first AI, focusing on transparency, equitable access, and participation of marginalised communities in designing AI systems".“With the right policies, India can help steer the region away from a new era of inequality and toward an inclusive AI future that advances the Sustainable Development Goals,” it added. India can help tackle digital inequality, build an inclusive AI future for world: UNDP | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

‘Digital colonialism’: how AI companies are following the playbook of empire (2025-12-04T12:05:00+05:30)

Hanna Barakat & Archival Images of AI + AIxDESIGN, CC BY-SA Jessica Russ-Smith, Australian Catholic University and Michelle D. Lazarus, Monash University In the eyes of big AI companies such as OpenAI, the troves of data on the internet are highly valuable. They scrape photos, videos, books, blog posts, albums, painting, photographs and much more to train their products such as ChatGPT – usually without any compensation to or consent from the creators. In fact, OpenAI and Google are arguing that a part of American copyright law, known as the “fair use doctrine”, legitimises this data theft. Ironically, OpenAI has also accused other AI giants of data scraping “its” intellectual property. First Nations communities around the world are looking at these scenes with knowing familiarity. Long before the advent of AI, peoples, the land, and their knowledges were treated in a similar way – exploited by colonial powers for their own benefit. What’s happening with AI is a kind of “digital colonialism”, in which powerful (mostly Western) tech giants are using algorithms, data and digital technologies to exert power over others, and take data without consent. But resistance is possible – and the long history of First Nations resistance demonstrates how people might go about it. The fiction of terra nullius Terra nullius is a Latin term that translates to “no one’s land” or “land belonging to no one”. It was used by colonisers to “legally” – at least by the laws of the colonisers – lay claim to land. The legal fiction of terra nullius in Australia was overturned in the landmark 1992 Mabo case. This case recognised the land rights of the Meriam peoples, First Nations of the Murray Islands, as well as the ongoing connection to land of First Nations peoples in Australia. In doing so, it overturned terra nullius in a legal sense, leading to the Native Title Act 1993. But we can see traces of the idea of terra nullius in the way AI companies are scraping billions of people’s data from the internet. It is as though they believe the data belongs to no one – similar to how the British wrongly believed the continent of Australia belonged to no one. Digital colonialism dressed up as consent While data is scraped without our knowledge, a more insidious way digital colonialism materialises is in the coercive relinquishing of our data through bundled consent. Have you had to click “accept all” after a required phone update or to access your bank account? Congratulations! You have made a Hobson’s choice: in reality, the only option is to “agree”. What would happen if you didn’t tick “yes”, if you chose to reject this bundled consent? You might not be able to bank or use your phone. It’s possible your healthcare might also suffer. It might appear you have options. But if you don’t tick “yes to all”, you’re “choosing” social exclusion. This approach isn’t new. While terra nullius was a colonial strategy to claim resources and land, Hobson’s choices are implemented as a means of assimilation into dominant cultural norms. Don’t dress “professionally”? You won’t get the job, or you’ll lose the one you have. Resisting digital terra nullius So, is assimilation our only choice? No. In fact, generations of resistance teach us many ways to fight terra nullius and survive. Since colonial invasion, First Nations communities have resisted colonialism, asserting over centuries that it “always was and always will be Aboriginal land”. Resistance is needed at all levels of society – from the individual to local and global communities. First Nations communities’ survival proclamations and protests can provide valuable direction – as the Mabo case showed – for challenging and changing legal doctrines that are used to claim knowledge. Resistance is already happening, with waves of lawsuits alleging AI data scraping violates intellectual property laws. For example, in October, online platform Reddit sued AI start-up Perplexity for scraping copyrighted material to train its model. In September, AI company Anthropic also settled a class action lawsuit launched by authors who argued the company took pirated copies of books to train its chatbot – to the tune of US$1.5 billion. The rise of First Nations data sovereignty movements also offers a path forward. Here, data is owned and governed by local communities, with the agency to decide what, when and how data is used (and the right to refuse its use at any point) retained in these communities. A data sovereign future could include elements of “continuity of consent” where data is stored only on the devices of the individual or community, and companies would need to request access to data every time they want to use it. Community-governed changes to data consent processes and legalisation would allow communities – whether defined by culture, geography, jurisdiction, or shared interest – to collectively negotiate ongoing access to their data. In doing so, our data would no longer be considered a digital terra nullius, and AI companies would be forced to affirm – through action – that data belongs to the people. AI companies might seem all-powerful, like many colonial empires once did. But, as Pemulwuy and other First Nations warriors demonstrated, there are many ways to resist. Jessica Russ-Smith, Associate Professor, Social Work and Deputy Head of School, School of Allied Health, Australian Catholic University and Michelle D. Lazarus, Director, Centre of Human Anatomy Education, Monash University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Digital twin of APR1400 control systems created (2025-12-02T12:06:00+05:30)

The opening of the Innovative MMIS Centre (Image: KHNP) After four years of research, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power has completed the development of a digital twin of the Man-Machine Interface System for the control room and instrumentation & control system of the APR1400 reactor. It expects this to "greatly contribute to the reliability and safety of nuclear power generation". KHNP completed the construction of its Innovative MMIS Centre at the KHNP Central Research Institute in Daejeon, South Korea. It is equipped with Man-Machine Interface System (MMIS) digital twin virtualisation facilities. The company said this centre "is expected to contribute as an advance base for the MMIS digital twin simulator included in the Czech new nuclear power plant construction project, for which KHNP has been selected as the preferred bidder". The MMIS digital twin for the APR1400 is characterised by implementing the safety and non-safety system controllers of nuclear power plants identical to actual equipment through full virtualisation, which KHNP says is more advanced than existing object-based twins. "Using this newly developed technology, performing simulation of all processes from power plant construction to operation becomes possible," KHNP said. "In the power plant construction phase, design verification can be performed, and in the operation phase, it can be of a great help in performing root cause analysis when events such as failures occur. "For example, when utilising the MMIS digital twin, various scenarios possible in a power plant can be simulated to test various control systems, and problem-solving ability and maintenance efficiency can be improved through smart engineering functions, real-time monitoring of controllers, and data analysis functions." KHNP Research Institute Director Ho-cheol Shin said: "Our Korean MMIS digital twin for APR1400 will further enhance the safety of nuclear power plants, and it is expected to also further increase our export competitiveness." South Korea has four operational APR1400 units - Saeul units 1 and 2 (formerly Shin Kori 3 and 4) and Shin Hanul units 1 and 2. Two further APR1400s are under construction as Saeul units 3 and 4. Construction permits for APR1400 units at Shin Hanul units 3 and 4 were granted last month.Four APR1400 units have also been built at the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE, which are all now in commercial operation. Digital twin of APR1400 control systems created

Nagaland gets first end-to-end digital health model facility (2025-12-02T12:06:00+05:30)

Anoop Khinchi, Commissioner & Secretary, GoN; Dr Nyan Kikon, State Nodal Officer for ABDM Nagaland, and others during the media interaction at District Hospital, Dimapur on November 29. (Morung Photo) District Hospital, Dimapur has been selected as Nagaland’s first fully digital health model facility under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Nagaland and State Mission Director of ABDM, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Anoop Khinchi, inaugurated the End-to-End Model Facility and officially launched the Scan & Share feature at the District Hospital today. At the launch, Khinchi described the pilot initiative as a significant milestone in Nagaland’s efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery. He said the state was “not only embracing technology but also reaffirming its commitment to transparency, efficiency, and dignity in healthcare.” He noted that the End-to-End Model Facility would serve as a benchmark for integrating modern infrastructure, digital innovation, and compassionate care. The Scan & Share feature is a transformative tool that allows patients to seamlessly share their health records with doctors, enabling faster, safer, and more coordinated treatment. According to him, the system means “less waiting, less paperwork, and more time for what truly matters—care, healing, and hope.” Citing the core of this transformation, Khinchi highlighted the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA), which provides every citizen with a unique digital health ID for secure access to their health records anytime, anywhere. “ABHA is the key that unlocks a truly connected healthcare system for all,” he said, describing the launch as a commitment to trust, collaboration, and healthier communities. He added that after Dimapur’s launch, Tuensang will follow next, with subsequent rollouts planned across other districts on a daily basis. During a media interaction, Dr Nyan Kikon, State Nodal Officer for ABDM Nagaland, encouraged citizens to actively enroll for ABHA registration. He informed that Nagaland has already achieved nearly 50% saturation in ABHA generation out of 15.7 lakh Aadhaar holders. The ABHA Personal Health Record (PHR) application enables individuals to securely store and manage their health data. Dr Kikon said assistance counters would soon be set up across district hospitals to support the registration process. By comparing the system to popular digital payment platforms like Google Pay and Paytm, he said that multiple PHR applications are available for both Android and iOS, allowing users to choose whichever app they prefer for linking and accessing their records. He further outlined the core components of ABDM like the ABHA digital identity, the Healthcare Professional Registry, the Health Facility Registry, and the ABHA mobile app, which together support smooth and integrated management of personal health information. As the state’s pioneering digital model facility, Dimapur District Hospital will pilot complete digitisation of patient services, from health records linked to ABHA numbers to seamless data flow through the Unified Health Interface. The initiative ensures patient privacy, facilitates on-the-spot ABHA creation, integrates schemes like PM-JAY, and introduces QR-based systems for faster registration and payments. Highlighting the importance of the PHR app, Dr Kikon said that once an individual creates an ABHA ID, the app becomes essential for accessing linked digital health records, effectively placing their medical history directly in their hands. He assured that dedicated staff would be present at registration counters to guide those unfamiliar with the process.Patients can scan the hospital’s QR code using any ABDM-enabled application to share verified demographic details and receive a digital token, allowing them to wait comfortably until their number is displayed. They will need to approach the counter only for payment and to collect their OPD slip indicating the assigned specialist. Nagaland gets first end-to-end digital health model facility | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com