Ahmedabad Leads with AI-Linked Surveillance System, a First in India:
Ahmedabad has achieved a pioneering milestone as the first Indian city to deploy Artificial Intelligence for comprehensive monitoring through municipal corporations and police.
The city’s AI-enabled command and control centre in Paldi boasts a large screen overseeing 460 square kilometres, integrating live drone footage and camera feeds from traffic signals and buses to provide a six-camera view of the entire city. The AI system not only monitors traffic violations but also addresses various concerns, such as identifying suspicious activities or locating missing individuals.
This innovative solution, featuring real-time AI analysis, has proven effective in managing civic issues, from illegal parking to stray animal control, earning praise for enhancing safety and improving traffic management and cleanliness in Ahmedabad.
Siliguri Schools Introduce AI and Data Science in Bengali Medium Curriculum:
In a forward-thinking initiative, Netaji Boys’ High School and Tarai Tarapada Adarsha Vidyalaya, two state-aided Bengali medium schools in Siliguri, are set to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science as subjects for science students in Class XI starting the 2024-25 academic session.
Headmaster Rajib Ghosh of Netaji Boys’ High School stated that this decision aims to prepare students for future career opportunities, allowing them to excel in these fields through further studies. The curriculum, endorsed by the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) and Jadavpur University’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering, was introduced after teachers from both schools underwent specialised training.
Initially available to science students, there are plans to extend these subjects to students in other streams in the future. Both schools, equipped with computer science as a subject and dedicated computer labs, have met the requirements outlined by the Council for this innovative addition to their curriculum.
MIT Develops AI Model for Predicting COVID-19 Variant Waves:
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have unveiled an AI model capable of predicting SARS-CoV-2 variant-driven waves of infection, according to findings published in PNAS Nexus. Analysing 9 million SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequences from 30 countries, the team, led by Retsef Levi from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, used machine learning to create a risk assessment model.
The model purportedly identifies 72.8% of variants in each country likely to cause a minimum of 1000 cases per million people in the next three months. The accuracy increases to 80.1% after two weeks of observation. The researchers suggest the model could be extended to other respiratory viruses, such as influenza or avian flu.
Meeting Between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and House Speaker Mike Johnson at Capitol Hill:
According to Axios, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is scheduled to meet with Republican US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson at Capitol Hill on Thursday. The purpose of the meeting remains undisclosed, and both OpenAI and Johnson’s office have not provided comments at this time.
Altman’s recent announcement in late November revealed that Microsoft would assume a non-voting, observer position on OpenAI’s board. This development followed Altman’s temporary removal from his position on November 17, without a detailed explanation, causing concern among investors and employees. He was reinstated four days later, with a commitment to forming a new board.
The meeting at Capitol Hill comes against the backdrop of growing concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence, prompting discussions on regulatory frameworks and potential disruptions.
