Hero MotoCorp, which already holds a 33.1% stake in Ather Energy, would invest up to INR 550 Cr in the EV startup’s rights issue Ather’s revenue stood at INR 1,806 Cr in FY23, a massive jump from INR 408.5 Cr in FY22 The funding round comes almost 11 months after Ather raised $50 Mn from Caladium Investment Bengaluru-based EV startup Ather Energy is raising INR 550 Cr from existing investor Hero MotoCorp.  Hero MotoCorp, in an exchange filing, said it would invest up to INR 550 Cr in Ather via its rights issue by subscribing to the EV startup’s Series E2 compulsory convertible preference shares. Hero Motorcorp first invested in the EV startup in 2016 and currently holds a 33.1% stake in it. Its shareholding will further increase following the rights issue, which is expected to close by September 30. The funding round comes almost 11 months after Ather raised $50 Mn from Caladium Investment. Prior to that, it raised $128 Mn from NIIFL and Hero MotoCorp in May last year as part of its Series E round.  Overall, the startup has raised a total funding of over $400 Mn till date. Founded in 2013 by Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain, Ather is a major player in the Indian two-wheeler EV market. It currently offers two escooters – Ather 450X and Ather 450S. Ather also claims to have the largest fast-charging network in the country. It has over 1,400+ charging points in over 99 cities, including Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jaipur. Registrations of Ather’s escooters stood at 6,780 units in August, a marginal rise of 1.6% from 6,671 units in July. Its rival Ola Electric’s registrations declined 10.4% month-on-month to 17,331 units in August but it continued to lead the two-wheeler EV space. Besides Ola Electric, Ather competes with Ampere, Okinawa, Revolt, TVS, among others. Ather’s revenue stood at INR 1,806 Cr in FY23, a massive jump from INR 408.5 Cr in FY22, as per Hero MotoCorp’s filing. While the filing didn’t mention profit/loss numbers for FY23, Ather’s net loss rose 47% to INR 344 Cr in FY22.

Wearable brand Boult has expanded its portfolio in the country with the launch of two new products. The home-grown brand has launched the new Sterling Pro luxury smartwatch and the Astra Bluetooth-based wireless earbud for gaming. The company claims that both products blend “cutting-edge technology and exquisite design”. The SterlingPro smartwatch and the Astra earbuds promise to meet the diverse needs of modern consumers.These new wearables also claim to offer improved features, aesthetics and performance.Boult Astra earbuds, Sterling Pro smartwatch: Price and availabilityThe Boult Sterling Pro smartwatch and Astra TWS earbuds are priced at Rs 2,499 and Rs 1,399, respectively. Both products will be available on the official Boult website (www.boultaudio.com) and through the company’s authorised retail partners. The earbuds will be available in three different colour options — Black Gloss, White Opal and Smoky Metal. Meanwhile, the watch has a stainless steel body and is available in two colours black and silver. Boult Astra earbuds: Key specsThe Boult Astra TWS earbuds are designed for gaming and claim to offer a playback time of 48 hours. These earbuds also feature the Blink & Pair technology for improved connectivity. Boult Astra low latency earbuds also support quick charging. A 10-minute charge promises to deliver 100 hours of playtime while a full charge provides 120 hours of standby time. The earbuds also have breathing LED lights that indicate battery status. For connectivity, Astra supports Bluetooth 5.3 and boasts an ultra-low latency of 40ms. These earbuds also support the BoomX technology that enhances the audio experience and includes Zen Quad Mic ENC setup for better voice clarity. The TWS earbuds also have an IPX5 water-resistant rating that is apt for workouts and outdoor activities.Boult Sterling Pro smartwatch: Key specsBoult Sterling Pro Smartwatch sports a 1.43-inch AMOLED HD display that supports 466×466 pixels resolution and 800 nits of peak brightness. The company claims that the Zinc Alloy Ring and Lightweight Polycarbonate Frame improve its visual appeal while reinforcing its durability to endure extreme conditions. The watch also supports Bluetooth 5.3 and Bluetooth Calling through a dedicated speaker and microphone. This smartwatch also offers multiple health monitoring features. From heart rate monitoring and SpO2 blood oxygen tracking to blood pressure monitoring and sleep analysis. It even includes other features like female menstrual cycle tracking, drink water reminders, and sedentary reminders to help maintain a balanced lifestyle. Boult Sterling Pro also supports over 100 sports modes and comes with an IP68 water-resistant rating. The smartwatch also comes with 250+ cloud-based watch faces.

Branchless banking and digital network, PayNearby has announced its partnership with the Grameen Foundation for Social Impact (GFSI) to upskill 150,000 business correspondents (BCs) across India. The collaboration aims to provide digital and financial services to the underserved and tech-shy last-mile population. This will strengthen rural BC counters with long-term viable business solutions and make them sustainable change agents at the grassroots level.The partnership will also work towards providing employment opportunities to the women and youth of India.New project to upskill rural employeesAs part of this collaboration, PayNearby and GFSI will launch a pan-India scale-up project titled ‘Scaling Agent Viability and Quality in India’ supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). The initiative will be completed over the span of the next two years. It marks a step towards amplifying the impact of BCs in enhancing financial accessibility across the country, by expanding their financial product offerings beyond traditional cash-in and cash-out services. The expanded product suite will increase customer retention and empower these correspondents to generate supplementary income streams.This collaboration between PayNearby and GFSI is not only a step in expanding financial accessibility but also an initiative for empowering women within the financial sector. This initiative places an emphasis on skill enhancement among BCs and also gender sensitivity. By offering the necessary skills, knowledge and support, this initiative will offer opportunities for both rural BC counters and women’s professional growth and financial empowerment. The goal is to enlist 15,000 female BC agents, thereby promoting gender inclusivity within this sector. Under this initiative, GFSI will leverage PayNearby’s Distribution-as-a-Service network to streamline operations and enable BCs to offer a diverse range of tailored digital and financial solutions across domains such as commerce, education, entertainment, credit management, insurance and more. In addition to the capacity building, PayNearby will also invest in awareness and upskilling of this network to enable multiple digital and financial services through local counters. BCs will be made aware of the financial advantage of a diversified product portfolio, and how more loyalty and value per customer can be derived through that.

Earlier this year, Samsung launched Galaxy A54 5G in India. At the time of launch, the handset was available in four colour options – Awesome Graphite, Awesome Lime, Awesome Violet, and Awesome White. However, colour options vary depending upon the region. For instance, the Awesome White colour option was missing from the lineup. It looks like Samsung is soon planning to introduce the colour option in India. The company has now started teasing a new colour variant – Awesome White – for Galaxy A54 5G via its official X handle. The post also includes a caption that reads, “Stand out in the crowd, step into the world of bold. Make way for Awesome White. Revealing Soon.”Here’s the complete post:“Stand out in the crowd, step into the world of bold. Make way for awesome white. Revealing soon.#AwesomeIsForEveryone #GalaxyA54 5G #AwesomeGalaxyA #Samsung”Galaxy A54 5G Awesome White colour release dateSamsung has just teased the new colour option for Galaxy A54 5G. It, however, hasn’t revealed the exact launch date as of now. However, the colour option has now been mentioned on the Samsung India website for Galaxy A54’s 8GB + 256GB variant. But, the 8GB + 128GB variant does not have this new colour option mentioned. This also indicates that Samsung may launch the Galaxy A54’s Awesome White colour option only for the 256GB variant.Galaxy A54 5G: SpecificationSamsung Galaxy A54 5G comes with a 6.4-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 units of peak brightness. The handset is powered by an octa-core chipset paired with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB onboard storage.The handset is backed by a 5000mAh battery with 25W fast charging support and it runs Android 13 operating system along with One UI 5.1 custom user interface.The 5G-enabled smartphone is equipped with a triple rear camera setup of 50MP primary shooter with f/1.8 aperture, a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens with f/2.2 aperture and a 5MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture. At the front, the phone features a 32MP sensor.

Ethical leadership serves as the bedrock upon which reputable and thriving organizations are built. CEOs play an indispensable role in shaping an organization’s ethical compass, guiding decision-making processes, and ensuring the entire company operates with unwavering integrity. In this article, we’ll talk about ten strategies and principles that CEOs can employ to uphold ethical leadership standards and cultivate a pervasive culture of ethics within their organizations. 1. Establish and Articulate Ethical Values CEOs are entrusted with the vital task of defining and effectively communicating the organization’s ethical values. These core principles serve as guiding lights that influence the behavior and decision-making processes at all levels of the company. By clearly outlining these values, CEOs create a moral framework that serves as a reference point for the entire workforce. 2. Lead by Unwavering Example The ethical fabric of an organization is closely intertwined with the actions and decisions of its CEO. A potent ethical leader not only articulates values but also lives them out in their own conduct. Through consistent ethical behavior, CEOs send an unequivocal message that ethics are not negotiable and are essential for everyone within the organization. 3. Facilitate Transparent and Open Communication CEOs must actively foster a culture of transparent communication around ethical matters. By openly discussing company policies, ethical dilemmas, and pivotal decisions, CEOs encourage an environment of accountability and trust. This approach empowers employees to openly address concerns and seek guidance on ethical quandaries without fear of reprisal. 4. Infuse Ethics into the Strategic Blueprint Ethics should be seamlessly woven into the fabric of the company’s strategic planning. CEOs play a pivotal role in ensuring that ethical considerations are thoroughly integrated into all organizational decisions, initiatives, and operational processes. This alignment ensures that ethical standards are consistently upheld across all aspects of the organization. photo credit: Kindel Media / Pexels 5. Holistic Ethics Training An essential aspect of ethical leadership is the provision of comprehensive ethics training to employees at all levels. This training not only imparts knowledge about ethical principles but also equips staff with the skills to navigate complex ethical dilemmas. CEOs should collaborate with HR departments to develop engaging and relevant training programs that resonate with the workforce. 6. Encourage Reporting and Champion Whistleblowing CEOs must actively establish channels through which employees can report unethical behavior and protect those who blow the whistle on misconduct. By actively encouraging the reporting of unethical conduct, CEOs ensure that any violations are swiftly addressed, fostering a safe environment for ethical concerns to be voiced. 7. Institute an Ethical Oversight Committee CEOs can establish an ethics committee that serves as a dedicated body for overseeing ethical matters within the organization. This committee can offer expert guidance, periodically review and update ethical policies, and address complex ethical issues that require comprehensive deliberation. 8. Conduct Regular Ethical Audits CEOs should prioritize the regular conduct of thorough ethical audits to evaluate the organization’s adherence to established ethical standards. These audits help pinpoint potential areas of concern and ensure that any deviations are swiftly identified and rectified. 9. Uphold Accountability for Ethical Lapses Demonstrating a commitment to ethics necessitates holding individuals accountable for lapses in ethical behavior. CEOs play a crucial role in showcasing that ethical breaches have consequences, thereby reinforcing the organization’s dedication to upholding its values. photo credit: Edmond Dantès / Pexels 10. Engage Stakeholders in Ethical Discourse CEOs should proactively engage a diverse range of stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors, and the broader community, in meaningful discussions about ethical practices. This inclusive approach communicates the organization’s commitment to operating with integrity and fosters a shared sense of responsibility. 11. Promote Ethical Innovation CEOs should encourage and champion ethical innovation within their organizations. This involves fostering an environment where employees are empowered to seek innovative solutions that align with ethical values. By acknowledging and rewarding ethical creativity, CEOs inspire a culture of continuous improvement that integrates ethics into the very fabric of the organization’s products, services, and processes. 12. Ethics in Supplier Relationships Ethical leadership extends beyond the boundaries of the organization itself. CEOs should ensure that their commitment to ethics extends to supplier relationships as well. By selecting suppliers who uphold similar ethical standards and engaging in fair and transparent dealings, CEOs demonstrate a commitment to ethical practices that transcend the organization’s internal operations. 13. Ethical Crisis Management Ethical dilemmas and crises are inevitable in any organization. CEOs must be prepared to navigate these challenges with integrity and transparency. Developing a well-defined ethical crisis management framework enables CEOs to respond promptly and decisively to ethical breaches, safeguarding the organization’s reputation and trustworthiness. 14. Long-Term Ethical Sustainability CEOs should focus on ensuring the long-term sustainability of ethical practices. Rather than viewing ethics as a short-term initiative, they should embed ethical considerations into the organization’s long-term vision. By aligning ethical goals with strategic planning, CEOs foster a culture of enduring ethical commitment that can weather changes in leadership and external dynamics. Conclusion Ethical leadership stands as the cornerstone of organizations that strive to be both reputable and sustainable. CEOs, as ethical stewards, hold the power to mold their organizations into bastions of integrity. Through the establishment of ethical values, exemplifying these values through personal conduct, and seamlessly integrating ethics into strategy, CEOs forge a culture of ethics that permeates the entire organization. In the intricate tapestry of leadership, ethical principles are the threads that weave success, trust, and sustainability.

The founder of Curefoods predicts a fundamental shift in the industry’s future, one that will shape the next million customers This shift revolves around the emergence of a new category of consumers – those seeking daily convenience This transformation holds the opportunity for a significant increase in the frequency of food orders on online platforms In the ever-evolving landscape of online delivery services, one can trace the journey of early movers and the shifting preferences of consumers over the years. Ankit Nagori, the founder of Curefoods, predicts a fundamental shift in the industry’s future, one that will shape the next million customers. This shift revolves around the emergence of a new category of consumers – those seeking daily convenience. These individuals will turn to online food delivery and not just for special occasions, according to Nagori. “I am slowly seeing a change in the industry which indicates that the next million customers will come from that segment where people are seeking convenience, people who are ordering it daily because they don’t want to cook,” Nagori said while speaking at The D2C Summit 2023 organised by Inc42. While this transformation holds the opportunity of a significant increase in the frequency of food orders on online platforms, the industry must focus on improving the quality of food, packaging, delivery, and overall user experience to cater to this evolving customer base, he added. Moreover, foodtech giants such as Zomato and Swiggy are also talking about making food ordering a daily habit, Nagori said, adding that brands such as Curefood’s Eatfit are expected to play an important role in this transition. The online food delivery revolution began with deal seekers – individuals who embraced the discounted meals delivered to their doorstep. Then, in the last five years, the online food delivery industry witnessed a significant shift towards entertainment. Consumers increasingly turned to these platforms for a variety of reasons, from enjoying a movie night to seeing gatherings at home, Nagori said. This change was more catalysed by the pandemic. Founded in 2020 by Ankit Nagori, Curefoods claims to run more than seven food factories and 150+ multi-brand cloud kitchens to service 200+ locations in 15 cities. Besides Eatfit, the startup houses brands such as CakeZone, Nomad Pizza, Frozen Bottle, and Sharief Bhai, among others. Earlier this year, Curefoods raised INR 300 Cr (around $37 Mn) in a funding round led by Binny Bansal’s fund Three State Ventures, which invested INR 240 Cr.

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Butterick disagrees. “A lawsuit can stop them,” he says. “If we prevail.” One thing everyone WIRED spoke with could agree upon? All this increased scrutiny on data sets has made AI’s big players shy away from transparency. Meta is the prime example. It openly shared the data sets used to train the first version of its ChatGPT competitor Llama, including Books3. Now, it’s tight-lipped about what is used for newer versions. “It behooves these companies to be opaque about their sources,” McCarthy says. Knowing they’re likely to face lawsuits if they fess up to using copyrighted material in their data training sets is a powerful deterrent. This, in turn, will make it harder for writers to know when their copyright is potentially infringed. Right now, it’s up to AI companies whether or not to disclose where their training sets come from. Without that information, it’s next to impossible for people to prove that their data was used, let alone ask for it to be removed. While the European Parliament has passed a draft law of AI regulations that would require increased data transparency, those regulations are not yet in effect, and other regions lag far behind. This fight cuts to the heart of the often vicious disagreements about what role AI should have in our world. Copyright law exists to balance the rights granted to creators with the collective right to access information, at least in theory. The battle over Books3 is about what this balance should look like in the age of AI. Presser believes that if OpenAI has access to this kind of data set, the public deserves access to them too. From this perspective, attempts to crack down on Books3 may end up calcifying the industry, preventing smaller companies and researchers from entering without doing much to stop the current big players. Copyright law exists to balance the rights granted to creators with the collective right to access information, at least in theory. The battle over Books3 is about what this balance should look like in the age of AI. Pam Samuelson, a copyright lawyer who co-directs the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology, concurs that a crackdown might benefit big corporations that have already been using the data sets. “You can’t do it retroactively,” she says. She also thinks regulations may change the landscape of where big players congregate. Countries like Israel and Japan have already adopted lax stances on AI training materials, so tighter rules in the EU or US may promote what she calls “innovation arbitrage,” where AI entrepreneurs flock to the nations friendlier to their ideas. The heart of this fight boils down to whether we accept that generative AI training on copyrighted material is an inevitability. This is the stance Stephen King recently took after finding out that his work is in Books3. “Would I forbid the teaching (if that is the word) of my stories to computers? Not even if I could. I might as well be King Canute, forbidding the tide to come in. Or a Luddite trying to stop industrial progress by hammering a steam loom to pieces,” he wrote. Idealists who want to wrest back control for creators, like Butterick and Hedrup, aren’t yet willing to give up the fight. There’s a movement to make generative AI training shift into an opt-in model, where only work that is in the public domain or freely given goes into the data sets. “It doesn’t have to just be about scraping data sets off the web without permission,” emerging technology researcher Eryk Salvaggio says. If AI companies are pushed to scrap the work they’ve made on copyrighted materials and begin anew, it would certainly upend the current playing field. (Less certain? Whether it’s remotely possible.) In the meantime, there are already stopgap efforts to persuade generative AI groups to respect the wishes of people who wish to keep their work out of data sets. Spawning, a startup devoted to this type of tool, has a search engine called “Have I Been Trained?” that currently allows people to check if their visual work has been used in AI training data sets; it is planning to add support for video, audio, and text next year. It also offers an API that helps companies honor opt-outs. So far, StabilityAI is one of the major players to adopt it, although Spawning CEO Jordan Meyer is optimistic that companies like OpenAI and Meta might one day get on board. And Meyer recently made contact with another potential collaborator: Shawn Presser. After everything, Presser does want to help creative types feel they have some control over where their work ends up. “I think it’s totally reasonable for people to be able to say, ‘Hey, don’t use my stuff,’” he says. “That’s like a basic sort of tenet of the internet.”

Xiaomi Uniblade Trimmer is here. Xiaomi has added a new product to its lifestyle category with the launch of Xiaomi Uniblade Trimmer. This new trimmer from Xiaomi comes with a rotary dial which enables the users to trim, shave and style their hair. The company claims that the new grooming tool is easy to use and it also comes with an electric shaver.Price and availabilityThe Xiaomi Uniblade Trimmer comes with a price tag of Rs 1,499 and will be available online on mi.com, Flipkart and Amazon. The device will also be available offline on the Mi Home stores. The company is also offering a one-year warranty with the trimmer.Xiaomi Uniblade Trimmer featuresAs mentioned above, the trimmer features a rotary dial and an adjustable trimming comb. The new shaving tool sports a cutting-edge three-way blade that ensures a smooth shave. It also comes with a dual-edge blade that tackles longer hair, while the central foil eliminates any remaining stubble. This three-way blade manages varying lengths and thickness, even handling bent or flat-lying hair delivering an effortless shaving experience and leaving the skin smooth.The blades of the Xiaomi Uniblade Trimmer are made of high-carbon steel, ensuring its durability and sharpness. The trimmer comes with a flexible head that can pivot at a 40° angle, adapting to the different facial contours, ensuring a close shave without causing any irritation or discomfort. The grooming tool comes with an IPX7 rating which makes it water-resistant. The device comes with a USB Type-C charging port and it promises to deliver 90 minutes of battery backup on a single charge.

Apple is set to launch the latest iPhone in India in mid-September, cutting the delay short by several days Given the fact that Foxconn has already started manufacturing the iPhone 15, the delay, if any, will be only a few days 35% of all electronics exports and 66% of total mobile exports in the first quarter of FY24 were iPhones during the June quarter of FY24 Apple is contemplating unveiling the iPhone 15 around the same time (September 12th) in India as its global launch, reducing the lag significantly. According to sources cited by the ET, Apple is set to launch the latest iPhone in India in mid-September, cutting the delay short by several days. The Cupertino-based tech giant also launched the iPhone 14 in India at the same time as the world, though the Pro models were introduced to India almost three weeks later. With India emerging as a key manufacturing hub for iPhones, Apple might launch its latest model in the country simultaneously with the rest of the world. Media reports from last month also suggested that Foxconn has already started manufacturing the iPhone 15 in its Chennai plant. Foxconn had also begun producing the iPhone 14 within ten days of the global launch, though it took a month for made-in-India iPhones to reach the local market.  This year, since Foxconn has already started manufacturing the iPhone 15, the delay, if any, will be only a few days, per the people cited above. Apple’s PLI-Boosted Manufacturing In India The manufacturing boost in India comes as the country already accounts for 7% of Apple’s global production, up from less than 1% before 2021 and the start of the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for smartphones. Even though it is a carrot-and-stick situation, Apple has become the largest smartphone exporter in India. In 2022-23, Apple manufactured over $7.5 Bn of iPhones in India, of which around $5 Bn were exported, making Apple the country’s single largest mobile phone exporter. Apple’s bullishness also pushed India’s mobile phone exports to over $11.1 Bn, a 91% increase over the last financial year. Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron, three of Apple’s contract manufacturers active in India, have also committed exports of INR 61,000 Cr in FY24 for the third year of the PLI scheme for smartphones. The companies are also well on their way to achieving the milestone –  the June quarter of FY24 saw iPhone exports cross INR 20,000 Cr, nearly five times higher on-year. The iPhone has become the single largest contributor to electronics exports from India; 35% of all electronics exports and 66% of total mobile exports in the first quarter of FY24 were iPhones.