All Things Policy

Is it possible for AI to be racist? When Google's AI chatbot 'Gemini' launched a new text-to-image feature on February 1st, it received a barrage of accusations on social media for possessing an inherent reluctance towards generating images of light-skinned, Caucasian people. These accusations came after instances where the Founding Fathers were shown to be Native American and East Asian men, while the Pope was represented by an Indian woman. The Senior Vice President of Google responded soon after that the bias was an unintended consequence of programming the chatbot to represent a variety of ethnicities. Should text-to-image models accurately reflect the existing prejudices in society based on training data? Or should they, as in the case of Gemini, artificially promote inclusion and diversity as per the prevailing value judgment at the time? Join Rohan Pai and Ashwin Reddy in this episode of All Things Policy as they tackle these difficult, controversial questions. A new course on Unpacking Urban Governance on OpenTakshashila is now accepting applications. Click here for more information.

In this episode of All Things Policy, Kripa Koshy and Saurabh Todi discuss the recent controversy around the high sugar content in Nestle baby food in certain countries. They discuss the need for informed regulation and better compliance in India. A new course on Unpacking Urban Governance on OpenTakshashila is now accepting applications. Click here for more information.

In this episode, Ashwin Prasad quizzes Saurabh Todi on the recent Trilateral Technology Dialogue in Seoul. With a focus on strengthening supply chain resilience and fostering trade partnerships, Saurabh provides insights into the significance of this event. Join them as they unravel the discussions, explore key outcomes, and analyze the implications for technology geopolitics.

Pranav Gupta discusses India's new law to prevent cheating in public exams, addressing issues like leaks and state capacity shortfall. They explore systemic changes, transparency in exams, and the shift towards merit-based recruitment.

Two weeks after a suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian diplomatic mission in Syria, Tehran launched a massive drone and missile attack on Israel last Saturday. What does this mean for an already explosive situation in West Asia? Will the exchange of fire between the two countries lead to a larger regional conflagration? Sachin Kalbag and Yusuf Unjhawala discuss in the latest episode of All Things Policy. Check out Takshashila's public policy courses at https://school.takshashila.org.in/

In early April, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha travelled to China for his first foreign visit since taking office. While no major deals or breakthroughs were reported, this signalled a new proximity between the two countries. In this episode, Manoj Kewalramani talks to author and journalist Amish Raj Mulmi about the recent developments in China-Nepal ties. Check out Takshashila's public policy courses at https://school.takshashila.org.in/

Join Dr Nithyanandam, a Professor from Takshashila Institution and Mr Varun Sridharan, Co-founder and CEO of Greenvironment Innovation & Marketing India (P) Ltd, in a captivating podcast episode where they delve into the critical need for wastewater management in the Indian context. Amid the water scarcity crisis affecting southern cities, they explore sustainable solutions and technological advancements for treating water at household levels. The discussion also covers the economic aspects, policy interventions required for system improvements, and practical tips for effective wastewater management. Discover how cities like Chennai have tackled their water needs and the lessons Bangalore can learn to enhance its water sustainability. Tune in to this episode to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in wastewater management. Visit https://school.takshashila.org.in/ for more.

In this episode, 'Willingness to make a Will,' Sowmya Prabhakar is in conversation with Niranjan Vemulkar & Nikhil Varghese to navigate through the why, what, how, and when of having a will in place. We draw insights from the Succession Act, data on unclaimed assets such as Demat accounts & the nomination process. It's important to understand the opportunity cost and the information asymmetry that exists in this landscape of emotions and the need to have a will. Tech solutions hold promise in paving the way for the will.

Neha Mishra, Executive Officer at the Confederation of Indian Industry and a Takshashila NASC Fellow, dives into China's critical role in global minerals supply chains. She examines China's strategic dominance in rare earth elements and the geopolitical implications of this reliance. The discussion highlights international efforts to diversify supply chains and the evolution of critical minerals in response to changing energy policies. Neha also explores China's investments and the shift towards stronger business-to-business relationships with Western nations.

In this episode of All Things Policy hosted by Amit Kumar, Dr Michael Pettis, Professor of Finance at Peking University and Senior Fellow at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP), answers several critical questions about China's economy. Dr. Pettis weighs on what China's domestic consumption situation looks like; the underlying contradiction between domestic consumption and export policy, and the feasibility of new drivers of the economy and new productive forces.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.