🐉 🇨🇳 China responds to Modi's border comments | 📱 🤖 Meta's AI comes to WhatsApp
China's response to PM Modi's Newsweek interview was cautiously optimistic. Meanwhile, Meta is rolling out an AI update for WhatsApp.
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Market Watch
Indian benchmark indices ended the day in the red, with the Sensex down 793.25 points at 74,244.90, and the Nifty down 234.40 points at 22,519.40.
All sectoral indices closed in the red.
China reacts to PM Modi's remarks on ‘prolonged’ border dispute
China's response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Newsweek interview was cautiously optimistic, emphasizing the importance of "sound and stable ties" between both nations.
Here’s what they said: Deputy Director of the Information Dept of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, highlighted that while the boundary issue is a part of the broader India-China relationship, it should be managed appropriately and not overshadow the entirety of bilateral ties.
Mao reiterated the significance of adopting a strategic and long-term perspective in bilateral relations, urging India to foster trust, dialogue, and cooperation to address differences effectively.
For context, here’s what Modi said: “For India, the relationship with China is important and significant. It is my belief that we need to urgently address the prolonged situation on our borders so that the abnormality in our bilateral interactions can be put behind us.”
“Stable and peaceful relations between India and China are important for not just our two countries but the entire region and world. I hope and believe that through positive and constructive bilateral engagement at the diplomatic and military levels, we will be able to restore and sustain peace and tranquility in our borders.”
Yes, but: India maintains its stance that normalcy in relations cannot be restored until the border issues are resolved. Despite India's position, China's state-run media has interpreted PM Modi's remarks as a gesture of goodwill, fostering optimism for the resolution of border disputes and the advancement of bilateral relations.
Of note: Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had delivered a firm response to China's decision to rename several areas in Arunachal Pradesh.
Recently, EAM Jaishankar also emphasized that securing India's borders remains his primary duty, with no room for compromise in this regard.
Clip du jour
Here’s the Global Times - the Chinese government’s mouthpiece - showing its nervousness over Tesla’s possible entry into India:
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WhatsApp is testing Meta AI chatbot in India, here’s what it means for users
WhatsApp's testing of the Meta AI chatbot in India marks a significant step towards integrating advanced AI features into the messaging platform
The Meta AI chatbot, launched in September 2023, allows users to interact with an AI-powered assistant, ask questions, and receive responses via Bing Search.
For the Indian market, WhatsApp has placed the Meta AI chatbot near the bottom of the screen right next to the new message icon, while in other countries it is integrated into the search bar.
From the initial assessment, it uses the AI Bing for its searches but can give real-time responses.
Meta AI also offers capabilities to generate photorealistic images from text prompts, expanding its utility beyond text interactions, and is set to release Llama 3, an updated version of its language model, within the next month, as confirmed by TechCrunch.
The intrigue: Perplexity's founder pointed out how the design is basically a rip-off of Perplexity’s UI:
The big picture: WhatsApp guarantees that user privacy is maintained, with input remaining private unless explicitly shared with the chatbot, and conversation suggestions are not influenced by individual searches within the app.
ICYMI
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