Visit to Bangalore Tech Summit 2023.

 Tech Summit Day 2 visit by George Easaw, Alliance University

The first session I attended was in the JC Bose Hall on the topic - Tech interventions for a sustainable future, which was moderated by Guruprakash Sastry, Head of Climate Action at Infosys. Santosh Subramaniam, CIO from Veolia and Prof Claudio Tusson gave interesting talks on the impact of technology on Climate change.. The session was  interesting.

The second session that I attended was in the CV Raman Hall on the Future of Quantum Computing moderated by Doraiswamy from Veolia. , the panelists were Krishna Palem from Accelequant, Dinakaran from IBM Research and Prof. Anil Prabhakar from IIT Madras. The session was quite informative and gave an idea of the future of quantum computing which would not be possible in the near future and would take at least 30 - 50 years.

The third session was on the rapid evolution of Generative AI. The moderator was Ranjan Mani from Atlassian, the panelists were Ulhas Nambiar from Accenture, Amogha from Mudskipper and Ganesh from Gnani. The deliberations were very informative and involved a lot of discussions.

The next two sessions we were at the Ramachandran hall where the talks were based in biotech and keeping epidemics at bay. And on riding the agritech wave. The moderator was Patil, CEO of Krishikalpa and the panelsist were Sunil Jain from Agrostar, Basavaraj from Criyagen and Ravi Sajjan from Hunnugdna.. The deliberations were on the impact of technology in the green field environment and the deliberations were quite helpful and informative.

The talks were of very good quality. The speakers were eminent personalities from different fields of science, technology and industry.  As  all the sessions were parallelly running in 4 to 5 different halls, it was difficult to attend all the sessions, however we selected the interesting ones and attended them.

George

Hacking natural photosynthesis ..

An interesting TED talk on how *digital twin mediated gene therapy* can help hack the only 20% efficient natural plant photosynthesis process to produce more carbos and proteins, to cost effectively satiate the increasing energy and protein needs of our growing global population in the coming decades using the example of white cow pea in central Africa .. 👍👍🙏(red cow pea is വൻപയർ)

Thanks to the Jewish  scientist Paul Berg who in 1962 opened up the field of *Genetic Engineering* to the whole world for the first time .. 🙏🙏

https://youtu.be/s_gjrvhPKt0?si=KDBj_bOQFvPkfAa1

Why Jews are unbeatable ?

Top 10 ways how Jews impacted the world (and why the world recognises them for their brilliance and contribution to the growth of the human race .. )

1. Google- Sergei Brin, Larry Page (1998) - both Jews

2. Capitalism- David Ricardo (with Adam Smith) (1815)

3. Atomic bomb - Robert Oppenheimer (1945)

4. Polio vaccine - Karl Landsteiner (1908), Jonas Salk (1955) (both Jews)

5. Cholera and Bubonic vaccination - Waldermar Haffkine (1893)

6. Mass-energy equivalence E=mc2 - Albert Einstein (1905)

7. Carbon-free Chromium/Stainless steel - Hans Goldsshmidt (1893)

8. Genetic Engg - Paul Berg (1962)

9. Pacemaker and defibrillator - Paul Zoll (1958)

10. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (Laser) -  Theodore Maiman (1960) / Albert Einstein (1917) (both Jews)

The world continues to benefit from them and cannot write them off .. In addition Jews have got one third of all Nobel Prizes conferred so far .. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Starlink satellite internet ..

Starlink providing satellite internet from SpaceX parent co., from the present 5000 active satellites to 42,000 in low earth orbit in about ten years with 2 million subscribers, mainly maritime partners of 4000 ships and aircraft, enabling fast internet access, in under 2 years is eyeing a $15 billion global market from the present approx. $ 2 billion very soon. ($1.4 billion in '22) .. 

With strong terrestrial internet access in place, almost 65% (5.2 billion) of global population has access to the Internet. The rest 2.8 billion depend on satellite Internet as and when it scales up and becomes affordable. 

With a large $80 billion global market and eyeing ease of use and installation with low capital costs, Starlink can change global internet access for ever .. 🙂

Click here ..

Top ten technological innovations of all time ..

I have compiled a list of the top ten innovations (through Internet resources) that have had a profound and lasting impact on human history and society: starting with the first at number 1 to the tenth at number 10.

1. The Wheel (circa 3500 BC): The invention of the wheel revolutionized transportation and machinery, enabling the development of carts, chariots, and various modern mechanical systems.

2. The Printing Press (15th century): Johannes Gutenberg's printing press made mass production of books and documents possible, democratizing knowledge and information dissemination. Paved way for mass education and raising human life standards.
   

3. Electricity (18th century): The harnessing of electricity has led to a wide range of technological advancements, including electric lighting, motors running generators, electronics, and modern smart grid power systems.

4. Steam Engine (18th century): The steam engine powered the Industrial Revolution, transforming manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture.

5. Telegraph (19th century): The telegraph enabled long-distance communication by transmitting coded messages over electrical wires, laying the foundation for modern telecommunications. Precursor to the Internet.
   

6. Internal Combustion Engine (19th century): The internal combustion engine powered automobiles and revolutionized transportation, leading to the modern automotive industry and the development of the Spark Ignition high capacity engines powering all global heavy duty land based transportation.
   

7. Internet (20th century): The creation of the World Wide Web and the internet has transformed how people communicate, access information, and conduct business globally. Geographical Information systems through Internet maps has made transportation and exploration of unknown land quite easy
   

8. Penicillin (20th century): The discovery of antibiotics, starting with penicillin, revolutionized medicine by treating bacterial infections and saving countless lives. Even though we are come very much ahead in antibiotics since Penicillin, it has improved our health and helped us successfully wade through many global health threats.
   

9. Transistors and Microchips (20th century): The development of transistors and microchips paved the way for the birth of the digital revolution enabling modern electronics, including computers, smartphones, and the digital age including AI, Robotics, 3D Printing, IoT etc to thrive
   

10. Solar Power (20th century): The harnessing of solar energy for electricity generation is a major step toward sustainable and renewable energy sources, addressing environmental concerns. Our dependence on non-renewable energy resources and the environmental pollution it resulted in is being turned upside down by the emergence of renewable resources, most important being solar energy, besides wind and tidal energy.

    Nuclear energy through fission and fusion has also been a great technological innovation of the 20th century, but it poses as great a threat to humanity (with potential to wipe out the whole human race) as it is a blessing and development.

    Artificial Intelligence in the growing stages (Artificial Narrow Intelligence - ANI and Artificial General Intelligence - AGI) is also a great technological innovation that it is to have the same impact as electricity has had on humans for over two and a half centuries and still continues to have a strangling grip.
    

This list represents just a small selection of significant technological innovations throughout history. Many other inventions have had a profound impact on human society, and the importance of each innovation can be viewed from different perspectives, depending on the context and the criteria used for evaluation. 

 As a person born in the 60s, I have had the good opportunity of living through the emergence and commercialisation of the innovations of 

• Internet, 
• transistors and microprocessor chips and 
• Solar power. 

I am hopeful that in the coming years with the 4th Industrial revolution heating up, we can see many more great technological innovations that will make our life comfortable and productive.

George.

 

How can Amazon use AI to win in the SCM game ?

AI has been influencing almost all fields of human endeavour and supply chain management is no exception. Here we look at the different opportuniies and areas where a major global losgistics / ecommerce company like Amazon can benefit from AI.

AI can change the field of B2C supply chain management for Amazon globally in the following ways:

• Improved demand forecasting: AI can help Amazon to better forecast demand for its products and services. This can lead to reduced stock outs and overstocks, and improved customer satisfaction. For example, Amazon can use AI to analyze historical sales data, customer behavior data, and other relevant data to predict future demand.
• Optimized inventory management: AI can help Amazon to optimize its inventory management. This can lead to reduced costs and improved efficiency. For example, Amazon can use AI to determine the optimal inventory levels for its products, taking into account factors such as demand forecasts, product lead times, and storage costs.
• Automated order fulfillment: AI can help Amazon to automate its order fulfillment process. This can lead to improved efficiency and reduced costs. For example, Amazon can use AI to pick, pack, and ship orders automatically, using robotic and automated systems.
• Enhanced transportation and logistics: AI can help Amazon to improve its transportation and logistics operations. This can lead to reduced costs and faster delivery times. For example, Amazon can use AI to optimize its routing and scheduling for delivery vehicles, and to predict and prevent disruptions to the supply chain.
• Improved customer service: AI can help Amazon to improve its customer service. For example, Amazon can use AI to provide personalized recommendations to customers, to answer customer questions quickly and accurately, and to resolve customer issues efficiently.

In addition to these specific benefits, AI can also help Amazon to become more agile and responsive to change. This is important in today's rapidly changing retail environment.

Here are some specific examples of how Amazon can use AI to improve its B2C supply chain management globally:

• Amazon can use AI to improve its demand forecasting for its wide range of products and services, which are sold in over 200 countries and territories around the world. This can help Amazon to ensure that it has the right products in the right quantities in the right locations at the right time.
• Amazon can use AI to optimize its inventory management for its global network of warehouses and fulfillment centers. This can help Amazon to reduce its inventory costs and improve the efficiency of its order fulfillment process.
• Amazon can use AI to automate its order fulfillment process in its global warehouses and fulfillment centers. This can help Amazon to reduce its order fulfillment costs and improve the speed and accuracy of deliveries.
• Amazon can use AI to improve its transportation and logistics operations for its global delivery network. This can help Amazon to reduce its transportation costs and deliver products to customers faster and more efficiently.
• Amazon can use AI to improve its customer service for its global customer base. For example, Amazon can use AI to provide personalized recommendations to customers, to answer customer questions quickly and accurately in multiple languages, and to resolve customer issues efficiently.
• Amazon can use AI to improve its commitment to environmental sustainability by resorting to environment friendly transportation modes, waste handling and treatment, use of AI mediated transportation scheduling and so on to reduce the CO2 emissions and waste generation.
  

Overall, AI has the potential to revolutionize the field of B2C supply chain management for Amazon globally. By using AI to improve its demand forecasting, inventory management, order fulfillment, transportation and logistics, and customer service, Amazon can become more efficient, profitable, and responsive to customer needs.

Winning operational factors for SCM firms in getting customers ..

 The key operational factors that influence customer purchasing decisions for supply chain management facilities in the SCM sector include:

• Cost: Customers want to find supply chain management facilities that can help them reduce their costs. This includes factors such as the cost of storage, transportation, and labor.
• Reliability: Customers need to be able to rely on their supply chain management facilities to deliver their products on time and in good condition. This includes factors such as the facility's track record of on-time delivery, its security measures, and its disaster recovery plan.
• Flexibility: Customers need supply chain management facilities that can adapt to their changing needs. This includes factors such as the ability to handle different types of products, the ability to scale up or down operations quickly, and the ability to meet customer-specific requirements.
• Technology: Customers want to work with supply chain management facilities that use the latest technology to track and manage their products. This includes factors such as the use of warehouse management systems (WMS), transportation management systems (TMS), and real-time tracking.
• Customer service: Customers want to work with supply chain management facilities that are responsive to their needs and provide excellent customer service. This includes factors such as the availability of 24/7 customer support, the willingness to go the extra mile to meet customer needs, and the ability to resolve problems quickly and efficiently.

In addition to these key factors, customers may also consider other factors when choosing a supply chain management facility, such as:

• Location: Customers may prefer to work with supply chain management facilities that are located near their own operations. This can help to reduce transportation costs and lead times.
• Reputation: Customers may also consider the reputation of a supply chain management facility before making a decision. This includes factors such as the company's financial stability, its industry awards and recognition, and its customer testimonials.
• Sustainability: Customers may also be interested in working with supply chain management facilities that are committed to sustainability. This includes factors such as the company's environmental practices, its social responsibility initiatives, and its ethical sourcing practices.

Supply chain management facilities can use this information to develop marketing and sales strategies that appeal to potential customers. For example, a supply chain management facility can highlight its cost-effectiveness, reliability, flexibility, technology, and customer service in its marketing materials. The facility can also invest in building a strong reputation and demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.