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Techie Sues US University for Racial BiasMr Zhong and his father, Nan, are suing the UC system claiming that the university is prejudiced against high-achieving Asian-American students.

19-year-old Stanley Zhong and his father, Nan Zhong, are suing 16 US universities which rejected his applications even though he was an exceptionally good student. Mr Zhong, with a 3.97 GPA and 4.42 weighted GPA, received an impressive 1590 on the SAT, putting him in the top 2,000 of more than two million test-takers each year.  He even had a job offer to do a PhD-level position at Google when he was only 13, according to the New York Post. Years after, he took up Google's offer of employment and has worked as a full-time software engineer since October 2023.

But his impressive academic history did not assure him a place in his wanted college. In spite of his brilliant credentials, he was turned down by 16 of the 18 colleges to which he applied, including five University of California campuses.

According to the Post, Mr Zhong was turned down by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell University, Georgia Tech, MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, the University of Illinois, the University of Michigan, the University of Washington and the University of Wisconsin. He was accepted into only two schools - the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Maryland.

Disappointed by the rejection, Mr Zhong and his father, Nan, have sued the UC system, claiming that the university discriminates against high-achieving Asian-American applicants. Interestingly, they are proceeding with the case without the aid of lawyers, as several law firms refused to accept their case.

The Zhong family has so far sued the University of California system and the University of Washington, claiming that these universities practice discriminatory admissions policies that discriminate against highly qualified Asian-American applicants. They intend to sue other schools as well.

In the 300-page complaint written with the help of AI software ChatGPT and Gemini, the family accused him of being denied admission to several University of California campuses based on racial prejudice.

For the time being, the teenager has shelved plans for college but not ruled out going on to higher education later. After internet criticism over his lawsuits, he's opted out of media spotlight.

A Google techie from Hyderabad has posted that after getting drained of energy conducting interviews on behalf of the technology giant, she realized that it was more draining to conduct interviews than to give them. Anu Sharma, aged 22, informed Moneycontrol that she had conducted over 15 candidates' interviews within the past two months as her additional community contribution. These job interviews take approximately 45 minutes to one hour and are done outside her work time.

"Having done over 15 job interviews at Google, I've found interviewing is more tiring than being interviewed," Sharma said. She said she has been doing two to three interviews a week and has done about 20 of them in her time at the tech giant. "Interviewing at least you're coding and solving something. Interviewing, you have to sit and listen intensely. I'd rather code."

Responding to a question regarding the average length of each interview, she stated it takes "45 minutes, but it goes on like 5-10 minutes". Sharma further added that another challenge in carrying out interviews is "actively solving the problem along with the interviewee".

As her post started attracting eyeballs -- it had got over 40,000 views -- Sharma soon started getting bombarded with requests from job hunters and curious onlookers about what type of questions Google asks in job interviews.

An X user wrote, "Please upload the interview questions." Sharma said, "I can't."

It did not seem to discourage others from attempting.

"At least can you say from what are all the subjects the questions were asked normally?" another user inquired, while a third one chimed in, "I am in my 2nd year of my college pursuing my BSc in computer science. Can you please inform me what I should study to obtain an internship at Google in my third year and a job upon graduation as a software engineer?"

The Education Ministry has criticized Congress leader Sam Pitroda for his "reckless" claim of hacking while interacting with students at IIT Ranchi. Pitroda claimed that someone hacked into the session and played objectionable material, disrupting the event. The Ministry clarified that there is no IIT in Ranchi and that Pitroda has not been invited to any seminars or conferences. The Ministry emphasized that the reputation of IITs is based on the merit, toil, and success of numerous students, teachers, and academia.

The authenticity of Pitroda's alleged statement could not be independently confirmed. In a release, the ministry stated that any effort to harm the reputation of the prestigious institution would be subject to legal action.

"It is hereby clarified that there is no IIT in Ranchi. Hence, the statement made in that video is not only unfounded but also smells of ignorance.". It is relevant to mention that there is an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Ranchi. But IIIT, Ranchi, has also asserted that Sam Pitroda has not been invited by the institute to any seminar or conference, either in person or online," the ministry said in a statement released late on Wednesday night.

Such a callous statement appears to be a bid to tarnish the reputation of an extremely respected institution of the nation. This institution has weathered the storm of time and given birth to some of the brightest minds of the nation. In contrast to such an ill-informed individual, the reputation of IITs is based on the merit, toil, and success of numerous students, teachers, and academia," the ministry added

PhysicsWallah has raised ₹200-300 crore in funding from WestBridge Capital, giving the company a valuation of approximately ₹2,000-2,500 crore, which is a major boost to India's edtech industry. The company intends to expand its income five to six times over the next two years, and the increased capital will be used to support marketing, expansion, and technological advancements.

PhysicalWallah plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO) in the next two to three years, with a target price range of ₹5,000 to 6,000 crore. With an estimated IPO size of ₹5,000–6,000 crore, the brand plans to go public in the next two to three years. An important step towards becoming a publicly traded company is that the company has already submitted its draft documents to SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India).

Part of the funding round, PhysicsWallah has also made an ESOP (Employee Stock Option Plan) buyback of ₹100-150 crore, which enables employees to share in the financial success of the company. This choice shows that the business is committed to recognizing and keeping talent as it grows.

Alakh Pandey, the company's founder, expressed optimism about the future of the business, stating, "This funding round will enable us to reach our growth ambitions and reach more students." 

Started with the aim of providing affordable, quality education, PhysicsWallah is an online coaching institute for JEE and NEET aspirants. Its affordable courses, interactive teaching approach, and result-oriented strategy have earned it a student base that remains loyal to the company.

PhysicsWallah wants to solidify its position as a leader in India's edtech space with this fresh investment and its upcoming initial public offerings.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) instructed the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to resolve the settlement between Byju and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) within one week. The order followed after the BCCI claimed Byju had defaulted on a payment of ₹158 crore, and the company was subject to insolvency proceedings. The settlement of the issue entails Byju's paying ₹158 crore to the BCCI.

This choice will be a deciding moment in what the future holds for both parties. The war of words between the BCCI and Byju's has been going on for several months. The BCCI had asserted that Byju had defaulted in paying up, which made the cricket board seek insolvency proceedings.

The NCLAT order has been viewed as a turning point to settle the case between the two firms. The NCLT order will be closely observed by both parties since it will dictate the way forward for the case. Reports say that the NCLAT has instructed the NCLT to order on the settlement plea submitted by BCCI and withdrawal of the insolvency proceeding against Byju's within one week.

Byju has argued that it has not failed to pay and has presented an offer to resolve the matter amicably.The company has even filed a settlement plea in the NCLT, which remains pending.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has introduced a Post Graduate Certificate program in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to meet the increasing requirements of skilled AI professionals. This initiative will build the AI skills of working professionals, making them industry-ready and competitive in this increasingly AI world.

Occupationally AI has been increasingly adopted by industries, thus augmenting the demand for AI specialists. Unqualified, however, professionals do not stand up to the industry's requirement. The PG Certification in AI of IIT Roorkee aims to create such an opportunity by providing a structured hands-on learning experience in AI and machine learning for professionals who wish to build their expertise in these fields.

The program is a six-month online course focusing on providing a well-rounded comprehension of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It covers much relevant information that can be exploited in the industry. The course content starts with basics about AI so that a strong theoretical base can develop and later those theoretical principles can implement into machine learning techniques, enabling building predictive models and analyzing data appropriately. The program ties into deep learning, where neural networks and advanced AI methodologies are taught.

It also covers natural language processing, that is, the part that enables learners to understand how the AI understands the human language and application in chatbot and speech recognition. Another is mainly focused on AI in the outside vision, whereby teaching on how the AI visualizes and processes all the renderings done is critical in industries such as healthcare, security, and automation. All these well-structured and industry-aligned courses ensure that learners obtain theory and practical knowledge, hence making them industry-ready AI professionals.

The program is designed to suit working professionals. The learning can be easily integrated into working timelines and schedules. Finally, after successful completion of the program, the Postgraduate Certificate in AI would be awarded to the successful candidates by IIT Roorkee and will accrue credibility to their profile as AI professionals. 

The Postgraduate certificate program in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at IIT Roorkee can open up a lot of career advancement opportunities and exposure to the industry. This is one of the most promising programs to take for a participant who wants to obtain a competitive edge in an AI-related field. As such, students coming out will find themselves significantly improved in their job prospects as far as AI and related fields go. The course further helps ensure that they boast some industry experience in AI and machine learning, giving participants the confidence to become fully employed.

Guided by the eminent faculty of IIT Roorkee, they would receive insights and knowledge in AI. The mobility of the program also provides networking opportunities concerning prospective industry leaders and peers, allowing much more convenient networking to be done for future development in the industry. Candidates should apply online through the official website of IIT Roorkee. Selection will be on the basis of academic qualifications and work experience, with a personal interview for shortlisted candidates. 

With its complete curriculum, expert faculty, and flexible format, PG Certificate in AI from IIT Roorkee is set to change the course of AI education in India. This would truly ensure not only that learners would become future-ready for the technology front, but it is also likely to fundamentally empower professionals as far as the talent gap is concerned in terms of skills needed for harnessing the potential of AI.

Renowned AI researcher and entrepreneur Gary Marcus has officially announced the launch of his new venture, aimed at developing more reliable and robust AI systems capable of operating effectively in real-world environments. The company, previously known as Robust Intelligence, seeks to address critical vulnerabilities in existing AI models by prioritizing transparency, safety, and adaptability.

Marcus, a former director at Uber’s AI Labs, has been an outspoken critic of current AI systems, frequently highlighting their limitations, biases, and potential risks. With his latest initiative, he plans to develop AI technologies that can function more reliably under uncertainty, ensuring their effectiveness across diverse applications.

“AI needs to be more than just powerful—it must be robust, reliable, and transparent,” Marcus said in a statement. “Without these qualities, AI cannot reach its full potential or be safely deployed in the real world.”

The venture has secured substantial funding from major investors, including Khosla Ventures and Slow Ventures, signaling strong industry confidence in Marcus’s vision. Additionally, he has collaborated with organizations such as the Machine Learning Reproducibility Challenge to enhance AI research, development, and ethical standards.

This initiative is expected to play a crucial role in shaping AI policies and legal frameworks, ensuring that AI systems comply with emerging regulatory standards. As governments worldwide move toward stricter AI governance, companies focusing on responsible AI development are likely to gain prominence.

Marcus’s new venture arrives at a time when AI regulations are evolving rapidly. Global policymakers are pushing for greater oversight, transparency, and accountability in AI deployment, particularly in high-risk sectors such as healthcare, finance, and autonomous systems.

His company’s emphasis on reliability and ethical AI development aligns with legal discussions surrounding AI bias mitigation, explainability, and compliance with emerging laws, such as the EU AI Act and U.S. AI policy frameworks. Experts believe this initiative could set a new industry standard for AI governance.

With this new venture, Marcus is positioned to drive significant advancements in the AI industry, ensuring that AI technologies become safer, more accountable, and better suited for real-world challenges. As AI adoption grows, companies prioritizing ethical and robust AI development will likely play a pivotal role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

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