Articles by Charles Assisi
Writers’ bloc: Testing AI’s limits, by Charles Assisi
The new programs may learn faster and better than we expected, but good prose cannot be crafted by checking off boxes, Assisi says. In this week’s Life Hacks.

Updated on Sep 16, 2023 09:21 PM IST
ht_print | Charles Assisi
Watching: Google’s first monopoly trial in USA
The first monopoly trial of the internet era begins next week as US courts decide whether to break up Google's parent company, Alphabet. The trial will determine if the company is too big and engaged in unfair trade practices. The outcome will have implications for other technology giants and governments worldwide, including the EU and India, which are implementing legislation to regulate technology companies. India is also supporting the Beckn Protocol, a language that allows devices and services to exchange information, preventing monopolies from forming. There is divided public opinion in the US on whether Google should be broken up, with some believing it has become too big for American interests.

Updated on Sep 09, 2023 12:29 AM IST
Reassessing chore values: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi
There is no way to ‘maximise efficiency’ when running a home. Unpredictability must be embraced. I recently experienced the crushing loss of control this causes

Updated on Aug 26, 2023 05:51 PM IST
Free time? Do some second guessing, says Charles Assisi
Vacant hours must be protected, but should they also be scheduled and planned? Try going with the flow, as we all once did, before the gadgets, apps and alerts.

Updated on Aug 12, 2023 06:27 PM IST
Why going uphill takes you further: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi
The aim in taking on a challenge is not just to surmount it, but to learn what one is capable of. Doing this in youth lets one acquire skills that can be vital.

Updated on Jul 29, 2023 04:47 PM IST
Life Hacks: Is your calendar working for you...
...or is it the other way around? An optimal life is ruled by a schedule, we’re told. But life hacks began as an invitation to get creative, says Charles Assisi

Updated on Jul 19, 2023 12:17 PM IST
Evolution of an OTP nation
While the technology has its flaws, telecom companies that deliver these OTPs are at work to upgrade all networks across India to 5G

Updated on Jul 08, 2023 12:03 PM IST
An oracle is only as good as the question: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi
The tricks to getting good advice could also help you make better decisions. Read on for links between semantics, maths and intuition.

Updated on Jul 27, 2023 04:59 PM IST
Hero material: Role models are being reimagined, says Charles Assisi
The idea of masculinity is getting an update to reflect the aspirations of Gen-Z males. Our roles, our goals are changing, and so are the people we look up to

Updated on Jul 27, 2023 10:39 PM IST
Putting the little things in their place: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi
Even when we know we’re doing it, we can’t seem to peel away from the trivial, to focus on what is vital. I’m now trying a new way out, Assisi says.

Updated on Jul 28, 2023 01:03 PM IST
Finding peace in a whisper campaign: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi
ASMR videos have gone beyond soft sounds to include roleplay, storytelling. I’m intrigued by the comfort and sense of community they foster among young people.

Updated on Jul 27, 2023 11:11 PM IST
Can we resist the allure of liquid modernity, asks Charles Assisi
Humans have gone from being pilgrims in search of meaning to tourists in search of excitement. It is time to find a way back, a way to add depth to our days.

Updated on Aug 04, 2023 09:19 PM IST
First Principles | Without building hardware, India’s tech dreams are just that
To future-proof India’s software technology prowess, why isn’t India thinking as a “hardware product nation” as well?

Published on Apr 28, 2023 04:17 PM IST
Be India, by design
Design must be indigenous. It must be developed for local conditions. But it takes time to understand and appreciate good design

Updated on Apr 22, 2023 03:37 PM IST
Should you put your inner child to bed? Life Hacks by Charles Assisi
Unresolved issues can prompt impulsive and destructive behaviours. It takes effort to let go of the fear that the world will not provide what we need.

Updated on Aug 03, 2023 02:10 PM IST
First Principles | Stumbling blocks and why UPI has slowed down
While the technology is great, cash is back to being king. What does this mean?

Updated on Mar 31, 2023 05:10 PM IST
First Principles | How Indian telcos are cracking the 5G challenge
It appears that an altogether different business model may emerge out of India even after the recent hiccups faced by the Adani Group once poised to emerge as a significant player in the enterprise telecom space.

Updated on Mar 25, 2023 05:32 PM IST
Why must we fight the good fight? Life Hacks by Charles Assisi
Altruism has always been difficult, so why did humans evolve to make room for it? Perhaps because it would have made us a short-lived species

Updated on Aug 12, 2023 03:40 PM IST
First Principles | Why SVB is an American problem and needs to remain so
The four-decade-old Silicon Valley Bank imploding has two simple lessons: One, ignore social media and two, one's loss is another's gain. Here's why

Updated on Mar 17, 2023 06:15 PM IST
Switching from fight mode: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi
Too many of us set out viewing each day as a fresh challenge, when the real battle is within. Can we find the strength to stay vulnerable?

Updated on Aug 04, 2023 05:07 PM IST
First Principles | Cross-border data transfer needs a whitelist and a blacklist
Public policy professionals suggest all countries be whitelisted. And to create a blacklist only for those countries that India needs to be wary about.

Published on Mar 11, 2023 11:04 AM IST
First Principles | On chips, Make in India may not be the way to go
While the current ‘blockading’ is one of China’s problems and explains the worldwide chip shortage, it is a pointer to what can go wrong with the ‘Make in India’ policy that hinges on an ambitious $300 billion electronics manufacturing goal.

Published on Mar 03, 2023 09:15 PM IST
No buddy knows how it turns out: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi
There are no rules or formal structures that govern friendships. It’s time to rethink how we imagine these bonds as enriching our lives.

Updated on Aug 12, 2023 04:07 PM IST
First Principles | UP(I) and away
When Singapore integrated the Unified Payments Interface this week, there was much to celebrate, for this system moved one more step towards becoming a global payment system.

Published on Feb 24, 2023 07:05 PM IST
First Principles | Some hard truths about emotional chatbots
Last week, when ChatGPT was integrated into search engine Bing, it had an ‘emotional meltdown’, raising key questions: Can AI have a mind of its own? And should AI be brought to the decision-making table?

Published on Feb 18, 2023 10:19 AM IST
Sulking won’t help. AIm higher, says Charles Assisi
It’s baffling that educational institutes and workplaces are trying to ban AI language programs. They’re here to stay. That’s good news.

Updated on Aug 10, 2023 05:28 PM IST
First Principles | Future tense for ‘The Office’
Bob Johansen, a professional futurist, says that as a “technology”, current offices are on the verge of obsolesce.

Updated on Feb 10, 2023 09:09 PM IST
First Principles | How to disconnect from work (but read the caveat)
With work-from-home blurring the boundaries of office hours, countries are stepping in to help workers disconnect from work. But veterans have one piece of advice: Do this only if you can afford it.

Updated on Feb 06, 2023 10:42 AM IST
Deep tech: Where India stands, and what’s at stake
The Cold Wars of the future will be fought over science and technology. Take a peek inside India’s race to catch up, and maybe speed ahead.

Updated on Aug 18, 2023 01:58 PM IST
Is efficiency the wrong answer?: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi
There’s a growing movement in support of slack, which frees a person from ‘time to work’ and ‘time to play’. It’s all time in which to engage with the world

Updated on Aug 12, 2023 04:37 PM IST