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Charles Assisi

Articles by Charles Assisi

Make a wish, but make it count: Charles Assisi, on chasing happiness

Ambition and drive are all very well, but joy can’t come from knocking items off a list. The secret lies in fewer goals, selected carefully.

Anton Ego in the film Ratatouille. Here was a food critic who spent years in restless pursuit of culinary perfection. All that time, what he really wanted was a taste of home.

Art and Culture

Updated on Aug 31, 2024 06:05 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

The digital nomad is here to stay

In this new world, companies no longer see the world map as a set of distinct markets; they see it as one interconnected talent pool

The concept of a global office has transcended borders, time zones, and working hours (Representative Photo)

India News

Published on Aug 30, 2024 05:27 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Generic vs patented drugs: a story of trust deficit

A debate on patented vs. generic drugs continues. While branded drugs like Dolo 650 gain trust through marketing, generics offer the same benefits at lower costs.

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 24, 2024 08:54 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Storm warning: Charles Assisi responds to readers hurt by his piece

Responses have poured in – swift, scathing, upset. Here, the father, writer and entrepreneur responds. And below, three young readers have their say.

Art and Culture

Updated on Aug 17, 2024 03:58 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Hectic tech purchases cooling down as cost of living goes up

From IDC’s perspective, everything from a smartwatch to an earbud and all else, such as smart rings and glasses, are wearables

Mumbai

Published on Aug 17, 2024 02:39 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Hectic tech purchases cooling down as cost of living goes up

India's tech market faces a slowdown as demand for wearables and smartphones declines due to price sensitivity and consumer pragmatism, says IDC's Navkendar Singh.

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 17, 2024 08:58 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Why the market’s got the jitters

Nvidia is one of the most powerful players in chips and powers a wide range of devices, from gaming computers to self-driving cars

Mumbai

Published on Aug 09, 2024 05:28 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

A lot to chew on: In this week’s Life Hacks, a dietary audit with Charles Assisi

I wouldn’t have thought it, but apps and charts are helping me eat better. An audit yielded surprising insights. Do you know what's missing from your pie chart?

A still from the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away (2001). Food can be greed and gluttony, comfort and community. Primarily, it should be viewed as fuel - and this is something we often lose sight of.

Art and Culture

Updated on Aug 03, 2024 02:25 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

AI-generated images and our biases

Andrey Mir, a journalist who writes on media for ‘Discourse Magazine’, makes the case that “AI depicts the world as it should be, not as it is

AI-generated image of India’s independence moment founding people shows Indians and some British soldiers

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 02, 2024 05:18 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Snap out of it, Gen Z: Life Hacks with Charles Assisi

Influencers do not make for role models. Effort is not a bad thing. And it shouldn’t be only the odd outlier teen who knows how to get things done.

Ennui, from the film Inside Out 2 (2024). I wish more members of Gen Z would choose to put down the phone, pick up a book, or better yet, a hammer.

Art and Culture

Updated on Jul 20, 2024 05:00 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Silicon Valley’s support for Donald Trump and what it means for India

Donald Trump’s confrontational stance on China, including tariffs and tech restrictions, resonates with Silicon Valley’s strategic interests

Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks after officially accepting the Republican presidential nomination on stage on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 18, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Getty Images via AFP)

Mumbai

Updated on Jul 20, 2024 05:06 AM IST

ByCharles AssisiCharles Assisi

The logistics of Mixed Reality

There’s Virtual Reality. There’s Augmented Reality. And there’s Mixed Reality. In the complex world we live in, to get the best of everything, why we must ensure these different realities align with each other

Imagine putting on a pair of glasses and entering a new world. (Representational image)

Mumbai

Updated on Jul 13, 2024 08:55 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

The logistics of Mixed Reality

How much this matters now makes itself apparent when in conversation with a war veteran from the logistics business in India

Mumbai

Updated on Jul 13, 2024 08:36 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Hold on a minute! Is there a better way to view time, asks Charles Assisi

Too many of us wear our punctuality, or lack of it, as a badge of honour. The point isn’t the clock. It’s finding a balance between mutual respect and patience.

In Interstellar (2014), one hour on Miller’s Planet is seven years lost on Earth. Unless one is on such a world, orbiting a black hole and being hit by giant tidal waves, perhaps there isn’t as much need to rant or panic if one’s schedule is knocked off course a bit.

Art and Culture

Updated on Jul 06, 2024 04:09 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Smart phones are not dying, just getting smarter

Smartphones are evolving due to AI advancements, hardware capabilities, and changing consumer habits. The future of AI-powered devices is uncertain but promising.

Mumbai

Updated on Jul 06, 2024 08:24 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

A look back at the me I used to be: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi

We don’t often see it, but life is defined by transition, that wily sidekick to change. Each phase is a chance to mourn a previous self, or celebrate a new you.

One of the things that makes the series The Bear (2022-) so compelling is that each of its key characters, all chefs, are navigating personal turning points or transitions.

Art and Culture

Updated on Jun 22, 2024 05:24 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

When our loved ones come of age: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi

As our lives intersect less and less with our ageing parents, the worst thing we can do is take away their agency. Let them lead the way.

The 2017 film Victoria and Abdul explores the relationship between an ageing queen and her Indian Muslim Urdu teacher.

Art and Culture

Updated on Jun 07, 2024 10:05 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

The challenges of Big Data

The power of Big Data in elections is not confined to India, in the US, the 2012 Obama campaign famously used Big Data to revolutionize political campaigning

Mumbai

Updated on Jun 10, 2024 10:35 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Why the Indian consumer is wary of eKYC

Last year, close to 63 billion eKYCs were done globally and the cost of acquiring a customer fell by 99% in many places

Financial institutions are mandated to adopt KYC so that they are not misused for illicit activities such as money laundering and terror financing.

Mumbai

Updated on Jun 01, 2024 08:24 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Life after 50: A coming-of-middle-age story, in this week’s Life Hacks

At this age, one meets new realities and new kinds of fears. Used right, it can be a time of wake-up calls, and of simply growing wiser.

Manhood (1840), from the Voyage of Life series by Thomas Cole. What are the rapids that most threaten your peace and serenity? Middle-age is a time to figure that out. (Wikimedia Commons)

Art and Culture

Updated on May 25, 2024 02:56 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

A voice-note to self

WhatsApp users send about 140 billion messages every day, of which seven billion are now voice notes

India has over 535.8 million WhatsApp users (Representative Photo)

Mumbai

Updated on May 24, 2024 05:38 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Is kiddie ban on social media feasible?

Last month, the state of South Australia started pushing for a ban on access to social media for children under 14. Teenagers between 14 to 15 will need parental consent

India, South Korea and Japan social media usage has shot through the roof (Representative Photo)

Mumbai

Published on May 17, 2024 06:06 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

The man who knew too little: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi

Don’t aim to have an opinion on everything. There is merit to high-agency ignorance. For one thing,it frees you up to prioritise depth of knowledge over breadth

How does AI visualise the informational chaos to which it is contributing? Above, a representation of a time of confusion and uncertainty, created by generative AI. (Adobe Stock)

Art and Culture

Updated on May 11, 2024 03:28 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Apple’s new creative does the job by going too far

The epitome of Apple’s groundbreaking advertising strategy is encapsulated in the “1984” commercial, which introduced the Apple Macintosh

India News

Published on May 10, 2024 04:24 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

What we owe each other, and ourselves: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi

Every action holds within it an ethical choice. The choices may seem inconsequential, but they add up to shape us, our communities, and our world.

Man, Controller of the Universe (1934) by Diego Rivera; a depiction of a turbulent world in which one must constantly steer between right and wrong. (Google Arts & Culture)

Art and Culture

Updated on Apr 27, 2024 04:03 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Why market for plant-based meat is imploding

The high price point of these alternatives has proven to be the Achilles heel. Consumers are often unwilling to pay a hefty premium for a plant-based burger

Plant-based meat could cater to meat-eaters concerned about animal welfare and environmental impact, without forcing them to completely give up meat. Unlike plant-based alternatives, synthetic meat could potentially replicate the taste and texture of real meat more closely, offering a more familiar and appealing option for consumers. (Shutterstock)

Mumbai

Updated on Apr 27, 2024 09:38 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

It may be the buzz word but does AI funding need a sober approach?

The key turning point came with the emergence of machine learning, a subfield of AI that allows algorithms to “learn” from data without explicit programming

For representational purposes only. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Business

Published on Apr 19, 2024 04:50 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

The timeless dance of opposites: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi

We must make room for ambiguity and doubt, particularly in times of blusterous certainty. No civilisation has ever benefited from assuming a monopoly on truth.

A Nativity scene on the facade of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Accompanying my wife Anna on her spiritual treks, even as an atheist, I have found beauty in the music, heritage and architecture associated with her faith. (Adobe Stock)

Art and Culture

Updated on Apr 13, 2024 02:18 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Space tech: Can India breach new frontiers?

The only other country that can match or beat the costs India offers in space tech is China, but the geopolitical situation is such that the world does not trust China

The burgeoning private space sector in India tells a story of entrepreneurial spirit and innovation. (Representative file photo)

India News

Published on Apr 12, 2024 04:38 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

New names in big tech groups

On his part, O’Rourke argues the world has changed significantly and it’s time to shift focus. By way of example, a school of thought in Silicon Valley argues that Nvidia and Meta, now called the ‘Terrific Two’, will define the future

As for the Tim Cook-helmed Apple, it is under regulatory scrutiny in the US and other parts of the world for misusing its position as a dominant player. (AFP)

Mumbai

Updated on Apr 06, 2024 07:58 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

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Charles Assisi

Ambition and drive are all very well, but joy can’t come from knocking items off a list. The secret lies in fewer goals, selected carefully.

In this new world, companies no longer see the world map as a set of distinct markets; they see it as one interconnected talent pool

A debate on patented vs. generic drugs continues. While branded drugs like Dolo 650 gain trust through marketing, generics offer the same benefits at lower costs.

Responses have poured in – swift, scathing, upset. Here, the father, writer and entrepreneur responds. And below, three young readers have their say.

From IDC’s perspective, everything from a smartwatch to an earbud and all else, such as smart rings and glasses, are wearables

India's tech market faces a slowdown as demand for wearables and smartphones declines due to price sensitivity and consumer pragmatism, says IDC's Navkendar Singh.

Nvidia is one of the most powerful players in chips and powers a wide range of devices, from gaming computers to self-driving cars

I wouldn’t have thought it, but apps and charts are helping me eat better. An audit yielded surprising insights. Do you know what's missing from your pie chart?

Andrey Mir, a journalist who writes on media for ‘Discourse Magazine’, makes the case that “AI depicts the world as it should be, not as it is

Influencers do not make for role models. Effort is not a bad thing. And it shouldn’t be only the odd outlier teen who knows how to get things done.

Donald Trump’s confrontational stance on China, including tariffs and tech restrictions, resonates with Silicon Valley’s strategic interests

There’s Virtual Reality. There’s Augmented Reality. And there’s Mixed Reality. In the complex world we live in, to get the best of everything, why we must ensure these different realities align with each other

How much this matters now makes itself apparent when in conversation with a war veteran from the logistics business in India

Too many of us wear our punctuality, or lack of it, as a badge of honour. The point isn’t the clock. It’s finding a balance between mutual respect and patience.

Smartphones are evolving due to AI advancements, hardware capabilities, and changing consumer habits. The future of AI-powered devices is uncertain but promising.

We don’t often see it, but life is defined by transition, that wily sidekick to change. Each phase is a chance to mourn a previous self, or celebrate a new you.

As our lives intersect less and less with our ageing parents, the worst thing we can do is take away their agency. Let them lead the way.

The power of Big Data in elections is not confined to India, in the US, the 2012 Obama campaign famously used Big Data to revolutionize political campaigning

Last year, close to 63 billion eKYCs were done globally and the cost of acquiring a customer fell by 99% in many places

At this age, one meets new realities and new kinds of fears. Used right, it can be a time of wake-up calls, and of simply growing wiser.

WhatsApp users send about 140 billion messages every day, of which seven billion are now voice notes

Last month, the state of South Australia started pushing for a ban on access to social media for children under 14. Teenagers between 14 to 15 will need parental consent

Don’t aim to have an opinion on everything. There is merit to high-agency ignorance. For one thing,it frees you up to prioritise depth of knowledge over breadth

The epitome of Apple’s groundbreaking advertising strategy is encapsulated in the “1984” commercial, which introduced the Apple Macintosh

Every action holds within it an ethical choice. The choices may seem inconsequential, but they add up to shape us, our communities, and our world.

The high price point of these alternatives has proven to be the Achilles heel. Consumers are often unwilling to pay a hefty premium for a plant-based burger

The key turning point came with the emergence of machine learning, a subfield of AI that allows algorithms to “learn” from data without explicit programming

We must make room for ambiguity and doubt, particularly in times of blusterous certainty. No civilisation has ever benefited from assuming a monopoly on truth.

The only other country that can match or beat the costs India offers in space tech is China, but the geopolitical situation is such that the world does not trust China

On his part, O’Rourke argues the world has changed significantly and it’s time to shift focus. By way of example, a school of thought in Silicon Valley argues that Nvidia and Meta, now called the ‘Terrific Two’, will define the future

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