Techtonic Shift

Back in June, we kicked off our weekly podcast Techtonic Shift with an episode about (the lack of) smartphone innovation.  In the months since, hosts Roshni Nair and Rajneil Kamath have scratched their heads, rubbed their chins, debated and bantered about current technological booms and busts that will determine life in the future. AI is a no-brainer, yes, but sweeping changes have also taken place in the realms of dating tech, social media, manufacturing, space tech and ride-hailing.  As we come to the season finale, we tie a neat bow on the year up until the festive season. Stay tuned, we'll brb with Season 2!

Since the first portable camera was invented in 1816, it's been used as a tool to chronicle and preserve memories. But AI cameras are about to change the very essence of photography. The latest tech on the Google Pixel 8 series now allows you to enhance photos with the help of AI like never before. Think: editing backgrounds and superimposing different facial expressions that will help you achieve the near impossible—a group photo where everyone is smiling or has their eyes open. In short, what an AI camera promises is perfection. But is it really capturing a moment that happened, or creating a perfect memory? In this episode of Techtonic Shift, hosts Roshni and Rajneil talk about the philosophical conundrums around AI cameras. Tune in!

The future of technology was supposed to be the metaverse—a massive virtual world that mimics real life. A world where augmented reality and virtual reality converge. But the initial hoopla has given way to disenchantment. Companies that had lofty ambitions for the metaverse are now scrambling away from it. Which begs the question: what is next for the metaverse? Tune in to the latest episode of TechTonic Shift to find out!

Circa 2021, crypto was the next big thing. Cut to 2022, crypto was the next big bust. To say that cryptocurrencies have lost their lustre would be an understatement. As the industry grapples with the FTX fallout and numerous regulatory issues with several other crypto exchanges, most people are approaching speculative digital assets with increasing scepticism. Is there a future for crypto at all, or was it just a shortlived pipe dream? Find out with Rajneil and Roshni in this episode of Techtonic Shift. References: The Metaverse Is Quickly Turning Into the Meh-taverse We're asking the wrong questions about stablecoins

Meta, which paved the way for ad-driven social media, is now planning to charge European users $14-17 for ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram. But Meta isn't alone. Even TikTok is reportedly piloting ad-free subscriptions. Snap and X have tried their hand at various subscription-driven revenue streams over time. Is ad-free social media the future? And if so, would you pay for it? We discuss all this and more in this episode of TechTonic Shift!

In 2013, Uber's launch in India turned out to be a game changer when it comes to the ride-hailing experience. Cut to 2023, it's a new entrant, BluSmart, that is hoping to shake up the business of app-based cab services with its fleet of electric taxis. As India transitions towards green energy and electric cars, what will EV cab aggregators—of which there are several now—bring to the table? Tune in to a new episode of TechTonic Shift with hosts Rajneil and Roshni to find out! References: The Dark Side Of 'Green' Cab Hailing App BluSmart

Self-driving cars have been a longtime fascination for automakers who want to eliminate "human error" from driving. Many years and a lot of investment later, we are still not close to Level 5 or Complete Automation. But the bigger question is: do we really need fully autonomous vehicles? In this episode of TechTonic Shift, we talk about the numerous safety issues around autopilot deployment. Tune in!

For the first time ever, iPhones assembled in India are going on sale the same day as their global launch. Excitement aside, the ‘Made-in-India' tag did nothing to bring down iPhone prices in the country. In fact, the iPhone 15 lineup is much more expensive in India compared to the US and Dubai. When will Indian customers benefit from Apple's China Plus One strategy? In this episode, co-hosts Rajneil and Roshni also unpack Tim Cook's India ambitions, the roadblocks and Apple's grand eco-friendly promises. Tune in!

Since the pandemic, financial influencers, or ‘finfluencers', have become all the rage among the younger generation.  At the same time, their surging appeal has raised concerns regarding the possible dangers posed by unregulated financial influencers who provide biased or deceptive financial guidance. Recently, the SEBI has proposed some regulations to curb finfluencers. Will it dampen the business of finfluencers? Tune in to this episode of TechTonic Shift! References: Sebi lights a finfluencer fire Why ‘Finfluencers' Will Always Find Addicts

India is creating ripples in the space race. Its latest lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, is the first to make it to the unexplored lunar south pole. What's also generating a lot of curiosity is how the country's space agency, ISRO, pulled off the mission on a shoe-string budget. India now has at least 140 registered space-tech startups. Can the country become a space tech superpower? Tune in to the latest episode of TechTonic Shift to find out. References How India Pulled Off Its Frugal Moon Landing  Making space for India  The Surprising Striver in the World's Space Business  Ready for lift-off: Why India's space tech ecosystem will require more govt interventions  Next China: Space Success  Asia's space race: China leads India on strategy The Surprising Striver in the World's Space Business

In 2012, Tinder, formerly Matchbox, unleashed itself on the world and we haven't looked back since. According to Business Of Apps, over 300 million people worldwide use dating apps, which have proliferated in the thousands.  As the likes of dating conglomerate Match Group and its niche counterparts prioritise engagement over trust and safety, in this episode of TechTonic Shift, Rajneil and Roshni indulge in some crystal ball gazing and discuss where hookups, companionship, and love may be headed. Tune in!

The music industry is no stranger to the effects of AI, just like the entertainment industry is. AI has long been used to make music suggestions and to analyse user behaviour. But these days, "creative" processes are increasingly using AI-powered tools. For instance, AI music maker Boomy asserts to have produced over 16 million original songs since its 2019 debut. What does this imply for the music business's future? Reading References AI in the music industry AI Can Hurt or (Hopefully) Help the Music Business: Here's How

As tech firms are looking to diversify beyond China, India is eyeing an opportunity for itself. It is leaving no stone unturned in courting everyone from contract manufacturing giants (Foxconn) to EV companies (Tesla). But can India dominate the global supply chain for high-end, precision, and emerging technologies?  Tune in to this new episode of TechTonic Shift! References and recommended reading: 1. India's semiconductor moment (The Statesman) 2. Will India Surpass China to Become the Next Superpower? (Foreign Policy) 3. Inside Apple's India dream (Nikkei Asia) 4. US to reboot India's chip ambitions, will help plug-in to global alliances (The Indian Express) 5. SMIC: The Chinese company at the centre of US-China chip war (TRT World) 6. Mapping India's chip design ecosystem (The Hindu)

Lately, Byju's has been hogging the limelight for all the wrong reasons. What was once touted as the world's largest ed-tech company, is now drowning in crisis. How did a highly valued ed-tech start up come crashing down and what does it say about the future of ed-tech? Tune in to this week's episode of TechTonic Shift! References: Star Founder Broke Down in Tears as Crises Engulfed Byju's Exclusive: Advertising body asks WhiteHat Jr to pull down ads Byju's tuitions business is falling apart

The ongoing strike by Hollywood's writers and actors has thrown the spotlight over a pertinent issue: how will AI change entertainment? Will producers use AI to write scripts or complete unfinished screenplays? Will digital likenesses make actors dispensable? In this episode of TechTonic Shift, we discuss 'generative entertainment', and how streaming brought us one step closer to this eventuality. Note: Show host Rajneil Kamath mentioned Collective Artists Network. It was mistakenly mentioned in place of the Creative Artists Agency. The error is regretted. Recommended reading: Madeline Ashby: Hollywood's Future Belongs to People—Not Machines (Wired) Peter Hong: Drowned In The Stream, an interview with documentary filmmaker Amy Ziering (The American Prospect) Michael Schulman: “Orange Is the New Black” Signalled the Rot Inside the Streaming Economy (The New Yorker) Alex N. Press: Adam Pickets Everything (Jacobin)

Big Tech companies are aggressively trying to capture the healthcare sector. Be it with wearables or fitness apps, cloud services or AI-driven medical assistance, Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft are all looking to leverage their technology to dominate the space. But have they been able to actually crack healthcare or is their innovation limited to wellness?

As Twitter remains embroiled in chaos, Meta is shooting its shot with ‘Threads'. Will this spell trouble for Elon Musk? Can Twitter be replaced? In this episode of TechTonic Shift, co-hosts Rajneil and Roshni discuss Twitter alternatives and the changing landscape of social media. Tune in!

You'll have to agree that India's creator economy has come a long way. While creator startups are going bust, content creators themselves are aiming for the stars. They are making appearances at Cannes, bagging enviable interviews with government officials, some are even launching their own brands. But there are also talks of regulation. Does the creator economy have more steam left, or has it reached its peak? Join us in this new episode of TechTonic Shift!

Reddit has gone to war against API monetisation. Thousands of subReddits have gone dark in defiance of the decision to charge a fee from third-party app developers for ‘premium access' to the platform's API. It is not the only platform to stir up the conversation around API pricing. Twitter too has cut off free access to its APIs, shuttering third-party app developers. But could these platforms become what they are today without third-party apps? Or, should tech companies do what they gotta do for revenue? Join Roshni Nair and Rajneil Kamath in this episode of TechTonic Shift!

We've seen the Google I/O event from May followed by Apple's WWDC event in June. The one that stood out was perhaps nothing at all. Have we reached peak smartphone innovation? Join Roshni Nair and Rajneil Kamath in the first episode of Techtonic Shift!

Whether you are tech-savvy or a tech noob, the truth is, tech is the new omnipresent entity in our lives. The techtonic shifts in this age of reels, blue ticks and AI is likely to have deeper impacts on our tomorrow. Where do we fit into these massive changes? Yes, this is another tech podcast but Techtonic Shift is a little different from the rest. Co-hosts Rajneil Kamath and Roshni Nair cut through the clutter of tech developments and bring out the perspectives that matter with a pinch of tech optimism and a dash on tech skepticism. Stay tuned for more!