KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- HCLTech, a global technology company, has launched its AI Force extension for GitHub Copilot on the Visual Studio Marketplace, the world’s most widely adopted artificial intelligence (AI) developer tool.
“With the AI Force extension, our clients will achieve benefits beyond enhanced coding experiences such as improved efficiencies, greater productivity and time-to-market acceleration.
“This integration helps them reduce technical debt and develop better quality software that is easier to maintain,” said HCLTech Senior Vice President and Global Lead, GenAI Practice, Apoorv Iyer in a statement.
This integration aims to streamline software development workflows, enhance developer flexibility and optimise code performance, positioning HCLTech among the first India-headquartered technology service providers to collaborate with Microsoft for creating a GitHub Copilot Extension.
Through its AI Force, the company aims to help clients automate tasks and incorporate intelligence throughout every phase of the engineering lifecycle.
Integrated with GitHub Copilot Chat, the HCLTech AI Force extension enhances extensibility and covers a broad range of use cases, including legacy modernisation, migration, development, development operations (DevOps), automation, support, operations, continuous feedback, and end-to-end benefits measurement.
-- BERNAMA
Monday, November 11, 2024
Friday, November 8, 2024
ATNI LAUNCHES 5TH GLOBAL ACCESS TO NUTRITION INDEX AS INDUSTRY AND POLICY MAKERS GRAPPLE WITH FOOD POLYCRISIS
UTRECHT, The Netherlands, Nov 8 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, ATNi launches the 5th edition of the Global Access to Nutrition Index, the largest yet, assessing the world’s 30 largest food and beverage manufacturers and over 52,000 products, representing 23% global market share.
One in five deaths globally is associated with a poor diet. One out of eight adults are affected by obesity, 150 million children are too short for their age because of poor nutrition, and close to a third of women of reproductive age, and half of children, consume inadequate micronutrients.
The Index reveals some important progress. More companies are setting targets to improve their portfolio healthiness, now using internationally recognized Nutrient Profiling Models (NPMs) to classify products as ‘healthier’.
However, overall, there have been only marginal improvements in key metrics such as healthiness of product portfolios. Concurrently, the estimated sales values of company’s healthier products have increased, showing consumers are increasingly purchasing healthier products. Worryingly, product portfolio healthiness was found to be lowest in low-income countries, highlighting disparities in product offerings across different markets and income groups.
Global Index 2024 – key findings
Product Healthiness
Among the 52,414 products analyzed from 30 companies using the Health Star Rating (HSR) system, 31%—a total of 16,467 products—met the healthier threshold (3.5 stars and above out of 5), representing an estimated 34% of the companies' combined sales in 2022. ATNi challenges companies to derive at least half their sales from healthy products by 2030. Today only 30% of companies are meeting this target.
Differences by market and income
Overall food product healthiness in low- and lower middle-income countries scored much lower (mean HSR 1.8) than in high-income countries (mean HSR 2.3). At the aggregate level, the share of ‘less healthy’ products which the 30 assessed companies are marketing is higher in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.
Reporting and disclosures
30% of companies assessed, now use an internationally recognized Nutrient Profiling Model to report on portfolio healthiness, with 20% doing so to report on overall percentages of global sales. While the quality, coverage, and transparency of this reporting varies significantly, this shift reflects the growing appetite for reporting against (inter-)national standards.
Marketing
No company has a policy to fully prohibit marketing unhealthy foods to children under 18 across all marketing channels and techniques, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Four companies have taken positive steps, raising their age thresholds to 16 years while only two are marketing ‘healthier’ products defined by a government-endorsed model.
ATNi calls on
Companies: voluntarily stop marketing to under 18s, improve product portfolio healthiness and fully disclose sales from healthy and unhealthy products using an internationally recognised Nutrient Profiling Model.
Governments: regulate and build an enabling environment that helps companies protect public health. Well-designed fiscal policies to make healthier foods more affordable and less healthy foods more expensive are also needed.
Responsible investors: help hold the companies to account by investing in those acting responsibly, considering the financial costs of long-term ill health caused by current food environment and products.
“'Health is wealth.' We know this is true, but most food companies have not yet placed nutrition as core to their business. There is progress, but our findings show overall subpar performance and weaknesses in the market.”
Greg S. Garrett, Executive Director, ATNi
“Only 31% of the 52,000+ food products assessed by ATNi meet the health criteria. This is not good enough. Companies need to start doing better demonstrating that they care about the public health of their consumer base.”
Jessica Fanzo, Professor of Climate and Director of the Food for Humanity Initiative, Columbia University
One in five deaths globally is associated with a poor diet. One out of eight adults are affected by obesity, 150 million children are too short for their age because of poor nutrition, and close to a third of women of reproductive age, and half of children, consume inadequate micronutrients.
The Index reveals some important progress. More companies are setting targets to improve their portfolio healthiness, now using internationally recognized Nutrient Profiling Models (NPMs) to classify products as ‘healthier’.
However, overall, there have been only marginal improvements in key metrics such as healthiness of product portfolios. Concurrently, the estimated sales values of company’s healthier products have increased, showing consumers are increasingly purchasing healthier products. Worryingly, product portfolio healthiness was found to be lowest in low-income countries, highlighting disparities in product offerings across different markets and income groups.
Global Index 2024 – key findings
Product Healthiness
Among the 52,414 products analyzed from 30 companies using the Health Star Rating (HSR) system, 31%—a total of 16,467 products—met the healthier threshold (3.5 stars and above out of 5), representing an estimated 34% of the companies' combined sales in 2022. ATNi challenges companies to derive at least half their sales from healthy products by 2030. Today only 30% of companies are meeting this target.
Differences by market and income
Overall food product healthiness in low- and lower middle-income countries scored much lower (mean HSR 1.8) than in high-income countries (mean HSR 2.3). At the aggregate level, the share of ‘less healthy’ products which the 30 assessed companies are marketing is higher in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.
Reporting and disclosures
30% of companies assessed, now use an internationally recognized Nutrient Profiling Model to report on portfolio healthiness, with 20% doing so to report on overall percentages of global sales. While the quality, coverage, and transparency of this reporting varies significantly, this shift reflects the growing appetite for reporting against (inter-)national standards.
Marketing
No company has a policy to fully prohibit marketing unhealthy foods to children under 18 across all marketing channels and techniques, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Four companies have taken positive steps, raising their age thresholds to 16 years while only two are marketing ‘healthier’ products defined by a government-endorsed model.
ATNi calls on
Companies: voluntarily stop marketing to under 18s, improve product portfolio healthiness and fully disclose sales from healthy and unhealthy products using an internationally recognised Nutrient Profiling Model.
Governments: regulate and build an enabling environment that helps companies protect public health. Well-designed fiscal policies to make healthier foods more affordable and less healthy foods more expensive are also needed.
Responsible investors: help hold the companies to account by investing in those acting responsibly, considering the financial costs of long-term ill health caused by current food environment and products.
“'Health is wealth.' We know this is true, but most food companies have not yet placed nutrition as core to their business. There is progress, but our findings show overall subpar performance and weaknesses in the market.”
Greg S. Garrett, Executive Director, ATNi
“Only 31% of the 52,000+ food products assessed by ATNi meet the health criteria. This is not good enough. Companies need to start doing better demonstrating that they care about the public health of their consumer base.”
Jessica Fanzo, Professor of Climate and Director of the Food for Humanity Initiative, Columbia University
http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=49719
Monday, November 4, 2024
HCLTECH AI/CLOUD NATIVE LAB IN SINGAPORE SET TO OPEN NEXT YEAR
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Global technology company, HCLTech announced the creation of a new Singapore-based artificial intelligence (AI)/Cloud Native Lab, its fifth lab in its global network, which is expected to open in 2025.
HCLTech Chairperson, Roshni Nadar Malhotra made the announcement at an event with attendance of Singapore’s Ministry of Digital Development and Information, and the country’s Economic Development Board (EDB), along with senior academic members from Nanyang Polytechnic and Singapore Polytechnic.
“Our Labs are a conducive starting point for enterprises that want to embark on a collaborative journey to develop blueprints for AI and Gen AI-led efficiencies, new business capabilities, skilling roadmaps and overall organisational competitive advantage with a pragmatic approach.
“We are very excited to add Singapore to our network, which will go a long way in further strengthening Singapore’s position as a regional hub for AI innovation,” said HCLTech Chief Technology Officer and Head of Ecosystems, Vijay Guntur in a statement.
The Lab, joining others in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and India, will be supported by the EDB and assist enterprises in the region in accelerating their AI initiatives via HCLTech’s comprehensive suite of integrated AI and Gen AI offerings, including AI Force and AI Foundry.
The Lab in Singapore will also partner with Nanyang Polytechnic and Singapore Polytechnic to collaborate on transferring knowledge and nurturing young talent and mid-career individuals in AI.
Singapore has made significant strides in helping companies adopt and innovate with AI across sectors including financial services, manufacturing and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
In 2023, the Singapore government launched the Singapore National AI Strategy 2.0, highlighting its commitment to leading global AI innovation, which aims to build a trusted and responsible AI ecosystem.
HCLTech has been operating in Singapore for over four decades, building a strong technology presence and working with many notable clients. The republic is the hub for HCLTech's Southeast Asia operations and has led technological advancements, including Asia's first Wi-Fi-based patient tracking system and various projects for the Singapore government.
-- BERNAMA
Friday, November 1, 2024
Toshiba Latest Gate Driver IC Provides Minimised Functions For Diverse Automotive Applications
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (Toshiba) has started to provide engineering samples of a gate driver IC, "TB9084FTG”, for three-phase brushless DC motors that drive essential on-board functions, including automotive body system applications, electric pumps, and motor generators.
Many formerly mechanically controlled parts of road vehicles are now electrified, and vehicles incorporate a large number of electric motors, including those used in automotive body system applications.
In a statement, Toshiba said this transition has also advanced the replacement of brushed DC motors with quieter and longer-lasting brushless DC motors.
Designed to reinforce this shift, TB9084FTG offers the minimum required gate driver IC functions for automotive applications and supports a wide range of automotive motor applications in combination with external devices, such as MOSFETs, power supply ICs, microcontrollers, and communication physical.
Any change in customer system requirements can be supported by replacing corresponding external devices, significantly contributing to flexibility in system design.
Minimising functions allows utilisation of one of the industry’s smallest packages and contributes to equipment miniaturisation. The package also has a wettable flank structure, facilitating easy visual inspection to confirm the reliability of soldered joints.
Toshiba will continue to expand its lineup of gate driver ICs by assessing market needs and optimising product functions, in addition to introducing new products that extend the electrification and improve the safety of automotive equipment.
-- BERNAMA
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