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Charles Assisi

Articles by Charles Assisi

Know reservations: Charles Assisi writes on dogma, religion and being an atheist

A recent visit to a cathedral has me thinking: Maybe we atheists can sometimes stray into the same absolutisms we criticise in religion, he says.

‘I’d rather be an atheist who occasionally marvels at stained-glass windows and soaring choir music than someone locked in a fortress of pride masquerading as absolutes.’ (Adobe Stock)

Art and Culture

Updated on Jan 11, 2025 02:04 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

The whip of Silicon Valley tech behemoths

India is waging a digital war against US and China, facing challenges like misinformation and tech dominance while seeking innovative solutions

The Indian government is among the few countries waging a war on the internet against the US and China

Mumbai

Updated on Jan 04, 2025 08:56 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Remember to always ‘put the weights back’, says Charles Assisi

Among his lessons learnt in 2024: Invest wisely in health; cherish the only body you will ever have. Be kinder, everyone really is carrying a burden.

Agony and ecstasy are reflected in Pablo Picasso’s The Three Dancers; 1925.

Art and Culture

Updated on Dec 28, 2024 03:30 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Tech trends: What to expect in 2025

India's tech landscape is evolving as people experiment with AI at home, paving the way for advancements in FinTech, healthcare, 5G, and cloud computing.

Huge changes are brewing in India’s tech space.

Mumbai

Updated on Dec 28, 2024 10:35 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Who are you without your job title?: Charles Assisi tries a social experiment

‘How tightly we cling to our work identities. I tried shedding mine for a few days. It was awkward, sobering... but I would highly recommend it,’ he says.

In Hacks (2021-), Jean Smart plays a woman defined by her identity as a successful comedian. Faced with a dip in her career, she has no idea what she’ll do next, or who her friends are.

Art and Culture

Updated on Dec 21, 2024 07:08 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Nations must control data to tell their stories their own way

Digital sovereignty empowers nations to control their own data and narratives, ensuring cultural integrity and security against foreign influence.

Who gets to decide how a country’s stories, culture, and information are handled online? (Shutterstock)

Mumbai

Updated on Dec 21, 2024 07:54 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Nations must control data to tell their stories their way

Digital sovereignty means a nation has the infrastructure and power to keep its own data home, manage its own digital affairs, and ensure what its citizens sees online is not controlled by distant companies and foreign governments

With companies such as Amazon, Google, Meta, Apple and Netflix operating out of Silicon Valley, all narratives and data are controlled by American entities (File photo/Representational Image)

India News

Published on Dec 20, 2024 06:46 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Pause and effect: Charles Assisi spent a week being totally honest

‘The experience was brutal, stressful – and devastating to others,’ Assisi says. ‘On Day Four, I discovered a cure. Here’s how to use the perfect pause.’

Is the pause working yet?: Jim Carrey as a lawyer who can’t fib at all, for a day, in Liar Liar (1997).

Art and Culture

Updated on Dec 07, 2024 03:46 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Lessons for India from Intel’s downturn

The company that powered the PC revolution is now struggling to keep pace with nimbler rivals like Nvidia and ARM, whose chips are powering everything from artificial intelligence (AI) to smartphones

At some point, it appeared imminent that Qualcomm would take over Intel. (Intel | Official X account)

India News

Updated on Dec 06, 2024 04:08 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Is a laptop import ban feasible?

Announcing a policy is the easy part. Execution is where things usually fall apart. The laptop move is bold, even risky. But it’s also necessary

India is considering a ban on imports of laptops, personal computers and mobile phones after January. (AFP)

Mumbai

Published on Nov 29, 2024 06:39 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

India on the sidelines as the future of finance dawns

Blockchain is the foundation of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin but its potential stretches far beyond speculative trading enabling tamper-proof voting systems, transparent supply chains, and decentralized finance.

Business

Updated on Nov 22, 2024 02:27 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Rolling with the hunches: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi

Should you trust your gut, or let data take the lead? Algorithms are trained to be logical, exacting, and can help. But to soar as a human, spontaneity is vital

The math is never easy: A still from the 1959 Disney film, Donald in Mathmagic Land.

Art and Culture

Updated on Nov 09, 2024 07:45 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Too many digital IDs spoil the broth

India's new student ID initiative, APAAR, risks complicating digital IDs instead of simplifying them, raising questions on efficiency and cost.

Mumbai

Updated on Nov 09, 2024 08:30 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

The impact of Meta’s entry in search

Meta is developing a search engine, signaling a shift in the digital landscape as AI transforms how we access information, challenging Google's dominance.

Mumbai

Updated on Nov 02, 2024 06:32 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

A few core truths: Charles Assisi, on running towards fitness, but more slowly

A fitness journey should be less like a race, more like a long hike, he says. The destination may be out of view; what matters is that one is on the right path.

‘There’s an aggressiveness to fitness goals today, that I think the world could do without,’ Assisi says. ‘The body doesn’t care how many motivational quotes you’ve consumed and abs don’t appear because you visualised them really hard.’ (Images: Adobe Stock)

Art and Culture

Updated on Oct 26, 2024 04:19 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Why tech bros need to be less paranoid about debt

So, while it’s understandable that tech bros remain a little wary, perhaps it’s time to relax—at least a little

After all, if one has built an empire, it’s okay to stop worrying about someone sneaking up with a water pistol. (Representative file photo)

India News

Published on Oct 25, 2024 04:00 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Musk vs Ambani-Mittal is a battle to watch out for

Elon Musk's Starlink gains approval for satellite broadband in India, challenging Reliance and Bharti, raising tensions in the telecom sector.

Mumbai

Updated on Oct 19, 2024 08:12 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

To the warriors in our midst: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi

Americans seem confused by Kamala Harris’s admiration of her mother. But here, such awe is a given. It comes from seeing women reinvent, rebound, prevail.

Charles Assisi and his mother, Lilly Assisi. She is proof, he says, that age is no barrier to change. Reinvention doesn’t belong to the young. It belongs to the brave.

Art and Culture

Updated on Oct 12, 2024 03:41 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Is using ChatGPT good for kids?

Concerns grow over kids' use of AI tools like ChatGPT for assignments, raising issues of creativity, privacy, and data safety amid a lack of regulation.

Mumbai

Updated on Oct 12, 2024 08:52 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

There’s a battle brewing...and it will be fought in ones and zeroes

Our digital systems are uniquely pervasive, vital – but uniquely unprotected. What do the shadowy new threats look like? How well-armed are we for this fight?

Art and Culture

Updated on Oct 12, 2024 04:01 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Are kids really safe using ChatGPT?

AI models often function as black boxes, processing inputs and delivering outputs without users knowing what’s happening in between

When kids input assignments into AI tools, they’re feeding data into systems they don’t understand. (Representative file photo)

Business

Published on Oct 11, 2024 06:20 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Scalpers, not BookMyShow, are the culprits

Scalpers are modern-day vultures, swooping in at the precise moment of release, snatching tickets before the average fan even has a chance.

Business

Updated on Oct 04, 2024 04:38 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Too much, too much, of everything: Life Hacks by Charles Assisi

Many of us can tell that ‘more’ isn’t quite the right goal – but we aren’t sure what to replace it with. Well... I'd say start by asking not ‘what’ but ‘why’.

A still from The Great Gatsby (2013). Happiness and fulfilment don’t come from wealth, popularity or opulence alone. We know this. Why is it so easy to forget?

Art and Culture

Updated on Sep 28, 2024 04:11 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Social media and kids: how much is too much?

Australia plans to legislate a minimum age for social media, amid global debates on its impact on youth mental health and calls for responsible digital citizenship.

Mumbai

Updated on Sep 21, 2024 08:20 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Eat ledger: Charles Assisi is reframing his narrative with food

He is deleting phrases such as ‘can’t resist’, and aligning himself with the chef Julia Child, who wisely said: Everything in moderation, including moderation.

A still from the film Marie Antoinette (2006). ‘I allow for a little indulgence, if it is measured not wanton, and occasional rather than the start of a regressive slide,’ Assisi says.

Art and Culture

Updated on Sep 14, 2024 12:52 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Nvidia’s ‘correction’ a moment of reflection

Nvidia's recent stock drop signals a reality check for the AI sector, prompting concerns about growth sustainability and potential investment slowdowns.

Mumbai

Updated on Sep 14, 2024 07:54 AM IST

ByCharles Assisi

Overregulating AI may mean getting left behind

The next battleground is already taking shape: nations like the US and China are positioning themselves as AI leaders. The EU risks falling behind. India is debating a third way.

Business

Published on Sep 06, 2024 07:33 PM IST

ByCharles 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

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Charles Assisi

A recent visit to a cathedral has me thinking: Maybe we atheists can sometimes stray into the same absolutisms we criticise in religion, he says.

India is waging a digital war against US and China, facing challenges like misinformation and tech dominance while seeking innovative solutions

Among his lessons learnt in 2024: Invest wisely in health; cherish the only body you will ever have. Be kinder, everyone really is carrying a burden.

India's tech landscape is evolving as people experiment with AI at home, paving the way for advancements in FinTech, healthcare, 5G, and cloud computing.

‘How tightly we cling to our work identities. I tried shedding mine for a few days. It was awkward, sobering... but I would highly recommend it,’ he says.

Digital sovereignty empowers nations to control their own data and narratives, ensuring cultural integrity and security against foreign influence.

Digital sovereignty means a nation has the infrastructure and power to keep its own data home, manage its own digital affairs, and ensure what its citizens sees online is not controlled by distant companies and foreign governments

‘The experience was brutal, stressful – and devastating to others,’ Assisi says. ‘On Day Four, I discovered a cure. Here’s how to use the perfect pause.’

The company that powered the PC revolution is now struggling to keep pace with nimbler rivals like Nvidia and ARM, whose chips are powering everything from artificial intelligence (AI) to smartphones

Announcing a policy is the easy part. Execution is where things usually fall apart. The laptop move is bold, even risky. But it’s also necessary

Blockchain is the foundation of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin but its potential stretches far beyond speculative trading enabling tamper-proof voting systems, transparent supply chains, and decentralized finance.

Should you trust your gut, or let data take the lead? Algorithms are trained to be logical, exacting, and can help. But to soar as a human, spontaneity is vital

India's new student ID initiative, APAAR, risks complicating digital IDs instead of simplifying them, raising questions on efficiency and cost.

Meta is developing a search engine, signaling a shift in the digital landscape as AI transforms how we access information, challenging Google's dominance.

A fitness journey should be less like a race, more like a long hike, he says. The destination may be out of view; what matters is that one is on the right path.

So, while it’s understandable that tech bros remain a little wary, perhaps it’s time to relax—at least a little

Elon Musk's Starlink gains approval for satellite broadband in India, challenging Reliance and Bharti, raising tensions in the telecom sector.

Americans seem confused by Kamala Harris’s admiration of her mother. But here, such awe is a given. It comes from seeing women reinvent, rebound, prevail.

Concerns grow over kids' use of AI tools like ChatGPT for assignments, raising issues of creativity, privacy, and data safety amid a lack of regulation.

Our digital systems are uniquely pervasive, vital – but uniquely unprotected. What do the shadowy new threats look like? How well-armed are we for this fight?

AI models often function as black boxes, processing inputs and delivering outputs without users knowing what’s happening in between

Scalpers are modern-day vultures, swooping in at the precise moment of release, snatching tickets before the average fan even has a chance.

Many of us can tell that ‘more’ isn’t quite the right goal – but we aren’t sure what to replace it with. Well... I'd say start by asking not ‘what’ but ‘why’.

Australia plans to legislate a minimum age for social media, amid global debates on its impact on youth mental health and calls for responsible digital citizenship.

He is deleting phrases such as ‘can’t resist’, and aligning himself with the chef Julia Child, who wisely said: Everything in moderation, including moderation.

Nvidia's recent stock drop signals a reality check for the AI sector, prompting concerns about growth sustainability and potential investment slowdowns.

The next battleground is already taking shape: nations like the US and China are positioning themselves as AI leaders. The EU risks falling behind. India is debating a third way.

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.

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