English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Tech

Wallet payments above Rs 2,000 to be charged at 1.1% from April 1, UPI to remain free

Customers will now have the choice of using bank accounts, RuPay Credit cards, and prepaid wallets on UPI-enabled payment applications.

Published

on

Wallet payments

After several speculations and misinformation, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has decided to interchange fees on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions made for over Rs 2,000 via Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs).

The NPCI notified that an interchange fee of up to 1.1% will be applicable on merchant UPI transactions from April 1. The PPI fees would be levied on UPI payments done via GPay, Paytm, and other payment applications.

After the announcement was made, users got confused which led to the spread of false news among them. Now, the official Twitter handle of Paytm Payments Bank clarified that no customer will have to pay any charges for making payments from UPI either from the bank account or PPI/Paytm Wallet. The PPB also urged the users to not spread misinformation.

Read Also: Election Commission says decision on Lok Sabha bypoll in Wayanad after court granted appeal time is over

Have a look at the tweet here:

NPCI also clarified in a tweet and wrote UPI is free, fast, secure, and seamless. It further said over 8 billion transactions are processed free for customers and merchants using bank accounts.

In its press release, NPCI said the PPI Wallets have been allowed to be part of an interoperable UPI ecosystem and in view of the same, NPCI has now permitted the PPI wallets to be part of an interoperable UPI ecosystem.

It further said the interchange charges introduced are only applicable for the PPI merchant transactions and there is no charge to customers, and it is further clarified that there will be no charges for the bank account to bank account-based UPI payments.

With this addition, customers will now have the choice of using bank accounts, RuPay Credit cards, and prepaid wallets on UPI-enabled payment applications.

Bombay HC refuses to grant any relief to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in National Anthem case

India records over 2,151 new Covid-19 cases in single day, highest since October 2022

Tech

OpenAI launches GPT-6 Astra with major upgrades in AI reasoning, coding and computer use

OpenAI has introduced GPT-6 Astra, a new flagship AI model with advances in reasoning, coding, computer use, science and cybersecurity.

Published

on

chtagpt ASTRA

OpenAI has introduced GPT-6 Astra, a new flagship artificial intelligence model designed to handle complex reasoning, coding, computer-use tasks, scientific work and professional workflows.

The company describes Astra as its most intelligent and aligned model so far. According to OpenAI, the model combines advances in pre-training, reinforcement learning and alignment to improve its ability to perform multi-step tasks and work with computers and software.

GPT-6 Astra focuses on computer use and professional tasks

One of the key areas of improvement is computer use. OpenAI says GPT-6 Astra can perform tasks such as filling online forms, updating records, organising calendars and conducting online research.

The model can also analyse scientific data, generate plots, create websites and perform frontend quality checks. Its capabilities are intended to allow it to complete longer workflows rather than simply generate text in response to individual prompts.

OpenAI reported a 72.6% score on OSWorld 2.0, compared with 65.7% for GPT-5.6 Sol in the comparison provided by the company. It also reported a 59.3% score on Agents’ Last Exam and 92.7% on ScreenSpot-Pro.

GPT-6 Astra brings stronger coding capabilities

OpenAI says GPT-6 Astra is its strongest model for software engineering to date. The model is designed to work on complex coding tasks and can use tools to inspect software, execute code and test applications.

Astra also introduces improved context handling in Codex. According to OpenAI, the model can preserve and retrieve information from earlier context windows, helping it maintain requirements and test results during longer coding sessions.

Advances in science and mathematics

GPT-6 Astra has also been developed for scientific and mathematical applications. OpenAI says it achieved a 96% score on GPQA Diamond, a benchmark covering graduate-level questions in biology, chemistry and physics.

The company also reported a 99.9% score on ARC-AGI-3 and a 98% score on FrontierMath Tier 4. OpenAI further said Astra helped establish new results related to both unusually small and unusually large gaps between prime numbers.

These results are benchmark claims made by OpenAI and should not be interpreted as meaning that the model has achieved human-level intelligence across every area.

Cybersecurity capabilities also see a major jump

Cybersecurity is another area where Astra represents a substantial increase in capability. OpenAI says the model meets the Critical threshold for cybersecurity under its Preparedness Framework.

In the company’s testing, Astra achieved a 100% score on ExploitBench, compared with 78.5% for GPT-5.6 Sol. OpenAI also said the model discovered and used two previously unknown zero-day vulnerabilities during one evaluation and that the vulnerabilities were disclosed to their maintainers.

Because of these capabilities, OpenAI says additional safeguards have been introduced to reduce the risk of harmful cyber use.

GPT-6 Astra rollout and availability

OpenAI says GPT-6 Astra is initially rolling out to a limited group of organisations. The company plans to make it available over the following days to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise users.

The model is also being made available through the OpenAI API and AWS. Developers can access it through the API using the model identifier gpt-6-astra.

OpenAI’s API documentation lists a 1.05-million-token context window and a maximum output of 128,000 tokens for GPT-6 Astra.

Does GPT-6 Astra mean AGI has arrived?

The launch has renewed discussion around artificial general intelligence (AGI) because of Astra’s performance across a wide range of tasks. However, OpenAI’s official announcement describes GPT-6 Astra as a highly capable frontier model and does not state that the company has declared AGI achieved.

Therefore, it would be more accurate to describe Astra as a major advancement in AI capabilities rather than definitively calling its launch the arrival of AGI.

Continue Reading

Tech

Vivo V80 Lite with 10,000mAh battery set for global launch on September 3

Vivo V80 Lite will launch in Malaysia on September 3 with a 10,000mAh battery, while its India launch and full specifications remain unconfirmed.

Published

on

Vivo has confirmed that the V80 Lite will launch in Malaysia on September 3, with the smartphone’s 10,000mAh battery emerging as its biggest highlight. The company says the V80 Lite will be its first globally launched smartphone to feature a battery of this capacity.

The upcoming smartphone is expected to target buyers looking for long battery life, while its flat design and 50MP main camera will also be among its key features.

Vivo V80 Lite design and battery details

Vivo has revealed that the Malaysian version of the V80 Lite 5G will feature a flat frame and flat rear panel. The smartphone will be available in black, green and pink colour options.

At the back, the phone will have a square-shaped camera module housing a 50MP primary camera.

The 10,000mAh battery is the phone’s biggest talking point. While the V80 Lite is not Vivo’s first smartphone with a battery capacity of 10,000mAh or more, it is the company’s first globally launched model to reach this capacity. 

The Vivo Y600 Pro, which was launched in China, was the company’s first phone with a battery capacity of 10,000mAh or more.

Vivo V80 Lite specifications are still uncertain

The V80 Lite has previously appeared in certification databases under multiple model numbers. One of these, V2576, has also been associated with the Vivo S2, prompting speculation that the V80 Lite could reuse some hardware from that model in certain markets. 

Based on earlier reports, the V80 Lite could feature a 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Other tipped specifications include a 50MP Sony IMX852 primary camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera and a 32MP front camera.

The phone is also tipped to feature Aura Light, stereo speakers, an in-display fingerprint sensor and IP68/IP69 protection. However, these specifications have not been fully confirmed by Vivo.

Chipset and charging details remain unclear

There is also uncertainty surrounding the V80 Lite’s chipset and charging capabilities. Earlier reports have pointed to both the MediaTek Dimensity 7360 Turbo and Dimensity 7300e.

Charging specifications are similarly unclear. While a 90W charging capability had previously been rumoured, certification information has pointed towards 44W charging.

The phone’s India launch has also not been confirmed yet. An earlier appearance on an Indian retailer’s Instagram page had suggested that the smartphone could eventually arrive in the country, although details of an India launch remain unavailable.

For now, Vivo has confirmed the Malaysia launch for September 3. More details about the V80 Lite’s complete specifications, pricing and availability are expected to emerge closer to the launch.

Continue Reading

India News

Uniform rules for WhatsApp, Telegram under review as Centre examines legal aspects

The Centre is reviewing responses from WhatsApp, Telegram and Zoho Bharat Eye over username-based messaging features, with a notification on uniform rules likely within 20 days.

Published

on

WhatsApp

The Centre is reviewing responses submitted by WhatsApp, Telegram and Zoho Bharat Eye regarding their username-based messaging features, as the government evaluates whether regulatory action is required. A notification on the issue could be issued within the next 20 days.

MeitY examines responses from messaging platforms

According to sources in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), WhatsApp, Telegram and Zoho Bharat Eye have responded to government notices concerning username-based messaging features.

The ministry’s legal team is scrutinising the replies to determine whether any existing legal provisions have been violated and whether any clauses can be invoked for regulatory action or sanctions.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of a cybersecurity report on Monday, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan confirmed that WhatsApp’s response had been received over the weekend and is currently under examination.

“The reply was received last week. We are examining the response and action, if any, will be taken after that examination,” he said.

Government stresses uniform regulatory approach

The government has maintained that any regulatory framework introduced in connection with username-based messaging will apply equally across all messaging platforms rather than targeting any single service.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has indicated that a notification on the matter is expected within the next 20 days. The ongoing review is focused on examining the legal implications rather than being a purely policy exercise.

Why the government raised concerns

MeitY had issued notices to WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal after expressing concerns that username-based messaging, which allows users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers, could be misused for impersonation, phishing, identity theft and so-called “digital arrest” scams.

Earlier, a WhatsApp spokesperson said the platform is primarily designed as a private messaging service that helps people stay connected with friends and family.

The review forms part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen online safety, curb the misuse of digital communication platforms and ensure that any future regulations are implemented uniformly across messaging services.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com