If you read even a bit of recent technological news, you may have fair idea where it all going! And besides all the advancement, the main concern of our era is quick and revolutionary advancement of AI.
Before going into further detail, let's discuss some progresses already achieved in AI.
You can be uniquely identified by your voice with 90% of accuracy. Link
Voice recognition has been as good as human being. These first two points jointly identifies who you are and what you are talking about. Link
Face recognition accuracy has been reached to 97%, where as human accuracy has been around 96%. More or less AI is reaching there where your one image can be identified at different places with certainty. Link
Letter scanning technology has been improved so far that it can identify your cursive handwriting with 99% of accuracy. Scan any image containing any text, it will identify and highlight texts within it. Be it a machine text or human text AI is now able to extract the textual information. Link (Read Conclusion)
Google's AI Deep Mind is able to defeat world's Go Champion Lee in 4-1. This is done through AI without much computation as supposed earlier with such game's complexity. Link
Driverless cars are now a reality. Tesla is one such good example. Google has been running it's driverless cars for 2 years successfully. Link
News story can be created in real time with the help of AI. This puts news editor's job in danger. Link1Link2
AI works best where there is certain rules to follow and need little human intervention, but it is not limited to above use case only. It can learn almost all of human skills in quick manner if it is programmed that way whether it is a labour intensive job or requires a creative thinking.
Knowing the recent speed and efforts companies are putting in AI, there is no surprise there will be AI for all kind of job, in that scenario what will human left to do is a big question to think!!! Now you got the fair idea that AI is reading at human level or at par with human in some or other fields. In today's internet world it will take no longer to reach such technology to other part of planet. (Read developed world to developing world). We will see more and more applications based on AI in near future at a rapid rate. Everything that can be automated will be automated. But there is a catch for you, once automation will be in place, it will be hard to bypass/trick an AI based robot. Let's see some hypothetical examples:
Suppose there is a Robotic Traffic Police Man which controls traffic as well as gives challan to traffic rule violators. Can you manage to bribe that Robo Cop? There is a 100% surety that it can't be bribed and 99% chance that it can't be fooled.
Similarly if you have evaded some taxes then some Robot based income tax inspector will come to arrest you, can you bribe him?
In coming 5 to 10 years, it will be hard to evade from your wrong karma and if you are able to escape from God's punishment make no mistake. AI will punish you for sure. He will track your current record as well as previous records and will do the needful.
We both were working in the same company. And after getting into relationship we came to know that both of us never thought of joining this company, rather we didn't even know the company name. Joining this very company itself a long story for both of us. So skipping this company joining part. So I joined this company on 1 st of Nov 2011. And she joined 21st of Nov 2011 with another girl[Let's call this another girl Any]. But destiny has different plans for us[better plans for us-we realized later].
So, I started training Any and my colleague started training her. At first look she was like Ok type [in boys language]. I had hardly any conversation with her and I hardly gave any special attention to her. Time kept passing , we usually used to talk in the lunch time , because she used to eat my lunch after finishing her lunch.[note: rare girl found here]. And then we used to have little walk after the lunch. After some time I kinda like the idea of walk after the lunch.
Till this time , I used to like another girl[Say Any2] in the office and we had good time in office, Me and Any2 became good friends . Our HR and Manager were jealous of our friendship. I could easily recognize their expressions. So this continues for 2 months . Now then a new project came and resource allocation was planned by my managers. I don't know out of jealously or what neither Any nor Any2 came into my Project.
So,in this project there were 5 peoples. I ,she and 3 more guys. These 3 guys were senior to me in the company so they were good friends . That how we came closer,because
1. Our nearest metro station was same to our client side
2. We were left out by those three.
So travel time+lunch time + project discussions brought her close to me . After three months working together I fell in love with her. But every time I used to think,no this can't be true. I just like her .
So I kept ignoring my feelings. And then this project ended and I was moved to some other projects.
Now I was in another project with another beautiful and cute girls in [July-Oct 2012]. So I thought now feelings for her should vanish. But no it gets stronger and stronger . The more I try to look towards another girls, the more my heart remembers her. So finally I got to know beta Rahul- now your mind and heart have the chemical locha. You can't ignore it. So I finally decided to propose her. And I wrote all my feeling in form of so called love letter and planned to give her with proposal.
Now the proposal[22-09-12] day,we planned to meet after her interview at Sec-18 noida , it was pretty hard to get a date with her so I said after interview we can meet easily. Interview started at 10:00 , so I expected to end it around 11 or 11:30. So I reached KFC at 11:00 and called her but the phone got Busy that means interview is still going. So, I kept waiting there with flowers, 3 small gifts and with my love letter . During the wait of 4 hours I almost tried all drinks of KFC with the lowest possible intake rate. First time ever I was not able to enjoy any of the drinks due combination of nervousness and excitement. So finally I got a call around 15:00 and she told that interview was not that good[meri to lag gayi - I thought beta mood to sahi nhi hoga iska aaj, aur tu propose karega aaj,tera pitna pakka hai chhore] . She then said ki cancel KFC and let's go to CP, we will have some food. I agreed instantly as I had no time to lose or wait.
Now, we were in the CCD of Rajiv Chauk. Here even after a good cup of coffee, she easily traced my nervousness and asked ki ghadi to 4 bajaa rahi hi tumhaare chehre pe 12 kyun baje hain. I couldn't reply anything, just said bas aise hi. There were several things happening in my mind . I was not able to think where should I start and how should I start. So , to ease her mood [mine as well] I gifted her one of the gift to her. She liked it very much. But still I couldn't figure out how I should I start. I couldn't propose her at CCD. So we went up to Central Park.
Now, we were in the CP talking all the random stuff, but still I couldn't have the enough courage to say her. Then my best friend Ruchi 's call came that she will be at Rajiv Chauk in 10 mins. I went to metro again to bring her in the CP. In the meantime I conveyed all feeling for her to Ruchi and ask her if she can help me .
During the conversation Ruchi tried to figure out what's going inside her mind. I asked Ruchi in the language of eyes . Ruchi clearly indicated that I have no chance.[Meri to lagg gayi]. But I was determined that this is the day, I won't find any other day or life to propose her. Thinking all of this the time passed and girls planned to leave for the day. I was like NOOOOOOOOOOO..... Then as soon as she/they started to move from CP , I bent on my knees and gave the second gift which was a keychain of heart inside heart[ meaning for me was - I will keep your heart safe inside my heart.] and said that Please take my heart. She was not expecting a proposal from me so she thought it was some kind of joke or prank, but after looking my serious face she asked are you serious ..? I said "Yes, aur Tujhe kya lagta hai? subah se mere face pe 12 aiwe hi baja hua tha.? ". She then said as you proposed me, there shouldn't be any change between us. We were friends and we will be friends. I said i have no issues.[ In my mind I wanted to hear the same].
Now, we were inside the metro,Ruchi left us at Central Secretariat and we continued the same metro. Now to light up the mood. I gave the flowers and showed her the third gift . And said if u had accepted my proposal I would have gave the third one also.But I won't give you now. I will give this to you whichever comes earlier either your acceptance or your birthday.[Don't know why I kinda blackmailed her]
Time passed and an office trip was planned . I clearly said to her if you are not coming , I am not going too. Then she agreed to come , but along with her elder sister . Mai to fas hi gya ab naa to haan bol paaya naa naa. So we all (7 colleagues) started our journey in an Innova around 8 pm. I was in last row with her and her sister. As expected her sister was sitting between us.Then we stopped for dinner around 10 pm . After dinner her sister gave the chance to sit her with me [Don't know if she did intentionally or not]. We had awesome Antakshari till 1 a.m. then all of them got sleepy except me. As she was just sitting beside me her head used to come to my shoulder time to time, but as soon as she got to know she just kept her straight, but it was long journey. After one hour her head finally landed to my shoulder for the long time as she was in deep sleep. This feeling was out of the world. At this time all I wanted was may this head remain on my shoulder forever and ever. I made sure that she don't feel the jerk of vehicle. She woke up in the morning and saw me awaking and asked if I was awake whole night . I lied that no I just woke up. But yes she got to know that whole night her head was on my shoulders.
Now we were still inside that Innova. In the morning after her waking up , I gathered some courage and hold her hand. Due to shock or some running thoughts she parted her hand after 2 or 3 minutes.
I thought that this was the end of my love story and suddenly a miracle happened and now she was holding my hand . I kept holding her hand for the whole office trip in front of all 4 other colleagues without fearing all possible gossip ,rumors and taunts. This was my experience of Magic of Warmth in the cold night as an acceptance came silently without uttering a word. Sometimes we don't need to tell what we feel, the person whom you love can get to know your feelings very easily. Every time I meet her it seems that this is the best day ever. And I am fortunate to that I still feel the Magic Warmth touch everyday, as she is my wife now. :).
Investing in stock market is risky- we all know this fact. But how risky ? - This is the question which we all want to know or some people don't want to know just because being risky is enough for them to stay away from the market.
Before reading further let me put this declaimer : "I am a fairly new investor(1 and half year old in market to be precise), so my view will be fairly limited to my experience of market as well as studies done by me.
This article is all about how to learn and start investing in market without taking much risk. Let's start. (Earlier you start, better the returns):-
If you don't want to track stock market on daily or monthly basis and fluctuations make your heart beat faster then go for Balanced Mutual Funds(Open ended with growth option).
If you can bear the fluctuations and ready to take some risks go for Equity Mutual Funds
If you want to save taxes as well while investing in Mutual Funds go for ELSS.
Note: Prefer Open Ended Mutual Funds with Growth Options only. Choose dividend Mutual Funds when you need regular returns from Mutual Funds.
If your risk appetite is still little higher than that and want to make your hands dirty with manual selections of stocks, go ahead with following steps in mind. These steps are meant for long term investment horizon.
Start with small amount. Limit 5-10% of your annual income in first year.
Purchase only quality stocks companies which you know and their annual turnover is respectable.(Nifty 100 or BSE S&P 200)
Search for unpopular large companies, there may be some companies which may be part of S&P 100 or 200 but not so popular in masses due to their business model, such companies can be bought at bargain.
Maximum price to be paid for any share should not reach more than 25 times their P/E.
Search for the stocks which are at low due to some temporary issues. Like- Flood or some natural disaster affecting their business.
Never buy a share which has been subjected to some lawsuits.
Keep buying at regular interval. This will average your buying price and help in good return in long term.
A great company may not be a great investment if you buy it overprices.(refer to P/E rule)
Don't put all of your eggs in a basket. Means diversify your investment but not too much. Purchase different sectors.
If you get chance to put your money in foreign market don't put more than 1/3 of your portfolio.
Don't rely much on market forecasts and market experts.
Never sell all of your stocks no matter how much market is overvalued.
When you think market is overvalued sell the stocks and keep the money in bonds and repurchase when you feel market is undervalued.
Never buy after a substantial rise or fall of market.
Make sure company has paid regular dividend from last 5 to 10 years.
Don't try to beat the market, try to make return close to market returns.
Index funds does the best job as they don't try to beat the market.
See cashflow statement of company and see if their income from operations is increasing through out the years.
Look for the debt on company it should be less than 50% of their capital. (D/E should be less than 0.5)
Start your investment from ETFs and Mutual Funds to understand market sentiments.
Make a virtual portfolio from sites like moneycontrol.com and add your favourite stocks in it and match market return.
Don't frequently buy and sell as brokerage charges and taxes can make your actual gain less.
Take benefits of 1 year lock advantage for equity as capital gain is free from taxes.
This is the second book from Atul Gawande that I have just read, what a thought provoking and ground shaking book it is. Both of the books are distinctly connected to each other. In “checklist Manifasto” he talks about how checklist can save lives and in being mortal he talks about how one should die.
I have read only a few dozens of non-curriculum books but non of them talked about this issue even in small details. The only reason I can conclude is – Death is ultimate fear of one's life, we are scared to core just thinking about it. Hearing “Death” word gives you some or other kind of goosebumps, but can you escape it- No, probably never. If it is unavoidable – do you want to talk about it- there is also a No here.
This is what Atul has accomplished in this book, he talked about it and talked pretty gracefully and interesting. No where in the book it feels boring or too scary.
Book's tag line is -”Medicine and what matters in the end”. And same is the motto of writer. Whatever Atul is trying to conclude can't be covered in this review. This book is highly recommended for people who are more than 50 and for those who are taking care such people.
Some focus points of this book are as follow:
This book helps you decide whether you should opt for medical help or not. if taken medical help how long you should be taking it and when you can decide to stop it.
This will also help whether to get medical help at home or in hospital or in hospice.
This is another book which establishes connection between a healthy person with helping family.
You will also notice beside family and medicine, there are other factors that can help you get well
It tells you difference between your horizon vs Doctor's horizon.
This is a book of reference of its own kind, if you have it you will definitely revisit it throughout your life. One worthy for book for our bookShelf(physical or digital).
