Mint Techcetra

By: Mint - HT Smartcast
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  • Summary

  • The Mint Techcetra podcast is your navigator into the mesmerizing maze that is technology today. From decoding technologies, policies, enterprises, and legal decisions to sci-fi and pop culture, this podcast will cover it all. Every week hosts - Leslie D'Monte, Shouvik Das and Deepti Ahuja - will talk about important developments in tech and how they transform our lives, work and play as we know it. If you have any questions or suggestions you can reach out to the hosts on LinkedIn via their handles given below: Leslie D'Monte, Mint's Sr. Associate Editor: linkedin.com/in/leslie-d-monte-4985993 Shouvik Das, Mint's Assistant Editor, Mint: linkedin.com/in/shouvik-das-77a4bbba Deepti Ahuja, Content Head, HT Smartcast: linkedin.com/in/deeptea This is a Mint production brought to you by HT Smartcast.
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Episodes
  • India makes new laser missiles, Google’s AI talks to dolphins

    India makes new laser missiles, Google’s AI talks to dolphins
    Apr 24 2025
    Dolphins are talking—and we may finally be listening. In today's episode, Hosts Shouvik Das and Leslie D'Monte talk about how researchers have been training AI models on audio patterns from marine life, hoping to decode the communicative clicks and whistles of dolphins. What was once the domain of documentaries is now a serious scientific pursuit, with breakthroughs hinting that we might be on the cusp of cross-species communication. Similar efforts are underway with elephants and apes, where language-like patterns are being observed, dissected, and even responded to using machine learning. These aren’t sci-fi fantasies anymore—they're experiments backed by linguistic theory, acoustic science, and real data. While another is eyeing the sky. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently conducted successful tests of a new laser weapon system—designed to intercept aerial threats with silent, precise beams. Think missile defense, but without the missile. This high-energy weapon is part of India’s push to develop its own version of the Iron Dome, tailored to local security needs. The system promises to be compact, mobile, and cost-effective—potentially offering an edge in both defense preparedness and indigenous military R&D . Meanwhile, a quieter revolution is unfolding in the consumer electronics sector. Homegrown brands like Lava and boAt are no longer content with playing second fiddle to global players. They’re doubling down on R&D, exploring component manufacturing, and positioning themselves for export markets. With PLI incentives and a maturing startup ecosystem, the dream of a Made-in-India electronics powerhouse is entering a new phase. It’s not just about assembling phones anymore—it’s about building the ecosystem from silicon to software, and finding a global voice for Indian tech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • ChatGPT’s Ghibli versus artists, and gen-Z’s AI therapists

    ChatGPT’s Ghibli versus artists, and gen-Z’s AI therapists
    Apr 8 2025
    Hosts Shouvik Das and Leslie D'Monte pondered: if Leonardo da Vinci or Picasso were alive today, would they be just as unnerved by AI as many artists are now? It’s a question worth asking, especially when tools like ChatGPT can now generate stunning images in the signature style of Studio Ghibli with a single prompt. The hosts have previously discussed Ghibli’s sudden rise in cultural popularity, but the recent release of this image-generation feature has reignited deeper conversations about art, ownership, and the role of the artist in an age where style can be replicated with a click. When it becomes this easy to reproduce the visual language of a globally loved, legacy studio, what does that mean for originality—and more importantly, for artists? But then we take a turn into something more personal: the way people, especially Gen Z, are starting to open up to voice assistants and chatbots—not just to set reminders, but to actually talk. About their thoughts, their stresses, and their feelings. Is this a new form of therapy? Or are we just getting lonelier? Along the way, we also chat about Photoshop getting easier to use, washing machines that claim to be “smart,” and why everything from TVs to water filters now comes with a chip that talks back. Spoiler alert: we’re not totally sold on it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    31 mins
  • Nothing artificial about AI: Is OpenAI’s Studio Ghibli-style image generation on ChatGPT only a fad?

    Nothing artificial about AI: Is OpenAI’s Studio Ghibli-style image generation on ChatGPT only a fad?
    Apr 1 2025
    How much of it is copyright, and how much of this is violated? The debates about what is copyright and what is copyleft. With AI-generated images becoming more advanced, what does it mean for artists, digital advertising, and even companies like Google? Will AI-generated content disrupt ad revenue? What happens to creators whose work is used to train these models? In this episode, our host Shouvik Das and Leslie D'Monte talks about OpenAI’s image generator, the shifting landscape of content ownership, and the rise of "ethical AI" as a marketing term. Are we entering an era of "AI washing," much like we saw with cloud and greenwashing? Companies are pushing responsible AI, but how much of it is genuine, and how much is just marketing? Switching gears, we talk about Xiaomi’s latest flagship, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, a phone that bucks the AI trend by doubling down on camera technology. The device features a Leica-powered 200MP camera and comes with a dedicated camera grip and attachments to enhance the photography experience. But in a world where AI is dominating smartphone innovation, is a top-tier camera enough? Would you buy a phone that is ordinary in every other way but has an extraordinary camera? We debate the practicality of such a device—how it fits into real-world usage, whether its hardware is as durable as traditional DSLRs, and if losing or damaging a smartphone with such an advanced camera would be more of a liability than a benefit. We also touch on Bill Gates' recent statement that AI will replace most human jobs—except for biologists and energy researchers. Why these two fields? We break down whether AI is truly incapable of advancing in these areas without human intervention or if Gates' statement oversimplifies the situation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins
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