San Francisco: Advait Paliwal, a 21-year-old Indian-origin techie based in San Francisco, has introduced an innovative wearable AI device named 'Iris,' which aims to provide users with what he describes as "infinite memory." The device automatically captures a photograph every minute, storing these images either locally or in the cloud, allowing users to document everyday moments that might otherwise be forgotten.

Iris's design is inspired by the traditional evil eye symbol, a concept Paliwal shared on social media. The device was developed during a two-month AI and hardware accelerator program at the Augmentation Lab in Cambridge. Paliwal later showcased Iris at the MIT Media Lab, where it received positive feedback, with many attendees expressing interest in acquiring the product.

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Paliwal detailed how Iris not only organizes these photos into a coherent timeline but also uses artificial intelligence to generate captions, assisting users in recalling specific details. One standout feature is the "focus mode," which detects when the wearer becomes distracted and provides gentle prompts to help them regain focus.

Paliwal emphasized the broad potential of Iris in various industries. He suggested the device could be useful for healthcare professionals, helping them monitor patients' daily routines, or in workplaces to ensure safety compliance. In elderly care, Iris could provide caregivers with unobtrusive ways to track patients’ well-being.

Despite its positive reception, the device has stirred online debate, particularly over privacy concerns. While some users were excited about the concept, others expressed discomfort. One individual commented, "It’s an interesting idea, but I wouldn’t want to interact with someone wearing this, taking a photo every minute." In response, Paliwal pointed out that people already "constantly take mental photos."

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Malegaon (Maharashtra), Nov 23: In a closely contested election, Mohammad Ismail Abdul Khalique of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has retained the Malegaon Central assembly seat, winning by a razor-thin margin of 162 votes.

This victory in the north Maharashtra constituency marks a significant turnaround for Khalique, who previously enjoyed a commanding lead in the 2019 elections, winning by over one lakh votes.

Khalique, an Islamic scholar, received a total of 1,09,653 votes this time, narrowly defeating his nearest rival, Asif Shaikh Rasheed of the Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra party, who got 1,09,491 votes.

There were a total of 13 candidates contesting in this Muslim dominated constituency. Barring Khalique and Rasheed, two other candidates -- Shaan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed of Samajwadi Party and Ejaz Baig Aziz Baig managed below 10,000 votes. Other remaining candidates were below 1,000 votes.

This election marks Khalique's third term as an MLA. He initially represented the Malegaon Central seat in 2009 as a member of the Jan Surajya Shakti party.

However, Khalique faced a setback in the 2014 elections when he contested under the banner of the Nationalist Congress Party and lost.

His return to the assembly in 2019 under the AIMIM banner solidified his political presence, and despite the significantly reduced margin this year, he has once again emerged victorious.

The results highlight the competitive nature of the Malegaon Central constituency and underscore Khalique's resilience in maintaining his position amidst changing political dynamics.