AI is just a tool; it depends on who wields it. While it's already easing human labour and transforming sectors like transport, its impact on finance could be equally revolutionary. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keILONaI6hY

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) refers to the collection and analysis of information from publicly available sources, including media reports, satellite imagery, social media, and government publications. It is widely used by security experts, intelligence agencies, and sometimes even cybercriminals to gather actionable intelligence without resorting to covert or classified means. Despite its growing importance, few people outside the intelligence and defense communities truly understand how OSINT works. Many assume it is simply about reading news or monitoring social media, but effective OSINT requires advanced skills in data verification, geolocation, image analysis, and pattern recognition. The process involves sifting through vast amounts of open data, corroborating findings with other intelligence disciplines (such as HUMINT and TECHINT), and rapidly synthesizing insights to inform decision-making. The technical complexity and the need for critical thinking mean that only a select group of specialists can fully leverage OSINT’s potential. Within the OSINT community, there is an ongoing “war” among operators—a competitive environment where independent analysts, institutional experts, and even state-backed actors race to break news, expose misinformation, or claim credit for high-impact discoveries. This rivalry can lead to public disputes over the authenticity of findings, accusations of bias or manipulation, and attempts to discredit rival analysts. The competitive nature of OSINT is amplified by the real-time nature of social media, where reputations are built or destroyed based on the speed and accuracy of reporting. During Operation Sindoor, OSINT played a crucial role in shaping the narrative and exposing misinformation. After Indian Air Force strikes on Pakistani military infrastructure, Pakistani authorities claimed to have conducted successful drone operations over Delhi and minimized the damage to their assets. However, prominent OSINT specialists like Damien Symon used satellite imagery (from sources like Maxar Technologies) to independently verify the extent of the damage to Pakistani airbases, such as Rahim Yar Khan, and to debunk exaggerated or false claims by the Pakistani side. These real-time OSINT disclosures forced official acknowledgment (e.g., NOTAM declaring runways inoperable) and shaped both domestic and international perceptions of the conflict’s outcome. Similarly, in the Iran-Israel war (notably Israel’s Operation Rising Lion), OSINT operators tracked the movement of Israeli jets, the impact of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, and the broader strategic implications. OSINT platforms rapidly synthesized satellite images, social media reports, and expert commentary to provide early warnings and situational awareness to governments, media, and the public. The speed and transparency of OSINT reporting challenged traditional state narratives and sometimes even outpaced official statements, creating a new dynamic in information warfare. In both cases, the “war among OSINT operators” was evident: analysts raced to publish satellite imagery, verify claims, and counter misinformation, sometimes leading to public disputes over credibility. The intense scrutiny and competition among OSINT practitioners heightened the pressure for accuracy and transparency, while also exposing the limitations and risks of open-source analysis in fast-moving conflicts. Abhijit Iyer-Mitra is best-placed to talk about this with Hindol Sengupta because Abhijit is not only a prominent defence analyst but also uses OSINT effectively in his work in India. Chapters: 00:00 - 01:18 - Opening 01:19 - 03:26 - Why has OSINT become so important? 03:27 - 10:11 - How is OSINT being weaponised? 10:12 - 15:45 - The rapidly increasing numbers of OSINT operators 15:46 - 20:09 - Fraudulent handles in the name of OSINT analysis? 20:10 - 24:00 - What resources does India have in the event of an OSINT conflict with China? 24:01 - 30:21 - China's digital prowess and OSINT capabilities, implications for India 30:22 - 32:15 - Does India have the technical prowess and training for OSINT? 32:16 - 32:52 - Closing #intelligence #osint #geopolitics #india #china #foreignpolicy #globalpolitics #globalaffairs #opensource #socialmedia #foreignpolicy #foreignaffairs

What the West is experiencing now with cancel culture and information control, India underwent long ago, where dissent was limited, spiritual talk was tolerated, and even temple control by a secular state went unquestioned. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keILONaI6hY

Watch the full conversation - https://youtu.be/1-fDRC3gE2I

Watch the full conversation - https://youtu.be/1-fDRC3gE2I

What happens in China matters to the world, and certainly to India. The world's second-largest country by size of population and economy is also uniquely opaque. But in recent weeks, headline after headline has emerged about a massive conflict between the supreme ruler of China, President Xi Jinping, and the all-powerful People's Liberation Army (PLA). Talk about Xi implementing a major purge at some of the highest levels of the PLA (including rumours of mysterious 'suicide') has swirled in global news cycles and reports. As always, China's government-controlled media neither confirm nor deny this. But this has a direct impact on the future of Xi, of China, the Chinese Communist Party, and certainly China's equation with India. So, what's really going on? Is Xi slowly and dangerously starting to lose power? Is he fighting back? Who is winning this epic battle? Until recently it was all but certain that Xi will remain President for life, 'the most powerful leader of the Chinese Community Party and of China after Mao', but these assessments seems premature today. At the heart of the question is also an India problem. Could it be that one of the key reasons for the fall-out between Xi and some of the most powerful generals in the PLA is the India question? Does Xi want a relatively peaceful solution with India while the generals are readying for deeper, more vicious conflict? One of the people who has spoken about this subject for years - often the only one talking about this for a long time - is Ambassador Prabhat Shukla (retd.). All his predictions about this conflict have now burst into international headlines. In this interview with Hindol Sengupta, Amb. Shukla - one of the most astute China-watchers in India - shares his insights on the growing political turmoil inside China and what it could mean for India and the Indo-Pacific region: - Is Xi Jinping really losing power? - What do the recent purges in the PLA signal? - Could Xi’s fall trigger deeper instability within China? - What does this uncertainty mean for India’s strategic position? - How should India respond to a changing China and shifting global alliances? Chapters : 0:00-2:17 Opening 2:49-11:48 Xi Jinping’s military purge explained 12:28-23:54 Is Xu targeting hardliners against India? 24:05-25:39 Xi Jinping’s grip on power is weakening 26:09-28:56 What Xi’s collapse means for the future of China’s leadership 29:15-37:50 Political instability in China and its implications for India 39:07-44:28 Should India be worried about what’s happening in China? 46:05-51:04 India’s rise in a fractured world. 51:16-55:05 Closing remarks #china #xijinping #indiachina #geopolitics #indopacific #foreignpolicy #hindolsengupta #AmbPrabhatShukla #powerstruggles #PLA #globalpolitics #indiastrategy #india #china #purge

America's plummeting fertility rate is largely driven by the rising cost of living and unaffordable childcare, forcing young couples to delay or forgo having children, often until it's too late. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keILONaI6hY

Padma Shri Professor Subhash Kak is a distinguished Indian-American computer scientist, known for his pioneering contributions to artificial intelligence (AI) theory, neural networks, quantum information, and the philosophy of mind. He is currently Regents Professor at Oklahoma State University and has held several prominent academic positions, including membership in India's Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). Kak invented a family of neural networks that can be trained instantaneously, notably the "CC4 network" (also referred to as "Kak neural networks"). These architectures enable rapid learning and have influenced the development of AI systems that require fast adaptation. He developed efficient three-layer feed-forward neural network architectures and four corner classification algorithms, which, despite scalability criticisms, attracted attention in the hardware community for their innovative approach to neural network training. In this video Prof. Kak tackles a couple of big questions - how is AI (artificial intelligence) impacting financial markets, and how will it impact the global economy? Kak talks about AI-based financial forecasting and issues like quantum-based trading, and whether AI could prevent or at least predict another global economic collapse like in 2008. In this interview, Hindol Sengupta talks to Prof. Subhash Kak on the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence in shaping our world. Key points - - How AI may shape the future of financial markets - How falling birth rates might lead to increased dependence on AI - How AI changes individual thinking and belief systems -Whether AI can truly fix inequality or make it worse Chapters- 0:00-1:25 Opening 1:30-3:38 How AI is changing the game in finance and investments 4:57-6:53 AI tools are replacing human predictions in investing 7:30-9:52 How corrupt is America? 10:51-14:03 The 2008 crisis happened because of gaps: can AI fix them? 15:06-16:49 How AI could influence the flow of FDI 17:36-19:02 Demographic decline and rising power of technology 19:58-23:41 AI isn’t just watching you, it’s shaping you 24:44-27:09 Are we still thinking or just letting AI think for us? 28:12-31:51 AI and the new economic order 32:45-34:26 The positive power of AI 34:28-34:42 Closing #artificialintelligence #AIandEconomy #SubhashKak #hindolsengupta #futureofwork #techandsociety #AIandInequality #macroeconomics #aifuture #globaleconomy #financialmarkets #stockmarkets #financialinformation #globalmarkets #trading #financialforecasting