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‘Wealthy, white men have exclusive access to OpenAI’s tech’

The third, an East Coast economist, has made controversial statements about women in the past,” the report mentioned…reports Asian Lite News

Sam Altman-run OpenAI has come under fire for a ‘glaring lack of diversity’ and its new board now consists of just three white men, triggering debate over OpenAI’s mission to “benefit all of humanity”.

According to a CNN analysis, chorus is growing in the tech industry against OpenAI about how the ChatPT developer can achieve its “lofty goal without including people with diverse backgrounds on its overseeing body”.

OpenAI’s current board consists of Bret Taylor, former co-chief executive at Salesforce and former board chair at Twitter; former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers; and Adam D’Angelo, chief executive of online Q&A platform Quora. Among the board members, “two of them largely fit the mold of a Silicon Valley ‘tech bro.’

The third, an East Coast economist, has made controversial statements about women in the past,” the report mentioned.

The intense drama over OpenAI CEO Altman’s ouster and reinstatement resulted in the departure of the board’s only women directors, and it now consists of just three white men.

“The board’s lack of diversity appears to be at odds with OpenAI’s publicly-stated mission, which the company says is meant to ensure that artificial general intelligence ‘benefits all of humanity’,” said the report.

US lawmakers have begun to raise alarms over this issue.

“We strongly encourage OpenAI to move expeditiously in diversifying its board,” Representatives Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) wrote to Altman and the board in a letter seen by CNN.

“The AI industry’s lack of diversity and representation is deeply intertwined with the problems of bias and discrimination in AI systems,” the lawmakers wrote.

Taylor, the chair of the board, said in a statement that “Larry, Adam and I strongly believe diversity is essential as we move forward in building the OpenAI board.”

“We are committed to forming a diverse board,” the statement added.

Altman had said that one of the first goals of the current team includes the “extremely important task of building out a board of diverse perspectives.”

OpenAI’s current leadership team also includes a handful of women in leadership roles, like Mira Murati as its chief technology officer.

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Energy-Tech Startup Exponent Energy Raises $26.4M

The 3-year-old Bengaluru-based startup has raised $44.4 Million in total to date and plans to utilise the fresh funds to scale its presence to five new cities by FY24….reports Asian Lite News

Energy-tech startup Exponent Energy on Thursday announced it has raised $26.4 Million in a series B round led by Eight Roads Ventures, including a strategic investment from TDK Ventures.

The round witnessed participation from existing investors like Lightspeed, YourNest VC, 3one4 Capital, AdvantEdge VC, and the family office of Dr. Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman, Hero MotoCorp.

The 3-year-old Bengaluru-based startup has raised $44.4 Million in total to date and plans to utilise the fresh funds to scale its presence to five new cities by FY24.

The company said it also plans to expand its offering in the e3W space and enter the intercity e-bus segment in 2024.

“With this round, we’re set to scale operations from battery manufacturing to on-ground network presence across categories & cities, and simplify the broken energy ecosystem at scale,” said Arun Vinayak, Co-founder and CEO, Exponent Energy.

Exponent’s proprietary energy stack unlocks a 0-100 per cent rapid charge in 15 minutes for EVs and offers a 3,000-cycle life warranty using regular Li-ion cells.

“As our first investment in the electric vehicle sector in India, we’re very excited to partner with Arun, Sanjay, and the entire Exponent team, as they build one of the largest full-stack energy platforms in the country,” said Aditya Systla, Partner, Eight Roads Ventures.

Nicolas Sauvage, President, TDK Ventures added that Exponent’s groundbreaking achievement in crafting an economical and scalable 15-minute rapid charging solution utilizing standard LFP cells is revolutionary, allowing electric vehicles to adopt a more compact battery pack that can swiftly charge within a concentrated public charging infrastructure.

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Global Cybersecurity Market for Medical Devices to Reach $1.1 Billion by 2027

The rapid integration of new technology and digital health devices into healthcare systems has revolutionised patient care and diagnostic processes….reports Asian Lite News

The market for cybersecurity in medical devices is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.2 per cent by 2027 reaching $1.1 billion, according to a report on Thursday.

The rapid integration of new technology and digital health devices into healthcare systems has revolutionised patient care and diagnostic processes.

The increased reliance on these devices has also exposed the healthcare industry to cybersecurity threats. There are several cybersecurity challenges in the medical devices industry, including legacy devices and outdated software.

The vulnerabilities in medical devices pose significant risks, as they can compromise patient safety, privacy, and the overall integrity of healthcare systems, said the report by GlobalData, a data and analytics company.

Legacy devices are older medical devices that operate on outdated software, making them hard to update and ultimately vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Additionally, a key piece of cybersecurity is training healthcare professionals who are using the tools that are at risk. Healthcare professionals should be able to recognise cyberthreats so that action can be taken quickly, avoiding the potential detrimental outcomes of cyberattacks.

“The increasing number of digital health tools and the need for cybersecurity is important. However, as many digital health devices are interconnected, there is a larger attack surface, putting medical devices at higher risk of cyberattacks,” said Alexandra Murdoch, Senior Medical Analyst at GlobalData, in a statement.

According to the report, the growth is largely driven by the increasing connectivity and digital integration of medical devices, which makes them more susceptible for cyberattacks.

While cyberattacks are more likely with the adoption of digital health and connected devices, there are several strategies that can be employed to mitigate said risks.

“Manufacturers should ensure that their devices are compatible with regular software updates and patching to address vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing encryption and authentication mechanisms can safeguard data transmitted between devices, and using network segmentation to isolate medical devices from other critical systems can limit the potential impact of cyberattacks,” Murdoch explained.

As medical devices advance, addressing cybersecurity concerns is necessary to ensure patient safety and to maintain the integrity of healthcare systems. Collaboration, awareness, and the adoption of robust cybersecurity measures are essential components of a comprehensive strategy to mitigate risks.

“By implementing these strategies, the medical device industry can work toward creating a more secure and resilient healthcare system,” Murdoch said.

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EU Reaches Landmark Deal on Regulation of AI

The EU’s AI Act is set to be the world’s first comprehensive set of rules to govern AI and user harm associated with it.

The European Parliament on Saturday said its members have reached a landmark “provisional agreement” on the proposed Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act).

The EU’s AI Act is set to be the world’s first comprehensive set of rules to govern AI and user harm associated with it.

“This regulation aims to ensure that fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law and environmental sustainability are protected from high risk AI, while boosting innovation and making Europe a leader in the field,” the European Parliament said in a statement.

The rules establish obligations for AI based on its potential risks and level of impact. European Union President Ursula von der Leyen said that the political agreement is a “global first”.

“The AI Act is a global first. A unique legal framework for the development of AI you can trust. And for the safety and fundamental rights of people and businesses. A commitment we took in our political guidelines – and we delivered,” she posted on X.

Recognising the potential threat to citizens’ rights and democracy posed by certain applications of AI, the co-legislators agreed to prohibit biometric categorisation systems that use sensitive characteristics (political, religious, philosophical beliefs, sexual orientation, race).

The agreement also prohibits untargeted scraping of facial images from the internet or CCTV footage to create facial recognition databases, emotion recognition in the workplace and educational institutions and social scoring based on social behaviour or personal characteristics.

It also curbs AI systems that manipulate human behaviour to circumvent their free will and AI used to exploit the vulnerabilities of people (due to their age, disability, social or economic situation). For AI systems classified as high-risk (due to their significant potential harm to health, safety, fundamental rights, environment, democracy and the rule of law), clear obligations were agreed. Members successfully managed to include a mandatory fundamental rights impact assessment, among other requirements, applicable also to the insurance and banking sectors.

“AI systems used to influence the outcome of elections and voter behaviour, are also classified as high-risk. Citizens will have a right to launch complaints about AI systems and receive explanations about decisions based on high-risk AI systems that impact their rights,” said the Parliament.

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5G for All: realme’s Game-Changer in India

Recognizing that the younger generation is at the forefront of digital transformation, realme acknowledges the importance of 5G in their lives…reports Asian Lite News

5G, being the fifth generation of mobile technology, promises to transform communication and information access through its extensive applications. Its exceptional connection quality, elevated data capacity, and minimal delay contribute to its importance as a groundbreaking innovation for an intelligent, interconnected future.

India is projected to reach 130 million 5G users by the end of the current year, a mere year after the introduction of consumer 5G services in the nation. The number of 5G users in India has experienced a threefold increase compared to last year, with an anticipated growth to 860 million subscribers by 2029.

Smartphone manufacturers are not far behind, as brands like realme consistently introduce 5G enabled phones in the country.

According to realme, 5G’s potential impact is extensive, going beyond consumer applications to drive global changes. Its advancements offer not just speed but also low latency for near-instantaneous data sharing and connectivity.

5G’s benefits go beyond network connectivity, enabling societal-impacting solutions. With smartphones becoming essential and their usage in India projected to rise from 82% in 2023 to 93 per cent by 2029, the impact of 5G will be significant.

“As society increasingly relies on the internet for various aspects such as business, education, entertainment, innovation, and more, smartphones have become indispensable devices for maintaining connectivity. The demand for faster and more reliable connections has never been higher, and 5G is the answer to this need,” said the global smartphone brand.

Recognizing that the younger generation is at the forefront of digital transformation, realme acknowledges the importance of 5G in their lives.

In recent years, realme has emerged as a strong contender in the market, with its dedication to adopting 5G technology in the constantly changing smartphone industry being a significant factor in its success. As a trailblazer in 5G, realme took the lead by introducing the first 5G smartphone in the nation, equipping users to be ready for the future.

realme is committed to playing a significant role in the democratization of 5G technology in India. Understanding the transformative potential of 5G, realme is dedicated to making it accessible to all, thereby contributing to the industry’s growth at a broader level. The brand’s support extends to the development policies and trends that drive 5G advancement, aligning with its mission to facilitate India’s tech progression.

For realme, adopting 5G was more than just a race to be the first; it was about its mission to usher India into a new age of connectivity. Recognizing the crucial role 5G would play in defining the future, realme rapidly transitioned over half of its product range to 5G. By integrating 5G into its product line, realme not only offers cutting-edge technology to its customers but also contributes to the technological empowerment of the nation. Through these efforts, realme aims to ensure that India remains at the forefront of the global digital revolution.

A standout feature of realme’s approach to 5G is its deep understanding of the diverse Indian market. What sets realme apart is its unwavering commitment to democratizing 5G access for everyone, particularly the younger generation who desire advanced technology at a cost-effective price.

realme focuses on enhancing user experiences with features like powerful chipsets, superior cameras, SuperDart charging, and network connectivity. The brand is committed to expanding 5G-enabled smartphones, aiming to provide holistic experiences through 5G products.

While realme already leads the 5G landscape in the Indian smartphone industry, it also aims to make this advanced technology accessible to everyone with its wide range of smartphones including the C-series. The latest addition, realme C67 5G, will be the first 5G phone in the lineup.

“realme’s 5G phone is more than just an upgrade from the 4G version. realme is committed to delivering a comprehensive 5G experience, ensuring no compromises are made in the transition from 4G to 5G,” the company noted.

5G is revolutionizing the way we live, work, and communicate, with a promising future in sight. In an increasingly connected world, realme aims to stay ahead by offering cutting-edge technology at wallet-friendly prices. This steadfast focus on 5G brings numerous benefits to both the brand and its users.

“The urge to make 5G accessible to all fuels the ambition of one game-changing smartphone brand, realme. Committed to bringing advanced technologies within everyone’s reach, realme envisions 5G as a tool for the younger generation – digital natives seeking innovative ways to connect and express themselves beyond the tangible world,” the company emphasized.

As realme broadens its range of products, it underscores its dedication to delivering the best for its customers. The brand’s objective is straightforward: to position itself as the true democratizer of 5G, aiming to increase the accessibility of 5G-enabled smartphones and empower a larger audience with 5G products and all-encompassing experiences.

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Apple Joins AI Race

The company released MLX, a machine learning framework designed for efficient and flexible machine learning on Apple silicon….reports Asian Lite News

As artificial intelligence (AI) takes centre-stage across companies, Apple’s machine learning research team has released frameworks and model libraries designed to run on its silicon chips.

The company released MLX, a machine learning framework designed for efficient and flexible machine learning on Apple silicon.

“The design of MLX is inspired by frameworks like PyTorch, Jax, and ArrayFire. A noteable difference from these frameworks and MLX is the unified memory model,” according to Apple on GitHub.

“Arrays in MLX live in shared memory. Operations on MLX arrays can be performed on any of the supported device types without performing data copies. Currently supported device types are the CPU and GPU,” the Apple ML research team added.

Awni Hannun of Apple’s ML team posted on X that just in time for the holidays, “we are releasing some new software from Apple machine learning research”.

“MLX is an efficient machine learning framework specifically designed for Apple silicon (i.e. your laptop!),” Hannun said.

MLX is a NumPy-like array framework designed for efficient and flexible machine learning on Apple silicon.

“The Python API closely follows NumPy with a few exceptions. MLX also has a fully featured C++ API which closely follows the Python API,” according to the Apple ML team.

Last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that the company is investing quite a bit in AI and will do it responsibly for product enhancements over time.

Cook said that the company views AI and machine learning as fundamental technologies and they’re integral to virtually every product that they ship.

“When we shipped iOS 17, it had features like Personal Voice and Live Voicemail. AI is at the heart of these features. And then, you can go all the way to the life-saving features on the launch end of the phone like fall detection, crash detection, ECG on the watch. These would not be possible without AI,” he told analysts during the company’s earnings call.

Cook said that Apple has work going on related to AI for quite some time.

“I’m not going to get into details about what it is, because we really don’t do that. But you can bet that we’re investing, we’re investing quite a bit, we’re going to do it responsibly and you will see product advancements over time,” the Apple CEO said.

In August, Cook said the tech giant has been working on generative AI and other models for years.

iPhone 15.

Apple Prefers Indian Batteries

In an effort to diversify its global supply chain and move manufacturing out of China, Apple has informed its component suppliers of its preference to source batteries for the upcoming iPhone 16 from Indian factories, media report said on Wednesday.

According to the Financial Times, battery manufacturers, such as Desay of China, have been encouraged to establish new factories in India, while Simplo Technology, a Taiwanese battery supplier for Apple, has been asked to increase manufacturing in India for future orders.

Earlier this week, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said Japanese electronic parts maker TDK Corp will manufacture lithium-ion (li-ion) battery cells for Apple iPhones in India.

“Another big win for PM @narendramodi ji’s visionary PLI scheme in shifting the mobile manufacturing ecosystem to India. TDK, a leading supplier of cells to Apple, is setting up a 180-acre facility in Manesar, Haryana to build cells for batteries which will be used in the #MadeInIndia iPhones,” he wrote on X.

Companies like Desay and Simplo package the electric cells produced by TDK and their counterparts into modules and send them to assemblers such as Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn, the report mentioned.

Foxconn plans to invest $1.54 billion in India. In a stock exchange filing, Foxconn said that the investment will help it fulfil “operational needs.”

Meanwhile, Apple has asked the Indian government to exempt its existing iPhones from the requirement of a common charging port (USB-C) for electronics devices, as the Centre evaluates the possibility of mandating a common charger for most devices.

In a meeting with the IT Ministry officials late last month, Apple told the officials that if such a rule — similar to what has been proposed by the European Union (EU) to require devices to have universal charging ports — is brought, it may hamper its domestic manufacturing plans, reliable sources told IANS.

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xAI, Musk’s Startup, Eyes $1B Funding

This marks the first publicly known fundraising round for Musk’s AI startup…reports Asian Lite News

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence venture, xAI, has recently disclosed its intention to secure up to a billion dollars in funding, as indicated in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Fox Business reported.

The filing on Tuesday by X.AI Corp (dba xAI) outlined a plan to raise USD 1 billion in an equity offering, with more than USD 134 million already successfully raised. The document revealed that the company had entered into a binding agreement for the sale and purchase of the remaining USD 865 million.

Responding to a post by Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management on the financing, Elon Musk clarified on Wednesday, saying, “We are not raising money right now.” Munster’s post suggested that Musk’s fundraising efforts were aimed at competing with OpenAI and Anthropic.

According to a source cited by the New York Post, xAI is “raising money at a valuation that will likely be between $4 billion and $10 billion,” adding that the revelation is the first known fundraising round for Musk’s start-up.

This marks the first publicly known fundraising round for Musk’s AI startup, according to Fox Business.

Govt goes bullish on startups with ESOP holiday, tax relief.

The filing follows Musk’s announcement a month ago that xAI’s “Grok” chatbot, designed to rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard, had entered the beta testing phase.

Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 and resigned from its board in 2018, launched xAI to compete with ChatGPT and other major players in the AI domain. He has been outspoken about his concerns regarding what he perceives as censorship in Big Tech firms’ AI initiatives and has expressed his intent to develop a truth-seeking AI that seeks to understand the universe.

Since its inception in July, xAI has attracted talent from notable AI research firms such as Google’s DeepMind unit and Microsoft.

Musk, also the CEO of Tesla and the proprietor of the X social media platform, clarified that xAI and the X social media platform are distinct entities, despite working closely together. xAI is actively collaborating with Tesla in addition to its interaction with the X social media platform, Fox Business reported. (ANI)

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Paytm Expands Credit Business

Paytm continues to focus on merchant loans that are lended to MSME as business loans. …reports Asian Lite News

Paytm, India’s leading mobile payments and financial services distribution company, on Wednesday said it will expand its credit distribution business in partnership with large banks and NBFCs by offering higher ticket personal and merchant loans to lower risk and high credit-worthy customers.

Owing to the strong portfolio performance and widespread acceptance of loan distribution, Paytm witnessed encouraging early trends when the company started working in this direction last quarter.

“As the lending distribution business is maturing, we see newer opportunities of expansion to offer high-value personal and merchant loans. We will continue to focus on originating the high portfolio quality for our lending partners, along with strict adherence to risk and compliance. We have seen great scale and acceptance for our loan distribution business, so we believe this expansion will further aid us to grow the business,” said a Paytm spokesperson.

In the light of recent macro development and regulatory guidance and in consultation with lending partners, the company remains focused on driving a healthy portfolio and has recalibrated the portfolio origination of less than Rs 50,000 – prominently the postpaid loan product will now be a smaller part of its loan distribution business moving forward.

Paytm continues to focus on merchant loans that are lended to MSME as business loans. Given that these loans are extended for business purposes to support small merchants, they remain unaffected by the recent regulatory guidance.

The company said it continues to add banks and NBFCs as its lending partners for its loan distribution business.

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Hero, Ather Unveil Fast-Charging Network

Through the collaboration, EV users will be able to seamlessly use both Hero VIDA and Ather Grids across the country….reports Asian Lite News

Hero MotoCorp and electric vehicle manufacturer Ather Energy on Wednesday entered into a partnership for an interoperable fast-charging network in the country, touted as the first-ever interoperable fast-charging network for EV two-wheelers anywhere in the world.

Through the collaboration, EV users will be able to seamlessly use both Hero VIDA and Ather Grids across the country. The combined network will cover 100 cities with over 1,900 fast-charging points.

“This largest charging network in the country will go a long way in providing a seamless and convenient ownership experience to customers. This fastest-growing network utilises the government approved connector-standard, thus ensuring current and future customers will be able to use and charge their vehicles without any hassles in the future,” said Dr Swadesh Srivastava, Chief Business Officer, Emerging Mobility BU, Hero MotoCorp.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) recently approved Light Electric Combined Charging System (LECCS), India’s first-ever indigenously developed AC and DC Combined Charging connector standard for light electric vehicles.

Customers will be able to locate and navigate to the charging stations through the “My VIDA” and Ather App. The interoperability will enable them to discover only compatible locations, locate their nearest charging station, view its availability, and navigate to the station.

“It’s a massive win for Indian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to collaborate on scaling up charging infrastructure. This partnership will pave the way for consumers to access an extensive network of charging stations across the country, alleviating range anxiety,” said Swapnil Jain, Co-founder and CTO, Ather Energy.

Any OEM which adopts the LECCS standard will have access to Ather Grid across India, he added.

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Adventures Unleashed

IBW 2023 offers a plethora of unique and adrenaline-pumping experiences. Whether you’re a Moto Cross fan a Big ADV rider or just curious to experience an EV on our tracks, there’s a track for every rider and motorcycle…reports Asian Lite News

India Bike Week (IBW) 2023, is gearing up for its monumental 10th year, on December 8th and 9th, 2023, in partnership with Gulf Syntrac. The festival is all set to deliver an exhilarating celebration of motorcycling culture, adventure, moto thrills, and unity. Echoing the theme of ‘Everyone as One’, IBW will pave the future of the festival along with guaranteeing unforgettable moments for the new global Indian motorcycling enthusiast!

Martin Da Costa, Festival Director of India Bike Week and CEO of 70 EMG says,” For all on the IBW Team it is sometimes a ‘pinch yourself’ moment to know that in 2023 India Bike Week is celebrating 10 Years of the Festival. It’s 10X in 2023 because that is how the festival and the entire Motorbiking Culture and Community seem to have grown over the past decade. From a few thousand leisure bikers back in 2013, India now has hundreds of thousands of riders using their bikes for travelling, cross-country trips, experiences, and connecting with like-minded souls. We’ve seen motorcycle clubs mushroom across the country, women bikers from across India using their machines to get together and assert their independence and freedom, Indian Motorcycle Racers emerge, whole sub-cultures of motorcycle builders and designers establish businesses.”

Some of the 2023 highlights that one can witness are:

Races and rides: IBW 2023 offers a plethora of unique and adrenaline-pumping experiences. Whether you’re a Moto Cross fan a Big ADV rider or just curious to experience an EV on our tracks, there’s a track for every rider and motorcycle. IBW will offer 6 different tracks, including 3 race tracks by CEAT – the challenging Flat Track, Enduro track, the thrilling Mud Rush, and a one-of-a-kind CEAT Super Cross League preview. The Gulf Syntrac Tivra track features an interesting half-velodrome where one can ride in concentric circles as high as your skill and bravery can take you. The IBW Pentathlon by Gulf Syntrac will be scoring the best times of Pentathlon racers across 5 tracks. Attendees can participate in daring activities such as the Ring of Fire, the thrilling Well Of Death daredevilry, where one can witness an Ola EV scooter in the Well for the first time! Master the art of wheelies at our dedicated Wheelie track, and watch the high-energy somersaults at Gulf Syntrac’s FMX Moto Mayhem by Austrian Thomas Wirnsberger and Sebastian Westberg from Finland. For those seeking the future of biking, dive into the world of electric mobility with a variety of cutting-edge EV motorcycles and scooters. Feel the power and precision as you test ride these electric marvels on our dynamic tracks, alongside an impressive lineup and unveils of ICE bikes from OEM partners like Harley-Davidson, Hero, Triumph, Suzuki, Aprilia, KTM, and Kawasaki. And that’s not all – be part of the excitement as we unveil the revolutionary Orxa Mantis, a game-changer in the world of electric motorcycles.

Adventure Tales of Big Trip Speakers: Prepare for an exhilarating journey through the captivating narratives of esteemed speakers which include distinguished international globetrotters along with Indian trotters, each weaving their tapestry of exploration. With a decade of IBW bringing such explorers to the forefront, this year’s stage is set for captivating stories and exciting throwbacks, reflecting incredible journeys over the last ten years at Ladakh Tent.

•             Simon and Lisa Thomas: Renowned for their awe-inspiring 17-year global journeys over 800,000 km, this dynamic duo embodies the spirit of adventure, resilience, and passion.

•             Juvena Huang (The Wandering Wasp): A fearless traveller on a scooter, Juvena Huang’s Asian adventure breaks stereotypes, celebrating the spirit of women as avid travellers.

•             Karolis Mieliauskas: Hailing from Lithuania, Karolis shares extraordinary experiences from “The world’s coldest bike ride”, igniting the adventurous spirit.

•             Gaurav Sharma (Wander. da): A storyteller with a super cool Hindi podcast, Gaurav’s series unfolds a 25,000 km motorcycle trip across South America.

•             Yogesh Alekari (roaming_wheeels): An architect turned mountaineer, Yogesh embarks on a 100-day bike journey from Mumbai to London, covering three continents and 24 countries.

•             Noor Bee (Nomadic Hijabi Rider): Conquering thousands of kilometres, Reshma leaves a trail of courage and inspiration, venturing from Bangalore into the enchanting landscapes of Nepal.

•             Claudia Wodarz aka @missridealot – She’s ridden in more than 10 countries on her current solo ride including Central and South East Asia! And she’s ridden everything from Supersports to big ADVs.

Music, Food, Ride Outs & Moto Culture: IBW 2023’s music lineup boasts top artists headlined by Nucleya and features DJ talents like Gurbaxx, Nash Jr, Disco Kid, Aviv Pereira, Aarifah, and the sensational Gully Gang showcase. Vipin Mishra Project’s “FolkRoad” will premier their teaser – a music composer’s adventure on his motorcycle to the far corners of India in search of forgotten nomadic music. With diverse musical styles, the festival promises to be a haven for music enthusiasts for the two days at Hilltop!

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