Cognixia Podcast

This Cognixia Podcast is about Bank of India announcing a significant ₹2,000 crore investment in IT upgrades for FY26, marking a major step in modernizing its banking infrastructure. This move highlights a shift in India's public banking sector toward prioritizing digital transformation and cybersecurity amid rising cyber threats and evolving customer expectations. The investment aims to enhance operational efficiency, boost security, and close the technology gap with global banks. It also reflects the broader shift in Indian banking where technology is now seen as a core capability. This transformation could redefine customer experiences and strengthen the country’s entire financial ecosystem for the digital future.

The Cognixia podcast highlights a groundbreaking partnership between Bengaluru International Airport Limited and KPMG India to implement Generative AI (GenAI) at Kempegowda International Airport. This AI-driven system aims to transform airport operations from reactive to predictive, improving efficiency, passenger experience, and adaptability. GenAI will generate insights and real-time solutions using data from passenger flows, flight schedules, baggage tracking, and more. Unlike one-size-fits-all systems, this AI platform is custom-built for Bengaluru, with scalability for future use elsewhere. Importantly, the initiative enhances—not replaces—human roles, empowering airport staff and setting new global benchmarks for intelligent, responsive, and human-centric airport management.

This episode of the Cognixia Podcast is about a viral video showing a humanoid robot acting aggressively in a Chinese factory has reignited fears about robot safety. Though the cause was likely a coding glitch in the Unitree H1 robot, social media exploded with memes and conspiracy theories. The incident reflects deeper public anxiety about fast-evolving robotics and AI technologies. While engineers understand that complexity can lead to malfunctions, the public often reacts emotionally, fueled by sci-fi tropes. This raises critical issues around safety standards, liability, privacy, and the need for stronger regulation. True innovation must prioritize safety, reliability, and ethical responsibility as robots become more common in society.

This Cognixia Podcast episode traces the rise and fall of Skype, a pioneer in internet communication. Launched in 2003 by the creators of Kazaa, Skype introduced free voice calls using peer-to-peer technology, revolutionizing global connectivity. It soared to fame, was acquired by eBay and later Microsoft, and evolved into a powerful business tool. However, with the rise of mobile-first platforms like WhatsApp, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, Skype lost its edge. Teams became Microsoft’s new communication focus, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its decline, Skype’s legacy endures as a trailblazer that redefined digital communication worldwide.

The Cognixia podcast explores the advanced technology behind cricket measurements, especially during IPL 2025. It traces the evolution from radar guns in the 1970s to today’s ultra-HD cameras, AI algorithms, and smart balls that track speed, distance, trajectory, and even impact force. Innovations like Hawk-Eye, Hot Spot, and real-time data processing enhance gameplay analysis and broadcast experiences. These systems provide precise stats like Bumrah’s 153.4 km/h yorkers and Pant’s 100+ meter sixes. Modern broadcasts use AR graphics and global data sharing to enrich fan engagement. This technology not only entertains but also supports coaching, safety, and player performance improvement.

The Cognixia Podcast explores fostering a culture of continuous improvement in Scrum teams. Continuous improvement, rooted in Agile and Lean principles, extends beyond Sprint Retrospectives to creating a mindset of constant learning and optimization. Key strategies include making retrospectives effective, using data-driven insights, encouraging learning, empowering teams, breaking down silos, and fostering psychological safety. Visibility, connection to purpose, and embedding improvement in team rituals are crucial. Sustaining momentum requires varied focus, linking improvement to career growth, and seeking external inspiration. The best teams continuously evolve, making incremental progress each Sprint. The episode concludes with a call for lifelong learning.

The Cognixia Podcast explores how politeness—like saying “please” and “thank you”—impacts AI models such as ChatGPT. While these courtesies seem trivial, they add up to significant computational costs, potentially tens of thousands of dollars, due to the extra tokens processed. Yet, OpenAI sees this as a worthwhile investment because polite interactions enhance user experience, improve response quality, and foster respectful human-AI relationships. Politeness also reinforces positive behavioral habits and builds trust, which contributes to user satisfaction and brand loyalty. Ultimately, these small tokens help shape a more thoughtful, respectful future in human-AI interaction, aligning technology use with human values.

The Cognixia Podcast explores the viral “Ghibli AI” trend, where users generate Studio Ghibli-style portraits using OpenAI’s enhanced image-generation tools. Fueled by social media and hashtags like #GhibliMe, the trend exploded due to its accessibility and the whimsical charm of the Ghibli aesthetic. While fun, it contrasts sharply with Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki’s philosophy, which values human artistry over AI. The episode dives into the tech behind the trend, the cultural impact, and ethical concerns about copyright and authenticity. It raises questions about the role of AI in art and the potential commercialization of beloved artistic styles without proper context or consent.

This Cognixia Podcast discusses how Zomato faced performance issues with its old PHP-based PDF generation system, struggling with latency and scalability. Instead of opting for commercial solutions, they built *Espresso*, a high-performance PDF generation system using *Go* for speed and concurrency, *Rod* for headless Chromium rendering, and *Go PDF* for signing. Optimization strategies included pre-paint PDF generation, fine-tuned Chromium flags, and DataURI image prefetching. Espresso generates and signs PDFs in under 200ms, handling 120,000 requests per minute, reducing server costs by 90%. Open-sourced on GitHub, it showcases Zomato’s engineering excellence in solving real-world technical challenges.

The Cognixia Podcast explores Medusa Ransomware, a major cyber threat impacting over 300 organizations. Medusa operates using a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, where developers license ransomware to affiliates who execute attacks. This model has industrialized ransomware, making it more accessible to cybercriminals. Medusa employs double-extortion tactics, encrypting files and exfiltrating data to pressure victims into paying ransoms ranging from $50,000 to $5 million. Organizations can defend against such threats with robust backups, phishing awareness, software updates, access controls, and incident response planning. The podcast emphasizes cybersecurity as an ongoing process essential for business trust, compliance, and financial security.

The Cognixia Podcast discusses emerging digital technologies, with this episode focusing on Binance delisting Tether’s USDT stablecoin for European Economic Area (EEA) users. Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, made this decision in response to new EEA regulations under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. USDT, a major stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, has faced scrutiny over its reserves and alleged illicit activities. The move highlights increasing regulatory pressures in crypto, potential market shifts, and the need for traders to adapt. The episode explores alternative stablecoins, regulatory impacts, and the future of stablecoins amid growing compliance demands.

The Cognixia Podcast explores emerging digital technologies and this episode discusses a breakthrough in data center energy efficiency. Data centers consume vast amounts of electricity, contributing to 2% of global emissions. Researchers at the University of Waterloo have discovered that modifying 30 lines of code in the Linux kernel's network stack can cut energy consumption by 30%. This technique, called "interrupt request suspension," reduces CPU interruptions during high-traffic periods, improving efficiency and performance. Implementing this change could significantly reduce costs and environmental impact without requiring major infrastructure changes, paving the way for energy-conscious software development in the future.

The Cognixia Podcast explores GPT-4.5, a groundbreaking advancement in AI. Unlike its predecessors, this model excels in deep research, pattern recognition, creativity, and emotional intelligence. It synthesizes information, understands sarcasm, and generates highly nuanced, human-like responses. GPT-4.5 surpasses competitors like Copilot, Gemini, and Alexa+ by offering advanced coding assistance, contextual understanding, and dynamic interaction. While it reduces AI hallucinations and enhances fact-checking, challenges remain, including ethical concerns, sustainability, and cybersecurity risks. The episode emphasizes the need for skilled professionals and responsible AI development, highlighting GPT-4.5’s potential to transform human-technology interactions.

The Cognixia podcast explores Microsoft Fabric, a revolutionary data analytics platform that unifies Azure Data Factory, Synapse Analytics, and Power BI into a seamless experience. Fabric eliminates the need to switch between multiple tools, offering a consistent interface for data ingestion, processing, and visualization. Key features include OneLake for centralized data storage, collaborative workspaces, real-time analytics, and AI-powered insights. Businesses benefit from cost efficiency, enhanced security, and improved collaboration. Fabric's integration with Microsoft tools makes adoption easier, promising a future of unified data workflows. While still evolving, it represents the next big shift in data analytics. Happy learning!

The Cognixia podcast discusses burnout among IT professionals, sparked by industry leaders advocating extended work hours. It highlights research showing that productivity declines beyond 50-55 hours per week and excessive work can cause serious health issues. The episode shares ten strategies to combat burnout, including setting work-life boundaries, using the Pomodoro Technique, taking strategic breaks, exercising, practicing mindfulness, optimizing the work environment, prioritizing sleep, building professional networks, learning to say no, and continuous skill development. It emphasizes that sustainable work habits lead to long-term productivity and innovation. The episode concludes by reinforcing the importance of mental and physical well-being.

This Cognixia Podcast describes India's latest budget has significantly boosted AI in education, with a new AI center of excellence increasing total investment in such centers to ₹500 crore. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020, aiming to personalize learning and modernize education. The IndiaAI Mission's budget has surged to ₹2,000 crore, highlighting India’s commitment to AI leadership. Additionally, five national skill development centers and 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs will foster innovation. Expanding BharatNet will improve rural digital access, while AI-powered tools will enhance teaching and learning. These efforts position India as a global tech hub, though implementation challenges remain.

The Cognixia Podcast discusses the latest advancements in digital technologies, focusing on DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company that has launched two powerful models—DeepSeek v3 and R1—at a fraction of the cost compared to competitors. DeepSeek rivals OpenAI’s GPT-4, excelling in reasoning, problem-solving, and coding assistance. Notably, it is open-source, allowing developers to access, modify, and contribute to its development. The launch disrupted the AI landscape, impacting stock markets and raising skepticism. However, its affordability and transparency democratize AI access, fostering global innovation. The podcast emphasizes staying open to emerging players in AI and the exciting future of technological advancements.

The Cognixia Podcast explores the concept of AI "temperature," a key parameter controlling the randomness and creativity of Generative AI tools. At low temperatures, AI produces precise, reliable responses, while higher settings make it more unpredictable and creative. The podcast discusses various AI tools—ChatGPT (chameleon-like adaptability), Google's Gemini (strategic thinker), Microsoft Copilot (code wizard), and Perplexity (research guru). It also highlights AI hallucinations, where tools generate misleading or incorrect information. To avoid errors, users should verify facts, compare responses, and trust human judgment. AI is a powerful tool, but human oversight remains essential for accuracy and creativity.

The Cognixia Podcast dives into ChatGPT's revolutionary new "Tasks" feature, a game-changing addition that transforms the AI chatbot into a personal assistant capable of scheduling and executing tasks. Tasks allow users to set reminders, schedule actions, and handle complex tasks like analyzing reports or summarizing data autonomously. Positioned as the next step toward Agenetic AI, this feature showcases the potential for AI systems to understand, adapt, and make intelligent decisions. OpenAI’s vision includes AI managing workflows dynamically and independently. The podcast highlights Cognixia’s commitment to keeping users ahead in tech through live, instructor-led courses in AI and emerging technologies.

The Cognixia Podcast explores India’s digital privacy revolution through the new Digital Personal Data Protection Bill. This transformative bill introduces measures like ‘Data Fiduciaries’ to ensure transparency in data collection and gives users rights to access, correct, and delete personal data. Companies face hefty fines for violations and must justify data collection. The bill balances privacy with digital innovation, catering to India’s unique challenges, like first-time internet users and startups adapting to compliance. While promising, issues like ‘deemed consent’ and data localization pose challenges. Overall, it empowers users with control over their digital lives, fostering a privacy-conscious India.

This Cognixia Podcast describes how OpenAI plans to develop superintelligence by 2025, aiming for AI that surpasses human intelligence across all domains. Superintelligence could revolutionize fields like science, medicine, and climate research. However, challenges like achieving human-like context understanding, efficient energy use, and ethical safeguards remain. Quantum computing may provide the computational power needed but is still in early stages. OpenAI emphasizes aligning AI with human values, focusing on safety and benefits rather than risks. While the timeline may be ambitious, the potential transformative impact of superintelligence is immense, making this a pivotal moment in AI's evolution. Stay tuned for more updates from Cognixia!

This Cognixia Podcast episode explores the popular "dark mode" feature in apps and devices. Originating from the energy-efficient CRT displays of the 70s, dark mode has evolved into a sought-after feature for reducing eye strain and saving battery life, particularly on OLED screens. It reduces visual fatigue in dim environments and minimizes blue light exposure, aiding better sleep. Developers face challenges in designing effective dark modes, balancing contrast, accessibility, and brand identity. Despite some drawbacks, like halation effects, dark mode enhances inclusivity for users with light sensitivity or impairments. It's a thoughtful, multi-layered feature, combining science, design, and user experience.

The Cognixia Podcast kicks off 2025 by introducing NVIDIA's Jetson Orin Nano Super Developer Kit, a groundbreaking at-home supercomputer that enhances generative AI performance by 70%. Featuring an NVIDIA Ampere architecture GPU, a 6-core Arm CPU, and 67 INT8 TOPS, it offers 50% more memory bandwidth and runs on just 25 watts. Priced at half its predecessor, it supports up to four cameras and is CUDA and CUDNN compatible, making it ideal for generative AI and robotics development. NVIDIA’s innovation empowers developers to explore AI at the edge, advancing fields like manufacturing, healthcare, and creative arts. Stay tuned for more insights!

The Cognixia Podcast explores how cryptocurrency theft occurs and offers tips for prevention. Despite blockchain’s touted security, vulnerabilities arise through exchange hacks, exit scams, phishing attacks, and device hacks. Exchange hacks exploit decentralized systems, while exit scams involve fraudulent ICOs or developers abandoning projects, like the Squid Game token. Phishing attacks often stem from suspicious emails containing malware, compromising credentials and wallets. Device hacking, such as SIM swaps, targets smaller investors. To stay safe, users should store assets in hardware wallets, enable multi-factor authentication, avoid suspicious links, and secure private keys. Vigilance and proactive security measures are crucial in mitigating risks.

This episode of the Cognixia Podcast explores the widespread issue of piracy in the Japanese manga and anime industry, emphasizing the billions of dollars in revenue lost annually. Japan plans to invest $2 million to develop an AI-powered system to detect and curb piracy by analyzing copyrighted content and piracy site layouts. The initiative reflects global efforts to combat piracy, as seen in South Korea's recent measures. The episode highlights the creative effort behind anime and manga, urging fans to support original work and report piracy. It concludes with a call to action to say no to piracy and protect creative industries.

The Cognixia Podcast explores emerging digital technologies, focusing this episode on AI advancements, particularly ChatGPT. Since its launch in 2022, ChatGPT has revolutionized tech interactions, offering features like personalized memory, coding assistance with Canvas, and advanced models like GPT-4 and OpenAI o1. These tools empower developers, enabling even beginners to tackle complex tasks. While AI enhances productivity and creativity, it’s not flawless and requires critical oversight. Challenges like legal concerns over AI-generated code and potential automation of entry-level jobs highlight its limitations. Despite this, AI continues to evolve, promising transformative potential while urging users to balance innovation with responsibility.

This Cognixia podcast episode explores platform engineering as a rapidly evolving discipline in modern digital transformation. Highlighting insights from the 3rd State of Platform Engineering Report, it notes that most platform teams are under two years old, driven by needs like automation, infrastructure standardization, and developer self-service. Platform engineering complements DevOps, addressing gaps such as repetitive tasks and enhancing time-to-market. While the industry is in its early stages, with limited measurement and adoption maturity, some organizations have advanced capabilities. Key focus areas include CI/CD, Kubernetes, and Infrastructure-as-Code. For sustainable growth, organizations should invest in training and robust frameworks.

The Cognixia Podcast explores emerging technologies, discussing advancements like AI’s surprising applications. This episode delves into “digital olfaction” and “scent teleportation,” innovative technologies enabling AI to detect, analyze, and recreate scents. By capturing chemical signatures of aromas, AI can digitally transmit and replicate scents, revolutionizing industries such as online shopping, healthcare, and virtual reality. While applications like detecting gas leaks or customizing fragrances offer immense potential, concerns arise about over-dependence on AI diminishing human instincts. The episode emphasizes mindful tech use and collaboration between human and artificial intelligence for optimal results. Stay curious and keep learning for career growth!

This episode of the Cognixia Podcast dives into the concept of passkeys, an emerging method of passwordless authentication that’s becoming more secure and popular than traditional passwords. Passkeys use cryptographic keys (public and private) to authenticate users, making them resistant to phishing and other attacks that commonly compromise passwords. Unlike passwords, passkeys are often tied to specific devices and typically require biometric authentication, adding another layer of security. Passkeys can simplify login by eliminating the need for users to remember complex passwords while also reducing the risks associated with stolen credentials. They work seamlessly across compatible ecosystems, though current limitations include cross-platform challenges (e.g., iPhone passkeys don’t transfer easily to Windows laptops). Supported by standards from W3C and the FIDO Alliance, passkeys have gained support from Apple, Google, Microsoft, and major browsers. While they aren’t entirely hack-proof, they are significantly more secure than passwords, and over time, they might fully replace them. The episode ends by encouraging listeners to stay tuned for more updates on emerging digital technologies.

In this episode of the Cognixia podcast, the discussion centers on a recent lawsuit filed by Dow Jones and the New York Post against Perplexity AI. The publishers accuse Perplexity of using their copyrighted content without authorization for its AI-generated summaries, a practice they argue undercuts content discoverability and revenue. Unlike Google, which supports content discovery through its AI summaries, Perplexity allegedly bypasses this, impacting publishers’ revenue models. The lawsuit also highlights concerns over "hallucinated" content, where Perplexity generates false information. This ongoing legal battle underscores tensions between media companies and AI firms over content usage rights and compensation.

The cognixia podcast discusses the significance of networks, particularly 5G and the upcoming 6G, which is expected to roll out by 2030. While 6G will offer faster speeds and minimal latency, India faces challenges, particularly a lack of skilled professionals and underdeveloped infrastructure. Although India has ambitious goals for 6G patents and standards, significant gaps remain, especially in workforce readiness and infrastructure investment. The country also needs to enhance its global presence in technology committees and increase research funding. As India strives to be a leader in 6G, the podcast highlights the importance of upskilling and sustainability efforts.

The Cognixia Podcast discusses the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded to AI pioneers John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton. Their work in artificial neural networks, foundational to modern AI, stems from principles in physics. Hopfield created a network mimicking atomic spin to save and reconstruct data patterns, while Hinton advanced this with the Boltzmann Machine, which autonomously recognizes patterns in data using statistical physics. The podcast highlights how physics has played a crucial role in AI’s development, emphasizing the interconnectedness of scientific fields and urging listeners to keep learning and evolving their skills.

This episode of the Cognixia Podcast covers the new Windows 11 24H2 update, highlighting its AI-powered features, enhanced security, and improved user experience. Key upgrades include support for Wi-Fi 7, a redesigned File Explorer, and features like customizable energy-saving modes, advanced assistive hearing aids, and better privacy settings. Developers and IT professionals benefit from the new sudo commands, Rust support, and enhanced cybersecurity features. The episode explains how users can access the update through Windows Update services and emphasizes the importance of staying updated for improved security and performance. The episode concludes with a reminder to check out their festive offers.

This episode from the Cognixia Podcast explores how to monetize an API using AWS services, particularly the Amazon API Gateway. It covers key challenges like managing subscriptions, handling payments globally, and controlling API access. The episode suggests using the AWS Marketplace to sell APIs but notes that it limits potential customers to AWS users. Alternatives include broader API marketplaces like Rapid API, or subscription platforms like Stripe and FastSpring. It explains how combining API Gateway, Lambda functions, and a payment platform can create a functional API monetization system, emphasizing careful marketplace selection and usage plan considerations.

This episode from the Cognixia Podcast discusses the increasing incidents of email-based security breaches in Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) companies, which include utilities, transport, telecom, data centers, and more. It highlights how cyberattackers are using emails as a primary method to infiltrate CNI organizations, with ransomware attacks on the rise. A report by OPSWAT shows that 80% of CNI companies experienced email-related breaches in 2023, and many organizations still underestimate email risks. The episode also explains that legacy systems and outdated infrastructure make CNI companies especially vulnerable to these cyberattacks.

It discusses the UK’s recent move to classify data centers as CNI, emphasizing the need for stronger security and government support for these facilities. The episode also touches on the global vulnerability of CNI organizations due to the reliance on legacy systems, which can be 20-30 years old. A key takeaway is the need for innovation and updating systems in CNI companies to prevent future cyberattacks. Finally, the episode reflects on how email-based threats could severely impact these organizations and stresses the importance of improving cybersecurity.

This episode of the Cognixia podcast discusses the global semiconductor chip shortage, which started in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The shortage is driven by supply chain disruptions, high demand across industries, and challenges in chip production, which can take up to six months. Factors like trade wars, natural disasters, and export restrictions from China have worsened the issue. Despite production improvements, shortages persist, impacting industries like automotive and IoT. However, the future looks bright, with the semiconductor market expected to grow, potentially reaching $1 trillion by 2030, driven by demand in automotive, data storage, and wireless technology.

The Cognixia podcast discusses the latest update from Microsoft in Power BI, enabling users to write DAX queries via the web interface. Previously only available in Power BI Desktop, this feature allows users to create calculations, build models, and perform advanced data analysis. DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is highlighted as a powerful tool for extracting insights from data through custom measures and statistical analysis. However, limitations remain on the web version, such as disappearing queries and the inability to save them like in the desktop version. Future updates are anticipated to enhance web features further.

The cognixia podcast discusses the rise of the Mojo programming language, which raised $100 million in funding in 2024. Mojo combines Python's ease of use with the performance of C, making it a potential game-changer, especially in AI development. While some wonder if Mojo will replace Python, the podcast suggests that Mojo complements Python by improving performance without sacrificing user-friendliness. Mojo is considered more of a competitor to C++ than Python. For AI programmers, learning both Python and Mojo is recommended, as each offers unique strengths that will help meet the evolving needs of AI development.

In this Cognixia podcast episode, the focus is on ErLang, a programming language with high median salaries, surpassing even popular languages like Python and Rust, as per the 2024 Stack Overflow Developer Survey. Despite ErLang's low adoption rate, it is highly valuable, particularly in industries like telecom and banking, due to its strength in handling concurrent processes and mission-critical applications. ErLang developers are rare, making their skills highly sought-after and well-compensated. The podcast encourages developers to consider learning ErLang alongside more popular languages to enhance their career prospects.

The Cognixia podcast discusses the environmental challenge of e-waste and introduces a new flexible material developed by researchers at MIT, the University of Utah, and Meta. This material could revolutionize electronics by allowing for complex, multi-layered circuits while being recyclable. Unlike the commonly used polyimide, which is energy-intensive to produce and difficult to recycle, the new material is a form of polyimide that hardens quickly at room temperature and can be dissolved for recycling. This innovation could help mitigate e-waste and advance electronics, making technology more sustainable and accessible.

The Cognixia podcast episode highlights the significant role of AI at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Intel, Google, and Alibaba have partnered to enhance the event's technological capabilities, from AI-powered chatbots and digital twins to advanced sports analytics and sustainability efforts. AI tools have been crucial in ensuring fairness, transparency, and improved athlete performance through data insights. The episode also notes the Olympic Committee's commitment to sustainability and AI's broader impact on sports, hinting at future innovations. The podcast concludes with a teaser for the next episode, encouraging listeners to keep learning.

In this week's episode of the Cognixia podcast, the focus is on SearchGPT, OpenAI's upcoming search engine that combines AI-generated content with human-written articles, offering a conversational interface that allows users to ask follow-up questions. Unlike traditional search engines, SearchGPT provides real-time, up-to-date information and prominently credits original content creators, addressing previous concerns about AI content generation. While still in its prototype phase, SearchGPT shows potential to disrupt the search engine market. The episode also touches on Google's dominance and the evolving nature of search engines. Stay tuned for more updates next week!

In this week's Cognixia podcast, we discuss the importance of lifelong learning, drawing inspiration from Theodore Roosevelt's dedication to knowledge. In today’s fast-changing world, continuous skill acquisition is crucial for staying relevant professionally. Set realistic learning goals, leverage tools like Generative AI, and track your progress with apps. Engage with your curiosity to find personal fulfillment and professional growth. Visit Cognixia for courses on emerging technologies. Happy learning!

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Cognixia podcast! Endpoint protection has been a buzzword in the world of cybersecurity for quite a bit now. Endpoint protection involves software running on local machines so they wouldn’t run malicious software or any unintended code. It is like a more modern name for the good old anti-virus and firewalls, sounds like it, no? It has two key components – a backend control center and an agent software which would be installed on the end point devices. And, if you haven’t guessed so far, endpoint devices are the user devices – mobile phones, laptops, desktops, etc. The endpoint protection agent software is constantly running on the endpoint devices. So, if you run a program or application that the agent feels needs to be prevented, a sensor would be notified by the operating system of the device and it will prevent the execution. The main endpoint application would also be notified about the blocked execution, which would further notify the control center, using the internet.

Simply put, this is a surveillance system of sorts. To be seriously effective they need to be deeply embedded into the operating system. It would also need to have the capability and requisite permissions to bypass lots of internal security systems.

So what happened exactly that more than 8.5 million systems were affected? Banking services came to a halt, countless flights were canceled, travelers were stranded, retail services came grinding to a stop, and an unimaginable number of workplaces were left staring at what is popularly called “The Blue Screen of Death”. While this number is less than 1% of Microsoft devices sold and operational globally, the broad economic and societal impact of even that 1% is unfathomable.

This is the first time such an incident has had figures, that too of this magnitude revealed. It is believed that this could be the worst cyber event in history. And, while the event is largely being labeled as a “Microsoft outage”, it is actually caused by an update that was rolled out by CrowdStrike, not Microsoft. The closest next big incident would be the WannaCry cyberattack of 2017 where over 300,000 devices were affected in over 150 countries. But do you see the difference between 8.5 million devices and 300,000 devices?

On 19 July at 04:09 UTC, CrowdStrike carried out a regular release of one such ‘sensor’ as a Windows device driver which would hook and attach deeper into Windows, one of the updates as part of the ongoing protection mechanisms of the Falcon platform. To do this, it would need special permissions, of course. These drivers would be written in C and C++, the same as the Windows kernels and core libraries. The configuration system triggered a logic error leading to a system crash and the blue screen of death or BSOD on impacted systems.

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Cognixia podcast! we talk about a major infrastructure innovation called the Hollow Core Fiber. As technology evolves, it requires the infrastructure supporting it to evolve as well, to keep up with the demands of the change. In this AI era, large scale computing is becoming an everyday thing and it is impossible to carry this out without strong, resilient, and foolproof infrastructure to support it. This is what could be called ‘Purpose-Built Infrastructure’. This can’t happen by just picking up a bunch of hardware and dumping it at a data center somewhere in the world, can it? That’s not how scientific breakthroughs and innovations really happen, do they?

At the Microsoft Ignite event in November 2023, a vey revolutionary technology came to everyone’s attention. This tech was called the hollow core fiber. It is an innovative optical fiber that can revolutionize global cloud infrastructure by not just offering superior quality but also improved latency and a more secure data transmission.

The hollow core fiber technology or HCF uses a proprietary design where light propagates in the air core of a hollow fiber. The cores of traditional fibers are made of optical glass, hence the name optical glass fiber or optical fiber. The HCF offers advantages over this traditional optical fiber.

But how do you prevent light leakage in a hollow core fiber and how do you ensure that the light keeps moving ahead in a straight path?

Well, the structure of the hollow core fiber has nested tubes that help reduce any unwanted light leakage and that also ensures that the light keeps moving ahead in a straight path through the hollow core.

If you go back to your high school physics class, you will remember that light travels faster through air than through glass. This helps the hollow core fiber to be about 47% faster than the standard silica glass. This, in turn, leads to much faster speeds and much lower latency when using the HCF. The HCF would also offer much higher bandwidth per fiber.

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Cognixia podcast. These are the communication, people management, and personality traits that make you a project manager people want to work with. Imagine a project manager as an orchestra conductor. They gotta guide each musician (team member) to play their part in harmony. That takes serious people skills to keep everyone motivated and moving in the same direction.

Project managers also need to be communication chameleons. They chat with higher-ups, the HR and admin folks, and even customers, vendors, and other teams. Each interaction requires them to adjust their communication style to get the best results. Mastering these soft skills is key to becoming a project management rockstar.

Soft skills, now what are they? These aren't skills you can learn from a coding tutorial – they are the people skills that make you a great teammate and a great leader. Think communication, collaboration, emotional intelligence – basically, anything that helps you work effectively with others. And let's be honest, projects rarely succeed in a vacuum – you need a strong team to get things done, it always succeeds on the backs of the people working on it. This is why soft skills are becoming increasingly important, no matter which industry you operate in or what your job title may be. They are like the glue that holds everything together, even for project managers with the best certifications the market can offer.

Technical skills might lay the groundwork for your project, but soft skills are the secret sauce to smooth execution. Think about it – even the most recognized project management certification, the PMP®, highlights the importance of soft skills like critical thinking, managing conflict, and making tough decisions. These might seem intangible, but they're the magic ingredients that turn a good project manager into a great one. So, before we dive into how to develop these essential skills, let's explore why they're becoming such a big deal in the project management world.

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Cognixia podcast. Maybe you were trying to buy something from the latest sale on your favorite online shop, or you wanted to buy a gift for someone, or you were trying to track a parcel. Happens to all of us, doesn’t it?

Most times we would drop trying and tell ourselves that we will do this later, right? But how many times do we really go back? Sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t, right? That is the cost the company paid for the downtime it faced, and usually, it is more than just a lost business.

A recent Splunk Report has shared that downtime costs the world’s largest companies about $400 billion every year – approximately 9% of their profits! This is the equivalent of about $9,000 lost for every minute of system failure or service degradation. Direct revenue loss is the biggest drain from downtime, but other hidden costs include diminished shareholder value, stagnant productivity, and reputational damage. The Report also goes on to share that a Forbes Global 2000 company would take about 75 days for its revenues to recover to where it stood financially before the downtime incident.

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Cognixia podcast. The theory of disruptive innovation was first introduced in 1995. Since then, it has proved to be a powerful way of thinking about innovation-driven growth. From Intel to Salesforce, disruptive innovations have been highly regarded and the theory is a guiding star for all individuals and organizations who want to do something cutting-edge.

Fast-forward to 2024, the disruption theory is threatened to become a victim of its own success. The theory, as experts opine, has been widely misunderstood and its fundamentals are frequently misapplied, often quite grossly.