Hey folks!

The stock market is a literal bloodbath right now. But there’s a mutual fund that has consistently beaten the market, even during crashes. And it’s a cult favourite among investors.

But is it really the best out there? We break down its strategy, performance and risks in this video. Watch it here and decide for yourself!

With that out of the way, let’s dive into the rest of the edition.

Remember Rajnikant’s movie Robot, where Chitti, the AI-powered humanoid, wasn’t just fast and strong but also started developing emotions? Well, that kind of future might not be far away.

Because researchers are putting up a robot called Proto Alpha that’s being called the most human-like machine ever built. Unlike the clunky metal robots we’re used to, this one has 3D-printed bones, artificial muscles and even a nervous system of sorts. Instead of metal pistons, it moves using 1,000 synthetic muscles, bending and flexing just like a real person. And it even sweats. No kidding! It has a water-based cooling system to keep those muscles from overheating.

What’s even more mind-blowing is that it isn’t just light and strong. It’s smart too. It has built-in cameras, motion sensors and pressure detectors that processes real time data and feeds it into Nvidia Jetson Thor, a powerful AI processor. And that means it’s not just mimicking human movements but also learning, adapting and making intelligent decisions. 

At first glance, this sounds thrilling. A machine that can handle both physical labour and cognitive tasks could revolutionise industries. Like warehouses staffed with tireless humanoid workers or robots assisting in complex surgeries with precision, or even stepping in for hazardous jobs like disaster relief, deep-sea exploration or space missions.

But it also gets a little… creepy. Because it blurs the line between a human and a machine, which is getting thinner by the day. It starts with robots flipping pancakes or fetching groceries. But what’s next when they develop decision-making abilities beyond human control? We’ve seen enough dystopian movies to know how this script can go.

Another eerie thing? Proto Alpha doesn’t have a face on purpose! Researchers wanted to avoid the ‘uncanny valley’ effect, where robots look too human but not quite, making people uncomfortable.

But hey, if it moves, reacts and even sweats like a person, how long before we start treating it like one?

If we have to think wild… We can picture robots with faces, voices, even personalities… not just machines, but companions…maybe even besties. They can even work 24/7, never take a coffee break and won’t ask for a raise. It sure sounds great… unless you’re the human they replace. So, when that happens, who’s got your back? The company that swapped you out or the system that let it slide?

So yeah, technology like this can be both exciting and terrifying. And we sure are on the brink of an AI revolution that could change daily life in ways we can’t yet predict.

And maybe the real question is — how human do we really want our machines to be? 🤷‍♂️

Here’s a soundtrack to put you in the mood 🎵

Shikayat by AUR

You can thank Shiwangi Agrawal for this recommendation.

What caught our eye this week 👀

Can theatres survive with fewer ads?

Ever sat down for a movie, only to be bombarded with ads for what feels like forever?

Well, a Bengaluru moviegoer had enough and took matters to court. And guess what? He won!

So, here’s what happened. In 2023, Mr. Abhishek went to watch “Sam Bahadur”, a film scheduled to start at 4:05 pm at PVR INOX. But thanks to endless ads, it only started at 4:30 pm. This delay messed up his post movie work commitments, costing him time and probably money too. So, he sued the cinema giant.

The court ruled in his favour, saying that cinemas can’t show more than 10 minutes of public service ads (you know, like the anti-tobacco and safe sanitary napkin ones) before a movie and 5 minutes during the interval. Anything beyond that was an unfair practice.

So yeah, PVR INOX had to cough up ₹20,000 in compensation.

Now, this ruling could shake things up for theatres across India. Because you see, ads bring in money. PVR INOX itself makes about 7-8% of its revenue from them. And while this may not seem significant, a PwC report predicts that cinema ad revenue could grow by 14% annually over the next three years. But with this ruling, that growth might take a hit.

So how are they going to deal with that, you ask?

Well, for starters, this isn’t a new problem for cinema houses and PVR INOX had already seen this coming. Last year, they noticed that lengthy ads were driving audiences away. So, they pulled a trick from their hat. They experimented with an ad-free movie policy in select luxury cinemas across Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru and Mumbai. And analysts thought this was a smart move. Luxury cinemas charge a premium for an enhanced movie experience, so cutting down on ads and making up for it with higher ticket prices seemed like a win-win.

But after this court ruling, even regular cinemas might have to rethink their advertising strategies. Lower ticket prices already make it tough to sustain profits, and losing ad revenue could make things even harder. And the only way out of this dilemma is to strike a balance between attracting more people and placing ads smartly so it doesn’t ruin the movie experience.

Maybe they’ll have to start using lobby screens for ads instead. Or they could be more transparent about showtimes — like clearly stating that a movie experience includes 15 minutes of ads, so people know what to expect. That way, ads still make an impact, viewers aren’t annoyed and revenues don’t take a massive hit.

Do ads ruin the movie experience for you? Let us know.

Infographic 📊

This Day in Financial History 📜

28th of February, 1997 ― The ‘Dream Budget’ that changed India

If you track the Indian Budget, you know how they are often full of jargon, taxes and policy tweaks that make most of us tune out. But some budgets are not so complex. Yet they shake up an entire economy. And in 1997, India witnessed one such moment.

On this day, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram presented what would be dubbed the ‘Dream Budget’, a landmark financial roadmap that slashed taxes, simplified the tax code and helped businesses grow.

Why was it such a big deal?

Well, in the early 1990s, India was undergoing a major economic shift. The 1991 liberalisation reforms had opened up markets, encouraging foreign investment and privatisation. But everyday businesses and individuals still struggled with high taxes and an overly complicated system. Growth was slow, and people wanted a change. That’s where the Dream Budget stepped in, as Chidambaram famously said, “The best reform is something that’s simple and easy to understand.”

What did it change?

• Income tax rates were cut drastically, with the highest tax slab reduced from 40% to 30%, the middle slab from 30% to 20%, and the lowest from 20% to 10%. Standard deductions were also simplified. This made taxes fairer and easier to pay, leaving more money in people’s pockets.
• Businesses got a tax cut too, with the top corporate tax rate reduced from 40% to 35%. This encouraged domestic as well as foreign companies to invest and expand.
• The Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme (VDIS) was introduced, allowing people to declare undisclosed income without harsh penalties. “Declare unaccounted wealth, pay a tax, and start fresh”, Chidambaram said. This move brought in over ₹10,000 crores in taxes and pushed more money into the legal economy.
• Import duties were reduced from 50% to 40%, making it cheaper to bring in essential goods and helping Indian industries modernise.

The result? Higher tax compliance, increased investment and a stock market that surged in response. The budget was seen as a bold step toward making India’s economy stronger and more competitive.

Not everyone was thrilled though. Critics argued that the VDIS rewarded tax evaders and that the revenue loss from lower tax rates would strain public finances. But the budget did succeed in setting the tone for a more business-friendly India.

And today, as India debates tax reforms and economic policies, the Dream Budget remains a reminder that sometimes, making things simpler is the smartest move.

Readers Recommend 🗒️

This week, an anonymous reader recommends watching The Social Dilemma, a film that talks about how large social media companies manipulate users with algorithms that encourage addiction to their platforms.

Thanks for the rec. :)

That’s it from us this week. We’ll see you next Sunday!

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