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Month: April 2025

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AI-Powered RCM Platform RapidClaims Secures $11M

Observenow Desk April 3, 2025

RapidClaims, an AI-driven revenue cycle management (RCM) platform, has raised $11 million in funding to enhance its technology and expand its market presence. The investment includes an $8 million Series A round led by Accel, with participation from Together Fund, along with a previously undisclosed $3 million seed round. The seed funding was backed by Together Fund and prominent angel investors, including Oscar Benavidez (Massachusetts General Hospital), Matthew Zubiller (ex-CEO, e4health), Ankit Jain (CEO, Infinitus), and Sachin Jain (healthcare leader).

With this fresh capital, RapidClaims aims to accelerate its go-to-market strategy and enhance its AI-powered claim denial prevention technology, which helps healthcare providers reduce costs by up to 70% while streamlining reimbursements. The company’s platform integrates seamlessly with over 15 electronic health record (EHR) systems, enabling fast deployment and customization.

RapidClaims’ AI-driven solutions are already live across 25+ medical specialties, achieving high autonomous accuracy in over 20 of them. According to Founder and CEO Dushyant Mishra, this multi-specialty AI solution offers a major advantage over traditional, niche-focused tools. The company now plans to expand into claim adjudication and the end-revenue cycle, further strengthening its position in the healthcare RCM space.

The company’s key AI-powered solutions include RapidCode, an autonomous medical coding solution that processes millions of charts with 98% accuracy in specialties like radiology and anesthesia. Another offering, RapidCDI, optimizes risk-adjusted coding by scanning over 50 patient documents to improve clinical documentation for outpatient and value-based care. Additionally, RapidScrub, a proprietary AI model, pre-scrubs claims before submission, significantly reducing denials and revenue leakage.

In just one year, RapidClaims has experienced sixfold growth, serving a double-digit client base that includes major physician groups and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). Looking ahead, the company anticipates fivefold growth in the coming quarters and is currently in discussions with leading healthcare organizations to expand its footprint.

Investors see significant potential in RapidClaims’ AI-first approach. Manasi Shah, Investor at Accel, noted that the platform’s AI-driven workflows dramatically reduce costs and cut implementation timelines from months to weeks. Shekhar Kirani, Partner at Accel, highlighted the urgency of solving the $250 billion inefficiency in the U.S. healthcare revenue cycle and emphasized RapidClaims’ ability to address the problem with unmatched speed and customization.

With this funding, RapidClaims plans to scale its sales and marketing efforts while continuing to enhance its AI-driven product offerings. The company is projecting eightfold growth in 2025 and is offering a risk-free pilot program for healthcare providers to experience its AI platform firsthand.

Tags: RapidClaims

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Governance

Delhi High Court Directs Wikipedia to Remove Alleged Defamatory Content against ANI

Observenow Desk

The Delhi High Court has ordered the Wikimedia Foundation, which operates Wikipedia, to remove alleged defamatory content from its page about news agency Asian News International (ANI). The directive was issued on Wednesday during a hearing of an interim application filed by ANI, according to a new agency.

Justice Subramonium Prasad, presiding over the case, allowed certain requests made by ANI, which sought the removal of the allegedly defamatory material and an injunction preventing Wikipedia’s users and administrators from publishing further defamatory content against the agency.

The case stems from an earlier hearing in December 2024, when the court reserved its decision on ANI’s plea. The court noted that it would review news articles cited as sources for the alleged defamatory edits on ANI’s Wikipedia page. However, it also questioned whether such a detailed examination was appropriate at the interim stage.

“This interpretation relies on the editor’s understanding of the sources. If this understanding is so misleading that it completely misrepresents the original meaning, the person can be restrained. However, the question remains—should the court delve deeper at this stage to determine if the content could be interpreted differently?” the court observed.

ANI’s Wikipedia page currently includes a section stating that the agency has been accused of acting as a propaganda tool for the central government, disseminating content from dubious news sources, and misreporting events.

The dispute escalated in July 2024, when the High Court directed Wikipedia to disclose the identities of three individuals who made the alleged defamatory edits. In September 2024, the court issued a contempt notice against Wikipedia for failing to comply, leading to an appeal by Wikimedia Foundation before a Division Bench. A subsequent agreement between ANI and Wikipedia allowed the platform to notify the users in question while maintaining their anonymity.

Meanwhile, the Wikimedia Foundation has challenged the High Court’s order in the Supreme Court, which is set to hear the case on April 4.

Tags: ANIAsian News InternationalDelhi High CourtWikipedia

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BFSI

NPCI to Implement New UPI Guidelines from April 2025 to Enhance Security and User Experience

ObserveNow Media

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is set to introduce new guidelines for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions starting April 1, 2025. These updates aim to enhance security, improve interoperability, and refine the overall customer experience. The new framework will be mandatory for all UPI member banks, Payment Service Providers (PSPs), and third-party app providers (TPAPs) such as PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm.

One of the most significant changes focuses on the management of mobile numbers linked to UPI IDs. According to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), mobile numbers that remain inactive for 90 days can be reassigned to new users.

To address issues arising from outdated or recycled numbers, NPCI will require banks and PSPs to update mobile records weekly through the Mobile Number Revocation List (MNRL) and the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP). As part of this initiative, UPI IDs associated with inactive mobile numbers will be deactivated from April 1, making it essential for users to ensure their registered mobile numbers remain active.

Additionally, NPCI is introducing stricter consent mechanisms for UPI number seeding. Users must explicitly opt in for the process, and consent cannot be collected during or before transactions. This measure is designed to enhance transparency, prevent unauthorized number linking, and protect user data.

Another significant change involves the discontinuation of the “Collect Payments” feature for person-to-person transactions due to rising fraud concerns. Moving forward, this feature will be restricted to verified merchants, while individual collect payments will be capped at ₹2,000. Furthermore, PSPs will be required to submit monthly reports on instances where UPI numbers were locally settled due to delays in NPCI’s system, ensuring greater accountability in digital transactions.

These updates will particularly affect users who have changed their mobile numbers without updating their bank records, those with cancelled or reassigned numbers still linked to UPI IDs, and individuals who have transferred their SIM cards without revising their banking details. To avoid disruptions in UPI services post-March 31, users must verify and update their mobile numbers with their respective banks.

With these changes, NPCI aims to strengthen India’s digital payment ecosystem, minimize fraud risks, and improve operational efficiency. As UPI continues to drive financial inclusion across the country, these updates will create a more secure and reliable transaction environment for millions of users.

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Education

University of Houston and Delhi Technological University Strengthen Academic Ties with New MOU

Observenow Desk

The University of Houston (UH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Delhi Technological University (DTU), reinforcing a five-year partnership aimed at fostering academic and research collaborations. The agreement, which includes an option for renewal in 2030, marks a significant step in expanding educational exchanges between the two institutions.

Under this collaboration, UH and DTU will jointly engage in research initiatives and academic programs. The partnership will facilitate the exchange of visiting scholars, who will contribute to ongoing research and academic discussions. Additionally, both institutions will share scholarly resources, including research papers, thesis indices, books, and academic journals.

Students from both universities will benefit from paid internships and cooperative education (co-op) programs, offering them hands-on experience in their respective fields. These opportunities will be hosted by the partner university, further enhancing practical learning and industry exposure.

The MOU was officially signed by UH Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Diane Z. Chase, UH Cullen College of Engineering Dean Pradeep Sharma, DTU Vice Chancellor Prateek Sharma, and DTU Dean of International Affairs Pravir Kumar.

Chase emphasized UH’s dedication to global collaborations, highlighting how partnerships with esteemed institutions like DTU contribute to academic excellence and community development. She expressed optimism about a long-standing and fruitful relationship between the two universities.

DTU’s Vice Chancellor Prateek Sharma noted that the agreement is expected to boost enrollment in UH’s Master’s programs, with a potential pathway for students to continue into PhD studies.

The latest MOU aligns with UH’s broader strategy to strengthen academic partnerships in India. In 2023, UH collaborated with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations to promote Tamil language, literature, and cultural studies. Additionally, the university partnered with the Indian Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to develop a geoscience data repository, supporting research on India’s sedimentary basins and oil fields.

Further, UH’s Andy & Barbara Gessner College of Nursing has previously worked with the MGM Institute of Health Science in Mumbai and Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences to launch Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.

With this new agreement, UH continues to enhance its presence in India, fostering international knowledge exchange, research advancements, and greater opportunities for students.

Tags: Delhi Technological UniversityUniversity of Houston

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Technology

Alibaba Gears Up to Launch Qwen 3 AI Model Amid Intensifying Competition

Observenow Desk

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is preparing to roll out Qwen 3, the latest iteration of its flagship AI model, as early as this month, Bloomberg reported. The Hangzhou-based tech giant’s upcoming release underscores its aggressive push in the AI sector, where it faces mounting competition from OpenAI, DeepSeek, and other rivals.

While the exact launch date remains uncertain, Qwen 3 could debut by the end of April. The move follows Alibaba’s recent streak of AI advancements, including last week’s introduction of a new model in its Qwen 2.5 series. That model boasts capabilities such as text, image, music, and video analysis while remaining efficient enough to operate on personal devices like smartphones and computers. Additionally, in March, the company rolled out an updated version of its AI assistant, Quark.

Alibaba’s rapid AI expansion aligns with broader industry trends, as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic have all unveiled new AI models in recent weeks. During a February earnings call, CEO Eddie Wu emphasized the company’s commitment to developing artificial general intelligence (AGI), stating that continuously pushing the boundaries of intelligence remains Alibaba’s top priority.

China’s AI race has intensified, particularly after DeepSeek gained global recognition for developing a cost-effective AI model. In response, Alibaba swiftly introduced Qwen 2.5-Max in January, positioning it as a superior alternative to DeepSeek’s V3 model. Notably, Alibaba’s launch coincided with the first day of the Lunar New Year, a rare timing that signified the pressure competitors like DeepSeek are exerting on the industry.

Meanwhile, DeepSeek is accelerating the launch of a successor to its R1 model, aiming for a pre-May release. The move signals its determination to sustain momentum in the fiercely competitive AI landscape, where Chinese firms are racing to innovate while keeping costs in check.

With Alibaba’s upcoming Qwen 3 release and DeepSeek’s rapid advancements, China’s AI battle is heating up, shaping the next phase of AI development on both domestic and global fronts.

Tags: AlibabaQwen 3 AI Model

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Technology

Meta’s AI Research Head Joelle Pineau to Exit After Nearly Eight Yearsa

Observenow Desk

Joelle Pineau, Vice President at Meta and head of its Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) group, has announced her departure from the company after nearly eight years.

In a LinkedIn post on Tuesday, Pineau cited the accelerating AI race and Meta’s evolving direction as reasons for her exit, stating that it is “time to create space for others to pursue the work.”

Expressing confidence in Meta’s AI advancements, Pineau added, “I will be cheering from the sidelines, knowing that you have all the ingredients needed to build the best AI systems in the world and to responsibly bring them into the lives of billions.” She revealed that her last day will be May 30, after which she plans to take time to “observe and reflect” before embarking on a new venture.

Pineau’s departure comes as Meta ramps up its AI investments, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg committing approximately $65 billion this year alone. Unlike competitors such as OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI, which are focused on AI infrastructure, Meta is prioritizing AI-powered products like its Llama language model. Meanwhile, competition is heating up globally, with Chinese AI startup DeepSeek launching a model rivaling its Western counterparts at a fraction of the cost.

A computer science professor at McGill University, Pineau has led FAIR since early 2023, reporting to Meta’s Chief Product Officer Chris Cox. Under her leadership, the team has advanced research in voice translation, image recognition, and open-source AI models like Llama. The group is also working on “advanced machine intelligence,” Meta’s vision for human-level AI.

Highlighting FAIR’s contributions, Pineau noted, “We created and nurtured dozens of projects that are now household names at Meta—PyTorch, FAISS, Roberta, Dino, Llama, SAM, Codegen, Audiobox, and more.”

Meta has yet to name a successor for Pineau but has begun the search for her replacement, according to a company spokesperson.

Tags: Joelle PineauMeta

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BFSI

Salila Pande Appointed MD & CEO of SBI Card Amid Leadership Shift in India’s Credit Card Industry

Observenow Desk April 2, 2025

India’s credit card sector is undergoing a significant leadership transition as SBI Cards and Payment Services, the country’s largest standalone credit card issuer, appoints Salila Pande as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

Effective from April 1, 2025, Pande’s appointment was confirmed through a regulatory filing to the BSE and NSE. She brings nearly three decades of banking experience with the State Bank of India (SBI), SBI Card’s parent company. Most recently, she served as Chief General Manager of the Mumbai Metro Circle, overseeing SBI’s retail operations in one of India’s key financial hubs.

Pande also held the position of President and CEO at SBI California, where she steered the bank’s U.S. operations through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing strong leadership during a period of global economic instability.

Despite the leadership announcement, shares of SBI Card closed 2.39% lower on April 1, 2025, at ₹860 per share, reflecting broader market volatility at the start of the financial year.

Her appointment comes at a crucial time for the Indian credit card industry, which is witnessing rapid growth. With her extensive experience in retail banking and international operations, industry experts and investors will closely monitor how she steers SBI Card in the evolving financial landscape.

Tags: Salila PandeSBI Card

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Exclusive

US Cracks Down on International Students Amid AI-Powered Surveillance

Observenow Desk

In a sweeping crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism on university campuses, the US government has revoked the visas of over 300 international students in the past three weeks.

The students, holding F1, M1, and J1 visas, received emails informing them of their visa cancellations and instructing them to self-deport via the CBP Home App.

The initiative, spearheaded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, employs AI technology to monitor and identify foreign students suspected of expressing support for Hamas or other designated terror groups. According to reports, AI-assisted reviews of social media activity have been instrumental in the revocation process, targeting students who participated in protests or engaged with related online content.

Rubio, who has led this surveillance program, stated on March 27, “At some point, I hope we run out because we’ve got rid of all of them,” while urging other nations to adopt similar measures.

Under this policy shift, federal authorities have scanned over 100,000 profiles in the Student Exchange Visitor System since October 2023, leading to an uptick in visa cancellations. The new approach departs from previous norms, where student visa holders were typically allowed to remain in the US under the “Duration of Status” (D/S) policy.

Former President Donald Trump has also echoed Rubio’s stance, warning on January 30 that foreign nationals who participated in “pro-jihadist protests” would be deported.

The crackdown has raised alarm among civil rights advocates. Abed Ayoub, head of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, warned that the measures threaten free speech and First Amendment rights. “This is a dangerous precedent,” he said.

With the US hosting over 1.1 million international students, including 330,000 from India, the use of AI-driven surveillance for visa revocation signals a significant shift in immigration enforcement and campus security policies.

Tags: US government

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Technology

Global GenAI Spending to Hit $644 Billion in 2025 Amid AI Hardware Surge: Gartner

Observenow Desk

Global spending on generative AI (GenAI) is projected to reach $644 billion in 2025, marking a 76.4% surge from 2024, according to a Gartner report released on Tuesday.

The sharp increase will be primarily driven by the integration of AI capabilities into hardware, including servers, smartphones, and PCs, with nearly 80% of GenAI investments directed toward hardware advancements.

However, Gartner’s Distinguished VP Analyst John-David Lovelock highlighted a paradox within the industry. “Expectations for GenAI are declining due to high failure rates in initial proof-of-concept (POC) trials and dissatisfaction with results,” he noted. Despite these concerns, major AI model providers continue to pour billions into enhancing model performance, size, and reliability—a trend expected to continue through 2025 and 2026.

The report suggests that GenAI will significantly influence IT spending across various markets, with AI-enabled devices becoming the norm. By 2028, almost all consumer devices are expected to incorporate AI features, though Lovelock noted that consumers are not actively demanding these capabilities. Instead, manufacturers are embedding AI as a standard, making its adoption inevitable.

Additionally, enterprises will reassess their GenAI strategies in 2025, moving away from ambitious internal projects. CIOs are expected to shift focus from in-house POC developments to ready-made GenAI solutions from existing software providers to ensure predictable implementation and business value.

Gartner’s spending forecast is based on extensive analysis of sales data from over a thousand vendors across the full spectrum of GenAI products and services.

Tags: GenAIGenerative AI

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Exclusive

If AI Doesn’t Kill Your Company, It Will Make It Stronger, Study Shows

Observenow Desk

A study presented at a European Central Bank (ECB) conference reveals that companies adopting artificial intelligence (AI) may initially struggle with declining productivity but can emerge stronger in the long run—if they survive the transition.

Researchers analyzed U.S. Census Bureau data from 2017 to 2021 and found that early AI adopters in manufacturing experienced an initial drop in productivity as they replaced human workers with robots. This contradicts the common belief that AI immediately boosts efficiency and enhances jobs rather than eliminating them.

“In the short term, we see a lot of pain,” said Kristina McElheran, a University of Toronto researcher and study co-author. She explained that AI disrupted traditional practices like inventory management, causing temporary setbacks. However, firms that endured the upheaval ultimately saw gains in sales growth, productivity, and employment.

Older, larger companies struggled more with AI integration, often failing to recover as effectively as their younger counterparts. The study examined 30,000 firms, where AI adoption rose from 7.5% to 9.1% over the study period.

ECB President Christine Lagarde noted that while AI exposure affects 23% to 29% of European workers, it does not necessarily signal a “job apocalypse.” She emphasized that AI is likely to create new opportunities even as it disrupts traditional roles.

Tags: artificial intelligenceEuropean Central Bank

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