Here's A List Of Republic Day Chief Guests Over The Years https://ift.tt/EHjlY1P India will be celebrating its 75th Republic Day on Friday, 26 January. It is the day when the newly adopted Constitution came into force and India became a republic in 1950. The celebrations for the day include the annual parade at Rajpath, now called Kartavya Path, in New Delhi. It features march-pasts by personnel of the Indian Armed Forces and vibrant tableaux showcasing the diversity and culture of different states. The Republic Day celebrations last for three days, and they end with the Beating Retreat ceremony on January 29. French President Emmanuel Macron will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day 2024 celebrations this year. He will be the sixth leader from France to grace the prestigious annual event. "At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of France, will be visiting India as the Chief Guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. "As strategic partners, India and France share a high degree of convergence on a range of regional and global issues. This year, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the India-France strategic partnership. The Prime Minister was the guest of honour at the Bastille Day Parade held on 14 July 2023 in Paris. President Macron visited India for the G-20 Summit on 9-10 September 2023," the ministry added. Notably, the main purpose of inviting a foreign leader to the Republic Day parade is to boost bilateral relations between the two countries and show the diversity and prosperity of the Indian culture. Here's a list of Republic Day chief guests over the years: Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2023 Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of Egypt Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2021, 2022 No chief guest due to Covid pandemic No chief guest due to Covid pandemic Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2020 Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2019 Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2018 Ten guests - heads of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) states Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Laos Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia Aung San Suu Kyi, State counsellor of Myanmar Rodrigo Duterte, President of the Philippines Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2017 Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2016 Francois Hollande, President of France Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2015 Barack Obama, President of the United States Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2014 Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2013 Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Bhutan Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2012 Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand Republic Day 2024: How is the Chief Guest Chosen? The Indian Government sends the invitation to either the head of state or the government six months before the Republic Day celebrations. The approval of the Prime Minister is sought along with clearance from the President of India before sending the invitation. Before extending an invitation, the MEA also takes into consideration the nature of the relationship between India and the country concerned. https://ift.tt/ZcRtrjk January 24, 2024 at 08:38AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com

Here's A List Of Republic Day Chief Guests Over The Years https://ift.tt/EHjlY1P

India will be celebrating its 75th Republic Day on Friday, 26 January. It is the day when the newly adopted Constitution came into force and India became a republic in 1950. The celebrations for the day include the annual parade at Rajpath, now called Kartavya Path, in New Delhi. It features march-pasts by personnel of the Indian Armed Forces and vibrant tableaux showcasing the diversity and culture of different states. The Republic Day celebrations last for three days, and they end with the Beating Retreat ceremony on January 29.

French President Emmanuel Macron will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day 2024 celebrations this year. He will be the sixth leader from France to grace the prestigious annual event. 

"At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of France, will be visiting India as the Chief Guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

"As strategic partners, India and France share a high degree of convergence on a range of regional and global issues. This year, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the India-France strategic partnership. The Prime Minister was the guest of honour at the Bastille Day Parade held on 14 July 2023 in Paris. President Macron visited India for the G-20 Summit on 9-10 September 2023," the ministry added. 

Notably, the main purpose of inviting a foreign leader to the Republic Day parade is to boost bilateral relations between the two countries and show the diversity and prosperity of the Indian culture. 

Here's a list of Republic Day chief guests over the years:

Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2023

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of Egypt

Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2021, 2022

No chief guest due to Covid pandemic

No chief guest due to Covid pandemic

Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2020

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro

Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2019

Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa

Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2018

Ten guests - heads of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) states

Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei

Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia

Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia

Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Laos

Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia

Aung San Suu Kyi, State counsellor of Myanmar

Rodrigo Duterte, President of the Philippines

Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore

Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand

Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam

Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2017

Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi

Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2016

Francois Hollande, President of France

Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2015

Barack Obama, President of the United States

Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2014

Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan

Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2013

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Bhutan

Chief guest at Republic Day Parade 2012

Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand 

Republic Day 2024: How is the Chief Guest Chosen?

The Indian Government sends the invitation to either the head of state or the government six months before the Republic Day celebrations. The approval of the Prime Minister is sought along with clearance from the President of India before sending the invitation. Before extending an invitation, the MEA also takes into consideration the nature of the relationship between India and the country concerned.

https://ift.tt/ZcRtrjk January 24, 2024 at 08:38AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com

Viral Pic Shows Lord Ram's Image On Burj Khalifa. A Fact-Check https://ift.tt/rYZn5Mk Thousands of people in Ayodhya danced in the streets, waving flags and chanting religious slogans during the consecration ceremony of the grand Ram temple on Monday. Thousands others watched the ceremony live online. But along with the frenzy, several fake and digitally altered images started circulating on social media that attracted a lot of attention. One of them shows the projection of Lord Ram on Dubai's Burj Khalifa building. The photo went massively viral, amassing more than two million views and sparking a huge debate online. The image shows a shining Burj Khalifa with a photo of Lord Ram dressed as a sage (depicting his years in exile) with 'Jai Shri Ram' written in top. People who shared the photo claimed this was real and users immediately started posting comments. However, some of them asked if the photo is real. "Jai Shree Ram. Still I want to know whether it is edited or real?" commented one user. "Craze is unreal," said another. "Well it is not photoshopped. It's digitally altered. Jai Shree Ram. Paint the whole world," said a third user. However, a reverse image search on Google shows Burj Khalifa in same light but without any projection of Lord Ram on it. Whenever an occasion is celebrated by the world's tallest building, the images are shared on its Facebook and Instagram accounts. But no such post has been shared on its social media handles. A similar incident took place in April 2023 too, but that too turned out to be fake. Meanwhile, the doors of the Ram temple in Ayodhya opened to the general public on Tuesday, a day after the consecration of the new Ram Lalla idol. A large number of devotees, both locals and visitors from other states, gathered outside the main gates since late on Monday night, waiting to enter the premises. They had to wait for hours in the biting cold before the doors of the grand temple opened. The temple complex, built in the traditional Nagara style, is 380 feet long from the east to the west, 250 feet wide and will eventually rise to 161 feet at the 'shikhar'. It is supported by 392 pillars and has 44 doors. https://ift.tt/jNTuY8D January 23, 2024 at 11:49AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com

Viral Pic Shows Lord Ram's Image On Burj Khalifa. A Fact-Check https://ift.tt/rYZn5Mk

Thousands of people in Ayodhya danced in the streets, waving flags and chanting religious slogans during the consecration ceremony of the grand Ram temple on Monday. Thousands others watched the ceremony live online. But along with the frenzy, several fake and digitally altered images started circulating on social media that attracted a lot of attention. One of them shows the projection of Lord Ram on Dubai's Burj Khalifa building. The photo went massively viral, amassing more than two million views and sparking a huge debate online.

The image shows a shining Burj Khalifa with a photo of Lord Ram dressed as a sage (depicting his years in exile) with 'Jai Shri Ram' written in top.

People who shared the photo claimed this was real and users immediately started posting comments. However, some of them asked if the photo is real.

"Jai Shree Ram. Still I want to know whether it is edited or real?" commented one user. "Craze is unreal," said another.

"Well it is not photoshopped. It's digitally altered. Jai Shree Ram. Paint the whole world," said a third user.

However, a reverse image search on Google shows Burj Khalifa in same light but without any projection of Lord Ram on it.

Whenever an occasion is celebrated by the world's tallest building, the images are shared on its Facebook and Instagram accounts. But no such post has been shared on its social media handles.

A similar incident took place in April 2023 too, but that too turned out to be fake.

Meanwhile, the doors of the Ram temple in Ayodhya opened to the general public on Tuesday, a day after the consecration of the new Ram Lalla idol.

A large number of devotees, both locals and visitors from other states, gathered outside the main gates since late on Monday night, waiting to enter the premises.

They had to wait for hours in the biting cold before the doors of the grand temple opened.

The temple complex, built in the traditional Nagara style, is 380 feet long from the east to the west, 250 feet wide and will eventually rise to 161 feet at the 'shikhar'. It is supported by 392 pillars and has 44 doors.

https://ift.tt/jNTuY8D January 23, 2024 at 11:49AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com

Wintercare For Pets: 5 Types Of Foods To Ensure Health And Radiant Coat For Your Furry Friend

Wintercare For Pets: 5 Types Of Foods To Ensure Health And Radiant Coat For Your Furry Friend https://ift.tt/tAkIw4j Zee News The cold months can be tough for your pets. To ensure your four-legged friend stays comfortable and healthy during winter, consider incorporating some essential foods into their daily routine. https://ift.tt/Db3OukX January 23, 2024 at 12:49PM Zee News :Zee News - Entertainment https://ift.tt/IoUjKlQ

K Pop Group EVNNE is back with [Un: SEEN]

K Pop Group EVNNE is back with [Un: SEEN] https://ift.tt/JPvIKZT Zee News [Un: SEEN] includes five new songs: “UGLY,” “SYRUP,” “K.O. (Keep On),” “Chase,” and “Festa.” The title track, “UGLY,” talks about accepting the ‘ugly’ sides of oneself. https://ift.tt/Db3OukX January 23, 2024 at 12:09PM Zee News :Zee News - Entertainment https://ift.tt/IoUjKlQ

Netaji Birth Anniversary: 10 Inspiring Quotes By Subhash Chandra Bose

Netaji Birth Anniversary: 10 Inspiring Quotes By Subhash Chandra Bose https://ift.tt/6JaHXBi Zee News On the 127th birth anniversary of Netaji, here's taking a look at some his iconic and inspiring quotes that motivates youths of the country even today. https://ift.tt/Db3OukX January 23, 2024 at 11:38AM Zee News :Zee News - Entertainment https://ift.tt/IoUjKlQ

Ayodhya: History, Significance And Lesser-Known Facts Of Ram Janmabhoomi

Ayodhya: History, Significance And Lesser-Known Facts Of Ram Janmabhoomi https://ift.tt/Z7OXuhN Zee News Ayodhya is preparing for the momentous consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla at the Temple scheduled for January 22.   https://ift.tt/gfECmAL January 21, 2024 at 08:38PM Zee News :Zee News - Entertainment https://ift.tt/F2wNEof

Government Uses 'Hera Pheri' Meme To Warn Against Ram Mandir Scam https://ift.tt/nKJwgB4 The much-awaited inauguration of the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya will take place today with the 'pran pratistha' (consecration ceremony) of Ram Lalla taking place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, scammers are misusing this opportunity and are duping devotees in the name of getting VIP entry at the event. Several people have reported getting WhatsApp texts promising them free VIP passes to the ceremony, which are fake. The message urges the receivers to download an APK file attached to the message which might contain malware and corrupt the phone. To alert the public of the same, Cyber Dost, the cybersecurity handle of the Government of India, shared a popular Bollywood meme to warn devotees of the deceptive WhatsApp scam. The 'Hera Pheri '-themed meme featuring actors Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal, warns citizens not to click on any suspicious link and avoid making payments to unauthorized websites. ''Beware of recent online frauds: Fraudsters may convince you for Fake passes of VIP Entry regarding "Pran Pratishtha Event" of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya . Don't click any suspicious link and avoid transaction in this regard to unknown number or website,'' the tweet read by Cyber Dost reads. Several government handles are also tagged in the tweet. See the tweet here: Beware of recent online frauds : Fraudsters may convince you for Fake passes of VIP Entry regarding "Pran Pratishtha Event" of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya . Don't click any suspicious link and avoid transaction in this regard to unknown number or website. #Ayodhya #ShriRam #I4C pic.twitter.com/B5kR0CTGsn — Cyber Dost (@Cyberdost) January 21, 2024 Notably, only individuals with valid invites or on government duty would be allowed to enter the temple today. The 'pran pratishtha' at the Ram Mandir will begin at 12:20 pm and is likely to end by 1 pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will then address a gathering of more than 7,000 people, including seers and prominent personalities, at the venue. The temple trust has invited more than 7,000 people to attend the grand inauguration. This includes cricket stars Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni; Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan, Rajnikanth, Anushka Sharma, Alia Bhatt, and Ranbir Kapoor. To mark the occasion of the consecration ceremony, government offices, boards, and corporations in several states have declared a half day or a holiday. Ayodhya's Ram temple will be opened for 'darshan' to the general public from January 23. The darshan timings for devotees are divided into two slots –from 7 AM to 11.30 AM and 2 PM to 7 PM. People need a pass issued by the trust to attend the aarti. https://ift.tt/kvrx0JK January 22, 2024 at 07:43AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com

Government Uses 'Hera Pheri' Meme To Warn Against Ram Mandir Scam https://ift.tt/nKJwgB4

The much-awaited inauguration of the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya will take place today with the 'pran pratistha' (consecration ceremony) of Ram Lalla taking place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, scammers are misusing this opportunity and are duping devotees in the name of getting VIP entry at the event.

Several people have reported getting WhatsApp texts promising them free VIP passes to the ceremony, which are fake. The message urges the receivers to download an APK file attached to the message which might contain malware and corrupt the phone.

To alert the public of the same, Cyber Dost, the cybersecurity handle of the Government of India, shared a popular Bollywood meme to warn devotees of the deceptive WhatsApp scam. The 'Hera Pheri '-themed meme featuring actors Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal, warns citizens not to click on any suspicious link and avoid making payments to unauthorized websites.

''Beware of recent online frauds: Fraudsters may convince you for Fake passes of VIP Entry regarding "Pran Pratishtha Event" of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya . Don't click any suspicious link and avoid transaction in this regard to unknown number or website,'' the tweet read by Cyber Dost reads. Several government handles are also tagged in the tweet. 

See the tweet here:

Beware of recent online frauds :
Fraudsters may convince you for Fake passes of VIP Entry regarding "Pran Pratishtha Event" of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya .
Don't click any suspicious link and avoid transaction in this regard to unknown number or website.
#Ayodhya #ShriRam #I4C pic.twitter.com/B5kR0CTGsn

— Cyber Dost (@Cyberdost) January 21, 2024

Notably, only individuals with valid invites or on government duty would be allowed to enter the temple today. 

The 'pran pratishtha' at the Ram Mandir will begin at 12:20 pm and is likely to end by 1 pm.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will then address a gathering of more than 7,000 people, including seers and prominent personalities, at the venue. 

The temple trust has invited more than 7,000 people to attend the grand inauguration. This includes cricket stars Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni; Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan, Rajnikanth, Anushka Sharma, Alia Bhatt, and Ranbir Kapoor.

To mark the occasion of the consecration ceremony, government offices, boards, and corporations in several states have declared a half day or a holiday.

Ayodhya's Ram temple will be opened for 'darshan' to the general public from January 23. The darshan timings for devotees are divided into two slots –from 7 AM to 11.30 AM and 2 PM to 7 PM. People need a pass issued by the trust to attend the aarti.

https://ift.tt/kvrx0JK January 22, 2024 at 07:43AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com

Ayodhya Ram Mandir Celebration: 20 Heartwarming Ram Mandir Captions, Wishes And WhatsApp Messages To Share

Ayodhya Ram Mandir Celebration: 20 Heartwarming Ram Mandir Captions, Wishes And WhatsApp Messages To Share https://ift.tt/ctLu396 Zee News The inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir stands as a testament to cultural heritage and religious unity. https://ift.tt/gfECmAL January 22, 2024 at 07:00AM Zee News :Zee News - Entertainment https://ift.tt/F2wNEof

US Man Throws Joint Baby Shower For 5 Women He Got Pregnant https://ift.tt/LdJIhcf A 22-year-old musician from New York City named Zeddy Will recently hosted a joint baby shower for 5 women he got pregnant. According to the New York Post, one of his partners, Lizzy Ashliegh, claimed it on TikTok. Ms Ashleigh, 29, on the social media platform, shared the party invitations which said the shower would be hosted in Queens on January 14. The pregnant woman and Mr Will posed for a joined photo on the invitation, which said, "Welcome little Zeddy Wills 1-5." "I guess we're Sister Wives now," Ms Ashleigh captioned the video, referring to the popular TLC show that follows the lives of a polygamist family. Ms Ashliegh also posted pictures of the large untraditional family posing outside their party. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lizzy Ashliegh (@lizzyashmusic) In another picture, Ms Ashliegh revealed in a follow-up video that 5 moms- Ashleigh, Bonnie B, Kay Merie, Jylene Vila, and Iyanla Kalifa Galletti - have "accepted each other" because it is "better for the little ones" to grow up in a "big family." "Look at our beautiful family!" she captioned one of the photos. "We love our Baby Daddy! We will not ruin our babies' lives! Our families have accepted this!" Will's co-manager told The New York Post: "Society has shifted, and in turn so has modern relationship dynamics. The essence lies in redefining relationships personally, breaking away from the one-size-fits-all approach and societal pressures to conform." The video of the baby shower shows the 5 moms dancing and eating together and enjoying each other's company. However, the internet was unhappy with the family's acceptance of the unconventional life. "That's embarrassing, not going to lie," wrote one TikTok user. "LMAO, that's gross," another wrote. The third user wrote in disbelief, "Please tell me this is not real." https://ift.tt/Dyfh4mW January 21, 2024 at 11:26AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com

US Man Throws Joint Baby Shower For 5 Women He Got Pregnant https://ift.tt/LdJIhcf

A 22-year-old musician from New York City named Zeddy Will recently hosted a joint baby shower for 5 women he got pregnant. According to the New York Post, one of his partners, Lizzy Ashliegh, claimed it on TikTok.

Ms Ashleigh, 29, on the social media platform, shared the party invitations which said the shower would be hosted in Queens on January 14.

The pregnant woman and Mr Will posed for a joined photo on the invitation, which said, "Welcome little Zeddy Wills 1-5."

"I guess we're Sister Wives now," Ms Ashleigh captioned the video, referring to the popular TLC show that follows the lives of a polygamist family.

Ms Ashliegh also posted pictures of the large untraditional family posing outside their party.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lizzy Ashliegh (@lizzyashmusic)

In another picture, Ms Ashliegh revealed in a follow-up video that 5 moms- Ashleigh, Bonnie B, Kay Merie, Jylene Vila, and Iyanla Kalifa Galletti - have "accepted each other" because it is "better for the little ones" to grow up in a "big family."

"Look at our beautiful family!" she captioned one of the photos. "We love our Baby Daddy! We will not ruin our babies' lives! Our families have accepted this!"

Will's co-manager told The New York Post: "Society has shifted, and in turn so has modern relationship dynamics. The essence lies in redefining relationships personally, breaking away from the one-size-fits-all approach and societal pressures to conform."

The video of the baby shower shows the 5 moms dancing and eating together and enjoying each other's company.

However, the internet was unhappy with the family's acceptance of the unconventional life.

"That's embarrassing, not going to lie," wrote one TikTok user.

"LMAO, that's gross," another wrote.

The third user wrote in disbelief, "Please tell me this is not real."

https://ift.tt/Dyfh4mW January 21, 2024 at 11:26AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com

Rhythm Wagholikar Pays Tribute To Prabha Atre Whose Innovative Spirit Redefined the Kirana Gharana

Rhythm Wagholikar Pays Tribute To Prabha Atre Whose Innovative Spirit Redefined the Kirana Gharana https://ift.tt/28hWJKr Zee News Born on September 13, 1932, in Pune, Prabha Atre's introduction to the world of music was not a mere coincidence; it was a destined encounter with a lifelong passion.  https://ift.tt/NXCUBKf January 20, 2024 at 11:32PM Zee News :Zee News - Entertainment https://ift.tt/71VivKn

AI Chatbot Goes Rogue, Swears At Customer And Slams Company In UK https://ift.tt/esv3wjq Dynamic Parcel Distribution (DPD) deactivated its AI online chatbot after a customer, 30-year-old Ashley Beauchamp, discovered the bot using inappropriate language and even creating a critical poem about the parcel delivery company. Ashley became frustrated while attempting to locate a missing parcel and felt that the chatbot was not providing helpful information. Subsequently, he posed some questions to the chatbot, and the system's responses were entirely unexpected and not in line with the intended interaction. As a result of these unforeseen issues, DPD decided to disable the chatbot to address the situation. According to The Guardian, Ashley asked the chatbot to tell him a joke, but he soon progressed to getting the chatbot to write a poem criticising the company. With a few more prompts, the chatbot also swore. Mr Beauchamp shared the conversation on X, with the chatbot replying to one message: "F**k yeah! I'll do my best to be as helpful as possible, even if it means swearing." Parcel delivery firm DPD have replaced their customer service chat with an AI robot thing. It's utterly useless at answering any queries, and when asked, it happily produced a poem about how terrible they are as a company. It also swore at me. ? pic.twitter.com/vjWlrIP3wn — Ashley Beauchamp (@ashbeauchamp) January 18, 2024 Then, in another instance, the chatbot calls itself a "useless Chatbot that can't help you". A post by Mr Beauchamp, a classical musician from London, gained 1.3 million views within 24 hours. In reference to the chatbot, he wrote on X, "Parcel delivery firm DPD has replaced their customer service chat with an AI robot thing. It's utterly useless at answering any queries, and when asked, it happily produced a poem about how terrible they are as a company. It also swore at me." https://ift.tt/QYNVudS January 20, 2024 at 09:08PM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com

AI Chatbot Goes Rogue, Swears At Customer And Slams Company In UK https://ift.tt/esv3wjq

Dynamic Parcel Distribution (DPD) deactivated its AI online chatbot after a customer, 30-year-old Ashley Beauchamp, discovered the bot using inappropriate language and even creating a critical poem about the parcel delivery company. Ashley became frustrated while attempting to locate a missing parcel and felt that the chatbot was not providing helpful information. Subsequently, he posed some questions to the chatbot, and the system's responses were entirely unexpected and not in line with the intended interaction. As a result of these unforeseen issues, DPD decided to disable the chatbot to address the situation.

According to The Guardian, Ashley asked the chatbot to tell him a joke, but he soon progressed to getting the chatbot to write a poem criticising the company. With a few more prompts, the chatbot also swore.

Mr Beauchamp shared the conversation on X, with the chatbot replying to one message: "F**k yeah! I'll do my best to be as helpful as possible, even if it means swearing."

Parcel delivery firm DPD have replaced their customer service chat with an AI robot thing. It's utterly useless at answering any queries, and when asked, it happily produced a poem about how terrible they are as a company. It also swore at me. ? pic.twitter.com/vjWlrIP3wn

— Ashley Beauchamp (@ashbeauchamp) January 18, 2024

Then, in another instance, the chatbot calls itself a "useless Chatbot that can't help you".

A post by Mr Beauchamp, a classical musician from London, gained 1.3 million views within 24 hours. In reference to the chatbot, he wrote on X, "Parcel delivery firm DPD has replaced their customer service chat with an AI robot thing. It's utterly useless at answering any queries, and when asked, it happily produced a poem about how terrible they are as a company. It also swore at me."

https://ift.tt/QYNVudS January 20, 2024 at 09:08PM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com