Beats has introduced the Powerbeats Pro 2, the latest addition to its wireless earbuds lineup. Designed for a comfortable fit, the new model brings a refreshed design and several feature upgrades. This article will discuss more about the latest Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Announced with Heart Rate Monitoring, including its expected price in Nepal.
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Overview
Design and Build
The Powerbeats Pro 2 features a sleeker, sportier look with a rubberized body and a nickel-titanium alloy frame for the ear hook. The earbuds are 20% lighter than the previous model, and the charging case is nearly half as small with Qi wireless charging support. Additionally, the earbuds are IPX4 sweat and water-resistant.
Heart Rate Monitoring
A major new addition is the integrated heart rate monitoring. Each earbud includes an optical sensor that tracks real-time blood flow. The earbuds can sync with various fitness apps and integrate with Apple’s Health app.
Audio and Features
The Powerbeats Pro 2 features updated acoustics with a custom-designed dual-layer transducer and an upgraded amplifier. The transducers are aligned for direct sound delivery, and a new acoustically transparent mesh enhances durability without affecting audio quality.
These earbuds use Apple’s H2 chip, offering active noise cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, and spatial audio with head tracking. They also support Adaptive EQ, which customizes sound based on fit but works only when ANC or transparency mode is disabled.For Apple Vision Pro users, the Powerbeats Pro 2 delivers low-latency lossless audio.
With ANC enabled, the earbuds offer 8 hours of battery life, extending to 36 hours with the case. Disabling ANC increases playback time to 10 hours on the earbuds and 45 hours with the case.
Features: ANC, Transparency mode, Spatial Audio with head tracking, Adaptive EQ
Battery Life:
ANC on: 8 hours (earbuds), 36 hours (with case)
ANC off: 10 hours (earbuds), 45 hours (with case)
Charging Case: Qi wireless charging
Colors: Jet Black, Quick Sand, Hyper Purple, Electric Orange
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Price in Nepal and Availability
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 is priced at $249.99 and will be available in stores from February 13. If it launches in Nepal, it is expected to start at no less than NPR 40,000.
Samsung Galaxy S25 series is making a good impression in the market. While the hardware is mostly the same as before, on the software side there are some of the most advanced AI features in Android phones. Among them is the New Galaxy AI Subscription Club. With this feature instead of paying the full price upfront, users can now join the club and trade in their S25 after a year for a sweet deal on the next model. Let’s talk about this new deal in detail.
Galaxy AI Subscription Club Overview
Samsung launched the “New Galaxy AI Subscription Club” plan right after the Galaxy S25 series hit the market. Essentially, instead of holding onto your phone for years, you can upgrade to the latest model every year without paying full price.
Here’s how it works
If you return your Galaxy S25 after 12 months, you’ll get up to 50% of its original price back as credit. You can use this credit to buy the next S-series phone, which means you’re getting the new model at half price. Moreover, if you wait 24 months to trade in, you’ll still get up to 40% of the phone’s price as credit.
Wait, there’s more! With the subscription, you also get Samsung Care+ and Smartphone Damage+ for free, which means accidental damage or repairs won’t cost you a dime. Plus, you get discounts on accessories like cases and battery packs.
As per the company, 1 in 5 customers picked up this subscription plan during the pre-order period in South Korea. 30% of unlocked device buyers on the official Samsung website subscribe to the program and out of this 60% of subscribers belong to the younger 20s and 30s age group.
Galaxy AI Subscription Club: Pricing and Availability
While pricing details aren’t fully out yet, reports suggest entry-level plans might start at around 5,900 won ($4.05) per month in Korea. Sadly, this awesome program is only available in South Korea for now. And now the burning question is whether Samsung will roll it out worldwide. If they do, it could change the way we think about upgrading our phones and potentially bring even more people into the Samsung family. Let’s hope this feature goes global soon so we can utilize the most out of it!
AI has become the hottest topic in tech, and the competition in this field is growing faster than a viral TikTok dance. Every day, we hear about something new in the world of artificial intelligence. The most exciting recent development is OpenAI’s move into AI chip development. Let’s dive into the depths of this big AI news.
OpenAI’s Chipset
Nvidia’s Dominance
Nvidia currently holds the crown in the AI chip market. Its processors power most of the world’s large language models (LLMs) and generative AI applications. But there’s a new challenger joining the ring, and it’s none other than OpenAI itself.
Enters OpenAI
According to the latest reports, OpenAI is gearing up to release its own custom AI chips by the end of this year. For now, it is facing some head-to-head competition, especially with new players like DeepSeek launching their models against ChatGPT. However, the company isn’t backing down from the challenge.
The ChatGPT maker is working on a new AI chipset designed to reduce its dependence on Nvidia’s hardware. The team is putting the final touches on the design for their first in-house processor, with plans to send it off for fabrication at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). This process of sending the first design through a chipset factory called “taping out” can cost tens of millions of dollars. If for some reason the chip doesn’t work on the first try (which is often the case), they will have to restart the whole process. But if things go smoothly, OpenAI will be one step closer to mass-producing its own AI chips possibly even offering an alternative to Nvidia’s.
A few more words
As I have mentioned already, OpenAI depends heavily on Nvidia for its chips, which are used to train and run its AI models. Now the company is gearing up to reduce this reliance. To make that happen, the company has partnered with TSMC and Broadcom. TSMC will use cutting-edge 3-nanometer technology and high-bandwidth memory to produce the new chips.
Richard Ho, who joined OpenAI from Google more than a year ago, is leading the chip development program. Moreover, the team working on this project has grown from 20 to 40 members, especially since OpenAI teamed up with Broadcom, a global supplier of semiconductors and infrastructure.
Initially, OpenAI plans to deploy its new chip on a “limited scale” to run AI models. However, the company has big plans for future versions of the chip. So, while the first generation of OpenAI’s chips might be relatively modest, the potential for future versions could be huge.
The big question
Tech giants like OpenAI are pouring billions of dollars into building AI infrastructure and buying chips to power their data-hungry AI models. It doesn’t look like this spending will slow down anytime soon. But with new AI startups like DeepSeek entering the scene, do you really need to purchase thousands of chips just to keep up?
Moreover, even giants like Microsoft and Meta have struggled to create chips that live up to their expectations, despite years of effort. So, the big question is: Can OpenAI spark a revolution with its own AI chip, or will it join the struggling team? Only time will tell.
Sennheiser has introduced the HD 505, a new pair of headphones designed for both music enthusiasts and gamers. The company claims that the HD 505 delivers analytical sound tuning, precise detail, and long-term comfort for an immersive audio experience.
Sennheiser HD 505 Overview
Sound and Performance
The HD 505 features a custom 120-ohm transducer with an open earcup design. It offers a frequency response of 12 to 38,500 Hz with minimal distortion. Additionally, the angled transducers create an expansive soundstage, mimicking nearfield loudspeakers.
Build and Design
These headphones are built on the lightweight and ergonomic HD 500 series chassis, weighing 237 grams. They include a synthetic leather headband and a metal mesh ear cup cover. In addition, the detachable 1.8-meter cable comes with a 3.5mm plug and a 6.3mm adapter for compatibility with different devices.
Like other models in the HD 500 series, the HD 505 supports interchangeable cables and ear pads. This allows users to upgrade or add features such as an in-line microphone.
Sennheiser HD 505 Specifications
Transducer: Custom 120-ohm
Ear Cup Design: Open
Frequency Response: 12–38,500 Hz
Total Harmonic Distortion: Less than 0.2%
Cable: Detachable, 1.8 meters (6 feet), with 3.5mm plug and 6.3mm adapter
Headband Material: Synthetic leather
Ear Cup Material: Metal mesh
Modular Design: Interchangeable cables and ear pads
Weight: 237 grams
Sennheiser HD 505 Price in Nepal and Availability
The Sennheiser HD 505 is available in the EU for EUR 279.90 and in the US for USD 249.95. If it arrives in Nepal, it is expected to start at no less than NPR 35,000.
Headphones
Price in EU (Official)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Sennheiser HD 505
EUR 279.90
NPR 35,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the OnePlus 13R
Do you know about the National ID Card (NID)? It’s commonly known as “Rastriya Parichaya Patra”, supposedly introduced to replace your citizenship. For which you might have already filled up all the details and given your biometrics data as well. But the question is, have you gotten the physical card yet? Like me, almost everyone is waiting for that thing but seems like our wait is not gonna be over soon with the slow-paced distribution. While some of you might be scratching your head, being totally unaware of the National ID Card. So, here in this article, I’m gonna get you through all the information regarding the National ID Card Nepal (NID) and its present status.
National ID Card Nepal (NID) Overview:
What is National ID Card (NID) or Rastriya Parichaya Patra?
National ID Card is a federal-level identity card with a chip that can store personal data alongside the biometrics of a citizen. So, it contains the name, birth date, mother’s name, father’s name, and National Identity Number (NIN) with iris and 10-finger biometrics. It is a secured form of document that cannot be duplicated or altered easily, unlike citizenship cards.
NID Format
When did the NID project start?
It all began in 2075/76 when the government of Nepal started the National ID Card (Rastriya Parichaya Patra) Project. The first ones to get this card were the citizens of Panchthar and some employees of the Singha Durbar. The data was collected by the National ID Card Management Centre (NIDMC), under the Home Ministry. Which is now replaced by the Department of National ID and Civil Registration (DONIDCR). A quick trivia, Bhagwati Prasad Pandey was the first person to get the National Identity Card in Nepal.
Data collection via ward
To speed up the process, the Department of National ID and Civil Registration (DONIDCR) commenced the collection of biometrics and data through ward offices in the Kathmandu Valley in 2022 for the local residents. Although the data collection process has moved to other districts of the country, the status is quite very slow. Some have already received their physical hard copy of the National ID Card, but there is still a large proportion of people who haven’t received a hard copy of their National ID card.
NID is now mandatory
The Supreme Court has cleared the way for the government to implement NID at all levels. So, buying a new SIM card or opening up a new bank account must require a National ID Card. And as aforementioned, most people have yet to receive a physical hard copy, for the time being, the submission paper with NIN will do the job. The existing bank accounts will also likely require to collect your NID/NIN soon.
Link your NID to the Nagarik App
With the January 22 update, the Nagarik app has brought a new feature to link your NID. It just requires your National Identity Number and that’s it. You’ll then receive the front page of your NID on the app itself. It will come in really handy for those not having the hard copy yet. But one thing I must mention, Nagarik App doesn’t let you take screenshots of the documents linked to it.
What are the documents required for a National ID Card (NID)?
Here is the list of documents you need to apply for the NID:
Original citizenship of Nepal.
Original Certificate of Migration, if you have migrated from one place to another.
Original Marriage Certificate (If the person is already married but the husband/wife’s name is not mentioned in the citizenship).
Original passport, if you have already taken one.
How to get a Rastriya Parichaya Patra or National ID Card in Nepal?
You can apply through the online portal of the DONIDCR and fill up the details.
Click the “Login for Individuals” option and input your mobile number. Make sure the SIM is registered in your name.
Then, fill up all your contact and family details. Please, do double check as correcting anything later in a government paper will be a big hassle in Nepal.
After checking everything, you can select the place for a biometrics appointment. If no place is shown, you can click “Others” and proceed to submit the form.
Then, you can visit the District Administration Office (DAO) with the required documents.
Nonpermanent residents of Kathmandu Valley can go to Narayanhiti Durbar Museum premises for the Biometrics verification.
Permanent residents of Kathmandu Metropolitan City can visit Rastriya Sabha Griha.
How to apply for a National ID Card offline?
If the online processing is not for you or someone you know, you can directly visit the District Administration Office (DAO) of your district. If you are in Kathmandu, as aforementioned, you can visit Narayanhiti Durbar Museum (for nonlocals) and Rastriya Sabha Griha (for local residents) for Rastriya Parichaya Patra.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on National ID Card
What’s the legal age for getting a National ID Card?
One must be 18 years and above in order to be eligible to get a National ID Card in Nepal.
How to get a National Identity Number (NIN)?
After you have applied for the NID, you’ll be given a paper containing all your details. Note down the 16-digit application number from the top and then, type N <space> 16-digit application number and send it to 30001. If done, you’ll get an SMS reply from DONIDCR with your NIN.
Is it mandatory to get NIN in order to obtain an e-passport?
Yes, the government of Nepal has made the National Identity Number (NIN) compulsory for obtaining an e-passport in Nepal.
Can a newborn baby get a National ID Number (NIN)?
DONIDCR has made a provision to issue birth certificates with National ID Number (NIN). So, anyone who’s younger than 16 years old is subject to receive a birth certificate with NIN.
Will NID / Rastriya Parichaya Patra replace the citizenship card?
National ID Card (Rastriya Parichaya Patra) is said to replace the citizenship card in the near future.
Do I need NID if I already have a citizenship card?
Obtaining a NID will be made mandatory and it will bear all your personal details. The government is also planning a Centralized KYC via this card, so you’ll need a National ID Card.
When will I get my National ID Card / Rastriya Parichaya Patra?
As of now, the government of Nepal is still in the process of printing and it is uncertain the exact timing. However, DoNIDCR will send you a text as soon as your card is ready.
How to check your NID printing status?
You can check your NID printing status by typing S <space> 16-digit application number and sending it to 30001. Do note that the system is pretty unreliable and you might get an “Error While Retrieving Your Data” message. You can also check this via the Citizen Portal of DONIDCR which is again currently under maintenance as writing time of this article.
National ID Card (NID) Status Nepal: Conclusion
The National ID Card distribution is going very slowly. The government has no solid answer regarding when everyone will get a physical copy. So for now, getting the National ID Number (NIN) becomes an important thing as it’s been made mandatory for e-passport. Once the distribution gets spread nationwide, the NID’s prospects will flourish due to its smart capabilities such as digitally storing biometrics and other data. Moreover, a centralized KYC will make it easier to open bank accounts without the hassle of providing documents each time you open a new bank account.
Till then, we’ll continue to update this article with more news and info coming in.
CMF is a sub-brand of Nothing that offers affordable products with a special focus on eye-catching designs. So far they have only launched smartphone accessories like Buds Pro, Watch Pro, and Power 65W GaN charging brick. And the CMF Buds is official in Nepal. This article will only discuss the CMF Buds in greater detail, including its official price in Nepal.
CMF Buds Overview
Design and Audio
The CMF Buds come in an identical design to its “Pro” siblings, however, the case does have a flair of its own. The case features an aluminum alloy dial designed to attach lanyards. Meanwhile, the buds themselves come in an in-ear design with touch controls right above the stem. The whole package comes with an IP54 rating and is available in three colorways: Orange, Dark Grey, and Light Grey.
Audio on the CMF Buds is driven by 12.40 mm drivers made of bio-fibre and custom TPU. The drivers are further coupled with copper coils for added endurance and low-frequency performance. Moreover, Dirac Opteo tuned the audio on these buds to offer you a rich and immersive experience. Other than that, you get four HD mics on these buds that ensure a clear calling experience with the Clear Voice Technology.
Firstly, the CMF Buds come with Bluetooth v5.3 for you to wireless connect with your device, which you can do with up to two of them simultaneously. Additionally, it can be paired with devices running on Windows, Android 5.1, and iOS 13 and above. For added functionality, you can connect these buds to the Nothing X app available on both smartphone platforms. Moreover, they also come with Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair features for an easier pairing experience.
Talking of the battery, these earbuds pack 45 mAh cells on each side, while the case has a 460 mAh unit. With this, the CMF Buds can last you up to 8 hours independently and 35.5 hours with the case. The number drops to 4.7 hours and 21 hours respectively when you’re making calls with ANC turned on. After draining the juice completely you plug the buds in for just 10 minutes to get over 6 hours of usage (ANC off). Talking of ANC, you get up to 42 dB of depth as well as a wind noise reduction feature. Lastly, you also get “Low Lag Mode” through Game Mode on Nothing smartphones.
Meanwhile, also check out all the updated prices and specs of CMF products here
CMF Buds Specifications
Design: In-ear with IP54 rating
Dimensions: 32.60 x 20.40 x 24.40 mm (Buds), 54.70 x 54.70 x 22.90 mm (Case)
Weight: 4.57 grams (Buds), 43.70 grams (Case)
Sound Driver: 12.40 mm driver with bio-fibre, custom TPU, and copper coils
Noise Cancellation: Up to 42dB, four-mic + Clear Voice Technology during calls
While the 2025 editions of the ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16 lineup are already announced, you’ll have to wait at least six to eight months before they reach here. In the meantime, the 2024 edition with either Intel Core Ultra or AMD’s Strix Point is available in the country. In this article, let’s take a look at the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) in further detail including its official price in Nepal and specifications.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) Overview
Design and Display
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) comes in an aluminium alloy body with AniMe Matrix Slash lighting on the lid. This LED array is preprogrammed with 15 animations and comes with customisation options. Meanwhile, this laptop goes up to 17.40 mm in thickness and weighs nearly 2 kilos. Similar to its G14 sibling, it is available in Eclipse Grey, and Platinum White finishes.
A 16-inch ROG Nebula Display serves as the face of this laptop. The panel here is an OLED with a glossy finish. Moreover, it comes in a 16:10 aspect ratio with a 2.5K resolution spanning 2,560 x 1,600 pixels. It boasts a high refresh rate of 240Hz, a response time as low as 0.2ms, as well as 100% DCI-P3 wide colour gamut support.
Performance
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) packs the latest processor of up to Intel Core Ultra 9 185H for its performance. These Intel silicone come with Intel AI Boost, which is a dedicated AI engine baked into the SoC. This NPU helps out with AI features like Copilot, background changing, and eye contact correction during video calls.
Likewise, you can go for the AMD variant too. This one ships with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chipset with 12 cores, 24 threads and an even stronger NPU that pushes up to 50 TOPS.
The graphics here are being handled by a dedicated GPU of up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 with 16GB GDDR6 VRAM. Meanwhile, in terms of memory and storage, we are getting up to 32GB LPDDR5x-7467 dual-channel RAM and up to 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Performance SSD respectively. Here, we do not get an option to upgrade the memory whereas the upgradability of storage is unclear as well. On the software front, we are getting Windows 11 Pro.
Powering the entire system is a 4-cell 90Wh Li-ion battery with up to 240W AC charging capability. Meanwhile, the charging speed caps out at 100W when done through USB Type-C. This laptop offers wireless connectivity through WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Meanwhile, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) offers wired connections through a 3.5mm combo audio jack, one HDMI 2.1 FRL, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, one Thunderbolt, and one microSD card reader.
We are also getting ROG Intelligent Cooling to keep the thermals in check. To explain, this laptop may feature a custom vapour chamber or tri-fan design. Lastly, we are also getting a 1080p FHD camera, a built-in three-microphone array, and a quad-speaker setup.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 (GA403) Specifications
Design and Build: Single-tone design with Aluminium body and AniMe Matrix LED array on the lid
Dimensions: 354.00 mm x 246.00 mm x 14.90–17.40 mm
Ports: 2x USB Gen 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DP, 1x Thunderbolt 4 with DP/PD, 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1x MicroSD card reader, 1x 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack
Connectivity: WiFi 6E (802.11ax)(Triple band) 2×2 + Bluetooth v5.3
Battery: 90Wh Integrated 4S1P Battery
Charger: 240W AC Adapter or 100W via USB Type-C
Colours: Eclipse Grey, Platinum White
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) Price in Nepal and Availability
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) price in Nepal is NPR 369,990 for the Core Ultra 9, RTX 4070 variant while the AMD version costs NPR 352,999. You can buy it via Asus-authorized distributors like Nagmani International and from retail stores like the Hukut Store.
Asus unveiled a pretty sweet offering in China a few months ago: a brand new 16-inch gaming laptop with a powerful Ryzen AI processor and NVIDIA RTX graphics that too under 2 kg. Now that this AMD-based Zephryus is finally available in Nepal let’s take a quick peek at the Asus ROG Zephyrus 16 2024 Air (AMD), its features and specs, and expected price in Nepal and availability.
Asus ROG Zephyrus 16 2024 (AMD) Overview
New Ryzen AI chipsets
The Zephyrus 16 Air ships with the latest Ryzen Strix Point processor based on Zen 5 architecture. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU has 12 cores, and 24 threads with a boost clock frequency of up to 5.1 GHz. Furthermore, the onboard Neural Processing Unit (NPU) is vastly superior to the previous generation and can now push up to 50 TOPS of horsepower. But since the Ryzen chip is paired with a much more powerful NVIDIA GPU, the NPU is likely not going to be the deciding factor for most buyers.
Talking of the GPU, the Zephyrus 16 Air (2024) can be configured with either an RTX 4060 or an RTX 4070 card with 100W and 105W TGP respectively. Similarly, there’s 32GB of pretty fast LPDDR5X-7500 RAM and a 1TB PCIE Gen 4 SSD. Although the RAM is soldered, you get an additional M.2 slot for further storage expansion.
There’s also an Intel variant that’s a bit thicker and sports more powerful components:
The ROG Zephyrus 16 Air is a portable gaming laptop with a clean-looking design and robust build. Its chassis is all aluminum and you get to choose from Platinum White and Erosion Grey color options. Despite being a 16-inch gaming laptop, the Air measures below 15mmonly weighs 1.85 kg making it a suitable choice for on-the-go gaming.
Display-wise, you get the ROG OLED Nebula display with crisp 2.5k resolution, super fast 240Hz refresh rate, and full DCI-P3 coverage. It is also plenty bright at 500 nits of typical brightness and ideal for gaming because of its 0.2ms quick response time. Furthermore, creative endeavors like video editing or color correction will benefit from its color accuracy (ΔE<1) and Pantone certification. Finally, there’s also Dolby Vision for HDR content, and NVIDIA G-Sync for variable refresh rate.
Battery and Connectivity
Powering the Asus ROG Zephyrus 16 Air (2024) is a large 90Wh battery. In terms of connectivity, there’s a USB 4 Type-C port, a USB 3 Type-C port, two USB-A ports, an HDMI, an audio jack, and an SD card reader alongside WiFi 7.
Lastly, taking a look at the keyboard and trackpad, you get an RGB membrane board with 1.7mm of key travel while the glass touchpad is large in size and very responsive (240Hz touch sampling rate). The FHD camera supports Windows Hello while the 6-speaker system is complemented by a 3d microphone setup with Ai noise reduction and Aura Light Sync.
Connectivity: Dual-band WiFi 7 (802.11be), Bluetooth 5.3
I/O Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (w/ DisplayPort, Power Delivery), 1x USB 4, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Asus ROG Zephyrus 16 2024 (AMD) Price in Nepal
The Zephyrus 16 Air is now up for sale in China with a starting price of CNY 15,999. When it makes it here, we expect the Asus ROG Zephyrus 16 Air (2024) price in Nepal to be around NPR 333,333.
Nepal has introduced its first National AI Policy, aiming to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help the country grow. While the policy outlines ambitious goals, there are several challenges, particularly for a developing country like Nepal. This article looks at what the policy involves and the hurdles it might face.
National AI Policy Overview
What the AI Policy Aims For
Boosting the Economy with AI The policy plans to use AI to improve sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and manufacturing. It aims to increase productivity, cut costs, and create new jobs that will help the economy grow.
Improving Public Services AI could make government services more efficient, especially in areas like healthcare, resource management during disasters, and streamlining public services. This could lead to faster and more effective responses for citizens.
Supporting Innovation and Research The policy also seeks to foster innovation by supporting AI research and encouraging startups. The goal is to create an environment where AI can thrive, with global partnerships and collaborations between universities and research institutions.
Helping Nepal Go Digital A key goal is to accelerate Nepal’s digital transformation. By adopting AI, the government hopes to make Nepal more competitive globally and ensure better access to tech for its people.
Key Elements of Nepal’s AI Policy
AI Regulation Council Headed by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, this council will oversee the ethical use of AI. Its mission is to ensure AI benefits society while respecting human rights and privacy. The council will also ensure that Nepal’s AI standards align with international norms.
National AI Center This center will be the main body responsible for regulating AI development, research, and application. It will promote AI innovation at universities and research institutions, ensuring that Nepal follows global best practices in AI.
AI Excellence Centers AI Excellence Centers will be set up at both national and provincial levels, focusing on sectors like healthcare, education, and agriculture. These centers will prioritize ethical data handling and collaborate with international institutions to foster AI research and development.
Digital Infrastructure To support AI growth, the government plans to enhance digital infrastructure, including technologies like 5G, fiber optics, data centers, and cloud services. This will ensure a solid foundation for AI development.
Public Participation The draft policy encourages feedback from stakeholders, including the public, academia, and industry. These suggestions will be reviewed and incorporated before the final policy is approved.
Policy Approval Process Once feedback is collected and revisions are made, the policy will be submitted to the Cabinet for final approval and will then be implemented.
Challenges the AI Policy Faces
Political Instability Nepal’s unstable political environment is one of the biggest challenges. Frequent changes in government can hinder the implementation of long-term policies like AI. A stable political system is crucial for ensuring the policy’s success.
Weak Digital Infrastructure Many rural areas still lack reliable internet and technology, which makes it hard for the country to fully implement AI across all regions. Improving digital infrastructure is essential to bridging this gap.
Data Collection and Security Issues AI relies heavily on data, but Nepal does not yet have a robust system for managing and protecting data. Without proper data privacy laws and regulations, it will be difficult to unlock the full potential of AI.
Low Digital Literacy Many people in Nepal still lack basic digital skills. Education and training will be needed to help people understand and make the most of AI technologies. This will require time, resources, and collaboration between the government, institutions, and businesses.
Ethical and Social Concerns AI can raise issues related to privacy, job displacement, and fairness. The policy must ensure that AI is developed ethically and that it benefits all members of society, including the most vulnerable.
Final Thoughts
Nepal’s AI Policy is an exciting step towards progress, with the potential to improve various sectors and accelerate digital growth. However, for the policy to succeed, Nepal must address challenges like political instability, infrastructure gaps, and low digital literacy. For more details, you can visit the website of Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.
ChildSafeNet is a non-governmental organization dedicated to making digital technology safer for children and young people. This organization is hosting digital safety sessions on February 11 to mark ‘Safer Internet Day.’ They first introduced this event in 2019, and since then they have continued their service. Let’s take a closer look at the objectives and activities of this event.
ChildSafeNet celebrates Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day is celebrated globally every February with the goal of promoting the safe and responsible use of digital technology among children and young people. This year, ChildSafeNet has partnered with TikTok to deliver digital safety training for educators, students, and parents.
The program will be conducted in 14 schools across seven districts, including Morang, Bhaktapur, Sunsari, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Tanahun, and Kaski. As part of this initiative, 28 educators, including headmasters, attended a three-day Training of Trainers (TOT) program. These trained educators will go on to conduct digital safety sessions in their schools to celebrate Safer Internet Day.
Objectives of the event
Now let’s talk about some of the objectives behind this program:
To highlight and encourage the positive use of the internet while exploring our collective role in creating a safer online environment.
To raise awareness of online risks for children and young people and to protect them from harm.
To build collaboration between organizations and institutions working with children.
To invite young people, parents, caregivers, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, companies, policymakers, and others to join efforts in creating a better internet.
Safer Internet Day activities in Nepal
In Nepal, various activities will take place to mark the Safer Internet Day. These include raising awareness about child online safety through social media campaigns, live radio sessions on protecting children from online sexual abuse, interactive sessions with parents on digital parenting, video productions, panel discussions, and safety training for school and college students.
This event will provide essential knowledge on managing online risks and promoting responsible digital behavior. Moreover, it will empower students, teachers, and parents to tackle online dangers and encourage responsible digital citizenship. ChildSafeNet has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with TikTok’s office in Singapore to deliver the safety training. Before this, ChildSafeNet has already implemented similar digital safety training in over 40 districts across Nepal.
