Looking at specific use-case, in Supply Chain management, blockchain can help companies proactively detect and mitigate supply chain risks before any severe impact occurs. Moreover, blockchain is used in the tokenization of assets where an issuer can create digital tokens on a distributed ledger, which represent either digital or physical assets. The technology ensures that once you buy tokens that represent an asset, no one else can erase it or change your ownership. Even the Government of India is exploring various ways to leverage blockchain in KYC and digital identification².

Which aspects of blockchain are covered in the course?

In the 6-months of learning, one can expect to cover key courses and gain skills such as blockchain fundamentals and how to build Smart Contracts using Ethereum & Solidity. The course will also teach about building DApps (Decentralized Apps) using Hyperledger and learn about how the industry is using blockchain Tradeoffs across Multichain, Ripple, Corda, EOS & Cosmos. There are multiple Capstone Projects & Specific Projects that enable a learner to gain on-the-job knowledge about blockchain.

What do the experts at IIIT Hyderabad say about the course?

Dr Kannan Srinathan, Lead Faculty at IIIT Hyderabad, said, "Blockchain is a unique technology, which for the first time encompasses all the aspects of game theory, distributed computing as well as cryptography, confluence and coming together so that trust emerges. Currently, IIIT has decided to have executive education on blockade technologies.”

Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies

Sunil Aggarwal, Dean - Blockchain Programs at TalentSprint, said, "Anything which can be transacted digitally will ultimately embrace blockchain. IIIT Hyderabad is running not only a special program in blockchain but it is also running a centre of excellence in the blockchain. This combination is something you cannot get anywhere else in India. Any successful participant after this program would be able to build an independent business application using either Ethereum blockchain or Hyperledger Fabric blockchain framework. Not only can the learner actually participate in all kinds of blockchain-based uses, but they can also participate in building unique distributed ledger technology solutions.”

Harsh Patel, Faculty at IIIT Hyderabad, said, " The main aspect for the core skills is to make students understand what are the various use cases that are possibly using blockchain and how it can be applied in the real world. To take some examples, we give around 19 lessons on blockchain and also hands-on experience on smart contracts by virtue of lectures as well as the labs.

How does this course make you an expert in blockchain?

This 6-month long course will help you understand the ins and outs of blockchain technology. Apart from teaching you the fundamentals of blockchain, the course will help those who want to accelerate their career growth with expertise in blockchain. Once the course is completed, learner will be able to

• Take the initiative & lead Blockchain projects in their organization.
• Build their own Blockchain or Blockchain-based apps.
• Use practical skills to develop blockchain-based solutions
• Gain a holistic view of how this technology helps in providing solutions through use-cases
• Advance their career in the blockchain field in the innumerable opportunities in the field

What insights do program alumni offer regarding the program's worth?

Talking about their experiences with Advanced Certification Course in Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies from IIIT Hyderabad, learner Chitrabandhu Ghosh, Vice President - Investment Bank, said, "Currently, there is no other course in India that combines such extensive depth and breadth within its curriculum.”

Another participant of the course, Tabitha Lavanya Mamilla, Capability Manager at Tech Mahindra, said, "Speaking about the curriculum design, I must highlight its remarkable ability to make learning accessible to beginners while ensuring expertise by the end of the program."

How is the program delivered?

The IIIT Hyderabad's Advanced Certificate Program in Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies is a 6-months program which provides a comprehensive take on blockchain technology. The course provides a hands-on learning experience about the latest in blockchain technology. The program covers multiple formats of online learning such as 100% Live Interactive Sessions with IIIT Hyderabad faculty on weekends, Hackathons, Projects and Group Assignments. IIIT Hyderabad also provided handholding for Startups & one-to-one mentorship.

Who should enroll in this course?

Professionals with a minimum of 1 year of work experience, readiness for learning basics of coding and a eager interest in venturing into the blockchain sector are most suitable for this course. Entrepreneurs exploring blockchain-based business opportunities will also gain multiple essential inputs from this course. A diverse range of professionals having 1 to 15 years of work experience from various industries such as IT, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Consulting, Finance, Automobiles, Fintech, Blockchain startups and many more have benefitted from this course.

Due to game-changing innovations, both blockchain and artificial intelligence have captivated the attention of masterminds everywhere. Nevertheless, a lot of individuals get confused between these two concepts and often wonder if they’re the same or different. Are you puzzled too? If yes, this guide is meant truly for you!

What is Blockchain?

Blockchain is the name given to a distributed ledger system which is used to record and verify  transactions. It employs a range of computers, all linked together to form a network that works together. The most amazing thing regarding blockchain is the reality that it is decentralised and safe since a community of miners constantly verifies every single transaction that takes place on the ledger. 

Moreover, its immutable too, meaning that no one can alter it or modify it in anyway. All these features make blockchain a great innovation which could be used to store data in a way thats secure and hundred percent legit. 

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial intelligence is the development of computer-based programs with the cognitive abilities that is similar to that of human beings. AI is a result of various computer programs and algorithms working together in order to carry out human-level jobs. 

Artificial intelligence has made tremendous developments in the past few years. It is currently used in a wide variety of areas, from personal assistants and bots such as Chatgpt to driverless cars and even health care diagnosis. 

The artificial intelligence system, Chatgpt, has likewise gained a large user base because of its efficiency, efficacy, and human-like intelligence.

Major Differences Between Artificial Intelligence and Blockchains

There are many ways in which blockchain technology and AI have revolutionized the world. Yet these two technologies couldn’t be more different than one another.

While blockchain is a log that keeps track of activities and is focused on openness and decentralization, AI aims to create systems with human-like cognitive abilities. The contrasting ways in which information is used, and the distinct roles each technology plays make them powerful in their own right. Blockchain and AI may complement each other in some scenarios but are fundamentally different.

If you’re interested in further exploring the world of blockchain, especially in the context of crypto trading, the Crypto Education Hub website is an excellent resource.

Offering information about the latest news, technologies, and innovations in the crypto trading market, it can help you navigate the fascinating intersection of blockchain with other emerging technologies, enhancing your understanding and engagement in the rapidly evolving field.

Conclusion:

Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are two groundbreaking technologies that have captured the world’s imagination. While both have the potential to revolutionize various industries, they serve very different purposes. Blockchain offers a secure and transparent way to record transactions, whereas AI aims to replicate human thinking in machines. Even though they might sometimes work together, they remain distinct in their core functionalities. For those curious about diving deeper into blockchain, especially in the crypto realm, there are resources available to guide you through its intersection with other cutting-edge technologies.

Blockchain Education Network Vietnam recently held an event titled “Building a Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem with Blockchain”. The title alone has three of my favorite things in it, so when a client of mine asked me if I could put together a little hardware demonstration for the event, I jumped at the opportunity.

I also thought I’d take a moment to write about it, because I haven’t seen much coverage of emerging technology events in the developing world, and the fact is that there’s a consistently high level of interest. I’ve yet to go to an event that wasn’t filled to capacity, and I hope to share some of that enthusiasm with you.

As it turns out, the event took place sequentially in two locations: once in Australia, and again in Vietnam. I attended the Vietnam event, and it seemed to focus more on robotics and blockchain than AI. The talks were high level but introductory, with the focus on what problems companies are trying to tackle with blockchain rather than the technical aspects of programming with blockchain. If the event had one fault, it was that it didn’t have enough about the underlying technology, but that’s to be expected as blockchain is a very new concept here in Vietnam.

On the other hand, the community was actually there for blockchain itself – not a single person asked me about cryptocurrencies which was refreshing. I don’t have anything against cryptocurrencies, but I am tired of taking over every conversation about blockchain. This crowd is excited to learn more about the new technology and how to apply the concepts beyond the currency applications we’ve already seen.

Consumer Telepresence Robot That Uses 3D Printing

The first speaker, Thuc Vu from Ohmnilabs, had a fun telepresence robot called Ohmni. The movement seemed pretty natural piloting it around the stage with a tablet, and it looked like it could be a lot of fun with Google Cardboard or another VR headset.

What was more interesting to me was how they manufactured the robots. They use fairly ordinary filament 3D printers in parallel to print out most of the casing and small plastic parts. Most of their printers take about half a day to print out a set of parts, although they have some with large print beds that can operate faster. While he’s based in the USA, he’s actively trying to bring his automated manufacturing technology to Vietnam.

You can see their manufacturing process in more detail in this short video (the good stuff starts about 45 seconds in). This was actually the first time I’ve encountered a 3D printed consumer product in the wild. I’ve been largely unimpressed with the parts I’ve seen come out of filament printers, but this was well made, so I guess I’ve been doing it wrong!

Besides cool robots, Thuc is launching a platform called Kambria to encourage more cooperation in the robotics industry. His argument is that the field of robotics is largely the domain of very large companies that have little motivation to risk sharing technology. He’s hoping to allow smaller organizations and individuals to participate in robot development by providing a bounty system, attribution in the blockchain, and incentives for long-term cooperation in the form of a token system.

Blockchain for Distributed Identity

The next speaker was Duncan Brown from Distributed Identity. Duncan proposes using blockchain to store detailed personally identifiable data from multiple sources as a type of distributed identity system. To be honest, I’m not a big fan of anyone collecting, storing, and selling information about me. On the other hand, since that’s going to happen anyway, I’d rather at least be able to know what’s being collected in the hope of being able to choose the services I use more carefully and be able to quickly deal with fraud.

Recent coverage on exactly what user data Facebook collects, and the consequences of that data being used in electoral processes, presents a fair argument to be more open about data collection. Or perhaps reconsider an older decentralized and encryption-friendly messaging service: email.

What Happens to Mining Hardware When it Gets ‘Laid Off’?

Last and also least, the final speaker was me. This would normally be fine, except for one minor oversight: no one had informed me I would be speaking at the event! It was a friendly crowd though and everyone was eager to learn and ask questions, so not a big deal.

I have been working on ways to convert secondhand cryptocurrency mining hardware into AI training hardware to use at local universities, so I talked about that for a few minutes. The effort is in its early stages, but it focuses on reducing downtime by applying proper ventilation, increasing PCI Express bandwidth, and adding some hardware-level remote management and sensing to consumer motherboards. No more open air frames and PCIe risers, that’s for sure!

It’s not rocket surgery, in fact the main challenge is economic. Local cryptocurrency mining farms have more in common with a chicken coop than a datacenter. The parts are far from ideal as they’ve been running very hot and are caked with thick layers of greasy dust, yet obtaining a reasonable price is difficult. In other words, it’s a waiting game.

Overall it was a fun event, and while I realize that blockchain is very new here, I hope that future events will expand to cover genuine blockchain programming because the community seems quite strong in Vietnam.

Express News Service

BENGALURU:  Blockchain technology owes its popularity largely to cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFT), both of which are negotiating regulatory hurdles in many countries. However, the revolutionary blockchain technology has applications across sectors and its full potential is still to be tapped. Here’s why:

Simply put, blockchain is a ledger that records transactions which cannot be altered or manipulated. In technical terms, it is a distributed ledger technology that allows secure, transparent, and tamper-proof transactions. Shrikant Bhalerao, founder and CEO of Seracle, says it is a shared database that is maintained by a large network of computers.

Each block in the chain contains a record of transactions, and each block is linked to the previous block by a cryptographic hash. “This makes it very difficult to alter or delete data in the blockchain. Financial and banking industry, supply chain, education, oil & gas, international trade, customs, and insurance are few of the several industries which can benefit from the blockchain technology,” he explains. Apart from storing and recording transactions for cryptocurrencies, blockchain can be used for money transfers, payment processing, Internet of Things (IoT), healthcare etc. 

It helps organisations monitor supply chains and address inefficiencies. Also, it helps reduce banking transfer fees as transactions are settled in a few seconds. Not just banks, insurance firms are now also exploring how they could use the technology in clearing and settlement. 

Blockchain is gaining traction in healthcare as this technology makes maintaining electronic medical records of patients more efficient as well as secure. From $1.2 billion in 2021, the market size of blockchain in healthcare is expected to grow to $121 billion by 2030, according to global market research company Market Research Future.

Future of blockchain
Since decentralisation offers more transparency and security, more companies are likely to leverage this technology. Nasscom in its recent report said that of the 5.84 lakh patents filed in India between FY10 and FY22, as many as 2.66 lakh were from the technology domain of which 1.6 lakh were from emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, big data, cybersecurity and blockchain. This shows blockchain experts are in great demand in the job market.

Although it will revolutionise the financial sector, healthcare and real estate, high energy consumption, security and regulation issues remain the challenges of using blockchain. Also, with the integration of AI, blockchain can enhance automation across various sectors. Blockchain-enabled applications will transform payments and financial institutions in future. With increased awareness, blockchain education will spread to the grassroots level and it will soon transform organisations.

Use cases

Smart contracts: These are digital contracts stored on a blockchain that are automatically executed when predetermined terms and conditions are met. 

Decentralisation: Facilitates transparency into everything that is being built on the blockchain. 

Tokenisation: This allows real-world assets to be converted into tokens which creates more democracy and allows more people to enter the market.

Many global challenges need to be addressed through a collaborative effort. Blockchain can play a role in accelerating some of the major goals, such as ending poverty and fostering inclusive economic growth.

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) presented its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which consist of 17 global goals aimed at tackling critical challenges related to poverty, equality, climate change, education, infrastructure, land and water management and more. These goals are part of the UN’s broader agenda for 2030.

A 2022 report by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) found that 83% of companies worldwide had openly supported the SDGs, aligning their strategies with one or more goals.

With the adoption of blockchain technology across major industries, including agriculture, many blockchain-oriented companies have the opportunity to drive and accelerate the UN’s goals. This includes ambitious goals like eradicating poverty, ending hunger, ensuring food security, promoting sustainable agriculture, and providing complete and productive employment for all.

Blockchain to unlock barriers to UN SDGs

Decentralized infrastructures can be crucial in addressing challenges hindering the UN’s objectives, and many leading groups in sustainability are taking notice.

In striving for a more sustainable future, blockchain makes things more transparent and accountable in various areas. For instance, when it comes to reducing poverty and making sure more people have access to financial services, blockchain can create records of transactions that can’t be changed, making digital financial services safer and more efficient for those who don’t have access to traditional banks.

Additionally, in supply chains, blockchain can be used to ensure that products are made ethically, supporting sustainable ways of producing and consuming goods.

How this blockchain company aligns with UN SDGs

One company that is driving progress toward the UN’s SDGs is Dimitra, a leading blockchain-based enterprise system for AgTech. Dimitra leverages blockchain and other innovative technologies to provide productive and inclusive farming, empowering farmers to automate and streamline processes through actionable data-driven insights.

With customers in 18 countries, including huge markets such as Brazil, India, and across Africa, Dimitra’s five market-leading platforms ensure farmers and businesses have access to the latest technologies to combat deforestation, increase yield, reduce costs and mitigate risks.

Dimitra harnesses a wide range of technologies to aid the productivity of farmers across the world. Its leading Connected Farmer Platform offers a wide range of services including financing, insurance, registering, tracking the value chain of crops and data analysis. On top of this, Dimitra also has platforms focused on deforestation certification, livestock, and specific crops such as coffee.

The integration of blockchain technology in agriculture has the potential to be the driving force to achieve multiple SDGs. Dimitra is dedicated to advancing all SDGs, explicitly focusing on what must be undertaken in agriculture to achieve these. By leveraging blockchain, progress can specifically be made toward SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by improving transparency and traceability in the supply chain, ensuring fair compensation for farmers and efficient distribution of resources. Furthermore, SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) can be supported through safer and more sustainable farming practices. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) can benefit from increased market access and financial inclusion for farmers, while SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) can be addressed by promoting sustainable agricultural practices and reducing carbon footprints. Therefore, the intersection of blockchain and agriculture offers a powerful tool for advancing the UN SDGs and fostering positive change worldwide.

Source: Dimitra

Dimitra’s ethos ensures its initiatives contribute positively to better environmental, social and governance aims. The company does this by building a community of mission-driven organizations, leaders, agro-entrepreneurs and educators that will Boost the lives of farmers, their families and communities around the world.

Dimitra has been building a strong ecosystem of partners, governments, NGOs and stakeholders all working together to drive progress toward the UN SDGs and to create an environment where these SDGs can promote inclusive collaboration, community support and a better world for all.

Dubai, Aug 21, 2023, ZEX PR WIRE, The sprawling Dubai Harbour is all set to host the Future Blockchain Summit, MENA’s most immersive large-scale blockchain conference. This year, the summit is thrilled to announce the participation of Sastanaqqam, the trailblazing blockchain-based ecosystem.

Sastanaqqam’s presence at the summit is a testament to its dedication to pushing the boundaries of Web 3.0. The summit, which attracts industry leaders, tech enthusiasts, and blockchain experts, offers an unparalleled opportunity for Sastanaqqam to engage with a global audience, share its innovative solutions, and carve a niche in the ever-evolving blockchain landscape.

The collaboration between the Future Blockchain Summit and Sastanaqqam signifies a shared vision for a decentralized future. With panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions, attendees will gain deep insights into the next big thing in blockchain and entertainment. They will also get a chance to interact with the Sastanaqqam team, understand their offerings, and explore potential collaborations.

About Sastanaqqam

Sastanaqqam is a project that launched as a result of NFTs going mainstream.

The project started when they explored how to switch from a traditional business model – in art and art collecting – to a decentralized one using blockchain technologies.

From this vision was born a range of projects to be developed around this, such as the Wallet, native token (Blue Token), Marketplace, NFT RentalPlace, Virtual Museum, Staking Platform, and P2E Games. In this article, we explore every aspect of that project in more details: showing you what you can experience and benefit from on the Sastanaqqam Platform.

Sastanaqqam creates a thriving Web 3.0 ecosystem by converging decentralization, digitization, and entertainment. As a dynamic hub for artists, collectors, and crypto enthusiasts, we offer blockchain-powered services that elevate the experience. Our platforms include a Digital art gallery, a Rental service for art display, and a crypto Wallet. Future developments include a virtual Museum and entertainment Platform designed to empower users’ Web 3.0 journey

Sastanaqqam’s varied services include a robust DeFi platform, state-of-the-art art platforms, an engaging entertainment segment, and an education platform focused on enhancing financial literacy. Their services, supported by the Blue Token, epitomize the tenets of Web 3.0 by offering users decentralized and digitized services across several domains.

Sastanaqqam, a pioneering company that blends decentralization, digitization, and entertainment in a Web 3.0 ecosystem, declared a new strategic alliance with Unicsoft, a highly respected technology consulting company. This exciting collaboration signals a leap forward in enhancing and developing innovative solutions within the blockchain sector.

About future Blockchain Summit

Future Blockchain Summit, the MENA region’s most immersive large-scale blockchain event, is moving to Dubai Harbour from 15-18 October 2023 and is revamping with a new concept designed to embolden the disruptors, empower the change-makers, and inspire the innovators of the Web 3.0, Blockchain, Crypto, NFT, Metaverse, and Gaming community.

Over four days at the Future Blockchain Summit, industry leaders will leverage countless networking opportunities, gain insights from a power-packed agenda, pitch for growth funding in the Supernova Challenge as well as the Investors Program & Forum, become experts in Academic Masterclasses, and join the action in a Web 3.0 Gaming Showdown.