"Breaking the Glass Ceiling: How Women Are Finding Their Voice in a 'Lost in Translation' World"

The Promise And Risk Of AI Advice  AI is penetrating our lives in many forms, and many are starting to request advice for their careers, health, relationships and even their emotional struggles and mental health. Many feel they can confide in AI, as they see it as a modern-day friend and confidante, always there, without judgement.  As we ponder this further, a recent tragedy, makes us stop and consider, is AI giving the "right" advice, especially when there are lives at stake?  A Tragic Case That Arouses Limitations Recently, sixteen year-old Adam Raine died by suicide after lengthy discussions with ChatGPT. His family is suing OpenAI, on the premise that the chatbot did not prevent him from doing so, and as troubling as that is, allegedly it also guided him on how to self-harm with a step-by-step guide, and even assisted him with writing a suicide note. The lawsuit has been filed against Open AI, and this case raises concerns about how fragile the claimed "safety syste...

What does it mean to be seen, to be remembered? Across history, women’s artistry has often been consumed without recognition, their names fading even as their creations endure. From the mehfils of courtesans—where presence, wit, and artistry carried transformative power—to today’s digital platforms where algorithms dictate visibility, the question of authorship and attention remains urgent. If art is born of lived experience, what happens when both are stripped away, leaving only the product but not the person? From Relational to Transactional Attention The difference between these two economies lies in their treatment of presence. The mehfil engaged in making relational attention: desire was negotiated, co-created, and transformative. But algorithms, on the other hand, reduce attention to the transactional unit—something that's measurable, commodifiable, and monetizable.  These consequences also have effects on gendered labour; just as it was called "fallen" work despite...

  In a world where AI writes verses and imitates emotions, I often return to the stories of courtesans—because they remind me that no algorithm can capture the pulse of human sisterhood, woven through laughter, pain, and survival. The Courtesans’ World: Beyond Glitter and Gaze I will never forget that lazy Sunday morning when Maa placed me in front of the small television set. With the seriousness of a teacher beginning a lesson (she was one, literally), she said, "Today, we are going to watch Pakeezah."  When the screen lit up, I saw Meena Kumari, kohl-rimmed eyes, slow and sorrowful movements. Chandeliers danced above her head and her ghungroos jingled with every slow step she took. At first I didn't understand. Why was everyone - including the audience - looking at her with desire yet dismissing her with disdain?  Maa leaned in close, voice even and a little soft: "They call her a fallen woman but look at her grace. Look at her pain. This is the greatest pain o...