India makes new laser missiles, Google’s AI talks to dolphins

Mint Techcetra

Dolphins are talking—and we may finally be listening. In today's episode, Hosts Shouvik Das and Leslie D'Monte talk about how researchers have been training AI models on audio patterns from marine life, hoping to decode the communicative clicks and whistles of dolphins. What was once the domain of documentaries is now a serious scientific pursuit, with breakthroughs hinting that we might be on the cusp of cross-species communication. Similar efforts are underway with elephants and apes, where language-like patterns are being observed, dissected, and even responded to using machine learning. These aren’t sci-fi fantasies anymore—they're experiments backed by linguistic theory, acoustic science, and real data.

While another is eyeing the sky. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently conducted successful tests of a new laser weapon system—designed to intercept aerial threats with silent, precise beams. Think missile defense, but without the missile. This high-energy weapon is part of India’s push to develop its own version of the Iron Dome, tailored to local security needs. The system promises to be compact, mobile, and cost-effective—potentially offering an edge in both defense preparedness and indigenous military R&D

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Meanwhile, a quieter revolution is unfolding in the consumer electronics sector. Homegrown brands like Lava and boAt are no longer content with playing second fiddle to global players. They’re doubling down on R&D, exploring component manufacturing, and positioning themselves for export markets. With PLI incentives and a maturing startup ecosystem, the dream of a Made-in-India electronics powerhouse is entering a new phase. It’s not just about assembling phones anymore—it’s about building the ecosystem from silicon to software, and finding a global voice for Indian tech.

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