Latest news with #Outlook
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru schools get bomb threats
Bengaluru: Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) was the target of two bomb threats sent via email recently, prompting heightened security measures and thorough checks on the airport premises. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Authorities declared both threats to be hoaxes. The first threat, received on June 13 to 's official email (bangalore-apsu@ came from an Outlook ID under the name, Chitrakala S Gopalan (chitrakalas_gopalan@ The email made reference to a group called "Madras Tigers" and warned of "human IEDs" set to detonate near the airport's fuselage and prayer rooms. On June 16, another threat mail was received by KIA engagement centre. Sent from email ID alex_paul_menon@ the message said "IED in two places is like a puzzle — solve one to solve the other", and warned of a potential remote detonation using RFID technology. A senior police officer said the emails were routed through VPN, making it difficult to trace the originating IP addresses or servers. Threat to schools Miscreants have been sending bomb threat emails to schools across the city. Last week, many schools in central business district (CBD) areas and in a few other places received threat emails. On Thursday, three private schools in northeast Bengaluru received such emails.
Int'l Business Times
a day ago
- Int'l Business Times
AI Is Rewriting Your Email Habits—One Auto-Suggest at a Time
Welcome to Tech Times' AI EXPLAINED, where we look at the tech of today and tomorrow. Brought to you by Human hands on deck: AI tools may handle the output, but real people are still behind the keyboards training and correcting the systems that power them. Even when we think we're in control, AI is often guiding what we type—and sometimes finishing our sentences for us. Your inbox is changing, and not just because there's a new Gmail theme. AI is working in the background and nudging you to send "quick replies," summarizing long email conversations, and deciding which email should show up at the top of your list. This goes beyond simply managing your email and is now more about shaping how you deal with it. This stuff isn't limited to chatbots or photo apps anymore. AI is baked right into your everyday tools—offering replies in Gmail, pulling key points out of Outlook threads, and surfacing messages in Slack before you even search. It's doing more than we realize, and sometimes it's even talking for us. So what happens when your inbox starts running itself—and you barely notice? The Silent Invasion AI has been in your inbox longer than you probably realize. At first, it was spam filters, defending you from the endless come-on of advertisers. Then came Smart Replies, then Smart Compose, and now there are a ton of background processes to help us manage the firehose of email we get on a daily basis. They're quiet, not loud and flashy, and they offer us a gentle, time-saving nudge that most of us are all too happy to take advantage of. And that's really the point: AI has gotten really good at blending in. Most of us don't even notice it's there at this point. You think you're managing your inbox on your own, but, honestly, a lot of the sorting, responding, and prioritizing happens before you even put your hands on the keyboard. It's invisible, and that's by design. Who's Doing the Talking? AI is becoming a visible presence in our communication tools—bridging human intention and machine suggestion. When was the last time you typed out a full email reply instead of just hitting one of those suggested buttons. I'll bet it's been a while for all of us but the most directly AI-averse of us. It's tempting to lean on AI-generated resopnses. They're quick, clean, and get the tone close enough to right not to matter. Unfortunately, these words we send aren't really ours. AI shapes the way we communicate, too, with autocomplete suggestions and full-blown thread summaries. It's not just Google, either. Even Outlook offers writing help (as does Apple's Mail apps), and even Slack uses AI to surface what it thinks is important. All these little direction shifts add up to a larger one: you're still hitting the Send button, but AI is the one steering the tone, structure, and maybe even the intent. It might not be a bad thing, but it does make us wonder who's really driving this bus. Gmail: The Friendly Ghostwriter Gmail offers Smart Compose, one of the most visible examples of AI guiding our email behaviors. It's still easy to ignore, but it does offer real-time sentence suggestions while you type. It will finish phrases, add little pleasantries, and keep you on track for a professional, clean tone in your final product. Type "I hope y..." and it will likely finish with "...you're doing well." You can start with "Let me know..." and you'll probably get something like "...if you have any questions." It might be the most likely set of words that follow your initial typing (LLMs work with statistical models), but it ends up subtly shaping how we communicate. It's polite, neutral, corporate, and more than a little bland. Of course, there's also Smart Reply, which hangs out at the bottom of messages from your Inbox with single-click responses like "Sounds good," "Thanks for the update," or "Will do!" It's a bit better than LinkedIn's vapid auto-replies, but not by much. Google says that these types of AI-generated replies make up a large portion of email responses on mobile. They sure save time, which makes them irresistible, but they do standardize our tone and responses. The more we use them, the more we're letting Gmail do the talking. It's likely you wouldn't have responded to your best friend from high school that way, but it's just easier to hit the Reply button. Sure, that's way better than attending the meeting, but who is creating your professional voice? Outlook: Your AI Meeting Translator Now that Microsoft's Copilot is literally everywhere in their operating systems and PCs, it's no surprise that Outlook, the ubiquitous email program, uses AI to manage your tone. It takes it even further, though, and even manages your content. Thread summarization will come into play when you open a long email chain, generating a short summary of all the key decisions, deadlines, and action items from within the chain. It's super great for time management, but it's also a sort of filter. You're relying on what the AI believes are the key takeaways, a summary that can strip away more subtle context and softer verbal cues like parentheticals. Copilot even drafts full replies and meeting recaps based on your own calendar or email history. If you miss a meeting, for example, Copilot can just create a follow-up email that summarizes what was discussed based on transcripts and notes. Sure, that's way better than attending the meeting, but who is creating your professional voice? You or AI? Behavioral Shifts AI makes inbox management easier, but at what cost to human attention, tone, and authenticity? What's changing isn't just how we write, but how we think about email at all. The more we use the replies and summaries that sand off the rough edges of true human communication, the more everything starts to sound the same. If you're relying on quick replies and other AI-generated responses, so is everyone else, making it less likely to produce real progress or work product. We're all writing fewer full replies, reading less of the full threads, and probably feeling less urgent to respond at all. AI makes writing emails easier, but it also flattens it all out into something that would feel right at home in a tech support ticket. What Now? Of course, the big question is now what do we do with all this AI in our inboxes? You don't have to swear it off completely to have a little more control. First, just notice when AI steps in - are you clicking "sounds good" out of habit, or is that really what you want to say? Try something a little quirkier, just for the heck of it. Maybe a, "If you say so, my lord" if it's someone you know and like. If you get summaries, try reading the whole thread. It might take a few extra minutes, but seeing the subtleties of human communication (assuming the emails weren't also written by AI) can help you really understand what people are trying to say, beyond the circling back and action items. If your email lets you tweak the amount of AI in your settings, do it. Turn off Smart Compose for a week and see how it feels to just write stuff on your own and in your own voice. You don't have to ditch the tools completely, but it's good to stay aware of how they're subtly changing the way communicate. Then you can decide for yourself how much or little of that you want. Because let's face it, not every email from your boss warrants much more than a "sounds good." Originally published on Tech Times
Geeky Gadgets
a day ago
- Geeky Gadgets
How to Schedule or Delay an Email in Microsoft Outlook (2025 Guide)
Have you ever hit 'Send' on an email, only to realize moments later that you forgot an attachment, made a typo, or sent it at the wrong time? It's a sinking feeling we've all experienced, but here's the good news: Microsoft Outlook has powerful tools to help you avoid these mishaps. With the ability to schedule emails for future delivery or delay all outgoing messages, you can take control of your inbox like never before. Whether you're coordinating across time zones, making sure critical information lands at the perfect moment, or simply giving yourself a chance to double-check your work, these features are fantastic options for modern communication. In this step-by-step how-to, Aldo James walks you through everything you need to know about Outlook's scheduling and delay options. You'll learn how to set specific delivery times for individual emails, create a buffer for all outgoing messages, and even customize exceptions for urgent situations. Along the way, you'll discover how these tools can enhance your productivity and reduce stress by giving you more control over your email workflow. Ready to rethink how you manage your messages? Let's explore how these features can transform the way you communicate. Outlook Email Scheduling Tips Scheduling Individual Emails Scheduling emails for future delivery is a straightforward process in Outlook, allowing you to send messages at the most appropriate time. Follow these steps to ensure your email is sent exactly when needed: Start by composing a new email as you normally would in Outlook. Navigate to the 'Message' tab and locate the 'Tags' section. tab and locate the section. Click on 'Delivery Options' and check the box labeled 'Do not deliver before.' and check the box labeled Select the desired date and time for the email to be sent. Click 'Send.' The email will remain in your Outbox until the scheduled time. This feature is particularly beneficial for coordinating communication across different time zones or making sure timely delivery of critical information. If you need to make changes before the email is sent, you can easily edit or delete it from the Outbox. Setting a Delay for All Emails Outlook's rules system allows you to delay all outgoing emails for a set period, creating a buffer to review messages before they are sent. This is especially useful for preventing errors or making last-minute adjustments. Here's how to set it up: Go to the 'File' menu and select 'Manage Rules and Alerts.' menu and select Create a new rule by choosing 'Apply rule on messages I send.' In the rule settings, select 'Defer delivery by a number of minutes.' Specify the delay duration (e.g., 5 minutes) and assign a name to the rule before activating it. Ensure Outlook remains open for the delay to function, as the rule operates locally on your device. This method provides an extra layer of control, helping you avoid sending emails prematurely and giving you time to make necessary edits or additions. Learn to Schedule or Delay an Emails in MS Outlook 2025 Watch this video on YouTube. Check out more relevant guides from our extensive collection on Microsoft Outlook that you might find useful. Customizing Exceptions Outlook's rules system also enables you to create exceptions for specific scenarios, making sure flexibility in your email management. For instance, you may want urgent emails to bypass the delay. When setting up a rule, you can define exceptions based on criteria such as: Specific recipient email addresses Keywords in the subject line Key phrases or terms in the email body These exceptions allow you to tailor your email delivery strategy to suit your unique needs, making sure that high-priority messages are not delayed unnecessarily. Editing Scheduled Emails If you've scheduled an email but need to make changes, Outlook provides a simple way to adjust it without disrupting the delivery schedule. Follow these steps to edit a scheduled email: Open the Outbox folder in Outlook. folder in Outlook. Locate and open the scheduled email you wish to modify. Make the necessary edits to the email content or recipients. Save your changes. The email will still adhere to the original delivery schedule unless you modify the timing. This feature ensures that you maintain full control over your scheduled messages, allowing you to adapt to changing circumstances. Advantages of Email Scheduling and Delays Using Outlook's scheduling and delay features offers several practical benefits that can enhance your communication and productivity: Improved time management: Schedule emails to align with recipients' availability, especially when working across different time zones. Schedule emails to align with recipients' availability, especially when working across different time zones. Reduced errors: Use the delay feature to review and correct messages before they are sent, minimizing mistakes. Use the delay feature to review and correct messages before they are sent, minimizing mistakes. Enhanced communication control: Ensure timely delivery of high-priority or time-sensitive messages, improving their impact. By incorporating these tools into your workflow, you can optimize your email management strategy and achieve more effective communication. Media Credit: Aldo James Filed Under: Guides Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Boss demands 24X7 availability, even on weekends. Employee's viral complaint triggers strong comments
In many Indian workplaces, the line between professional and personal time is becoming increasingly hazy. A frustrated employee recently turned to the subreddit Indian Workplaces to vent about a troubling expectation imposed by their manager—being reachable at all hours, even on weekends. The employee explained that their manager had informally instructed the team to stay available on platforms like Teams and Outlook, even beyond regular work hours. Although the manager claimed they weren't asking anyone to 'work' after hours, they made it clear that if a message or email came through, it needed a prompt response—regardless of the time. The employee, dismayed by the demand, pointed out that availability outside scheduled work hours wasn't part of their job agreement. Even more disturbing to them was that none of their colleagues seemed concerned or willing to question it. Online Community Weighs In Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. The post quickly drew attention from fellow Redditors, many of whom criticized the unrealistic expectations. One commenter observed that no business truly needs its employees to be available 24/7. According to them, most messages and emails can easily wait until the next business day. Deadlines, in their view, are often arbitrary, and emergencies should be the only valid reason for out-of-hours contact. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You will never turn off your computer again. Undo Another user sarcastically asked if the original poster was employed at ISRO, hinting that such rigid availability might only be justified in life-or-death or rocket science-level work. The original poster responded with dry humor, remarking that their manager seemed to believe they were running a high-stakes operation. In reality, they provided financial consulting services to international clients. The job involved one weekly call with the global team, after which team members worked independently on their assigned projects. Previously, they would send status updates weekly, but under this manager, a new rule required daily updates—a practice the employee criticized as excessive micromanagement. Toxic Culture Rooted in Cost-Cutting? Others in the discussion speculated that the company might be avoiding the cost of hiring additional staff by pressuring existing employees to be available round the clock. One commenter cynically remarked that the manager was likely inflating his own performance reviews by claiming cost savings, aiming for a quick promotion. A word of caution also surfaced in the thread—many suggested avoiding open confrontation. Employees, they warned, risk being threatened with termination if they speak out. Instead, one user advised simply not responding to after-hours messages unless absolutely necessary and observing how the situation evolves. This post sheds light on a broader issue of unhealthy expectations in corporate environments, where work-life boundaries are increasingly disregarded in the name of productivity.
7NEWS
3 days ago
- Business
- 7NEWS
The rise of the evening meeting: ‘The infinite workday'
Workers are struggling to cope with a 'seemingly infinite workday ', involving an increasing load of meetings scheduled at 8pm or later and a near-constant stream of interruptions, according to new research by Microsoft. The company analysed data from users of Microsoft 365 services — which include Outlook and PowerPoint — globally between mid-January and mid-February. It found that the number of meetings booked between 8pm and just before midnight had risen 16 per cent compared with last year. Geographically dispersed teams, as well as those with flexible working arrangements, were responsible for much of that increase. 'The infinite workday… starts early, mostly in email, and quickly swells to a focus-sapping flood of messages, meetings, and interruptions,' Microsoft said in a report on Tuesday. The company found that the average worker is interrupted every two minutes by a meeting, an email or a chat notification during a standard eight-hour shift — adding up to 275 times a day. And those messages don't stop after they've clocked off. During the study period, the average employee sent or received 58 instant messages outside their core working hours — a jump of 15 per cent from last year. The typical worker also receives 117 emails per day and, by 10pm, almost one-third of employees are back in their inboxes, 'pointing to a steady rise in after-hours activity'. 'The modern workday for many has no clear start or finish,' Microsoft said. 'As business demands grow more complex and expectations continue to rise, time once reserved for focus or recovery may now be spent catching up, prepping, and chasing clarity. 'It's the professional equivalent of needing to assemble a bike before every ride. 'Too much energy is spent organising chaos before meaningful work can begin.' 'Impossible to keep up' One outcome is that one-third of workers feel it has been 'impossible to keep up' with the pace of work over the past five years, according to a Microsoft-commissioned survey of 31,000 employees around the world, cited in its new report. 'Each email or message notification may seem small, but together they can set a frenetic tempo for the day ahead,' the company said. Half of all meetings take place between 9–11am and 1–3pm, Microsoft also found, 'precisely when, as research shows, many people have a natural productivity spike in their day, due to their circadian rhythms'. Ultimately, Microsoft said, meeting-hungry bosses and colleagues sap workers' productivity, with some time-starved employees forced to catch up at the weekend. 'Instead of deep work… prime hours are spent cycling through a carousel of calls,' the company said. Artificial intelligence could help lighten the load for workers, according to Microsoft. The technology can help carry out 'low-value' administrative tasks, it said, freeing up time for people to work on what truly benefits the organisation. However, the rise of AI has fuelled anxiety about the technology's potential to oust human workers from their jobs. According to a survey by the World Economic Forum, published in January, 41 per cent of employers intend to downsize their workforce as AI automates certain tasks.
