
Tech • Startups • Entrepreneurship
Turning Conversation into Knowledge.
Bhavish Aggarwal of Ola Unveils Krutrim AI Lab and Launches Open-Source Krutrim-2 Model
Bhavish Aggarwal announced the Krutrim AI Lab, focusing on India-specific AI. New models like Krutrim-2, Chitrarth-1, and Dhwani-1 were released for better language support. Ola committed Rs. 2,000 crores, aiming for Rs. 10,000 crores by next year. Partnerships with Nvidia for AI infrastructure were also highlighted.
Read more on gadgets360
Bhavish Aggarwal of Ola Unveils Krutrim AI Lab and Launches Open-Source Krutrim-2 Model
Shantanu Naidu, Ratan Tata’s Trusted Protégé, Rises To A Strategic Position At Tata Motors
Shantanu Naidu, former aide and close confidant of Ratan Tata, has been appointed General Manager and Head of Strategic Initiatives at Tata Motors. Naidu shared an emotional LinkedIn post recalling childhood memories of his father working at the same plant. The 2018 Tata protégé gained attention for their unique bond, collaborative projects like stray dog safety innovations, and founding elderly-care startup Goodfellows. His promotion follows Tata’s 2024 demise, whom Naidu tributed as “my dear lighthouse.”
Read more on NDTV
Google Staff Express Layoff Fears, Urge Company Action with Petition
Over 1,250 Google employees from the U.S. and Canada signed a petition titled ‘Googlers for Job Security’ demanding better severance terms and job stability. The petition, addressed to CEO Sundar Pichai, criticizes ongoing layoffs, poor performance reviews, and lack of buyout options, highlighting the impact on work quality and morale. It seeks a response within two weeks.
Read more on TheHindu
Google Staff Express Layoff Fears, Urge Company Action with Petition
Elon Musk’s X Teams Up with Visa for Debut of First Digital Wallet
Elon Musk’s X is partnering with Visa to launch the “X Money Account” for real-time payments, aiming to make X an “everything app.” The service will allow digital wallets and P2P transfers linked to debit cards, with plans for future expansion. This move aligns with Musk’s long-term vision of creating a multifunctional platform like WeChat.
Elon Musk’s X Teams Up with Visa for Debut of First Digital Wallet
ISRO Achieves Milestone with 100th Mission, Launches NVS-02 for NavIC
India’s ISRO launched its 100th mission with GSLV-F15, deploying the NVS-02 navigation satellite from Sriharikota. This mission enhances the NavIC system, now with five satellites, improving regional navigation accuracy. Union Minister Jitendra Singh celebrated this as a historic achievement, highlighting the journey from ISRO’s inception to its current success under PM Modi’s leadership.
Read more on DDNews.
ISRO Achieves Milestone with 100th Mission, Launches NVS-02 for NavIC
SoftBank Eyes $500M Investment in Skild AI, Valuing Robotics Firm at $4B
SoftBank is in talks to invest $500 million in Skild AI, valuing the robotics software company at $4 billion. Skild, founded by Carnegie Mellon professors, raised $300 million last year. The AI model can adapt to various robots. Other AI robotics startups like Physical Intelligence and Figure AI have also secured substantial investments from major investors, including Jeff Bezos.
Read more on TechCrunch.
SoftBank Eyes $500M Investment in Skild AI, Valuing Robotics Firm at $4B
DeepSeek AI: Disrupting the Tech Landscape
DeepSeek, backed by Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer, has surged in popularity with its AI models, challenging U.S. tech dominance. Using cost-effective techniques, DeepSeek’s models like DeepSeek-V2 and V3 have outshined competitors, leading to price drops by rivals. Despite regulatory constraints, its models are widely used, stirring market reactions.
Read more on TechCrunch.
Wipro Declares Interim Dividend; Q3 FY25 Profit Soars 24%
Wipro announced an interim dividend of Rs 6 per share for FY 2024-25 with Q3 results showing a 24% YoY net profit increase to Rs 3,354 crore. The record date is January 28, with payment by February 15. Analysts have mixed views, with target prices ranging from Rs 280 to Rs 350.
Read more on NEWS18.
IIT Madras Gains Free Access to Perplexity AI’s Pro Version
IIT Madras students, faculty, and staff gain free access to Perplexity AI’s Pro version, announced by alumnus and CEO Aravind Srinivas. This advanced search tool, normally $20/month, offers deeper AI capabilities. The initiative aims to boost AI education and research. Srinivas is also looking to expand Perplexity’s operations in India and recently met PM Modi.
Read more on YourStory.
Blackstone Plans Rs 4,500 Crore Investment for Hyderabad Data Centre
Blackstone has signed an MoU with Telangana to build a 150 MW data center in Hyderabad for Rs 4,500 crore. This facility, aimed at hyperscale clients, will support AI and cloud services. Concurrently, Microsoft plans a $3 billion investment in India’s AI and cloud infrastructure, partnering with MeitY for ethical AI development under the IndiaAI Mission.
Read more on YourStory.
Blackstone Plans Rs 4,500 Crore Investment for Hyderabad Data Centre
Google’s Gemini AI Now Empowers Everyone with Advanced Smart Home Control
Google’s Gemini AI smart home controls are now available to all users. The Google Home extension in the Gemini app allows for complex commands like adjusting multiple lights. Users can control devices via natural language, manage settings from the lock screen, and handle media control on smart devices. The rollout begins today, extending over weeks.
Read more on TheVerge.
Google’s Gemini AI Now Empowers Everyone with Advanced Smart Home Control
Pearl: The AI Search Engine Blending AI Answers with Human Expertise
Pearl, a new AI search engine, combines AI answers with human fact-checking and expert consultations. It uses JustAnswer’s data and popular AI models to provide responses, offering a freemium model. Legal clarity under Section 230 remains uncertain. Testing showed mixed results, with some answers not significantly improved by human input, suggesting limited value over free online resources.
Read more on WIRED.