IIT Madras and ISRO have jointly created the IRIS chip, an indigenous semiconductor for space and computing applications. Built on the Shakti processor, manufactured in India, it enhances ISRO’s mission efficiency and supports the ‘Make in India’ initiative, reducing reliance on foreign technology.
Zomato introduces ‘Nugget’, an AI-driven customer support tool developed by Zomato Labs. Handling 15 million interactions monthly, it automates 80% of queries, offering businesses worldwide customizable, low-cost support without needing developers. The platform is now available globally, with free access for founders stuck with legacy providers.
OpenAI has updated its AI training policy to embrace intellectual freedom, aiming to offer multiple perspectives on controversial topics. This move might be influenced by the new Trump administration and reflects a broader Silicon Valley trend towards less content moderation, focusing on neutrality and free speech in AI responses.
BlueSkyHunter, launched by Borut Udovic, offers a comprehensive toolset for managing Bluesky presence with analytics, scheduling, and DM automation. It features a dashboard for tracking growth, engagement, and trends. Priced at $15/month with a 14-day trial, it aims to empower creators and businesses on the platform with 31.5 million users.
Adobe launched Firefly Video Generator, enabling video creation from text or images in Adobe Premiere and a new Firefly web app. It offers customization, supports 1080p, and is commercially safe with Content Credentials for transparency. Plans include Firefly Standard ($9.99) and Pro ($29.99) monthly.
Perplexity introduced Sonar, an API allowing developers to integrate its AI search tools into applications. Offering two tiers, Sonar and Sonar Pro, it aims to provide real-time, factually accurate answers by connecting to trusted internet sources. Sonar Pro provides more detailed responses and citations. The API is notably affordable, potentially increasing Perplexity’s revenue, with Zoom already utilizing it for real-time answers during video calls.
AI-driven search engine Perplexity has recently acquired Read.cv, a professional networking platform that was launched in 2021 by former Facebook designer Andy Chung. Read.cv is recognized for its features such as resumes, team profiles, job listings, and a Sites function that allows users to create personal websites with “.cv” domains. However, the platform will start winding down operations this Friday. Users will have the opportunity to export their data until May 16, and the domain transition to Hello.cv will take place on January 31. Perplexity’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, commended Read.cv for its insights into consumer and social experiences. This acquisition is the third for Perplexity as it broadens its focus on corporate tools, following its impressive $9 billion valuation and $500 million in funding from investors, including Institutional Venture Partners.
Aravind Srinivas, Indian-origin CEO of Perplexity AI, met PM Narendra Modi to discuss AI adoption in India. Srinivas praised Modi’s vision and dedication to technology, while the PM commended his work with Perplexity AI. Their meeting highlighted India’s focus on leveraging AI for the future.
Spenser Skates, CEO, shares his journey of founding Amplitude, a leading product analytics company, illustrating the challenges and lessons learned from his first startup. He emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs, adapting to feedback, and the commitment required to succeed in building a billion-dollar company.
Pivoting from Failure to Opportunity: The failure of Spenser’s first startup, Sonalight, led to the creation of Amplitude. The struggles in retaining users inspired the development of an analytics platform to better understand customer behavior, transforming failure into a successful business idea.
Understanding Customer Needs: Skates highlights the importance of engaging with customers early on to validate ideas and solutions. Understanding their pain points ensures that products are relevant and truly address their needs, rather than solely focusing on product development.
Pricing and Monetization: He reflects on the importance of asking for money early in the startup process to validate demand. Securing the first paying customer emphasizes the need for confidence in pricing and pitching to succeed in monetizing early-stage businesses.
Growth Strategy and Market Positioning: Amplitude succeeded in a competitive analytics market by delivering deeper insights than competitors. Skates stresses the value of focusing on product-centric solutions during market transitions to capture a larger audience share.
Culture and Leadership in Scaling: As Amplitude scaled, Skates faced challenges in maintaining company culture. Strong leadership, repeatable processes, and the ability to transition from startup metrics to sustainable growth were key to ensuring agility and responsiveness to market demands.
How I Built A $1.4B Software Giant Called AmplitudeㅣSpenser Skates, Amplitude
In this interview, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, sits down with Garry Tan to share his experiences in tech, the journey of OpenAI, and the big leaps coming soon in AI. Altman talks about how close we are to superintelligent AI and his hopeful outlook on technology’s potential. He also has plenty of advice for startup founders who are looking to make the most of this tech shift.
The Tech Landscape Right Now: According to Altman, there’s never been a better time to start a tech company, thanks to the rapid pace of AI innovation. He encourages founders to dive into this opportunity.
Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) Timeline: Altman predicts that ASI—AI with human-level intelligence and beyond—might be just a few thousand days away, as AI advancements are compounding at a breakneck pace.
Conviction Matters: Altman highlights that having strong conviction in your tech bets is crucial, as it can lead to major breakthroughs. He thinks many still don’t fully grasp the transformative power of AI.
Role of Y Combinator: He reflects on how his time at Y Combinator, surrounded by ambitious peers, pushed him to think big and take risks in the tech world.
Learning from Platform Shifts: Altman recalls the early days of mobile tech and the importance of adapting to big platform shifts, which continue to shape innovation today.
Advice for Founders
For startups, Altman’s advice is to focus on building with AI, stay fast, stay focused, and be adaptable. These qualities help small teams compete in a fast-changing landscape.
Vision for the Future: Looking ahead, Altman is excited about AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), abundant energy, and other tech advancements that could transform our world, encouraging an optimistic view on tech’s impact.
Success of GPT-4: Altman discusses the major success and market potential of GPT-4, noting how it marks a significant step for OpenAI compared to previous models.
Peer Networks and Inspiration: He emphasizes the value of surrounding yourself with inspiring peers to accelerate personal and professional growth.
Learning from Failures: Altman also opens up about learning from earlier failures, like his experience with Loopd, noting that those tough lessons have been crucial in his journey.