STARTUP-STORIES
Krutrim's Bold Vision: AI Chip Launch by 2026 Revealed by Bhavish Aggarwal
SUMMARY
1. Krutrim’s Ambitious AI and Cloud Initiatives: Krutrim, founded by Bhavish Aggarwal, plans to launch its first AI chip by 2026, with collaborations with Arm and Untether AI to boost development. The startup is also expanding its data center capacity from 20 MW to 1 GW by 2028 and offering ₹100 crore in free cloud services until Diwali.
2. Ola’s Strategic Rebranding and New Offerings: Ola Cabs is rebranded as Ola Consumers to reflect its broader consumer focus. The company has relaunched Ola Share ride-hailing in Bengaluru, introduced a new loyalty program, and announced an automated warehouse for ONDC, demonstrating its expansion into diverse services beyond mobility.
In a groundbreaking announcement at the Ola Sankalp 2024 event, Bhavish Aggarwal, co-founder and CEO of Ola Cabs, unveiled the ambitious roadmap for Krutrim, the innovative AI startup he founded. Krutrim aims to revolutionize the AI sector with its cutting-edge chip designs and significant data center expansion.
Krutrim’s AI Chip Vision: A Leap Forward in Technology
Krutrim is set to make waves in the tech industry with its plan to design, build, and launch its first AI chip by 2026. The startup’s inaugural chip family will feature three key components: “Bodhi” for AI applications, “Sarv” for general computing, and “Ojas” for Edge computing. This strategic move is part of Krutrim’s long-term vision to remain at the forefront of AI technology. Notably, the company plans to introduce the next-generation Bodhi-II chip by 2028.
To bolster these efforts, Krutrim has forged strategic partnerships with renowned global chip-makers Arm and Untether AI. These collaborations are expected to significantly accelerate Krutrim’s chip design and manufacturing capabilities, positioning the company as a major player in the AI hardware market.
India’s Potential as an AI Powerhouse
At the Ola Sankalp 2024 event, Aggarwal highlighted India’s potential to lead the global AI revolution. “India has a unique opportunity to become a global superpower in technologies of the future such as AI,” Aggarwal stated. With India contributing 20% of the world’s data and housing a vast tech talent pool, the country is well-equipped to drive the future of AI.
Data Center Expansion: Scaling Up for Future Demands
In addition to its chip development, Krutrim is set to expand its data center capacity dramatically. The company plans to increase its current capacity from 20 MW to a staggering 1 GW by 2028. This expansion aims to meet the rising demand for AI and cloud computing services both within India and internationally.
Earlier this year, Aggarwal transitioned Ola’s workloads from Microsoft Azure to Krutrim Cloud. The platform has since experienced rapid growth, with over 50 new services launched, catering to the diverse needs of Indian developers.
Krutrim Cloud: An Expanding Ecosystem
Krutrim Cloud is emerging as a comprehensive ecosystem encompassing infrastructure, developer platforms, data platforms, AI models, AI platforms, and AI applications. Already in use by Ola Electric and Ola Cabs, Krutrim Cloud’s capabilities are evident. Impressive statistics underscore its impact: over 25,000 developers have engaged with Krutrim Cloud, more than 10 million users have interacted with the Krutrim chat app, and 250 billion API calls have been made since its inception in early 2024. Additionally, over 1 trillion tokens have been generated on the platform in just six months.
In a bid to further attract developers and businesses, Krutrim is offering ₹100 crore worth of free cloud services until Diwali.
Ola Cabs Rebrands as Ola Consumers
In a strategic rebranding move, Aggarwal announced that Ola Cabs will now operate under the name Ola Consumers. This change reflects the company’s expansion beyond mobility to address a broader range of consumer needs. Aggarwal emphasized the company’s goal to make consumption accessible to every Indian.
As part of this rebranding, Ola Cabs has relaunched its Ola Share ride-hailing service in Bengaluru, with plans to extend it to other cities soon. Additionally, a new loyalty program, Ola Coins, will be introduced across various Ola services. The company is also launching an automated warehouse to serve brands on ONDC, underscoring its commitment to automation and scalability in quick commerce.