Since its inception in 2022, the Indian government-supported non-profit, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), has made considerable strides in the tech world. This platform offers a suite of APIs that empower tech firms and other entities to devise novel digital services for consumers and businesses. Thus far, it has facilitated about 12 million transactions per month in sectors such as food delivery and mobility. Moreover, major players like Google and Uber have utilized these services to offer innovative solutions to their customers.
ONDC isn’t just a platform for major tech companies. It also acts as a significant conduit linking Indian startups and enterprises in areas like grocery, food delivery, and logistics. More importantly, these networks help in competing with giants such as Amazon and Flipkart. This creates a competitive ecosystem that encourages innovation and customer-centric services.
Moving ahead, ONDC plans to broaden its horizons by delving into the realm of financial services. They aim to kickstart this expansion by introducing APIs dedicated to digital lending. This stride into the fintech landscape demonstrates ONDC’s commitment to continually evolve and support a broad spectrum of digital services. Moreover, it aids in bridging the gap between finance and technology, furthering India’s digital economy.
In other news, Cruise, the autonomous vehicle company under General Motors’ umbrella, has recently called back its orchard of 1,194 autonomous vehicles. The recall was due to a lingering issue of spontaneous braking. This action is seen as a measure to eliminate glitches and improve the safety and performance of their self-driving fleet.
To rectify this problem, Cruise has deployed software updates across its fleet. These updates are expected to alleviate the braking issues that have plagued their vehicles. Consequently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has put tires on its nearly two-year investigation, following these developments.
This recall and subsequent fix represent a significant step for Cruise. The closure of the investigation by the NHTSA lightens Cruise’s burden and allows them to focus on other areas of their autonomous vehicles during a time when they are subject to intense inspection.
In the world of renewable energy, Cache Energy, a budding startup, is charting its unique course. Unlike others who store power as heat in materials like sand or specially-crafted bricks, Cache adopts a different method. The company focuses on preserving energy in chemical bonds within lime pellets, a byproduct of limestone.
Armpit Dwivedi, the founder and CEO of Cache, refers to their approach as ‘coal without consequences.’ This innovative method of energy storage attempts to blend the efficiency of coal storage with an environmentally friendly touch, showcasing the potential of green technology in modern power infrastructure.
When it comes to advertising, agencies don’t just churn out a single ad for their clients. Instead, they could potentially produce hundreds of different versions optimized for various platforms. This process, though meticulous, can often be labor-intensive and time-consuming.
Recently, Creatopy, an AI-driven platform, has grabbed attention by automating ad creation. The startup has secured a $10 million Series A funding round, jointly led by European venture capital firms 3VC from Austria and Point Nine from Germany. Conceived in Romania but operating under a U.S. TopCo, Creatopy is demonstrating how artificial intelligence can significantly streamline the advertising landscape.
Today, over 5,000 brands and agencies utilize Creatopy’s services. These clients leverage the platform to design, customize, and automate their ads and visual content production. With such a broad userbase, Creatopy is showing how AI can transform even the most creative domains like advertising.
Smaller businesses often lack a dedicated travel desk, resulting in executives and founders having to turn to personal assistants or inefficient travel applications. However, Michael Gulmann, Expedia’s former SVP of consumer product, believes AI might be the solution.
Aiming to fill this gap, Gulmann’s service leverages AI to swiftly manage flight and hotel bookings via straightforward natural language queries. This application of AI is another step towards a more efficient and automated corporate world, reducing hassle and increasing productivity for businesses of all sizes.