Ola to launch India’s first AI chip by 2026

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Ola to launch India’s first AI chip by 2026

Ola to launch India’s first AI chip by 2026

Industry News
Aug 19,24

Ola’s AI subsidiary, Krutrim, is spearheading the development of this AI chip, which, if successful, will position Ola as a competitor to industry giants like Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. Global tech leaders such as Meta, Google, Apple, and Amazon are also in the race to develop proprietary AI chips.

Ola to launch India’s first AI chip by 2026

Bhavish Aggarwal, Co-founder and CEO, Ola, announced that the company plans to launch India’s first AI silicon chip within two years, emphasising the importance of AI sovereignty for the country. "India needs to build its technological future on its own terms," Aggarwal said, warning that otherwise, the nation risks becoming merely a user base for global tech companies.

Ola has entered strategic partnerships with global companies including chip design firm ARM and Canadian AI company Untether AI, to facilitate the development of this AI chip, which is expected to power faster and more efficient AI systems. Aggarwal mentioned that the company is currently evaluating potential foundries, with a focus on Tier I or II global foundries. He highlighted Taiwan and South Korea as leaders in the field, noting that Taiwan's ecosystem is particularly interested in collaborating with India.

In addition to the AI chip, Krutrim has launched Krutrim Cloud, which offers both AI and general-purpose capabilities along with a suite of AI services for developers. These data center services, valued at Rs 1 billion, will be available free of charge to developers and enterprises until Diwali.

New motorcycles

Ola Electric Mobility also introduced its first range of electric motorcycles, which are expected to be delivered starting in the fourth quarter of the current financial year. The company plans to integrate its homegrown Bharat 4680 cell into its vehicles by the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 2026. This cell, currently in trial production at Ola’s Gigafactory, will be the first of its kind in India.

Rebranding

In a significant move, Ola Cabs, the company’s ride-sharing business, has been rebranded as Ola Consumer and will expand to new cities. As part of this rebranding, Ola is offering one year of free access to Krutrim Cloud for all ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) suppliers, including startups and small and medium enterprises. Direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands will also benefit from a year of free access.

(ET)