Lakhi and Reeva

In 2021, as Mumbai was slowly reopening following the Covid-19 pandemic, Lakhi Sakaria Chowdhary faced the same question as every other employer in the city. When could her team safely take the local train again?

The Mumbai local train network, which ferries close to eight million commuters every day and is regarded as the city's lifeline, had come to a standstill during the lockdowns. With no reliable updates from the railways, commuters were left to rely on WhatsApp forwards and guesswork.

The near-total absence of real-time information affecting millions of people led to the creation of Yatri, which is now the official app of the Central and Western Railways in Mumbai's local train ecosystem. Developed by sisters Lakhi and Reeva Sakaria in partnership with Indian Railways, Yatri offers real-time train tracking using source-verified GPS data, with live updates on locations, delays, platform changes, and disruptions.

OpenAI releases newest AI model GPT-5.5

OpenAI has released GPT-5.5, its newest AI model that takes another step towards agentic intelligence, capable of autonomously planning and executing complex, multi-step workflows.

For a long time, AI was viewed as a one-shot answer engine. People asked a question, and it gave a response. GPT-5.5 is taking things in a direction wherein it aims to act more like an independent assistant.

It can research online, write code, create documents, and even operate software by clicking and typing just as a human would. OpenAI says that instead of people managing every tiny step, they can give the model a messy task and trust it to plan the work and navigate through any confusing parts until the job is finished.

Other news

Otto wins SaaStock USA 2026, secures $500,000 investment

Otto Sales AI has emerged as the winner of the SaaStock USA 2026 Global Pitch Competition, securing a $500,000 investment from a syndicate of leading venture capital firms, including Backfuture VC, Quadri Ventures, BAG Collective, and OneSixOne Ventures.

Founded in 2026 by Mumbai-born entrepreneur Omkar Pandharkame, Otto is the result of nearly 15 years of hands-on experience in B2B SaaS sales and entrepreneurship.

IIT Madras' SWAYAM Plus launches three new AI Courses

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), in partnership with IITM Pravartak, has launched three new AI courses on the digital learning platform SWAYAM Plus as part of the 'AI for All' campaign.

The newly launched courses are AI for Aspiring Engineers, AI for Administrators, and Prompt Engineering. These courses are beginner-friendly programmes that require no prior coding or AI experience and were launched by Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, during a campus event marking two years of SWAYAM Plus operations.

The last date to register for all these courses is 10th May 2026.

Swiggy to launch Builders Club

Swiggy on Friday announced the upcoming launch of Swiggy Builders Club, a community, partnership, and builder enablement program designed for developers, startups, and enterprises building AI-native commerce experiences on top of its platforms.

At launch, Builders Club will open access to 3 MCP servers and 18+ API tools across Food, Instamart, and Dineout, enabling approved builders to create AI agents, copilots, assistants, and integrations that can take real-world actions such as ordering food, shopping groceries, or booking dining experiences.

Builders Club is open to developers, startups, and enterprises. Participants apply, are reviewed, granted access, and can then build and share a demo.

JSW Motors and Tata Elxsi to establish tech centre in Pune

JSW Motors and Tata Elxsi have forged an alliance to establish the JNEXT - JSW NextGen Technology Center in Pune.

The centre will serve as a strategic engineering hub to support the development of next-generation software-defined, AI-powered mobility solutions, aligned with the industry's shift towards connected and electrified vehicles.

The JNEXT Center will enable close collaboration with JSW Motors' R&D, manufacturing, and leadership teams.

The engagement will focus on software-defined vehicle systems, covering diagnostics, performance optimisation, predictive maintenance, compliance-driven testing, safety, and cybersecurity, with Tata Elxsi leveraging its engineering capabilities and platforms such as TETHER Auto to build scalable, cloud-native solutions.

Avataar Venture Partners joins India Deep-Tech Investment Alliance

Avataar Venture Partners, a growth-stage VC firm focused on B2B technology, has joined the India Deep-Tech Investment Alliance (IDTA) as a Platinum General Member. The alliance is an industry-led coalition mobilising private capital in alignment with the Government of India's ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Scheme.

As a Platinum Member, Avataar will deploy growth capital over five to ten years into Indian deep-tech companies across robotics, quantum computing, semiconductors, space-tech, life sciences, and material science. IDTA members have collectively committed approximately $2.5 billion to India's next generation of deep-tech startups. Avataar's participation reinforces its commitment to backing India's technology leaders and strengthening the India-U.S. technology corridor.

Wipro & Kongsberg Digital partner on AI digital twins

Wipro Limited and Kongsberg Digital have announced a strategic partnership to deploy AI-powered Digital Twin solutions for the Energy & Utilities sector. The collaboration combines Wipro's Industrial-AssetsAI and UpstreamAI solutions with Kongsberg Digital's Industrial Work Surface platform.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Together, they will deliver a unified environment integrating physics-based engineering models, real-time operations, and enterprise AI into a single digital twin framework. The joint offering will reflect real-time conditions across plants, grids, and distributed assets, helping organisations simplify digital transformation and strengthen operational resilience. Both companies will also advance a joint roadmap to scale these AI-powered capabilities across energy environments, driving improvements in performance, safety, and sustainability.

NetApp deepens Google Cloud partnership with Gemini Enterprise adoption

NetApp has announced a strategic evolution in its partnership with Google Cloud, adopting Gemini Enterprise internally to boost productivity across product development and sales operations. Following strong customer outcomes using Gemini Enterprise integrated with Google Cloud NetApp Volumes, NetApp expanded its own use of Google Cloud AI technologies.

NetApp Volumes, a fully managed cloud storage service, now features a Gemini Enterprise data connector enabling customers to build agentic AI applications powered by proprietary enterprise data - securely and cost-effectively. The collaboration positions NetApp not just as an enabler of AI workloads but as an active AI practitioner, with customers expected to benefit from the resulting gains in productivity and innovation.

MegaCorp Limited appoints Loveena Kansal as EVP & Business Head

MegaCorp Limited, a BSE-listed NBFC with over four decades of experience in technology-led lending, has appointed Loveena Kansal as Executive Vice President and Business Head. Based in New Delhi, she will lead business strategy and oversee the development of MegaCorp's digital-first lending platform, reporting directly to the Board.

Kansal brings over two decades of BFSI experience, with leadership roles at Max Life Insurance, IndusInd Bank, RBL Bank, and Religare Finvest. Her expertise spans digital transformation, partnership-led growth models, customer acquisition, and reducing turnaround times. Her appointment underscores MegaCorp's focus on accelerating its next phase of growth through its lending platforms, Lendigo and eFinance.

Unimech Aerospace acquires Hobel Bellows to expand engineering capabilities

Unimech Aerospace and Manufacturing Limited has signed definitive agreements to acquire Hobel Bellows, an Indian specialist manufacturer of metallic bellows, flexible tubing components, and precision-engineered assemblies. The acquisition strengthens Unimech's capability-led growth strategy and expands its portfolio beyond precision components into higher-value engineered assemblies and sub-systems. The move reflects disciplined capital allocation and a commitment to deepening customer relationships through broader manufacturing solutions. It also positions Unimech to enhance its competitiveness across high-value industrial sectors on a global scale. The acquisition aligns with the company's broader strategic intent to build a globally competitive precision engineering platform.

OM Bhakti expands retail presence across South India

OM Bhakti, a player in the puja essentials segment, has partnered with standalone modern trade stores, onboarding over 1,500 supermarkets across Bengaluru and Hyderabad. With 24+ products available including puja oil, camphor, cotton wicks, and rangoli, the company is aligning its offerings with daily rituals and festive needs.

Plans include scaling to 3,000 stores within 6-12 months and expanding into six cities across North and Western India, including Delhi NCR and Uttar Pradesh. The move is part of a broader omnichannel strategy targeting smaller value packs for mass adoption. India's religious market is estimated to exceed Rs 40,000 crore, driven by daily rituals, festivals, and a growing preference for branded, eco-friendly products.

(The copy will be updated with the latest news)

Edited by Megha Reddy