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OpenAI Not Considering IPO Yet, Focused on Scaling Operations: CFO Sarah Friar

OpenAI has clarified that an initial public offering (IPO) is not part of its immediate plans, as the company continues to prioritize the rapid scaling of its operations. CFO Sarah Friar emphasized that going public is “not on the cards right now,” signaling that OpenAI is concentrating its efforts on expanding infrastructure, technology, and market reach before exploring public funding options.

The company is currently investing heavily in large-scale computing systems, data centers, and research initiatives to strengthen its position as a global leader in artificial intelligence. Friar noted that these investments are crucial to supporting the deployment of advanced AI models, including generative AI and multimodal systems, which require substantial computational resources and operational capacity.

While IPOs often serve as a major source of capital for growth, OpenAI’s decision to delay such a move reflects a strategic approach to maintain flexibility and control over its long-term technological roadmap. The firm has instead relied on private funding, partnerships, and collaborations to fuel its expansion. Analysts suggest that staying private allows OpenAI to focus on cutting-edge research without the immediate pressures of shareholder expectations, while still positioning itself for potential public listing in the future when the company is better scaled and market conditions are favorable.

OpenAI’s stance comes amid an era of heightened competition in AI, with multiple companies vying for leadership in AI model development and commercialization. By concentrating on operational scaling and technological advancement, the company aims to solidify its market position and ensure robust infrastructure to meet growing demand across industries.

The CFO’s remarks underline that OpenAI’s priorities remain squarely on building capability, driving innovation, and scaling responsibly, with the question of an IPO deferred until the company is strategically ready.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Predicts China Could Lead the AI Race

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has expressed his view that China is poised to take the lead in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race, highlighting the narrow technological gap between the United States and China. In a recent statement reported by the Financial Times, Huang described the two nations as being “nanoseconds apart” in terms of AI development, underlining the fierce competition in advanced computing, AI research, and infrastructure deployment.

Huang’s comments reflect growing concern among industry leaders about the rapid progress of AI in China, where government support, massive computing resources, and strategic investments in research and development have accelerated advancements. He noted that while the U.S. has historically led in AI innovation, China’s scale and speed in adopting and deploying AI technologies could allow it to surpass American capabilities in the near future.

The Nvidia CEO emphasized the importance of maintaining leadership through investment in high-performance computing, semiconductor production, and AI talent development. Nvidia, a global leader in GPU technology, plays a crucial role in powering AI applications ranging from generative AI models to autonomous vehicles, and Huang stressed that both countries are investing heavily to harness these capabilities.

Huang’s remarks also touch on the strategic implications of AI leadership, including economic competitiveness, national security, and technological sovereignty. Industry analysts suggest that China’s rapid adoption of AI and emphasis on infrastructure development could redefine the global balance of AI power, making collaboration, regulation, and innovation critical for sustaining U.S. competitiveness.

The statement comes amid an intensifying AI landscape where companies and governments worldwide are racing to deploy increasingly powerful models. As AI continues to transform industries, Huang’s observation serves as a reminder of the high stakes involved in technological supremacy and the narrow margins separating the world’s leading AI powers.

Zepto’s Meat Business CEO Chandan Rungta Resigns Within a Year of Joining

Chandan Rungta, CEO of Zepto’s meat‑business vertical, has resigned less than a year after taking charge in December 2024, marking the latest in a series of senior-level departures from the fast-growing quick-commerce firm. Rungta’s exit comes as Zepto continues to aggressively expand its operations, diversify product offerings, and scale its supply chain infrastructure across multiple cities in India.

During his brief tenure, Rungta was responsible for overseeing the development and execution of Zepto’s meat business strategy, including procurement, logistics, and retail partnerships. Sources indicate that his leadership was focused on streamlining cold-chain operations, ensuring product quality, and expanding delivery capabilities to meet the growing consumer demand for fresh and processed meat products. Despite these efforts, internal reports suggest that strategic differences and operational challenges may have contributed to his decision to step down.

Zepto has experienced rapid growth since its inception, raising significant funding rounds and entering new verticals to capture market share in India’s evolving quick-commerce landscape. However, frequent changes at the senior management level have raised questions among industry observers about long-term leadership stability and execution capabilities within the company. Analysts note that retaining top executives remains a key challenge for fast-scaling startups like Zepto, where the pace of expansion often outstrips organizational maturity.

The company has not yet announced a successor for Rungta, but insiders suggest that interim leadership will manage the meat-business vertical while Zepto identifies a permanent CEO. Zepto’s focus on rapid growth, consumer convenience, and product innovation continues unabated, and the firm remains committed to strengthening its operations despite the leadership transition.

As the quick-commerce sector becomes increasingly competitive, Zepto’s ability to maintain operational continuity and attract experienced talent will be critical in sustaining its expansion and meeting evolving consumer expectations.

Delhivery CFO Amit Agarwal to Resign, Vivek Pabari Named Successor

Delhivery, one of India’s leading logistics and supply chain companies, announced that its Chief Financial Officer Amit Agarwal will step down from his role and as Key Managerial Personnel, effective December 31, 2025. Agarwal has been with the company for over 13 years, playing a pivotal role in shaping its financial strategy, fundraising efforts, and investor relations during a period of rapid growth and market expansion.

Vivek Pabari, who currently heads Corporate Finance, Treasury, and Investor Relations at Delhivery, has been appointed as Agarwal’s successor and will assume the role of CFO starting January 1, 2026. Pabari brings a wealth of experience in financial management and strategic planning, and his elevation is expected to provide continuity in the company’s financial operations while supporting its long-term growth objectives.

Agarwal’s tenure at Delhivery has been marked by significant milestones, including multiple rounds of funding, successful IPO preparations, and the establishment of robust financial controls across the organisation. His leadership has been instrumental in positioning Delhivery as a key player in the Indian logistics sector, particularly amid the rapid digitalisation of supply chain services.

The management transition is aimed at maintaining stability during a crucial period for the company, which continues to expand its footprint both domestically and internationally. By promoting Pabari from within, Delhivery ensures that its strategic financial priorities remain aligned with its ongoing operational and growth initiatives.

Industry analysts view this change as a smooth leadership succession that underscores Delhivery’s commitment to strong corporate governance and long-term value creation. The company has expressed gratitude to Agarwal for his dedicated service and emphasized confidence in Pabari’s ability to drive the next phase of financial and operational excellence.

PM Modi Hosts India’s Women’s World Cup Champions, Praises Their Comeback

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted India’s victorious women’s cricket team at his official residence, celebrating their remarkable journey in the Women’s World Cup. The team’s inspiring comeback, following early setbacks in the tournament, was highlighted as a testament to resilience, teamwork, and determination, traits Modi commended during the meeting.

Recalling memorable moments from the tournament, the Prime Minister specifically mentioned Amanjot Kaur’s juggling catch, which became an emblem of the team’s tenacity and skill. Modi emphasized how such performances not only entertain but also motivate millions of young fans, particularly girls aspiring to take up sports professionally. The meeting was marked by an atmosphere of enthusiasm and pride, reflecting India’s growing recognition of women’s achievements in cricket and sports at large.

In addition to celebrating the team’s sporting accomplishments, Modi urged the champions to continue inspiring young girls to lead active and healthy lives through the Fit India initiative. By linking athletic excellence to broader social goals, the Prime Minister highlighted the role of sports in fostering discipline, fitness, and leadership among the younger generation.

The gathering also provided an opportunity for the team members to share their experiences, insights, and challenges faced during the World Cup. Modi encouraged them to continue pushing boundaries, breaking stereotypes, and setting benchmarks for future generations of athletes. His acknowledgment of their hard work and dedication was aimed at reinforcing the importance of perseverance and national pride.

The event underscored India’s commitment to promoting women in sports and recognizing their contributions on a global stage. It also reflected the government’s intent to support initiatives that motivate youth, empower athletes, and cultivate a culture of fitness and sportsmanship across the country.

Jaishankar Heads to Moscow to Prepare for 23rd India‑Russia Summit

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to travel to Moscow in the third week of November, marking a key diplomatic move ahead of the 23rd annual India‑Russia summit scheduled from December 4 to 6. The visit coincides with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads‑of‑government meeting, providing an opportunity for India to engage with multiple regional partners while advancing bilateral priorities with Russia.

During his Moscow trip, Jaishankar is expected to hold high‑level discussions aimed at finalising strategic agreements and fine‑tuning the agenda for the upcoming summit. Sources indicate that the talks will cover a broad range of topics, including energy cooperation, defence collaboration, trade, and scientific research. The visit underscores India’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding partnership with Russia while navigating the evolving global geopolitical landscape.

Officials point out that Jaishankar’s engagement in Moscow is not limited to bilateral talks. He will also meet key Russian policymakers and business leaders to explore avenues for deeper economic and technological collaboration. With energy security and defence modernization remaining central to the India‑Russia relationship, the discussions are likely to emphasize joint projects and investment initiatives.

The 23rd India‑Russia summit is expected to provide a platform for formalising agreements on long‑term cooperation, including in nuclear energy, space, and cybersecurity. Jaishankar’s preparatory visit reflects India’s proactive diplomatic approach in ensuring that the summit delivers actionable outcomes that enhance both countries’ strategic interests.

Experts note that such pre‑summit visits are crucial in aligning policy objectives and smoothing the path for high‑level deliberations. By addressing key issues in advance, India aims to strengthen bilateral ties, promote regional stability, and foster mutually beneficial projects across multiple sectors.

OpenAI Requests U.S. Government Support for $1 Trillion AI Expansion

OpenAI has formally requested backing from the U.S. government in the form of loan guarantees to accelerate its ambitious infrastructure plans, signaling one of the largest investment drives in the artificial intelligence sector to date. The company’s expansion, which could exceed $1 trillion, focuses on scaling computing capabilities and establishing new data‑centre facilities, reflecting its aggressive strategy to maintain leadership in AI research and deployment.

The proposed government support comes at a time when AI adoption is accelerating across industries, and competition among global AI developers is intensifying. OpenAI executives have emphasized that federal backing would not only enable rapid expansion but also ensure the U.S. retains a competitive edge in critical AI technologies, particularly large‑scale language and multimodal models that require immense computational resources.

According to sources close to the company, the funding would primarily be directed toward building state‑of‑the‑art data centres, deploying advanced supercomputing clusters, and supporting energy‑efficient operations to manage the massive electricity requirements of these facilities. The plan is also expected to create thousands of jobs in AI engineering, data infrastructure, and related fields, further positioning the U.S. as a hub for cutting‑edge technology development.

While OpenAI has previously relied on private capital, the unprecedented scale of its current project has prompted the firm to seek public‑private collaboration. Analysts note that government involvement could accelerate the rollout of AI innovations but may also attract scrutiny regarding regulatory oversight, data security, and the ethical deployment of advanced AI systems.

The company’s appeal for federal loan guarantees highlights both the opportunities and challenges in supporting transformative technologies at scale. As AI continues to shape industries from healthcare to finance, OpenAI’s expansion strategy underscores the stakes involved in ensuring technological leadership while balancing economic, social, and regulatory considerations.

Om Puran Joins Quick Heal as Director – Enterprise Marketing for Seqrite Division

Om Puran has joined Quick Heal Technologies as Director – Enterprise Marketing, leading the marketing charter for its enterprise cybersecurity division, Seqrite.

In this role, Om will spearhead Seqrite’s enterprise marketing strategy, driving awareness, demand generation, and market positioning across enterprise and mid- market segments. He will collaborate closely with sales, product, and channel teams to deliver integrated go-to-market programs that strengthen Seqrite’s brand authority across key cybersecurity domains, including Endpoint Protection, Zero Trust, Cloud Security, and Threat Intelligence.

A seasoned marketing leader with over a decade of B2B experience, Om brings deep expertise in technology marketing, demand generation, ABM, product positioning, and content-led storytelling. His career spans global tech and consulting organizations such as Deloitte, DXC, EC-Council, and Aaseya (YASH Technologies Group), where he successfully led enterprise and global marketing initiatives across multiple geographies.

Amazon Blocks Perplexity’s AI Shopping Bot Over Data Policy Concerns

Amazon has reportedly restricted Perplexity AI’s shopping bot from accessing its vast catalog of product listings, citing violations of data usage policies. The decision underscores escalating friction between major e-commerce platforms and artificial intelligence startups that rely on large-scale web data to train or power their generative tools.

Perplexity’s shopping bot was designed to help users compare products, analyze reviews, and generate personalized recommendations through conversational search. By drawing on public data, the bot could simplify decision-making for online shoppers by summarizing key product insights. However, Amazon’s move effectively cuts off Perplexity’s access to one of the world’s largest e-commerce databases, significantly impacting the tool’s retail intelligence capabilities.

According to industry sources, Amazon’s restriction stems from concerns over data scraping, commercial use of product listings, and the potential misuse of customer information. The company has long maintained strict rules prohibiting third-party services from repurposing its data without authorization. This latest action highlights Amazon’s firm stance on protecting its digital assets as generative AI tools increasingly rely on web-based information to deliver context-rich results.

The decision also reflects a growing industry debate over how AI companies source data from platforms that dominate online commerce. While startups like Perplexity argue that public data access drives innovation and improves user experiences, large marketplaces contend that uncontrolled data use could undermine privacy, accuracy, and fair competition.

Analysts suggest that the move could prompt other e-commerce giants to tighten access to their datasets as AI-driven search and recommendation tools become more sophisticated. For Perplexity, the block represents both a setback and a reminder of the regulatory and ethical boundaries shaping AI development in commercial environments.

Zoho Notebook Adds Advanced AI Tools to Enhance Productivity and Collaboration

Zoho has unveiled a major update to its popular note-taking application, Zoho Notebook, introducing new artificial intelligence features designed to simplify organization, enhance collaboration, and improve accessibility for both students and business professionals. The upgraded version integrates seamlessly with the broader Zoho ecosystem, reinforcing the company’s commitment to building a connected productivity suite powered by AI.

The new AI tools enable users to automatically categorize and organize their notes based on context and content, eliminating the need for manual sorting. A multilingual voice search feature allows users to retrieve notes in multiple languages, catering to India’s diverse user base and global audiences alike. Additionally, the app can now summarize long documents, extract key insights, and suggest tags or action items, turning basic notes into actionable knowledge resources.

For students, Zoho has introduced a free edition of Notebook equipped with AI-driven learning aids. These include quick note-to-summary conversion, flashcard generation, and task reminders—all intended to make studying more efficient. Business users, meanwhile, benefit from integration with Zoho Projects, Zoho Mail, and Zoho WorkDrive, enabling smoother information sharing and real-time collaboration across teams.

Zoho stated that user privacy remains central to its AI development approach, emphasizing that all data processing takes place within its secure ecosystem without external data sharing. The company also noted that the updates align with its broader goal of offering AI features that enhance productivity while maintaining transparency and data integrity.

Industry observers view this move as a strategic effort by Zoho to strengthen its position against global productivity platforms. By combining robust AI tools with affordability and local accessibility, Zoho aims to redefine how individuals and organizations capture, organize, and utilize information in their everyday workflows.

Tags: Zoho

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