Ola-backed Krutrim is undergoing a wave of executive exits as it scales operations in AI model development and semiconductor chips. The company is working hard to build advanced infrastructure, such as Bodhi AI chips, the Model 3 platform, and data centers. However, this acceleration coincides with staff layoffs and the recent departure of three senior leaders. Bhavish Aggarwal founded Krutrim, which recently launched Kruti, its consumer-facing AI assistant. Additionally, the company is investigating joint ventures with foreign chip manufacturers and ONDC.
Is the AI Model Team Losing Direction Now?
In recent months, senior director John Williamson, director of applied AI Sharath Adavanne, and engineering head Dinesh Mittal left Krutrim. These executive exits follow earlier reports that more than 20 leaders quit within a year, raising concerns over internal stability.
Last week, more than a dozen employees from the linguistics division were let go, which further increased the chaos. Additionally, a source stated that Krutrim’s language team still has about 600 employees and that these hires were project-based. Job postings state that this team is in charge of prompting and evaluation for the company’s AI model development.
Krutrim Accelerates Tech Plans Despite Executive Churn
Despite leadership changes, Krutrim maintains its focus on scaling its AI model capabilities and expanding infrastructure. The firm is currently working on Krutrim Model 3, designed to outperform its earlier 12-billion-parameter version. Additionally, the new model will be more complex and have wider applications.
According to a company spokesperson, employee turnover is consistent with industry standards and has no bearing on ongoing projects. According to the spokesperson, Bodhi 1 and 2, other semiconductor chip projects, are on track and included in a broader roadmap.
Additionally, the business introduced “Kruti,” an AI-powered virtual assistant that can be used within the Ola ecosystem. It can be used to schedule taxis, order food delivery, and pay bills. The platform is expanding into retail and healthcare use cases. Additionally, discussions to provide services like metro ticketing and recharges are underway with ONDC.
Will Krutrim’s Future Bets Pay Off Soon?
Krutrim is reportedly in discussions with global partners to manufacture its Bodhi semiconductor chips, which are currently undergoing tests. The chips are made to improve platform speed and efficiency while supporting complex AI tasks.
According to business head A. Navendu, the group is developing a new AI model with billions of parameters. Thus, this move shows that the company intends to compete with international firms as a major player in India’s AI race.
However, Krutrim is also dealing with the fallout from allegations of a toxic culture, sparked by an alleged employee suicide. Despite the fact that the company has denied these claims, there are still concerns, particularly given the ongoing leadership turnover.
Bottom Line
Krutrim is leading the way in AI model innovation and semiconductor chips. However, a negative culture narrative and frequent executive departures could impede the advancement. It remains to be seen if its ambitious vision can overcome internal obstacles. It will be crucial for future products like the Krutrim Model 3 and Bodhi chips to succeed. Stability could be provided by collaborations with international manufacturers and platforms like ONDC. However, improved internal procedures and more capable leadership will be necessary to maintain growth.
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