This week in tech, Reliance-backed Dunzo faces potential leadership changes as its founder considers stepping down amid challenging times. Cred fell victim to a Rs 12 crore fraud involving Axis Bank accounts, raising concerns about financial security. Meanwhile, BlinkIt made headlines with the launch of its innovative 10-minute ambulance service, aiming to revolutionize emergency response.Here are all the top tech news of the week
Kabeer Biswas, the CEO and last remaining cofounder of Reliance Retail-backed Dunzo, is reportedly considering stepping down, according to the Economic Times. Sources cited in the report suggest this move follows a challenging 12-18 months for the quick commerce pioneer. Biswas’s potential exit comes amid increased activity and investor interest in the competitive quick commerce sector. “All options are being considered, including what happens to Biswas’ remaining 3.4% stake in the company,” said a person close to the situation. However, Reliance Retail has not yet approved the proposal and remains in discussions on the matter. Click here to read the complete story.
Bengaluru police have arrested four individuals for allegedly defrauding Dreamplug Paytech Solutions Private Limited, the parent company of the payment platform Cred, of Rs 12 crore. The arrests were made following a complaint by Narasimha Vasanth Sastry, an executive at the company. Among those detained is Vaibhav Pithadiya, a relationship manager at an Axis Bank branch in Rajkot, who is accused of playing a key role in the fraud. The others arrested include Parmar Neha Ben Vipulbhai, a banking agent from Surat; Shailesh, an insurance agent and colleague of Pithadiya from Rajkot; and Shubham, a commission agent, also from Rajkot. Click here to read the complete story.
Blinkit, the quick-commerce platform acquired by Zomato, has introduced a 10-minute ambulance service in Gurugram, aiming to deliver rapid medical assistance. The initiative is part of a broader plan to expand the service to other major cities in the coming years. By utilizing its existing hyperlocal delivery network, Blinkit ensures 24/7 availability of trained medical professionals and well-equipped ambulances. The service is designed to respond to emergencies within a 10-minute window, marking a significant step toward faster and more accessible healthcare support. Click here to read the complete story.
A heated debate over Indian immigrants and H-1B visas is gaining traction in the US. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a key supporter of President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign, has voiced strong backing for H-1B visas. Musk, along with Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, has been appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Highlighting their importance, Musk recently stressed that H-1B visa holders play a vital role in driving innovation at companies like SpaceX and Tesla. However, Perplexity AI founder Aravind Srinivas has a different perspective. In an interview with the Economic Times, Srinivas argued that the focus on H-1B visas is misplaced and not supported by data, suggesting that illegal immigration is a more pressing concern. Srinivas, who previously worked at DeepMind, Google, and OpenAI, leads a company valued at $9 billion. Click here to read the complete story.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the capital markets regulator, has imposed a penalty of Rs 19 lakh on Sai Proficient Research Investment Advisory and its proprietor for multiple regulatory violations, including misleading investors with unrealistic return promises. According to SEBI’s notice, Sai Proficient falsely assured returns as high as 95%, a practice explicitly prohibited under SEBI regulations. These exaggerated claims, aimed at luring unsuspecting investors, were deemed fraudulent and unfair trade practices by the regulator, undermining investor trust in the securities market. The ₹19 lakh penalty underscores SEBI’s commitment to cracking down on deceptive practices and safeguarding market integrity. Click here to read the complete story.
Several VPN applications, including Cloudflare’s popular 1.1.1.1 app, have been removed from app stores under government orders, marking the first significant enforcement of India’s 2022 VPN regulations. The Ministry of Home Affairs instructed Apple and Google to remove over half a dozen VPN apps from their platforms, as per documents reviewed by TechCrunch. The affected services include Hide.me, PrivadoVPN, and Cloudflare’s widely-used app. Click here to read the complete story.
The mother of Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old researcher at OpenAI, has reached out to Elon Musk for assistance following her son’s death. Balaji was discovered dead in his San Francisco apartment earlier this month. In a social media post tagging Musk, she called for an FBI investigation into the matter. While local police stated that “no evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation,” the San Francisco Chief Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a suicide. Balaji was employed at OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT. Click here to read the complete story.
A Louisiana law enacted nearly two years ago has inspired a wave of similar legislation across the Southern US, reshaping access to online adult content. Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina are now among 17 states imposing restrictions on pornographic websites under these laws. Louisiana’s Act 440, introduced by state representative and “sex addiction” counselor Laurie Schegel, served as the blueprint for much of this legislation. While the details vary by state, the central requirement is consistent: online “commercial entities” hosting “material harmful to minors” must implement “reasonable age verification methods” or face fines and lawsuits. Click here to read the complete story.
Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit accusing its Siri virtual assistant of recording private conversations without user consent. The settlement, filed in Oakland federal court, is pending judicial approval. The lawsuit, which spanned five years, alleged that Siri was unintentionally activated by trigger words, leading to the recording of private conversations. These recordings were reportedly shared with third parties, including advertisers, without user permission. Click here to read the complete story.
