New tech on the block: Cloud, crypto, automobile, chatbots, gaming, Fintech, AI & no code

The Tech Panda takes a look at recent tech launches.

AI cloud: First-of-its-kind GPU cloud management software to deliver hyperscaler-grade features to AI cloud providers

Aarna.ml released Version 2.0 of its GPU Cloud Management Software (CMS). This new version is designed to transform how AI Cloud providers—both public and private—optimize and scale their GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS). By enabling multi-tenant sharing of GPU pools, Aarna.ml’s software allows cloud providers to boost internal rates of return (IRR) by over 140% while increasing revenue and enabling users to efficiently deploy and scale their AI workloads with hyperscaler-grade cloud features.

“As inferencing demand grows and aging GPUs become more prevalent, AI cloud providers will need to offer more than just reserved instances,” said Mick McNeil, Group Chief Revenue Officer at Northern Data Group. “The industry needs solutions that allow providers to offer multi-tenant on-demand GPU instances, addressing this pressing market need.”

Features

• The latest release equips AI cloud providers with tools to offer on-demand, fully isolated bare metal, virtual machine (VM), and container instances. This flexibility is crucial for public and private AI cloud providers seeking to maximize their return on investment on GPU infrastructure and extend the lifespan of their investments.
• Administrators can onboard GPUs, create tenants, and access unified inventory and observability tools.
• Tenant capabilities include instance creation, management, and enhanced monitoring features.
• Product includes cloud brokering features that enable AI cloud providers to trade capacity through a marketplace.
• The software is specifically designed to support the NVIDIA Cloud Platform (NCP) and NVIDIA Storage reference architectures.

Crypto: New payment service for instant crypto transactions

Bitget, cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, launched its new payment service for instant crypto transactions called Bitget Pay. The release marks the introduction of a contactless, peer-to-peer crypto payment solution exclusive to the Bitget App. With a growing global interest in digital currencies, as highlighted by Statista data indicating over 250 million blockchain wallets in 2023, Bitget Pay will be utilized as an important tool to facilitate the seamless flow of digital value across borders.

The Why

The launch of Bitget Pay reflects the ongoing trend toward broader adoption of digital currencies, aiming to meet the growing demand for efficient, borderless financial transactions. With its secure platform and zero-fee policy, Bitget Pay will enhance the global crypto payment landscape as it inches closer to onboarding 100M users in its ecosystem.

Features

• The service is accessible to all Bitget users globally, with no geographical restrictions, provided an internet connection is available. By eliminating fees for cryptocurrency transfers, Bitget Pay offers a cost-effective solution for international payments and cross-border trade, further streamlining the user experience.
• For secure transactions, Bitget Pay requires both the sender and recipient to complete KYC verification.
• Users can send payments by inputting the recipient’s Bitget account-bound email, phone number, or Bitget UID.
• QR code scanning is available for instant transfers.
• When making a payment, users can select any supported cryptocurrency from their balance, and the platform will execute the transaction at real-time exchange rates with zero fees.
• By leveraging the efficiency of blockchain protocols, Bitget Pay completes transactions almost instantly, avoiding delays common in traditional systems. Users can send payments globally, with no geographical limits, using a QR code or address for seamless, zero-fee transfers.

Automobile: New category for automobile renting

On the 10th year anniversary of receiving its 1st ever order, Droom, Indian automobile marketplace, added a new category – Droom Rental. Droom Rental is tech and AI driven and offers the widest selection of automobiles from bicycles to planes, covering 25,000+ automobiles across 9+ categories – cars, buses, coaches, helicopters, planes, yachts, ambulances, scooters, bikes, and bicycles. Spanning over 25 cities, Droom Rental offers flexible rental options, from daily rentals (local, intercity, airports) to weddings rental, corporate rental, employee transportation solution, event rentals and self-drive. Within just 1st week of launch, Droom Rentals secured over 1,500 listings from 100+ rental suppliers across 25+ cities, making it one of the top 12 largest rental companies in India.

Sandeep Aggarwal, Founder & CEO of Droom said, “automobile rental has been a long-standing pain-point for me as the sector lacks trust, transparency, standardization, large/diverse fleet or premium fleet option and technology played no role. I have heard similar experiences from my friends and family.  We saw an opportunity that by leveraging Droom.in as our AI and tech driven marketplace platform for automobiles buying & selling and our tech and E-Commerce DNA, we could also disrupt automobile rental market in India. Very soon we will add highly advanced technology stack for corporate rental, employee transportation solution and all other rental types, brining India’s automobile rental market at par with global standards, if not better.”

The Why

At present, the automobile rental market is highly unorganized, with serious trust deficit, lack of transparent pricing and non-standard experience with limited adoption of technology and AI for a $23bn automobile rental market in India.  While the ride-hailing segment has successfully integrated advanced technology and streamlined operations, other rental categories such as daily rental, corporate rental, wedding rental, employee transportation solution and event rental etc remain largely unorganized, inefficient and full of fragmented providers.

Features

• Its fleet include top-quality, well-maintained vehicles, luxury and premium options, and also EVs that help earn carbon credits. With professional, courteous, and verified drivers, consumers get a premium experience for daily rentals, weddings, or special occasions.
• Droom Rentals has over 25,000 automobiles, spread across 9 categories in 25+ cities.
• Customers can choose diverse fleet options, like Value, Mid, Premium & Luxury Cars, Bikes, Scooters, Bus/ Coaches. For the discerning users, there is also option to select luxury cars, super cars, vintage vehicles, limousines, helicopters and aircraft.
• For eco-conscious consumers, EV option is also made available, while Droom Rentals, furthermore, gives offers complete transparency, no hidden fees and legitimate invoicing.

Chatbots: SmartBots to address the construction industry’s growing demand for intuitive and role-specific guidance

AJAX Engineering, an Indian concreting equipment manufacturer, unveiled SmartBots powered by Concrete AI, an upgraded version of its AI-driven platform launched earlier in July 2024. Building on the capabilities of the earlier version, ConcreteAI introduces Smart Audio and Video Bots to address the industry’s growing demand for intuitive and role-specific guidance. The addition of the bots takes user interaction to the next level by offering highly contextual, real-time assistance tailored to the unique challenges of the construction industry.

Shubhabrata Saha, Managing Director and CEO of AJAX Engineering, said, “The construction industry is evolving, and it is imperative to provide tools that simplify decision-making and improve productivity. The SmartBots powered by Concrete AI, offers a more intuitive way for professionals to access vital technical insights, streamline workflows, and enhance project outcomes. This platform reflects AJAX’s vision of empowering the industry with cutting-edge, AI-enabled solutions while fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.”

Features

• For professionals operating within the construction industry, the Smart Audio Bot enables instant voice-driven access to troubleshooting guides, maintenance protocols, and compliance requirements, cutting downtime on project sites.
• The Smart Video Bot introduces dynamic, role-specific visual guidance, with avatars designed to walk users through intricate processes such as equipment calibration, workflow optimization, or advanced technical training.
• By delivering step-by-step instructions in an intuitive, multimedia format, it helps bridge knowledge gaps and reduces dependency on external expertise.
• These bots address a critical need for inclusivity in a multilingual workforce, currently supporting interactions in English and Hindi. This ensures that diverse user groups—from site operators to decision-makers—can navigate complex operations effortlessly, making the SmartBots powered by Concrete AI a more accessible, efficient, and productivity-driven solution.
• Building upon the foundation of Concrete GPT by retaining key features like its integration with OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Perplexity Models, the platform’s vast repository of research materials and technical resources has been updated with the latest industry trends and regulatory guidelines.

Gaming: New update for Indus Battle Royale

SuperGaming is back with a new update for Indus Battle Royale, introducing Patch v1.4.0. This update elevates the gameplay experience with enhanced visuals, and a fresh take on strategy with Toofan 2.0. Dive into the details below to see how this update takes the Indo-futuristic battlefield of Virlok to new heights.

Features

• Toofan 2.0: A Game-Changer on Wheels: The iconic Toofan vehicle has evolved into a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield of Virlok. No longer limited to just transport, Toofan 2.0 now offers:
• Combat on the Move: Passengers can now heal, toss grenades, or deploy smoke bombs while on the move, transforming vehicles into strategic powerhouses for ambushes and tactical retreats. 
• Vehicle Health & Explosions: Toofan 2.0 now comes with health indicators and the potential for explosion, introducing a risk-reward mechanic. Aggressive maneuvers could backfire, leaving squads vulnerable if the vehicle is destroyed.
• Players can now equip emotes and expressions to their favorite characters on the home screen to showcase their unique style before heading into battle.

 Under-the-Hood Improvements:

• Enhanced Map Lighting: The updated visuals make the environment more immersive and stunning.
• Upgraded Spatial Audio: Pinpoint enemy movements with greater clarity, precision and crystal-clear sound.
• Faster Loading Times: Jump into matches quicker than ever—fixing one of the most common player pain points.
• Sensitivity Adjustments: Touch and gyro sensitivity settings have been fine-tuned for precision.
• Improved Network Stability: Bug fixes and optimizations ensure a seamless experience.

Gaming: Reign of Titans launches in India

Reign of Titans has officially arrived in the Google Play Store and IOS’s App Store. The strategy card-based online PvP battle game, is removing barriers for upcoming esports stars with a free-to-play model, low technical requirements, and global competitions.

“Reign of Titans is here to make an impact in India,” said Adi Abili, Head of Reign of Titans. “We’ve spent considerable time and effort to deliver the best version of our game, one that’s fun for everyone and offers a new opportunity for players looking to make a name for themselves in esports.”

Features

• The Reign of Titans game transports players to the World of Ereo – a mystical and fascinating place bound together by the forces of Chaos and Order. Players, or “Kyoks” as they’re referred to in the game, begin by choosing a Titan from one of eight unique elements, building their deck of scrolls, and then heading into the Arena.
• In these real-time 1v1 matches, players need to effectively manage their Titan’s energy, or “Mana” and HP while inflicting damage through the strategic selection of scrolls. Victory can be achieved in two ways – depleting the opponent’s HP completely or making them run out of scrolls.

Fintech: Quant-based Portfolio Management Services (PMS) to deliver consistent Alpha to investors

SEBI registered wealth- tech platform, Elever launched its new Portfolio Management Services (PMS) to deliver consistent, long-term returns to investors. Elever uses a combination of data and technology to suggest systematic investments to its clients. Its quant-based investment approach is designed to help investors achieve significant alpha on invested amounts.

“Generating alpha consistently in today’s market is a significant challenge,” said Karan Aggarwal, Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer at Elever PMS. “Our investment philosophy is built on three core pillars: rule-based investing, factor alpha, and tactical allocation. By eliminating human bias through our 100% rule-based approach and combining proprietary factor models with tactical risk rotation, we aim to navigate market cycles effectively and deliver superior risk-adjusted returns.” he said.

The Why

The launch of the PMS addresses a critical market gap, as traditional active money management strategies have increasingly struggled to outperform benchmarks. According to Elever’s analysis, over the past 18 years, most large-cap active funds underperformed their benchmarks in 13 years, while mid-cap funds faced similar challenges since the mid-2010s. This underperformance has fueled demand for advanced, data-driven investment solutions like Elever’s PMS, which delivers superior, consistent returns for investors.

This has created a strong demand for advanced, data-driven investment solutions like PMS that can deliver higher and more consistent returns for investors. To meet this growing demand, Elever’s PMS employs a sophisticated multi-factor model that analyzes over 500 factors across 17 years. The platform’s proprietary tactical risk-rotation models utilize machine learning algorithms to predict market signals with up to 90% accuracy for the next 6-12 months, allowing for dynamic portfolio adjustments in response to changing market conditions.

The launch aligns with significant growth in India’s wealth management sector. According to a recent Deloitte report, the unmet demand for wealth management services in FY24 was estimated at US$0.4 trillion, with target customer segment wealth expected to rise from US$1.1 trillion in FY24 to US$2.3 trillion by FY29. PMS AUM in India has nearly tripled growing from US$149 billion in FY17 to US$405 billion in FY24. Higher awareness about PMS as an investment vehicle and stock market returns post-COVID are the key drivers of this growth. 

Features

As part of its PMS offerings, Elever launched 4 unique schemes, each tailored to meet diverse investment needs and risk profiles: the flagship FactorAlpha PMS for all-weather performance, FactorAlpha SmallCap PMS for capturing small-size potential, FactorShields PMS for risk-conscious investors seeking stability, and FactorIncome PMS for those seeking steady income & inflation-beating returns. This comprehensive suite reflects a deep understanding of diverse investor needs in today’s complex market environment.

AI: AI-powered assistant for SecOps & NetOps teams

In today’s increasingly complex digital landscape, organizations in India and around the world are facing growing challenges in securing their networks and applications. To address these challenges, F5 has announced the launch of a new AI-powered assistant that offers unparalleled visibility and control over security for SecOps and NetOps teams.

The AI assistant, integrated within F5 Distributed Cloud Services, is designed to help teams monitor network activity, understand attack patterns and implement recommended actions. Trained on event data from F5’s extensive global network, it simplifies the oversight and security of applications, while managing complex tasks efficiently to ensure a robust security posture.

“The AI assistant is designed to address the unique challenges faced by Indian SecOps and NetOps teams as they navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape. With the rapid adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud environments across India, there is an urgent need for tools that can provide comprehensive visibility and actionable insights. Our AI assistant serves as an intelligent partner, leveraging vast datasets to help teams swiftly identify threats, mitigate risks, and safeguard critical applications and APIs. By reducing response times from days to minutes, it ensures the protection of vital assets while minimizing potential damage. With AI embedded into everyday workflows, we are helping Indian organizations stay ahead of evolving threats and focus on their strategic priorities,” said Pratik Shah, Managing Director, India and SAARC at F5.

The Why

This innovation comes at a time when Indian enterprises continue to adapt to managing apps and APIs over increasingly complex and distributed networks. According to F5’s 2024 State of Application Strategy report, 88% of organizations now employ a hybrid model, with over a third (38%) operating across six deployment models, up from a fifth in 2023.

Features

• Customizable Queries for Insightful Reporting: Teams can interrogate site health and posture across multi-cloud deployment using tailored prompts.
• Instant Summaries for Threat Analysis: Advanced and instant summaries of security events on demand, ranked by attack style and risk.
• Accelerated Response to Zero-Day Threat: Guides users in identifying and analysing malicious traffic patterns for faster response.
• Actionable Recommendations for Mitigation: Empowers users to swiftly identify threats as they emerge and implement measures like exclusion rules or blocking malicious addresses.
• Automation for Enhanced Efficiency: Handles ongoing security and networking tasks to free up teams for strategic initiatives.

Cloud: Data Flow for Faster Data-to-Decisions in Cloud Analytics

Qlik® launched its Data Flow capabilities within Qlik Cloud Analytics™. Designed to address the time-intensive challenges of preparing datasets for analytics and AI, this new feature allows users to visually combine, clean, and shape data through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. By reducing the reliance on technical scripting skills, these no-code data prep capabilities enable a broader range of users—both technical and non-technical—to create high-quality, AI-ready datasets quickly and efficiently.

“Efficient data preparation has always been a critical, yet time-consuming, part of our analytics process,” said Jon Carpenter, Systems and Programming Manager at Pima County. “We’re excited to see how Data Flow can help us accelerate insights and make more informed decisions.”

Features

• Data Flow provides a flexible, visual approach to preparing datasets for analytics and AI applications, addressing common barriers like time-intensive processes and technical skill gaps. Key features include:
• Drag-and-Drop Simplicity: Users can combine, clean, and shape multiple datasets through an intuitive visual interface, eliminating the need for scripting.
• Transparency and Trust: Every action automatically generates Qlik script, giving users visibility into their data preparation processes and building confidence in the results.
• Flexible Workflows: Supports no-code, low-code, and pro-code approaches, allowing users to adapt workflows based on their technical expertise and project requirements.
• End-to-End Integration: Fully integrated with Qlik Cloud Analytics, enabling seamless transitions from data preparation to AI and visualizations.
• By reducing the time spent on data preparation, Data Flow allows users to focus more on generating actionable insights and driving data-driven decisions.

No-code: The year’s best App Builder Snappy 3.0

Appy Pie, a company in no-code app development, launched Snappy 3.0, delivering a more efficient, feature-rich, and user-friendly platform for creating apps without any coding expertise.

Features

• Snappy 3.0 expands its design capabilities with an updated toolkit and a broader selection of templates. Users can apply custom color schemes, layouts, and branding elements to give each app a polished, personalized look. The interface remains intuitive, ensuring both first-time and experienced users can make design changes with ease.
• Delivers faster load times and smoother navigation within the app builder. Whether you’re assembling complex features or fine-tuning your interface, users can expect minimal delays and consistent reliability. This performance boost helps speed up development cycles and enhances the end-user experience.
• In response to user feedback, Appy Pie has revised its pricing to remain straightforward and accessible. Each tier now includes a balanced set of core features, allowing small businesses, nonprofits, and larger enterprises to select a plan that fits their goals without compromising on essential tools.
• Snappy 3.0 brings new features that cater to various industries and use cases, including IoT integration, backend support, and workflow automation.