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20. Jan.

29. JAN.

Is banning social media for children a cure or a cop-out?

This week, Goa said it is actively considering a ban on social media for children under 16, inspired by Australia’s new law. Andhra Pradesh has also set up a panel to examine whether similar restrictions could work there. The push reflects rising anxiety around teen mental health, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful online content. Supporters argue platforms are unsafe by design and impossible to regulate through guardrails alone. Critics question whether bans can keep up with technology or address deeper social issues. In this episode, hosts Snigdha Sharma and Rachel Varghese step back from the rhetoric to ask what a ban would actually mean for children, parents, and platforms. Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

29. Jan.

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32 Min.
VOR 4 TAGEN

India’s AI still doesn’t speak India. Can it?

ChatGPT butchers Punjabi with spelling errors and Bollywood-style Hindi bleeding through. Hindi bots trained on newspapers miss dialects like Awadhi and Bhojpuri entirely, while Tamil AI ignores the rich variations between Kongu and Madurai speech. Sure, Gurugram collected ₹200 crore in taxes using Hindi AI calls, but that's because Hindi dominates datasets. Most other languages remain stuck in translation hell. Private companies optimize for speed over nuance, government corpora like Bhashini sit underused, and multimodal data that captures tone and emotion is too expensive to build. The result? AI is flattening India's 780 languages into sanitized, standardized versions that erase the very dialects it claims to serve. Read the newsletter here. Find the Duolingo article here. Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

vor 4 Tagen

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13 Min.
VOR 2 TAGEN

Will Sarvam be to AI what PhonePe became for UPI? No.

Pick any conversation on AI in India, one project keeps coming up again and again: UPI. Every major stakeholder — across government and industry — seems to be interested in replicating the success story of the payments interface. Praveen Gopal Krishnan argues that Sarvam AI — the startup that is a VC darling and government favourite at once — is at the heart of this narrative. Here is the problem. The UPI moment came to India in very specific circumstances. We did catch “lightning in a bottle” as Rohin Dharmakumar puts it. But it is unlikely to happen again. The AI supply chain is fundamentally different. There are many moving parts and a range of use cases to be solved for. A state-led centralised approach — with a main character around which everything pivots — is not the answer. What are the alternatives? Competing AI companies. The government enabling innovation in a diffused manner. Research incentives. Encouraging competition so that Indian AI companies are at par with the best in the world. There is precedent to this. Brady Ng, our resident China expert and tech nerd, gives us a history lesson. And if you have been wondering where the foundational model is, Sarvam AI is expected to unveil one soon. We will cover that ground when that happens. Until then, tune in for a round up of India’s AI strategy and its main company. ------Zeus, the mascot of Zero Shot, was generated using AI. Everything else is made by humans, just like all articles, columns, newsletters, and other podcasts created by The Ken. This episode was produced by Vidhatri Rao and edited by Rajiv CN. Share your comments, critiques and suggestions with us at zeroshot@the-ken.com. Or write in just to say hi. We would love to hear from you! ------ Additional Resources: Sarvam AI’s Rs 10,000 crore pivot India’s ‘UPI Moment’ in AI has Arrived For AI, India can build on the Aadhaar-UPI model Voice AI is India's next UPI moment: Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani The Economic Survey PhonePe dominates payments but loses money. Now what? AI is not UPI: Why going by the UPI model risks stalling progress on artificial intelligence

vor 2 Tagen

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51 Min.
28. JAN.

The "mother of all trade deals" promises cheaper imports. Prices are another story

This week, India and the European Union signed a sweeping trade deal that cuts or removes tariffs on over 90% of goods traded between them. The headlines quickly focused on what might get cheaper, from wine and cheese to cars and chocolates. But trade deals do not change prices overnight. Tariff cuts roll out over time and work their way through importers, distributors, taxes, and markets before they ever reach consumers. In this episode, we look at what past trade deals show about everything between a trade deal being signed and actual prices changing for a consumer. Tune in. Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

28. Jan.

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11 Min.
VOR 2 TAGEN

AI probably can't do your job yet. But it might get you fired anyway

Amazon fired 16,000 workers last month. Oracle is set to cut up to 30,000 more. Tech layoffs have increasingly been attributed to AI. But Oxford Economics found something strange: there's no macroeconomic data showing AI is actually replacing jobs or boosting productivity. In fact, output per worker is slowing, not accelerating. So what's really happening? Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

vor 2 Tagen

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15 Min.
VOR 1 TAG

Why the ‘mother of all trade deals’ wasn’t enough against Trump's tariffs

Two days ago, the United States said it would cut tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, down from levels that had gone as high as 50%. Markets reacted fast. Stocks rose. The rupee strengthened. The first feeling was relief. It sounded like the trade fight with Washington and Donald Trump was easing. Then more details emerged. U.S. officials said India would commit to buying over $500 billion worth of American goods. They also said U.S. tariffs would stay at 18%, while India would allow zero tariffs on some American products. That relief started to feel more layered. Just days earlier, India had signed the “mother of all trade deals” with Europe. So why did India still move on this U.S. deal, now and on these terms? Host Snigdha Sharma dives in. Listen to our previous episode on the India-EU trade deal here: The 'mother of all trade deals' promises cheaper imports. Prices are another storyIf you have any thoughts on this episode write to us at podcasts@the-ken.com with Daybreak in the subject line. You can also leave us a comment on our YouTube channel here. Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

vor 1 Tag

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13 Min.
22. JAN. • NUR THE KEN PREMIUM

With Noice, Swiggy picks the 3rd path in quick commerce

Swiggy has launched Noice, a private label brand that's popping up across categories on Instamart. But is this a genuine brand-building play or just another experiment destined for Swiggy's product graveyard? In this episode, co-hosts Praveen Gopal Krishnan and Rohin Dharmakumar are joined by Sandeep Nair ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeepnairtvpm/ ), co-founder of brand strategy consultancy David & Who and former Swiggy marketing director, and Mrunmayi Oke ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrunmayi-oke/?originalSubdomain=in ), SVP of Strategy at Zilo and former head of business at Dunzo. Together, they debate whether Noice is Swiggy's answer to Kirkland or closer to Amazon Solimo with ‘truck-style’ packaging. The conversation explores short-term performance metrics and long-term brand building, why most private labels fail, what makes retailers like Costco and Aldi succeed, and whether Swiggy has the organisational discipline to stick with this strategy. They also discuss the economics of private labels and what it takes to build a brand that consumers actually trust. ____ This episode of Two by Two was produced by Uddantika Kashyap and mixed and mastered by Rajiv CN, our resident sound engineer.If you liked this episode, please share it with your friends and colleagues. And if you have thoughts on the discussion, write to us at twobytwo@the-ken.com ( twobytwo@the-ken.com ). ____ Additional reading: 1. Swiggy used to be a playground for innovation. Now, it’s a graveyard ( https://the-ken.com/story/swiggy-used-to-be-a-playground-for-innovation-now-its-a-graveyard/?searchTerm=swiggy%20product%20graveyard&utm_source=search&utm_medium=page ) by Gaurav Bagur 2. Pepsi’s biggest bottler is pouring more cola to fight Reliance’s Campa ( https://the-ken.com/story/pepsis-biggest-bottler-is-pouring-more-cola-to-fight-reliances-campa/?searchTerm=campa&utm_source=search&utm_medium=page ) by Aakriti Bhalla 3. Two by Two episode 5- Swiggy needs to reclaim its past glory ( https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/swiggy-needs-to-reclaim-its-past-glory/ ) 4. Two by Two episode 26- Zomato, Swiggy, and the rise of the 10-minute "dark" cafe ( https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/zomato-swiggy-and-the-rise-of-the-10-minute-dark-cafe/ ) 5. Two by Two episode 45- Are we seeing the unbundling of quick commerce? ( https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/are-we-seeing-the-unbundling-of-quick-commerce/ ) 6. Two by Two episode 72- Can Urban Company avoid BigBasket’s fate? ( https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/can-urban-company-avoid-bigbaskets-fate/ )

22. Jan.

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1 Std. 21 Min.
29. JAN. • NUR THE KEN PREMIUM

PhonePe dominates payments but loses money. Now what?

PhonePe leads nearly half of India's UPI transactions, but as it gears up for a $1.3 billion IPO, a tough question looms: can a company built to defend its lead ever learn to make real profit? In this episode, Rohin Dharmakumar argues that PhonePe's dominance might actually be a strategic trap. With zero-margin transactions and shifting regulations, the next ten years cannot look like the last. To win, PhonePe must decide whether it's willing to risk its crown to become a bold market creator. Will it evolve into an aggressive disruptor like Zomato, or remain a safe, boring utility like PayPal? Joining co-hosts Rohin Dharmakumar and Praveen Gopal Krishnan is Arundhati Ramanathan, Deputy Editor at The Ken and resident fintech expert. Arundhati recently published a story on January 26 titled 'Should PhonePe be worth more than Paytm's $7.9B?' which dives deep into the company's valuation puzzle. We also introduce a new voice to the 2x2 team: Rahel Philipose joins as our third co-host to help unravel the cultural and strategic shifts required for PhonePe's survival. This episode of Two by Two was produced by Uddantika Kashyap mixed and mastered by Rajiv CN, our resident sound engineer.If you liked this episode, please share it with your friends and colleagues. And if you have thoughts on the discussion, write to us at twobytwo@the-ken.com ( twobytwo@the-ken.com ). ---------- Additional resources: - Platform ambitions: The story of how Ispirit lost its true north ( https://the-ken.com/story/platform-ambitions-story-ispirt-lost-true-north/ ) by Rohin Dharmakumar - The unlikely story of BHIM, the upsetter of plans ( https://the-ken.com/story/unlikely-story-of-bhim/ ) by Arundhati Ramanathan - Naryana Health's Viren Shetty on learning 'how much insurance is about selling and how little about health' ( https://the-ken.com/story/narayana-healths-viren-shetty-on-learning-how-much-insurance-is-about-selling-and-how-little-about-health/ ) by Seema Singh - Two by Two episode 1: Will Flipkart become Phonepe before Phonepe becomes flipkart? ( https://the-ken.com/podcasts/two-by-two/will-flipkart-become-phonepe-before-phonepe-becomes-flipkart/ )

29. Jan.

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1 Std. 7 Min.
28. JAN.

Google has the driver’s seat in the AI race. Who will trip it?

“Imagine the AI race is a giant F1 race where the biggest AI companies are driving in their souped-up racing vehicles around the track again and again…” Rohin Dharmakumar sets the scene. Who’s winning this? Google, he argues. OpenAI and Anthropic are on the cusp of their IPOs and are doing whatever they can to generate revenue. Microsoft is trying to integrate Copilot into everything and is primarily in the enterprise game. Meta’s AI efforts are stuck in a loop of ads and more ads. That leaves Google — “the 800-pound gorilla”. Google’s LLM Gemini now has 650 million users. Gmail — where Gemini is integrated — has a 25 to 40% market share globally, depending on who you ask. What about Android? 70% market share. YouTube? 97%. And search stands at 90% — basically the entire market. The company’s shares are moving up and up. Then, there is the latest news that affirms Google’s lead: Apple will now use Gemini models to roll out its much awaited Siri updates. It clearly has a handle on everything in the AI supply chain — from research to application to distribution. Pretty solid, right? Brady Ng has a different take — and Praveen Gopal Krishnan is in agreement. But only partly. Tune in! ---------- Zeus, the mascot of Zero Shot, was generated using AI. Everything else is made by humans, just like all articles, columns, newsletters, and other podcasts created by The Ken. This episode was produced by Vidhatri Rao and edited by Rajiv CN. Share your comments, critiques and suggestions with us at zeroshot@the-ken.com. Or write in just to say hi. We would love to hear from you! ---------- Additional Reading: The Seven Basic Plots Inside Apple’s AI Shake-Up and Its Plans for Two New Versions of SiriThe TPU battle Anthropic rolls out Claude AI for finance, integrates with Excel to rival Microsoft CopilotOpenAI Seeks Premium Prices in Early Ads Push

28. Jan.

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50 Min.
12. JAN.

Part 1: Darwinbox’s Rohit Chennamaneni on leading without a CEO, the ‘show don’t tell’ product mindset, and why resilience beats intelligence

In part 1 of the 50th episode of First Principles, Rohit Chennamaneni, co-founder of Darwinbox, joins the show to talk about what changes after the early chaos of a startup fades. He explains how Darwinbox has operated without a CEO for years, how the 3 founders divide ownership of decisions instead of debating everything together, and why this structure helped them move faster as the company grew. Rohit also gets specific about product building. He talks about designing HR software that does not need training sessions or long explanations, why adoption matters more than feature depth, and how small product decisions can end up shaping behaviour across entire organisations. The conversation also turns inward. Rohit reflects on moments where intelligence stopped being the advantage he thought it was, why staying with uncomfortable problems mattered more, and how his understanding of leadership changed as Darwinbox scaled. This episode looks at company building through real decisions, and what it takes to keep going long after the excitement wears off. ******** This episode was produced by Uddantika Kashyap and mixed and mastered by Rajiv CN. Write to us at fp@the-ken.com with your feedback, suggestions, and guests you would want to see on First Principles. If you enjoyed this episode, please help us spread the word by sharing and gifting it to your friends and family.

12. Jan.

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50 Min.

Join Brady Ng, Praveen Gopal Krishnan, and Rohin Dharmakumar of The Ken as they discuss the big ideas in artificial intelligence. You’ll get the macro view, explore their experiments in practical applications, go deeper than the news coverage you’ve seen, and hear about the implications of the latest developments. Nothing is off the table.

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TECHNOLOGIE
The Two by Two podcast is a premium business podcast from The Ken that investigates, discusses and breaks down the most important business stories around you. Hosted from The Ken's newsroom by business journalists Rohin Dharmakumar and Praveen Gopal Krishnan, Two by Two will feature guests and experts from across the industry and academia to talk about issues no one else is talking about.

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WIRTSCHAFT
First Principles is a weekly interview podcast comprising authentic, candid, and insightful conversations between some of India’s most accomplished founders and business leaders, and Rohin Dharmakumar, The Ken’s CEO & co-founder. From personal philosophies, mental models and decision making frameworks, to reading habits, parenting styles or personal interests, each episode will delve into what makes each of these leaders unique.

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FIRMENGRÜNDUNG
The audio edition of The Ken’s Make India Competitive Again newsletter, spearheaded by Seetharaman G. Every Wednesday, our editors and reporters read the latest edition and chronicle what India is doing, will do, and should do—to not just survive but thrive in the chaos unleashed by Donald Trump.

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WIRTSCHAFTSNACHRICHTEN
You’ll spend 90,000 hours at work in your lifetime. How do you make that time count? 90,000 Hours is a weekly podcast from the newsroom of The Ken that helps you navigate today’s changing world of work, where the traditional 40-year career is gone, entry-level jobs are being replaced by artificial intelligence, and staying relevant means constantly reinventing yourself. Hosted by Rahel Philipose and Vidhatri Rao, the show features conversations with the people creating, breaking, and rewriting the way we work.

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KARRIERE