In a landmark moment for India’s burgeoning artificial intelligence landscape, Krutrim, the AI division of Ola Group, officially launched its agentic AI assistant, Kruti. Billed as India’s first proactive and adaptive AI assistant, Kruti promises to transcend the limitations of traditional chatbots by anticipating user needs, making autonomous decisions, and executing tasks in a highly personalized, multilingual framework. The launch, spearheaded by Ola’s visionary founder Bhavish Aggarwal, positions Krutrim as a frontrunner in India’s race to carve a niche in the global AI ecosystem.
Unlike conventional AI chatbots that rely on explicit user commands, Kruti operates as an agentic AI, a sophisticated system capable of proactive decision-making within predefined boundaries. This allows Kruti to not only respond to queries but also anticipate needs, adapt to user preferences, and perform tasks autonomously. For instance, Kruti can suggest meal options, order food, or even book a cab through integrated apps, all while communicating in the user’s preferred language.
“Kruti listens, adapts, and acts proactively, purposefully, and in your language,” Krutrim announced in a post on X, encapsulating the assistant’s core philosophy. “This is a leap beyond chatbots.” The company’s emphasis on linguistic diversity is particularly significant in India, a nation with 22 official languages and hundreds of dialects. Kruti’s ability to engage fluently in multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali, sets it apart from global competitors like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, which often prioritize English.
The Vision Behind Kruti
The launch of Kruti is a pivotal moment for Krutrim, which was founded by Bhavish Aggarwal in 2023 with the mission to democratize AI for India. Aggarwal, already a household name for transforming urban mobility through Ola, has positioned Krutrim as a catalyst for India’s technological self-reliance. “We’re not just building an AI assistant; we’re reimagining how technology can serve India’s unique needs,” Aggarwal said at the launch event in New Delhi. “Kruti is designed to be as intuitive as a friend and as efficient as a personal assistant, tailored for the Indian context.”
Kruti’s development reflects Krutrim’s broader ambition to compete with global AI giants while addressing local challenges. The assistant is built on Krutrim’s proprietary large language models (LLMs), which have been fine-tuned to understand India’s cultural nuances and user behavior. This localization is a key differentiator, as global AI models often struggle with India-specific queries, such as regional recipes, local slang, or navigating the country’s complex bureaucratic systems.
Features and Capabilities
Kruti’s feature set is designed to cater to both individual and enterprise users. The assistant operates in three modes, drawing parallels with advanced global models like ChatGPT:
- Instant Mode: For quick, straightforward responses to queries like weather updates or news summaries.
- Insightful Mode: For reasoning-based tasks, such as comparing products or explaining complex concepts.
- In-Depth Mode: For comprehensive research, ideal for academic or professional use cases.
What truly sets Kruti apart, however, is its agentic functionality. A promotional video released by Krutrim showcased Kruti booking a cab ride through Ola’s app, suggesting a seamless integration with the Ola ecosystem. Another teaser demonstrated Kruti’s ability to recommend recipes, source ingredients, and even place an order for groceries—all in a single conversation thread. “Ask Kruti what to eat, where to order, or how to cook it. Your own food agent is just a prompt away,” Krutrim teased on X.
Kruti’s multilingual capabilities are also a game-changer. During the launch, Aggarwal demonstrated Kruti responding fluently in Hindi, Tamil, and English, with plans to expand to more languages by the end of 2025. This focus on inclusivity aligns with India’s digital transformation goals, ensuring that AI is accessible to non-English-speaking populations.
While Kruti’s launch has generated significant excitement, it comes at a critical juncture for Krutrim. Earlier reports suggested that the company’s initial offerings, including its LLMs and cloud services, struggled to gain traction due to perceived technical immaturity compared to global hyperscalers like OpenAI and Google. Industry experts noted that Krutrim’s previous chatbot iterations faced challenges in matching the performance of established players.
However, Kruti appears to be a strategic pivot. By focusing on agentic AI, Krutrim is tapping into a nascent but rapidly growing segment of the AI market. Agentic systems, which combine reasoning, planning, and execution, are seen as the next frontier in AI, with applications ranging from personal assistance to enterprise automation. Krutrim’s decision to prioritize this technology could help it leapfrog competitors and establish a unique value proposition.
The launch also underscores Krutrim’s resilience. Despite early setbacks, the company has continued to innovate, recently becoming one of the first to host Meta’s Llama 4 models on its India-based cloud infrastructure. This move highlights Krutrim’s commitment to building a robust AI ecosystem within India, reducing reliance on foreign tech giants.
Industry and Public Reaction
The announcement of Kruti has sparked widespread enthusiasm on social media, particularly on X, where users have hailed it as a milestone for Indian AI. “Congrats on launching Kruti, @Krutrim! Excited to see India’s first agentic AI assistant in action—proactive and adaptive features sound like a game-changer for automation,” posted @BhavikLimani, reflecting the sentiment of tech enthusiasts. Another user, @AlokPandey6532, called it a “big day for us,” emphasizing Kruti’s role in positioning India as a rising player in AI innovation.
Industry analysts are cautiously optimistic. “Kruti’s agentic capabilities and multilingual focus are impressive, but the real test will be its performance in real-world scenarios,” said Priya Sharma, a Bengaluru-based AI consultant. “If Krutrim can deliver on its promises, Kruti could become a cornerstone of India’s digital economy.” Others have noted that Kruti’s success will depend on its ability to integrate with third-party apps and maintain data privacy, a growing concern in India’s tech landscape.
The Road Ahead
Krutrim has ambitious plans for Kruti. The company aims to roll out regular updates, incorporating user feedback to enhance functionality. Integration with more Ola services, such as Ola Electric and Ola Maps, is on the horizon, potentially creating a unified AI-driven ecosystem. Krutrim also plans to target enterprise clients, offering Kruti as a customizable solution for industries like e-commerce, healthcare, and education.
The launch of Kruti aligns with India’s broader AI aspirations. With the government pushing for AI adoption through initiatives like the India AI Mission, Krutrim’s efforts could play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s tech future. “Kruti is not just a product; it’s a statement of India’s potential,” Aggarwal said, urging developers and startups to build on Krutrim’s platform.
As Kruti makes its debut, it carries the weight of expectations—not just as a product but as a symbol of India’s AI ambitions. By combining agentic AI with a deep understanding of India’s linguistic and cultural diversity, Krutrim has set a high bar. Whether Kruti can deliver on its promise remains to be seen, but its launch marks a bold step forward for Indian innovation. As Aggarwal aptly put it, “Kruti is India’s first step toward redefining what AI can do for the world.”
With updates promised in the coming weeks, all eyes are on Krutrim to see if Kruti can live up to the hype and cement India’s place on the global AI stage.
Copyrights: Dhaka.ai
