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Google Pledges To Not Use Artificial Intelligence For Weapons

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Google Pledges,Artificial Intelligence For Weapons,Startup Stories,Startup News India,Good Startups in India,AI Weapons,AI Tech in Weapons,Google CEO Sundar Pichai,Project Maven,Google AI

Google vows not to use artificial intelligence software to be used in unreasonable surveillance efforts or in weapons. Post several reports of Google’s involvement in privacy infringement and safety issues, CEO Sundar Pichai released a set of guidelines to be followed by the search giant.

In them, Pichai promised Google would not work on weapons that “cause or directly facilitate injury,” though it reserves the right to work with the military on other A.I. initiatives. “While we are not developing A.I. for use in weapons, we will continue our work with governments and the military in many other areas,” Pichai wrote in a blog about the matter.

“These collaborations are important and we’ll actively look for more ways to augment the critical work of these organizations and keep service members and civilians safe.” He added that Google would not pursue A.I. “whose purpose contravenes widely accepted principles of international law and human rights,” and “will seek to avoid unjust impacts on people, particularly those related to sensitive characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, income, sexual orientation, ability, and political, or religious belief,” wrote Pichai.

The revolt against Google’s policy comes post the company’s involvement in a project called Project Maven – a Defense Department initiative wherein Google’s A.I. was used to help improve the accuracy of drone strikes. More than 4,000 employees signed a petition urging the company to sever the partnership, which Google this week said it would not renew.

“Over the last couple of months, I’ve been less and less impressed with the response and the way people’s concerns are being treated and listened to,” said one employee, who quit in protest. “Actions speak louder than words, and that’s a standard I hold myself to as well,” a disgruntled former employee said in a statement.  “I wasn’t happy just voicing my concerns internally. The strongest possible statement I could take against this was to leave.”

The new guidelines received mixed responses from both current and former employees. From cybersecurity, training, military recruitment, veterans’ health care to search and rescue, Pichai’s new principles help in making sure no further infringements take place.

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Zepto Delays IPO to Focus on Profitability and Indian Ownership

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Zepto - StartupStories

Overview

Zepto, a leading quick commerce startup, has postponed its planned IPO to early 2026, shifting its focus to achieving profitability and increasing Indian shareholding before going public.

Key Reasons for Delay

  • Profitability Focus: Zepto aims to reach EBITDA break-even before listing, unlike many tech firms that went public while still loss-making.
  • Market Uncertainty: Ongoing global and domestic market volatility influenced the decision to wait for more stable conditions.
  • Peer Comparison: The company wants to present a stronger profit profile, learning from the performance of rivals like Swiggy and Zomato (now Eternal).

Boosting Domestic Shareholding

  • Target: Zepto plans to raise Indian ownership to at least 51% to comply with FDI norms and reinforce its Indian identity.
  • Actions: The company is conducting secondary share sales to Indian investors and founders are increasing their stakes by buying from foreign investors.
  • Progress: Domestic ownership has reached about 40-44%, with expectations to surpass 51% before the IPO.

Financial and Operational Updates

  • Efficiency Drive: Zepto is optimizing operations, running over 900 dark stores and offering 48,000 SKUs, to reduce cash burn and move toward profitability.
  • Challenges: The company faces stiff competition from Swiggy Instamart and Blinkit, leading to higher costs, and has dealt with operational pauses and regulatory scrutiny in some regions.

Outlook

Zepto remains positive about its future, aiming to raise around $800 million in its IPO and attract both domestic and international investors. CEO Aadit Palicha emphasizes building a sustainable, majority Indian-owned business before entering the public market.

Summary: Zepto’s IPO delay reflects a strategic focus on financial stability and regulatory compliance, with profitability and Indian ownership at the forefront.

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Polygon Enters New Era: Leadership Shift and Major Upgrades Under Sandeep Nailwal

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Polygon StartupStories

Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon, has been appointed as the first CEO of the Polygon Foundation, marking a shift from decentralized governance to focused leadership. This change aims to provide clear direction and accelerate Polygon’s growth in the competitive blockchain space.

Under Nailwal’s leadership, Polygon will discontinue its zkEVM network in 2026 to concentrate on the Polygon PoS chain and AggLayer, a new cross-chain liquidity protocol. Significant upgrades to the Polygon PoS chain are planned, starting with the Bhilai upgrade in July 2025, to enhance transaction capacity and support large-scale financial applications.

Polygon enters this new phase with a strong financial position, enabling long-term development without fundraising pressures. While Nailwal leads the Foundation, Marc Boiron continues as CEO of Polygon Labs. This leadership restructuring aims to drive innovation and reinforce Polygon’s position in Ethereum scaling and the Web3 ecosystem.

 

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Wow! Momo Raises ₹85 Crore from Stride Ventures to Accelerate Nationwide Expansion

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WoW Momo StartupStories

Wow! Momo, the Kolkata-based quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain, has secured ₹85 crore (approximately $9.9 million) in debt funding from Stride Ventures, aiming to accelerate its omnichannel expansion and strengthen its presence across India. The company, which operates over 700 outlets in more than 70 cities, plans to utilize the funds to open additional dine-in restaurants, expand its packaged food (FMCG) vertical, and enhance its delivery and supply chain operations. This strategic move will also help refinance existing loans and fuel Wow! Momo’s push into new markets and product categories.

Founded in 2008, Wow! Momo has rapidly diversified its offerings, launching brands such as Wow! China, Wow! Chicken, and Wow! Kulfi, and recently entering the frozen foods segment with quick commerce and retail distribution. The company is targeting a footprint of over 1,500 stores across more than 100 cities within the next three years and aims to grow its FMCG business to ₹100 crore while ramping up its HORECA (Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering) segment. The leadership team views this debt infusion as pivotal for scaling new formats, driving innovation, and building brands that resonate with Indian consumers.

Stride Ventures, known for backing high-growth startups, emphasized Wow! Momo’s strong brand recall, robust business model, and relentless innovation as key reasons for their investment. With this funding, Wow! Momo is well-positioned to further solidify its status as a category-defining player in India’s QSR and FMCG sectors, while preparing for larger equity rounds and a potential IPO in the coming years.

 

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