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Uber India Launches Four New Basic Features
Uber the global taxi aggregator, launched four new features in India to entice users. The features include a website version of Uber, request to book rides for a guest, offline search for those with limited connectivity and a call to ride feature.
The new features aim at making the taxi booking process easy and hassle free. The call to ride feature will allow riders to book rides through a phone call across popular zones in the city. The company is piloting a single nationwide phone number for users to book rides along with numeric codes for specific locations. The offline search feature is aimed at helping riders in limited network areas by caching the top points of interests in the city. The company also launched Uber lite web for riders using feature phones or smartphones not compatible with the latest Uber app. The website, m.uber.com, works exactly like the app after the users have logged into their accounts. The fourth feature ‘Request For A Guest Ride’ will allow riders to book cabs for anyone, anywhere. A user can book rides for friends and family members within the same city or in a different city in India by simply tapping “where to” and then choose who is riding above their pick up location.
According to the Vice President of Products, Daniel Graf, in countries like India, Brazil and Indonesia, three fourths of the riders use smartphones to book rides. “As a part of our efforts to enable global access to Uber, we are focusing on two key areas; building solutions for those who don’t have access to the Uber app and enabling our existing rider app to work better in emerging markets,” he added. At present, the new features are India specific but can be applied globally as well. Speaking about the new features, Garf added, “This is a global announcement and all our innovations touch the Indian and global markets. We introduced cash payments in India for the first time and that innovation has now been rolled out in half of Uber’s global markets.”
India is also the second largest market for Uber, operating in 29 cities and partnered with around 450,000 drivers. Recently, the company also launched a second engineering facility in Hyderabad, which would be working on innovations that can be applied to Indian as well as other global markets. The Indian team also played a key role in developing the pieces of innovation. The startup, which facilitates 10 million trips per day, has a team of more than 150 engineers at its Bengaluru and Hyderabad centers.
All four of the new services will be rolled out in a few weeks.
OpenAI’s introduction of trusted contact safeguards for potential self-harm cases reflects a major evolution in AI responsibility.
Beyond Moderation
AI safety is shifting from simply blocking harmful content to actively supporting user wellbeing through:
- early risk detection
- human-centered intervention
- stronger emotional safety frameworks
This positions AI as more than an information tool—it becomes part of broader digital support systems.
Key Industry Impact
Trusted contact models could influence future safety standards across:
- AI assistants
- mental health platforms
- social media
- digital health services
The Bigger Challenge
While promising, success depends on balancing:
- privacy
- consent
- ethical intervention
- user trust
Final Take
This move signals that the future of AI safety may rely not just on preventing harmful responses, but on building more responsible, human-connected support systems.
Rozana, India’s leading rural retail platform, has secured ₹290 crore ($35 million) in a Series B funding round led by Bertelsmann India Investments (BII), with participation from Omidyar Network India, Vivid Capital, and Tana Investment Holding. This Rozana funding brings its total capital to over ₹500 crore, fueling hyperlocal expansion in underserved rural markets. Founded in 2021 by brothers Prashant and Prateek Chauhan, the startup’s phygital model blends micro-stores, app-based ordering, and last-mile delivery to connect 5 million+ users in 12 states with brands like ITC and HUL.
The ₹290 crore investment will supercharge Rozana’s rural omnichannel retail strategy, targeting 5x growth in 18 months. Plans include adding 5,000 micro-stores in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan; AI-powered inventory tech; and new categories like groceries and electronics. By empowering 20,000+ rural micro-entrepreneurs, Rozana taps into India’s $700 billion rural retail boom, where smartphone penetration and UPI drive 12% annual growth.
This Rozana Series B milestone positions it as a frontrunner against rivals like Ninjacart, eyeing unicorn status by 2028 amid ONDC tailwinds. CEO Prashant Chauhan emphasized, “We’re building rural prosperity through accessible premium brands.” For more on Rozana funding news and rural retail trends, stay updated on India’s startup ecosystem.
Peak XV Partners has launched three new funds totaling $1.3 billion, targeting India’s booming startup ecosystem. The lineup features the $600M Surge fund (8th edition) for early-stage ventures, a $300M Growth Fund for Series B+ scaling, and a $400M Acceleration Fund for rapid portfolio expansion. This commitment arrives as India’s VC inflows rebound, with AI and fintech leading 2026 trends.
These funds build on Peak XV’s legacy of backing unicorns like Zomato and Pine Labs, offering founders capital plus strategic guidance amid post-winter recovery. Early-stage deals surged 20% last year per Tracxn, positioning Peak XV to fuel the next wave of innovation in SaaS, climate tech, and consumer plays.
For startups eyeing Peak XV new funds or Surge fund 2026 applications, this signals prime opportunities. Investors and marketers should watch for deployment updates India remains a global VC hotspot.
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