Elon Musk has announced that, starting June 27, 2025, hashtags will be banned from all promoted posts on X (formerly Twitter). This policy applies exclusively to paid advertisements, meaning regular users can still include hashtags in their personal posts. Musk described hashtags in ads as an “esthetic nightmare,” emphasizing that the change is intended to create a cleaner, less cluttered feed where advertisements blend more seamlessly with organic content. 

The ban reflects Musk’s long-standing criticism of hashtags, which he has called “ugly” and unnecessary. He argues that with the platform’s advanced AI tools, such as the Grok chatbot, hashtags are no longer essential for content discovery or categorization. Instead, X’s algorithms can now surface and organize relevant content and ads without relying on manual tags, signaling a broader industry shift toward AI-driven content curation.

For advertisers, this marks a significant departure from traditional social media marketing strategies, where hashtags have been key for engagement and campaign tracking. Brands will now need to adapt by focusing on compelling visuals, concise copy, and leveraging X’s AI-powered targeting. The move has sparked debate among marketers and users, with some supporting the cleaner look and others lamenting the loss of a familiar engagement tool.

Amazon India has expanded its healthcare portfolio with the launch of Amazon Diagnostics, an at-home diagnostic testing service developed in partnership with Orange Health Labs. Now available in six major cities—Bengaluru, Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Mumbai, and Hyderabad—the service covers over 450 PIN codes and offers access to more than 800 diagnostic tests. Customers can book tests via the Amazon app, schedule home sample collection within 60 minutes, and receive digital reports for routine tests in as little as six hours, making healthcare more accessible and convenient than ever before.

This launch completes Amazon’s integrated healthcare suite in India, which already includes Amazon Pharmacy for medicines and Amazon Clinic for virtual doctor consultations. By bringing these services together under the Amazon Medical umbrella, the company enables a seamless outpatient journey—from doctor consultation to lab testing and medicine delivery—all managed through a single digital platform. The partnership with Orange Health Labs ensures high-quality, reliable diagnostics, supported by Amazon’s operational expertise and focus on customer trust.

Amazon’s entry into the $15 billion Indian diagnostics market signals a major shift in the country’s health-tech landscape, introducing new competition for established diagnostic players. Rather than competing solely on price, Amazon is prioritizing a seamless, trustworthy experience, aiming to address the growing demand for digital healthcare solutions and simplify access for millions of users across India.

Bengaluru, June 2025 – Krutrim, the AI startup founded by Ola’s Bhavish Aggarwal, has launched its new agentic AI assistant, Kruti. Unlike traditional virtual assistants, Kruti is designed with an Indian-first approach — combining cultural context, multilingual capabilities, and generative AI to offer a more intuitive, task-oriented experience for users.

Kruti is built to do more than just respond to queries — it can independently perform tasks, make decisions, and integrate across platforms for productivity and communication. Powered by Krutrim’s proprietary Indian-trained language model, it brings a deep understanding of local languages and digital behaviors, catering to both personal and business needs in the Indian ecosystem.

Aggarwal described Kruti as “India’s digital brain,” highlighting its role in redefining AI for Bharat. The assistant will be rolled out in phases, starting with enterprise partners and expanding through apps and APIs. As Kruti integrates into various platforms — including Ola’s services — it marks a significant stride in India’s ambition to lead the global AI race.