Google, the search engine giant, unveiled new smartphones, smart speakers and other gadgets at the Google Hardware Event held yesterday at the SFJazz Center in San Francisco, California. After the back to back events from Amazon and Apple, Google finally unveiled its flagship device, the Pixel 2, along with a number additions to its hardware offerings.
At the hardware launch, Google demonstrated its commitment to making new devices along with new and improved software developments. Marking its second year of manufacturing hardware, Google announced two new Pixel smartphones along with Google Home speakers, a new laptop, a virtual reality headset and wireless headphones. However, this year the focus was not on just the hardware but on a combination of software and artificial intelligence along with a major focus on the hardware side of things. Chief Executive Officer of Google, Sundar Pichai, spent the first 10 minutes explaining the use of artificial intelligence, as well as the transformation of Google into an AI first company. “It’s(AI) radically rethinking how computing should work,” he added.
The two smartphones launched yesterday, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 Xl, will both use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processors. Packed with a 4 GB RAM, the latest phones come with a 12.2 megapixel rear camera and an 8 megapixel front camera with a fixed focus. Google also introduced a pretty impressive portrait mode with its single camera. Following Apple’s footsteps, the new Pixel phones have also said goodbye to the headphone jack. While most of the hardware remains the same, the software for the phone is a combination of machine learning, artificial intelligence and contextual data meshing, which makes it a much more connected device. Pixel Buds, Google’s own wireless headphones, are the Android version of the Apple AirPods. Both the phone and the earphones can be charged using a USB-C charging cable. The new phones are available with 64 GB and 124 GB storage.
The technology giant has also come out with a new camera that uses artificial intelligence to capture soundless videos of faces and pets that it recognizes and deems “interesting.” Google Clips is a palm sized device that can capture stills, videos, or GIFs, which can be exported to phones and other devices over Wifi.
The Google Home devices were also launched in two different sizes, the Google Home Mini and the Google Home Max. Both the devices can do everything the original Google Home could, including set timers and reminders, check the weather and convert tablespoons to cups using the inbuilt Google Assistant. The main difference in the new devices is the size. While the Mini occupies the space of a candle, the Max boasts a stereo speaker with two 4.5 inch woofers. Both the devices will add more actions that surround daily routines.
Google’s laptop, Pixelbook, is a 12.3 inch device which does a complete 360 degree rotation and weighs just two pounds. This device supports Google Play and comes equipped with the Google Assistant along with a Core i5 or Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of memory.
Google hyped up its hardware products this year making an impressive statement about turning hardware into a real business on a massive scale. According to Sundar Pichai, however, the future for Google is AI.
SuperGaming, the Pune-based gaming innovator known for hit titles like MaskGun and Indus Battle Royale, has raised $15 million in a Series B funding round, boosting its valuation to an impressive $100 million. This marks a nearly fivefold increase from its 2021 valuation of $21 million, highlighting the company’s rapid growth and the rising investor confidence in India’s booming gaming industry. The funding reflects SuperGaming’s strong market presence and strategic vision to become a global leader in online gaming.
The funding round was spearheaded by Skycatcher and Steadview Capital, with significant participation from notable international investors including a16z Speedrun, Bandai Namco O21 Fund, Neowiz, and prominent Web3 financiers such as Polygon Ventures and Sandeep Nailwal. Existing backers like AET Japan and BACE Capital also continued their support. SuperGaming aims to utilize this capital infusion to expand its footprint internationally, focusing on emerging markets. A key initiative includes launching its award-winning game, Indus Battle Royale, in Latin America through a partnership with LOUD.GG, alongside rolling out its proprietary SuperPlatform developed with Google Cloud to empower game developers worldwide, especially in resource-constrained regions.
CEO and Co-Founder Roby John emphasized that this funding milestone is crucial in shifting India from merely a gaming consumer base to a hub for gaming innovation. By adopting a “hyper-local” strategy that tailors games to diverse cultures in underrepresented markets like the Middle East and Latin America, SuperGaming is poised for global growth. With over 200 million installs and an expanding user base, SuperGaming’s recent fundraising solidifies its position at the forefront of India’s gaming revolution, ready to make a major impact on the international stage.
Swiggy, India’s leading online food delivery platform, has introduced DeskEats, a unique meal delivery service specifically designed for office-goers and working professionals across 30 major cities. DeskEats aims to streamline office dining by offering a diverse, office-friendly menu, making it easier than ever for corporate employees to enjoy convenient and delicious meals right at their workplace. By simply typing “Office” or “Work” in the Swiggy app, users can unlock curated collections like Value Combos, Stress Munchies, Healthy Nibbles, and Teamwork Bites, catering to every office dining scenario—from solo meals to team lunches and quick snack breaks.
Swiggy’s DeskEats is now operational in over 7,000 tech parks and business centers, granting office workers access to nearly 700,000 menu items from over 200,000 restaurants. This vast variety ensures there’s something for everyone, addressing the growing demand for quick, tasty, and nutritious food that fits seamlessly into the busy schedules of working professionals. Early trends from DeskEats’ pilot phase show a strong preference for easy-to-eat options like chicken popcorn in Bengaluru and garlic breadsticks in Gurugram, reflecting the popularity of meals tailored for the modern workday.
Expanding upon its Corporate Rewards Program, which is already trusted by thousands of organizations, Swiggy enables companies to enhance employee wellness programs by offering food delivery, groceries, and dining benefits efficiently. With DeskEats, Swiggy reaffirms its commitment to transforming workplace dining by prioritizing variety, convenience, and user satisfaction—cementing its position as a key player in the evolution of India’s office food culture.
Setu, the API infrastructure platform and subsidiary of Pine Labs, has significantly strengthened its leadership by appointing Prashanth Nimmagada (ex-Razorpay) as Chief Technology Officer, signaling its commitment to innovation in India’s dynamic fintech landscape. Alongside Nimmagada, Setu has welcomed other top industry talent: Vijeth Pandit (ex-Razorpay) as Chief Product Officer, Ramkumar Thirumurthi (ex-Razorpay, co-founder Actyv.ai) as Chief Revenue Officer, Nikhil Ratanpal (ex-PhonePe) as Director of Product Development, and Santosh Subramanian (ex-Yes Bank, Wibmo) as Head of Finance. These high-profile hires accompany Anand Raisinghani’s (ex-SAP India) appointment as CEO, underscoring Setu’s focus on building a strong, experienced leadership bench to drive future growth.
Setu specializes in providing API-based digital financial infrastructure for services such as UPI, bill payments, KYC, and digital signatures, while also operating as an RBI-licensed NBFC Account Aggregator. With this expanded leadership team—drawn from India’s leading fintechs—Setu is well-positioned to accelerate the development of scalable, API-driven financial solutions for banks, fintechs, and enterprises. The influx of expertise from Razorpay and PhonePe veterans will bolster Setu’s technical capabilities and strategic partnerships, ensuring it remains a key enabler in India’s rapidly maturing digital public infrastructure ecosystem.
This leadership overhaul comes as parent company Pine Labs prepares for a major IPO, aiming to raise ₹2,600 crore through a fresh share issue after turning profitable in FY25. Setu’s enhanced leadership reinforces the broader group’s ambitions for international expansion, technological innovation, and financial performance. As Setu solidifies its role at the forefront of India’s fintech evolution, the company is poised to deliver advanced financial infrastructure solutions that support the country’s growing digital economy and drive Pine Labs’ strategic momentum.