The Ken
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No matter which side of the AI divide you’re on, you can’t deny that we’re starting 2026 with AI’s momentum slowing and headwinds against it increasing.
As a fan of systems thinking, I like to imagine what is likely to happen by studying feedback loops ⬇️
As a fan of systems thinking, I like to imagine what is likely to happen by studying feedback loops ⬇️
January 10, 2026 at 6:04 AM
No matter which side of the AI divide you’re on, you can’t deny that we’re starting 2026 with AI’s momentum slowing and headwinds against it increasing.
As a fan of systems thinking, I like to imagine what is likely to happen by studying feedback loops ⬇️
As a fan of systems thinking, I like to imagine what is likely to happen by studying feedback loops ⬇️
From about 160 in 2015, with less than Rs 28,000 crore in commitments, alternative investment funds (AIF) grown to over 1,740 in number as of January, spread across three categories and with nearly Rs 15 lakh crore in committed capital, according to Sebi.
(1/3) ⬇️
(1/3) ⬇️
January 9, 2026 at 6:30 AM
From about 160 in 2015, with less than Rs 28,000 crore in commitments, alternative investment funds (AIF) grown to over 1,740 in number as of January, spread across three categories and with nearly Rs 15 lakh crore in committed capital, according to Sebi.
(1/3) ⬇️
(1/3) ⬇️
Running a successful restaurant is hard. Scaling one without losing what made it special is even harder.
This week on Two by Two, hosts Praveen and Rohin talk to two people who are deep in that fight: Sameer Seth of Hunger Inc. Hospitality and Karan Kapur of K Hospitality Group.
This week on Two by Two, hosts Praveen and Rohin talk to two people who are deep in that fight: Sameer Seth of Hunger Inc. Hospitality and Karan Kapur of K Hospitality Group.
January 8, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Running a successful restaurant is hard. Scaling one without losing what made it special is even harder.
This week on Two by Two, hosts Praveen and Rohin talk to two people who are deep in that fight: Sameer Seth of Hunger Inc. Hospitality and Karan Kapur of K Hospitality Group.
This week on Two by Two, hosts Praveen and Rohin talk to two people who are deep in that fight: Sameer Seth of Hunger Inc. Hospitality and Karan Kapur of K Hospitality Group.
This week, Amazon Pay said it will allow its users to open digital fixed deposit accounts offered by some banks and non-banks.
This must give Google Pay a fair bit of heartburn, especially since they launched digital FDs as an industry first in 2021, only to roll it back soon after. (1/2)
This must give Google Pay a fair bit of heartburn, especially since they launched digital FDs as an industry first in 2021, only to roll it back soon after. (1/2)
January 8, 2026 at 8:34 AM
This week, Amazon Pay said it will allow its users to open digital fixed deposit accounts offered by some banks and non-banks.
This must give Google Pay a fair bit of heartburn, especially since they launched digital FDs as an industry first in 2021, only to roll it back soon after. (1/2)
This must give Google Pay a fair bit of heartburn, especially since they launched digital FDs as an industry first in 2021, only to roll it back soon after. (1/2)
In November, Decathlon began piloting two-hour deliveries across 10 Indian cities, starting with sportswear and a narrow slice of apparel. The move followed a smaller experiment through Blinkit in 2024.
That choice carries weight because Decathlon is not a newcomer testing ideas for attention ⬇️
That choice carries weight because Decathlon is not a newcomer testing ideas for attention ⬇️
January 8, 2026 at 6:34 AM
In November, Decathlon began piloting two-hour deliveries across 10 Indian cities, starting with sportswear and a narrow slice of apparel. The move followed a smaller experiment through Blinkit in 2024.
That choice carries weight because Decathlon is not a newcomer testing ideas for attention ⬇️
That choice carries weight because Decathlon is not a newcomer testing ideas for attention ⬇️
Siddhartha Bhaiya was not one to mince words. As managing director and chief investment officer of Aequitas Investments, a boutique portfolio management services (PMS) firm, Bhaiya was a straight-talking contrarian. (1/2)
January 7, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Siddhartha Bhaiya was not one to mince words. As managing director and chief investment officer of Aequitas Investments, a boutique portfolio management services (PMS) firm, Bhaiya was a straight-talking contrarian. (1/2)
Whenever a public electric bus breaks down in India, at least three agencies are notified about it.
None of them is quite sure who should fix it ⬇️
None of them is quite sure who should fix it ⬇️
January 7, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Whenever a public electric bus breaks down in India, at least three agencies are notified about it.
None of them is quite sure who should fix it ⬇️
None of them is quite sure who should fix it ⬇️
There is a new kind of race within AI startups and companies to hire for an old role that lends itself perfectly to selling products powered by technology that is changing as we speak.
We are talking of the Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) ⬇️
We are talking of the Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) ⬇️
January 6, 2026 at 10:30 AM
There is a new kind of race within AI startups and companies to hire for an old role that lends itself perfectly to selling products powered by technology that is changing as we speak.
We are talking of the Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) ⬇️
We are talking of the Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) ⬇️
Eternal (formerly Zomato) was bold enough to ditch the boring quarterly earnings deck in favour of a conversational, mostly jargon-free shareholder letter.
Just as radical as the shareholder letter is having a top executive who doesn’t pull his punches on X and Linkedin ⬇️
Just as radical as the shareholder letter is having a top executive who doesn’t pull his punches on X and Linkedin ⬇️
January 6, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Eternal (formerly Zomato) was bold enough to ditch the boring quarterly earnings deck in favour of a conversational, mostly jargon-free shareholder letter.
Just as radical as the shareholder letter is having a top executive who doesn’t pull his punches on X and Linkedin ⬇️
Just as radical as the shareholder letter is having a top executive who doesn’t pull his punches on X and Linkedin ⬇️
The government’s pushing to build the missing middle of the electronics supply chain through its electronics component manufacturing scheme. The intent is to deepen India’s component ecosystem to eventually pave the way to self-reliance. (1/2)
January 6, 2026 at 6:35 AM
The government’s pushing to build the missing middle of the electronics supply chain through its electronics component manufacturing scheme. The intent is to deepen India’s component ecosystem to eventually pave the way to self-reliance. (1/2)
Don’t be misled by the popular home-cleaning robot Roomba’s parent, iRobot, filing for bankruptcy in December. “Unfortunately, that’s a bad example [of good automation],” said Ranjit Date, “because it was nothing more than a vacuum cleaner on wheels.”
Date knows the difference. (1/2)
Date knows the difference. (1/2)
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Don’t be misled by the popular home-cleaning robot Roomba’s parent, iRobot, filing for bankruptcy in December. “Unfortunately, that’s a bad example [of good automation],” said Ranjit Date, “because it was nothing more than a vacuum cleaner on wheels.”
Date knows the difference. (1/2)
Date knows the difference. (1/2)
The year has just kicked off, and I’m sure many of you are taking the weekend to cast away the mental haze that descends on so many of us during the transition from December to January.
A version of that is unfolding right now among China’s AI developers. (1/2)
A version of that is unfolding right now among China’s AI developers. (1/2)
January 3, 2026 at 7:00 AM
The year has just kicked off, and I’m sure many of you are taking the weekend to cast away the mental haze that descends on so many of us during the transition from December to January.
A version of that is unfolding right now among China’s AI developers. (1/2)
A version of that is unfolding right now among China’s AI developers. (1/2)
We’re officially starting the year next week with our first episode of 2026, and it’s going to be a great one. We recorded and published 50 subscriber-only episodes in 2025 (we took the last two weeks off), and I expect 2026 to be somewhat similar. (1/2)
January 2, 2026 at 11:30 AM
We’re officially starting the year next week with our first episode of 2026, and it’s going to be a great one. We recorded and published 50 subscriber-only episodes in 2025 (we took the last two weeks off), and I expect 2026 to be somewhat similar. (1/2)
A surplus lands in your bank account. Not life-changing money, necessarily, but enough that spending it on a phone or a holiday feels faintly irresponsible. You could do that. Or you could invest it & let compounding do its magic. Delay the gratification.
The problem is not intent but choice ⬇️
The problem is not intent but choice ⬇️
January 2, 2026 at 7:00 AM
A surplus lands in your bank account. Not life-changing money, necessarily, but enough that spending it on a phone or a holiday feels faintly irresponsible. You could do that. Or you could invest it & let compounding do its magic. Delay the gratification.
The problem is not intent but choice ⬇️
The problem is not intent but choice ⬇️
One of the tenets that all writers try to abide by at The Ken is to show the reader, not tell.
Even on-the-nose business stories strive to rely on facts and reportage to make a point. This year, we pushed the “show” boundary within our lean team.
Even on-the-nose business stories strive to rely on facts and reportage to make a point. This year, we pushed the “show” boundary within our lean team.
December 26, 2025 at 8:56 AM
One of the tenets that all writers try to abide by at The Ken is to show the reader, not tell.
Even on-the-nose business stories strive to rely on facts and reportage to make a point. This year, we pushed the “show” boundary within our lean team.
Even on-the-nose business stories strive to rely on facts and reportage to make a point. This year, we pushed the “show” boundary within our lean team.
2025 is done. Forty-eight episodes. Hundreds of guests. Endless banter between Rohin and Praveen.
Some episodes turned out to be prescient. Some were messy. All of them tried to do what we set out to do: spot hidden connections, ask unasked questions, and figure out what’s really going on ⬇️
Some episodes turned out to be prescient. Some were messy. All of them tried to do what we set out to do: spot hidden connections, ask unasked questions, and figure out what’s really going on ⬇️
December 25, 2025 at 10:30 AM
2025 is done. Forty-eight episodes. Hundreds of guests. Endless banter between Rohin and Praveen.
Some episodes turned out to be prescient. Some were messy. All of them tried to do what we set out to do: spot hidden connections, ask unasked questions, and figure out what’s really going on ⬇️
Some episodes turned out to be prescient. Some were messy. All of them tried to do what we set out to do: spot hidden connections, ask unasked questions, and figure out what’s really going on ⬇️
2025 has been a year of highs and lows in finance. Dollar spikes, GST reforms, RBI’s rate cuts, and the bullion bullying its way to record highs—not to mention how artificial intelligence intersected with and disrupted the space.
These are just a few headliners in a year that has felt like five ⬇️
These are just a few headliners in a year that has felt like five ⬇️
December 25, 2025 at 9:05 AM
2025 has been a year of highs and lows in finance. Dollar spikes, GST reforms, RBI’s rate cuts, and the bullion bullying its way to record highs—not to mention how artificial intelligence intersected with and disrupted the space.
These are just a few headliners in a year that has felt like five ⬇️
These are just a few headliners in a year that has felt like five ⬇️
With the IPO floodgates open, AI causing real impact by meddling with careers and changing businesses, and business leaders feeling the heat of all this, we had a busy year.
And a lot of this struck a deep chord with you, dear reader ⬇️
And a lot of this struck a deep chord with you, dear reader ⬇️
December 25, 2025 at 6:30 AM
With the IPO floodgates open, AI causing real impact by meddling with careers and changing businesses, and business leaders feeling the heat of all this, we had a busy year.
And a lot of this struck a deep chord with you, dear reader ⬇️
And a lot of this struck a deep chord with you, dear reader ⬇️
In this week's episode of Zero Shot, Brady took inspiration from the tagline of a game show to consider some of the wild claims and projections made by OpenAI. Then, Rohin described how AI products lost their novelty, entering the trough of disillusionment as described by the Gartner hype cycle.
December 24, 2025 at 10:30 AM
In this week's episode of Zero Shot, Brady took inspiration from the tagline of a game show to consider some of the wild claims and projections made by OpenAI. Then, Rohin described how AI products lost their novelty, entering the trough of disillusionment as described by the Gartner hype cycle.
Since it was launched five years ago, Apollo 24/7, the digital vertical of India’s largest hospital chain, has been a money pit, driving down the profitability of the parent.
Now, it may have found a tonic for its bruised bottom line: a paid customer loyalty programme called Apollo Circle. (1/2)
Now, it may have found a tonic for its bruised bottom line: a paid customer loyalty programme called Apollo Circle. (1/2)
December 24, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Since it was launched five years ago, Apollo 24/7, the digital vertical of India’s largest hospital chain, has been a money pit, driving down the profitability of the parent.
Now, it may have found a tonic for its bruised bottom line: a paid customer loyalty programme called Apollo Circle. (1/2)
Now, it may have found a tonic for its bruised bottom line: a paid customer loyalty programme called Apollo Circle. (1/2)
Five months of working on a careers podcast... and the patterns are visible.
Hosts Rahel and Vidhatri break down what they learnt while covering careers and workplaces in a tumultuous job market where nothing is certain anymore.
Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Hosts Rahel and Vidhatri break down what they learnt while covering careers and workplaces in a tumultuous job market where nothing is certain anymore.
Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
December 24, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Five months of working on a careers podcast... and the patterns are visible.
Hosts Rahel and Vidhatri break down what they learnt while covering careers and workplaces in a tumultuous job market where nothing is certain anymore.
Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Hosts Rahel and Vidhatri break down what they learnt while covering careers and workplaces in a tumultuous job market where nothing is certain anymore.
Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Something is up with how e-commerce spends on marketing. The budgets haven’t vanished—but they are no longer being poured into expensive, do-everything software. They are now being directed more towards tools that deliver quicker growth.
The distinction matters. (1/2)
The distinction matters. (1/2)
December 23, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Something is up with how e-commerce spends on marketing. The budgets haven’t vanished—but they are no longer being poured into expensive, do-everything software. They are now being directed more towards tools that deliver quicker growth.
The distinction matters. (1/2)
The distinction matters. (1/2)
All has been quiet on the fintech front for about two years now. No big breakout startups. No splashy funding announcements. But this year, fintechs that want to go after high-earning, non-resident Indians (NRIs) found momentum. (1/2)
December 23, 2025 at 6:30 AM
All has been quiet on the fintech front for about two years now. No big breakout startups. No splashy funding announcements. But this year, fintechs that want to go after high-earning, non-resident Indians (NRIs) found momentum. (1/2)
The world of vernacular AI remains fragmented into two universes.
One where datasets built by private players solve for efficiency and are popular. On the other hand, government datasets address accuracy, but remain limited in their use.
These universes seldom cross over. (1/2)
One where datasets built by private players solve for efficiency and are popular. On the other hand, government datasets address accuracy, but remain limited in their use.
These universes seldom cross over. (1/2)
December 22, 2025 at 9:01 AM
The world of vernacular AI remains fragmented into two universes.
One where datasets built by private players solve for efficiency and are popular. On the other hand, government datasets address accuracy, but remain limited in their use.
These universes seldom cross over. (1/2)
One where datasets built by private players solve for efficiency and are popular. On the other hand, government datasets address accuracy, but remain limited in their use.
These universes seldom cross over. (1/2)