Key takeaways
- Anjali Sardana has launched Provision Labs to focus on data infrastructure for AI systems handling physical tasks.
- Provision Labs will work on collecting data to train AI models for robotics and related applications.
- Pronto is developing an initiative to record household service sessions for AI training, but its connection to Provision Labs remains unclear.
- Pronto has introduced an opt-in programme to record service sessions using wearable cameras, aiming to anonymise data for AI training.
Anjali Sardana, founder and chief executive of Indian household services startup Pronto, has launched Provision Labs, a San Francisco-based venture focused on data infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) systems that perform physical tasks.
Sardana will continue to lead Pronto while also serving at Provision Labs.
Provision Labs lists Lachy Groom, General Catalyst, Bain Capital Ventures and Glade Brook Capital among its backers, according to its website. The company has not disclosed its funding amount, valuation or initial customers.
The launch comes as Pronto develops a separate initiative to record household service sessions for AI training. It remains unclear whether Provision Labs will use that data or establish its own collection arrangements.
According to The Economic Times, Provision Labs will collect data to train and test AI systems that use robots and other machines to perform tasks in real-world environments. The report, which cited people familiar with the venture, said the startup will work with developers building models for robotics and other applications.
Pronto has introduced Pronto Verified, an opt-in programme that records household service sessions using wearable cameras. The company said it can anonymise the recordings and use them to train AI systems for robotics.
Provision Labs' stated focus on physical AI data makes the relationship between the two businesses a key unanswered question. Neither company has publicly confirmed that Provision Labs will access Pronto's recordings or that a data-sharing agreement exists.
The startup has not announced any commercial partnerships or explained how it will source data across industries. Its website describes its focus as the data, evaluation and deployment layer for physical AI.
