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Bobble AI partners with Xiaomi to develop ‘Mint Keyboard’ for Android smartphones
MUMBAI: Bobble AI, a Gurgaon-based tech company today announced that it has partnered with Xiaomi, India’s number one smartphone and smart TV brand to develop ‘Mint Keyboard’ for Android smartphones. Bobble AI is empowering the Next Billion by making their communication personalised, expressive, and smarter with its cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence around input methods. Taking a leap in terms of technology and innovation, Bobble AI has developed an Indian language keyboard called ‘Mint Keyboard’ which will be pre-loaded across Xiaomi devices in India and Indonesia. The new feature will be a part of Xiaomi’s latest MIUI 11 Operating System.
Mint keyboard is a ‘Made in India’ application which is specially designed keeping Indian users in mind, with their need for local languages and personalisation to enrich conversations. The AI engine is continuously learning user typing habits in real time to suggest absolutely personalised responses whether it is in a regional language, slang, shortcuts, or emoji preferences. With the availability of 25+ Indic languages on the Mint Keyboard, users can type in their preferred language. Not only this, but the users can also go to the extent of applying personalized themes on their keyboards using images from their gallery and using different fonts while typing.
Additionally, it has features like Swipe typing, speech-to-text, real-time emoji suggestions, different themes every week, cloud-sync and clipboard. With a rich database of stickers and GIFs to express every emotion or mood, users can share stickers directly from the keyboard to make conversations even more expressive and fun.
The keyboard is also available for non MIUI devices and can be downloaded from the Google Play store.
On IME and partnering with Xiaomi, Bobble AI CEO and founder Ankit Prasad said, “The Input Method Editor (IME) software industry, considering only keyboard and voice inputs, is growing at a CAGR of 17.2% and is expected to reach 40 Billion USD by 2025. Our main focus is to partner with leading smartphone players to co-create solutions for the Next Billion. Partnership with Xiaomi is a huge validation of our capabilities and shift in need of new-age technologies and business opportunities.”
Xiaomi India chief operations officer Muralikrishnan B said, “We have always provided the highest quality and customised solutions to our Mi fans in India and therefore for the first time anywhere in the world, we are launching Mint Keyboard. India provides one of the most diverse cultures with several thousands of languages and dialects being spoken. Mint Keyboard, supporting 25+ Indic languages and with the ability to transliterate across all of them is just the first step in Xiaomi truly developing services for India. ”
Bobble AI is backed by some of the most celebrated names in the Indian startup ecosystem. Apart from SAIF Partners and Xiaomi Inc. others include co-founders of Flipkart, founder of MakeMyTrip, Co-founder of SlideShare, Founders of 1mg, Co-creator of Cassandra, and 15 other individual investors.
Following the B2B2C model, Bobble has partnered with the homegrown operating system Indus and many more in the past.
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Hyatt chairman Thomas Pritzker to step down over Epstein ties
Thomas Pritzker admits terrible judgment regarding past associations
CHICAGO: Thomas Pritzker, the long-standing executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels, has announced he will step down from his role and will not seek re-election to the company board in 2026. The decision marks the end of an era for the hospitality giant, which Pritzker has led for over two decades.
The departure follows Pritzker’s public admission regarding his previous links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. In a statement addressing his resignation, Pritzker expressed deep regret over the association, acknowledging that his failure to distance himself from the pair sooner was a significant lapse.
Pritzker framed his exit as a necessary step to protect the Hyatt brand. He stated that maintaining contact with Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and his associate Maxwell demonstrated “terrible judgment” for which there was “no excuse.”
The move comes amid ongoing scrutiny of high-profile figures in business and politics. Since Epstein’s 2019 arrest and subsequent death, a vast cache of Justice Department documents has detailed his extensive connections to global elites, many of whom continued their associations after his initial 2008 conviction.
Pritzker has served as executive chairman since 2004, guiding the hotel group through major transformation. He led the company’s public offering and shifted to an “asset-light” model, focusing on management and franchising. He also navigated the company through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, showing strategic foresight.
While Pritzker highlighted the growth and resilience of the company under his leadership, the controversy surrounding his personal associations has made his continued presence on the board untenable.
As Hyatt prepares for a future without its long-time leader, the focus will likely shift to ensuring the transition does not disrupt the company’s current momentum. Pritzker will remain in his position until the 2026 board changes take effect.
