Upend.ai is a new platform that pairs search with large language models to give you the best results possible and help you understand them. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Upend founder Jeevan Arora to learn more about the company.
Jeevan Arora’s Background
What is Jeevan Arora’s background? Arora said:
“I am the founder of Upend.ai, a generative AI task engine, as well as a grade 10 student at the University of Toronto Schools where I was accepted alongside less than 100 total students. I also serve as the Club Executive for the AI Club at my school. During the summer of 2023, I founded Upend.ai to help students and learners foster a deeper understanding of underlying concepts.”
Formation Of Upend
How did the idea for the company come together? Arora shared:
“During the summer of 2023, I was looking for a project to keep me busy. At the time, ChaptGPT was gaining more popularity, and it piqued my interest. After brainstorming on what I could create that would incorporate generative AI, I landed on the idea of developing a tool that would use AI to summarize information in realtime from different websites. The idea went from a summer project to a whole new way to search the internet.”
Favorite Memory
What has been Arora’s favorite memory working for the company so far? Arora reflected:
“One of my favorite memories so far has been the launch day of our product. It was a truly exhilarating experience to transition out of stealth mode and witness the immediate global response. Seeing users from all corners of the globe sign up, enthusiasts in the AI community reaching out, and the creation of review videos was beyond encouraging. It was inspiring to be mentioned in the same conversations as tech giants like Google and Microsoft. Additionally, receiving direct feedback from our users has been incredibly motivating. It not only validated our initial vision but has also been pivotal in shaping the upcoming updates. This feedback loop is what drives our commitment to developing the best version of our product.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Arora explained:
“Upend.ai, the conversational AI-powered search and GenAI task engine, redefines what we expect from search engines. Going beyond simple answers, it leverages GenAI and large language models (LLMs) to empower users to seamlessly apply information to practical tasks—whether writing an essay, analyzing data in a spreadsheet, or completing a tax form. Upend.ai boasts a diverse range of capabilities, offering access to nearly 100 LLMs (including renowned versions like GPT-4, Claude 3 Opus and Meta Llama 3) all under one umbrella. Users can choose a different LLM for different tasks, such as writing essays versus writing code. Users are even able to specify documents (including popular Document and Spreadsheet formats) or websites (ie. Wikipedia) as a source for the completion of tasks given to Upend.ai.”
“Upend.ai revolutionizes and democratizes team-based AI access with a pricing strategy that is both straightforward and cost-effective. For just $20 per month, Upend.ai grants an entire team—no matter the size—unlimited access to a comprehensive AI model library and unlimited file uploads. Beyond this flat base fee, charges are solely based on actual usage, ensuring that teams pay only for what they use.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Arora and the team faced in building the company? Arora acknowledged:
“One challenge I’ve faced since launching Upend.ai is grasping the sheer scale and potential impact of what we’ve built. Just after going live, we witnessed thousands of users signing up, which was both thrilling and daunting. The rapid influx of users from around the world showed us the real potential and reach of our product. Managing this explosive growth and the flood of feature requests and inquiries that came with it has been a steep learning curve.”
“The excitement of realizing that what we’ve created could really make a significant impact in the AI space is a powerful motivator. It’s an ongoing journey to fully unlock the potential of our platform, and every step forward is incredibly rewarding.”
Evolution Of Upend’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Arora noted:
“Upend.ai started as a summer project with the intent of helping students and learners foster a deeper understanding of underlying concepts with the help of AI. Upend.ai quickly shifted to become a tool that can leverage AI to summarize information in real-time from a variety of resources, creating an entirely new way of using the Internet. Upend.ai’s officially launched out of stealth in early May with an expanded model arsenal of nearly 100 AI large language models (LLMs) during a pivotal moment, as the demand for AI-powered solutions continues to surge across industries.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Arora cited:
“The company’s most significant milestone thus far has been officially launching out of stealth with expanded capabilities across 100 LLMs. Our mission is to continue to fundamentally revolutionize how students and professionals use GenAI to receive answers to their questions, learn new topics and complete tasks.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Arora affirmed:
“What differentiates Upend.ai is its ability to select which sources information is pulled from, such as Wikipedia or web search, as well as which LLM is used to generate results with nearly 100 options. Upend.ai also has a discounted plan for students, which other companies do not. Of course, we want to work with large organizations, but given I’m a student myself, I see a huge opportunity in offering students discounted plans for AI tools like Upend. The students who have experience with different task engines and LLMs will stand out against their peers in future career opportunities.”
“Upend.ai distinguishes itself with a democratizing team-based pricing model. For $20 per month, teams of any size gain unlimited access to our AI model library and file uploads, including support for PDFs and Office formats like Excel and Word. Costs beyond the flat fee are based solely on actual usage, ensuring that teams only pay for what they need, making advanced AI tools more accessible and affordable.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future company goals? Arora pointed out:
“Future goals for the company include adding capabilities for new LLMs as they are launched into the market and by customer requests. We’re also thinking about launching a mobile app version of the platform along with an API for developers so it’s even more accessible. Additionally, we want to focus on business and Enterprise users – so incorporating features like Single Sign-On (SSO), improved file management and improving workflows are at the top of the list.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Arora concluded:
“As a young founder at the forefront of the AI revolution, I am thrilled about the potential of AI to democratize access to technology. Upend.ai is not just an AI search engine; it’s a GenAI task engine that advises users on how to convert a JPG to a PNG, for example, and will also execute the task. This capability represents a significant leap forward in making sophisticated technology accessible and actionable for businesses, educational institutions, and non-profits alike. Our approach is designed to level the playing field and catalyze innovation across diverse sectors, especially in underserved communities.”
Moreover, our mission encapsulated in our tagline, ‘Elevate your search, empower your tasks,’ reflects our commitment to transforming how users interact with AI. In addition to enhancing AI integration, I am eager to forge partnerships with other visionary entrepreneurs and tech innovators. Building a network of like-minded individuals will not only extend our reach but also enhance our collective ability to drive impactful innovations. The future of AI lies in both its computational power and its capacity for collaborative innovation, and I am excited to help lead this charge with Upend.ai.
