Provision Labs, a physical AI venture led by founder Anjali Sardana, has acquired Mumbai-based hardware startup Basilisk Industries for an undisclosed sum. Basilisk founder Shourya Watwani will join Provision to lead its hardware division and develop in-house post-processing models, according to a LinkedIn announcement by Sardana.
Basilisk Industries, established in 2023, specializes in perception technologies that enable machines to interpret their surroundings. Since the acquisition, Watwani and his team have reportedly developed a 3D hand-tracking model, redesigned Provision’s perception hardware, and created a prototype tactile glove designed to capture touch-related data.
Expanding Physical AI Infrastructure
Provision Labs, based in San Francisco, focuses on collecting data to train and test physical AI systems. These systems are designed to enable robots and other machines to perform tasks in real-world environments. The company is currently scaling its engineering and research operations across San Francisco, Toronto, and Bengaluru, with active hiring for roles in computer vision, tactile data, environment reconstruction, and hardware development.
The company’s growth follows scrutiny regarding data collection practices at Pronto, another startup founded by Sardana. Pronto previously conducted a pilot program involving service professionals wearing cameras to record tasks such as cleaning and laundry. This practice raised questions regarding privacy, consent, and data storage. Pronto stated that the pilot included less than 0.01% of its user base, required customers to opt in during booking, and complied with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
Industry Context
The development of physical AI remains a competitive field. Other companies in the sector have addressed data collection methods differently. Urban Company stated it has never recorded inside customers’ homes, while Snabbit reported conducting a single simulation test at a training center. Provision Labs continues to source data from global professionals to assist developers in deploying physical AI models.