SAN FRANCISCO — Logistics startup Glīd took home the top prize at Startup Battlefield this week. Their pitch promised to make shipping “simpler, safer, and smarter.” Early users say the software is beautiful. They also say it refuses to acknowledge that the physical world exists.

The platform uses AI to smooth out supply chains. It does this by hiding bad news. “We separated the delivery from the road,” said Diego Vargas, VP of Digital Harmony. “The road has potholes. The road has traffic. Our app has smooth colors and nice fonts. We decided to focus on the app.”

Drivers report confusion with the new system. One truck is currently stuck in a swamp in Florida. The Glīd dashboard lists its status as “Stationary Optimization.” The driver cannot call for help through the app. The interface only offers a button to “Celebrate This Stop.”

Management defends the design choice. “The map is the truth,” explained Chloe Jensen, Head of Route Vision. “If the truck is not where the blue dot is, that is the truck’s fault. We do not support physical errors. They ruin the user experience.” Jensen noted that acknowledging a flat tire would drop their efficiency score. So they just don’t.

At press time, Glīd released an update. It automatically deletes any truck that runs out of gas. This keeps the fleet efficiency rating at 100%.

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