Daily Strategic Briefing

OpenAI deputizes ChatGPT to serve as an agent that uses your computer

LLM given keys to the web, told to behave and observe safeguards OpenAI's ChatGPT has graduated from chatbot to agent, at least for paying subscribers.…

AWS sheds more jobs as Jassy's automation layoff prophecy comes true

Insiders tell The Register that a company-wide automation push means jobs are disappearing Amazon.com CEO Andy Jassy's predictions that automation would cost jobs at the company have proven accurate at Amazon Web Services.…

Google sues 25 alleged BadBox 2.0 botnet operators, all of whom are in China

Ads giant complains of damage to its reputation and finances ... and crime, too Google has filed a lawsuit against 25 unnamed individuals in China it accuses of breaking into more than 10 million devices worldwide and using them to build a botnet, called BadBox 2.0, and then to carry out other cybercrimes and fraud.…

AWS previews AgentCore to jumpstart enterprise AI agents

Running on Amazon Bedrock, it aims to pave the path from prototype to production Video  Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Wednesday previewed a service called Bedrock AgentCore to help organizations put AI agents into business-ready production.…

TSMC aims to make 30% of high-end chips in US with Arizona fab build out

Shovels in the dirt at Fab 3 as Fab 2’s 3nm ramp charges in several quarters early TSMC says it will ramp up production at its second fab site in Arizona earlier than initially expected as it looks to shift nearly a third of its leading-edge wafer output stateside.…

Anthropic tightens usage limits for Claude Code – without telling users

Summary:

Claude Code users have been hit with unexpectedly restrictive usage limits. The problems, many of which have been aired on Claude Code’s GitHub page, seem to be concentrated among heavy users of the service, many of whom are on the $200-a-month Max plan. 

OpenAI launches a general purpose agent in ChatGPT

Summary:

OpenAI announced the launch of ChatGPT agent, which the company claims to be its most capable AI agent product yet.

Mistral’s Le Chat chatbot gets a productivity push with new ‘deep research’ mode

Summary:

French AI lab Mistral introduced a range of new features to its Le Chat chatbot on Thursday that bring it closer to the capabilities of rivals like OpenAI and Google. The new update includes a “deep research” mode, native multilingual reasoning, and advanced image editing. 

Confident Security, ‘the Signal for AI,’ comes out of stealth with $4.2M

Summary:

San Francisco-based startup Confident Security wants to be “the Signal for AI.” The company just came out of stealth with $4.2 million and a tool that wraps around AI models to guarantee data stays private.

UAE’s deal to buy Nvidia AI chips reportedly on hold

Summary:

The U.S. is reportedly holding up the deal due to concerns that AI chips could be smuggled to China from the UAE.

Arteria secures Rs 100 Cr in Series B from ICICI Venture to expand supply chain SaaS platform

Founded in 2010, Arteria offers digital solutions for managing upstream and downstream enterprise supply chains, with embedded financing options aimed at improving capital flow for suppliers and distributors.

Kettleborough VC launches Rs 80 Cr fund II

Kettleborough VC has already raised Rs 35 crore for Fund II and aims to invest in about 10 startups.

Mufin Green Finance raises $6.5M debt from DWM for EV and clean energy lending

Mufin Green Finance said the proceeds will be deployed to scale loans and leases for productive-use EVs, battery financing, charging infrastructure, and residential and commercial solar projects.

Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab raises $2B at $12B valuation

The firm will roll out its first product, featuring a significant open-source component, which will be useful for researchers and startups in the coming months as they develop custom models and understand frontier AI systems.

InPrime Finserv raises $6M in Series A1 round led by Pravega Ventures

InPrime Finserv is a Bengaluru-based non-banking financial company (NBFC) focused on India’s emerging middle class. It has served more than 7,500 households to date, disbursing nearly Rs 100 crore in loans.

Man Infra AGM on Aug 13: Update KYC & Demat Holdings

Man Infraconstruction Ltd sends AGM notice for Aug 13, 2025, via video conferencing. Shareholders urged to update KYC, dematerialize holdings, and register email for SEBI compliance. Source: BSE

Indian Hotels Q1 FY26: Brokerages Set Target Prices

Brokerages provide stock ratings and target prices for Indian Hotels post-Q1 FY26 results. Source: ScoutQuest

Stocks to Watch: Wipro, Axis Bank, LTIMindtree

Stocks to watch today include Wipro, Ceat, Axis Bank, LTIMindtree, IHCL. GIFT Nifty futures at 25,191.5, up 45 points, signal flat market start. Source: Business Standard

ACME Solar, NHPC Ink 275 MW Battery Deal

ACME Solar signed deals for 275 MW battery projects with NHPC. Projects in Andhra Pradesh to commission within 18 months. Source: ScoutQuest

Eco Recycling Boosts Capacity, Adds Li-ion Facility in Mumbai

Eco Recycling Ltd expands e-waste recycling by 18,000 MTPA, adds 6,000 MTPA Li-ion facility. New 40,000 sq.ft Mumbai plant funded internally; joins TERRA alliance, aligns with 2022 rules. Source: ScoutQuest

Bitcoin Climbs To Record Levels

Country: other, Description: Bitcoin rose above $120,000 on Friday, just shy of the record high reached earlier in the week, as markets reacted to the passage of the first major US cryptocurrency legislation. The House approved the bill on Thursday, following the Senate’s earlier vote, and President Donald Trump is expected to sign it into law later in the day. The legislation sets a regulatory framework for stablecoins—digital tokens backed by assets like the US dollar—marking a key milestone after years of industry lobbying. The move is seen as a breakthrough for broader adoption and regulatory clarity, particularly as stablecoins gain traction in payments and financial markets. Bitcoin has now gained nearly 30% year-to-date, driven by optimism over regulatory progress and rising institutional demand through ETFs. Meanwhile, strong US economic data signaled resilience, despite the impact of tariffs. These have tempered expectations for further rate cuts, which typically support crypto.

Chinese Stocks Rises for Second Session

Country: China, Description: The Shanghai Composite rose 0.4% to above 3,530, while the Shenzhen Component added 0.4% to 10,920 on Friday, as mainland stocks extended gains to hit fresh multi-month highs, supported by ongoing AI-driven optimism. Both indexes are also on track to post their fourth consecutive weekly gain. US President Trump softened his rhetoric toward China, boosting hopes for a potential trade deal. Sentiment was also lifted by strong US economic data, including a rebound in retail sales and better-than-expected jobless claims, as well as upbeat corporate earnings. AI-related stocks led the charge, up 1.3% to a four-month high, buoyed by Nvidia’s H20 chip shipment resumption and optimism spreading from Taiwan after TSMC raised its full-year outlook on booming AI chip demand. Top gainers include Contemporary Amper (1.6%), Zhongji (5.9%), and Eoptolink (3%). Attention now turns to PBOC's latest loan prime rate decision later this week, with expectations for no change.

Indonesia Shares Rise to 7-Month Top

Country: Indonesia, Description: Stocks in Indonesia increased 87 points, or 1.2%, to 7,374 in morning trade on Friday, extending gains for the ninth straight session. The rally tracked overnight gains on Wall Street, fueled by strong corporate earnings and solid economic data. The IDX Composite hit its highest level since mid-December 2024 and surpassed the 7,300 mark for the first time, supported by continued foreign inflows. Investor sentiment remained buoyant following Wednesday’s central bank decision to cut interest rates, as well as recent trade agreements with the US over the weekend. Additionally, gains in newly listed IPO stocks contributed to the market's positive tone. Most sectors traded in the green, with technology services and utilities leading the advance. Among the top early gainers were DCI Indonesia (up 20%), Telkom Indonesia (up 4.6%), Barito Renewables Energy (up 3.2%), and BRI (up 1.0%).

Hong Kong Stocks Rebound, Eye Weekly Gains

Country: Hong Kong, Description: Hong Kong shares jumped 240 points or near 1.0%, to 24,734 in early trade on Friday, snapping two-day losses after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs overnight amid strong U.S. retail sales, upbeat earnings, and continued AI optimism. The Hang Seng hit a four-month top and is on track for a second straight weekly gain, up 2.5% so far. Sentiment was also boosted after U.S. President Trump softened his rhetoric toward China, boosting hopes for a trade deal. All sectors advanced, led by tech, consumer, and financials, as gains in mainland markets encouraged fresh buying. Early top performers included Hansoh Pharma (3.2%), Nongfu Spring (3.1%), China Hongqiao Group (2.9%), and Zhaojin Mining (1.7%). However, upside was capped by data showing Hong Kong’s jobless rate held at a two-year high of 3.5% for the three months to June. Caution also grew ahead of China’s July LPR fixing next week, after the PBoC held rates at record lows in May to support the economy amid tariff risks.

New Zealand Dollar Gains Ground

Country: New Zealand, Description: The New Zealand dollar rose to around $0.595 on Friday, recovering from a more than three-week low hit in the previous session, as the US dollar came under renewed selling pressure. The greenback eased after reaching a three-week high on Thursday, following stronger-than-expected US economic data that suggested the US economy remains resilient—despite ongoing concerns over the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. On the domestic front, investor focus is turning to New Zealand’s second-quarter inflation data due next week, which is projected to show an annual rise of 2.8%, up from 2.5, largely driven by higher food and electricity costs. However, core inflation is expected to be softer, potentially giving the Reserve Bank of New Zealand scope to consider a rate cut at its August meeting. Despite Friday’s rebound, the kiwi is still down 0.8% so far this week, on track for its second straight weekly decline.

Trump pushes Bondi for Epstein documents amid political pressure

Summary: The president reversed course after facing pressure from his own party, including House Speaker Mike Johnson who called for releasing all Epstein files., Description: President Donald Trump has directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of grand jury testimony from the Jeffrey Epstein case amid growing criticism from supporters and political figures over his administration's handling of Epstein-related records, as reported by Reuters and ABC News Australia.

Meta poaches two more Apple AI researchers for new team

Summary: Mark Lee and Tom Gunter join former boss Ruoming Pang at Superintelligence Labs amid intensifying battle for AI talent., Description: Meta Platforms has hired two more Apple artificial intelligence researchers, Mark Lee and Tom Gunter, for its Superintelligence Labs team, according to Bloomberg News reports. The move reunites the engineers with their former boss, Ruoming Pang, who left Apple for Meta earlier this month with a compensation package reportedly exceeding $200 million. The latest hires underscore the intensifying...

1 in 4 Americans over 50 delaying retirement amid economic fears

Summary: Economic volatility and financial concerns drove a 64% jump in pre-retirees postponing retirement plans, according to a new survey., Description: Nearly one in four Americans over 50 are postponing retirement due to mounting economic concerns, marking a sharp increase from the previous year as financial uncertainty grips pre-retirees across the country. According to F&G Annuities & Life's latest survey released this week, 23% of pre-retirees have definitively decided to delay their retirement plans, representing a 64% jump from the 14%...

Brazil's Lula gets political boost from US tariff fight

Summary: Brazilian president's approval rating rises to 43% as Trump threatens 50% tariffs over ally Bolsonaro's legal troubles., Description: Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva appears to be turning a political challenge into an opportunity as he responds defiantly to U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods, a move that has rallied Brazilians behind their leader and potentially revived his struggling approval ratings.

India rejects NATO chief's threat of 100% sanctions

Summary: New Delhi warned against Western "double standards" after NATO's Mark Rutte threatened sanctions over India's Russian oil purchases., Description: India firmly rejected NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's threat of imposing "100% secondary sanctions" on countries trading with Russia, with New Delhi warning against Western "double standards" in global energy trade. The Ministry of External Affairs declared Thursday that securing the nation's energy needs remains an "overriding priority" that will not be swayed by external pressure. The...