Daily Strategic Briefing

China sends an AI to its space station, where Taikonauts use it to prep for spacewalk

Single spacesuit now worn 20 times Taikonauts aboard China’s Tiangong space station used an AI model to prepare for a spacewalk.…

Molten salt nuclear reactors slated to power Google datacenters in 2030

More than 60 years after first demos of this tech, Kairos will bring it back to Oak Ridge Oak Ridge, Tennessee, could be home to a molten salt reactor once again if Google-backed Kairos Power has its way.…

Facial recognition works better in the lab than on the street, researchers show

High accuracy scores come from conditions that don't reflect real-world usage Facial recognition technology has been deployed publicly on the basis of benchmark tests that reflect performance in laboratory settings, but some academics are saying that real-world performance doesn't match up.…

Microsoft crams Copilot AI directly into Excel cells

Meet the new COPILOT function Microsoft, in its ongoing effort to AI-ify every product it has, is now adding it right into the cells of Excel.  Available on Monday to beta users of Microsoft 365 Copilot, a new COPILOT function allows you to task Redmond's AI with performing generative tasks right in, for example, C2 or B23.…

Physicist models new use for nuclear waste: Turning it into super-rare fusion fuel

Got a particle accelerator? Here’s your tritium startup idea Tritium is ridiculously rare, incredibly expensive, and central to most fusion energy reactor designs. If research out of Los Alamos National Lab proves to hold true, it might soon become easier to obtain.…

OpenAI launches a sub $5 ChatGPT plan in India

Summary:

This plan will offer 10x more messages and image generation than the free tier, among other benefits.

Texas attorney general accuses Meta, Character.AI of misleading kids with mental health claims

Summary:

Texas attorney general Ken Paxton is investigating Meta and CharacterAI over claims they deceptively market chatbots as mental health tools, raising concerns about child safety, data privacy, and targeted advertising.

‘Crazy conspiracist’ and ‘unhinged comedian’: Grok’s AI persona prompts exposed

Summary:

The website for xAI’s Grok chatbot is exposing the system prompts for several of its AI personas, including a “crazy conspiracist” that seems designed to handhold a user into believing that “a secret global cabal” controls the world.

Why Paradigm built a spreadsheet with an AI agent in every cell

Summary:

Paradigm raised a $5 million seed round and is releasing it’s AI-powered spreadsheet to the general public.

Perplexity now supports live earnings call transcripts for Indian stocks

Summary:

AI startup Perplexity is augmenting its Finance dashboard with the ability to transcribe Indian public companies’ quarterly earnings calls live, as well as show schedules for post-results conference calls.

AI startup Refold AI scores $6.5M funding led by Eniac Ventures, Tidal Ventures

The San Mateo- and Bangalore-based firm plans to use the fresh funds to expand its 20-member engineering team, deepen product integrations, and support its enterprise client base.

Livspace makes a $5.5M bet on furniture hardware startup TplusA

Livspace founder Ramakant Sharma and Kedaara Capital’s Nishant Sharma also joined the funding round in a personal capacity.

Avendus Fund leads Rs 300 Cr investment in Aragen Life Sciences

Avendus’ Rs 300 crore bet on Aragen comes amid a surge in India’s CRDMO sector, as global pharma outsourcing accelerates and trade policy shifts raise questions over export exposure.

The Wealth Company backs Amnex Infotechnologies with Rs 460 Cr investment

Amnex Infotechnologies has developed more than 18 proprietary platforms that combine IoT, GIS, AI/ML, blockchain, and analytics to support large-scale, mission-critical operations.

Nikhil Kamath backs Goldi Solar with Rs 137 Cr investment

Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath bets Rs 137.5 crore on Goldi Solar to power India’s clean energy push with new solar cell capacity and expanded module production.

Vedanta Gains 1.5% on Dividend Review Plan

Vedanta shares rise 1.5% as the board plans to review a 2nd interim dividend. Source: ScoutQuest

RelInfra Secures NHPC's 390 MW BESS Project at ₹3.13/kWh

RelInfra wins NHPC's 390 MW BESS project at Rs 3.13/kWh tariff. The project includes 700 MWp solar DC and 780 MWh BESS capacity. Source: ScoutQuest

Waaree-Enel ₹3,500 Cr Deal Faces Collapse Over Unmet Terms

Waaree-Enel Green Power deal nears collapse over unmet conditions; breakup talks ongoing. Waaree had offered Rs 792 cr for Enel Green Power India; deal valued at Rs 3,500 cr. Source: The Economic Times

RIL, Hindustan Zinc, Trent in Focus Today

RIL, Hindustan Zinc, and Trent are highlighted stocks today. Investors are advised to evaluate opportunities in these stocks. Source: ScoutQuest

Reliance Infra Wins NHPC Solar-BESS Project at ₹3.13/kWh

Reliance Infra gets NHPC LOA for 700 MWp solar, 780 MWhr BESS. Project at INR 3.13/kWh; Reliance's clean energy capacity now 3 GWp solar, 3.5 GWhr BESS. Source: ScoutQuest

Silver Slips After White House Summit

Country: Commodity, Description: Silver fell below $38 per ounce on Tuesday, giving up the previous session’s gains as signs of progress in Ukraine peace negotiations dampened safe-haven demand. On Monday, US President Donald Trump met with European leaders to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, adding that he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin and was working to arrange a direct meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, followed by a potential trilateral summit. Meanwhile, attention turns to the Federal Reserve’s annual Jackson Hole symposium later this week, where global policymakers will debate labor market trends and the outlook for monetary policy. Fed Chair Jerome Powell is set to deliver remarks on the economy and the central bank’s policy framework. Additionally, investors await the July FOMC minutes, where multiple governors voted against the final decision for the first time since late 1993.

Japanese Shares Slip, SoftBank Retreats

Country: Japan, Description: The Nikkei 225 fell 0.2% to around 43,650 while the broader Topix shed 0.1% to 3,118 on Tuesday, as Japanese equities eased from record highs amid profit-taking and cautious sentiment. Investors kept a close eye on Russia-Ukraine peace efforts after US President Donald Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to prepare for a summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Markets also awaited Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole symposium later this week for signals on the future path of US interest rates. On the corporate front, SoftBank Group dropped 2%, retreating from all-time highs after reports that it plans a $2 billion investment in struggling US chipmaker Intel. Other notable decliners included Sanrio (-6.5%), Fujikura (-3.2%) and Mitsubishi UFJ (-2%).

Offshore Yuan Treads Narrow Range

Country: China, Description: The offshore yuan held near 7.19 per dollar on Tuesday, trading within a tight range as market focus shifts to the US Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium later this week for hints on policy direction and potential impacts on global currencies. Markets have been tracking the dollar amid expectations of a Fed pivot, pricing in an 84% chance of a 25-basis-point cut in September, down from 98% last week after stronger US wholesale and retail data tempered hopes of a larger move. In China, markets now await this week’s loan prime rate decision, with expectations leaning toward an unchanged stance. The People’s Bank of China pledged to refine its monetary policy framework, promising to adjust its moderately loose stance amid persistent weakness in the property sector. Elsewhere, investors also watched the meeting between US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and European leaders as Washington pushes Ukraine to accept a rapid peace deal.

Japan 10-Year Yield Rises for 7th Straight Session

Country: Japan, Description: Japan’s 10-year government bond yield climbed above 1.58% on Tuesday, extending its rally for a seventh straight session as traders increased bets on further Bank of Japan rate hikes. Data released Friday showed that Japan’s economy expanded more than expected in the second quarter, driven mainly by net exports despite headwinds from US tariffs, bolstering the case for a more hawkish policy stance. At the same time, the BOJ faces calls to drop an inflation gauge tied to domestic demand and wage growth that has constrained its tightening moves. Still, Governor Kazuo Ueda has struck a cautious tone, reiterating that “underlying inflation” remains below the bank’s 2% target. Meanwhile, Japanese officials played down remarks from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who argued the BOJ was “behind the curve” in what appeared to be pressure for quicker policy normalization.

Shares in Hong Kong Fall for 4th Session

Country: Hong Kong, Description: Hong Kong stocks slipped 35 points or 0.14% to 25,211 in early Tuesday trade, marking a fourth straight drop as U.S. futures softened ahead of a key central bank summit that could signal the path of U.S. interest rates. Sentiment remained fragile amid rising debt repayment risks in the city's property sector, with bond maturities projected to surge near 70% next year against a backdrop of falling sales. Tech and consumer names were broadly lower, as investors awaited the PBoC’s monthly loan prime rate review due Wednesday. In its quarterly report, the central bank indicated targeted support for the economy, suggesting restraint on massive easing despite July seeing China’s weakest month this year. Losses were offset by hopes of easing geopolitical tensions, as President Trump proposed a Putin–Zelensky meeting. Ascletis Pharma plunged 12% on a discounted share sale, while other pharma laggards included Sino Biopharma (-4.9%), Wuxi Biologics (-4.4%), CSPC (-3.3%), and Innovent (-2.5%).

Ukraine offers US $100B weapons deal for security guarantees

Summary: Zelenskyy's proposal would be funded by European partners and comes after Trump signaled a more supportive stance following meetings with Western leaders., Description: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a sweeping $100 billion weapons purchase proposal to the United States during high-stakes meetings at the White House on Monday, offering the massive deal in exchange for long-term American security guarantees for Ukraine. The Financial Times first reported that Ukraine's proposal includes purchasing $100 billion worth of American weapons to be...

Northern lights to dance across 15 states tonight

Summary: A minor geomagnetic storm will create optimal aurora viewing conditions between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Eastern time., Description: A minor geomagnetic storm is expected to bring northern lights to more than 15 U.S. states tonight, marking the latest in a series of heightened aurora displays as the sun continues its peak activity phase. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a G1 geomagnetic storm watch, with optimal viewing conditions anticipated between 11 p.m. and...

Palo Alto Networks founder steps down after 20 years as company tops Wall Street estimates

Summary: The cybersecurity giant also beat Q4 earnings expectations with $2.54 billion in revenue, up 16% year-over-year., Description: Palo Alto Networks delivered strong fourth-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations, while simultaneously announcing the retirement of founder and Chief Technology Officer Nir Zuk after two decades of leadership at the cybersecurity giant. The company reported Q4 revenue of $2.54 billion, up 16% year-over-year and slightly above analyst estimates of $2.50 billion. Non-GAAP...

Missouri AG Bailey to become FBI's first co-deputy director

Summary: Andrew Bailey will join Dan Bongino in an unprecedented dual leadership structure amid ongoing tensions within the bureau., Description: Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced Monday that he will resign from his position on September 8 to become the FBI's co-deputy director, joining Dan Bongino in an unprecedented dual leadership structure at the bureau. The appointment marks the first time in FBI history that the agency will have two deputy directors serving simultaneously . Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI...

Myanmar junta sets December election date amid civil war

Summary: The military announced polls will begin December 28, 2025, but opposition groups and international observers have condemned them as fraudulent., Description: Myanmar's military junta announced Monday that the first phase of general elections will begin December 28, 2025, setting a date for the country's first polls since the 2021 coup that ousted democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The multi-phase election, which will continue into January 2026, has been widely condemned by international observers as a sham designed to legitimize military rule amid...