Daily Strategic Briefing

Search-capable AI agents may cheat on benchmark tests

Data contamination can make models seem more capable than they really are Researchers with Scale AI have found that search-based AI models may cheat on benchmark tests by fetching the answers directly from online sources rather than deriving those answers through a "reasoning" process.…

VirtualBox 7.2 fixes flaky 3D guests and adds Arm-on-Arm support

Oracle-backed FOSS hypervisor a worthy rival to Hyper-V and VMware hands on  VirtualBox 7.2 is here, bringing improved Arm-on-Arm virtualization features and better 3D acceleration support.…

The Unix Epochalypse might be sooner than you think

Museum boffins find code that crashes in 2037 A stark warning about the upcoming Epochalypse, also known as the "Year 2038 problem," has come from the past, as National Museum Of Computing system restorers have discovered an unsetting issue while working on ancient systems.…

US government snaps up 10% of Intel for $8.9B

The funds were already allocated under the CHIPS Act and Secure Enclave program Congratulations America, your government now owns 10 percent of troubled domestic chipmaker Intel.…

Google games numbers to make AI look less thirsty

Datacenters' drinking habit exaggerated, claims report comparing apples to oranges AI's drinking habit has been grossly overstated, according to a newly published report from Google, which claims that software advancements have cut Gemini's water consumption per prompt to roughly five drops of water — substantially less than prior estimates.…

OpenAI warns against SPVs and other ‘unauthorized’ investments

Summary:

OpenAI isn’t the only AI company looking to crack down on SPVs.

Amazon AGI Labs chief defends his reverse acquihire

Summary:

The former Adept CEO said he hopes to be “remembered more as “an AI research innovator” than a “a deal structure innovator.”

Meta partners with Midjourney on AI image and video models

Summary:

Meta’s chief AI officer said that the company is partnering with Midjourney to license its AI image and video model technology.

Coinbase CEO explains why he fired engineers who didn’t try AI immediately

Summary:

After getting licenses to cover every engineer, some at the cryptocurrency exchange warned Armstrong that adoption would be slow, predicting it would take months to get even half the engineers using AI. 

Apple gets ready for AI in the enterprise with new ChatGPT configuration options

Summary:

Apple will let businesses configure ChatGPT enterprise access in the fall.

Goldiam raises Rs 202 Cr to scale lab-grown diamond retail play

The Mumbai-based exporter goes deeper into consumer jewellery, with plans for up to 90 ORIGEM stores, in one of India’s largest fundraises for lab-grown diamonds.

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.

Boundless Ventures launches Rs 200 Cr fund to invest in Indian AI startups

Boundless Ventures' new fund will invest at the seed and pre-seed stages, and has already invested in six startups.

R for Rabbit raises $27M in Series B round led by Filter Capital and 3one4 Capital

The company plans to use the fresh capital to expand distribution, invest in product development, and strengthen digital initiatives.

Motilal Oswal Alternates raises $800M in first close of fifth PE Fund

The firm said that Fund V will primarily target mid-market investments of $40 million to $80 million across consumer, financial services, healthcare, technology-led businesses, and niche manufacturing.

360 ONE Returns $2.1B, Plans New PE-VC Fund

360 ONE Asset returned $2.1B to investors via recent exits. The firm leverages exit success to drive new PE-VC fund growth. Source: Live Mint

CRISIL Assigns Negative Outlook to IndusInd Bank's Long-Term Rating

CRISIL removes IndusInd Bank's long-term rating from negative watch, reaffirms at CRISIL AA. Negative outlook assigned to IndusInd Bank's long-term rating by CRISIL. Source: ScoutQuest

Zen Tech Gains 5%, Down 39% YTD on Weak Sales

Zen Technologies rises 5.0% to Rs 492.85 but is down 21.1% in a month. YTD fall of 38.9% linked to interest costs, lower quarterly sales. Source: Marketsmojo

Federal Bank Slides 1.7% on Weak Q1, High Valuation

Federal Bank falls 1.7% to 196.45, underperforming its sector on 22 Aug. Disappointing quarterly results and high valuation weigh on stock despite strong growth outlook. Source: Marketsmojo

AGI Infra Gains 11.9% in a Month, Hits ₹1,176

AGI Infra's stock rose to ₹1,176 on Aug 22, showing an 11.9% monthly return. Despite lower investor participation, strong fundamentals and growth sustain its investment appeal. Source: Marketsmojo

Brunei Consumer Prices Drop the Least in 3 Months

Country: Brunei, Description: Consumer prices in Brunei fell 0.2% year-on-year in July 2025, easing from a 0.6% drop in the previous month and marking the smallest decline since April. The cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages decreased at the softest pace in three months (-0.4% vs -0.7% in June). At the same time, prices continued to drop for housing and utilities (-0.1% vs -0.1%), transport (-0.2% vs -0.7%), communication (-0.3% vs -0.3%), recreation and culture (-2.3% vs -2.3%), and miscellaneous goods and services (-0.2% vs -0.1%). Simultaneously, inflation held steady for health (1.0%) and furnishings and household maintenance (0.1%), while quickening for restaurants and hotels (0.3% vs 0.2%) and education (0.3% vs 0.2%). Notably, clothing and footwear prices rebounded (2.5% vs -5.4%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices decreased by 0.2%, following a 0.03% dip in June and pointing to the third consecutive month of declines.

Crypto currencies rising on Friday

Country: Crypto, Description: Gains across the board, Ether rose 13.90%, and Bitcoin posted a 3.72% increase.

Agricultural Commodities Updates: Coffee Rises by 3.57%

Country: Commodity, Description: Top commodity gainers are Coffee (3.57%), Cocoa (2.55%) and Orange Juice (1.75%). Biggest losers are Oat (-2.02%), Rice (-1.79%) and Lumber (-1.61%).

Metals Commodities Updates: Silicon Rises by 4.81%

Country: Commodity, Description: Top commodity gainers are Silicon (4.81%), Silver (1.92%), Steel Rebar (1.02%) and Gold (0.95%). Biggest losers are Iron Ore CNY (-0.58%).

Energy Commodities Updates: Natural gas Drops by 4.78%

Country: Commodity, Description: Top commodity losers are Natural gas (-4.78%), Methanol (-1.04%) and Heating Oil (-0.69%). Gains are led by Ethanol (2.54%), Natural Gas UK GBP (1.19%), Uranium (1.09%), Crude Oil WTI (0.39%) and Brent Crude Oil (0.21%).

SpaceX attempts to break explosive Starship streak Sunday

Summary: The tenth test flight follows three consecutive failures in 2025, with each mission ending in spectacular explosions., Description: SpaceX is preparing for its tenth Starship test flight on Sunday evening, attempting to break a devastating streak of explosive failures that has cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars and raised serious questions about the rocket's readiness for NASA's lunar missions. The launch window opens at 6:30 p.m. Central Time from the company's Starbase facility in Texas. The upcoming test...

Pentagon blocks Ukraine from using US long-range missiles

Summary: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has final authority over ATACMS deployments, with at least one strike request already denied since spring., Description: The Pentagon has quietly implemented a secretive review process that has effectively blocked Ukraine from using U.S.-made long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia for months, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Saturday. The undisclosed approval mechanism gives Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth final authority over Ukrainian deployments of Army Tactical Missile Systems...

U.S. mines are throwing away defense minerals we desperately need

Summary: Analysis shows recovering less than 10% of discarded cobalt could supply America's entire battery market while eliminating import dependence., Description: A new analysis reveals the United States is discarding vast quantities of critical minerals essential for national defense and clean energy technology, even as the country struggles with supply chain vulnerabilities and import dependence on adversarial nations like China. Research published this week in the journal Science shows that nearly all critical minerals the U.S. needs annually for...

SpaceX preps double launch weekend with ISS cargo, Starship

Summary: The aerospace giant plans cargo resupply mission early Sunday followed by tenth Starship test flight that evening., Description: SpaceX is set for a busy weekend with two major launches scheduled for Sunday, August 24, marking a pivotal moment for the company's ambitious space exploration programs. The aerospace giant plans to conduct both its tenth Starship test flight and launch its 33rd cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station within hours of each other. The weekend begins early Sunday morning at 2:45...

ECB credits immigration with preventing European recession

Summary: Christine Lagarde says foreign workers helped Europe bring down inflation while maintaining steady growth despite representing only 9% of the labor force., Description: European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde credited immigration with helping Europe navigate post-pandemic economic recovery without triggering severe recession, speaking Saturday at the Federal Reserve's annual Jackson Hole symposium in Wyoming. "A key factor has been the rise in both the number and participation rate of foreign workers," Lagarde said during her remarks at the...

South Korea, Japan pledge deeper ties before Trump summit

Summary: Leaders issued their first joint statement in 17 years, coordinating on North Korea threats and preparing for economic pressures., Description: South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged deeper security and economic cooperation during a two-hour summit in Tokyo on Saturday, positioning their countries as unified partners ahead of Lee's crucial meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday. The leaders agreed to strengthen trilateral cooperation with Washington and coordinate closely on...

France summons Italian envoy as comments expose Ukraine divisions

Summary: Italy's deputy PM told Macron to "grab a rifle" and go to Ukraine himself instead of proposing European troop deployments., Description: France summoned Italy's ambassador on Friday after Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini mocked French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to deploy European troops in Ukraine, telling the French leader to "put on a helmet, grab a rifle, and go to Ukraine yourself." The diplomatic protest highlights deepening divisions within Europe over military support for Ukraine and marks the latest...