Daily Strategic Briefing

Weird ideas welcome: VC fund looking to make science fiction factual

Nuclear power is getting hot, but don't hold your breath for everlasting batteries A venture capital fund is looking for ideas that are out of bounds for traditional investors, seeding technology that may only come to fruition decades down the line, but where researchers can show real results in the lab.…

Who gets a Mac at work? Here's how companies decide

You can't always get what you want Most corporate laptop fleets consist primarily of PCs. However, there’s always a contingent of users who beg for Macs. Deciding who gets a Mac in your organization involves balancing IT’s need for simplicity, finance’s requirement to keep costs under control, and users’ desire to work with their preferred tools.…

Chinese phishing kit helps scammers who send fake texts impersonate TikTok, Coinbase, others

Researchers tracking 2,158 domains hosting YYlaiyu phishing pages Exclusive  A Chinese-developed phishing kit hosted on thousands of domains and boasting 97 different brands to make criminals' scams look more believable is driving a surge in financial fraud around the globe, according to security researchers.…

OpenAI GPT-5: great taste, less filling, now with 30% less bias

AI model maker touts effort to depoliticize its product OpenAI says GPT-5 has 30 percent less political bias than its prior AI models.…

Managers are throwing entry-level workers under the bus in race to adopt AI

Does it work? Inconclusive. Still, 55% of business leaders say that adopting AI is worth the impact on workers ai-pocalypse  Business leaders are racing to jump aboard the AI bandwagon, and a new study from the British Standards Institute suggests young college grads are being hit hardest.…

Thinking Machines Lab co-founder Andrew Tulloch heads to Meta

Summary:

AI researcher Andrew Tulloch reportedly announced his departure to employees in a message on Friday.

Ready or not, enterprises are betting on AI

Summary:

This has been a big week for AI companies signing enterprise deals, with Zendesk unveiling new AI agents that are supposed to be able to resolve 80% of customer service issues, Anthropic and IBM announcing a strategic partnership, and Deloitte also announcing a deal with Anthropic.

It’s not too late for Apple to get AI right

Summary:

Apple still has a shot at leading the AI-powered app era. As OpenAI launches its ChatGPT app platform, Apple’s smarter Siri and deep ecosystem could keep it ahead.

The fixer’s dilemma: Chris Lehane and OpenAI’s impossible mission

Summary:

The company’s Sora problem is really at the root of everything else.

Why Deloitte is betting big on AI despite a $10M refund

Summary:

AI companies are making their much-anticipated enterprise plays, but the results are wildly inconsistent. Just this week, Deloitte announced it’s rolling out Anthropic’s Claude to all 500,000 employees. On the very same day, the Australian government forced Deloitte to refund a contract because their AI-generated report was riddled with fake citations. It’s a perfect snapshot […]

Predictive AI firm Intangles grabs $30M funding led by Avataar Venture Partners

Using IoT, AI, and digital twin technology, Intangles helps vehicle OEMs and fleet operators with proactive vehicle health monitoring and maintenance.

Dhan parent co Raise Financial Services joins unicorn club as it raises $120M from Hornbill, others

The round also included Ramesh Damani, DSP Family Office, JM Financial Family Office, Aashish Somaiyaa, and several other investors. Existing backer Beenext participated as well.

Meolaa raises $6M in pre-series A round led by General Catalyst

Meolaa said the latest capital infusion will be used to build AI infrastructure, accelerate new digital-first brand launches, and expand its market presence.

Cybersecurity firm Pantherun Technologies secures $12M funding for international expansion

Pantherun will expand into global markets, boost R&D for its advanced encryption technology, and launch new cross-platform security solutions for devices, cloud, and edge systems.

B2B ecommerce platform JSW One closes Rs 575 Cr funding round, adds SBI to cap table

The JSW Steel-backed JSW One Platforms clocked 2.4x growth in FY25, with a gross merchandise value (GMV) of Rs 12,567 crore. It is currently targeting Rs 8,000 crore in GMV during the first half of FY26.

TCS Trades Ex-Dividend, ₹11/Share Payout on Nov 4

TCS shares trade ex-dividend from Oct 15; dividend payout of ₹11/share on Nov 4. TCS offers 4.2% yield but paid 100% of cash flow as dividends, raising concerns. Source: Simply Wall Street

Tata Capital, LG India IPOs to Test Market Strength

Tata Capital and LG Electronics India to debut in Mumbai after major IPOs. Their listings aim to test the strength of India's booming equity market. Source: Business Standard

Sensex Rises 329 Pts Ahead of Q2 Results, CPI Data

Sensex rose 329 pts (0.4%) to 82,500.82, Nifty gained 104 pts (0.41%) to 25,285.35, led by technology, pharma, and banking. Key triggers include Q2 results (Infosys, HDFC Bank, Reliance), CPI/WPI data, FII activity, gold prices, and Trump's China tariffs. Source: Livemint

Google's ₹87,520 Cr Data Hub in Vizag

Vizag to host Google's Raiden Infotech Rs 87,520 crore, 1 GW data centre cluster. Three campuses planned in Tarluvada, Adavivaram, and Rambilli in Visakhapatnam. Source: The Times of India

CBI Probes Reliance ADA, Yes Bank for SEBI Rule Violations

CBI alleges Reliance ADA, Yes Bank, and RNMF engaged in structured transactions to bypass SEBI regulations and conceal financial stress. CBI claims mutual quid pro quo enabled RNMF's large investments in Yes Bank and ADA Group firms, involving public funds. Source: The Economic Times

China 10Y Bond Yield Hits 5-week Low

Country: China, Description: China 10 Year Government Bond Yield decreased to 1.74%, the lowest since September 2025. Over the past 4 weeks, China 10Y Bond Yield gained 5.00 basis points, and in the last 12 months, it decreased 26.60 basis points.

Air Liquide Stock Price Hits 26-week Low

Country: France, Description: Air Liquide shares decreased to 168.52 EUR, the lowest since April 2025. Over the past 4 weeks, Air Liquide lost 4.3%, and in the last 12 months, it decreased 0.69%.

Senegal Inflation Rate at 1-1/2 Year-High of 2.6%

Country: Senegal, Description: Senegal’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 2.6% in September 2025, up from August’s 2.2%, marking the highest level since March 2024. The increase was mainly driven by a faster rise in prices for food products and non-alcoholic beverages (4.9% vs 3.8% in August), which recorded the fastest increase in 18 months. Prices also accelerated for transport (2.5% vs 1.7%), health (2.1% vs 1.8%), and alcoholic beverages and tobacco (8.4% vs 7.5%). On the other hand, housing and utilities inflation moderated (1.0% vs 1.3%), while clothing and footwear inflation was steady (at 0.7%). In contrast, prices in the information and communication sector continued to drop (-3.2% vs -3.1%). Excluding energy and fresh products, the core index rose 4.8% year-on-year, accelerating from a 4.5% increase in August. On a monthly basis, consumer prices climbed 1.3% in September, following a 1.0% gain in August.

Crypto currencies dropping on Friday

Country: Crypto, Description: Bitcoin and Ether are experiencing declines. Ether has slipped -10.94%. Bitcoin is down -6.16%.

Agricultural Commodities Updates: Wool Drops by 3.07%

Country: Commodity, Description: Top commodity losers are Wool (-3.07%), Cocoa (-1.84%) and Wheat (-1.82%). Gains are led by Rubber (1.77%).

China defends rare earth controls as Trump threatens 100% tariffs

Summary: Beijing calls new export restrictions "legitimate" national security measures, while Trump condemns them as "hostile" and casts doubt on planned Xi meeting., Description: China has doubled down on its defense of new rare earth export controls, calling them "legitimate" measures to protect national security, as trade tensions escalate sharply with the United States following President Donald Trump's threat of additional 100% tariffs. The confrontation, which erupted after Beijing announced sweeping new restrictions on October 9, has cast doubt over a planned...

Cuba denies US claim of troops fighting in Ukraine

Summary: Havana calls allegations "slanderous" as Washington lobbies against UN embargo vote, citing Cuba's alleged support for Russia's war effort., Description: Cuba's Foreign Ministry on Saturday categorically rejected US allegations that Cuban troops are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, calling the accusations "slanderous" and "unfounded" as tensions escalate ahead of a crucial United Nations vote on the American embargo. The denial marks the first time Havana has publicly detailed its prosecution of Cuban citizens for mercenary...

No survivors found after Tennessee explosives plant blast

Summary: Over 300 searchers recovered no survivors at the destroyed military explosives facility, with debris scattered over half a mile., Description: A devastating explosion at a military explosives plant in rural Tennessee left no survivors among the 16-18 workers presumed dead, authorities confirmed Saturday in an emotional announcement that marked one of the deadliest industrial accidents in recent memory. Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis, visibly shaken and fighting back tears, told reporters that over 300 searchers had combed...

Trump eliminates nearly all staff overseeing special education funding

Summary: The layoffs decimated the office administering $15 billion in federal funding that serves approximately 9.5 million students with disabilities nationwide., Description: The Trump administration has eliminated nearly all staff from the Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services during federal shutdown layoffs, decimating oversight of $15 billion in funding for students with disabilities and raising alarm bells among educators and advocates nationwide. The mass layoffs, which began Friday as part of a broader...

At least 60 killed in RSF attack on Sudan displacement camp

Summary: A drone and artillery strike hit the Dar al-Arqam shelter in besieged El-Fasher, with victims burned to death inside., Description: The devastating assault on Saturday morning marked one of the deadliest single attacks on civilians since the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began besieging El-Fasher 18 months ago, transforming Sudan's last army stronghold in Darfur into what activists describe as an "open-air morgue." A drone and artillery strike by the RSF on the Dar al-Arqam displacement camp in El-Fasher killed at least...