Alphabet’s $3T Surge, Startup Funding Wave, Healthtech Shake-Up, Next-Gen Chips, Fintech Growth

1. Alphabet Achieves $3 Trillion Market Capitalization

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, broke records by reaching a $3 trillion market value faster than any other technology company. Analysts attribute this success to consistent revenue growth and bold investments in emerging technologies.

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2. Nothing Raises $200 Million for Consumer Electronics Expansion

London-based electronics manufacturer Nothing recently secured $200 million in Series C funding. This investment will support the development of new smartphone features and next-generation consumer devices. Industry observers note that the funding round attracted major venture capital firms.

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3. PharmEasy Clears Loan After Major Valuation Cut

Indian healthtech startup PharmEasy has announced the clearance of a significant loan from Goldman Sachs following a recent valuation reduction of nearly 90 percent. This development reflects the continuing changes and challenges in India’s digital health sector.

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4. MediaTek to Launch 2nm Smartphone Chip

Semiconductor company MediaTek revealed plans to launch its Dimensity 9500 chipset, built using an advanced 2-nanometer manufacturing process. The announcement signals upcoming innovation in smartphone performance and battery efficiency.

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5. Pelocal Raises $5 Million for Fintech Expansion

Fintech platform Pelocal has completed a $5 million Series A funding round, aiming to boost its digital payments infrastructure. The company intends to use the new capital for technology upgrades and market expansion.

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Tech & Startup Roundup: Google Data Ruling, OpenAI’s $1.1B Bet & Startup Wins

Google Ordered to Share Search Data Amid Antitrust Scrutiny

A U.S. judge has ordered Google to share its valuable search data with competitors, though the company avoided a forced Chrome browser divestiture. This is being seen as a major win for regulators in the global fight against Big Tech dominance. Read More


OpenAI Acquires Statsig and Appoints Indian-Origin CTO

OpenAI is going full throttle—announcing a $1.1 billion acquisition of product-testing startup Statsig and naming Vijaye Raji as its new CTO of applications. These moves show OpenAI’s push to expand its AI ecosystem and roll out more innovative products. Read More


Bengaluru’s PlatinumRx Raises $6 Million for Growth

Online pharmacy and tele-consultation platform PlatinumRx has secured $6 million in Series A funding led by Stellaris Venture Partners. The funds will fuel new fulfillment centers, team expansion, and affordable medicine delivery across India. Read More


Zanskar Bags ₹2.8 Crore Seed Funding for Pain-Care

Healthcare startup Zanskar has raised ₹2.8 crore in a seed round to expand its product portfolio and scale R&D in chronic pain management. The company also plans to boost digital presence and expand offline distribution. Read More


Lucy Guo Becomes Youngest Self-Made Billionaire

Tech entrepreneur Lucy Guo, co-founder of Scale AI, has officially entered Forbes’ billionaire list with a net worth of $1.3 billion. From trading Pokémon cards in school to backing AI ventures, her rise cements her as the youngest self-made billionaire. Read More


All these stories show how technology is making huge waves, from AI in the workplace and home to new ways for India to lead global innovation. Stay tuned for more fresh, easy-to-read updates on what matters most in tech.

Tech & Startup Roundup: CG Semi, Dolby Vision 2, OpenAI & More

1. OpenAI Plans Massive Data Center in India

Big news from OpenAI: the creators of ChatGPT are making serious moves in India! They’re setting up a gigantic data center—the kind that uses more than 1 gigawatt of power—to help power next-gen artificial intelligence tools. The project is part of OpenAI’s massive global “Stargate” initiative, which CEO Sam Altman will be talking more about when he visits India later this month. The company is also opening its first local office in New Delhi and signing up for partnerships with Indian officials and companies. The aim? To build local AI infrastructure and launch educational programs for Indian students and developers. There’s a lot of buzz that this could be one of the largest AI investments ever made in the country, a milestone for India’s growing tech ambitions.

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2. Dolby Vision 2 Promises Next-Level TV Picture Quality

TV lovers, get ready for a big leap in movie nights. Dolby has just rolled out Dolby Vision 2, a fancy upgrade to its iconic HDR tech. What’s new? The headline feature is “Content Intelligence” powered by AI that fine-tunes your TV’s settings based on what you’re watching, your room’s light, and even the kind of device you’re using. The tech means sharper dark scenes, richer colors, and motion controls so you won’t get that distracting “soap opera” look. There’s also a feature called “Authentic Motion” that lets filmmakers tweak each shot for true cinematic vibes. Plus, mainstream TVs get a boost, with brands like Hisense launching models built for Dolby Vision 2 this year.

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3. Salesforce Lays Off 4,000 Employees as AI Takes Over

Salesforce has let go of roughly 4,000 customer support staff, signaling just how fast AI is changing workplaces. Nearly fifty percent of Salesforce’s support staff were let go, and now AI systems manage almost half of all customer interactions. According to CEO Marc Benioff, AI agents are also reaching out to sales leads that humans just don’t have time for. This kind of “human-AI tag team” means routine jobs are becoming automated, and support reps now only step in for tricky cases. Benioff insists humans are still crucial, but the trend is clear: AI is shaking up how big companies operate.

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4. CG Semi Launches India’s First Full-Service OSAT Facility

India’s semiconductor scene just got a huge boost! CG Semi, part of the Murugappa Group, teamed up with Renesas and Stars Microelectronics to open one of the first full-service Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facilities in Gujarat. The plant can process about half a million chips a day and has high-tech gear for packaging, testing, and reliability checks. Another even bigger facility nearby is being built and will handle up to 14.5 million chips daily when complete next year. The project is set to generate over 5,000 jobs and is a big step toward making India self-reliant in chip-making, reducing dependence on imports for automotive, defense, and other industries.

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5. Samsung Integrates Microsoft Copilot AI in 2025 TVs

This means TV viewers will be able to ask questions, get recommendations, and even translate languages—all through voice or remote control. Copilot will sit inside the Samsung Vision AI platform and is available on popular models like Micro RGB, Neo QLED, OLED, and The Frame series. The partnership is about turning TVs into smart companions, tapping into Copilot’s conversational skills for searching info, learning, and even getting daily updates. The AI assistant is included for free in select markets.

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All these stories show how technology is making huge waves, from AI in the workplace and home to new ways for India to lead global innovation. Stay tuned for more fresh, easy-to-read updates on what matters most in tech.

Tech & Startup Roundup – 1 Sept 2025: Tesla Sell-Off, UPI Boom & AI Challenges

Korean Investors Are Saying Goodbye to Tesla… For Now

Lately, Tesla stock hasn’t been the favorite in South Korea. Retail investors have been offloading their shares, selling over $650 million worth recently. The buzz? People seem to be chasing excitement in the crypto world, especially with coins like Ethereum catching attention. Still, Tesla holds strong overall, with South Koreans investing nearly $22 billion in it—so it’s more of a shift than a full exit source.

UPI Hits a Historic 20 Billion Transactions

In India, the UPI system just broke a big record—more than 20 billion monthly transactions in August! That’s a leap of over a third from last year. And these transactions weren’t just small change; they summed up to a massive ₹24.85 lakh crore. What’s cooler? UPI’s not just an Indian thing anymore. It’s making waves in places like France, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Now that’s some serious growth source.

Meta’s Chatbots Have Been a Bit Naughty

Meta’s AI chatbots caused some stir by sometimes crossing lines with teenagers and sharing questionable health info. Meta acted fast and tightened the rules to keep the conversations friendlier and safer, especially for young users on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The company is clearly trying to keep control of its AI buddies source.

Drama at xAI: Engineer Accused of Taking Secrets

Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI, is in legal hot water with a former engineer accused of grabbing trade secrets before leaving to join OpenAI. The lawsuit claims this leak could give rivals a big leg up in AI development. Now, xAI wants the courts to stop him and get compensated for the damage done source.

Meta’s Scale AI Partnership Hits Some Turbulence

Things are a bit shaky between Meta and Scale AI—Meta’s big money investor in data annotation. There have been some departures, and teams aren’t thrilled about the data quality. Competitors are catching Meta’s eye, and it’s clear they’re exploring other options to keep their AI projects on track source.

Nvidia’s Mystery Customers Made Big Splash in Q2

Nvidia revealed that two secretive customers accounted for a massive 39% of its second-quarter revenue—definitely a big deal for the company. One took 23%, the other 16%, but no names were dropped. It’s all part of the booming AI demand keeping Nvidia on a high source.

Lovable’s Boss Staying Cool Amid Competition

Lovable, a Swedish startup that lets people create AI-powered apps without coding, is cool as a cucumber despite the vibe-coding hype. CEO Anton Osika shared they’ve just hit $100 million in yearly revenue and raised $200 million more to grow bigger and better. Looks like they’ve found their groove and are sticking to it source.

Chatbots Can Be Tricked With Some Sweet Talk

Have you heard that chatbots might have a soft spot? Researchers found that flattery and peer pressure can fool AI assistants like GPT-4 into bending the rules and giving out stuff they shouldn’t. It’s an eye-opener on AI’s vulnerabilities and how important safeguards really are source.

Job Cuts at PokerBaazi and MPL After Real-Money Gaming Ban

The Indian real-money gaming ban is biting hard into companies like PokerBaazi and MPL, which have had to reduce their workforce significantly source.

KRAFTON is Betting Big on India’s Gaming Scene

PUBG’s parent company KRAFTON announced it will invest a hefty $50 million annually in India to boost local game creation, jobs, and grow its user base. Despite some hurdles, they clearly see a bright future for gaming in the country  source.

TikTok Rolls Out Voice Notes & Media Sharing in DMs

TikTok is stepping up its direct messaging game with new features like voice notes and the ability to share up to nine photos or videos in chats. The update makes TikTok’s messaging feel more like WhatsApp or Instagram, while giving Gen Z a new way to connect beyond just sharing videos.

Key Takeaway:
With voice notes up to 60 seconds and safer media sharing options, TikTok aims to be more than just an entertainment app — it wants to become a regular communication hub for its users.

Read more: Techcrunch

New AI Ransomware “PromptLock” Discovered

Cybersecurity experts have uncovered a new AI-powered ransomware called PromptLock, and it’s making waves in the security world. Unlike traditional ransomware, PromptLock uses advanced AI techniques to execute attacks more efficiently, making it harder to detect and defend against.

What makes PromptLock even scarier is its ability to adapt and change its attack patterns, which means standard security tools might not be enough. Experts warn businesses and individuals to update their systems, use strong authentication, and keep regular backups to stay safe.

This discovery highlights a new trend: cybercriminals leveraging AI to make ransomware smarter and more dangerous. The big question now is—are our current security measures ready for this next-gen threat?

Read more:Wired

Perplexity’s Big Shift: How Publishers Finally Get Paid for Their Content in AI Search

Perplexity has launched a new, transparent revenue share program for publishers, aiming to compensate media outlets when their content is used or referenced in AI-powered search results and tasks.

How Perplexity’s Revenue Share Works

Perplexity’s initiative introduces a subscription tier called Comet Plus, priced at $5 per month, that enables publishers to earn money through three channels:

  • Users will now be directed straight to publisher websites via the Comet browser.
  • When publisher content is cited in search answers.
  • When the AI agent uses content to fulfill user tasks.
    Unlike traditional ad-supported models, this program pools subscription revenues and distributes 80% directly to publishers, with Perplexity keeping 20% for operational costs.

Funding and Payouts

The program starts with an initial $42.5 million revenue pool dedicated to publisher compensation, with plans to grow this fund as subscriptions increase. Payments will be calculated based on how frequently a publisher’s content is used in AI search results, cited in answers, or utilized by AI agents.

Industry Impact and Reception

This model is one of the first by an AI startup to transparently share revenues based on actual content usage, representing a shift from the multimillion-dollar exclusive licensing deals common with AI giants like OpenAI and Google. This move comes as a response to criticism that AI tools exploit journalism without fair return and is intended to set a more balanced compensation model in the age of AI.

Publisher Participation

Perplexity is actively seeking major publishing partners and has previously worked with outlets like TIME, Fortune, the LA Times, Blavity, and Der Spiegel. While specific new partners for Comet Plus haven’t been disclosed, the company emphasizes that the program is open to collaboration and feedback from the media industry.

The Fresh Take

With the launch of Comet Plus and this revenue-share model, Perplexity is attempting to set a precedent for sustainable media monetization in the AI-driven web. It emphasizes transparency, direct payouts based on actual usage, and an open invitation to publishers to help refine the system—moving beyond ad clicks and traffic, toward a business model designed for the modern search experience.

Read more: Bloomberg, ET

Meta Teams Up with Midjourney to Bring Stunning Visuals to AI

Meta just dropped an exciting update for AI enthusiasts—it’s partnering with Midjourney to integrate their cutting-edge aesthetic technology into Meta’s future AI products. The goal? To make AI not just smart, but visually beautiful.

According to Meta, this collaboration is more than just a licensing deal. It’s a technical partnership where both research teams will work closely to push the boundaries of AI creativity. And honestly, it makes sense. Midjourney has already set the bar high in the world of AI-generated art, so combining that with Meta’s scale could be game-changing.

Meta is going all-in to deliver top-notch products—bringing together world-class talent, huge computing resources, and strategic partnerships with leading industry players. With Midjourney’s visual flair and Meta’s ambitious roadmap, this could reshape how we experience AI-generated content across social media and beyond.

The companies are keeping details under wraps for now, but they promise more updates soon. If this is just the beginning, the future of AI visuals might be a whole lot more beautiful.

xAI Open-Sources Grok 2.5: A Bold Move in AI World

Elon Musk is back in the spotlight, and this time it’s not about rockets or EVs. His AI company, xAI, just made a big announcement – Grok 2.5 is now open source. Yep, the same advanced language model that’s been grabbing attention is now free for developers and researchers to play with.

So Why Does This Matter?

Well, Grok 2.5 isn’t just another chatbot brain. It’s built to compete with the big guns like GPT and Google’s Gemini. By opening it up, xAI is giving everyone – from indie coders to tech giants – the chance to experiment, tweak, and build on top of a powerful model without paying hefty licensing fees.

What Makes This Different?

Here’s the interesting part: most AI companies keep their models under lock and key. But Musk is taking a different route, betting on transparency and community-driven progress. This move not only levels the playing field but also speeds up innovation in areas like chatbots, enterprise tools, and AI-driven apps.

Why Would Musk Do This?

Probably to challenge the growing dominance of closed AI ecosystems. Plus, let’s be honest, open-source projects often grow faster because thousands of brains work on them instead of just one company’s team.

What Does It Mean for Developers and Businesses?

For developers, this is honestly a big deal. Imagine building apps with serious AI power without burning through your budget – that’s what this unlocks. Businesses can finally tinker with custom AI tools without being stuck paying crazy fees to big vendors.

The Bigger Picture

And for the AI world? It feels like a push toward making this stuff way more accessible to everyone, not just big tech. It’s not just xAI making bold moves. OpenAI has also opened parts of ChatGPT to the public. Two new open-weight models—gpt-oss-20B and gpt-oss-120B—are now available under the Apache 2.0 license. The smaller one runs on laptops, while the bigger model works on desktops or cloud GPUs. This marks a clear trend: even AI giants are embracing openness, and xAI’s Grok 2.5 release shows the competition is heating up.

The Takeaway

Grok 2.5 going open source isn’t just another update in the news feed – it’s a bold move that could seriously shake up the whole AI race.

GPT-5 Buzz vs Reality: Why It Didn’t Live Up to the Hype

When OpenAI announced GPT-5, the internet went wild. Threads on Reddit, endless tweets, and tech influencers all hinted at one thing: this was going to be the upgrade. People imagined an AI so advanced that it could practically run businesses, write flawless code, and maybe even predict your next thought.

The reality? GPT-5 is good, no doubt, but it’s not the earth-shattering leap that marketing made it sound like. Here’s why the buzz was so big — and why expectations didn’t quite match reality.


Why GPT-5 Created So Much Noise

OpenAI knows how to build hype. Before launch, the company teased big phrases like “PhD-level intelligence” and introduced a new feature called Agent Mode. Social media picked it up, and soon the narrative was clear: GPT-5 was going to change everything.

People started imagining an AI that would not just answer questions but act like a personal digital employee — booking meetings, managing tasks, even running your projects. Add to that the usual chatter about “the next step towards the future,” and expectations went through the roof.


The Real Improvements

Now, let’s be fair. GPT-5 is definitely better than GPT-4. It brings:

  • Stronger reasoning skills: Great for complex, multi-step tasks.
  • Better context retention: Conversations feel smoother without losing the thread.
  • Model routing: GPT-5 can choose between models for speed and accuracy.
  • Agent Mode (beta): Designed to break big tasks into steps and execute them.

For power users — developers, analysts, and advanced researchers — these upgrades matter a lot. If you need AI for logic-heavy work, GPT-5 is a solid step forward.


So, Where Did It Fall Short?

For everyday users, the change isn’t dramatic. Writing emails, summarizing docs, or brainstorming ideas? GPT-4 already handled those well, and GPT-5 doesn’t feel like a game-changer here.

The most hyped feature, Agent Mode, is still rough around the edges. It’s slow, sometimes overcomplicates tasks, and feels more experimental than production-ready. Great idea, but not yet the AI assistant that replaces half your apps.

Another challenge? Expectation management. Marketing set the bar so high that anything short of magic was going to feel disappointing.


The Verdict: A Step Forward, Not a Leap

GPT-5 is not a flop. It’s a solid, thoughtful update that improves reasoning, context, and efficiency. But it’s not the “mind-blowing” jump some hoped for. Think of it as part of a marathon, not a sprint.

If you’re into deep problem-solving, GPT-5 is worth trying. If you were expecting a miracle worker, you might want to temper your expectations. The AI race is heating up, and GPT-5 is another sign that progress is real — just not overnight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlP7QNPEkQARead more on: OpenAI, Fortune