- Anthropic Ships Opus 5: Anthropic launched Claude Opus 5, its most capable model yet, raising the bar in the AI race against OpenAI and Google.
- AMD Takes On Nvidia: AMD unveiled its Helios rack-scale AI system — a full "AI supercomputer in a box" aimed directly at Nvidia's data-center dominance.
- Flipkart Enters Food Delivery: Walmart-backed Flipkart is preparing a food-delivery service to take on Zomato, Swiggy and Rapido.
- WhatsApp Climbs UPI: WhatsApp Pay overtook CRED in UPI transaction volume in June, though PhonePe and Google Pay still lead by a wide margin.
International Tech News
1. Anthropic launches Claude Opus 5
Anthropic unveiled Claude Opus 5, its newest and most capable large language model, pushing further ahead in a fast-moving race against OpenAI and Google. Frontier-model upgrades ripple straight into the coding tools, AI agents and enterprise apps that businesses lean on every day, so a smarter Opus tends to lift the whole ecosystem built on top of it. The launch also intensifies the competitive pressure on rivals to answer with their own flagship releases.
2. AMD unveils its "Helios" AI rack to challenge Nvidia
AMD launched Helios, a rack-scale AI system that bundles GPUs, CPUs and networking into a full server rack aimed squarely at Nvidia's grip on AI data-center hardware. Real competition at the rack level could ease the punishing supply crunches and bring down the eye-watering cost of AI compute for cloud providers and startups alike. It marks AMD's clearest attempt yet to sell entire AI systems, not just chips.
3. Anduril in talks to raise at a $100 billion valuation
Defense-tech maker Anduril is reportedly negotiating fresh funding that would value it at around $100 billion — more than triple its valuation a year ago. The jump signals just how much capital is now flooding into defense drones and autonomous military systems as governments rearm and modernize. If it closes, the round would cement Anduril as one of the most valuable private companies in the world.
4. Sam Altman's "World" raises $52.5 million via token sale
World, the eyeball-scanning digital-identity project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, raised $52.5 million through a cryptocurrency token sale. The raise doubles down on World's "prove you're human" pitch at exactly the moment AI bots are flooding the internet and platforms are scrambling for reliable proof-of-personhood. Critics remain wary of the biometric data at the heart of the project, keeping it a lightning rod for privacy debate.
5. Rivian sues the US government over Trump-era tariffs
EV maker Rivian filed a lawsuit against the US government seeking a full refund of tariffs it paid under the Trump administration. A favorable ruling could set a precedent for other automakers and tech importers fighting to recover steep duties on components and finished goods. The case underscores how tariff policy has become a direct line item — and now a legal battleground — for hardware companies.
6. Midjourney acquires astrology app Co-Star
AI image-generation firm Midjourney acquired Co-Star, the popular astrology app, in an unexpected move well beyond its core image business. The deal hints that Midjourney wants to build consumer-facing apps and personalization layers rather than remain a pure image-generation tool. It's an early sign of AI-native companies expanding sideways into lifestyle products to reach broader audiences.
7. Facebook launches a standalone Marketplace seller app
Meta rolled out a dedicated Facebook Marketplace seller app and added free verification for merchants, a fresh push to win small sellers away from eBay, Etsy and local classifieds. Giving sellers a focused tool — plus trust signals like verification — is aimed at making Marketplace a more serious commerce destination. It also deepens Meta's ambitions in social commerce as it looks for growth beyond advertising.
8. Apple launches "Apple Upgrade" lease-to-own with Klarna
Apple is rolling out Apple Upgrade, a lease-to-own program in partnership with Klarna that covers iPhone, iPad, Mac and Watch, starting July 28. By lowering the upfront price of its hardware, Apple can pull in more buyers, smooth its upgrade cycle and lock customers deeper into its ecosystem. It's a notable shift for a company long associated with premium, pay-in-full pricing.
India Tech News
1. WhatsApp overtakes CRED in UPI volume; PhonePe still leads
In June, WhatsApp Pay pushed past CRED in UPI transaction volume, though PhonePe and Google Pay remain far ahead at the top of India's payments stack. Meta's slow-burn payments play is finally gaining real traction on the UPI rails after years of limited rollout. Even a modest climb matters given WhatsApp's enormous reach across Indian users, hinting at fresh competition in an otherwise duopoly-heavy market.
2. Flipkart to enter food delivery, taking on Zomato and Swiggy
Flipkart is preparing to launch a food-delivery service, setting up a direct fight with Zomato, Swiggy and Rapido in one of India's most brutal markets. A deep-pocketed, Walmart-backed entrant with an existing logistics and quick-commerce footprint could genuinely shake up the delivery landscape. The move fits Flipkart's broader push to become an everyday app spanning shopping, groceries and now meals.
3. Eternal, Zomato's parent, sees Q1 profit triple
Eternal — the parent of Zomato and Blinkit — reported Q1 FY27 profit tripling to about Rs 92 crore, with revenue surging a striking 182% year-on-year. The numbers show that food delivery and quick commerce can be both fast-growing and profitable, easing long-standing doubts about the sector's unit economics. Strong results also strengthen Eternal's hand just as Flipkart threatens to enter its turf.
4. Meesho narrows its Q1 loss by 54%
Value-commerce platform Meesho cut its Q1 FY27 net loss by 54% to Rs 132.8 crore, while operating revenue grew 48% year-on-year, ahead of its planned IPO. Sharply shrinking losses paired with strong top-line growth make for a far more convincing public-market story. It's another sign that India's e-commerce challengers are finally prioritizing the path to profitability.
5. Fractal posts Rs 72 crore profit on Rs 913 crore revenue
AI and analytics firm Fractal reported Rs 72 crore in profit on Rs 913 crore of revenue for Q1 FY27, a rare example of an Indian AI-services company posting solid, profitable growth at scale. As enterprises worldwide pour money into data and AI transformation, well-positioned Indian analytics players are riding the wave. Profitable results also keep Fractal firmly in the conversation as a strong IPO candidate.
6. BusinessNext raises $40 million from ServiceNow Ventures
Banking-software maker BusinessNext raised a $40 million Series C led by ServiceNow Ventures at a roughly $700 million valuation. A marquee US strategic investor backing an Indian B2B SaaS company underscores how the country's enterprise-tech sector is maturing beyond consumer apps. Strategic capital like this often brings product and go-to-market tie-ups, giving BusinessNext a real shot at scaling globally.
7. CARPL.ai raises $10 million from the World Bank's IFC
Medical-imaging AI marketplace CARPL.ai raised a $10 million Series A led by the International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group, to expand globally. Development capital flowing into Indian healthtech AI signals confidence that these tools can deliver real-world clinical impact, not just hype. The backing also gives CARPL credibility as it courts hospitals and health systems abroad.
8. Farm Watt Innovations bags Rs 32.5 crore for agri-energy
Agri-tech and bioenergy startup Farm Watt Innovations raised Rs 32.5 crore in a round backed by IAN Alpha Fund and Zerodha's Rainmatter, aimed at aggregating farm biomass for cleaner energy. Climate and agri-tech continue to attract serious capital as investors chase India's rural energy and productivity upside. Rainmatter's involvement in particular signals patient, mission-driven money entering the space.
9. Home-services startup Wiffy raises $3 million
Wiffy, a home-services platform for installation and maintenance, raised a $3 million Series A led by Earth Fund to strengthen its technology. India's organized home-services space keeps drawing investors chasing the playbook proven by Urban Company. As more households book repairs and installs through apps, backers are betting the category still has plenty of room to grow.
10. Pronto expands AI home cameras with a "Verified" offering
Smart-home startup Pronto widened the rollout of its AI-powered home cameras, adding a new "Verified" offering for residential users. AI-driven home security — with features like smarter detection and verification — is becoming a fast-growing consumer category in India's connected-home market. The expansion reflects rising demand for affordable, intelligent monitoring in homes and small businesses.
Funding & Ecosystem Round-up
- BusinessNext raised $40M (Series C) from ServiceNow Ventures at a ~$700M valuation, while CARPL.ai closed a $10M Series A led by the World Bank's IFC.
- Farm Watt Innovations bagged Rs 32.5 Cr (IAN Alpha Fund, Rainmatter) and home-services startup Wiffy raised $3M led by Earth Fund.
- Eternal (Zomato's parent) saw Q1 profit triple to Rs 92 Cr on 182% revenue growth; Meesho narrowed its loss 54% to Rs 132.8 Cr; and Fractal posted Rs 72 Cr profit on Rs 913 Cr revenue.
- WhatsApp overtook CRED in UPI volume in June, though PhonePe and Google Pay still lead the market by a wide margin.
Discussion